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diff --git a/42409.txt b/42409.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bc6f07c..0000000 --- a/42409.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11499 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sea Stories, by Various - -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: Sea Stories - -Author: Various - -Editor: Cyrus Townsend Brady - -Release Date: March 25, 2013 [EBook #42409] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SEA STORIES *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: The Merchantman and the Pirate] - - - - - Young Folks' Library in Twenty Volumes - Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Editor-in-Chief - - - SEA STORIES - - EDITED BY - - CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY - - - BOSTON - HALL AND LOCKE COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - - Copyright, 1902, - By HALL & LOCKE COMPANY. - Boston, U.S.A. - - Stanhope Press - P. H. GILSON COMPANY - BOSTON, U.S.A. - - - - - TABLE OF CONTENTS - - List of Colored Illustrations - - Yarns of the Forecastle, By the Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady. - - The Mutiny of the Bounty, From Chambers's Miscellany. - - Our First Whale, By F. T. Bullen. - - Going to Sea a Hundred Years Ago, By R. J. Cleveland. - - The Escape of the American Frigate Alliance, By J. Fenimore Cooper. - - Among the Ice Floes, By J. Fenimore Cooper. - - A Tornado at Sea, By George Cupples. - - My First Voyage, By R. H. Dana, Jr. - - Running Away to Sea, By Daniel Defoe. - - The Tempest, By Charles Dickens. - - A Struggle with a Devil Fish, By Victor Hugo. - - The Man and the Cannon, By Victor Hugo. - - A Ship on Fire at Sea, By Jean Ingelow. - - In the Gulf Stream, By Charles Kingsley. - - The Loss of the Royal George, By W. H. G. Kingston. - - Sailors' Yarns, By Pierre Loti. - - Equality at Sea, By Captain F. Marryat. - - The Club-Hauling of the Diomede, By Captain F. Marryat. - - The Chase, By Herman Melville. - - Rounding Cape Horn, By Herman Melville. - - The Merchantman and the Pirate, By Charles Reade. - - A Gale of Wind, By W. Clark Russell. - - Saved, By W. Clark Russell. - - The Capture of the Cotton Ship, By Michael Scott. - - The Cruise of the Coracle, By R. L. Stevenson. - - Landing on the Island, By Jean Rudolf Wyss. - - Biographical Notes - - Suggestions for Supplementary Reading - - - - - LIST OF COLORED ILLUSTRATIONS - - The Fight between the Merchantman and the Pirate - - "He Lifted His Lance and Hurled It at the Visitor" - - "The Two Frigates Grappled" - - "The Vessel Continued in Pursuit, Changing Her Course as We - Changed Ours" - - The Contest between Gun and Gunner - - "The Ship ... Went Completely Over" - - "By this Time all Eyes were Turned upon Her" - - And Eighty-six Black and White Illustrations in the Text. - - - - - YARNS OF THE FORECASTLE - - BY - - CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY - - -Most of us have passed through a period of life during which we have -ardently longed to be, if not actually a rover, a buccaneer, or a -pirate, at least and really a sailor! To run away to sea has been the -misdirected ambition of many a youngster, and some lads there are who -have realized their desire to their sorrow. The boy who has not -cherished in his heart and exhibited in his actions at sometime or -other during his youthful days, a love of ships and salt water, is fit -for--well, he is fit for the shore, and that is the worst thing a -sailor could say about him! - -The virile nations, the strong peoples, are those whose countries -border on the sea. They who go down to the great deep in ships are -they who master the world. On the ocean as well as on the mountain top -dwells the spirit of freedom. When men have struggled with each other -in the shock of war, or the emulation of peace, when they have matched -skill against skill, strength to strength, courage with courage, the -higher quality of manhood in each instance has been required upon the -sea; for there the sharp contention has been not only between man and -man but between nature and man as well. A double portion of heroic -spirit is needed to meet the double demand. That is the reason we love -the sea. It is this Homeric spirit of the Ocean Masters that fills the -dreams of youth and stirs the memories of old age. - -In these dreams and memories the veriest boy catches glimpses of the -perpetual Titanic struggle of, and on, the deep; dimly discerning in -his youthful way, a thousand generations of heroic achievement before, -and through which, he begins to be; and he realizes that the ocean -affords such a field for the exhibition of every high quality that -goes to make a man as may be found nowhere else. The deck of the ship -is the arena upon which he can play a mighty part, and he loves it. In -imagination the boy now discovers a new world, like Columbus and -America; in dreams he opens a vast empire to civilization, like Perry -in Japan; sometimes he fights the battles of the free, like Nelson at -Trafalgar; or he strikes for his own flag on the decks of some gallant -_Constitution_. If he be a sportsman, he may pursue the great fighting -sperm-whale, or angle for "Jack Sharkee;" if an adventurer, he may -seek to pierce the icy barrier of mystery ringed about that polar star -by which he guides his ship; if a trader, he may visit strange lands -and seek new markets for his product; if a missionary, he may carry -his gospel of good tidings to dark peoples, ignorant of the meaning of -that southern cross which flashes in splendor above them in the -midnight heavens, and tell to them the story of the Ruler of the deep. -Wherever men achieve and do, wherever nations grow and prosper, they -have a mastery of the sea. - -In these pages are gathered stories of the heroes of peace, not less -kings of the sea than those who have startled the mighty depths with -the thunder of their war-ship guns. The freshness, the freedom of it, -the joy and delight, the calm and rest, the strenuous life, the labor -and sorrow, the peril and danger, the reward and success, all are -here. We turn back some hundred years to go a-cruising with Cleveland. -We hunt the cachelot with Bullen. Our own Cooper takes us breathless -with the romantic Pilot over the dangers of the Devil's Grip. Under -the Antarctic Circle we watch the sea lions play. Here a mighty -monster of the hideous depths seems to spread its tentacles across the -printed page in a struggle which Victor Hugo immortalizes. Flame and -smoke are those deadliest of perils to ships toward which gentle Jean -Ingelow conducts us. The sudden mutiny, the long cruise in the small -boat, the lonely islet affording the shipwrecked a haven, appeal to us -in these pages. We drift through the teeming waters of the Gulf -Stream. Daniel DeFoe, and Melville and Marryat and Cupples and Russell -and Kingston, unroll before us the panorama of the ocean. There are -also men great in other fields of letters who have felt the witchery -of the sea and tell us what it says to them--Charles Dickens, Pierre -Loti, Stevenson, Charles Reade, and Kingsley. - -We envy the boy or girl who reads these tales for the first time. Fain -would we again enjoy such a happy privilege. And our envy deepens when -we think of the wide range of literature to which this volume will -introduce them. Lucky young people who open such pages for a first -glance! - - Cyrus Townsend Brady - -Philadelphia, Penna. -December 20th, 1901. - - - - - A BOOK OF SEA STORIES - - - - - NARRATIVE OF THE MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY - - (From Chambers's Miscellany.) - - -About the year 1786, the merchants and planters interested in the West -India Islands became anxious to introduce an exceedingly valuable -plant, the bread-fruit tree, into these possessions, and as this could -best be done by a government expedition, a request was preferred to -the crown accordingly. The ministry at the time being favorable to the -proposed undertaking, a vessel, named the Bounty, was selected to -execute the desired object. To the command of this ship Captain W. -Bligh was appointed, Aug. 16, 1787. The burden of the Bounty was -nearly two hundred and fifteen tons. The establishment of men and -officers for the ship was as follows:--1 lieutenant to command, 1 -master, 1 boatswain, 1 gunner, 1 carpenter, 1 surgeon, 2 master's -mates, 2 midshipmen, 2 quarter-masters, 1 quarter-master's mate, 1 -boatswain's mate, 1 gunner's mate, 1 carpenter's mate, 1 carpenter's -crew, 1 sailmaker, 1 armorer, 1 corporal, 1 clerk and steward, 23 able -seamen--total, 44. The addition of two men appointed to take care of -the plants, made the whole ship's crew amount to 46. The ship was -stored and victualled for eighteen months. - -Thus prepared, the Bounty set sail on the 23d of December, and what -ensued will be best told in the language of Captain Bligh. - -_Monday, 27th April 1789._--The wind being northerly in the evening, we -steered to the westward, to pass to the south of Tofoa. I gave -directions for this course to be continued during the night. The -master had the first watch, the gunner the middle watch, and Mr. -Christian the morning watch. - -_Tuesday, 28th._--Just before sunrising, while I was yet asleep, Mr. -Christian, with the master-at-arms, gunner's mate, and Thomas Burkitt, -seaman, came into my cabin, and seizing me, tied my hands with a cord -behind my back, threatening me with instant death if I spoke or made -the least noise. I, however, called as loud as I could, in hopes of -assistance; but they had already secured the officers who were not of -their party, by placing sentinels at their doors. There were three men -at my cabin door, besides the four within; Christian had only a -cutlass in his hand, the others had muskets and bayonets. I was pulled -out of bed, and forced on deck in my shirt, suffering great pain from -the tightness with which they had tied my hands. I demanded the reason -of such violence, but received no other answer than abuse for not -holding my tongue. The master, the gunner, the surgeon, Mr. -Elphinstone, master's mate, and Nelson, were kept confined below, and -the fore-hatchway was guarded by sentinels. The boatswain and -carpenter, and also the clerk, Mr. Samuel, were allowed to come upon -deck. The boatswain was ordered to hoist the launch out, with a threat -if he did not do it instantly to take care of himself. - -When the boat was out, Mr. Hayward and Mr. Hallett, two of the -midshipmen, and Mr. Samuel, were ordered into it. I demanded what -their intention was in giving this order, and endeavored to persuade -the people near me not to persist in such acts of violence; but it was -to no effect. Christian changed the cutlass which he had in his hand -for a bayonet that was brought to him, and holding me with a strong -grip by the cord that tied my hands, he with many oaths threatened to -kill me immediately if I would not be quiet; the villains round me had -their pieces cocked and bayonets fixed. Particular people were called -on to go into the boat, and were hurried over the side, whence I -concluded that with these people I was to be set adrift. I therefore -made another effort to bring about a change, but with no other effect -than to be threatened with having my brains blown out. - -The boatswain and seamen who were to go in the boat were allowed to -collect twine, canvas, lines, sails, cordage, an eight-and-twenty-gallon -cask of water, and Mr. Samuel got a hundred and fifty pounds of bread, -with a small quantity of rum and wine, also a quadrant and compass; -but he was forbidden, on pain of death, to touch either map, ephemeris, -book of astronomical observations, sextant, time-keeper, or any of my -surveys or drawings. - -The officers were next called upon deck, and forced over the side into -the boat, while I was kept apart from every one abaft the mizzen-mast. - -Isaac Martin, one of the guard over me, I saw had an inclination to -assist me, and, as he fed me with shaddock (my lips being quite -parched), we explained our wishes to each other by our looks; but this -being observed, Martin was removed from me. He then attempted to leave -the ship, for which purpose he got into the boat; but with many -threats they obliged him to return. The armorer, Joseph Coleman, and -two of the carpenters, M'Intosh and Norman, were also kept contrary to -their inclination; and they begged of me, after I was astern in the -boat, to remember that they declared that they had no hand in the -transaction. Michael Byrne, I am told, likewise wanted to leave the -ship. - -It appeared to me that Christian was some time in doubt whether he -should keep the carpenter or his mates; at length he determined on the -latter, and the carpenter was ordered into the boat. He was permitted, -but not without some opposition, to take his tool-chest. The officers -and men being in the boat, they only waited for me, of which the -master-at-arms informed Christian; who then said, "Come, Captain -Bligh, your officers and men are now in the boat, and you must go with -them; if you attempt to make the least resistance, you will instantly -be put to death:" and without further ceremony, with a tribe of armed -ruffians about me, I was forced over the side, where they untied my -hands. Being in the boat, we were veered astern by a rope. A few -pieces of pork were thrown to us, and some clothes, also four -cutlasses; and it was then that the armorer and carpenters called out -to me to remember that they had no hand in the transaction. After -having undergone a great deal of ridicule, and having been kept some -time to make sport for these unfeeling wretches, we were at length -cast adrift in the open ocean. - -I had eighteen persons with me in the boat. There remained on board -the Bounty twenty-five hands, the most able men of the ship's company. -Having little or no wind, we rowed pretty fast towards Tofoa, which -bore north-east about ten leagues from us. While the ship was in -sight, she steered to the west-north-west; but I considered this only -as a feint; for when we were sent away, "Huzza for Otaheite!" was -frequently heard among the mutineers. - -It will very naturally be asked, What could be the reason for such a -revolt? In answer to which, I can only conjecture that the mutineers -had flattered themselves with the hopes of a more happy life among the -Otaheitans than they could possibly enjoy in England; and this, joined -to some female connections, most probably occasioned the whole -transaction. The women at Otaheite are handsome, mild and cheerful in -their manners and conversation, possessed of great sensibility, and -have sufficient delicacy to make them admired and beloved. The chiefs -were so much attached to our people, that they rather encouraged their -stay among them than otherwise, and even made them promises of large -possessions. Under these, and many other attendant circumstances -equally desirable, it is now perhaps not so much to be wondered at, -though scarcely possible to have been foreseen, that a set of sailors, -most of them void of connections, should be led away: especially when, -in addition to such powerful inducements, they imagined it in their -power to fix themselves in the midst of plenty, on one of the finest -islands in the world, where they need not labor, and where the -allurements of dissipation are beyond anything that can be conceived. - - -FATE OF THE CASTAWAYS. - -My first determination was to seek a supply of breadfruit and water at -Tofoa, and afterwards to sail for Tongataboo, and there risk a -solicitation to Poulaho, the king, to equip our boat, and grant us a -supply of water and provisions, so as to enable us to reach the East -Indies. The quantity of provisions I found in the boat was a hundred -and fifty pounds of bread, sixteen pieces of pork, each piece weighing -two pounds, six quarts of rum, six bottles of wine, with twenty-eight -gallons of water, and four empty barrecoes. - -We got to Tofoa when it was dark, but found the shore so steep and -rocky that we could not land. We were obliged, therefore, to remain -all night in the boat, keeping it on the lee-side of the island, with -two oars. Next day (Wednesday, April 29) we found a cove, where we -landed. I observed the latitude of this cove to be 19 degrees 41 -minutes south. This is the northwest part of Tofoa, the -north-westernmost of the Friendly Islands. As I was resolved to spare -the small stock of provisions we had in the boat, we endeavored to -procure something towards our support on the island itself. For two -days we ranged through the island in parties, seeking for water, and -anything in the shape of provisions, subsisting, meanwhile, on morsels -of what we had brought with us. The island at first seemed -uninhabited, but on Friday, May 1, one of our exploring parties met -with two men, a woman, and a child: the men came with them to the -cove, and brought two cocoa-nut shells of water. I endeavored to make -friends of these people, and sent them away for bread-fruit, -plantains, and water. Soon after, other natives came to us; and by -noon there were thirty about us, from whom we obtained a small supply. -I was much puzzled in what manner to account to the natives for the -loss of my ship: I knew they had too much sense to be amused with a -story that the ship was to join me, when she was not in sight from the -hills. I was at first doubtful whether I should tell the real fact, or -say that the ship had overset and sunk, and that we only were saved: -the latter appeared to be the most proper and advantageous for us, and -I accordingly instructed my people, that we might all agree in one -story. As I expected, inquiries were made about the ship, and they -seemed readily satisfied with our account; but there did not appear -the least symptom of joy or sorrow in their faces, although I fancied -I discovered some marks of surprise. Some of the natives were coming -and going the whole afternoon. - -Towards evening, I had the satisfaction to find our stock of -provisions somewhat increased; but the natives did not appear to have -much to spare. What they brought was in such small quantities, that I -had no reason to hope we should be able to procure from them -sufficient to stock us for our voyage. At night, I served a quarter of -a bread-fruit and a cocoa-nut to each person for supper; and a good -fire being made, all but the watch went to sleep. - -_Saturday, 2d._--As there was no certainty of our being supplied with -water by the natives, I sent a party among the gullies in the -mountains, with empty shells, to see what could be found. In their -absence the natives came about us, as I expected, and in greater -numbers; two canoes also came in from round the north side of the -island. In one of them was an elderly chief, called Macca-ackavow. -Soon after, some of our foraging party returned, and with them came a -good-looking chief, called Egijeefow, or Eefow. - -Their affability was of short duration, for the natives began to -increase in number, and I observed some symptoms of a design against -us. Soon after, they attempted to haul the boat on shore, on which I -brandished my cutlass in a threatening manner, and spoke to Eefow to -desire them to desist; which they did, and everything became quiet -again. My people, who had been in the mountains, now returned with -about three gallons of water. I kept buying up the little bread-fruit -that was brought to us, and likewise some spears to arm my men with, -having only four cutlasses, two of which were in the boat. As we had -no means of improving our situation, I told our people I would wait -till sunset, by which time, perhaps, something might happen in our -favor; for if we attempted to go at present, we must fight our way -through, which we could do more advantageously at night; and that, in -the meantime, we would endeavor to get off to the boat what we had -bought. The beach was lined with the natives, and we heard nothing but -the knocking of stones together, which they had in each hand. I knew -very well this was the sign of an attack. At noon I served a cocoa-nut -and a bread-fruit to each person for dinner, and gave some to the -chiefs, with whom I continued to appear intimate and friendly. They -frequently importuned me to sit down, but I as constantly refused; for -it occurred both to Nelson and myself that they intended to seize hold -of me, if I gave them such an opportunity. Keeping, therefore, -constantly on our guard, we were suffered to eat our uncomfortable -meal in some quietness. - -After dinner, we began, by little and little, to get our things into -the boat, which was a troublesome business, on account of the surf. I -carefully watched the motions of the natives, who continued to -increase in number; and found that, instead of their intention being -to leave us, fires were made, and places fixed on for their stay -during the night. Consultations were also held among them, and -everything assured me we should be attacked. I sent orders to the -master that, when he saw us coming down, he should keep the boat close -to the shore, that we might the more readily embark. - -The sun was near setting when I gave the word, on which every person -who was on shore with me boldly took up his proportion of things and -carried them to the boat. The chiefs asked me if I would not stay with -them all night. I said "No, I never sleep out of my boat; but in the -morning we will again trade with you, and I shall remain till the -weather is moderate, that we may go, as we have agreed, to see -Poulaho, at Tongataboo." Macca-ackavow then got up and said, "You will -not sleep on shore, then, Mattie?" (which directly signifies, we will -kill you); and he left me. The onset was now preparing: every one, as -I have described before, kept knocking stones together; and Eefow -quitted me. All but two or three things were in the boat, when we -walked down the beach, every one in a silent kind of horror. We all -got into the boat except one man, who, while I was getting on board, -quitted it, and ran up the beach to cast the sternfast off, -notwithstanding the master and others called to him to return, while -they were hauling me out of the water. - -I was no sooner in the boat than the attack began by about two hundred -men; the unfortunate poor man who had run up the beach was knocked -down, and the stones flew like a shower of shot. Many Indians got hold -of the stern rope, and were near hauling the boat on shore, which they -would certainly have effected, if I had not had a knife in my pocket, -with which I cut the rope. We then hauled off to the grapnel, every -one being more or less hurt. At this time I saw five of the natives -about the poor man they had killed, and two of them were beating him -about the head with stones in their hands. - -We had no time to reflect, for, to my surprise, they filled their -canoes with stones, and twelve men came off after us to renew the -attack; which they did so effectually, as to nearly disable us all. We -were obliged to sustain the attack without being able to return it, -except with such stones as lodged in the boat. I adopted the expedient -of throwing overboard some clothes, which, as I expected, they stopped -to pick up; and as it was by this time almost dark, they gave over the -attack, and returned towards the shore, leaving us to reflect on our -unhappy situation. - -The poor man killed by the natives was John Norton: this was his -second voyage with me as a quarter-master, and his worthy character -made me lament his loss very much. He has left an aged parent, I am -told, whom he supported. - -We set our sails, and steered along shore by the west side of the -island of Tofoa, the wind blowing fresh from the eastward. My mind was -employed in considering what was best to be done, when I was solicited -by all hands to take them towards home; and when I told them that no -hopes of relief for us remained, except what might be found at New -Holland, till I came to Timor, a distance of full twelve hundred -leagues, where there was a Dutch settlement, but in what part of the -island I knew not, they all agreed to live on one ounce of bread and a -quarter of a pint of water per day. Therefore, after examining our -stock of provisions, and recommending to them, in the most solemn -manner, not to depart from their promise, we bore away across a sea -where the navigation is but little known, in a small boat, -twenty-three feet long from stem to stern, deep laden with eighteen -men. I was happy, however, to see that every one seemed better -satisfied with our situation than myself. - -Our stock of provisions consisted of about one hundred and fifty -pounds of bread, twenty-eight gallons of water, twenty pounds of pork, -three bottles of wine, and five quarts of rum. The difference between -this and the quantity we had on leaving the ship was principally owing -to our loss in the bustle and confusion of the attack. A few -cocoa-nuts were in the boat, and some bread-fruit, but the latter was -trampled to pieces. - -_Sunday, 3d._--At daybreak the gale increased; the sun rose very fiery -and red--a sure indication of a severe gale of wind. At eight it blew a -violent storm, and the sea ran very high, so that between the seas the -sail was becalmed, and when on the top of the sea, it was too much to -have set; but we could not venture to take in the sail, for we were in -very imminent danger and distress, the sea curling over the stern of -the boat, which obliged us to bail with all our might. A situation -more distressing has perhaps seldom been experienced. - -Our bread was in bags, and in danger of being spoiled by the wet: to -be starved to death was inevitable, if this could not be prevented. I -therefore began to examine what clothes there were in the boat, and -what other things could be spared; and having determined that only two -suits should be kept for each person, the rest was thrown overboard, -with some rope and spare sails, which lightened the boat considerably, -and we had more room to bail the water out. - -Fortunately the carpenter had good chest in the boat, in which we -secured the bread the first favorable moment. His tool-chest also was -cleared, and the tools stowed in the bottom of the boat, so that this -became a second convenience. - -I served a teaspoonful of rum to each person (for we were very wet and -cold), with a quarter of a breadfruit, which was scarce eatable, for -dinner. Our engagement was now strictly to be carried into execution, -and I was fully determined to make our provisions last eight weeks, -let the daily proportion be ever so small. - -_Monday, 4th._--At daylight our limbs were so benumbed, that we could -scarcely find the use of them. At this time I served a teaspoonful of -rum to each person, from which we all found great benefit. Just before -noon, we discovered a small flat island, of a moderate height, bearing -west-south-west four or five leagues. I observed our latitude to be 18 -degrees 58 minutes south; our longitude was, by account, 3 degrees 4 -minutes west from the island of Tofoa, having made a north 72 degrees -west course, distance ninety-five miles, since yesterday noon. I -divided five small cocoa-nuts for our dinner, and every one was -satisfied. During the rest of that day we discovered ten or twelve -other islands, none of which we approached. At night I served a few -broken pieces of bread-fruit for supper, and performed prayers. - -_Tuesday, 5th._--The night having been fair, we awoke after a tolerable -rest, and contentedly breakfasted on a few pieces of yams that were -found in the boat. After breakfast we examined our bread, a great deal -of which was damaged and rotten; this, nevertheless, we were glad to -keep for use. We passed two islands in the course of the day. For -dinner I served some of the damaged bread, and a quarter of a pint of -water. - -_Wednesday, 6th._--We still kept our course in the direction of the -North of New Holland, passing numerous islands of various sizes, at -none of which I ventured to land. Our allowance for the day was a -quarter of a pint of cocoa-nut milk, and the meat, which did not -exceed two ounces to each person. It was received very contentedly, -but we suffered great drought. To our great joy we hooked a fish, but -we were miserably disappointed by its being lost in trying to get it -into the boat. - -As our lodgings were very miserable, and confined for want of room, I -endeavored to remedy the latter defect by putting ourselves at watch -and watch; so that one-half always sat up while the other lay down on -the boat's bottom, or upon a chest, with nothing to cover us but the -heavens. Our limbs were dreadfully cramped, for we could not stretch -them out; and the nights were so cold, and we so constantly wet, that, -after a few hours' sleep, we could scarcely move. - -_Thursday, 7th._--Being very wet and cold, I served a spoonful of rum -and a morsel of bread for breakfast. We still kept sailing among the -islands, from one of which two large canoes put out in chase of us; -but we left them behind. Whether these canoes had any hostile -intention against us must remain a doubt: perhaps we might have -benefited by an intercourse with them; but, in our defenceless -situation, to have made the experiment would have been risking too -much. - -I imagine these to be the islands called Feejee, as their extent, -direction, and distance from the Friendly Islands answer to the -description given of them by those islanders. Heavy rain came on at -four o'clock, when every person did their utmost to catch some water, -and we increased our stock to thirty-four gallons, besides quenching -our thirst for the first time since we had been at sea; but an -attendant consequence made us pass the night very miserably, for, -being extremely wet, and having no dry things to shift or cover us, we -experienced cold shiverings scarcely to be conceived. Most fortunately -for us, the forenoon, Friday 8th, turned out fair, and we stripped and -dried our clothes. The allowance I issued to-day was an ounce and a -half of pork, a teaspoonful of rum, half a pint of cocoa-nut milk, and -an ounce of bread. The rum, though so small in quantity, was of the -greatest service. A fishing-line was generally towing from the stern -of the boat, but though we saw great numbers of fish, we could never -catch one. - -In the afternoon we cleaned out the boat, and it employed us till -sunset to get everything dry and in order. Hitherto I had issued the -allowance by guess, but I now made a pair of scales with two cocoa-nut -shells, and having accidentally some pistol-balls in the boat, -twenty-five of which weighed one pound, or sixteen ounces, I adopted -one[1] as the proportion of weight that each person should receive of -bread at the times I served it. I also amused all hands with -describing the situation of New Guinea and New Holland, and gave them -every information in my power, that, in case any accident happened to -me, those who survived might have some idea of what they were about, -and be able to find their way to Timor, which at present they knew -nothing of more than the name, and some not even that. At night I -served a quarter of a pint of water and half an ounce of bread for -supper. - -[Footnote 1: It weighed 272 grains.] - -_Saturday, 9th._--About nine in the evening the clouds began to gather, -and we had a prodigious fall of rain, with severe thunder and -lightning. By midnight we caught about twenty gallons of water. Being -miserably wet and cold, I served to the people a teaspoonful of rum -each, to enable them to bear with their distressed situation. The -weather continued extremely bad, and the wind increased; we spent a -very miserable night, without sleep, except such as could be got in -the midst of rain. The day brought no relief but its light. The sea -broke over us so much, that two men were constantly bailing; and we -had no choice how to steer, being obliged to keep before the waves, -for fear of the boat filling. - -The allowance now regularly served to each person was 1-25th of a -pound of bread, and a quarter of a pint of water, at eight in the -morning, at noon, and at sunset. To-day I gave about half an ounce of -pork for dinner, which, though any moderate person would have -considered only as a mouthful, was divided into three or four. - -All Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the wet -weather continued, with heavy seas and squalls. As there was no -prospect of getting our clothes dried, my plan was to make every one -strip, and wring them through the salt water, by which means they -received a warmth that, while wet with rain, they could not have. We -were constantly shipping seas and bailing, and were very wet and cold -during the night. The sight of the islands which we were always -passing served only to increase the misery of our situation. We were -very little better than starving, with plenty in view; yet to attempt -procuring any relief was attended with so much danger, that prolonging -of life, even in the midst of misery, was thought preferable, while -there remained hopes of being able to surmount our hardships. For my -own part, I consider the general run of cloudy and wet weather to be a -blessing of Providence. Hot weather would have caused us to have died -with thirst, and probably being so constantly covered with rain or sea -protected us from that dreadful calamity. - -_Saturday, 16th._--The sun breaking out through the clouds gave us -hopes of drying our wet clothes; but the sunshine was of short -duration. We had strong breezes at south-east by south, and dark -gloomy weather, with storms of thunder, lightning, and rain. The night -was truly horrible, and not a star to be seen, so that our steerage -was uncertain. - -_Sunday, 17th._--At dawn of day I found every person complaining, and -some of them solicited extra allowance, which I positively refused. -Our situation was miserable; always wet, and suffering extreme cold -during the night, without the least shelter from the weather. Being -constantly obliged to bail, to keep the boat from filling, was perhaps -not to be reckoned an evil, as it gave us exercise. - -The little rum we had was of great service. When our nights were -particularly distressing, I generally served a teaspoonful or two to -each person; and it was always joyful tidings when they heard of my -intentions. - -The night was dark and dismal, the sea constantly breaking over us, -and nothing but the wind and waves to direct our steerage. It was my -intention, if possible, to make to New Holland, to the southward of -Endeavor Straits, being sensible that it was necessary to preserve -such a situation as would make a southerly wind a fair one; that we -might range along the reefs till an opening should be found into -smooth water, and we the sooner be able to pick up some refreshments. - -Monday and Tuesday were terrible days, heavy rain with lightning. We -were always bailing. On Wednesday the 20th, at dawn of day, some of my -people seemed half dead. Our appearance was horrible, and I could look -no way but I caught the eye of some one in distress. Extreme hunger -was now too evident; but no one suffered from thirst, nor had we much -inclination to drink--that desire, perhaps, being satisfied through the -skin. The little sleep we got was in the midst of water, and we -constantly awoke with severe cramps and pains in our bones. - -Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, we were in the same distressed -condition, and I began to fear that such another night or two would -put an end to us. On Saturday, however, the wind moderated in the -evening, and the weather looked much better, which rejoiced all hands, -so that they ate their scanty allowance with more satisfaction than -for some time past. The night also was fair; but being always wet with -the sea, we suffered much from the cold. - -_Sunday, 24th._--A fine morning, I had the pleasure to see produce some -cheerful countenances; and the first time, for fifteen days past, we -experienced comfort from the warmth of the sun. We stripped, and hung -our clothes up to dry, which were by this time become so threadbare, -that they would not keep out either wet or cold. - -This afternoon we had many birds about us which are never seen far -from land, such as boobies and noddies. As the sea began to run fair, -and we shipped but little water, I took the opportunity to examine -into the state of our bread, and found that, according to the present -mode of issuing, there was a sufficient quantity remaining for -twenty-nine days' allowance, by which time I hoped we should be able -to reach Timor; but as this was very uncertain, and it was possible -that, after all, we might be obliged to go to Java, I determined to -proportion the allowance so as to make our stock hold out six weeks. I -was apprehensive that this would be ill received, and that it would -require my utmost resolution to enforce it; for small as the quantity -was which I intended to take away for our future good, yet it might -appear to my people like robbing them of life; and some, who were less -patient than their companions, I expected would very ill brook it. -However, on my representing the necessity of guarding against delays -that might be occasioned in our voyage by contrary winds or other -causes, and promising to enlarge upon the allowance as we got on, they -cheerfully agreed to my proposal. It was accordingly settled that -every person should receive 1-25th of a pound of bread for breakfast, -and the same quantity for dinner; so that, by omitting the proportion -for supper, we had forty-three days' allowance. - -_Monday, 25th._--At noon some noddies came so near to us, that one of -them was caught by hand. This bird was about the size of a small -pigeon. I divided it, with its entrails, into eighteen portions, and -by a well-known method at sea, of "Who shall have this?"[2] it was -distributed, with the allowance of bread and water for dinner, and ate -up, bones and all, with salt water for sauce. I observed the latitude -13 degrees 32 minutes south; longitude made 35 degrees 19 minutes -west; course north 89 degrees west, distance one hundred and eight -miles. - -[Footnote 2: One person turns his back on the object that is to be -divided; another then points separately to the portions, at each of -them asking aloud, "Who shall have this?" to which the first answers -by naming somebody. This impartial method of division gives every man -an equal chance of the best share.] - -In the evening, several boobies flying very near to us, we had the -good fortune to catch one of them. This bird is as large as a duck. I -directed the bird to be killed for supper, and the blood to be given -to three of the people who were most distressed for want of food. The -body, with the entrails, beak, and feet, I divided into eighteen -shares, and, with an allowance of bread, which I made a merit of -granting, we made a good supper, compared with our usual fare. - -Sailing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I at length became -satisfied that we were approaching New Holland. This was actually the -case; and after passing the reefs which bound that part of the coast, -we found ourselves in smooth water. Two islands lay about four miles -to the west by north, and appeared eligible for a resting-place, if -for nothing more; but on our approach to the nearest island, it proved -to be only a heap of stones, and its size too inconsiderable to -shelter the boat. We therefore proceeded to the next, which was close -to it, and towards the main. We landed to examine if there were any -signs of the natives being near us: we saw some old fireplaces, but -nothing to make me apprehend that this would be an unsafe situation -for the night. Every one was anxious to find something to eat, and it -was soon discovered that there were oysters on these rocks, for the -tide was out; but it was nearly dark, and only a few could be -gathered. I determined, therefore, to wait till the morning, when I -should know better how to proceed. - -_Friday, 29th._--As there were no appearances to make me imagine that -any of the natives were near us, I sent out parties in search of -supplies, while others of the people were putting the boat in order. -The parties returned, highly rejoiced at having found plenty of -oysters and fresh water. I had also made a fire by the help of a small -magnifying glass; and, what was still more fortunate, we found among a -few things which had been thrown into the boat, and saved, a piece of -brimstone and a tinder-box, so that I secured fire for the future. - -One of the people had been so provident as to bring away with him from -the ship a copper pot: by being in possession of this article, we were -enabled to make a proper use of the supply we now obtained; for, with -a mixture of bread, and a little pork, we made a stew that might have -been relished by people of far more delicate appetites, and of which -each person received a full pint. The general complaints of disease -among us were a dizziness in the head, great weakness of the joints, -and violent tenesmus. - -The oysters which we found grew so fast to the rocks, that it was with -difficulty they could be broken off, and at length we discovered it to -be the most expeditious way to open them where they were fixed. They -were of a good size, and well tasted. To add to this happy -circumstance, in the hollow of the land there grew some wire-grass, -which indicated a moist situation. On forcing a stick about three feet -long into the ground, we found water, and with little trouble dug a -well, which produced as much as our necessities required. - -As the day was the anniversary of the restoration of King Charles II., -I named the island Restoration Island. Our short stay there, with the -supplies which it afforded us, made a visible alteration for the -better in our appearance. Next day, Saturday the 30th, at four -o'clock, we were preparing to embark, when about twenty of the natives -appeared, running and hallooing to us, on the opposite shore. They -were each armed with a spear or lance, and a short weapon which they -carried in their left hand. They made signs for us to come to them, -but I thought it prudent to make the best of our way. They were naked, -and apparently black, and their hair or wool bushy and short. - -_Sunday, 31st._--Many small islands were in sight to the northeast. We -landed at one of a good height, bearing north one-half west. The shore -was rocky, but the water was smooth, and we landed without difficulty. -I sent two parties out, one to the northward, and the other to the -southward, to seek for supplies, and others I ordered to stay by the -boat. On this occasion fatigue and weakness so far got the better of -their sense of duty, that some of the people expressed their -discontent at having worked harder than their companions, and declared -that they would rather be without their dinner, than go in search of -it. One person, in particular, went so far as to tell me, with a -mutinous look, that he was as good a man as myself. It was not -possible for me to judge where this might have an end, if not stopped -in time; therefore, to prevent such disputes in future, I determined -either to preserve my command, or die in the attempt; and seizing a -cutlass, I ordered him to take hold of another and defend himself, on -which he called out that I was going to kill him, and immediately made -concessions. I did not allow this to interfere further with the -harmony of the boat's crew and everything soon became quiet. We here -procured some oysters and clams, also some dog-fish caught in the -holes of the rocks, and a supply of water. - -Leaving this island, which I named Sunday Island, we continued our -course towards Endeavor Straits. During our voyage Nelson became very -ill, but gradually recovered. Next day we landed at another island, to -see what we could get. There were proofs that the island was -occasionally visited by natives from New Holland. Encamping on the -shore, I sent out one party to watch for turtle, and another to try to -catch birds. About midnight the bird party returned, with only twelve -noddies, birds which I have already described to be about the size of -pigeons; but if it had not been for the folly and obstinacy of one of -the party, who separated from the other two, and disturbed the birds, -they might have caught a great number. I was so much provoked at my -plans being thus defeated, that I gave this offender a good beating. -This man afterwards confessed that, wandering away from his -companions, he had eaten nine birds raw. Our turtling party had no -success. - -Tuesday and Wednesday we still kept our course north-west, touching -at an island or two for oysters and clams. We had now been six days on -the coast of New Holland, and but for the refreshment which our visit -to its shores afforded us, it is all but certain that we must have -perished. Now, however, it became clear that we were leaving it -behind, and were commencing our adventurous voyage through the open -sea to Timor. - -On Wednesday, June 3d, at eight o'clock in the evening, we once more -launched into the open ocean. Miserable as our situation was in every -respect, I was secretly surprised to see that it did not appear to -affect any one so strongly as myself. I encouraged every one with -hopes that eight or ten days would bring us to a land of safety; and -after praying to God for a continuance of his most gracious -protection, I served an allowance of water for supper, and directed -our course to the west-south-west, to counteract the southerly winds -in case they should blow strong. For six days our voyage continued; a -dreary repetition of those sufferings which we had experienced before -reaching New Holland. In the course of the night we were constantly -wet with the sea, and exposed to cold and shiverings; and in the -daytime we had no addition to our scanty allowance, save a booby and a -small dolphin that we caught, the former on Friday the 5th, and the -latter on Monday the 8th. Many of us were ill, and the men complained -heavily. On Wednesday the 10th, after a very comfortless night, there -was a visible alteration for the worse in many of the people, which -gave me great apprehensions. An extreme weakness, swelled legs, hollow -and ghastly countenances, a more than common inclination to sleep, -with an apparent debility of understanding, seemed to me the -melancholy presages of an approaching dissolution. - -_Thursday, 11th._--Every one received the customary allowance of bread -and water, and an extra allowance of water was given to those who were -most in need. At noon I observed in latitude 9 degrees 41 minutes -south; course south 77 degrees west, distance 109 miles; longitude -made 13 degrees 49 minutes west. I had little doubt of having now -passed the meridian of the eastern part of Timor, which is laid down -in 128 degrees east. This diffused universal joy and satisfaction. - -_Friday, 12th._--At three in the morning, with an excess of joy, we -discovered Timor bearing from west-south-west to west-north-west, and -I hauled on a wind to the north-north-east till daylight, when the -land bore from south-west by south to north-east by north; our -distance from the shore two leagues. It is not possible for me to -describe the pleasure which the blessing of the sight of this land -diffused among us. It appeared scarcely credible to ourselves that, in -an open boat, and so poorly provided, we should have been able to -reach the coast of Timor in forty-one days after leaving Tofoa, having -in that time run, by our log, a distance of 3618 miles and that, -notwithstanding our extreme distress, no one should have perished in -the voyage. - -I have already mentioned that I knew not where the Dutch settlement -was situated, but I had a faint idea that it was at the south-west -part of the island. I therefore, after daylight, bore away along shore -to the south-south-west, which I was the more readily induced to do, -as the wind would not suffer us to go towards the north-east without -great loss of time. - -We coasted along the island in the direction in which I conceived the -Dutch settlement to lie, and next day, about two o'clock, I came to a -grapnel in a small sandy bay, where we saw a hut, a dog, and some -cattle. Here I learned that the Dutch governor resided at a place -called Coupang, which was some distance to the north-east. I made -signs for one of the Indians who came to the beach to go in the boat -and show us the way to Coupang, intimating that I would pay him for -his trouble; the man readily complied, and came into the boat. The -Indians, who were of a dark tawny color, brought us a few pieces of -dried turtle and some ears of Indian corn. This last was the most -welcome, for the turtle was so hard, that it could not be eaten -without being first soaked in hot water. They offered to bring us some -other refreshments, if I would wait; but, as the pilot was willing, I -determined to push on. It was about half-past four when we sailed. - -_Sunday, 14th._--At one o'clock in the morning, after the most happy -and sweet sleep that ever men enjoyed, we weighed, and continued to -keep the east shore on board, in very smooth water. The report of two -cannon that were fired gave new life to every one; and soon after, we -discovered two square-rigged vessels and a cutter at anchor to the -eastward. After hard rowing, we came to a grapnel near daylight, off a -small fort and town, which the pilot told me was Coupang. - -On landing, I was surrounded by many people, Indians and Dutch, with -an English sailor among them. A Dutch captain, named Spikerman, showed -me great kindness, and waited on the governor, who was ill, to know at -what time I could see him. Eleven o'clock having been appointed for -the interview, I desired my people to come on shore, which was as much -as some of them could do, being scarce able to walk; they, however, -were helped to Captain Spikerman's house, and found tea, with bread -and butter, provided for their breakfast. - -The abilities of a painter, perhaps, could seldom have been displayed -to more advantage than in the delineation of the two groups of figures -which at this time presented themselves to each other. An indifferent -spectator would have been at a loss which most to admire--the eyes of -famine sparkling at immediate relief, or the horror of their -preservers at the sight of so many spectres, whose ghastly -countenances, if the cause had been unknown, would rather have excited -terror than pity. Our bodies were nothing but skin and bone, our limbs -were full of sores, and we were clothed in rags: in this condition, -with tears of joy and gratitude flowing down our cheeks, the people of -Timor beheld us with a mixture of horror, surprise, and pity. - -The governor, Mr. William Adrian Van Este, notwithstanding extreme ill -health, became so anxious about us, that I saw him before the -appointed time. He received me with great affection, and gave me the -fullest proofs that he was possessed of every feeling of a humane and -good man. Though his infirmity was so great that he could not do the -office of a friend himself, he said he would give such orders as I -might be certain would procure us every supply we wanted. A house -should be immediately prepared for me, and with respect to my people, -he said that I might have room for them either at the hospital or on -board of Captain Spikerman's ship, which lay in the road.... - - -FATE OF THE MUTINEERS--COLONY OF PITCAIRN'S ISLAND. - -The intelligence of the mutiny, and the sufferings of Bligh and his -companions, naturally excited a great sensation in England. Bligh was -immediately promoted to the rank of commander, and Captain Edwards was -despatched to Otaheite, in the Pandora frigate, with instructions to -search for the Bounty and her mutinous crew, and bring them to -England. The Pandora reached Matavai Bay on the 23d of March, 1791; -and even before she had come to anchor, Joseph Coleman, formerly -armorer of the Bounty, pushed off from shore in a canoe, and came on -board. In the course of two days afterwards, the whole of the -remainder of the Bounty's crew (in number sixteen) then on the island -surrendered themselves, with the exception of two, who fled to the -mountains, where, as it afterwards appeared, they were murdered by the -natives. - -Nearly twenty years elapsed after the period of the above occurrences, -and all recollection of the Bounty and her wrecked crew had passed -away, when an accidental discovery, as interesting as unexpected, once -more recalled public attention to that event. The captain of an -American schooner having, in 1808, accidentally touched at an island -up to that time supposed to be uninhabited, called Pitcairn's Island, -found a community speaking English, who represented themselves as the -descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty, of whom there was still -one man, of the name of Alexander Smith, alive amongst them. -Intelligence of this singular circumstance was sent by the American -captain (Folger) to Sir Sydney Smith at Valparaiso, and by him -transmitted to the Lords of the Admiralty. But the government was at -that time perhaps too much engaged in the events of the continental -war to attend to the information, nor was anything further heard of -this interesting little society until 1814. In that year two British -men-of-war, cruising in the Pacific, made Pitcairn's Island, and on -nearing the shore, saw plantations regularly and orderly laid out. -Soon afterwards they observed a few natives coming down a steep -descent, with their canoes on their shoulders, and in a few minutes -perceived one of these little vessels darting through a heavy surf and -paddling off towards the ships. But their astonishment may be imagined -when, on coming alongside, they were hailed in good English with, -"Wont you heave us a rope now?" This being done, a young man sprang up -the side with extraordinary activity, and stood on the deck before -them. In answer to the question "Who are you?" he replied that his -name was Thursday October Christian, son of the late Fletcher -Christian, by an Otaheitan mother; that he was the first born on the -island, and was so named because he was born on a Thursday in October. -All this sounded singular and incredible in the ears of the British -captains, Sir Thomas Staines and Mr. Pipon; but they were soon -satisfied of its truth. Young Christian was at this time about -twenty-four years old, a tall handsome youth, fully six feet high, -with black hair, and an open interesting English countenance. As he -wore no clothes, except a piece of cloth round his loins, and a -straw-hat ornamented with black cock's feathers, his fine figure and -well-shaped muscular limbs were displayed to great advantage, and -attracted general admiration. His body was much tanned by exposure to -the weather; but although his complexion was somewhat brown, it wanted -that tinge of red peculiar to the natives of the Pacific. He spoke -English correctly both in grammar and pronunciation; and his frank and -ingenuous deportment excited in every one the liveliest feelings of -compassion and interest. His companion was a fine handsome youth, of -seventeen or eighteen years of age, named George Young, son of one of -the Bounty's midshipmen. - -The youths expressed great surprise at everything they saw, especially -a cow, which they supposed to be either a huge goat or a horned sow, -having never seen any other quadrupeds. When questioned concerning the -Bounty, they referred the captains to an old man on shore, the only -surviving Englishman, whose name, they said, was John Adams, but who -proved to be the identical Alexander Smith before-mentioned, having -changed his name from some caprice or other. The officers went ashore -with the youths, and were received by old Adams (as we shall now call -him), who conducted them to his house, and treated them to an elegant -repast of eggs, fowl, yams, plantains, breadfruit, etc. They now -learned from