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diff --git a/27982.txt b/27982.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e69859 --- /dev/null +++ b/27982.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13241 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ocean Waifs, by Mayne Reid + +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 Ocean Waifs + A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea + +Author: Mayne Reid + +Release Date: February 3, 2009 [EBook #27982] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OCEAN WAIFS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Ocean Waifs, by Captain Mayne Reid. + +________________________________________________________________________ +This is a fairly remarkable book. The scene opens with several small +vessels drifting about on the ocean. There had been a fire, followed +by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves. Most of the crew were +pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the +heroes of this story. One of these is Ben Brace and a sixteen year old +boy seaman, whom he had rescued from being eaten by the thirty or so +crew members who had found enough spars, timber, sails, ropes and +barrels to construct a large raft, though rather badly made, because +these men were consoling themselves with a rum-barrel. At a distance +floated the ship's gig, with the captain, the mate, the carpenter and +three other men. Finally, there is a construction, hardly more than a +large barrel, containing Snowball, an African ship's cook of the +Coromantee tribe, together with a little girl of eight or ten. Luckily +these get together with Ben Brace and the boy William, and it is their +adventures that the story is mainly about. The author is a natural +historian, and he tells us lots of interesting things about the fish +and other denizens of the deep. Naturally the whole thing comes right +in the end, with the wicked perishing, and the good being picked up +by a whale-ship. +________________________________________________________________________ +THE OCEAN WAIFS, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE ALBATROSS. + +The "vulture of the sea," borne upon broad wing, and wandering over the +wide Atlantic, suddenly suspends his flight to look down upon an object +that has attracted his attention. + +It is a raft, with a disc not much larger than a dining-table, +constructed out of two small spars of a ship,--the dolphin-striker and +spritsail yard,--with two broad planks and some narrower ones lashed +crosswise, and over all two or three pieces of sail-cloth carelessly +spread. + +Slight as is the structure, it is occupied by two individuals,--a man +and a boy. The latter is lying along the folds of the sail-cloth, +apparently asleep. The man stands erect, with his hand to his forehead, +shading the sun from his eyes, and scanning the surface of the sea with +inquiring glances. + +At his feet, lying among the creases of the canvas, are a handspike, a +pair of boat oars, and an axe. Nothing more is perceptible of the raft, +even to the keen eye of the albatross. + +The bird continues its flight towards the west. Ten miles farther on it +once more poises itself on soaring wing, and directs its glance +downward. + +Another raft is seen motionless upon the calm surface of the sea, but +differing from the former in almost everything but the name. It is +nearly ten times as large; constructed out of the masts, yards, hatches, +portions of the bulwarks, and other timbers of a ship; and rendered +buoyant by a number of empty water-casks lashed along its edges. A +square of canvas spread between two extemporised masts, a couple of +casks, an empty biscuit-box, some oars, handspikes, and other maritime +implements, lie upon the raft; and around these are more than thirty +men, seated, standing, lying,--in short, in almost every attitude. + +Some are motionless, as if asleep; but there is that in their prostrate +postures, and in the wild expression of their features, that betokens +rather the sleep of intoxication. Others, by their gestures and loud, +riotous talk, exhibit still surer signs of drunkenness; and the tin cup, +reeking with rum, is constantly passing from hand to hand. A few, +apparently sober, but haggard and hungry-like, sit or stand erect upon +the raft, casting occasional glances over the wide expanse, with but +slight show of hope, fast changing to despair. + +Well may the sea-vulture linger over this group, and contemplate their +movements with expectant eye. The instincts of the bird tell him, that +ere long he may look forward to a bountiful banquet! + +Ten miles farther to the west, though unseen to those upon the raft, the +far-piercing gaze of the albatross detects another unusual object upon +the surface of the sea. At this distance it appears only a speck not +larger than the bird itself, though in reality it is a small boat,--a +ship's gig,--in which six men are seated. There has been no attempt to +hoist a sail; there is none in the gig. There are oars, but no one is +using them. They have been dropped in despair; and the boat lies +becalmed just as the two rafts. Like them, it appears to be adrift upon +the ocean. + +Could the albatross exert a reasoning faculty it would know that these +various objects indicated a wreck. Some vessel has either foundered and +gone to the bottom, or has caught fire and perished in the flames. + +Ten miles to the eastward of the lesser raft might be discovered truer +traces of the lost ship. There might be seen the _debris_ of charred +timbers, telling that she has succumbed, not to the storm, but to fire; +and the fragments, scattered over the circumference of a mile, disclose +further that the fire ended abruptly in some terrible explosion. + +Upon the stern of the gig still afloat may be read the name _Pandora_. +The same word may be seen painted on the water-casks buoying up the big +raft; and on the two planks forming the transverse pieces of the lesser +one appears _Pandora_ in still larger letters: for these were the boards +that exhibited the name of the ship on each side of her bowsprit, and +which had been torn off to construct the little raft by those who now +occupy it. + +Beyond doubt the lost ship was the _Pandora_. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +SHIP ON FIRE. + +The story of the _Pandora_ has been told in all its terrible details. A +slave-ship, fitted out in England, and sailing from an English port,-- +alas! not the only one by scores,--manned by a crew of ruffians, scarce +two of them owning to the same nationality. Such was the bark +_Pandora_. + +Her latest and last voyage was to the slave coast, in the Gulf of +Guinea. There, having shipped five hundred wretched beings with black +skins,--"bales" as they are facetiously termed by the trader in human +flesh,--she had started to carry her cargo to that infamous market,-- +ever open in those days to such a commodity,--the barracoons of Brazil. + +In mid-ocean she had caught fire,--a fire that could not be +extinguished. In the hurry and confusion of launching the boats the +pinnace proved to be useless; and the longboat, stove in by the falling +of a cask, sank to the bottom of the sea. Only the gig was found +available; and this, seized upon by the captain, the mate, and four +others, was rowed off clandestinely in the darkness. + +The rest of the crew, over thirty in number, succeeded in constructing a +raft; and but a few seconds after they had pushed off from the sides of +the ship, a barrel of gunpowder ignited by the flames, completed the +catastrophe. + +But what became of the _cargo_? Ah! that is indeed a tale of horror. + +Up to the last moment those unfortunate beings had been kept under +hatches, under a grating that had been fastened down with battens. They +would have been left in that situation to be stifled in their +confinement by the suffocating smoke, or burnt alive amid the blazing +timbers, but for one merciful heart among those who were leaving the +ship. An axe uplifted by the arm of a brave youth--a mere boy--struck +off the confining cleats, and gave the sable sufferers access to the +open air. + +Alas! it was scarce a respite to these wretched creatures,--only a +choice between two modes of death. They escaped from the red flames but +to sink into the dismal depths of the ocean,--hundreds meeting with a +fate still more horrible: for there were not less than that number, and +all became the prey of those hideous sea-monsters, the sharks. + +Of all that band of involuntary emigrants, in ten minutes after the +blowing up of the bark, there was not one above the surface of the sea! +Those of them that could not swim had sunk to the bottom, while a worse +fate had befallen those that could,--to fill the maws of the ravenous +monsters that crowded the sea around them! At the period when our tale +commences, several days had succeeded this tragical event; and the +groups we have described, aligned upon a parallel of latitude, and +separated one from another by a distance of some ten or a dozen miles, +will be easily recognised. + +The little boat lying farthest west was the gig of the _Pandora_, +containing her brutal captain, his equally brutal mate, the carpenter, +and three others of the crew, that had been admitted as partners in the +surreptitious abstraction. Under cover of the darkness they had made +their departure; but long before rowing out of gun-shot they had heard +the wild denunciations and threats hurled after them by their betrayed +associates. + +The ruffian crew occupied the greater raft; but who were the two +individuals who had intrusted themselves to that frail embarkation,-- +seemingly so slight that a single breath of wind would scatter it into +fragments, and send its occupants to the bottom of the sea? Such in +reality would have been their fate, had a storm sprung up at that +moment; but fortunately for them the sea was smooth and calm,--as it had +been ever since the destruction of the ship. + +But why were they thus separated from the others of the crew: for both +man and boy had belonged to the forecastle of the _Pandora_? + +The circumstance requires explanation, and it shall be briefly given. +The man was Ben Brace,--the bravest and best sailor on board the +slave-bark, and one who would not have shipped in such a craft but for +wrongs he had suffered while in the service of his country, and that had +inducted him into a sort of reckless disposition, of which, however, he +had long since repented. + +The boy had also been the victim of a similar disposition. Longing to +see foreign lands, he had _run away to sea_; and by an unlucky accident, +through sheer ignorance of her character, had chosen the _Pandora_ in +which to make his initiatory voyage. From the cruel treatment he had +been subjected to on board the bark, he had reason to see his folly. +Irksome had been his existence from the moment he set foot on the deck +of the _Pandora_; and indeed it would have been scarce endurable but for +the friendship of the brave sailor Brace, who, after a time, had taken +him under his especial protection. Neither of them had any feelings in +common with the crew with whom they had become associated; and it was +their intention to escape from such vile companionship as soon as an +opportunity should offer. + +The destruction of the bark would not have given that opportunity. On +the contrary, it rendered it all the more necessary to remain with the +others, and share the chances of safety offered by the great raft. +Slight as these might be, they were still better than those that might +await them, exposed on such a frail fabric as that they now occupied. +It is true, that upon this they had left the burning vessel separate +from the others; but immediately after they had rowed up alongside the +larger structure, and made fast to it. + +In this companionship they had continued for several days and nights, +borne backward and forward by the varying breezes; resting by day on the +calm surface of the ocean; and sharing the fate of the rest of the +castaway crew. + +What had led to their relinquishing the companionship? Why was Ben +Brace and his _protege_ separated from the others and once more alone +upon their little raft? + +The cause of that separation must be declared, though one almost +shudders to think of it. It was to save the boy _from being eaten_ that +Ben Brace had carried him away from his former associates; and it was +only by a cunning stratagem, and at the risk of his own life, that the +brave sailor had succeeded in preventing this horrid banquet from being +made! + +The castaway crew had exhausted the slender stock of provisions received +from the wreck. They were reduced to that state of hunger which no +longer revolts at the filthiest of food; and without even resorting to +the customary method adopted in such terrible crises, they unanimously +resolved upon the death of the boy,--Ben Brace alone raising a voice of +dissent! + +But this voice was not heeded. It was decided that the lad should die: +and all that his protector was able to obtain from the fiendish crew, +was the promise of a respite for him till the following morning. + +Brace had his object in procuring this delay. During the night, the +united rafts made way under a fresh breeze; and while all was wrapped in +darkness, he cut the ropes which fastened the lesser one to the greater, +allowing the former to fall astern. As it was occupied only by him and +his _protege_, they were thus separated from their dangerous associates; +and when far enough off to run no risk of being heard, they used their +oars to increase the distance. + +All night long did they continue to row against the wind; and as morning +broke upon them, they came to a rest upon the calm sea, unseen by their +late comrades, and with ten miles separating the two rafts from each +other. + +It was the fatigue of that long spell of pulling--with many a watchful +and weary hour preceding it--that had caused the boy to sink down upon +the folded canvas, and almost on the instant fall asleep; and it was the +apprehension of being followed that was causing Ben Brace to stand +shading his eyes from the sun, and scan with uneasy glance the +glittering surface of the sea. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE LORD'S PRAYER. + +After carefully scrutinising the smooth water towards every point of the +compass,--but more especially towards the west,--the sailor ceased from +his reconnoissance, and turned his eyes upon his youthful companion, +still soundly slumbering. + +"Poor lad!" muttered he to himself; "he be quite knocked up. No wonder, +after such a week as we've had o't. And to think he war so near bein' +killed and ate by them crew o' ruffians. I'm blowed if that wasn't +enough to scare the strength out o' him! Well, I dare say he's escaped +from that fate; but as soon as he has got a little more rest, we must +take a fresh spell at the oars. It 'ud never do to drift back to +_them_. If we do, it an't only him they'll want to eat, but me too, +after what's happened. Blowed if they wouldn't." + +The sailor paused a moment, as if reflecting upon the probabilities of +their being pursued. + +"Sartin!" he continued, "they could never fetch that catamaran against +the wind; but now that it's turned dead calm, they might clap on wi' +their oars, in the hope of overtakin' us. There's so many of them to +pull, and they've got oars in plenty, they might overhaul us yet." + +"O Ben! dear Ben! save me,--save me from the wicked men!" + +This came from the lips of the lad, evidently muttered in his sleep. + +"Dash my buttons, if he an't dreaming!" said the sailor, turning his +eyes upon the boy, and watching the movements of his lips. "He be +talkin' in his sleep. He thinks they're comin' at him just as they did +last night on the raft! Maybe I ought to rouse him up. If he be a +dreamin' that way he'll be better awake. It's a pity, too, for he an't +had enough sleep." + +"Oh! they will kill me and eat me. Oh, oh!" + +"No, they won't do neyther,--blow'd if they do. Will'm, little Will'm! +rouse yourself, my lad." + +And as he said this he bent down and gave the sleeper a shake. + +"O Ben! is it you? Where are they,--those monsters?" + +"Miles away, my boy. You be only a dreamin' about 'em. That's why I've +shook you up." + +"I'm glad you have waked me. Oh! it was a frightful dream! I thought +they had done it, Ben." + +"Done what, Will'm?" + +"What they were going to do." + +"Dash it, no, lad! they an't ate you yet; nor won't, till they've first +put an end o' me,--that I promise ye." + +"Dear Ben," cried the boy, "you are so good,--you've risked your life to +save mine. Oh! how can I ever show you how much I am sensible of your +goodness?" + +"Don't talk o' that, little Will'm. Ah! lad, I fear it an't much use to +eyther o' us. But if we must die, anything before a death like that. +I'd rather far that the sharks should get us than to be eat up by one's +own sort.--Ugh! it be horrid to think o't. But come, lad, don't let us +despair. For all so black as things look, let us put our trust in +Providence. We don't know but that His eye may be on us at this minute. +I wish I knew how to pray, but I never was taught that ere. Can you +pray, little Will'm?" + +"I can repeat the Lord's Prayer. Would that do, Ben?" + +"Sartain it would. It be the best kind o' prayer, I've heerd say. Get +on your knees, lad, and do it. I'll kneel myself, and join with ye in +the spirit o' the thing, tho' I'm shamed to say I disremember most o' +the words." + +The boy, thus solicited, at once raised himself into a kneeling +position, and commenced repeating the sublime prayer of the Christian. +The rough sailor knelt alongside of him, and with hands crossed over his +breast in a supplicating attitude, listened attentively, now and then +joining in the words of the prayer, whenever some phrase recurred to his +remembrance. + +When it was over, and the "Amen" had been solemnly pronounced by the +voices of both, the sailor seemed to have become inspired with a fresh +hope; and, once more grasping an oar, he desired his companion to do the +same. + +"We must get a little farther to east'ard," said he, "so as to make sure +o' bein' out o' their way. If we only pull a couple of hours afore the +sun gets hot, I think we'll be in no danger o' meetin' _them_ any more. +So let's set to, little Will'm! Another spell, and then you can rest as +long's you have a mind to." + +The sailor seated himself close to the edge of the raft, and dropped his +oar-blade in the water, using it after the fashion of a canoe-paddle. +"Little Will'm," taking his place on the opposite side, imitated the +action; and the craft commenced moving onward over the calm surface of +the sea. + +The boy, though only sixteen, was skilled in the use of an oar, and +could handle it in whatever fashion. He had learnt the art long before +he had thought of going to sea; and it now stood him in good stead. +Moreover, he was strong for his age, and therefore his stroke was +sufficient to match that of the sailor, given more gently for the +purpose. + +Propelled by the two oars, the raft made way with considerable +rapidity,--not as a boat would have done, but still at the rate of two +or three knots to the hour. + +They had not been rowing long, however, when a gentle breeze sprung up +from the west, which aided their progress in the direction in which they +wished to go. One would have thought that this was just what they +should have desired. On the contrary, the sailor appeared uneasy on +perceiving that the breeze blew from the west. Had it been from any +other point he would have cared little about it. + +"I don't like it a bit," said he, speaking across the raft to his +companion. "It helps us to get east'ard, that's true; _but_ it'll help +them as well--and with that broad spread o' canvas they've rigged up, +they might come down on us faster than we can row." + +"Could we not rig a sail too?" inquired the boy. "Don't you think we +might, Ben?" + +"Just the thing I war thinkin' o', lad; I dare say we can. Let me see; +we've got that old tarpaulin and the lying jib-sail under us. The +tarpaulin itself will be big enough. How about ropes? Ah! there's the +sheets of the jib still stickin' to the sail; and then there's the +handspike and our two oars. The oars 'll do without the handspike. +Let's set 'em up then, and rig the tarpaulin between 'em." + +As the sailor spoke, he had risen to his feet; and after partially +drawing the canvas off from the planks and spars, he soon accomplished +the task of setting the two oars upright upon the raft. This done, the +tarpaulin was spread between them, and when lashed so as to lie taut +from one to the other, presented a surface of several square yards to +the breeze,--quite as much sail as the craft was capable of carrying. + +It only remained for them to look to the steering of the raft, so as to +keep it head on before the wind; and this could be managed by means of +the handspike, used as a rudder or steering-oar. + +Laying hold of this, and placing himself abaft of the spread tarpaulin, +Ben had the satisfaction of seeing that the sail acted admirably; and as +soon as its influence was fairly felt, the raft surged on through the +water at a rate of not less than five knots to the hour. + +It was not likely that the large raft that carried the dreaded crew of +would-be cannibals was going any faster; and therefore, whatever +distance they might be off, there would be no great danger of their +getting any nearer. + +This confidence being firmly established, the sailor no longer gave a +thought to the peril from which he and his youthful comrade had escaped. +For all that, the prospect that lay before them was too terrible to +permit their exchanging a word,--either of comfort or congratulation,-- +and for a long time they sat in a sort of desponding silence, which was +broken only by the rippling surge of the waters as they swept in pearly +froth along the sides of the raft. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +HUNGER.--DESPAIR. + +The breeze proved only what sailors call a catspaw, rising no higher +than just to cause a ripple on the water, and lasting only about an +hour. When it was over, the sea again fell into a dead calm; its +surface assuming the smoothness of a mirror. + +In the midst of this the raft lay motionless, and the extemporised sail +was of no use for propelling it. It served a purpose, however, in +screening off the rays of the sun, which, though not many degrees above +the horizon, was beginning to make itself felt in all its tropical +fervour. + +Ben no longer required his companion to take a hand at the oar. Not but +that their danger of being overtaken was as great as ever; for although +they had made easterly some five or six knots, it was but natural to +conclude that the great raft had been doing the same; and therefore the +distance between the two would be about as before. + +But whether it was that his energy had become prostrated by fatigue and +the hopelessness of their situation, or whether upon further reflection +he felt less fear of their being pursued, certain it is he no longer +showed uneasiness about making way over the water; and after once more +rising to his feet and making a fresh examination of the horizon, he +stretched himself along the raft in the shade of the tarpaulin. + +The boy, at his request, had already placed himself in a similar +position, and was again buried in slumber. + +"I'm glad to see he can sleep," said Brace to himself, as he lay down +alongside. "He must be sufferin' from hunger as bad as I am myself, and +as long as he's asleep he won't feel it. May be, if one could keep +asleep they'd hold out longer, though I don't know 'bout that bein' so. +I've often ate a hearty supper, and woke up in the mornin' as hungry as +if I'm gone to my bunk without a bite. Well, it an't no use o' me +tryin' to sleep as I feel now, blow'd if it is! My belly calls out loud +enough to keep old Morphis himself from nappin', and there an't a morsel +o' anything. More than forty hours have passed since I ate that last +quarter biscuit. I can think o' nothing but our shoes, and they be so +soaked wi' the sea-water, I suppose they'll do more harm than good. +They'll be sure to make the thirst a deal worse than it is, though the +Lord knows it be bad enough a'ready. Merciful Father!--nothin' to +eat!--nothin' to drink! O God, hear the prayer little Will'm ha' just +spoken and I ha' repeated, though I've been too wicked to expect bein' +heard, `_Give us this day our daily bread_'! Ah! another day or two +without it, an' we shall both be asleep forever!" + +The soliloquy of the despairing sailor ended in a groan, that awoke his +young comrade from a slumber that was at best only transient and +troubled. + +"What is it, Ben?" he asked, raising himself on his elbow, and looking +inquiringly in the face of his protector. + +"Nothing partikler, my lad," answered the sailor, who did not wish to +terrify his companion with the dark thoughts which were troubling +himself. + +"I heard you groaning,--did I not? I was afraid you had seen them +coming after us." + +"No fear o' that,--not a bit. They're a long way off, and in this calm +sea they won't be inclined to stir,--not as long as the rum-cask holds +out, I warrant; and when that's empty, they'll not feel much like movin' +anywhere. 'Tan't for them we need have any fear now." + +"O Ben! I'm so hungry; I could eat anything." + +"I know it, my poor lad; so could I." + +"True! indeed you must be even hungrier than I, for you gave me more +than my share of the two biscuits. It was wrong of me to take it, for +I'm sure you must be suffering dreadfully." + +"That's true enough, Will'm; but a bit o' biscuit wouldn't a made no +difference. It must come to the same thing in the end." + +"To what, Ben?" inquired the lad, observing the shadow that had +overspread the countenance of his companion, which was gloomier than he +had ever seen it. + +The sailor remained silent. He could not think of a way to evade giving +the correct answer to the question; and keeping his eyes averted, he +made no reply. + +"I know what you mean," continued the interrogator. "Yes, yes,--you +mean that we must die!" + +"No, no, Will'm,--not that; there's hope yet,--who knows what may turn +up? It may be that the prayer will be answered. I'd like, lad, if +you'd go over it again. I think I could help you better this time; for +I once knew it myself,--long, long ago, when I was about as big as you, +and hearin' you repeatin' it, it has come most o' it back into my +memory. Go over it again, little Will'm." + +The youth once more knelt upon the raft, and in the shadow of the spread +tarpaulin repeated the Lord's Prayer,--the sailor, in his rougher voice, +pronouncing the words after him. + +When they had finished, the latter once more rose to his feet, and for +some minutes stood scanning the circle of sea around the raft. + +The faint hope which that trusting reliance in his Maker had inspired +within the breast of the rude mariner exhibited itself for a moment upon +his countenance, but only for a moment. No object greeted his vision, +save the blue, boundless sea, and the equally boundless sky. + +A despairing look replaced that transient gleam of hope, and, staggering +back behind the tarpaulin, he once more flung his body prostrate upon +the raft. + +Again they lay, side by side, in perfect silence,--neither of them +asleep, but both in a sort of stupor, produced by their unspoken +despair. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +FAITH.--HOPE. + +How long they lay in this half-unconscious condition, neither took note. +It could not have been many minutes, for the mind under such +circumstances does not long surrender itself to a state of tranquillity. + +They were at length suddenly roused from it,--not, however, by any +thought from within,--but by an object striking on their external +senses, or, rather, upon the sense of sight. Both were lying upon their +backs, with eyes open and upturned to the sky, upon which there was not +a speck of cloud to vary the monotony of its endless azure. + +Its monotony, however, was at that moment varied by a number of objects +that passed swiftly across their field of vision, shining and +scintillating as if a flight of silver arrows had been shot over the +raft. The hues of blue and white were conspicuous in the bright +sunbeams, and those gay-coloured creatures, that appeared to belong to +the air, but which in reality were denizens of the great deep, were at +once recognised by the sailor. + +"A shoal o' flyin'-fish," he simply remarked, and without removing from +his recumbent position. + +Then at once, as if some hope had sprung up within him at seeing them +continue to fly over the raft, and so near as almost to touch the +tarpaulin, he added, starting to his feet as he spoke-- + +"What if I might knock one o' 'em down! Where's the handspike?" + +The last interrogatory was mechanical, and put merely to fill up the +time; for as he gave utterance to it he reached towards the implement +that lay within reach of his hands, and eagerly grasping raised it +aloft. + +With such a weapon it was probable that he might have succeeded in +striking down one of the winged swimmers that, pursued by the bonitos +and albacores, were still leaping over the raft. But there was a surer +weapon behind him,--in the piece of canvas spread between the upright +oars; and just as the sailor had got ready to wield his huge club, a +shining object flashed close to his eyes, whilst his ears were greeted +by a glad sound, signifying that one of the vaulting fish had struck +against the tarpaulin. + +Of course it had dropped down upon the raft: for there it was, flopping +and bounding about among the folds of the flying-jib, far more taken by +surprise than Ben Brace, who had witnessed its mishap, or even little +William, upon whose face it had fallen, with all the weight of its +watery carcass. If a bird in the hand be worth two in the bush, by the +same rule a fish in the hand should be worth two in the water, and more +than that number flying in the air. + +Some such calculation as this might have passed through the brain of Ben +Brace; for, instead of continuing to hold his handspike high flourished +over his head, in the hope of striking another fish, he suffered the +implement to drop down upon the raft; and stooping down, he reached +forward to secure the one that had voluntarily, or, rather, should we +say, involuntarily, offered itself as a victim. + +As it kept leaping about over the raft, there was just the danger that +it might reach the edge of that limited area, and once more escape to +its natural element. + +This, however naturally desired by the fish, was the object which the +occupants of the raft most desired to prevent; and to that end both had +got upon their knees, and were scrambling over the sail-cloth with as +much eager earnestness as a couple of terriers engaged in a scuffle with +a harvest rat. + +Once or twice little William had succeeded in getting the fish in his +fingers; but the slippery creature, armed also with its spinous +fin-wings, had managed each time to glide out of his grasp; and it was +still uncertain whether a capture might be made, or whether after all +they were only to be tantalised by the touch and sight of a morsel of +food that was never to pass over their palates. + +The thought of such a disappointment stimulated Ben Brace to put forth +all his energies, coupled with his greatest activity. He had even +resolved upon following the fish into the sea if it should prove +necessary,--knowing that for the first few moments after regaining its +natural element it would be more easy of capture. But just then an +opportunity was offered that promised the securing of the prey without +the necessity of wetting a stitch of his clothes. + +The fish had been all the while bounding about upon the spread +sail-cloth, near the edge of which it had now arrived. But it was fated +to go no farther, at least of its own accord; for Ben seeing his +advantage, seized hold of the loose selvage of the sail, and raising it +a little from the raft, doubled it over the struggling captive. A stiff +squeeze brought its struggles to a termination; and when the canvas was +lifted aloft, it was seen lying underneath, slightly flattened out +beyond its natural dimensions, and it is scarcely necessary to say, as +dead as a herring. + +Whether right or no, the simple-minded seaman recognised in this +seasonable supply of provision the hand of an overruling Providence; and +without further question, attributed it to the potency of that prayer +twice repeated. + +"Yes, Will'm, you see it, my lad, 'tis the answer to that wonderful +prayer. Let's go over it once more, by way o' givin' thanks. He who +has sent meat can also gie us drink, even here, in the middle o' the +briny ocean. Come, boy! as the parson used to say in church,--let us +pray!" + +And with this serio-comic admonition--meant, however, in all due +solemnity--the sailor dropped upon his knees, and, as before, echoed the +prayer once more pronounced by his youthful companion. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +FLYING-FISH. + +The flying-fish takes rank as one of the most conspicuous "wonders of +the sea," and in a tale essentially devoted to the great deep, it is a +subject deserving of more than a passing notice. + +From the earliest periods of ocean travel, men have looked with +astonishment upon a phenomenon not only singular at first sight, but +which still remains unexplained, namely, a fish and a creature believed +to be formed only for dwelling under water, springing suddenly above the +surface, to the height of a two-storey house, and passing through the +air to the distance of a furlong, before falling back into its own +proper element! + +It is no wonder that the sight should cause surprise to the most +indifferent observer, nor that it should have been long a theme of +speculation with the curious, and an interesting subject of +investigation to the naturalist. + +As flying-fish but rarely make their appearance except in warm +latitudes, few people who have not voyaged to the tropics have had an +opportunity of seeing them in their flight. Very naturally, therefore, +it will be asked what kind of fish, that is, to what _species_ and what +_genus_ the flying-fish belong. Were there only one kind of these +curious creatures the answer would be easier. But not only are there +different species, but also different "genera" of fish endowed with the +faculty of flying, and which from the earliest times and in different +parts of the world have equally received this characteristic +appellation. A word or two about each sort must suffice. + +First, then, there are two species belonging to the genus _Trigla_, or +the Gurnards, to which Monsieur La Cepede has given the name of +_Dactylopterus_. + +One species is found in the Mediterranean, and individuals, from a foot +to fifteen inches in length, are often taken by the fishermen, and +brought to the markets of Malta, Sicily, and even to the city of Rome. +The other species of flying gurnard occur in the Indian Ocean and the +seas around China and Japan. + +The true _flying-fish_, however, that is to say, those that are met with +in the great ocean, and most spoken of in books, and in the "yarns" of +the sailor, are altogether of a different kind from the gurnards. They +are not only different in genus, but in the family and even the order of +fishes. They are of the genus _Exocetus_, and in form and other +respects have a considerable resemblance to the common pike. There are +several species of them inhabiting different parts of the tropical seas; +and sometimes individuals, in the summer, have been seen as far north as +the coast of Cornwall in Europe, and on the banks of Newfoundland in +America. Their natural habitat, however, is in the warm latitudes of +the ocean; and only there are they met with in large "schools," and seen +with any frequency taking their aerial flight. + +For a long time there was supposed to be only one, or at most two, +species of the _Exocetus_; but it is now certain there are several-- +perhaps as many as half a dozen--distinct from each other. They are all +much alike in their habits,--differing only in size, colour, and such +like circumstances. + +Naturalists disagree as to the character of their flight. Some assert +that it is only a leap, and this is the prevailing opinion. Their +reason for regarding it thus is, that while the fish is in the air there +cannot be observed any movement of the wings (pectoral fins); and, +moreover, after reaching the height to which it attains on its first +spring, it cannot afterwards rise higher, but gradually sinks lower till +it drops suddenly back into the water. + +This reasoning is neither clear nor conclusive. A similar power of +suspending themselves in the air, without motion of the wings is +well-known to belong to many birds,--as the vulture, the albatross, the +petrels, and others. Besides, it is difficult to conceive of a leap +twenty feet high and two hundred yards long; for the flight of the +_Exocetus_ has been observed to be carried to this extent, and even +farther. It is probable that the movement partakes both of the nature +of leaping and flying: that it is first begun by a spring up out of the +water,--a power possessed by most other kinds of fish,--and that the +impulse thus obtained is continued by the spread fins acting on the air +after the fashion of parachutes. It is known that the fish can greatly +lighten the specific gravity of its body by the inflation of its +"swim-bladder," which, when perfectly extended, occupies nearly the +entire cavity of its abdomen. In addition to this, there is a membrane +in the mouth which can be inflated through the gills. These two +reservoirs are capable of containing a considerable volume of air; and +as the fish has the power of filling or emptying them at will, they no +doubt play an important part in the mechanism of its aerial movement. + +One thing is certain, that the flying-fish can turn while in the air,-- +that is, diverge slightly from the direction first taken; and this would +seem to argue a capacity something more than that of a mere spring or +leap. Besides, the wings make a perceptible noise,--a sort of +rustling,--often distinctly heard; and they have been seen to open and +close while the creature is in the air. + +A shoal of flying-fish might easily be mistaken for a flock of white +birds, though their rapid movements, and the glistening sheen of their +scales--especially when the sun is shining--usually disclose their true +character. They are at all times a favourite spectacle, and with all +observers,--the old "salt" who has seen them a thousand times, and the +young sailor on his maiden voyage, who beholds them for the first time +in his life. Many an hour of _ennui_ occurring to the ship-traveller, +as he sits upon the poop, restlessly scanning the monotonous surface of +the sea, has been brought to a cheerful termination by the appearance of +a shoal of flying-fish suddenly sparkling up out of the bosom of the +deep. + +The flying-fish appear to be the most persecuted of all creatures. It +is to avoid their enemies under water that they take _fin_ and mount +into the air; but the old proverb, "out of the frying-pan into the +fire," is but too applicable in their case, for in their endeavours to +escape from the jaws of dolphins, albicores, bonitos, and other petty +tyrants of the sea, they rush into the beaks of gannets, boobies, +albatrosses, and other petty tyrants of the sky. + +Much sympathy has been felt--or at all events expressed--for these +pretty and apparently innocent little victims. But, alas! our sympathy +receives a sad shock, when it becomes known that the flying-fish is +himself one of the petty tyrants of the ocean,--being, like his near +congener, the pike, a most ruthless little destroyer and devourer of any +fish small enough to go down his gullet. + +Besides the two _genera_ of flying-fish above described, there are +certain other marine animals which are gifted with a similar power of +sustaining themselves for some seconds in the air. They are often seen +in the Pacific and Indian oceans, rising out of the water in shoals, +just like the _Exoceti_: and, like them, endeavouring to escape from the +albicores and bonitos that incessantly pursue them. These creatures are +not fish in the true sense of the word, but "molluscs," of the genus +_Loligo_; and the name given to them by the whalers of the Pacific is +that of "Flying Squid." + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +A CHEERING CLOUD. + +The particular species of flying-fish that had fallen into the clutches +of the two starving castaways upon the raft was the _Exocetus evolans_, +or "Spanish flying-fish" of mariners,--a well-known inhabitant of the +warmer latitudes of the Atlantic. Its body was of a steel-blue, olive +and silvery white underneath, with its large pectoral fins (its wings) +of a powdered grey colour. It was one of the largest of its kind, being +rather over twelve inches in length, and nearly a pound in weight. + +Of course, it afforded but a very slight meal for two hungry stomachs,-- +such as were those of Ben Brace and his boy companion. Still it helped +to strengthen them a little; and its opportune arrival upon the raft-- +which they could not help regarding as providential--had the further +effect of rendering them for a time more cheerful and hopeful. + +It is not necessary to say that they ate the creature without cooking +it; and although under ordinary circumstances this might be regarded as +a hardship, neither was at that moment in the mood to be squeamish. +They thought the dish dainty enough. It was its quantity--not the +quality--that failed to give satisfaction. + +Indeed the flying-fish is (when cooked, of course) one of the most +delicious of morsels,--a good deal resembling the common herring when +caught freshly, and dressed in a proper manner. + +It seemed, however, as if the partial relief from hunger only aggravated +the kindred appetite from which the occupants of the raft had already +begun to suffer. Perhaps the salt-water, mingled with the saline juices +of the fish, aided in producing this effect. In any case, it was not +long after they had eaten the _Exocetus_ before both felt thirst in its +very keenest agony. + +Extreme thirst, under any circumstances, is painful to endure; but under +no conditions is it so excruciating as in the midst of the ocean. The +sight of water which you may not drink,--the very proximity of that +element,--so near that you may touch it, and yet as useless to the +assuaging of thirst as if it was the parched dust of the desert,-- +increases rather than alleviates the appetite. It is to no purpose, +that you dip your fingers into the briny flood, and endeavour to cool +your lips and tongue by taking it into the mouth. To swallow it is +still worse. You might as well think to allay thirst by drinking liquid +fire. The momentary moistening of the mouth and tongue is succeeded by +an almost instantaneous parching of the salivary glands, which only glow +with redoubled ardour. + +Ben Brace knew this well enough; and once or twice that little William +lifted the sea-water on his palm and applied it to his lips, the sailor +cautioned him to desist, saying that it would do him more harm than +good. + +In one of his pockets Ben chanced to have a leaden bullet, which he gave +the boy, telling him to keep it in his mouth and occasionally to chew +it. By this means the secretion of the saliva was promoted; and +although it was but slight, the sufferer obtained a little relief. + +Ben himself held the axe to his lips, and partly by pressing his tongue +against the iron, and partly by gnawing the angle of the blade, +endeavoured to produce the same effect. + +It was but a poor means of assuaging that fearful thirst that was now +the sole object of their thoughts,--it might be said their only +sensation,--for all other feelings, both of pleasure or pain, had become +overpowered by this one. On food they no longer reflected, though still +hungry; but the appetite of hunger, even when keenest, is far less +painful than that of thirst. The former weakens the frame, so that the +nervous system becomes dulled, and less sensible of the affliction it is +enduring; whereas the latter may exist to its extremest degree, while +the body is in full strength and vigour, and therefore more capable of +feeling pain. + +They suffered for several hours, almost all the time in silence. The +words of cheer which the sailor had addressed to his youthful comrade +were now only heard occasionally, and at long intervals, and when heard +were spoken in a tone that proclaimed their utterance to be merely +mechanical, and that he who gave tongue to them had but slight hope. +Little as remained, however, he would rise from time to time to his +feet, and stand for a while scanning the horizon around him. Then as +his scrutiny once more terminated in disappointment, he would sink back +upon the canvas, and half-kneeling, half-lying, give way for an interval +to a half stupor of despair. + +From one of these moods he was suddenly aroused by circumstances which +had made no impression on his youthful companion, though the latter had +also observed it. It was simply the darkening of the sun by a cloud +passing over its disc. + +Little William wondered that an incident of so common character should +produce so marked an effect as it had done upon his protector: for the +latter on perceiving that the sun had become shadowed instantly started +to his feet, and stood gazing up towards the sky. A change had come +over his countenance. His eyes, instead of the sombre look of despair +observable but the moment before, seemed now to sparkle with hope. In +fact, the cloud which had darkened the face of the sun appeared to have +produced the very opposite effect upon the face of the sailor! + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +A CANVAS TANK. + +"What is it, Ben?" asked William, in a voice husky and hoarse, from the +parched throat through which it had to pass. "You look pleased like; do +you see anything?" + +"I see that, boy," replied the sailor, pointing up into the sky. + +"What? I see nothing there except that great cloud that has just passed +over the sun. What is there in that?" + +"Ay, what is there in't? That's just what I'm tryin' to make out, +Will'm; an' if I'm not mistaken, boy, there's it 't the very thing as we +both wants." + +"Water!" gasped William, his eyes lighting up with gleam of hope. "A +rain-cloud you think, Ben?" + +"I'm a'most sure o't, Will'm. I never seed a bank o' clouds like them +there wasn't some wet in; and if the wind 'll only drift 'em this way, +we may get a shower 'll be the savin' o' our lives. O Lord! in thy +mercy look down on us, and send 'em over us!" + +The boy echoed the prayer. + +"See!" cried the sailor. "The wind is a fetchin' them this way. +Yonder's more o' the same sort risin' up in the west, an' that's the +direction from which it's a-blowin'. Ho! As I live, Will'm, there's +rain. I can see by the mist it's a-fallin' on the water yonder. It's +still far away,--twenty mile or so,--but that's nothing; an' if the wind +holds good in the same quarter, it _must_ come this way." + +"But if it did, Ben," said William, doubtingly, "what good would it do +us? We could not drink much of the rain as it falls, and you know we +have nothing in which to catch a drop of it." + +"But we have, boy,--we have our clothes and our shirts. If the rain +comes, it will fall like it always does in these parts, as if it were +spillin' out o' a strainer. We'll be soakin' wet in five minutes' time; +and then we can wring all out,--trousers, shirts, and every rag we've +got." + +"But we have no vessel, Ben,--what could we wring the water into?" + +"Into our months first: after that--ah! it be a pity. I never thought +o't. We won't be able to save a drop for another time. Any rate, if we +could only get one good quenchin', we might stand it several days +longer. I fancy we might catch some fish, if we were only sure about +the water. Yes, the rain's a-comin' on. Look at yon black clouds; and +see, there's lightning forkin' among 'em. That 's a sure sign it's +raining. Let's strip, and spread out our shirts so as to have them +ready." + +As Ben uttered this admonition he was about proceeding to pull off his +pea-jacket, when an object came before his eyes causing him to desist. +At the same instant an exclamatory phrase escaping from his lips +explained to his companion why he had thus suddenly changed his +intention. The phrase consisted of two simple words, which written as +pronounced by Ben were, "Thee tarpolin." + +Little William knew it was "the tarpauling" that was meant. He could +not be mistaken about that; for, even had he been ignorant of the +sailor's pronunciation of the words, the latter at that moment stood +pointing to the piece of tarred canvas spread upright between the oars; +and which had formerly served as a covering for the after-hatch of the +_Pandora_. William did not equally understand why his companion was +pointing to it. + +He was not left long in ignorance. + +"Nothing to catch the water in? That's what you sayed, little Will'm? +What do ye call that, my boy?" + +"Oh!" replied the lad, catching at the idea of the sailor. "You mean--" + +"I mean, boy, that there's a vessel big enough to hold gallons,--a dozen +o' 'em." + +"You think it would hold water?" + +"I'm sure o't, lad. For what else be it made waterproof? I helped tar +it myself not a week ago. It'll hold like a rum-cask, I warrant,--ay, +an' it'll be the very thing to catch it too. We can keep it spread out +a bit wi' a hollow place in the middle, an' if it do rain, there then,-- +my boy, we'll ha' a pool big enough to swim ye in. Hurrah! it's sure to +rain. See yonder. It be comin' nearer every minute. Let's be ready +for it. Down wi' the mainsail. Let go the sheets,--an' instead o' +spreadin' our canvas to the wind, as the song says, we'll stretch it out +to the rain. Come, Will'm, let's look alive!" + +William had by this time also risen to his feet; and both now busied +themselves in unlashing the cords that had kept the hatch-covering +spread between the two oars. + +This occupied only a few seconds of time; and the tarpauling soon lay +detached between the extemporised masts, that were still permitted to +remain as they had been "stepped." + +At first the sailor had thought of holding the piece of tarred canvas in +their hands; but having plenty of time to reflect, a better plan +suggested itself. So long as it should be thus held, they would have no +chance of using their hands for any other purpose; and would be in a +dilemma as to how they should dispose of the water after having +"captured it." + +It did not require much ingenuity to alter their programme for the +better. By means of the flying-jib that lay along the raft, they were +enabled to construct a ridge of an irregular circular shape; and then +placing the tarpauling upon the top, and spreading it out so that its +edges lapped over this ridge, they formed a deep concavity or "tank" in +the middle, which was capable of holding many gallons of water. + +It only remained to examine the canvas, and make sure there were no +rents or holes by which the water might escape. This was done with all +the minuteness and care that the circumstances called for; and when the +sailor at length became satisfied that the tarpauling was waterproof, he +took the hand of his youthful _protege_ in his own, and both kneeling +upon the raft, with their faces turned towards the west watched the +approach of those dark, lowering clouds, as if they had been +bright-winged angels sent from the far sky to deliver them from +destruction. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +A PLEASANT SHOWER-BATH. + +They had not much longer to wait. The storm came striding across the +ocean; and, to the intense gratification of both man and boy, the rain +was soon falling upon them, as if a water-spout had burst over their +heads. + +A single minute sufficed to collect over a quart within the hollow of +the spread tarpauling; and before that minute had transpired, both might +have been seen lying prostrate upon their faces with their heads +together, near the centre of the concavity, and their lips close to the +canvas, sucking up the delicious drops, almost as fast as they fell. + +For a long time they continued in this position, indulging in that cool +beverage sent them from the sky,--which to both appeared the sweetest +they had ever tasted in their lives. So engrossed were they in its +enjoyment, that neither spoke a word until several minutes had elapsed, +and both had drunk to a surfeit. + +They were by this time wet to the skin; for the tropic rain, falling in +a deluge of thick heavy drops, soon saturated their garments through and +through. But this, instead of being an inconvenience, was rather +agreeable than otherwise, cooling their skins so long parched by the +torrid rays of the sun. + +"Little Will'm," said Ben, after swallowing about a gallon of the +rain-water, "didn't I say that He 'as sent us meat, in such good time +too, could also gi' us som'at to drink? Look there! water enow to last +us for days, lad!" + +"'Tis wonderful!" exclaimed the boy. "I am sure, Ben, that Providence +has done this. Indeed, it must be true what I was often told in the +Sunday school,--that God is everywhere. Here He is present with us in +the midst of this great ocean. O, dear Ben, let's hope He will not +forsake us now. I almost feel sure, after what has happened to us, that +the hand of God will yet deliver us from our danger." + +"I almost feel so myself," rejoined the sailor, his countenance resuming +its wonted expression of cheerfulness. "After what's happened, one +could not think otherwise; but let us remember, lad, that He is up +aloft, an' has done so much for us, expecting us to do what we can for +ourselves. He puts the work within our reach, an' then leaves us to do +it. Now here's this fine supply o' water. If we was to let that go to +loss, it would be our own fault, not his, an' we'd deserve to die o' +thirst for it." + +"What is to be done, Ben? How are we to keep it?" + +"That's just what I'm thinkin' about. In a very short while the rain +will be over. I know the sort o' it. It be only one o' these heavy +showers as falls near the line, and won't last more than half an hour,-- +if that. Then the sun 'll be out as hot as ever, an' will lick up the +water most as fast as it fell,--that is, if we let it lie there. Yes, +in another half o' an hour that tarpolin would be as dry as the down +upon a booby's back." + +"O dear! what shall we do to prevent evaporating?" + +"Jest give me a minute to consider," rejoined the sailor, scratching his +head, and putting on an air of profound reflection; "maybe afore the +rain quits comin' down, I'll think o' some way to keep it from +evaporating; that's what you call the dryin' o' it up." + +Ben remained for some minutes silent, in the thoughtful attitude he had +assumed,--while William, who was equally interested in the result of his +cogitations, watched his countenance with an eager anxiety. + +Soon a joyful expression revealed itself to the glance of the boy, +telling him that his companion had hit upon some promising scheme. + +"I think I ha' got it, Will'm," said he; "I think I've found a way to +stow the water even without a cask." + +"You have!" joyfully exclaimed William. "How, Ben?" + +"Well, you see, boy, the tarpolin holds water as tight as if 'twere a +glass bottle. I tarred it myself,--that did I, an' as I never did my +work lubber-like, I done that job well. Lucky I did, warn't it, +William?" + +"It was." + +"That be a lesson for you, lad. Schemin' work bean't the thing, you +see. It comes back to cuss one; while work as be well did be often like +a blessin' arterward,--just as this tarpolin be now. But see! as I told +you, the rain would soon be over. There be the sun again, hot an' fiery +as ever. There ain't no time to waste. Take a big drink, afore I put +the stopper into the bottle." + +William, without exactly comprehending what his companion meant by the +last words, obeyed the injunction; and stretching forward over the rim +of the improvised tank, once more placed his lips to the water, and +drank copiously. Ben did the same for himself, passing several pints of +the fluid into his capacious stomach. + +Then rising to his feet with a satisfied air, and directing his +_protege_ to do the same, he set about the stowage of the water. + +William was first instructed as to the intended plan, so that he might +be able to render prompt and efficient aid; for it would require both of +them, and with all their hands, to carry it out. + +The sailor's scheme was sufficiently ingenious. It consisted in taking +up first the corners of the tarpauling, then the edges all around, and +bringing them together in the centre. This had to be done with great +care, so as not to jumble the volatile fluid contained within the +canvas, and spill it over the selvage. Some did escape, but only a very +little; and they at length succeeded in getting the tarpauling formed +into a sort of bag, puckered around the mouth. + +While Ben with both arms held the gathers firm and fast, William passed +a loop of strong cord, that had already been made into a noose for the +purpose, around the neck of the bag, close under Ben's wrists, and then +drawing the other end round one of the upright oars, he pulled upon the +cord with all his might. + +It soon tightened sufficiently to give Ben the free use of his hands; +when with a fresh loop taken around the crumpled canvas, and after a +turn or two to render it more secure, the cord was made fast. + +The tarpauling now rested upon the raft, a distended mass, like the +stomach of some huge animal coated with tar. It was necessary, however, +lest the water should leak out through the creases, to keep the top +where it was tied, uppermost; and this was effected by taking a turn or +two of the rope round the uppermost end of one of the oars, that had +served for masts, and there making a knot. By this means the great +water-sack was held in such a position that, although the contents might +"bilge" about at their pleasure, not a drop could escape out either at +the neck or elsewhere. + +Altogether they had secured a quantity of water, not less than a dozen +gallons, which Ben had succeeded in stowing to his satisfaction. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +THE PILOT-FISH. + +This opportune deliverance from the most fearful of deaths had inspired +the sailor with a hope that they might still, by some further +interference of Providence, escape from their perilous position. +Relying on this hope, he resolved to leave no means untried that might +promise to lead to its realisation. They were now furnished with a +stock of water which, if carefully hoarded, would last them for weeks. +If they could only obtain a proportionate supply of food, there would +still be a chance of their sustaining life until some ship might make +its appearance,--for, of course, they thought not of any other means of +deliverance. + +To think of food was to think of fishing for it. In the vast reservoir +of the ocean under and around them there was no lack of nourishing food, +if they could only grasp it; but the sailor well knew that the shy, +slippery denizens of the deep are not to be captured at will, and that, +with all the poor schemes they might be enabled to contrive, their +efforts to capture even a single fish might be exerted in vain. + +Still they could try; and with that feeling of hopeful confidence which +usually precedes such trials, they set about making preparations. + +The first thing was to make hooks and lines. There chanced to be some +pins in their clothing; and with these Ben soon constructed a tolerable +set of hooks. A line was obtained by untwisting a piece of rope, and +respinning it to the proper thickness; and then a float was found by +cutting a piece of wood to the proper dimensions. And for a sinker +there was the leaden bullet with which little William had of late so +vainly endeavoured to allay the pangs of thirst. The bones and fins of +the flying-fish--the only part of it not eaten--would serve for bait. +They did not promise to make a very attractive one; for there was not a +morsel of flesh left upon them; but Ben knew that there are many kinds +of fish inhabiting the great ocean that will seize at any sort of +bait,--even a piece of rag,--without considering whether it be good for +them or not. + +They had seen fish several times near the raft, during that very day; +but suffering as they were from thirst more than hunger, and despairing +of relief to the more painful appetite, they had made no attempt to +capture them. Now, however, they were determined to set about it in +earnest. + +The rain had ceased falling; the breeze no longer disturbed the surface +of the sea. The clouds had passed over the canopy of the heavens,--the +sky was clear, and the sun bright and hot as before. + +Ben standing erect upon the raft, with the baited hook in his hand, +looked down into the deep blue water. + +Even the smallest fish could have been seen many fathoms below the +surface, and far over the ocean. + +William on the other side of the raft was armed with hook and line, and +equally on the alert. + +For a long time their vigil was unrewarded. No living thing came within +view. Nothing was under their eyes save the boundless field of +ultramarine,--beautiful, but to them, at that moment, marked only by a +miserable monotony. + +They had stood thus for a full hour, when an exclamation escaping from +the lad, caused his companion to turn and look to the other side of the +raft. + +A fish was in sight. It was that which had drawn the exclamation from +the boy, who was now swinging his line in the act of casting it out. + +The ejaculation had been one of joy. It was checked on his perceiving +that the sailor did not share it. On the contrary, a cloud came over +the countenance of the latter on perceiving the fish,--whose species he +at once recognised. + +And why? for it was one of the most beautiful of the finny tribe. A +little creature of perfect form,--of a bright azure blue, with +transverse bands of deeper tint, forming rings around its body. Why did +Ben Brace show disappointment at its appearance? + +"You needn't trouble to throw out your line, little Will'm," said he, +"that ere takes no bait,--not it." + +"Why?" asked the boy. + +"Because it's something else to do than forage for itself. I dare say +its master an't far off." + +"What is it?" + +"That be the _pilot-fish_. See! turns away from us. It gone back to +him as has sent it." + +"Sent it! Who, Ben?" + +"A shark, for sarten. Didn't I tell ye? Look yonder. Two o' them, as +I live; and the biggest kind they be. Slash my timbers if I iver see +such a pair! They have fins like lug-sails. Look! the pilot's gone to +guide 'em. Hang me if they bean't a-comin' this way!" + +William had looked in the direction pointed out by his companion. He +saw the two great dorsal fins standing several feet above the water. He +knew them to be those of the _white shark_: for he had already seen +these dreaded monsters of the deep on more than one occasion. + +It was true, as Ben had hurriedly declared. The little pilot-fish, +after coming within twenty fathoms of the raft, had turned suddenly in +the water, and gone back to the sharks; and now it was seen swimming a +few feet in advance of them, as if in the act of leading them on! + +The boy was struck with something in the tone of his companion's voice, +that led him to believe there was danger in the proximity of these ugly +creatures; and to say the truth, Ben did not behold them without a +certain feeling of alarm. On the deck of a ship they might have been +regarded without any fear; but upon a frail structure like that which +supported the castaways--their feet almost on a level with the surface +of the water--it was not so very improbable that the sharks might attack +them! + +In his experience the sailor had known cases of a similar kind. It was +no matter of surprise, that he should feel uneasiness at their approach, +if not actual fear. + +But there was no time left either for him to speculate as to the +probabilities of such an attack, or for his companion to question him +about them. + +Scarcely had the last words parted from his lips, when the foremost of +the two sharks was seen to lash the water with its broad forked tail,-- +and then coming on with a rush, it struck the raft with such a force as +almost to capsize it. + +The other shark shot forward in a similar manner; but glancing a little +to one side, caught in its huge mouth the end of the dolphin-striker, +grinding off a large piece of the spar as if it had been cork-wood! + +This it swallowed almost instantaneously; and then turning once more in +the water appeared intent upon renewing the attack. + +Ben and the boy had dropped their hooks and lines,--the former +instinctively arming himself with the axe, while the latter seized upon +the spare handspike. Both stood ready to receive the second charge of +the enemy. + +It was made almost on the instant. The shark that had just attacked was +the first to return; and coming on with the velocity of an arrow, it +sprang clear above the surface, projecting its hideous jaws over the +edge of the raft. + +For a moment the frail structure was in danger of being either capsized +or swamped altogether, and then the fate of its occupants would +undoubtedly have been to become "food for sharks." + +But it was not the intention of Ben Brace or his youthful comrade to +yield up their lives without striking a blow in self-defence, and that +given by the sailor at once disembarrassed him of his antagonist. + +Throwing one arm around a mast, in order to steady himself, and raising +the light axe in the other, he struck outward and downward with all his +might. The blade of the axe, guided with an unswerving arm, fell right +upon the snout of the shark, just midway between its nostrils, cleaving +the cartilaginous flesh to the depth of several inches, and laying it +open to the bones. + +There could not have been chosen a more vital part upon which to inflict +a wound; for, huge as is the white shark, and strong and vigorous as are +all animals of this ferocious family, a single blow upon the nose with a +handspike or even a billet of wood, if laid on with a heavy hand, will +suffice to put an end to their predatory courses. + +And so was it with the shark struck by the axe of Ben Brace. As soon as +the blow had been administered, the creature rolled over on its back; +and after a fluke or two with its great forked tail, and a tremulous +shivering through its body, it lay floating upon the water motionless as +a log of wood. + +William was not so fortunate with his antagonist, though he had +succeeded in keeping it off. Striking wildly out with the handspike in +a horizontal direction, he had poked the butt end of the implement right +between the jaws of the monster, just as it raised its head over the +raft with the mouth wide open. + +The shark, seizing the handspike in its treble row of teeth, with one +shake of its head whipped it out of the boy's hands: and then rushing on +through the water, was seen grinding the timber into small fragments, +and swallowing it as if it had been so many crumbs of bread or pieces of +meat. + +In a few seconds not a bit of the handspike could be seen,--save some +trifling fragments of the fibrous wood that floated on the surface of +the water; but what gave greater gratification to those who saw them, +was the fact that the shark which had thus made "mince-meat" of the +piece of timber was itself no longer to be seen. + +Whether because it had satisfied the cravings of its appetite by that +wooden banquet, or whether it had taken the alarm at witnessing the fate +of its companion,--by much the larger of the two,--was a question of +slight importance either to Ben Brace or to William. For whatever +reason, and under any circumstances, they were but too well pleased to +be disembarrassed of its hideous presence; and as they came to the +conclusion that it had gone off for good, and saw the other one lying +with its white belly turned upwards upon the surface of the water-- +evidently dead as a herring--they could no longer restrain their voices, +but simultaneously raised them in a shout of victory. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +A LENTEN DINNER. + +The shark struck upon the snout, though killed by the blow, continued to +float near the surface of the water its fins still in motion as if in +the act of swimming. + +One unacquainted with the habits of these sea-monsters might have +supposed that it still lived, and might yet contrive to escape. Not so +the sailor, Ben Brace. Many score of its kind had Ben coaxed to take a +bait, and afterwards helped to haul over the gangway of a ship and cut +to pieces upon the deck; and Ben knew as much about the habits of these +voracious creatures as any sailor that ever crossed the wide ocean, and +much more than any naturalist that never did. He had seen a shark drawn +aboard with a great steel hook in its stomach,--he had seen its belly +ripped up with a jack-knife, the whole of the intestines taken out, then +once more thrown into the sea; and after all this rough handling he had +seen the animal not only move its fins, but actually swim off some +distance from the ship! He knew, moreover, that a shark may be cut in +twain,--have the head separated from the body,--and still exhibit signs +of vitality in both parts for many hours after the dismemberment! Talk +of the killing of a cat or an eel!--a shark will stand as much killing +as twenty cats or a bushel of eels, and still exhibit symptoms of life. + +The shark's most vulnerable part appears to be the snout,--just where +the sailor had chosen to make his hit; and a blow delivered there with +an axe, or even a handspike, usually puts a termination to the career of +this rapacious tyrant of the great deep. + +"I've knocked him into the middle o' next week," cried Ben, exultingly, +as he saw the shark heel over on its side. "It ain't goin' to trouble +us any more. Where's the other un?" + +"Gone out that way," answered the boy, pointing in the direction taken +by the second and smaller of the two sharks. "He whipped the handspike +out of my hands, and he's craunched it to fragments. See! there are +some of the pieces floating on the water!" + +"Lucky you let go, lad; else he might ha' pulled you from the raft. I +don't think he'll come back again after the reception we've gi'ed 'em. +As for the other, it's gone out o' its senses. Dash my buttons, if't +ain't goin' to sink! Ha! I must hinder that. Quick, Will'm, shy me +that piece o' sennit: we must secure him 'fore he gives clean up and +goes to the bottom. Talk o' catching fish wi' hook an' line! Aha! +This beats all your small fry. If we can secure it, we'll have fish +enough to last us through the longest Lent. There now! keep on the +other edge of the craft so as to balance me. So-so!" + +While the sailor was giving these directions, he was busy with both +hands in forming a running-noose on one end of the sennit-cord, which +William on the instant had handed over to him. It was but the work of a +moment to make the noose; another to let it down into the water; a third +to pass it over the upper jaw of the shark; a fourth to draw it taut, +and tighten the cord around the creature's teeth. The next thing done +was to secure the other end of the sennit to the upright oar; and the +carcass of the shark was thus kept afloat near the surface of the water. + +To guard against a possible chance of the creature's recovery, Ben once +more laid hold of the axe; and, leaning over the edge of the raft, +administered a series of smart blows upon its snout. He continued +hacking away, until the upper jaw of the fish exhibited the appearance +of a butcher's chopping-block; and there was no longer any doubt of the +creature being as "dead as a herring." + +"Now, Will'm," said the shark-killer, "this time we've got a fish +that'll gi'e us a fill, lad. Have a little patience, and I'll cut ye a +steak from the tenderest part o' his body; and that's just forrard o' +the tail. You take hold o' the sinnet, an' pull him up a bit,--so as I +can get at him." + +The boy did as directed; and Ben, once more bending over the edge of the +raft, caught hold of one of the caudal fins, and with his knife detached +a large flake from the flank of the fish,--enough to make an ample meal +for both of them. + +It is superfluous to say that, like the little flying-fish, the +shark-meat had to be eaten raw; but to men upon the verge of starvation +there is no inconvenience in this. Indeed, there are many tribes of +South-Sea Islanders--not such savage either--who habitually eat the +flesh of the shark--both the blue and white species--without thinking it +necessary even to warm it over a fire! Neither did the castaway English +sailor nor his young comrade think it necessary. Even had a fire been +possible, they were too hungry to have stayed for the process of +cooking; and both, without more ado, dined upon raw shark-meat. + +When they had succeeded in satisfying the cravings of hunger, and once +more refreshed themselves with a draught from their extemporised +water-bag, the castaways not only felt a relief from actual suffering, +but a sort of cheerful confidence in the future. This arose from a +conviction on their part, or at all events a strong impression, that the +hand of Providence had been stretched out to their assistance. The +flying-fish, the shower, the shark may have been accidents, it is true; +but, occurring at such a time, just in the very crisis of their +affliction, they were accidents that had the appearance of design,-- +design on the part of Him to whom in that solemn hour they had uplifted +their voices in prayer. + +It was under this impression that their spirits became naturally +restored; and once more they began to take counsel together about the +ways and means of prolonging their existence. + +It is true that their situation was still desperate. Should a storm +spring up,--even an ordinary gale,--not only would their canvas +water-cask be bilged, and its contents spilled out to mingle with the +briny billow, but their frail embarkation would be in danger of going to +pieces, or of being whelmed fathoms deep under the frothing waves. In a +high latitude, either north or south, their chance of keeping afloat +would have been slight indeed. A week, or rather only a single day, +would have been as long as they could have expected that calm to +continue; and the experienced sailor knew well enough that anything in +the shape of a storm would expose them to certain destruction. To +console him for this unpleasant knowledge, however, he also knew that in +the ocean, where they were then afloat, storms are exceedingly rare, and +that ships are often in greater danger from the very opposite state of +the atmosphere,--from _calms_. They were in that part of the Atlantic +Ocean known among the early Spanish navigators as the _Horse +Latitudes_,--so-called because the horses at that time being carried +across to the New World, for want of water in the becalmed ships, died +in great numbers, and being thrown overboard were often seen floating +upon the surface of the sea. + +A prettier and more poetical name have these same Spaniards given to a +portion of the same Atlantic Ocean,--which, from the gentleness of its +breezes, they have styled "_La Mar de las Damas_" (the Ladies' Sea). + +Ben Brace knew that in the Horse Latitudes storms were of rare +occurrence; and hence the hopefulness with which he was now looking +forward to the future. + +He was no longer inactive. If he believed in the special Interference +of Providence, he also believed that Providence would expect him to make +some exertion of himself,--such as circumstances might permit and +require. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +FLENSING A SHARK. + +The flesh of the shark, and the stock of water so singularly obtained +and so deftly stored away, might, if properly kept and carefully used, +last them for many days; and to the preservation of these stores the +thoughts of the sailor and his young companion were now specially +directed. + +For the former they could do nothing more than had been already done,-- +further than to cover the tarpauling that contained it with several +folds of the spare sail-cloth, in order that no ray of the sun should +get near it. This precaution was at once adopted. + +The flesh of the shark--now dead as mutton--if left to itself, would +soon spoil, and be unfit for food, even for starving men. It was this +reflection that caused the sailor and his _protege_ to take counsel +together as to what might be done towards preserving it. + +They were not long in coming to a decision. Shark-flesh, like that of +any other fish--like haddock, for instance, or red herrings--can be +dried in the sun; and the more readily in that sun of the torrid zone +that shone down so hotly upon their heads. The flesh only needed to be +cut into thin slices and suspended from the upright oars. The +atmosphere would soon do the rest. Thus cured, it would keep for weeks +or months; and thus did the castaways determine to cure it. + +No sooner was the plan conceived, than they entered upon its execution. +Little William again seized the cord of sennit, and drew the huge +carcass close up to the raft; while Ben once more opened the blade of +his sailor's knife, and commenced cutting off the flesh in broad +flakes,--so thin as to be almost transparent. + +He had succeeded in stripping off most of the titbits around the tail, +and was proceeding up the body of the shark to _flense_ it in a similar +fashion, when an ejaculation escaped him, expressing surprise or +pleasant curiosity. + +Little William was but too glad to perceive the pleased expression on +the countenance of his companion,--of late so rarely seen. + +"What is it, Ben?" he inquired, smilingly. + +"Look 'ee theer, lad," rejoined the sailor, placing his hand upon the +back of the boy's head, and pressing it close to the edge of the raft, +so that he could see well down into the water,--"look theer, and tell me +what you see." + +"Where?" asked William, still ignorant of the object to which his +attention was thus forcibly directed. + +"Don't you see somethin' queery stickin' to the belly of the shark,--eh, +lad?" + +"As I live," rejoined William, now perceiving "somethin'", "there's a +small fish pushing his head against the shark,--not so small either,-- +only in comparison with the great shark himself. It's about a foot +long, I should think. But what is it doing in that odd position?" + +"Sticking to the shark,--didn't I tell 'ee, lad!" + +"Sticking to the shark? You don't mean that, Ben?" + +"But I do--mean that very thing, boy. It's as fast theer as a barnacle +to a ship's copper; an' 'll stay, I hope, till I get my claws upon it,-- +which won't take very long from now. Pass a piece o' cord this way. +Quick." + +The boy stretched out his hand, and, getting hold of a piece of loose +string, reached it to his companion. Just as the snare had been made +for the shark with the piece of sennit, and with like rapidity, a noose +was constructed on the string; and, having been lowered into the water, +was passed around the body of the little fish which appeared adhering to +the belly of the shark. Not only did it so appear, but it actually was, +as was proved by the pull necessary to detach it, and which required all +the strength that lay in the strong arms of the sailor. + +He succeeded, however, in effecting his purpose; and with a pluck the +parasite fish was separated from the skin to which it had been clinging, +and, jerked upwards, was landed alive and kicking upon the raft. + +Its kicking was not allowed to continue for long. Lest it might leap +back into the water, and, sluggish swimmer as it was, escape out of +reach, Ben, with the knife which he still held unclasped in his hand, +pinned it to one of the planks, and in an instant terminated its +existence. + +"What sort of a fish is it?" asked William, as he looked upon the odd +creature thus oddly obtained. + +"Suckin'-fish," was Ben's laconic answer. + +"A sucking-fish! I never heard of one before. Why is it so-called?" + +"Because it sucks," replied the sailor. + +"Sucks what?" + +"Sharks. Didn't you see it suckin' at this 'un afore I pulled it from +the teat? Ha! ha! ha!" + +"Surely it wasn't that, Ben?" said the lad, mystified by Ben's remark. + +"Well, boy, I an't, going to bamboozle ye. All I know is that it +fastens onto sharks, and only this sort, which are called _white +sharks_; for I never seed it sticking to any o' the others,--of which +there be several kinds. As to its suckin' anythin' out o' them an' +livin' by that, I don't believe a word o' it; though they say it do so, +and that's what's given it its name. Why I don't believe it is, because +I've seed the creature stickin' just the same way to the coppered bottom +o' a ship, and likewise to the sides o' rocks under the water. Now, it +couldn't get anything out o' the copper to live upon, nor yet out o' a +rock,--could it?