him an account of the fate of his companions, who, with -himself, preferred accompanying Christian in the Bounty to remaining -at Otaheite--which account agreed with that he afterwards gave at -greater length to Captain Beechey in 1828. Our limits will not permit -us to detail all the interesting particulars at length, as we could -have wished, but they are in substance as follows:-- - -It was Christian's object, in order to avoid the vengeance of the -British law, to proceed to some unknown and uninhabited island, and -the Marquesas Islands were first fixed upon. But Christian, on reading -Captain Cartaret's account of Pitcairn's Island, thought it better -adapted for the purpose, and shaped his course thither. Having landed -and traversed it, they found it every way suitable to their wishes, -possessing water, wood, a good soil, and some fruits. Having -ascertained all this, they returned on board, and having landed their -hogs, goats, and poultry, and gutted the ship of everything that could -be useful to them, they set fire to her, and destroyed every vestige -that might lead to the discovery of their retreat. This was on the 23d -of January 1790. The island was then divided into nine equal portions -amongst them, a suitable spot of neutral ground being reserved for a -village. The poor Otaheitans now found themselves reduced to the -condition of mere slaves; but they patiently submitted, and everything -went on peaceably for two years. About that time Williams, one of the -seamen, having the misfortune to lose his wife, forcibly took the wife -of one of the Otaheitans, which, together with their continued -ill-usage, so exasperated the latter, that they formed a plan for -murdering the whole of their oppressors. The plot, however, was -discovered, and revealed by the Englishmen's wives, and two of the -Otaheitans were put to death. But the surviving natives soon -afterwards matured a more successful conspiracy, and in one day -murdered five of the Englishmen, including Christian. Adams and Young -were spared at the intercession of their wives, and the remaining two, -M'Koy and Quintal (two desperate ruffians), escaped to the mountains, -whence, however, they soon rejoined their companions. But the further -career of these two villains was short. M'Koy, having been bred up in -a Scottish distillery, succeeded in extracting a bottle of ardent -spirits from the _tee root_; from which time he and Quintal were never -sober, until the former became delirious, and committed suicide by -jumping over a cliff. Quintal being likewise almost insane with -drinking, made repeated attempts to murder Adams and Young, until they -were absolutely compelled, for their own safety, to put him to death, -which they did by felling him with a hatchet. - -Adams and Young were at length the only surviving males who had landed -on the island, and being both of a serious turn of mind, and having -time for reflection and repentance, they became extremely devout. -Having saved a Bible and prayer-book from the Bounty, they now -performed family worship morning and evening, and addressed themselves -to training up their own children and those of their unfortunate -companions in piety and virtue. Young, however, was soon carried off -by an asthmatic complaint, and Adams was thus left to continue his -pious labors alone. At the time Captains Staines and Pipon visited the -island, this interesting little colony consisted of about forty-six -persons, mostly grown-up young people, all living in harmony and -happiness together; and not only professing, but fully understanding -and practising, the precepts and principles of the Christian religion. -Adams had instituted the ceremony of marriage, and he assured his -visitors that not one instance of debauchery and immoral conduct had -occurred amongst them. - -The visitors having supplied these interesting people with some tools, -kettles, and other articles, took their leave. The account which they -transmitted home of this newly-discovered colony was, strange to say, -as little attended to by government as that of Captain Folger, and -nothing more was heard of Adams and his family for nearly twelve -years, when, in 1825, Captain Beechey, in the Blossom, bound on a -voyage of discovery to Behring Strait, touched at Pitcairn's Island. -On the approach of the Blossom, a boat came off under all sail towards -the ship, containing old Adams and ten of the young men of the island. -After requesting and obtaining leave to come on board, the young men -sprung up the side, and shook every officer cordially by the hand. -Adams, who was grown very corpulent, followed more leisurely. He was -dressed in a sailor's shirt and trousers, with a low-crowned hat, -which he held in his hand in sailor fashion, while he smoothed down -his bald forehead when addressed by the officers of the Blossom. The -little colony had now increased to about sixty-six, including an -English sailor of the name of John Buffett, who, at his own earnest -desire, had been left by a whaler. In this man the society luckily -found an able and willing schoolmaster. He instructed the children in -reading, writing, and arithmetic, and devoutly co-operated with old -Adams in affording religious instruction to the community. The -officers of the Blossom went ashore, and were entertained with a -sumptuous repast at young Christian's, the table being spread with -plates, knives, and forks. Buffett said grace in an emphatic manner; -and so strict were they in this respect, that it was not deemed proper -to touch a morsel of bread without saying grace both before and after -it. The officers slept in the house all night, their bedclothing and -sheets consisting of the native cloth made of the native -mulberry-tree. The only interruption to their repose was the melody of -the evening hymn, which was chanted together by the whole family after -the lights were put out; and they were awakened at early dawn by the -same devotional ceremony. On Sabbath the utmost decorum was attended -to, and the day was passed in regular religious observances. - -In consequence of a representation made by Captain Beechey, the -British government sent out Captain Waldegrave in 1830, in the -Seringapatam, with a supply of sailors' blue jackets and trousers, -flannels, stockings and shoes, women's dresses, spades, mattocks, -shovels, pickaxes, trowels, rakes, etc. He found their community -increased to about seventy-nine, all exhibiting the same -unsophisticated and amiable characteristics as we have before -described. Other two Englishmen had settled amongst them; one of them, -called Nobbs, a low-bred, illiterate man, a self-constituted -missionary, who was endeavoring to supersede Buffett in his office of -religious instructor. The patriarch Adams, it was found, had died in -March, 1829, aged sixty-five. While on his deathbed, he had called the -heads of families together, and urged upon them to elect a chief; -which, however, they had not yet done; but the greatest harmony still -prevailed amongst them, notwithstanding Nobbs's exertions to form a -party of his own. Captain Waldegrave thought that the island, which is -about four miles square, might be able to support a thousand persons, -upon reaching which number they would naturally emigrate to other -islands. - -Such is the account of this most singular colony, originating in crime -and bloodshed. Of all the repentant criminals on record, the most -interesting, perhaps, is John Adams; nor do we know where to find a -more beautiful example of the value of early instruction than in the -history of this man, who, having run the full career of nearly all -kinds of vice, was checked by an interval of leisurely reflection, and -the sense of new duties awakened by the power of natural affections. - - - - - OUR FIRST WHALE - - (From the Cruise of the Cachalot.) - - By FRANK T. BULLEN, First Mate. - - -Simultaneous ideas occurring to several people, or thought transference, -whatever one likes to call the phenomenon, is too frequent an occurrence -in most of our experience to occasion much surprise. Yet on the occasion -to which I am about to refer the matter was so very marked that few of -us who took part in the day's proceedings are ever likely to forget -it. We were all gathered about the fo'lk'sle scuttle one evening, a -few days after the gale, and the question of whale-fishing came up for -discussion. Until that time, strange as it may seem, no word of this, -the central idea of all our minds, had been mooted. Every man seemed -to shun the subject, although we were in daily expectation of being -called upon to take an active part in whale-fighting. Once the ice was -broken, nearly all had something to say about it, and very nearly as -many addle-headed opinions were ventilated as at a Colney Hatch -debating society. For we none of us _knew_ anything about it. I was -appealed to continually to support this or that theory, but as far as -whaling went I could only, like the rest of them, draw upon my -imagination for details. How did a whale act, what were the first -steps taken, what chance was there of being saved if your boat got -smashed, and so on unto infinity. At last, getting very tired of this -"Portugee Parliament" of all talkers and no listeners, I went aft to -get a drink of water before turning in. The harpooners and other petty -officers were grouped in the waist, earnestly discussing the pros and -cons of attack upon whales. As I passed I heard the mate's harpooner -say, "Feels like whale about. I bet a plug (of tobacco) we raise sperm -whale to-morrow." Nobody took his bet, for it appeared that they were -mostly of the same mind, and while I was drinking I heard the officers -in dignified conclave talking over the same thing. It was Saturday -evening, and while at home people were looking forward to a day's -respite from work and care, I felt that the coming day, though never -taken much notice of on board, was big with the probabilities of -strife such as I at least had at present no idea of. So firmly was I -possessed by the prevailing feeling. - -The night was very quiet. A gentle breeze was blowing, and the sky was -of the usual "Trade" character; that is, a dome of dark blue fringed -at the horizon with peaceful cumulus clouds, almost motionless. I -turned in at 4 A.M. from the middle watch, and, as usual, slept -like a babe. Suddenly I started wide awake, a long mournful sound -sending a thrill to my very heart. As I listened breathlessly other -sounds of the same character, but in different tones, joined in, human -voices monotonously intoning in long-drawn-out expirations the single -word "bl-o-o-o-o-w." Then came a hurricane of noise overhead, and -adjurations in no gentle language to the sleepers to "tumble up lively -there, no skulking; sperm whales." At last, then, fulfilling all the -presentiments of yesterday, the long-dreaded moment had arrived. -Happily there was no time for hesitation--in less than two minutes we -were all on deck, and hurrying to our respective boats. There was no -flurry or confusion, and except that orders were given more quietly -than usual, with a manifest air of suppressed excitement, there was -nothing to show that we were not going for an ordinary course of boat -drill. The skipper was in the main crow's-nest with his binoculars. -Presently he shouted, "Naow, then, Mr. Count, lower away soon's -y'like. Small pod o' cows, an' one'r two bulls layin' off to west'ard -of 'em." Down went the boats into the water quietly enough, we all -scrambled in and shoved off. A stroke or two of the oars were given to -get clear of the ship and one another, then oars were shipped and up -went the sails. As I took my allotted place at the main-sheet, and the -beautiful craft started off like some big bird, Mr. Count leaned -forward, saying impressively to me, "Y'r a smart youngster, an' I've -kinder took t' yer; but don't ye look ahead an' get gallied, 'r I'll -knock ye stiff wi' th' tiller; y'hear me? 'N' don't ye dare to make -thet sheet fast, 'r ye'll die so sudden y' won't know whar y'r -hurted." I said as cheerfully as I could, "All right, sir," trying to -look unconcerned, telling myself not to be a coward, and all sorts of -things; but the cold truth is that I was scared almost to death -because I didn't know what was coming. However, I did the best thing -under the circumstances, obeyed orders, and looked steadily astern, or -up into the bronzed, impassive face of my chief, who towered above me, -scanning with eagle eyes the sea ahead. The other boats were coming -flying along behind us, spreading wider apart as they came, while in -the bows of each stood the harpooner with his right hand on his first -iron, which lay ready, pointing over the bow in a raised fork of wood -called the "crutch." - -All of a sudden, at a motion of the chief's hand, the peak of our -mainsail was dropped, and the boat swung up into the wind, lying "hove -to," almost stationary. The centre-board was lowered to stop her -drifting to leeward, although I cannot say it made much difference -that ever I saw. _Now_ what's the matter? I thought; when to my -amazement the chief, addressing me, said, "Wonder why we've hauled up, -don't ye?" "Yes, sir, I do," said I. "Wall," said he, "the fish hev -sounded, an' ef we run over 'em, we've seen the last ov 'em. So we -wait awhile till they rise agin, 'n then we'll prob'ly git thar' 'r -thareabouts before they sound agin." With this explanation I had to be -content, although if it be no clearer to my readers than it then was -to me, I shall have to explain myself more fully later on. Silently we -lay, rocking lazily upon the gentle swell, no other word being spoken -by any one. At last Louis, the harpooner, gently breathed "blo-o-o-w"; -and there, sure enough, not half a mile away on the lee beam, was a -little bushy cloud of steam apparently rising from the sea. At almost -the same time as we kept away all the other boats did likewise, and -just then, catching sight of the ship, the reason for this apparently -concerted action was explained. At the main-mast head of the ship was -a square blue flag, and the ensign at the peak was being dipped. These -were signals well understood and promptly acted upon by those in -charge of the boats, who were thus guided from a point of view at -least one hundred feet above the sea. - -"Stand up, Louey," the mate murmured softly. I only just stopped -myself in time from turning my head to see why the order was given. -Suddenly there was a bump; at the same moment the mate yelled, "Giv't -to him, Louey, give't to him!" and to me, "Haul that main sheet, naow; -haul, why don't ye?" I hauled it flat aft, and the boat shot up into -the wind, rubbing sides as she did so with what to my troubled sight -seemed an enormous mass of black india-rubber floating. As we -_crawled_ up into the wind, the whale went into convulsions befitting -his size and energy. He raised a gigantic tail on high, thrashing the -water with deafening blows, rolling at the same time from side to side -until the surrounding sea was white with froth. I felt in an agony -lest we should be crushed under one of those fearful strokes, for Mr. -Count appeared to be oblivious of possible danger, although we seemed -to be now drifting back on to the writhing leviathan. In the agitated -condition of the sea, it was a task of no ordinary difficulty to -unship the tall mast, which was of course the first thing to be done. -After a desperate struggle, and a narrow escape from falling overboard -of one of the men, we got the long "stick," with the sail bundled -around it, down and "fleeted" aft, where it was secured by the simple -means of sticking the "heel" under the after thwart, two-thirds of the -mast extending out over the stern. Meanwhile, we had certainly been in -a position of the greatest danger, our immunity from damage being -unquestionably due to anything but precaution taken to avoid it. - -By the time the oars were handled, and the mate had exchanged places -with the harpooner, our friend the enemy had "sounded"; that is, he -had gone below for a change of scene, marvelling no doubt what strange -thing had befallen him. Agreeably to the accounts which I, like most -boys, had read of the whale fishery, I looked for the rushing of the -line round the loggerhead (a stout wooden post built into the boat -aft), to raise a cloud of smoke with occasional bursts of flame; so as -it began to slowly surge round the post I timidly asked the harpooner -whether I should throw any water on it. "Wot for?" growled he, as he -took a couple more turns with it. Not knowing "what for," and hardly -liking to quote my authorities here, I said no more, but waited -events. "Hold him up, Louey, hold him up, caint ye?" shouted the mate, -and to my horror, down went the nose of the boat almost under water, -while at the mate's order everybody scrambled aft into the elevated -stern sheets. - -The line sang quite a tune as it was grudgingly allowed to surge round -the loggerhead, filling one with admiration at the strength shown by -such a small rope. This sort of thing went on for about twenty -minutes, in which time we quite emptied the large tub and began on the -small one. As there was nothing whatever for us to do while this was -going on, I had ample leisure for observing the little game that was -being played about a quarter of a mile away, Mr. Cruce, the second -mate, had got a whale and was doing his best to kill it; but he was -severely handicapped by his crew, or rather had been, for two of them -were now temporarily incapable of either good or harm. They had gone -quite "batchy" with fright, requiring a not too gentle application of -the tiller to their heads in order to keep them quiet. The remedy, if -rough, was effectual, for "the subsequent proceedings interested them -no more." Consequently his manoeuvres were not so well or rapidly -executed as he, doubtless, could have wished, although his energy in -lancing that whale was something to admire and remember. Hatless, his -shirt-tail out of the waist of his trousers streaming behind him like -a banner, he lunged and thrust at the whale alongside of him as if -possessed of a destroying devil, while his half-articulate yells of -rage and blasphemy were audible even to us. - -Suddenly our boat fell backward from her "slantin-dicular" position -with a jerk, and the mate immediately shouted, "Haul line, there! look -lively, now! you"--so on, _et cetera, et cetera_ (he seemed to invent -new epithets on every occasion). The line came in hand over hand, and -was coiled in a wide heap in the stern sheets, for, silky as it was, -it could not be expected in its wet state to lie very close. As it -came flying in, the mate kept a close gaze upon the water immediately -beneath us, apparently for the first glimpse of our antagonist. When -the whale broke water, however, he was some distance off, and -apparently as quiet as a lamb. Now, had Mr. Count been a prudent or -less ambitious man, our task would doubtless have been an easy one, or -comparatively so; but, being a little over-grasping, he got us all -into serious trouble. We were hauling up to our whale in order to -lance it, and the mate was standing, lance in hand, only waiting to -get near enough, when up comes a large whale right alongside of our -boat, so close, indeed, that I might have poked my finger in his -little eye, if I had chosen. The sight of that whale at liberty, and -calmly taking stock of us like that, was too much for the mate. He -lifted his lance and hurled it at the visitor, in whose broad flank it -sank, like a knife into butter, right up to the pole-hitches. The -recipient disappeared like a flash, but before one had time to think, -there was an awful crash beneath us, and the mate shot up into the air -like a bomb from a mortar. He came down in a sitting posture on the -mast-thwart; but as he fell, the whole framework of the boat collapsed -like a derelict umbrella. Louis quietly chopped the line and severed -our connection with the other whale, while in accordance with our -instructions we drew each man his oar across the boat and lashed it -firmly down with a piece of line spliced to each thwart for the -purpose. This simple operation took but a minute, but before it was -completed we were all up to our necks in the sea. Still in the boat, -it is true, and therefore not in such danger of drowning as if we were -quite adrift; but, considering that the boat was reduced to a mere -bundle of loose planks, I, at any rate, was none too comfortable. Now, -had he known it, was the whale's golden opportunity; but he, poor -wretch, had had quite enough of our company, and cleared off without -any delay, wondering, no doubt, what fortunate accident had rid him of -our very unpleasant attentions. - -[Illustration: "He Lifted His Lance and Hurled It at the Visitor"] - -I was assured that we were all as safe as if we were on board the -ship, to which I answered nothing; but, like Jack's parrot, I did some -powerful thinking. Every little wave that came along swept clean over -our heads, sometimes coming so suddenly as to cut a breath in half. If -the wind should increase--but no--I wouldn't face the possibility of -such a disagreeable thing. I was cool enough now in a double sense, -for although we were in the tropics, we soon got thoroughly chilled. - -By the position of the sun it must have been between ten a.m. and -noon, and we, of the crew, had eaten nothing since the previous day at -supper, when, as usual, the meal was very light. Therefore, I suppose -we felt the chill sooner than the better-nourished mate and harpooner, -who looked rather scornfully at our blue faces and chattering teeth. - -In spite of all assurances to the contrary, I have not the least doubt -in my own mind that a very little longer would have relieved us of -_all_ our burdens finally, because the heave of the sea had so -loosened the shattered planks upon which we stood that they were on -the verge of falling all asunder. Had they done so we must have -drowned, for we were cramped and stiff with cold and our constrained -position. However, unknown to us, a bright look-out upon our movements -had been kept from the crow's-nest the whole time. We should have been -relieved long before, but that the whale killed by the second mate was -being secured, and another boat, the fourth mate's, being picked up, -having a hole in her bilge you could put your head through. With all -these hindrances, especially securing the whale, we were fortunate to -be rescued as soon as we were, since it is well known that whales are -of much higher commercial value than men. - -However, help came at last, and we were hauled alongside. Long -exposure had weakened us to such an extent that it was necessary to -hoist us on board, especially the mate, whose "sudden stop," when he -returned to us after his little aerial excursion, had shaken his -sturdy frame considerably, a state of body which the subsequent -soaking had by no means improved. In my innocence I imagined that we -should be commiserated for our misfortunes by Captain Slocum, and -certainly be relieved from further duties until we were a little -recovered from the rough treatment we had just undergone. But I never -made a greater mistake. The skipper cursed us all (except the mate, -whose sole fault the accident undoubtedly was) with a fluency and -vigor that was, to put it mildly, discouraging. Moreover, we were -informed that he "wouldn't have no [adjective] skulking;" we must -"turn to" and do something after wasting the ship's time and property -in such a blank manner. There was a limit, however, to our obedience, -so although we could not move at all for awhile, his threats were not -proceeded with farther than theory. - -A couple of slings were passed around the boat, by means of which, she -was carefully hoisted on board, a mere dilapidated bundle of sticks -and raffle of gear. She was at once removed aft out of the way, the -business of cutting in the whale claiming precedence over everything -else just then. The preliminary proceedings consisted of rigging the -"cutting stage." This was composed of two stout planks a foot wide and -ten feet long, the inner ends of which were suspended by strong ropes -over the ship's side about four feet from the water, while the outer -extremities were upheld by tackles from the main rigging, and a small -crane abreast the try-works. - -These planks were about thirty feet apart, their two outer ends being -connected by a massive plank, which was securely bolted to them. A -handrail about as high as a man's waist, supported by light iron -stanchions, ran the full length of this plank on the side nearest the -ship, the whole fabric forming an admirable standing-place from whence -the officers might, standing in comparative comfort, cut and carve at -the great mass below to their hearts' content. - -So far the prize had been simply held alongside by the whale-line, -which at death had been "rove" through a hole cut in the solid gristle -of the tail; but now it became necessary to secure the carcass to the -ship in some more permanent fashion. Therefore, a massive chain like a -small ship's cable was brought forward, and in a very ingenious way, -by means of a tiny buoy and a hand-lead, passed round the body, one -end brought through a ring in the other, and hauled upon until it -fitted tight round the "small" or part of the whale next the broad -spread of the tail. The free end of the fluke-chain was then passed in -through a mooring-pipe forward, firmly secured to a massive bitt at -the heel of the bowsprit (the fluke-chain-bitt), and all was ready. - -If ... too much stress has been laid upon the smashing of our own boat -and consequent sufferings, while little or no notice was taken of the -kindred disaster to Mistah Jones' vessel, my excuse must be that the -experience "filled me right up to the chin," as the mate concisely, if -inelegantly, put it. Poor Goliath was indeed to be pitied, for his -well-known luck and capacity as a whaleman seemed on this occasion to -have quite deserted him. Not only had his boat been stove upon first -getting on to the whale, but he hadn't even had a run for his money. -It appeared that upon striking his whale, a small, lively cow, she had -at once "settled," allowing the boat to run over her; but just as they -were passing, she rose, gently enough, her pointed hump piercing the -thin skin of half-inch cedar as if it had been cardboard. She settled -again immediately, leaving a hole behind her a foot long by six inches -wide, which effectually put a stop to all further fishing operations -on the part of Goliath and his merry men for that day, at any rate. It -was all _so_ quiet, and _so_ tame and _so_ stupid, no wonder Mistah -Jones felt savage. When Captain Slocum's fluent profanity flickered -around him, including vehemently all he might be supposed to have any -respect for, he did not even _look_ as if he would like to talk back; -he only looked sick and tired of being himself. - -The third mate, again, was of a different category altogether. He had -distinguished himself by missing every opportunity of getting near a -whale while there was a "loose" one about, and then "saving" the crew -of Goliath's boat, who were really in no danger whatever. His iniquity -was too great to be dealt with by mere bad language. He crept about -like a homeless dog--much, I am afraid, to my secret glee, for I -couldn't help remembering his untiring cruelty to the green hands on -first leaving port. - -In consequence of these little drawbacks we were not a very jovial -crowd forward or aft. Not that hilarity was ever particularly -noticeable among us, but just now there was a very decided sense of -wrong-doing over us all, and a general fear that each of us was about -to pay the penalty due to some other delinquent. But fortunately there -was work to be done. Oh, blessed work! how many awkward situations you -have extricated people from! How many distracted brains have you -soothed and restored, by your steady, irresistible pressure of duty to -be done and brooking of no delay! - -The first thing to be done was to cut the whale's head off. This -operation, involving the greatest amount of labor in the whole of the -cutting-in, was taken in hand by the first and second mates, who, -armed with twelve-foot spades, took their station upon the stage, -leaned over the handrail to steady themselves, and plunged their -weapons vigorously down through the massive neck of the animal,--if -neck it could be said to have,--following a well-defined crease in the -blubber. At the same time the other officers passed a heavy chain -sling around the long, narrow lower jaw, hooking one of the big -cutting tackle into it, the "fall" of which was then taken to the -windlass and hove tight, turning the whale on her back. A deep cut was -then made on both sides of the rising jaw, the windlass was kept -going, and gradually the whole of the throat was raised high enough -for a hole to be cut through its mass, into which the strap of the -second cutting tackle was inserted, and secured by passing a huge -toggle of oak through its eye. The second tackle was then hove taut, -and the jaw, with a large piece of blubber attached, was cut off from -the body with a boarding-knife, a tool not unlike a cutlass blade set -into a three-foot-long wooden handle. - -Upon being severed the whole piece swung easily inboard and was -lowered on deck. The fast tackle was now hove upon while the third -mate on the stage cut down diagonally into the blubber on the body, -which the purchase ripped off in a broad strip or "blanket" about five -feet wide and a foot thick. Meanwhile the other two officers carved -away vigorously at the head, varying their labors by cutting a hole -right through the snout. This when completed received a heavy chain -for the purpose of securing the head. When the blubber had been about -half stripped off the body, a halt was called in order that the work -of cutting off the head might be finished, for it was a task of -incredible difficulty. It was accomplished at last, and the mass -floated astern by a stout rope, after which the windlass pawls -clattered merrily, the "blankets" rose in quick succession, and were -cut off and lowered into the square of the main hatch or -"blubber-room." A short time sufficed to strip off the whole of the -body-blubber, and when at last the tail was reached, the backbone was -cut through, the huge mass of flesh floating away to feed the -innumerable scavengers of the sea. No sooner was the last of the -blubber lowered into the hold than the hatches were put on and the -head hauled up alongside. Both tackles were secured to it and all -hands took to the windlass levers. This was a small cow whale of about -thirty barrels, that is, yielding that amount of oil, so it was just -possible to lift the entire head on board; but as it weighed as much -as three full-grown elephants, it was indeed a heavy lift for even our -united forces, trying our tackle to the utmost. The weather was very -fine, and the ship rolled but little; even then, the strain upon the -mast was terrific, and right glad was I when at last the immense cube -of fat, flesh, and bone was eased inboard and gently lowered on deck. - -As soon as it was secured the work of dividing it began. From the -snout a triangular mass was cut, which was more than half pure -spermaceti. This substance was contained in spongy cells held together -by layers of dense white fibre, exceedingly tough and elastic, and -called by the whalers "white-horse." The whole mass, or "junk" as it -is called, was hauled away to the ship's side and firmly lashed to the -bulwarks for the time being, so that it might not "take charge" of the -deck during the rest of the operations. - -The upper part of the head was now slit open lengthwise, disclosing an -oblong cistern or "case" full of liquid spermaceti, clear as water. -This was bailed out with buckets into a tank, concreting as it cooled -into a wax-like substance, bland and tasteless. There being now -nothing more remaining about the skull of any value, the lashings were -loosed, and the first leeward roll sent the great mass plunging -overboard with a mighty splash. It sank like a stone, eagerly followed -by a few small sharks that were hovering near. - -As may be imagined, much oil was running about the deck, for so -saturated was every part of the creature with it that it really gushed -like water during the cutting-up process. None of it was allowed to -run to waste, though, for the scupper-holes which drain the deck were -all carefully plugged, and as soon as the "junk" had been dissected -all the oil was carefully "squeegeed" up and poured into the try-pots. - -Two men were now told off as "blubber-room men," whose duty it became -to go below, and squeezing themselves in as best they could between -the greasy masses of fat, cut it up into "horse-pieces" about eighteen -inches long and six inches broad. Doing this they became perfectly -saturated with oil, as if they had taken a bath in a tank of it; for -as the vessel rolled it was impossible to maintain a footing, and -every fall was upon blubber running with oil. A machine of wonderful -construction had been erected on deck in a kind of shallow trough -about six feet long by four feet wide and a foot deep. At some remote -period of time it had no doubt been looked upon as a triumph of -ingenuity, a patent mincing machine. Its action was somewhat like that -of a chaff-cutter, except that the knife was not attached to the -wheel, and only rose and fell, since it was not required to cut right -through the "horse-pieces" with which it was fed. It will be readily -understood that in order to get the oil quickly out of the blubber it -needs to be sliced as thin as possible, but for convenience in -handling the refuse (which is the only fuel used) it is not chopped up -in small pieces, but every "horse-piece" is very deeply scored, as it -were, leaving a thin strip to hold the slices together. This, then, -was the order of work. Two harpooners attended the try-pots, -replenishing them with minced blubber from the hopper at the port -side, and bailing out the sufficiently boiled oil into the great -cooling tank on the starboard. One officer superintended the mincing, -another exercised a general supervision over all. There was no man at -the wheel and no look-out, for the vessel was "hove-to" under two -close-reefed topsails and foretopmast-staysail, with the wheel lashed -hard down. A look-out man was unnecessary, since we could not run -anybody down, and if anybody ran us down, it would only be because all -hands were asleep, for the glare of our try-works fire, to say nothing -of the blazing cresset before mentioned, could have been seen for many -miles. So we toiled watch and watch, six hours on and six off, the -work never ceasing for an instant night or day. Though the work was -hard and dirty, and the discomfort of being so continually wet through -with oil great, there was only one thing dangerous about the whole -business. That was the job of filling and shifting the huge casks of -oil. Some of these were of enormous size, containing three hundred and -fifty gallons when full, and the work of moving them about the greasy -deck of a rolling ship was attended with a terrible amount of risk. -For only four men at most could get fair hold of a cask, and when she -took it into her silly old hull to start rolling, just as we had got -one half-way across the deck, with nothing to grip your feet, and the -knowledge that one stumbling man would mean a sudden slide of the ton -and a half weight, and a little heap of mangled corpses somewhere in -the lee scuppers,--well, one always wanted to be very thankful when the -lashings were safely passed. - -The whale being a small one, as before noted, the whole business was -over within three days, and the decks scrubbed and re-scrubbed until -they had quite regained their normal whiteness. The oil was poured by -means of a funnel and long canvas hose into the casks stowed in the -ground tier at the bottom of the ship, and the gear, all carefully -cleaned and neatly "stopped up," stowed snugly away below again. - -This long and elaborate process is quite different from that followed -on board the Arctic whale ships, whose voyages are of short duration, -and who content themselves with merely cutting the blubber up small -and bringing it home to have the oil expressed. But the awful putrid -mass discharged from a Greenlander's hold is of a very different -quality and value, apart from the nature of the substance, from the -clear and sweet oil which after three years in cask is landed from a -south-seaman as inoffensive in smell and flavor as the day it was -shipped. No attempt is made to separate the oil and spermaceti beyond -boiling the "head matter," as it is called, by itself first, and -putting it into casks which are not filled up with the body oil. -Spermaceti exists in all the oil, especially that from the dorsal -hump; but it is left for the refiners ashore to extract and leave the -oil quite free from any admixture of the wax-like substance, which -causes it to become solid at temperatures considerably above the -freezing-point. - -Uninteresting as the preceding description may be, it is impossible to -understand anything of the economy of a south-sea whaler without -giving it, and I have felt it the more necessary because of the scanty -notice given to it in the only two works published on the subject, -both of them highly technical, and written for scientific purposes by -medical men. Therefore I hope to be forgiven if I have tried the -patience of my readers by any prolixity. - -It will not, of course, have escaped the reader's notice that I have -not hitherto attempted to give any details concerning the structure of -the whale just dealt with. The omission is intentional. During this, -our first attempt at real whaling, my mind was far too disturbed by -the novelty and danger of the position in which I found myself for the -first time, for me to pay any intelligent attention to the party of -the second part. - -But I may safely promise that from the workman's point of view, the -habits, manners, and build of the whales shall be faithfully described -as I saw them during my long acquaintance with them, earnestly hoping -that if my story be not as technical or scientific as that of Drs. -Bennett and Beale, it may be found fully as accurate and reliable; and -perhaps the reader, being like myself a mere layman, so to speak, may -be better able to appreciate description free from scientific formula -and nine-jointed words. - -Two things I did notice on this occasion which I will briefly allude -to before closing this chapter. One was the peculiar skin of the -whale. It was a bluish-black, and as thin as gold-beater's skin; so -thin, indeed, and tender, that it was easily scraped off with the -fingernail. Immediately beneath it, upon the surface of the blubber, -was a layer or coating of what for want of a better simile I must call -fine, short fur, although unlike fur it had no roots or apparently any -hold upon the blubber. Neither was it attached to the skin which -covered it; in fact, it seemed merely a sort of packing between the -skin and the surface of the thick layer of solid fat which covered the -whole area of the whale's body. The other matter which impressed me -was the peculiarity of the teeth. For up till that time I had held, in -common with most seamen, and landsmen, too, for that matter, the -prevailing idea that a "whale" lived by "suction" (although I did not -at all know what that meant), and that it was impossible for him to -swallow a herring. Yet here was a mouth manifestly intended for -greater things in the way of gastronomy than herrings; nor did it -require more than the most casual glances to satisfy one of so obvious -a fact. Then the teeth were heroic in size, protruding some four or -five inches from the gum, and solidly set more than that into its firm -and compact substance. They were certainly not intended for -mastication, being, where thickest, three inches apart, and tapering -to a short point, curving slightly backwards. In this specimen, a -female, and therefore small, as I have said, there were twenty of them -on each side, the last three or four near the gullet being barely -visible above the gum. - -Another most convincing reason why no mastication could have been -possible was that there were no teeth visible in the upper jaw. -Opposed to each of the teeth was a socket where a tooth should -apparently have been, and this was conclusive evidence of the soft and -yielding nature of the great creature's food. But there were signs -that at some period of the development of the whale it had possessed a -double row of teeth, because at the bottom of these upper sockets we -found in a few cases what seemed to be an abortive tooth, not one that -was growing, because they had no roots, but a survival of teeth that -had once been perfect and useful, but from disuse, or lack of -necessity for them, had gradually ceased to come to maturity. The -interior of the mouth and throat was of a livid white, and the tongue -was quite small for so large an animal. It was almost incapable of -movement, being somewhat like a fowl's. Certainly it could not have -been protruded even from the angle of the mouth, much less have -extended along the parapet of that lower mandible, which reminded one -of the beak of some mighty albatross or stork. - - - - - GOING TO SEA A HUNDRED YEARS AGO - - (From A Narrative of Voyages) - - By R. J. CLEVELAND. - - -In the ordinary course of a commercial education, in New England, boys -are transferred from school to the merchant's desk at the age of -fourteen or fifteen. When I had reached my fourteenth year it was my -good fortune to be received into the counting-house of Elias Hasket -Derby, Esq., of Salem; a merchant, who may justly be termed the father -of the American commerce to India; one whose enterprise and commercial -sagacity were unequalled in his day, and, perhaps, have not been -surpassed by any of his successors. To him our country is indebted for -opening the valuable trade to Calcutta; before whose fortress his was -the first vessel to display the American flag; and, following up the -business, he had reaped golden harvests before other merchants came in -for a share of them. The first American ships, seen at the Cape of -Good Hope and at the Isle of France, belonged to him. His were the -first American ships which carried cargoes of cotton from Bombay to -China; and among the first ships which made a direct voyage to China -and back, was one owned by him. He continued to prosecute a successful -business, on an extensive scale, in those countries, until the day of -his death. In the transaction of his affairs abroad, he was liberal, -greatly beyond the practice in modern times, always desirous that -every one, even the foremost hand, should share the good fortune to -which he pointed the way; and the long list of masters of ships, who -have acquired ample fortunes in his employment, is a proof, both of -his discernment in selecting and of his generosity in paying them. - -Without possessing a scientific knowledge of the construction and the -sparring of ships, Mr. Derby seemed to have an intuitive faculty in -judging of models and proportions; and his experiments, in several -instances, for the attainment of swiftness of sailing, were crowned -with a success unsurpassed in our own or any other country. He built -several ships for the India trade, immediately in the vicinity of the -counting-house; which afforded me an opportunity of becoming -acquainted with the building, sparring, and rigging of ships. The -conversations, to which I listened, relating to the countries then -newly visited by Americans, the excitement on the return of an -adventure from them, and the great profits which were made, always -manifest from the result of my own little adventures, tended to -stimulate the desire in me of visiting those countries, and of sharing -more largely in the advantages they presented. Consequently, after -having passed four years in this course of instruction, I became -impatient to begin that nautical career on which I had determined, as -presenting the most sure and direct means of arriving at independence; -and in the summer of 1792 I embarked on my first voyage. It was one of -only three months' duration; but it was sufficient to produce a most -thorough disgust of the pursuit, from the severe suffering of -sea-sickness; so that, if I had perceived, on my return, any prospect -on shore equally promising, I should have abandoned the sea. None, -however, presenting itself, I persevered, and finally overcame the -difficulty. - -Having in this, and other voyages to the East and West Indies and to -Europe, acquired the experience and nautical skill deemed sufficient -to qualify me for taking the command of a ship, I was invited, in the -autumn of 1795, by the eldest son of Mr. Derby, to take charge of his -bark Enterprise, and proceed on a voyage to the Isle of Bourbon. The -confidence, thus evinced, in intrusting the management of a valuable -vessel and cargo to so young and inexperienced a man, for I had then -only attained my majority, was very gratifying to my ambition, and was -duly appreciated. - -In those almost primitive days of our commerce, a coppered vessel was -scarcely known in the United States; and on the long East India -voyages, the barnacles and grass, which accumulated on the wooden -sheathing, retarded the ship's sailing so much, that a third more -time, at least, was required for the passages, than is needed since -the practice of sheathing with copper has been adopted. A year, -therefore, was generally consumed in a voyage to the Isle of France or -Bourbon; and mine was accomplished within that term. The success -attending it was very satisfactory to my employer, of which he gave -evidence in despatching me again, in the same vessel, on a voyage to -Europe, and thence to Mocha, for a cargo of coffee. - -While at Havre de Grace, in the summer of 1797, engaged in making -preparations for pursuing the voyage, I had the mortification to -learn, by letters from my employer, that some derangement had occurred -in his affairs, which made it necessary to abandon the Mocha -enterprise, and to place in his hands, with the least possible delay, -the funds destined for that object. Among the numerous commercial -adventures, in which our merchants, at that time, had been engaged to -the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, no voyage had been undertaken -to Mocha. To be the first, therefore, in an untried adventure was -highly gratifying to my ambition; and my disappointment was -proportionately great when compelled to relinquish it. To have -detained the vessel in France, while waiting the slow progress of the -sale of the cargo, would have been injudicious; and she was therefore -despatched for home, under charge of the mate, William Webb, of Salem. - -Being thus relieved from the necessity of an immediate return to the -United States, I flattered myself, that, even with the very contracted -means which I possessed, I might still engage, with a little -assistance, and on a very humble scale, in some enterprise to the Isle -of France and India. When, therefore, I had accomplished the business -with which I had been charged, by remitting to the owner in Salem his -property with me, I began earnestly to put to the test the -practicability of the object of which I was so desirous. A coincidence -of favorable and very encouraging circumstances aided my views. A -friend of mine had become proprietor of a little cutter of -thirty-eight tons burden, which had been a packet between Dover and -Calais. This vessel had been taken for a debt; and the owner, not -knowing what to do with her, offered her to me for a reasonable price, -and to pay when I had the ability. This credit would enable me to put -all my capital in the cargo, excepting what was required for coppering -and fitting the cutter for the contemplated voyage, about five hundred -dollars; leaving me fifteen hundred to be invested in the cargo. On -making known to others of my friends the plan of my voyage, two of -them engaged to embark to the amount of a thousand dollars each, on -condition of sharing equally the profits at the end of the voyage. -Having become proprietor of the cutter, which, with all additional -expenses, cost, ready for sea, about one thousand dollars, an -investment of articles best suited to the market of the Isle of -France, was purchased to the amount of three thousand five hundred -dollars; making vessel and cargo amount to four thousand five hundred. -It is not probable that the annals of commerce can furnish another -example of an Indiaman and cargo being fitted and expedited on so -humble a scale. - -I had now the high gratification of uncontrolled action. An innate -love of independence, an impatience of restraint, an aversion to -responsibility, and a desire to have no other limits to my wanderings -than the globe itself, reconciled me to the endurance of fatigues and -privations, which I knew to be the unavoidable consequence of -navigating in so frail a bark, rather than to possess the comparative -ease and comfort, coupled with the restraint and responsibility, which -the command of a fine ship belonging to another would present. - -As there are, doubtless, many persons, not excepting those, even, who -are familiar with commercial and maritime affairs, who will view this -enterprise as very hazardous from sea risk, and as offering but a very -small prospect of emolument, it is proper, so far as I am able, to do -away with such impressions by briefly stating the object I had in -view. On my late voyage to the Isle of Bourbon, I had perceived a -great deficiency in the number of vessels requisite for the -advantageous conveyance of passengers and freight to and from the -Isles of France and Bourbon. If my cutter had been built expressly for -the purpose, she could not have been more suitable. With a large and -beautifully finished cabin, where passengers would be more comfortably -accommodated than in many vessels of greater dimensions; with but -small freighting room, and requiring, therefore, but little time to -load, and of greater speed in sailing than the generality of merchant -vessels, I had no doubt of being able to sell her there for more than -double the cost; or I might find it to be more advantageous to employ -her in freighting between the islands. In either event, I felt entire -confidence in being amply remunerated for the time and risk. On the -cargo, composed of such articles as my late experience had proved to -be most in demand, I had no doubt of making a profit of from fifty to -one hundred per cent on its cost. The proceeds of vessel and cargo, -invested in the produce of the island, and shipped to Europe or the -United States, would, at that time, have yielded a clear gain of -thirty-three and one-third per cent. Thus, in the course of one year, -I should make two hundred per cent on the original capital; a result -which might be considered abundant compensation for the time it would -consume, and should take from the enterprise the character of -quixotism, with which it had been stigmatized. - -As soon as it became known at Havre, that my destination was the Isle -of France, some of my friends, anxious for my safety, and perceiving -in the enterprise only the ardor and temerity of inexperienced youth, -endeavored to dissuade me from it, by painting to me, in glowing -colors, the distress and probable destruction I was preparing for -myself and men. But, however friendly and considerate the advice, I -felt myself more competent to judge of the risk than they were, and, -consequently, disregarded them. - -The vessel, being all ready for sea on the 20th of September, 1797, -was detained several days by the difficulty of procuring men. Those -who were engaged one day would desert the next; and the dangerous -character of the enterprise having been discussed and admitted among -the seamen in port, I began to be seriously apprehensive, that I might -not succeed in procuring a crew. At length, however, with much -difficulty, and some additional pay, I succeeded in procuring four -men; and, having previously engaged a mate, our number was complete. - -To delay proceeding to sea a moment longer than was necessary, would -have been incurring a risk of the loss of my men, and the pay I had -advanced them. Hence, I was induced to sail when appearances were very -inauspicious. A strong north wind was blowing into the bay with such -violence as already to have raised a considerable sea; but I flattered -myself, that, as the sun declined, it would abate; that, if we could -weather Cape Barfleur, we should make a free wind down channel; and -that, if this should be found impracticable, we could, at all events, -return to Havre Roads, and wait there a more favorable opportunity. - -With such impressions, we sailed from Havre on the 25th of September. -A great crowd had assembled on the pier head to witness our departure, -and cheered us as we passed. It was about noon, and we were under full -sail; but we had scarcely been out two hours, when we were obliged to -reduce it to a double-reefed mainsail, foresail, and second-sized jib. -With the sail even thus diminished, the vessel, at times, almost -buried herself; still, as every part of the equipment was new and -strong, I flattered myself with being able to weather the Cape, and -pressed forward through a sea in which we were continually enveloped, -cheered with the hope that we had nothing worse to experience, and -that we should soon be relieved by the ability to bear away and make a -free wind. I was destined, however, to a sad disappointment; for the -wind and sea having increased towards midnight, an extraordinary -plunge into a very short and sharp sea completely buried the vessel, -and, with a heavy crash, snapped off the bowsprit by the board. The -vessel then luffed into the wind, in defiance of the helm, and the -first shake of the foresail stripped it from the bolt rope. - -No other alternative now presented, than to endeavor to regain the -port of Havre; a task, under existing circumstances, of very difficult -and doubtful accomplishment. The sea had increased in so great a -degree, and ran so sharp, that we were in continual apprehension of -having our decks swept. This circumstance, combined with the -sea-sickness, which none escaped, retarded and embarrassed the -operation of wearing round on the other tack. The violent motion of -the vessel had also prevented the possibility of obtaining sleep; -indeed, no person had been permitted to go below before the disaster; -and none had the disposition to do so afterwards; but all were alert -in the performance of their duty, which had for its immediate object -the getting of the vessel's head pointed towards Havre. - -This was at length effected; but, as we had no spar suitable for a -jury bowsprit, we could carry only such part of our mainsail as was -balanced by a jib, set in the place of a foresail. With this sail, we -made so much lee way, that it was evident, as soon as daylight enabled -me to form a judgment, that we could not reach Havre; nor was it less -evident, that nothing but an abatement of the gale could save us from -being stranded before night. With the hope of this abatement, the -heavens were watched with an intensity of interest more easily -imagined than described; but no favorable sign appeared; and before -noon we had evidence of being to leeward of the port of Havre. We now -cleared away the cables and anchors, and secured with battens the -communications with the cabin and forecastle. While thus engaged, the -man at the mast head announced the appalling, but expected -intelligence, of "breakers under the lee." - -This information had the effect of an electric shock to rouse the crew -from that apathy which was a natural consequence of twenty-four hours' -exposure to great fatigue, incessant wet and cold, and want of