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Then it couldn't be a suckin' them. Besides, I've seed the stomachs o' +several cut open, and they were full of little water-creepers,--such as +there's thousands o' kinds in the sea. I warrant if we rip this 'un up +the belly, we'll find the same sort o' food in it." + +"And why does it fasten itself to sharks and ships,--can you tell that, +Ben?" + +"I've heerd the reason, and it be sensible enough,--more so than to say +that it sucks. There was a doctor as belonged in the man-o'-war where I +sarved for two years, as was larned in all such curious things. He said +that the suckin'-fish be a bad swimmer; and that I know myself to be +true. You can tell by the smallness o' its fins. Well, the doctor, he +say, it fastens on to the sharks and ships so as to get carried from +place to place, and to the rocks to rest itself. Whenever it takes a +notion, it can slip off, and go a huntin' for its prey; and then come +back again and take a fresh grip on whatever it has chosen to lodge +itself." + +"It's that curious thing along the back of its head that enables it to +hold on, isn't it?" + +"That's its sticking-machine; and, what be curious, Will'm, if you were +to try to pull it off upwards or backwards you couldn't do it wi' all +your strength, nor I neither: you must shove it forrard, as you seed me +do just now, or else pull it to pieces before it would come off." + +"I can see," said William, holding the fish up to his eyes, "that there +are rows of little teeth in that queer top-knot it's got, all turned +towards the tail. It is they, I suppose, that prevent its slipping +backwards?" + +"No doubt, lad,--no doubt it be that. But never mind what it be just +now. Let us finish flensin' o' the shark; and then if we feel hungry we +can make a meal o' the sucker,--for I can tell you it's the best kind o' +eatin'. I've ate 'em often in the South-Sea Islands, where the natives +catch 'em with hooks and lines; but I've seen them there much bigger +than this 'un,--three feet long, and more." + +And so saying, the sailor returned to the operation, thus temporarily +suspended,--the _flensing_ of the shark. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +THE SUCKING-FISH. + +The fish that had thus singularly fallen into their hands was, as Ben +had stated, the sucking-fish, _Echeneis remora_,--one of the most +curious creatures that inhabit the sea. Not so much from any +peculiarity in appearance as from the singularity of its habits. + +Its appearance, however, is sufficiently singular; and looking upon it, +one might consider the creature as being well adapted for keeping +company with the ferocious tyrant of the deep, on whom it constantly +attends. + +Its body is black and smooth, its head of a hideous form, and its fins +short and broadly spread. The mouth is very large, with the lower jaw +protruding far beyond the upper, and it is this that gives to it the +cast of feature, if we may be permitted to speak of "features" in a +fish. + +Both lips and jaws are amply provided with teeth; and the throat, +palate, and tongue are set profusely with short spines. The eyes are +dark, and set high up. The "sucker" or buckler upon the top of its head +consists of a number of bony plates, set side by side, so as to form an +oval disc, and armed along the edges with little tentacles, or teeth, as +the boy William had observed. + +His companion's account of the creature was perfectly correct, so far as +it went; but there are many other points in its "history" quite as +curious as those which the sailor had communicated. + +The fish has neither swim-bladder nor sound; and as, moreover, its fins +are of the feeblest kind, it is probably on this account that it has +been gifted with the power of adhering to other floating bodies, by way +of compensation for the above-named deficiencies. The slow and prowling +movements of the white shark, render it particularly eligible for the +purposes of the sucking-fish, either as a resting-place or a means of +conveyance from place to place; and it is well-known that the shark is +usually attended by several of these singular satellites. Other +floating objects, however, are used by the sucking-fish,--such as pieces +of timber, the keel of a ship; and it even rests itself against the +sides of submerged rocks, as the sailor had stated. It also adheres to +whales, turtles, and the larger kinds of albacore. + +Its food consists of shrimps, marine insects, fragments of molluscous +animals, and the like; but it obtains no nutriment through the +sucking-apparatus, nor does it in any way injure the animal to which it +adheres. It only makes use of the sucker at intervals; at other times, +swimming around the object it attends, and looking out for prey of its +own choice, and on its own account. While swimming it propels itself by +rapid lateral movements of the tail, executed awkwardly and with a +tortuous motion. + +It is itself preyed upon by other fish,--diodons and albacores; but the +shark is merciful to it, as to the pilot-fish, and never interferes with +it. + +Sucking-fish are occasionally seen of a pure white colour associating +with the black ones, and also attending upon the shark. They are +supposed to be merely varieties or _albinos_. + +When sharks are hooked and drawn on board a ship, the sucking-fishes +that have been swimming around them will remain for days, and even +weeks, following the vessel throughout all her courses. They can then +be taken by a hook and line, baited with a piece of flesh; and they will +seize the bait when let down in the stillest water. In order to secure +them, however, it is necessary, after they have been hooked, to jerk +them quickly out of the water; else they will swim rapidly to the side +of the ship, and fix their sucker so firmly against the wood, as to defy +every attempt to dislodge them. + +There are two well-known species of sucking-fish,--the common one +described, and another of larger size, found in the Pacific, the +_Echeneis australis_. The latter is a better shaped fish than its +congener, can swim more rapidly, and is altogether of a more active +habit. + +Perhaps the most interesting fact in the history of the _Echeneis_ is +its being the same fish as that known to the Spanish navigators as the +_remora_, and which was found by Columbus in possession of the natives +of Cuba and Jamaica, _tamed, and trained to the catching of turtles_! + +Their mode of using it was by attaching a cord of palm sennit to a ring +already fastened round the tail, at the smallest part between the +ventral and caudal fins. It was then allowed to swim out into the sea; +while the other end of the cord was tied to a tree, or made fast to a +rock upon the beach. The _remora_ being thus set--just as one would set +a baited hook--was left free to follow its own inclinations,--which +usually were to fasten its sucking-plates against the shell of one of +the great sea-turtles,--so famed at aldermanic feasts and prized by +modern _gourmets_, and equally relished by the ancient Cuban _caciques_. + +At intervals, the turtle-catcher would look to his line; and when the +extra strain upon it proved that the _remora_ was _en rapport_ with a +turtle, he would haul in, until the huge _chelonian_ was brought within +striking distance of his heavy club; and thus would the capture be +effected. + +Turtles of many hundreds' weight could be taken in this way; for the +pull upon the _remora_ being towards the tail,--and therefore in a +backward direction,--the sucking-fish could not be detached, unless by +the most violent straining. + +It is a fact of extreme singularity, that a similar method of capturing +turtles is practised on the coast of Mozambique at the present day, and +by a people who never could have had any communication with the +aborigines of the West Indian Islands, much less have learnt from them +this curious craft of angling with a fish! + +A smaller species of the sucking-fish is found in the Mediterranean,-- +the _Echeneis remora_. It was well-known to the ancient writers; +though, like most creatures gifted with any peculiarity, it was oftener +the subject of fabulous romance than real history. It was supposed to +have the power of arresting the progress of a ship, by attaching itself +to the keel and pulling in a contrary direction! A still more +ridiculous virtue was attributed to it: in the belief that, if any +criminal in dread of justice could only succeed in inducing the judge to +partake of a portion of its flesh, he would be able to obtain a long +delay before the judge could pronounce the verdict of his condemnation! + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +A SAIL OF SHARK-FLESH. + +It wanted but a little while of sunset, when the sailor and his young +comrade had finished flensing the shark. The raft now exhibited quite +an altered appearance. Between the two upright oars several pieces of +rope had been stretched transversely, and from these hung suspended the +broad thin flitches of the shark's flesh, that at a distance might have +been mistaken for some sort of a sail. Indeed, they acted as such; for +their united discs presented a considerable breadth of surface to the +breeze, which had sprung up as the evening approached, and the raft by +this means moved through the water with considerable rapidity. + +There was no effort made to steer it. The idea of reaching land was +entirely out of the question. Their only hope of salvation lay in their +being seen from a ship; and as a ship was as likely to come from one +direction as another, it mattered not to which of the thirty-two points +of the compass their raft might be drifting. Yes, it _did_ matter. So +thought Ben Brace, on reflection. + +It might be of serious consequence, should the raft make way to the +westward. Somewhere in that direction--how far neither could guess-- +that greater raft, with its crew of desperate ruffians,--those drunken +would-be cannibals,--must be drifting about, like themselves, at the +mercy of winds and waves: perhaps more than themselves suffering the +dire extreme of thirst and hunger. Perhaps, ere then, one of their own +number may have been forced to submit to the horrid fate which they had +designed for little William; and which, but for the interference of his +generous protector, would most certainly have befallen him. + +Should he again fall into their clutches, there would be but slight +chance of a second escape. His protector knew that. Ben knew, +moreover, that his own life would be equally sure of being sacrificed to +the resentment of the ribald crew, with whom he had formerly associated. + +No wonder, as he felt the breeze blowing on his cheek, that he looked +towards the setting sun, to ascertain in what direction the raft was +being borne. No wonder that his anxious glance became changed to a look +of satisfaction when he perceived that they were moving eastward. + +"To the east'ard it are, sure enough," said he, "and that be curious +too. 'T an't often I've see'd the wind blow from the westward in these +latitudes. Only another catspaw in the middle o' the calm. 'T won't +last long; though it won't matter, so long's it don't turn and blow us +t'other way." + +The expressed wish not to be blown "t'other way" needed no explanation. +William understood what that meant. The fearful scene of the preceding +day was fresh in his memory. That scene, where half a score of +fiend-like monsters, threatening his life, were kept at bay by one +heroic man,--that was a tableau too terrible to be soon forgotten. + +Nor had he forgotten it, even for a moment. Perhaps, during that brief +conflict with the sharks, the nearer danger may have driven it for an +interval out of his mind; but that over, the dread remembrance returned +again; and every now and then,--even while engaged in the varied labours +that had occupied them throughout the day,--in a sort of waking dream he +had recalled that fearful vision. Often--every few minutes in fact--had +his eyes been turned involuntarily towards the west,--where, instead of +looking hopefully for a ship, his anxious glance betrayed a fear that +any dark object might be seen in that direction. + +On finishing their task, both were sufficiently fatigued,--the strong +sailor as well as his feebler companion. The former still kept his +feet, anxiously scanning the horizon; while the latter laid himself +along the bare boards of the raft. + +"Little Will'm," said the sailor, looking down at the boy, and speaking +in gentle tones, "you'd better spread the sail under ye, and get some +sleep. There be no use in both o' us keeping awake. I'll watch till it +gets dark, an' then I'll join you. Go to sleep, lad! go to sleep!" + +William was too wearied to make objection. Drawing the skirt of the +sail over the raft, he lay down upon it, and found sleep almost as soon +is he had composed himself into the attitude to enjoy it. + +The sailor remained standing erect; now sweeping the horizon with his +glance, now bending his eye restlessly upon the water as it rippled +along the edge of the raft, and again returning to that distant +scrutiny,--so oft repeated, so oft unrewarded. + +Thus occupied, he passed the interval of twilight,--short in these +latitudes; nor did he terminate his vigil until darkness had descended +upon the deep. + +It promised to be a dark, moonless night. Only a few feebly gleaming +stars, thinly scattered over the firmament, enabled him to distinguish +the canopy of the sky from the waste of waters that surrounded him. +Even a ship under full spread of canvas could not have been seen, though +passing at a cable's length from the raft. + +It was idle to continue the dreary vigil; and having arrived at this +conviction, the sailor stretched himself alongside his slumbering +companion, and, like the latter, was soon relieved from his +long-protracted anxiety by the sweet oblivion of sleep. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE. + +For several hours both remained wrapped in slumber, oblivious of the +perils through which they had passed,--equally unconscious of the +dangers that surrounded and still lay before them. + +What a picture was there,--with no human eye to behold it! Two human +forms, a sailor and a sailor-boy, lying side by side upon a raft scarce +twice the length of their own bodies, in the midst of a vast ocean, +landless and limitless as infinity itself both softly and soundly +asleep,--as if reposing upon the pillow of some secure couch, with the +firm earth beneath and a friendly roof extended over them! Ah, it was a +striking tableau, that frail craft with its sleeping crew,--such a +spectacle as is seldom seen by human eye! + +It was fortunate that for many hours they continued to enjoy the sweet +unconsciousness of sleep,--if such may be termed enjoyment. It was long +after midnight before either awoke: for there was nothing to awake them. +The breeze had kept gentle, and constant in the same quarter; and the +slight noise made by the water, as it went "swishing" along the edge of +the raft, instead of rousing them acted rather as a lullaby to their +rest. The boy awoke first. He had been longer asleep; and his nervous +system, refreshed and restored to its normal condition, had become more +keenly sensitive to outward impressions. Some big, cold rain-drops +falling upon his face had recalled him to wakefulness. + +Was it spray tossed up by the spars ploughing through the water? + +No. It was rain from the clouds. The canopy overhead was black as ink; +but while the lad was scrutinising it, a gleam of lightning suddenly +illumined both sea and sky, and then all was dark as before. + +Little William would have restored his cheek to its sail-cloth pillow +and gone to sleep again. He was not dismayed by the silent lightning,-- +for it was that sort that had flickered over the sky. No more did he +mind the threatening rainclouds. His shirt had been soaked too often, +by showers from the sky and spray from the sea, for him to have any +dread of a ducking. + +It was not that,--neither the presence of the lightning nor the prospect +of the rain,--that kept him awake; but something he had heard,--or +fancied he had heard,--something that not only restrained him from +returning to repose, but inspired him with a fear that robbed him of an +inclination to go to sleep again. + +What was it he had heard or fancied? A noise,--a _voice_! + +Was it the scream of the sea-mew, the shriek of the frigate-bird, or the +hoarse note of the nelly? + +None of these. The boy-sailor was acquainted with the cries of all +three, and of many other sea-birds besides. It was not the call of a +bird that had fallen so unexpectedly on his ear, but a note of far +different intonation. It more resembled a voice,--a human voice,--the +voice of a child! Not of a very young child,--an infant,--but more like +that of a girl of eight or ten years of age! + +Nor was it a cry of distress, though uttered in a melancholy tone. It +seemed to the ear of the lad--freshly awakened from his sleep--like +words spoken in conversation. + +But it could not be what he had taken it for! Improbable,--impossible! +He had been deluded by a fancy; or it might be the mutterings of some +ocean bird with whose note he was unacquainted. + +Should he awake his companion and tell him of it? A pity, if it should +prove to be nothing, or only the chattering of a sea-gull. His brave +protector had need of rest. Ben would not be angry to be awaked; but +the sailor would be sure to laugh at him if he were to say he had heard +a little girl talking at that time of night in the middle of the +Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps Ben might say it was a mermaid, and mock him in +that sort of style? + +No: he would not run the risk of being ridiculed, even by his best of +friends. Better let the thing pass, and say nothing about it. + +Little William had arrived at this resolution, and had more than half +determined to treat the sound he had heard as an _aurical_ delusion. He +had even replaced his cheek upon the sail-cloth pillow, when the very +same sound again fill upon his ear,--this time more distinctly heard, as +if either the utterance had been clearer or the being that made it was +nearer! + +If it was not the voice of a girl,--a very young girl,--then the +boy-sailor had never listened to the prattling of his younger sister, or +the conversation of his little female playmates. If it was a young +mermaid, then most assuredly could mermaids talk: for the sound was +exactly like a string or series of words uttered in conversation! + +Ben must be aroused from his slumber. It could not be an illusion. +Either a talking mermaid, or a little girl, was within earshot of the +raft. + +There was no help for it: Ben must be aroused. + +"Ben! Ben!" + +"Ho--hah--ow--aw--what's the row?--seven bells, I bean't on the +dog-watch. Hi, hi, oh! it's you, little Will'm. What is't, lad?" + +"Ben, I hear something." + +"Hear somethin'! Well, what o' that, boy? Theer 's allers somethin' to +be heerd: even here, in the middle o' the Atlantic. Ah! boy, I was +dreamin' a nice dream when ye woke me. I thought I war back on the ole +frigate. 'T wa'nt so nice, eyther, for I thought the bos'n war roustin' +me up for my watch on deck. Anyhow, would a been better than this watch +here. Heerd something ye say? What d'ye mean, little Will'm?" + +"I heard a voice, Ben. I think it was a voice." + +"Voice--o' a human, do ye mean?" + +"It sounded like that of a little girl." + +"Voice o' a little girl! Shiver my timbers, lad, you're goin' demented! +Put yer face close to mine. Let me see ye, boy! Are ye in yer senses, +Will'm?" + +"I am, Ben. I'm sure I heard what I've said. Twice I heard it. The +first time I wasn't sure; but just now I heard it again, and if--" + +"If there hadn't been gulls, an' boobies, an' Mother Carey's chickens, +as squeals and chitters just like little childer, I'd a been puzzled at +what ye be a tellin' me; but as I knows there be all o' these creators +in the middle o' the broad ocean,--and mermaids too, I dare say,--then, +ye see, little Will'm, I must disbelieve that ye heard anything more +than the voice of--a man, by--!" + +As the sailor terminated his speech with this terrible emphasis, he +started into an upright attitude, and listened with all his ears for +another utterance of that harsh monotone that, borne upon the breeze and +rising above the "sough" of the disturbed water, could easily be +distinguished as the _voice of a man_. + +"We're lost, Will'm!" cried he, without waiting for a repetition of the +sound; "we're lost. It's the voice of Le Gros. The big raft is a +bearin' down upon us wi' them bloodthirsty cannibals we thought we'd got +clear o'. It's no use tryin' to escape. Make up your mind to it, lad; +we've got to die! we've got to die!" + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +OTHER WAIFS. + +Had it been daylight, instead of a very dark night, Ben Brace and his +youthful comrade would have been less alarmed by the voices that came up +the wind. Daylight would have discovered to them an object, or rather +collection of objects, which, instead of repelling, would have attracted +them nearer. + +It was not the great raft that was drifting to leeward, nor was it the +voice of Le Gros or any of his wicked companions, that had been heard; +though, in the excitement of their fears, that was the first thought of +the two castaways. + +Could their eyes have penetrated the deep obscurity that shrouded the +sea, they would have beheld a number of objects, like themselves, adrift +upon the water, and like them, at the mercy of the winds and waves. +They would have seen pieces of timber, black and charred with fire; +fragments of broken spars, with sails and cordage attached and trailing +after them; here and there a cask or barrel, sunk to the level of the +surface by the weight of its contents; pieces of packing-cases, torn +asunder as if by some terrible explosion; cabin-chairs, coops, oars, +handspikes, and other implements of the mariner's calling,--all bobbing +about on the bosom of the blue deep, and carried hither and thither by +the arbitrary oscillations of the breeze. + +These various objects were not all huddled up together, but scattered +unequally over a space of more than a square mile in extent. Had it +been daylight, so that the sailor could have seen them, as they appeared +mottling the bright surface of the sea, he would have experienced no +difficulty in determining their character. At a glance he would have +recognised the _debris_ of the burnt ship, from which he and his +companion had so narrowly escaped,--the slave-bark _Pandora_. + +He would have looked upon these objects with no very great surprise, but +in all likelihood with a feeling of considerable satisfaction: as +offering the means for recruiting the strength of his own slight +embarkation, which was barely sufficient to sustain the weight of +himself and his companion, and certainly not strong enough to withstand +the assault of the most moderate of storms. + +In the midst of the "waifs" above enumerated, however, there was one not +yet named,--one that differed greatly from all the rest,--and which, had +it been seen by them, would have caused extreme surprise both to Ben +Brace and little William. + +It was a raft, not a great deal larger than their own, but altogether of +different construction. A number of planks most of them charred by +fire, with a sofa, a bamboo chair, and some other articles of furniture, +had been rudely bound together by ropes. These things, of themselves, +would have made but a very clumsy craft, no better for navigating the +great ocean than that upon which Ben and the boy were themselves +embarked. But the buoyancy of the former was secured by a contrivance +of which the sailor had not had the opportunity of availing himself. +Around its edge were ranged hogsheads or water-casks, evidently empty. +They were lashed to the plank; and being bunged up against the influx of +the water, kept the whole structure afloat, so that it would have +carried a ton or two without sinking below the surface. + +There was a smaller cask floating alongside, attached to the timbers by +a piece of rope that was tightly looped around the swell. But this +could not have been designed to increase the buoyancy of the raft: since +it was itself almost submerged, evidently by the weight of something it +contained. + +Such a congeries of objects might have drifted side by side by chance, +or the caprice of the currents; but they could not have tied themselves +together in such fashion. There was design in the arrangement; and in +the midst of the circle of empty hogsheads might have been seen the +contriver of this curious craft. He was, of course, a human being, and +a man; but such an one as, under any circumstances, would arrest the +attention of the beholder; much more in the singular situation in which +he was then met with. He was a black man, in the fullest sense of the +word; a true negro, with a skin shining like ebony; a skull of large +size, and slightly square in shape, covered with a thick crop of curling +wool, so close and short as to appear _felted_ into the skin. A brace +of broad ears stood prominently out from the sides of his head; and +extending almost from one to the other, was a wide-gaping mouth, formed +by a pair of lips of huge thickness, protruding far forward, so as to +give to the countenance those facial outlines characteristic of the +chimpanzee or gorilla. + +Notwithstanding his somewhat abnormal features, the expression of the +negro's face was far from being hideous. It was not even disagreeable. +A double row of white teeth, gleaming between the purplish lips, could +be exhibited upon ordinary occasions in a pleasant smile; and the +impression derived from looking upon the countenance was, that the owner +of it was rather good-natured than otherwise. Just then, as he sat upon +the raft, gazing over the bulwark of hogsheads, its expression was one +of profound and sombre melancholy. No wonder! + +The negro was not alone. Another individual shared with him the +occupancy of the raft;--one differing from him in appearance as Hyperion +from the Satyr. A few feet from him, and directly before his face, was +a little girl, apparently about ten or twelve years of age. She was +seated, or rather cowering, among the timbers of the raft, upon a piece +of tarpauling that had been spread over them, her eyes bent upon her +black companion, though occasionally straying, with listless glance, +over the sombre surface of the sea. Although so young, her countenance +appeared sad and despondent, as if under the belief that there was +little hope of escape from the fearful situation in which she was +placed, and as if her little spirit had long ago surrendered to despair. + +Though not a negro like her companion, the girl could scarce be called +_white_. Her complexion was of that hue known as olive; but her hair, +although curling, hung in long locks down over her shoulders; and the +crimson hue deeply tinting her cheeks told that in her blood there was +more Caucasian than negro. + +Any one who had visited the western coast of Africa, on seeing this +little girl, would easily have recognised in her features the type of +that mixed race which has resulted from long intercourse between the +Portuguese "colonists" and the sable indigenes of the soil. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +HOW SNOWBALL ESCAPED FROM THE SLAVER. + +On this curious embarkation, drifting about amid the remains of the +wrecked ship, there were only the two human figures,--the negro and the +little girl. It is superfluous to say that they were also a portion of +the wreck itself,--other castaways who had, so far, succeeded in saving +themselves from the fearful doom that had overtaken, no doubt, every one +of the wretched beings composing the _cargo_ of the slaver. + +The negro upon the raft, though black as the blackest of his unfortunate +countrymen, was not among the number of those who had been carried as +_freight_. On the contrary, he was one of the crew,--the lord of the +caboose, and known upon the slave-bark by the satirical _soubriquet_ of +"Snowball." + +Although originally a slave from Africa, and by race a Coromantee, +Snowball had long been in the enjoyment of his liberty; and, as cook or +steward, had seen service in scores of ships, and circumnavigated the +globe in almost every latitude where circumnavigation was possible. + +Though not naturally of a wicked disposition, he was by no means +particular as to the company he kept, or the sort of ship he sailed +in,--so long as the wages were good and the store-room well supplied; +and as these conditions are usually found on board of a slaver, it was +not Snowball's first voyage in a vessel of the kind. It is true that he +had never sailed in company with a more ribald crew than that of the +_Pandora_; but it is only justice to say, that, long before the fatal +interruption of that voyage, even he had become tired of their +companionship, and had been almost as eager to get away from the ship as +Ben Brace or little William. + +He, too, had been deterred from attempting to escape while upon the +African coast, by the knowledge that such an attempt would have been +worse than idle. In all likelihood it would have ended in his being +captured by his own countrymen,--or, at all events, by people of his own +colour,--and sold once more into that very slavery from which he had +formerly succeeded in emancipating himself. + +Though Snowball's morality was far from being immaculate, there was one +virtue which he was not wanting,--gratitude. But for the possession of +this, he might have been alone upon the raft, and, perhaps, less caring +in what direction the winds and waves might carry him. As it was, his +sole thought and anxiety was about his little companion, whose safety +was as dear to him as his own. + +It will be asked why Snowball felt this unselfish solicitude. The child +could not be his own? Complexion, features, everything forbade the +supposition that there could be anything of kinship between her and her +sable protector. + +Nor was there the slightest. On the contrary, the little girl was the +daughter of one who had once been Snowball's greatest enemy,--the man +who had sold him into slavery; but who had afterwards won the negro's +gratitude by restoring to him his freedom. This person had formerly +owned a trading fort on the coast of Africa, but of late years had been +a resident of Rio in Brazil. His daughter, born in the former country, +previous to his leaving it, was crossing the great ocean to rejoin him +in his new home in the western world. Hence her presence on board the +_Pandora_, where she had been a passenger under the protection of +Snowball. + +And well had the negro performed his duty as protector. When all the +others had forsaken the ship, and the flames were fast spreading over +her decks, the faithful negro had gone below, and, rousing the girl from +her sleep,--for she had been slumbering unconscious of the danger,--had +borne her amidst flames and smoke, at the imminent risk of his own life, +and passing through the cabin windows with his burden in his arms, he +had dropped down into the sea under the stern of the burning bark. + +Being an excellent swimmer, he had kept afloat for some minutes, +sustaining both himself and his burden by his own strength; but after a +while he succeeded in clutching on to the davit-tackle by which the gig +had been let down into the water, and having passed his foot through a +loop in the end of it, he remained half suspended, half afloat on the +water. Soon after came the explosion, caused by the ignition of the +gunpowder; and as the vessel was blown to pieces, the sea around became +strewed with fragments of shattered timber, cabin furniture, sea-chests, +and the like. Laying hold on those pieces that were nearest, he +succeeded in forming a rude sort of raft, upon which he and his +_protege_ were enabled to pass the remainder of the night. + +When morning dawned, Snowball and the little Lalee--such was the name of +the child--were the only beings who appeared to have survived the +catastrophe,--the wretched creatures who at the last moment had escaped +from the "'tween-decks" were no longer in existence. + +Having been brought from the interior of the African continent,--and +from a district where there are no great lakes or rivers,--but few of +them could swim; and those few had become the prey of the sharks, that +in scores were swimming around the frail craft. As the sun rose over +the ocean, and lit up the scene of that terrible tragedy, Snowball saw +not a living creature save his own _protege_, the sharks, and their +satellites. + +The negro knew, however, that the _Pandora's_ own people had escaped. +He had witnessed the clandestine departure of the gig, containing the +skipper and his confederates. + +This he had seen, while gazing through the windows of the cabin, +previous to launching himself upon that last desperate leap. He had +also been a witness to the departure of the great raft carrying the +crew. + +It may appear strange that he did not swim towards it, and share the +fortunes of his former associates. Why he did not do so is easily +explained. By an accident, arising from his own negligence, the ship +had been set on fire. He was aware of this; and he knew also that both +captain and crew were equally cognisant of the fact. The former, just +after the discovery, assisted by the brutal mate, had administered to +him (Snowball) such a chastisement as he would not soon forget; while +the crew, on becoming acquainted with the circumstance, were upon the +point of tossing him into the sea; and would no doubt have carried their +design into execution, but for the presence of the appalling danger +impelling them to look to their own safety. The negro knew, therefore, +that, were he to seek safety on the great raft, it would only be to +throw himself into merciless hands, certain to spurn him back with +vengeful indignation, or fling him into the jaws of the hideous monsters +already swimming around the ship, and quartering the sea in every +direction. + +For this reason had Snowball chosen to trust to his own strength,--to +chance,--to anything rather than the mercy of his old associates, with +whom, for a long period past, he had been far from a favourite. + +Perhaps it had turned out for the best. Had he succeeded in reaching +the great raft, and been permitted to share with its occupants their +chances of safety, it is more than probable that the little Lalee might +have become the victim of that horrid attempt from which the little +William had so narrowly escaped! + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +SNOWBALL AMID THE DRIFT. + +The adventures of Snowball and his _protege_, from the blowing up of the +_Pandora_ until six suns had risen and gone down over the ocean, if not +so varied as those of Ben Brace and his _protege_, were nevertheless of +sufficient interest to deserve a brief narration. + +Supported by the few sticks which he had been able to draw together, he +had remained during the rest of the night in the midst of the floating +fragments. + +He had listened to the wild shouts of vengeful rage, proceeding from the +throats of the slaves as they clutched at the great raft, and were +beaten back by those who occupied it. He had seen the broad sail +suddenly hoisted, and the dark mass gradually gliding away over the +ocean. He had heard many an agonising yell as, one by one, the few +strong swimmers who survived the rest either sank by exhaustion or were +dragged down in the jaws of the numerous sharks; until, the last shriek +having sounded in his ears, all became silent as the tomb, while the +sombre surface of the sea once more lay motionless around him. Even the +ravening monsters, for a moment, seemed to have forsaken the spot,--as +if each, having secured a sufficient prey, had gone down to devour it +undisturbed in the dark unfathomed caverns of the deep. + +When morning dawned upon the scene, although many objects met the eye of +the negro and his companion, there was no human being within sight; and +Snowball knew that, with the exception of the six men who had rowed off +in the gig, and the crew upon the great raft, there were no other +survivors of the slaver. + +The crew having spread a sail to get out of reach of the drowning +wretches who were clutching at their raft, the latter was soon carried +out of sight; while the six in the gig had rowed off as fast as they +were able, in order to get out of reach of their own companions! For +these reasons, when day broke over the ocean, neither boat nor raft were +visible from the spot where the catastrophe had occurred. + +It may appear strange that none of the living cargo of the slaver had +succeeded in saving themselves, by clinging to some fragment of the +wreck; and Snowball thought so at the time. + +The truth was, that those who could swim had struck out after the raft, +and had followed it so far that they were not able to swim back to the +burning vessel; while the others, in the wild terror produced by the +proximity of the flames, had leaped despairingly into the sea, and sunk +upon the instant. + +The early sunbeams, as they fell slantingly over the surface of the sea, +told the negro that he was alone,--alone with the little Lalee,--alone +in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,--afloat upon a few sticks,--without +a morsel of food to eat, without a drop of water to drink! + +It was a terrible situation,--sufficient to produce despair even in the +stoutest heart. + +But Snowball was not one of the despairing sort. He had been too often +in peril of life--both by sea and land--to be unnerved even in that +dread hour; and instead of permitting his spirits to become prostrated, +he bethought him of how he might make the best of the circumstances by +which he was surrounded. + +An object that came under his eye, just as the day began to break, +kindled within him a faint gleam of hope, and urged to making an effort +for the salvation of himself and his helpless companion. This object +was a small keg, or beaker, which chanced to be floating near him, and +which, from some mark upon it, Snowball recognised. He knew that it had +been standing in a corner of the caboose, previous to the blowing up of +the bark; and, moreover, that it contained several gallons of fresh +water, which he had himself surreptitiously abstracted from the common +stock, previous to the time that the slaver's crew had agreed to being +put upon rations. + +It was but the work of a minute to secure this keg, and attach it by a +strong cord to the piece of timber on which the ex-cook was seated +astride. + +But for this unexpected supply of water Snowball might probably have +yielded to despair. Without water to drink he could not have reckoned +on a long lease of life,--either for himself or his _protege_. So +opportunely had the keg come before his eyes as to seem a Providential +interference; and the belief or fancy that it was so stimulated him to a +further search among the fragments of the shattered ship. + +There were many queer things around him,--like himself bobbing about +upon the tiny waves. One, however, soon monopolised his attention; and +that was a barrel of somewhat flimsy structure, and about the size of +those usually employed for carrying flour. Snowball recognised it also +as an old acquaintance in the store-room, and knew that it was filled +with the best kind of biscuit,--a private stock belonging to the +captain. + +Its contents could not fail to be saturated with salt-water, for the +barrel was not water-tight; but the ex-cook could dry them in the sun, +and render them, if not palatable, at least eatable. + +The biscuit-barrel was soon fished up out of the water, and placed high +and dry upon the little raft. + +Snowball was next struck with the necessity of improving the quality of +his craft, by giving it increase both in size and strength. With this +intention--after having possessed himself of an oar, out of several that +were adrift--he commenced paddling about among the floating fragments, +here and there picking up such pieces as appeared best suited to his +purpose. + +In a short while he succeeded in collecting a sufficient number of spars +and other pieces of timber,--among which figured a portion of his own +old tenement, the caboose,--to form a raft as large as he might require; +and to his great satisfaction he saw around him the very things that +would render it _seaworthy_. Bobbing about on the waves, and at no +great distance, were half a dozen empty water-casks. There had been too +many of them aboard the slaver: since their emptiness was the original +cause of the catastrophe that had ensued. But there were not too many +for Snowball's present purpose; and, after paddling first to one and +then another, he secured each in turn, and lashed them to his raft, in +such fashion, that the great hogsheads, sitting higher in the water than +the timbers of the raft, formed a sort of parapet around it. + +This task accomplished, he proceeded to collect from the wreck such +other articles as he fancied might be of service to him; and, thus +occupied, he spent several days on the spot where the _Pandora_ had gone +to pieces. + +The slight breezes that arose from time to time, and again subsided, had +not separated his raft from the other objects still left floating near. +In whatever direction they went, so went he: since all were drifting +together. + +The idea had never occurred to the negro to set up a sail and endeavour +to get away from the companionship of the inanimate objects around +him,--souvenirs as they were of a fearful disaster. Or rather it had +occurred to him, and was rejected as unworthy of being entertained. +Snowball, without knowing much of the theory of navigation, had +sufficient practical acquaintance with the great Atlantic Ocean,-- +especially that part of it where lies the track of the dreaded "middle +passage,"--long remembered by the transported slave,--Snowball, I say, +was sufficiently acquainted with his present whereabouts, to know that a +sail set upon his raft, and carrying him hither and thither, would not +add much to the chances of his being rescued from a watery grave. His +only hope lay in being picked up by some passing vessel; and, feeling +convinced of this, he made no effort to go one way or the other, but +suffered himself to be drifted about, along with the other waifs of the +wreck, whithersoever it pleased the winds or the currents of the ocean +to carry him. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +SNOWBALL AT SEA ON A HENCOOP. + +For six days had Snowball been leading this sort of life, along with the +little Lalee,--subsisting partly on the sea-steeped biscuit found in the +barrel, and partly upon other provisions which had turned up among the +drift; while the precious water contained in the keg had hitherto kept +them from suffering the pangs of thirst. + +During these six days he had never wholly surrendered himself up to +despair. It was not the first, by several times, for the old sea-cook +to have suffered shipwreck; nor was it his first time to be cast away in +mid-ocean. Once had he been blown overboard in a storm, and left +behind,--the ship, from the violence of the wind, having been unable to +tack round and return to his rescue. Being an excellent swimmer, he had +kept afloat, buffeting with the huge billows for nearly an hour. Of +course, in the end, he must have gone to the bottom, as the place where +the incident occurred was hundreds of miles from any land. But just as +he was on the point of giving in, a hencoop came drifting past, to which +he at once attached himself, and this being fortunately of sufficient +size to sustain his weight, hindered him from sinking. + +Though he knew that the hencoop had been thrown out of the ship by some +of his comrades, after he had gone overboard, the ship herself was no +longer in sight; and the unlucky swimmer, notwithstanding the help given +him by the hencoop, must eventually have perished among the waves; but +the storm having subsided, and the wind suddenly changing into the +opposite quarter, the vessel was wafted back on her old track, and +passing within hail of Snowball, his comrades succeeded in rescuing him +from his perilous situation. + +With the retrospect of such an experience,--and Snowball could look back +upon many such,--he was not the man to yield easily to despair. On the +contrary, he now acted as if he believed that there was still not only +some hope, but a considerable chance of being delivered from the dilemma +in which the late disaster of the _Pandora_ had placed him. + +Scarce an hour during the six days had he permitted to pass in idleness. +As already stated, he had collected ample materials from the wreck +floating around him. Out of these he had formed a good-sized raft, +having spent much time and labour in giving it strength and security. +This accomplished, and all the provisions he could find safely stored +upon it, he had devoted the rest of his time to fishing. + +There were many fish in the neighbourhood of the wreck. Fearful fish +they were too: for they were sharks: the same that had made such havoc +among the unfortunate creatures who had constituted the cargo of the +slaver. These voracious monsters,--though satiated for a time with +their human prey,--had not forsaken the spot where the _Pandora_ had +gone to pieces; but on the square mile of surface strewed by the +floating fragments of the wreck they could still be seen in pairs, and +sometimes in larger numbers, with their huge sail-like fins projecting +high above the water, veering about as if once more hungry, and +quartering the sea in search of fresh victims. + +Snowball had not succeeded in capturing any of the sharks, though he had +spared no pains in endeavouring to do so. There were other large fish, +however, that had made their appearance in the proximity of his raft, +attracted thither by the common prospect of food promised by the wreck +of the slaver. There were albacores, and bonitos, and dolphins, and +many other kinds of ocean fish, rarely seen, or only upon such +melancholy occasions. With a long-handled harpoon, which Snowball had +succeeded in securing, he was enabled to strike several of these +creatures; so that by the evening of the sixth day, his larder was +considerably increased,--comprising, in the way of fish, an albacore, a +brace of bonitos, with three satellites of the sharks,--a pilot-fish and +two sucking-fish. + +All these had been ripped open and disembowelled, after which their +flesh, cut into thin slices, and spread out on the tops of the empty +water-casks that surrounded the raft, was in process of being cured by +drying in the sun. + +Befriended by the fine weather, Snowball had succeeded, one way and +another, in accumulating no mean store of provisions; and, so far as +food went, he felt confident, both for himself and his companion, of +being able to hold out not only for days, but for weeks or even months. + +He felt equal confidence in regard to their stock of water. Having +gauged the keg in his own rude way, and satisfied himself as to the +quantity of its contents, he had made a calculation of how long it might +last, and found that by a careful economy it could be depended upon for +a period of several weeks. + +Reposing upon these pleasant data, on the night of the sixth day he had +gone to rest with a feeling of confidence that soon enticed his spirit +into the profoundest slumbers. + +Not that Snowball had gone without sleep during the other five nights +spent upon his raft. He had slept a little on each of them. Only a +little, however; for, as most of them had been moonlight nights, he had +kept awake during the greater portion of each, on the lookout over the +surface of the ocean, lest some ship, sailing near, might glide past +silently and unseen, and so deprive him of a chance of being picked up. + +The little Lalee had also borne part in these nocturnal vigils,--taking +her turn when Snowball became too weary to keep awake; and so, in +alternate watches, had the two been in the habit of tiring out the long +hours of the night. To this practice the sixth night had proved an +exception. There was no moon in the sky; there were no stars; not a +glimmer of light, either in the firmament of the heavens or on the face +of the deep. The sky above and the sea below were both of one colour,-- +the hue of pitch. On such a night it was idle to keep watch. A ship +might have passed within a cable's length of the raft, and still +remained unseen; and, filled with this conviction, both Snowball and his +companion, after the night had fairly closed over them, stretched their +bodies along the pieces of sail-cloth that formed their respective +couches, and surrendered their spirits to the sweet enchantment of +sleep. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE FLASH OF LIGHTNING. + +Snowball began to snore almost as soon as he had closed his eyelids, and +as if the shutting of his eyes had either occasioned or strengthened the +current of breath through his nostrils. + +And such a sound as the snore of the Coromantee was rarely heard upon +the ocean,--except in the "spouting" of a whale or the "blowing" of a +porpoise. + +It did not wake the little Lalee. She had become accustomed to the +snoring of Snowball,--which, instead of being a disturber, acted rather +as a lullaby to her rest. + +It was only after both had been asleep for many hours after midnight,-- +in fact when Lalee was herself sleeping less soundly, and when a snore, +more prolonged and prodigious than any that had preceded it, came +swelling through the nostrils of the sea-cook,--it was only then that +the young girl was awakened. + +Becoming aware of what had awakened her, she would have gone to sleep +again; but just as she was about re-composing herself upon her +sail-cloth couch, a sight came before her eyes that caused her not only +to remain awake, but filled her with a feeling of indescribable awe. + +On the instant of opening her eyes, the sky, hitherto dark, had become +suddenly illumined by lightning,--not in streaks or flashes, but as if a +sheet of fire had been spread for an instant over the whole canopy of +the heavens. + +At the same time the surface of the sea had been equally lighted up with +the vivid gleam; and among the many objects drifting around the raft,-- +the remnants of the wreck, with which the eyes of the little Lalee had +now become familiarised,--she saw, or fancied she saw, one altogether +new to her. + +It was a human face and figure, in the likeness of a beautiful boy, who +appeared to be kneeling on the water, or on some slight structure on a +level with the surface of the sea! + +The lightning had revealed other objects beside him and over him. A +pair of slender sticks, standing some feet apart, and in a perpendicular +position, with some white strips suspended between them, in the gleam of +the lightning shone clear and conspicuous. + +It is not to be wondered at that the little Lalee should feel surprise +at an apparition,--so unexpected, in such a place, and under such +circumstances. It is not to be wondered at that her first impulse +should be to rouse her companion out of his snoring slumbers. + +She did so upon the instant, and without waiting for another flash of +lightning either to confirm her belief in what she had seen, or convince +her that it was only an apparition,--which her fancy, disturbed by the +dreams in which she had been indulging, had conjured up on the instant +of her awaking. + +"Wha's dat you say?" inquired Snowball, abruptly awakened in the middle +of a superb snore; "see something! you say dat, ma pickaninny? How you +see anyting such night as dis be? Law, ma lilly Lally, you no see de +nose before you own face. De 'ky 'bove am dark as de complexyun ob dis +ole nigga; you muss be mistake, lilly gal!--dat you muss!" + +"No, indeed, Snowball!" replied Lalee, speaking in gumbo Portuguese, "I +am not mistaken. It wasn't dark when I saw it. There was lightning; +and it was as clear as in daylight for a little while. I'm sure I saw +some one!" + +"What was de some one like?" interrogated Snowball, in an accent that +proclaimed incredulity. "Was 'um a man or a woman?" + +"Neither." + +"Neider! Den it muss ha' been,--ha! maybe it war a mermaid!" + +"What I saw looked like a boy, Snowball. O, now I think of it, like +that boy." + +"What boy you 'peak 'bout?" + +"He who was aboard the ship,--the English boy who was one of the +sailors." + +"Ah! you mean de little Will'm, I 'pose. I reck'n dat 'ere lad hab gone +to de bott'm ob de sea long afore dis, or else he get off on de big +raff. I know he no go 'long wi' de cappen, 'case I see de little chap +close by de caboose after de gig row 'way. If he hab go by de raff dem +ruffins sure eat him up,--dat be if dey get hungry. Dey sure do dat! +Hark! what's dat I heer? Sure's my name be Snowball, I hear some 'un +'peak out dere to win'ard. D'you hear anything, lilly Lally?" + +"Yes, Snowball: I think I did." + +"What you tink you?" + +"A voice." + +"What sort o' voice?" + +"Like a boy's voice,--just like _his_." + +"Who you mean?" + +"The boy-sailor aboard the ship. O, listen! There it is again; and +surely I hear another?" + +"Gorramity! little gal, you 'peak de troof. Sure 'nuff dere am a +voice,--two ob dat same. One am like de boy we 'peak 'bout,--odder more +like a man o' full groaf. I wonder who dey can be. Hope 't an't de +ghoses of some o' de _Pandoras_ dat ha' been drowned or eat up by de +sharks. Lissen 'gain, Lally, an' try make dem out." + +Having imparted this injunction, the negro raised himself into a +half-erect attitude; and facing to windward with his arms resting upon +one of the empty casks,--which, as already stated, formed a sort of +circular parapet around his raft,--he remained silent and listening. + +The little Lalee had also assumed a half-erect attitude; and, by the +side of her sable companion, kept peering out into the darkness,--in the +hope that another flash of lightning might again reveal to her eyes the +features of that beautiful boy, who, alone of all upon that fated ship, +had made upon her mind an impression worthy of being remembered. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +TO THE OARS. + +"We've got to die!" + +As the sailor gave utterance to these words of fearful import, he +started from his recumbent position, and, half-erect upon the raft, +remained listening,--at the same time endeavouring with his glance to +pierce the darkness that shrouded the surface of the deep. + +Little William, terrified by the speech of his protector, made no +rejoinder, but with like silence continued to look and listen. + +There was nothing visible save sea and sky; and these, in the dim +obscurity, were not to be distinguished from each other. A raft or +boat,--even a large ship,--could not have been seen at two cables' +distance from that on which they were drifting along; and the only +sounds now heard were the sighing of the night breeze, and the "swish" +of the water as it swept along the sides of their slight embarkation. + +For five minutes or more there was nothing to interrupt this duetto of +winds and waves, and Ben was beginning to believe he had been mistaken. +It might not have been the voice of a man, nor a voice at all. He was +but half awake when he fancied hearing it. Was it only a fancy,--an +illusion? It was at the best very indistinct,--as of some one speaking +in a muttered tone. It might be the "blowing" of a porpoise, or the +utterance of some unknown monster of the sea: for the sailor's +experience had taught him that there are many kinds of creatures +inhabiting the ocean that are only seen at rare intervals even by one +who is constantly traversing it, and many others one may never see at +all. Could the sounds have proceeded from the throat of some of these +human-like denizens of the deep, known as _dugongs, lamantins, +manatees_, and the like? + +It was strangest of all that William had heard the voice of a girl: for +the lad still adhered to the belief that he had done so. That might +have been the cry of a bird, or a mermaid; and Ben would have been ready +enough to accept the latter explanation. But the voice of a young girl, +coupled with that of a man, rendered the circumstance more mysterious +and altogether inexplicable. + +"Didn't you hear a man's voice, lad?" he asked at length, with a view +either of dissipating his doubts or confirming them. + +"I did," replied the boy. "Yes, Ben; I'm sure I did, not loud, but +muttered like. But I don't know whether if was Le Gros. O, if it was!" + +"Thee have good reason to know his ugly croak, the parleyvooin' +scoundrel! That thee have, Will'm! Let's hope we are both mistaken: +for if we're to come across them ruffins on the big raft, we needn't +expect mercy at their hands. By this time they'll be all as hungry as +the sharks and as ravenin' too." + +"Oh!" exclaimed William, in accents of renewed fear, "I hope it's not +them!" + +"Speak low, lad!" said the sailor, interrupting him, "only in whispers. +If they be near, the best thing for us are to keep quiet. They can't +see us no more than we can them; anyhow, till it come mornin'. If we +could hear the sound again so as to make out the direction. I didn't +notice that." + +"I did," interrupted William. "Both the voices I heard were out this +way." + +The boy pointed to leeward. + +"To leuart, you think they wur?" + +"I'm sure they came from that quarter." + +"That be curious, hows'ever," said the sailor. "If't be them on the big +raft they must a passed us, or else the wind must a veered round, for +we've been to leuart o' them ever since partin' wi' 'em. Could the wind +a gone round I wonder? Like enough. It be queer,--and it's blowing +from the west in this part o' the Atlantic! 'Tan't possible to say what +point it be in, hows'ever,--not without a compass. There bean't even +the glimmer o' a star in the sky; and if there wur we couldn't make much +o' it; since the north star bean't seen down in these latitudes. Thee +be sure the sound come from leuart?" + +"O, I am quite sure of it, Ben; the voices came up the wind." + +"Then we'd best go the same way and gie 'em as wide a berth as possible. +Look alive, lad! Let's down wi' them flitches o' the shark-meat: for +it's them that's driftin' us along. We'll take a spell at the oars, and +afore daylight we may get out o' hearin' o' the voices, and out of sight +o' them as has been utterin' o' them." + +Both rose simultaneously to their feet, and commenced taking down the +slices of half-dried shark-flesh, and placing them upon the +sail-cloth,--with the intention, as the sailor had counselled it, to +unship the oars that had been doing duty as masts, and make use of them +in their proper manner. + +While engaged in this operation both remained silent,--at intervals +stopping in their work to listen. + +They had got so far as to clear away the suspended flitches, and were +about unfastening the cords where they were looped around the upright +oars, when another cord, attached to one of the latter, caught their +attention. It was the piece of rope which closed the mouth of their +tarpauling water-bag, and held the latter in such a position as to keep +the "cask" from leaking. + +Fortunately they were doing things in a deliberate manner. If they had +been acting otherwise, and had rashly "unstepped" the mast to which that +piece of rope was attached, their stock of fresh water would have been +rapidly diminished,--perhaps altogether spilled into the salt sea, +before they should have become aware of the disaster. As it was, they +perceived the danger in good time; and, instead of taking down the oar, +at once desisted from their intention. + +It now became a question as to whether they should proceed any further +in the design of rowing the raft to windward. With a single oar they +could make but little way; and the other was already occupied in doing a +duty from which it could not possibly be spared. + +It is true there were still left the fragments of the hand spike that +had been ground between the teeth of the surviving shark, and afterwards +picked up as they drifted past it. This might serve instead of the oar +to support the mouth of the water-bag; and as soon as this idea occurred +to them they set about carrying it into execution. + +It took but a few minutes of time to substitute one stick for the other; +and then, both oars being free, they seated themselves on opposite sides +of the raft, and commenced propelling it against the wind,--in a +direction contrary to that in which the mysterious voices had been +heard. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +SHIP AHOY! + +They had not made over a dozen strokes of their oars,--which they +handled cautiously and in silence, all the while listening intently,-- +when their ears were again saluted by sounds similar to those first +heard by little William, and which he had conjectured to be the voice of +a young girl. As before, the utterance was very low,--murmured, as if +repeating a series of words,--in fact, as if the speaker was engaged in +a quiet conversation. + +"Shiver my timbers!" exclaimed the sailor, as soon as the voice again +ceased to be heard. "If that bean't the palaver o' a little girl, my +name wur never Ben Brace on a ship's book. A smalley wee thing she seem +to be; not bigger than a marlinspike. It sound like as if she wur +talkin' to some un. What the Ole Scratch can it mean, Will'm?" + +"I don't know. Could it be a mermaid?" + +"Could it? In course it could." + +"But are there mermaids, Ben?" + +"Maremaids! Be theer maremaids? That what you say? Who denies there +ain't? Nobody but disbelevin land-lubbers as never seed nothin' +curious, 'ceptin' two-headed calves and four-legged chickens. In coorse +there be maremaids. I've seed some myself; but I've sailed with a +shipmate as has been to a part o' the Indyan Ocean, where there be whole +schools o' 'em, wi' long hair hangin' about their ears an' over their +shoulders, just like reg'lar schools o' young girls goin' out for a walk +in the outskirts o' Portsmouth or Gravesend. Hush! theer be her voice +again!" + +As the sailor ceased speaking, a tiny treble, such as might proceed from +the tongue of a child,--a girl of some eight or ten years old,--came +trembling over the waves, in tones that betokened a conversation. + +A moment or two elapsed; and then, as if in reply to the words spoken by +the child, was heard another voice,--evidently that of a man! + +"If the one be a maremaid," whispered Ben to his companion, "the other +must be a mareman. Shiver my timbers, if it ain't a curious confab! +Moonrakers and skyscrapers! what can it mean?" + +"I don't know," mechanically answered the boy. + +"Anyhow," continued the sailor, apparently relieved by the reflection, +"_It ain't the big raft_. There's no voice like that little 'un among +its crew o' ruffins; and that man, whosomever he be, don't speak like Le +Gros. I only thought so at first, bein' half asleep. + +"If it be a school o' maremaids," pursued he, "theer an't no danger, +even wi' theer men along wi' 'em. Leastwise, I never heerd say there +wur from maremaids more'n any other weemen; an' not so much, I dare ay. +Sartin it bean't the Frenchman, nor any o' that scoundrel crew. Lord o' +mercy! It might be a ship as is passing near us!" + +As this thought occurred to the speaker, he raised himself into an erect +attitude, as if to get a better view. + +"I'll hail, Will'm," he muttered; "I'll hail 'em. Keep your ears open, +lad; and listen for the answer. _Ship ahoy_!" + +The hail was sent in the direction whence the mysterious sounds appeared +to have proceeded. There came no response; and the sailor, after +listening attentively for a second or two, repeated the "Ship ahoy!" +this time in a louder key. + +Quick as an echo the words came back, though it could not be an echo. +There are no echoes upon the ocean; besides, the voice that repeated the +well-known phrase was quite different from that of him who had first +pronounced it. Though different both in tone and accent, it was +evidently a human voice; and, as evidently, that of a man. A rude, +rough voice it was; but it is superfluous to say that, to the ears of +Ben Brace and his youthful companion, it sounded sweeter than any music +to which they had ever listened. The words "Ship ahoy!" were soon +succeeded by others, proceeding from the same lips. + +"Gorramity!" spoke the strange voice, "who de debbil call dar? Dat +some'dy in de boat? Dat you, Capten? Am it you, Massa Grow?" + +"A negro," muttered Ben to his companion. "It's Snowball, the cook. It +can't be anybody but him. In the name o' Neptune how has the darkey got +there? What's he aboard o'? He warn't on the great raft wi' the rest. +I thought he'd gone off in the captain's gig. If that wur so, then it's +the boat that is near us." + +"No," replied William, "I'm sure I saw Snowball by the caboose after the +gig had rowed away. As he wasn't with them on the big raft, I supposed +he'd been drowned, or burned up in the ship. Surely, it's his voice? +There it is again!" + +"Ship ahoy-hoy-hoy!" once more came the words pealing over the water in +a loud prolonged drawl. "Ship ahoy, some'dy call out dar? What ship am +dat? Am it a ship at all? Or am it some o' de wreck Pandoray?" + +"Castaways," responded Ben. "Castaways of the bark _Pandora_, Who +calls? Snowball! Be it you?" + +"Dat same chile,--who am you? Am it you, massa Capten,--in de gig?" + +"No." + +"Massa Grow, den, on de big raff?" + +"Neither," responded the sailor. "It's Ben,--Ben Brace." + +"Golly! you say so, Massa Brace! How you be dar, unless you on de big +raff?" + +"I'm on a raft of my own. Have you one, Snowball?" + +"Ya, massa Ben, ya! I make um out o' de wreck an de water-cask." + +"Are ye all alone?" + +"Not 'zackly dat. The pickaninny be long wi' me,--de cabing gal. You +know de lilly Lalee?" + +"Oh! she it be!" muttered Ben, now remembering the little cabin +passenger of the Pandora. "You bean't movin', be you?" + +"No," responded Snowball, "lying on de water like a log o' 'hogany wood. +Han't move a mile ebba since de bustin' ob de powder ball." + +"Keep your place then. We've got oars. We'll row down to you." + +"We--you say we? You got some'dy sides yaself on dat raff?" + +"Little Will'm." + +"Lilly Willum,--ah? dat ere brave lilly lad. See 'im jess as I go down +in de cabin fo' get de pickaninny. See 'im forrard with axe,--he knock +off de gratin' ob de fore-hatch,--he set all dem 'ere niggas free. It +warn't no use,--not bit good o' dem. Dey all got eat up by de shark, or +dey go down straight to de bottom. Gorramity! how dey s'riek an' +'cream, an' jump overboard into de water!" + +Neither the sailor nor Little William paid any heed to the negro's +half-soliloquised narrative, further than to make use of his voice to +guide them through the darkness towards the spot whence it proceeded. +On discovering that it was Snowball who was near, both had turned upon +their own craft, and were now rowing it in the opposite direction to +that in which, but the moment before, they had been so eagerly +propelling it. + +As they now pulled to leeward, they had the wind in their favour; and by +the time the negro arrived at the end of his disjointed narrative, they +were within half a cable's length of him, and, through the darkness, +were beginning to distinguish the outlines of the odd embarkation that +carried Snowball and his _protege_. + +Just then the lightning blazed across the canopy of heaven, discovering +the two rafts,--each to the other. In ten seconds more they were _en +rapport_, and their respective crews congratulating each other, with as +much joyfulness as if the unexpected encounter had completely delivered +them from death and its dangers! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +THE RAFTS EN RAPPORT. + +Two travellers meeting in the midst of a lone wilderness, even though +strangers to each other, would not be likely to pass without speaking. +If old acquaintances, then would they be certain to make the longest +pause possible, and procrastinate their parting till the last moment +allowed by the circumstances. If these circumstances would permit of +their reaching their respective destinations by the same route, how +sorry would each be to separate, and how happy to enter into a mutual +alliance of co-operation and companionship! + +Just like two such travellers, or two parties of travellers, meeting in +the midst of the desert,--a wilderness of land,--so met, in the midst of +the ocean,--the wilderness of water,--the two rafts whose history we +have hitherto chronicled. Their crews were not strangers to each other, +but old acquaintances. If not all friends in the past, the +circumstances that now surrounded them were of a kind to make them +friends for the future. Under the awe inspired by a common danger, the +lion will lie down with the lamb, and the fierce jaguar consorts with +the timid capivara no longer trembling at the perilous proximity. + +But there was no particular antipathy between the crews of the two rafts +thus singularly becoming united. It is true that formerly there had +been some hostility displayed by the negro towards Little William, and +but little friendship between the former and Ben Brace. These, however, +were things of the past; and during the last days of their companionship +on board the _Pandora_ the sentiments of all three had undergone a +change. An identity of interests had produced a certain three-cornered +sympathy,--obliterating all past spite, and establishing, if not +positive friendship, at least a sort of triangular forgiveness. Of +course this affection was of the isosceles kind,--Ben and Little William +being the _sides_, and Snowball the _base_. It is scarce necessary to +say, that, meeting again under the circumstances described, all past +spite, had there been any, would have been forgiven and forgotten. + +Fortunately this had been already done. Between Ben and Snowball, and +Snowball and Little William, the hatchet had been long ago buried; and +they now met, not as enemies, but as old acquaintances,--almost as +friends: nay, we might say, _altogether_ as friends. If not so before, +the common danger had made them so now, and amicably did they greet one +another. + +After such an encounter, it is superfluous to say that no thought of +again separating entered into the minds of any of the party. The crews +of both rafts knew that their destinations were identical. + +Each was an _ocean waif_, seeking to escape from the wilderness of +waters,--longing for deliverance from a common danger. In company they +might have a better chance of obtaining it. Why should they separate to +search for it? + +The question did not occur to either,--in thought or in word. From the +moment of their meeting, instinct told them that their destinies were +the same,--that their action in future should be united. + +After the two rafts had collided together, and those involuntary but +joyful salutations were exchanged between their crews, the respective +skippers became occupied with the more serious business of uniting the +frail embarkations into one, and rendering them for the future +inseparable. + +"Snowball!" inquired the sailor, "have you got any spare rope?" + +"Plenty o' dat 'ere," responded the ex-cook of the _Pandora_. + +"Yar am a coil o' strong sinnet. Dat do?" + +"That's the stuff," responded Ben. "Heave it this way, ye son of a +sea-cook! Heave!" + +"Now," continued he, laying hold of the coil of sennit, and tossing back +one end over an empty water-cask. "Make fast there, Snowey! I dare say +we can lay alongside safe enough till daylight! After that we'll splice +together in a better sort o' way." + +The ex-cook, obedient to the injunctions of the seaman, seized hold of +the end of rope thrown to him, and made it fast to one of the spars +which comprised his singular craft; while at the same time Ben busied +himself in tying the other end to the piece of handspike erected upon +his own. + +Soon each completed his task; and after some time spent in a mutual +detail of the adventures that had befallen them since the hour of +separation on the deck of the ill-fated Pandora, it was agreed that all +should go to rest for the remainder of the night, and with the earliest +light of day take measures to perpetuate the union of the two wandering +waifs thus unexpectedly brought into companionship. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +RECONSTRUCTING THE RAFT. + +The crews of both rafts were astir by early dawn, the sailor arousing +one and all from their slumbers. The rising sun, as it shone over the +ocean, fell upon four faces, all wearing a very different expression +from that which they had exhibited at his setting on the day before. If +not positively cheerful, there was at least hopefulness in their looks: +for their renewed companionship had mutually inspired one and all with +renewed hopes of deliverance. Indeed, it was evident even to the +youngest of the party, that this unexpected union of strength would +materially increase the chances of escape from the common danger; since +the two strong men working together could do many things that would have +been impossible to either of them alone,--to say nothing of the +encouragement and confidence always springing from concerted action. + +The very fact of their having come together in the way they had done +seemed something more than accidental. It looked less like mere +accident than that they had been favoured by the hand of Providence; and +even the rude seaman, and the still ruder sea-cook, were only too glad +to give way to the fancy that Providence was interfering on their +behalf. + +Certainly, the succession of fortunate events with which both had been +favoured,--and which had not only hitherto sustained them, but promised +to preserve their lives for a still longer period,--certainly, these +circumstances were sufficient to beget the belief that they were +specially under the protection of some power less capricious than mere +chance. + +The fact of their having encountered each other--even when one of them +had been in the act of taking measures to avoid the encounter--was of +itself something to strengthen this conviction, and increase their +hopefulness for the future. + +This very effect it produced; and it was for that reason that Ben Brace +was so early astir, and so early in arousing the others. + +The sailor had had too much experience in the capriciousness of the wind +to believe that such calm weather as they had been enjoying for days +would last much longer; and he had got up betimes with a view of uniting +the two rafts, and strengthening the structure that might spring out of +their union, so that it might resist whatever storm should threaten. + +To attempt constructing a craft of such capability did not seem so +hopeless to the skilful seaman. Before it had appeared so; but now, +with the materials composing the two rafts, and others which the morning +sun disclosed drifting about upon the surface of the sea, the thing +looked less of an impossibility. In fact, it did not appear at all +impossible; and for this reason Ben and the black at once came to the +determination to attempt it. + +After a short time spent in deliberation, it was resolved to break up +the lesser raft,--that which had hitherto carried the sailor and little +William. The planks composing it could be transferred to the larger and +better structure which Snowball had got together; and this was +furthermore to be reconstructed and considerably enlarged. + +It was not designed to make any great alteration in the shape or fashion +which Snowball had chosen for his craft, which displayed great ingenuity +on the part of its designer. As it was deemed proper enough, his design +was to be retained,--only the construction was to be on a larger scale. + +Before setting to work, it was essential that something in the shape of +a breakfast should be swallowed. This was drawn from the stores which +Snowball had been engaged for days in accumulating, and consisted simply +of biscuit and dried "bonito." + +In the absence of any fire, the ex-cook had no opportunity to exercise +his peculiar vocation, else the meal might have been more palatable. +The biscuits from having had a salt bath were a little briny to the +taste; but that signified little to such sharp appetites as they were +called upon to satisfy; and it was not such a bad breakfast, when washed +down, as it was, with a little _wine_ and water. + +You may be asking whence came the wine; and this was the very question +which the sailor addressed to Snowball, on discovering such a commodity +upon his craft. + +The answer was easy enough. A small cask of "Canary" had been one of +the items among the cabin stores. At the explosion it had been pitched +into the sea; and not being quite full had freely floated on the +surface. Snowball had taken possession of it by attaching it to his +timbers. + +Breakfast over, the work of reconstruction commenced. As a preliminary, +the flitches of shark-meat were removed from the little raft, now doomed +to destruction; while that ingenious contrivance of the sailor,--the +canvas water-cask,--now no longer required, was emptied of its contents; +which, with the greatest care, were decanted into the safe depository of +one of the empty hogsheads that had been hitherto acting as supports to +the embarkation of Snowball. + +The oars, sail-cloth, piece of handspike, axe, and tarpauling were also +transferred to the latter; and then the planks, and fragments of yards +and spars, were loosed from their lashings, and one by one distributed +into their proper places in the new structure. + +All day long did the work continue,--only an interval of an hour being +appropriated to the midday meal. Excursions, too, were made from point +to point,--the oars serving to propel the half-constructed craft: the +object of these excursions being to pick up such pieces of timber, +ropes, or other articles as Snowball had not already secured. The aid +of the others now rendered many items available which Snowball had +formerly rejected as useless,--because unmanageable by himself while +acting alone. + +The sun set upon their task still unfinished; but they retired hopefully +to rest: for the sky promised a continuance of the calm weather, and +they knew that if the promise was kept, a few hours in the morning of +the following day would suffice to complete the construction of a +raft,--one that would not only give them ample accommodation for the +stowage both of themselves and their stores, but would in all +probability ride out any gale likely to be encountered in that truly +_pacific_ part of the Atlantic Ocean. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +THE CATAMARAN. + +Next morning, as soon as there was light enough for them to see what +they were about, the work was resumed; and the timbers having been put +together in a fashion to satisfy all hands, were lashed to one another +as tightly as the united strength of the sailor, Snowball, and Little +William could draw the ropes around them. + +The structure when completed was of an oblong shape,--somewhat +resembling a punt or flat-bottomed ferry-boat,--nearly twenty feet in +length by about half as much in breadth of beam. The empty hogsheads +were placed around the edge in a regular manner. One lay crosswise at +the head, while another was similarly situated as regarded the stern. +The other four--there were six in all--were lashed lengthwise along the +sides,--two of them opposite each other on the larboard and starboard +bows, while the other two respectively represented the "quarters." By +this arrangement a certain symmetry was obtained; and when the structure +was complete, it really looked like a craft intended for navigation, and +by Ben Brace,--its chief architect,--it was facetiously christened _The +Catamaran_. + +By noon of the second day the _Catamaran_ was completed,--so far as the +_hull_ was concerned. Had Snowball been by himself he would have left +it in that state: for the black did not yet believe that there was the +slightest probability of reaching land by means of such an embarkation. + +But the sailor,--more skilled in such matters,--was of a different way +of thinking. He believed it not only possible, but probable enough, +that this feat might be accomplished. He knew that they were in the +very centre of the southern trade-wind; and that the raft, even if left +to itself, would in time drift onward to some point on the coast of +South America. With a sail its speed would be accelerated; and +although, thus furnished, such a clumsy structure could not sail very +swiftly, there was still a chance of its carrying them safely,--if +slowly,--to land. Ben knew it was simply a question of time,--dependent +upon how long their provisions might last them,--but more especially +their supply of water. + +Having formed in his own mind a sort of rough calculation as to the +chances, and finding them rather in favour of the scheme, he determined +on making trial of it, by erecting a mast upon the raft, and to this +bending a sail. At the worst, their chances of being picked up would be +quite as good while sailing with the wind, as if they allowed themselves +to lie adrift upon the ocean. + +Fortunately the materials for both mast and sail were on hand, and in +abundance. They had found the "spanker" of the _Pandora_ floating +about, with its boom and all the cordage attached. By using the boom as +a mast, and another smaller spar as a boom, they could rig up such a +sail as would carry the _Catamaran_ through the water with considerable +velocity. + +As soon as he had fully considered it in his own mind, the sailor, aided +by Snowball and Little William, proceeded to rig the _Catamaran_, and by +the close of the third day from the commencement of their labours a tall +mast stood up out of the centre of that curious craft, midships between +stem and stern, with boom and guy, and a broad sail hanging loosely +along its yard,--ready to be spread to the first breath of wind that +might blow westward over the ocean. + +The breeze which had brought Ben and little William back among the +wreck-drift of the slave-bark, leading to a renewal of intercourse with +their old shipmate, Snowball, had been blowing in the contrary direction +to that in which the sailor intended to steer. This breeze, however, +was not such as was to be looked for in that latitude. It was only a +mere puff,--a cat's-paw,--in the midst of the calm that had continued +for many days after the destruction of the slaver. It had lulled again +on the same night in which the rafts had become united; and ever +since,--during the three days they had been at work in the construction +of the _Catamaran_,--the calm had continued without intermission. + +On the fourth day things remained the same,--not a breath stirring from +any quarter to ruffle the glassy surface of the sea; which, like a +mirror, reflected the odd image of the _Catamaran_, with her six +hogsheads set like bulwarks around her sides, and her stout mast +tapering tall and solitary out of her midst. + +Neither her captain,--Ben Brace of course,--nor those of her crew who +were capable of reflecting on the future, and providing for its probable +contingencies, regretted this inaction,--forced upon them by the +continuance of the calm. Indeed, although becalmed, the "Catamarans" +were not inactive. There was work worthy of their activity, and which +occupied them during the whole of the day. By the aid of oars,--several +of which were fortunately in their possession,--they kept the new craft +in constant motion; quartering the square mile of sea-surface, upon +which floated the fragments of the ill-fated _Pandora_. + +Many a waif did they pick up, and stow away on their new craft against +the contingency of some future need. + +Among other "floating fragments" Ben chanced upon his own sea-chest; +which secured him a change of linen,--to say nothing of a full suit of +"Sunday go-ashores" and variety of knick-knacks likely to prove of +service on the problematical voyage he proposed making. + +The chest itself was retained to serve as a useful "locker." + +The fourth day being spent in such fashion, the Catamarans retired to +rest,--little William, at the request of the sailor, repeating the +Lord's Prayer, and ending it, by the dictation of the latter, with a +short petition for a wind that would waft them to the westward! + +It seemed as if that simple petition had been heard and granted. As the +sun once more rose over the ocean, its glossy surface became broken into +tiny corrugations by a breeze blowing as if from the sun himself. The +sail was run up the slippery mast; it was tightly sheeted home; and the +_Catamaran_, rushing rapidly through the water, soon cleared herself +from that fatal spot where the slaver had perished. + +"Westward ho!" cried Ben Brace, as he saw the sail swell out, and the +craft, the product of his own skill, walking proudly away through the +water like a "thing of life." + +"Westward ho!" simultaneously echoed Snowball and Little William; while +the eyes of Lilly Lalee sparkled with joy, as she beheld the +enthusiastic bearing of her companions. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +LITTLE WILLIAM AND LILLY LALEE. + +The wind was favourable in more senses than one. Besides blowing in the +desired direction, it kept steady and continuous,--never rising above a +gentle breeze, nor again returning to that calm from which they had just +escaped, and the recurrence of which, to the captain of the _Catamaran_, +would have been almost as unwelcome as a gale. + +It was just the sort of wind for the trial of a new craft--barely +ruffling the surface of the sea, and yet filling the sail till its sheet +was as taut as a bow-string. As it blew direct from the east, that part +of the _Catamaran_ which Ben had christened her _head_ was pointed due +westward; and to hinder the craft from veering round, or luffing back +into the eye of the wind, her builders had constructed a steering +apparatus at the stern. It was simply a very large oar,--one that had +appertained to the longboat of the _Pandora_,--placed fore and aft +across the swell of the stern water-cask. It was held in that position +by ropes attaching it to the cask, at the same time that they permitted +it to play through the water, and perform the office of a rudder. By +means of this simple contrivance,--which had been rigged before starting +on her cruise,--the _Catamaran_ could be steered to any point of the +compass, and kept either before the wind, or luffed up as close to it as +she was capable of sailing. + +Of course it required one or other of them to be always at the "wheel," +as Ben facetiously styled the steering apparatus, and the first spell of +this duty the captain had taken upon himself, considering it too +important,--so long as it was only on trial,--to be intrusted either to +Snowball or little William. After they should get fairly under way, and +there could be no longer any doubt as to the sailing qualities of the +_Catamaran_, both the above-mentioned individuals would be expected to +take their turn "at the wheel." + +For more than an hour the _Catamaran_ continued her course, without +anything occurring to interrupt the "even tenor of her way." Her +captain, seated in the stern, and still in charge of the steering-oar, +was the only one occupied in the conduct of the craft. Snowball was +busy among his stores,--most of which lay in a mass amidships,-- +arranging them into some sort of order, and placing each article in the +most suitable position to withstand any sudden assault of the winds and +waves. + +Little William and Lilly Lalee were far forward against the cask which +represented the head of the craft, and which, being quite empty, stood +high above the surface of the water. + +Neither was engaged in any particular employment,--except in talking +kindly to each other, and at intervals exchanging expressions of joy at +the fortune that had so singularly reunited them under two such +courageous protectors. + +It is true that, on board the slaver,--during that brief voyage, brought +to such an abrupt and disastrous termination,--the two had seen but +little of one another, and knew less. The pretty little Portuguese had +been kept within the cabin, never going beyond the confines of the +"quarter"; while the English lad, in continual fear of receiving rough +treatment from either the captain or mates, rarely ventured within that +sacred precinct unless in obedience to some command from his dreaded +superiors. + +Then stayed he only long enough to execute the order as speedily as +possible,--knowing that to linger by the cabin would be to expose +himself to rude insult,--perhaps to be pitched into the scuppers or +kicked back to the forecastle. + +Under such disadvantageous circumstances, it is not to be wondered at +that the sailor-boy found but few opportunities of holding communication +with the half-caste girl, who, by the singular chances already stated, +had been his fellow-voyager on board the ill-fated bark. + +Though he had held but slight converse with his youthful _compagnon du +voyage_, and knew but little either of her moral or intellectual +character, he was nevertheless most intimately acquainted with her +personal appearance. There was not a feature in her pretty, sweet face, +not a ringlet in her jetty curling hair, with which his eyes were not +perfectly familiar. + +Ofttimes had he stood,--half-screened behind the sails,--gazing upon her +as she loitered by the cabin hatch, surrounded by rude ruffian forms, +like a little white lamb in the midst of so many wolves. + +Ofttimes had the sight caused his pulse to beat and his heart to throb +with throes in which pain and pleasure were equally commingled, but the +cause of which he could not comprehend. + +Now, seated side by side with this young creature on board the +_Catamaran_,--even on that frail embarkation, which at any moment might +be scattered to the winds, or whelmed under the black billows of the +sea,--the sailor-boy no longer felt pain while gazing in her face, but +only that sweet incomprehensible pleasure. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +TOO LATE! + +Nearly two hours had transpired since the starting of the _Catamaran_,-- +during which time but little change took place in the relative positions +of those on board. Then, however, Snowball having finished the stowage +of his stores, proposed taking his turn at steering. The offer was +willingly accepted by the sailor, who, relinquishing his hold upon the +oar, went forward amidships. There he had placed his old sea-chest; +and, kneeling in front of it, he commenced rummaging among its contents, +with the design of making himself more familiar with them, and seeing +whether he might not discover some article inside that would be +serviceable under the circumstances. + +William and Lilly Lalee still remained by the head,--the boy habitually +keeping a lookout over the ocean, but at frequent intervals turning his +glances towards her who sat by his side, and endeavouring to interest +her with his conversation. + +The girl could not speak English,--only a few phrases which she had +picked up from English or American seamen, who had visited her father's +fort upon the African coast. These, though by her repeated in all +innocence, were neither of the most refined character, nor yet +sufficiently comprehensive to enable her to hold any lengthened +dialogue. It was in her own tongue that the conversation between her +and William was carried on: for the lad had picked up a somewhat +extensive vocabulary of Portuguese among the sailors of the _Pandora_-- +many of whom were of that nation. It was a sort of "lingoa geral" +spoken along the seaboard of Africa,--not unlike a similar Portuguese +patois, current on the coasts and large rivers of tropical South +America. + +In this language, little William, by the aid of signs and gestures, was +able to keep up an occasional conversation with Lilly Lalee. + +During the two hours which the sailor had remained at the +steering-oar,--and for some time after,--no incident occurred to +interrupt the tranquillity of the _Catamaran's_ crew. + +A very odd sort of fish, swimming about a cable's length ahead of the +craft, had attracted the attention of William and the girl,--exciting +their curiosity so much as to cause them to rise to their feet and stand +watching it. + +The interest which this creature had inspired was not, however, of a +pleasant kind. On the contrary, both looked upon it with feelings of +repugnance, almost amounting to awe; for it was in reality one of the +ugliest monsters to be met with in the great deep. + +In size it it as about equal to the body of a man; but much more +elongated, and lessening gradually towards the tail. It seemed to +possess a double quantity of fins,--lunated along their outer margins, +and set thickly over its body, so as to give it a bristling aspect. +Unlike other fishes, its neck was more slender than its head and +shoulders,--imparting to it a sort of human shape. But it was in its +head that the hideousness of the creature was more especially +conspicuous; the skull being prolonged on each side outwards to the +distance of several inches, and set upon its neck after the fashion of a +mallet upon its shaft! At the end of these lateral protuberances +appeared the eyes, with gleaming golden irides, glancing horridly to the +right and left. + +The mouth was not less abnormal in shape and position. Instead of being +in the hideous head already described, it was in the breast,--where at +intervals it could be seen yawning wide open, and displaying a quadruple +row of sharp serrated teeth, that threatened instant destruction to any +substance, however hard, that might chance to come between them. + +Little William knew not what sort of fish it was; for though common +enough in some parts of the ocean, he had not had the good or ill +fortune to see one before. As his companion had put the question, +however,--and also to satisfy his own curiosity,--he appealed to Ben. + +The latter, raising his eyes above the top of his chest, and looking in +the direction pointed out by the lad, at once recognised the animal +which appeared to have attached itself as an escort to the _Catamaran_. + +"Hammer-head!" said Ben; "a shark he be; an' the ugliest o' his ugly +tribe." + +Saying this, the sailor once more ducked his head under the lid of the +chest, and continued his exploration,--altogether heedless of the +"hammer-head," from whose proximity they had nothing to fear. + +So believed Ben Brace at the moment. + +It proved a feeling of false security. In less than ten minutes from +that time the sailor was within six feet of the "hammer-head's" open +mouth,--in imminent danger of being craunched between those quadruple +tiers of terrible teeth, and taken into the monster's capacious maw. + +By the phrase "hammer-head," so laconically pronounced by the captain of +the _Catamaran_, little William recognised in the fish a creature which, +although never seen by him before, he had read of in books, both of +travel and natural history. It was the "hammer-head" shark, or +_balance-fish_, so-called from the peculiar formation of its head,--the +_zygaena_ of the naturalists, and one of the most voracious of that +devouring tribe to which genetically it belongs. + +The individual in question was, as is already stated, about a cable's +length from the raft, right ahead; and through the translucent water its +form could be distinctly traced in all its hideous outlines. Swimming +in the same direction, and at a like rate of speed, it preserved a +regular distance from the raft; and appeared like some guide or _avant +courier_ conducting the _Catamaran_ across the Atlantic! + +William and Lalee watched the fish for a considerable time; but as no +change took place either in its movements or the position it held in +relation to the raft, their curiosity at length became satisfied, and +their eyes were turned in a different direction. + +But the gaze of the boy-sailor soon became fixed; and upon an object +which caused him to give utterance to two distinct exclamations,-- +distinct in point of time, as different in signification. The first was +an ejaculation, or rather a series of phrases expressing a jocular +surprise,--the second a cry of serious alarm. + +"Ho!" cried he, on turning round and glancing towards the stern of the +_Catamaran_, "Snowball asleep! Ha! ha! ha! See the old sea-cook! +Verily, that steering-oar has escaped from his hand!" + +Almost instantly succeeded the shout that betokened alarm, followed by a +series of hurried phrases, indicating the danger itself. + +"The boom,--the boom! 'Tis coming round! Look out, Lalee! look out!" + +As he gave utterance to these words of warnings the boy sprang towards +his companion, with arms outstretched, to protect her. + +The action came too late. The steering-oar, held in the hands of the +sleeper, hung suspended high above the water. The _Catamaran_, left +without control, luffed suddenly round beam-end to the wind; the boom +obeyed the impulse of the breeze; and Lilly Lalee, uplifted upon its +end, was brushed off from the craft, and jerked far out upon the blue +bosom of the ocean! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +"OVERBOARD!" + +The cry came from little William, as the Portuguese girl, lifted on the +end of the boom, was pitched far out into the sea. + +The utterance was merely mechanical; and as it escaped from his lips, +the sailor-lad rushed towards the edge of the raft, and placed himself +in an attitude to plunge into the water,--with the design of swimming to +the rescue of Lalee. + +Just then the boom, suddenly recoiling, came back with a rapid sweep; +and, striking him across the shins, sent him sprawling over the +shoulders of Ben Brace, and right into the sea-chest, in front of which +the sailor was still kneeling. + +Ben had heard that significant cry of alarm, and almost simultaneously +the "plash" made by the little Portuguese as her body dropped down upon +the water. He had slewed himself round, and was making a hurried effort +to get to his feet, when the boy, flung with violence upon his stooping +back, once more brought him to his knees. + +As William was chucked right over him into the chest the sailor soon +recovered from the shock, and rising erect, cried out in a half-confused +manner,--"Overboard! Who? Where? _Not_ you, Will'm! What is't, boy?" + +"O Ben! Ben!" answered William, as he lay kicking among the contents of +the kit, "Lilly Lalee, she's knocked overboard by the boom! Save her! +save her!" + +The sailor needed neither the information nor the appeal thus addressed +to him. His interrogations had been altogether mechanical, for the +plunge he had heard, and the absence of the girl from the raft,-- +ascertained by a single glance,--told him which of the _Catamaran's_ +crew it was who had fallen overboard. + +The circling eddies in the water showed him the spot where the girl had +gone down; but, just as he got to his feet again, she had turned to the +surface; and, uttering half-stifled screams, commenced buffeting the +water with her tiny hands, in an instinctive endeavour to keep herself +afloat. + +In a crisis of this character, the brave English sailor was obstructed +by no ambiguity as to how he should act. A single bound carried him +across the _Catamaran_,--another landed him upon the top of one of the +casks, and a third launched him six feet outward into the sea. Had he +been apprised of the accident only a score of seconds sooner, less than +that number of strokes would have sufficed him to reach the spot where +the child had first fallen into the water. Unfortunately in the +collision with little William, that had brought him back to his knees, +some time had been expended. During this interval--short as it was--the +craft, though under an uncontrolled sail, was still making considerable +way; and when the rescuer at length succeeded in leaping from the cask, +the struggling form had fallen into the wake of the _Catamaran_ to the +distance of nearly a cable's length. + +If the girl could only keep afloat for a few minutes, there need be no +great danger. The sailor knew that he could swim, sustaining a heavier +weight than was the little Lalee. But it was evident the child could +not swim a stroke, and was every moment in danger of sinking for the +second time. + +Her rescuer perceived this danger as he started to her aid; and +therefore pressed rapidly towards her, cleaving the water with all the +strength that lay in his muscular arm and limbs. + +Meanwhile little William had also regained his feet; and, having +extricated himself from the chest in which he had been temporarily +encoffined, ran towards the after part of the raft. Quickly mounting +upon the water-cask at the stern, he stood astride the steering-oar,--an +anxious and trembling spectator,--his eyes alternately fixed on the +strong swimmer and the struggling child. + +Snowball was still dormant, buried in a slumber profound and +unconscious,--such as only a "darkey" can enjoy. The cry "Overboard!" +uttered by little William had made no impression upon the tympanum of +his wide-spread ears,--nor the exclamations that succeeded in the +harsher voice of the sailor. Equally unheard by him had been the scream +coming across the water, though along with it he might have heard the +utterance of his own name! + +As none of these sounds had been sufficient to arouse him from his +torpor, he was likely to remain for some time longer unconscious of what +was occurring. The sailor swam in silence,--the cries of the child, now +more distant, were growing feebler and feebler; while little William-- +Snowball's only companion upon the raft--was too much absorbed in the +scene and its issue to allow even a breath to escape him. + +In this moment of agony,--intense to all the others of the _Catamaran's_ +crew,--Snowball was sleeping as soundly and sweetly as if he had been +stretched along the bench of his caboose, and rocked to rest by the +undulations of a good ship going at easy sail. + +Up to this time, William had not thought of awakening him; for, to say +the truth, the boy had not yet quite recovered his presence of mind. +The shock of consternation caused by the accident was still vibrating +through his brain; and his actions, in running aft, and springing up on +the cask, were half mechanical. There, enchained by the spectacle, and +waiting with intense anxiety for its _denouement_, he had not a thought +to give either to Snowball or his slumberings. + +The silence continued only for a short period of time, though it may +have seemed long enough both to actors and spectator in that thrilling +drama. It was terminated by a cry of joyous import from the lips of +little William,--in short, a loud _hurrah_, evoked by his seeing the +swimmer come _en rapport_ with the child, raise her sinking form above +the surface, and holding it in one hand, strike out with the other in +the direction of the rail. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +SAVED! + +"Brave Ben!--brave fellow! he has saved her! Hurrah!" + +Whether it was the violent gestures that accompanied this ebullition of +feeling that caused the water-cask to lurch from under his feet,--or +whether it arose from his nervous system suddenly becoming relaxed after +such a spell of intense anxiety,--certain it is that the sailor-lad, as +he repeated the final "Hurrah!" lost his balance upon the task, and, +staggering over, he fell with all his weight upon the prostrate body of +the slumbering sea-cook. + +The latter, in his sleep more sensible to touch than hearing, was at +length aroused. + +"Gorramity!" cried he, suddenly starting to his knees, and endeavouring +to disembarrass himself of the weight of little William, still +scrambling upon his back. "Gorramity! What all dis _fracas_ 'bout? +Someb'dy shout `Hurrah?'--Ha! you, lilly Willy? you shout dat jess now? +I tink I hear ye in ma 'leep. What for you hurrah? Golly! am dar a +ship in sight? I hope dar am--Wha's Mass' Brace?--wha's de lilly gal? +Augh?" + +This string of interrogations was put in such rapid succession as to +give the lad no opportunity of replying to them. But, indeed, a reply +was not needed, as may be deduced from the final ejaculation of the +questioner. + +Snowball, having swept the surface of the _Catamaran_ with a quick, +searching glance, and missing from it not only its captain, but--what +was of greater moment--his own _protege_, became equally the victim of +surprise and consternation. + +His eye was at once turned towards the water; and, like all men +accustomed to the sea, was intuitively directed sternward. The missing +individuals could not be elsewhere than in the wake of the craft going +under sail. + +He was soon satisfied of the correctness of his conjecture. On the +instant of his turning he beheld Ben Brace,--or rather, only the head of +that individual,--just visible above the rippling surface of the sea. +Close by was another head, of smaller size, with dark ringlets floating +on both sides of it, and a tiny arm stretched out and apparently +clinging to the shoulder of the seaman. + +Snowball needed no one--not even little William--to interpret what he +saw. At a glance he comprehended what had occurred during his sleep,-- +all except the cause. Little did he suspect that the disaster had its +origin in his own negligence. But it did not need that thought to beget +within him a feeling of anxiety,--or, rather, of intense alarm. + +This feeling did not arise on the instant. Seeing the girl sustained by +such a strong swimmer as he knew his old shipmate to be, he had but +little fear for the result,--so little that he checked his first +impulse, which was to leap overboard and swim to the assistance of both. + +A moment's reflection, however, satisfied him that there was still +danger both for Lalee and her brave rescuer,--a danger which little +William while giving utterance to that joyful "Hurrah!" had not taken +into account. The lad had seen the girl picked up by the strong seaman; +and, having an unlimited faith in the prowess of his own protector, he +had no other thought than that the latter would soon swim back to the +_Catamaran_, bearing his light burden along with him. + +In his joy little William had overlooked the circumstance that the +_Catamaran_ was _under sail_, and moving through the water at a rate of +speed that the swiftest swimmer, unembarrassed with the slightest +weight, might in vain attempt to overtake her! + +This sinister circumstance, in the excitement of the hour overlooked by +the youthful sailor, was even, for a moment, unthought of by the more +experienced mariner,--for Snowball, in addition to being a sea-cook, was +also a competent seaman. Not for long, however, did the latter continue +unconscious of the danger. Almost on the instant did he perceive it; +and quickly squatting himself in front of the cask, he took hold of the +steering-oar,--which he had so culpably neglected,--and, although still +ignorant of the fact that his own negligence had caused the disaster, he +bent all his energies towards remedying it. + +Under the strong arm of the Coromantee, the _Catamaran_ was fast coming +round towards the wind,--and so shortening the distance between the +swimmer and the craft,--when an object came under the eye of her +steersman that caused him to drop the oar as if either his arm had +become suddenly paralysed, or the piece of rounded ash grasped between +his hands had become transformed into a bar of red-hot iron! + +The former it could not be; since paralysed arms could not act, as did +those of Snowball on that instant. On dropping the oar, his right hand +was suddenly carried towards his left thigh, where a long knife hung +suspended in its sheath. Upon the hilt of this his fingers rested for a +moment, evidently not with the intention of drawing it, but apparently +to assure himself that the knife was in its place. + +In an instant the hand was withdrawn; but during the action the negro +had hastily risen to his feet; and, having already abandoned the oar, he +rushed towards the edge of the raft and leaped overboard into the water! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +THE ZYGAENA. + +The conduct of the Coromantee in thus relinquishing the rudder and +springing overboard into the sea was inexplicable,--at least, to little +William it seemed so for the time. What could be Snowball's object in +taking to the water? The sailor's strength was sufficient to sustain +both himself and the little girl. He appeared to have no difficulty in +holding her above the surface; and as to getting back to the raft, +Snowball was surely doing more service in steering the raft towards +them? Had he continued at the rudder a few minutes longer, the +_Catamaran_ must have come very near where the swimmer was struggling; +where as, on his dropping the oar, she once more luffed round, and began +to make way in the opposite direction. + +Little William, however, did not observe this sinister circumstance; or +if he did, it was for the moment driven out of his mind by one still +more sinister, that just then came under his observation. + +Only for a few seconds had he remained watching the negro, and +wondering, with unpleasant thoughts, why the latter before leaping +overboard had half drawn the knife from his belt and then resheathed it. +Something like a suspicion passed through the mind of the youth. What +could the negro want with a knife, if his object was to give help to the +swimmer? Could a fiendish conception have occurred to the Coromantee, +to lessen the number of those who might require food and water? + +It is true the suspicion had barely shaped itself in the brain of the +boy. Still, it had shaped itself, to be succeeded by a feeling of +remorse for the wrong which he had done to Snowball in entertaining it. +Almost on the instant did he become conscious of this wrong, by an +object coming under his eyes and which at once accounted for the conduct +of the Coromantee, that had seemed strange. Snowball was swimming +towards Ben Brace,--not to destroy,--but with the intention of saving +him. + +From what? Was the sailor really in danger of sinking, so as to stand +in need of support both for himself and his burden? + +Little William did not put such an interrogatory. All his conjectures +were ended. The peril threatening his patron,--and little Lalee as +well,--was plainly outlined before his eyes, in all its frightful +reality. That flattish, dark disc, with lunetted edge, rising erect +above the surface, and cutting keenly through the rippling water, was an +object not to be mistaken for any moving thing met with amid the ocean, +save the dorsal fin of a shark, and William knew at a glance that such +in reality it was. + +He saw, moreover, it was the same he and little Lalee had so late been +contemplating in security,--the dreaded zygaena: for through the +translucent water he could distinguish its hammer-shaped head, and lurid +eyes gleaming out from their protuberant sockets,--hideous to behold! + +The boy now became spectator,--sole spectator,--of a scene of thrilling, +even terrible interest. The characters in the drama were Snowball, the +zygaena, and Ben Brace with his burden. + +Just as William had arrived at the comprehension of the Coromantee's +behaviour, the _dramatis persona_ were placed relatively to each other +in a triangular position,--an isosceles triangle, in which Snowball and +the shark represented the angles at the base, while Ben with his charge +occupied the apex. The latter point was almost stationary, while both +the former were moving towards it in converging lines, fast as shark and +man could swim. + +The situation was easily explained. The zygaena, hitherto holding its +course ahead of the _Catamaran_, had become apprised of the catastrophe +occurring among the crew. The plash occasioned by little Lalee as she +was flung upon the water, and the heavier concussion of Ben's body as he +plunged overboard, had reached the monster's ears; and, with that fell +instinct peculiar to its tribe, it had suddenly turned in the water, and +commenced swimming toward the wake of the craft; where it knew that +anything, whether human or otherwise, falling overboard, must inevitably +drift. + +While passing the _Catamaran_ towards the wake, Snowball had caught +sight of its fan-like fin,--which apprised him of the direction it was +taking, at the same time revealing to him its design. + +The plunge which Snowball had made as he sprang out into the water had +caused the zygaena to swerve from its course; and for some moments it +swam towards _him_, as if determined upon changing the object of its +attack; but whether not liking the looks of the Coromantee or frayed by +his bold attitude in making directly towards it, it shied back into its +former course, and kept on towards the others. + +Of course, the sailor, encumbered as he was by the half-lifeless form of +the girl, would stand but little chance of making a successful defence +against a shark,--more especially such a monster as the zygaena; and it +was the knowledge of this that had summoned Snowball to the rescue. + +Against such an adversary a more capable combatant than the Coromantee +could scarce have been found on the waters of the ocean, or even _in_ +them. He could swim like a swan, and dive like a sea-duck; nor was it +the first time for him to have fought the shark in its own element; +neither would it be the first time should he prove conqueror in the +combat. + +On launching into the lists, his chief dread had not been for himself, +but for those he was proceeding to rescue. + +In point of time the shark had had the start of him; and, although on +parting from the raft the distances each would have to traverse were not +very unequal, Snowball knew that his scaly competitor far excelled him +in the quality of speed. + +It was this thought that was causing him anxiety,--amounting almost to +anguish,--that caused him to plunge wildly through the water,--to utter +loud cries, and make other noisy demonstrations,--with a view of +distracting the attention of the zygaena from the victims it had +fore-chosen, and drawing its attack upon himself. + +His shouts and gesticulations proved equally unavailing. The cunning +zygaena took no heed of either; but with its dark dorsal fin, set like a +well-bent sail, it kept straight on towards the easier victims. + +The sides of the isosceles triangle were gradually growing unequal,-- +gradually and slowly, but, alas! surely. Already was it an irregular +_scalene_. Snowball perceived the change,--each moment becoming more +perceptible, each moment augmenting his fears. + +"Poor lilly Lally!" cried he, in a voice that betrayed his anxiety. "O +Mass' Ben! fo' de lub o' Gorramity, swum to de right,--round dat away, +an' let me git 'tween you an de ravenin' beast. To de right!--da's de +way. Do yer bess, Mass' Brace, an' gi' me time get up. I take care o' +de lubber ef I once get im widin reach o' dis chile's arm." + +The injunction thus uttered had the desired effect. Up to that time the +sailor, sunk low in the water by reason of the extra weight, had not +become fully cognisant of the peril of his position. Hitherto his mind +had been more occupied with the idea of overtaking the raft, than any +danger to be dreaded from sharks. He was not even aware of the +zygaena's approach; for the fin, which had betrayed the monster's +presence to those on the _Catamaran_,--from being seen _en profile_,-- +could not so easily be distinguished when viewed in "front-face." No +wonder, therefore, that the victims which the zygaena had selected for +its attack remained unconscious of its approach; and it was only on +seeing Snowball spring out from the _Catamaran_, and swim towards him, +that the sailor suspected the proximity of a shark. At the same +instant, also, he remembered the interrogatory that had been addressed +to him by little William, and his own laconic reply designating the +individual as a _hammer-head_. From these various circumstances he +could tell that there was a shark bearing down upon him; but in what +direction he could not conjecture, until the hurried words of Snowball +admonished him to "make way to de right." + +The sailor had too much respect for the experience of the ex-cook to +disregard the injunctions thus given; and of hearing them, he at once +swerved in the direction indicated, and "made way to de right" as fast +as a man could swim with only one hand free for the stroke. + +Fortunately for all parties, the one arm proved sufficient. The new +direction entered upon by the swimmer soon changed the relative position +of all parties. The triangle became resolved into a right line,--the +shark at one extremity,--the sailor with his charge at the other,-- +Snowball midway between! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +FACE TO FACE. + +By this change in the position of the parties, the zygaena had lost its +advantage. Instead of having for the object of its attack an exhausted +swimmer encumbered with a weight, without a weapon, or even an arm free +to wield one, it would now have for its antagonist a strong man,--fresh +and vigorous,--armed with a long-bladed knife; one, moreover, who from +earliest youth had lived a half-amphibious life, and who was almost as +much at home in the water as the shark itself. At all events, the +Coromantee could calculate on keeping himself _above_ water for several +hours without rest, and _under_ it as long as any other animal whose +natural element was the earth or the air. + +Snowball, however, had no intention to go _wider_,--not an inch deeper +than he could possibly help: for therein would lie his danger, and he +knew it. As we have already said, it was not the first time for him to +encounter a shark in its own element; and though, perhaps, not so +familial with the _hammer-head_ as with the white shark, he was not +altogether unacquainted with the habits and peculiarities of the former +species. + +He knew that the zygaena, like others of its congeners, in seizing an +object, requires to have that object _under_ it; otherwise, it is +compelled to turn upon its back or side, just in proportion as the prey +it would seize lies high or low in the water. If altogether on the +surface, the shark is forced to make a complete roll, belly upward; and +this necessity,--arising from the peculiar position of the animal's +mouth, and the conformation of its jaws,--is well-known among mariners, +and better among true shark-fighters, who use it to their advantage. +Among the pearl-divers of the Vermilion Sea (Gulf of California), the +attack of the common shark is but little dreaded. The only weapon used +by them is a piece of stick (the _estaca_), sharpened at both ends, and +hardened by fire. Provided with this simple weapon, which they carry, +stuck through a loop in their leathern belt, they dive without fear +among the sharks that frequent the waters of the pearl-oyster fishery. +When attacked by one of these voracious creatures, they wait for the +moment when the shark makes its semi-somersault, and opens its cavernous +mouth. Then, with an adroitness drawn from practice, and a fearlessness +which only great confidence can give, they thrust the _estaca_, +gag-fashion, between the creature's jaws, leaving it no alternative but +to retreat with its jaws wide open, or to close them to its own certain +destruction. Among these pearl-fisheries, however, a species of shark +occasionally shows itself that cannot be destroyed in such a simple +fashion. It is known as the _tintorera_, and is as much dreaded by the +pearl-divers as the common shark is by the ordinary mariner. + +Fierce as is the zygaena and dreaded above all others of its tribe,-- +half the dread no doubt is attributable to its hideous configuration. +Snowball knew that before it could injure him, it must make the +half-turn, and, therefore, approached it with the determination to keep +well upon the surface of the water, and not let it get above him. + +The conflict was now inevitable: for the shark, although apparently a +little put about by the transposition that had taken place, had +determined upon having a meal of human flesh. Its white victims had +escaped it for the time, but it was not particular as to the colour of +the skin, and Snowball might be as sweet to its palate as Ben Brace or +Lilly Lalee. + +We are not going to assert that it reasoned after this fashion, or that +any thoughts whatever passed through its huge mallet-shaped skull. +Indeed, there was not much time for reflection: for as Snowball +interposed his body between the zygaena and its intended victims, the +woolly head of the Coromantee and the hammer-head of the shark were +scarcely three lengths of a handspike from each other. + +It was a fearful situation for a human being to be in; and any other +than an old shark-fighter would, at such a moment, have succumbed from +sheer terror. + +Not so Snowball, who appeared to enter the lists with as little dread +and as much confidence as if his _fetisch_ had given him full assurance +of victory. + +Little William, standing upon the stern of the _Catamaran_ with +suspended breath, noting every turn of the spectacle, could see Snowball +drawing the knife from his belt. Not for long, however, did he hold it +clutched in his hand. For greater convenience, and to give his hands +free play, while evading the attacks of his finny antagonist, he +transferred the knife to his mouth, where it was seen set transversely +across his cheeks, the blade tightly held between his teeth. In this +strange fashion did Snowball meet his enemy,--the truculent tyrant of +the deep. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +A RING PERFORMANCE. + +It might be supposed that the shark would have rushed instantaneously +upon its antagonist, regardless of aught save making a meal of him. But +no, the zygaena, notwithstanding its great voracity, like the rest of +its tribe, is endowed with certain instincts of caution. The sea-tiger, +as well as that of the land, can tell instinctively whether the object +of its attack is likely to become an easy prey, or turn out a dangerous +adversary. + +Some such--shall we call it an idea?--seemed to enter the unshapely +skull of the hammer-head,--suggested no doubt by the bold attitude which +Snowball had assumed. In all likelihood, had the negro been making +away, instead of swimming towards it, and showing signs of a desire to +escape, its onset would have been made on the instant. + +As it was, the shark saw itself _vis-a-vis_ to an adversary nearly as +large as itself and quite as courageous; and it is possible also that +its pilot-fish,--a brace of which had advanced close to Snowball's +snout, and after submitting his dusky carcass to a brief examination +returned to their master,--it is just possible that these emissaries had +reported to their patron, that the game he was in pursuit of must be +approached with caution. + +At all events something had been communicated that produced a sudden +change in the tactics of the zygaena. Instead of rushing recklessly on +to the attack,--or even keeping up the swimming pace by which it had +hitherto been making its approach,--on arriving within some half-score +fathoms of Snowball's face, it gradually slackened speed, until its +brown, fan-like fins, gently oscillating along its sides seemed no +longer to propel its body through the water. + +Moreover, on drawing nearer, it swerved slightly from its course,--as if +with the design either of attacking its adversary in the rear, or +passing him altogether! + +Strange enough, the two parasites appeared to direct this movement: for +both kept swimming alongside the zygaena, one of them opposite each of +its huge eyeballs. + +The negro seemed slightly perplexed by this unexpected manoeuvre. He +had anticipated an instantaneous attack, and had made every preparation +to receive and repel it. He had even taken the knife from his teeth, +and was holding it tightly clutched in his right hand, ready to deal his +deadly blow. + +The shyness of the shark produced a disappointment. + +Something besides: for it now occurred to Snowball that the cunning +zygaena was trying to pass him, with the design of making a _razzia_ +towards the helpless party in his rear. + +The moment this suspicion arose to him he turned short in the water, and +struck out in a direction that would enable him to head the shark, and, +if possible, intercept it. + +Whether the creature intended to pursue his original plan of attacking +the sailor and his charge, or whether he was manoeuvring to _turn_ the +Coromantee, it mattered not. In either case Snowball was pursuing the +correct strategy. He knew that if his supple antagonist could once get +round to his rear, his chances of safety for himself or the others would +be sadly diminished. Should the zygaena once get past him and continue +on towards the sailor, swift swimmer as Snowball was, he could have no +chance of overtaking a fish. + +At this crisis a thought occurred to him which promised to avert the +calamity he most dreaded,--that is, the shark getting past him, and +continuing on to the others. The thought found expression in speech. + +"Ho! Massa Brace!" he cried, once more taking the steel from between +his teeth. "Swim roun' to de right. Keep a-gwine in de circle. For de +Lord sake, keep ahind me, or you loss fo' sartin!" + +The sailor scarcely needed the counsel. He saw the danger before +Snowball had spoken, and had already commenced the movement which the +Coromantee was requesting him to make. + +Once more the tableau changed. The _dramatis persona_ in their relative +positions first formed an isosceles triangle, then a scalene, afterwards +a right line. Now all were moving in a circle, or rather in three +circles concentric to one another; the sailor, with his charge, +revolving round the centre, Snowball in mid radius, while the shark, +flanked by his satellites, went gliding along the outer circumference, +his lurid eyes glaring continually inward, as if watching for an +opportunity to break the line so carefully guarded by the Coromantee! + +For full five minutes was this "ring" performance kept up, without any +great alteration occurring in the relative positions of the parties. +But it was a game in which the outside player had all the advantage; +for, although the zygaena had by far the greater distance to traverse, +what was but sport to it was fatigue and the danger of drowning to its +adversaries. + +Had its skull been of a different formation, and filled with a better +set of brains, it would have endeavoured to keep up that game, without +in the least degree changing the mode of playing it. In due time, its +chief antagonist, Snowball, must have cried quarter or gone to the +bottom; and far sooner must have sunk the weighted swimmer in his wake. + +But sharks, like other creatures both aquatic and terrestrial, have +their moments of impatience and anger; and the zygaena, yielding to +these passions, common to both piscine and human nature, at length +determined to break through the rules of the game, and bring the play to +an abrupt termination. + +In obedience to this impulse, it suddenly swerved from its circular +course, and, heading towards the spot where Ben Brace, with Lilly Lalee +clinging to his shoulder, was performing his shorter revolutions, it +made a reckless and determined rush for the centre,--equally regardless +of the admonition of its brace of monitors and the cold steel of the +Coromantee, gleaming clear under the water through which it would have +to make its way. So near had it to pass to the negro's flat nose that +its glutinous skin would be almost in contact with his prominent lips, +and with his outstretched hand he need have no difficulty in striking +his slippery antagonist. + +Had Snowball been anticipating this change of tactics, he could not have +acted more adroitly, or with greater promptness. As the zygaena was +gliding onward, and just as its rough _pectoral_ passed within an inch +of his nose, he suddenly returned the knife between his teeth, and, +simultaneously using both hands and limbs, he sprang upward in the +waiter, and, with a vigorous effort, launched himself on its back! + +In the next instant he was seen,--or might have been seen,--with one +hand, the left, firmly grasping the bony protuberance of the zygaena's +left eye, his muscular fingers deeply imbedded in the socket, while his +right, clutching the long knife, was inflicting a series of stabs +against the side of his adversary, now flashing high in the air, now +gleaming under water, going up and down with all the measured regularity +of a trip-hammer. + +When it pleased the Coromantee to dismount from his slippery saddle, the +zygaena floated by his side,--a carcass stained with its own blood, that +for fathoms around encrimsoned the azure waters of the ocean! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +THE CHASE OF THE CATAMARAN. + +As we have said, little William, standing near the stern of the +_Catamaran_, had watched the spectacle with suspended breath. It was +only after seeing the zygaena float lifeless on the water, and becoming +satisfied that Snowball had come out of the struggle safe as well as +victorious, that the boy gave utterance to a shout. Then, unable longer +to restrain himself, he raised a cry of joyful exultation. + +It was neither prolonged nor repeated. It had scarce passed his lips, +ere it was succeeded by another of very different import. This was the +very opposite to a shout of joy: rather was it a cry of consternation. +That little drama of the ocean, of which he had been the sole spectator, +was not yet over. There was another act to come of equally thrilling +interest with that just ended,--an act in which he himself would be +called upon to play an important part along with the others. + +It had already commenced; and the wild cry which escaped from the lips +of the sailor-lad announced his first perception of the new phase into +which the drama had entered. + +Absorbed in the contemplation of the combat between Snowball and the +shark, he had hitherto remained unobservant of a circumstance of the +most alarming character,--one that threatened not only the destruction +of the Coromantee, but Ben Brace as well, and Lilly Lalee, and in time +little William himself,--in short, of the whole party. + +The lives of all were at that moment in the hands of the sailor-lad, or +if not in his hands, then were all of them doomed to certain +destruction. + +You may be wondering what strange circumstance this was, fraught with +such a terrible contingency. There was nothing mysterious in or about +it. It was simply that the _Catamaran_, carrying its large spread sail, +was drifting to leeward, and rapidly increasing the distance between +itself and the swimmers. + +Relieved from the anxiety with which he had regarded the conflict, +little William at once became aware of this new danger,--hence his cry +of consternation. Ben Brace either perceived it at the same instant, or +else the shout of his _protege_ had drawn his attention to it; for, +quick succeeding the latter, the voice of the sailor went rolling across +the water in words of direction intended for the ears of little William. + +"Will'm! Will'm!" shouted he, raising his lips above the surface so as +to enunciate more distinctly. "For marcy's sake, lad, lay hold on the +steerin' oar. Try to tack round, or we're lost one an' all o' us!" + +At the same instant Snowball sputtered out some very similar orders; but +being sadly out of breath from his exertions in the long-continued +struggle with the zygaena, what proceeded from his mouth less resembled +words than the snorting of a porpoise; and was, in truth, altogether +unintelligible. + +Little William needed no instructions,--neither to hear nor understand +them. He had perceived the danger, and, with intuitive promptness, had +commenced taking measures to avoid it. Partly guided by his own +thoughts and partly by the directions of Ben Brace, he sprang suddenly +towards the steering-oar; and, grasping it in both hands, he worked with +all his might to bring the _Catamaran_ about. After a time he succeeded +in getting her head as close to the wind as such a craft was capable of +sailing, but it soon became evident to him that the manoeuvre would be +of little or no avail. Although the raft did not make leeway quite as +much as before, still with its great sail, rudely bent as it was, she +made sufficient to preserve the distance from the swimmers; and, as +William anxiously observed, still slightly increasing. Even Snowball, +who, after giving the _coup de grace_ to the zygaena, had struck direct +towards the _Catamaran_,--even he, unencumbered by aught save his wet +shirt and trousers, although easily passing the others in his course, +did not appear to gain an inch upon the runaway raft. + +It was an anxious time for all parties; and the anxiety reached its +height when they perceived, as one and all soon did, that the +unmanageable craft was keeping its distance, if not gaining a greater. + +That state of things could not continue long. Both the swimmers had +already begun to show signs of flagging. Snowball, sea-duck that he +was, might have held out a good while; but the sailor, weighted with +Lalee, must soon "go under." Even Snowball could not swim forever; and, +unless some incident should arise to change the character of this +aquatic chase, and arrest the _Catamaran_ in her leeward course, sooner +or later must the Coromantee become also the prey of the all-swallowing +ocean. + +For several minutes--they seemed hours to all--did the struggle continue +between man and _Catamaran_, without any very great advantage in favour +of either. It is true some change had taken place in the relative +positions of the parties. The Coromantee, at starting in pursuit of the +raft, had been some fathoms in the wake of Ben Brace and his _protege_. +They were now in his wake, falling, alas! still farther behind him. +Unfortunately for all, Snowball, while increasing his distance from +them, was not lessening it from the _Catamaran_; and therefore the +advantage he was gaining over the sailor could be of no use, so long as +the raft proved swifter as a sailer than he was as a swimmer. + +Snowball's original idea in striking out in pursuit of the _Catamaran_ +was to get aboard; and, by making a better use of the steering-oar than +he had hitherto done, to bring the craft back within _saving_ distance +of the exhausted swimmer. Confident in his natatory powers, he had at +first believed this feat to be not only possible, but probable and easy. +It was only after several minutes spent in the pursuit, and the +distance between him and the _Catamaran_ seemed to grow greater instead +of less, that the negro really began to feel anxiety about the result. + +This anxiety kept increasing as the minutes passed, and the broad +stretch of blue water between him and the _Catamaran_ appeared to grow +no narrower, strike out as he would with all the strength of his sinewy +arms, and kick as he might with all the muscular energy that lay in his +stout legs. + +His anxiety became anguish, when, after one of his most vigorous +efforts, he believed, or fancied, that all had been in vain, and that +the _Catamaran_ had actually gained upon him. Whether fancy or not, it +produced conviction in his mind that to overtake the craft was +impossible; and all at once he discontinued the attempt. He did not, +however, remain stationary in the water. Far from that. On abandoning +the pursuit of the _Catamaran_, he turned like an otter, and looked back +in the direction from which he had come. In this direction, nearly two +hundred fathoms distant, two dark objects, so close together as to seem +one, were visible over the "curl" of the water. + +They were just visible to an eye elevated several inches above the +surface; and Snowball was obliged to buoy himself into an erect +attitude,--like a seal taking a survey of the circle around it, or a dog +pitched unexpectedly into a deep pond,--before he could see them. + +He saw them, however; he knew what they were; and, without a moment's +pause or hesitation, he recommenced cleaving the water in a line leading +directly towards them. + +The mind of the Coromantee, hitherto distracted by conflicting emotions, +had now but one thought. It was less purpose than a despairing +instinct. It was to support the child who had been intrusted to him-- +the Lilly Lalee--above water as long as he should have strength; and +then to go down along with her into that vast, fathomless tomb, that +leaves no trace and carries no epitaph! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +THE SAIL OUT OF SIGHT. + +The sea-cook and the sailor were now swimming towards each other. It is +true that Ben was not making very rapid way, nor did Snowball return on +his course with any great alacrity. Despair had rendered the latter +somewhat irresolute; and he scarcely knew why he was swimming back, +unless it was to be drowned in company with the others; for drowning now +appeared their inevitable fate. + +Slowly as both swam, they soon came together,--the countenances of both, +as they met, exhibiting that fixed, despairing look which bespeaks the +utter extinction of hope. + +The _Catamaran_ was now at such a distance, that even could she have +been suddenly arrested in her course, and brought to an anchor, it was +doubtful whether either Snowball or the sailor could have reached her by +swimming. The raft itself and the water-casks lashed around it were no +longer to be seen. Only the white sail, that like a bit of fleecy +cloud, equally fleeting, was fast lessening to a speck upon the distant +horizon. No wonder that hope had forsaken them! + +The sailor wondered that the sail was still set. During the first +moments, while endeavouring to come up with the craft, he had shouted to +William to let go the halliards. He had kept repeating this order, +until his voice, already hoarse and faltering, grew almost inarticulate +from sheet exhaustion of breath, and the rail, moreover, had drifted to +such a distance that it was not likely the lad could hear him. Under +this impression he had at length discontinued his feeble cries, and swam +on in slow and gloomy silence, wondering why William had not obeyed his +injunctions, feeling chagrin at his not doing so, and with good reason, +since the lowering of the sail might have still given them some chance +of overtaking the craft. + +It was just as the sailor had given over calling out, and relapsed into +sullen silence, that Snowball was seen returning towards him. It was an +additional argument for despair this abandonment of the chase on the +part of the Coromantee. When such a swimmer had given it up, Ben knew +it was hopeless. + +In a moment after they met face to face. The glance exchanged between +them was mutually understood without a word spoken by either. Each +tacitly read in the eyes of the other the dread destiny that awaited +them,--near, and soon to be fulfilled,--drowning! + +Snowball was the first to break the terrible silence. + +"You nigh done up, Massa Ben,--you muss be! Gib me de lilly gal. You +Lally! you lay hold on ma shoulder, and let Massa Brace ress a bit." + +"No,--no!" protested the sailor, in a despairing tone. "It bean't no +use. I can carry her a bit longer. 'Tain't much longer as any o' us +'ll be--" + +"Sh! Massa Brace," interrupted the negro, speaking in a suppressed +whisper, and looking significantly towards the child. "Hope dar 's no +danger yet," he added, in a voice intended for the ear of Lalee. "We +oberhaul de _Catamaran_ by 'm by. De wind change, and bring dat craff +down on us. 'Peak in de French, Massa Ben," he continued, at the same +time adroitly adopting a _patois_ of that language. "De _pauvre jeune +fille_ don't understan' de French lingo. I know it am all ober wi' boaf +you an' me, and de gal, too but doan let her know it to de lass minute. +It be no use to do dat,--only make her feel wuss." + +"_Eh bien_! all right!" muttered Ben, indiscriminately mingling his +French and English phrases. "_Pauvre enfant_! She shan't know nothin' +from me o' what be afore her. Lord a marcy on all o' us! I don't see +the raft any more! Whar be it? Can you see it, Snowball?" + +"Gorramity, no!" replied the black, raising himself up in the water to +get a better view. "Gone out o' de sight altogedder! We nebba see dat +_Catamaran_ any more,--no, nebba!" + +The additional accent of despair with which these words were uttered was +scarce perceptible. Had there been a hope, it would have been shattered +by the disappearance of the raft,--whose white sail was now no longer +visible against the blue background of the horizon. But all hope had +previously been abandoned; and this new phase of the drama produced but +slight change in the minds of its chief actors. Death was already +staring them in the face with that determination which promised no +prospect of avoiding it, and none was cherished. The only change that +occurred was in the action. The swimmers no longer directed themselves +in a particular course. There was none for them to follow. With the +disappearance of the sail they no longer knew in what direction to look +for the raft. For all they now knew of it, it might have gone to the +bottom, leaving them alone upon the bosom of the limitless ocean. + +"No use swimmin' on'ards!" said Ben, despairingly. "It'll only waste +the bit of strength that be left us." + +"No use," assented the negro. "Less lay to, and float on de water. Dat +be easier, and we can keep up de longer. Do, Massa Ben,--gib me de gal. +You mo' tired dan I. Come, lilly Lally, you grasp hold on ma shoulder! +Dat's de bess way. Come, now,--come, dear lilly gal." + +And as Snowball spoke, he swam close alongside the girl and, gently +detaching her hand from the shoulder of the sailor, transferred its +feeble grasp to his own. + +Ben no longer offered resistance to this generous action on the part of +his old comrade: for, in truth, he stood in dire necessity of the +relief; and, the transfer having been effected, both continued to float +upon the water, sustaining themselves with no more effort than was +absolutely necessary to keep their heads above the surface. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +WAITING FOR DEATH. + +For several minutes the wretched castaways of the _Catamaran_ remained +in their perilous position,--almost motionless in the midst of the deep +blue water,--precariously suspended upon its surface,--suspended between +life and death! + +Under any circumstances the situation would have been trying to the +stoutest nerves,--even under circumstances where a hope of deliverance +might have been indulged in. Without this it was awful. + +Neither black man nor white one any longer contemplated the _danger_ of +death: both believed in its _certainty_. + +How could they doubt it? + +Had either been standing upon the scaffold, with the condemned cap drawn +over his eyes and the rope adjusted around his neck, he could not have +felt surer of the nearness of his end. + +Both believed it to be simply a question of time; an hour or two,-- +perhaps not so much, since the fatigues and struggles through which they +had just passed had already made sad inroads upon their strength,--but +an hour or two at most, and all would be over. Both must succumb to the +laws of Nature,--the laws of gravitation,--or rather of specific +gravity,--and sink below the surface,--down, down into the fathomless +and unknown abysm of the ocean. Along with them, sharing their sad +fate, Lilly Lalee,--that pretty, uncomplaining child, the innocent +victim of an ill-starred destiny, must disappear forever from a world of +which she had as yet seen so little, and that little of the least +favourable kind. + +Throughout the whole affair the girl had shown but slight signs of the +terrible affright that, under the circumstances, might have been +expected. Born in a land and brought up among a people where human life +was lightly and precariously held, she had been often accustomed to the +spectacle of death,--which to some extent robs it of its terrors. At +all events, they who are thus used appear to meet it with a more stoical +indifference. + +It would be a mistake to suppose that the girl appeared indifferent. +Nothing of the sort. She exhibited apprehension,--fear sufficient; but +whether her mind was overwhelmed by the extreme peril of the situation, +or that she was still ignorant of its being extreme, certain it is that +her behaviour, from beginning to end, was characterised by a calmness +that seemed supernatural, or at all events superhuman. Perhaps she was +sustained by the confidence she had in the brace of brave protectors +swimming alongside of her,--both of whom, even in that extreme hour, +carefully refrained from communicating to her the belief which they +themselves in all fulness entertained,--that their lives were fast +approaching to a termination. + +The minds of both were fully imbued with this conviction, though not in +the same degree of fulness. If possible, the white man felt more +certain of the proximity of his end than did the negro. It is not easy +to tell why it was so. The reason may, perhaps, be found in the fact, +that the latter had been so often on the edge of the other world, had so +often escaped entering it, that, despite the impossibility of escaping +from his present peril,--to all appearance absolute,--there still +lingered in his breast some remnant of hopefulness. + +Not so with the sailor. From the bosom of Ben Brace every vestige of +hope had vanished. He looked upon life as no longer possible. Once or +twice the thought had actually entered his mind to put an end to the +struggle, and, along with it, the agony of that terrible hour, by +suspending the action of his arms, and suffering himself to sink to the +bottom of the sea. He was only restrained from the suicidal act, by the +influence of that instinct of our nature, which abhors self-destruction, +and admonishes, or rather compels us, to abide the final moment when +death comes to claim us as its own. + +Thus, by different circumstances, and under different influences, were +the three castaways of the _Catamaran_ sustained upon the surface of the +water,--Lilly Lalee by Snowball,--Snowball, by the slightest ray of hope +still lingering in a corner of his black bosom,--the sailor by an +instinct causing him to refrain from the committal of that act which, in +civilised society, under all circumstances, is considered as a crime. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +A CHEST AT SEA. + +All conversation had come to an end. Even the few phrases at intervals +exchanged between Snowball and the sailor,--the solemn import of which +had been zealously kept from the child by their being spoken in +_French_--were no longer heard. + +The swimmers, now wellnigh exhausted, had for a long interval preserved +this profound silence, partly for the reason of their being exhausted, +and partly that no change had occurred in the circumstances surrounding +them,--nothing that required a renewal of the conversation. The awe of +approaching death,--now so near, that twenty minutes or a quarter of an +hour might be regarded as the ultimate moment,--held, as if spellbound, +the speech both of Snowball and the sailor. + +There were no other sounds to interrupt the silence of that solemn +moment,--at least none worthy of being mentioned. The slightest ripple +of the water, stirred by a zephyr breeze, as it played against the +bodies of the languid swimmers, might have been heard, but was not +heeded. No more did the scream of the sea-mew arrest the attention of +any of them, or if it did, it was only to add to the awe which reigned +above and around them. + +In this moment of deep silence and deepest misery, a voice fell upon the +ears of the two swimmers that startled both of them, as if it had been a +summons from the other world. It sounded sweet as if from the world of +eternal joy. There was no mystery in the voice; it was that of the +Lilly Lalee. + +The child, sustained upon the shoulder of the buoyant black, was in such +a position that her eyes were elevated over the surface of the water +several inches above those either of him who supported her, or the +sailor who swam by her side. In this situation she had a better view +than either; and, as a consequence of this advantage, she saw what was +visible to neither,--a dark object floating upon the surface of the sea +at no great distance from the spot where the exhausted swimmers were +feebly struggling to sustain themselves. + +It was the announcement of this fact that had fallen with such startling +effect upon the ears of the two men, simultaneously rousing both from +that torpor of despair which for some time had held possession of them. + +"Who you see, Lilly Lally? Who you see?" exclaimed Snowball, who was +the first to interrogate the girl. "Look at 'im 'gain,--look, good +lilly gal!" continued he, at the same time making an effort to elevate +the shoulder which gave support to his _protege_. + +"Wha be it? I ain't de raff,--de _Catamaran_? Eh?" + +"No, no," replied the child. "It isn't that. It's a small thing of a +square shape. It looks like a box." + +"A box? how come dat? A box! what de debbel!" + +"Shiver my timbers if 'tain't my old sea-kit," interrupted the sailor, +rearing himself aloft in the water like a spaniel in search of wounded +waterfowl. + +"Sure as my name's Ben Brace it be that, an' nothing else!" + +"Your sea-chess?" interrogated Snowball, elevating his woolly cranium +above the water, so as also to command a view. "Golly! I b'lieve it +am. How he come dar? You leff 'im on de raff?" + +"I did," replied the sailor. "The very last thing I had my hands upon, +afore I jumped overboard. Sure I bean't mistaken,--ne'er a bit o' it. +It be the old kit to a sartainty." + +This conversation was carried on in a quick, hurried tone, and long +before it ended,--in fact at the moment of its beginning,--the swimmers +had once more put themselves in motion, and were striking out in the +direction of the object thus unexpectedly presented to their view. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +AN IMPROVISED LIFE-PRESERVER. + +Whether it should turn out to be the sea-chest of Ben Brace or no, it +appeared to be a chest of some sort; and, being of wood, buoyantly +floating on the water, it promised to help in supporting the swimmers,-- +now so utterly exhausted as to be on the point of giving up, and going +to the bottom. + +If the sailor had entertained any doubts as to the character of the +object upon which they were advancing, they were soon brought to an end. +It _was_ a sea-chest,--his own,--to him easy of identification. Well +knew he that close-fitting canvas cover, which he had himself made for +it, rendered waterproof by a coat of blue paint,--well knew he those +hanging handles of strong sennit, he had himself plaited and attached to +it; and, as if to provide against any possible dispute about the +ownership of the chest, were the letters "B.B.,"--the unmistakable +initials of Ben Brace,--painted conspicuously upon its side, just under +the keyhole, with a "fouled anchor" beneath, with stars and other +fantastic emblems scattered around,--all testifying to the artistic +skill of the owner of the kit. + +The first thought of the sailor, on recognising his chest, was that some +misfortune had happened to the raft, and that it had gone to pieces. + +"Poor little Will'm!" said he. "If that be so, then it be all over wi' +him." + +This belief was but of short duration, and was followed by a reflection +of a more pleasant kind. + +"No!" he exclaimed, contradicting his first hypothesis, "It can't be +that. What could 'a broke up the raft? There 's been no wind, nor +rough weather, as could 'a done it. Ha! I have it, Snowy. It's Will'm +'s did this. He's throwed over the chest in the behopes it might help +float us. That's how it's got here. Huzza for that brave boy! Let's +cling on to the kit. There may be hope for us yet." + +This suggestion was superfluous: for the idea of clinging to the kit was +intuitive, and had entered the minds of both swimmers on their first +perceiving it. It was with that view they had simultaneously set +themselves in motion, and commenced swimming towards it. + +The chest certainly offered an attractive object to men circumstanced as +they were at that moment,--something more than a straw to be clutched +at. It was floating bottom downwards, and lid upwards,--just as it +might have been placed opposite Ben's own bunk in the forecastle of a +frigate,--and it appeared to be kept steadily balanced in this position +by the weight of some iron cleeting along the bottom, which acted as +ballast. Otherwise the chest sat so high upon the water, as to show +that it must either be quite empty or nearly so; for the sennit handles +at each end, which were several inches below the level of the lid, hung +quite clear above the surface. + +These handles offered the most salient points to seize upon; so +tempting, too, that it was not necessary for the sailor to suggest that +Snowball should lay hold of one, while he himself sought the support of +the other. + +This arrangement appeared to offer itself tacitly to the Instinct of +each; and, on arriving near the chest, they swam to opposite ends,--and +each laid hold of a handle, as soon as he came within the proper +distance to grasp it. + +This kept the chest properly balanced; and although the weight they +added to it caused it to sink several inches in the water, to their +great joy its top still stood well above the surface. Even when the +light form of Lilly Lalee lay resting along the lid, there were still +several inches between the water line and its upper edge,--the only +place where sea-water could possibly find admission into the kit of the +English sailor. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +CONJECTURES ABOUT THE CATAMARAN. + +In less than three minutes after coming in contact with the kit, the +three castaways formed a group, curious and peculiar. On the right of +the chest was the sailor, his body stretched transversely along its end, +with his left arm buried to the elbow in the sennit loop forming its +handle. Half of his weight being thus supported by the buoyant box, it +was only necessary for him to keep his right arm in regular motion to +sustain himself above the surface. This, even wearied as he was, he was +enabled to accomplish without difficulty: for the new position was one +rather of rest than of labour. + +At the opposite end of the chest, in a _pose_ precisely similar, the +sea-cook had placed himself,--the only difference being in the uses +respectively made of their arms. Snowball's right arm was the one +thrust through the handle, his left being left free for swimming. + +As already hinted, Lilly Lalee had been transferred from Snowball's +shoulder to a more elevated position,--upon the top of the chest where, +lying upon her breast, and grasping the projecting edge of the lid, she +was enabled to keep her place without any exertion. + +It is not necessary to say that this change in the situation and +circumstances of the party had also produced a change in their +prospects. It is true that death might have appeared as inevitable as +ever. They were still at its door,--though not quite so near entering +as they had been but a few minutes before. With the help of the +capacious chest--forming, as it did, a famous life-preserver--they might +now sustain themselves for many hours above the surface,--in fact, as +long as hunger and thirst would allow them. Their holding out would be +simply a question of strength; and had they been only assured of a +supply of food and drink, they might have looked forward to a long +voyage performed in this singular fashion: that is, provided the sea +around them should keep clear of storms and sharks. + +Alas! the approach of one or the other of these perils was a contingency +to be looked for at any moment, and to be dreaded accordingly. + +Just at that moment they were not thinking of either, nor even of the +probability of perishing by hunger or its kindred appetite,--thirst. +The singular coincidence that the chest should come floating that way, +just when they were on the point of perishing, had produced a remarkable +effect on the minds both of the sailor and the sea-cook, begetting not +positive conviction, but a pleasant presentiment that there might be +other and more permanent succour in store for them; and that, after all, +they were not destined to die by drowning,--at least not just then +Hope,--sweet, soothing hope!--had again sprung up in the bosom of both; +and, along with it the determination to make a further effort for the +saving of their lives. They could now exchange both speech and counsel +with perfect freedom; and they proceeded to discuss the situation. + +The presence of the chest required explanation. The theory, which at +first sight of it had suggested itself to its owner (that the raft had +gone to pieces and that the kit was one of the scattered fragments) was +not tenable, nor was it entertained for a moment. There had been no +convulsion, either of winds or waves, to destroy the _Catamaran_; and +this curiously-fashioned fabric, in all its fantastic outlines, must +still be intact and afloat somewhere upon the surface of the sea. + +It is true they could see nothing of it anywhere; neither could Lilly +Lalee, who, from her more elevated position, was instructed to survey +the circle of the horizon,--a duty which the child performed with the +greatest care. + +If the craft had been anywhere within the distance of a league or two, +the large lateen sail should have been sufficiently conspicuous to have +caught the eye of the girl. But she saw it not. She saw nothing,--so +ran her report,--but the sea and sky. + +From this it might have been inferred (even supposing the _Catamaran_ to +be still afloat) that it must have drifted to such a distance as to have +destroyed all chance of their ever overtaking it. But the sage seaman +did not give way to this form of reasoning. His conjectures were of a +more consolatory character,--founded upon certain data which had +presented themselves to his mind. On reflection, he came to the +conclusion that the presence of the sea-chest upon the bosom of the blue +water was no accidental circumstance, but a design,--the design of +little William. + +"I be sure o't, Snowy," said he; "the lad ha' chucked the kit overboard, +knowin' as how we mout overhaul it, when we could not come up wi' the +_Catamaran_. The chest war amidships, when I parted from it. It +couldn't a' got into the water o' itself no-howsomever; besides, it war +full o' heavy things, and now I'm sartin it be empty,--else how do it +float so? Sure he must a' whammelled it upside down, and spilled out +the things afore he pitched it overboard. It was thoughtful o' him; but +he be just the one for that. I've seed him do some'at similar afore. +Only think o' the dear boy!" + +And Ben, after this burst of enthusiasm, for a moment indulged his +admiration in silence. + +"Dat's all berry likely,--berry likely," was the rejoinder of the +Coromantee. + +"I know what he did next," said Ben, continuing the thread of his +conjectures. + +"Wha' you tink, Massa Brace?" + +"He tuk in sail. I don't know why he didn't do it sooner; for I called +to him to do that, an' he must ha' heerd me. I've jest got a idea that +the fault was not his'n. When I hauled up that bit o' canvas, I've a +sort o' recollection o' puttin' a ugly knot on the haulyards. Maybe he +warn't able, wi' his little bits o' digits, to get the snarl clear, as +fast as mout a' been wished; an' that'll explain the whole thing. +Sartin he got down the sail at last,--eyther by loosin' the belay, or +cuttin' the piece o' rope, and that's why there be no canvas in sight. +For all that, the _Catamaran_ can't be so fur off. She hadn't had time +to a' drifted to such a great distance,--'specially if the sail were got +down the time as we missed it." + +"Dat am true. I miss de sail all ob a sudden,--jess as if it had come +down, yard an' all, straight slap bang." + +"Well, then, Snowy," continued the sailor, in a tone of increased +cheerfulness, "if't be as we conjecture, the craft ain't far ahead o' us +yet. Maybe only a knot or two; for one can't see far over the water who +happens to be neck-deep under it as we be. In any case she be sure to +be lying to leuart o' us; and, without the sail, she won't drift faster +than we can swim, nor yet so fast. Let us do the best we can to make a +mile or two's leeway; an' then we'll know whether the old Cat's still +crawling about, or whether she's gin us the slip altogether. That's the +best thing we can do,--ain't it?" + +"De berry bess, Massa Brace. We can't do nuffin' better dan swim down +de wind." + +Without further parley, the two set themselves to the task thus +proposed; and one striking with his right hand, the other with his +left,--both buffeting the waves with equal vigour and resolution,--they +were soon sweeping onward with a velocity that caused the sea to surge +along the sides of the chest, until the froth rose to the fingers of +Lilly Lalee as she lay grasping its lid! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +DOWN THE WIND. + +They had not proceeded very far, when a cry from the girl caused them to +suspend their exertions. While the others were occupied in propelling +the chest, Lalee, kneeling upon the lid, had been keeping a lookout +ahead. Something she saw had elicited that cry, which was uttered in a +tone that betokened, if not joy, at least some sort of gratification. + +"Wha is it, Lilly Lally?" interrogated the black, with an air of +eagerness; "you see someting. Golly! am it de _Cat'maran_?" + +"No,--it is not that. It's only a barrel floating on the water." + +"Only a ba'l,--what sort o' a ba'l you tink 'im?" + +"I think it's one of the empty water-casks we had tied to the raft. I'm +sure it is: for I see ropes upon it." + +"It is," echoed Ben, who, having poised himself aloft, had also caught +sight of the cask. "Shiver my timbers! it do look like as if the Cat +had come to pieces. But no! Tain't that has set the cask adrift. I +set it all now. Little Will'm be at the bottom o' this too. He has cut +away the lashin's o' the barrel, so as to gie us one more chance, in the +case o' our not comin' across the chest. How thoughtful o' the lad! +Just like 'im, as I said it war!" + +"We bess swim for de cask an' take 'im in tow," suggested the sea-cook; +"no harm hab 'im 'longside too. If de wind 'pring up, de ole chess be +no use much. De cask de berry ting den." + +"You're right, Snowy! we musn't leave the cask behind us. If the kit +have served us a good turn, the other 'ud be safer in a rough sea. It +be dead ahead, so we may keep straight on." + +In five minutes after, they were alongside the cask,--easily recognised +by its rope lashings, as one of those they had left attached to the +raft. The sailor at the first glance saw that some of the chords +encircling it had been cut with a knife, or other sharp instrument,--not +severed with any degree of exactitude, but "haggled," as if the act had +been hurriedly performed. + +"Little Will'm again! He's cut the ropes wi' the old axe, an' it were +blunt enough to make a job for him! Huzza for the noble lad!" + +"Tay!" cried Snowball, not heeding the enthusiastic outburst of the +sailor. "You hold on to de chess, Massa Brace, while I climb up on de +cask, and see what I can see. May be I may see de _Catamaran_ herseff +now." + +"All right, nigger. You had better do that. Mount the barrel, an' I'll +keep a tight hold o' the kit." + +Snowball, releasing his arm from the sennit loop, swam up to the +floating cask; and, after some dodging about, succeeded in getting +astride of it. + +It required a good deal of dexterous manoeuvring to keep the cask from +rolling, and pitching him back into the water. But Snowball was just +the man to excel in this sort of aquatic gymnastics; and after a time he +became balanced in his seat with sufficient steadiness to admit of his +taking a fair survey of the ocean around him. + +The sailor had watched his movements with a sage yet hopeful eye: for +these repeated indications of both the presence and providence of his +own _protege_ had almost convinced him that the latter would not be very +distant from the spot. It was nothing more than he had prepared himself +to expect, when the Coromantee, almost as soon as he had steadied +himself astride of the water-cask, shouted, in a loud voice-- + +"The _Cat'maran_!