sleep -and food; for we had not been able to cook anything. The rapidity with -which we were driven to leeward, soon made the breakers discernible -from deck; and they were of such extent, as to leave us no choice, -whether we headed east or west; for the forlorn hope of being held by -our anchors was all that remained to us. No one on board possessed any -knowledge of the shore we were approaching; but our chart denoted it -as rocky. It was easy to perceive, that to be thrown among rocks, by -such a sea, must be the destruction of us all. Hence it was of the -utmost importance to discover, and to anchor off, the part of the -shore which appeared to be most free from rocks; and with this view -the mate was looking out from the mast head. As he perceived an -apparently clear beach east of us, and within our ability of reaching, -we steered for it; and when the water was only six fathoms deep, we -lowered our sails and came to anchor. But as our anchor dragged, a -second was let go, which, for a moment only, brought the vessel head -to the sea, when one cable parted; and as we were drifting rapidly -with the other, we cut it, then hoisted the jib, and steered directly -for the clear space in the beach. Going in with great velocity, on the -top of a high breaker, we were soon enveloped in its foam, and in that -of several others which succeeded. The vessel, however, -notwithstanding she struck the ground with a violence which appeared -sufficient to dash her in pieces, still held together, in defiance of -this and several minor shocks; and, as the tide was falling, she soon -became so still, and the water so shoal, as to enable us to go on -shore. - -As the alarm gun had been fired, the peasantry had come down in great -numbers; and when they perceived us leaving the vessel, they ran into -the surf, and, with such demonstrations of humanity and kindness as -our forlorn situation was calculated to excite, supported us to the -shore, which we had no sooner reached, than they complimented us on -the judicious selection we had made of a place to come on shore. And -it was now obvious to us, that if we had struck half a mile, either on -one side or the other from this spot, there would have been scarce a -possibility of saving our lives. - -We were fortunate, not only in the selection of the spot, but also in -the circumstance of its being nearly high water when the vessel -struck. The concurrence of two such circumstances turned the scale in -my favor; and immediately after landing I was convinced, that the -vessel and cargo, though much damaged, would both be saved. When the -tide had so fallen as to leave the vessel dry, the inhabitants showed -no disposition to take advantage of our distress, by stipulating for a -certain proportion of what they might save, before going to work; but, -prompted by their humane feelings, set about discharging the vessel, -in such numbers and with such earnestness, that before sunset she was -completely unloaded, and the cargo carried above high water mark. - -The gale, towards evening, had very much abated, and, before the next -high water, was fortunately succeeded by a calm and a great decrease -of sea. In the mean time, the leaks, made in the bottom, were stopped, -as well as time and circumstances would permit; an anchor was carried -as far as the retreat of the tide would admit, and the cable hove -taut. Having made these dispositions, I engaged a pilot and a -sufficient number of men, to attend, at full tide, to heave the vessel -off, and to endeavor to remove her into the river Orme, which was near -by. These arrangements being made, I went with my men to an inn, in -the neighboring town of Oistreham, to get some refreshment, and to -pass the night; compelled by exhaustion to place entire dependence on -those who were strangers to us, for getting the vessel afloat, as well -as to secure the cargo from being plundered. - -Though worn out by fatigue and anxiety, my distress of mind was so -great, that I could not sleep. The thoughts, that I had contracted a -debt which I might never be able to pay, that no insurance had been -effected, that, without credit, I might be compelled to sacrifice what -had been saved to defray the expenses incurred, and that my fortune -and prospects were ruined, were so incessantly haunting my -imagination, that the night rather added to, than diminished my -feelings of exhaustion. - -The following morning, I found the vessel lying safely in the river -Orme; and men were also there, ready to make those temporary repairs -which were indispensable to enable us to return to Havre. In the -forenoon it was required of me to go to Caen (two or three miles -distant) for the purpose of making the customary report to the -municipal authorities, which was a business of very little intricacy, -and of very speedy accomplishment. An examination of the vessel and -cargo satisfied me, that the former could be repaired at very trifling -expense, and that the latter was not damaged to much amount. The -alacrity to render us assistance, in the people of this place, from -the beginning of our disaster, was extended to the period, when, the -cargo having been transported to the vessel and re-shipped, we were -prepared to return to Havre. - -As in cases of vessels stranding, it seems to be a practice, -sanctioned by long established usage (particularly on the other side -of the channel), to consider the unfortunate as those abandoned by -Heaven, from whom may lawfully be taken all that the elements have -spared, I was prepared for a demand of salvage to a considerable -amount. But in this expectation I found I had done great injustice to -these good people; for, on presenting their account, it appeared they -had charged no more than for ordinary labor, and that at a very -moderate rate. It is a circumstance, also, very creditable to them, -that notwithstanding some packages of the cargo, of much value, and of -such bulk as to be easily concealed, were in their possession, -exclusively, for several days and nights, yet nothing was lost. -Although these transactions are of a date so remote, that probably -many of the actors therein have "ceased from their earthly labors," -yet I never recall them to mind, without a feeling of compunction that -I had not ascertained the names of the principals in the business, and -made that public acknowledgment for the disinterested and important -services rendered me, which gratitude, no less than justice, demanded. -For this omission my perturbed state of mind is my only apology. - -With a favorable wind for Havre, we proceeded for that port, where we -arrived in about ten days after having sailed from there. The -reception I met with at Havre, from my friend James Prince, Esq., of -Boston, who was more largely interested in the adventure than any -other individual excepting myself, was kind and friendly in the -extreme, and tended to counteract the effects of my deep -mortification, and to raise my spirits for the prosecution of the -original plan. He relieved my anxiety relative to the means of -defraying the expenses of repairs, by engaging to provide them. He -gave me a room at his house; and while I was ill there (for this I did -not escape) he facilitated my recovery by his care and kindness. With -such attentions, my health was soon reestablished, my spirits renewed, -and I pursued the repairing and refitting the vessel with my -accustomed ardor. - -On examination of the cargo, it was found to be very little damaged. -The vessel was considerably injured so near the keel, that it was -necessary to lay her on blocks, where it was discovered that the lower -plank was so much broken that several feet of it would require to be -replaced with new. This being accomplished, the other repairs made, -and the cargo again put on board, there was nothing to prevent -proceeding immediately to sea, excepting a difficulty in procuring -men, which seemed to be insurmountable. No one of my former crew, -excepting a black man (George), would try it again. We had arrived at -the close of the month of November; and each day's delay, by the -advance of winter, increased the difficulty and danger of our -enterprise. Indeed, the westerly gales were already of frequent -occurrence; the nights had become long, and when I heard the howling -winds and beating rain, and recollected in what a frail boat I had to -contend with them, I wished that my destiny had marked out for me a -task of less difficult accomplishment. - - - - - THE PILOT - -The hero of Cooper's stirring sea-tale is a mysterious Pilot known as -Mr. Gray, who, during the American Revolution, came aboard the Yankee -frigate Alliance one stormy night to guide her in a privateering -expedition along the east coast of England. Captain Munson had been -intrusted by Congress with the dangerous errand of venturing into the -enemy's own waters in order to capture prize ships and prisoners of -war, who were to be held for exchange. Inspired by the Pilot's -presence, the daring Yankee bluejackets captured the British cutter -Alacrity, in a sharp contest near the shore. Following this victory, -the frigate's officers in council determined upon an invasion of the -enemy's country. Accordingly, one night a party of officers and -marines from the Alliance, headed by the Pilot himself, landed near -the abbey of St. Ruth, and after many exciting adventures and narrow -escapes, secured as prisoners Captain Borroughcliffe of the king's -service, Colonel Howard, a wealthy Tory recently returned from -America, and the latter's nieces, Cecilia Howard and Katherine -Plowden. Before leaving America the girls had become engaged to -Griffith and Barnstaple, young lieutenants on this very frigate; and -it was to separate them from their Yankee lovers that Colonel Howard -had brought his wards to England, guarding them like prisoners at St. -Ruth. Moreover, Merry, the midshipman on board the Alliance was the -girls' favorite cousin. They therefore willingly accepted the -situation, and were not sorry to be transported to the frigate, -preparing to enjoy a sea voyage in pleasant company. But the officers -knew that reports of the Yankee cruiser must have spread abroad and -that pursuit was to be expected. The following pages describe the -narrow escape of the Alliance from a British man-of-war. - - - - - THE ESCAPE OF THE AMERICAN FRIGATE ALLIANCE - - (From the Pilot.) - - By J. F. COOPER. - - - "Furious press the hostile squadron, - Furious he repels their rage, - Loss of blood at length enfeebles; - Who can war with thousands wage?" - - _Spanish War Song._ - - -We cannot detain the narrative, to detail the scenes which busy -wonder, aided by the relation of divers marvellous feats, produced -among the curious seamen who remained in the ship, and their more -fortunate fellows who had returned glory from an expedition to the -land. For nearly an hour the turbulence of a general movement was -heard, issuing from the deep recesses of the frigate, and the -boisterous sounds of hoarse merriment were listened to by the officers -in indulgent silence; but all those symptoms of unbridled humor ceased -by the time the morning repast was ended, when the regular sea-watch -was set, and the greater portion of those whose duty did not require -their presence on the vessel's deck, availed themselves of the -opportunity to repair the loss of sleep sustained in the preceding -night. Still no preparations were made to put the ship in motion, -though long and earnest consultations, which were supposed to relate -to their future destiny, were observed by the younger officers to be -held between their captain, the first lieutenant, and the mysterious -Pilot. The latter threw many an anxious glance along the eastern -horizon, searching it minutely with his glass, and then would turn his -impatient looks at the low, dense bank of fog, which stretching across -the ocean like a barrier of cloud, entirely intercepted the view -towards the south. To the north and along the land the air was clear, -and the sea without spot of any kind; but in the east a small white -sail had been discovered since the opening of day, which was gradually -rising above the water, and assuming the appearance of a vessel of -some size. Every officer on the quarter-deck in his turn had examined -this distant sail, and had ventured an opinion on its destination and -character; and even Katherine, who with her cousin was enjoying, in -the open air, the novel beauties of the ocean, had been tempted to -place her sparkling eye to a glass, to gaze at the stranger. - -"It is a collier," Griffith said, "who has hauled from the land in the -late gale, and who is luffing up to his course again. If the wind -holds here in the south, and he does not get into that fog-bank, we -can stand off for him and get a supply of fuel before eight bells are -struck." - -"I think his head is to the northward, and that he is steering off the -wind," returned the Pilot, in a musing manner. "If that Dillon -succeeded in getting his express far enough along the coast, the alarm -has been spread, and we must be wary. The convoy of the Baltic trade -is in the North Sea, the news of our presence could easily have been -taken off to it by some of the cutters that line the coast. I could -wish to get the ships as far south as the Helder!" - -"Then we lose this weather tide!" exclaimed the impatient Griffith. -"Surely we have the cutter as a lookout! besides, by beating into the -fog, we shall lose the enemy, if enemy it be, and is it thought meet -for an American frigate to skulk from her foes?" - -The scornful expression that kindled the eye of the Pilot, like a -gleam of sunshine lighting for an instant some dark dell and laying -bare its secrets, was soon lost in the usually quiet look of his -glance, though he hesitated, like one who was struggling with his -passions, before he answered-- - -"If prudence and the service of the States require it, even this proud -frigate must retreat and hide from the meanest of her enemies. My -advice, Captain Munson, is that you make sail, and beat the ship to -windward, as Mr. Griffith has suggested, and that you order the cutter -to precede us, keeping more in with the land." - -The aged seaman, who evidently suspended his orders, only to receive -an intimation of the other's pleasure, immediately commanded his -youthful assistant to issue the necessary mandates to put these -measures in force. Accordingly, the Alacrity, which vessel had been -left under the command of the junior lieutenant of the frigate, was -quickly under way; and, making short stretches to windward, she soon -entered the bank of fog, and was lost to the eye. In the meantime the -canvas of the ship was loosened, and spread leisurely, in order not to -disturb the portion of the crew who were sleeping; and, following her -little consort, she moved heavily through the water, bearing up -against the dull breeze. - -The quiet of regular duty had succeeded to the bustle of making sail; -and, as the rays of the sun fell less obliquely on the distant land, -Katherine and Cecilia were amusing Griffith by vain attempts to point -out the rounded eminences which they fancied lay in the vicinity of -the deserted mansion of St. Ruth. Barnstable, who had resumed his -former station in the frigate, as her second lieutenant, was pacing -the opposite side of the quarter-deck, holding under his arm the -speaking-trumpet, which denoted that he held the temporary control of -the motions of the ship, and inwardly cursing the restraint that kept -him from the side of his mistress. At this moment of universal quiet, -when nothing above low dialogues interrupted the dashing of the waves -as they were thrown lazily aside by the bows of the vessel, the report -of a light cannon burst out of the barrier of fog, and then rolled by -them on the breeze, apparently vibrating with the rising and sinking -of the waters. - -"There goes the cutter!" exclaimed Griffith, the instant the sound was -heard. - -"Surely," said the captain, "Somers is not so indiscreet as to scale -his guns, after the caution he has received!" - -"No idle scaling of guns is intended there," said the Pilot, straining -his eyes to pierce the fog, but soon turning away in disappointment at -his inability to succeed, "that gun is shotted, and has been fired in -the hurry of a sudden signal! can your lookout see nothing, Mr. -Barnstable?" - -The lieutenant of the watch hailed the man aloft, and demanded if -anything were visible in the direction of the wind, and received for -answer, that the fog intercepted the view in that quarter of the -heavens, but that the sail in the east was a ship, running large, or -before the wind. The Pilot shook his head doubtingly at this -information, but still he manifested a strong reluctance to relinquish -the attempt of getting more to the southward. Again he communed with -the commander of the frigate, apart from all other ears; and while -they yet deliberated, a second report was heard, leaving no doubt that -the Alacrity was firing signal-guns for their particular attention. - -"Perhaps," said Griffith, "he wishes to point out his position, or to -ascertain ours; believing that we are lost like himself in the mist." - -"We have our compasses!" returned the doubting captain; "Somers has a -meaning in what he says!" - -"See!" cried Katherine, with girlish delight, "see, my cousin! see, -Barnstable! how beautifully that vapor is wreathing itself in clouds -above the smoky line of fog! It stretches already into the very -heavens like a lofty pyramid!" - -Barnstable sprang lightly on a gun, as he repeated her words-- - -"Pyramids of fog! and wreathing clouds! By Heaven!" he shouted, "'tis -a tall ship! Royals, sky-sails, and studding-sails all abroad! She is -within a mile of us, and comes down like a race-horse, with a spanking -breeze, dead before it! Now know we why Somers is speaking in the -mist!" - -"Ay," cried Griffith, "and there goes the Alacrity, just breaking out -of the fog, hovering in for the land!" - -"There is a mighty hull under all that cloud of canvas, Captain -Munson," said the observant but calm Pilot; "it is time, gentlemen, to -edge away, to leeward." - -"What, before we know from whom we run!" cried Griffith; "my life on -it, there is no single ship King George owns, but would tire of the -sport before she had played a full game of bowls with--" - -The haughty air of the young man was daunted by the severe look he -encountered in the eye of the Pilot, and he suddenly ceased, though -inwardly chafing with impatient pride. - -"The same eye that detected the canvas above the fog, might have seen -the flag of a vice-admiral fluttering still nearer the heavens," -returned the collected stranger; "and England, faulty as she may be, -is yet too generous to place a flag-officer in time of war in command -of a frigate, or a captain in command of a fleet. She knows the value -of those who shed their blood in her behalf, and it is thus that she -is so well served! Believe me, Captain Munson, there is nothing short -of a ship of the line under that symbol of rank, and that broad show -of canvas!" - -"We shall see, sir, we shall see," returned the old officer, whose -manner grew decided, as the danger appeared to thicken; "beat to -quarters, Mr. Griffith, for we have none but enemies to expect on this -coast." - -The order was instantly issued, when Griffith remarked, with a more -temperate zeal-- - -"If Mr. Gray be right, we shall have reason to thank God that we are -so light of heel!" - -The cry of "a strange vessel close aboard the frigate," having already -flown down the hatches, the ship was in an uproar at the first tap of -the drum. The seamen threw themselves from their hammocks, and lashing -them rapidly into long, hard bundles, they rushed to the decks, where -they were dexterously stowed in the netting, to aid the defences of -the upper part of the vessel. While this tumultuous scene was -exhibiting, Griffith gave a secret order to Merry, who disappeared, -leading his trembling cousins to a place of safety in the inmost -depths of the ship. - -The guns were cleared of their lumber, and loosened. The bulk-heads -were knocked down, and the cabin relieved of its furniture; and the -gun-deck exhibited one unbroken line of formidable cannon, arranged in -all the order of a naval battery ready to engage. Arm-chests were -thrown open, and the decks strewed with pikes, cutlasses, pistols, and -all the various weapons for boarding. In short, the yards were slung, -and every other arrangement was made with a readiness and dexterity -that were actually wonderful, though all was performed amid an -appearance of disorder and confusion that rendered the ship another -Babel during the continuance of the preparations. In a very few -minutes everything was completed, and even the voices of the men -ceased to be heard answering to their names, as they were mustered at -their stations, by their respective officers. Gradually the ship -became as quiet as the grave; and when even Griffith or his commander -found it necessary to speak, their voices were calmer, and their tones -more mild than usual. The course of the vessel was changed to an -oblique line from that in which their enemy was approaching, though -the appearance of flight was to be studiously avoided to the last -moment. When nothing further remained to be done, every eye became -fixed on the enormous pile of swelling canvas that was rising, in -cloud over cloud, far above the fog, and which was manifestly moving, -like driving vapor, swiftly to the north. Presently the dull, smoky -boundary of the mist which rested on the water was pushed aside in -vast volumes, and the long taper spars that projected from the -bowsprit of the strange ship issued from the obscurity, and were -quickly followed by the whole of the enormous fabric to which they -were merely light appendages. For a moment, streaks of reluctant vapor -clung to the huge floating pile; but they were soon shaken off by the -rapid vessel, and the whole of her black hull became distinct to the -eye. - -"One, two, three rows of teeth!" said Boltrope, deliberately counting -the tiers of guns that bristled along the sides of the enemy; "a -three-decker! Jack Manly would show his stern to such a fellow! and -even the Scotchman would run!" - -"Hard up with your helm, quartermaster!" cried Captain Munson; "there -is indeed no time to hesitate, with such an enemy within a quarter of -a mile! Turn the hands up, Mr. Griffith, and pack on the ship from her -trucks to her lower studding-sail booms. Be stirring, sir, be -stirring! Hard up with your helm! Hard up, sir!" - -The unusual earnestness of their aged commander acted on the startled -crew like a voice from the deep, and they waited not for the usual -signals of the boatswain and drummer to be given, before they broke -away from their guns, and rushed tumultuously to aid in spreading the -desired canvas. There was one minute of ominous confusion, that to an -inexperienced eye would have foreboded the destruction of all order in -the vessel, during which every hand, and each tongue, seemed in -motion; but it ended in opening the immense folds of light duck which -were displayed along the whole line of the masts, far beyond the -ordinary sails, overshadowing the waters for a great distance, on -either side of the vessel. During the moment of inaction that -succeeded this sudden exertion, the breeze, which had brought up the -three-decker, fell fresher on the sails of the frigate, and she -started away from her dangerous enemy with a very perceptible -advantage in point of sailing. - -"The fog rises!" cried Griffith; "give us but the wind for an hour, -and we shall run her out of gunshot!" - -"These nineties are very fast off the wind," returned the captain, in -a low tone, that was intended only for the ears of his first -lieutenant and the Pilot; "and we shall have a struggle for it." - -The quick eye of the stranger was glancing over the movements of his -enemy, while he answered-- - -"He finds we have the heels of him already! he is making ready, and we -shall be fortunate to escape a broadside! Let her yaw a little, Mr. -Griffith; touch her lightly with the helm; if we are raked, sir, we -are lost!" - -The captain sprang on the taffrail of his ship with the activity of a -younger man, and in an instant he perceived the truth of the other's -conjecture. - -Both vessels now ran for a few minutes, keenly watching each other's -motions like two skilful combatants; the English ship making slight -deviations from the line of her course, and then, as her movements -were anticipated by the other, turning as cautiously in the opposite -direction, until a sudden and wide sweep of her huge bows told the -Americans plainly on which tack to expect her. Captain Munson made a -silent but impressive gesture with his arm, as if the crisis were too -important for speech, which indicated to the watchful Griffith the way -he wished the frigate sheered, to avoid the weight of the impending -danger. Both vessels whirled swiftly up to the wind, with their heads -towards the land; and as the huge black side of the three-decker -checkered with its triple batteries, frowned full upon her foe, it -belched forth a flood of fire and smoke, accompanied by a bellowing -roar that mocked the surly moanings of the sleeping ocean. The nerves -of the bravest man in the frigate contracted their fibres, as the -hurricane of iron hurtled by them, and each eye appeared to gaze in -stupid wonder, as if tracing the flight of the swift engines of -destruction. But the voice of Captain Munson was heard in the din, -shouting while he waved his hat earnestly in the required direction-- - -"Meet her! meet her with the helm, boy! meet her, Mr. Griffith, meet -her!" - -Griffith had so far anticipated this movement, as to have already -ordered the head of the frigate to be turned in its former course, -when, struck by the unearthly cry of the last tones uttered by his -commander, he bent his head, and beheld the venerable seaman driven -through the air, his hat still waving, his gray hair floating in the -wind, and his eye set in the wild look of death. - -"Great God!" exclaimed the young man, rushing to the side of the ship, -where he was just in time to see the lifeless body disappear in the -waters that were dyed in its blood; "he has been struck by a shot! -Lower-away the boat, lower-away the jolly-boat, the barge, the tiger, -the"-- - -"'Tis useless," interrupted the calm deep voice of the Pilot; "he has -met a warrior's end, and he sleeps in a sailor's grave! The ship is -getting before the wind again, and the enemy is keeping his vessel -away." - -The youthful lieutenant was recalled by these words to his duty, and -reluctantly turned his eyes away from the bloody spot on the waters, -which the busy frigate had already passed, to resume the command of -the vessel with a forced composure. - -"He has cut some of our running gear," said the master, whose eye had -never ceased to dwell on the spars and rigging of the ship; "and -there's a splinter out of the maintopmast, that is big enough for a -fid! He has let daylight through some of our canvas too; but, taking -it by-and-large, the squall has gone over and little harm done. Didn't -I hear something said of Captain Munson getting jammed by a shot?" - -"He is killed!" said Griffith, speaking in a voice that was yet husky -with horror; "he is dead, sir, and carried overboard; there is more -need that we forget not ourselves, in this crisis." - -"Dead!" said Boltrope, suspending the operation of his active jaws for -a moment, in surprise; "and buried in a wet jacket! Well, it is lucky -'tis no worse; for damme if I did not think every stick in the ship -would have been cut out of her!" - -With this consolatory remark on his lips, the master walked slowly -forward, continuing his orders to repair the damages with a singleness -of purpose that rendered him, however uncouth as a friend, an -invaluable man in his station. - -Griffith had not yet brought his mind to the calmness that was so -essential to discharge the duties which had thus suddenly and awfully -devolved on him, when his elbow was lightly touched by the Pilot, who -had drawn closer to his side. - -"The enemy appear satisfied with the experiment," said the stranger; -"and as we work the quicker of the two, he loses too much ground to -repeat it, if he be a true seaman." - -"And yet as he finds we leave him so fast," returned Griffith, "he -must see that all his hopes rest in cutting us up aloft. I dread that -he will come by the wind again, and lay us under his broadside; we -should need a quarter of an hour to run without his range, if he were -anchored!" - -"He plays a surer game; see you not that the vessel we made in the -eastern board shows the hull of a frigate? 'Tis past a doubt that they -are of one squadron, and that the expresses have sent them in our -wake. The English admiral has spread a broad clew, Mr. Griffith; and, -as he gathers in his ships, he sees that his game has been -successful." - -The faculties of Griffith had been too much occupied with the hurry of -the chase to look at the ocean; but, startled at the information of -the Pilot, who spoke coolly, though like a man sensible of the -existence of approaching danger, he took the glass from the other, and -with his own eye examined the different vessels in sight. It is -certain that the experienced officer, whose flag was flying above the -light sails of the three-decker, saw the critical situation of his -chase, and reasoned much in the same manner as the Pilot, or the -fearful expedient apprehended by Griffith would have been adopted. -Prudence, however, dictated that he should prevent his enemy from -escaping by pressing so closely on his rear, as to render it -impossible for the American to haul across his bows and run into the -open sea between his own vessel and the nearest frigate of his -squadron. The unpractised reader will be able to comprehend the case -better by accompanying the understanding eye of Griffith, as it -glanced from point to point, following the whole horizon. To the west -lay the land, along which the Alacrity was urging her way -industriously, with the double purpose of keeping her consort abeam, -and of avoiding a dangerous proximity to their powerful enemy. To the -east, bearing off the starboard bow of the American frigate, was the -vessel first seen, and which now began to exhibit the hostile -appearance of a ship of war, steering in a line converging towards -themselves, and rapidly drawing nigher; while far in the northeast was -a vessel as yet faintly discerned, whose evolutions could not be -mistaken by one who understood the movements of nautical warfare. - -"We are hemmed in effectually," said Griffith, dropping the glass from -his eye; "and I know not but our wisest course would be to haul in to -the land, and, cutting everything light adrift, endeavor to pass the -broadside of the flagship." - -"Provided she left a rag of canvas to do it with!" returned the Pilot. -"Sir, 'tis an idle hope! She would strip your ship in ten minutes, to -her plank shears. Had it not been for a lucky wave on which so many of -her shot struck and glanced upward, we should have nothing to boast of -left from the fire she has already given; we must stand on, and drop -the three-decker as far as possible." - -"But the frigates?" said Griffith, "what are we to do with the -frigates?" - -"Fight them!" returned the Pilot, in a low, determined voice; "fight -them! Young man, I have borne the stars and stripes aloft in greater -straits than this, and even with honor! Think not that my fortune will -desert me now." - -"We shall have an hour of desperate battle!" - -"On that we may calculate; but I have lived through whole days of -bloodshed! You seem not one to quail at the sight of an enemy." - -"Let me proclaim your name to the men!" said Griffith; "'twill quicken -their blood, and at such a moment be a host in itself." - -"They want it not," returned the Pilot, checking the hasty zeal of the -other with his hand. "I would be unnoticed, unless I am known as -becomes me. I will share your danger, but would not rob you of a -tittle of your glory. Should we come to a grapple," he continued, -while a smile of conscious pride gleamed across his face, "I will give -forth the word as a war-cry, and, believe me, these English will quail -before it!" - -Griffith submitted to the stranger's will; and, after they had -deliberated further on the nature of their evolutions, he gave his -attention again to the management of the vessel. The first object -which met his eye on turning from the Pilot was Colonel Howard, pacing -the quarter-deck with a determined brow and a haughty mien, as if -already in the enjoyment of that triumph which now seemed certain. - -"I fear, sir," said the young man, approaching him with respect, "that -you will soon find the deck unpleasant and dangerous: your wards are"-- - -"Mention not the unworthy term!" interrupted the colonel. "What -greater pleasure can there be than to inhale the odor of loyalty that -is wafted from yonder floating tower of the king? And danger! you know -but little of old George Howard, young man, if you think he would for -thousands miss seeing that symbol of rebellion levelled before the -flag of his majesty." - -"If that be your wish, Colonel Howard," returned Griffith, biting his -lip, as he looked around at the wondering seamen who were listeners, -"you will wait in vain; but I pledge you my word, that when that time -arrives, you shall be advised, and that your own hand shall do the -ignoble deed." - -"Edward Griffith, why not this moment? This is your moment of -probation--submit to the clemency of the crown, and yield your crew to -the royal mercy! In such a case I would remember the child of my -brother Harry's friend; and believe me, my name is known to the -ministry. And you, misguided and ignorant abettors of rebellion! cast -aside your useless weapons, or prepare to meet the vengeance of yonder -powerful and victorious servant of your prince." - -"Fall back! back with ye, fellows!" cried Griffith, fiercely, to the -men who were gathering around the colonel, with looks of sullen -vengeance. "If a man of you dare approach him, he shall be cast into -the sea." - -The sailors retreated at the order of their commander; but the elated -veteran had continued to pace the deck for many minutes before -stronger interests diverted the angry glances of the seamen to other -objects. - -Notwithstanding the ship of the line was slowly sinking beneath the -distant waves, and in less than an hour from the time she had fired -the broadside, no more than one of her three tiers of guns was visible -from the deck of the frigate, she yet presented an irresistible -obstacle against retreat to the south. On the other hand, the ship -first seen drew so nigh as to render the glass no longer necessary in -watching her movements. She proved to be a frigate, though one so -materially lighter than the American, as to have rendered her conquest -easy, had not her two consorts continued to press on for the scene of -battle with such rapidity. During the chase, the scene had shifted -from the point opposite to St. Ruth, to the verge of those shoals -where our tale commenced. As they approached the latter, the smallest -of the English ships drew so nigh as to render the combat unavoidable. -Griffith and his crew had not been idle in the intermediate time, but -all the usual preparations against the casualties of a sea-fight had -been duly made, when the drum once more called the men to their -quarters, and the ship was deliberately stripped of her unnecessary -sails, like a prize-fighter about to enter the arena, casting aside -the incumbrances of dress. At the instant she gave this intimation of -her intention to abandon flight, and trust the issue to the combat, -the nearest English frigate also took in her light canvas in token of -her acceptance of the challenge. - -"He is but a little fellow," said Griffith to the Pilot, who hovered -at his elbow with a sort of fatherly interest in the other's conduct -of the battle, "though he carries a stout heart." - -"We must crush him at a blow," returned the stranger; "not a shot must -be delivered until our yards are locking." - -"I see him training his twelves upon us already; we may soon expect -his fire." - -"After standing the brunt of a ninety-gun ship," observed the -collected Pilot, "we shall not shrink from the broadside of a -two-and-thirty." - -"Stand to your guns, men!" cried Griffith, through his trumpet; "not a -shot is to be fired without the order." - -This caution, so necessary to check the ardor of the seamen, was -hardly uttered, before the enemy became wrapped in sheets of fire and -volumes of smoke, as gun after gun hurled its iron missiles at their -vessel in quick succession. Ten minutes might have passed, the two -vessels sheering close to each other every foot they advanced, during -which time the crew of the American were compelled, by their -commander, to suffer the fire of their adversary, without returning a -shot. This short period, which seemed an age to the seamen, was -distinguished in their vessel by deep silence. Even the wounded and -dying, who fell in every part of the ship, stifled their groans, under -the influence of the severe discipline, which gave a character to -every man, and each movement of the vessel; and those officers who -were required to speak, were heard only in the lowest tones of -resolute preparation. At length the ship slowly entered the skirts of -the smoke that enveloped their enemy; and Griffith heard the man who -stood at his side whisper the word "Now." - -"Let them have it!" cried Griffith, in a voice that was heard in the -remotest parts of the ship. - -The shout that burst from the seamen appeared to lift the decks -of the vessel, and the affrighted frigate trembled like an aspen with -the recoil of her own massive artillery, that shot forth a single -sheet of flame, the sailors having disregarded, in their impatience, -the usual order of firing. The effect of the broadside on the enemy -was still more dreadful; for a deathlike silence succeeded to the roar -of guns, which were only broken by the shrieks and execrations that -burst from her, like the moanings of the damned. During the few -moments in which the Americans were again loading their cannon, and -the English were recovering from their confusion, the vessel of the -former moved slowly past her antagonist, and was already doubling -across her bows, when the latter was suddenly, and, considering the -inequality of their forces, it may be added desperately, headed into -her enemy. The two frigates grappled. The sudden and furious charge -made by the Englishman, as he threw his masses of daring seamen along -his bowsprit, and out of his channels, had nearly taken Griffith by -surprise; but Manual, who had delivered his first fire with the -broadside, now did good service, by ordering his men to beat back the -intruders, by a steady and continued discharge. Even the wary Pilot -lost sight of their other foes, in the high daring of that moment, and -smiles of stern pleasure were exchanged between him and Griffith as -both comprehended, at a glance, their advantages. - -"Lash his bowsprit to our mizzen-mast," shouted the lieutenant, "and -we will sweep his decks as he lies!" - -Twenty men sprang eagerly forward to execute the order, among the -foremost of whom were Boltrope and the stranger. - -"Ay, now he's our own!" cried the busy master, "and we will take an -owner's liberties with him, and break him up--for by the eternal--" - -"Peace, rude man," said the Pilot, in a voice of solemn remonstrance; -"at the next instant you may face your God; mock not his awful name!" - -The master found time, before he threw himself from the spar on the -deck of the frigate again, to cast a look of amazement at his -companion, who, with a steady mien, but with an eye that lighted with -a warrior's ardor, viewed the battle that raged around him, like one -who marked its progress to control the result. - -[Illustration: "The Two Frigates Grappled"] - -The sight of the Englishman rushing onward with shouts and bitter -menaces, warmed the blood of Colonel Howard, who pressed to the side -of the frigate, and encouraged his friends by his gestures and voice, -to come on. - -"Away with ye, old croaker!" cried the master, seizing him by the -collar; "away with ye to the hold, or I'll order you fired from a -gun." - -"Down with your arms, rebellious dog!" shouted the colonel, carried -beyond himself by the ardor of the fray, "down to the dust, and -implore the mercy of your injured prince!" - -Invigorated by a momentary glow, the veteran grappled with his brawny -antagonist; but the issue of the short struggle was yet suspended, -when the English, driven back by the fire of the marines, and the -menacing front that Griffith with his boarders presented, retreated to -the forecastle of their own ship, and attempted to return the deadly -blows they were receiving, in their hull, from the cannon that -Barnstable directed. A solitary gun was all they could bring to bear -on the Americans; but this, loaded with canister, was fired so near as -to send its glaring flame into the very faces of their enemies. The -struggling colonel, who was already sinking beneath the arm of his -foe, felt the rough grasp loosen from his throat at the flash, and the -two combatants sunk powerless on their knees, facing each other. - -"How now, brother!" exclaimed Boltrope, with a smile of grim -fierceness; "some of that grist has gone to your mill, ha!" - -No answer could, however, be given before the yielding forms of both -fell to the deck, where they lay helpless, amid the din of the battle -and the wild confusion of the eager combatants. - -Notwithstanding the furious struggle they had witnessed, the elements -did not cease their functions; and, urged by the breeze, and lifted -irresistibly on a wave, the American ship was forced through the water -still farther across the bows of her enemy. The idle fastenings of -hemp and iron were snapped asunder like strings of tow, and Griffith -saw his own ship borne away from the Englishman at the instant that -the bowsprit of the latter was torn from its lashings and tumbled into -the sea, followed by spar after spar, until nothing of all her proud -tackling was remaining, but the few parted and useless ropes that were -left dangling along the stumps of her lower masts. As his own stately -vessel moved from the confusion she had caused, and left the dense -cloud of smoke in which her helpless antagonist lay, the eye of the -young man glanced anxiously towards the horizon, where he now -remembered he had more foes to contend against. - -"We have shaken off the thirty-two most happily!" he said to the -Pilot, who followed his motions with singular interest; "but here is -another fellow sheering in for us, who shows as many ports as -ourselves, and who appears inclined for a closer interview; besides, -the hull of the ninety is rising again, and I fear she will be down -but too soon!" - -"We must keep the use of our braces and sails," returned the Pilot, -"and on no account close with the other frigate; we must play a double -game, sir, and fight this new adversary with our heels as well as with -our guns." - -"'Tis time then that we were busy, for he is shortening sail; and as -he nears so fast, we may expect to hear from him every minute; what do -you propose, sir?" - -"Let him gather in his canvas," returned the Pilot; "and when he -thinks himself snug, we can throw out a hundred men at once upon our -yards, and spread everything alow and aloft; we may then draw ahead of -him by surprise; if we can once get him in our wake, I have no fears -of dropping them all." - -"A stern chase is a long chase," cried Griffith, "and the thing may -do! Clear up the decks, here, and carry down the wounded; and, as we -have our hands full, the poor fellows who have done with us must go -overboard at once." - -This melancholy duty was instantly attended to, while the young seaman -who commanded the frigate returned to his duty, with the absorbed air -of one who felt its high responsibility. These occupations, however, -did not prevent his hearing the sounds of Barnstable's voice calling -eagerly to young Merry. Bending his head towards the sound, Griffith -beheld his friend, looking anxiously up the main hatch, with a face -grimed with smoke, his coat off, and his shirt bespattered with human -blood. "Tell me, boy," he said, "is Mr. Griffith untouched? They say -that a shot came in upon the quarter-deck that tripped up the heels of -half a dozen." - -Before Merry could answer, the eyes of Barnstable which even while he -spoke were scanning the state of the vessel's rigging, encountered the -kind looks of Griffith, and from that moment perfect harmony was -restored between the friends. - -"Ah! you are there, Griff, and with a whole skin, I see," cried -Barnstable, smiling with pleasure; "they have passed poor Boltrope -down into one of his own store-rooms! If that fellow's bowsprit had -held on ten minutes longer, what a mark I should have made on his face -and eyes!" - -"'Tis perhaps best as it is," returned Griffith; "but what have you -done with those whom we are most bound to protect?" - -Barnstable made a significant gesture towards the depths of the -vessel, as he answered,-- - -"On the cables; safe as wood, iron, and water can keep them--though -Katherine has had her head up three times to--" - -A summons from the Pilot drew Griffith away; and the young officers -were compelled to forget their individual feelings, in the pressing -duties of their stations. - -The ship which the American frigate had now to oppose was a vessel of -near her own size and equipage; and when Griffith looked at her again, -he perceived that she had made her preparations to assert her equality -in manful fight. - -Her sails had been gradually reduced to the usual quantity, and, by -certain movements on her decks, the lieutenant and his constant -attendant, the Pilot, well understood that she only wanted to lessen -her distance a few hundred yards to begin the action. - -"Now spread everything," whispered the stranger. - -Griffith applied the trumpet to his mouth, and shouted in a voice that -was carried even to the enemy, "Let fall--out with your booms--sheet -home--hoist away of everything!" - -The inspiring cry was answered by a universal bustle; fifty men flew -out on the dizzy heights of the different spars, while broad sheets of -canvas rose as suddenly along the masts, as if some mighty bird were -spreading its wings. The Englishman instantly perceived his mistake, -and he answered the artifice by a roar of artillery. Griffith watched -the effects of the broadside with an absorbing interest, as the shot -whistled above his head; but when he perceived his masts untouched, -and the few unimportant ropes only that were cut, he replied to the -uproar with a burst of pleasure. A few men were, however, seen -clinging with wild frenzy to the cordage, dropping from rope to rope -like wounded birds fluttering through a tree, until they fell heavily -into the ocean, the sullen ship sweeping by them in cold indifference. -At the next instant the spars and masts of their enemy exhibited a -display of men similar to their own, when Griffith again placed the -trumpet to his mouth, and shouted aloud-- - -"Give it to them; drive them from their yards, boys, scatter them with -your grape--unreeve their rigging!" - -The crew of the American wanted but little encouragement to enter on -this experiment with hearty good-will, and the close of his cheering -words were uttered amid the deafening roar of his own cannon. The -Pilot had, however, mistaken the skill and readiness of their foe; -for, notwithstanding the disadvantageous circumstances under which the -Englishman increased his sail, the duty was steadily and dexterously -performed. - -The two ships were now running rapidly on parallel lines, hurling at -each other their instruments of destruction with furious industry, and -with severe and certain loss to both, though with no manifest -advantage in favor of either. Both Griffith and the Pilot witnessed -with deep concern this unexpected defeat of their hopes; for they -could not conceal from themselves, that each moment lessened their -velocity through the water, as the shot of their enemy stripped the -canvas from the yards, or dashed aside the lighter spars in their -terrible progress. - -"We find our equal here!" said Griffith to the stranger. "The ninety -is heaving up again like a mountain; and if we continue to shorten -sail at this rate, she will soon be down upon us!" - -"You say true, sir," returned the Pilot, musing; "the man shows -judgment as well as spirit: but--" - -He was interrupted by Merry, who rushed from the forward part of the -vessel, his whole face betokening the eagerness of his spirit, and the -importance of his intelligence. - -"The breakers!" he cried, when nigh enough to be heard amid the din: -"we are running dead on a ripple, and the sea is white not two hundred -yards ahead." - -The Pilot jumped on a gun, and bending to catch a glimpse through the -smoke, he shouted, in those clear, piercing tones, that could be even -heard among the roaring of the cannon, "Port, port your helm! we are -on the Devil's Grip! pass up the trumpet, sir; port your helm, fellow; -give it them, boys--give it to the proud English dogs!" - -Griffith unhesitatingly relinquished the symbol of his rank, fastening -his own firm look on the calm but quick eye of the Pilot, and -gathering assurance from the high confidence he read in the -countenance of the stranger. The seamen were too busy with their -cannon and their rigging to regard the new danger; and the frigate -entered one of the dangerous passes of the shoals, in the heat of a -severely contested battle. The wondering looks of a few of the older -sailors glanced at the sheets of foam that flew by them, in doubt -whether the wild gambols of the waves were occasioned by the shot of -the enemy, when suddenly the noise of cannon was succeeded by the -sullen wash of the disturbed element, and presently the vessel glided -out of her smoky shroud, and was boldly steering in the centre of the -narrow passages. For ten breathless minutes longer the Pilot continued -to hold an uninterrupted sway, during which the vessel ran swiftly by -ripples and breakers, by streaks of foam and darker passages of deep -water, when he threw down his trumpet and exclaimed-- - -"What threatened to be our destruction has proved our salvation! Keep -yonder hill crowned with wood, one point open from the church tower at -its base, and steer east by north; you will run through these shoals -on that course in an hour, and by so doing you will gain five leagues -of your enemy, who will have to double their tail." - -The moment he stepped from the gun, the Pilot lost the air of -authority that had so singularly distinguished his animated form, and -even the close interest he had manifested in the incidents of the day -became lost in the cold, settled reserve he had affected during his -intercourse with his present associates. Every officer in the ship, -after the breathless suspense of uncertainty had passed, rushed to -those places where a view might be taken of their enemies. The ninety -was still steering boldly onward, and had already approached the -two-and-thirty, which lay a helpless wreck, rolling on the unruly seas -that were rudely tossing her on their wanton billows. The frigate last -engaged was running along the edge of the ripple, with her torn sails -flying loosely in the air, her ragged spars tottering in the breeze, -and everything above her hull exhibiting the confusion of a sudden and -unlooked-for check to her progress. The exulting taunts and mirthful -congratulations of the seamen, as they gazed at the English ships, -were, however, soon forgotten in the attention that was required to -their own vessel. The drums beat the retreat, the guns were lashed, -the wounded again removed, and every individual able to keep the deck -was required to lend his assistance in repairing the damages of the -frigate and securing her masts. - -The promised hour carried the ship safely through all the dangers, -which were much lessened by daylight; and by the time the sun had -begun to fall over the land, Griffith, who had not quitted the deck -during the day, beheld his vessel once more cleared of the confusion -of the chase and battle, and ready to meet another foe. At this period -he was summoned to the cabin, at the request of the ship's chaplain. -Delivering the charge of the frigate to Barnstable, who had been his -active assistant, no less in their subsequent labors than in the -combat, he hastily divested himself of the vestiges of the fight, and -proceeded to obey the repeated and earnest call. - - - - - AMONG THE ICE FLOES - - (From the Sea Lions.) - - By J. FENIMORE COOPER. - - -"Keep her a good full, Mr. Hazard," said Roswell, as he was leaving -the deck to take the first sleep in which he had indulged for -four-and-twenty hours, "and let her go through the water. We are -behind our time, and must keep in motion. Give me a call if anything -like ice appears in a serious way." - -Hazard "ay-ay'd" this order, as usual, buttoned his pea-jacket tighter -than ever, and saw his young superior--the transcendental delicacy of -the day is causing the difference in rank to be termed "senior and -junior"--but Hazard saw his superior go below with a feeling allied to -envy, so heavy were his eyelids with the want of rest. Stimson was in -the first mate's watch, and the latter approached that old sea-dog -with a wish to keep himself awake by conversing. - -"You seem as wide awake, King Stephen," the mate remarked, "as if you -never felt drowsy." - -"This is not a part of the world for hammocks and berths, Mr. Hazard," -was the reply. "I can get along, and must get along, with a quarter -part of the sleep in these seas as would serve me in a low latitude." - -"And I feel as if I wanted all I can get. Them fellows look up well -into our wake, Stephen." - -"They do indeed, sir, and they ought to do it; for we have been longer -than is for our good in their'n." - -"Well, now we have got a fresh start, I hope we may make a clear run -of it. I saw no ice worth speaking of, to the nor'ard here, before we -made sail." - -"Because you see'd none, Mr. Hazard, is no proof there is none. -Floe-ice can't be seen at any great distance, though its blink may. -But, it seems to me, it's all blink in these here seas!" - -"There you're quite right, Stephen, for turn which way you will the -horizon has a show of that sort"-- - -"Starboard!" called out the lookout forward. "Keep her away--keep her -away--there is ice ahead!" - -"Ice in here!" exclaimed Hazard springing forward; "that is more than -we bargained for. Where away is your ice, Smith?" - -"Off here, sir, on our weather bow, and a mortal big field of it; jist -sich a chap as nipp'd the Vineyard Lion when she first came in to join -us. Sich a fellow as that would take the sap out of our bends, as a -squeezer takes the juice from a lemon." - -Smith was a carpenter by trade, which was probably the reason why he -introduced this figure. Hazard saw the ice with regret, for he had -hoped to work the schooner fairly out to sea in his watch; but the -field was getting down through the passage in a way that threatened to -cut off the exit of the two schooners from the bay. Daggett kept close -in his wake, a proof that this experienced navigator in such waters -saw no means to turn farther to windward. As the wind was now abeam, -both vessels drove rapidly ahead; and in half an hour the northern -point of the land they had so lately left came into view close aboard -of them. Just then the moon rose, and objects became more clearly -visible. - -Hazard hailed the Vineyard Lion, and demanded what was to be done. It -was possible by hauling close on a wind to pass the cape a short -distance to windward of it; and seemingly thus clear the floe. Unless -this were done, both vessels would be compelled to wear, and run for -the southern passage, which would carry them many miles to leeward, -and might place them a long distance on the wrong side of the group. - -"Is Captain Gar'ner on deck?" asked Daggett, who had now drawn close -up on the lee quarter of his consort, Hazard having brailed his -foresail and laid his topsail sharp aback to enable him to do so, "if -he isn't, I'd advise you to give him a call at once." - -This was done immediately; and while it was doing, the Vineyard Lion -swept past the Oyster Pond schooner. Roswell announced his presence on -deck just as the other vessel cleared his bows. - -"There's no time to consult, Gar'ner," answered Daggett. "There's our -road before us. Go through it we must, or stay where we are until that -field-ice gives us a jam down yonder in the crescent. I will lead, and -you can follow as soon as your eyes are open." - -One glance let Roswell into the secret of his situation. He liked it -little, but he did not hesitate. - -"Fill the topsail, and haul aft the foresheet," were the quiet orders -that proclaimed what he intended to do. - -Both vessels stood on. By some secret process, every man on board the -two crafts became aware of what was going on, and appeared on deck. -All hands were not called, nor was there any particular noise to -attract attention, but the word had been whispered below that there -was a great risk to run. A risk it was, of a verity! It was necessary -to stand close along that iron-bound coast where the seals had so -lately resorted, for a distance of several miles. The wind would not -admit of the schooners steering much more than a cable's length from -the rock for quite a league; after which the shore tended to the -southward, and a little sea-room would be gained. But on those rocks -the waves were then beating heavily, and their bellowings as they -rolled into the cavities were at almost all times terrific. There was -some relief, however, in the knowledge obtained of the shore, by -having frequently passed up and down it in the boats. It was known -that the water was deep close to the visible rocks, and that there was -no danger as long as a vessel could keep off them. - -No one spoke. Every eye was strained to discern objects ahead, or was -looking astern to trace the expected collision between the floe-ice -and the low promontory of the cape. The ear soon gave notice that this -meeting had already taken place; for the frightful sound that attended -the cracking and rending of the field might have been heard fully a -league. Now it was that each schooner did her best: yards were braced -up, sheets flattened, and the helm tended. The close proximity of the -rocks on the one side, and the secret presentiment of there being more -field-ice on the other, kept every one wide awake. The two masters, in -particular, were all eyes and ears. It was getting to be very cold; -and the sort of shelter aloft that goes by the queer name of -"crow's-nest" had been fitted up in each vessel. A mate was now sent -into each, to ascertain what might be discovered to windward. Almost -at the same instant, these young seamen hailed their respective decks, -and gave notice that a wide field was coming in upon them, and must -eventually crush them, unless avoided. This startling intelligence -reached the two commanders in the very same moment. The emergency -demanded decision, and each man acted for himself. Roswell ordered his -helm put down, and his schooner tacked. The water was not rough enough -to prevent the success of the manoeuvre. On the other hand, Daggett -kept a rap full and stood on. Roswell manifested the more judgment and -seamanship. He was now far enough away from the cape to beat to -windward; and, by going nearer to the enemy, he might always run along -its southern boundary, profit by any opening, and would be by as much -as he could thus gain, to windward of the coast. Daggett had one -advantage: by standing on, in the event of a return becoming -necessary, he could gain in time. In ten minutes the two schooners -were a mile asunder. We shall first follow that of Roswell Gardiner's -in his attempt to escape. - -The first floe, which was ripping and tearing one of its angles into -fragments, as it came grinding down on the cape, soon compelled the -vessel to tack. Making short reaches, Roswell ere long found himself -fully a mile to windward of the rocks, and sufficiently near to the -new floe to discern its shape, drift, and general character. Its -eastern end had lodged upon the field that first came in, and was -adding to the first momentum with which that enormous floe was -pressing down upon the cape. Large as was that first visitor to the -bay, this was of at least twice if not of thrice its dimensions. What -gave Roswell the most concern was the great distance that this field -extended to the westward. He went up into the crow's-nest himself, -and, aided by the light of a most brilliant moon, and a sky without a -cloud, he could perceive the blink of ice in that direction, as he -fancied, for fully two leagues. What was unusual, perhaps, at that -early season of the year, these floes did not consist of a vast -collection of numberless cakes of ice, but the whole field, so far as -could then be ascertained, was firm and united. The nights were now so -cold that ice made fast wherever there was water; and it occurred to -our young master that, possibly, fragments that had once been -separated and broken by the waves, might have become reunited by the -agency of the frost. Roswell descended from the crow's-nest half -chilled by the cutting wind, though it blew from a warm quarter. -Summoning his mates, he asked their advice. - -"It seems to me, Captain Gar'ner," Hazard replied, "there's very -little choice. Here we are, so far as I can make it out, embayed, and -we have only to box about until daylight comes, when some chance may -turn up to help us. If so, we must turn it to account; if not, we must -make up our minds to winter here." - -This was coolly and calmly said; though it was clear enough that -Hazard was quite in earnest. - -"You forget there may be an open passage to the westward, Mr. Hazard," -Roswell rejoined, "and that we may yet pass out to sea by it. Captain -Daggett is already out of sight in the western board, and we may do -well to stand on after him." - -"Ay, ay, sir--I know all that, Captain Gar'ner, and it may be as you -say, but when I was aloft, half an hour since, if there wasn't the -blink of ice in that direction, quite round to the back of the island, -there wasn't the blink of ice nowhere hereabouts. I'm used to the -sight of it, and can't well be mistaken." - -"There is always ice on that side of the land, Hazard, and you may -have seen the blink of the bergs which have hugged the cliffs in that -quarter all summer. Still, that is not proving we shall find no -outlet. This craft can go through a very small passage, and we must -take care and find one in proper time. Wintering here is out of the -question. A hundred reasons tell us not to think of such a thing, -besides the interests of our owners. We are walking along this floe -pretty fast, though I think the vessel is too much by the head; don't -it strike you so, Hazard?" - -"Lord, sir, it's nothing but the ice that has made, and is making -for'ard! Before we got so near the field as to find a better lee, the -little lipper that came athwart our bows froze almost as soon as it -wet us. I do suppose, sir, there are now several tons of ice on our -bows, counting from channel to channel, forward." - -On examination this proved to be true, and the knowledge of the -circumstance did not at all contribute to Gardiner's feeling of -security. He saw there was no time to be lost, and he crowded sail -with a view of forcing the vessel past the dangers if possible, and of -getting her into a milder climate. But even a fast-sailing schooner -will scarcely equal our wishes under such circumstances. There was no -doubt that the Sea Lion's speed was getting to be affected by the -manner in which her bows were weighed down by ice, in addition to the -discomfort produced by cold, damp, and the presence of a slippery -substance on the deck and rigging. Fortunately there was not much -spray flying, or matters would have been much worse. As it was, they -were bad enough, and very ominous of future evil. - -While the Sea Lion of Oyster Pond was running along the margin of the -ice in the manner just described, and after the blink to the westward -had changed to a visible field, making it very uncertain whether any -egress was to be found in that quarter or not, an opening suddenly -appeared trending to the northward, and sufficiently wide, as Roswell -thought, to enable him to beat through it. Putting his helm down, his -schooner came heavily round, and was filled on a course that soon -carried her half a mile into this passage. At first, everything seemed -propitious, the channel rather opening than otherwise, while the -course was such--north-northwest--as enabled the vessel to make very -long legs on one tack, and that the best. After going about four or -five times, however, all these flattering symptoms suddenly changed, -by the passage terminating in a _cul de sac_. Almost at the same -instant the ice closed rapidly in the schooner's wake. An effort was -made to run back, but it failed in consequence of an enormous floe's -turning on its centre, having met resistance from a field closer in, -that was, in its turn, stopped by the rocks. Roswell saw at once that -nothing could be done at the moment. He took in all his canvas, as -well as the frozen cloth could be handled, got out ice-anchors, and -hauled his vessel into a species of cove where there would be the -least danger of a nip, should the fields continue to close. - -All this time Daggett was as busy as a bee. He rounded the headland, -and flattered himself that he was about to slip past all the rocks, -and get out into open water, when the vast fields of which the blink -had been seen even by those in the other vessel, suddenly stretched -themselves across his course in a way that set at defiance all -attempts to go any farther in that direction. Daggett wore round, and -endeavored to return. This was by no means as easy as it was to go -down before the wind, and his bows were also much encumbered with ice; -more so, indeed, than those of the other schooner. Once or twice his -craft missed stays in consequence of getting so much by the head, and -it was deemed necessary to heave-to, and take to the axes. A great -deal of extra and cumbrous weight was gotten rid of, but an hour of -most precious time was lost. - -By the time Daggett was ready to make sail again, he found his return -round the headland was entirely cut off, by the field's having come in -absolute contact with the rocks. - -It was now midnight, and the men on board both vessels required rest. -A watch was set in each, and most of the people were permitted to turn -in. Of course, proper lookouts were had, but the light of the moon was -not sufficiently distinct to render it safe to make any final efforts -under its favor. No great alarm was felt, there being nothing unusual -in a vessel's being embayed in the ice; and so long as she was not -nipped or pressed upon by actual contact, the position was thought -safe rather than the reverse. It was desirable, moreover, for the -schooners to communicate with each other; for some advantage might be -known to one of the masters that was concealed by distance from his -companion. Without concert, therefore, Roswell and Daggett came to the -same conclusions, and waited patiently. - -The day came at last, cold and dreary, though not altogether without -the relief of an air that blew from regions far warmer than the ocean -over which it was now travelling. Then the two schooners became -visible from each other, and Roswell saw the jeopardy of Daggett, and -Daggett saw the jeopardy of Roswell. The vessels were little more than -a mile apart, but the situation of the Vineyard Lion was much the more -critical. She had made fast to the floe, but her support itself was in -a steady and most imposing motion. As soon as Roswell saw the manner -in which his consort was surrounded, and the very threatening aspect -of the danger that pressed upon him, his first impulse was to hasten -to him, with a party of his own people, to offer any assistance he -could give. After looking at the ice immediately around his own craft, -where all seemed to be right, he called over the names of six of his -men, ordered them to eat a warm breakfast, and to prepare to accompany -him. - -In twenty minutes Roswell was leading his little party across the ice, -each man carrying an axe, or some other implement that it was supposed -might be of use. It was by no means difficult to proceed; for the -surface of the floe, one seemingly more than a league in extent, was -quite smooth, and the snow on it was crusted to a strength that would -have borne a team. - -"The water between the ice and the rocks is a much narrower strip than -I had thought," said Roswell to his constant attendant, Stimson. -"Here, it does not appear to be a hundred yards in width!" - -"Nor is it, sir,--whew--this trotting in so cold a climate makes a man -puff like a whale blowing--but, Captain Gar'ner, that schooner will be -cut in two before we can get to her. Look, sir! the floe has reached -the rocks already, quite near her; and it does not stop the drift at -all, seemingly." - -Roswell made no reply; the state of the Vineyard Lion did appear to be -much more critical than he had previously imagined. Until he came -nearer to the land, he had formed no notion of the steady power with -which the field was setting down on the rocks on which the broken -fragments were now creeping like creatures endowed with life. -Occasionally there would be loud disruptions, and the movement of the -floe would become more rapid; then, again, a sort of pause would -succeed, and for a moment the approaching party felt a gleam of hope. -But all expectations of this sort were doomed to be disappointed. - -"Look, sir!" exclaimed Stimson; "she went down afore it twenty fathoms -at that one set. She must be awful near the rocks, sir!" - -All the men now stopped. They knew they were powerless; and intense -anxiety rendered them averse to move. Attention appeared to interfere -with their walking on the ice; and each held his breath in -expectation. They saw that the schooner, then less than a cable's -length from them, was close to the rocks; and the next shock, if -anything like the last, must overwhelm her. To their astonishment, -instead of being nipped, the schooner rose by a stately movement that -was not without grandeur, upheld by broken cakes that had got beneath -her bottom, and fairly reached the shelf of rocks almost unharmed. Not -a man had left her; but there she was, placed on the shore, some -twenty feet above the surface of the sea, on rocks worn smooth by the -action of the waves! Had the season been propitious, and did the -injury stop here, it might have been possible to get the craft into -the water again, and still carry her to America. - -But the floe was not yet arrested. Cake succeeded cake, one riding -another, until a wall of ice rose along the shore, that Roswell and -his companions, with all their activity and courage, had great -difficulty in crossing. They succeeded in getting over it, however; -but when they reached the unfortunate schooner, she was literally -buried. The masts were broken, the sails torn, rigging scattered, and -sides stove. The Sea Lion of Martha's Vineyard was a worthless -wreck--worthless as to all purposes but that of being converted into -materials for a smaller craft, or to be used as fuel. - -All this had been done in ten minutes! Then it was that the vast -superiority of nature over the resources of man made itself apparent. -The people of the two vessels stood aghast with this sad picture of -their own insignificance before their eyes. The crew of the wreck, it -is true, had escaped without difficulty; the movement having been as -slow and steady as it was irresistible. But there they were, in the -clothes they had on, with all their effects buried under piles of ice -that were already thirty or forty feet in height. - -"She looks as if she was built there, Gar'ner!" Daggett coolly -observed, as he stood regarding the scene with eyes as intently -riveted on the wreck as human organs were ever fixed on any object. -"Had a man told me this could happen, I would not have believed him!" - -"Had she been a three-decker, this ice would have treated her in the -same way. There is a force in such a field that walls of stone could -not withstand." - -"Captain Gar'ner--Captain Gar'ner," called out Stimson, hastily; "we'd -better go back, sir; our own craft is in danger. She is drifting fast -in towards the cape, and may reach it afore we can get to her!" - -Sure enough, it was so. In one of the changes that are so -unaccountable among the ice, the floe had taken a sudden and powerful -direction towards the entrance of the Great Bay. It was probably owing -to the circumstance that the inner field had forced its way past the -cape, and made room for its neighbor to follow. A few of Daggett's -people, with Daggett himself, remained to see what might yet be saved -from the wreck; but all the rest of the men started for the cape, -towards which the Oyster Pond craft was now directly setting. The -distance was less than a league; and, as yet, there was not much snow -on the rocks. By taking an upper shelf, it was possible to make pretty -good progress; and such was the manner of Roswell's present march. - -It was an extraordinary sight to see the coast along which our party -was hastening, just at that moment. As the cakes of ice were broken -from the field, they were driven upward by the vast pressure from -without, and the whole line of the shore seemed as if alive with -creatures that were issuing from the ocean to clamber on the rocks. -Roswell had often seen that very coast peopled with seals, as it now -appeared to be in activity with fragments of ice, that were writhing -and turning, and rising, one upon another, as if possessed of the -vital principle. - -In half an hour Roswell and his party reached the house. The schooner -was then less than half a mile from the spot, still setting in, along -with the outer field, but not nipped. So far from being in danger of -such a calamity, the little basin in which she lay had expanded, -instead of closing; and it would have been possible to handle a -quick-working craft in it, under her canvas. An exit, however, was -quite out of the question; there being no sign of any passage to or -from that icy dock. There the craft still lay, anchored to the -weather-floe, while the portion of her crew which remained on board -was as anxiously watching the coast as those who were on the coast -watched her. At first, Roswell gave his schooner up; but on closer -examination found reason to hope that she might pass the rocks, and -enter the inner, rather than the Great Bay. - - - - - A TORNADO AT SEA - - (From The Green Hand.) - - By GEORGE CUPPLES. - - -"What was my horror when I saw the quicksilver had sunk so far below -the mark, probably fixed there that morning, as to be almost shrunk in -the ball! Whatever the merchant service might know about the -instrument in those days, the African coast was the place to teach its -right use to us in the old Iris. I laid down my knife and fork as -carelessly as I could, and went straight on deck. - -"Here I sought out the mate, who was forward, watching the land--and at -once took him aside to tell him the fact. 'Well, sir,' said he, -coolly, 'and what of that? A sign of wind, certainly, before very -long; but in the meantime we're _sure_ to have it off the land.' -'That's one of the very reasons,' said I, 'for thinking _this_ will be -from seaward--since towards evening the land'll have plenty of air -without it! But more than that, sir,' said I, 'I tell you, Mr. Finch, -I know the west coast of Africa pretty well--and so far south as this, -the glass falling so low as _twenty-seven_, is always the sign of a -nor'westerly blow! If you're a wise man, sir, you'll not only get your -upper spars down on deck, but you'll see your anchors clear!' Finch -had plainly got furious at my meddling again, and said he, 'Instead of -that, sir, I shall hold on _everything_ aloft, to stand out when I get -the breeze!' 'D'ye really think, then,' said I, pointing to the -farthest-off streak of land, trending away by this time astern of us, -faint as it was, '_do_ you think you could ever weather that point, -with anything like a strong nor'wester, besides a current heading you -in, as you got fair hold of it again?' 'Perhaps not,' said he, wincing -a little as he glanced at it; 'but you happen always to suppose what -there's a thousand to one against, sir. Why, sir, you might as well -take the command at once. But, sir, if it _did_ come to that, I'd -rather--I'd rather see the ship _lost_--I'd rather go to the bottom with -all in her, after handling her as I know well how, than I'd see the -chance given to _you_!' The young fellow fairly shouted this last word -into my very ear--he was in a regular furious passion. 'You'd _better_ -let me alone, that's all I've got to say to you, sir!' growled he, as -he turned away; so I thought it no use to say more, and leaned over -the bulwarks, resolved to see it out. - -"The fact was, the farther we got off the land _now_, the worse, -seeing that if what I dreaded should prove true, why, we were probably -in thirty or forty fathoms of water, where no anchor could hold for -ten minutes' time--if it ever caught ground. My way would have been to -get every boat out at once, and tow in till you could see the color of -some shoal or other from aloft, then take my chance there to ride out -whatever might come, to the last cable aboard of us. Accordingly, I -wasn't sorry to see that by this time the whole bight of the coast was -slowly rising off our beam betwixt the high land far astern and the -broad bluffs upon her starboard bow; which last came out already of a -sandy reddish tint, and the lower part of a clear blue, as the sun got -westward on our other side. What struck me was, that the face of the -water, which was all over wrinkles and winding lines, with here and -there a quick ripple, when I went below, had got on a sudden quite -smooth as far as you could see, as if they'd sunk down like so many -eels; a long uneasy ground-swell was beginning to heave in from -seaward, on which the ship rose; once or twice I fancied I could -observe the color different away towards the land, like the muddy -chocolate spreading out near a river-mouth at ebb-tide--then again it -was green, rather; and as for the look of the coast, I had no -knowledge of it. I thought again, certainly, of the old -quartermaster's account in the Iris, but there was neither anything -like to be seen, nor any sign of a break in the coast at all, though -high headlands enough. - -"The ship might have been about twelve or fourteen miles from the -northeast point upon her starboard bow, a high rocky range of -bluffs--and rather less from the nearest of what lay away off her beam; -but after this you could mark nothing more, except it were that she -edged farther from the point, by the way its bearings shifted or got -blurred together: either she stood still, or she'd caught some eddy or -underdrift, and the mate walked about quite lively once more. The -matter was how to breathe, or bear your clothes--when all of a sudden I -heard the second mate sing out from the forecastle--'Stand by the -braces, there! Look out for the tops'l hawl-yards!' - -"He came shuffling aft the next moment as fast as his foundered old -shanks could carry him, and told Mr. Finch there was a squall coming -off the land. The mate sprang up on the bulwarks, and so did -I--catching a glance from him, as much as to say, 'There's your gale -from seaward, you pretentious lubber!' The lowest streak of coast bore -at present before our starboard quarter, betwixt east and -south-east'ard, with some pretty high land running away up from it, -and a sort of dim blue haze hanging beyond, as 'twere. Just as Macleod -spoke, I could see a dusky dark vapor thickening and spreading in the -haze, till it rose black along the flat, out of the sky behind it; -whitened and then darkened again, like a heavy smoke floating up into -the air. All was confusion on deck for a minute or two--off went all -the awnings--and every hand was ready at his station, fisting the -ropes; when I looked again at the cloud, and then at the mates. 'By -George!' said I, noticing a pale wreath of it go curling up on the -pale clear sky over it, as to a puff of air, 'it _is_ smoke! Some -niggers, as they often do, burning the bush!' - -"So it was; and as soon as Finch gave in, all hands quietly coiled up -the ropes. It was scarce five minutes after, that Jacobs, who was -coiling up a rope beside me, gave me a quiet touch with one finger. -'Mr. Collins, sir,' said he, in a low voice, looking almost right up, -high over toward the ship's larboard bow, which he couldn't have done -before, for the awnings so lately above us, 'look, sir--there's an -_ox-eye_!' I followed his gaze, but it wasn't for a few seconds that I -found what it pointed to, in the hot far-off-like blue dimness of the -sky overhead, compared with the white glare of which to westward our -canvas aloft was but dirty gray and yellow. - -"'Twas what none but a seaman would have observed, and many a seaman -wouldn't have done so--but a man-o-war's-man is used to look out at all -hours, in all latitudes--and to a man that knew its meaning, _this_ -would have been no joke, even out of sight of land; as it was, the -thing gave me a perfect thrill of dread. High aloft in the heavens -northward, where they were freest from the sun--now standing over the -open horizon amidst a wide bright pool of light--you managed to discern -a small silvery speck, growing slowly, as it were, out of the faint -blue hollow, like a star in the daytime, till you felt as if it -_looked_ at you, from God knows what distance away. One eye after -another amongst the mates and crew joined Jacobs' and mine, with the -same sort of dumb fellowship to be seen when a man in London streets -watches the top of a steeple; and however hard to make out at first, -ere long none of them could miss seeing it, as it got slowly larger, -sinking by degrees till the sky close about it seemed to thicken like -a dusky ring round the white, and the sunlight upon our seaward -quarter blazed out doubly strong--as if it came dazzling off a brass -bell, with the bright tongue swinging in it far off to one side, where -the hush made you think of a stroke back upon us, with some terrific -sound to boot. - -"The glassy water by this time was beginning to rise under the ship -with a struggling kind of unequal heave, as if a giant you couldn't -see kept shoving it down here and there with both hands, and it came -swelling up elsewhere. - -"To north-westward or thereabouts, betwixt the sun and this ill-boding -token aloft, the far line of open sea still lay shining motionless and -smooth; next time you looked, it had got even brighter than before, -seeming to leave the horizon visibly; then the streak of air just -above it had grown gray, and a long hedge of hazy vapor was creeping -as it were over from beyond--the white speck all the while travelling -down towards it slantwise from nor'ard, and spreading its dark ring -slowly out into a circle of cloud, till the keen eye of it at last -sank in, and below, as well as aloft, the whole north-western quarter -got blurred together in one gloomy mass. If there was a question at -first whether the wind mightn't come from so far nor'ard as to give -her a chance of running out to sea before it, there was none now--our -sole recourse lay either in getting nearer the land meanwhile, to let -go our anchors ere it came on, with her head to it--or we might make a -desperate trial to weather the lee-point now far astern. The fact was, -we were going to have a regular tornado, and that of the worst kind, -which wouldn't soon blow itself out; though near an hour's notice -would probably pass ere it was on. - -"The three mates laid their heads gravely together over the capstan -for a minute or two, after which Finch seemed to perceive that the -first of the two ways was the safer; though, of course, the nearer we -should get to the land, the less chance there was of clearing it -afterwards, should her cables part, or the anchors drag. The two boats -still alongside, and two others dropped from the davits, were manned -at once and set to towing the Indiaman ahead, in-shore; while the -bower and sheet anchors were got out to the cat-heads ready for -letting go, cables overhauled, ranged, and clinched as quickly as -possible, and the deep-sea lead passed along to take soundings every -few minutes. - -"On we crept, slow as death, and almost as still, except the jerk of -the oars from the heaving waters at her bows, and the loud flap of the -big topsails now and then, everything aloft save them and the brailed -foresail being already close furled; the clouds all the while rising -away along our larboard beam nor'west and north, over the gray bank on -the horizon, till once more you could scarce say which point the wind -would come from, unless by the huge purple heap of vapor in the midst. -The sun had got low, and he shivered his dazzling spokes of light -behind one edge of it, as if 'twere a mountain you saw over some coast -or other; indeed, you'd have thought the ship almost shut in by land -on both sides of her, which was what seemed to terrify the passengers -most, as they gathered about the poop-stairs and watched it--_which_ -was the true land and which the clouds, 'twas hard to say--and the sea -gloomed writhing between them like a huge lake in the mountains. - -"I saw Sir Charles Hyde walk out of the round-house and in again, -glancing uneasily about; his daughter was standing with another young -lady, gazing at the land; and at sight of her sweet, curious face, I'd -have given worlds to be able to do something that might save it from -the chance, possibly, of being that very night dashed amongst the -breakers on a lee shore in the dark--or at best, suppose the Almighty -favored any of us so far, perhaps landed in the wilds of Africa. Had -there been aught man could do more, why, though I never should get a -smile for it, I'd have compassed it, mate or no mate; but all was done -that could be done, and I had nothing to say. Westwood came near her, -too, apparently seeing our bad case at last to some extent, and both -trying to break it to her, and to assure her mind; so I folded my arms -again, and kept my eyes fixed hard upon the bank of cloud, as some new -weather-mark stole out in it, and the sea stretched breathlessly away -below, like new melted lead. - -"The air was like to choke you--or rather there was none--as if water, -sky, and everything else wanted _life_, and one would fain have caught -the first rush of the tornado into his mouth--the men emptying the -dipper on deck from the cask, from sheer loathing. As for the land, it -seemed to draw nearer of itself, till every point and wrinkle in the -headland off our bow came out in a red coppery gleam--one saw the white -line of surf round it, and some blue country beyond like indigo; then -back it darkened again, and all aloft was getting livid-like over the -bare royal mast-heads. - -"Suddenly, a faint air was felt to flutter from landward; it half -lifted the topsails, and a heavy earthy smell came into your -nostrils--the first of the land breeze, at last; but by this time it -was no more than a sort of mockery, while a minute after you might -catch a low, sullen, moaning sound far off through the emptiness, from -the strong surf the Atlantic sends in upon the west coast before a -squall. If ever landsmen found out what land on the wrong side is, the -passengers of the Seringapatam did, that moment; the shudder of the -topsails aloft seemed to pass into every one's shoulders, and a few -quietly walked below, as if they were safer in their cabins. I saw -Violet Hyde look round and round with a startled expression, and from -one place to another, till her eye lighted on me, and I fancied for a -moment it was like putting some question to me. I couldn't bear -it!--'twas the first time I'd felt powerless to offer anything; though -the thought ran through me again till I almost felt myself buffeting -among the breakers with her in my arms. I looked to the land, where -the smoke we had seen three-quarters of an hour ago, rose again with -the puff of air, a slight flicker of flame in it, as it wreathed off -the low ground toward the higher point--when all at once I gave a -start, for something in the shape of the whole struck me as if I'd -seen it before. - -"Next moment I was thinking of old Bob Martin's particular landmarks -at the river-mouth he spoke of, and the notion of its possibly being -hereabouts glanced on me like a godsend. In the unsure dusky sight I -had of it, certainly, it wore somewhat of that look, and it lay fair -to leeward of the weather; while, as for the dead shut-in appearance -of it, old Bob had specially said you'd never think it was a river; -but then again it was more like a desperate fancy owing to our hard -case, and to run the ship straight for it would be the trick of a -Bedlamite. At any rate, a quick cry from aft turned me round, and I -saw a blue flare of lightning streak out betwixt the bank of gray haze -and the cloud that hung over it--then another, and the clouds were -beginning to rise slowly in the midst, leaving a white glare between, -as if you could see through it towards what was coming. The men could -pull no longer, but ahead of the ship there was now only about eight -or ten fathoms of water, with a soft bottom. The boats were hoisted -in, and the men had begun to clew up and hand the topsails, which were -lowered on the caps, when, just in the midst of the hubbub and -confusion, as I stood listening to every order the mate gave, the -steward came up hastily from below to tell him that the captain had -woke up, and, being much better, wanted to see him immediately. Mr. -Pinch looked surprised, but he turned at once, and hurried down the -hatchway. - -"The sight which all of us who weren't busy gazed upon, over the -larboard bulwarks, was terrible to see; 'twas half dark, though the -sun dropping behind the haze-bank, made it glimmer and redden. The -dark heap of clouds had first lengthened out blacker and blacker, and -was rising slowly in the sky like a mighty arch, till you saw their -white edges below, and a ghastly white space behind, out of which the -mist and scud began to fly. Next minute a long sigh came into her jib -and foresail, then the black bow of cloud partly sank again, and a -blaze of lightning came out all round her, showing you every face on -deck, the inside of the round-house aft, with the Indian judge -standing in it, his hand to his eyes--and the land far away, to the -very swell rolling onto it. Then the thunder broke overhead in the -gloom, in one fearful sudden crack, that you seemed to hear through -every corner of cabins and forecastle below--and the wet back-fins of -twenty sharks or so, that had risen out of the inky surface, vanished -as suddenly. - -"The Indiaman had sheered almost broadside on to the clouds, her jib -was still up, and I knew the next time the clouds rose we should -fairly have it. Flash after flash came, and clap after clap of -thunder, such as you hear before a tornado--yet the chief officer -wasn't to be seen, and the others seemed uncertain what to do first; -while everyone began to wonder and pass along questions where he could -be. In fact, he had disappeared. For my part, I thought it very -strange he stayed so long; but there wasn't a moment to lose. I jumped -down off the poop-stairs, walked forward on the quarter-deck, and said -coolly to the men nearest me, 'Run and haul down that jib yonder--set -the spanker here, aft. You'll have her taken slap on her beam: quick, -my lads!' The men did so at once. Macleod was calling out anxiously -for Mr. Finch. 'Stand by the anchors there!' I sang out, 'to let go -the starboard one, the _moment_ she swings head to wind!' The Scotch -mate turned his head; but Rickett's face, by the next flash, showed he -saw the good of it, and there was no leisure for arguing, especially -as I spoke in a way to be heard. I walked to the wheel, and got hold -of Jacobs to take the weather helm. - -"We were all standing ready, at the pitch of expecting it. Westwood, -too, having appeared again by this time beside me, I whispered to him -to run forward and look after the anchors, when someone came hastily -up the after-hatchway, with a glazed hat and pilot-coat on, stepped -straight to the binnacle, looked in behind me, then at the black bank -of cloud, then aloft. Of course I supposed it was the mate again, but -didn't trouble myself to glance at him further, when 'Hold on with the -anchors!' he sang out in a loud voice. 'Hold on there for your lives!' -Heavens! it was the captain himself! - -"At this, of course, I stood aside at once; and he shouted again, -'Hoist the jib and fore-topmast-staysail--stand by to set fore-course!' -By Jove! this was the way to pay the ship _head_ off, instead of stern -off, from the blast when it came--and to let her drive before it at no -trifle of a rate, wherever _that_ might take her. '_Down_ with that -spanker, Mr. Macleod, d'ye hear?' roared Captain Williamson again; -and, certainly, I did wonder what he meant to do with the ship. But -his manner was so decided, and 'twas so natural for the captain to -strain a point to come on deck in the circumstances, that I saw he -must have some trick of seamanship above _me_, or some special -knowledge of the coast; and I waited in a state of the greatest -excitement for the first stroke of the tornado. He waved the second -and third mates forward to their posts,--the Indiaman sheering and -backing, like a frightened horse, to the long slight swell and the -faint flow of the land-air. The black arch to windward began to rise -again, showing a terrible white stare reaching deep in, and a blue -dart of lightning actually ran zigzag before our glaring -fore-to'-gallant-mast. Suddenly, the captain had looked at me, and we -faced each other by the gleam; and, quiet, easy-going man as he was -commonly, it just flashed across me there was something -extraordinarily wild and _raised_ in his pale visage, strange as the -air about us made everyone appear. He gave a stride towards me, -shouting, 'Who are--' when the thunder-clap took the words out of his -tongue, and the next moment the tornado burst upon us, fierce as the -wind from a cannon's mouth. - -"For one minute the Seringapatam heeled over to her starboard streak, -almost broadside on, and her spars towards the land--all on her beam -was a long ragged white gush of light and mist pouring out under the -black brow of the clouds, with a trampling, eddying roar up into the -sky. The swell plunged over her weather-side like the first break of a -dam, and as we scrambled up to the bulwarks to hold on for bare life, -we saw a roller fit to swamp us, coming on out of the sheet of foam, -when crash went mizzen-topmast and main-to'-gallant-mast; the ship -payed swiftly off by help of her head-sails, and, with a leap like a -harpooned whale, off she drove fair before the tremendous sweep of the -blast. - -"The least yaw in her course, and she'd have never risen, unless every -stick went out of her. I laid my shoulder to the wheel with Jacobs, -and Captain Williamson screamed through his trumpet into the men's -ears, and waved his hands to ride down the foresheets as far as they'd -go; which kept her right before it, though the sail could be but half -set, and she rather flew than ran--the sea one breadth of white foam -back to the gushes of mist, not having power to rise higher yet. Had -the foresail been stretched, 'twould have blown off like a cloud. I -looked at the captain: he was standing in the lee of the round-house, -straight upright, though now and then peering eagerly forward, his -lips firm, one hand on a belaying-pin, the other in his breast--nothing -but determination in his manner: yet once or twice he started, and -glanced fiercely to the after-hatchway near, as if something from -below might chance to thwart him. I can't express my contrary -feelings, betwixt a sort of hope and sheer horror. We were driving -right towards the land, at thirteen or fourteen knots to the hour--yet -_could_ there actually be some harborage hereaway, or that river the -quartermaster of the Iris had mentioned, and Captain Williamson know -of it? - -"Something struck me as wonderfully strange in the whole matter, and -puzzling to desperation--still, I trusted to the captain's experience. -The coast was scarce to be seen ahead of us, lying black against an -uneven streak of glimmer, as she rushed like fury before the deafening -howl of the wind; and right away before our lee-beam I could see the -light blowing, as it were, across beyond the headland I had noticed, -where the smoke in the bush seemed to be still curling, -half-smothered, along the flat in the lee of the hills, as if in green -wood, or sheltered as yet from seaweed, though once or twice a quick -flicker burst up in it. - -"All at once the gust of the tornado was seen to pour on it like a -long blast from some huge bellows, and up it flashed--the yellow flame -blazed into the smoke, spread away behind the point, and the ruddy -brown smoke blew whitening over it--when, almighty power! what did I -see as it lengthened in, but part after part of the old Bob's -landmarks creep out ink-black before the flare and the streak of sky -together--first the low line of ground, then the notch in the block, -the two rocks like steps, and the sugar-loaf shape of the headland, to -the very mop-headed knot of trees on its rise! No doubt Captain -Williamson was steering for it; but it was far too much on our -starboard bow, and in half an hour at this rate we should drive right -into the surf you saw running along to the coast ahead--so I signed to -Jacob for God's sake to edge her off as nicely as was possible. - -"Captain Williamson caught my motion. 'Port! port, sirrah!' he sang -out sternly. '_Back_ with the helm, d'ye hear?' and pulling out a -pistol, he levelled it at me with one hand, while he held a second in -the other. 'Land! land!' shouted he, and from the lee of the -round-house it came more like a shriek than a shout. 'I'll be there -though a thousand mutineers--' His eye was like a wild beast's. That -moment the truth glanced across me--this was the _green leaf_, no -doubt, the Scotch mate talked so mysteriously of. The man was mad! The -land-fever was upon him, as I'd seen it before in men long off the -African coast; and he stood eyeing me with one foot hard stamped -before him. 'Twas no use trying to be heard, and the desperation of -the moment gave me a thought of the sole thing to do. I took off my -hat in the light of the binnacle, bowed, and looked him straight in -the face with a smile; when his eye wavered, he slowly lowered his -pistol, then _laughed_, waving his hand towards the land to leeward, -as if, but for the gale, you'd have heard him cheer. At the instant I -sprang behind him with the slack of a rope, and grappled his arms -fast, though he'd got the furious power of a madman; and during half a -minute 'twas wrestle for life with me. But the line was round him, arm -and leg, and I made it fast, throwing him heavily on the deck just as -one of the mates with some of the crew were struggling aft, by help of -the belaying-pins, against the hurricane, having caught a glimpse of -the thing by the binnacle light. They looked from me to the captain. -The ugly top-man made a sign, as much as to say, 'Knock the fellow -down;' but the whole lot hung back before the couple of pistol-barrels -I handled. The Scotch mate seemed awfully puzzled; and others of the -men, who knew from Jacobs what I was, came shoving along, evidently -aware what a case we were in. - -"A word to Jacobs served to keep him steering her anxiously, so as to -head two or three points more southeast in the _end_, furiously as the -wheel jolted. So there we stood, the tornado sweeping sharp as a knife -from astern over the poop-deck, with a force that threw anyone back if -he let go his hold to get near me, and going up like thunder aloft in -the sky. Now and then a weaker flare of lightning glittered across the -scud; and, black as it was overhead, the horizon to windward was but -one jagged white glare, gushing full of broad shifting streaks through -the drift of foam and the spray that strove to rise. Our fore-course -still held: and I took the helm from Jacobs, that he might go and -manage to get a pull taken on the starboard brace, which would not -only _slant_ the sail more to the blasts, but give her the better -chance to make the sole point of salvation, by helping her steerage -when most needed. Jacobs and Westwood together got this done; and all -the time I was keeping my eyes fixed anxiously, as man can fancy, on -the last gleams of the fire ashore, as her head made a fairer line -with it; but, by little and little, it went quite out, and all was -black--though I had taken its bearing by the compass--and I kept her to -that for bare life, trembling at every shiver in the foresail's edge, -lest either it or the mast should go. - -"Suddenly, we began to get into a fearful swell--the Indiaman plunged -and shook in every spar left her. I could see nothing ahead, from the -wheel, and in the dark; we were getting close in with the land, and -the time was coming; but still I held south-east-by-east to the mark -of her head in the compass-box, as nearly as might and main could do -it, for the heaves that made me think once or twice she was to strike -next moment. - -"If she went ashore in my hands! why, it was like to drive one mad -with fear; and I waited for Jacobs to come back, with a brain ready to -turn, almost as if I'd left the wheel to the other helmsman, and run -forward into the bows to look out. The captain lay raving and shouting -behind me, though no one else could either have heard or seen him; and -where the chief officer was all this time surprised me, unless the -madman had made away with him, or locked him in his own cabin, in -return for being shut up himself--which, in fact, proved to be the -case, cunning as it was to send for him so quietly. At length Jacobs -struggled aft to me again, and charging him, for Heaven's sake, to -steer exactly the course I gave, I drove before the full strength of -the squall along decks to the bowsprit, where I held on and peered -out. Dead ahead of us was the high line of coast in the dark--not a -mile of swell between the ship and it. By this time the low boom of -the surf came under the wind, and you saw the breakers lifting all -along--not a single opening in them! I had lost sight of my landmarks, -and my heart gulped into my mouth--what I felt 'twould be vain to -say--till I thought I _did_ make out one short patch of sheer black in -the range of foam, scarce so far on our bow as I'd reckoned the fire -to have been; indeed, instead of that, it was rather on her weather -than her lee bow; and the more I watched it, and the nearer we drove -in that five minutes, the broader it was. 'By all that's good!' -thought I, 'if a river there is, that must be the mouth of it!' But, -by Heavens! on our present course the ship would run just right upon -the point--and, to strike the clear water, her foreyard would require -to be braced up, able or not, though the force of the tornado would -come fearfully on her quarter, then. There was the chance of taking -all the masts out of her; but let them stand ten minutes, and the -thing was done, when we opened into the lee of the points--otherwise -all was over. - -"I sprang to the fore-braces and besought the men near me, for God's -sake, to drag upon the lee one--and that as if their life hung upon -it--when Westwood caught me by the arm. I merely shouted through my -hands into his ear to go aft to Jacobs and tell him to keep her head a -_single point_ up, whatever might happen, to the last--then I pulled -with the men at the brace till it was fast, and scrambled up again to -the bowsprit heel. Jove! how she surged to it: the little canvas we -had strained like to burst; the masts trembled, and the spars aloft -bent like whip-shafts, everything below groaning again; while the -swell and the blast together made you dizzy, as you watched the white -eddies rising and boiling out of the dark--her cutwater shearing -through it and the foam, as if you were going under it. The sound of -the hurricane and the surf seemed to be growing together into one -awful roar--my very brain began to turn with the pitch I was wrought up -to--and it appeared next moment we should heave far up into the savage -hubbub of breakers. I was wearying for the crash and the wild -confusion that would follow, when all of a sudden, still catching the -fierce rush of the gale athwart her quarter into the fore-course, -which steadied her though she shuddered to it--all of a sudden, the -dark mass of the land seemed as if it were parting ahead of her, and a -gleam of pale sky opened below the dusk into my very face. I no more -knew what I was doing, by this time, nor where we were, than the spar -before me--till again, the light broadened, glimmering low betwixt the -high land and a lump of rising level on the other bow. - -"I hurried aft past the confused knots of men holding on to the lee of -the bulwarks, and seized a spoke of the wheel. 'Tom,' shouted I to -Westwood, 'run and let free the spanker on the poop! Down with the -helm--down with it, Jacobs, my lad!' I sang out, 'never mind spars or -canvas!' Down went the helm--the spanker held to luff her to the -strength of the gust--and away she went up to port, the heavy swells -rolling her in, while the rush into her staysail and fore-course came -in one terrible flash of roaring wind--tearing first one and then the -other clear out of the bolt-ropes, though the loose spanker abaft was -in less danger, and the way she had from both was enough to take her -careening round the point into its lee. By heavens! there were the -streaks of soft haze low over the rising moon, under the broken -clouds, beyond a far line of dim fringy woods, she herself just -tipping the hollow behind, big and red, when right down from over the -cloud above us came a spout of rain, then a sheet of it lifting to the -blast as it howled across the point. 'Stand by to let go the larboard -anchor!' I sang through the trumpet; and Jacobs put the helm fully -down at that moment, till she was coming head to wind, when I made -forward to the mates and men. 