--the _Cat'maran_!" + +"Where?" cried the sailor. "To leuart?" + +"Dead in dat same direcshun." + +"How fur, cookey? how fur?" + +"Not so fur as you might hear de bos'n's whissel; not more dan tree, +four length ob a man-o'-war cable." + +"Enough, Snowy! What do you think best to be done?" + +"De bess ting we can do now," replied the negro, "am for me to obertake +dat ere craff. As you said, de sail am down; an' de ole Cat no go +fasser dan a log o' 'hogany wood in a calm o' de tropic. If dis child +swim affer, he soon come up; and den wif de oar an' de help ob lilly +Willy, he meet you more dan half-way,--dat fo' sartin." + +"You think you can overtake her, Snowball?" + +"I be sartin ob dat ere. You tay here wif Lilly Lally. Keep by de +chess and de cask boaf,--for de latter am better dan de former. No +fear, I soon bring de _Cat'maran_ long dis way, once I get 'board o' +her." + +So saying, the negro gave the cask a "cant" to one side, slipped off +into the water; and, with a final caution to his comrade to keep close +to the spot where they were parting, he stretched out his muscular arms +to their full extent, and commenced surging through the water,--snorting +as he went like some huge cetacean of the tribe of the _Mysticeti_. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +LAUNCHING THE LIFE-PRESERVER. + +It is scarce necessary to say that, during all this time. Little +William, on board the _Catamaran_, was half wild with anxious thoughts. +He had obeyed the first instructions shouted to him by Ben Brace, and +taken to the steering-oar; but, after struggling for some time to get +the craft round, and seeing that his efforts were of no avail, he +dropped it to comply with the still later orders given by the sailor: to +let loose the halliards and lower the sail. Ben had wondered, and with +a slight feeling of chagrin, why this last order had not been +executed,--at least more promptly,--for at a later period he knew the +sail had been lowered; but Ben was of course ignorant of the cause of +the delay. + +His conjecture, however, afterwards expressed, when he half-remembered +having put "a ugly knot on the haulyards"; which he, little William, +"maybe warn't able to get clear as fast as mout a been wished," was +perfectly correct; as was also the additional hypothesis that the sail +had been got down at last, "either by loosin' the belay or cuttin' the +piece o' rope." + +The latter was in reality the mode by which the sailor-lad had succeeded +in lowering the sail. + +As Ben had conjectured, the belaying loop had proved too much for the +strength of William's fingers; and, after several fruitless efforts to +untie the knot, he had at length given it up, and, seizing the axe, had +severed the halliard by cutting it through and through. + +Of course the sail came down upon the instant; but it was then too late; +and when William again looked out over the ocean, he saw only the ocean +itself, with neither spot nor speck to break the uniformity of its +boundless bosom of blue. + +In that glance he perceived that he was alone,--he felt for the first +time that he was alone upon the ocean! + +The thought was sufficient to beget despair,--to paralyse him against +all further action; and, had he been a boy of the ordinary stamp, such +might have been the result. But he was not one of this kind. The +spirit which had first impelled him to seek adventure by sea, proved a +mind moulded for enterprise and action. It was not the sort of spirit +to yield easily to despair; nor did it then. + +Instead of resigning himself up to fate or chance, he continued to exert +the powers both of his mind and body, in the hope that something might +still be done to retrieve the misfortune which had befallen the crew of +the _Catamaran_. He again returned to the steering-oar; and, hastily +detaching it from the hook upon which it had been mounted as a rudder, +he commenced using it as a paddle, and endeavoured to propel the raft +against the wind. + +It is scarce necessary to say that he employed all his strength in the +effort; but, notwithstanding this, he soon became convinced that he was +employing it in vain. The huge _Catamaran_ lay just as Snowball had +characteristically described her,--"like a log o' 'hogany wood in a calm +ob de tropic." + +Even worse than this; for, paddle as he would, the sailor-lad soon +perceived that the raft, instead of making way against the wind, or even +holding its ground, still continued to drift rapidly to leeward. + +At this crisis another idea occurred to him. It might have occurred +sooner, had his mind not been monopolised with the hope of being able to +row the raft to windward. Failing in this, however, his next idea was +to throw something overboard,--something that might afford a support to +the swimmers struggling in the water. + +The first object that came under his eyes promising such rapport was the +sea-kit of the sailor. As already stated, it was amidships,--where its +owner had been exploring it. The lid was open, and little William +perceived that it was wellnigh empty; since its contents could be seen +scattered on all sides, just as the sailor had rummaged them out, +forming a _paraphernalia_ of sufficient variety and extent to have +furnished the forecastle of a frigate. + +The sight of the chest, with its painted canvas covering, which Little +William knew to be water-tight, was suggestive. With the lid locked +down, it might act as a buoy, and serve for a life-preserver. At all +events, no better appeared to offer itself; and, without further +hesitation, the lad slammed down the lid, which fortunately had the +trick of locking itself with a spring, and, seizing the chest by one of +the sennit handles, he dragged it to the edge of the raft, gave it a +final push, and launched it overboard into the blue water of the ocean. + +Little William was pleased to see that the kit, even while in the water, +maintained its proper position,--that is, it swam bottom downwards. It +floated buoyantly, moreover, as if it had been made of cork. He was +prepared for this; for he remembered having listened to a conversation +in the forecastle of the _Pandora_, relating to this very chest, in +which Ben Brace had taken the principal part, and in which the sea-going +qualities of his kit had been freely and proudly commented upon. +William remembered how the _ci-devant_ man-o'-war's-man had boasted of +his _craft_, as he called the kit, proclaiming it "a reg'lar life-buoy +in case o' bein' cast away at sea," and declaring that, "if 't war +emp'y,--as he hoped it never should be,--it would float the whole crew +o' a pinnace or longboat." + +It was partly through this reminiscence that the idea of launching the +chest had occurred to little William; and, as he saw it receding from +the stern of the _Catamaran_, he had some happiness in the hope, that +the confidence of his companion and protector might not be misplaced; +but that the vaunted kit might prove the preserver, not only of _his_ +life, but of the life of one who to little William was now _even_ dearer +than Ben Brace. That one was Lilly Lalee. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +A LOOKOUT FROM ALOFT. + +After launching the kit, little William did not think of surrendering +himself to inaction. He bethought him that something more should be +done,--that some other _waifs_ should be turned adrift from the +_Catamaran_, which, by getting into the way of the swimmers, might offer +them an additional chance of support. + +What next? A plank? No; a cask,--one of the empty water-casks? That +would be the thing,--the thing itself. + +No sooner thought of than one was detached. The lashings were cut with +the axe, in default of his finding a knife; and the cask, like the kit, +soon fell into the wake. Not very rapidly it was true; for the +_Catamaran_ now, deprived of her sail, did not drift so fast to leeward +as formerly. Still she went faster than either the kit or the cask, +however; on account of the breeze acting upon her stout mast and some +other objects that stood high upon her deck; and William very reasonably +supposed that to swimmers so much exhausted,--as by that time must be +both Ben and Snowball,--even the difference of a cable's length might be +of vital importance. + +It occurred to him also, that the greater the number of waifs sent in +their way, the better would be their chance of seeing and getting hold +of one of them. Instead of desisting therefore, as soon as he had +detached the first cask, he commenced cutting loose a second, and +committing it to the sea in like manner. + +Having freed a second, he continued on to a third, and then a fourth, +and was actually about to sever the lashings of a fifth one, with the +intention to leave only the sixth one--that which contained the stock of +precious water--attached to the _Catamaran_. He knew that the raft +would still float, without any of the casks to buoy it up; and it was +not any fear on that score that caused him to desist, when about to give +the cut to the cords that confined cask Number 5. It was an observation +which he had made of an entirely different nature; and this was, that +the third cask when set loose, and more especially the fourth, instead +of falling into the wake of the _Catamaran_, kept close by her side, as +if loath to part company with a craft to which they had been so +intimately attached. + +William wondered at this, but only for a short moment. He was not slow +in comprehending the cause of the unexpected phenomenon. The raft, no +longer buoyed up, had sunk almost to the level of the surface; and the +breeze now failed to impel it any faster than the casks themselves: so +that both casks and _Catamaran_ were making leeway at a like rate of +speed, or rather with equal slowness. + +Though the sailor-lad was dissatisfied on first perceiving this, after a +moment's reflection, he saw that it was a favourable circumstance. Of +course, it was not that the casks were making _more_ way to leeward, but +that the _Catamaran_ was making _less_; and, therefore, if there was a +chance of the swimmers coming up with the former, there was an equal +probability of their overtaking the latter,--which would be better in +every way. Indeed, the raft was now going at such a rate, that the +slowest swimmer might easily overtake her, provided the distance between +them was not too great. + +It was this last thought that now occupied the mind of little William, +and rendered him anxious. Had the swimmers fallen too far into the +wake? Or would they still be able to swim on to the raft? + +Where were they at that moment? He looked aft, towards the point from +which he supposed himself to have been drifting. He was not sure of the +direction; for the rude construction on which he stood had kept +constantly whirling in the water,--now the stem, now the quarters, anon +the bows, or beam-ends turned towards the breeze. He looked, but saw +nothing. Only the sea-kit that by this time had got several hundred +fathoms to windward, cask Number 1 a little nearer, and Number 2 still +nearer. These, however, strung out in a line, enabled him to conjecture +the direction in which the swimmers, if still above water, should be +found. + +Indeed, it was something more definite than a conjecture. Rather was it +a certainty. He knew that the raft could not have made way otherwise +than _down the wind_; and that those who belonged to it could not be +elsewhere than to windward. + +Guided, therefore, by the breeze, he gazed in this direction,--sweeping +with his eye an arc of the horizon sufficiently large to allow for any +deviation which the swimmers might have made from the true track. + +He gazed in vain. The kit, the casks, a gull or two, soaring on snowy +wings, were all the objects that broke the monotony of the blue water to +windward. + +He glided across the low-lying planks of the raft, and up to the empty +cask still attached, which offered the highest point for observation. +He balanced himself on its top, and once more scanned the sea to +windward. + +Nothing in sight, save kit, casks, and gulls lazily plying their long +scimitar-shaped wings with easy unconcern, as if the limitless ocean +was,--what in reality it was,--their habitat and home. + +Suffering the torture of disappointment,--each moment increasing in +agony,--little William leaped down from the cask; and, rushing +amidships, commenced mounting the mast. + +In a few seconds he had swarmed to its top: and, there clinging, once +more directed his glance over the water. He gazed long without +discovering any trace of his missing companions,--so long that his +sinews were tried to the utmost; and the muscles both of his arms and +limbs becoming relaxed, he was compelled to let go, and slide down +despairingly upon the planks forming the deck of the _Catamaran_. + +He stayed below only long enough to recover strength; and then a second +time went swarming up the stick. If kit and casks should serve no +better purpose, they at least guided him as to the direction; and +looking over both, he scanned the sea beyond. + +The gulls guided him still better; for both--there was a brace of them-- +had now descended near to the surface of the sea; and, wheeling in short +flights, seemed to occupy themselves with some object in the water +below. Though they were at a great distance off, he could hear an +occasional scream proceeding from their throats: as if the object +attracting them excited either their curiosity or some passion of a more +turbulent character. + +Their evolutions,--constantly returning towards a centre,--guided the +eye of the observer until it rested on an object just visible above the +sheen of the water. The colour of this object rendered it the more easy +of being distinguished amidst the blue water that surrounded it; for it +was blacker than anything which the sea produces,--unless it were the +bone of the giant _Mysticetus_. Its shape, too--almost a perfect +sphere--had something to do in its identification: for William was able +to identify it, and by a process of negative reasoning. It was not the +black albatross, the frigate-bird, nor the booby. Though of like +colour, there was no bird of such form as that. There was neither beast +nor fish belonging to the sea that could show such a shape above its +surface. That sable globe, rounded like a sea-hedgehog, or a +Turk's-head clew, and black as a tarred tackle-block, could be nothing +else than the woolly pate of Snowball, the sea-cook! + +A little beyond were two other objects of dark colour and founded shape; +but neither so dark nor so round as that already identified. They must +be the heads of the English sailor and Lilly Lalee. They appeared to be +equally objects of attraction to the gulls, that alternately flew from +one to the other, or kept hovering above them,--and continuously +uttering their shrill, wild screams,--now more distinctly heard by +little William, clinging high up on the mast of the _Catamaran_. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +ONCE MORE ABOARD. + +The sailor-lad did not remain longer on the top of the mast than just to +satisfy himself that what he saw were his companions, still afloat and +alive. They were not at such a distance neither as to render it +altogether impossible for them to recover their lost way; and, +stimulated by this hope, little William determined upon continuing his +efforts to assist them. + +Gliding back upon the planks of the raft, he laid hold of the detached +oar; and once more plying it as a paddle, he endeavoured to propel the +_Catamaran_ up the wind. + +It is true he made but slight progress in this direction but he had the +satisfaction of knowing that the craft held her ground, and something +more; as he could tell from the fact of the casks last set loose by him, +falling a little to leeward. This showed that he must himself be making +way to the windward. + +The sea-chest and the cask first loosed from its lashings, had been +launched long before any of the others,--for it was only after an +interval of reflection that he had set free the rest,--and the former +were now far to windward. When looking from the masthead he had noted +that the position of the swimmers was not so far beyond the kit; and it +was scarce possible at that time, that they could have failed to +discover it. Without staying to consider whether they had done so or +not, William had come down from his perch; and now that he had reapplied +himself to the oar, and saw that he was gaining ground in the right +direction, he did not like to desist. Every fathom he made to windward +was a fathom nearer to the saving of the lives of his companions,--a +stroke less for the swimmers to make,--to whom, wearied as they must now +be, the saving of even a single stroke might be an object. + +With this thought urging him to perseverance, the sailor-lad stuck to +his oar, wielding it with all the strength in his arms, and only +thinking of the one purpose,--to make way against the wind. Fortunately +the breeze, already gentle, seemed each moment to grow gentler,--as if +unwilling to oppose his efforts in the cause of humanity; and little +William perceived, to his great gratification, that the casks already +passed by the _Catamaran_ were falling far into her wake. This proved +that he must be gaining upon the others. + +All at once a glad sight came suddenly under his eyes. Earnestly +occupied with the oar, he had permitted more than a minute to elapse +without casting a glance ahead. When at length he renewed his lookout +to windward, he was surprised to see, not only the cask and the +sea-chest still nearer but on the top of the latter, a something that +was not there before. Something that lay along the lid, with arms +stretched downwards, and hands clutching its projecting edges. He also +perceived two dark rounded objects in the water,--one near each end of +the chest,--one rounder and blacker than the other, but both easily +distinguishable as the heads of human beings. + +The singular tableau was at once understood. Lilly Lalee was on the top +of the sea-kit; Snowball and Ben Brace were flanking it, one at each +end. The chest was supporting all three. Hurrah! they were saved! + +Little William, at that moment, felt certain they would be saved; though +that joyful certainty had not yet been communicated to them. Standing +erect upon an elevated part of the raft, the boy had the advantage of +them, and could note every movement they were making, without being seen +by them. + +He did not spend much time in merely looking at them. He knew that that +would be of no avail; and after giving utterance to one or two joyous +ejaculations, he returned to the oar, if possible plying it with greater +energy than ever, from the renewed encouragement which he now derived +from the confidence of success. + +When he turned again and stood upright, looking to windward, the tableau +had changed. Lilly Lalee was still lying along the lid of the chest, +but only one head was seen in the water! It was that of the sailor, as +the white face and the long flowing hair told him. + +Where was the cranium of the sea-cook? Where was the skull of Snowball? +Gone with his body to the bottom? + +These interrogatories flashed across the brain of the lad, causing him a +feeling of alarm. It was of short continuance, however. In the next +moment they were answered, and to his satisfaction. The Coromantee was +seen astride of the cask, more conspicuous than ever: only, being now in +a slightly different direction, he had not been seen at the first +glance. + +Without shouting, or making any other idle demonstration, the +intelligent youth once more applied himself to the oars, and vigorously +propelled the raft to windward. + +He did not again desist, until a voice falling upon his ear and, +pronouncing his name, caused him to look once more in the direction of +the swimmers. + +Then, instead of seeing the Coromantee astride of the cask, he perceived +the round black physiognomy of that individual above the surface of the +water, and scarce a cable's length from the _Catamaran_! + +A double line of frothy ripple proceeding from each of his large spread +ears, and running rapidly into his wake, indicated the direction in +which he was swimming,--towards the raft,--while his eyeballs showing +fearfully, and white as the froth itself,--the spluttering and blowing +that proceeded from his thick lips, and the agitation of the sea around +him,--all told that he was doing his very best to come up with the +_Catamaran_. + +"Golly!" he gasped out, on perceiving himself within safe distance of +being heard. "Row dis way, lilly Willy! Row like de debbil, good lad! +I'se most done up,--dat I be. In de space ob anoder cable length dis +chile he muss a gub up!" + +And ending his speech with a loud "Whugh," partly to clear the water +from his throat, and partly to express the satisfaction he felt at the +near prospect of deliverance, he continued to strike on towards the +raft. + +In a few seconds more the long-protracted struggle was brought to a +termination. Snowball succeeded in reaching the raft, and, assisted by +the sailor-lad, clambered aboard. + +Only staying to catch a little breath, the negro laid hold of the second +oar; and the _Catamaran_, under the double stroke, was soon brought _en +rapport_ with the sea-chest; when the remainder of the crew were +restored to her decks, and delivered from a death that but a short time +before had framed so certain as to be inevitable. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +REFITTING THE RAFT. + +On once more setting foot on the deck of the _Catamaran_ the strong +sailor was so thoroughly exhausted that he was unable to stand erect, +and after scrambling aboard, and staggering a pace or two, he lay down +along the planks. Lilly Lalee was taken care of by little William; who, +half-leading, half-lifting her in his arms, tenderly placed her upon +some pieces of canvas near the foot of the mast. + +For this service, so fondly yet delicately performed, the boy felt +himself amply rewarded by the glance of gratitude that shone in the eyes +of the child,--even without the thanks faintly murmured by her on +perceiving she was safe. + +Snowball, equally exhausted, dropped into a recumbent position. All +three remained silent for a considerable length of time, and without +stirring either hand or foot,--as though to speak or move in their state +of extreme weariness was impossible. + +Little William, however, did not resign himself to inaction. As soon as +he had disposed of Lalee, he made direct to that corner of the +_Catamaran_ where a small barrel or keg, half submerged under the water, +was attached to one of the timbers of the craft. It was the keg +containing the precious "Canary." + +Carefully extracting the bung,--which, in the lashing of the keg, had +been purposely kept upwards,--he inserted a dipper,--that is to say, a +small tin vessel, or drinking "taut,"--which had turned up among the +stores of the sea-kit, and which, having been already used for the same +purpose, was provided with a piece of cord attached around its rim, like +the vessel in use among the gaugers or wine-merchants for drawing their +wine from the wood. This was hoisted out again, filled with the sweet +fluid which the keg contained; and which was at once administered,-- +first to Lilly Lalee, then to William's own especial protector, Ben +Brace; and lastly, after a fresh draw from the keg, to the real owner of +the wine,--the Coromantee. The spirit of the grape, grown upon the +declivities of Teneriffe, acted like magic on all three; and in a few +minutes both sailor and sea-cook were sufficiently restored to think +about taking certain prudent measures, that had now become necessary, +and that would require a fresh exertion of their strength. + +These measures were the recovery of the empty casks which William had +detached from the _Catamaran_; and for the want of which that improvised +craft not only lay much lower in the water than when they had left her, +but was altogether a less seaworthy structure. + +The sailor's chest,--for which its owner now felt increased affection,-- +was the first thing secured; and next the cask upon which Snowball had +bestraddled himself to get a better view. Both were near, and easily +reached by a little rowing. + +The other three casks had drifted to a considerable distance to leeward, +and were still continuing their course; but as all three were in sight, +the crew of the _Catamaran_ anticipated no great difficulty in +overtaking them. + +Nor did any occur. A pair of oars handled by the sailor and sea-cook, +with the sailor-boy standing up to direct the course in which they +should pull, soon brought the raft down upon the straying hogsheads; and +they were picked up one after the other, the severed ropes respliced, +and all of them set back in their old positions,--so that but for the +wet garments clinging around the bodies of those who had been overboard, +and perhaps the pale and wearied expression upon their countenances, no +one could have told that anything had gone wrong on board the +_Catamaran_. + +As to their wet clothes, none of them cared much for that; and if there +had been any discomfort in it, it was not likely to continue long under +the hot sun then shining down upon them. So rapidly was this part of +the damage becoming repaired that all three,--but more especially +Snowball--were now surrounded by a cloud of evaporation that would soon +dry every stitch of clothing they had on. + +The negro,--partly from the natural heat proceeding from his own body, +and partly from the strong sunbeams,--was smoking like a fresh kindled +pit of charcoal: so that, through the strata of steam that encompassed +his head and shoulders, it would have been impossible to tell whether he +was black or white. In the midst of this Juno-like _nimbus_ however, +the negro continued to talk and act, helping the sailor and little +William, until not only were the water-casks restored to their proper +places, but the sail was hauled up to the mast, and the _Catamaran_ once +more scudding before the breeze, as if not the slightest accident had +occurred either to craft or crew. + +Care was taken, however, this time to make fast the halliard rope with a +proper "belay"; and although Snowball might have deserved a caution to +be more vigilant for the future, it was not deemed necessary to +administer it, as it was thought the peril out of which they had so +miraculously escaped would prove to him a sufficient reminder. + +There was but one misfortune arising out of the adventure that might +have caused the crew of the _Catamaran_ any serious regret. This was +the loss of a large portion of their stock of provisions,--consisting of +the dried fish,--partly those that had been half cured by Snowball +previous to the union of the two rafts, and partly the flitches of +shark-meat, that had been taken from the lesser raft, and added to +Snowball's store. + +These, with the object of having them thoroughly dried, had been exposed +to the sun, on the tops of the water-casks which little William had let +loose. In the hurry and excitement of the moment, it was not likely the +lad should give a thought to the flitches of fish. Nor did he; and +while freeing the water-casks from their fastenings, and pushing them +off from the raft, the pieces were all permitted to slide off into the +water, and either swim or go to the bottom, as their specific gravity +might dictate. The consequence was, that, when everything else was +recovered, these were lost,--having actually gone to the bottom, or +floated out of sight; or, what was more probable than either, having +been picked up by the numerous predatory birds hovering in the heavens +above, or the equally voracious fish quartering the depths of the ocean +underneath. + +It was not without some chagrin that Snowball contemplated his reduced +stores,--a chagrin in which his companions could equally participate. +At the time, however, they felt the misfortune less bitterly than they +might otherwise have done,--their spirits being buoyed up by the +miraculous escape they had just made, as well as by a hope that the +larder so spent might be replenished, and by a process similar to that +by which it had been originally stocked. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +THE ALBACORES. + +The hope of replenishing their larder was likely to be realised easily, +and ere long. Scarce had their sail caught the breeze, when they +perceived alongside the _Catamaran_ a shoal of the most beautiful fish +that are to be found in any part of the boundless ocean. There were +several hundreds in the shoal; like mackerel, all nearly of one size, +and swimming, moreover in the same direction,--just as a school of +mackerel are seen to do. + +They were much larger, however, than the common mackerel,--each being +about four feet in length, with a stout, though well-proportioned body, +having that peculiar elegance of shape which belongs to all the mackerel +tribe. + +Their colour was sufficient of itself to entitle them to the appellation +of beautiful creatures. It was a bright turquoise blue or azure, +showing, in certain lights, a tinge of gold. This was the colour of +their backs; while underneath they were of a silvery white, gleaming +with a lively iridescence. A row of spurious fins above the tail, and +another underneath, were of a bright yellow; while their large round +eyes exhibited an iris of silver. + +Their pectoral fins were very long and sickle-shaped; while the dorsal +one, also well developed, presented a structural peculiarity in having a +deep groove running longitudinally down the spine of the back, into +which the fin,--when at rest and depressed,--exactly fitted: becoming so +completely sheathed and concealed, as to give to the fish the appearance +of being without this apparatus altogether! + +If we except their lovely hues, their greater size, and a few other less +notable circumstances, the fishes in question might have been taken for +mackerel; and it would have been no great mistake to so describe them: +since they were in reality of this genus. They were of a different +species, however,--the most beautiful species of the mackerel tribe. + +"Albacore!" cried Ben Brace, as soon as he saw them shooting alongside +the raft. "Albacore be they. Now, Snowy, out wi' your hooks an' lines. +In this fresh breeze they be a'most sure to bite; and we'll be able, I +hope, to make up for the loss o' the others. Hush all o' ye! Ne'er a +word; ne'er a movement to scare 'em off. Softly, Snowy! Softly, ye ole +sea-cook." + +"No fear, Massa Brace,--no fear o' dem leabin dis ole _Cat'maran_, so +long's de be a-gwine on dat fashion. Looker dar! Fuss to one side, den +de todder,--back and for'rad as ef de cudn't be content nowha." + +While Snowball was speaking, and before he had commenced, the albacores +had entered upon a peculiar movement. On first joining company with the +_Catamaran_, they swam for a time alongside,--the starboard side,-- +keeping pace with the raft, and evidently making no exertion to go ahead +of her, as they might easily have done. On the contrary, they scarce +moved their fins; but floated slowly along at the exact rate of speed at +which the craft was sailing, and not one bit faster. As they swam +parallel to the raft, and also parallel to each other, one might have +fancied them all joined together by some invisible link, that kept them +from changing their relative positions both to the _Catamaran_ and to +one another! + +All at once, however, and quick as the change of a kaleidoscope, this +parallelism was terminated,--not as regarded each other, but with +respect to the course of the _Catamaran_ By a single flutter of their +tails, the whole _school_ was seen simultaneously turning head towards +the craft; and then, like a flash of lightning, they passed underneath. + +For a moment they were out of sight; but in the next they appeared on +the starboard beam, swimming parallel as before, both to the course of +the _Catamaran_ and to each other. The manoeuvre was executed with such +precision and uniformity, as could not be imitated among men,--even +under the tuition of the ablest drill-sergeant that ever existed. They +swerved from right to left, as if each and all were actuated by the same +impulse, and at the same instant of time. At the same instant their +tails made a movement in the water,--at precisely the same point of time +they turned together,--showing a list of its silvery abdomen, and with +like simultaneous action did they dive under the keel of the +_Catamaran_. + +It was this peculiar manoeuvre on the part of the fish,--won after +repeated by their shooting back to the starboard, and again returning to +larboard,--that had elicited from Snowball the assertion, so confidently +put forward, that there was no fear of their leaving the _Catamaran_ so +long as they were going in that fashion. + +Of those upon the raft, Ben Brace alone comprehended Snowball's meaning. +To little William it was a matter of some surprise when the ex-sea-cook +spoke so confidently, and acted, moreover, as if he had no fear of +frightening the shy-looking creatures that were swimming alongside. + +"Why, Snowy?" asked the lad,--"why is there no fear of their being +scared off?" + +"Kase, lilly Willy, I hab de idea dar be something else not far off, dat +dem albacore am more feerd on dan we. I no see dat someting yet. We +sure see de _long snout_, by 'm by." + +"The long snout!--what do you mean by that, Snowy?" + +"Wha do a mean?--de long-nose a mean. Tole ye so! dar he be yonner,-- +right on de la'bord quarter. Dis nigger knew he no far off. Da's why +de beauties hab come roun de raff; an dat I hope keep um hyar till we +hab cotch a few ob dem!" + +"A shark!" cried the boy-sailor, catching a glance of some large fish at +some distance out in the water on the larboard bow,--the direction in +which Snowball had pointed. + +"Shark! nuffin ob de kind," rejoined the negro; "diff'rent sort ob fish +altogedder. If him wa shark, de albacore no stay hyar. Dey go up to +him, and dart all 'bout im,--jess like de lilly birds when dey see big +hawk or de vulture. No shark he,--dat ere skulkin' fella. He am massa +long-nose,--de real enemy ob de albacore. No fear ob dem leabin' us, +while he anywhar in sight." + +Saying this the Coromantee proceeded to single out his hooks; and, +assisted by Ben Brace, commenced baiting them with an unconcern that +testified a full confidence in the truth of his assertion. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +THE SWORD-FISH. + +Little William,--whose curiosity had become excited at the appearance of +the strange fish,--stood looking over the larboard quarter, in hopes of +getting a better view of it. + +As yet, he had only obtained a slight glimpse of it: for the larboard +quarter lay towards the south-west, and the sun, just then sinking down +upon the sea, hindered him from having a fair opportunity to scan the +surface in that particular direction. + +Shading his eyes with the palm of his hand, he gazed for some time, but +saw nothing,--either upon the surface or under it. Snowball, +notwithstanding that he seemed wholly occupied with the hooks and lines, +took notice of the reconnoissance of the sailor-lad. + +"No use you look dat way, lilly Willy," said he. "Doan you see dat de +abbacores are now on de larbord side. Wheneber dey am on de larbord, +you look for long-nose on de starbord. Truss dem take care dey no get +on de same side wit' dat ere fella." + +"There, Will'm!" interposed Ben. "Look out that way! there he be,-- +right astarn,--don't ye see?" + +"I see, I see!" cried William. "O, look, Lalee! What in odd fish it +is! I never saw one like it before." + +This was true; for although the young sailer had already traversed many +a long league of the Atlantic Ocean, he had not yet seen a fish of the +same kind; and he might traverse hundreds of long leagues of any of the +oceans without seeing the like again. + +It was, in truth, one of the most singular denizens of the great deep +that had thus come under the observation of the _Catamaran's_ crew,--so +peculiar in its appearance that, without the intervention of Ben Brace, +who at that moment called out in name, the boy could have pronounced it +for himself. + +It was a fish of some eight or ten feet in length; with a long bony +snout, projecting horizontally forward, at least one third of the length +of its body. This snout was nothing more than a prolongation of the +upper jaw,--perfectly straight, of osseous structure, and tapering +towards the end like the blade of a rapier. + +Otherwise the fish was not ill-formed; nor did it present that hideous +aspect characteristic of the more predatory creatures that inhabit the +ocean. For all that, there was a certain shyness combined with great +swiftness in its motion,--a skulking in its attitudes: as Snowball's +speech had already declared,--a truculent, trap-like expression in its +quick watchful eyes, that told of an animal whose whole existence was +passed in the pursuit of prey. + +It was not to be wondered at that William should have mistaken the +creature for a shark: for, in addition to the fact of the sun being in +his eyes, there were points of similarity between the fish in question, +and certain species of sharks, requiring a good view and an experienced +observer to tell the difference. William perceived a large crescent +shaped fin rising several inches above the surface of the water,--a tail +lunated like that of the shark,--a hungry eye, and prowling attitude: +the very characteristics of the dreaded tyrant of the deep. + +There was one thing in which the creature in question differed +materially from all the individuals of the _squalus_ tribe. Instead of +swimming slowly, it appeared to be one of the swiftest of fishes: for at +each instant as the albacores changed their position from one side of +the raft to the other, the long-snouted creature was seen to shoot to +the same side with a velocity that almost baffled the sight to keep pace +with it. + +In fact, the eye could scarcely have traced its course, had it not been +aided by two circumstances altogether strange and peculiar. The first +was that the strange fish, while darting from point to point, caused a +rushing sound in the water; like that produced by heavy rain falling +upon the leaves of a forest. The second peculiarity was, that while +thus progressing its hues became completely changed. Instead of the +dull brown,--its colour when at rest,--its body presented a striated +appearance,--a brindling of bright and dark blue,--sometimes heightened +to a uniform azure! + +It was not these peculiarities that had guided little William to the +identification of the species; but the long, tapering snout, straight as +a rapier, that projected in front of its body. This was a token not to +be mistaken,--never to be forgotten by one who had seen it before. And +the young sailor had before seen such a one; not at sea, nor under the +sea, but in a collection of "natural curiosities," that had by chance +been carried through his native town; and whose inspection, perhaps, had +much to do with that impulse that first caused him to "run away to sea." +Under a glass-case he had examined that piece of osseous structure, +described by the showman as the sword of the _sword-fish_. Under the +waves of the tropical Atlantic,--but little less translucent than the +glass,--he had no difficulty in identifying the formidable weapon! + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +THE SWORDSMAN OF THE SEA. + +While William was gazing upon the strange fish, it was seen all at once +to make a rush in the direction of the raft. They could hear a +"swishing" sound, as its huge body passed through the water, at the same +time that its great scimitar-shaped dorsal fin, projecting above the +surface, rapidly traced a rippling line through the whole of its course. + +The dash was evidently directed against the shoal of albacore swimming +alongside the _Catamaran_. + +But these creatures were constantly on the alert. Although exhibiting +every symptom of fright, they did not seem for an instant to lose their +presence of mind; and as the sword-fish was seen rushing towards them, +all turned as if by a common impulse, and, quick as lightning, passed to +the other side of the raft. + +The sword-fish, seeing himself foiled, checked the velocity of his +charge with a suddenness that displayed his great natatory powers; and, +instead of pursuing the albacores under the _Catamaran_, he continued to +follow after the craft, in a sort of skulking, cowardly fashion,--as if +he designed to use stratagem rather than strength in the capture of his +prey. + +It soon became evident to little William that the albacores had sought +the companionship of the _Catamaran_ less from the idea of obtaining any +droppings there might be from her decks, than as a protection against +their formidable pursuer,--the sword-fish. Indeed, this is most +probably the reason why not only the albacores and their kindred the +bonitos, but several other kinds of shoal-fish, attach themselves to +ships, whales, and other large objects, that they may encounter floating +or sailing upon the open ocean. + +The mode in which the sword-fish makes his attack,--by rushing +irresistibly upon his prey, and impaling it on his long, slender beak,-- +is full of risk to himself; for should his "sword" come in contact with +the sides of a ship, or any substance of sufficient strength to +withstand his impetuous "thrust," the chances are that the weapon either +gets broken off altogether, or so embedded that the owner of it falls a +victim to his rash voracity. + +Under the excitement of fear, and occupied in watching the movements of +their enemy, Snowball knew there was no chance of the albacores paying +any attention to the hooks he had baited for them. Instead, therefore, +of throwing them over the side, he permitted them to lie upon the +planks, and waited until the sword-fish should either take his departure +or fall far enough into the wake of the _Catamaran_ to permit, on the +part of the creatures swimming alongside, a temporary forgetfulness of +his presence. + +"It am no use trowin' dem de hook," said he, addressing himself to the +sailor, "no use jess yet, so long de sharp snout am dar. We mus' wait +till he go out ob dar sight an out ob dar hearin too." + +"I suppose we must," rejoined Ben; "that be a pity too. They'd bite +greedy enough, if the ugly thing warn't there. That I know, for I've +seed 'em many's the time." + +This was not the only bit of information concerning the albacore and +their enemy communicated by the sailor to his companions on the raft, +but more especially to his _protege_, who, feeling a strange interest in +those creatures, had asked several questions concerning them. During +the interval, while they were waiting for some change in the tactics of +the pursuer,--hoping that he might get ahead and abandon the pursuit,-- +Ben imparted to his audience several chapters of his experience,--in +which either albacore or sword-fish, and sometimes both, had figured as +the principal actors. Among others, he related an anecdote of a ship in +which he had sailed having been pierced by the beak of a sword-fish. + +At the time the incident occurred there was no one on board who had any +suspicion of its nature. The crew were below at their dinner; when one +of the sailors who chanced to be on deck heard a loud splashing in the +water. On looking over the ship's side, and seeing a large body just +sinking below the surface, the sailor supposed it to be some one of the +crew who had gone over, and instantly raised the cry of "A man +overboard!" + +The crew were paraded; when it was ascertained that no one was missing. +Though the sailors were at a loss to account for the singular +appearance, the alarm soon subsided; and nothing more was thought of the +matter. Shortly after, one of the men,--Ben Brace himself, it was,-- +chanced to ascend the rigging; and while aloft he perceived a rugged +mass projecting from the side of the ship, just below the water line. +On a boat being lowered and the thing examined, it proved to be the +_rostrum_ of a sword-fish, broken off from the animal's head. It was +the body of the animal,--no doubt, killed by the concussion,--which the +sailor had seen sinking in the water. + +The "sword" had pierced completely through the copper sheathing and +solid timbers of the larboard bow of the ship; and on the sailors going +below, they found eight or ten inches of its top projecting into the +inside, embedded among some coals contained in the hold! + +Singular as the sailor's story might appear, it was not in the least an +exaggeration. Snowball knew it was not: for the ex-sea-cook could have +told of like experiences; and William was also satisfied of its truth, +from having read the account of a similar incident, and heard that the +evidences of it,--that is, a piece of the solid wood of the ship's +timbers, with the sword imbedded in it,--were to be seen at any time in +the British Museum. + +Just as Ben had finished his curious relation, a movement upon the part +of the pursuer told an intention of changing his tactics,--not as if he +was about to retreat, but rather to assume a bolder attitude of offence. +The sight of such a fine shoal of fat albacores,--so near and yet so +long keeping clear of his attack, appeared to have tantalised him to a +point beyond endurance; and, being extra hungry, perhaps he was +determined to dine upon them, _coute qui coute_. + +With this intent he drew nearer to the _Catamaran_ swooping from quarter +to quarter, then along the sides, and once or twice darting ahead, so as +to create in the shoal a degree of excitement that might force them into +irregularity of action. + +This very effect he at length succeeded in producing; for the pretty +creatures became more frightened than ever; and instead of swimming, as +hitherto, in concert, and parallel to each other as they had been doing, +they got huddled into a crowd, and commenced darting, pell-mell, in +every direction. + +In the midst of their confusion a large band became separated,--not only +from the others, but from the _Catamaran_,--and fell several fathoms' +length into the wake of the craft. + +Upon these the hungry eyes of the prowling monster were now fixed; but +only for a moment: for in the next he was charging down among them with +a velocity that caused the water to spray upwards against his dorsal +fin, while the rushing sound made by his body could be heard afar off +over the ocean, "Look, Will'm!" cried Ben, anxious that his _protege_ +should not miss seeing the curious spectacle. "Look, lad! yonder's a +sight worth seein'. Shiver my timbers, if he han't got a brace o' 'em +on his toastin' fork!" + +While Ben was speaking, the sword-fish had charged into the middle of +the frightened flock. There was a momentary plashing,--as several of +the albacores leaped up out of the water and fell back again,--there was +a surging and bubbling over a few yards of surface, which hindered a +clearer view of what was passing; and then outside reappeared the +sword-fish, with his long weapon projected above the water, and a brace +of the beautiful albacores impaled upon its point! + +The wretched creatures were struggling to free themselves from their +painful position; but their struggles were not for long. They were +terminated almost on the instant,--by the sword-fish giving a quick jerk +of his head, and tossing, first one and then the other of his victims +high into the air! + +As they came down again, it was to fall, not upon the water, but into +the throat of the voracious tyrant; who, although toothless and without +any means of masticating, made shorter work of it by introducing them +_untoothed_, and at a single gulp, into his capacious maw! + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. + +ANGLING FOR ALBACORE. + +After a while the crew of the _Catamaran_ watched the manoeuvres of the +sword-fish with a degree of interest that almost caused them to forget +their own forlorn situation. Little William and Lilly Lalee were +especially delighted with the singular spectacle; and long after the +sailor and Snowball had turned their attention to other and more +necessary matters, the two stood side by side gazing out upon the ocean +in the direction in which the sea-swordsman had been seen. + +We say _had been_ seen: for, after swallowing the brace of albacores, +the voracious monster had suddenly disappeared, either by diving deep +down into the sea, or shooting off to some distant point. + +Little William and Lalee looked everywhere,--first astern, where the +swordsman had made the display of his skill; then on both sides; and, +finally, ahead. They looked in these different directions,--because, +from what they had already seen of its natative powers, they knew that +the great fish could pass in a few seconds through a hundred fathoms of +water, and therefore was as likely to be on one side as the other. + +On no side, however, could the fish be seen; and, although both the +sailor-lad and Lalee would have been pleased to witness a little more of +that same sword exercise, they were at length forced to the conclusion +that the performance was over and the performer gone away,--perhaps, to +exhibit his prowess in some other quarter of the aquatic world. + +"Berry like,--berry like he gone way," said Snowball, in reply to the +interrogatory of little William. "A good ting if dat am de fack; fo' +den we hab chance to hook up some o' dese hya abbacore. See dem now! +Doan' you see how berry different dey are behavin'. Dey no longer +'feerd. Dat am sign dat de long snout hab turn him nose in some oder +direcshun. He gone fo' sartin." + +Sure enough the _behaviour_ of the albacores was very much altered, as +Snowball had affirmed. Instead of flashing about from one side of the +raft to the other, and exhibiting manifest symptoms of alarm, they now +swam placidly alongside, at a regular rate of speed, just keeping up +with the _Catamaran_. + +They looked, moreover, as if they would now take the bait, which during +the presence of the sword-fish they had obstinately refused to touch, +though frequently flung, both by Snowball and the sailor, right under +their snouts. + +Both were again preparing to repeat their angling operations; and in a +few seconds' time each had his hook ready, with a piece of shark-meat +temptingly attached to it, the bait being rendered still more attractive +from having a little shred of scarlet flannel looped around the shank of +the hook, while several fathoms of stout sennit-cord served as +trolling-lines. + +Plash into the water went the two baited hooks, both at once; and, +almost before the ripples caused by the plunge had ceased to circle upon +the surface, a still louder plashing could be heard, and a much rougher +ripple seen,--in short, a large space of the surface agitated into foam, +where a brace of albacores were fluking and struggling on the respective +hooks of Snowball and the sailor. + +Right rapidly were they hauled aboard, and their struggles brought to a +termination by a smart tap on the head administered to each in +succession, by a handspike, which had suddenly found its way into the +grasp of the sailor. + +No time was thrown away in contemplating the captives, or triumphing +over their capture. Little William and Lalee alone examined the two +beautiful creatures thus brought within their reach; while Snowball and +the sailor, rapidly readjusting the baits upon their hooks, that had +been slightly disarranged by the teeth of the _tunnies_,--for the +albacore is a species of tunny fish,--once more flung them forth. + +This time the baits were not so greedily "grabbed" at. As if the +"school" had become suspicious, they all for a considerable time fought +shy of it; but, as it was trolled so temptingly under their very snouts, +first one and then another began to make approach,--now nearer and +nearer, one or two taking a nibble at it, and then dropping it again, +and suddenly shying off,--as if they had discovered something unpleasant +either in its taste or touch. + +This delicate nibbling continued for several minutes when, at length, an +albacore more courageous than its companions, or perhaps with an emptier +stomach than the rest, at sight of the tempting morsel suddenly took +leave of his discretion; and, darting forward, seized the bait upon +Ben's hook, swallowing bait, hook, and several inches of the +sennit-cord, at a single gulp! + +There was no danger of its being able to detach itself from that hook. +The barb was already fast in its entrails before Ben gave the jerk to +secure it. Another jerk brought the fish out of its native element, +landing it amidships on board the _Catamaran_, where, like its two +predecessors, it was instantly knocked on the head. + +Snowball continued to "troll" his line in the most approved fashion; and +was soon again joined by his brother "piscator," who, after settling the +scores with the second fish he had caught, had adjusted a fresh bait, +and once more flung his line into the water. + +For some reason or other, the albacores became suddenly shy,--not as if +alarmed at the action of the anglers, but rather from having their +attention attracted to some other object invisible to the eyes of those +on the _Catamaran_. The fish were so near the raft, that every movement +made by them could be easily observed,--even to the glancing of their +silvery irides,--and those who observed them could see that they were +looking aloft. + +Up went the eyes of the _Catamarans_, both anglers and idlers turning +their glances towards the sky. There was nothing to be seen there,--at +least, nothing to account for the shyness of the fish, or the upward +cast of their eyeballs. So thought three of the party,--little William, +Lalee, and the sailor,--who beheld only the blue, cloudless canopy of +the heavens. + +Snowball, however, whose single experience of ocean-life was greater +than the sum total of the other three twice told, did not, like the +rest, desist all at once from his scrutiny of the sky, but remained +gazing with upturned look for period of several minutes. + +At the termination of that time, an exclamatory phrase, escaping from +his lips, proclaimed the discovery of some object that, to his mind, +accounted for the odd behaviour of the albacores. + +"De frigate-bird!" was the phrase that came mutteringly from between +Snowball's teeth. "Ya, ya,--dar am two ob dem,--de cock an' hen, I +s'pose. Dat 'counts for de scariness of dese hya fish. Dat's what am +doin' it." + +"O, a frigate-bird!" said Ben Brace, recognising in Snowball's synonyme +one of the most noted wanderers of the ocean,--the _Pelicanus aquila_ of +the naturalists, but which, from its swift flight and graceful form, is +better known to mariners under the appellation given to it by Snowball. + +"Where away?" interrogated the sailor. "I don't see bird o' any sort. +Where away, Snowy?" + +"Up yonner,--nearly straight ober head,--close by dat lilly 'peck ob +cloud. Dar dey be, one on de one side, odder on fodder,--de ole cock +an' de ole hen, I'se be boun!" + +"Your daylights be uncommon clear, nigger. I don't see ne'er a bird-- +Ah, now I do!--two of 'em, as you say. Ye're right, Snowy. Them be +frigates to a sartainty. It's easy to tell the cut o' thar wings from +any other bird as flops over the sea. Beside, there be no other I knows +on as goes up to that height. Considerin' that thar wings be spread +nigh a dozen feet, if not all o' that, and that they don't look bigger +than barn-swallows, I reckon they must be mor'n a mile overhead o' us. +Don't you think so, Snowy?" + +"Mile, Massa Brace! Ya, dey am two mile 'bove us at de berry lees. Dey +doan' 'peer to move an inch from dat same spot. Dar be no doubt dat +boaf o' 'em am sound 'sleep." + +"Asleep!" echoed little William, in a tone that betokened a large +measure of astonishment. "You don't say, Snowball, that a bird can go +to sleep upon the wing?" + +"Whoo! lilly Willy, dat all you know 'bout de birds in dis hya part ob +do worl'? Sleep on de wing! Sartin dey go 'sleep on de wing, an' some +time wif de wing fold close to dar body, an' de head tuck under 'im,-- +don't dey, Mass' Brace?" + +"I ain't sartin as to that," doubtingly answered the +ex-man-o'-war's-man. "I've heerd so: but it _do_ seem sort o' +unnat'ral." + +"Whoo!" rejoined Snowball, with a slightly derisive inclination of the +head; "why for no seem nat'ral? De frigate hersef she sleep on de water +widout sails set,--not eben a stitch ob her canvas. Well, den: why no +dem frigate-birds in de air? What de water am to de ship de air am to +de birds. What hinder 'em to take dar nap up yonner, 'ceptin' when +dar's a gale ob wind? Ob coos dat u'd interrup' dar repose." + +"Well, nigger," rejoined the sailor, in a tone that betokened no very +zealous partisanship for either side of the theory, "you may be right, +or you may be wrong. I ar'n't goin' to gi'e you the lie, one way or t' +other. All I know is, that I've seed frigates a-standing in the air, as +them be now, making way neyther to windart or leuart; f'r all that I +didn't believe they was asleep. I kud see thar forked tails openin' and +closin' jist like the blades o' a pair o' shears; and that inclined me +to think they war wide awake all the time. If they was asleep, how kud +they a-kep waggin' thar tails? Though a bird's tail be but feathers, +still it must ha' some feelin' in it." + +"Law, Massa Ben!" retorted the negro, in a still more patronising tone, +as if pitying the poverty of the sailor's syllogism, "you no tink it +possible that one move in dar sleep? You nebber move you big toe, or +you foot, or some time de whole ob you leg? Beside," continued the +logician, passing to a fresh point of his argument, "how you s'pose de +frigate-bird do 'idout sleep? You know berry well he not got de power +to swim,--him feet only half web. He no more sit on de water dan a +guinea-fowl, or a ole hen ob de dunghill. As for him go 'sleep on de +sea, it no more possyble dan for you or me, Massa Ben." + +"Well, Snowy," slowly responded the sailor, rather pushed for a reply, +"I'm willin' to acknowledge all that. It look like the truth, an' it +don't,--both at the same time. I can't understan' how a bird can go to +sleep up in the air, no more'n I could hang my old tarpaulin' hat on the +corner o' a cloud. Same time I acknowledge that I'm puzzled to make out +how them thar frigates can take thar rest. The only explanation I can +think o' is, that every night they fly back to the shore, an' turns in +thar." + +"Whoogh! Massa Brace, you knows better dan dat. I'se heerd say dat de +frigate-bird nebber am seed more'n a hunder league from de shore. Dam! +Dis nigga hab seed dat same ole cock five time dat distance from land,-- +in de middle ob de wide Atlantic, whar we sees 'um now. Wish it was +true he nebber 'tray more dan hunder knots from de land; we might hab +some chance reach it den. Hunder league! Golly! more'n twice dat +length we am from land; and dere 's dem long-wing birds hov'rin' 'bove +our heads, an sleepin' as tranquil as ebber dis nigga did in de caboose +ob de ole _Pandora_." + +Ben made no reply. Whether the reasoning of the Coromantee was correct +or only sophistical, the facts were the same. Two forms were in the +sky, outlined against the back ground of cerulean blue. Though distant, +and apparently motionless, they were easily distinguishable as living +things,--as birds,--and of a kind so peculiar, that the eye of the rude +African, and even that of the almost equally rude Saxon, could +distinguish the species. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +THE FRIGATE-BIRD. + +The frigate-bird (_Pelicanus aquila_), which had thus become the subject +of conversation on board the _Catamaran_, is in many respects very +different from other ocean-birds. Although generally classed with the +pelicans, it bears but a very slight resemblance to any species of these +misshapen, unwieldy, goose-like creatures. + +It differs from most other birds frequenting the sea in the fact of its +feet being but slightly webbed, and its claws being _talons_, like those +of hawks or eagles. + +Otherwise, also, does it resemble these last birds,--so much that the +sailors, noting the resemblance, indifferently call it "sea-hawk," +"man-of-war hawk," and "man-of-war eagle." The last appellation, +however, is sometimes given to the great wandering albatross (_Diomedea +exulans_). + +The male frigate-bird is jet black all over the body; having a red bill, +very long, vertically flattened, and with the mandibles abruptly hooked +downwards at the point. The female differs in colour: being sooty black +above, and having a large white disc on the abdomen. + +The legs are short in proportion to the bulk of the bird; the toes, as +already stated, being furnished with talons,--the middle one scaly, and +notched underneath; while the legs are feathered to the feet, showing +another point of affinity with predatory birds of the land. Still +another may be pointed out: in the innermost toe or _pollex_, being +turned outwards, as if intended for perching,--which the frigate-bird +actually does when it visits the shore, often making its nest upon +trees, and roosting among the branches. + +In fact, this creature may be regarded as a sort of connecting link +between the birds of prey who make their home on the dry land, and the +web-footed birds that equally lead a predatory life upon the sea. +Perhaps it continues the chain begun by the ospreys and sea-eagles, who +take most of their food out of the water, but do not stray far from the +shore in search of it. + +The frigate-bird, a true sea-hawk,--sea-eagle, it may be called, since +its bold, noble qualities entitle it to the name,--makes its excursions +so far from the shore that it is not unfrequently seen in the very +middle of the Atlantic. Now, this is the most curious circumstance in +its history, and one that has hitherto perplexed ornithologists. Since +its feet are not provided with the "web," it cannot swim a stroke; nor +has it ever been seen to alight on the water for the purpose of taking +rest. It is not likely that it can settle on the wave,--the +conformation of its feet and body making this an impossibility. + +How, then, does it find rest for its tired wings? This is the question +to which an answer is not easily given. + +There is a belief, as Ben alleged, that it returns every night to roost +upon the land; but when it is considered that to reach its roost would +often require a flight of a thousand miles,--to say nothing of the +return journey to its fishing-ground,--the statement at once loses all +_vrai-semblance_, Many sailors say that it goes to sleep suspended aloft +in the air, and so high up as to be sometimes invisible. This was the +belief of Snowball. + +Now, this belief, or conjecture, or whatever you may--term it, on the +part of Jack tar, though sneered at as impossible, and even scoffed at +as ridiculous, may, after all, not be so very far beyond the truth. +Jack has told some rare tales in his time,--"yarns" that appear to be +"spun" out of his fancy, quite as much as this one,--which, after having +run the gauntlet of philosophic ridicule on the part of closet +naturalists, have in the long run turned out to be true! Has not his +story of the "King of the Cannibal Islands,"--Hokee-pokee-winkee-wum, +with his fifty wives as black as "sut," and all his belongings, just as +Jack described them,--actually "turned up" in reality, in the person of +Thakombau and a long line of similar monsters inhabiting the Fiji +Islands? + +Why, then, may not his statements, about the frigate-bird going to sleep +upon the wing be a correct conjecture, or observation, instead of a +"sailor's yarn,"--as sage and conceited, but often mistaken, professors +of "physical science" would have us regard it? + +Such professors as are at this moment, in almost every newspaper in the +country,--scientific journals among the number,--abusing and ridiculing +the poor farmer for destroying the birds that destroy his grain; and +telling him, if he were to let the birds alone, they would eat the +insects that commit far greater devastation on his precious _cerealia_! +Conceited theorists! it has never occurred to them, that the victims of +the farmer's fowling-piece--_the birds that eat corn--would not touch an +insect if they were starving_! The farmer does not make war on the +insect-eating birds. Rarely, or never, does he expend powder and shot +on the swallow, the wagtail, the tomtit, the starling, the thrush, the +blackbird, the wren, the robin, or any of the grub and fly-feeders. His +"game" are the buntings and _Fringillidae_,--the larks, linnets, +finches, barley-birds, yellowhammers, and house sparrows, that form the +great flocks afflicting him both in seed-time and harvest; and none of +which (excepting, perhaps, the last-mentioned gentry, who are at times +slightly inclined towards a wormy diet) would touch an insect, even with +the tips of their bills. Ha! ye scribblers of closet conceits! you have +been sneering at "Chaw-bacon" long enough. He may turn and scoff at +you; for, in very truth, the boot (of ignorance) is upon the other leg! + +Let us make sure then, lest Jack's theory regarding the lumbers of the +sea-hawk be not mythical in the mirror of our own incredulity. + +That the bird can take rest in the air is perfectly certain. It may be +seen--as the crew of the _Catamaran_ saw it--suspended on outspread +wing, without any perceptible motion except in its tail; the long, +forked feathers of which could be observed opening and closing at +intervals; according to the sailor's simile, like the blades of a pair +of scissors. But this motion might be merely muscular, and compatible +with a state of slumber or unconscious repose. At all events, the bird +has been seen to keep its place in the air for many minutes at a time, +with no other motion observable than that of the long and +gracefully-forking feathers of its tail. + +A fish sleeps suspended in the water without any apparent effort. Why +not certain birds in the air, whose body is many times lighter than that +of a fish, and whose skeleton is constructed with air vessels to buoy +them up into the azure fields of the sky? The sea-hawk may seldom +require what is ordinarily termed rest. Its smooth, graceful flight +upon wings, which, though slender, are of immense length,--often often +feet spread,--shows that it is, perhaps, as much at ease in the air as +if perched upon the bough of a tree; and it is certain that its claws +never clasp branch, nor do its feet find rest on any other object, for +weeks and months together. + +It is true that while fishing near the shore it usually retires to roost +at night; but afar over the ocean it keeps all night upon the wing. It +does not, like many other ocean-birds,--as the booby, one of its own +genus,--seek rest upon the spars of ships, though it often hovers above +the mastheads of sailing vessels, as if taking delight in this +situation, and not unfrequently seizes in its beak, and tearing away the +pieces of coloured cloth fixed upon the vane. + +A curious anecdote is told of a frigate-bird taken while thus +occupied,--its captor being a man who had swarmed up to the masthead and +seized it in his hand. As this individual chanced to be a landsman, +serving temporarily on board the ship, and being remarkably tall and +slender, the crew of the vessel would never have it otherwise, than that +the bird, accustomed only to the figure of a sailor, had mistaken its +captor for a spare spar, and thus fallen a victim to its want of +discernment! + +Strictly speaking, the frigate-bird does not _fish_, like other +predatory birds of the ocean. As it cannot either dive or swim, of +course it cannot take fish out of the water. How, then, does it exist? +Where finds it the food necessary to sustain existence? In a word, it +captures its prey in the air; and this commonly consists in the various +species of flying-fish, and also the _loligo_, or "flying squids." When +these are forced out of their own proper element to seek safety in the +air, the frigate-bird, ready to pounce down from aloft, clutches them +before they can get back into the equally unsafe element out of which +they have sprung. + +Besides the flying-fish, it preys upon those that have the habit of +leaping above the surface, and also others that have been already +captured by boobies, terns, gulls, and tropic birds, all of which can +both swim and dive. + +These the frigate-bird remorselessly robs of their legitimate prize,-- +first compelling them to relinquish it in the air, and then adroitly +seizing it before it gets back to the water. + +The storm is the season of plenty to this singular bird of prey; as then +it can capture many kinds of fish upon the surface of the waves. It is +during those times when the sea is tranquil or perfectly calm, that it +resorts to the other method,--of forcing the fishing-birds to yield up +their prey, often even to disgorge, after having swallowed it! + +Its wondrous powers of flight not only enable it to seize with certainty +the morsel thus rejected, but so confident is it of its ability in the +performance of this feat, that, if a fish chance to be awkwardly caught +in its beak, it will fearlessly fling it into the air, and, darting +after, grasp it again and again, until it gets the mouthful in a +convenient position for being gulped down its own greedy throat. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY NINE. + +BETWEEN TWO TYRANTS. + +The two birds which had attracted the attention of the _Catamaran's_ +crew were seen suddenly to abandon their fixed poise in the air, and +commence wheeling in circles, or rather in spiral lines that gradually +descended towards the surface of the sea. + +In a short while they were so low that the scarlet pouch under the +throat of the male was easily recognisable, swollen out like a goitre; +while the elegant conformation of the birds, with their long, +scimitar-shaped wings, and slender forked tails, was sharply defined +against the blue background of the sky. + +The albacores no longer took any notice of the baited hooks; but, +instead, commenced darting through the water in various directions, +until they had got scattered about over the sea. + +Was it fear of the predatory birds hovering above that was producing +this change in their tactics? + +It could not be that. They did not appear to be acting under any alarm; +but rather as if prowling in search of something not yet visible either +to them or to those who were watching them from the deck of the +_Catamaran_. + +Ben Brace and Snowball knew the fish were not frightened by the presence +of the birds; but William, whose experience of sea-life was more +limited,--although the albacores did not look alarmed,--thought, +doubtingly, that they were so. + +"Surely," said he, appealing to his older companions, "such big fish +needn't be scared of them?" + +As he put the interrogatory, he pointed upward to the two birds, now +within a hundred fathoms of the surface. "Surely they can't kill an +albacore? If they did, they could never swallow it, I should think?" + +"'T ain't the albacore they be after," replied Ben Brace, "nor be the +albacore afeerd o' them,--not a bit. There be another sort o' fishes +not far away, though we can't see 'em. No more do these sky-blue chaps +as be swimming around us. They be now lookin' for 'em,--mighty sharp, +as ye see; an' they'll be sartin to scare 'em up in three shakes o' a +shark's tail." + +"What other sort of fish?" inquired William. + +"Flyin'-fish, lad; same's you an' I made our first meal on, when we wur +wellnigh starvin'. There's a school not far off. The frigates has +spied 'em from aloft, an' that's what's brought them hoverin' over. +They've seed the albacores too; and as they know that these preys on the +flyin'-fish, they've come down to be nearer thar game. Unless the +albacores get thar eyes on the winged fish, and run down among 'em, +there'll be no chance for the frigates. They can do nothin' till t' +other jumps 'em out o' the water. The sky-blues don't seem to see 'em +yet; but I dare say it'll not be long afore they do, judgin' by their +manoeuvres. Thar! Didn't I tell thee, lad? See yonder! They be off +after something." + +As the sailor spoke, several of the albacores were seen suddenly heading +in a direction parallel to the course of the _Catamaran_ and passing +rapidly through the transparent water. + +In an instant after, several white objects were seen springing up before +them, which, after glancing for a moment in the air, plunged back again +into the water. + +Not any of the _Catamaran's_ crew were ignorant of the character of +these objects. The silvery sheen of translucent wings, as they +glittered under the bright sunbeams, proclaimed the creatures to be a +"flock" of flying-fish, of which the albacores--of all their many +enemies the most dangerous--were now in pursuit. + +There may have been several of the flying-fish that did not rise into +the air, but fell a prey to their pursuers under the water; and of those +that did succeed in springing above the surface there were two that +never came down again,--at least not in the shape of flying-fish. + +The sea-hawks, wheeling above both pursuers and pursued, had been +watching their opportunity; and as the pretty creatures made their +appearance above water, both the birds swooped straight down among the +prinkling cohort, each selecting a victim. Both made a successful +swoop; for they were observed to turn and fly with a slant upwards, each +with a flying-fish in its beak. + +One of them, the male bird, didn't appear to be satisfied with the hold +he had taken; for, with a sudden jerk of his head, he let go again, +pitched the prey several feet upward, and again as it came down took a +fresh "grip" upon it. + +No doubt this was to his satisfaction, for almost in the same instant +that the flying-fish returned within the mandibles of his beak it +disappeared, wings and all, down that dark passage, where, no doubt, +many another of its kind had preceded it. + +It was evident that neither of the birds considered one flying-fish +sufficient for a meal; for as soon as they had swallowed those already +taken, they again placed themselves in position for shooting down upon a +second victim. + +And now the crew of the _Catamaran_ had the fortune to witness one of +those singular incidents that may sometimes be seen upon the ocean,--a +little drama of Nature, in which three of her creatures,--all three +differing in kind,--formed the _dramatis persona_. + +The cock frigate-bird, on turning to look for a fresh victim, espied +one, or that which was likely to become one, almost directly beneath +him. + +It was a single flying-fish, which by some chance,--perhaps from not +being either so fast a swimmer or so swift upon the wing as its +fellows,--had lagged behind the "school." + +It was no longer playing laggard, and for a very good reason: since an +albacore, nearly full three feet in length, was swimming after it and +doing his very best to overtake it. Both were exerting every bit of +muscular strength that lay in their fins,--the former to make its +escape, the latter to prevent this consummation. + +It was evident, however, to those on board the _Catamaran_, that the +pursuer was gaining upon the pursued; and this at length became also +evident to the flying-fish. The tiny creature, as it cut through the +clear water, could be seen quivering with fear; and the spectators +looked to see it shoot upward into the air, and thus disappoint the +greedy tyrant at its tail. + +No doubt this would have been the very course of conduct for the +flying-fish to have pursued; and no doubt it was on the eve of adopting +it, when, all at once, the long, shadowy wings and outstretched neck of +the frigate-bird were seen outlined above. + +The sight was sufficient to keep the fish under water a while longer, +but only a very little while. Above were that ugly red pouch and +craning neck; below, those hideous jaws, ready to open and engulf it. + +There seemed no chance of escape. It was only a question of choice as +to the mode of death: whether it would prefer to become food for a fish, +or be devoured by a bird. + +As, in itself, it partook a little of the nature of, or, at all events, +of the habits of both, there was not much to choose between them; but +whether it did not desire to deliver itself over to the enemy most like +to itself, or whether it was that the latter was now so near as to be +almost certain of seizing it, it declared its preference for the bird by +making a sudden spring which carried it clear out of the water, and into +the air. + +The sea-hawk hovering above in eager expectation lost no time in making +the attempt to secure it; but whether he was too sure of his prize, or +from some other unexplained reason, certain it is that he gave a +practical illustration of the old and well-known adage about the cup and +the lip, by failing to clutch the prey. + +He was seen darting towards it with open beak,--his talons cruelly +extended for its capture; but, notwithstanding all his activity, the +white object that shot glittering past him, and dropped into the sea far +beyond, proclaimed to the Catamarans that the _Exocetus_ had escaped. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY. + +SNOWBALL MAKING A SOMERSAULT. + +And now all eyes were turned towards the sea-hawk, and became fixed upon +him with glances that expressed surprise; for, instead of again soaring +upward, and renewing his pursuit either of the creature that he had so +clumsily permitted to escape him, or some other of its kind, the bird +was seen to stay down upon the surface of the sea,--his wings spread to +their full extent, and flapping the water with such violence as to raise +the spray in a thick cloud over and around him! + +He was heard, too, giving utterance to loud and repeated screams,--not +in the tone of a conqueror; but as if he was in danger of being +vanquished, or had already become the victim of some ocean tyrant +stronger than himself! + +For some seconds this inexplicable movement,--a struggle it seemed,-- +continued; not in one place, but over a space of many square yards of +surface,--which appeared to be also agitated by the exertions of some +creature underneath; the bird all the while repeating its cries, and +beating the water into froth, like a huge pelican at play! + +The crew of the _Catamaran_, utterly unable to account for this strange +conduct on the part of the old cock, stood upon the deck of their craft, +looking on with feelings of intense astonishment. + +Even Snowball, who thought himself _au fait_ to every incident of +ocean-life, was surprised and puzzled equally with the rest. + +"What be the matter wi' the creetur, Snowy?" inquired Ben, thinking +Snowball could explain its odd behaviour. "The frigate 'pears to ha' +got on its beam-end; shiver my timbers if 't ain't goin' to founder!" + +"Shibber ma timber, too," rejoined Snowball, rudely pirating the +sailor's favourite shibboleth; "shibber 'um, if dis nigga know what am +de matter. Golly! someting got de ole hawk by de legs,--dat seem +sartin. Maybe 'um be shark, maybe 'um be long-nose--de--" + +Snowball was going to say "sword-fish," had he been permitted to finish +his speech. But he was not; for while in the act of its delivery, with +the whites of his eyes rolling in conjectural wonder, something from +below struck the plank, upon which he was standing, and with such a +shock that the piece of timber was started from its fastenings, and +impelled suddenly upwards,--not only knocking the ex-sea-cook out of his +perpendicular position, but pitching him, as from a catapult, clear +across the _Catamaran_, and into the sea on the opposite side! + +This was not all. The plank from which Snowball had been projected +instantly fell back into its place,--in consequence of its being one of +the heaviest pieces of timber in the raft,--but instead of remaining +there, it was again seen to shoot upward, then fall back upon the water, +as if dragged down by a powerful but invisible hand,--the hand of some +sea-god or demon,--perhaps of Neptune himself! + +Not only the plank, but the whole raft moved under this inexplicable +impulsion,--which had communicated to it a rocking motion, not from side +to side, but upwards and downwards! So quick and violent was this +mysterious oscillation, that it was with difficulty the three +individuals who still occupied the decks of the craft could keep either +their balance or their feet. + +Along with the motion of the raft there was a corresponding commotion in +the water,--accompanied by a loud splashing noise that seemed to proceed +from under the timbers, on which, like so many acrobats, they were +endeavouring to balance themselves; and in a few seconds after they had +felt the great shock, the sea all around exhibited a surface of high +waves crested with foam! + +Snowball, who had risen to the surface after the somersault that had +plunged him deep down into the sea, perceiving that the raft still +continued to heave upward and downward, made no attempt to get on board; +but swimming alongside, sputtered forth his terrified ejaculations. +Even the brave man-o'-war's-man, who had faced death in a thousand +shapes, was, at that moment, the victim of fear. + +How could it be otherwise? He could think of nothing in nature capable +of causing that mysterious commotion and who, without trembling, could +withstand the assaults of the supernatural? + +"Shiver my timbers!" cried Ben, himself shivering as he spoke the words, +"what in old Nick's name has got under us? Be it a whale that's bumpin' +its back against the rail? Or--" + +Before he could pronounce the second interrogatory, a loud crash sounded +in the ears of all,--as if the plank heaving so mysteriously had been +suddenly torn in twain! + +This sound, whatever had caused it, seemed to proclaim the climax of the +commotion: for immediately after the _Catamaran_ began to compose +herself, the waves caused by her continued rocking gradually grew less, +until at length, once more "righted," she lay in her customary position +upon the tranquil surface of the sea. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. + +A THRUST THROUGH AND THROUGH. + +As soon as the _Catamaran_ had fairly recovered her equilibrium, +Snowball condescended to climb aboard. The ludicrous appearance of the +negro, as he stood dripping upon the deck, might have excited laughter; +but neither Ben Brace, nor his acolyte, nor the little Lalee, were in a +mood for mirth. On the contrary, the curious incident that had just +occurred was yet unexplained; and the awe with which it had inspired +them still continued to hold all three in a sort of speechless control. +Snowball himself was the first to break silence. + +"Good Gorramity!" he exclaimed, his teeth chattering like castanets, as +the words passed between them. "Wha's all de rumpus 'bout? Wha you +tink, Massa Ben? Wha make dat dratted fuss under de raff? De water be +plash bout so I've see nuffin, 'cepting a big black heap o' someting. +Golly! I b'lieve it war de _jumbe_,--de debbil!" + +The terrified looks of the speaker, while giving utterance to these +words,--especially when pronouncing the dreaded name of the _jumbe_-- +told that he was serious in what he said; and that he actually believed +the devil to have been the agent who had been causing the mysterious +commotion! + +The English sailor, though not entirely free from a certain tinge of +superstition, did not share Snowball's belief. Though unable, by any +experience he had ever gone through, to account for the odd incident, +still he could not ascribe it to supernatural agency. The blow which +started the plank on which Snowball had been standing had communicated a +shock to the whole structure. It might have been given by some huge +fish, or other monster of the deep; and though unaccountable and +unexpected, might, nevertheless, be quite natural. It was the shaking +which the _Catamaran_ kept up afterwards,--almost to the spilling of the +whole crew into the water,--that most perplexed the old +man-o'-war's-man. He could not imagine why a fish, or any other +creature, having butted its head once against the "keel" of the craft, +would not instantly desist from such an idle encounter, and make off as +fast as fins could carry it. + +Ben's first impression was, that a whale had by chance risen under the +raft; as he had known them to do against the sides of ships. But then +the persistence of the creature, whatever it was, in its odd attack, +argued something more than accident. On the other hand, if the attack +was designed, and had been made by a whale, of whatever species, the +sailor knew that it would not have left off after merely shaking the +raft. A whale, with a single flirt of his tail, would have sent the +whole structure flying into the air, sunk it down into the deep, or +scattered it in fifty fragments over the surface of the water. + +One of these things a whale would undoubtedly have done. So believed +Ben Brace; and therefore the creature that had come so near capsizing +them could not be a whale. What was it, then? A shark? No. It could +not be a shark. Though there are two or three species of these +monsters, quite as large as good-sized whales, the sailor never knew of +their assaulting anything after that fashion. + +As they stood speculating on the cause of their curious adventure, a +shout from Snowball announced that the ex-cook had at length discovered +the explanation. + +Snowball's first thought, after having partially recovered from his +fright, was to examine the plank from which, like an acrobat from his +spring-board, he had made that involuntary somersault. + +There, just by the spot on which he had been standing, appeared an +object that explained everything: a sharp, bony, proboscis-like +implement, standing up a full foot's length out of the timber, slightly +obliqued from the perpendicular, and as firmly imbedded in the wood as +if it had been driven in by the blows of a blacksmith's hammer! + +That it had penetrated the plank from underneath could be easily seen, +by the ragged edge, and split pieces around the orifice where it came +out. + +But the negro did not stay to draw deductions of this nature. On +catching sight of the object,--which he knew had not been there +before,--his terror at once came to an end; and a long cachinnation, +intended for a peal of laughter, announced that "Snowball was himself +again." + +"Golly!" he exclaimed. "Look dar, Massa Brace. Look at de ting dat hab +gub us sich a frightnin. Whuch! Who'd a beliebed dat de long-nose had +got so much 'trength in im ugly body? Whuch!" + +"A sword-fish!" cried Ben. The rostrum of one of these singular +creatures was the sharp bone protruding above the plank. "You're right, +Snowy, it be a sword-fish, and nothing else." + +"Only de snout o' one," jocularly rejoined the negro. "De karkiss ob de +anymal an't dar any more. Dat was de black body I seed under de raff; +but he an't dar now. He hab broke off him long perbossus; and no doubt +dat hab killed him. He gone dead, and to de bottom, boaf at de same +time." + +"Yes," assented the sailor. "It must have broke off while he was +struggling to get clear, I heerd the crash o't, like the partin' o' a +spar; and just after, the raft stopped shakin', an' began to settle down +again. Lor ha mercy on us! what a thrust he have made! That plank be +five inches thick, at the very least, an' you see he's stuck his snout +through it more'n a foot! Lor 'a mercy on us! What wonderful queery +creeturs the ocean do contain!" + +And with this philosophic reflection, from the lips of the +man-o'-war's-man, ended the adventure. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. + +AN AWKWARD GRIP. + +To the two oldest of the _Catamaran's_ crew the curious circumstances of +the sword-fish thrusting his rostrum through the raft, and snapping it +asunder, needed no explanation. Both knew that it was not with an +intention of attacking the _Catamaran_ that the "stab" had been given; +nor was the act a voluntary one, in any way. + +Not likely, indeed; since it had proved fatal to the swordsman himself. +No one doubted his having gone dead to the bottom of the sea: for the +bony "blade" was found to have been broken close to the "hilt," and it +was not possible the owner could exist without this important weapon. +Even supposing that the fearful "fracture" had not killed him outright, +the loss of his long rapier, the only tool by which he could obtain his +living, would be sure to shorten his lease of life, and the final moment +could not be long delayed. + +But neither sailor nor ex-sea-cook had any doubt of the fish having +committed suicide, no more than that the act was involuntary. + +The explanation given by Ben Brace to his _protege_ was simple, as it +was also rational. The sword-fish had been charging into a shoal of +albacores. Partly blinded by the velocity of its impetuous rush, and +partly by its instinct of extreme voracity,--perhaps amounting to a +passion, it had seen nothing of the raft until its long weapon struck +the plank, piercing the latter through and through. Unable to withdraw +its rostrum from the fibrous wood, the fish had instantly inaugurated +that series of struggles, and continued them, until the crash came, +caused, no doubt, by the upheaved raft lurching suddenly down in a +direction transverse to its snout. + +Only a part of this explanatory information was extended to little +William: for only a part was required. From some previous talk that had +occurred on the same subject, he was already acquainted with a few of +the facts relating to this foolish fencing on the part of the +sword-fish. + +Nor was there at that moment any explanation either offered or asked; +for, as soon as the _Catamaran_ had settled into her proper position, +and Snowball had got aboard, the eyes of her whole crew,--those of the +Coromantee among the rest,--became once more directed to that which had +occupied their attention previous to receiving the shock,--the strange +behaviour of the frigate-bird. + +This creature was still down on the surface of the water, darting from +point to point, fluttering and flopping, and throwing up the little +clouds of spray, that, surrounding it like a nimbus, seemed to follow it +wherever it went! + +Though Ben Brace and Snowball had been able to explain the action of the +fish, they were both at fault about the behaviour of the bird. In all +their sea experience neither had ever witnessed the like conduct +before,--either on the part of a frigate-bird, or any other bird of the +ocean. + +For a long time they stood watching the creature, and exchanging +conjectures as to the cause of its singular action. It was clear this +was not voluntary; for its movements partook of the nature of a +struggle. Besides, its screams,--to which it gave an almost continuous +utterance,--betokened either terror or pain, or both. + +But why did it keep to the surface of the sea, when it was well-known to +be a bird that could rise almost vertically into the air, and to the +highest point that winged creatures might ascend? + +This was the query to which neither sailor nor sea-cook could give a +reply, either with positive truth or probable conjecture. + +For full ten minutes it remained unanswered; that is, ten minutes after +the sword-fish adventure had ended, and twenty from the time the +frigate-bird had been seen to swoop at the flying-fish. Then, however, +the problem received its solution; and the play of the _Pelicanus +aquila_ was at length explained. + +It was no play on the part of the unfortunate bird, but a case of +involuntary and fearful captivity. + +The bird had begun to show symptoms of exhaustion, and as its strength +became enfeebled, its wings flopped more gently against the water, the +spray no longer rose around it, and the sea underneath was less +agitated. + +The spectators could now see that it was not alone. Beneath, and +apparently clutching it by the leg, was a fish whose shape, size, and +sheen of azure hue proclaimed it an albacore,--no doubt, the one that +simultaneously with the bird itself had been balked in the pursuit of +the flying-fish. + +So far the detention of the frigate-bird upon the surface of the sea was +explained; but not sufficiently. There was still cause for conjecture. +The albacore seemed equally tired of the connection,--equally exhausted; +and as it swam slowly about,--no longer darting swiftly from point to +point, as at the beginning of the strife,--the spectators could now see +that the foot of the sea-hawk, instead of being held between the jaws of +the fish,--as at first they had supposed it to be,--appeared to be +resting on the back of its head, as if the bird had perched there, and +was balancing itself on one leg! + +Mystery of mysteries! What could it all mean? + +The struggles of both bird and fish seemed coming to a termination: as +they were now only continued intermittently. After each interval, the +wings of the former and the fins of the latter moved with feebler +stroke; until at length both wings and fins lay motionless,--the former +on, the latter _in_, the water. + +But that the bird's wings were extended, it would, no doubt, have sunk +under the surface; and the fish was still making feeble endeavours to +draw it down; but the spread pinions, extending over nearly ten feet of +surface, frustrated the design. + +It so chanced that the curious spectacle had occurred directly ahead of +the _Catamaran_, and the craft, making way down the wind, kept gradually +approaching the scene of the strife. + +Every moment the respective positions of the two parties revealed +themselves more clearly; but it was not until the raft swept within +reach, and the exhausted adversaries were both taken up, that the +connection between them became thoroughly understood. + +Then it was discovered that the contest which had occurred between them +was on both sides an involuntary affair,--had not been sought by either; +but was the result of sheer accident. + +How could it be otherwise: since the albacore is too strong for the beak +of the frigate-bird,--too big for even _its_ capacious throat to +swallow; while, on the other hand, the frigate-bird never ventures to +intrude itself on the cruising-ground of this powerful fish? + +The accident which had conducted to this encounter, leading to a fatal +entanglement, had been caused by a creature which is the common prey of +both,--the little flying-fish, that for once had escaped from his +enemies of both elements,--the air and the water. + +In dashing down upon the flying-fish, the curving talons of the bird, +missing the object for which they had been braced, entered the eye of +the albacore. Partly because they fitted exactly into the socket, and +partly becoming imbedded among the fibrous sutures of the skull, they +remained fixed; so that neither bird nor fish--equally desirous of +undoing the irksome yoke--was able to put an end to the partnership! + +Snowball gave them a divorce, as effectual as could have been obtained +in the court, ever to be noted as that of Sir Cresswell Cresswell. + +The process was brief,--the execution following quick upon the judgment; +though the sentences pronounced upon the criminals were not exactly the +same. + +The fish was knocked on the head; while a different, though equally +expeditious, mode of punishment was executed upon the bird. Its head +was twisted from its body! + +Thus, somewhat after the fashion of Kilkenny cats, perished two tyrants +of the sea. Let us hope that the tyrants of the land may all receive an +analogous compensation for their crimes! + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. + +GLOOMY PROSPECTS. + +The reappearance of the sword-fish,--if it was the same that had already +paid them a visit,--or more likely the discovery and pursuit of the +"school" of flying-fish,--had caused the albacores to decamp from the +neighbourhood of the _Catamaran_; so that with the exception of that +taken from the talons of the frigate-bird, not one was any longer to be +seen. + +Once recovered from the excitement, caused by the singular accident that +happened to the _Catamaran_,--as well as the other incident almost as +singular,--her crew made an inspection of their craft, to see if any +damage had accrued from the shock. + +Fortunately there was none. The piercing of the plank, in which the +bony rostrum remained firmly imbedded, was of no consequence whatever; +and, although several feet of the "sword,"--the whole of the blade, in +fact, excepting that which protruded above,--could be perceived jutting +out underneath, they made no attempt to "extract" it: since it could not +greatly interfere with the sailing qualities of the _Catamaran_. + +The plank itself had been started slightly out of place aid one or two +other timbers loosened. But in such able hands as those of Snowball and +the sailor, these trifling damages were soon made good again. + +The two baited hooks were once more dropped into the water, but the sun +went down over the ocean without either of them receiving a nibble. No +albacore,--no fish whatever,--no bird,--no living creature of any +kind,--was in sight at the setting of that sun; which, slowly +descending, as it were, into the silent depths of the ocean, left them +in the purple gleam of the twilight. + +Notwithstanding the interesting events which had transpired,--enough to +secure them against a single moment of _ennui_,--they were far from +being cheerful in that twilight hour. The stirring incidents of the day +had kept them from thinking of their real situation; but when all was +once more tranquil,--even to the ocean around them,--their thoughts +naturally reverted to their very narrow chances of ultimately escaping +from that wide, wild waste, stretching, as it seemed, to the ends of the +world! + +With wistful glances they had watched the sun sinking over the sea. The +point where the golden luminary disappeared from their sight was due +westward,--the direction in which they desired to go. Could they have +only been at that moment where his glorious orb was shining down from +the vertex, they would have been upon dry land; and, O what a thrilling +thought is that of firm stable earth, to the wretched castaway clinging +upon his frail raft in the middle of the endless ocean! + +They were discouraged by the dead calm that reigned around them; for +every breath of the breeze had died away before sunset. The surface of +the sea was tranquil even to glassiness; and as the twilight deepened, +it began to mirror the millions of twinkling stars gradually thickening +in the sky. + +There was something awful in the solemn stillness that reigned around +them; and with something like awe did it inspire them. + +It was not unbroken by sounds; but these were of a character to sadden +rather than cheer them, for they were sounds to be heard only in the +wilderness of the great deep,--such as the half-screaming laugh of the +sea-mew, and the wild whistle of the boatswain-bird. + +Another cause of discouragement to our castaways,--one which had that +day arisen,--was the loss of their valuable dried fish. + +It is true that only a portion of their stock had been spilled into the +engulfing ocean; but even this was a cause of regret; since it might not +be so easy to make up the quantity lost. + +While angling among the albacores, with the prospect of making a +successful troll, they had thought less of it. Now that these fish had +forsaken them,--leaving only three in their possession,--and they were +in doubt whether they might ever come across another "school,"--more +acutely did they feel the misfortune. + +Their spirits sank still lower, as the descending twilight darkened +around them; and for an hour or more not a cheerful word was heard or +spoken by that sad quartette composing the crew of the _Catamaran_. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR. + +THANKSGIVING. + +Despondency cannot endure forever. Kind Nature has not ordained that it +should be so. It may have its periods, longer or shorter as the case +may be; but always to be succeeded by intervals, if not of absolute +cheerfulness, at least of emotions less painful to endure. + +About an hour after the going down of the sun, the spirits of those on +board the _Catamaran_ became partially freed from the weight that for +some time had been pressing upon them. + +Of coarse this change was attributable to some cause; and as it was a +physical one, there could be no difficulty in tracing it. + +It was simply the springing up of a breeze,--a fine breeze blowing +steadily, and to the west,--the very direction in which it was desirous +they should make way. + +And they _did_ make way; the _Catamaran_, in spite of the terrible +"stab" she had received, scudding through the water, as if to show that +the assault of the sword-fish had in no way disabled her. + +Motion has always a soothing effect upon anyone suffering from +despondent spirits; more especially when the movement is being made in +the right direction. A boat stationary in the water, or drifting the +wrong way against the stroke of the rower,--a railway carriage at a +stand, or gliding back to the platform, contrary to the direction in +which the traveller intends to go,--such experiences always produce a +feeling of irksome uneasiness. When either begins to progress in its +proper course,--no matter how slowly,--the unpleasant feeling instantly +passes away; for we know that we are going "onward!" + +"Onward!" a word to cheer the drooping spirit,--a glorious word for the +despondent. + +It was not that anyone on board the _Catamaran_ had the slightest idea +that that breeze would waft them to land; or even last long enough to +bear them many leagues over the ocean. It was the thought that they +were making progress in the right course,--going _onward_,--simply that +thought that cheered them. + +It roused them from their despondency sufficiently to beget thoughts of +supper; and Snowball was seen starting up with some alacrity, and +scrambling towards his _stores_. + +His "locker" lay amidships; and as he had not far to go, nor any great +variety of comestibles to choose from, he soon returned to the stern,-- +near which the others were seated,--carrying in his outstretched claws +half a dozen of the "pickled" biscuits, and some morsels of cured fish. + +It was a coarse and meagre meal; at which even a pauper would have +pouted his lips; but to those for whom it was intended it had relish +enough to make it not only acceptable, but welcome. + +A greater delicacy was before their eyes, lying on the deck of the +_Catamaran_. That was the albacore,--a fish whose _flesh_ is equal in +excellence to that of any taken out of the ocean. But the flesh of the +albacore was _raw_; while that of Snowball's stock, if not cooked, was +at least cured; and this, in the opinion of the Catamarans, rendered it +more palatable. + +With a little "Canary" to wash it down, it was not to be despised,--at +least, under the circumstances in which they were who supped upon it; +but the wine was sparingly distributed, and drunk with a large admixture +of water. + +The bump of economy stood high upon the skull of the Coromantee. +Perhaps to this might be attributed the fact of his being still in +existence: since but for the industry he had exhibited in collecting his +stores, and his careful hoarding of them, he might, with his _protege_, +have long before succumbed to starvation. + +While eating their frugal supper, Snowball expressed regret at not +having a fire,--upon which he might have cooked a cut from the albacore. +The _chef-de-caboose_ was not ignorant of the excellence of the fish. + +He really felt regret,--less on his own account, than in consideration +of his _protege_, Lilly Lalee; whose palate he would fain have indulged +with something more delicate than sun-dried fish and salty biscuit. + +But as fire was out of the question, he was compelled to forego the +pleasure of cooking Lalee's supper; and could only gain gratification by +giving to the girl more than her share of the sweet Canary. + +Small as was the quantity distributed to each, it had the effect of +still further cheering them; and, after supper, they sat for some time +indulging in lighter converse than that to which they had lately +accustomed themselves. + +"Somethin'" said the sailor, "seem to tell me--jest as if I heerd it in +a whisper--that we'll yet reach land, or come in sight o' a ship. I +doan' know what puts it in my head; unless it be because we've been so +many times near going down below, an' still we're above water yet, an' I +hope likely to keep so." + +"Ya--ya! Massa Ben. We float yet,--we keep so long 's we kin,--dat fo' +sartin. We nebba say die,--long 's de _Catamaran_ hold togedda." + +"I war 'stonished," continued the sailor, without heeding the odd +interpolation of the sea-cook, "wonderful 'stonished when that +flyin'-fish chucked itself aboard our bit o' plankin', an' it no bigger +than the combin' o' a hatchway. What kud 'a conducted it thear,--to +that spot above all others o' the broad ocean? What but the hand o' +that angel as sits up aloft? No, Snowy! ye may talk as ye like 'bout +your Duppys and Jumbes, and that other creetur ye call your Fetush; but +I tell ye, nigger, thear be somethin' up above us as is above all +them,--an' that's the God o' the Christyun. He be thear; and He sent +the flyin'-fish into our wee bit o' raft, and He sent the shower as +saved me and little Will'm from dyin' o' thust; and He it war that made +you an' me drift to'rds each other,--so as that we might work thegither +to get out o' this here scrape, as our own foolishness and wickedness +ha' got us into." + +"Dat am de troof, Massa Brace, dat las' remark,--only not altogedder! +'T want altogedder our own fault dat brought us on board de slabe-ship +_Pandora_,--neider you not maseff. It mite a been our foolishness, dat +I do admit; but de wickedness war more de fault ob oder men, dat am +wickeder dan eider you or dis unfortunate Coromantee nigga." + +"Never mind, Snowy," responded the sailor, "I know there be still some +good in ye; and maybe there be good in all o' us, to be favoured and +protected as we've been in the midst o' so many dangers. I think after +what's happened this day,--especially our escaping from that sharks an' +the long swim as we had to make after'ards,--we ought to be uncommon +thankful, and say somethin' to show it, too." + +"Say something! say what, Massa Brace?" + +"I mean a prayer." + +"Prayer! wha's dat?" + +"Surely, Snowy, you know what a prayer be?" + +"Nebba heerd ob de ting,--nebba in all ma life!" + +"Well, it be to say somethin' to Him as keeps watch up aloft,--either by +way o' askin' for somethin' you want to get, or thankin' Him for what +you ha' got arready. The first be called a prayer,--the t'other be a +thanksgivin'. Thear ain't much difference, as I could ever see; tho' +I've heerd the ship's chaplain go through 'em both,--ay, scores o' +times; but the one as we want now be the thanksgivin'; an' I know little +Will'm here can go through it like a breeze. Did you ever hear Will'm +pray, Snowy?" + +"Nebba! I tell ye, Massa Brace, a nebba heer anybody pray in de fashun +you 'peak 'bout. Ob coas, I hab heer de nigga talk to da Fetish, de +which I, tho' I be a nigga maseff, nebba belieb'd in. Dis child no +belieb in anyting he no see, an' he see many ting he no belieb in." + +To this frank confession of faith on the part of the Coromantee Ben made +no rejoinder that might signify either assent or opposition. His reply +was rather a continuation of the train of thought that had led to his +last interrogative. + +"Ah, Snowy, if you heerd the lad! He do pray beautiful! Most equal to +the parson, as we had aboard the frigate; an' he warn't slow at it, +eyther. Do 'ee think, Will'm," continued the sailor, turning to the lad +with an inquiring look, "do 'ee think ye can remember that prayer as is +in the Church Sarvice, and which I've heerd the frigate chaplain go +through,--specially after a storm,--as speaks about deliverin' us from +all dangers by sea and by land? You've heerd it at home in the church. +D'ye think ye could gie it as?" + +"O," answered William, "you mean the `Thanksgiving for Deliverance from +our Enemies.' Certainly I remember it. How could I forget what I've +heard so many Sundays in church, besides often on week-days at home? O +yes, Ben, I can repeat it, if you wish!" + +"I do, lad. Gie it us, then. It may do good. At all events, we _owe_ +it, for what's been done to us. So take a reef out o' your tongue, lad, +an' fire away!" + +Notwithstanding the _bizarrerie_ of manner in which the request was +made, the boy-sailor hesitated not to comply with it; and turning +himself round upon his knees,--a movement imitated by all the others,-- +he repeated that _thanksgiving_ of the Church Service, which, though +well-known, is fortunately only heard upon very unfrequent occasions. + +The thanksgiving appeared an appropriate finale to the toils and dangers +of the day; and after it was offered up, Snowball, William, and Lalee +lay down to rest,--leaving Ben Brace to attend to the steering-oar, and +otherwise perform the duties of the dog-watch. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE. + +SNOWBALL SEES LAND. + +The man-o'-war's-man kept watch during the long hours of the night. +True to his trust, he attended to the steering-oar: and as the breeze +continued to blow steadily in the same direction, the raft, under the +double propulsion of the wind and the "line current," made considerable +way to the westward. + +A sort of filmy fog had arisen over the ocean, which hid the stars from +sight. This might have rendered it impossible for the steersman to keep +his course; but, under the belief that there was no change occurring in +the direction of the wind, Ben guided himself by that, and very +properly, as it afterwards proved. + +Just before daybreak, he was relieved by Snowball; who entered upon his +watch, at the same time taking his turn at the steering-oar. + +Ben had not aroused the negro for this purpose; and he would have +generously remained at his post until morning, had Snowball desired to +prolong his slumbers. + +The act of arousing himself was not altogether voluntary on the part of +the negro; though neither was it the doing of his comrade. It was in +consequence of a physical feeling--a cold shivering caused by the damp +sea-fog--that Snowball had been disturbed from his sleep; and which, on +his awaking, kept him for some minutes oscillating in a sort of ague, +his ivories "dingling" against each other with a continuous rattle that +resembled the clattering of some loose bolt in a piece of machinery out +of repair. + +It was some time before Snowball could recover his exact equilibrium; +for, of all sorts of climate, that least endurable to the Coromantee +negro is a cold one. + +After repeated flopping his arms over his broad chest, and striking +crosswise, until the tips of his fingers almost met upon the spinal +column of his back, Snowball succeeded in resuscitating the circulation; +and then, perceiving it was full time to take his turn at the helm, he +proposed relieving the sailor. + +This proposal was agreed to; Ben, before putting himself in a position +for repose, giving Snowball the necessary directions as to the course in +which the _Catamaran_ was to be kept. + +In five minutes after, the sailor was asleep; and the sea-cook was the +only one of the Catamarans who was conscious that the craft that carried +them was only a frail structure drifting in mid-ocean hundreds of miles +from land. + +Little William was, perhaps, dreaming of his English, and Lilly Lalee of +her African, home; while the sailor, in all probability, was fancying +himself safely "stowed" in the forecastle of a British frigate, with all +sail rightly set, and a couple of hundred jolly Jacks like himself +stretched out in their "bunks" or swinging in their hammocks around him. + +During the first hour of his watch, Snowball did not embarrass his brain +with any other idea than simply to follow the instructions of the +sailor, and keep the _Catamaran_ before the wind. + +There had been something said about keeping a look-out, in the hope of +espying a sail; but in the dense fog that surrounded them there would be +no chance of seeing the biggest ship,--even should one be passing at an +ordinary cable's length from the _Catamaran_. + +Snowball, therefore, did not trouble himself to scan the sea on either +side of their course; but for all that he kept the look-out enjoined on +him by the sailor,--that is, he _kept it with his ears_! + +Though a ship might not be seen, the voices of her crew or other sounds +occurring aboard might be heard; for in this way the presence of a +vessel is often proclaimed in a very dark night or when the sea is +obscured by a fog. + +Oftener, however, at such times, two ships will approach and recede from +one another, without either having been conscious of the proximity of +the other,--meeting in mid-ocean and gliding silently past, like two +giant spectres,--each bent on its own noiseless errand. + +Daybreak arrived without the black pilot having heard any sound, beyond +that of the breeze rustling against the sail of the _Catamaran_ or the +hollow "sough" of the water as it surged against the empty casks lashed +along their sides. + +As the day broke, however, and the upper edge of the sun's disk became +visible above the horizon,--the fog under the influence of his rays +growing gradually but sensibly thinner,--a sight became disclosed to the +eyes of Snowball that caused the blood to course with lightning +quickness through his veins; while his heart, beating delightfully +within his capacious chest, bounded far above the region of his +diaphragm. + +At the same instant he sprang to his feet, dropped the steering-oar, as +if it had been a bar of red-hot iron; and, striding forward to the +starboard bow of the _Catamaran_ stood gazing outward upon the ocean! + +What could have caused this sudden commotion in both the mind and body +of the Coromantee? What spectacle could have thus startled him? + +It was the sight of _land_! + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SIX. + +IS IT LAND? + +A sight so unexpected, and yet so welcome, should have elicited from him +a vociferous announcement of the fact. + +It did not. On the contrary, he kept silent while stepping forward on +the deck, and for some time after, while he stood gazing over the bow. + +It was the very unexpectedness of seeing land--combined with the +_desirability_ of such a sight--that hindered him from proclaiming it to +his companions; and it was some time before he became convinced that his +senses were not deceiving him. + +Though endowed with only a very limited knowledge of nautical geography, +the negro knew a good deal about the lower latitudes of the Atlantic. +More than once had he made that dreaded middle passage,--once in +fetters, and often afterwards assisting to carry others across in the +same unfeeling fashion. He knew of no land anywhere near where they +were now supposed to be; had never seen or heard of any,--neither +island, rock, nor reef. He knew of the Isle of Ascension, and the lone +islet of Saint Paul's. But neither of these could be near the track on +which the _Catamaran_ was holding her course. It could not be either. + +And yet what was it he saw? for, sure as eyes were eyes, there was an +island outlined upon the retina, so plainly perceptible, that his senses +could _not be deceiving him_! + +It was after this conviction became fully established in his mind, that +he at length broke silence; and in a voice that woke his slumbering +companions with a simultaneous start. + +"Land 'o!" vociferated Snowball. + +"Land ho!" echoed Ben Brace, springing to his feet, and rubbing the +sleep out of his eyes, "Land, you say, Snowy? Impossible! You must be +mistaken, nigger." + +"Land?" interrogated little William. "Whereaway, Snowball?" + +"Land?" cried the Portuguese girl, comprehending that word of joyful +signification, though spoken in a language not her own. + +"Whar away?" inquired the sailor, as he scrambled over the planks of the +raft, to get on the forward side of the sail, which hindered his field +of view. + +"Hya!" replied Snowball. "Hya, Massa Brace, jess to la'bord, ober de +la'bord bow." + +"It do look like land," assented the sailor, directing his glance upon +something of a strange appearance, low down upon the surface of the sea, +and still but dimly discernible through the fog. "Shiver my timbers if +it don't! An island it be,--not a very big 'un, but for all that, it +seem a island." + +"My gollies! dar am people on it! D'you see um, Massa Brace? movin' +'bout all ober it I see 'um plain as de sun in de hebbens! Scores o' +people a'gwine about back'ard an' forrads. See yonner!" + +"Plain as the sun in the heavens," was not a very appropriate simile for +Snowball to make use of at that moment; for the orb of day was still +darkly obscured by the fog; and for the same reason, the outlines of the +island,--or whatever they were taking for one,--could be traced only +very indistinctly. + +Certain it is, however, that Snowball, who had been gazing longer at the +supposed land, and had got his eyes more accustomed to the view, did see +some scores of figures moving about over it; and Ben Brace, with little +William as well, now that their attention was called to them, could +perceive the same forms. + +"Bless my stars!" exclaimed the sailor, on making out that the figures +were in motion, "thear be men on 't sure enough,--an' weemen, I should +say,--seein' as there's some o' 'em in whitish clothes. Who and what +can they be? Shiver my timbers if I can believe it, tho' I see it right +afore my eyes! I never heerd o' a island in this part of the Atlantic, +an' I don't believe thear be one, 'ceptin' it's sprung up within the +last year or two. What do you think, Snowy? Be it a Flyin' Dutchman, +or a rock, as if just showin' his snout above water, or a reg'lar-built +island?" + +"Dat 'ere am no Flyin' Dutchman,--leas'wise a hope um no' be. No, Massa +Brace, dis nigga wa right in de fuss speckelashun. 'Tarn a island,--a +bit ob do real terrer firmer, as you soon see when we puts de +_Cat'maran_ 'bout an' gits a leetle nearer to de place." + +This hypothetic suggestion on the part of the Coromantee was also +intended as a counsel; and, acting upon it, the sailor scrambled back +over the raft, and seizing hold of the steering-oar, turned the +_Catamaran's_ head straight in the direction of the newly-discovered +land. + +The island,--if such it should prove to be,--was of no very great +extent. It appeared to run along the horizon a distance of something +like a hundred yards; but estimates formed in this fashion are often +deceptive,--more especially when a fog interferes, such as at that +moment hung over it. + +The land appeared to be elevated several feet above the level of the +sea,--at one end having a bold bluff-like termination, at the other +shelving off in a gentle slope towards the water. + +It was principally upon the more elevated portion that the figures were +seen,--here standing in groups of three or four, and there moving about +in twos, or singly. + +They appeared to be of different sizes, and differently dressed: for, +even through the film, it could be seen that their garments were of +various cuts and colours. Some were stalwart fellows, beside whom were +others that in comparison were mere pygmies. These Snowball said were +the "pickaninnies,"--the children of the taller ones. + +They were in different attitudes too. Some standing erect, apparently +carrying long lance-like weapons over their shoulders; others similarly +armed, in stooping positions; while not a few appeared to be actively +engaged, handling huge pickaxes, with which they repeatedly struck +downwards, as if excavating the soil! + +It is true that their manoeuvres were seen only indistinctly: and it was +not possible for the Catamarans to come to any certain understanding, as +to what sort of work was going on upon the island. + +It was still very doubtful whether what they saw was in reality an +island, or that the figures upon it were those of human beings. +Snowball believed them to be so, and emphatically asserted his belief; +but Ben was slightly incredulous and undecided, notwithstanding that he +had several times "shivered his timbers" in confirmation of the fact. + +It was not the possibility of the existence of an island that the sailor +disputed. That was possible and probable enough. At the time of which +we speak, new islands were constantly turning up in the ocean, where no +land was supposed to exist; and even at the present hour, when one might +suppose that every inch of the sea has been sailed over, the discovery +of rocks, shoals, and even unknown islands, is far from unfrequent. + +It was not the island, therefore, that now puzzled the +ex-man-o'-war's-man, but the number of people appearing upon it. + +Had there been only a score, or a score and a half, he could have +explained the circumstance of its being inhabited; though the +explanation would not have been productive of pleasure either to himself +or his companions. In that case he would have believed the moving forms +to be the shipwrecked crew of the _Pandora_ who on this ocean islet had +found a temporary resting-place; while the pickaxes, which were being +freely employed, would have indicated the sinking of wells in search +after fresh water. + +The number of people on the island, however, with other circumstances +observed, at once contradicted the idea that it could be the crew of the +shipwrecked slaver; and the certainty that it was _not_ these ruffians +whom they saw emboldened the Catamarans in their approach. + +In spite of appearances, still was the sailor disposed to doubt the +existence of an island; or, at least, that the forms moving to and fro +over its surface were those of human beings. + +Nor could he be cured of his incredulity until the _Catamaran_, +approaching still nearer to the shore of the doubtful islet, enabled him +to see and distinguish beyond the possibility of doubt a flag floating +from the top of its staff, which rose tall and tapering from the very +highest point of land which the place afforded! + +The flag was of crimson cloth,--apparently a piece of bunting. It +floated freely upon the breeze; which the filmy mist, though half +disclosing, could not altogether conceal. The deep red colour was too +scarce upon the ocean to be mistaken for the livery of any of its +denizens. It could not be the tail-feathers of the tropic bird so +prized by the chiefs of Polynesia; nor yet the scarlet pouch of the +sea-hawk. + +It could be nothing else than a "bit o' buntin'." + +So, at length, believed Ben Brace, and his belief, expressed in his own +peculiar _patois_, produced conviction in the minds of all, that the +object extending along a hundred fathoms of the horizon, "must be eyther +a rock, a reef, or a island; and the creeturs movin' over it must be +men, weemen, an' childer!" + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN. + +THE KING OF THE CANNIBAL ISLANDS. + +The emphatic declaration of the sailor,--that the dark disc before them +must be an island, and that the upright forms upon it were those of +human beings,--dispelled all doubts upon the subject; and produced a +feeling of wild excitement in the minds of all three of his companions. + +So strong was this feeling, that they could no longer control +themselves; but gave vent to their emotions in a simultaneous shout of +joy. + +Acting prudently, they would have restrained that mirthful exhibition, +for although, for reasons already stated, the people appearing upon the +island could not be the wicked castaways who had composed the crew of +the _Pandora_, still might they be a tribe of savages equally wicked and +murderous. + +Who could tell that it was not a community of _Cannibals_. No one +aboard the _Catamaran_. + +It may seem singular that such a thought should have entered the mind of +any of the individuals who occupied the raft. But it did occur to some +of them; and to one of the four in particular. This was Ben Brace +himself. + +The sailor's experience, so far from destroying the credences of +boyhood,--which included the existence of whole tribes of cannibals,-- +had only strengthened his belief in such anthropophagi. + +More than strengthened it: for it had been confirmed in every +particular. + +He had been to the Fiji islands, where he had seen their +king, Thakombau,--a true descendant of the lineage of +"Hokey-Pokey-Winkey-Wum,"--with other dignitaries of this man-eating +nation. He had seen their huge caldron for cooking the flesh of men,-- +their pots and pans for stewing it,--their dishes upon which it was +served up,--the knives with which they were accustomed to carve it,-- +their larders stocked with human flesh, and redolent of human blood! +Nay, more; the English sailor had been an eye-witness of one of their +grand festivals; where the bodies of men and women, cooked in various +styles,--stewed, roasted, and boiled,--had been served out and partaken +of by hundreds of Thakombau's courtiers; the sailor's own captain,--the +captain of a British frigate,--ay, the commodore of a British +squadron,--with cannon sufficient to have blown the island of Viti Vau +out of the water,--sitting alongside, apparently a tranquil and +contented spectator of the horrid ceremonial! + +It is difficult to account for the behaviour of this Englishman, the +Hon. -- by name. The only explanation of his conduct one can arrive at +is, to believe that his weak mind was fast confined by the trammels of +that absurd, but often too convenient, theory of international +non-interference,--the most dangerous kind of red-tape that ever +tethered the squeamish conscience of an official imbecile. + +How different was the action of Wilkes,--that Yankee commander we are so +fond of finding fault with! He, too, paid a visit to the cannibal +island of Viti Vau; and while there, taught both its king and its people +a lesson by the fire of his forty-pounders that, if not altogether +effective in extinguishing this national but unnatural custom, has +terrified them in its practice to this very day. + +Non-interference, indeed! International delicacy in the treatment of a +tribe of cruel savages! A nation of man-eaters,--forsooth, a nation! +Why not apply the laws of nationality to every band of brigands who +chances to have conquered an independent existence? Bah! The world is +full of frivolous pretences,--drunk with the poison-cup of political +hypocrisy. + +It was not Ben Brace who thus reasoned, but his biographer. Ben's +reflections were of a strictly practical character His belief in +cannibalism was complete; and as the craft to which he had so +involuntarily attached himself drifted on towards the mysterious islet, +he was not without some misgivings as to the character of the people who +might inhabit it. + +For this reason he would have approached its shores with greater +caution; and he was in the act of enforcing this upon his companions, +when his intention was entirely frustrated by the joyous _huzza_ uttered +by Snowball; echoed by little William; and chorussed by the childish, +feminine voice of Lilly Lalee. + +The sailor's caution would have come too late,--even had it been +necessary to the safety of the _Catamaran's_ crew. Fortunately it was +not: for that imprudent shout produced an effect which at once changed +the current of the thoughts, not only of Ben Brace, but of those who had +given utterance to it. + +Their united voices, pealing across the tranquil bosom of the deep, +caused a sudden change in the appearance of the island; or rather among +the people who inhabited it. If human beings, they must be of a strange +race,--very strange indeed,--to have been furnished with wings! How +otherwise could they have forsaken their footing on _terra firma_,--if +the island was such,--and soared upward into the air, which one and all +of them did, on hearing that shout from the _Catamaran_? + +There was not much speculation on this point on the part of the +_Catamaran's_ crew. Whatever doubts may have been engendered as to the +nature of the island, there could be no longer any about the character +of its inhabitants. + +"Dey am birds!" suggested the Coromantee; "nuffin more and nuffin less +dan birds!" + +"You're right, Snowy," assented the sailor. "They be birds; and all the +better they be so. Yes; they're birds, for sartin. I can tell the cut +o' some o' their jibs. I see frigates, an' a man-o'-war's-man, an' +boobies among 'em; and I reckon Old Mother Carey has a brood o' her +chickens there. They be all sizes, as ye see." + +It was no more a matter of conjecture, as to what kind of creatures +inhabited the island. The forms that had been mystifying the crew of +the _Catamaran_, though of the biped class, were no longer to be +regarded as human beings, or even creatures of the earth. They had +declared themselves denizens of the air; and, startled by the shouts +that had reached them,--to them, no doubt, sounds strange, and never +before heard,--they had sought security in an element into which there +was no fear of being followed by their enemies, either of the earth or +the water. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT. + +VERY LIKE A WHALE. + +Though the birds by their flight had dissolved one half of the +speculative theory which the crew of the _Catamaran_ had constructed, +the other half still held good. The island was still there, before +their eyes; though completely divested of its inhabitants,--whose sudden +eviction had cost only a single shout! + +The flag was still waving over it; though, to all appearance, there was +not a creature on shore that might feel pride in saluting that solitary +standard! + +There could be no one; else why should the birds have tarried so long +undisturbed, to be scared at last by the mere sound of human voices? + +Since there was nobody on the island, there was no need to observe +further caution in approaching it,--except so far as regarded the +conduct of their craft; and in the belief that they were about to set +foot upon the shores of a desert isle, the sailor and Snowball, with +little William assisting them, now went to work with the oars and +hastened their approach to the land. + +Partly impelled by the breeze, and partly by the strength of the rowers, +the _Catamaran_ moved, briskly through the water; and, before many +minutes had elapsed, the craft was within a few hundred fathoms of the +mysterious island, and still gliding nearer to it. This proximity,-- +along with the fact that the morning mist had meanwhile been gradually +becoming dispelled by the rays of the rising sun,--enabled her crew to +obtain a clearer view of the object before them; and Ben Brace, +suspending his exertions at the oar, once more slewed himself round to +have a fresh look at the supposed _land_. + +"Land!" he exclaimed, as soon as his eyes again rested upon it. "A +island, indeed! Shiver my timbers if 't be a island after all! That be +no land,--ne'er a bit o't. It look like a rock, too; but there be +something else it look liker; an' that be a _whale_. 'Tis wery like a +whale!" + +"Berry,--berry like a whale!" echoed Snowball, not too well satisfied at +discovering the resemblance. + +"It _be_ a whale!" pronounced the sailor, in a tone of emphatic +confidence,--"a whale, an' nothin' else. Ay," he continued speaking, as +if some new light had broken upon him, "I see it all now. It be one o' +the great _spermaceti_ whales. I wonder I didn't think o't afore. It's +been killed by some whaling-vessel; and the flag you see on its back's +neyther more nor less than one o' their _whifts_. They've stuck it +there, so as they might be able to find the sparmacety when they come +back. Marcy heaven! I hope they _will_ come back." + +As Ben finished this explanatory harangue, he started into an erect +attitude, and placed himself on the highest part of the _Catamaran's_ +deck,--his eyes no longer bent upon the whale, but, with greedy glances, +sweeping the sea around it. + +The object of this renewed reconnoissance may be understood from the +words to which he had given utterance,--the hope expressed at the +termination of his speech. The whale must have been killed, as he had +said. He was looking for the _whaler_. + +For full ten minutes he continued his optical search over the sea,-- +until not a fathom of the surface had escaped his scrutiny. + +At first his glances had expressed almost a confident hope; and, +observing them, the others became excited to a high degree of joy. + +Gradually, however, the old shadow returned over the sailor's +countenance, and was instantly transferred to the faces of his +companions. + +The sea,--as far as his eye could command a view of it,--showed neither +sail, nor any other object. Its shining surface was absolutely without +a speck. + +With a disappointed air, the captain of the _Catamaran_ descended from +his post of observation; and once more turned his attention to the dead +_cachalot_ from which they were now separated by less than a hundred +fathoms,--a distance that was constantly decreasing, as the raft, under +sail, continued to drift nearer. + +The body of the whale did not appear anything like as large as when +first seen. The mist was no longer producing its magnifying effect upon +the vision of our adventurers; but although the carcass of the +_cachalot_ could no more have been mistaken for an island, still was it +an object of enormous dimensions; and might easily have passed for a +great black rock standing several fathoms above the surface of the sea. +It was over twenty yards in length; and, seen sideways from the raft, of +course appeared much longer. + +In five minutes after, they were close up to the dead whale; and, the +sail being lowered, the raft was brought to. Ben threw a rope around +one of the pectoral fins; and, after making it fast, the _Catamaran_ lay +moored alongside the _cachalot_, like some diminutive tender attached to +a huge ship of war! There were several reasons why Ben Brace should +mount up to the summit of that mountain of whalebone and blubber; and, +as soon as the raft had been safely secured, he essayed the ascent. + +It was not such a trifling feat,--this climbing upon the carcass of the +dead whale. Nor was it to be done without danger. The slippery +epidermis of the huge leviathan,--lubricated as it was with that +unctuous fluid which the skin of the sperm-whale is known to secrete,-- +rendered footing upon it extremely insecure. + +It might be fancied no great matter for a swimmer like Ben Braco to +slide off: since a fall of a few feet into the water could not cause him +any great bodily hurt. But when the individual forming this fancy has +been told that there was something like a score of sharks prowling +around the carcass, he will obtain a more definite idea of the danger to +which such a fall would have submitted the adventurous seaman. + +Ben Brace was the last man to be cowed by a trifling danger, or even one +of magnitude; and partly by Snowball's assistance, and using the +pectoral flipper to which the raft was attached as a stirrup, he +succeeded in mounting upon the back of the defunct monster of the deep. + +As soon as he had steadied himself in his new position, a piece of rope +was thrown up to him,--by which Snowball was himself hoisted to the +shoulders of the _cachalot_; and then the two seamen proceeded towards +the tail,--or, as the sailor pronounced it, the "starn" of this peculiar +craft. + +A little aft of "midships" a pyramidal lump of fatty substance projected +several feet above the line of the vertebras. It was the spurious or +rudimentary dorsal fin, with which the sperm-whale is provided. + +On arriving at this protuberance,--which chanced to be the highest point +on the carcass where the flag was elevated on its slender shaft,--both +came to a halt; and there stood together, gazing around them over the +glittering surface of the sunlit sea. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY NINE. + +ABOARD THE BODY OF A WHALE. + +The object of their united reconnoissance was the same which, but a few +moments before, had occupied the attention of the sailor. They were +standing on the dead body of a whale that had been killed by harpoons. +Where were the people who had harpooned it? + +After scanning the horizon with the same careful scrutiny as before, the +sailor once more turned his attention to the huge leviathan, on whose +back they were borne. + +Several objects not before seen now attracted the attention of himself +and companion. The tall flag, known among whalers by the name of +"whift," was not the only evidence of the manner in which the _cachalot_ +had met its death. Two large harpoons were seen sticking out of its +side, their iron arrows buried up to the socket in its blubber; while +from the thick wooden shanks, protruding beyond the skin, were lines +extending into the water, at the ends of which were large blocks of wood +floating like buoys upon the surface of the sea. + +Ben identified the latter as the "drogues," that form part of the +equipment of a regular whale-ship. He knew them well, and their use. +Before becoming a man-o'-war's-man, he had handled the harpoon; and was +perfectly _au fait_ to all connected with the calling of a whaler. + +"Yes," resumed he, on recognising the implements of his _ci-devant_ +profession, "it ha' been jest as I said. A whaler 'a been over this +ground, and killed the spermacety. Maybe I'm wrong about that," he +added, after reflecting a short while. "I may be wrong about the ship +being over this very ground. I don't like the look o' them drogues." + +"De drogue?" inquired the Coromantee. "Dem block o' wood dat am +driffin' about? Wha' for you no like dem, Massa Brace?" + +"But for their bein' thear I could say for sartin a ship had been here." + +"Must a' been!" asserted Snowball. "If no', how you count for de +presence ob de flag and de hapoons?" + +"Ah!" answered the sailor, with something like a sigh; "they kud a' got +thear, without the men as throwed 'em bein' anywhere near this. You +know nothin' o' whalin', Snowy." + +This speech put Snowball in a quandary. + +"You see, nigger," continued the sailor, "the presence o' them drogues +indercates that the whale warn't dead when the boats left her." (The +_ci-devant_ whaler followed the fashion of his former associates, in +speaking of the whale, among whom the epicene gender of the animal is +always feminine.) "She must a' been still alive," continued he, "and the +drogues were put thear to hinder her from makin' much way through the +water. In coorse there must a' been a school o' the spermacetys; and +the crew o' the whaler didn't want to lose time with this 'un, which +they had wounded. For that reason they have struck her with this pair +o' drogued harpoons; and stuck this whift into her back. On fust seein' +that, I war inclined to think different. You see the whift be stickin' +a'most straight up, an' how could that a' been done by them in the +boats? If the whale hadn't a' been dead, nobody would a' dared to a +clombed on to her an' fix the flag that way." + +"You are right dar," interrupted Snowball. + +"No," rejoined the sailor, "I ain't. I thought I war; but I war wrong, +as you be now, Snowy. You see the flag-spear ain't straight into the +back o' the anymal. It's to one side, though it now stand nearly on +top; because the body o' the whale be canted over a bit. A first-rate +`_heads-man_' o' a whale-boat could easily a' throwed it that way from +the bottom o' his boat, and that's the way it ha' been done." + +"Spose 'im hab been jest dat way," assented Snowball. "But wha' matter +'bout dat? De whale have been kill all de same." + +"What matter? Everything do it matter." + +"'Splain, Massa Brace!" + +"Don't ye see, nigger, that if the spermacety had been dispatched while +the boats were about it, it would prove that the whale-ship must a' been +here while they were a killin' the creature; an' that would go far to +prove that she couldn't be a great ways off now." + +"So dat wud,--so im wud, fo' sa'tin sure." + +"Well, Snowy, as the case stands, thear be no sartinty where the whaler +be at this time. The anymal, after being drogued, may a' sweemed many a +mile from the place where she war first harpooned. I've knowed 'em to +go a score o' knots afore they pulled up; an' this bein' a' old bull,-- +one o' the biggest spermacetys I ever see,--she must a sweemed to the +full o' that distance afore givin' in. If that's been so, thear ain't +much chance o' eyther her or we bein' overhauled by the whaler." + +As the sailor ceased speaking he once more directed his glance over the +ocean; which, after another minute and careful scrutiny of the horizon, +fell back upon the body of the whale, with the same expression of +disappointment that before had been observable. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY. + +A CURIOUS CUISINE. + +During all that day, the sailor and the ex-cook of the _Pandora_ kept +watch from the _summit_ of the dead _cachalot_. + +It was not altogether for this purpose they remained there,--since the +mast of the _Catamaran_ would have given them an observatory of equal +and even greater elevation. + +There were several reasons why they did not cast off from the carcass, +and continue their westward course: the most important being the hope +that the destroyers of the whale might return to take possession of the +valuable prize which they had left behind them. + +There was, moreover, an undefined feeling of security in lying alongside +the leviathan,--almost as great as they might have felt if anchored near +the beach of an actual island,--and this had some influence in +protracting their stay. + +But there was yet another motive which would of itself have caused them +to remain at their present moorings for a considerable period of time. + +During the intervals of their protracted vigil, they had not been +inattentive to the objects immediately around them: and the carcass of +the whale had come in for a share of their consideration. A +consultation had been held upon it, which had resulted in a +determination not to leave the leviathan until they had rendered its +remains, or at least a portion of them, useful for some future end. + +The old whaleman knew that under that dark epidermis over which, for two +days, they had been recklessly treading, there were many valuable +substances that might be made available to their use and comfort, on +board the _Catamaran_. + +First, there was the "blubber," which, if boiled or "tried," would, from +the body of an old bull like that, yield at the very least, a hundred +barrels of oil. + +This they cared nothing about: since they had neither the pots to boil, +the casks to hold, nor the craft to carry it,--even if rendered into oil +for the market. + +But Ben knew that within the skull of the _cachalot_ there was a deposit +of pure sperm, that needed no preparation, which would be found of +service to them in a way they had already thought of. + +This sperm could be reached by simply removing the "junk" which forms +the exterior portion of a _cachalot's_ huge snout, and sinking a shaft +into the skull. Here would, or should, be found a cavity filled with a +delicate cellular tissue, containing ten or a dozen large barrels full +of the purest spermaceti. + +They did not stand in need of anything like this quantity. A couple of +casks would suffice for their need; and these they desired to obtain for +that want which had suggested itself to both Snowball and the sailor. +They had been long suffering from the absence of fuel,--not wherewith to +warm themselves,--but as a means of enabling them to cook their food. +They need suffer no longer. With the spermaceti to be extracted from +the "case" of the _cachalot_, they could lay in a stock that would last +them for many a day. They had their six casks,--five of them still +empty. By using a couple of them to contain the oil, the raft would +still be sufficiently buoyant to carry all hands, and not a bit less +worthy of the sea. + +Both of these brave men had observed the repugnance with which Lilly +Lalee partook of their raw repasts. Nothing but hunger enabled her to +eat what they could set before her. It had touched the feelings of +both; and rendered them desirous of providing her with some kind of food +more congenial to the delicate palate of the child. + +Long before they had any intention of abandoning the dead body of the +whale,--in fact shortly after taking possession of it,--Ben Brace, +assisted by Snowball and little William,--the latter having also mounted +upon the monster's back,--cut open the great cavity of the "case" with +the axe; and then inserting a large tin pot,--which had turned up in the +sailor's sea-kit,--drew it put again full of liquid spermaceti. + +This was carried down to the deck of the _Catamaran_ when the process of +making a fire was instantly proceeded with. + +By means of some untwisted strands of tarry rope, ingeniously inserted +into the oil, the pot was converted into a sort of open lamp,--which +only required to be kindled into a flame. + +But Ben Brace had not been smoking a pipe for a period of nearly thirty +years, without being provided with the means of lighting it. In the +same depository from which the tin pot had been obtained was found the +proper implements for striking a light,--flint, steel, and tinder,--and, +as the latter, within the water-tight compartment of the +man-o'-war's-man's chest, having been preserved perfectly dry, there was +no difficulty in setting fire to the oil. + +It was soon seen burning up over the rim of the pot with a bright clear +flame; and a large flake of the dried fish being held over the blaze, in +a very short space of time became done to a turn. + +This furnished all of them with a meal much more palatable than any they +had eaten since they had been forced to flee from the decks of the +burning _Pandora_. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY ONE. + +AN ASSEMBLY OF SHARKS. + +As the spermaceti in the pot still continued to blaze up,--the wick not +yet having burnt out,--it occurred to Snowball to continue his culinary +operations, and broil a sufficient quantity of the dead fish to serve +for supper. The ex-cook, unlike most others of his calling, did not +like to see his fuel idly wasted: and therefore, in obedience to the +thought that had suggested itself, he brought forth another flake of +shark-flesh, and submitted to the flames, as before. + +While observing him in the performance of this provident task, a capital +idea also occurred to Ben Brace. Since it was possible thus to cook +their supper in advance, why not also their breakfast for the following +morning, then dinner for the day, their supper of to-morrow night,--in +short, all the raw provisions which they had on their hands? By doing +this, not only would a fire be no longer necessary, but the fish so +cooked,--or even thoroughly dried in the blaze and smoke,--would be +likely to keep better. In fact, fish thus preserved,--as is often done +with herrings, ling, codfish, mackerel, and haddock,--will remain good +for months without suffering the slightest taint of decomposition. It +was an excellent idea; and, Ben having communicated it to the others, it +was at once determined that it should be carried out. + +There was no fear of their running short in the staple article of fuel. +Ben assured them that the "case" of a _cachalot_ of the largest size,-- +such as the one beside them,--often contained five hundred gallons of +the liquid spermaceti! Besides, there was the enormous quantity of junk +and blubber,--whole mountains of it,--both of which could be rendered +into oil by a process which the whalers term "trying." Other +inflammable substances, too, are found in the carcass of the +sperm-whale: so that, in the article of fuel, the crew of the +_Catamaran_ had been unexpectedly furnished with a stock by which they +might keep up a blazing fire for the whole of a twelvemonth. + +It was no longer any scarcity of fuel that could hinder them from +cooking on a large scale, but a scantiness of the provisions to be +cooked; and they were now greatly troubled at the thought of their +larder having got so low. + +While Ben Brace and Snowball stood pondering upon this, and mutually +murmuring their regrets, a thought suddenly came into the mind of the +sailor which was calculated to give comfort to all. + +"As for the provisions in our locker," said he, "we can easily 'plenish +them, such as they be. Look there, nigger. There be enough raw meat to +keep ye a' cookin' till your wool grows white." + +The sailor, as he said this, simply nodded toward the sea. + +It needed no further pointing out to understand what he meant by the +phrase "raw meat." Scores of sharks,--both of the blue and white +species,--attended by their pilots and suckers, were swimming around the +carcass of the _cachalot_. The sea seemed alive with them. Scarce a +square rod, within a circle of several hundred fathoms' circumference, +that did not exhibit their stiff, wicked-looking dorsal fins cutting +sharply above the surface. + +Of course the presence of the dead whale accounted for this unusual +concourse of the tyrants of the deep. Not that they had any intention +of directing their attack upon it: for, from the peculiar conformation +of his mouth, the shark is incapable of feeding upon the carcass of a +large whale. But having, no doubt, accompanied the chase at the time +the _cachalot_ had been harpooned, they were now staying by a dead body, +from an instinct that told them its destroyers would return, and supply +them with its flesh in convenient morsels,--while occupied in _flensing_ +it. + +"Ugh!" exclaimed the sailor; "they look hungry enough to bite at any +bait we may throw out to them. We won't have much trouble in catchin' +as many o' 'em as we want." + +"A doan b'lieve, Massa Brace, we hab got nebba such a ting as a +shark-hook 'board de _Cat'maran_." + +"Don't make yourself uneasy 'bout that," rejoined the sailor, in a +confident tone. "Shark-hook be blowed! I see somethin' up yonder worth +a score o' shark-hooks. The brutes be as tame as turtles turned on +their backs. They're always so about a dead spermacety. Wi' one o' +them ere tools as be stickin' in the side o' the old bull, if I don't +pull a few o' them out o' water, I never handled a harpoon, that's all. +Ye may stop your cookin' Snowy, an' go help me. When we've got a few +sharks catched an' cut up, then you can go at it again on a more +'stensive scale. Come along, my hearty!" + +As Ben terminated his speech, he strode across the deck of the raft, and +commenced clambering up on the carcass. + +Snowball, who perceived the wisdom of his old comrade's design, let go +the flake of fish he had been holding in the blaze; and, parting from +the pot, once more followed the sailor up the steep side of the +_cachalot_. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY TWO. + +A DANGEROUS EQUILIBRIUM. + +Ben had taken along with him the axe; and, proceeding towards one of the +harpoons,--still buried in the body of the whale,--he commenced cutting +it out. + +In a few moments a deep cavity was hewn out around the shank of the +harpoon; which was further deepened, until the barbed blade was wellnigh +laid bare. Snowball, impatiently seizing the stout wooden shaft, gave +it a herculean pluck, that completely detached the arrow from the soft +blubber in which it had been imbedded. + +Unfortunately for Snowball, he had not well calculated the strength +required for clearing that harpoon. Having already made several +fruitless attempts to extract it, he did not expect it to draw out so +easily; and, in consequence of his making an over-effort, his balance +became deranged; his feet, ill-planted upon the slippery skin, flew +simultaneously from beneath him; and he came down upon the side of the +leviathan with a loud "slap,"--similar to what might have been heard had +he fallen upon half-thawed ice. + +Unpleasant as this mishap may have been, it was not the worst that might +have befallen him on that occasion. Nor was it the fall itself that +caused him to "sing out" at the top of his voice, and in accents +betokening a terrible alarm. + +What produced this manifestation was a peril of far more fearful kind, +which at the moment menaced him. + +The spot where the harpoon had been sticking was in the side of the +_cachalot_, and, as the carcass lay, a broad space around the weapon +presented an inclined plane, sloping abruptly towards the water. +Lubricated as it was with the secreted oil of the animal, it was smooth +as glass. Upon this slope Snowball had been standing; and upon it had +he fallen. + +But the impetus of the fall not only hindered him from lying where he +had gone down, but also from being able to get up again; and, instead of +doing either one or the other, he commenced sliding down the slippery +surface of the leviathan's body, where it shelved towards the water. + +Good heavens! what was to become of him? A score of sharks were just +below,--waiting for him with hungry jaws, and eyes glancing greedily +upward. Seeing the two men mounted upon the carcass of the whale, and +one wielding an axe, they had gathered upon that side,--in the belief +that the _flensing_ was about to begin! + +It was a slight circumstance that saved the sea-cook from being eaten +up,--not only raw, but alive. Simply the circumstance of his having +held on to the harpoon. Had he dropped that weapon on falling, it would +never have been grasped by him again. Fortunately, he had the presence +of mind to hold on to it; or perhaps the tenacity was merely mechanical. +Whatever may have been the reason, he _did_ hold on. Fortunately, +also, he was gliding down on the side _opposite_ to that on which +floated the "drogue." + +These two circumstances saved him. + +When about half-way to the water,--and still sliding rapidly +downwards,--his progress was suddenly arrested, or rather impeded,--for +he was not altogether brought to a stop,--by a circumstance as +unexpected as it was fortunate. That was the tightening of the line +attached to the handle of the harpoon. He had slidden to the end of his +tether,--the other end of which was fast to the drogue drifting about in +the sea, as already said, on the opposite side of the carcass. + +Heavy as was the piece of wood,--and offering, as it did, a considerable +amount of resistance in being dragged through the water,--it would not +have been sufficient to sustain the huge body of the Coromantee. It +only checked the rapidity of his descent; and in the end he would have +gone down into the sea,--and shortly after into the stomachs of, +perhaps, half a score of sharks,--but for the opportune interference of +the ex-man-o'-war's-man; who, just in the nick of time,--at the very +moment when Snowball's toes were within six inches of the water's edge, +caught hold of the cord and arrested his farther descent. + +But although the sailor had been able to accomplish this much, and was +also able to keep Snowball from slipping farther down, he soon +discovered that he was unable to pull him up again. It was just as much +as his strength was equal to,--even when supplemented by the weight of +the drogue,--to keep the sea-cook in the place where he had succeeded in +checking him. There hung Snowball in suspense,--holding on to the +slippery skin of the _cachalot_, literally "with tooth and toe-nail." + +Snowball saw that his position was perilous,--more than that: it was +frightful. He could hear noises beneath him,--the rushing of the sharks +through the water. He glanced apprehensively below. He could see their +black triangular fins, and note the lurid gleaming of their eyeballs, as +they rolled in their sunken sockets. It was a sight to terrify the +stoutest heart; and that of Snowball did not escape being terrified. + +"Hole on, Massa Brace!" he instinctively shouted. "Hole on, for de lub +o' God! Doan't leab me slip an inch, or dese dam brute sure cotch hold +ob me! Fo' de lub o' de great Gorramity, hole on!" + +Ben needed not the stimulus of this pathetic appeal. He was holding on +to the utmost of his strength. He could not have added another pound to +the pull. He dared not even renew either his attitude, or the grip he +had upon the rope. The slightest movement he might make would endanger +the life of his black-skinned comrade. + +A slackening of the cord, even to the extent of twelve inches, would +have been fatal to the feet of Snowball--already within six of the +surface of the water and the snouts of the sharks! + +Perhaps never in all his checkered career had the life of the negro been +suspended in such dangerous balance. The slightest circumstance would +have disturbed the equilibrium,--an ounce would have turned the scale,-- +and delivered him into the jaws of death. + +It is scarcely necessary to conjecture what would ultimately have been +the end of this perilous adventure, had the sailor and sea-cook been +permitted to terminate it between themselves. The strength of the +former was each instant decreasing; while the weight of the latter,--now +more feebly clinging to the slippery epidermis of the whale,--was in +like proportion becoming greater. + +With nothing to intervene, the result might be easily guessed. In +figurative parlance Snowball must have "gone overboard." + +But his time was not yet come; and his comrade knew this, when a pair of +hands,--small, but strong ones,--were seen grasping the cord, alongside +of his own. They were the hands of Little Will'm! + +At the earliest moment, after Snowball had slipped and fallen, the lad +had perceived his peril; and "swarming" up by the flipper of the whale, +had hurried to the assistance of Ben, laying hold of the rope,--not one +second too soon. + +It was soon enough, however, to save the suspended Coromantee; whose +body, now yielding to the united strength of the two, was drawn up the +slippery slope,--slowly, but surely,--until it rested upon the broad +horizontal space around the summit of that mountain of bones and +blubber. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY THREE. + +A HARPOON WELL HANDLED. + +It was some time before either his breath or the tranquillity of his +spirits was restored to the Coromantee. + +The sailor was equally suffering from the loss of the former; and both +remained for a good many minutes without taking any further steps +towards the accomplishment of the design which had brought them on the +back of the whale. + +As soon, however, as Snowball could find wind enough for a few words, +they were uttered in a tone of gratitude,--first to Ben, who had +hindered him from sinking down into something worse than a watery grave; +and then to little William, who had aided in raising him up from it. + +Ben less regarded the old comrade whom he had rescued than the young one +who had been instrumental in aiding him. + +He stood gazing upon the youth with eyes that expressed a lively +satisfaction. + +The promptitude and prowess which his _protege_ had exhibited in the +affair was to him a source of the greatest gratification. + +Many a boy old as he,--ay, older, thought Ben Brace,--instead of having +the sense shown by the lad in promptly running to the rescue, would have +remained upon the raft in mute surprise; or, at the best, have evinced +his sympathy by a series of unserviceable shouts, or a continued and +idle screaming. + +Ben did not wish to spoil his _protege_ by any spoken formula of praise, +and therefore he said nothing: though, from his glances directed towards +little William, it was easy to see that the bosom of the brave tar was +swelling with a fond pride in the youth, for whom he had long felt an +affection almost equalling that of a father. + +After indulging a short while in the mutual congratulations that +naturally follow such a crisis of danger, all three proceeded to the +execution of the duty so unexpectedly interrupted. + +William had succeeded Snowball in that simple culinary operation which +the latter, commanded by his captain, had so suddenly relinquished. + +The lad now returned to the raft, partly to complete the process of +broiling the fish; but perhaps with a greater desire to tranquillise the +fears of Lilly Lalee,--who, ignorant of the exact upshot of what had +transpired, was yet in a state of unpleasant agitation. + +Ben only waited for the return of his breath; and as soon as that was +fairly restored to him, he once more set about the design that had +caused him for the second time to climb upon the back of the _cachalot_. + +Taking the harpoon from the hands of the Coromantee,--who still kept +clutching it, as if there was danger in letting it go,--the sailor +proceeded to draw up the drogue. Assisted by Snowball, he soon raised +it out of the water, and hoisted it to the horizontal platform, on which +they had placed themselves. + +He did not want the block of wood just then,--only the line tied to it; +and this having been detached, the drogue was left lying upon the +carcass. + +Armed with the harpoon, the _ci-devant_ whaleman now took a survey,--not +of the land, but of the sea around him. + +There was an assemblage of sharks close in to the body of the whale,--at +the spot where they had so lately threatened Snowball. + +Some of them had since scattered away, with a full consciousness of +their disappointment; but the greater number had stayed, as if +unsatisfied, or expecting that the banquet that had been so near their +noses might be brought back to them. + +Ben's purpose was to harpoon some half-dozen of these ill-featured +denizens of the deep, and with their flesh replenish the stores of the +_Catamaran_; for repulsive as the brutes may appear to the eye, and +repugnant to the thoughts, they nevertheless,--that is, certain species +of them, and certain parts of these species,--afford excellent food: +such as an epicure,--to say nothing of a man half-famished,--may eat +with sufficient relish. + +There could have been no difficulty in destroying any of the sharks so +late threatening to swallow Snowball, had the harpooner been able to get +within striking distance of them. But the slippery skin of the whale +deterred the sailor from trusting himself on that dangerous incline; and +he determined, therefore, to try elsewhere. + +In the direction of the _cachalot's_ tail the descent was gradual. +Scarcely perceptible was its declination towards the water, upon which +lay the two great flukes, slightly sunk below the surface, and extending +on each side to a breadth of many yards. + +There were several sharks playing around the tail of the _cachalot_. +They might come within the pitch of a harpoon. If not, the old whaleman +knew how to attract them within easy reach of that formidable weapon. + +Directing Snowball to bring after him some of the pieces of blubber,-- +which, in cutting out the harpoon, had been detached from the carcass,-- +Ben proceeded towards the tail. Here and there as he advanced, with the +sharp edge of the harpoon blade; he cut out a number of holes in the +spongy skin, in order to give both himself and his follower a more sure +footing on the slimy surface. + +At the point where he intended to take his stand,--close in by the +"crutch" of the _cachalot's_ tail-fin,--he made three excavations with +more care. At length, satisfied with his preparations, he stood, with +pointed harpoon, waiting for we of the sharks to come within striking +distance. They "fought shy" at first; but the old whaleman knew a way +of overcoming their shyness. It only required that "chunk" of blubber, +held in the hands of Snowball, to be thrown into the water, and +simultaneous with the plunge a score of sharks would be seen rushing, +open-mouthed, to seize upon it. + +This in effect was precisely what transpired. + +The blubber was dropped into the sea, close as possible to the carcass +of the whale,--the sharks came charging towards it,--nearly twenty of +them. The same number, however, did not go back as they had come; for +one of them, impaled by the harpoon of Ben Brace, was dragged out of his +native element, and hauled up the well-greased incline towards the +highest point on the carcass of the _cachalot_. + +There, notwithstanding his struggles and the desperate as well as +dangerous fluking of his posterior fins, he was soon despatched by the +axe, wielded with all the might and dexterity which the Coromantee could +command. + +Another shark was "hooked," and then despatched in a similar fashion; +and then another and another, until Ben Brace believed that enough +shark-flesh had been obtained to furnish the _Catamaran_ with stores for +the most prolonged voyage. + +At all events, they would now have food--such as it was--to last as long +as the water with which the hand of Providence alone seemed to have +provided them. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR. + +THE THICK WATERS. + +The most palatable portions of the sharks' flesh having been stripped +from the bones and cut into thin slices, were now to be submitted to a +drying, or rather broiling process. This was to be accomplished by a +fire of spermaceti. + +As already stated, there was no scarcity on the score of this fuel. The +"case" of the _cachalot_ contained enough to have roasted all the sharks +within a circle of ten mile around it; and, to all appearance, there +were hundreds of them inside that circumference. Indeed, that part of +the ocean where the dead whale had been found, though far from any land, +is at all times most prolific in animal life. Sometimes the sea for +miles around a ship will be seen swarming with fish of various kinds, +while the air is filled with birds. In the water may be seen large +"schools" of whales, "basking"--as the whalers term it--at intervals, +"spouting" forth their vaporous breath, or moving slowly onward,--some +of them, every now and then, exhibiting their uncouth gambols. Shoals +of porpoises, albacores, bonitos, and other gregarious fishes will +appear in the same place,--each kind in pursuit of its favourite prey, +while sharks, threshers, and sword-fish, accompanied by their "pilots" +and "suckers," though in lesser numbers, here also abound,--from the +very abundance of the species on which these sea-monsters subsist +"Flocks" of flying-fish sparkle in the sun with troops of bonitos +gliding watchful below, while above them the sky will sometimes be +literally clouded with predatory birds,--gulls, boobies, gannets, tropic +and frigate-birds, albatrosses, and a score of other kinds but little +known, and as yet undescribed by the naturalist. + +It may be asked why so many creatures of different kinds congregate in +this part of the ocean? Upon what do they subsist? what food can they +find so far from land? + +A ready reply to these questions may be given, by saying, that they +subsist upon each other; and this would be, to some extent, true. But +then there must be a base forming the food for all, and produced by some +process of nature. What process can be going on in the midst of the +ocean to furnish the subsistence of such myriads of large and voracious +creatures? In the waters of the great deep, apparently so pure and +clear, one would think that no growth,--either animal or vegetable, +could spring up,--that nothing could come out of nothing. For all this, +in that pure, clear water, there is a continual process of production,-- +not only from the soil at the bottom of the sea, but the salt-water +itself contains the germs of material substances, that sustain life, or +become, themselves, living things, by what appears, to our ignorant +eyes, spontaneous production. + +There is no spontaneity in the matter. It is simply the principle of +creation, and acting under laws and by ways that, however ill-understood +by us, have existed from the beginning of the world. + +It is true that the whole extent of the great oceans are not thus +thickly peopled. Vast tracts may be traversed, where both fish and +birds of all kinds are extremely scarce; and a ship may sail for days +without seeing an individual of either kind. A hundred miles may be +passed over, and the eye may not be gratified by the sight of a living +thing,--either in the water or the air. These tracts may truly be +termed the deserts of the sea; like those of the land, apparently +uninhabited and uninhabitable. + +It may be asked, Why this difference, since the sea seems all alike? +The cause lies not in a difference of depth: for the tracts that teem +with life are variable in this respect,--sometimes only a few fathoms in +profundity, and sometime unfathomable. + +The true explanation must be sought for elsewhere. It will be found not +in _depth_, but in _direction_,--in the direction of the currents. + +Every one knows that the great oceans are intersected here and there by +currents,--often hundreds of miles in breadth, but sometimes narrowing +to a width of as many "knots." These oceanic streams are regular, +though not regularly defined. They are not caused by mere temporary +storms, but by winds having a constant and regular direction; as the +"trades" in the Atlantic and Pacific, the "monsoons" in the Indian +Ocean, the "pamperos" of South America, and the "northers" of the +Mexican Gulf. + +There is another cause for these currents, perhaps of more powerful +influence than the winds, yet less taken into account. It is the +_spinning_ of the earth on its axis. Undoubtedly are the "trades" +indebted to this for their direction towards the west,--the simple +centrifugal tendency of the atmosphere. Otherwise, would these winds +blow due northward and southward, coming into collision on the line of +the equator. + +But it is not my purpose to attempt a dissertation either on winds or +oceanic streams. I am not learned enough for this, though enough to +know that great misconception prevails on this subject, as well as upon +that of the _tides_; and that meteorologists have not given due credit +to the revolving motion of our planet, which is in truth the principal +producer of these phenomena. + +Why I have introduced the subject at all is, not because our little book +is peculiarly a book of the ocean, but, because that ocean currents have +much to do with "Ocean Waifs," and that these last afford the true +explanation of the phenomenon first-mentioned,--the fact that some parts +of the ocean teem with animal life, while others are as dead as a +desert. The currents account for it, thus:--where two of them meet,--as +is often the case,--vast quantities of material substances, both +vegetable and animal, are drifted together; where they are held, to a +certain extent, stationary; or circling around in great _ocean eddies_. +The wrack of sea-weed,--waifs from the distant shores,--birds that have +fallen lifeless into the ocean, or drop their excrement to float on its +surface,--fish that have died of disease, violence, or naturally,--for +the finny tribes are not exempt from the natural laws of decay and +death,--all these organisms, drifted by the currents, meet upon the +neutral "ground,"--there to float about, and furnish food to myriads of +living creatures,--many species of which are, to all appearance, scarce +organised more highly than the decomposed matters that appear first to +give them life, and afterwards sustain their existence. + +In such tracts of the ocean are found the lower marine animals, in +incalculable numbers; the floating shell-fish, as _Janthina_, _Hyalaea_ +and _Cleodora_; the sea-lizards, as _Velellae, Porpitae_, and their +kindred; the squids, and other molluscs; with myriads of _medusa_. + +These are the oceanic regions known to the sailors as "thick waters," +the favourite resort of the whale and its concomitant creatures, whose +food they furnish; the shark, and its attendants; the dolphins, +porpoises, sword-fish and flying-fish; with other denizens of the water; +and a like variety of dwellers in the air, hovering above the surface, +either as the enemies of those below, or aids to assist them in +composing the inscrutable "chain of destruction." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE. + +A WHALE ON FIRE! + +Perhaps we have _drifted_ too far adown the currents of the ocean. From +our digression let us return to out special "Waifs." We left them +making preparations to roast the shark-flesh,--not in single steaks, but +in a wholesale fashion,--as if they had intended to prepare a "fish +dinner" for the full crew of a frigate. + +As already stated, fuel they had in sufficiency; or, at all events, the +best of oil, that would serve as such. The spermaceti could not be +readily kindled, nor its blaze kept up, without wicks. But neither was +there any difficulty about this. There was a quantity of old rope trash +on the raft, which had been fished up among the wreck of the _Pandora_, +and kept in case of an emergency. It needed only to restore this to its +original state of tarry fibre, when they would be provided with wick +enough to keep the lamp long burning. It was the lamp itself, or rather +the cooking furnace, that caused them uneasiness. They had none. The +tiny tin vessel that had already served for a single meal would never do +for the grand _roti_ they now designed making. With it, along with time +and patience, they might have accomplished the task; but time to them +was too precious to be so wasted; and as to patience,--circumstanced as +they were, it could scarcely be expected. + +They stood in great need of a cooking-stove. There was nothing on board +the _Catamaran_ that could be used as a substitute. Indeed, to have +kindled such a fire as they wanted on the raft,--without a proper +material for their hearth,--would have seriously endangered the +existence of the craft; and might have terminated in a conflagration. + +It was a dilemma that had not suggested itself sooner--that is, until +the shark-steaks had been made ready for roasting. Then it presented +itself to their contemplation in full force, and apparently without any +loophole to escape from it. + +What was to be done for a cooking-stove? + +Snowball sighed as he thought of his caboose, with all its paraphernalia +of pots and pans,--especially his great copper, in which he had been +accustomed to boil mountains of meat and oceans of pea-soup. + +But Snowball was not the individual to give way to vain regrets,--at +least, not for long. Despite that absence of that superior intellect,-- +which flippant gossips of so-called a "Social Science" delight in +denying to his race, themselves often less gifted than he,--Snowball was +endowed with rare ingenuity,--especially in matters relating to the +_cuisine_, and in less than ten minutes after the question of a +cooking-stove had been started, the Coromantee conceived the idea of one +that might have vied with any of the various "patents" so loudly +extolled by the ironmongers, and yet not so effective when submitted to +the test. At all events, Snowball's plan was suited to the +circumstances in which its contriver was placed; and perhaps it was the +only one which the circumstances would have allowed. + +Unlike other inventors, the Coromantee proclaimed the plan of his +invention as soon as he had conceived it. + +"Wha' for?" he asked, as the idea shaped itself in his skull,--"wha' for +we trouble 'bout a pot fo' burn de oil?" + +"What for, Snowy!" echoed the sailor, turning upon his interrogator an +expectant look. + +"Why we no make de fire up hya?" + +The conversation was carried on upon the back of the whale,--where the +sharks had been butchered and cut up. + +"Up here!" again echoed the sailor, still showing surprise. "What +matter whether it be up here or down theear, so long's we've got no +vessel,--neyther pot nor pan?" + +"Doan care a dam fo' neyder," responded the ex-cook. "I'se soon show +ye, Mass' Brace, how we find vessel, big 'nuff to hold all de oil in de +karkiss ob de ole cashlot, as you call him." + +"Explain, nigger, explain!" + +"Sartin I do. Gib me dat axe. I soon 'splain de whole sarkumstance." + +Ben passed the axe, which he had been holding, into the hands of the +Coromantee. + +The latter, as he had promised, soon made his meaning clear, by setting +to work upon the carcass of the _cachalot_, and with less than a dozen +blows of the sharp-edged tool hollowing out a large cavity in the +blubber. + +"Now, Mass' Brace," cried he, when he had finished, triumphantly +balancing the axe above his shoulder, "wha' you call dat? Dar's a lamp +hold all de oil we want set blaze. You d'sire me `crow' de hole any +wida or deepa, I soon make 'im deep's a draw-well an' wide as de track +ob a waggon. Wha' say, Mass' Brace?" + +"Hurraw for you, Snowy! It be just the thing. I dar say it's deep +enough, and wide as we'll want it. You ha got good brains, nigger,-- +not'ithstanding what them lubbers as they call filosaphurs say. I'm a +white, an' niver thought o' it. This'll do for the furness we want. +Nothin' more needed than to pour the sparmacety into it, chuck a bit o' +oakum on the top, an' set all ablaze. Let's do it, and cook the wittles +at once." + +The cavity, which Snowball had "crowed" in the carcass of the whale was +soon filled with oil taken from the case. In this was inserted with due +care a quantity of the fibre, obtained by "picking" the old ropes into +oakum. + +A crane was next erected over the cavity,--a handspike forming one +support and an oar the other. The crane itself consisted of the long +iron arrow and socket of one of the harpoons found in the carcass of the +_cachalot_. + +Upon this was suspended, as upon a spit, so many slices of shark-meat as +could be accommodated with room, and when all was arranged, a "taper" +was handed up from below, and the wick set on fire. + +The tarry strands caught like tinder; and soon after a fierce bright +blaze was seen rising several feet above the back of the _cachalot_,-- +causing the shark-steaks to frizzle and fry, and promising in a very +short space of time to "do them to a turn." + +Any one who could have witnessed the spectacle from distance, and not +understanding its nature, might have fancied that the _whale was on +fire_! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY SIX. + +THE BIG RAFT. + +While the strange phenomenon of a blazing fire upon the back of a whale +was being exhibited to the eyes of ocean-birds and ocean-fishes,--all +doubtless wondering what it meant,--another and very different spectacle +was occurring scarce twenty miles from the spot,--of course also upon +the surface of the ocean. + +If in the former there was something that might be called comic, there +was nothing of this in the latter. On the contrary, it was a true +tragedy,--a drama of death. + +The stage upon which it was being enacted was a platform of planks and +spars, rudely united together,--in short, a raft. The _dramatis +persona_ were men,--all men; although it might have required some +stretch of imagination,--aided by a little acquaintanceship with the +circumstances that had placed them upon that raft,--to have been certain +that they were human beings. A stranger to them, looking upon them in +reality,--or upon a picture, giving a faithful representation of them,-- +might have doubted their humanity, and mistaken them for _fiends_. No +one could have been blamed for such a misconception. + +If human beings in shape, and so in reality, they were fiends in aspect, +and not far from it in mental conformation. Even in appearance they +were more like skeletons than men. One actually was a skeleton,--not a +living skeleton, but a corpse, clean-stripped of its flesh. The +ensanguined bones, with some fragments of the cartilage still adhering +to them, showed that the despoliation had been recent. The skeleton was +not perfect. Some of the bones were absent. A few were lying near on +the timbers of the raft, and a few others might have been seen in places +where it was horrible to behold them! + +The raft was an oblong platform of some twenty feet in length by about +fifteen in width. It was constructed out of pieces of broken masts and +spars of a ship, upon which was supported an irregular sheeting of +planks, the fragments of bulwarks, hatches, cabin-doors that had been +wrested from their hinges, lids of tea-chests, coops, and a few other +articles,--such as form the paraphernalia of movables on board a ship. +There was a large hogshead with two or three small barrels upon the +raft; and around its edge were lashed several empty casks, serving as +buoys to keep it above water. A single spar stood up out of its centre, +or "midships," to which was rigged--in a very slovenly manner--a large +lateen sail,--either the spanker or spritsail of a ship, or the mizzen +topsail of a bark. + +Around the "step" of the mast a variety of other objects might have been +seen: such as oars, handspikes, pieces of loose boards, some tangled +coils of rope, an axe or two, half a dozen tin pots and "tots,"--such as +are used by sailors,--a quantity of shark-bones clean picked, with two +or three other bones, like those already alluded to, and whose size and +form told them to be the _tibia_ of a human skeleton. + +Between twenty and thirty men were moving amid this miscellaneous +collection,--not all moving: for they were in every conceivable +attitude, of repose as of action. Some were seated, some lying +stretched, some standing, some staggering,--as if reeling under the +influence of intoxication, or too feeble to support their bodies in an +erect attitude. It was not any rocking on the part of the raft that was +producing these eccentric movements. The sea was perfectly quiescent, +and the rude embarkation rested upon it like a log. + +The cause might have been discovered near the bottom of the mast, where +stood a barrel or cask of medium size, from which proceeded an +exhalation, telling its contents to be rum. + +The staggering skeletons were _drunk_! + +It was not that noisy intoxication that tells of recent indulgence, but +rather of the nervous wreck which succeeds it; and the words heard, +instead of being the loud banterings of inebriated men, were more like +the ravings and gibbering of maniacs. No wonder: since they who uttered +them _were_ mad,--mad with _mania potu_! If they were ever to recover, +it would be the last time they were likely to be afflicted by the same +disease,--at least on board that embarkation. Not from any virtuous +resolve on their parts, but simply from the fact that the cause of their +insanity no longer existed. + +The rum-cask was as dry inside as out. There was no longer a drop of +the infernal liquor on the raft; no more spirit of any kind to produce +fresh drunkenness or renewed _delirium tremens_! + +The madmen were not heeded by the others; but allowed to totter about, +and give speech to their incoherent mumblings!--sometimes diversified by +yells, or peals of mania laughter,--always thickly interlarded with +oaths and other blasphemous utterances. + +It was only when disturbing the repose of some one less _exalted_ than +themselves, or when two of them chanced to come into collision, that a +scene would ensue,--in some instances extending to almost every +individual on the raft, and ending by one or other of the delirious +disputants getting "chucked" into the sea, and having a swim before +recovering foothold on the frail embarkation. This the ducked +individual would be certain to do. Drunk as he might have been, and +maudlin as he might be, his instincts were never so benumbed as to +render him regardless of self-preservation. Even from out his haggard +eyes still gleamed enough of intelligence to tell that those dark +triangular objects, moving in scores around the raft, and cutting the +water, so swift and sheer, were the dorsal fins of the dreaded sharks. +Each one was a sight that, to a sailor's eye, even when "blind drunk," +brings habitual dread. + +The _douche_, and the fright attending it, would usually restore his +reason to the delirious individual,--or, at all events, would have the +effect of restoring tranquillity upon the raft,--soon after to be +disturbed by some scene of like, or perhaps more terrible, activity. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The reader, unacquainted with the history of this raft and the people +upon it, may require some information concerning them. A few words must +suffice for both. + +As already stated, at the beginning of our narrative, a raft was +constructed out of such timbers as could be detached from the slave-bark +_Pandora_,--after that vessel had caught fire, and previous to her +blowing up. Upon this embarkation the slaver's crew had escaped, +leaving her _cargo_ to perish,--some by the explosion, some by drowning, +and not a few by the teeth of sharks. The _Pandora's_ captain, along +with five others,--including the mates and carpenter,--had stolen away +with the gig. As this was the only boat found available in the fearful +crisis of the conflagration, the remainder of the crew had betaken +themselves to the large raft, hurriedly constructed for the occasion. + +As already related, Snowball and the Portuguese girl were the only +individuals on board the _Pandora_ who had remained by the wreck, or +rather among its _debris_. There the Coromantee, by great courage and +cunning, had succeeded not only in keeping himself and his _protege_ +afloat, but in establishing a chance for sustaining existence, +calculated to last for some days. It is known also that Ben Brace with +_his protege_, having been informed by the captain's parting speech that +there was a barrel of gunpowder aboard the burning bark, apprehensive of +the explosion, had silently constructed a little raft of his own; which, +after being launched from under the bows of the slaver, he had brought +_en rapport_ with the "big raft," and thereto attached it. This +"tender," still carrying the English sailor and the boy, had been +afterwards cut loose from its larger companion in the dead hour of +night, and permitted to fall far into the wake. The reason of this +defection was simply to save little William from being eaten up by the +ex-crew of the _Pandora_, then reduced to a famished condition,--if we +may use the phrase, screwed up to the standard of anthropophagy. + +Since the hour in which the two rafts became separated from each other, +the reader is acquainted, in all its minute details, with the history of +the lesser: how it joined issue with the embarkation that carried the +ex-cook and his _protege_; how the union with the latter produced a +cross between the two,--afterwards yclept the _Catamaran_; with all the +particulars of the _Catamaran's_ voyage, up to the time when she became +moored alongside the carcass of the _cachalot_; and for several days +after. + +During this time, the "big raft" carrying the crew of tin burnt bark,-- +being out of sight, may also have escaped from the reader's mind. Both +it and its occupants were still in existence. Not all of them, it is +true, but the greater number; and among these, the most prominent in +strength of body, energy of mind; and wickedness of disposition. + +It is scarce necessary to say, that the raft now introduced as lying +upon the ocean some twenty miles from the dead _cachalot_ was that which +some days before had parted from the _Pandora_, or that the fiendish +forms that occupied it were the remnant of the _Pandora's_ crew. + +These were not all there: nearly a score of them were absent. The +absence of the captain, with five others who had accompanied him in his +gig, has been explained. The ex-cook, the English sailor and +sailor-boy, with the cabin passenger, Lilly Lalee, have also been +accounted for; but there were several others aboard the big raft, on its +first starting "to sea," that were no longer to be seen amidst the crowd +still occupying this ungainly embarkation. Half a dozen,--perhaps +more,--seemed to be missing. Their absence might have appeared +mysterious, to anyone who had not been kept "posted" up in the +particulars of the ill-directed cruise through which the raft had been +passing; though the skeleton above described, and the dissevered _tibia_ +scattered around, might have given a clew to their disappearance,--at +least, to anyone initiated into the shifts and extremities of +starvation. + +To those of less experience,--or less quick comprehension,--it may be +necessary to repeat the conversation which was being carried on upon the +raft,--at the moment when it is thus reintroduced to the notice of the +reader. A correct report of this will satisfactorily explain why its +original crew had been reduced, from over thirty, to the number of +six-and-twenty, exclusive of the skeleton! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN. + +A CREW OF CANNIBALS. + +"_Allons_!" cried a black-bearded man, in whose emaciated frame it was +not easy to recognise the once corpulent bully of the slave-ship,--the +Frenchman, Le Gros. "_Allons! messieurs_! It's time to try fortune +again. _Sacre_! we must eat, or die!" + +The question may be asked, What were these men to eat? There appeared +to be no food upon the raft. There _was_ none,--not a morsel of any +kind that might properly be called meat for man. Nor had there been, +ever since the second day after the departure of the raft from the side +of the burning bark. A small box of sea-biscuits, that, when +distributed, gave only two to each man, was all that had been saved in +their hurried retreat from the decks of the _Pandora_. These had +disappeared in a day. They had brought away water in greater abundance, +and caught some since in their shirts, and on the spread sail,--nearly +after the same fashion and in the same rain-storm that had afforded the +well-timed supply to Ben Brace and his _protege_. + +But the stock derived from both sources was on the eve of being +exhausted. Only a small ration or two to each man remained in the cask; +but thirsty as most of them might be, they were suffering still more +from the kindred appetite of hunger. + +What did Le Gros mean when he said they must eat? What food was there +on the raft, to enable them to avoid the terrible alternative appended +to his proposal,--"eat, or die"! What _had_ kept them from dying: since +it was now many days, almost weeks, since they had swallowed the last +morsel of biscuit so sparingly distributed amongst them? + +The answer to all these interrogatories is one and the some. It is too +fearful to be pronounced,--awful even to think of! + +The clean-stripped skeleton lying upon the raft, and which was clearly +that of a human being; the bones scattered about,--some of them, as +already observed, held in hand, and in such fashion as to show the +horrid use that was being made of them,--left no doubt as to the nature +of the food upon which the hungering wretches had been subsisting. + +This, and the flesh of a small shark, which they had succeeded in luring +alongside, and killing with the blow of a handspike, had been their only +provision since parting with the _Pandora_. There were sharks enough +around them now. A score, at the very least, might have been quartering +the sea, within sight of the raft; but these monsters, strange to say, +were so shy, that not one of them would approach near enough to allow +them an opportunity of capturing it! Every attempt to take them had +proved unsuccessful. Such of the crew as kept sober had been trying for +days. Some were even at that moment engaged with hook and line, angling +for the ferocious fish,--their hooks floating far out in the water, +baited with _human flesh_. + +It was only the mechanical continuation of a scheme that had long since +proved to be of no avail,--a sort of despairing struggle against +improbability. The sharks had taken the alarm; perhaps from observing +the fate of that one of their number that had gone too near the odd +embarkation; or, perhaps, warned by some mysterious instinct, that, +sooner or later, they would make a grand banquet on those who were so +eager to feast upon them. + +In any case, no sharks had been taken, or were likely to be taken; and +once more the eyes of the famishing castaways were wolfishly turned upon +one another, while their thoughts reverted to that horrible alternative +that was to save them from starvation. + +Le Gros--on board the raft, as upon the deck of the slave-ship--still +held a sort of fatal ascendency over his comrades; and with Ben Brace no +longer to oppose his despotic propensities, he had established over his +fellow-skeletons a species of arbitrary rule. + +His conduct had all along been guided by no more regard for fair-play +than was just necessary to keep his subordinates from breaking out into +open mutiny; and among these the weaker ones fared even worse than their +fellows, bad as that was. + +A few of the stronger,--who formed a sort of bodyguard to the bully, and +were ready to stand up for him in case of extremity,--shared his +ascendency over the rest; and to these were distributed larger rations +of water, along with the more choice morsels of their horrid food. + +This partiality had more than once led to scenes, that promised to end +in bloodshed; and but for this occasional show of resistance, Le Gros +and his party might have established a tyranny that would have given +them full power over the _lives_ of their feebler companions. + +Things were fast tending in this direction,--merging, as it were, into +absolute monarchy,--a monarchy of "cannibals," of which Le Gros himself +would be "king." It had not yet, however, quite come to that,--at least +when it became a question of life and death. When the necessity arose +of finding a fresh victim for their horrible but necessary sacrifice, +there was still enough republicanism left among the wretches to +influence the decision in a just and equitable manner, and cause the +selection to be made by lot. When it comes to crises like these,--to +questions of life and death,--men must yield up their opposition to the +_ballot_, and acknowledge its equity. + +Le Gros and his cruel bodyguard would have opposed it had they been +strong enough,--as do equally cruel politicians who are strong enough,-- +but the bully still doubted the strength of his party. A proposal so +atrocious had beep made, in the case of little William, at the very +outset, and had met with but slight opposition. Had it not been for the +brave English sailor, the lad would certainly have fallen a sacrifice to +the horrid appetites of these horrid men. With one of themselves, +however, the case was different. Each had a few adherents, who would +not have submitted to such an arbitrary cruelty; and Le Gros was +influenced by the fear of a general "skrimmage," in which more than one +life,--among the rest perhaps his own,--might be forfeited. The time +for such a high-handed measure had not yet arrived; and when it came to +the question of "Who dies next?" it was still found necessary to resort +to the _ballot_. + +That question was once more propounded,--now for the third time,--Le +Gros himself acting as the spokesman. No one said anything in reply, or +made any sign of being opposed to an answer being given. On the +contrary, all appeared to yield, if not a cheerful, at least a tacit +assent to what they all knew to be meant for a proposal,--knowing also +its fearful nature and consequences. + +They also comprehended whence the answer was to come. Twice before had +they consulted that dread oracle, whose response was certain death to +one of their number. Twice before had they recognised and submitted to +its decree. No preliminaries needed to be discussed. These had been +long ago arranged. There was nothing more to do than cast the lots. + +On the moment after Le Gros had put the question, a movement was visible +among the men to whom it was addressed. One might have expected it to +startle them; but it did not appear to do this,--at least, to any great +extent. Some only showed those signs of fear distinguishable by +blanched cheeks and white lips; but there were some too delirious to +understand the full import of what was to follow; and the majority of +the crew had become too callow with suffering to care much even for +life! + +Most that could, however,--for there were some too feeble to stand +erect,--rose to their feet, and gathered around the challenger, +exhibiting both in their words and attitudes, an earnestness that told +them not altogether indifferent to death. + +By a sort of tacit agreement among them, Le Gros acted as master of the +ceremonies,--the dispenser of that dread lottery of life and death, in +which he himself was to take a share. Two or three of his fellows stood +on each side of him, acting as aids or _croupiers_. + +Solemn and momentous as was the question to be decided, the mode of +decision was simple in the extreme. Le Gros held in his hand a canvas +bag, of oblong bolster shape,--such as sailors use to carry their spare +suit of "Sunday go-ashores." In the bottom of this bag,--already +carefully counted into it,--were twenty-six buttons: the exact number of +those who were to take part in the drawing. They were the common black +buttons of horn,--each pierced with four holes,--such as may be seen +upon the jacket of the merchant sailor. They had been cut from their +own garments for the purpose in which they were now, a third time, to be +employed, and all chosen so exactly alike, that even the eye would have +found it difficult to distinguish one from the other. One, however, +offered an exception to this statement. While all its fellows were jet +black, it exhibited a reddish hue,--a dark crimson,--as if it had been +defiled with blood. And so it had been; stained on purpose,--that for +which it was to be employed,--to be the exponent of the _prize_, in that +lottery of blood, of which its colour was an appropriate emblem. + +The difference between it and the others was not perceptible to the +touch. The fingers of a man born blind could not have distinguished it +among the rest,--much less the callous and tar-bedaubed "claws" of a +sailor. + +The red button was cast into the bag along with the others. "_He who +should draw it forth must die_." + +As we have said, there was no settling about preliminaries, no talking +about choice as to the time of drawing. These matters had been +discussed before, both openly and by secret mental calculations. All +had arrived at the conclusion that the chances were even, and that it +could make no difference in the event as to whose fate was first +decided. The red button might be the last in the bag, or it might be +the first drawn out of it. + +Under this impression, no one hesitated to inaugurate the dread ceremony +of the drawing; and as soon as Le Gros held out the bag,--just open +enough to admit a hand,--a man stepped up, and, with an air of reckless +indifference, plunged his arm into the opening! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT. + +THE LOTTERY OF LIFE AND DEATH. + +One by one the buttons were drawn forth from the bag,--each man, as he +drew his, exhibiting it in his open palm, to satisfy the others as to +its colour, and then placing it in a common receptacle,--against the +contingency of its being required again for another like lottery! + +Solemn as was the character of the ceremony, it was not conducted either +in solemnity or silence. Many of the wretches even jested while it was +in progress; and a stranger to the dread conditions under which the +drawing was being made might have supposed it a raffle for some trifling +prize! + +The faces of a few, however, would have contradicted this supposition. +A few there were who approached the oracle with cowed and craven looks; +and their trembling fingers, as they inserted them into the bag, +proclaimed an apprehension stronger than could have arisen from any mere +courting of chance in an ordinary casting of lots. + +Those men who were noisiest and most gleeful _after_ they had drawn were +the ones who before it had shown the strongest signs of fear, and who +trembled most while performing the operation. + +Some of them could not conceal even their demoniac joy at having drawn +blank, but danced about over the raft as if they had suddenly succeeded +to some splendid fortune. + +The difference between this singular lottery and most others, was that +the blanks were the prizes,--the prize itself being the true blank,--the +ending of existence. + +Le Gros continued to hold the bag, and with an air of nonchalance; +though anyone closely observing his countenance could tell that it was +assumed. As had been already proved, the French bully was at heart a +coward. Under the influence of angry passion, or excited by a desire +for revenge, he could show fight, and even fling himself into positions +of danger; but in a contest such as that in which he was now engaged a +cool strife, in which Fortune was his only antagonist, and in which he +could derive no advantage from any unfair subterfuge, his artificial +courage had entirely forsaken him. + +So long as the lottery was in its earlier stages, and only a few buttons +had been taken out of the bag, he preserved his assumed air of +indifference. There were still many chances of life against that one of +death,--nearly twenty to one. As the drawing proceeded, however, and +one after another exhibited his black button, a change could be observed +passing over the features of the Frenchman. His apparent _sangfroid_ +began to forsake him; while his glances betokened a feverish excitement, +fast hastening towards apprehension. + +As each fresh hand came up out of the dark receptacle bearing the +evidence of its owner's fate, Le Gros was seen to cast hurried and +anxious glances towards the tiny circle of horn, held between the thumb +and forefinger, and each time that he saw the colour to be black his +countenance appeared to darken at the sight. + +When the twentieth button had been brought forth, and still the red one +remained in the bag, the master of the ceremonies became fearfully +excited. He could no longer conceal his apprehension. His chances of +life were diminished to a point that might well inspire him with fear. +It was now but six to one,--for there were only six more tickets to be +disposed of. + +At this crisis, Le Gros interrupted the drawing to reflect. Would he be +in a better position, if some one else held the bag? Perhaps that might +change the run of luck hitherto against him; and which he had been +cursing with all his might ever since the number had been going through +the teens. He had tried every way he could think of to tempt the red +ticket out of the bag. He had shaken the buttons time after time,--in +hopes of bringing it to the top, or in some position that might insure +its being taken up. But all to no purpose. It would obstinately stay +to the last. + +What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other +holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance? "Not any!" was +the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry. Better for him to +hold on as he had been doing. It was hardly possible--at least highly +improbable--that the red button should be the last. There had been +twenty-five chances to one against its being so. It is true twenty +black buttons had been drawn out before it,--in a most unexpected +manner,--still it was as likely to come next as any of the remaining +six. + +It would be of no use changing the process,--so concluded he, in his own +mind,--and, with an air of affected recklessness, the Frenchman +signified to those around him that he was ready to continue the drawing. + +Another man drew forth Number 21. Like those preceding it, the button, +was black! + +Number 22 was fished out of the bag,--black also! + +23 and 24 were of the like hue! + +But two buttons now remained,--two men only whose fate was undecided. +One of them was Le Gros himself,--the other, an Irish sailor, who was, +perhaps, the least wicked among that wicked crew. One or other of them +must become food for their cannibal comrades! + +It would scarce be true to say that the interest increased as the dread +lottery progressed towards its ending. Its peculiar conditions had +secured an interest from the first as intense as it was possible for it +to be. It only became changed in character,--less selfish, if we may +use the phrase,--as each individual escaped from the dangerous +contingency involved in the operation. As the drawing approached its +termination, the anxiety about the result, though less painful to the +majority of the men, was far more so to the few whose fate still hung +suspended in the scale; and this feeling became more intensified in the +breasts of the still smaller number, who saw their chances of safety +becoming constantly diminished. When, at length, only two buttons +remained in the bag, and only two men to draw them out, the interest, +though changed in character, was nevertheless sufficiently exciting to +fix the attention of every individual on the raft. + +There were circumstances, apart from the mere drawing, that influenced +this attention. Fate itself seemed to be taking a part in the dread +drama; or, if not, a very singular contingency had occurred. + +Between the two men, thus left to decide its decree, there existed a +rivalry,--or, rather, might it be called a positive antipathy,--deadly +as any _vendetta_ ever enacted on Corsican soil. + +It had not sprung up on the raft. It was of older date--old as the +earliest days of the _Pandora's_ voyage, on whose decks it had +originated. + +Its first seeds had been sown in that quarrel between Le Gros and Ben +Brace,--in which the Frenchman had been so ignominiously defeated. The +Irish sailor,--partly from some slight feeling of co-nationality, and +partly from a natural instinct of fair-play,--had taken sides with the +British tar; and, as a consequence, had invoked the hostility of the +Frenchman. This feeling he had reciprocated to its full extent; and +from that time forward Larry O'Gorman--such was the Irishman's name-- +became the true _bete noir_ of Le Gros, to be insulted by the latter on +every occasion that might offer. Even Ben Brace was no longer regarded +with as much dislike. For him the Frenchman had been taught, if not +friendship, at least, a certain respect, springing from fear; and, +instead of continuing his jealous rivalry towards the English sailor, Le +Gros had resigned himself to occupy a secondary place on the slaver, and +transferred his spite to the representative of the Emerald Isle. + +More than once, slight collisions had occurred between them,--in which +the Frenchman, gifted with greater cunning, had managed to come off +victorious. But there had never arisen any serious matter to test the +strength of the two men to that desperate strife, of which death might +be the ending. They had generally fought shy of each other; the +Frenchman from a latent fear of his adversary,--founded, perhaps, on +some suspicion of powers not yet exhibited by him, and which might be +developed in a deadly struggle,--the Irishman from a habitude, not very +common among his countrymen, of being little addicted to quarrelling. +He was, on the contrary, a man of peaceful disposition, and of few +words,--also a rare circumstance, considering that his name was Larry +O'Gorman. + +There were some good traits in the Irishman's character. Perhaps we +have given the best. In comparison with the Frenchman, he might be +described as an angel; and, compared with the other wretches on the +raft, he was, perhaps, the _least bad_: for the word _best_ could not, +with propriety, be applied to anyone of that motley crew. + +Personally, the two men were unlike as could well be. While the +Frenchman was black and bearded, the Irishman was red and almost +beardless. In size, however, they approximated nearer to each other,-- +both being men of large stature. Both had been stout,--almost +corpulent. + +Neither could be so described as they assisted at that solemn ceremonial +that was to devote one or other of them to a doom--in which their +_condition_ was a circumstance of significant interest to those who were +to survive them. + +Both were shrunken in shape, with their garments hanging loosely around +their bodies, their eyes sunk in deep cavities, their cheek-bones +prominently protruding, their breasts flat and fleshless, the ribs +easily discernible,--in short, they appeared more like a pair of +skeletons, covered with shrivelled skin, than breathing, living men. +Either was but ill-adapted for the purpose to which dire necessity was +about to devote one or other of them. + +Of the two, Le Gros appeared the less attenuated. This may have arisen +from the fact of his greater ascendency over the crew of the raft,--by +means of which he had been enabled to appropriate to himself a larger +share of the food sparsely distributed amongst them. His ample covering +of hair may have had something to do with this appearance,--concealing +as it did the unevenness of the surface upon which it grew, and +imparting a plumper aspect to his face and features. + +If there was a superiority in the quantity of flesh still clinging to +his bones, its quality might be questioned,--at all events, in regard to +the use that might soon be made of it. In point of tenderness, his +muscular integuments could scarcely compare with those of the Irishman, +whose bright skin promised-- + +These are horrid thoughts. They should not be her repeated, were it not +to show in its true light the terrible extremes, both of thought and +action, to which men may be reduced by starvation. Horrid as they may +appear, they were entertained at that crisis by the castaway crew of the +_Pandora_! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY NINE. + +A CHALLENGE DECLINED. + +When it came to the last drawing,--for there needed to be only one +more,--there was a pause in the proceedings, such as usually precedes an +expected climax. + +It was accompanied by silence; so profound that, but for the noise made +by the waves as they dashed against the hollow hogsheads, a pin might +have been heard if dropped upon the planking of the raft. In the sound +of the sea there was something lugubrious: a fit accompaniment of the +unhallowed scene that was being enacted by those within hearing of it. +One might have fancied that spirits in fearful pain were confined within +the empty casks, and that the sounds that seemed to issue out of them +were groans elicited by their agony. + +The two men, one of whom was doomed to die, stood face to face; the +others forming a sort of circle around them. All eyes were bent upon +them, while theirs were fixed only upon each other. The reciprocated +glance was one of dire hostility and hate,--combined with a hope on the +part of each to see the other dead, and then to survive him. + +Both were inspired by a belief--in the presence of such an unexpected +contingency it was not unreasonable--that Fate had singled them out from +their fellows to stand in that strange antagonism. They were, in fact, +convinced of it. + +Under the influence of this conviction, it might be supposed that +neither would offer any further opposition to Fate's decree, but would +yield to what might appear their "manifest destiny." + +As it was, however, fatalism was not the faith of either. Though +neither of them could lay claim to the character of a Christian, they +were equally unbelievers in this particular article of the creed of +Mahomet; and both were imbued with a stronger belief in strength or +stratagem than in chance. + +On the first-mentioned the Irishman appeared most to rely, as was +evidenced by the proposal he made upon the occasion. + +"I dar yez," said he, "to thry which is the best man. To dhraw them +buttons is an even chance between us; an' maybe the best man is him +that'll have to die. By Saint Pathrick! that isn't fair, nohow. The +best man should be allowed to live. Phwat do _yez_ say, comrades?" + +The proposal, though unexpected by all, found partisans who entertained +it. It put a new face upon the affair. It was one that was not more +than reasonable. + +The crew, no longer interested in the matter,--at least, so far as their +own personal safety was concerned,--could now contemplate the result +with calmness; and the instinct of justice was not dead within the +hearts of all of them. In the challenge of the Irishman there appeared +nothing unfair. A number of them were inclined to entertain it, and +declared themselves of that view. + +The partisans of Le Gros were the more numerous; and these remained +silent,--waiting until the latter should make reply to the proposal of +his antagonist. + +After the slight luck he had already experienced in the lottery,-- +combined with several partial defeats erst inflicted upon the man who +thus challenged him,--it might have been expected that Le Gros would +have gladly accepted the challenge. + +He did not. On the contrary, he showed such an inclination to trust to +_chance_ that a close observer of his looks and actions might have seen +cause to suspect that he had also some reliance upon _stratagem_. + +No one, however, had been thus closely observing him. No one--except +the individual immediately concerned--had noticed that quick grasp of +hands between him and one of his partisans; or, if they had, it was only +to interpret it as a salute of sympathy, extended towards a comrade in a +situation of danger. + +In that salute, however, there passed between the two men something of +significance; which, if exhibited to the eyes of the spectators, would +have explained the indifference to death that from that moment +characterised the demeanour of Le Gros. + +After that furtive movement, he no longer showed any hesitancy as to his +course of action; but at once declared his willingness, as well as his +determination, to abide by the decision of the drawing. + +"_Sacre_!" cried he, in answer to the challenge of the Irishman; "you +don't suppose, _Monsieur Irlandais_, that I should fear the result as +you propose it? _Parbleu_! nobody will believe that. But I'm a +believer in Fortune,--notwithstanding the scurvy tricks she has often +served me--even now that she is frowning upon me black as ever. Neither +of us appears to be in favour with her, and that will make our chances +equal. So then, I say, let us try her again. _Sacre_! it will be the +last time she can frown on one of us,--that's certain." + +As O'Gorman had no right to alter the original programme of the lottery, +of course the dissenting voices to its continuance were in the minority; +and the general clamour tailed upon fate to decide which of the two men +was to become food for their famishing companions. + +Le Gros still held the bag containing the two buttons. One of them +should be black, the other red. It became a subject of dispute, which +was to make the draw. It was not a question of who should draw first, +since one button taken out would be sufficient. If the red one came +out, the drawer must die; if the black, then the other must become the +victim. + +Some proposed that a third party should hold the bag, and that there +should be a toss up for the first chance. Le Gros showed a disposition +to oppose this plan. He said that, as he had been intrusted with the +superintendence so far, he should continue it to the end. They all +saw,--so urged he,--that he had not benefited by the office imposed upon +him; but the contrary. It had brought nothing but ill-luck to him; and, +as everybody knew, when a run of ill-luck once sets in, there was no +knowing where it might terminate. He did not care much, one way or the +other: since there could be no advantage in his holding the bag; but as +he had done so all through,--as he believed to his disadvantage,--he was +willing to hold on, even if it was death that was to be his award. + +The speech of Le Gros had the desired effect. The majority declared +themselves in favour of his continuing to hold the bag; and it was +decided that the Irishman should make choice of the _penultimate_ +button. + +The latter offered no opposition to this arrangement. There appeared no +valid grounds for objecting to it. It was a simple toss of heads and +tails,--"Heads I win, and tails you lose"; or, to make use of a formula +more appropriate to the occasion, "Heads I live, and tails you die." +With some such process of reasoning current through the brain of Larry +O'Gorman, he stepped boldly up to the bag; plunged his fist into its +obscure interior; and drew forth--_the black button_! + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY. + +AN UNEXPECTED TERMINATION. + +The red button remained in the bag. It was a singular circumstance that +it should be the last; but such strange circumstances will sometimes +occur. It belonged to Le Gros. The lottery was over; the Frenchman had +forfeited life. + +It seemed idle for him to draw the button out; and yet, to the +astonishment of the spectators, he proceeded to do so. + +"_Sacre_!" he exclaimed, "the luck's been against me. _Eh bien_!" he +added, with a _sangfroid_ that caused some surprise, "I suppose I must +make a die of it. Let me see the accursed thing that's going to condemn +me!" + +As he said this, he held up the bag in his left hand,--at the same time +plunging his right into its dark interior. For some seconds he +appeared, to grope about, as if he had some difficulty in finding the +button. While fumbling in this fashion he let go the mouth of the +wallet, which he had been holding in his left hand,--adroitly +transferring his hold to its bottom. This was done apparently for the +purpose of getting the button into a corner,--in order that he might lay +hold of it with his fingers. + +For some moments the bag rested upon his left forearm, while he +continued his hunt after the little piece of horn. He appeared +successful at length; and drew forth his right hand, with the fingers +closed over the palm, as if containing something,--of course the dread +symbol of death. Stirred by a kind of curiosity, his comrades pressed +mechanically around, and stood watching his movements. + +For an instant he kept his fist closed, holding it on high to that all +might see it: and then, slowly extending his fingers, he exhibited his +spread palm before their eyes. It held the button that he had drawn +forth from the bag; but, to the astonishment of all, it was a _black_ +one, and not the _red_ token that had been expected! + +There were but two men who did not partake of this surprise. One was Le +Gros himself,--though, to all appearance, he was the most astonished +individual of the party,--the other was the man who, some minutes +before, might have been observed standing by his side, and stealthily +transferring something from his own fingers to those of the Frenchman. + +This unexpected termination of the lottery led to a scene of terrific +excitement. Several seized hold of the bag,--jerking it out of the hand +of him who had hitherto been holding it. It was at once turned inside +out; when the red button fell upon the planking of the raft. + +Most of the men were furious, and loudly declared that they had been +cheated,--some offering conjectures as to how the cheat had been +accomplished. The confederate of Le Gros--backed by the ruffian +himself--suggested that there might have been no deception about the +matter, but only a mistake made in the number of buttons originally +thrown into the bag. "Like enough,--damned like enough!"--urged Le +Gros's sharping partner; "there's been a button too many put into the +bag,--twenty-seven instead of twenty-six. That's how it's come about. +Well, as we all helped at the counting of 'em, therefore it's nobody's +fault in particular. We'll have to draw again, and the next time we can +be more careful." + +As no one appeared able to contradict this hypothesis, it passed off, +with a number, as the correct one. Most of the men, however, felt sure +that a trick had been played; and the trick itself could be easily +conjectured. Some one of the drawers had procured a button similar to +those inside the bag; and holding this button, had simply inserted his +hand, and drawn it out again. + +Out of twenty-six draws it would have been impossible to fix upon the +individual who had been guilty of the cheat, though there were not a few +who permitted their suspicions to fall on Le Gros himself. There had +been observed something peculiar in his mode of manipulation. He had +inserted his hand into the wallet with the fist closed; and had drawn it +out in similar fashion. This, with one or two other circumstances, +looked suspicious enough; but it was remembered that some others had +done the same; and as there was not enough of evidence to bring home the +infamous act to its perpetrator, no one appeared either able or willing +to risk making the accusation. + +Yes, there _was_ one who had not yet declared himself; nor did he do so +until some time had elapsed after the final and disappointing draw made +by the master of the ceremonies. This man was Larry O'Gorman. + +While the rest of the crew had been listening to the arguments of the +Frenchman's confederate,--and one by one signifying their +acquiescence,--the Irishman stood apart, apparently busied in some +profound mental calculation. + +When at length all seemed to have consented to a second casting of lots, +he roused himself from his reverie; and, stepping hastily into their +midst, cried out in a determined manner, "No-- + +"No, yez don't," continued he, "no more drawin', my jewels, till we've +had a betther undherstandin' ov this little matther. That there's been +chatin' yez are all agreed; only yez can't identify the chate. Maybe I +can say somethin' to point out the dirty spalpeen as hasn't the courage +nor the dacency to take his chance along wid the rest ov us." + +This unexpected interpolation at once drew the eyes of all parties upon +the speaker; for all were alike interested in the revelation which +O'Gorman was threatening to make. + +Whoever had played foul,--if it could only be proved against him,--would +be regarded as the man who ought to have drawn the red button; and would +be treated as if he had done so. This was tacitly understood; even +before the suggestion of such a course had passed the lips of anyone. +Those who were innocent were of course desirous of discovering the +"black sheep,"--in order to escape the danger of a second drawing,--and, +as these comprehended almost the entire crew, it was natural that an +attentive ear should be given to the statement which the Irishman +proposed to lay before them. + +All stood gazing upon him with expectant eyes. In those of Le Gros and +his confederate there was a different expression. The look of the +Frenchman was more especially remarkable. His jaws had fallen; his lips +were white and bloodless; his eyes glared fiend-like out of their sunken +sockets; while the whole cast of his features was that of a man +threatened with some fearful and infamous fate, which he feels himself +unable to avert. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE. + +LE GROS UPON TRIAL. + +As O'Gorman gave utterance to the last words of his preparatory speech, +he fixed his eyes steadfastly upon the Frenchman. His look confirmed +every one in the belief that the allusion had been to the latter. + +Le Gros at first quailed before the Irishman's glance; but, perceiving +the necessity of putting a bold front on the matter, he made an +endeavour to reciprocate it. + +"_Sacre bleu_!" he exclaimed. "_Monsieur Irlandais_ why do you look at +me? you don't mean to insinuate that I've acted unfairly?" + +"The divil a bit," replied the Irishman. "If it's insinivation yez be +talkin' about, the divil a bit ov that do I mane. Larry O'Gorman isn't +agoin' to bate about the bush wan way or the tother, Misther Laygrow. +He tells ye to yer teeth that it was yer beautiful self putt the exthra +button into the bag,--yez did it, Misther Laygrow, and nobody else." + +"Liar!" vociferated the Frenchman, with a menacing gesture. "Liar!" + +"Kape cool, Frenchy. It isn't Larry the Galwayman that's goin' to be +scared at yer blusther. I repate,--it was you yourself that putt that +button into the bag." + +"How do you know that, O'Gorman?" "Can you prove it?" + +"What proof have you?" were questions that were asked simultaneously by +several voices,--among which that of the Frenchman's confederate was +conspicuous. + +"Phwy, phwat more proof do yez want, than phwat's alriddy before yez? +When I had me hand in the wallet, there wasn't only the two buttons,-- +the divil a more. I feeled thim both while I was gropin' about to make +choice betwixt them; an if there had been a third, I wud a feeled that +too. I can swear by the holy cross of Saint Pathrick there wasn't wan +more than the two." + +"That's no proof there wasn't three," urged the friend of Le Gros. "The +third might have been in a wrinkle of the bag, without your feeling it!" + +"The divil a wrinkle it was in, except the wrinkles in the palm of that +spalpeen's fist! That's where it was; and I can tell yez all who putt +it there. It was this very chap who is so pit-a-pat at explainin' it. +Yez needn't deny it, Bill Bowler. I saw somethin' passin' betwixt +yerself and Frenchy,--jest before it come his turn to dhraw. I saw yer +flippers touchin' van another, an' somethin' slippin' in betwane them. +I couldn't tell phwat it was, but, by Jaysus! I thought it quare for +all that. I know now phwhat it was,--it was the button." + +The Irishman's arguments merited attention; and received it. The +circumstances looked at the least suspicious against Le Gros. To the +majority they were conclusive of his guilt. + +The accusation was supported by other evidence. The man who had +preceded O'Gorman in the drawing positively avowed that he could feel +only three buttons in the bag; while the one before him, with equal +confidence, asserted that when _he_ drew, there were but four. Both +declared that they could not be mistaken as to the numbers. They had +separately "fingered" each button in the hope of being able to detect +that which was bloodstained, and so avoid bringing it forth. + +"Ach!" ejaculated the Irishman, becoming impatient for the conviction of +his guilty antagonist; "phwat's the use ov talkin'. Frenchy's the wan +that did it. That gropin' an fumblin' about the bottom of the wallet +was all pretince. He had the button in his shut fist all the time, an' +by Jaysus! he's entitled to the prize, the same as if he had dhrawn it. +It's him that's got to die!" + +"_Canaille_! liar!" shouted Le Gros; "if I have, you--" + +And as the words issued from his lips he sprang forward, knife in hand, +with the evident design of taking the life of his accuser. + +"Kape cool!" cried the latter, springing out of reach of his assailant; +and with his own blade bared, placing himself on the defensive. "Kape +cool, ye frog-atin' son av a gun, or ye'll make mate for us sooner than +ye expected, ay, before yez have time to put up a _pater_ for yer ugly +sowl, that stans most disperately in nade ov it. + +"Now," continued the Irishman, after he had fairly placed himself in an +attitude of defence; "come an whiniver yer loike. Larry O'Gorman is +riddy for ye, an' another av the same at yer dhirty back. +_Hoch_,--_faugh-a-ballah_,--_hiloo_,--_whallabaloo_!" + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO. + +A DUEL TO THE DEATH. + +The strange ceremonial upon the raft,--hitherto carried on with some +show of solemnity,--had reached an unexpected crisis. + +A second appeal to the goddess of Fortune was no longer thought of. The +deadly antagonism of the two chief castaways--Le Gros and O'Gorman-- +promised a result likely to supply the larder of that cannibal crew, +without the necessity of their having recourse to her decrees. + +One or other,--perhaps both,--of these men must soon cease to live; for +the determined attitude of each told, beyond mistaking, that his bared +blade would not be again sheathed, except in the flesh of his adversary. + +There was no attempt at intervention. Not one of their comrades +interposed to keep them apart. There was friendly feeling,--or, to use +a more appropriate phrase, partisanship,--on the side of each; but it +was of that character which usually exists among the brutal backers of +two "champions of the ring." + +Under other circumstances, each party might have regretted the defeat of +the champion they had adopted; but upon that raft, the death of one or +other of the combatants was not only desirable; but, rather than it +should not occur, either side would have most gladly assented to see its +especial favourite the victim. + +Every man of that ruffian crew had a selfish interest in the result of +the threatened conflict; and this far outweighed any feeling of +partisanship with which he might have been inspired. A few may have +felt friendlier than others towards their respective champions; but to +the majority it mattered little which of the two men should die; and +there were even some who, in the secret chambers of their hearts, would +have reflected gleefully to behold both become victims of their +reciprocal hostility. Such a result would cause a still further +postponement of that unpopular lottery,--in which they had been too +often compelled to take shares. + +There was no very great difference in the number of the "friends" on +either side. The partisans of the Frenchman would have far outnumbered +those of his Irish adversary, but ten minutes before. But the behaviour +of Le Gros in the lottery had lost him many adherents. That he had +played the trick imputed to him was by most believed; and as the result +of his unmanly subterfuge was of personal interest to all, there were +many, hitherto indifferent, now inspired with hostility towards him. + +Apart from personal considerations,--even amongst that conglomeration of +outcasts,--there were some in whom the instinct of "fair-play" was not +altogether dead; and the foul play of the Frenchman had freshly aroused +this instinct within them. + +As soon as the combatants had shown a fixed determination to engage in +deadly strife, the crowd upon the raft became separated, as if by +mechanical action, into two groups,--one forming in the rear of Le Gros, +the other taking stand behind the Irishman. + +As already stated, there was no great inequality between them in point +of numbers; and as each occupied an end of the raft, the balance was +preserved, and the stage upon which the death drama was about to be +enacted--set horizontally--offered no advantage to either. + +Knives were to be their weapons. There were others on the raft. There +were axes, cutlasses, and harpoons; but the use of these was prohibited +to either of the intended combatants: as nothing could be fairer than +the sailor's knife,--with which each was provided,--and no weapon in +close combat could be used with more certain or deadlier effect. + +Each armed with his own knife, released from its lanyard fastenings in +order to be freely handled,--each with his foot planted in front of him, +to guard against the onset of his adversary,--each with an arm upraised, +at the end of which appeared six inches of sharp, glittering steel,-- +each with muscles braced to their toughest tension, and eyes glaring +forth the fires of a mutual hatred,--a hostility to end only in death,-- +such became the attitude of the antagonists. + +Behind each stood their respective partisans, in a sort of semicircle, +of which the champion was in the centre,--all eagerly intent on watching +the movements of the two men, one of whom--perhaps both--was about to be +hurried into eternity. + +It was a setting sun that was to afford light for this fearful conflict. +Already was the golden orb declining low upon the western horizon. His +disc was of a lurid red,--a colour appropriate to the spectacle it was +to illumine. No wonder that both combatants instinctively turned their +eyes towards the west, and gazed upon the god of day. Both were under +the belief they might never more look upon that luminary! + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE. + +HATE AGAINST HATE. + +The combatants did not close on the instant. The sharp blades shining +in their hands rendered them shy of a too near approach, and for some +time they kept apart. They did not, however, remain motionless or +inactive. On the contrary, both were on the alert,--moving in short +curves from one side to the other, and all the while keeping +_vis-a-vis_. + +At irregular intervals one of them would make a feint to attack; or by +feigning a retreat endeavour to get the other off guard; but, after +several such passes and counter-passes had been delivered between them, +still not a scratch had been given,--not a drop of blood drawn. + +The spectators looked on with a curious interest. Some showed not the +slightest emotion,--as if they cared not who should be the victor, or +which the victim. To most it mattered but little if both should fall; +and there were even some upon the raft who, for certain secret reasons, +would have preferred such a termination to the sanguinary struggle. + +A few there were slightly affected with feelings of partisanship. These +doubtless felt a deeper interest in the result, at least they were more +demonstrative of it; and by words of exhortation and cries of +encouragement endeavoured to give support to their respective champions. + +There were spectators of a different kind, that appeared to take as much +interest in the fearful affair as any of those already described. These +were the sharks! Looking at them, as they swam around the raft,--their +eyes glaring upon those who occupied it,--one could not have helped +thinking that they comprehended what was going on,--that they were +conscious of a deed of violence about to be enacted,--and were waiting +for some contingency that might turn up in their favour! + +Whatever the crisis was to be, neither the spectators _in_ the sea, nor +those _upon_ it, would have long to wait for the crisis. Two men, +mutually enraged, standing in front of each other, armed with naked +knives; each desperately desirous of killing the other,--with no one to +keep them apart, but a score of spectators to encourage them in their +intent of reciprocal destruction,--were not likely to be long in coming +to the end of the affair. It was not a question of swords, where +skilful fencing may protract a combat to an indefinite period of time; +nor of pistols, where unskilful shooting may equally retard the result. +The combatants knew that, on closing within arms' length, one or other +must receive a wound that might in a moment prove mortal. + +It was this thought that--for some minutes after their squaring up to +each other--had influenced them to keep at a wary distance. + +The cries of their companions began to assume an altered tone. Mingled +with shouts of exhortation could be heard taunts and jeers,--several +voices proclaiming that the "two bullies were afraid of each other." + +"Go in, Le Gros! give him the knife!" cried the partisans of the +Frenchman. + +"Come, Larry! lay on to him!" shouted the backers of his antagonist. + +"Bear a hand, both of you! go it like men!" vociferated the voice of +some one, who did not seem particularly affected to the side of either. + +These off-hand counsels, spoken in a varied vocabulary of tongues, +seemed to produce the desired effect. As the last of them pealed over +the heads of the spectators, the combatants rushed towards each other,-- +as they closed inflicting a mutual stab. But the blade of each was met +by the left arm of his antagonist, thrown out to ward off the strokes +and they separated again without either having received further injury +than a flesh wound, that in no way disabled them. It appeared, however, +to produce an irritation, which rendered both of them less careful of +consequences: for in an instant after they closed again,--the spectators +accompanying their collision with shouts of encouragement. + +All were now looking for a quick termination to the affair; but in this +they were disappointed. After several random thrusts had been given on +both sides, the combatants again became separated without either having +received any serious injury. The wild rage which blinded both, +rendering their blows uncertain,--combined with the weakness of their +bodies from long starvation,--may account for their thus separating for +the second time, without either having received a mortal wound. + +Equally innocuous proved the third encounter,--though differing in +character from either of those that preceded it. As they came together, +each grasped the right arm of his antagonist,--that which wielded the +weapon,--in his left hand; and firmly holding one another by the wrists, +they continued the strife. In this way it was no longer a contest of +skill, but of strength. Nor was it at all dangerous, as long as the +"grip" held good; since neither could use his knife. Either could have +let go with his left hand at any moment; but by so doing he would +release the _armed_ hand of his antagonist, and thus place himself in +imminent peril. + +Both were conscious of the danger; and, instead of separating, they +continued to preserve the reciprocal "clutch" that had been established +between them. + +For some minutes they struggled in this strange fashion,--the intention +of each being to throw the other upon the raft. That done, he who +should be uppermost would obtain a decided advantage. + +They twisted, and turned, and wriggled their bodies about; but both +still managed to keep upon their feet. + +The contest was not carried on in any particular spot, but all over the +raft; up against the mast, around the empty casks, among the osseous +relics of humanity,--the strewed bones rattling against their feet as +they trod over them. The spectators made way as they came nearer, +nimbly leaping from side to side; while the stage upon which this +fearful drama was being enacted,--despite the ballast of its +water-logged beams, and the buoyancy of its empty casks,--was kept in a +continual commotion. + +It soon became evident that Le Gros was likely to get the worst of it, +in this trial of strength. The muscular power of the Frenchman was +inferior to that of his island antagonist; and had it been a mere +contest of toughness, the former would have been defeated. + +In craft, however, Le Gros was the Irishman's superior: and at this +crisis stratagem came to his aid. + +In turning about, the Frenchman had got his head close to the sleeve of +O'Gorman's jacket,--that one which encircled his right wrist, and +touched the hand holding the dangerous knife. Suddenly craning his neck +to its fullest stretch, he seized the sleeve between his teeth, and held +it with all the strength of his powerful jaws. Quick as thought, his +left hand glided towards his own right; his knife was transferred to it; +and the next moment gleamed beneath, threatening to penetrate the bosom +of his antagonist. + +O'Gorman's fate appeared to be sealed. With both arms pinioned, what +chance had he to avoid the blow? The spectators, silent and breathless, +looked for it as a certain thing. There was scarce time for them to +utter an exclamation, before they were again subjected to surprise at +seeing the Irishman escape from his perilous position. + +Fortunate it was for him, that the cloth of his pea-jacket was not of +the best quality. It had never been, even when new; and now, after +long-continued and ill-usage, it _was_ almost rotten. For this reason, +by a desperate wrench, he was enabled to release his arm from the dental +grip which his antagonist had taken upon it,--leaving only a rag between +the Frenchman's teeth. + +The circumstances had suddenly changed! the advantage being now on the +side of the Irishman. Not only was his right arm free again; but with +the other he still retained his hold upon that of his antagonist. Le +Gros could only use his weapon with the left arm; which placed him at a +disadvantage. + +The shouts that had gone up to hail the Frenchman's success--so late +appearing certain--had become suddenly hushed; and once more the contest +proceeded in silence. + +It lasted but a few seconds longer; and then was it terminated in a +manner unexpected by all. + +Beyond doubt, O'Gorman would have been the victor, had it ended as every +one was anticipating it would,--in the death of one or other of the +combatants. As it chanced, however, neither succumbed in that +sanguinary strife. Both were preserved for a fate equally fearful: one, +indeed, for a death ten times more terrible. + +As I have said, the circumstances had turned in favour of the Irishman. +He knew it; and was not slow to avail himself of the advantage. + +Still retaining his grasp of Le Gros's right wrist, he plied his own +dexter arm with a vigour that promised soon to settle the affair; while +the left arm of the Frenchman could offer only a feeble resistance, +either by thrusting or parrying. + +Their knife-blades came frequently in collision; and for a few passes +neither appeared to give or receive a wound. This innocuous sparring, +however, was of short continuance and ended by the Irishman making a +dexterous stroke, by which his blade was planted in the hand of his +antagonist,--transfixing the very fingers which were grasping the knife! + +The weapon fell from his relaxed clutch; and passing through the +interstices of the timber, sank to the bottom of the sea! A scream of +despair escaped from the lips of the Frenchman, as he saw the blade of +his antagonist about to be thrust into his body! + +The thrust was threatened, but not made. Before it could be given, a +hand interfered to prevent it. One of the spectators had seized the +uplifted arm of the Irishman,--at the same time vociferating, in a +stentorian voice-- + +"Don't kill him! we won't need to eat him! Look yonder! We're saved! +we're saved!" + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR. + +A LIGHT! + +The man who had so unexpectedly interrupted the deadly duello, while +giving utterance to his strange speech, kept one of his arms extended +towards the ocean,--as if pointing to something he had descried above +the horizon. + +The eyes of all were suddenly turned in the direction thus indicated. +The magic words, "We are saved!" had an immediate effect,--not only upon +the spectators of the tragedy thus intruded upon, but upon its actors. +Even rancour became appeased by the sweet sound; and that of the +Irishman, as with most of his countrymen, being born "as the flint bears +fire," subsided on the instant. + +He permitted his upraised arm to be held in restraint; it became +relaxed, as did also his grasp on the wrist of his antagonist; while the +latter, finding himself free, was allowed to retire from the contest. + +O'Gorman, among the rest, had faced round; and stood looking in the +direction where somebody had seen something that promised salvation of +all. + +"What is it?" inquired several voices in the same breath,--"the land?" + +No: it could not be that. There was not one of them such a nautical +ignoramus as to believe himself within sigh of land. + +"A sail?--a ship?" + +That was more likely: though, at the first glance, neither tail nor ship +appeared upon the horizon, "What is it?" was the interrogatory +reiterated by a dozen voices. + +"A light! Don't you see it?" asked the lynx-eyed individual, whose +interference in the combat had caused this sudden departure from the +programme. "Look!" he continued; "just where the sun's gone down +yonder. It's only a speck; but I can see it plain enough. It must be +the light from a ship's binnacle!" + +"_Carrajo_!" exclaimed a Spaniard; "it's only a spark the sun's left +behind him. It's the _ignis fatuus_ you've seen, _amigo_!" + +"Bah!" added another; "supposing it is a binnacle-lamp, as you say, what +would be the use, except to tantalise us. If it be in the binnacle, in +course the ship as carries it must be stern towards us. What chance +would there be of our overhaulin' her?" + +"_Par Dieu_! there be von light!" cried a sharp-eyed little Frenchman. +"Pe Gar! I him see. Ver true, vraiment! An--pe dam!--zat same est no +lamp in ze binnacle!" + +"I see it too!" cried another. + +"And I!" added a third. + +"_Io tambien_!" (I also) echoed a fourth, whose tongue proclaimed him +of Spanish nativity. + +"_Ich sehe_!" drawled out a native of the German Confederacy; and then +followed a volley of voices,--each saying something to confirm the +belief that a light was really gleaming over the ocean. + +This was a fact that nobody--not even the first objectors--any longer +doubted. + +It is true that the light seen appeared only a mere sparkle, feebly +glimmering against the sky, and might have been mistaken for a star. +But it was just in that part of the heavens where a star could not at +that time have been seen,--on the western horizon, still slightly +reddened by the rays of the declining sun. + +The men who speculated upon its appearance,--rude as they were in a +moral sense,--were not so intellectually stupid as to mistake for a star +that speck of yellowish hue, struggling to reveal itself against the +almost kindred colour of the occidental sky. + +"It isn't a star,--that's certain," confidently declared one of their +number; "and if it be a light aboard ship, it's no binnacle-lamp, I say. +Bah! who'd call that a binnacle glim, or a lamp of any kind? If't be a +ship's light at all, it's the glare o' the galley-fire,--where the +cook's makin' coffee for all hands." + +The superb picture of comfort thus called forth was too much for the +temper of the starving men, to whom the idea was addressed; and a wild +cry of exultation responded to the speech. + +A galley; a galley-fire; a cook; coffee for all hands; lobscouse; +plum-duff; sea-pies; even the much-despised pea-soup and salt junk, had +been long looked upon as things belonging to another world,--pleasures +of the past, never more to be indulged in! + +Now that the gleam of a galley-fire--as they believed the light to be-- +rose up before their eyes, the spirits of all became suddenly +electrified by the wildest imaginings; and the contest so lately carried +on,--as well as the combatants engaged in it,--was instantaneously +forgotten; while the thoughts, and eager glances, of every individual on +the raft were now directed towards that all-absorbing speck,--still +gleaming but obscurely against the reddish background of the sun-stained +horizon. + +As they continued to gaze, the tiny spark seemed to increase, not only +in size, but intensity; and, before many minutes had elapsed, it +proclaimed itself no longer a mere spark, but a blaze of light, with its +own luminous halo around it. The gradual chastening of colour in the +western sky, along with the increased darkness of the atmosphere around +it, would account for this change in the appearance of the light. So +reasoned the spectators,--now more than ever convinced that what they +saw was the glare of a galley-fire. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY FIVE. + +TOWARDS THE BEACON! + +As soon as they were satisfied that the bright spark upon the horizon +was a burning light, every individual on the raft became inspired with +the same impulse,--to make for the spot where the object appeared. +Whether in the galley or not,--and whether the glow of a fire or the +gleam of a lamp,--it must be on board a ship. There was no land in that +part of the ocean; and a light could not be burning upon the water, +without something in the shape of a ship to carry it. + +That it was a ship, no one for a moment doubted. So sure were they, +that several of the men, on the moment of making it out, had +vociferated, at the top of their voices, "Ship ahoy!" + +The voices of none of them were particularly strong just then. They +were weak, in proportion to their attenuated frames; but had they been +ten times as strong as they were, they could not have been heard at such +a distance as that light was separated from the raft. + +It was not less than twenty miles from them. In the excited state of +their senses,--arising from thirst, starvation, and all the wild +emotions which the discovery itself had roused within them,--they had +formed a delusive idea of the distance; many of them fancying that the +light was quite near! + +There were some among them who reasoned more rationally. These, instead +of wasting their strength in idle shouting, employed their time in +impressing upon the others the necessity of making some exertion to +approach the light. + +Some thought that much exertion would not be required; as the light +appeared to be approaching them. And, in truth, it did appear so; but +the wiser ones knew that this might be only an optical illusion,--caused +by the sea and sky each moment assuming a more sombre hue. + +These last--both with voice and by their example--urged their companions +to use every effort towards coming up with what they were sure must be a +ship. + +"Let us meet her," they said, "if she's standing this way; if not, we +must do all we can to overtake her." + +It needed no persuasion to put the most slothful of the crew upon their +mettle. A new hope of life,--an unexpected prospect of being rescued +from what most of them had been contemplating as almost certain death,-- +inspired all to the utmost effort; and with an alacrity they had never +before exhibited in their raft navigation,--and a unanimity of late +unknown to them,--they went to work to propel their clumsy craft across +the ocean. + +Some sprang to the oars, while others assisted at the sail. For days +the latter had received no attention; but had been permitted to hang +loosely from the mast,--flopping about in whatever way the breeze +chanced to blow it. They had entertained no idea of what course they +ought to steer in; or if they did think of a direction, they had not +sufficient decision to follow it. For days they had been drifting about +over the surface of the sea, at the discretion of the currents. + +Now the sail was reset, with all the trimness that circumstances would +admit of. The sheets were drawn home and made fast; and the mast was +stayed _taut_, so as to hinder it from slanting. + +As the object upon which they were directing their course was not +exactly to leeward, it was necessary to manage the sail with the wind +slightly abeam; and for this purpose two men were appointed to the +rudder,--which consisted of a broad plank, poised on its edge and +hitched to the stern timbers of the raft. By means of this rude rudder, +they were enabled to keep the raft "head on" towards the light. + +The rowers were seated along both sides. Nearly every individual of the +crew, who was not occupied at the sail or steering-board, was employed +in propelling. A few only were provided with oars; others wielded +handspikes, capstan-bars, or pieces of split plank,--in short, anything +that would assist in the "pulling," if only to the value of a pound. + +It was,--or, at all events, they thought it was,--a life and death +struggle. They were sure that a ship was near them. By reaching her +they would be saved; by failing to do so they would be doomed. Another +day without food would bring death, at least to one of them; another day +without water would bring worse than death to almost every man of them. + +Their unanimous action, assisted by the broad sail, caused the craft, +cumbersome as it was, to make considerable way through the water,-- +though by far too slow to satisfy their wishes. At times they kept +silent; at times their voices could be heard mingled with the plunging +of the oars; and too often only in profane speech. + +They cursed the craft upon which they were carried,--its clumsiness,-- +the slowness with which they were making way towards the ship,--the ship +itself, for not making way towards them: for, as they continued on, +those who formerly believed that the light was approaching them, no +longer held to that faith. On the contrary, after rowing nearly an +hour, all were too ready to agree in the belief that the ship was +wearing away. + +Not an instant passed, without the eyes of some one being directed +towards the light. The rowers, whose backs were turned upon it, kept +occasionally twisting their necks around, and looking over their +shoulders,--only to resume their proper attitudes with countenances that +expressed disappointment. + +There were not wanting voices to speak discouragement. Some declared +that the light was growing less; that the ship was in full sail, going +away from them; and that there would not be the slightest chance of +their coming up with her. + +These were men who began to feel fatigued at the oar. + +There were even some who professed to doubt the existence of a ship, or +a ship's light. What they saw was only a bright spot upon the ocean,-- +some luminous object--perhaps the carcass of some phosphorous fish, or +"squid," floating upon the surface. They had many of them seen such +things; and the conjecture was not offered to incredulous ears. + +These surmises produced discontent,--which in time would have exhibited +itself in the gradual dropping of the oars, but for a circumstance which +brought this climax about, in a more sudden and simultaneous manner,-- +the _extinction of the light_. + +It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any +gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of +sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described +it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the +galley-fire." + +On the instant of its disappearance, the oars were abandoned,--as also +the rudder. It would have been idle to attempt steering any longer. +There was neither moon nor stars in the sky. The light was the only +thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the +slightest clue as to their course. The breeze was buffeting about in +every direction; but, even had it been blowing steadily, every one of +them knew how uncertain it would be to trust to its guidance,-- +especially with such a sail, and such a steering apparatus. + +Already half convinced that they had been following an _ignis fatuus_,-- +and half resolved to give over the pursuit,--it needed only what had +occurred to cause a complete abandonment of their nocturnal navigation. + +Once more giving way to despair,--expressed in wild wicked words,--they +left the sail to itself, and the winds to waft them to whatever spot of +the ocean fate had designed for the closing scene of their wretched +existence. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX. + +A DOUBLE DARKNESS. + +The night was a dark one; by a Spanish figure of speech, comparable to a +"pot of pitch." It was scarce further obscured by a thick fog that +shortly after came silently over the surface of the ocean, enveloping +the great raft along with its ruffian crew. + +Through such an atmosphere nothing could be seen,--not even the light, +had it continued to burn. + +Before the coming on of the fog, they had kept a look-out for the +light,--one or other remaining always on the watch. They had done so, +with a sort of despairing hope that it might reappear; but, as the +surrounding atmosphere became impregnated with the filmy vapour, this +dreary vigilance was gradually relaxed, and at length abandoned +altogether. + +So thick fell the fog during the mid-hours of the night, that nothing +could be seen at the distance of over six feet from the eye. Even they +who occupied the raft could only distinguish those who were close by +their side; and each appeared to the others as if shrouded under a +screen of grey gauze. + +The darkness did not hinder them from conversing. As nearly all hope of +succour from a supposed ship had been extinguished, along with that +fanciful light, it was but natural that their thoughts should lapse into +some other channel; and equally so, that they should turn back to that +from which they had been so unexpectedly diverted. + +Hunger,--keen, craving hunger,--easily transported them to the spectacle +which the sheen of that false torch had brought to an unsatisfactory +termination; and their minds now dwelt on what would have been the +different condition of affairs, had they not yielded to the delusion. + +Not only had their thoughts reference to this theme, but their speeches; +and in the solemn hour of midnight,--in the midst of that gloomy vapour, +darkly overshadowing the great deep,--they might have been heard again +discussing the awful question, "Who dies next?" + +To arrive at a decision was not so difficult as before. The majority of +the men had made up their minds as to the course that should be pursued. +It was no longer a question of casting lots. That had been done +already; and the two who had not yet drawn clear--and between whom the +thing still remained undecided--were undoubtedly the individuals to +determine the matter. + +Indeed, there was no debate. All were unanimous that either Le Gros or +O'Gorman should furnish food for their famishing companions,--in other +words, that the combat, so unexpectedly postponed, should be again +resumed. + +There was nothing unfair in this,--except to the Irish man. He had +certainly secured his triumph, when interrupted. If another half-second +had been allowed him, his antagonist would have lain lifeless at his +feet. + +Under the judgment of just umpires this circumstance would have weighed +in his favour; and, perhaps, exempted him from any further risk; but, +tried by the shipwrecked crew of a slaver,--more than a moiety of whom +leaned towards his antagonist,--the sentence was different; and the +majority of the judges proclaimed that the combat between him and Le +Gros should be renewed, and continued to the death. + +The renewal of it was not to take place on the moment. Night and +darkness both forbade this; but the morning's earliest light was to +witness the resumption of that terrible strife. + +Thus resolved, the ex-crew of the _Pandora_ laid themselves down to +sleep,--not quite so calmly as they might have done in the forecastle of +the slaver; for thirst, hunger, and fears for a hopeless future,-- +without saying anything of a hard couch,--were not the companions with +which to approach the shrine of Somnus. As a counterpoise, they felt +lassitude both of mind and body, approaching to prostration. + +Some of them slept. Some of them could have slept within the portals of +Pluto, with the dog Cerberus yelping in their ears! + +A few there were who seemed either unable to take rest or indifferent to +it. All night long some one or other--sometimes two at a time--might be +seen staggering about the raft, or crawling over its planks, as if +unconscious of what they were doing. It seemed a wonder that some of +them--semi-somnambulists in a double sense--did not fall overboard into +the water. But they did not. Notwithstanding the eccentricity of their +movements, they all succeeded in maintaining their position on the raft. +To tumble over the edge would have been tantamount to toppling into the +jaws of an expectant shark, and getting "scrunched" between no less than +six rows of sharp teeth. Perhaps it was an instinct--or some +presentiment of this peril--that enabled these wakeful wanderers to +preserve their equilibrium. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVEN. + +A WHISPERED CONSPIRACY. + +Although most of the men had surrendered themselves to such slumber as +they might obtain, the silence was neither profound nor continuous. At +times no sounds were heard save the whisperings of the breeze, as it +brushed against the spread canvas, or a slight "swashing" in the water +as it was broken by the rough timbers of the craft. + +These sounds were intermingled with the loud breathing of some of the +sleepers,--an occasional snore,--and now and then a muttered speech the +involuntary utterance of someone dreaming a dreadful dream. + +At intervals other noises would arise, when one or more of the waking +castaways chanced to come together, to hold a short conversation; or +when one of them, scarce conscious of what he did, stumbled over the +limbs of a prostrate comrade,--perhaps awaking him from a pleasant +repose to the consciousness of the painful circumstances under which he +had been enjoying it. + +Such occurrences usually led to angry altercations,--in which threats +and ribald language would for some minutes freely find vent from the +lips both of the disturbed and the disturber; and then both would +growlingly subside into silence. + +At that hour, when the night was at its darkest, and the fog at its +thickest, two men might have been seen,--though only by an eye very +close to where they were,--in a sitting posture at the bottom of the +mast. They were crouching rather than seated; for they were upon their +knees, with their bodies bent forward, and one or both of their hands +resting upon the planks. + +The attitude was plainly not one of repose; and anyone near enough to +have observed the two men, or to have heard the whispered conversation +that was being carried on between them, would have come to the +conclusion that sleep was far from their thoughts. + +In that deep darkness, however, no one noticed them; and although +several of their companions were lying but a few feet from the bottom of +the mast, these were either asleep or too distant to hear the +whisperings that passed between the two men kneeling in juxtaposition. + +They continued to talk in very low whispers,--each in turn putting his +lips close to the ear of the other; and while doing so the subject of +their conversation might have been guessed at by their glances, or at +least the individual about whom they conversed. + +This was a man who was lying stretched along the timbers, not far from +the bottom of the mast, and apparently asleep. In fact he must have +been asleep, as was testified by the stentorian snores that occasionally +escaped from his wide-spread nostrils. + +This noisy slumberer was the Irishman, O'Gorman,--one of the parties to +that suspended fight, to be resumed by day break in the morning. +Whatever evil deeds this man may have done during his life,--and he had +performed not a few, for we have styled him only the least guilty of +that guilty crew,--he was certainly no coward. Thus to sleep, with such +a prospect on awaking, at least proved him recklessly indifferent to +death. + +The two men by the mast,--whose eyes were evidently upon him,--had no +very clear view of him where he lay. Through the white mist they could +see only something like the shape of a human being recumbent along the +planks; and of that only the legs and lower half of the body. Even had +it been daylight they could not, from their position, have seen his head +and shoulders; for both would have been concealed by the empty rum-cask, +already mentioned, which stood upon its end exactly by the spot where +O'Gorman had rested his head. + +The Irishman, above all others, had taken a delight in the contents of +that cask,--so long as a drop was left; and now that it was all gone, +perhaps the smell of the alcohol had influenced him in choosing his +place of repose. + +Whether or not, he was now sleeping on a spot which was to prove the +last resting-place of his life. Cruel destiny had decreed that from +that slumber he was never more to awaken! + +This destiny was now being shaped out for him; and by the two +individuals who were regarding him from the bottom of the mast. + +"He's sound asleep," whispered one of them to the other. "You hear that +snore? _Parbleu_! only a hog could counterfeit that." + +"Sound as a top!" asserted the other. + +"_C'est bon_!" whispered the first speaker, with a significant shrug of +the shoulders. "If we manage matters smartly, he need never wake again. +What say you, comrade?" + +"I agree to anything you may propose," assented the other. "What is +it?" + +"There need be no noise about it. A single blow will be sufficient,--if +given in the right place. With the blade of a knife through his heart, +he'll not make three kicks. He'll never know it till he's in the next +world. _Peste_! I could almost envy him such an easy way of getting +out of this!" + +"You think it might be done without making a noise?" + +"Easy as falling overboard. One could hold something over his mouth, to +keep his tongue quiet; while the other--You know what I mean?" + +The horrid act to be performed by the other was left unspoken,--even in +those confidential whisperings. + +"But," replied the confederate, objectingly, "suppose the thing done,-- +how about matters in the morning? They'd know who did it. Leastwise, +their suspicions would fall upon us,--upon you to a certainty, after +what's happened. You haven't thought of that?" + +"Haven't I? But I have, _mon ami_!" + +"Well; and what?" + +"First place. They're not in the mind to be particular,--none of +them,--so long as they get something to eat. Secondly; if they should +kick up a row, our party is the strongest; and I don't care what comes +of it. We may as well all die at once, as die by bits." + +"That's true enough." + +"But there's no fear of any trouble from the others. I've got an idea +that'll prevent that. To save appearances, he can commit suicide." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Bah! _camarade_! how dull you are. The fog has got into your skull. +Don't you know the _Irlandais_ has got a knife, and a sharp one. +_Peste_! I know it. Well,--perhaps it can be stolen from him. If so, +it can also be found sticking in the wound that will deprive him of +life. Now do you comprehend me?" + +"I do,--I do!" + +"First, to steal the knife. Go you: I daren't: it would look suspicious +for me to be seen near him,--that is, if he should wake up. You may +stray over that way, as if you were after nothing particular. It'll do +no harm to try." + +"I'll see if I can hook it then," responded the other. "What if I try +now?" + +"The sooner the better. With the knife in our possession, we'll know +better how to act. Get it, if you can." + +The last speaker remained in his place. The other, rising into an erect +attitude, stepped apart from his fellow-conspirator, and moved away from +the mast,--going apparently without any design. This, however, led him +towards the empty rum-cask,--alongside of which the Irishman lay asleep, +utterly unconscious of his approach. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHT. + +A FOUL DEED DONE IN A FOG. + +It is scarce necessary to tell who were the two men who had been thus +plotting in whispers. The first speaker was, of course, the Frenchman, +Le Gros,--the other being the confederate who had assisted him in the +performance of his unfair trick in the lot-casting. + +Their demoniac design is already known from their conversation,--nothing +more nor less than to murder O'Gorman in his sleep! + +The former had two motives prompting him to this horrid crime,--either +sufficiently strong to sway such a nature as his to its execution. He +had all along felt hostility to the Irishman,--which the events of that +day had rendered both deep and deadly. He was wicked enough to have +killed his antagonist for that alone. But there was the other motive, +more powerful and far more rational to influence him to the act. As +above stated, it had been finally arranged that the suspended fight was +to be finished by the earliest light of the morning. Le Gros knew that +the next scene in that drama of death was to be the last; and, judging +from his experience of the one already played, he felt keenly +apprehensive as to the result. He had been fully aware, before the +curtain fell upon the first act, that his life could then have been +taken; and, conscious of a certain inferiority to his antagonist, he now +felt cowed, and dreaded the final encounter. + +To avoid it, he was willing to do anything, however mean or wicked,-- +ready to commit even the crime of murder! + +He knew that if he should succeed in destroying his adversary,--so long +as the act was not witnessed by their associates,--so long as there +should be only circumstantial evidence against him,--he would not have +much to fear from such judges as they. It was simply a question as to +whether the deed could be done silently and in the darkness; and that +question was soon to receive an answer. + +The trick of killing the unfortunate man with his own knife,--and making +it appear that he had committed self-destruction,--would have been too +shallow to have been successful under any other circumstances; but Le +Gros felt confident that there would be no very strict investigation; +and that the inquest likely to be held on the murdered man would be a +very informal affair. + +In any case, the risk to him would be less than that he might expect on +the consummation of the combat,--the _finale_ of which would in all +probability, be the losing of his life. + +He was no longer undecided about doing the foul deed. He had quite +determined upon it; and the attempt now being made by his confederate to +steal the knife was the first stop towards its perpetration. + +The theft was too successfully accomplished. The wretch on getting up +to the rum-cask, was seen to sit down silently by its side; and, after a +few moments passed in this position he again rose erect, and moved back +towards the mast. Dark as was the night, Le Gros could perceive +something glittering in the hand of his accomplice, which he knew must +be the coveted weapon. + +It was so. The sleeper had been surreptitiously disarmed. + +For a moment the two men might have been seen standing in juxtaposition; +and while thus together the knife was furtively transferred from the +hand of the accomplice into that of the true assassin. + +Then both, assuming a careless attitude, for a while remained near the +mast, apparently engaged in some ordinary conversation. An occasional +shifting of their position, however, took place,--though so slight that, +even under a good light, it would scarce have been observed. A series +of these movements, made at short intervals, ended in bringing the +conspirators close up to the empty hogshead; and then one of them sat +down by it. The other, going round it, after a short lapse of time, +imitated the example of his companion by seating himself on the opposite +side. + +Thus far there was nothing in the behaviour of the two men to have +attracted the attention of their associates on the raft,--even had the +latter been awake. Even so, the obscurity that surrounded their +movements would have hindered them from being very clearly comprehended. + +There was no eye watching the assassins, as they sat down by the side of +their sleeping victim; none fixed upon them as both simultaneously leant +over him with outstretched arms,--one holding what appeared a piece of +blanket over his face, as if to stifle his breath,--the other striking +down upon his breast with a glittering blade, as if stabbing him to the +heart. + +The double action occupied scarce a second of time. In the darkness, no +one appeared to perceive it, except they were its perpetrators. No one +seemed to hear that choking, gurgling cry that accompanied it; or if +they did, it was only to shape a half conjecture, that some one of their +companions was indulging in a troubled dream! + +The assassins, horror-stricken at what they had done, skulked +tremblingly back to their former position by the mast. + +Their victim, stretched on his back, remained motionless upon the spot +where they had visited him; and anyone standing over him, as he lay, +might have supposed that he was still slumbering! + +Alas! it was the slumber of death! + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE. + +DOUSING THE GLIM. + +We left the crew of the _Catamaran_ in full occupation,--"smoking" +shark-flesh on the back of a _cachalot_ whale. + +To make sure of a sufficient stock,--enough to last them with light +rations for a voyage, if need be, to the other side of the Atlantic,-- +they had continued at the work all day long, and several hours into the +night. They had kept the fire ablaze by pouring fresh spermaceti into +the furnace of flesh which they had constructed, or rather excavated, in +the back of the leviathan; and so far as that kind of fuel was +concerned, they might have gone on roasting shark-steaks for a +twelvemonth. But they had proved that the spermaceti would not burn to +any purpose without a wick; and as their spare ropes were too precious +to be all picked into oakum, they saw the necessity of economising their +stock of the latter article. But for this deficiency, they might have +permitted the furnace-lamp to burn on during the whole night, or until +it should go out by the exhaustion of the wick. + +As they were not yet quite satisfied with the supply of broiled +shark-meat, they had resolved to take a fresh spell at roasting on the +morrow; and in order that the wick should not be idly wasted, they had +"doused the glim" before retiring to rest. + +They had extinguished the flame in a somewhat original fashion,--by +pouring upon it a portion of the liquid spermaceti taken out of the +case. The light, after giving a final flash, had gone out, leaving them +in utter darkness. + +But they had no difficulty in finding their way back to the deck, of +their craft, where they designed passing the remainder of the night. +During the preceding days they had so often made the passage from +_Catamaran_ to _cachalot_, and _vice versa_, that they could have gone +either up or down blindfolded; and indeed they might as well have been +blindfolded on this their last transit for the night, so dense was the +darkness that had descended over the dead whale. + +After groping their way over the slippery shoulders of the leviathan, +and letting themselves down by the rope they had attached to his huge +pectoral fin, they made their supper upon a portion of the hot roast +they had brought along with them; and, washing it down with a little +diluted "canary," they consigned themselves to rest. + +Better satisfied with their prospects than they had been for some time +past, they soon fell asleep; and silence reigned around the dark +floating mass that included the forms of _cachalot_ and _Catamaran_. + +At that same moment a less tranquil scene was occurring scarce ten miles +from the spot; for it is scarce necessary to say that the light seen by +the ruffians on the great raft--and which they had fancifully mistaken +for a ship's galley-fire,--was the furnace fed by spermaceti on the back +of the whale. + +The extinction of the flame had led to a scene which was reaching its +maximum of noisy excitement at about the time that the crew of the +_Catamaran_ were munching their roast shark-meat and sipping their +canary. This scene had continued long after every individual of the +latter had sunk into a sweet oblivion of the dangers that surrounded +them. + +All four slept soundly throughout the remainder of the night. Strange +to say, they felt a sort of security, moored alongside that monstrous +mass, which they would not have experienced had their frail tiny craft +been by itself alone upon the ocean. It was but a fancied security, it +is true: still it had the effect of giving satisfaction to the spirit, +and through this, producing an artificial incentive to sleep. + +It was daylight before any of them awoke,--or it should have been +daylight, by the hour: but there was a thick fog around them,--so thick +and dark that the carcass of the _cachalot_ was not visible from the +deck of the _Catamaran_, although only a few feet of water lay between +them. + +Ben Brace was the first to bestir himself. Snowball had never been an +early riser; and if permitted by his duties, or the neglect of them +either, he would have kept his couch till midday. Ben, however, knew +that there was work to be done, and no time to be wasted in idleness. +The captain of the _Catamaran_ had given up all hopes of the return of +the whaler; and therefore the sooner they could complete their +arrangements for cutting adrift from the carcass, and continuing their +interrupted course towards the west, the better would be their chance of +ultimately reaching land. + +Snowball, _sans ceremonie_, was shaken out of his slumbers; and the +process of restoring him to wakefulness also awoke little William and +Lilly Lalee,--so that the whole crew were now up and ready for action. + +A hasty _dejeuner a la matelot_ served for the morning repast; after +which Snowball and the sailor, accompanied by the boy, climbed once more +upon the back of the _cachalot_ to resume the operations which had been +suspended for the night; while the girl, as usual, remained in charge of +the _Catamaran_. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY. + +SUSPICIOUS SOUNDS. + +The ex-cook, in the lead of those who ascended to the summit of the +carcass, had some difficulty in finding his kitchen; but, after groping +some time over the glutinous epidermis of the animal, he at length laid +his claws upon the edge of the cavity. + +The others joined him just as he had succeeded in inserting a bit of +fresh wick; and soon after a strong flame was established, and a fresh +spitful of shark-steaks hung frizzling over it. + +Nothing more could be done than wait until the meat should be _done_. +There was no "basting" required,--only an occasional turning of the +steaks and a slight transposition of them on the harpoon spit,--so that +each should have due exposure to the flame. + +These little culinary operations needed only occasional attention on the +part of the cook. Snowball, who preferred the sedentary _pose_, as soon +as he saw his "range" in full operation, squatted down beside it. His +companions remained standing. + +Scarcely five minutes had passed, when the negro was seen to make a +start as if some one had given him a kick in the shin. Simultaneously +with that start the exclamation "Golly!" escaped from his lips. + +"What be the matter, Snowy?" interrogated Brace. + +"Hush! Hab ye no hear nuffin'?" + +"No," answered the sailor,--little William chiming in with the negative. + +"I hab den,--I hab hear someting." + +"What?" + +"Dat I doan know." + +"It's the frizzlin' o' those shark-steaks; or, maybe, some sea-bird +squeaking up in the air." + +"No, neyder one nor todder. Hush! Massa Brace, I hab hear some soun' +'tirely diffrent,--somethin' like de voice ob human man. You obsarb +silence. Maybe we hear im agen." + +Snowball's companions, though inclined to incredulity, obeyed his +injunction. They might have treated it with less regard, had they not +known the Coromantee to be gifted with a sense of hearing that was +wonderfully acute. His largely-developed ears would have proved this +capacity; but they knew that he possessed it, from having witnessed many +exhibitions of it previous to that time. For this reason they yielded +to his double solicitation,--to remain silent and listen. + +At this moment, to the surprise of Ben Brace and William, and not a +little to the astonishment of the negro, a tiny voice reached them from +below,--which they all easily recognised as that of Lilly Lalee. + +"O Snowball," called out the girl, addressing herself to her especial +protector, "I hear people speaking. It's out upon the water. Do you +not hear them?" + +"Hush! Lilly Lally," answered the negro, speaking down to his _protege_ +in a sort of hoarse whisper; "hush, Lilly, pet; doan you 'peak above him +Lilly Breff. Keep 'till, dat a good gal." + +The child, restrained by this string of cautionary appeals, offered no +further remark; and Snowball, making a sign for his companions to +continue silent, once more resumed his listening attitude. + +Ben Brace and the boy, convinced by this additional testimony that the +Coromantee must have heard something more than the frizzling of the +shark-flesh, without saying a word, imitated his example, and eagerly +bent their ears to listen. + +They had not long to wait before becoming convinced that Snowball _had_ +heard something besides the spirting of the shark-steaks. They heard +something more themselves. They heard sounds that could not be mistaken +for those of the sea. _They were the voices of Men_! + +They were still at some distance,--though, perhaps, not so distant as +they seemed. The thick fog, which, as every one knows, has the effect +of deadening sound, was to be taken into account; and, making allowance +for this, the voices heard might not be such a great way off. + +Whatever was the distance, it was constantly becoming less. The +listeners could tell this, ere they had stood many minutes listening. +Whoever gave utterance to those sounds--words they were--must be moving +onward,--coming towards the carcass of the _cachalot_. + +How were they coming? They could not be walking upon the water: they +must be aboard a ship? + +This interrogatory occurred to those who stood upon the whale. Could +they have answered it in the affirmative, their own voices would soon +have been uplifted in a joyous huzza; while the hail "Ship ahoy!" would +have been sent through the sombre shadows of the mist, in the hope of +its receiving an answer. + +Why was the hail not heard? Why did the crew of the _Catamaran_ stand +listening to those voices without making challenge, and with looks that +betokened apprehension rather than relief? + +Six words that escaped from the lips of Ben Brace will explain the +silence of himself and his companions, as well at the dissatisfied air +that had impressed itself upon their faces. The six words were:-- + +"_Dangnation! it be the big raft_!" + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE. + +UNPLEASANT CONJECTURES. + +"Dangnation! it be the big raft." + +Such was the singular speech that fell from the lips of the sailor, and +with an accent that proclaimed it ominous. And why ominous? Why should +the presence of that embarkation--known to them as the "big raft"--cause +apprehension to the crew of the _Catamaran_? + +So far as Ben Brace and little William were concerned, the question has +been already answered. It may be remembered with what feelings of alarm +they first listened to the voices of Snowball and Lilly Lalee,--heard in +a similar manner during the darkness of the night,--and with what +suspicious caution they had made their approach to the Coromantee in the +middle of his casks. It may be remembered for what reason they were +thus suspicious, for it was then given,--a dread on the part of +William--and a great one, too--of being devoured by that cannibal crew; +and on the part of his generous protector a fear of becoming a victim to +their revenge. + +The same motive for their fears still existed; and their apprehension of +being approached by the raft was as unabated as ever. + +Snowball's dread of the _Pandora's_ people might not have been so acute, +but for a certain circumstance that came before his mind. He had been +made aware,--by sundry ill-usage he had received from the slaver's +captain and mate, just previous to the climax of the catastrophe,--that +he was himself regarded as the author of it. He knew he had been; and +he supposed that the thing must have become known to the rest of the +crew. He had not encountered them afterwards; and well had it been for +him,--for certainly they would have wreaked their vengeance upon him +without stint Snowball had sense enough to be aware of this; and +therefore his aversion to any further intercourse with the castaways of +the lost ship was quite as strong as that of either Ben Brace or the +boy. + +As for Lilly Lalee, her fears were due to a less definite cause, and +only arose from observing the apprehension of her companions. + +"De big raff," said Snowball, mechanically repeating the sailor's last +words. "You b'lieve 'im be dat, Massa Brace?" + +"Shiver my timbers if I know what to think, Snowy! If it be that--" + +"Ef 'im be dat, wha' den?" inquired the Coromantee, seeing that Brace +had stopped short in what he was going to say. + +"Why, only that we're in an ugly mess. There's no reason to think they +have picked up a stock o' provisions, since we parted wi' them. I don't +know how they've stuck it out,--that is, supposin' it be them. They may +have got shark-meat like ourselves; or they have lived upon--" + +The sailor suddenly suspended his speech, glancing towards William, as +if what he was about to say had better not reach the ears of the lad. + +Snowball, however, understood him,--as was testified by a significant +shake of the head. + +"As for water," continued the sailor, "they had some left; but not +enough to have lasted them to this time. They had rum,--oceans o' +that,--but it 'ud only make things worse. True, they mout a caught some +o' the rain in their shirts and tarpaulins, as we did; but they weren't +the sort to be careful o' it wi' a rum-cask standin' by; an' I dar say, +by this time, though they may have some'at to eat,--as you knows, +Snowy,--they'll be dyin' for a drop o' drink. In that case--" + +"In dat case, dey rob us ob de whole stock we hab save. Den we perish +fo' sartin." + +"Sure o' that, at least," continued the sailor. "But they wouldn't stop +by robbin' us o' our precious water. They'd take everything; an' most +likely our lives into the bargain. Let us hope it ain't them we've +heard." + +"Wha' you say, Master Brace? 'Pose 'um be de capten an' dem odders in +de gig? Wha' you tink?" + +"It mout," answered the sailor. "I warn't thinkin' o' them. It mout +be; an' if so, we han't so much to fear as from t' other 'uns. They +arn't so hard up, I should say; or even if they be, there arn't so many +o' 'em to bully us. There were only five or six o' them. I should be +good for any three o' that lot myself; an' I reckon you an' Will'm here +could stan' a tussle wi' the others. Ah! I wish it war them. But it +arn't likely: they had a good boat an' a compass in it; and if they've +made any use o' their oars, they ought to be far from here long afore +this. You've got the best ears, nigger: keep them well set, an' listen. +You know the voices o' the ole _Pan's_ crew. See if you can make 'em +out." + +During the above dialogue, which had been carried on in an undertone,--a +whisper, in fact,--the mysterious voices had not been again +distinguished. When first heard, they appeared to proceed from two or +more men engaged in conversation; and, as we have said, were only very +indistinct,--either from the speakers being at a distance or talking in +a low tone of voice. + +The Catamarans now listened, expecting to hear some words pronounced in +a louder tone; and yet not wishing to hear them. Rather would they that +those voices should never again sound in their ears. + +For a time it seemed us if they were going to have this wish gratified. +Full ten minutes elapsed, and no sound reached their ears, either of +human or other voice. + +This silence was at first satisfactory; but all at once a reflection +came across the mind of Ben Brace, which gave a new turn to his thoughts +and wishes. + +What if the voices heard had come from a different sort of men? Why +should they be those of the slaver's castaway crew,--either the ruffians +on the raft or the captain's party in the gig? What, after all, if they +had proceeded from the decks of the whaler? + +The old whalesman had not thought of this before; and, now that he did +think of it, it caused such a commotion in his mind, that he could +hardly restrain himself from crying out "Ship ahoy!" + +He was hindered, however, by a quick reflection that counselled him to +caution. In case of its not being the whaler's men that had been heard +it must be those of the slaver; and the hail would but too certainly be +the precursor to his own destruction, as well as that of his companions. + +In a whisper he communicated his thoughts to Snowball, who became +equally affected by them,--equally inclined to cry "Ship ahoy!" and +alike conscious of the danger of doing so. + +A strife of thought was now carried on in the bosoms of both. It was +lamentable to reflect, that they might be close to a ship,--within +hailing distance of her,--which could at once have rescued them from all +the perils that surrounded them; and that this ship might be silently +gliding past, shrouded from their sight under that thick fog,--in +another hour to be far off upon the ocean, never to come within hailing +distance again! + +A single word--a shout--might save them; and yet they dared not utter +it; for the same shout might equally betray, and lead to their +destruction. + +They were strongly tempted to risk the ambiguous signal. For some +seconds they stood wavering between silence and "Ship ahoy!" but caution +counselled the former, and prudence at length triumphed. + +This course was not adopted accidentally. A process of reasoning that +passed through the mind of the old whalesman,--founded upon his former +professional experiences,--conducted him to it. + +If it be the whale-ship, reasoned he, she must have come back in search +of the _cachalot_. Her crew must have known that they had killed it. +The "drogues" and flag proved that belief on their part, and the +ex-whalesman knew that it would be well worth their while to return in +search of the whale. It was this very knowledge that had sustained his +hopes, and delayed him so long by its carcass. A whale, which would +have yielded nearly a hundred barrels of spermaceti, was a prize not to +be picked up every day in the middle of the ocean; and he knew that such +a treasure would not be abandoned without considerable search having +first been made to recover it. + +All this was in favour of the probability that the voices heard had +proceeded from the whale-ship; and if so, it was farther probable that +in the midst of that fog, while bent upon such an errand, the crew would +not care to make way; but, on the contrary, would "lay to," and wait for +the clearing of the atmosphere. + +In that case the Catamarans might still expect to see the welcome ship +when the fog should rise; and with this hope they came to the +determination to keep silence. + +The hour was still very early,--the sun scarce yet above the horizon. +When that luminary should appear, his powerful rays would soon dissipate +the darkness; and then, if not before, would they ascertain whether +those voices had proceeded from the throats of monsters or of men. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO. + +AN INFORMAL INQUEST. + +They did not have to stay for the scattering of the fog. Long before +the sun had lifted that veil from off the face of the sea, the crew of +the _Catamaran_ had discovered the character of their neighbours. They +were not friends, but dire enemies,--the very enemies they so much +dreaded. + +The discovery was not delayed. It was made soon after, and in the +following manner:-- + +The three--Snowball, the sailor, and little William--had kept their +place on the carcass of the _cachalot_, all three attentively +listening,--the two last standing up, and the former in a reclining +attitude, with his huge ear laid close to the skin of the whale,--as +though he believed that to be a conductor of sound. There was no need +for them to have been thus straining their ears: for when a sound +reached them at length, it was that of a voice,--so harsh and loud, that +a deaf man might almost have heard it. + +"_Sacre_!" exclaimed the voice, apparently pronounced in an accent of +surprise, "look here, comrades! Here's a dead man among us!" + +Had it been the demon of the mist that gave utterance to these speeches, +they could not have produced a more fearful effect upon those who heard +them from the back of the _cachalot_. The accent, along with that +profane shibboleth, might have proceeded from anyone who spoke the +language of France; but the tone of the voice could not be mistaken. It +had too often rung in their ears with a disagreeable emphasis. "Massa +Le Grow, dat am," muttered the negro. "Anybody tell dat." + +Snowball's companions made no reply. None was required. Other voices +rose up out of the mist. + +"A dead man!" shouted a second. "Sure enough. Who is it?" + +"It's the Irishman!" proclaimed a third. "See! He's been killed! +There's a knife sticking between his ribs! He's been murdered!" + +"That's his own knife," suggested some one. "I know it; because it once +belonged to me. If you look you'll find his name on the haft. He +graved it there the very day he bought it from me." + +There was an interval of silence, as if they had paused to confirm the +suggestion of the last speaker. + +"You're right," said one, resuming the informal inquest. "There's his +name, sure enough,--_Larry O'Gorman_." + +"He's killed himself!" suggested a voice not hitherto heard. "He's +committed suicide!" + +"I don't wonder at his doing so," said another, confirmingly. "He +expected to have to die anyhow; and I suppose he thought the sooner it +was off his mind the better it would be for him." + +"How's that?" inquired a fresh speaker, who appeared to dissent from the +opinions of those that had preceded him. "Why should he expect to die +any more than the rest of us?" + +"You forget, mate, that the fight was not finished between him and +Monsieur Le Gros?" + +"No, I don't forget it. Well?" + +"Well, yourself!" + +"It don't follow he was to be the next to die,--not as I can see. Look +at this, comrades! There's been foul play here! The Irishman's been +stabbed with his own knife. That's plain enough; but it is not so sure +he did it himself, Why should he? I say again, there's been foul play?" + +"And who do you accuse of foul play?" + +"I don't accuse anyone. Let them bring the charge, as have seen +something. Somebody must know how this came about. There's been a +murder. Can anyone tell who did it?" + +There was a pause of silence of more than a minute in duration. No one +made answer. If anyone knew who was the murderer, they failed to +proclaim it. + +"Look here, mates!" put in one, whose sharp voice sounded like the cry +of a hyena, "I'm hungry as a starved shark. Suppose we suspend this +inquest, till we've had breakfast. After that we can settle who's done +the deed,--if there's been anyone, except the man himself. What say ye +all?" + +The horrid proposal was not replied to by anyone. The loud shout that +succeeded it sprang from a different cause; and the words that were +afterwards uttered had no reference to the topic under consideration. + +"A light! a light!" came the cry, vociferated by several voices. + +"It's the light we saw last night. It's the galley-fire! There's a +ship within a hundred yards of us!" + +"Ship ahoy! ship ahoy!" + +"Ship ahoy! what ship's that?" + +"Why the devil don't you answer our hail?" + +"To the oars, men! to the oars. _Sacre-dieu_! The lubbers must be +asleep. Ship ahoy! ship ahoy!" + +There was no mistaking the signification of these speeches. The sailor +and Snowball exchanged glances of despair. Both had already looked +behind them. There, blazing fiercely up, was the fire of spermaceti, +with the shark-steaks browning in its flame. In the excitement of the +moment they had forgotten all about it. Its light, gleaming through the +fog, had betrayed their presence to those upon the raft; and the order +issued to take to the oars, with the confused plashing that quickly +followed, told the Catamarans that the big raft was about to bear down +upon them! + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE. + +SLIPPING THE CABLE. + +"Dar coming on!" muttered Snowball. "Wha' we better do, Massa Brace? +Ef we stay hya dey detroy us fo' sartin." + +"Stay here!" exclaimed the sailor, who no longer spoke in whispers, +since such would no longer avail. "Anything but that. Quick, Snowy,-- +quick, Will'm! Back down to the deck o' our craft. Let's make all +speed, and cast off from the karkiss o' the whale. There be time enough +yet; and then it'll be, who's got the heels. Don't be so bad skeeart, +Snowy. The ole _Catamaran_ be a trim craft. I built her myself, wi' +your help, nigger; an' I've got faith in her speed. We'll outsail 'em +yet." + +"Dat we will, Massa Brace," assented Snowball, as, close following the +sailor, he glided down the rope on to the deck of the _Catamaran_, where +little William had already arrived. + +It was the work of only a few minutes to cut the tiny cable by which the +little embarkation had been attached to the fin of the _cachalot_, and +push the craft clear of its moorings. + +But, short as was the time, during its continuance the sun had produced +a wonderful change in that oceanic panorama. + +The floating fog, absorbed by his fervid rays, had almost disappeared +from the deep, or at all events had become so dissipated that the +different objects composing that strange tableau in the proximity of the +dead _cachalot_ could all be seen by a single _coup d'oeil_; and were +also in sight of one another. + +There was the huge carcass itself, looming like a great black rock above +the surface of the sea. Just parting from its side was the little +_Catamaran_, with its sail set, and its crew,--consisting of two men and +a boy,--the little Portuguese girl appearing as a passenger,--the two +men energetically bending to the oars while the boy held hold of the +rudder. + +Scarce a hundred yards astern was the larger embarkation,--supporting +its score of dark forms,--some seated, and straining at the oars,--some +steering,--others attending to the sail; and one or two standing by the +head, shouting directions to the rest,--all apparently in wonder at the +tableau thus suddenly disclosed, and uncertain what to make of it, or +what course to pursue! + +The occupants of the great raft were infinitely more astonished than +those of the _Catamaran_. On the part of the latter there was no longer +any astonishment. On recognising the voices taking part in that +ceremonious inquest they had comprehended all. The surprise they had at +first felt was now changed into terror. + +The men on the raft were still under the influence of astonishment; and +no wonder. The apparition that had so suddenly loomed up before their +eyes,--at first obscurely seen through the fog, but gradually becoming +more distinct,--was enough to cause any amount of surprise. Such a +grouping of strange objects in such a situation! The huge carcass of a +whale,--a fire upon its back, with bright flames blazing upward,--a +crane over the fire with the curious flitches suspended from it,--a +raft, in some respects resembling their own, supported by empty casks, +and carrying a sail, with four human beings seen upon its deck,--all +these formed a series of phenomena, or facts, that was enough to have +excited the surprise of the most indifferent observers. Some of the men +were even speechless with wonder, and so continued for a time, while +others gave vent to their astonishment in loud shouts and excited +gesticulations. + +That first order issued by Le Gros--for it was his voice that had been +heard giving it--had no other object than to cause a rapid movement +towards the dark mass, or rather the beacon seen blazing upon its +summit. The order had been instantly obeyed; for there was an +instinctive apprehension on the part of all that, as before, the light +might again vanish from their view. + +As they drew nearer, however, and the fog continued to disperse, they +obtained a fairer view. Their surprise was not much diminished, though +their comprehension of the objects before them became rapidly clearer. + +The retreat of the Catamarans--for the movements of the latter +proclaimed this design--was of itself suggestive; and, perhaps, more +than aught else, enabled those from whom they were retreating to +comprehend the situation. + +At first they could not even conjecture who they were that occupied the +little raft. They saw four human beings upon it; but the mist was still +thick enough to hinder them from having a clear view of either their +forms, faces, or features. Through the filmy atmosphere to recognise +them was impossible. Had there been but two, and had the embarkation +that carried them been a mere platform of planks, they might have shaped +a conjecture. They remembered that upon such a structure Ben Brace and +the boy had given them the slip; and it might be them. But who were the +two others? And whence came the six water-casks, the sail, and other +paraphernalia seen upon the escaping craft? + +They did not stay to waste time in conjectures. It was enough for them +to perceive that the four individuals thus seen were trying to get out +of their reach. This was _prima facie_ proof that they had something +worth carrying along with them; perhaps water! + +Some one made use of the word. It was like proclaiming a reprieve to a +wretch upon the scaffold about to be launched into eternity. It caused +such excitement in the minds of the motley crew--all of them suffering +from extreme thirst--that, without further hesitancy, they bent eagerly +to their oars,--putting forth the utmost effort of their strength in +chase of the _Catamaran_. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV. + +The Chase. + +Half pulling, half trusting to the sail, in a few seconds they were +alongside the carcass of the _cachalot_. They saw what it was and +divined how it came to be there; though still puzzled by the pyrotechnic +display exhibited on its summit. + +As they passed under the shadow of the huge mass some proposed that they +should stay by it,--alleging that it would furnish food for all; but +this proposal was rejected by the majority. + +"_Pardieu_!" exclaimed the directing voice of Le Gros; "we have food a +plenty. It's drink we want now. There's no water upon the whale; and +there must be some in possession of these runaways, whoever they be. +Let us first follow _them_! If we overhaul them, we can come back. If +not, we can return all the same!" + +This proposal appeared too reasonable to be rejected. A muttered assent +of the majority decided its acceptance; and the raft, yielding to the +renewed impulse of the rowers, swept past the carcass,--leaving both the +black mass and the blazing beacon astern. + +As if further to justify the course of action he had counselled, Le Gros +continued-- + +"No fear about our finding the dead fish. This fog is clearing away. +In half an hour there won't be a trace of it. We shall be able to make +out the carcass if the whale twenty miles off,--especially with the +smoke of that infernal fire to guide us. Pull like the devil! Be sure +of it, there's water in one of those casks we see. Only think of +it,--_water_!" + +It scarce needed the repetition of this magic word to stimulate his +thirsty companions. They were already pulling with all their strength. + +For about ten minutes the chase continued,--both the pursued and the +pursuer equally enveloped in vapour. They were less than two hundred +yards apart, and virtually within view,--though not so near as to +distinguish one another's features. Each crew could make out the forms +of the other; but only to tell that they were human beings clad in some +sort of costume. + +In this respect the Catamarans had the advantage. They knew who were +their pursuers; and all about them. + +The latter were still in a state of ignorance as to who were the four +individuals so zealously endeavouring to avoid an interview with them. +They could perceive that only two of them were full-grown men, and that +the other two were of smaller size; but this gave them no clew for the +identification of the fugitives. + +Of course it did not occur to any of them to think over the rest of the +_Pandora's_ people; and even if it had, there was no one who would have +for a moment supposed that either the black cook, Snowball, or the +little Portuguese pickaninny,--rarely seen upon the slaver's deck,-- +could be among the survivors. + +Such a conjecture never occurred to any of the ruffians upon the great +raft; and therefore they were continuing the chase still ignorant of the +identity of those who seemed so desirous of escaping them. + +It was only after the fog had floated entirely away,--or grown so thin +as to appear but transparent film,--that the pursuers identified those +they were pursuing. + +Then did their doubts cease and their conjectures come to a termination. + +Of the four forms distinguishable upon the deck of the escaping craft, +there was one that could not be mistaken. + +That huge, rounded bust covered with its sable epidermis--for the negro +had stripped to his work,--surmounted by a spherical occiput,--could +belong to no living creature but the ex-cook of the _Pandora_. It was +Snowball to a certainty! + +A general shout proclaimed the recognition; and for some moments the air +was rent with the voices of his _ci-devant_ comrades calling upon the +Coromantee to "come to an anchor." + +"Lie to, Snowball!" cried several of his old comrades. "Why have you +cut your cable in that fashion? Hold on till we come up. We mean you +no harm!" + +Snowball did hold on; though not in the sense that his former associates +desired. On the contrary, their request only stimulated him to fresh +exertions, to avoid the renewal of an acquaintance which he knew would +certainly end in his ruin. + +The Coromantee was not to be cajoled. With Ben Brace by his side, +muttering wholesome counsel, he lent a deaf ear to the proposal of the +pursuers; and only answered it by pulling more energetically at his oar. + +What had been only a request, now became a demand,--accompanied by +threats and protestation. Snowball was menaced with the most dire +vengeance; and told of terrible punishments that awaited him on his +capture. + +Their threats had no more influence than their solicitations; and they +who had given utterance to them arriving after a time, at this +conviction, ceased talking altogether. + +Snowball's silent, though evidently determined, rejection of their +demands had the effect of irritating those who had made them; and +stimulated by their spite with more energy than ever did they bend +themselves to the task of overtaking the fugitive craft. + +Two hundred yards still lay between pursuer and pursued. Two hundred +yards of clear, unobstructed ocean. Was that distance to become +diminished, to the capture of the _Catamaran_; or was it to be +increased, to her escape? + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE. + +NEARER AND NEARER. + +Were the _Catamarans_ to escape or be captured? Though not propounded +as above, this was the question that occupied the minds of both crews,-- +the pursued and the pursuing. + +Both were doing their very utmost,--the former to make their escape, the +latter to prevent it; and very different were the motives by which the +two parties were actuated. The occupants of the lesser raft believed +themselves to be rowing and sailing for their lives; and they were not +far astray in this belief; while those upon the larger embarkation were +pulling after them with the most hostile intentions,--to rob them of +everything they had got,--even their lives included. + +So went they over the wide ocean: the pursued exerting themselves under +the influence of fear; the pursuer, under that of a ferocious instinct. + +In sailing qualities the _Catamaran_ was decidedly superior to the +larger raft; and had the wind been only a little fresher she would soon +have increased the distance between herself and her pursuer. + +Unfortunately it was a very gentle breeze that was blowing at the time; +and therefore it was a contest of speed that would most likely have to +be decided by the oars. In this respect the _Catamaran_ laboured under +a great disadvantage,--she could only command a single pair of oars; +while, taking into account the various implements--capstan-bars and +handspikes--possessed by her competitor, nearly a dozen oars might be +reckoned upon. In fact, when her crew had got fairly settled down to +the chase, quite this number of men could be seen acting as rowers. + +Though their strokes were by no means either regular or efficient, still +did they produce a rate of speed greater than that of the _Catamaran_; +and the crew of the latter saw, to their dismay, that their pursuers +were gaining upon them. + +Not very rapidly, but sufficiently so to be perceived, and to inspire +them with the dread belief, that in course of time they would be +overtaken. + +Under this belief, men of a despairing turn of mind would have ceased to +exert themselves, and yielded to a fate that appeared almost certain to +ensue. + +But neither the English sailor nor the Coromantee sea-cook were +individuals of the yielding kind. They were both made of sterner +stuff,--and even when the chase was undoubtedly going _against_ them, +they were heard muttering to each other words of encouragement, and a +mutual determination never to lay down their oars, so long as six feet +of water separated them from their unpitying pursuers. + +"No," ejaculated the sailor, "it 'ud be no use. They'd show us no more +marcy than so many sharks. I know it by their ways. Don't lose a +stroke, Snowy. We may tire 'em out yet." + +"Nebba fear fo' me, Massa Brace!" replied the Coromantee. "A keep +pullin' so long's de be a poun' o' trength in ma arms, or a bit o' breff +in ma body. Nebba fear!" + +It might appear as though the crew of the _Catamaran_ were now +contending against fate, and without hope. This, however, was not the +case; for there was still something like a hope to cheer them on, and +nerve them to continue their exertions. What was it? + +The answer to this interrogatory would have been found by anyone who +could have looked upon the sea,--at some distance astern of the chase. + +There might have been observed an appearance upon the water, which +betokened it different from that through which they were making their +way. + +It resembled a dark, shadowy line, extending athwart the horizon. It +might not have attracted the notice of an ordinary observer, but to the +eye of Ben Brace,--as he sat by his oar facing it,--that dark line had a +peculiar signification. + +He knew that it denoted rougher water, and a stiffer breeze than that +blowing upon them; and from this, as well as the clouds fast gathering +astern, he knew there was a wind coming from that quarter. + +He had imparted his observation to Snowball, and it was this that +continued to inspire them with a hope of ultimate escape. Both believed +that, with a strong wind in their favour, they would have the advantage +of the pursuer; and so, while still bending all their energies to the +propulsion of the _Catamaran_, they kept their eyes almost continually +fixed upon the sea astern,--even with a more anxious glance than that +with which they regarded their pursuers. + +"If we can keep out o' their way," muttered he to his fellow oarsman, +"only twenty minutes longer! By that time yonder breeze 'll be down on +us; and then we'll ha' some chance. There be no doubt but they're +gainin' on us now. But the breeze be a gainin' on them,--equally, if +not faster. O if we only had a puff o' yonder wind! It be blowin' +fresh and strong. I can see it curlin' up the water not three knots +astarn o' the big raft. Pull for your life, Snowy. Shiver my timbers! +they be a gainin' on us faster than ever!" + +There was a despairing tone in these last words, that told how fearful +appeared their situation to the captain of the _Catamaran_; and the sign +of assent made by Snowball in reply,--an ominous shake of the head,-- +showed that the ex-cook shared the apprehensions of his comrade. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX. + +CUT IN TWAIN. + +For some seconds the sailor and Snowball remained silent,--both too busy +with their oars, as well as their eyes, to find time for speech. + +Their pursuers were noisy enough. They had kept quiet, so long as there +appeared to be any uncertainty about the results of the chase; but as +soon as they became assured that their clumsy craft was going faster +than that of which they were in pursuit,--and they no longer felt doubt +about overtaking the latter,--their fiendish voices once more filled the +air; and commands for the Catamarans to come to,--with threats of +revenge in case of non-compliance,--were hurled after the fugitives. + +One man was conspicuous among the rest both for the position which he +held upon the raft and the menacing words and gestures of which he made +use. This man was Le Gros. + +Standing prominently forward, near the head of the embarkation, with a +long boat-hook in his hand, he appeared to direct the movements of the +others,--urging them in every way to their utmost exertions. He was +heard telling them that he saw both food and water in possession of the +fugitives--a cask of the latter, as he stated, being lashed to the +_Catamaran_. + +It need scarce be said that the statement--whether true or fallacious,-- +acted as a stimulus to his comrades at the oar. The word "water" was +music to their ears; and, on hearing it pronounced, one and all of them +put forth their utmost strength. + +The increased speed thus obtained for the larger craft war likely to +bring about the crisis. She was now seen to gain upon the lesser more +rapidly than ever; and, before another ten minutes had elapsed, she had +forged so close to the stern timbers of the _Catamaran_ that an active +man might almost have leaped from one to the other. + +The crew of the latter beheld the proximity with despair. They saw the +black waves, with white curling crests, coming on behind. They saw the +sky becoming overcast above their heads; but it appeared only to scowl +upon them,--as if to make darker the dread doom that was now threatening +so near. + +"Shiver my timbers!" cried the sailor, alluding to that too tardy wind, +"it will be too late to save us!" + +"Too late!" echoed the voice of Le Gros from the big raft, his white +teeth, as they shone through his black beard, imparting to him a +ferocity of aspect that was hideous to behold. "Too late, you say, +Monsieur Brace. For what, may I ask? Not too late for us to get a +drink out of your water-cask. Ha! ha! ha!" + +"You son of a sea-cook!" he continued, addressing himself to the negro; +"why don't you hold your oars? _Sacre-Dieu_! what's the use, you ugly +nigger? Don't you see we'll board you in six seconds more? Drop your +oars, I say, and save time. If you don't, we'll skin you alive when +we've got our flippers upon you." + +"Nebba, Massa Grow!" defiantly retorted Snowball? "you nebba 'kin dis +nigga 'live. He go die 'fore you do dat. He got him knife yet. By +golly! me kill more than one ob you 'fore gib in. So hab a care, Massa +Grow! You lay hand on ole Snowy, you cotch de tarnel goss." + +To this threat of resistance the Frenchman did not vouchsafe reply: for +the rafts were now so near to each other that his attention became +engrossed by something that left no time for further speech. + +He saw that the _Catamaran_ was within reach of his boat-hook, and, +leaning forwards with the long shaft extended, he struck its +grappling-iron into her stern timber. + +For a second or two there was a struggle, which would have ended in the +two rafts being brought in contact with one another but for an adroit +stroke given by the oar of the English sailor. This not only detached +the boat-hook from its grip, but also from the grasp of Le Gros, and +sent the implement shivering through the air. + +At the same instant of time the Frenchman, losing his balance, was seen +to stagger, and then sink suddenly downwards; not into a prostrate +position, but perpendicularly,--as if his legs had penetrated between +the timbers of the raft. + +This was exactly what had occurred: for as soon as the spectators in +both crafts could recover from their surprise, they saw only so much of +Monsieur Le Gros as lay between his armpits and the crown of his head,-- +his limbs and the lower half of his body being concealed between the +planks that prevented him from sinking wholly into the water. + +Perhaps it would have been better for him had he made a complete plunge +of it. At all events, a bold "header" could not have had for him a more +unfortunate ending. Scarce had he sunk between the timber when a wild +shriek came forth from his throat,--accompanied by a pallor of +countenance, and a contortion of his features, that proclaimed something +more than a mere "start" received by suddenly sinking waist-deep into +the sea. + +One of his comrades,--the confederate ruffian already spoken of,--rushed +forward to raise him out of the trap,--from which he was evidently +unable to extricate himself. + +The man caught hold of him by the arms, and was dragging him up; when, +all at once, he was seen to let go, and start back with a cry of horror! + +This singular conduct was explained on looking at the object from which +he had made such a precipitate retreat. It was no longer Le Gros, nor +even Le Gros's body; but only the upper half of it, cut off by the +abdomen, as clean as if it had been severed by a pair of gigantic +shears! + +"A shark!" cried a voice, which only gave utterance to the thought that +sprung up simultaneously in the minds of all,--both the occupants of the +big raft, and the crew of the Catamaran. + +Thus deplorably terminated the life of a sinful man; who certainly +merited punishment, and, perhaps deserved no better fate. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN. + +AN UNLOOKED-FOR DELIVERANCE. + +A spectacle so unexpected,--but, above all, of such a horrid nature,-- +could not fail to produce a powerful impression upon those who were +witnesses to it. It even caused a change of proceedings on the part of +the pursuers,--almost a suspension of the pursuit,--and on that of the +pursued some relaxation in their efforts to escape. Both parties +appeared for some seconds as if spellbound, and the oars on both rafts +were for a while held "apeak." + +This pause in the action was in favour of the _Catamaran_, whose sailing +qualities were superior to those of her pursuer. Her crew, moreover, +less caring for what had happened to Monsieur Le Gros, were the first to +recover from their surprise; and before the comrades of the half-eaten +Frenchman thought of continuing the chase, they had forced ahead several +lengths of their craft from the dangerous contiguity so near being +established between them. + +The ruffian crew--now castaways--of the _Pandora_ had been awed by the +strange incident,--so much so as to believe, for a time, that something +more than chance had interfered to bring it about. They were not all +friends of the unfortunate man, who had succumbed to such a singular +fate. The inquest that had been interrupted was still fresh in their +minds, and many of them believed that the inquiry--had it proceeded to a +just termination--would have resulted in proving the guilt of Le Gros, +and proclaiming him the murderer of O'Gorman. + +Under this belief, there were many aboard the big raft that would not +have cared to continue the chase any further, had it merely been to +avenge the death of their late leader. With them, as with the others, +there was a different motive for doing so,--a far more powerful +incentive,--and that was the thirst which tortured all, and the belief +that the escaping craft carried the means to relieve it. + +The moiety of their mutilated chief, lying along the planks of the raft, +engaged their thoughts only for a very short while; and was altogether +forgotten, when the cry of "Water!" once more rising in their midst, +urged them to resume the pursuit. + +Once more did they betake themselves to their oars,--once more did they +exert their utmost strength,--but with far less effect than before. +They were still stimulated by the torture of thirst; but they no longer +acted with that unanimity which secures success. The head that had +hitherto guided them with those imperious eyes--now glaring ghastly from +the extremity of the severed trunk--was no longer of authority among +them; and they acted in that undecided and irregular manner always +certain to result in defeat. + +Perhaps, had things continued as they were, they might have made up for +the lost opportunity; and, in time, have overtaken the fugitives on the +_Catamaran_; but during that excited interval a change had come over the +surface of the sea, which influenced the fate both of pursuers and +pursued. + +The dark line, first narrowly observed by the crew of the _Catamaran_ +upon the distant verge of the horizon, was no longer a mere streak of +shadowed water. It had developed during the continuance of the chase, +and now covered both sea and sky,--the latter with black cumbrous +clouds, the former with quick curling waves, that lashed the water-casks +supporting both rafts, and proclaimed the approach, if not of a storm, +at least a fresh breeze,--likely to change the character of the chase +hitherto kept up between them. + +And very quickly came that change to pass. By the time that the +castaways on the great raft had once more headed their clumsy +embarkation to the pursuit, they saw the more trim craft,--by her +builders yclept the _Catamaran_--with her sails spread widely to the +wind, gliding rapidly out of their reach, and "walking the water like a +thing of life." + +They no longer continued the pursuit. They might have done so, but for +the waves that now, swelling up around the raft, admonished them of a +danger hitherto unknown. With the spray rushing over them, and the sea, +at each fresh assault, threatening to engulf their ill-governed craft, +they found sufficient employment for their remaining strength, in +clinging to the timbers of their rude embarkation. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT. + +A THREATENED STORM. + +Thus, once more, were the Catamarans delivered from a terrible danger,-- +almost literally "from the jaws of death"; and once more, too, by what +appeared a providential interference. + +Ben Brace actually believed it so. It would have been difficult for +anyone to have thought otherwise; but the moral mind of the sailor had +of late undergone some very serious transformations; and the perils +through which they had been passing,--with their repeated deliverances, +all apparently due to some unseen hand,--had imbued him with a belief +that the Almighty must be everywhere,--even in the midst of the +illimitable ocean. + +It was this faith that had sustained him through the many trials through +which they had gone; and that, in the very latest and last,--when the +ruffians upon the raft were fast closing upon the _Catamaran_,--had led +him to give encouraging counsels to Snowball to keep on. It had +encouraged him, in fine, to strike the boat-hook from the grasp of Le +Gros,--which act had ended by putting their implacable enemy _hors du +combat_, and conducting to their final deliverance. + +It was this belief that still hindered the brave mariner,--now that the +sea began to surge around them, and the spray to dash over the deck of +their frail craft,--hindered him from giving way to a new despair; and +from supposing that they had been only delivered from one danger to be +overwhelmed by another. + +For some time did it seem as if this was to be their fate,--as if, +literally, they were to be overwhelmed. The breeze which had so +opportunely carried the _Catamaran_ beyond the reach of the pursuing +raft, soon freshened into a gale; and threatened to continue increasing +to that still more dreaded condition of the ocean atmosphere,--a storm. + +The rafts were no longer in sight of each other. Scarce five minutes +had elapsed, after being grappled by Le Gros, when the breeze had caught +hold of the _Catamaran_; and, from her superior sailing qualities, she +had soon become separated from the more clumsy embarkation of the enemy. + +In another hour, the _Catamaran_, under good steering, had swept several +miles to westward; while the raft, no longer propelled by oars, and its +rudder but ill-directed, had gone drifting about: as if they who +occupied it were making only a despairing effort to keep it before the +wind. + +Despite the rising gale and the increasing roughness of the water, there +were no despairing people upon the _Catamaran_. Supported by his faith +in providential protection, Ben Brace acted as if there was no danger; +and encouraged his companions to do the same. + +Every precaution was adopted to provide against accidents. As soon as +they saw that the pursuer was left behind,--and they were no longer in +any peril from that quarter,--the sail was lowered upon the mast, as +there was too great a breadth of it for the constantly freshening +breeze. It was not taken in altogether, but only "shortened,"--reefed +in a rude fashion,--so as to expose only half its surface to the wind; +and this proved just sufficient to keep the _Catamaran_ "trim" and +steady upon her course. + +It would not be correct to say that her captain and crew felt no fears +for her safety. On the contrary, they experienced the apprehensions +natural to such a situation; and for this reason did they take every +precaution against the danger that threatened. The Coromantee might +have given way to a feeling of fatalism,--peculiar to his country and +class,--but there was no danger of Ben Brace doing so. Notwithstanding +his faith about being protected by Providence, the sailor also believed, +that self-action is required on the part of those who stand in need of +such protection; and that nothing should be left undone to deserve it. + +The situation was altogether new to them. It was the first thing in the +shape of a storm, or even a gale, they had encountered since the +construction of their curious craft. Ever since the burning of the +_Pandora_, they had been highly favoured in this respect. They had been +navigating their various embarkations through a "summer sea," in the +midst of the tropical ocean,--where ofttimes whole weeks elapse without +either winds or waves occurring to disturb its tranquillity,--a sea, in +short, where the "calm" is more dreaded than the "storm." Up to this +time they had not experienced any violent commotion of the atmosphere,-- +nothing stronger than what is termed a "fresh breeze," and in that the +_Catamaran_ had proved herself an accomplished sailer. + +It was now to be seen how she would behave under a gale that might end +in a storm,--perhaps a terrific tempest. + +It would be untrue to say that her crew looked forward to the event +without fear. They did not. As said, they suffered considerable +apprehension; and would have felt it more keenly, but for the cheering +influence of that faith with which her captain was sustained, and which +he endeavoured to impart to his companions. + +Leaning upon this, they looked with less dread upon the sky lowering +above and the storm gathering around them. + +As the day advanced the wind continued to freshen until about the hour +of noon. It was then blowing a brisk gale. Fortunately for the crew of +the _Catamaran_, it did not become a storm. Had it done so their frail +craft must have been shivered, and her component parts once more +scattered over the ocean. + +It was just as much as her crew could accomplish to keep them together, +in a sea only moderately rough,--compared with what it would have been +in a storm. This they discovered during the afternoon of that day; and +it was no great comfort to them to reflect that, in the event of a real +storm being encountered, the _Catamaran_ would undoubtedly go to pieces. +They could only console themselves with the hope that such an event +might not arise until they should reach land, or, which was perhaps more +probable, be picked up by a ship. + +The chances of terminating their perilous voyage in either way were so +slight and distant, that they scarce gave thought to them. When they +did, it was only to be reminded of the extreme hopelessness of their +situation, and yield to despairing reflections. On that particular day +they had no time to speculate upon such remote probabilities as the +ultimate ending of their voyage. They found occupation enough,--both +for their minds and bodies,--in insuring its continuance. Not only had +they to watch every wave as it came rolling upon them,--and keep the +_Catamaran_ trimly set to receive it,--but they had to look to the +timbers of the craft, and see that the lashings did not get loose. + +Several times did the sea break quite over them; and but that Lilly +Lalee and little William were fast tied to the foot of the mast, they +would both have been washed off, and probably lost amidst the dark waste +of waters. + +It was just as much as the two strong men could do to keep aboard and +even they had ropes knotted round their wrists and attached to the +timbers of the raft,--in case of their getting carried overboard. + +Once a huge billow swept over, submerging them several feet under the +sea. At this crisis all four thought that their last hour had come, and +for some seconds were under the belief that they were going to the +bottom, and would never more look upon the light of day. + +But for the peculiar construction of their raft this, in all likelihood, +would have been the result; but those buoyant water-casks were not to be +"drowned" in such a fashion and soon "bobbed" back to the surface, once +more bringing the _Catamaran_ and her crew above water. + +It was fortunate for them that Ben Brace and Snowball had not trusted +too much to fate while constructing their abnormal craft. The +experienced sailor had foreseen the difficulties that on this day beset +them; and, instead of making a mere temporary embarkation, to suit the +conditions of the summer sea that then surrounded them, he had spared no +pains to render it seaworthy as far as circumstances would allow. He +and Snowball had used their united strength in drawing tight the cords +with which the timbers were bound together,--as well as those that +lashed them to the casks,--and their united skill in disposing the rude +materials in a proper manner. + +Even after "launching" the _Catamaran_,--every day, almost every hour, +had they been doing something to improve her,--either by giving the +craft greater strength and compactness, or in some other way rendering +her more worthy both of the sea and her sailors. + +By this providential industry they were now profiting: since by it, and +it alone, were they enabled to "ride out" the gale. + +Had they trusted to chance and given way to indolence,--all the more +natural under the very hopelessness of their situation,--they would +never have outlived that day. The _Catamaran_ might not have gone to +the bottom, but she would have gone to pieces; and it is not likely that +any of her crew would have survived the catastrophe. + +As it was, both raft and crew weathered the gale in safety. Before +sunset the wind had fallen to a gentle zephyr; the tropical sea was +gradually returning to its normal state of comparative calm; and the +_Catamaran_, with her broad sail once more spread to the breeze, was +scudding on,--guided in her course by the golden luminary slowly +descending towards the western edge of a cloudless heaven. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE. + +A STARTLING SHRIEK. + +The night proved pleasanter than the day. The wind was no longer an +enemy; and the breeze that succeeded was more advantageous than would +have been a dead calm; since it steadied the craft amidst the rolling of +the swell. + +Before midnight the swell itself had subsided. It had never reached any +great height, as the gale had been of short continuance; and for the +same reason it had suddenly gone down again. + +With the return of smooth water they were able to betake themselves to +rest. They needed it, after such a series of fatigues and fears; and +having swallowed a few morsels of their unpalatable food, and washed it +down by a cup of diluted Canary, they all went to rest. + +Neither the wet planking on which they were compelled to encouch +themselves, nor the sea-soaked garments clinging round their bodies, +hindered them from obtaining sleep. + +In a colder clime their condition would have been sufficiently +comfortless; but in the ocean atmosphere of the torrid zone the night +hours are warm enough to render "wet sheets" not only endurable, but at +times even pleasant. + +I have said that all of them went to sleep. It was not their usual +custom to do so. On other nights one was always upon the watch,--either +the captain himself, the ex-cook, or the boy. Of course Lilly Lalee +enjoyed immunity from this kind of duty: since she was not, properly +speaking, one of the "crew," but only a "passenger." + +Their customary night-watch had a twofold object: to hold the +_Catamaran_ to her course, and to keep a lookout over the sea,--the +latter having reference to the chance if seeing a sail. + +On this particular night their vigil,--had it been kept,--might have had +a threefold purpose: for it is not to be forgotten that they were still +not so very far from their late pursuers. They too must have been +making way with the wind. + +Neither had the Catamarans forgotten it; but even with this thought +before their minds, they were unable to resist the fascinations of +Morpheus; and leaving the craft to take her own course, the ships, if +there were any, to sail silently by, and the big raft, if chance so +directed it, to overtake them, they yielded themselves to unconscious +slumber. + +Simultaneously were they awakened, and by a sound that might have +awakened the dead. It was a shriek that came pealing over the surface +of the ocean,--as unearthly in its intonation as if only the ocean +itself could have produced it! It was short, sharp, quick, and clear; +and so loud as to startle even Snowball from his torpidity. + +The Coromantee was the first to inquire into its character. + +"Wha' de debbil am dat?" he asked, rubbing his ears to make sure that he +was not labouring under a delusion. + +"Shiver my timbers if I can tell!" rejoined the sailor, equally puzzled +by what he had heard. + +"Dat soun' berry like da voice o' some un go drown,--berry like. Wha' +say you, Massa Brace?" + +"It was a good bit like the voice of a man cut in two by a shark. +That's what it minded me of." + +"By golly! you speak de troof. It wa jess like that,--jess like the +lass s'riek ob Massa Grow." + +"And yet," continued the sailor, after a moment's reflection, "'t warn't +like that neyther. 'T warn't human, nohow: leastwise, I niver heerd +such come out o' a human throat." + +"A don't blieb de big raff can be near. We hab been runnin' down de +wind ebba since you knock off dat boat-hook. We got de start o' de +_Pandoras_; an' dar's no mistake but we hab kep de distance. Dat s'riek +no come from dem." + +"Look yonder!" cried little William, interrupting the dialogue. "I see +something." + +"Whereaway? What like be it?" inquired the sailor. + +"Yonder!" answered the lad, pointing over the starboard bow of the +_Catamaran_; "about three cables' length out in the water. It's a black +lump; it looks like a boat." + +"A boat! Shiver my timbers if thee bean't right, lad. I see it now. +It do look somethin' as you say. But what ul a boat be doin' here,--out +in the middle o' the Atlantic?" + +"Dat am a boat," interposed Snowball. "Fo' sartin it am." + +"It must be," said the sailor, after more carefully scrutinising it. +"It is! I see its shape better now. There's some un in it. I see only +one; ah, he be standin' up in the middle o' it, like a mast. It be a +man though; an' I dare say the same as gi'ed that shout, if he be a +human; though, sartin, there warn't much human in it." + +As if to confirm the sailor's last assertion, the shriek was repeated, +precisely as it had been uttered before; though now, entering ears that +were awake, it produced a somewhat different impression. + +The voice was evidently that of a man. Even under the circumstances, it +could be nothing else, but of a man who had taken leave of his senses. +It was the wild cry of a maniac! + +The crew of the _Catamaran_ might have continued in doubt as to this had +they been treated only to a repetition of the shriek; but this was +followed by a series of speeches,--incoherent, it is true, but spoken in +an intelligible tongue, and ending in a peal of laughter such as might +be heard echoing along the corridors of a lunatic asylum! + +One and all of them stood looking and listening. + +It was a moonless night, and had been a dark one; but it was now close +upon morning. Already had the aurora tinged the horizon with roseate +hues. The grey light of dawn was beginning to scatter its soft rays +over the surface of the ocean; and objects--had there been any--could be +distinguished at a considerable distance. + +Certainly there was an object,--a thing of boat-shape, with a human form +standing near its middle. It was a boat, a man in it; and, from the +exclamation and laughter to which they had listened, there could be no +doubt about the man being mad. + +Mad or sane, why should they shun him? There were two strong men on the +raft, who need not fear to encounter a lunatic under any +circumstances,--even in the midst of the ocean. Nor did they fear it; +for as soon as they became fully convinced that they saw a boat with a +man in it, they "ported" the helm of the _Catamaran_, and stood directly +towards it. + +Less than ten minutes' sailing in the altered course brought them within +fair view of the object that had caused them to deviate; and, after +scrutinising it, less than ten seconds enabled them to satisfy their +minds as to the strange craft and its yet stranger occupant. + +They saw before them the "gig" of the slaver; and, standing "midships" +in the boat,--just half-way between stem and stern,--they saw the +captain of that ill-starred, ill-fated vessel! + + + +CHAPTER NINETY. + +A MADMAN IN MID-OCEAN. + +In the minds of the _Catamaran's_ crew there was no longer any cause for +conjecture. The boat-shaped object on the water, and the human form +standing up within it, were mysteries no more; nor was there any when +that boat and that human being were identified. + +If in the spectacle there was aught still to puzzle them, it was the +seeing only one man in the boat instead of six. + +There should have been six; since that was the number that the gig had +originally carried away from the burning bark,--five others besides the +one now seen,--and who, notwithstanding a great change in his +appearance, was still recognisable as the slaver's captain. + +Where were the missing men,--the mates, the carpenter and two common +sailors, who had escaped along with him? Were they in the boat, lying +down, and so concealed from the view of those upon the _Catamaran_? Or +had they succumbed to some fearful fate, leaving only that solitary +survivor? + +The gig sat high in the water. Those upon the _Catamaran_ could not see +over its gunwale unless by approaching nearer, and this they hesitated +to do. + +Indeed, on identifying the boat and the individual standing in it, they +had suddenly hauled down the sail and were lying to, using their oar to +keep them from drifting any nearer. + +They had done so from an instinctive apprehension. They knew that the +men who had gone off in the gig were not a whit better than those upon +the big raft; for the officers of the slaver, in point of ruffianism, +were upon a par with their crew. With this knowledge, it was a question +for consideration whether the Catamarans would be safe in approaching +the boat. If the six were still in it, and out of food and water, like +those on the large raft, they would undoubtedly despoil the _Catamaran_, +just as the others had designed doing. From such as they no mercy need +be expected; and as it was not likely any succour could be obtained from +them, it would, perhaps, be better, in every way, to "give them a wide +berth." + +Such were the thoughts that passed hastily through the mind of Ben +Brace, and were communicated to his companions. + +Were the five missing men still aboard the boat? + +They might be lying down along the bottom,--though it was not likely +they could be asleep? That appeared almost impossible, considering the +shouts and screams which the captain at intervals still continued to +send forth. + +"By de great gorramity!" muttered Snowball, "a doan't b'lieb one ob +dem's leff 'board dat boat, 'ceptin de ole 'kipper himseff; an ob him +dar am nuffin leff cep'n de body. Dat man's intlek am clar gone. He am +ravin' mad!" + +"You're right, Snowy," assented the sailor; "there be ne'er a one there +but himself. At all events they ain't all there. I can tell by the way +the gig sits up out o' the water. No boat o' her size, wi' six men +aboard, could have her gunnel as high as that ere. No! If there be any +besides the captain, there's only one or two. We needn't fear to go as +nigh as we like. Let's put about, an' board the craft, anyhow. What +say ye?" + +"Haben't de leas' objecshun, Massa Brace, so long you link dar no fear. +Dis chile ready take de chance. If dar be any odder cep'n de 'kipper, +it no like dey am 'trong 'nuff to bully we nohow. De two ob us be equal +match fo' any four ob dem,--say nuffin ob lilly Will'm." + +"I feel a'most sartin," rejoined the sailor, still undecided, "there be +only him. If that's the case, our best way is to close up, and take +possession o' the boat. We may have some trouble wi' him if be's gone +mad; an' from the way he be runnin' on, it do look like it. Never mind! +I dare say we'll be able to manage him. Port about, an' let a see the +thing through." + +Snowball was at the steering-oar, and, thus commanded by her captain, he +once more headed the _Catamaran_ in the direction of the drifting +boat,--while the sailor and William betook them to the oars. + +Whether the occupant of the gig had yet perceived the raft was not +certain. It is likely he had not, since the yells and incoherent +speeches to which he had been giving utterance appeared to be addressed +to no one, but were more like--what they believed them to be--the wild +ravings of a lunatic. + +It was still only the grey twilight of morning, with a slight fog upon +the water; and although through this the Catamarans had recognised the +gig and captain of the _Pandora_ they had done so with certain souvenirs +to guide them. Both the boat and its occupant had been seen only +indistinctly: and it was possible that the latter had not seen them, and +was still unsuspicious of their presence. + +As they drew nearer, the light at each moment increasing in brightness, +there was no longer any uncertainty as to their being seen; for, along +with the yells uttered by the occupant of the gig, could be heard the +significant speeches of, "Sail ho! Ship ahoy! What ship's that? Heave +to, and be--Heave to, you infernal lubbers! if you don't I'll sink you!" + +The manner in which these varied phrases were jumbled together, +intermingled with screeching exclamations, as well as the excited and +grotesque gestures that accompanied them, might have been ludicrous, but +for the painful impression it produced. + +There was no longer any doubt in the minds of those who witnessed his +behaviour, that the ex-skipper of the _Pandora_ was mad. None but a +madman would have spoken, or acted, as he was doing. + +In the state he was in, it would be dangerous to go near him. This was +evident to the occupants of the raft; and when they had arrived within a +half-cable's length of the boat, they suspended the stroke of the +oars,--with the intention of entering upon a parley, and seeing how far +their words might tranquillise him. + +"Captain!" cried the sailor, hailing his former commander in a friendly +tone of voice: "it's me! Don't you know me? It's Ben Brace, one o' the +old _Pandora_. We've been on this bit o' raft ever since the burnin' o' +the bark. Myself and Snowball--" + +At this moment the sailor's epitomised narrative was interrupted by a +fiendish yell, proceeding from the throat of the maniac. They were now +near enough to have a clear view of his face, and could note the +expression of his features. The play of these, and the wild rolling of +his eyes, confirmed them in their belief as to his insanity. There +could be no doubt about it; but if there had, what soon after succeeded +was proof sufficient to satisfy them. + +During the continuance of the discourse addressed to him by the sailor, +he had kept silent, until the word "Snowball" fell upon his ears. Then +all at once he became terribly excited,--as was testified by a terrible +shriek, a twitching contortion of his features, and a glaring in his +eyes that was awful to behold. + +"Snowball!" screamed he; "Snowball, you say, do you? Snowball, the +infernal dog! Show him to me! Ach! Blood and furies! it was he that +fired my ship. Where is he? Let me at him! Let me lay my hands upon +his black throat! I'll teach the sneaking nigger how to carry a candle +that'll light him into the next world. Snowball! Where,--where is he?" + +At this moment his rolling orbs became suddenly steadied; and all could +see that his gaze was fixed upon the Coromantee with a sort of desperate +identification. + +Snowball might have quailed under that glance, had there been time for +him to take heed of it. But there was not: for upon the instant it was +given the madman uttered another wild screech, and, rising into the air, +sprang several feet over the gunwale of the gig. + +For a second or two he was lost to sight under the water. Then, rising +to the surface, he was seen swimming with vigorous sweep towards the +_Catamaran_. + + + +CHAPTER NINETY ONE. + +THE INSANE SWIMMER. + +A dozen strokes would have carried him up to the craft; which they could +not have hindered him from boarding, except by using some deadly +violence. To avoid this, the oars were plied; and the raft rapidly +pulled in a contrary direction. + +For all this, so swiftly did the maniac make way through the water, that +it was just as much as they could do to keep the _Catamaran_ clear of +his grasp; and it was only after Ben Brace and Snowball had got fairly +bent to their oars, that they could insure themselves against being +overtaken. Then became it a chase in which there was no great advantage +in speed between the pursued and the pursuer; though what little there +might have been was in favour of the former. + +How long this singular chase might have continued, it is impossible to +say. Perhaps until the lunatic had exhausted his insane strength, and +sunk into the sea: since he appeared to have no idea of making an +attempt to return to the boat. He never looked round to see how far he +was leaving it behind him. On the contrary, he swam straight on, his +eyes steadfastly fixed upon the one object that seemed to have +possession of his soul,--the Coromantee! That it was of him only he was +thinking could be told from his speech,--for even while in the water he +continued to utter imprecations on the head of the negro,--his name +being every moment mentioned in terms of menace. + +The chase could not have lasted much longer,--even had it been permitted +to terminate by the exhaustion of the insane swimmer. The supernatural +strength of insanity could not forever sustain him; and in due time he +would have sunk helplessly to the bottom of the sea. + +But this was not the sort of death that Fate had designed for him. A +still more violent ending of his life was in store for the unfortunate +wretch. Though he himself knew it not, those aboard the _Catamaran_ had +now become aware of its approach. + +Behind him,--scarce half a cable's length,--two creatures were seen +moving through the water. Horrible-looking creatures they were: for +they were hammer-headed sharks! Both were conspicuously seen: for they +had risen to the surface, and were swimming with their dark dorsal fins +protruded above, and set with all the triangular sharpness of staysails. +Although they had not been observed before by those on the _Catamaran_, +they appeared to have been swimming in the proximity of the gig,--on +which, beyond doubt, they had been for some time attending. + +They were now advancing side by side, in the same direction as the +swimmer, and there could be no doubt as to their design. They were +evidently in chase of _him_, with as much eagerness as he was in chase +of the _Catamaran_. + +The wretched man neither saw nor thought of them. Even had he seen them +it is questionable whether he would have made any attempt to escape from +them. They would, in all likelihood, have appeared a part of the +fearful phantasmagoria already filling his brain. + +In any case he could not have eluded those earnest and eager pursuers,-- +unless by the intervention of those upon the raft; and even had these +wished to succour him, it would have required a most prompt and adroit +interference. They _did_ wish it, even became desirous to save him. +Their hearts melted within them as they saw the unfortunate man, maniac +though he was, in such a situation. Fear him as they might,--and deem +him an enemy as they did,--still was he a human being,--one of their own +kind,--and their natural instinct of hostility towards those ravenous +monsters of the deep had now obliterated that which they might have felt +for him about to become their prey. + +Risking everything from the encounter which they might expect with a +madman, they suspended their oars, and then commenced backing towards +him. Even Snowball exerted himself to bring the _Catamaran_ within +saving distance of the wretch who, in his insane hatred, was threatening +his own destruction. + +Their good intentions, however, proved of no avail. The man was +destined to destruction. Before they could get near enough to make any +effective demonstration in his favour, the sharks had closed upon him. +They who would have saved him saw it, and ceased their exertions to +become spectators of the tragical catastrophe. + +It was a brief affair. The monsters swam up, one on each side of their +intended victim, till their uncouth bodies were parallel with his. He +saw one of them first, and, with an instinct more true than his +dethroned powers of reason, swerved out of the way to avoid it. The +effort resulted in placing him within reach of the other, that, suddenly +turning upon its side, grasped him between its extended jaws. + +The shriek that followed appeared to proceed from only the half of his +body; for the other half, completely dissevered, had been already +carried off between the terrible teeth of the _zygaena_. + +There was but one cry. There was not time for another, even had there +been strength. Before it could have been uttered, the remaining moiety +of the madman's body was seized by the second shark, and borne down into +the voiceless abysm of the ocean! + + + +CHAPTER NINETY TWO. + +BOARDING THE BOAT. + +Back to the boat! In the minds of the _Catamaran's_ crew naturally did +this resolve succeed to the spectacle they had just witnessed. There +was nothing to stay them on that spot. The bloodstained water, which +momentarily marked the scene of the tragedy, had no further interest for +those who had been spectators to it; and once more heading their craft +for the drifting gig, they made way towards it as fast as their oars and +the sail, now reset, would carry them. + +They no longer speculated as to the boat being occupied by a crew,-- +either sleeping or awake. In view of the events that had occurred, it +was scarce possible that anyone, in either condition, could be aboard of +her. She must have been abandoned, before that hour, by all but the +solitary individual standing amidships, and pouring out his insane +utterances to the ears of the ocean. + +Where were the men that were missing? This was the question that +occupied the crew of the _Catamaran_,--as they advanced towards the +deserted gig--and to which they could give no satisfactory answer. + +They could only shape conjectures,--none of which had much air of +probability. + +From what they knew or suspected to have occurred upon the large raft +they could draw inferences of a revolting nature. It might be that the +same course had been pursued among those in the gig; and yet it seemed +scarce probable. It was known that the latter had gone off from the +burning bark, if not sufficiently provided for a long voyage, at least +with a stock of both food and water that should have sustained them for +many days. Little William had been a witness of their departure, and +could confirm these facts. Why then had their boat-voyage resulted so +disastrously? It could not have arisen from want. It could not have +been the gale. + +In all probability, had the sea washed over them, the boat would either +have been swamped or capsized. The captain alone could not have righted +her. Besides, why should he be the only survivor of the six? + +But there had not been storm enough for a disaster of this kind; and +unless by some dire mismanagement, the men could not have fallen +overboard. + +Still puzzled to account for the strange condition of things, the crew +of the _Catamaran_ continued to pull towards the gig, and at length came +up with it. + +There they beheld a horrid spectacle, though it afforded no clue to what +had occurred. In fact it left the affair as inexplicable as ever. What +they saw gave them reason to believe that some terrible tragedy had +transpired on board the boat; and that not the elements, but the hand of +man, had caused the disappearance of the crew. + +Along the bottom timbers lay stretched a human form. It was not only +lifeless, but disfigured by many wounds,--anyone of which would have +proved mortal. The face was gashed in the most frightful manner; and +the skull crushed in several places, as if by repeated blows of a heavy +hammer, while numerous wounds, that had been inflicted by some +sharp-bladed weapon or implement, appeared over the breast and body. + +This mutilated shape of humanity was lying half submerged in the +bilge-water contained in the boat, and which looked more like blood. So +deep was it in colour, and in such quantity, that it was difficult to +believe it could have been stained by the blood of only that one body, +to which in turn, as the red fluid went washing over it, had been +imparted the same sanguinary hue. + +The features of the hideous corpse could not be identified. The axe, +knife, or whatever weapon it was, had defaced them beyond recognition; +but for all this, both Ben Brace and Snowball recognised the mutilated +remains. Something in the garments still clinging round the corpse was +remembered, and by this they were enabled to identify it as that of one +too well-known to them,--the first mate of the slaver. + +Instead of elucidating the mystery, this knowledge only rendered it more +inexplicable. It was evident the man had been murdered. The wounds +proved that; for from the appearance of the extravasated blood they must +have been given while he was still alive. + +It was but natural to suppose that the deed had been done by his insane +companion. The number and character of the wounds,--consisting of +blows, cuts, and gashes, showed that they had been inflicted by some one +out of his senses; for life must have been extinct before half of them +could have been given. + +So far the circumstances seemed clear enough. The maniac captain had +murdered the mate. No motive could be guessed at; for no motive was +needed to inspire a madman. + +Beyond this all was shrouded in mystery. What was to explain the +absence of the other four? What had become of them? The crew of the +_Catamaran_ could only frame conjectures,--all of a horrid nature. That +of Snowball was the most rational that could be arrived at. + +It suggested the probability that the first mate and captain had +combined in the destruction of the others,--their motive being to get +all the food and water themselves, and thus secure a better chance of +prolonging their lives. They might have accomplished their atrocious +design in various ways. There might have been a struggle in which these +two men,--much stronger than their fellows,--had proved victorious; or +there might not have been any contest at all. The foul crime could have +been committed in the night, when their unsuspicious comrades were +asleep; or even by the light of day, when the latter were under the +spell of intoxication,--produced by the brandy that had furnished part +of the stores of the gig. + +All these were horrid imaginings; but neither Snowball nor the sailor +could help giving way to them. Otherwise they could not account for the +dreadful drama of which that bloodstained boat must have been the scene. + +Supposing their conjectures to have been correct, no wonder that the +sole survivor of such scenes should have been found a raving lunatic,-- +no wonder the man had gone mad! + + + +CHAPTER NINETY THREE. + +THE CATAMARAN ABANDONED. + +For some time the crew of the _Catamaran_ stood contemplating the gig +and its lifeless occupant, with looks that betokened repugnance. + +By reason of the many dread scenes they had already passed through, this +feeling was the less intense, and gradually wore away. It was neither +the time nor the place for any show of sentimentalism. Their own +perilous situation was too strongly impressed on their minds to admit of +unprofitable speculations; and instead of indulging in idle conjectures +about the past, they directed their thoughts to the future. + +The first consideration was, what was to be done with the gig? + +They would take possession of her, of course. There could be no +question about this. + +It is true the _Catamaran_ had done them good service. She had served +to keep them afloat, and thus far saved their lives. + +In calm weather they could have made themselves very comfortable on +their improvised embarkation; and might have remained safe upon it, so +long as their water and provisions lasted. But with such a slow-sailing +craft the voyage might last longer than either; and then it could only +result in certain death. They might not again have such good fortune in +obtaining fish; and their stock of water once exhausted, it was too +improbable to suppose they should ever be able to replenish it. There +might not be another shower of rain for weeks; and even should it fall, +it might be in such rough weather that they could not collect a single +quart of it. Her slow-sailing was not the only objection to the +_Catamaran_. Their experience in the gale of the preceding night had +taught them, how little they could depend upon her in the event of a +real storm. In very rough weather she would certainly be destroyed. +Her timbers under the strain would come apart; or, even if they should +stick together, and by the buoyancy of the empty casks continue to keep +afloat, the sea would wash over them all the same and either drown or +otherwise destroy them. + +In such a long time as it must take before reaching land, they could not +expect to have a continuance of fair weather. + +With the gig,--a first-rate craft of its kind,--the case would be +different. + +Ben Brace well knew the boat, for he had often been one of its crew of +rowers. + +It was a fast boat,--even under oars,--and with a sail set to it, and a +fair wind, they might calculate upon making eight or ten knots an hour. +This would in no great time enable them to run down the "trades," and +bring them to some port of the South American coast,--perhaps to Guiana, +or Brazil. + +These speculations occupied them only a few seconds of time. In fact +they had passed through their minds long before they arrived alongside +the gig; for they were but the natural considerations suggested by the +presence of the boat. + +They were now in possession of a seaworthy craft. It seemed as if +Providence had thrown it in their way; and they had no idea of +abandoning it. On the contrary, it was the raft which was to be +deserted. + +If they hesitated about transferring themselves and their chattels from +the _Catamaran_ to the gig, it was but for a moment; and that brief +space of time was only spent in considering how they might best +accomplish the transfer. + +The boat had first to be got into a fit state for their reception; and +as soon as they had recovered from the shock caused by that hideous +spectacle, the sailor and Snowball set to work to remove the body out of +sight, as well as every trace of the sanguinary strife that must have +taken place. + +The mutilated corpse was cast into the sea, and sank at once under the +surface,--though perhaps never to reach the bottom, for those two +ravenous monsters were still hovering around the spot, in greedy +expectation of more food for their insatiable stomachs. + +The red bilge-water was next baled out of the boat,--the inside timbers +cleared of their ensanguined stains, and swilled with clean water from +the sea; which was in its turn thrown out, until no trace remained of +the frightful objects so lately seen. + +A few things that had been found in the boat were permitted to remain: +as they might prove of service to the crew coming into possession. +Among these there was not a morsel of food, nor a drop of drinking +water; but there was the ship's compass, still in good condition; and +the sailor knew that this treasure was too precious to be parted with: +as it would enable them to keep to their course under the most clouded +skies. + +As soon as the gig was ready to receive them, the "stores" of the +_Catamaran_ were transferred to it. The cask of water was carefully +hoisted aboard the boat,--as also the smaller cask containing the +precious "Canary." The dried fish packed inside the chest, the oars, +and other implements were next carried over the "gangway" between the +two crafts,--each article being stowed in a proper place within the gig. + +There was plenty of room for everything: as the boat was a large one, +capable of containing a dozen men; and of course ample for the +accommodation of the _Catamaran's_ crew, with all their _impedimenta_. + +The last transfer made was the mast and sail, which were "unshipped" +from the _Catamaran_ to be set up on the gig, and which were just of the +right size to suit the latter craft. + +There was nothing left upon the raft that could be of any use to them on +their boat-voyage; and after the mast and sail had been removed, the +_Catamaran_ appeared completely dismantled. + +As they undid the lashings,--which during the transfer had confined her +to the gig,--a feeling of sadness pervaded the minds of her former crew. +They had grown to feel for that embarkation,--frail and grotesque as it +was,--a sort of attachment; such as one may have for a loved home. To +them it had been a home in the midst of the wilderness of waters; and +they could not part from it without a strong feeling of regret. + +Perhaps it was partly for this reason they did not at once dip their +oars into the water and row away from the raft; though they had another +reason for lingering in its proximity. + +The mast had to be "stepped" in the gig and the sail bent on to it; and, +as it seemed better that these things should be done at once, they at +once set about doing them. + +During the time they were thus engaged, the boat drifted on with the +breeze, making two or three knots to the hour. But this caused no +separation between the two crafts; for the same breeze carried the +dismantled raft--now lying light upon the water--at the like rate of +speed; and when at length the mast stood amidships in the gig, and the +sailyard was ready to be hauled up to it, there was scarce a cable's +length between them. + +The _Catamaran_ was astern, but coming on at a fair rate of speed,--as +if determined not to be left behind in that lone wilderness of waters! + + + +CHAPTER NINETY FOUR. + +A "SCHOOL" OF SPERM-WHALES. + +To all appearance the hour had arrived when they were to look their last +on the embarkation that had safely carried them through so many dangers. +In a few minutes their sail would be spread before a breeze, that would +impel their boat at a rapid rate through the water; and in a short time +they would see no more of the _Catamaran_, crawling slowly after them. +A few miles astern, and she would be out of sight,--once and forever. + +Such was their belief, as they proceeded to set the sail. + +Little were they thinking of the destiny that was before them. Fate had +not designed such a sudden separation; and well was it for them that the +_Catamaran_ had clung so closely upon their track, as still to offer +them an asylum,--a harbour of refuge to which they might retreat,--for +it was not long before they found themselves in need of it. + +As stated, they were proceeding to set the sail. They had got their +rigging all right,--the canvas bent upon the yard, the halliards rove, +and everything except hauling up and sheeting home. + +These last operations would have been but the work of six seconds, and +yet they were never performed. + +As the sailor and Snowball stood, halliards in hand, ready to hoist up, +an exclamation came from little William, that caused both of them to +suspend proceedings. + +The boy stood gazing out upon the ocean,--his eyes fixed upon some +object that had caused him to cry out. Lalee was by his side also, +regarding the same object. + +"What is it, Will'm?" eagerly inquired the sailor, hoping the lad might +have made out a sail. + +William had himself entertained this hope. A whitish disk over the +horizon had come under his eye; which for a while looked like spread +canvas, but soon disappeared,--as if it had suddenly dissolved into air. + +William was ashamed of having uttered the exclamation,--as being guilty +of causing a "false alarm." He was about to explain himself, when the +white object once more rose up against the sky,--now observed by all. + +"That's what I saw," said the alarmist, confessing himself mistaken. + +"If ye took it for a sail, lad," rejoined the sailor, "you war mistaken. +It be only the spoutin' o' a sparmacety." + +"There's more than one," rejoined William, desirous of escaping from his +dilemma. "See, yonder's half a dozen of them!" + +"Theer ye be right, lad,--though not in sayin' there's half a dozen. +More like there be half a hundred o' 'em. There's sure to be that +number, whar you see six a-blowin' at the same time. There be a +`school' o' them, I be bound,--maybe a `body.'" + +"Golly!" cried Snowball, after regarding the whales for a moment, "dey +am a-comin' dis way!" + +"They be," muttered the old whalesman, in a tone that did not show much +satisfaction at the discovery. "They're coming right down upon us. I +don't like it a bit. They're on a `passage,'--that I can see; an' it be +dangerous to get in their way when they're goin' so,--especially aboard +a craft sich as this un'." + +Of course the setting of the sail was adjourned at this announcement; as +it would have been, whether there had been danger or not. A school of +whales, either upon their "passage" or when "gambolling," is a spectacle +so rare, at the same time so exciting, as not to be looked upon without +interest; and the voyager must be engrossed in some very serious +occupation who can permit it to pass without giving it his attention. + +Nothing can be more magnificent than the movements of these vast +leviathans, as they cleave their track through the blue liquid +element,--now sending aloft their plume-like spouts of white vapour,-- +now flinging their broad and fan-shaped flukes into the air; at times +bounding with their whole bodies several feet above the surface, and +dropping back into the water with a tremendous concussion, that causes +the sea to swell into huge foam-crested columns, as if a storm was +passing over it. + +It was the thought of this that came into the mind of the ex-whalesman; +and rendered him apprehensive,--as he saw the school of _cachalots_ +coming on towards the spot occupied by the frail embarkation. He knew +that the swell caused by the "breaching" of a whale is sufficient to +swamp even a large-sized boat; and if one of the "body" now bowling down +towards them should chance to spring out of the water while passing +near, it would be just as much as they could do to keep the gig from +going upon her beam-ends. + +There was not much time to speculate upon chances, or probabilities. +When first seen, the whales could not have been more than a mile +distant: and going on as they were, at the rate of ten knots an hour, +only ten minutes elapsed before the foremost was close up to the spot +occupied by the boat and the abandoned raft. + +They were not proceeding in a regular formation; though here and there +four or five might have been seen moving in a line, abreast with one +another. The whole "herd" occupied a breadth extending about a mile +across the sea; and in the very centre of this, as ill-luck would have +it, lay the cockle-shell of a boat and the abandoned raft. + +It was one of the biggest "schools" that Ben Brace had ever seen, +consisting of nearly a hundred individuals,--full-grown females, +followed by their "calves,"--and only one old bull, the patron and +protector of the herd. There was no mistaking it for a "pod" of +whales,--which would have been made up of young males just escaped from +maternal protection, and attended by several older individuals of their +own sex,--acting as trainers and instructors. + +Just as the _ci-devant_ whalesman had finished making this observation, +the _cachalots_ came past, causing the sea to undulate for miles around +the spot,--as if a tempest had swept over, and was succeeded by its +swell. One after another passed with a graceful gliding, that might +have won the admiration of an observer viewing it from a position of +safety. But to those who beheld it from the gig, there was an idea of +danger in their majestic movement,--heightened by the surf-like sound of +their respirations. + +They had nearly all passed, and the crew of the gig were beginning to +breathe freely; when they perceived the largest of the lot--the old +bull--astern of the rest and coming right towards them. His head, with +several fathoms of his back, protruded above the surface, which at +intervals he "fluked" with his tail,--as if giving a signal to those +preceding him, either to direct their onward course, or warn them of +some threatened danger. + +He had a vicious look about him,--notwithstanding his patriarchal +appearance,--and the ex-whalesman uttered an exclamation of warning as +he approached. + +The utterance was merely mechanical, since nothing could be done to ward +off the threatened encounter. + +Nothing was done. There was no time to act, nor even to think. Almost +on the same instant in which the warning cry was heard the whale was +upon them. He who had uttered it, along with his companions, felt +themselves suddenly projected into the air, as if they had been tossed +from a catapult, and their next sensation was that of taking "a +tremendous header" into the depths of the fathomless ocean! + +All four soon came to the surface again; and the two who had best +retained their senses,--the sailor and Snowball,--looked around for the +gig. There was no gig in sight, nor boat of any kind! Only some +floating fragments; among which could be distinguished a cask or two, +with a scattering of loose boards, oars, handspikes, and articles of +apparel. Among these were struggling two youthful forms,--recognisable +as little William and Lilly Lalee. + +A quick transformation took place in the tableau. + +A cry arose, "Back to the _Catamaran_!" and in a score of seconds the +boy-sailor was swimming alongside the A.B. for the raft; while the +Coromantee, with Lilly Lalee hoisted upon his left shoulder, was +cleaving the water in the same direction. + +Another minute and all four were aboard the embarkation they had so +lately abandoned,--once more saved from the perils of the deep! + + + +CHAPTER NINETY FIVE. + +WORSE OFF THAN EVER. + +There was no mystery about the incident that had occurred. It had +scarce created surprise; for the moment that the old whalesman felt the +shock, he knew what had caused it, as well as if he had been a simple +spectator. + +The others, warned by him that danger might be expected in the passage +of the whales--though then unapprised of its exact nature--were fully +aware of it now. It had come and passed,--at least, after mounting once +more upon the raft, they perceived that their lives were no longer in +peril. + +The occurrence needed no explanation. The detached timbers of the gig +floating about on the water, and the shock they had experienced, told +the tale with sufficient significance. They had been "fluked" by the +bull-whale, whose fan-shaped tail-fins, striking the boat in an upward +direction, had shattered it as easily as an eggshell, tossing the +fragments, along with the contents, both animate and inanimate, several +feet into the air. + +Whether it were done out of spite or wanton playfulness, or for the +gratification of a _whalish_ whim, the act had cost the huge leviathan +no greater effort than might have been used in brushing off a fly; and +after its accomplishment the old bull went bowling on after its +frolicsome school, gliding through the water apparently with as much +unconcern as if nothing particular had transpired! + +It might have been nothing to him,--neither the capsize nor its +consequences; but it was everything to those he had so unceremoniously +upset. + +It was not until they had fairly established themselves on the raft, and +their tranquillity had become a little restored, that they could reflect +upon the peril through which they had passed, or realise the fulness of +their misfortune. + +They saw their stores scattered about over the waves,--their oars and +implements drifting about; and, what was still worse, the great +sea-chest of the sailor, which, in the hurry of the late transfer, had +been packed full of shark-flesh, they could not see. Weighted as it +was, it must have gone to the bottom, carrying its precious contents +along with it. + +The water-cask and the smaller one containing the Canary were still +afloat, for both had been carefully bunged; but what mattered drink if +there was no meat?--and not a morsel appeared to be left them. + +For some minutes they remained idly gazing upon the wreck,--a spectacle +of complete ruin. One might have supposed that their inaction proceeded +from despair, which was holding them as if spellbound. + +It was not this, however. They were not the sort to give way to +despair. They only waited for an opportunity to act, which they could +not do until the tremendous swell, caused by the passage of the whales, +should to some extent subside. + +Just then the sea was rolling "mountains high," and the raft on which +they stood--or rather, crouched--was pitching about in such a manner, +that it was as much as they could do to hold footing upon it. + +Gradually the ocean around them resumed its wonted tranquillity; and, as +they had spent the interval in reflection, they now proceeded to action. + +They had formed no definite plans, further than to collect the scattered +materials,--such of them as were still above water,--and, if possible, +re-rig the craft which now carried them. + +Fortunately the mast, which had been forced out of its "stepping" in the +timbers of the gig and entirely detached from the broken boat, was seen +drifting at no great distance off, with the yard and sail still adhering +to it. As these were the most important articles of which the +_Catamaran_ had been stripped, there would be no great difficulty in +restoring her to her original entirety. + +Their first effort was to recover some of the oars. This was not +accomplished without a considerable waste of time and a good deal of +exertion. On the dismantled embarkation there was not a stick that +could be used for rowing; and it was necessary to propel it with their +outspread palms. + +During the interval of necessary inaction, the floating fragments of the +wreck had drifted to a considerable distance,--or rather had the raft, +buoyed up by its empty casks, glided past them, and was now several +cable-lengths to leeward. + +They were compelled, therefore, to work up the wind and their progress +was consequently slow,--so slow as to become vexatious. + +Snowball would have leaped overboard, and recovered the oars by +swimming: but the sailor would not listen to this proposal, pointing out +to his sable companion the danger to be apprehended from the presence of +the sharks. The negro made light of this, but his more prudent comrade +restrained him; and they continued patiently to paddle the raft with +their hands. At length a pair of oars were got hold of; and from that +moment the work went briskly on. + +The mast and sail were fished out of the sea and dragged aboard; the +casks of water and wine were once more secured; and the stray implements +were picked up one after another,--all except those of iron, including +the axe, which had gone to the bottom of the Atlantic. + +Their greatest loss had been the chest and its contents. This was +irreparable; and in all probability the precursor of a still more +serious misfortune,--the loss of their lives. + + + +CHAPTER NINETY SIX. + +THE DARKEST HOUR. + +Death in all its dark reality once more stared them in the face. They +were entirely without food. Of all their stores, collected and cured +with so much care and ingenuity, not a morsel remained. Besides what +the chest contained there had been some loose flitches of the dried fish +lying about upon the raft. These had been carried into the boat, and +must have been capsized into the sea. While collecting the other +_debris_, they had looked for them in hopes that some stray pieces might +still be picked up; not one had been found. If they floated at all, +they must have been grabbed by the sharks themselves, or some other +ravenous creatures of the deep. + +Had any such waifs come in their way, the castaways just at that crisis +might not have cared to eat them with the bitterness they must have +derived from their briny immersion; still they knew that in due time +they would get over any daintiness of this kind; and, indeed, before +many hours had elapsed, all four of them began to feel keenly the +cravings of a hunger not likely to refuse the coarsest or most +unpalatable food. Since that hurried retreat from their moorings by the +carcass of the _cachalot_ they had not eaten anything like a regular +meal. + +The series of terrible incidents, so rapidly succeeding one another, +along with the almost continuous exertions they had been compelled to +make, had kept their minds from dwelling upon the condition of their +appetites. They had only snatched a morsel of food at intervals, and +swallowed a mouthful of water. + +Just at the time the last catastrophe occurred they had been intending +to treat themselves to a more ceremonious meal, and were only waiting +until the sail should be set, and the boat gliding along her course, to +enter upon the eating of it. + +This pleasant design had been frustrated by the flukes of the whale; +which, though destroying many other things, had, unfortunately, not +injured their appetites. These were keen enough when they first +reoccupied their old places on the _Catamaran_; but as the day advanced, +and they continued to exert themselves in collecting the fragments of +the wreck, their hunger kept constantly increasing, until all four +experienced that appetite as keenly as they had ever done since the +commencement of their prolonged and perilous "cruise." + +In this half-famished condition it was not likely they should have any +great relish for work; and as soon as they had secured the various +waifs, against the danger of being carried away, they set themselves to +consider what chance they had to provide themselves with a fresh stock +of food. + +Of course their thoughts were directed towards the deep, or rather its +finny denizens. There was nothing else above, beneath, or around them +that could have been coupled with the idea of food. + +Their former success in fishing might have given them confidence,--and +would have done so but for an unfortunate change that had taken place in +their circumstances. + +Their hooks were among the articles now missing. The harpoons which +they had handled with such deadly effect upon the carcass of the +_cachalot_ had been there left,--sticking up out of the back of the dead +leviathan composing that improvised spit erected for roasting the +shark-steaks. In short, every article of iron,--even to their own +knives, which had been thrown loosely into the boat,--was now at the +bottom of the sea. + +There was not a moiety of metal left out of which they could manufacture +a fish-hook; and if there had been it would not have mattered much, +since they could not discover a scrap of meat sufficient to have baited +it. + +There seemed no chance whatever of fishing or obtaining fish in any +fashion; and after turning the subject ever and over in their minds, +they at length relinquished it in despair. + +At this crisis their thoughts reverted to the _cachalot_,--not the live, +leaping leviathan, whose hostile behaviour had so suddenly blighted +their bright prospects; but the dead one, upon whose huge carcass they +had so lately stood. There they might still find food,--more +shark-meat. If not, there was the whale-beef, or blubber: coarse +viands, it is true, but such as may sustain life. Of that there was +enough to have replenished the larder of a whole ship's crew,--of a +squadron! + +It was just possible they could find their way back to it, for the wind, +down which they had been running, was still in the same quarter; and the +whole distance they had made during the night might in time be +recovered. + +At the best, it would have been a difficult undertaking and doubtful of +success, even if there had been no other obstacle than the elements +standing in their way. + +But there was,--one more dreaded than either the opposition of the wind +or the danger of straying from their course. + +In all likelihood their pursuers had returned to the spot which they had +forsaken; and might at that very moment be mooring their craft to the +huge pectoral fin that had carried the cable of the _Catamaran_. + +In view of this probability, the idea of returning to the dead whale was +scarce entertained, or only to be abandoned on the instant. + +Cheerless were the thoughts of the Catamarans as they sat pondering upon +that important question,--how they were to find food,--cheerless as the +clouds of night that were now rapidly descending over the surface of the +sea, and shrouding them in sombre gloom. + +Never before had they felt so dispirited, and yet never had they been so +near being relieved from their misery. It was the darkest hour of their +despondency, and the nearest to their deliverance; as the darkest hour +of the night is that which precedes the day. + + + +CHAPTER NINETY SEVEN. + +A CHEERING CUP. + +They made no attempt to move from the spot upon which the sun saw them +at setting. + +As yet they had not restored the mast with its sail; and they had no +motive for toiling at the oar. All the little way they might make by +rowing was not worth the exertion of making it; and indeed it had now +become a question whether there was any use in attempting to continue +their westward course. There was not the slightest chance of reaching +land before starvation could overtake them; and they might as well +starve where they were. Death in that shape would not be more endurable +in one place than another; and it would make no difference under what +meridian they should depend the last few minutes of their lives. + +Into such a state of mind had these circumstances now reduced them,--a +stupor of despair rather than the calmness of resignation. + +After some time had been passed in this melancholy mood,--passed under +darkness and in sombre silence,--a slight circumstance partially aroused +them. It was the voice of the sailor, proposing "supper!" One hearing +him might have supposed that he too had taken leave of his senses. Not +so, nor did his companions so judge him. They knew what he meant by the +word, and that the assumed tone of cheerfulness in which he pronounced +it had been intended to cheer them. Ben's proposal was not without some +significance; though to call it "supper" of which it was designed they +should partake was making a somewhat figurative use of the phrase. + +No matter; it meant something,--something to supply the place of a +supper,--if not so substantial as they would have wished, at least +something that would not only prolong their lives, but for a while +lighten their oppressed spirits. It meant a cup of Canary. + +They had not forgotten their possession of this. Had they done so, they +might have yielded to even a deeper despair. A small quantity of the +precious grape-juice was still within the cask, safe stowed in its old +locker. They had hitherto abstained from touching it, with the view of +keeping it to the last moment that it could be conveniently hoarded. +That moment seemed to Ben Brace to have arrived, when he proposed a cup +of Canary for their supper. + +Of course no objection was made to a proposition equally agreeable to +all; and the stopper was taken from the cask. + +The little measure of horn, which had been found floating among the +_debris_ of the wrecked gig, was carefully inserted upon its string, +drawn out filled with the sweet wine, and then passed from lip to lip,-- +the pretty lips of the Lilly Lalee being the first to come in contact +with it. + +The "dipping" was several times repeated; and then the stopper was +restored to its place, and without any further ceremony, the "supper" +came to an end. + +Whether from the invigorating effects of the wine, or whether from that +natural reaction of spirits ever consequent on a "spell" of despondency, +both the sailor and Snowball, after closing the cask, began to talk over +plans for the future. Hope, however slight, had once more made entry +into their souls. + +The subject of their discourse was whether they should not forthwith +re-step the mast and set the sail. The night was as dark as pitch, but +that signified little. They could manipulate the "sticks," ropes, and +canvas without light; and as to the lashings that would be required, +there could be no difficulty in making them good, if the night had been +ten times darker than it was. This was a trope used by Snowball on the +occasion, regardless of its physical absurdity. + +One argument which the sailor urged in favour of action was, that by +moving onward they could do no harm. They might as well be in motion as +at rest, since, with the sail as their motive power, it would require no +exertion on their part. Of course this reasoning was purely negative, +and might not have gone far towards convincing the Coromantee,--whose +fatalist tendencies at times strongly inclined him to inaction. But his +comrade backed it by another argument, of a more positive kind, to which +Snowball more readily assented. + +"By keepin' on'ard," said Ben, "we'll be more like to come in sight o' +somethin',--if there be anythin' abroad. Besides, if we lay here like a +log, we'll still be in danger o' them ruffians driftin' down on us. Ye +know they be a win'ard, an' ha' got theer sail set,--that is, if they +bean't gone back to the sparmacety, which I dar say they've done. In +that case there moutn't be much fear o' 'em; but whether or no, it be +best for us to make sure. I say let's set the sail." + +"Berra well, Massa Brace," rejoined the Coromantee, whose opposition had +been only slight. "Dar am troof in wha you hab 'ledged. Ef you say set +de sail, I say de same. Dar am a lubbly breeze bowlum. 'Pose we 'tick +up de mass dis berry instam ob time?" + +"All right!" rejoined the sailor. "Bear a hand, my hearties, and let's +go at it! The sooner we spread the canvas the better." + +No further words passed, except some muttered phrases of direction or +command proceeding from the captain of the _Catamaran_ while engaged +with his crew in stepping the mast. This done, the yard was hauled +"apeak," the "sheets" drawn "taut" and "belayed," and the wet canvas, +spread out once more, became filled with the breeze, and carried the +craft with a singing sound through the water. + + + +CHAPTER NINETY EIGHT. + +A PHANTOM SHIP OR A SHIP ON FIRE? + +With the _Catamaran_ once more under sail, and going on her due course, +her crew might have seemed restored to the situation held by them +previous to their encountering the dead _cachalot_ Unfortunately for +them, this was far from being the case. + +A change for the worse had occurred in their circumstances. Then they +were "victualled"--if not to full rations, at least with stores +calculated to last them for some time. They were provided, moreover, +with certain weapons and implements that might be the means of +replenishing their stores in the event of their falling short. + +Now it was altogether different. The _Catamaran_ was as true and +seaworthy as ever, her "rig" as of yore, and her sailing qualities not +in the least impaired. But her "fitting out" was far inferior, +especially in the "victualling department"; and this weighed heavily +upon the minds of her crew. + +Notwithstanding the depression of their spirits, which soon returned +again, they could not resist an inclination for sleep. It is to be +remembered that they had been deprived of this on the preceding night +through the violence of the gale, and that they had got but very little +on the night before that from being engaged in scorching their +shark-meat. + +Exhausted nature called loudly for repose; and so universally, that the +complete crew yielded to the call, not even one of them remaining in +charge of the helm. + +It had been agreed upon that the craft should be left to choose its own +track; or rather, that which the wind might select for it. + +Guided by the breath of heaven, and by that alone, did the _Catamaran_ +continue her course. + +How much way she made thus left alone to herself is not written down in +her "log." The time alone is recorded; and we are told that it was the +hour of midnight before any individual of her crew awoke from that +slumber, to which "all hands" had surrendered after setting her sail. + +The first of them who awoke was little William. The sailor-lad was not +a heavy sleeper at any time, and on this night in particular his +slumbers had been especially _unsound_. There was trouble on his mind +before going to sleep, an uneasiness of no ordinary kind. It was not +any fear for his own fate. He was a true English tar in miniature, and +could not have been greatly distressed with any apprehensions of a +purely selfish nature. Those that harassed him were caused by his +consideration for another,--for Lilly Lalee. + +For days he had been observing a change in the appearance of the child. +He had noticed the gradual paling of her cheek, and rapid attenuation of +her form,--the natural consequence of such a terrible exposure to one +accustomed all her days to a delicate and luxurious mode of existence. + +On that day in particular, after the fearful shock they had all +sustained, the young Portuguese girl had appeared,--at least, in the +eyes of little William,--more enfeebled than ever; and the boy-sailor +had gone to sleep under a sad foreboding that she would be the first to +succumb,--and that soon,--to the hardships they were called upon to +encounter. + +Little William loved Lilly Lalee with such love as a lad may feel for +one of his own age,--a love perhaps the sweetest in life, if not the +most lasting. + +Inspired by this juvenile passion, and by the apprehensions he had for +its object, the boy-sailor did not sleep very soundly. + +Fortunate that it was so; else that brilliant flame that near the +mid-hours of night glared athwart the deck of the _Catamaran_ might not +have awakened him; and had it not done so, neither he nor his three +companions might ever again have looked upon human face except their +own, and that only to see one another expire in the agonies of death. + +There was a flame far lighting up the sombre surface of the ocean that +shone upon the sleepy Catamarans. Gleaming in the half-closed eye of +the sailor-lad, it awoke him. + +Starting up, he beheld an apparition, which caused him surprise, not +unmingled with alarm. It was a ship beyond doubt,--or the semblance of +one,--but such as the sailor-lad had never before seen. + +She appeared to be on fire. Vast clouds of smoke were rising up from +her decks, and rolling away over her stern, illuminated by columns of +bright flame that jetted up forward of her foremast, almost to the +height of her lower shrouds. No man unaccustomed to such a sight could +have looked upon that ship without supposing that she was on fire. + +Little William should have been able to judge of what he saw. +Unfortunately for himself, the spectacle of a ship on fire was not new +to him. He had witnessed the burning of the bark which had borne him +into the middle of the Atlantic, and left him where he now was, in a +position of extremest peril. + +But the memory of that conflagration did not assist him in determining +the character of the spectacle now before his eyes. On the decks of the +_Pandora_ he had seen men endeavouring to escape from the flames, in +every attitude of wild terror. On the ship now in sight he beheld the +very reverse. He saw human beings standing in front of the column of +fire, not only unconcerned at its proximity, but apparently feeding the +flames! + +It was a spectacle to startle the most experienced mariner, and call +forth the keenest alarm,--a sight to suggest the double +interrogatory,--"Is it a phantom ship, or a ship on fire?" + + + +CHAPTER NINETY NINE. + +A WHALER "TRYING-OUT." + +In making the observations above detailed, the boy-sailor had been +occupied scarce ten seconds of time,--only while his eye took in the +singular spectacle thus abruptly brought before it. He did not stay to +seek out of his own thoughts an answer to the question that suggested +itself; but giving way to the terrified surprise which the apparition +had caused him, he raised a shout which instantly awoke his companions. + +Each of the three, on the instant of their awaking, gave utterance to a +quick cry, but their shouts, although heard simultaneously, were +significant of very different emotions. The cry of the girl was simply +a scream, expressive of the wildest terror. That of Snowball was a +confused mingling of surprise and alarm; while to the astonishment of +William, and the other as well, the utterance of the sailor was a shout +of unrestrained joy, accompanied by the action of suddenly springing to +his feet,--so suddenly that the _Catamaran_ was in danger of being +capsized by the abrupt violence of the movement. + +He did not give them time to ask for an explanation, but on the moment +of getting himself into an erect attitude he commenced a series of +shouts and exclamations, all uttered in the very highest key of which +his voice was capable. + +And among these utterances, and conspicuously intoned, was the +well-known hail, "Ship ahoy!" followed by other nautical phrases, +denoting the recognition of a ship. + +"Golly! it am a ship," interposed Snowball, "a ship on de fire!" + +"No! no!" impatiently answered the ex-whalesman, "nothing o' the sort. +It's a whaler `tryin'-out' her oil. Don't you see the men yonder, +standin' by the try-works, are throwin' in the `scraps'? Lord o' mercy! +if they should pass us without hearing our hail! Ship ahoy! whaler +ahoy!" And the sailor once more put forth his cries with all the power +that lay in his lungs. + +To this was added the stentorian voice of the Coromantee, who, quickly +catching the explanation given by the ex-whalesman, saw the necessity of +making himself heard. + +For some moments the deck of the _Catamaran_ rang with the shouts, "Ship +ahoy!" + +"Whaler ahoy!" that might have been heard far over the ocean,--much +farther than the distance at which the strange vessel appeared to be; +but, to the consternation of those who gave utterance to those cries, no +answer was returned. + +They could now distinctly see the ship, and almost everything aboard of +her; for the two columns of flame rising high in forward of her +foremast, out of the huge double furnace of the "try-works," illuminated +not only the decks of the vessel, but the surface of the sea for miles +around her. + +They could see rolling sternward immense volumes of thick smoke, +gleaming yellow under the light of the blazing fires; and the figures of +men looming like giants in the glare of the garish flames,--some +standing in front of the furnace, others moving about, and actively +engaged in some species of industry, that to the eye of any other than a +whalesman might have appeared supernatural. + +Notwithstanding the distinctness with which they saw all these things, +and the evident proximity of the ship, those on the raft could not make +themselves heard, shout as loudly as they would. + +This might have appeared strange to the Catamarans, and led them to +believe that it was, in reality, a phantom ship they were hailing, and +the gigantic figures they saw were those of spectres instead of men. + +But the experience of the ex-whalesman forbade any such belief. He knew +the ship to be a whaler, the moving forms to be men,--her crew,--and he +knew, moreover, the reason why these had not answered his hail. They +had not heard it. The roaring of the great furnace fires either drowned +or deadened _every_ other sound; even the voices of the whalesmen +themselves, as they stood close to each other. + +Ben Brace remembered all this; and the thought that the ship might pass +them, unheard and unheeded, filled his mind with dread apprehension. + +But for a circumstance in their favour this might have been the +lamentable result. Fortunately, however, there was a circumstance that +led to a more happy termination of that chance encounter of the two +strange crafts,--the _Catamaran_ and the whale-ship. + +The latter, engaged, as appearances indicated, in the process of +"trying-out" the blubber of some whale lately harpooned, was "laying-to" +against the wind; and, of course not making much way, nor caring to make +it, through the water. + +As she was coming up slowly, her head set almost "into the wind's eye," +the Catamarans, well to windward, would have no difficulty in getting +their craft close up to her. + +The sailor was not slow in perceiving their advantageous position; and +as soon as he became satisfied that the distance was too great for their +hail to be heard, he sprang to the steering-oar, turned the helm "hard a +port," and set his craft's head on towards the whaler, as if determined +to run her down. + +In a few seconds the raft was surging along within a cable's length of +the whaler's bows, when the cry of "Ship ahoy!" was once more raised by +both Snowball and the sailor. Though the hail was heard, the reply was +not instantaneous; for the crew of the whale-ship, guided by the shouts +of those on the raft, had looked forth upon the illumined water, and, +seeing such a strange embarkation right under their bows, were for some +moments silent through sheer surprise. + +The ex-whalesman, however, soon made himself intelligible, and in ten +minutes after the crew of the _Catamaran_, instead of shivering in wet +clothes, with hungry stomachs to make them still more miserable, might +have been seen standing in front of an immense fire, with an ample +supply of wholesome food set before them, and surrounded by a score of +rude but honest men, each trying to excel the other in contributing to +their comfort. + + + +CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED. + +THE END OF THE "YARN." + +Ocean Waifs no longer, the crew of the _Catamaran_ became embodied with +that of the ship, and her little passenger found kindness and protection +in the cabin of the whaler. + +The _Catamaran_ herself was not "cut loose" in the nautical sense of the +term, and abandoned, but she was cut loose in a literal sense, and in +pieces hoisted aboard the ship to be employed for various purposes,--her +ropes, spars, and sail to be used at some time as they had been +originally intended--her other timbers to go to the stock of the +carpenter, and her casks to the cooper, to be eventually filled with the +precious sperm-oil which the ship's crew were engaged in trying out. + +The old whalesman was not long aboard before getting confirmed in his +conjecture that the ship was the same whose boats had harpooned and +"drogued" the _cachalot_, the carcass of which had been encountered by +the _Catamaran_. It was one of a large "pod" of whales, of which the +boats had been in pursuit, and these, along with the ship, having +followed its companions to a great distance, and killed several of them +in the chase, had lost all bearings of the one first struck. + +It had been their intention to go in search of it, as soon as they +should try out the others that had been captured; and the information +now given by Ben Brace to the captain of the whaler would enable the +latter the more easily to discover the lost prize, which he estimated at +the value of seventy or eighty barrels of oil, and therefore well worth +the trouble of going back for. On the day after the castaways had been +taken aboard, the whale-ship, having extinguished the fires of her +try-works, started in search of the drogued whale. + +The ex-crew of the _Catamaran_ had by this time given a full account of +their adventures to the whalesmen; at the same time expressing their +belief that the ruffians on the big raft would be found by the carcass +they were in search of. The prospect of such an encounter could not +fail to interest the crew of the whaler; and as they advanced in the +direction in which they expected to find the drogued _cachalot_, all +eyes were bent searchingly upon the sea. + +So far as the dead whale was concerned, they were successful in their +search. Just as the sun was going down, they came in sight of it; and +before the twilight had passed they "hove to" along side of it. The +vast flock of sea birds perched upon the floating mass, and that rose +into the air as the ship approached them, proclaimed the absence of +human beings. The great raft was not there, nor were there any +indications that it had revisited the carcass. On the contrary, that +curious structure, the crane, which the Catamarans had erected on the +summit of the floating mass, was still standing just as they had left +it; only that the flakes of shark's flesh were scorched to the hue and +texture of a cinder, and the fire that had burnt them was no longer +blazing beneath. + +The fate of the slaver's castaway crew did not long remain a mystery. +Three days after, when the carcass of the _cachalot_ had been "flensed" +and tried out, and the whaler had once more proceeded upon her cruise, +she chanced upon a spot where the sea was strewn with a variety of +objects, among which were two or three spars of a ship, and several +empty water-casks. In these objects there was no difficulty in +recognising the wreck of the _Pandora's_ raft, which was drifting at no +great distance from the place where they had been cutting up the +_cachalot_. + +The conclusion was easily arrived at. The gale, which had been +successfully weathered by the carefully constructed _Catamaran_, had +proved too violent for the larger embarkation, loosely lashed together, +and negligently navigated as it was. As a consequence it had gone to +pieces; while the wretches who had occupied it, not having the strength +to cling either to cask or spar, had indubitably gone to the bottom. As +little William afterwards related-- + +"So perished the slaver's crew. Not one of them,--either those in the +gig or on the raft, ever again saw the shore. They perished upon the +face of the wide ocean--miserably perished, without hand to help or eye +to weep over them!" + +In truth did it seem as if their destruction had been an act of the +Omnipotent Himself, to avenge the sable-skinned victims of their +atrocious cruelty! + +Were it our province to write the after history of the Catamarans, we +could promise ourselves a pleasant task, perhaps pleasanter than +recording the cruise of that illustrious craft. + +We have space only to epitomise. The day after setting foot upon the +deck of the whale-ship, Snowball was appointed _chef de caboose_, in +which distinguished office he continued for several years; and only +resigned it to accept of a similar situation on board a fine bark, +commanded by _Captain Benjamin Brace_, engaged in the African trade. +But not _that African trade_ carried on by such ships as the _Pandora_. +No; the merchandise transported in Captain Brace's bark was not black +men, but white ivory, yellow gold-dust, palm-oil, and ostrich-plumes; +and it was said, that, after each "trip" to the African coast, the +master, as well as owner, of this richly laden bark, was accustomed to +make a trip to the Bank of England, and there deposit a considerable sum +of money. + +After many years spent thus professionally, and with continued success, +the _ci-devant_ whalesman, man-o'-war's-man, ex-captain of the +_Catamaran_, and master of the African trader, retired from active life; +and, anchored in a snug craft in the shape of a Hampstead Heath villa, +is now enjoying his pipe, his glass of grog, and his _otium cum +dignitate_. + +As for "Little William," he in turn ceased to be known by this +designation. It was no longer appropriate when he became the captain of +a first-class clipper-ship in the East Indian trade,--standing upon his +own quarter-deck full six feet in his shoes, and finely proportioned at +that,--so well as to both face and figure, that he had no difficulty in +getting "spliced" to a wife that dearly loved him. + +She was a very beautiful woman, with a noble round eye, jet black waving +hair, and a deep brunette complexion. Many of his acquaintances were +under the impression that she had Oriental blood in her veins, and that +he had brought her home from India on one of his return voyages from +that country. Those more intimate with him could give a different +account,--one received from himself; and which told them that his wife +was a native of Africa, of Portuguese extraction, and that her name was +_Lalee_. + +They had heard, moreover, that his first acquaintance with her had +commenced on board a slave bark; and that their friendship as +children,--afterwards ripening into love,--had been cemented while both +were castaways upon a raft--Ocean Waifs in the middle of the Atlantic. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ocean Waifs, by Mayne Reid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OCEAN WAIFS *** + +***** This file should be named 27982.txt or 27982.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/8/27982/ + +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. 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