'Let--go!' I shouted; not a look turned -against me, and away thundered the cable through the hawse-hole; she -shook to it, sheered astern, and brought up with her anchor fast. By -that time the rain was plashing down in a perfect deluge--you couldn't -see a yard from you--all was one white pour of it; although it soon -began to drive again over the headland, as the tornado gathered new -food out of it. Another anchor was let go, cable paid out, and the -ship soon began to swing the other way to the tide, pitching all the -while on the short swell. - -"The gale still whistled through her spars for two or three hours, -during which it began by degrees to lull. About eleven o'clock it was -clear moonlight to leeward, the air fresh and cool: a delicious watch -it was, too. I was walking the poop by myself, two or three men -lounging sleepily about the forecastle, and Rickett below on the -quarter-deck, when I saw the chief officer himself rush up from below, -staring wildly around him, as if he thought we were in some dream or -other. I fancied at first the mate would have struck Rickett, from the -way he went on, but I kept aft where I was. The eddies ran past the -Indiaman's side, and you heard the fast ebb of the tide rushing and -rippling sweetly on her taut cables ahead, plashing about the bows and -bends. We were in old Bob Martin's _river_ whatever that might be." - - - - - MY FIRST VOYAGE - - (From Two Years Before the Mast.) - - By R. H. DANA, Jr. - - -The fourteenth day of August was the day fixed upon for the sailing of -the brig Pilgrim on her voyage from Boston round Cape Horn to the -western coast of North America. As she was to get under way early in -the afternoon, I made my appearance on board at twelve o'clock in full -sea-rig, and with my chest, containing an outfit for a two or three -years' voyage, which I had undertaken from a determination to cure, if -possible, by an entire change of life, and by a long absence from -books and study, a weakness of the eyes, which had obliged me to give -up my pursuits, and which no medical aid seemed likely to cure. - -The change from the tight dress-coat, silk cap and kid gloves of an -undergraduate at Cambridge, to the loose duck trousers, checked shirt -and tarpaulin hat of a sailor, though somewhat of a transformation, -was soon made, and I supposed that I should pass very well for a jack -tar. But it is impossible to deceive the practised eye in these -matters; and while I supposed myself to be looking as salt as Neptune -himself, I was, no doubt, known for a landsman by every one on board -as soon as I hove in sight. - -A sailor has a peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of wearing them -which a green hand can never get. The trousers, tight round the hips, -and thence hanging long and loose round the feet, a superabundance of -checked shirt, a low-crowned, well-varnished black hat, worn on the -back of the head, with half a fathom of black ribbon hanging over the -left eye, and a peculiar tie to the black silk neckerchief, with -sundry other minutiae, are signs, the want of which betrayed the -beginner, at once. Besides the points in my dress which were out of -the way, doubtless my complexion and hands were enough to distinguish -me from the regular _salt_, who, with a sunburnt cheek, wide step, and -rolling gait, swings his broad and toughened hands athwart-ships, half -open, as though just ready to grasp a rope. - -"With all my imperfections on my head," I joined the crew, and we -hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next -day we were employed in preparations for sea, reeving studding-sail -gear, crossing royal-yards, putting on chafing gear, and taking on -board our powder. On the following night, I stood my first watch. I -remained awake nearly all the first part of the night from fear that I -might not hear when I was called; and when I went on deck, so great -were my ideas of the importance of my trust, that I walked regularly -fore and aft the whole length of the vessel, looking out over the bows -and taffrail at each turn, and was not a little surprised at the -coolness of the old salt whom I called to take my place, in stowing -himself snugly away under the long-boat, for a nap. That was a -sufficient lookout, he thought, for a fine night, at anchor in a safe -harbor. - -The next morning was Saturday, and a breeze having sprung up from the -southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began -beating down the bay. I took leave of those of my friends who came to -see me off, and had barely opportunity to take a last look at the city -and well-known objects, as no time is allowed on board ship for -sentiment. - -As we drew down into the lower harbor, we found the wind ahead in the -bay, and we were obliged to come to anchor in the roads. We remained -there through the day and a part of the night. My watch began at -eleven o'clock at night, and I received orders to call the captain if -the wind came out from the westward. About midnight the wind became -fair, and having called the captain, I was ordered to call all hands. -How I accomplished this I do not know, but I am quite sure that I did -not give the true hoarse boatswain call of "A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds! up -anchor, a ho-oy!" In a short time every one was in motion, the sails -loosed, the yards braced, and we began to heave up the anchor, which -was our last hold upon Yankee land. - -I could take but little part in all these preparations. My little -knowledge of a vessel was all at fault. Unintelligible orders were so -rapidly given and so immediately executed; there was such a hurrying -about, and such an intermingling of strange cries and strange actions, -that I was completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and -pitiable an object in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor's -life. - -At length those peculiar, long-drawn sounds, which denote that the -crew are heaving at the windlass, began, and in a few moments we were -under way. The noise of the water thrown from the bows began to be -heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp night breeze, and rolled -with a heavy ground swell, and we had actually begun our long, long -journey. This was literally bidding "good-night" to my native land. - -The first day we passed at sea was the Sabbath. As we were just from -port, and there was a great deal to be done on board, we were kept at -work all day, and at night the watches were set, and everything put -into sea order. When we were called aft to be divided into watches, I -had a good specimen of the manner of a sea captain. After the division -had been made, he gave a short characteristic speech, walking the -quarter-deck with a cigar in his mouth, and dropping the words out -between the puffs: - -"Now, my men, we have begun a long voyage. If we get along well -together, we shall have a comfortable time; if we don't, we shall have -hell afloat. All you've got to do is to obey your orders and do your -duty like men,--then you'll fare well enough;--if you don't, you'll fare -hard enough,--I can tell you. If we pull together, you'll find me a -clever fellow; if we don't, you'll find me a _bloody_ rascal. That's -all I've got to say. Go below, the larboard watch!" - -I being in the starboard, or second mate's watch, had the opportunity -of keeping the first watch at sea. S----, a young man, making, like -myself, his first voyage, was in the same watch, and as he was the son -of a professional man, and had been in a counting-room in Boston, we -found that we had many friends and topics in common. We talked these -matters over:--Boston, what our friends were probably doing, our -voyage, etc., until he went to take his turn at the lookout, and left -me to myself. - -I had now a fine time for reflection. I felt for the first time the -perfect silence of the sea. The officer was walking the quarter-deck, -where I had no right to go, one or two men were talking on the -forecastle, whom I had little inclination to join, so that I was left -open to the full impression of everything about me. However much I was -affected by the beauty of the sea, the bright stars, and the clouds -driven swiftly over them, I could not but remember that I was -separating myself from all the social and intellectual enjoyments of -life. Yet, strange as it may seem, I did then and afterward take -pleasure in these reflections, hoping by them to prevent my becoming -insensible to the value of what I was leaving. - -But all my dreams were soon put to flight by an order from the officer -to trim the yards, as the wind was getting ahead; and I could plainly -see by the looks the sailors occasionally cast to windward, and by the -dark clouds that were fast coming up, that we had bad weather to -prepare for, and had heard the captain say that he expected to be in -the Gulf Stream by twelve o'clock. In a few minutes eight bells were -struck, the watch called, and we went below. - -I now began to feel the first discomforts of a sailor's life. The -steerage in which I lived was filled with coils of rigging, spare -sails, old junk, and ship stores, which had not been stowed away. -Moreover, there had been no berths built for us to sleep in, and we -were not allowed to drive nails to hang our clothes upon. The sea, -too, had risen, the vessel was rolling heavily, and everything was -pitched about in grand confusion. There was a complete "hurrah's -nest," as the sailors say, "everything on top and nothing at hand." A -large hawser had been coiled away upon my chest; my hats, boots, -mattress and blankets had all _fetched away_ and gone over leeward, -and were jammed and broken under the boxes and coils of rigging. To -crown all, we were allowed no light to find anything with, and I was -just beginning to feel strong symptoms of sea-sickness, and that -listlessness and inactivity which accompany it. - -Giving up all attempts to collect my things together, I lay down upon -the sails, expecting every moment to hear the cry of "All hands ahoy," -which the approaching storm would soon make necessary. I shortly heard -the rain-drops falling on deck, thick and fast, and the watch -evidently had their hands full of work, for I could hear the loud and -repeated orders of the mate, the trampling of feet, the creaking of -blocks, and all the accompaniments of a coming storm. In a few minutes -the slide of the hatch was thrown back, which let down the noise and -tumult of the deck still louder, the loud cry of "All hands, ahoy! -tumble up here and take in sail!" saluted our ears, and the hatch was -quickly shut again. - -When I got upon deck, a new scene and a new experience was before me. -The little brig was close-hauled upon the wind, and lying over, as it -then seemed to me, nearly upon her beam ends. The heavy head sea was -beating against her bows with the noise and force almost of a -sledge-hammer, and flying over the deck, drenching us completely -through. The topsail halyards had been let go, and the great sails -were filling out and backing against the masts with a noise like -thunder. The wind was whistling through the rigging, loose ropes -flying about; loud and, to me, unintelligible orders constantly given -and rapidly executed, and the sailors "singing out" at the ropes in -their hoarse and peculiar strains. In addition to all this, I had not -got my "sea legs" on, was dreadfully sick, with hardly strength enough -to hold on to anything, and it was "pitch dark." This was my state -when I was ordered aloft, for the first time, to reef topsails. - -How I got along, I cannot now remember. I "laid out" on the yards and -held on with all my strength. I could not have been of much service, -for I remember having been sick several times before I left the -topsail yard. Soon all was snug aloft, and we were again allowed to go -below. This I did not consider much of a favor, for the confusion of -everything below, and the inexpressible sickening smell, caused by the -shaking up of the bilge-water in the hold, made the steerage but an -indifferent refuge from the cold wet decks. - -I had often read of the nautical experiences of others, but I felt as -though there could be none worse than mine; for in addition to every -other evil, I could not but remember that this was only the first -night of a two years' voyage. When we were on deck we were not much -better off, for we were continually ordered about by the officer, who -said that it was good for us to be in motion. Yet anything was better -than the horrible state of things below. I remember very well going to -the hatchway and putting my head down, when I was oppressed by -_nausea_, and always being relieved immediately. It was as good as an -emetic. - -This state of things continued for two days. - -_Wednesday, Aug. 20th._ We had the watch on deck from four till eight, -this morning. When we came on deck at four o'clock, we found things -much changed for the better. The sea and wind had gone down, and the -stars were out bright. I experienced a corresponding change in my -feelings; yet continued extremely weak from my sickness. I stood in -the waist on the weather side, watching the gradual breaking of the -day, and the first streaks of the early light. Much has been said of -the sunrise at sea; but it will not compare with the sunrise on shore. -It wants the accompaniments of the songs of birds, the awakening hum -of men, and the glancing of the first beams upon trees, hills, spires, -and house-tops, to give it life and spirit. But though the actual -_rise of the sun_ at sea is not so beautiful, yet nothing will compare -with the _early breaking of day_ upon the wide ocean. - -There is something in the first gray streaks stretching along the -eastern horizon and throwing an indistinct light upon the face of the -deep, which combines with the boundlessness and unknown depth of the -sea round you, and gives one a feeling of loneliness, of dread, and of -melancholy foreboding, which nothing else in nature can give. This -gradually passes away as the light grows brighter, and when the sun -comes up, the ordinary monotonous sea day begins. - -From such reflections as these, I was aroused by the order from the -officer, "Forward there! rig the head-pump!" I found that no time was -allowed for day-dreaming, but that we must "turn to" at the first -light. Having called up the "idlers," namely carpenter, cook, steward, -etc., and rigged the pump, we commenced washing down the decks. This -operation, which is performed every morning at sea, takes nearly two -hours; and I had hardly strength enough to get through it. - -After we had finished, swabbed down, and coiled up the rigging, I sat -down on the spars, waiting for seven bells, which was the sign for -breakfast. The officer, seeing my lazy posture, ordered me to slush -the main-mast, from the royal mast-head down. The vessel was then -rolling a little, and I had taken no sustenance for three days, so -that I felt tempted to tell him that I had rather wait till after -breakfast; but I knew that I must "take the bull by the horns," and -that if I showed any sign of want of spirit or of backwardness, that I -should be ruined at once. So I took my bucket of grease and climbed up -to the royal-mast-head. Here the rocking of the vessel, which -increases the higher you go from the foot of the mast, which is the -fulcrum of the lever, and the smell of the grease, which offended my -fastidious senses, upset my stomach again, and I was not a little -rejoiced when I got upon the comparative _terra firma_ of the deck. In -a few minutes seven bells were struck, the log hove, the watch called, -and we went to breakfast. - -Here I cannot but remember the advice of the cook, a simple-hearted -African. - -"Now," said he, "my lad, you are well cleaned out; you haven't got a -drop of your 'long-shore _swash_ aboard of you. You must begin on a -new tack--pitch all your sweetmeats overboard, and turn-to upon good -hearty salt beef and sea bread, and I'll promise you, you'll have your -ribs well sheathed, and be as hearty as any of 'em, afore you are up -to the Horn." - -This would be good advice to give passengers, when they speak of the -little niceties which they have laid in, in case of sea-sickness. - -I cannot describe the change which half a pound of cold salt beef and -a biscuit or two produced in me. I was a new being. We had a watch -below until noon, so that I had some time to myself; and getting a -huge piece of strong, cold salt beef from the cook, I kept gnawing -upon it until twelve o'clock. When we went on deck I felt somewhat -like a man, and could begin to learn my sea duty with considerable -spirit. - -At about two o'clock we heard the loud cry of "Sail ho!" from aloft, -and soon saw two sails to windward, going directly athwart our hawse. -This was the first time that I had seen a sail at sea. I thought then, -and have always since, that it exceeds every other sight in interest -and beauty. They passed to leeward of us, and out of hailing distance; -but the captain could read the names on their sterns with the glass. -They were the ship Helen Mar, of New York, and the brig Mermaid, of -Boston. They were both steering westward, and were bound in for our -"dear native land." - -_Thursday, Aug. 21st._ This day the sun rose clear, we had a fine -wind, and everything was bright and cheerful. I had now got my sea -legs on, and was beginning to enter upon the regular duties of a -sea-life. About six bells, that is, three o'clock, P.M., we saw a sail -on our larboard bow. I was very anxious, like every new sailor, to -speak her. She came down to us, backed her maintopsail and the two -vessels stood "head on," bowing and curvetting at each other like a -couple of war-horses reined in by their riders. It was the first -vessel that I had seen near, and I was surprised to find how much she -rolled and pitched in so quiet a sea. She plunged her head into the -sea, and then, her stern settling gradually down, her huge bows rose -up, showing the bright copper, and her stern, and breast-hooks -dripping, like old Neptune's locks, with the brine. Her decks were -filled with passengers who had come up at the cry of "Sail ho," and -who by their dress and features appeared to be Swiss and French -emigrants. She hailed us in French, but receiving no answer, she tried -us in English. She was the ship La Carolina, from Havre, for New York. -We desired her to report the brig Pilgrim, from Boston, for the -northwest coast of America, five days out. She then filled away and -left us to plough on through our waste of waters. This day ended -pleasantly; we had got into regular and comfortable weather, and into -that routine of sea-life which is only broken by a storm, a sail, or -the sight of land. - -As we had now a long "spell" of fine weather, without any incident to -break the monotony of our lives, there can be no better place to -describe the duties, regulations, and customs of an American -merchantman, of which ours was a fair specimen. - -The captain, in the first place, is lord paramount. He stands no -watch, comes and goes when he pleases, and is accountable to no one, -and must be obeyed in everything, without a question, even from his -chief officer. He has the power to turn his officers off duty, and -even to break them and make them do duty as sailors in the forecastle. -Where there are no passengers and no supercargo, as in our vessel, he -has no companion but his own dignity, and no pleasures, unless he -differs from most of his kind, but the consciousness of possessing -supreme power and, occasionally, the exercise of it. - -The prime minister, the official organ, and the active and -superintending officer, is the chief mate. He is first lieutenant, -boatswain, sailing-master, and quartermaster. The captain tells him -what he wishes to have done, and leaves to him the care of overseeing, -of allotting the work, and also the responsibility of its being well -done. _The_ mate (as he is always called, _par excellence_) also keeps -the logbook, for which he is responsible to the owners and insurers, -and has the charge of the stowage, safe-keeping, and delivery of the -cargo. He is also _ex-officio_, the wit of the crew; for the captain -does not condescend to joke with the men, and the second mate no one -cares for; so that when "the mate" thinks fit to entertain "the -people" with a coarse joke or a little practical wit, every one feels -bound to laugh. - -The second mate's is proverbially a dog's berth. He is neither officer -nor man. The men do not respect him as an officer, and he is obliged -to go aloft to reef and furl the topsails, and to put his hands into -the tar and slush, with the rest. The crew call him the "sailor's -waiter," as he has to furnish them with spun-yarn, marline, and all -other stuffs that they need in their work, and has charge of the -boatswain's locker, which includes serving-boards, marline-spikes, -etc. He is expected to maintain his dignity and to enforce obedience, -and still is kept at a great distance from the mate, and obliged to -work with the crew. He is one to whom little is given and of whom much -is required. His wages are usually double those of a common sailor, -and he eats and sleeps in the cabin; but he is obliged to be on deck -nearly all his time, and eats at the second table, that is, makes a -meal out of what the captain and chief mate leave. - -The steward is the captain's servant, and has charge of the pantry, -from which every one, even the mate himself, is excluded. These -distinctions usually find him an enemy in the mate, who does not like -to have any one on board who is not entirely under his control; the -crew do not consider him as one of their number, so he is left to the -mercy of the captain. - -The cook is the patron of the crew, and those who are in his favor can -get their wet mittens and stockings dried, or light their pipes at the -galley in the nightwatch. These two worthies, together with the -carpenter and sail-maker, if there be one, stand no watch, but, being -employed all day, are allowed to "sleep in" at night unless all hands -are called. - -The crew are divided into two divisions, as equally as may be, called -the watches. Of these the chief mate commands the larboard, and the -second mate the starboard. They divide the time between them, being on -and off duty, or, as it is called, on deck and below, every other four -hours. If, for instance, the chief mate with the larboard watch have -the first night-watch from eight to twelve; at the end of the four -hours the starboard watch is called, and the second mate takes the -deck while the larboard watch and the first mate go below until four -in the morning, when they come on deck again and remain until eight; -having what is called the morning watch. As they will have been on -deck eight hours out of the twelve, while those who had the middle -watch--from twelve to four--will only have been up four hours, they have -what is called a "forenoon watch below," that is, from eight A.M. till -twelve M. In a man-of-war, and in some merchantmen, this alternation -of watches is kept up throughout the twenty-four hours; but our ship, -like most merchantmen, had "all hands" from twelve o'clock to dark, -except in bad weather, when we had "watch and watch." - -An explanation of the "dog-watches" may, perhaps, be of use to one who -has never been at sea. They are to shift the watches each night, so -that the same watch need not be on deck at the same hours. In order to -effect this, the watch from four to eight A.M. is divided into two -half, or dog-watches, one from four to six; and the other from six to -eight. By this means they divide the twenty-four hours into seven -watches instead of six, and thus shift the hours every night. As the -dog-watches come during twilight, after the day's work is done, and -before the night-watch is set, they are the watches in which everybody -is on deck. The captain is up, walking on the weather side of the -quarter-deck, the chief mate on the lee side, and the second mate -about the weather gangway. The steward has finished his work in the -cabin, and has come up to smoke his pipe with the cook in the galley. -The crew are sitting on the windlass or lying on the forecastle, -smoking, singing, or telling long yarns. At eight o'clock, eight bells -are struck, the log is hove, the watch set, the wheel relieved, the -galley shut up, and the other watch goes below. - -The morning commences with the watch on deck "turning-to" at day-break -and washing down, scrubbing, and swabbing the decks. This together -with filling the "scuttled butt" with fresh water, and coiling up the -rigging, usually occupies the time until seven bells (half after -seven), when all hands get breakfast. At eight, the day's work begins, -and lasts until sundown, with the exception of an hour for dinner. - -Before I end my explanations, it may be well to define a _day's work_, -and to correct a mistake prevalent among landsmen about a sailor's -life. Nothing is more common than to hear people say--"Are not sailors -very idle at sea? what can they find to do?" This is a very natural -mistake, and being very frequently made, it is one which every sailor -feels interested in having corrected. In the first place, then, the -discipline of the ship requires every man to be at work upon -_something_ when he is on deck, except at night and on Sundays. Except -at these times, you will never see a man, on board a well-ordered -vessel, standing idle on deck, sitting down, or leaning over the side. -It is the officer's duty to keep every one at work, even if there is -nothing to be done but to scrape the rust from the cabin cables. In no -state prison are the convicts more regularly set to work, and more -closely watched. No conversation is allowed among the crew at their -duty, and though they frequently do talk when aloft, or when near one -another, yet they always stop when an officer is nigh. - -With regard to the work upon which the men are put, it is a matter -which probably would not be understood by one who has not been at sea. -When I first left port, and found that we were kept regularly employed -for a week or two, I supposed that we were getting the vessel into sea -trim and that it would soon be over, and we should have nothing to do -but to sail the ship; but I found that it continued so for two years, -and at the end of the two years there was as much to be done as ever. -As has often been said, a ship is like a lady's watch, always out of -repair. When first leaving port, studding-sail gear is to be rove, all -the running rigging to be examined, that which is unfit for use to be -got down, and new rigging rove in its place; then the standing rigging -is to be overhauled, replaced, and repaired, in a thousand different -ways; and wherever any of the numberless ropes or the yards are -chafing or wearing upon it, there "chafing gear," as it is called, -must be put on. This chafing gear consists of worming, parcelling, -roundings, battens, and service of all kinds--both rope-yarns, -spun-yarn, marline, and seizing-stuffs. Taking off, putting on, and -mending the chafing gear alone, upon a vessel, would find constant -employment for two or three men, during working hours, for a whole -voyage. - -The next point to be considered is, that all the "small stuffs" which -are used on board a ship--such as spun-yarn, marline, seizing-stuff, -etc.--are made on board. The owners of a vessel buy up incredible -quantities of "old junk," which the sailors unlay after drawing out -the yarns, knot them together and roll them up in balls. These -"rope-yarns" are constantly used for various purposes, but the greater -part is manufactured into spun yarn. For this purpose every vessel is -furnished with a "spun-yarn winch"; which is very simple, consisting -of a wheel and spindle. This may be heard constantly going on deck in -pleasant weather; and we had employment, during a great part of the -tune, for three hands in drawing and knotting yarns, and making -spun-yarn. - -Another method of employing the crew is "setting up" rigging. Wherever -any of the standing rigging becomes slack (which is continually -happening), the seizing and coverings must be taken off, tackles got -up, and after the rigging is bowsed well taut, the seizings and -coverings replaced; which is a very nice piece of work. - -There is also such a connection between different parts of a vessel, -that one rope can seldom be touched without altering another. You -cannot stay a mast aft by the back-stays without slacking up the -head-stays, etc. If we add to this all the tarring, greasing, oiling, -varnishing, painting, scraping, and scrubbing which is required in the -course of a long voyage, and also remember this is all to be done in -_addition to_ watching at night, steering, reefing, furling, bracing, -making and setting sail, and pulling, hauling, and climbing in every -direction, one will hardly ask, "What can a sailor find to do at sea?" - -If, after all this labor--after exposing their lives and limbs in -storms, wet and cold, - - "Wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch; - The lion and the belly-pinched wolf - Keep their furs dry;--" - -the merchants and captains think that they have not earned their -twelve dollars a month (out of which they clothe themselves), and -their salt beef and hard bread, they keep them picking oakum--_ad -infinitum_. - -This is the usual resource upon a rainy day, for then it will not do -to work upon rigging; and when it is pouring down in floods, instead -of letting the sailors stand about in sheltered places, and talk, and -keep themselves comfortable, they are separated to different parts of -the ship and kept at work picking oakum. I have seen oakum stuff -placed about in different parts of the ship, so that the sailors might -not be idle in the _snatches_ between the frequent squalls upon -crossing the equator. - -Some officers have been so driven to find work for the crew in a ship -ready for sea, that they have set them to pounding the anchors (often -done) and scraping the chain cables. The "Philadelphia Catechism" is, - - "Six days shalt thou labor and do all that thou art able, - And on the seventh--holystone the decks and scrape the cable." - -This kind of work, of course, is not kept up off Cape Horn, Cape of -Good Hope, and in extreme north and south latitudes; but I have seen -the decks washed down and scrubbed, when the water would have frozen -if it had been fresh; and all hands kept at work upon the rigging, -when we had on our pea-jackets, and our hands so numb that we could -hardly hold our marline-spikes. - -I have here gone out of my narrative course in order that any who read -this may form as correct an idea of a sailor's life and duty as -possible. I have done it in this place because, for some time, our -life was nothing but the unvarying repetition of these duties which -can be better described together. - -Before leaving this description, however, I would state, in order to -show landsmen how little they know of the nature of a ship, that a -_ship carpenter_ is kept in constant employ during good weather on -board vessels which are in, what is called, perfect sea order. - -After speaking the Carolina, on the 21st August, nothing occurred to -break the monotony of our life until-- - -_Friday, Sept. 5th_, when we saw a sail on our weather (starboard) -beam. She proved to be a brig under English colors, and passing under -our stern, reported herself as forty-nine days from Buenos Ayres, -bound to Liverpool. Before she had passed us, "Sail ho!" was cried -again and we made another sail, far on our weather bow, and steering -athwart our hawse. She passed out of hail, but we made her out to be -an hermaphrodite brig, with Brazilian colors in her main rigging. By -her course, she must have been bound from Brazil to the south of -Europe, probably Portugal. - -_Sunday, Sept. 7th._ Fell in with the northeast trade winds. This -morning we caught our first dolphin, which I was very eager to see. I -was disappointed in the colors of this fish when dying. They were -certainly very beautiful, but not equal to what has been said of them. -They are too indistinct. To do the fish justice, there is nothing more -beautiful than the dolphin when swimming a few feet below the surface, -on a bright day. It is the most elegantly formed, and also the -quickest fish, in salt water; and the rays of the sun striking upon -it, in its rapid and changing motions, reflected from the water, make -it look like a stray beam from a rainbow. - -This day was spent like all pleasant Sabbaths at sea. The decks are -washed down, the rigging coiled up, and everything put in order; and -throughout the day, only one watch is kept on deck at a time. The men -are all dressed in their best white duck trousers, and red or checked -shirts, and have nothing to do but to make the necessary changes in -the sails. They employ themselves in reading, talking, smoking, and -mending their clothes. If the weather is pleasant, they bring their -work and their books upon deck, and sit down upon the forecastle and -windlass. This is the only day on which these privileges are allowed -them. When Monday comes, they put on their tarry trousers again, and -prepare for six days of labor. - -To enhance the value of the Sabbath to the crew, they are allowed on -that day a pudding, or as it is called a "duff." This is nothing more -than flour boiled with water, and eaten with molasses. It is very -heavy, dark, and clammy, yet it is looked upon as a luxury, and really -forms an agreeable variety with salt beef and pork. Many a rascally -captain has made friends of his crew by allowing them duff twice a -week on the passage home. - -On board some vessels this is made a day of instruction and of -religious exercises; but we had a crew of swearers, from the captain -to the smallest boy; and a day of rest, and of something like quiet -social enjoyment, was all that we could expect. - -We continued running large before the northeast trade winds for -several days, until Monday-- - -_Sept. 22d._, when, upon coming on deck at seven bells in the morning we -found the other watch aloft throwing water upon the sails, and looking -astern we saw a small clipper-built brig with a black hull heading -directly after us. We went to work immediately, and put all the canvas -upon the brig which we could get upon her, rigging out oars for -studding-sail yards; and continued wetting down the sails by buckets -of water whipped up to the mast-head, until about nine o'clock, when -there came on a drizzling rain. - -The vessel continued in pursuit, changing her course as we changed -ours, to keep before the wind. The captain, who watched her with his -glass, said that she was armed, and full of men, and showed no colors. -We continued running dead before the wind, knowing that we sailed -better so, and that clippers are fastest _on_ the wind. We had also -another advantage. The wind was light, and we spread more canvas than -she did, having royals and sky-sails fore and aft, and ten studding -sails, while she, being an hermaphrodite brig, had only a gaff-topsail -aft. Early in the morning she was overhauling us a little, but after -the rain came on and the wind grew lighter, we began to leave her -astern. - -[Illustration: "The Vessel Continued in Pursuit, Changing Her Course -as We Changed Ours"] - -All hands remained on deck throughout the day, and we got our arms in -order; but we were too few to have done anything with her, if she had -proved to be what we feared. Fortunately there was no moon, and the -night which followed was exceeding dark, so that by putting out all -the lights on board and altering her course four points, we hoped to -get out of her reach. We had no light in the binnacle, but steered by -the stars, and kept perfect silence through the night. At daybreak -there was no sign of anything in the horizon, and we kept the vessel -off to her course. - -_Wednesday, Oct. 1st._ Crossed the equator in long. 24 deg. 24' W. I now, -for the first time, felt at liberty, according to the old usage, to -call myself a son of Neptune, and was very glad to be able to claim -the title without the disagreeable initiation which so many have to go -through. After once crossing the line you can never be subjected to -the process, but are considered as a son of Neptune, with full powers -to play tricks upon others. This ancient custom is now seldom allowed, -unless there are passengers on board, in which case there is always a -good deal of sport. - -It had been obvious to all hands for some time that the second mate, -whose name was Foster, was an idle, careless fellow, and not much of a -sailor, and that the captain was exceedingly dissatisfied with him. -The power of the captain in these cases was well known, and we all -anticipated a difficulty. - -Foster (called _Mr._ by virtue of his office) was but half a sailor, -having always been short voyages and remained at home a long time -between them. His father was a man of some property, and intended to -have given his son a liberal education; but he, being idle and -worthless, was sent off to sea, and succeeded no better there; for, -unlike many scamps, he had none of the qualities of a sailor--he was -"not of the stuff that they make sailors of." He was one of the class -of officers who are disliked by their captain and despised by the -crew. He used to hold long yarns with the crew, and talk about the -captain, and play with the boys, and relax discipline in every way. - -This kind of conduct always makes the captain suspicious, and is never -pleasant in the end, to the men; they preferring to have an officer -active, vigilant, and distant as may be, with kindness. Among other -bad practices, he frequently slept on his watch, and having been -discovered asleep by the captain, he was told that he would be turned -off duty if he did it again. To prevent it in every way possible, the -hen-coops were ordered to be knocked up, for the captain never sat -down oh deck himself, and never permitted an officer to do so. - -The second night after crossing the equator, we had the watch from -eight till twelve, and it was "my helm" for the last two hours. There -had been light squalls through the night, and the captain told Mr. -Foster, who commanded our watch, to keep a bright lookout. Soon after -I came to the helm, I found that he was quite drowsy, and at last he -stretched himself on the companion and went fast asleep. - -Soon afterward, the captain came very quietly on deck, and stood by me -for some time looking at the compass. The officer at length became -aware of the captain's presence, but pretending not to know it, began -humming and whistling to himself, to show that he was not asleep, and -went forward, without looking behind him, and ordered the main-royal -to be loosed. On turning round to come aft, he pretended surprise at -seeing the master on deck. - -This would not do. The captain was too "wide awake" for him, and -beginning upon him at once, gave him a grand blow-up, in true nautical -style--"You're a lazy good-for-nothing rascal; you're neither man, boy, -_soger_, nor sailor! you're no more than a _thing_ aboard a vessel! -you don't earn your salt! you're worse than a _Mahon soger_!" and -other still more choice extracts from the sailor's vocabulary. After -the poor fellow had taken this harangue, he was sent into his -stateroom, and the captain stood the rest of the watch himself. - -At seven bells in the morning, all hands were called aft and told that -Foster was no longer an officer on board, and that we might choose one -of our number for second mate. It is usual for the captain to make -this offer, and it is very good policy, for the crew think themselves -the choosers and are flattered by it, but have to obey, nevertheless. - -Our crew, as is usual, refused to take the responsibility of choosing -a man of whom we would never be able to complain, and left it to the -captain. He picked out an active and intelligent young sailor born -near the Kennebec, who had been several Canton voyages, and proclaimed -him in the following manner: - -"I choose Jim Hall--he's your second mate. All you've got to do is, to -obey him as you would me; and remember that he is _Mr._ Hall." Foster -went forward into the forecastle as a common sailor, and lost _the -handle to his name_, while young foremast Jim became Mr. Hall, and -took up his quarters in the land of knives and forks and tea-cups. - -_Sunday, Oct. 5th._ It was our morning watch; when, soon after day -began to break, a man on the forecastle called out, "Land ho!" I had -never heard the cry before, and did not know what it meant (and few -would suspect what the words were, when hearing the strange sound for -the first time), but I soon found, by the direction of all eyes, that -there was land stretching along on our weather beam. We immediately -took in the studding sails and hauled our wind, running for the land. -This was done to determine our longitude; for by the captain's -chronometer we were in 25 deg. W., but by his observations we were much -further, and he had been for some time in doubt whether it was his -chronometer or his sextant which was out of order. This landfall -settled the matter, and the former instrument was condemned, and -becoming still worse, was never afterwards used. - -As we ran in toward the coast, we found that we were directly off the -port of Pernambuco, and could see with the telescope the roofs of the -houses, and one large church, and the town of Olinda. We ran along by -the mouth of the harbor, and saw a full-rigged brig going in. At two -P.M., we again kept off before the wind, leaving the land on our -quarter, and at sundown it was out of sight. - -It was here that I first saw one of those singular things called -catamarans. They are composed of logs lashed together upon the water; -have one large sail, are quite fast, and, strange as it may seem, are -trusted as good sea boats. We saw several, with from one to three men -in each, boldly putting out to sea, after it had become almost dark. -The Indians go out in them after fish, and as the weather is regular -in certain seasons, they have no fear. After taking a new departure -from Olinda, we kept off on our way to Cape Horn. - -We met with nothing remarkable until we were in the latitude of the -river La Plata. Here there are violent gales from the southwest called -Pamperos, which are very destructive to the shipping in the river, and -are felt for many leagues at sea. They are usually preceded by -lightning. The captain told the mates to keep a bright lookout, and if -they saw lightning at the southwest, to take in sail at once. We got -the first touch of one during my watch on deck. I was walking in the -lee gangway, and thought that I saw lightning on the bow. I told the -second mate, who came over and looked out for some time. It was very -black in the southwest, and in about ten minutes we saw a distinct -flash. The wind, which had been southeast, had now left us, and it was -dead calm. We sprang aloft immediately and furled the royals and -top-gallant-sails, and took in the flying-jib, hauled up the mainsail -and trysail, squared the after yards and awaited the attack. A huge -mist capped with black cloud came driving towards us, extending over -that quarter of the horizon, and covering the stars, which shone -brightly in the other part of the heavens. It came upon us at once -with a blast, and a shower of hail and rain, which almost took our -breath from us. The hardiest was obliged to turn his back. We let the -halyards run, and fortunately were not taken aback. The little vessel -"paid off" from the wind, and ran on for some time directly before it, -tearing through the water with everything flying. Having called all -hands, we close reefed the topsails and trysail, furled the courses -and jib, set the foretopmast staysail, and brought her up nearly to -her course, with the weather braces hauled in a little, to ease her. - -This was the first blow, that I have seen, which could really be -called a gale. We had reefed our topsails in the Gulf Stream, and I -thought it something serious, but an older sailor would have thought -nothing of it. As I had now become used to the vessel and to my duty, -I was of some service on a yard, and could knot my reef-point as well -as anybody. I obeyed the order to lay[3] aloft with the rest, and -found the reefing a very exciting scene; for one watch reefed the -foretopsail, and the other the main, and every one did his utmost to -get his topsail hoisted first. We had a great advantage over the -larboard watch, because the chief mate never goes aloft, while our new -second mate used to jump into the rigging as soon as we began to haul -out the reef-tackle, and have the weather earing passed before there -was a man upon the yard. In this way we were almost always able to -raise the cry of "Haul out to leeward" before them, and having knotted -our points, would slide down the shrouds and back-stays, and sing out -at the topsail halyards to let it be known that we were ahead of them. - -[Footnote 3: This word "lay," which is in such general use on board -ship, being used in giving orders instead of "go;" as, "_Lay_ -forward!" "_Lay_ aft!" "_Lay_ aloft!" etc., I do not understand to be -the neuter verb _lie_, mispronounced, but to be the active verb _lay_ -with the objective case understood; as, "Lay _yourselves_ forward!" -"Lay _yourselves_ aft!" etc.] - -Reefing is the most exciting part of a sailor's duty. All hands are -engaged upon it, and after the halyards are let go, there is no time -to be lost--no "sogering," or hanging back, then. If one is not quick -enough, another runs over him. The first on the yard goes to the -weather earing, the second to the lee, and the next two to the dog's -ears, while the others lay along the bunt, just giving each other -elbow-room. In reefing, the yard-arms (the extremes of the yards), are -the posts of honor; but in furling, the strongest and most experienced -stand in the slings (or, middle of the yard), to make up the bunt. If -the second mate is a smart fellow, he will never let any one take -either of these posts from him; for if he is wanting either in -seamanship, strength, or activity, some better man will get the bunt -and earings from him; which immediately brings him into disrepute. - -We remained for the rest of the night, and throughout the next day, -under the same close sail, for it continued to blow very fresh; and -though we had no more hail, yet there was a soaking rain, and it was -quite cold and uncomfortable; the more so, because we were not -prepared for cold weather, but had on our thin clothes. We were glad -to get a watch below, and put on our thick clothing, boots, and -southwesters. Toward sundown the gale moderated a little, and it began -to clear off in the southwest. We shook our reefs out, one by one, and -before midnight had topgallant-sails upon her. - -We had now made up our minds for Cape Horn and cold weather, and -entered upon every necessary preparation. - -_Tuesday Nov. 4th._ At daybreak, saw land upon our larboard quarter. -There were two islands, of different size, but of the same shape; -rather high, beginning low at the water's edge, and running with a -curved ascent to the middle. They were so far off as to be of a deep -blue color, and in a few hours we _sunk_ them in the northeast. These -were the Falkland Islands. We had run between them and the main land -of Patagonia. At sunset the second mate, who was at the masthead, said -that he saw land on the starboard bow. This must have been the island -of Staten Land; and we were now in the region of Cape Horn, with a -fine breeze from the northward, topmast and topgallant-studding-sails -set, and every prospect of a speedy and pleasant passage round. - - - - - RUNNING AWAY TO SEA - - (From the Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.) - - By DANIEL DEFOE. - - -In an ill hour, God knows, on the 1st of September, 1651, I went on -board a ship bound for London. Never any young adventurer's -misfortunes, I believe, began sooner, or continued longer, than mine. -The ship was no sooner out of the Humber, than the wind began to blow -and the sea to rise in a most frightful manner; and, as I had never -been at sea before, I was most inexpressibly sick in body, and -terrified in mind. I began now seriously to reflect upon what I had -done, and how justly I was overtaken by the judgment of Heaven, for my -wicked leaving my father's house, and abandoning my duty. All the good -counsels of my parents, my father's tears and my mother's entreaties, -came now fresh into my mind; and my conscience, which was not yet come -to the pitch of hardness to which it has since, reproached me with the -contempt of advice, and the breach of my duty to God and my father. - -All this while the storm increased, and the sea went very high, though -nothing like what I have seen many times since; no, nor what I saw a -few days after; but it was enough to affect me then, who was but a -young sailor, and had never known anything of the matter. I expected -every wave would have swallowed us up, and that every time the ship -fell down, as I thought it did, in the trough or hollow of the sea, we -should never rise more; in this agony of mind, I made many vows and -resolutions, that if it would please God to spare my life in this one -voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land again, I would go -directly home to my father, and never set it into a ship again while I -lived; that I would take his advice, and never run myself into such -miseries as these any more. Now I saw plainly the goodness of his -observations about the middle station of life, how easy, how -comfortably he had lived all his days, and never had been exposed to -tempests at sea, or troubles on shore; and I resolved that I would, -like a true repenting prodigal, go home to my father. - -These wise and sober thoughts continued all the while the storm -lasted, and indeed some time after; but the next day the wind was -abated, and the sea calmer, and I began to be a little inured to it: -however, I was very grave for all that day, being also a little -sea-sick still; but towards night the weather cleared up, the wind was -quite over, and a charming fine evening followed; the sun went down -perfectly clear, and rose so the next morning; and having little or no -wind, and a smooth sea, the sun shining upon it, the sight was, as I -thought, the most delightful that ever I saw. - -I had slept well in the night, and was now no more sea-sick, but very -cheerful, looking with wonder upon the sea that was so rough and -terrible the day before, and could be so calm and so pleasant in so -little a time after. And now, lest my good resolutions should -continue, my companion, who had enticed me away, comes to me: "Well, -Bob," says he, clapping me upon the shoulder, "how do you do after it? -I warrant you were frighted, wer'n't you, last night, when it blew but -a capful of wind?" "A capful d'you call it?" said I; "'twas a terrible -storm." "A storm, you fool you," replies he; "do you call that a -storm? why, it was nothing at all; give us but a good ship and sea -room, and we think nothing of such a squall of wind as that; but -you're but a fresh-water sailor, Bob. Come, let us make a bowl of -punch, and we'll forget all that; d'ye see what charming weather 'tis -now?" To make short this sad part of my story, we went the way of all -sailors; the punch was made, and I was made half drunk with it; and in -that one night's wickedness I drowned all my repentance, all my -reflections upon my past conduct, all my resolutions for the future. -In a word, as the sea was returned to its smoothness of surface and -settled calmness by the abatement of that storm, so the hurry of my -thoughts being over, my fears and apprehensions of being swallowed up -by the sea being forgotten, and the current of my former desires -returned, I entirely forgot the vows and promises that I made in my -distress. I found, indeed, some intervals of reflection; and the -serious thoughts did, as it were, endeavor to return again sometimes; -but I shook them off, and roused myself from them as it were from a -distemper, and applying myself to drinking and company, soon mastered -the return of those fits--for so I called them; and I had in five or -six days got as complete a victory over conscience as any young fellow -that resolved not to be troubled with it could desire. But I was to -have another trial for it still; and Providence, as in such cases -generally it does, resolved to leave me entirely without excuse; for -if I would not take this for a deliverance, the next was to be such a -one as the worst and most hardened wretch among us would confess both -the danger and the mercy of. - -The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the -wind having been contrary and the weather calm, we had made but little -way since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to an anchor, and -here we lay, the wind continuing contrary, viz., at south-west, for -seven or eight days, during which time a great many ships from -Newcastle came into the same Roads, as the common harbor where the -ships might wait for a wind for the river. - -We had not, however, rid here so long, but we should have tided it up -the river, but that the wind blew too fresh, and after we had lain -four or five days, blew very hard. However, the Roads being reckoned -as good as a harbor, the anchorage good, and our ground tackle very -strong, our men were unconcerned, and not in the least apprehensive of -danger, but spent the time in rest and mirth, after the manner of the -sea; but the eighth day, in the morning, the wind increased, and we -had all hands at work to strike our topmasts, and make everything snug -and close, that the ship might ride as easy as possible. By noon the -sea went very high indeed, and our ship rode forecastle in, shipped -several seas, and we thought once or twice our anchor had come home; -upon which our master ordered out the sheet-anchor, so that we rode -with two anchors ahead, and the cables veered out to the better end. - -By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed; and now I began to see -terror and amazement in the faces even of the seamen themselves. The -master, though vigilant in the business of preserving the ship, yet as -he went in and out of his cabin by me, I could hear him softly to -himself say, several times, "Lord, be merciful to us! we shall be all -lost; we shall be all undone!" and the like. During these first -hurries I was stupid, lying still in my cabin, which was in the -steerage, and cannot describe my temper: I could ill resume the first -penitence which I had so apparently trampled upon, and hardened myself -against: I thought the bitterness of death had been past; and that -this would be nothing like the first; but when the master himself came -by me, as I said just now, and said we should be all lost, I was -dreadfully frighted. I got up out of my cabin and looked out; but such -a dismal sight I never saw: the sea ran mountains high, and broke upon -us every three or four minutes; when I could look about, I could see -nothing but distress round us; two ships that rode near us, we found, -had cut their masts by the board, being deep laden; and our men cried -out, that a ship which rode about a mile ahead of us was foundered. -Two more ships, being driven from their anchors, were run out of the -Roads to sea, at all adventures, and that not with a mast standing. -The light ships fared the best, as not so much laboring in the sea; -but two or three of them drove, and came close by us, running away -with only their spritsail out before the wind. - -Towards evening the mate and boatswain begged the master of our ship -to let them cut away the foremast, which he was very unwilling to do; -but the boatswain protesting to him, that if he did not the ship would -founder, he consented; and when they had cut away the foremast, the -mainmast stood so loose, and shook the ship so much, they were obliged -to cut that away also, and make a clear deck. - -Any one must judge what a condition I must be in at all this, who was -but a young sailor, and who had been in such a fright before at but a -little. But if I can express at this distance the thoughts I had about -me at that time, I was in tenfold more horror of mind upon account of -my former convictions, and the having returned from them to the -resolutions I had wickedly taken at first, than I was at death itself; -and these, added to the terror of the storm, put me into such a -condition, that I can by no words describe it. But the worst was not -come yet; the storm continued with such fury, that the seamen -themselves acknowledged they had never seen a worse. We had a good -ship, but she was deep laden, and wallowed in the sea, so that the -seamen every now and then cried out she would founder. It was my -advantage in one respect that I did not know what they meant by -_founder_, till I inquired. However the storm was so violent, that I -saw, what is not often seen, the master, the boatswain, and some -others more sensible than the rest, at their prayers, and expecting -every moment when the ship would go to the bottom. In the middle of -the night, and under all the rest of our distresses, one of the men -that had been down to see, cried out we had sprung a leak; another -said, there was four feet water in the hold. Then all hands were -called to the pump. At that word, my heart, as I thought died within -me: and I fell backwards upon the side of my bed where I sat, in the -cabin. However, the men roused me, and told me, that I, that was able -to do nothing before, was as well able to pump as another; at which I -stirred up, and went to the pump, and worked very heartily. While this -was doing, the master seeing some light colliers, who, not able to -ride out the storm, were obliged to slip, and run away to the sea, and -would come near us, ordered to fire a gun as a signal of distress. I, -who knew nothing what they meant, thought the ship had broken, or some -dreadful thing happened. In a word, I was so surprised that I fell -down in a swoon. As this was a time when everybody had his own life to -think of, nobody minded me, or what was to become of me; but another -man stepped up to the pump, and thrusting me aside with his foot, let -me lie, thinking I had been dead; and it was a great while before I -came to myself. - -We worked on; but the water increasing in the hold, it was apparent -that the ship would founder; and though the storm began to abate a -little, yet it was not possible she could swim till we might run into -any port; so the master continued firing guns for help: and a light -ship, who had rid it out just ahead of us, ventured a boat out to help -us. It was with the utmost hazard the boat came near us; but it was -impossible for us to get on board, or for the boat to lie near the -ship's side, till at last the men rowing very heartily, and venturing -their lives to save ours, our men cast them a rope over the stern with -a buoy to it, and then veered it out a great length, which they, after -much labor and hazard, took hold of, and we hauled them close under -our stern, and got all into their boat. It was to no purpose for them -or us, after we were in the boat, to think of reaching their own ship; -so all agreed to let her drive, and only to pull her in towards shore -as much as we could; and our master promised them, that if the boat -was staved upon shore, he would make it good to their master: so -partly rowing, and partly driving, our boat went away to the -northward, sloping towards the shore almost as far as Winterton Ness. - -We were not much more than a quarter of an hour out of our ship till -we saw her sink, and then I understood for the first time what was -meant by a ship foundering in the sea. I must acknowledge I had hardly -eyes to look up when the seamen told me she was sinking; for from the -moment that they rather put me into the boat, than that I might be -said to go in, my heart was, as it were, dead within me, partly with -fright, partly with horror of mind, and the thoughts of what was yet -before me. - -While we were in this condition--the men yet laboring at the oar to -bring the boat near the shore--we could see (when, our boat mounting -the waves, we were able to see the shore) a great many people running -along the strand, to assist us when we should come near; but we made -but slow way towards the shore; nor were we able to reach the shore, -till, being past the lighthouse at Winterton, the shore falls off to -the westward towards Cromer, and so the land broke off a little the -violence of the wind. Here we got in, and, though not without much -difficulty, got all safe on shore, and walked afterwards on foot to -Yarmouth, where, as unfortunate men, we were used with great humanity, -as well by the magistrates of the town, who assigned us good quarters, -as by particular merchants and owners of ships, and had money given us -sufficient to carry us either to London or back to Hull, as we thought -fit.... - - - - - THE TEMPEST - - (From David Copperfield.) - - By CHARLES DICKENS. - - -In the evening I started, ... down the road I had traversed under so -many vicissitudes. - -"Don't you think that," I asked the coachman, in the first stage out -of London, "a very remarkable sky? I don't remember to have seen one -like it." - -"Nor I--not equal to it," he replied. "That's wind, sir. There'll be -mischief done at sea, I expect, before long." - -It was a murky confusion--here and there blotted with a color like the -color of the smoke from damp fuel--of flying clouds tossed up into most -remarkable heaps, suggesting greater heights in the clouds than there -were depths below them to the bottom of the deepest hollows in the -earth, through which the wild moon seemed to plunge headlong, as if, -in a dread disturbance of the laws of nature, she had lost her way and -were frightened. There had been a wind all day: and it was rising -then, with an extraordinary great sound. In another hour it had much -increased, and the sky was more overcast, and it blew hard. - -But, as the night advanced, the clouds closing in and densely -overspreading the whole sky, then very dark, it came on to blow, -harder and harder. It still increased, until our horses could scarcely -face the wind. Many times, in the dark part of the night (it was then -late in September, when the nights were not short), the leaders turned -about, or came to a dead stop; and we were often in serious -apprehension that the coach would be blown over. Sweeping gusts of -rain came up before this storm like showers of steel; and at those -times, when there was any shelter of trees or lee walls to be got, we -were fain to stop, in a sheer impossibility of continuing the -struggle. - -When the day broke, it blew harder and harder. I had been in Yarmouth -when the seamen said it blew great guns, but I had never known the -like of this, or anything approaching to it. We came to Ipswich--very -late, having had to fight every inch of ground since we were ten miles -out of London; and found a cluster of people in the market-place, who -had risen from their beds in the night, fearful of falling chimneys. -Some of these, congregating about the inn-yard while we changed -horses, told us of great sheets of lead having been ripped off a high -church-tower, and flung into a by-street, which they then blocked up. -Others had to tell of country people, coming in from neighboring -villages, who had seen great trees lying torn out of the earth, and -whole ricks scattered about the roads and fields. Still, there was no -abatement in the storm, but it blew harder. - -As we struggled on, nearer and nearer to the sea, from which this -mighty wind was blowing dead on shore, its force became more and more -terrific. Long before we saw the sea, its spray was on our lips, and -showered salt rain upon us. The water was out, over miles and miles of -the flat country adjacent to Yarmouth; and every sheet and puddle -lashed its banks, and had its stress of little breakers setting -heavily towards us. When we came within sight of the sea, the waves on -the horizon, caught at intervals above the rolling abyss, were like -glimpses of another shore with towers and buildings. When at last we -got into the town, the people came out to the doors, all aslant, and -with streaming hair, making a wonder of the mail that had come through -such a night. - -I put up at the old inn, and went down to look at the sea; staggering -along the street, which was strewn with sand and sea-weed, and with -flying blotches of sea-foam; afraid of falling slates and tiles; and -holding by people I met at angry corners. Coming near the beach, I -saw, not only the boatmen, but half the people of the town, lurking -behind buildings; some, now and then braving the fury of the storm to -look away to sea, and blown sheer out of their course in trying to get -zigzag back. - -Joining these groups, I found bewailing women whose husbands were away -in herring or oyster boats, which there was too much reason to think -might have foundered before they could run in anywhere for safety. -Grizzled old sailors were among the people, shaking their heads as -they looked from water to sky, and muttering to one another; -shipowners, excited and uneasy; children huddling together, and -peering into older faces; even stout mariners, disturbed and anxious, -levelling their glasses at the sea from behind places of shelter, as -if they were surveying an enemy. - -The tremendous sea itself, when I could find sufficient pause to look -at it, in the agitation of the blinding wind, the flying stones and -sand, and the awful noise, confounded me. As the high watery walls -came rolling in, and, at their highest tumbled into surf, they looked -as if the least would ingulf the town. As the receding wave swept back -with a hoarse roar, it seemed to scoop out deep caves in the beach, as -if its purpose were to undermine the earth. When some white-headed -billows thundered on, and dashed themselves to pieces before they -reached the land, every fragment of the late whole seemed possessed by -the full might of its wrath, rushing to be gathered to the composition -of another monster. Undulating hills were changed to valleys, -undulating valleys (with a solitary storm-bird sometimes skimming -through them) were lifted up to hills; masses of water shivered and -shook the beach with a booming sound; every shape tumultuously rolled -on, as soon as made, to change its shape and place, and beat another -shape and place away; the ideal shore on the horizon, with its towers -and buildings, rose and fell; the clouds flew fast and thick; I seemed -to see a rending and upheaving of all nature. - -Not finding Ham among the people whom this memorable wind--for it is -still remembered down there as the greatest ever known to blow upon -that coast--had brought together, I made my way to his house. It was -shut; and as no one answered to my knocking, I went by back ways and -by-lanes, to the yard where he worked. I learned, there, that he had -gone to Lowestoft, to meet some sudden exigency of ship-repairing in -which his skill was required; but that he would be back to-morrow -morning, in good time. - -I went back to the inn; and when I had washed and dressed, tried to -sleep, but in vain, it was five o'clock in the afternoon. I had not -sat five minutes by the coffee-room fire, when the waiter coming to -stir it, as an excuse for talking, told me that two colliers had gone -down, with all hands, a few miles away; and that some other ships had -been seen laboring hard in the Roads, and trying in great distress, to -keep off shore. Mercy on them, and on all poor sailors, said he, if we -had another night like the last! - -I was very much depressed in spirits; very solitary; and felt an -uneasiness in Ham's not being there, disproportionate to the occasion. -I was seriously affected, without knowing how much, by late events; -and my long exposure to the fierce wind had confused me. There was -that jumble in my thoughts and recollections, that I had lost the -clear arrangement of time and distance. Thus, if I had gone out into -the town, I should not have been surprised, I think, to encounter some -one who I knew must be then in London. So to speak, there was in these -respects a curious inattention in my mind. Yet it was busy, too, with -all the remembrances the place naturally awakened; and they were -particularly distinct and vivid. - -In this state, the waiter's dismal intelligence about the ships -immediately connected itself, without any effort of my volition, with -my uneasiness about Ham. I was persuaded that I had an apprehension of -his returning from Lowestoft by sea, and being lost. This grew so -strong with me, that I resolved to go back to the yard before I took -my dinner, and ask the boat-builder if he thought his attempting to -return by sea at all likely? If he gave me the least reason to think -so, I would go over to Lowestoft and prevent it by bringing him with -me. - -I hastily ordered my dinner, and went back to the yard. I was none too -soon; for the boat-builder, with a lantern in his hand, was locking -the yard-gate. He quite laughed, when I asked him the question, and -said there was no fear; no man in his senses, or out of them, would -put off in such a gale of wind, least of all Ham Peggotty, who had -been born to seafaring. - -So sensible of this, beforehand, that I had really felt ashamed of -doing what I was nevertheless impelled to do, I went back to the inn. -If such a wind could rise, I think it was rising. The howl and roar, -the rattling of the doors and windows, the rumbling in the chimneys, -the apparent rocking of the very house that sheltered me, and the -prodigious tumult of the sea, were more fearful than in the morning. -But there was now a great darkness besides; and that invested the -storm with new terrors, real and fanciful. - -I could not eat, I could not sit still, I could not continue steadfast -to anything. Something within me, faintly answering to the storm -without, tossed up the depths of my memory, and made a tumult in them. -Yet, in all the hurry of my thoughts, wild running with the thundering -sea,--the storm and my uneasiness regarding Ham, were always in the -foreground. - -My dinner went away almost untasted, and I tried to refresh myself -with a glass or two of wine. In vain. I fell into a dull slumber -before the fire, without losing my consciousness, either of the uproar -out of doors, or of the place in which I was. Both became overshadowed -by a new and indefinable horror; and when I awoke--or rather when I -shook off the lethargy that bound me in my chair--my whole frame -thrilled with objectless and unintelligent fear. - -I walked to and fro, tried to read an old gazetteer, listened to the -awful noises: looked at faces, scenes, and figures in the fire. At -length, the steady ticking of the undisturbed clock on the wall, -tormented me to that degree that I resolved to go to bed. - -It was reassuring, on such a night, to be told that some of the -inn-servants had agreed together to sit up until morning. I went to -bed, exceedingly weary and heavy; but, on my lying down, all such -sensations vanished, as if by magic, and I was broad awake, with every -sense refined. - -For hours I lay there, listening to the wind and water; imagining, -now, that I heard shrieks out at sea; now, that I distinctly heard the -firing of signal guns; and now, the fall of houses in the town. I got -up, several times, and looked out; but could see nothing, except the -reflection in the window-panes of the faint candle I had left burning, -and of my own haggard face looking in at me from the black void. - -At length, my restlessness attained to such a pitch, that I hurried on -my clothes, and went down stairs. In the large kitchen, where I dimly -saw bacon and ropes of onions hanging from the beams, the watchers -were clustered together, in various attitudes, about a table, -purposely moved away from the great chimney, and brought near the -door. A pretty girl, who had her ears stopped with her apron, and her -eyes upon the door, screamed when I appeared, supposing me to be a -spirit; but the others had more presence of mind, and were glad of an -addition to their company. One man, referring to the topic they had -been discussing, asked me whether I thought the souls of the -collier-crews who had gone down, were out in the storm? - -I remained there, I dare say, two hours. Once, I opened the yard-gate, -and looked into the empty street. The sand, the sea-weed, and the -flakes of foam, were driving by, and I was obliged to call for -assistance before I could shut the gate again, and make it fast -against the wind. - -There was a dark gloom in my solitary chamber, when I at length -returned to it; but I was tired now, and, getting into bed again, -fell--off a tower and down a precipice--into the depths of sleep. I have -an impression that, for a long time, though I dreamed of being -elsewhere and in a variety of scenes, it was always blowing in my -dream. At length, I lost that feeble hold upon reality, and was -engaged with two dear friends, but who they were I don't know, at the -siege of some town in a roar of cannonading. - -The thunder of the cannon was so loud and incessant, that I could not -hear something I much desired to hear, until I made a great exertion -and awoke. It was broad day--eight or nine o'clock; the storm raging, -in lieu of the batteries; and some one knocking and calling at my -door. - -"What is the matter?" I cried. - -"A wreck! Close by!" - -I sprung out of bed, and asked what wreck? - -"A schooner, from Spain or Portugal, laden with fruit and wine. Make -haste, sir, if you want to see her! It's thought down on the beach, -she'll go to pieces every moment." - -The excited voice went clamoring along the staircase; and I wrapped -myself in my clothes as quickly as I could, and ran into the street. - -Numbers of people were there before me, all running in one direction, -to the beach. I ran the same way, outstripping a good many, and soon -came facing the wild sea. - -The wind might by this time have lulled a little, though not more -sensibly than if the cannonading I had dreamed of, had been diminished -by the silencing of half-a-dozen guns out of hundreds. But, the sea, -having upon it the additional agitation of the whole night, was -infinitely more terrific than when I had seen it last. Every -appearance it had then presented, bore the expression of being -_swelled_; and the height to which the breakers rose, and, looking -over one another, bore one another down, and rolled in, in -interminable hosts, was most appalling. - -In the difficulty of hearing anything but winds and waves, and in the -crowd, and the unspeakable confusion, and my first breathless efforts -to stand against the weather, I was so confused that I looked out to -sea for the wreck, and saw nothing but the foaming heads of the great -waves. A half-dressed boatman, standing next me, pointed with his bare -arm (a tattoo'd arrow on it, pointing in the same direction) to the -left. Then, O great Heaven, I saw it, close in upon us! - -One mast was broken short off, six or eight feet from the deck, and -lay over the side, entangled in a maze of sail and rigging; and all -that ruin, as the ship rolled and beat--which she did without a -moment's pause, and with a violence quite inconceivable--beat the side -as if it would stave it in. Some efforts were even then being made, to -cut this portion of the wreck away; for, as the ship, which was -broadside on, turned towards us in her rolling, I plainly descried her -people at work with axes, especially one active figure with long -curling hair, conspicuous among the rest. But, a great cry, which was -audible even above the wind and water, rose from the shore at this -moment; the sea, sweeping over the rolling wreck, made a clean breach, -and carried men, spars, casks, planks, bulwarks, heaps of such toys, -into the boiling surge. - -The second mast was yet standing, with the rags of a rent sail, and a -wild confusion of broken cordage flapping to and fro. The ship had -struck once, the same boatman hoarsely said in my ear, and then lifted -in and struck again. I understood him to add that she was parting -amidships, and I could readily suppose so, for the rolling and beating -were too tremendous for any human work to suffer long. As he spoke, -there was another great cry of pity from the beach; four men arose -with the wreck out of the deep, clinging to the rigging of the -remaining mast; uppermost, the active figure with the curling hair. - -There was a bell on board; and as the ship rolled and dashed, like a -desperate creature driven mad, now showing us the whole sweep of her -deck, as she turned on her beam-ends towards the shore, now nothing -but her keel, as she sprung wildly over and turned towards the sea, -the bell rang; and its sound, the knell of those unhappy men, was -borne towards us on the wind. Again we lost her, and again she rose. -Two men were gone. The agony on shore increased. Men groaned, and -clasped their hands; women shrieked, and turned away their faces. Some -ran wildly up and down along the beach, crying for help where no help -could be. I found myself one of these, frantically imploring a knot of -sailors whom I knew, not to let those two lost creatures perish before -our eyes. - -They were making out to me, in an agitated way--I don't know how, for -the little I could hear I was scarcely composed enough to -understand--that the life-boat had been bravely manned an hour ago, and -could do nothing; and that as no man would be so desperate as to -attempt to wade off with a rope, and establish a communication with -the shore, there was nothing left to try; when I noticed that some new -sensation moved the people on the beach, and saw them part, and Ham -came breaking through them to the front. - -I ran to him--as well as I know, to repeat my appeal for help. But, -distracted though I was, by a sight so new to me and terrible, the -determination in his face, and his look, out to sea--exactly the same -look as I remembered in connection with the morning after Emily's -flight--awoke me to a knowledge of his danger. I held him back with -both arms; and implored the men with whom I had been speaking, not to -listen to him, not to do murder, not to let him stir from off that -sand! - -Another cry arose on shore; and looking to the wreck, we saw the cruel -sail, with blow on blow, beat off the lower of the two men, and fly up -in triumph round the active figure left alone upon the mast. - -Against such a sight, and against such determination as that of the -calmly desperate man who was already accustomed to lead half the -people present, I might as hopefully have entreated the wind. "Mas'r -Davy," he said, cheerily grasping me by both hands, "if my time is -come, 'tis come. If 'tan't, I'll bide it. Lord above bless you, and -bless all! Mates, make me ready! I'm a going off!" - -I was swept away, but not unkindly, to some distance, where the people -around me made me stay; urging, as I confusedly perceived, that he was -bent on going, with help or without, and that I should endanger the -precautions for his safety by troubling those with whom they rested. I -don't know what I answered, or what they rejoined; but, I saw hurry on -the beach, and men running with ropes from a capstan that was there, -and penetrating into a circle of figures that hid him from me. Then I -saw him standing alone, in a seaman's frock and trousers: a rope in -his hand, or slung to his wrist: another round his body: and several -of the best men holding, at a little distance, to the latter, which he -laid out himself, slack upon the shore, at his feet. - -The wreck, even to my unpractised eye, was breaking up. I saw that she -was parting in the middle, and that the life of the solitary man upon -the mast hung by a thread. Still, he clung to it. He had a singular -red cap on,--not like a sailor's cap, but of a finer color; and as the -few yielding planks between him and destruction rolled and bulged, and -his anticipative death-knell rung, he was seen by all of us to wave -it. I saw him do it now, and thought I was going distracted, when his -action brought an old remembrance to my mind of a once dear friend. - -Ham watched the sea, standing alone, with the silence of suspended -breath behind him, and the storm before, until there was a great -retiring wave, when, with a backward glance at those who held the rope -which was made fast round his body, he dashed in after it, and in a -moment was buffeting with the water; rising with the hills, falling -with the valleys, lost beneath the foam; then drawn again to land. -They hauled in hastily. - -He was hurt. I saw blood on his face, from where I stood; but he took -no thought of that. He seemed hurriedly to give them some directions -for leaving him more free--or so I judged from the motion of his -arm--and was gone as before. - -And now he made for the wreck, rising with the hills, falling with the -valleys, lost beneath the rugged foam, borne in towards the shore, -borne on towards the ship, striving hard and valiantly. The distance -was nothing, but the power of the sea and wind made the strife deadly. -At length he neared the wreck. He was so near, that with one more of -his vigorous strokes he would be clinging to it,--when, a high, green, -vast hillside of water, moving on shoreward, from beyond the ship, he -seemed to leap up into it with a mighty bound, and the ship was gone! - -Some eddying fragments I saw in the sea, as if a mere cask had been -broken, in running to the spot where they were hauling in. -Consternation was in every face. They drew him to my very -feet--insensible--dead. He was carried to the nearest house; and, no one -preventing me now, I remained near him, busy, while every means of -restoration were tried; but he had been beaten to death by the great -wave, and his generous heart was stilled forever. - - - - - TOILERS OF THE SEA - -Victor Hugo's "Toilers of the Sea" is a story of the Channel Islands -between England and France. Gilliatt, the hero, was a seaman of -extraordinary skill and physical strength, a solitary fellow who used -to cruise about alone in his sloop, dreaming of Deruchette, the -prettiest maid of Guernsey. Deruchette was the niece of Mess -Lethierry, an old sailor who was fast growing rich from the income of -his steamboat, the Durande, which plied between Guernsey and the -French coast. One foggy night the Durande was wrecked on the Douvres, -dangerous rocks in the open sea, five leagues out from Guernsey, and -her skipper, Sieux Clubin was drowned. The Durande, however, did not -sink, but hung suspended between the two great rocks; and her valuable -machinery was safe so long as the wreck should hold together. -Deruchette promised to marry any brave man who would rescue the -engines of her uncle's boat; and for so great a prize Gilliatt -resolved to undertake the dangerous and almost hopeless task. He -sailed out to the Douvres, and for two months lived among the barren -rocks, suffering every kind of peril and privation while working on -the wreck of the Durande. At last, after superhuman efforts, he -succeeded in loading the machinery upon his sloop, and was about to -return triumphantly and claim his reward, when a fearful tempest burst -upon him, and forced him to terrible exertions in order to save -himself and his completed work from being dashed to pieces in the -caverns of the Douvres. Successful at last, but utterly exhausted by -the struggle, Gilliatt sank upon the deck of his sloop and fell into a -heavy sleep. The famous story of his adventure with the devil-fish -begins at this juncture. - - - - - A STRUGGLE WITH A DEVIL-FISH - - (From Toilers of the Sea.) - - By VICTOR HUGO. - - -When he awakened he was hungry. - -The sea was growing calmer. But there was still a heavy swell, which -made his departure, for the present at least, impossible. The day, -too, was far advanced. For the sloop with its burden to get to -Guernsey before midnight, it was necessary to start in the morning. - -Although pressed by hunger, Gilliatt began by stripping himself, the -only means of getting warmth. His clothing was saturated by the storm, -but the rain had washed out the sea-water, which rendered it possible -to dry them. - -He kept nothing on but his trousers, which he turned up nearly to the -knees. - -His overcoat, jacket, overalls, and sheepskin he spread out and fixed -with large round stones here and there. - -Then he thought of eating. - -He had recourse to his knife, which he was careful to sharpen, and to -keep always in good condition; and he detached from the rock a few -limpets, similar in kind to the _clonisses_ of the Mediterranean. It -is well known that these are eaten raw; but after so many labors, so -various and so rude, the pittance was meagre. His biscuit was gone; -but of water he had now abundance. - -He took advantage of the receding tide to wander among the rocks in -search of crayfish. - -He wandered, not in the gorge of the rocks, but outside among the -smaller breakers. It was there that the Durande, ten weeks previously, -had struck upon the sunken reef. - -For the search that Gilliatt was prosecuting, this part was more -favorable than the interior. At low water the crabs are accustomed to -crawl out into the air. They seem to like to warm themselves in the -sun, where they swarm sometimes to the disgust of the loiterers, who -recognize in these creatures, with their awkward sidelong gait, -climbing clumsily from crack to crack the lower stages of the rocks -like the steps of a staircase, a sort of sea vermin. - -For two months Gilliatt had lived upon these vermin of the sea. - -On this day, however, the crayfish and crabs were both wanting. The -tempest had driven them into their solitary retreats; and they had not -yet mustered courage to venture abroad. Gilliatt held his open knife -in his hand, and from time to time scraped a cockle from under the -bunches of sea-weed, which he ate while still walking. - -He could not have been far from the very spot where Sieur Clubin had -perished. - -As Gilliatt was determining to content himself with the sea-urchins -and the _chataignes de mer_, a little clattering noise at his feet -aroused his attention. A large crab, startled by his approach, had -just dropped into a pool. The water was shallow, and he did not lose -sight of it. - -He chased the crab along the base of the rock; the crab moved fast. - -Suddenly it was gone. - -It had buried itself in some crevice under the rock. - -Gilliatt clutched the protections of the rock, and stretched out to -observe where it shelved away under the water. - -As he suspected, there was an opening there in which the creature had -evidently taken refuge. It was more than a crevice; it was a kind of -porch. - -The sea entered beneath it, but was not deep. The bottom was visible, -covered with large pebbles. The pebbles were green and clothed with -_confervae_, indicating that they were never dry. They were like the -tops of a number of heads of infants, covered with a kind of green -hair. - -Holding his knife between his teeth, Gilliatt descended, by the help -of feet and hands, from the upper part of the escarpment, and leaped -into the water. It reached almost to his shoulders. - -He made his way through the porch, and found himself in a blind -passage, with a roof in the form of a rude arch over his head. - -The walls were polished and slippery. The crab was nowhere visible. He -gained his feet and advanced in daylight growing fainter, so that he -began to lose the power to distinguish objects. - -At about fifteen paces the vaulted roof ended overhead. He had -penetrated beyond the blind passage. There was here more space, and -consequently more daylight. The pupils of his eyes, moreover, had -dilated; he could see pretty clearly. He was taken by surprise. - -He had made his way again into the singular cavern which he had -visited in the previous month. The only difference was that he had -entered by the way of the sea. - -His eyes became more accustomed to the place. His vision became -clearer and clearer. He was astonished. He found, above the level of -the water, and within reach of his hand, a horizontal fissure. It -seemed to him probable that the crab had taken refuge there, and he -plunged his hand in as far as he was able, and groped about in that -dusky aperture. - -Suddenly he felt himself seized by the arm. A strange indescribable -horror thrilled through him. - -Some living thing, thin, rough, flat, cold, slimy, had twisted itself -round his naked arm, in the dark depth below. It crept upward toward -his chest. Its pressure was like a tightening cord, its steady -persistence like that of a screw. In less than a moment some -mysterious spiral form had passed round his wrist and elbow, and had -reached his shoulder. A sharp point penetrated beneath the armpit. - -Gilliatt recoiled; but he had scarcely power to move! He was, as it -were, nailed to the place. With his left hand, which was disengaged, -he seized his knife, which he still held between his teeth, and with -that hand, holding the knife, he supported himself against the rocks, -while he made a desperate effort to withdraw his arm. He succeeded -only in disturbing his persecutor, which wound itself still tighter. -It was supple as leather, strong as steel, cold as night. - -A second form, sharp, elongated, and narrow, issued out of the -crevice, like a tongue out of monstrous jaws. It seemed to lick his -naked body. Then suddenly stretching out, it became longer and -thinner, as it crept over his skin, and wound itself round him. At the -same time a terrible sense of pain, comparable to nothing he had ever -known, compelled all his muscles to contract. He felt upon his skin a -number of flat rounded points. It seemed as if innumerable suckers had -fastened to his flesh and were about to drink his blood. - -A third long undulating shape issued from the hole in the rock; and -seemed to feel its way about his body; lashed round his ribs like a -cord, and fixed itself there. - -Agony when at its height is mute. Gilliatt uttered no cry. There was -sufficient light for him to see the repulsive forms which had -entangled themselves about him. A fourth ligature, but this one swift -as an arrow, darted toward his stomach, and wound around him there. - -It was impossible to sever or tear away the slimy bands which were -twisted tightly round his body, and were adhering by a number of -points. Each of the points was the focus of frightful and singular -pangs. It was as if numberless small mouths were devouring him at the -same time. - -A fifth long, slimy, riband-shaped strip issued from the hole. It -passed over the others, and wound itself tightly around his chest. The -compression increased his sufferings. He could scarcely breathe. - -These living thongs were pointed at their extremities, but broadened -like the blade of a sword toward its hilt. All belonged evidently to -the same centre. They crept and glided about him; he felt the strange -points of pressure, which seemed to him like mouths, change their -places from time to time. - -Suddenly a large, round, glutinous mass issued from beneath the -crevice. It was the centre; the five thongs were attached to it like -spokes to the nave of a wheel. On the opposite side of this disgusting -monster appeared the commencement of three other tentacles, the ends -of which remained under the rock. In the middle of this slimy mass -appeared two eyes. - -The eyes were fixed on Gilliatt. - -He recognized the devil-fish. - -It is difficult for those who have not seen it to believe in the -existence of the devil-fish. - -Compared to this creature, the ancient hydras are insignificant. - -If terror were the object of its creation, nothing could be imagined -more perfect than the devil-fish. - -The devil-fish has no muscular organization, no menacing cry, no -breastplate, no horn, no dart, no claw, no tail with which to hold or -bruise; no cutting fins, or wings with nails, no prickles, no sword, -no electric discharge, no poison, no talons, no beak, no teeth. Yet he -is of all creatures the most formidably armed. - -What, then, is the devil-fish? It is the sea vampire. - -This frightful apparition, which is always possible among the rocks in -the open sea, is a grayish form, which undulates in the water. It is -of the thickness of a man's arm, and in length nearly five feet. Its -outline is ragged. Its form resembles an umbrella closed, and without -a handle. This irregular mass advances slowly toward you. Suddenly it -opens, and eight radii issue abruptly from around a face with two -eyes. These radii are alive; their undulation is like lambent flames; -they resemble, when opened, the spokes of a wheel, of four or five -feet in diameter. A terrible expansion! It springs upon its prey. - -The devil-fish harpoons its victim. - -It winds around the sufferer, covering and entangling him in its long -folds. Underneath it is yellow; above a dull, earthy hue; nothing -could render that inexplicable shade dust-colored. Its form is -spider-like, but its tints are like those of the chameleon. When -irritated, it becomes violet. Its most horrible characteristic is its -softness. - -Its folds strangle, its contact paralyzes. - -It has an aspect like gangrened or scabrous flesh. It is a monstrous -embodiment of disease. - -It adheres closely to its prey, and cannot be torn away; a fact which -is due to its power of exhausting air. The eight antennae, large at -their roots, diminish gradually, and end in needle-like points. -Underneath each of these feelers range two rows of pustules, -decreasing in size, the largest ones near the head, the smaller at the -extremities. Each row contains twenty-five of these. There are, -therefore, fifty pustules to each feeler, and the creature possesses -in the whole four hundred. These pustules are capable of acting like -cupping-glasses. They are cartilaginous substances, cylindrical, -horny, and livid. Upon the large species they diminish gradually from -the diameter of a five-franc piece to the size of a split pea. These -small tubes can be thrust out and withdrawn by the animal at will. -They are capable of piercing to a depth of more than an inch. - -This sucking apparatus has all the regularity and delicacy of a -key-board. It stands forth at one moment and disappears the next. The -most perfect sensitiveness cannot equal the contractibility of these -suckers; always proportioned to the internal movement of the animal, -and its exterior circumstances. The monster is endowed with the -qualities of the sensitive plant. - -When swimming, the devil-fish rests, so to speak, in its sheath. It -swims with all its parts drawn close. It may be likened to a sleeve -sewn up with a closed fist within. The protuberance, which is the -head, pushes the water aside and advances with a vague undulatory -movement. Its two eyes, though large, are indistinct, being of the -color of the water. - -The devil-fish not only swims, it walks. It is partly fish, partly -reptile. It crawls upon the bed of the sea. At these times, it makes -use of its eight feelers, and creeps along in the fashion of a species -of swift-moving caterpillar. - -It has no blood, no bones, no flesh. It is soft and flabby; a skin -with nothing inside. Its eight tentacles may be turned inside out like -the fingers of a glove. - -It has a single orifice in the centre of its radii, which appears at -first to be neither the vent nor the mouth. It is, in fact, both one -and the other. The orifice performs a double function. The entire -creature is cold. - -The jelly-fish of the Mediterranean is repulsive. Contact with that -animated gelatinous substance which envelopes the bather, in which the -hands sink, and the nails scratch ineffectively; which can be torn -without killing it, and which can be plucked off without entirely -removing it--that fluid and yet tenacious creature which slips through -the fingers, is disgusting; but no horror can equal the sudden -apparition of the devil-fish, that Medusa with its eight serpents. - -It is with the sucking apparatus that it attacks. The victim is -oppressed by a vacuum drawing at numberless points; it is not a -clawing or a biting, but an indescribable scarification. A tearing of -the flesh is terrible, but less terrible than a sucking of the blood. -Claws are harmless compared with the horrible action of these natural -air-cups. The muscles swell, the fibres of the body are contorted, the -skin cracks under the loathsome oppression, the blood spurts out and -mingles horribly with the lymph of the monster, which clings to its -victim by innumerable hideous mouths. The hydra incorporates itself -with the man; the man becomes one with the hydra. The spectre lies -upon you; the tiger can only devour you; the devil-fish, horrible, -sucks your life-blood away. - -He draws you to him, and into himself; while bound down, glued to the -ground, powerless, you feel yourself gradually emptied into this -horrible pouch, which is the monster itself. - -Such was the creature in whose power Gilliatt had fallen for some -minutes. - -The monster was the inhabitant of the grotto; the terrible genii of -the place. A kind of sombre demon of the water. - -All the splendors of the cavern existed for it alone. - -On the day of the previous month when Gilliatt had first penetrated -into the grotto, the dark outline, vaguely perceived by him in the -ripples of the secret waters, was this monster. It was here in its -home. - -When entering for the second time into the cavern in pursuit of the -crab, he had observed the crevice in which he supposed that the crab -had taken refuge, the _pieuvre_ was there lying in wait for prey. - -Gilliatt had thrust his arm deep into the opening; the monster had -snapped at it. It held him fast, as the spider holds the fly. - -He was in the water up to his belt; his naked feet clutching the -slippery roundness of the huge stones at the bottom; his right arm -bound and rendered powerless by the flat coils of the long tentacles -of the creature, and his body almost hidden under the folds and cross -folds of this horrible bandage. - -Of the eight arms of the devil-fish three adhered to the rock, while -five encircled Gilliatt. In this way, clinging to the granite on the -one hand, and with the other to its human prey, it enchained him to -the rock. Two hundred and fifty suckers were upon him, tormenting him -with agony and loathing. He was grasped by gigantic hands, the fingers -of which were each nearly a yard long, and furnished inside with -living blisters eating into the flesh. - -It is impossible to tear one's self from the folds of the devil-fish. -The attempt ends only in a firmer grasp. The monster clings with more -determined force. Its effort increases with that of its victim; every -struggle produces a tightening of its ligatures. - -Gilliatt had but one resource, his knife. - -His left hand only was free; but the reader knows with what power he -could use it. It might have been said that he had two right hands. - -His open knife was in his hand. - -The antennae of the devil-fish cannot be cut; it is a leathery -substance impossible to divide with the knife, it slips under the -edge; its position in attack also is such that to cut it would be to -wound the victim's own flesh. - -The creature is formidable, but there is a way of resisting it. The -fishermen of Sark know this, as does any one who has seen them execute -certain abrupt movements in the sea. The porpoises know it also; they -have a way of biting the cuttle-fish which decapitates it. Hence the -frequent sight on the sea of pen-fish, poulps, and cuttle-fish without -heads. - -The devil-fish, in fact, is only vulnerable through the head. - -Gilliatt was not ignorant of this fact. - -With the devil-fish, as with a furious bull, there is a certain moment -in the conflict which must be seized. It is the instant when the -devil-fish advances its head. The movement is rapid. He who loses that -moment is destroyed. - -The things we have described occupied only a few moments. Gilliatt, -however, felt the increasing power of its innumerable suckers. - -The monster is cunning; it tries first to stupefy its prey. It seizes -and then pauses a while. - -Gilliatt grasped his knife; the sucking increased. - -He looked at the monster, which seemed to look at him. - -Suddenly it loosened from the rock its sixth antenna, and darting it -at him, seized him by the left arm. - -At the same moment it advanced its head with a violent movement. In -one second more its mouth would have fastened on his breast. Bleeding -in the sides, and with his two arms entangled, he would have been a -dead man. - -But Gilliatt was watchful. He avoided the antenna, and at the moment -when the monster darted forward to fasten on his breast, he struck it -with the knife clenched in his left hand. There were two convulsions -in opposite directions; that of the devil-fish and that of its prey. -The movement was rapid as a double flash of lightning. - -He had plunged the blade of his knife into the flat, slimy substance, -and by a rapid movement, like the flourish of a whip in the air, -describing a circle around the two eyes, he wrenched the head off as a -man would draw a tooth. - -The struggle was ended. The folds relaxed. The monster dropped away, -like the slow detaching of bands. The four hundred suckers, deprived -of their sustaining power, dropped at once from the man and the rock. -The mass sank to the bottom of the water. - -Breathless with the struggle, Gilliatt could perceive upon the stones -at his feet two shapeless, slimy heaps, the head on one side, the -remainder of the monster on the other. - -Fearing, nevertheless, some convulsive return of his agony he recoiled -to avoid the reach of the dreaded tentacles. - -But the monster was quite dead. - -Gilliatt closed his knife. - -It was time that he killed the devil-fish. He was almost suffocated. -His right arm and his chest were purple. Numberless little swellings -were distinguishable upon them; the blood flowed from them here and -there. - -The remedy for these wounds is sea-water. Gilliatt plunged into it, -rubbing himself at the same time with the palms of his hands. The -swellings disappeared under the friction. - - - - - THE MAN AND THE CANNON - - (From Ninety-Three.) - - By VICTOR HUGO. - - -One of the carronades of the battery, a twenty-four pounder, had -broken loose. - -This is the most dangerous accident that can possibly take place on -shipboard. Nothing more terrible can happen to a sloop of war in open -sea and under full sail. - -A cannon that breaks its moorings suddenly becomes some strange, -supernatural beast. It is a machine transformed into a monster. That -short mass on wheels moves like a billiard-ball, rolls with the -rolling of the ship, plunges with the pitching, goes, comes, stops, -seems to meditate, starts on its course again, shoots like an arrow, -from one end of the vessel to the other, whirls around, slips away, -dodges, rears, bangs, crashes, kills, exterminates. It is a battering -ram capriciously assaulting a wall. Add to this, the fact that the ram -is of metal, the wall of wood. - -It is matter set free; one might say, this eternal slave was avenging -itself; it seems as if the total depravity concealed in what we call -inanimate things had escaped, and burst forth all of a sudden; it -appears to lose patience, and to take a strange mysterious revenge; -nothing more relentless than this wrath of the inanimate. This enraged -lump leaps like a panther, it has the clumsiness of an elephant, the -nimbleness of a mouse, the obstinacy of an axe, the uncertainty of the -billows, the zigzag of the lightning, the deafness of the grave. It -weighs ten thousand pounds, and it rebounds like a child's ball. It -spins and then abruptly darts off at right angles. - -And what is to be done? How put an end to it? A tempest ceases, a -cyclone passes over, a wind dies down, a broken mast can be replaced, -a leak can be stopped, a fire extinguished, but what will become of -this enormous brute of bronze? How can it be captured? You can reason -with a bull-dog, astonish a bull, fascinate a boa, frighten a tiger, -tame a lion; but you have no resource against this monster, a loose -cannon. You cannot kill it, it is dead; and at the same time it lives. -It lives with a sinister life which comes to it from the infinite. The -deck beneath it gives it full swing. It is moved by the ship, which is -moved by the sea, which is moved by the wind. This destroyer is a toy. -The ship, the waves, the winds, all play with it, hence its frightful -animation. What is to be done with this apparatus? How fetter this -stupendous engine of destruction? How anticipate its comings and -goings, its returns, its stops, its shocks? Any one of its blows on -the side of the ship may stave it in. How foretell its frightful -meanderings? It is dealing with a projectile, which alters its mind, -which seems to have ideas, and changes its direction every instant. -How check the course of what must be avoided? The horrible cannon -struggles, advances, backs, strikes right, strikes left, retreats, -passes by, disconcerts expectation, grinds up obstacles, crushes men -like flies. All the terror of the situation is in the fluctuations of -the flooring. How fight an inclined plane subject to caprices? The -ship has, so to speak, in its belly, an imprisoned thunderstorm, -striving to escape; something like a thunderbolt rumbling above an -earthquake. - -In an instant the whole crew was on foot. It was the fault of the gun -captain, who had neglected to fasten the screw-nut of the -mooring-chain, and had insecurely clogged the four wheels of the gun -carriage; this gave play to the sole and the framework, separated the -two platforms, and finally the breeching. The tackle had given way, so -that the cannon was no longer firm on its carriage. The stationary -breeching, which prevents recoil, was not in use at this time. A heavy -sea struck the port, the carronade insecurely fastened, had recoiled -and broken its chain, and begun its terrible course over the deck. - -To form an idea of this strange sliding, let one image a drop of water -running over glass. - -At the moment when the fastenings gave way, the gunners were in the -battery. Some in groups, others scattered about, busied with the -customary work among sailors getting ready for a signal for action. -The carronade, hurled forward by the pitching of the vessel, made a -gap in this crowd of men and crushed four at the first blow; then -sliding back and shot out again as the ship rolled, it cut in two a -fifth unfortunate, and knocked a piece of the battery against the -larboard side with such force as to unship it. This caused the cry of -distress just heard. All the men rushed to the companion-way. The gun -deck was vacated in a twinkling. - -The enormous gun was left alone. It was given up to itself. It was its -own master, and master of the ship. It could do what it pleased. This -whole crew, accustomed to laugh in time of battle, now trembled. To -describe the terror is impossible. - -Captain Boisberthelot and Lieutenant La Vieuville, although both -dauntless men, stopped at the head of the companion-way, and dumb, -pale, and hesitating, looked down on the deck below. Some one elbowed -past and went down. - -It was their passenger, the peasant, the man of whom they had just -been speaking a moment before. - -Reaching the foot of the companion-way, he stopped. - - * * * * * - -The cannon was rushing back and forth on the deck. One might have -supposed it to be the living chariot of the Apocalypse. The marine -lantern swinging overhead added a dizzy shifting of light and shade to -the picture. The form of the cannon disappeared in the violence of its -course, and it looked now black in the light, now mysteriously white -in the darkness. - -It went on in its destructive work. It had already shattered four -other guns and made two gaps in the side of the ship, fortunately -above the water-line, but where the water would come in, in case of -heavy weather. It rushed frantically against the framework; the strong -timbers withstood the shock; the curved shape of the wood gave them -great power of resistance; but they creaked beneath the blows of this -huge club, beating on all sides at once, with a strange sort of -ubiquity. The percussions of a grain of shot shaken in a bottle are -not swifter or more senseless. The four wheels passed back and forth -over the dead men, cutting them, carving them, slashing them, till the -five corpses were a score of stumps rolling across the deck; the heads -of the dead men seemed to cry out; streams of blood curled over the -deck with the rolling of the vessel; the planks, damaged in several -places, began to gape open. The whole ship was filled with the horrid -noise and confusion. - -The captain promptly recovered his presence of mind and ordered -everything that could check and impede the cannon's mad course to be -thrown through the hatchway down on the gun deck--mattresses, hammocks, -spare sails, rolls of cordage, bags belonging to the crew, and bales -of counterfeit assignats, of which the corvette carried a large -quantity--a characteristic piece of English villany regarded as -legitimate warfare. - -But what could these rags do? As nobody dared to go below to dispose -of them properly, they were reduced to lint in a few minutes. - -There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible. A -tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, -and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of -getting it under control. Meanwhile, the havoc increased. - -There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the -framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, -round pillars. The convulsive blows of the cannon had cracked the -mizzen-mast, and had cut into the main-mast. - -The battery was being ruined. Ten pieces out of thirty were disabled; -the breaches in the side of the vessel were increasing, and the -corvette was beginning to leak. - -The old passenger, having gone down to the gun deck, stood like a man -of stone at the foot of the steps. He cast a stern glance over this -scene of devastation. He did not move. It seemed impossible to take a -step forward. Every movement of the loose carronade threatened the -ship's destruction. A few moments more and shipwreck would be -inevitable. - -They must perish or put a speedy end to the disaster; some course must -be decided on; but what? What an opponent was this carronade! -Something must be done to stop this terrible madness--to capture this -lightning--to overthrow this thunderbolt. - -Boisberthelot said to La Vieuville,-- - -"Do you believe in God, chevalier?" - -La Vieuville replied: "Yes--no. Sometimes." - -"During a tempest?" - -"Yes, and in moments like this." - -"God alone can save us from this," said Boisberthelot. - -Everybody was silent, letting the carronade continue its horrible din. - -Outside, the waves beating against the ship responded with their blows -to the shocks of the cannon. It was like two hammers alternating. - -Suddenly, in the midst of this inaccessible ring, where the escaped -cannon was leaping, a man was seen to appear, with an iron bar in his -hand. He was the author of the catastrophe, the captain of the gun, -guilty of criminal carelessness, and the cause of the accident, the -master of the carronade. Having done the mischief, he was anxious to -repair it. He had seized the iron bar in one hand, a tiller-rope with -a slip-noose in the other, and jumped down the hatchway to the gun -deck. - -Then began an awful sight; a Titanic scene; the contest between gun -and gunner; the battle of matter and intelligence, the duel between -man and the inanimate. - -The man stationed himself in a corner, and with bar and rope in his -two hands, he leaned against one of the riders, braced himself on his -legs, which seemed two steel posts, and livid, calm, tragic, as if -rooted to the deck, he waited. - -He waited for the cannon to pass by him. - -The gunner knew his gun, and it seemed to him as if the gun ought to -know him. He had lived long with it. How many times he had thrust his -hands into its mouth! It was his own familiar monster. He began to -speak to it as if it were his dog. - -"Come!" he said. Perhaps he loved it. - -He seemed to wish it to come to him. - -But to come to him was to come upon him. And then he would be lost. -How could he avoid being crushed! That was the question. All looked on -in terror. - -Not a breast breathed freely, unless perhaps that of the old man, who -was alone in the battery with the two contestants, a stern witness. - -He might be crushed himself by the cannon. He did not stir. - -Beneath, them the sea blindly directed the contest. - -At the moment when the gunner, accepting this frightful hand-to-hand -conflict, challenged the cannon, some chance rocking of the sea caused -the carronade to remain for an instant motionless and as if stupefied. -"Come, now!" said the man. It seemed to listen. - -Suddenly it leaped towards him. The man dodged the blow. - -The battle began. Battle unprecedented. Frailty struggling against the -invulnerable. The gladiator of flesh attacking the beast of brass. On -one side, brute force; on the other, a human soul. - -All this was taking place in semi-darkness. It was like the shadowy -vision of a miracle. - -A soul--strange to say, one would have thought the cannon also had a -soul; but a soul full of hatred and rage. This sightless thing seemed -to have eyes. The monster appeared to lie in wait for the man. One -would have at least believed that there was craft in this mass. It -also chose its time. It was a strange, gigantic insect of metal, -having or seeming to have the will of a demon. For a moment this -colossal locust would beat against the low ceiling overhead, then it -would come down on its four wheels like a tiger on its four paws, and -begin to run at the man. He, supple, nimble, expert, writhed away like -an adder from all these lightning movements. He avoided a collision, -but the blows which he parried fell against the vessel, and continued -their work of destruction. - -[Illustration: The Contest Between Gun and Gunner] - -An end of broken chain was left hanging to the carronade. This chain -had in some strange way become twisted about the screw of the -cascabel. One end of the chain was fastened to the gun-carriage. The -other, left loose, whirled desperately about the cannon, making all -its blows more dangerous. - -The screw held it in a firm grip, adding a thong to a battering-ram, -making a terrible whirlwind around the cannon, an iron lash in a -brazen hand. This chain complicated the contest. - -However, the man went on fighting. Occasionally, it was the man who -attacked the cannon; he would creep along the side of the vessel, bar -and rope in hand; and the cannon, as if it understood, and as though -suspecting some snare, would flee away. The man, bent on victory, -pursued it. - -Such things cannot long continue. The cannon seemed to say to itself, -all of a sudden, "Come, now! Make an end of it!" and it stopped. One -felt that the crisis was at hand. The cannon, as if in suspense, -seemed to have, or really had--for to all it was a living being--a -ferocious malice prepense. It made a sudden, quick dash at the gunner. -The gunner sprang out of the way, let it pass by, and cried out to it -with a laugh, "Try it again!" The cannon, as if enraged, smashed a -carronade on the port side; then, again seized by the invisible sling -which controlled it, it was hurled to the starboard side at the man, -who made his escape. Three carronades gave way under the blows of the -cannon; then, as if blind and not knowing what more to do, turned its -back on the man, rolled from stern to bow, injured the stern and made -a breach in the planking of the prow. The man took refuge at the foot -of the steps, not far from the old man who was looking on. The gunner -held his iron bar in rest. The cannon seemed to notice it, and without -taking the trouble to turn around, slid back on the man, swift as the -blow of an axe. The man, driven against the side of the ship, was -lost. The whole crew cried out with horror. - -But the old passenger, till this moment motionless, darted forth more -quickly than any of this wildly swift rapidity. He seized a package of -counterfeit assignats, and, at the risk of being crushed, succeeded in -throwing it between the wheels of the carronade. This decisive and -perilous movement could not have been made with more exactness and -precision by a man trained in all the exercises described in Durosel's -"Manual of Gun Practice at Sea." - -The package had the effect of a clog. A pebble may stop a log, the -branch of a tree turn aside an avalanche. The carronade stumbled. The -gunner, taking advantage of this critical opportunity, plunged his -iron bar between the spokes of one of the hind wheels. The cannon -stopped. It leaned forward. The man using the bar as a lever, held it -in equilibrium. The heavy mass was overthrown, with the crash of a -falling bell, and the man, rushing with all his might, dripping with -perspiration, passed the slip-noose around the bronze neck of the -subdued monster. - -It was ended. The man had conquered. The ant had control over the -mastodon; the pigmy had taken the thunderbolt prisoner. - -The mariners and sailors clapped their hands. - -The whole crew rushed forward with cables and chains, and in an -instant the cannon was secured. - -The gunner saluted the passenger. - -"Sir," he said, "you have saved my life." - -The old man had resumed his impassive attitude, and made no reply. - - - - - A SHIP ON FIRE AT SEA - - (From Off the Skelligs.) - - By JEAN INGELOW. - - -"What is it?" I exclaimed; "what can it be?" - -She pointed with her finger, and as the yacht swung round she said, -"Look there, ma'am, look!" - -As she spoke two strange objects came into my view. One was a great -pale moon, sickly and white, hanging and seeming to brood over the -horizon; the other, which looked about the same size, was red and -seemed to lie close at her side. It was not round, but looked blotted -and blurred in the mist. Could it be a meteor? a lighthouse? Whatever -it was, it was the cause of the commotion which had been so intense, -and which now seemed to be already subsiding. I had heard the men -called up not three minutes before, and now two boats were already -lowered, and Tom was in command of the foremost. I heard his voice -coming from the water, and no one prevented me now from rushing to the -side to look over, turning my back on the moon and her lurid -companion. Though the night was not dark I could not discern the -boats; and after straining my eyes into the mist, I observed that it -was rapidly melting away, and rolling on as well as rolling together, -so that spaces of water here and there were clear, and moonlight -glittered on them. The binnacle light glared in my uncle's face as he -stooped over it. I heard Brand whisper to his wife that he had taken -charge of the yacht, and I did not dare to speak to him, though what -it might be that alarmed them I could not tell. - -It was as it seemed but a moment that I had stared out into the mist, -looking for the boats with still sleepy eyes; then, as the sailors -that were left tramped back to the fore part of the yacht, I turned -again. The mist had shaken itself and rolled on before a light air -that was coming. I saw two great pathways now lying along the waters; -one was silver white, the pathway of the wan moon, the other was -blood-red and angry, and a burning vessel lay at her head. - -Oh, that sight! can I ever forget it? The fire was spurting from every -crevice of the black hull, her great main-mast was gone, the -mizzen-mast lay with several great white sails surging about in the -water, and she was dragging it along with her. The foremast only -stood, and its rigging and sails had not yet caught. A dead silence -had succeeded now to the commotion in the vessel; men were standing -stock-still, perhaps waiting for their orders, and my uncle's were the -only eyes that were not strained to follow the leaping and dazzling -spires. - -Every moment we approached. Now the first waft of the smoke came in -our faces, now we could hear the crackling and rending, the creak and -shiver, and the peculiar roaring noise made by a mastering fire. - -"A full-rigged ship," I heard Brand whisper to his wife. "Eleven -hundred tons at the least." - -"Merciful heaven," she whispered in reply. "I hope she won't blow up. -Anyhow, I thank the Lord we've got _Master_ in command himself." - -I never saw anything like the horrible beauty of that red light. It -added tenfold to the terror of the scene to see her coming on so -majestically, dragging with her broken spars and great yards and -sprawling sails. She looked like some splendid live creature in -distress, and rocked now a good deal in the water, for every moment -the wind seemed to rise, bringing up a long swell with it. - -The moon went down, and in a few minutes the majestic ship supplied -all the light to the dark sky and black water. I saw the two little -dark boats nearing her; knew that my brother was in the foremost, and -shook with fear, and cried to God to take care of him; but while I and -all gazed in awful silence on the sailing ship, the flames, bursting -through the deck in a new place, climbed up the fore-rigging, and in -one single leap, as if they had been living things, they were licking -the sails off the ropes, and, shooting higher than her topsails, they -spread themselves out like quivering fans. I saw every sail that was -left in an instant bathed in flames; a second burst came raging up -from below, blackening and shrivelling everything before it; then I -saw the weltering fire run down again, and still the wreck, plunging -her bows in the water, came rocking on and on. - -"How near does our old man mean to go?" whispered Mrs. Brand; and -almost at that instant I observed that he had given some order to the -man at the helm, and I could distinctly hear a murmur of satisfaction; -then almost directly a cry of horror rose--we were very near her, and -while the water hissed with strange distinctness, and steamed in her -wake, her blazing foremast fell over the side, plunging with a -tremendous crash into the sea, sending up dangerous showers of sparks -and burning bits of sail-cloth, and covering our decks with falling -tinder. - -The black water took in and quenched all that blazing top-hamper, and -still the awful hissing was audible, till suddenly, as we seemed to be -sheering off from her, there was a thunderous roll that sounded like -the breaking of her mighty heart, and still glorious in beauty she -plunged head foremost, and went down blazing into the desolate sea. - -In one instant that raging glow and all the fierce illumination of the -fire were gone; darkness had settled on the face of the deep. I saw a -few lighted spars floating about, that was all, and I smelt the fire -and felt the hot smoke rushing past my face as the only evidence that -this was not a dream. Oh! the misery of the next half-hour! The boats, -when that ill-fated ship went down, must, I knew, have been very near -her. Had they been sucked in? Had they been overturned, or had they -been so blessed as to be saved, and to save some of the wretched -passengers and crew? Of all persons in the yacht then, perhaps I -suffered most. I was the most ignorant; I had no one to speak to; for -Mrs. Brand, perhaps lest I should question her, had retreated, and I -could not think of addressing my uncle; he had plenty on his mind and -on his hands. I could only observe the activity of others by the light -of the many lanterns which were now hung out from various parts of the -rigging, and hope that we should soon find the boats, though every -light hung up seemed to increase the darkness, and make us more unable -to see anything beyond the bounds of the yacht. - -At last, Brand standing near me again, I said, "O Brand! cannot we go -nearer the place where that ship sunk? Perhaps some poor creatures may -be floating on the waters still." - -"Ma'am," he replied, "we are sailing now as nigh as may be over the -very spot where she went down; but you have no call to be frightened; -everything has been done that can be done. We hove to directly we -sighted her." - -"Yes," I said; "but what good could that do?" - -"Why, ma'am," he replied, "we could not have lowered the boats without -that; and then, you know, when they were off we filled, and stood in -as nigh as we dared." - -"Then where are the boats?" I inquired. - -"God knows, ma'am." - -"And what are these lights for? Every one you put up makes it harder -to see anything. How are we to find them?" - -"We have no call to find them," he replied; "we want them to find us. -Most likely there are other boats about, besides our own, boats from -the ship--we want to make ourselves as conspicuous as we can. At least, -I reckon that is why _Master_ has ordered all these lights out." - -"And why cannot we pick up any of the poor creatures that may have -been on board? Surely we could have heard their cries, and could -now--we are not half a quarter of a mile from her." - -"No, ma'am; nothing like that distance--not half that distance; that's -why our people think she may have been deserted." - -The steward passed on, and I covered my face with my hands and moaned -in the misery of my heart. Oh! my only brother! had I really lost him -so? - -I listened. The silence about me was so intense that I knew there was -much anxiety felt; every face as it passed under a lantern had a -restless and yet awestruck look; my uncle's, when he bent over the -illuminated compass, did not at all reassure me. - -But such a misfortune as I had dreaded, such a terrible blow, we were -to be spared. I got up again, gazed out over the dark water and longed -for the dawn. Something better than dawn was destined to meet my eyes; -between us and a spar that still glowed, two dark objects stood -suddenly--a boat and black figures and moving oars, another behind her. - -I shall never forget with what a thrill of joy I heard our people -cheer. In ten minutes we could hear the stroke of their oars, and -directly after Tom was on deck and his crew with him. - -"God bless you!" said my uncle to Tom; "anybody saved?" - -"One," said Tom; "only one, sir." - - - - - IN THE GULF STREAM - - (From At Last.) - - By CHARLES KINGSLEY. - - -The appearance of the first fragments of gulf-weed caused quite a -little excitement, and set an enthusiastic pair of naturalists, a -midland hunting squire, and a travelled scientific doctor who had been -twelve years in the Eastern Archipelago, fishing eagerly over the -bows, with an extemporized grapple of wire, for gulf-weed, a specimen -of which they did not catch. However, more and more still would come -in a day or two, perhaps whole acres, even whole leagues, and then (so -we hoped, but hoped in vain) we should have our feast of zoophytes, -crustacea, and what not. - -Meanwhile it must be remembered that this gulf-weed has not, as some -of the uninitiated fancy from its name, anything to do with the Gulf -Stream, along the southern edge of which we were streaming. Thrust -away to the south by that great ocean-river, it lies in a vast eddy, -or central pool of the Atlantic, between the Gulf Stream and the -equatorial current, unmoved save by surface-drifts of wind, as -floating weeds collect and range slowly round and round in the still -corners of a tumbling-bay or salmon pool. One glance at a bit of the -weed, as it floats past, showed that it was like no Fucus of our -shores, or any thing we ever saw before. The difference of look is -undefinable in words, but clear enough. One sees in a moment that the -sargassos, of which there are several species on tropical shores, are -a genus of themselves and by themselves; and a certain awe may, if the -beholder be at once scientific and poetical, come over him at the -first sight of this famous and unique variety thereof, which has lost -ages since the habit of growing on rock or sea-bottom, but propagates -itself forever floating, and feeds among its branches a whole family -of fish, crabs, cuttle-fish, zoophytes, mollusks, which, like the -plant which shelters them, are found nowhere else in the world. And -that awe, springing from "the scientific use of the imagination," -would be increased if he recollected the theory--not altogether -impossible--that this sargasso (and possibly some of the animals which -cling to it) marks the site of an Atlantic continent, sunk long ages -since; and that transformed by the necessities of life from a rooting -to a floating plant, - - "Still it remembers its august abodes," - -and wanders round and round as if in search of the rocks where once it -grew. We looked eagerly day by day for more and more gulf-weed, hoping -that - - "Slimy things would crawl with legs - Upon that slimy sea," - -and thought of the memorable day when Columbus's ship first plunged -her bows into the tangled "ocean meadow," and the sailors, naturally -enough, were ready to mutiny, fearing hidden shoals, ignorant that -they had four miles of blue water beneath their keel, and half -recollecting old Greek and Phoenician legends of a weedy sea off the -coast of Africa, where the vegetation stopped the ships, and kept them -entangled till all on board were starved. - -Day after day we passed more and more of it, often in long -processions, ranged in the direction of the wind; while, a few feet -below the surface, here and there floated large fronds of a -lettuce-like weed, seemingly an ulva, the bright green of which, as -well as the rich orange hue of the sargasso, brought out by contrast -the intense blue of the water. - -Very remarkable, meanwhile, and unexpected, was the opacity and -seeming solidity of the ocean when looked down on from the bows. -Whether sapphire under the sunlight, or all but black under the -clouds, or laced and streaked with beads of foam, rising out of the -nether darkness, it looks as though it could resist the hand; as if -one might almost walk on it; so unlike any liquid, as seen near shore -or inland, is this leaping, heaving plain, reminding one, by its -innumerable conchoidal curves, not of water, not even of ice, but -rather of obsidian. - -After all, we got little of the sargasso. Only in a sailing ship and -in calms or light breezes can its treasures be explored. Twelve knots -an hour is a pace sufficient to tear off the weed, as it is hauled -alongside, all living things which are not rooted to it. We got, -therefore, no crustacea; neither did we get a single specimen of the -calamaries, which may be described as cuttle-fish carrying hooks on -their arms as well as suckers, the lingering descendants of a most -ancient form, which existed as far back as the era of the shallow -oolitic seas, _x_ or _y_ thousand years ago. A tiny curled spirorbis, -a lepraria, with its thousand-fold cells, and a tiny polype belonging -to the campanularias, with a creeping stem, which sends up here and -there a yellow-stalked bell, were all the parasites we saw. But the -sargasso itself is a curious instance of the fashion in which one form -so often mimics another of a quite different family. When fresh out of -the water it resembles not a sea-weed so much as a sprig of some -willow-leaved shrub, burdened with yellow berries, large and small; -for every broken bit of it seems growing, and throwing out ever new -berries and leaves--or what, for want of a better word, must be called -leaves in a sea-weed. For it must be remembered that the frond of a -sea-weed is not merely leaf, but root also; that it not only breathes -air, but feeds on water; and that even the so-called root by which a -sea-weed holds to the rock is really only an anchor, holding -mechanically to the stone, but not deriving, as the root of a -land-plant would, any nourishment from it. Therefore it is, that to -grow while uprooted and floating, though impossible to most -land-plants, is easy enough to many sea-weeds, and especially to the -sargasso. - -The flying-fish now began to be a source of continual amusement, as -they scuttled away from under the bows of the ship, mistaking her, -probably, for some huge devouring whale. So strange are they when -first seen, though long read of and looked for, that it is difficult -to recollect that they are actually fish. The first little one was -mistaken for a dragon-fly, the first big one for a gray plover. The -flight is almost exactly like that of a quail or partridge-flight I -must say; for in spite of all that has been learnedly written to the -contrary, it was too difficult as yet for the English sportsmen on -board to believe that their motion was not a true flight, aided by the -vibration of the wings, and not a mere impulse given (as in the leap -of the salmon) by a rush under water. That they can change their -course at will is plain to one who looks down on them from the lofty -deck, and still more from the paddle-box. The length of the flight -seems too great to be attributed to a few strokes of the tail; while -the plain fact that they renew their flight after touching, and only -touching, the surface, would seem to show that it was not due only to -the original impetus, for that would be retarded, instead of being -quickened, every time they touched. Such were our first impressions, -and they were confirmed by what we saw on the voyage home. - -The nights as yet, we will not say disappointed us--for to see new -stars, like Canopus and Fomalhaut, shining in the far south; even to -see Sirius, in his ever-changing blaze of red and blue, riding high in -a December heaven, is interesting enough; but the brilliance of the -stars is not, at least at this season, equal to that of a frosty sky -in England. Nevertheless, to make up for the deficiency, the clouds -were glorious--so glorious that I longed again and again, as I did -afterward in the West Indies, that Mr. Ruskin were by my side, to see -and to describe, as none but he can do. The evening skies are fit -weeds for widowed Eos weeping over the dying Sun; thin, formless, -rent--in carelessness, not in rage; and of all the hues of early autumn -leaves, purple and brown, with green and primrose lakes of air -between; but all hues weakened, mingled, chastened into loneliness, -tenderness, regretfulness, through which still shines, in endless -vistas of clear western light, the hope of the returning day. More and -more faint, the pageant fades below toward the white haze of the -horizon, where, in sharpest contrast, leaps and welters against it the -black, jagged sea; and richer and richer it glows upward till it cuts -the azure overhead; until, only too soon, - - "The sun's rim dips, the stars rush out, - At one stride comes the dark," - -to be succeeded, after long balmy night, by a sunrise which repeats -the colors of the sunset, but this time gaudy, dazzling, triumphant, -as befits the season of faith and hope. Such imagery, it may be said, -is hackneyed now, and trite even to impertinence. It might be so at -home; but here, in presence of the magnificent pageant of tropic -sunlight, it is natural, almost inevitable; and the old myth of the -daily birth and death of Helios, and the bridal joys and widowed tears -of Eos, reinvents itself in the human mind as soon as it asserts its -power--it may be its sacred right--to translate nature into the language -of the feelings. - - - - - THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE - - (From the Child of the Wreck.) - - By W. H. G. KINGSTON. - - -I am not likely to forget that next morning, the 28th of August, -(17--). It was a fine summer's morning, and there was just a little sea -on, with a strongish breeze blowing from the eastward, but not enough -to prevent boats coming off from Portsmouth. I counted forty -sail-of-the-line, a dozen frigates and smaller ships of war, and -well-nigh three hundred merchant vessels, riding, as of course we -were, to the flood with our heads towards Cowes. - -You will understand that under the lower-deck was fitted a cistern, -into which the sea-water was received and then pumped up by a -hand-pump, fixed in the middle of the gun-deck, for the purpose of -washing the two lower gun-decks. The water was let into this cistern -by a pipe which passed through the ship's side, and which was secured -by a stopcock on the inside. It had been found the morning before that -this watercock, which was about three feet below the water line, was -out of order, and must be repaired. - -The foreman came off from the dockyard, and said that it was necessary -to careen the ship over to port, sufficiently to raise the mouth of -the pipe, which went through the ship's timbers below, clean out of -the water, that he and his men might work at it. Between seven and -eight o'clock the order was given to run the larboard guns out as far -as they could go, the larboard ports being opened. The starboard guns -were also run in amidships and secured by tackles, the moving over of -this great weight of metal bringing the larboard lower-deck port-sills -just level with the water. The men were then able to get at the mouth -of the pipe. For an hour the ship remained in this position, while the -carpenters were at work. We had been taking in rum and shot on the -previous day, and now a sloop called the Lark, which belonged to the -three brothers, came alongside with the last cargo of rum; she having -been secured to the larboard side, the hands were piped to clear the -lighter. - -I had been on duty on the main-deck. Several ladies had come off early -in the morning, friends and relations of the officers. Some of them -were either in the ward-room or gun-room, and others were walking the -quarter-deck with the help of their gentlemen friends, as it was no -easy matter, the ship heeling over as much as she was then doing. They -thought it very good fun, however, and were laughing and talking, as -they tried to keep their feet from slipping. I had been sent with a -message to Mr. Hollingbury, our third lieutenant, who was officer of -the watch. He seemed out of temper, and gave me a rough answer; as he -generally did. He was not a favorite, indeed, with us, and we used to -call him "Jib-and-Foresail Jack," for when he had the watch at night, -he was always singing out, "Up jib," and "Down jib;" "Up foresail," -"Down foresail;" and from a habit he had of moving his fingers about -when walking the quarter-deck, we used to say that he had been an -organ player in London. Just as I got back to the main-deck, I caught -a glimpse of a young lady in black, leading a little boy. She turned -her face towards me, and I saw that she was the very same who had come -to my wife's cottage the previous evening; indeed I should have known -her by the little boy by her side. I had to return to the quarter-deck -again, and when I once more came back to the main-deck, I could -nowhere see her; but whether she went into the ward-room or had gone -below, I could not learn. I asked several people, for I thought she -might have brought me off a message from Susan; and I might, I -fancied, have been of use to her in finding the person she wished to -see. While I was looking about, Mr. Webb, the purser's clerk, who had -received orders to go on shore in charge of a boat, came up and -ordered me to call the crew away; a couple of midshipmen were going -with him. This took up some time, and prevented me from finding the -young lady. Just then, as I went up to report the boat gone to Mr. -Hollingbury, Mr. Williams, the carpenter, came up from the lower-deck, -and requested that he would be pleased to order the ship to be -righted, as she was heeling over more than she could bear. The -lieutenant gave one of his usual short answers to the carpenter, who -went below, looking as though he did not at all like it. He was back -again, however, before I had left the deck, when he said in a short -quick way, as if there was not a moment to lose,-- - -"If you please, sir, the ship is getting past her bearings; it's my -duty to tell you, she will no longer bear it!" - -"If you think, sir, you can manage the ship better than I can, you had -better take the command," answered Mr. Hollingbury, in an angry tone, -twitching his fingers and turning away. - -About this time there were a good many men in the waist who heard what -the carpenter had said, and what answer the lieutenant gave. They all -knew, as I did, that the ship must be in great danger, or the -carpenter would not have spoken so sharply as he had. - -A large number of the crew, however, were below; some on board the -lighter, others at the yard-tackles and stay-falls, hoisting in casks; -some in the spirit-room stowing away, others bearing the casks down -the hatchway, all busy clearing the lighter. The greater number, it -will be understood, were on the larboard side, and that brought the -ship down more to larboard. There was a little more sea on than -before, which had begun to wash into the lower-deck ports, and having -no escape there was soon a good weight of water on the lower-deck. -Several of the men, not dreaming of danger, were amusing themselves, -laughing and shouting, catching mice, for there were a good many of -them in the ship, which the water had driven out of their quarters. -It's my belief, however, that the casks of rum hoisted in, and lying -on the larboard side, before they could be lowered into the hold, -helped very much to bring the ship down. - -There stood the lieutenant, fuming at the way the carpenter had spoken -to him. Suddenly, however, it seemed to occur to him that the -carpenter was right, and he ordered the drummer to beat to quarters, -that the guns might be run into their places and the ship righted. - -"Dick Tattoo" was shouted quick enough along the deck, for every one -now saw that not a moment was to be lost, as the ship had just then -heeled over still more. The moment the drummer was called, all hands -began tumbling down the hatchways to their quarters, that they might -run in their guns. - -Just then I saw a young midshipman, whom I had observed going off with -Mr. Webb, standing at the entrance-port singing out for the boat. He -had forgotten his dirk, he said, and had come back to fetch it. The -boat, however, had gone some distance off, and he was left behind. -Poor fellow, it was a fatal piece of forgetfulness for him. - -"Never mind, Jemmy Fish," said little Crispo, one of the smallest -midshipmen I ever saw, for he was only nine years old. "There is -another boat going ashore directly, and you can go in her." - -He gave an angry answer, and went back into the gun-room, swearing at -his ill-luck. - -The men had just got hold of the gun-tackles, and were about to bowse -out their guns which had been run in amidship, some five hundred of -them or more having for the purpose gone over to the larboard side, -which caused the ship to heel over still more, when the water made a -rush into the larboard lower-deck ports, and, do all they could, the -guns ran in again upon them. Feeling sure that the ship could not be -righted, I, seizing little Crispo, made a rush to starboard, and -dashing through an open port found myself outside the ship, which at -that moment went completely over, her masts and spars sinking under -the water. Somehow or other the young midshipman broke from me and -slipped over into the sea. I thought the poor little fellow would have -been lost, but he struck out bravely, which was, as it turned out, the -best thing he could have done, as he could swim well. - -I had just before seen all the port-holes crowded with seamen, trying -to escape, and jamming one another so that they could scarcely move -one way or the other. The ship now lying down completely on her -larboard broadside, suddenly the heads of most of the men disappeared, -they having dropped back into the ship, many of those who were holding -on being hauled down by others below them. It was, you see, as if they -had been trying to get out of a number of chimneys, with nothing for -their feet to rest upon. Directly afterwards there came such a rush of -wind through the ports, that my hat was blown off. It was the air from -the hold, which, having no other vent, escaped as the water pouring in -took up its space. The whole side of the ship was, I said, covered -with seamen and marines, and here and there a Jew maybe, and a good -many women and a few children shrieking and crying out for mercy. -Never have I heard such a fearful wailing. One poor woman near me -shrieked out for her husband, but he was nowhere to be seen, and she -thought that he was below with those who by this time were drowned; -for there were hundreds who had been on the lower decks, and in the -hold, who had never even reached the ports, and some who had fallen -back into the sea as it rushed in at the larboard side. She implored -me to help her, and I said I would if I could. We could see boats -putting off from the ships all round to our help, and here and there -people swimming for their lives who had leaped from the stern-ports, -or had been on the upper deck. I could not help thinking of our fine -old admiral, and wished that he might be among them; but he was not, -for he was writing in his cabin at the time, and when the captain -tried to let him know that the ship was sinking, he found the door so -jammed by her heeling over that he could not open it, and was obliged -to rush aft and make his escape through a stern-port to save his life. -This I afterwards heard. - -[Illustration: "The Ship Went Completely Over."] - -As the ship had floated for some minutes, I began to hope that she -would continue in the same position, and that I and others around me -on her side might be saved. I hoped this for my own sake, and still -more for that of my dear wife. I had been thinking of her all the -time, for I knew that it would go well-nigh to break her heart if I -was taken from her, as it were, just before her eyes. Suddenly, I -found to my horror, that the ship was settling down; the shrieks of -despair which rent the air on every side, not only from women, but -from many a man I had looked upon as a stout fellow, rang in my ears. -Knowing that if I went down with the ship I should have a hard job to -rise again, I seized a poor woman by her dress, and leaped off with -her into the sea; but to my horror, her dress tore, and before I could -get hold of her again she was swept from me. I had struck out for some -distance, when I felt myself as it were drawn back, and, on looking -round, I saw the ship's upper works disappear beneath the waters, -which was covered with a mass of human beings, shrieking and lifting -up their hands in despair. Presently they all disappeared. Just then I -felt myself drawn down by some one getting hold of my foot under the -water, but, managing to kick off my shoe, I quickly rose again and -struck out away from the spot, impelled by instinct rather than -anything else, for I had no time for thought; then directly afterwards -up came the masts almost with a bound, as it were, and stood out of -the water, with a slight list only to starboard, with the fore, main, -and mizzen-tops all above water, as well as part of the bowsprit and -ensign-staff, with the flag still hoisted to it; many people were -floating about, making for the tops and riggings, several of them -terror-stricken, who could not swim, catching hold of those that -could. I thought, on seeing this, that it would be wiser to keep clear -of them, till I could reach a boat coming towards the wreck at no -great distance off. I was pretty nigh exhausted when I reached the -boat, in which were a waterman and two young gentlemen, who happened -to be crossing from Ryde to Portsmouth at the time. They soon hauled -me in, and I begged them to pull on and save some of the drowning -people. As neither of them could row--quickly recovering--I took one of -the oars, and was about to sit down to help the waterman, when I saw -not far off, several sheep, pigs, and fowls swimming in all -directions, while hencoops and all sorts of articles were floating -about.... - -Out of nearly a thousand souls who had been alive and well on board -the ship in the morning, between seven and eight hundred were now -lifeless. Besides our gallant admiral, who had been drowned while -sitting writing in his cabin, three of the lieutenants, including the -one whose obstinacy had produced the disaster, the larger number of -the midshipmen, the surgeon, master, and the major, and several other -officers of marines, were drowned, as were some ladies who had just -before come on board. Sixty of the marines had gone on shore in the -morning, a considerable number of the rest who were on the upper-deck -were saved, but the greater number of the crew, many of whom were in -the hold stowing away the rum casks, had perished; indeed, out of the -ship's whole complement, seventy seamen only escaped with their lives. - -I was sorry to hear that Mr. Williams, the carpenter, whose advice, -had it been followed, would have saved the ship, was drowned; his body -was picked up directly afterwards, and carried on board the Victory, -where it was laid on the hearth before the galley-fire, in the hopes -that he might recover, but life was extinct. - -Captain Waghorn, though he could not swim, was saved. After trying to -warn the admiral, he rushed across the deck and leaped into the sea, -calling on others to follow his example. A young gentleman, Mr. -Pierce, was near him. - -"Can you swim?" he asked. - -"No," was the answer. - -"Then you must try, my lad," he said, and hurled him into the water. - -Two men, fortunately good swimmers, followed, one of them getting hold -of the captain, supported him, and swam away from the ship: the other -fell upon Mr. Pierce, of whom he got hold, and supported above water -till the ship settled, when he placed him on the main-top, and both -were saved. The captain, in the meantime, was struggling in the water, -and was with great difficulty kept afloat. A boat with our seventh -lieutenant, Mr. Philip Durham, had on the very instant the ship went -over come alongside, when she was drawn down, and all in her were -thrown into the water. Mr. Durham had just time to throw off his coat -before the ship sank and left him floating among men and hammocks. A -drowning marine caught hold of his waistcoat, and drew him several -times under water. Finding that he could not free himself, and that -both would be drowned, he threw his legs round a hammock, and -unbuttoning his waistcoat with one hand, he allowed it to be drawn -off, and then swam for the main shrouds. When there he caught sight of -the captain struggling in the water, and a boat coming to take him -off, he refused assistance, till Captain Waghorn and the seaman -supporting him were received on board. The captain's son, poor lad, -who had been below, lost his life. - -I heard that the body of the marine was washed on shore ten days -afterwards with the lieutenant's waistcoat round his arm, and a -pencil-case, having his initials on it, found safe in the pocket. -There was only one woman saved out of the three hundred on board, and -I believe she was the one I had helped out of the port; her name was -Horn, and I was glad to find that her husband was saved also. It was -curious that the youngest midshipman, Mr. Crispo, and probably one of -the smallest children, our little chap, should have been saved, while -so many strong men were drowned.... - -Our first lieutenant, Mr. Saunders, who had been busy in the wings, -was drowned; his body, with his gold watch and some money in his -pocket, was picked up, floating under the stern of an Indiaman off the -Motherbank. - -Of the three brothers who owned the sloop, two perished and one was -saved. It was owing to her being lashed alongside that the ship -righted, or she would have probably remained on her side. I was a good -swimmer myself, and had I not been, I should have lost my life long -ago; I have often thought, what a pity it is that all seamen do not -learn to swim. Many more might have been saved; but those who could -not swim got hold of the men who could, and both were drowned -together. If all had struck out from the ship when they found her -going over, a greater number would have been picked up; instead of -that, afraid to trust themselves in the water, they stuck by her, and -they and a large number who got into the launch were drawn down with -the ship, and all perished. The foreman of the plumbers, whose boat -was lashed head and stern, was, with all his men, drawn into the -vortex as the ship went down, and not one of them escaped. It was a -sad sight, ten days or a fortnight afterwards, to see the bodies which -were picked up; some were buried in Kingston churchyard, near -Portsmouth, and a large number in an open spot to the east of Ryde. -Some time afterwards a monument was put up in Kingston churchyard, to -the memory of the brave Admiral Kempenfelt and his ship's company. A -court of inquiry was held, when Captain Waghorn was honorably -acquitted, and it came out, that in so rotten a state was the side of -the ship, that some large portions of her frame must have given way, -and it is only a wonder that she did not go down before. When I come -to think that she had upwards of one thousand tons of dead weight and -spirits on board, it is surprising that she should have held together. - -An attempt was made soon afterwards to raise the Royal George, and -very nearly succeeded, as she was lifted up, and moored some way from -the spot where she went down; but a heavy gale coming on, some of the -lighters sank, and the gear gave way, and she was again lost. It was -whispered that on account of her rotten state the admiralty had no -wish to have her afloat, but that might have been scandal. - - - - - SAILORS' YARNS - - (From Jean Berny, Sailor.) - - By PIERRE LOTI. - - -Within the tropics, on a wondrous evening when the Southern trades -were blowing with their balmiest softness, the corporeal portion of -his being tired with a healthy muscular fatigue, gently lulled by the -slumberous rhythmic motion of the ship, as a little child is rocked to -sleep in his cradle, Jean was half sitting, half lying on the deck in -the mild light of the new-born stars, in the midst of the gathering -swarm of white-jacketed sailor lads, who were coming up from below, -one after another, and forming snug little groups preparatory to -passing the pleasant hours of evening in one another's society. And in -those moments of calmness and repose that precede slumber his -thoughts, as usual, assumed a more sombre cast as the future and that -dreaded examination rose before his mind. - -Close at hand, on his right, were his two chosen comrades, Le Marec, -quartermaster, and Joal, captain of the mizzen-top, both hailing from -the Cotes-du-Nord, surrounded at that moment by a group of young -_pays_--or men from their own district--who were listening reverentially -to their conversation. - -On his left was a little congregation of Basques, a race apart, who -every now and then would break out and chatter in an unintelligible -jargon, older than the hills. - -A little further away another group was singing in chorus a lively air -in couplets, in which the refrain: "Old Neptune, Monarch of the Sea," -came in every minute or so in a light, catchy way. - -Among the Bretons a blood-curdling, marrow-freezing story of mystery -and darkness was going on, the confused beginning of which Jean had -failed to catch. The yarn was of a suspicious-looking brig, derelict -and abandoned by her crew, that had been encountered in the English -Channel in the twilight at the close of a dim winter's day; a ghostly -wanderer on the water that no one dared board for fear of encountering -dead men on her. - -The Basques of the group to the left were listening to a wild tale of -warlike adventure beneath a blazing sun and on the burning sands of -Dahomey. - -The two stories, equally lurid and fantastic, reached Jean's ears in -disconnected fragments, and were mingled and blended in his brain, -over which sleep was beginning to exert its confusing influence, while -from the chorus in the distance came the persistently reiterated -refrain of "Old Neptune," running thread-like through the whole and -connecting the parts by a sort of _obligato_ accompaniment. There is -small opportunity for privacy on shipboard of a fine evening, when the -crew are all on deck. - -"Well," Le Marec was saying--he had been a fisherman of Brieuc in his -younger days--"well, at last we concluded to board her" (it was of that -grewsome derelict that he was speaking). "It was none too light, for -the weather was thick and the night was close at hand, and I tell you -what it is, boys, I felt pretty shaky about that time. All the same, -though, I raise my hands and catch onto the gunwale, so as to hoist -myself up and get a look at what was inside--and then, my friends, what -think you it is I see? A huge, tall form, with black face, and horns, -and a long, pointed beard, that springs to its feet and makes a rush -for me--" - -"It was the Devil, wasn't it?" asked Joal, convinced that he had -guessed aright. - -"_We_ thought it was, for certain, for a while--but no; it was only an -old billy-goat! but such a great, big fellow, you can't imagine. I -don't believe any one ever saw his like." - -And Turubeta, a Basque from Zitzarry, was running on at the same time, -in a voice, that, compared with the deep tones of the honest Bretons, -seemed shrill and piercing as a fife. - -"It was the Amazon who had informed on the poor beggar of a spy, don't -you see? Then the other fellow, the big black man, catches hold of -him. 'Come along to the beach,' he says to him. 'Come along, come -along; I am going to chop off your head!'" - -"And did he go?" inquired the sceptical Etcheverry--who was from -Biarritz, where the sailors are beginning to acquire more modern -ideas. - -"Did he go? of course he did! Because he couldn't help himself, don't -you see? the moment he was caught playing the spy he knew it was all -up with him. He didn't feel any too good over it, all the same, as you -may suppose." - -And the Breton continued to reel off his yarn of mystery and darkness: - -"The billy-goat was the only living soul on board the brig, and as she -was carrying a cargo of barley in bulk, he had had plenty to eat. If I -were to try to tell you how fat he was you wouldn't believe me--" - -"So he goes to work and binds the dirty spy's hands behind his back," -Turubeta continued, "that way, with a rope of straw, such as they use -to fasten their horses with in that beastly country, and makes him get -down on his knees upon the sand, and begins to hack away at the back -of his neck with his old cheese-toaster. But now that it was fairly -begun, the other fellow didn't want any more of it--oh, boys, you ought -to have heard the fuss he made! And the Amazon grinned and showed her -white teeth--see, like that--to show how glad she was, I suppose. Well, -you may believe me or not, just as you choose, but his regulation -sabre was so dull that he could not do the job with it, and in order -to finish the business he had to go down into his pocket and bring out -a cheap little knife that I myself had given him, and for which I paid -old Mother Virginie, in the bazaar at Goree, ten sous when it was -new." - -While the listeners were making merry over this original method of -executing a death sentence, their neighbors, the Bretons, were -brooding reflectively over the history of the abandoned brig and the -black goat, and Jean, who, toward the conclusion of the two -narratives, had bent his ear alternately to left and right to listen, -smiled indulgently at the childish credulity of his shipmates; the -sprightly song "Old Neptune" also inspired him with some of its -irresistible, contagious gayety. He had never felt himself so -completely and thoroughly a sailor as he did that evening. His -anxieties for the future, which had been growing less troublesome with -each succeeding day, now vanished entirely in the sensation of -well-being and repose experienced by his weary body. He yielded -himself up to the purely animal delight of living and breathing, on -that pleasant evening, of feeling his muscles so hard and supple under -his loosely fitting garments. He stretched himself at full length on -the snow-white planks, which were his most frequent bed, and made a -pillow of the man who chanced to be next to him, a neighborly courtesy -to which no sailorman objects. - -It was of all the twenty-four the enchanting hour on those summer seas -where the gentle trade winds blow. For a moment he was conscious of -the tall edifice of snowy canvas towering above his head and -oscillating with a regular rhythmic movement upon the deep blue of the -heavens; then the bright constellations of the southern sky blazed -forth between the sails and rigging, now growing more shadowy and -indistinct, and seemed to be playing a solemn game of hide and seek, -vanishing at uniform intervals and reappearing, then hiding again, to -commence afresh their stately evolutions in unison with the easy -rolling of the vessel. At last they faded from his sight, and -beneficent slumber, bearer of oblivion and peace, descended and sealed -his eyes. - - - - - MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY - -Jack Easy, the hero of Captain Marryat's story, was "no fool, but a -bit of a philosopher." He had been spoiled by an indulgent mother and -a foolish father, who was continually prosing about "equality and the -rights of man." Indeed, Jack could even out-talk his father upon this -subject. "There was no end to Jack's arguing the point, though there -seldom was point to his argument." At sixteen he resolved to leave -school and go to sea; and though Mr. Easy was unwilling, Jack insisted -on his "rights" as his father's "equal," and the old man yielded. He -was to sail as midshipman on the sloop-of-war Harpy, with Captain -Wilson, a relative of his father's. He set out for Portsmouth with -plenty of money in his pockets, and squandering this he loitered three -weeks in the town without reporting to his ship. When Captain Wilson -heard of this he sent Mr. Sawbridge, his lieutenant, to summon the -boy. Mr. Sawbridge peremptorily ordered Jack on board; but the officer -was not in uniform, and Jack did not understand naval etiquette. He -pertly refused to go until he should be ready, arguing his "equality" -with any officer. Lieutenant Sawbridge departed, threatening that if -Jack did not appear that night a file of marines should arrest him in -the morning. He reported Jack's disobedience to the Captain, but the -latter, hoping to undo the father's foolish lessons, resolved to -discipline the boy gradually and gently. He sent a note inviting him -to breakfast at nine on the following morning, which invitation Jack -politely accepted. The next few pages give Jack's first experience of -"equality" at sea. - - - - - EQUALITY AT SEA - - (From Mr. Midshipman Easy.) - - By CAPTAIN FREDERICK MARRYAT. - - -The next morning Jack Easy would have forgotten all about his -engagement with the captain, had it not been for the waiter, who -thought that after the reception which our hero had given the first -lieutenant, it would be just as well that he should not be -disrespectful to the captain. Now Jack had not hitherto put on his -uniform, and he thought this a fitting occasion, particularly as the -waiter suggested the propriety of his appearance in it. Whether it was -from a presentiment of what he was to suffer, Jack was not at all -pleased, as most lads are, with the change in his dress. It appeared -to him that he was sacrificing his independence; however, he did not -follow his first impulse, which was to take it off again, but took his -hat, which the waiter had brushed and handed to him, and then set off -for the captain's lodgings. Captain Wilson received him as if he had -not been aware of his delay in joining his ship, or his interview with -his first lieutenant, but before breakfast was over, Jack himself -narrated the affair in a few words. Captain Wilson then entered into a -detail of the duties and rank of every person on board of the ship, -pointing out to Jack that where discipline was required it was -impossible, when duty was carried on, that more than one could -command; and that that one was the captain, who represented the king -in person, who represented the country; and that, as the orders were -transmitted from the captain through the lieutenant, and from the -lieutenant to the midshipmen, who, in their turn, communicated them to -the whole ship's company, in fact, it was the captain alone who gave -the orders, and that every one was _equally_ obliged to obey. Indeed, -as the captain himself had to obey the orders of his superiors, the -admiral and the admiralty, _all_ on board might be said to be -_equally_ obliged to obey. Captain Wilson laid a strong emphasis on -the word _equally_, as he cautiously administered his first dose; -indeed, in the whole of his address he made use of special pleading, -which would have done credit to the bar; for at the same time that he -was explaining to Jack that he was entering a service in which -_equality_ could never for a moment exist, if the service was to -exist, he contrived to show that all the grades were levelled, by all -being equally bound to do their duty to their country, and that, in -fact, whether a seaman obeyed _his_ orders, or he obeyed the orders of -_his_ superior officer, they were in reality only obeying the orders -of the country, which were administered through their channels. - -Jack did not altogether like this view of the subject, and the captain -took care not to dwell too long upon it. He then entered upon other -details which he was aware would be more agreeable to Jack. He pointed -out that the articles of war were the rules by which the service was -to be guided, and that everybody, from the captain to the least boy in -the ship, was _equally_ bound to adhere to them--that a certain -allowance of provisions and wine were allowed to each person on board, -and that this allowance was the same to all; the same to the captain -as to the boy; the same in quantity as in quality; every one _equally_ -entitled to his allowance; that, although there were, of necessity, -various grades necessary in the service, and the captain's orders were -obliged to be passed and obeyed by all, yet still, whatever was the -grade of the officer, they were _equally_ considered as gentlemen. In -short, Captain Wilson, who told the truth, and nothing but the truth, -without telling the whole truth, actually made Jack fancy that he had -at last found out that equality he had been seeking for in vain on -shore, when, at last, he recollected the language used by Mr. -Sawbridge the evening before, and asked the captain why that personage -had so conducted himself. Now, as the language of Mr. Sawbridge was -very much at variance with equality, Captain Wilson was not a little -puzzled. However, he first pointed out that the first lieutenant was, -at the time being, the captain, as he was the senior officer on board, -as would Jack himself be if he were the senior officer on board; and -that, as he before observed, the captain or senior officer represented -the country. That in the articles of war, everybody who absented -himself from the ship committed an error, or breach of those articles; -and if any error or breach of those articles was committed by any one -belonging to the ship, if the senior officer did not take notice of -it, he then himself committed a breach of those articles, and was -liable himself to be punished, if he could not prove that he had -noticed it; it was therefore to save himself that he was obliged to -point out the error; and if he did it in strong language, it only -proved his _zeal_ for his country. - -"Upon my honor, then," replied Jack, "there can be no doubt of his -zeal; for if the whole country had been at stake, he could not have -put himself in a greater passion." - -"Then he did his duty; but depend upon it, it was not a pleasant one -to him; and I'll answer for it, when you meet him on board, he will be -as friendly with you as if nothing had happened." - -"He told me that he'd soon make me know what a first lieutenant was: -what did he mean by that?" inquired Jack. - -"All zeal." - -"Yes, but he said that as soon as he got on board, he'd show me the -difference between a first lieutenant and a midshipman." - -"All zeal." - -"He said my ignorance should be a little enlightened by and by." - -"All zeal." - -"And that he'd send a sergeant and marines to fetch me." - -"All zeal." - -"That he would put my philosophy to the proof." - -"All zeal, Mr. Easy. Zeal will break out in this way; but we should do -nothing in the service without it. Recollect that I hope and trust one -day to see you also a zealous officer." - -Here Jack cogitated considerably, and gave no answer. - -"You will, I am sure," continued Captain Wilson, "find Mr. Sawbridge -one of your best friends." - -"Perhaps so," replied Jack; "but I did not much admire our first -acquaintance." - -"It will perhaps be your unpleasant duty to find as much fault -yourself; we are all equally bound to do our duty to our country. But, -Mr. Easy, I sent for you to say that we shall sail to-morrow; and, as -I shall send my things off this afternoon by the launch, you had -better send yours off also. At eight o'clock I shall go on board, and -we can both go in the same boat." - -To this Jack made no sort of objection, and having paid his bill at -the Fountain, he sent his chest down to the boat by some of the crew -who came up for it, and attended the summons of the captain to embark. -By nine o'clock that evening Mr. Jack Easy was safe on board his -majesty's sloop Harpy. - -When Jack arrived on board it was dark, and he did not know what to do -with himself. The captain was received by the officers on deck, who -took off their hats to salute him. The captain returned the salute, -and so did Jack very politely, after which the captain entered into -conversation with the first lieutenant, and for awhile Jack was left -to himself. It was too dark to distinguish faces, and to one who had -never been on board of a ship, too dark to move, so Jack stood where -he was, which was not far from the main bitts, but he did not stay -long; the boat had been hooked on to the quarter davits, and the -boatswain had called out: - -"Set taut, my lads!" - -And then, with a shrill whistle, and "Away with her!" forward came -galloping and bounding along the men with the tackles; and in the dark -Jack was upset, and half a dozen marines fell upon him; the men, who -had no idea that an officer was floored among the others, were pleased -at the joke, and continued to dance over those who were down, until -they rolled themselves out of the way. Jack, who did not understand -this, fared badly, and it was not until the calls piped belay, that he -could recover his legs, after having been trampled upon by half the -starboard watch, and the breath completely jammed out of his body. -Jack reeled to a carronade slide, when the officers, who had been -laughing at the lark as well as the men, perceived his situation--among -others, Mr. Sawbridge, the first lieutenant. - -"Are you hurt, Mr. Easy?" said he, kindly. - -"A little," replied Jack, catching his breath. - -"You've had but a rough welcome," replied the first lieutenant, "but -at certain times on board ship, it is every man for himself and God -for us all. Harpur," continued the first lieutenant to the doctor, -"take Mr. Easy down in the gun-room with you, and I will be down -myself as soon as I can. Where is Mr. Jolliffe?" - -"Here, sir," replied Mr. Jolliffe, a master's mate, coming aft from -the booms. - -"There's a youngster come on board with the captain. Order one of the -quartermasters to get a hammock slung." - -In the meantime Jack went down into the gun-room, where a glass of -wine somewhat recovered him. He did not stay there long, nor did he -venture to talk much. As soon as his hammock was ready, Jack was glad -to go to bed--and as he was much bruised he was not disturbed the next -morning till past nine o'clock. He then dressed himself, went on deck, -found that the sloop was just clear of the Needles, that he felt very -queer, then very sick, and was conducted by a marine down below, put -into his hammock, where he remained during a gale of wind of three -days, bewildered, confused, puzzled, and every minute knocking his -head against the beams with the pitching and tossing of the sloop. - -"And this is going to sea," thought Jack; "no wonder that no one -interferes with another here, or talks about a trespass; for I'm sure -any one is welcome to my share of the ocean; and if I once get on -shore again, the devil may have my portion if he chooses." - -Captain Wilson and Mr. Sawbridge had both allowed Jack more leisure -than most midshipmen, during his illness. By the time the gale was -over the sloop was off Cape Finisterre. The next morning the sea was -nearly down, and there was but a slight breeze on the waters. The -comparative quiet of the night before had very much recovered our -hero, and when the hammocks were piped up, he was accosted by Mr. -Jolliffe, the master's mate, who asked "whether he intended to rouse a -bit, or whether he intended to sail to Gibraltar between his -blankets." - -Jack, who felt himself quite another person, turned out of his hammock -and dressed himself. A marine had, by the captain's orders, attended -Jack during his illness, and this man came to his assistance, opened -his chest, and brought him all which he required, or Jack would have -been in a sad dilemma. - -Jack then inquired where he was to go, for he had not yet been in the -midshipman's berth, although five days on board. The marine pointed it -out to him, and Jack, who felt excessively hungry, crawled over and -between chests, until he found himself fairly in a hole infinitely -inferior to the dog-kennels which received his father's pointers. - -"I'd not only give up the ocean," thought Jack, "and my share of it, -but also my share of the Harpy, unto any one who fancies it. Equality -enough here! for every one appears equally miserably off." - -As he thus gave vent to his thoughts he perceived that there was -another person in the berth--Mr. Jolliffe, the master's mate, who had -fixed his eye upon Jack, and to whom Jack returned the compliment. The -first thing that Jack observed was, that Mr. Jolliffe was very deeply -pockmarked, and that he had but one eye, and that was a piercer; it -appeared like a little ball of fire, and as if it reflected more light -from the solitary candle than the candle gave. - -"I don't like your looks," thought Jack; "we shall never be friends." - -But here Jack fell into the common error of judging by appearances, as -will be proved hereafter. - -"I'm glad to see you up again, youngster," said Jolliffe; "you've been -on your beam ends longer than usual, but those who are strongest -suffer most--you made your mind up but late to come to sea. However, -they say, 'Better late than never.'" - -"I feel very much inclined to argue the truth of that saying," replied -Jack; "but it's no use just now. I'm terribly hungry--when shall I get -some breakfast?" - -"To-morrow morning at half-past eight," replied Mr. Jolliffe. -"Breakfast for to-day has been over these two hours." - -"But must I then go without?" - -"No, I do not say that, as we must make allowances for your illness; -but it will not be breakfast." - -"Call it what you please," replied Jack, "only pray desire the -servants to give me something to eat. Dry toast or muffins--anything -will do, but I should prefer coffee." - -"You forget that you are off Finisterre, in a midshipman's berth; -coffee we have none--muffins we never see--dry toast cannot be made, as -we have no soft bread; but a cup of tea, and ship's biscuit and -butter, I can desire the steward to get ready for you." - -"Well, then," replied Jack, "I will thank you to procure me that." - -"Marine," cried Jolliffe, "call Mesty." - -"Pass the word for Mesty," cried the marine--and the two syllables were -handed forward until lost in the forepart of the vessel. - -The person so named must be introduced to the reader. He was a curious -anomaly--a black man who had been brought to America as a slave, and -there sold. - -He was a very tall, spare-built, yet muscular form, and had a face by -no means common with his race. His head was long and narrow, high -cheek-bones from whence his face descended down to almost a point at -the chin; his nose was very small, but it was straight, and almost -Roman; his mouth also was unusually small, and his lips thin for an -African; his teeth very white, and filed to sharp points. He claimed -the rank of prince in his own country, with what truth could not of -course be substantiated. His master had settled at New York, and there -Mesty had learned English, if it could be so called: the fact is, that -all the emigrant laborers at New York being Irishmen, he had learned -English with the strong brogue and peculiar phraseology of the sister -kingdom, dashed with a little Yankeeism. - -Having been told that there was no slavery in England, Mesty had -concealed himself on board an English merchant vessel and escaped. On -his arrival in England he had entered on board of a man-of-war. Having -no name, it was necessary to christen him on the ship's books, and the -first lieutenant, who had entered him, struck with his remarkable -expression of countenance, and being a German scholar, had named him -Mephistopheles Faust, from whence his Christian name had been _razeed_ -to Mesty. Mesty in other points was an eccentric character; at one -moment, when he remembered his lineage, he was proud to excess, at -others he was grave and almost sullen--but when nothing either in daily -occurrences or in his mind ran contrary, he exhibited the drollery so -often found in his nation, with a spice of Irish humor, as if he had -caught up the latter with his Irish brogue. - -Mesty was soon seen coming aft, but almost double as he crouched under -the beams, and taking large strides with his naked feet. - -"By the powers, Massa Yolliffe, but it is not seasonable at all to -send for me just now, anyhow, seeing how the praters are in the copper -and so many blackguard 'palpeens all ready to change net for net, and -better themselves by the same mistake, 'dam um.'" - -"Mesty, you know I never send for you myself, or allow others to do -so, unless it is necessary," replied Jolliffe; "but this poor lad has -eaten nothing since he has been on board and is very hungry--you must -get him a little tea." - -"Is it tay you mane, sir? I guess, to make tay, in the first place I -must ab water, and in the next must ab room in the galley to put the -kettle on--and 'pose you wanted to burn the tip of your little finger -just now, it's not in the galley that you find a berth for it--and den -the water before seven bells. I've a notion its just impassible." - -"But he must have something, Mesty." - -"Never mind the tea, then," replied Jack, "I'll take some milk." - -"Is it milk massa manes, and the bumboat woman on the oder side of the -bay?" - -"We have no milk, Mr. Easy; you forget that we are on the blue water," -replied Jolliffe, "and I really am afraid that you'll have to wait -till dinner-time. Mesty tells the truth." - -"I tell you what, Massa Yolliffe, it just seven bells, and if the -young gentleman would instead of tay try a little out of the copper, -it might keep him asy. It but a little difference, _tay_ soup and -_pay_ soup. Now a bowl of that, with some nuts and a flourish of -pepper, will do him good, anyhow." - -"Perhaps the best thing he can take, Mesty; get it as fast as you -can." - -In a few minutes the black brought down a bowl of soup and whole peas -swimming in it, put before our hero a tin bread-basket full of small -biscuit, called midshipmen's nuts, and the pepper-caster. Jack's -visions of tea, coffee, muffins, dry toast, and milk vanished as he -perceived the mess; but he was very hungry, and he found it much -better than he expected; and he moreover found himself much the better -after he had swallowed it. It struck seven bells, and he accompanied -Mr. Jolliffe on deck. - -When Jack Easy had gained the deck he found the sun shining gayly, a -soft air blowing from the shore, and the whole of the rigging and -every part of the ship loaded with the shirts, trousers, and jackets -of the seamen, which had been wetted during the heavy gale, and were -now hanging up to dry; all the wet sails were also spread on the booms -or triced up in the rigging, and the ship was slowly forging through -the blue water. The captain and first lieutenant were standing on the -gangway in converse, and the majority of the officers were with their -quadrants and sextants ascertaining the latitude at noon. The decks -were white and clean, the sweepers had just laid by their brooms, and -the men were busy coiling down the ropes. It was a scene of -cheerfulness, activity, and order, which lightened his heart after the -four days of suffering, close air, and confinement, from which he had -just emerged. - -The captain, who perceived him, beckoned to him, asked him kindly how -he felt, the first lieutenant also smiled upon him, and many of the -officers, as well as his messmates, congratulated him upon his -recovery. - -The captain's steward came up to him, touched his hat, and requested -the pleasure of his company to dinner in the cabin. Jack was the -essence of politeness, took off his hat, and accepted the invitation. -Jack was standing on a rope which a seaman was coiling down; the man -touched his hat and requested he be so kind as to take his foot off. -Jack took his hat off his head in return, and his foot off the rope. -The master touched his hat and reported twelve o'clock to the first -lieutenant--the first lieutenant touched his hat and reported twelve -o'clock to the captain--the captain touched his hat and told the first -lieutenant to make it so. The officer of the watch touched his hat and -asked the captain whether they should pipe to dinner--the captain -touched his hat and said, "if you please." - -The midshipman received his orders, and touched his hat, which he gave -to the head boatswain's mate, who touched his hat, and then the calls -whistled cheerily. - -"Well," thought Jack, "politeness seems to be the order of the day, -and every one has an equal respect for the other." Jack stayed on -deck; he peeped through the ports, which were open, and looked down -into the deep blue waves; he cast his eyes aloft, and watched the tall -spars sweeping and tracing with their points, as it were, a small -portion of the clear sky, as they acted in obedience to the motion of -the vessel; he looked forward at the range of carronades which lined -the sides of the deck, and then he proceeded to climb one of the -carronades, and lean over the hammocks to gaze on the distant land. - -"Young gentleman, get off those hammocks," cried the master, who was -officer of the watch, in a surly tone. - -Jack looked round. - -"Do you hear me, sir? I'm speaking to you," said the master again. - -Jack felt very indignant, and he thought that politeness was not quite -so general as he supposed. - -It happened that Captain Wilson was upon deck. - -"Come here, Mr. Easy," said the captain; "it is a rule in the service, -that no one gets on the hammocks unless in case of emergency--I never -do--nor the first lieutenant--nor any of the officers or men--therefore, -upon the principle of equality, you must not do it either." - -"Certainly not, sir," replied Jack, "but still I do not see why that -officer in the shining hat should be so angry, and not speak to me as -if I were a gentleman as well as himself." - -"I have already explained that to you, Mr. Easy." - -"Oh, yes, I recollect now, it's zeal; but this zeal appears to me to -be the only unpleasant thing in the service. It's a pity, as you said, -that the service cannot do without it." - -Captain Wilson laughed, and walked away, and shortly afterward, as he -turned up and down the deck with the master, he hinted to him that he -should not speak so sharply to a lad who had committed such a trifling -error through ignorance. Now Mr. Smallsole, the master, who was a -surly sort of a personage, and did not like even a hint of -disapprobation of his conduct, although very regardless of the feeling -of others, determined to pay this off on Jack the very first -convenient opportunity. Jack dined in the cabin, and was very much -pleased to find that every one drank wine with him, and that everybody -at the captain's table appeared to be on an equality. Before the -dessert had been on the table five minutes, Jack became loquacious on -his favorite topic; all the company stared with surprise at such an -unheard-of doctrine being broached on board of a man-of-war; the -captain argued the point, so as to controvert, without too much -offending, Jack's notions, laughing the whole time that the -conversation was carried on. - -It will be observed that this day may be considered as the first in -which Jack really made his appearance on board, and it also was on the -first day that Jack made known, at the captain's table, his very -peculiar notions. If the company at the captain's table, which -consisted of the second lieutenant, purser, Mr. Jolliffe, and one of -the midshipmen, were astonished at such heterodox opinions being -started in the presence of the captain, they were equally astonished -at the cool, good-humored ridicule with which they were received by -Captain Wilson. The report of Jack's boldness, and every word and -opinion that he had uttered (of course much magnified), was circulated -that evening through the whole ship; it was canvassed in the gun-room -by the officers, it was descanted upon by the midshipmen as they -walked the deck; the captain's steward held a levee abreast of the -ship's funnel, in which he narrated this new doctrine. The sergeant of -marines gave his opinion, in his berth, that it was atrocious. The -boatswain talked over the matter with the other warrant officers, till -the grog was all gone, and then dismissed it as too dry a subject; and -it was the general opinion of the ship's company that as soon as they -arrived at Gibraltar Bay, our hero would bid adieu to the service, -either by being sentenced to death by a court-martial, or by being -dismissed, and towed on shore on a grating. Others, who had more of -the wisdom of the serpent, and who had been informed by Mr. Sawbridge -that our hero was a lad who would inherit a large property, argued -differently, and considered that Captain Wilson had very good reason -for being so lenient--and among them was the second lieutenant. There -were but four who were well inclined toward Jack--to wit, the captain, -the first lieutenant, Mr. Jolliffe, the one-eyed master's mate, and -Mephistopheles, the black, who, having heard that Jack had uttered -such sentiments, loved him with all his heart and soul. - - - - - THE CLUB-HAULING OF THE DIOMEDE - - (From Peter Simple.) - - By CAPTAIN FREDERICK MARRYAT. - - -We continued our cruise along the coast, until we had run down into -the Bay of Arcason, where we captured two or three vessels, and -obliged many more to run on shore. And here we had an instance showing -how very important it is that the captain of a man-of-war should be a -good sailor, and have his ship in such discipline as to be strictly -obeyed by his ship's company. I heard the officers unanimously assert, -after the danger was over, that nothing but the presence of mind which -was shown by Captain Savage could have saved the ship and her crew. We -had chased a convoy of vessels to the bottom of the bay: the wind was -very fresh when we hauled off, after running them on shore; and the -surf on the beach even at that time was so great, that they were -certain to go to pieces before they could be got afloat again. We were -obliged to double-reef the topsails as soon as we hauled to the wind, -and the weather looked very threatening. In an hour afterwards, the -whole sky was covered with one black cloud, which sank so low as -nearly to touch our mast-heads, and a tremendous sea, which appeared -to have risen up almost by magic, rolled in upon us, setting the -vessel on a dead lee shore. As the night closed in, it blew a dreadful -gale, and the ship was nearly buried with the press of canvas which -she was obliged to carry: for had we sea-room, we should have been -lying-to under storm staysails; but we were forced to carry on at all -risks, that we might claw off shore. The sea broke over us as we lay -in the trough, deluging us with water from the forecastle, aft, to the -binnacles; and very often as the ship descended with a plunge, it was -with such force that I really thought she would divide in half with -the violence of the shock. Double breechings were rove on the guns, -and they were further secured with tackles; and strong cleats nailed -behind the trunnions; for we heeled over so much when we lurched, that -the guns were wholly supported by the breechings and tackles, and had -one of them broken loose it must have burst right through the lee side -of the ship, and she must have foundered. The captain, first -lieutenant, and most of the officers, remained on deck during the -whole of the night; and really, what with the howling of the wind, the -violence of the rain, the washing of the water about the decks, the -working of the chain-pumps, and the creaking and groaning of the -timbers, I thought that we must inevitably have been lost; and I said -my prayers at least a dozen times during the night, for I felt it -impossible to go to bed. I had often wished, out of curiosity, that I -might be in a gale of wind; but I little thought it was to have been a -scene of this description, or anything half so dreadful. What made it -more appalling was, that we were on a lee shore, and the consultations -of the captain and officers, and the eagerness with which they looked -out for daylight, told us that we had other dangers to encounter -besides the storm. At last the morning broke, and the look-out man -upon the gangway called out, "Land on the lee beam!" I perceived the -master dash his feet against the hammock-rails, as if with vexation, -and walk away without saying a word, looking very grave. - -"Up there, Mr. Wilson," said the captain to the second lieutenant, -"and see how far the land trends forward, and whether you can -distinguish the point." The second lieutenant went up the -main-rigging, and pointed with his hand to about two points before the -beam. - -"Do you see two hillocks, inland?" - -"Yes, sir," replied the second lieutenant. - -"Then it is so," observed the captain to the master, "and if we -weather it we shall have more sea-room. Keep her full, and let her go -through the water; do you hear, quartermaster?" - -"Ay, ay, sir." - -"Thus, and no nearer, my man. Ease her with a spoke or two when she -sends; but be careful, or she'll take the wheel out of your hands." - -It really was a very awful sight. When the ship was in the trough of -the sea, you could distinguish nothing but a waste of tumultuous -water; but when she was borne up on the summit of the enormous waves, -you then looked down, as it were, upon a low, sandy coast, close to -you, and covered with foam and breakers. "She behaves nobly," observed -the captain, stepping aft to the binnacle, and looking at the compass; -"if the wind does not baffle us, we shall weather." The captain had -scarcely time to make the observation, when the sails shivered and -flapped like thunder, "Up with the helm; what are you about, -quartermaster?" - -"The wind has headed us, sir," replied the quartermaster, coolly. - -The captain and master remained at the binnacle watching the compass; -and when the sails were again full, she had broken off two points, and -the point of land was only a little on the lee-bow. - -"We must wear her round, Mr. Falcon. Hands, wear ship--ready, oh, -ready." - -"She has come up again," cried the master, who was at the binnacle. - -"Hold fast there a minute. How's her head now?" - -"N.N.E., as she was before she broke off, sir." - -"Pipe belay," said the captain. "Falcon," continued he, "if she breaks -off again we may have no room to wear; indeed, there is so little room -now, that I must run the risk. Which cable was ranged last night--the -best bower?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Jump down, then, and see it double-bitted and stoppered at thirty -fathoms. See it well done--our lives may depend upon it." - -The ship continued to hold her course good; and we were within half a -mile of the point, and fully expected to weather it, when again the -wet and heavy sails flapped in the wind, and the ship broke off two -points as before. The officers and seamen were aghast, for the ship's -head was right on to the breakers. "Luff now, all you can, -quartermaster," cried the captain. "Send the men aft directly. My -lads, there is no time for words--I am going to _club-haul_ the ship, -for there is no room to wear. The only chance you have of safety is to -be cool, watch my eye, and execute my orders with precision. Away to -your stations for tacking ship. Hands by the best bower anchor. Mr. -Wilson, attend below with the carpenter and his mates, ready to cut -away the cable at the moment that I give the order. Silence there, -fore and aft. Quartermaster, keep her full again for stays. Mind you -ease the helm down when I tell you." About a minute passed before the -captain gave any further orders. The ship had closed-to within a -quarter-mile of the beach, and the waves curled and topped around us, -bearing us down upon the shore, which presented one continued surface -of foam, extending to within half a cable's length of our position. -The captain waved his hand in silence to the quartermaster at the -wheel, and the helm was put down. The ship turned slowly to the wind, -pitching and chopping as the sails were spilling. When she had lost -her way, the captain gave the order, "Let go the anchor. We will haul -all at once, Mr. Falcon," said the captain. Not a word was spoken; the -men went to the fore brace, which had not been manned; most of them -knew, although I did not, that if the ship's head did not go round the -other way, we should be on shore, and among the breakers, in half a -minute. I thought at the time that the captain had said that he would -haul all the yards at once, there appeared to be doubt or dissent on -the countenance of Mr. Falcon; and I was afterwards told that he had -not agreed with the captain; but he was too good an officer, and knew -that there was no time for discussion, to make any remark: and the -event proved that the captain was right. At last the ship was head to -wind, and the captain gave the signal. The yards flew round with such -a creaking noise, that I thought the masts had gone over the side, and -the next moment the wind had caught the sails; and the ship, which for -a moment or two had been on an even keel, careened over to her gunwale -with its force. The captain, who stood upon the weather hammock-rails, -holding by the main-rigging, ordered the helm a-midships, looked full -at the sails, and then at the cable, which grew broad upon the -weather-bow, and held the ship from nearing the shore. At last he -cried, "Cut away the cable!" A few strokes of the axes were heard, and -then the cable flew out of the hawse-hole in a blaze of fire, from the -violence of the friction, and disappeared under a huge wave, which -struck us on the chesstree, and deluged us with water fore and aft. -But we were now on the other tack, and the ship regained her way, and -we had evidently increased our distance from the land. - -"My lads," said the captain to the ship's company, "you have behaved -well, and I thank you; but I must tell you honestly that we have more -difficulties to get through. We have to weather a point of the bay on -this tack. Mr. Falcon, splice the main-brace, and call the watch. -How's her head, quartermaster?" - -"S.W. by S. Southerly, sir." - -"Very well; let her go through the water;" and the captain, beckoning -to the master to follow him, went down into the cabin. As our -immediate danger was over, I went down into the berth to see if I -could get anything for breakfast, where I found O'Brien and two or -three more. - -"By the powers, it was as nate a thing as ever I saw done," observed -O'Brien: "the slightest mistake as to time or management, and at this -moment the flatfish would have been dubbing at our ugly carcases. -Peter, you're not fond of flatfish, are you, my boy? We may thank -Heaven and the captain, I can tell you that, my lads; but now, where's -the chart, Robinson? Hand me down the parallel rules and compasses, -Peter; they are in the corner of the shelf. Here we are now, a -devilish sight too near this infernal point. Who knows how her head -is?" - -"I do, O'Brien: I heard the quartermaster tell the captain S.W. by S. -Southerly." - -"Let me see," continued O'Brien, "variation 2-1/4--leeway--rather too -large an allowance of that, I'm afraid; but, however, we'll give her -2-1/2 points; the Diomede would blush to make any more, under any -circumstances. Here--the compass--now, we'll see;" and O'Brien advanced -the parallel rule from the compass to the spot where the ship was -placed on the chart. "Bother! you see, it's as much as she'll do to -weather the other point now, on this tack, and that's what the captain -meant when he told us we had more difficulty. I could have taken my -Bible oath that we were clear of everything, if the wind held." - -"See what the distance is, O'Brien," said Robinson. It was measured, -and proved to be thirteen miles. "Only thirteen miles; and if we do -weather, we shall do very well, for the bay is deep beyond. It's a -rocky point, you see, just by way of variety. Well, my lads, I've a -piece of comfort for you, anyhow. It's not long that you'll be kept in -suspense, for by one o'clock this day you'll either be congratulating -each other upon your good luck, or you'll be past praying for. Come, -put up the chart, for I hate to look at melancholy prospects; and, -steward, see what you can find in the way of comfort." Some bread and -cheese, with the remains of yesterday's boiled pork, were put on the -table, with a bottle of rum, procured at the time they "spliced the -main brace"; but we were all too anxious to eat much, and one by one -returned on deck to see how the weather was, and if the wind at all -favored us. On deck the superior officers were in conversation with -the captain, who expressed the same fear that O'Brien had in our -berth. The men, who knew what they had to expect, were assembled in -knots, looking very grave, but at the same time not wanting in -confidence. They knew that they could trust to the captain, as far as -skill or courage could avail them; and sailors are too sanguine to -despair, even at the last moment. As for myself, I felt such -admiration for the captain, after what I had witnessed that morning, -that, whenever the idea came over me, that in all probability I should -be lost in a few hours, I could not help acknowledging how much more -serious it was that such a man should be lost to his country. I do not -intend to say that it consoled me, but it certainly made me still more -regret the chances with which we were threatened. - -Before twelve o'clock the rocky point which we so much dreaded was in -sight, broad on the lee bow; and if the low sandy coast appeared -terrible, how much more did this, even at a distance. The captain eyed -it for some minutes in silence, as if in calculation. - -"Mr. Falcon," said he, at last, "we must put the mainsail on her." - -"She never can bear it, sir." - -"She _must_ bear it," was the reply. "Send the men aft to the -mainsheet. See that careful men attend the buntlines." - -The mainsail was set, and the effect of it upon the ship was -tremendous. She careened over so that her lee channels were under the -water; and when pressed by a sea, the lee side of the quarter-deck and -gangway were afloat. She now reminded me of a goaded and fiery horse, -mad with the stimulus applied; not rising as before, but forcing -herself through whole seas, and dividing the waves, which poured in -one continual torrent from the forecastle down upon the decks below. -Four men were secured to the wheel--the sailors were obliged to cling -to prevent being washed away--the ropes were thrown in confusion to -leeward--the shot rolled out of the lockers, and every eye was fixed -aloft, watching the masts, which were expected every moment to go over -the side. A heavy sea struck us on the broadside, and it was some -moments before the ship appeared to recover herself; she reeled, -trembled, and stopped her way, as if it had stupefied her. The first -lieutenant looked at the captain, as if to say, "This will not do." -"It is our only chance," answered the captain to the appeal. That the -ship went faster through the water, and held a better wind, was -certain; but just before we arrived at the point the gale increased in -force. "If anything starts we are lost, sir," observed the first -lieutenant again. - -"I am perfectly well aware of it," replied the captain, in a calm -tone; "but, as I said before, and as you must now be aware, it is our -only chance. The consequence of any carelessness or neglect in the -fitting and securing of the rigging will be felt now; and this danger, -if we escape it, ought to remind us how much we have to answer for if -we neglect our duty. The lives of a whole ship's company may be -sacrificed by the neglect or incompetence of an officer when in -harbor. I will pay you the compliment, Falcon, to say, that I feel -convinced that the masts of the ship are as secure as knowledge and -attention can make them." - -The first lieutenant thanked the captain for his good opinion, and -hoped that it would not be the last compliment which he paid him. - -"I hope not, too; but a few minutes will decide the point." - -The ship was now within two cables' lengths of the rocky point; some -few of the men I observed to clasp their hands, but most of them were -silently taking off their jackets, and kicking off their shoes, that -they might not lose a chance of escape provided the ship struck. - -"'Twill be touch and go, indeed, Falcon," observed the captain (for I -had clung to the belaying pins, close to them for the last half-hour -that the mainsail had been set). "Come aft, you and I must take the -helm. We shall want _nerve_ there, and only there, now." - -The captain and first lieutenant went aft, and took the fore-spokes of -the wheel, and O'Brien, at a sign made by the captain, laid hold of -the spokes behind him. An old quartermaster kept his station at the -fourth. The roaring of the seas on the rocks, with the howling of the -wind, were dreadful; but the sight was more dreadful than the noise. -For a few moments I shut my eyes, but anxiety forced me to open them -again. As near as I could judge, we were not twenty yards from the -rocks, at the time that the ship passed abreast of them. We were in -the midst of the foam, which boiled around us; and as the ship was -driven nearer to them, and careened with the wave, I thought that our -main yard-arm would have touched the rock; and at this moment a gust -of wind came on, which laid the ship on her beam-ends, and checked her -progress through the water, while the accumulating noise was -deafening. A few moments more the ship dragged on, another wave dashed -over her and spent itself upon the rocks, while the spray was dashed -back from them, and returned upon the decks. The main rock was within -ten yards of the counter, when another gust of wind laid us on our -beam-ends, the foresail and mainsail split, and were blown clean out -of the bolt-ropes--the ship righted, trembling fore and aft. I looked -astern:--the rocks were to windward on our quarter, and we were safe. I -thought at the time that the ship, relieved of her courses, and again -lifting over the waves, was not a bad similitude of the relief felt by -us all at that moment; and, like her, we trembled as we panted with -the sudden reaction, and felt the removal of the intense anxiety which -oppressed our breasts. - -The captain resigned the helm, and walked aft to look at the point, -which was now broad on the weather-quarter. In a minute or two, he -desired Mr. Falcon to get new sails up and bend them, and then went -below to his cabin. I am sure it was to thank God for our deliverance: -I did most fervently, not only then, but when I went to my hammock at -night. We were now comparatively safe--in a few hours completely so; -for, strange to say, immediately after we had weathered the rocks, the -gale abated, and before morning we had a reef out of the topsails. - - - - - MOBY DICK - -Melville's exciting sea-tale relates the adventures of the Pequod, a -Nantucket whaler, in pursuit of the great white whale, Moby Dick, the -terror of the sea. Ahab, the captain of the Pequod, a grim and -grizzled old fellow, was half crazy with rage against the monster, who -in a previous voyage had shorn off his leg at the knee. On each side -of the Pequod's deck an auger-hole was bored, where the skipper could -steady his artificial leg of whale ivory. At the beginning of the -voyage Ahab nailed to the mast a Spanish gold doubloon, promising it -to the man who should raise "a white-headed whale with a wrinkled brow -and crooked jaw, with three harpoon holes punctured in the starboard -fluke." Ahab's three mates, Starbuck, Stubb and Flask, were Nantucket -whalers. But the rest of the crew obeying this crazy captain was a -miscellaneous collection of half-savages. Three chief harpooners were -Tashtego, an American Indian, Daggoo, a gigantic coal-black negro, and -Fedallah, a mysterious East Indian. The Pequod sailed from Nantucket, -rounding Cape Horn to the Pacific, where Captain Ahab expected to meet -his enemy somewhere in his favorite feeding-grounds along the Equator. -They killed many whales, and had many wild adventures; but they were -continually on the watch for Moby Dick, and sought tidings of the -monster from every ship they met. Gradually the news became more -definite and recent, until they met a whaler which on the previous day -had encountered the great white whale, losing five good men thereby. -Immediately Captain Ahab became wild with excitement, and ordered -everyone to keep constant lookout. The story of "The Chase" begins at -this point. - - - - - THE CHASE - - (From Moby Dick.) - - By HERMAN MELVILLE. - - -That night, in the mid-watch, when the old man--as his wont at -intervals--stepped forth from the scuttle in which he leaned, and went -to his pivot-hole, he suddenly thrust out his face fiercely, snuffing -up the sea air as a sagacious ship's dog will, in drawing nigh to some -barbarous isle. He declared that a whale must be near. Soon that -peculiar odor, sometimes to a great distance given forth by the living -sperm whale, was palpable to all the watch; nor was any mariner -surprised when, after inspecting the compass, and then the dog-vane, -and then ascertaining the precise bearing of the odor as nearly as -possible, Ahab rapidly ordered the ship's course to be slightly -altered, and the sail to be shortened. - -The acute policy dictating these movements was sufficiently vindicated -at daybreak, by the sight of a long sleek on the sea directly and -lengthwise ahead, smooth as oil, and resembling in the pleated watery -wrinkles bordering it, the polished metallic-like marks of some swift -tide-rip, at the mouth of a deep, rapid stream. - - "Man the mast-heads! Call all hands!" - -Thundering with the butts of three clubbed handspikes on the -forecastle deck, Daggoo roused the sleepers with such judgment claps -that they seemed to exhale from the scuttle, so instantaneously did -they appear with their clothes in their hands. -"What d'ye see?" cried Ahab, flattening his face to the sky. - -"Nothing, nothing, sir!" was the sound hailing down in reply. - -"T' gallant-sails! stunsails alow and aloft, and on both sides!" - -All sails being set, he now cast loose the life-line, reserved for -swaying him to the main royal-masthead; and in a few moments they were -hoisting him thither, when, while but two-thirds of the way aloft, and -while peering ahead through the horizontal vacancy between the -main-topsail and topgallant sail, he raised a gull-like cry in the -air, "There, she blows!--there she blows! A hump like a snow-hill! It -is Moby Dick!" - -Fired by the cry which seemed simultaneously taken up by the three -look-outs, the men on deck rushed to the rigging to behold the famous -whale they had so long been pursuing. Ahab had now gained his final -perch, some feet above the other lookouts, Tashtego standing just -beneath him on the cap of the topgallant-mast, so that the Indian's -head was almost on a level with Ahab's heel. From this height the -whale was now seen some mile or so ahead, at every roll of the sea -revealing his high sparkling hump, and regularly jetting his silent -spout into the air. To the incredulous mariners it seemed the same -silent spout they had so long ago beheld in the moonlit Atlantic and -Indian Oceans. - -"And did none of ye see it before?" cried Ahab, hailing the perched -men all around him. - -"I saw him almost that same instant, sir, that Captain Ahab did, and I -cried out," said Tashtego. - -"Not the same instant; not the same--no, the doubloon is mine, Fate -reserved the doubloon for me. _I_ only; none of ye could have raised -the white whale first. There she blows! there she blows!--there she -blows! There again!--there again!" he cried, in long-drawn, lingering, -methodic tones, attuned to the gradual prolongings of the whale's -visible jets. "He's going to sound! In stunsails! Down -topgallant-sails! Stand by three boats. Mr. Starbuck, remember, stay -on board, and keep the ship. Helm there! Luff, luff a point! So; -steady, man, steady! There go flukes! No, no; only black water! All -ready the boats there? Stand by, stand by! Lower me, Mr. Starbuck; -lower, lower,--quick, quicker!" and he slid through the air to the -deck. - -"He is heading straight to leeward, sir," cried Stubb, "right away -from us; cannot have seen the ship yet." - -"Be dumb, man! Stand by the braces! Hard down the helm!--brace up! -Shiver her!--shiver her! So; well that! Boats, boats!" - -Soon all the boats but Starbuck's were dropped; all the boat-sails -set--all the paddles plying; with rippling swiftness, shooting to -leeward; and Ahab heading the onset. A pale, death-glimmer lit up -Fedallah's sunken eyes; a hideous motion gnawed his mouth. - -Like noiseless nautilus shells, their light prows sped through the -sea; but only slowly they neared the foe. As they neared him, the -ocean grew still more smooth; seemed drawing a carpet over its waves; -seemed a noon-meadow, so serenely it spread. At length the breathless -hunter came so nigh his seemingly unsuspecting prey, that his entire -dazzling hump was distinctly visible, sliding along the sea as if an -isolated thing, and continually set in a revolving ring of finest, -fleecy, greenish foam. We saw the vast involved wrinkles of the -slightly projecting head beyond. Before it, far out on the soft -Turkish-rugged waters, went the glistening white shadow from his -broad, milky forehead, a musical rippling playfully accompanying the -shade; and behind, the blue waters interchangeably flowed over into -the moving valley of his steady wake; and on either hand bright -bubbles arose and danced by his side. But these were broken again by -the light toes of hundreds of gay fowl softly feathering the sea, -alternate with their fitful flight; and like to some flag-staff rising -from the painted hull of an argosy, the tall but shattered pole of a -recent lance projected from the white whale's back; and and intervals -one of the cloud of soft-toed fowls hovering, and to and fro skimming -like a canopy over the fish, silently perched and rocked on this pole, -the long tail feathers streaming like pennons. - -A gentle joyousness--a mighty mildness of repose in swiftness, invested -the gliding whale. Not the white bull Jupiter swimming away with -ravished Europa clinging to his graceful horns; his lovely, leering -eyes sideways intent upon the maid; with smooth bewitching fleetness, -rippling straight for the nuptial bower in Crete; not Jove, not that -great majesty Supreme! did surpass the glorified white whale as he so -divinely swam. - -On each soft side--coincident with the parted swell, that but once -leaving him, then flowed so wide away--on each bright side, the whale -shed off enticings. No wonder there had been some among the hunters -who namelessly transported and allured by all this serenity, had -ventured to assail it; but had fatally found that quietude but the -vesture of tornadoes. Yet calm, enticing calm, oh, whale! thou glidest -on, to all who for the first time eye thee, no matter how many in that -same way thou may'st have bejuggled and destroyed before. - -And thus, through the serene tranquillities of the tropical sea, among -waves whose hand-clappings were suspended by exceeding rapture, Moby -Dick moved on, still withholding from sight the full terrors of his -submerged trunk, entirely hiding the wretched hideousness of his jaw. -But soon the fore part of him slowly rose from the water; for an -instant his whole marbleized body formed a high arch, like Virginia's -Natural Bridge, and warningly waving his bannered flukes in the air, -the grand god revealed himself, sounded, and went out of sight. -Hoveringly halting, and dipping on the wing, the white sea-fowls -longingly lingered over the agitated pool that he left. - -With oars apeak, and paddles down, the sheets of their sails adrift, -the three boats now stilly floated, awaiting Moby Dick's reappearance. - -"An hour," said Ahab, standing rooted in his boat's stern; and he -gazed beyond the whale's place, towards the dim blue spaces and wide -wooing vacancies to leeward. It was only an instant; for again his -eyes seemed whirling round in his head as he swept the watery circle. -The breeze now freshened. The sea began to swell. - -"The birds! the birds!" cried Tashtego. - -In long Indian file, as when herons take wing, the white birds were -now all flying towards Ahab's boat; and when within a few yards began -fluttering over the water there, wheeling round and round, with -joyous, expectant cries. Their vision was keener than man's. Ahab -could discover no sign in the sea. But suddenly as he peered down and -down into its depths, he profoundly saw a white living spot no bigger -than a white weasel, with wonderful celerity uprising, and magnifying -as it rose, till it turned, and then there were plainly revealed two -long crooked rows of white, glistening teeth, floating up the -undiscoverable bottom. It was Moby Dick's open mouth and scrolled jaw; -his vast, shadowed bulk still half blending with the blue of the sea. -The glittering mouth yawned beneath the boat like an open-doored -marble tomb; and giving one sidelong sweep with his steering oar, Ahab -whirled the craft aside from this tremendous apparition. Then, calling -upon Fedallah to change places with him, he went forward to the bows, -and seizing Perth's harpoon, commanded his crew to grasp their oars -and stand by to stern. - -Now, by reason of this timely spinning round the boat upon its axis, -its bow, by anticipation, was made to face the whale's head while yet -under water. But as if perceiving this stratagem, Moby Dick, with that -malicious intelligence ascribed to him, sidelingly transplanted -himself, as it were, in an instant, shooting his plated head -lengthwise beneath the boat. - -Through and through; through every plank and each rib, it thrilled for -an instant, the whale obliquely lying on his back, in the manner of a -biting shark, slowly and feelingly taking its bows full within his -mouth, so that the long, narrow, scrolled lower jaw curled high up -into the open air, and one of the teeth caught in a row-lock. The -bluish pearl-white of the inside of the jaw was within six inches of -Ahab's head, and reached higher than that. In this attitude the white -whale now shook the slight cedar as a mildly cruel cat her mouse. With -unastonished eyes Fedallah gazed, and crossed his arms; but the -tiger-yellow crew were tumbling over each other's heads to gain the -uttermost stern. - -And now, while both elastic gunwales were springing in and out as the -whale dallied with the doomed craft in this devilish way, and from his -body being submerged beneath the boat, he could not be darted at from -the bows, for the bows were almost inside of him, as it were; and -while the other boats involuntarily paused, as before a quick crisis -impossible to withstand, then it was that monomaniac Ahab, furious -with this tantalizing vicinity of his foe, which placed him alive and -helpless in the very jaws he hated; frenzied with all this, he seized -the long bone with his naked hands, and wildly strove to wrench it -from its grip. As now he thus vainly strove, the jaw slipped from him; -the frail gunwales bent in, collapsed, and snapped, as both jaws, like -an enormous shears, sliding further aft, bit the craft completely in -twain, and locked themselves fast again in the sea, midway between the -two floating wrecks. These floated aside, the broken ends drooping, -the crew at the stern-wreck clinging to the gunwales, and striving to -hold fast to the oars to lash them across. - -At that preluding moment, ere the boat was yet snapped, Ahab, the -first to perceive the whale's intent, by the crafty upraising of his -head, a movement that loosed his head for the time; at that moment his -hand had made one final effort to push the boat out of the bite. But -only slipping further into the whale's mouth, and tilting over -sideways as it slipped, the boat had shaken off his hold on the jaw, -spilled him out of it as he leaned to push, and so he fell flat-faced -upon the sea. - -Ripplingly withdrawing from his prey, Moby Dick now lay at a little -distance, vertically thrusting his oblong white head up and down in -the billows, and at the same time slowly revolving his whole spindled -body, so that when his vast wrinkled forehead rose--some twenty or more -feet out of the water--the now rising swells, with all their confluent -waves, dazzling broke against it, vindictively tossing their shivered -spray still higher into the air.[4] - -[Footnote 4: This motion is peculiar to the sperm whale. It receives -its designation (pitchpoling) from its being likened to that -preliminary up-and-down poise of the whale-lance, in the exercise -called pitchpoling. By this motion the whale must best and most -comprehensively view whatever objects may be encircling him. So, in a -gale, the but half-baffled Channel billows only recoil from the base -of the Eddystone, triumphantly to overleap its summit with their -scud.] - -But soon resuming his horizontal attitude, Moby Dick swam swiftly -round and round the wrecked crew, sideways, churning the water in his -vengeful wake, as if lashing himself up to still another and more -deadly assault. The sight of the splintered boat seemed to madden him, -as the blood of grapes and mulberries cast before Antiochus's -elephants in the book of Maccabees. Meanwhile Ahab, half smothered in -the foam of the whale's insolent tail, and too much of a cripple to -swim,--though he could still keep afloat, even in the heart of such a -whirlpool as that,--helpless Ahab's head was seen, like a tossed bubble -which the least chance shock might burst. From the boat's fragmentary -stern, Fedallah incuriously and mildly eyed him; the clinging crew, at -the other drifting end, could not succor him; more than enough was it -for them to look to themselves. For so revolvingly appalling was the -white whale's aspect, and so planetarily swift the ever-contracting -circles he made, that he seemed horizontally swooping upon them. And -though the other boats, unharmed, still hovered hard by, still they -dared not pull into the eddy to strike, lest that should be the signal -for the instant destruction of the jeopardized castaways, Ahab and -all; nor in that case could they themselves hope to escape. With -straining eyes, then, they remained on the outer edge of the direful -zone, whose centre had now become the old man's head. - -Meantime, from the beginning all this had been descried from the -ship's mastheads; and squaring her yards, she had borne down upon the -scene, and was now so nigh that Ahab in the water hailed her. "Sail on -the--" but that moment a breaking sea dashed on him from Moby Dick, and -whelmed him for the time. But struggling out of it again, and chancing -to rise on a towering crest, he shouted, "Sail on the whale!--Drive him -off!" - -The Pequod's prows were pointed; and breaking up the charmed circle, -she effectually parted the white whale from his victim. As he sullenly -swam off, the boats flew to the rescue. - -Dragged into Stubb's boat with blood-shot, blinded eyes, the white -brine caking in his wrinkles, the long tension of Ahab's bodily -strength did crack, and helplessly he yielded to his body's doom: for -a time, lying all crushed in the bottom of Stubb's boat, like one -trodden under foot of herds of elephants. Far inland, nameless wails -came from him, as desolate sounds from out ravines. - -But this intensity of his physical prostration did but so much the -more abbreviate it. In an instant's compass great hearts sometimes -condense to one great pang, the sum total of those shallow pains -kindly diffused through feebler men's whole lives. And so, such -hearts, though summary in each one suffering, still (if the gods -decree it) in their lifetime aggregate a whole age of woe, wholly made -up of instantaneous intensities; for even in their pointless centres -those noble natures contain the entire circumferences of inferior -souls. - -"The harpoon," said Ahab, half-way rising, and draggingly leaning on -one bended arm, "is it safe?" - -"Aye, sir, for it was not darted; this is it," said Stubb, showing it. - -"Lay it before me; any missing men?" - -"One, two, three, four, five; there were five oars, sir, and here are -five men." - -"That's good. Help me, man; I wish to stand. So, so, I see him! there! -there! going to leeward still; what a leaping spout!--Hands off from -me! The eternal sap runs up in Ahab's bones again! Set the sail; out -oars; the helm!" - -It is often the case that when a boat is stove, its crew, being picked -up by another boat, help to work that second boat; and the chase is -thus continued with what is called double-banked oars. It was thus -now. But the added power of the boat did not equal the added power of -the whale, for he seemed to have treble-banked his every fin--swimming -with a velocity which plainly showed that if now, under these -circumstances, pushed on, the chase would prove an indefinitely -prolonged (if not a hopeless) one; nor could any crew endure for so -long a period such an unintermitted, intense straining at the oar--a -thing barely tolerable only in some one brief vicissitude. The ship -itself, then, as it sometimes happens, offered the most promising -intermediate means of overtaking the chase. Accordingly, the boats now -made for her, and were soon swayed up to their cranes--the two parts of -the wrecked boat having been previously secured by her; and then -hoisting everything to her side, and stacking her canvas high up, and -sideways outstretching it with stun-sails, like the double-jointed -wings of an albatross, the Pequod bore down in the wake of Moby Dick. -At the well-known, methodic intervals, the whale's glittering spout -was regularly announced from the manned mastheads; and when he would -be reported as just gone down, Ahab would take the time, and then -pacing the deck, binnacle-watch in hand, so soon as the last second of -the allotted hour expired, his voice was heard. "Whose is the doubloon -now? D'ye see him?" And if the reply was, "No, sir," straightway he -commanded them to lift him to his perch. In this way the day wore on; -Ahab, now aloft and motionless; anon, unrestingly pacing the planks. - -As he was thus walking, uttering no sound, except to hail the men -aloft, or to bid them to hoist a sail still higher, or to spread one -to a still greater breadth, thus to and fro pacing, beneath his -slouched hat, at every turn he passed his own wrecked boat, which had -been dropped upon the quarter-deck, and lay there reversed; broken bow -to shattered stern. At last he paused before it; and as in an already -over-clouded sky fresh troops of clouds will sometimes sail across, so -over the old man's face there now stole some such added gloom as this. - -Stubb saw him pause; and perhaps intending, not vainly, though, to -evince his own unabated fortitude, and thus keep up a valiant place in -his captain's mind, he advanced, and eying the wreck exclaimed, "The -thistle the ass refused. It pricked his mouth too keenly, sir; ha! -ha!" - -"What soulless thing is this that laughs before a wreck? Man, man! did -I not know thee brave as fearless fire (and as mechanical) I could -swear thou wert a poltroon. Groan nor laugh should be heard before a -wreck." - -"Aye, sir," said Starbuck drawing near, "'tis a solemn sight; an omen, -and an ill one." - -"Omen? omen?--the dictionary! If the gods think to speak outright to -man, they will honorably speak outright; not shake their heads, and -give an old wife's darkling hint. Begone! Ye two are the opposite -poles of one thing. Starbuck is Stubb reversed, and Stubb is Starbuck; -and ye two are all mankind; and Ahab stands alone among the millions -of the peopled earth, nor gods nor men his neighbors! Cold, cold--I -shiver! How now? Aloft there! D'ye see him? Sing out for every spout, -though he spout ten times a second!" - -The day was nearly done; only the hem of his golden robe was rustling. -Soon, it was almost dark, but the look-out men still remained unset. - -"Can't see the spout now, sir;--too dark," cried a voice from the air. - -"How heading when last seen?" - -"As before, sir,--straight to leeward." - -"Good! he will travel slower now 'tis night. Down royals and -top-gallant stun-sails, Mr. Starbuck. We must not run over him before -morning. He's making a passage now, and may heave-to a while. Helm -there! keep her full before the wind!--Aloft! come down!--Mr. Stubb, -send a fresh hand to the foremast head, and see it manned till -morning." Then advancing towards the doubloon in the mainmast, "Men, -this gold is mine, for I earned it; but I shall let it abide here till -the white whale is dead; and then, whosoever of ye first raises him, -upon the day he shall be killed, this gold is that man's; and if on -that day I shall again raise him, then, ten times its sum shall be -divided among all of ye! Away now!--the deck is thine, sir." - -And so saying, he placed himself halfway within the scuttle, and -slouching his hat, stood there till dawn, except when at intervals -rousing himself to see how the night wore on.... - - - - - ROUNDING CAPE HORN - - (From White-Jacket; or, The World in a Man-of-War.) - - By HERMAN MELVILLE. - - -Through drizzling fogs and vapors, and under damp, double-topsails, -our wet-decked frigate drew nearer and nearer to the squally Cape. - -Who has not heard of it? Cape Horn, Cape Horn--a horn indeed, that has -tossed many a good ship. Was the descent of Orpheus, Ulysses, or Dante -into Hell, one whit more hardy and sublime than the first navigator's -weathering of that terrible Cape. Turned on her heel by a fierce west -wind, many an outward-bound ship has been driven across the southern -Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope--that way to seek a passage to the -Pacific. And that stormy Cape, I doubt not, has sent many a fine craft -to the bottom, and told no tales. At those ends of the earth are no -chronicles. What signify the broken spars and shrouds that, day after -day, are driven before the prows of more fortunate vessels? or the -tall masts, imbedded in icebergs, that are found floating by? They but -hint the old story--of ships that have sailed from their ports, and -never more have been heard of. - -Impracticable Cape! You may approach it from this direction or that--in -any way you please, from the east or from the west; with the wind -astern, or abeam, or on the quarter; and still Cape Horn is Cape Horn. -Cape Horn it is that takes the conceit out of fresh-water sailors, and -steeps in a still salter brine the saltest. Woe betide the tyro; the -fool-hardy, Heaven preserve! - -Your Mediterranean captain, who with a cargo of oranges has hitherto -made merry runs across the Atlantic, without so much as furling a -t'-gallant-sail, oftentimes, off Cape Horn, receives a lesson which he -carries to the grave; though the grave--as is too often the -case--follows so hard on the lesson that no benefit comes from the -experience. - -Other strangers who draw nigh to this Patagonian termination of our -Continent, with their souls full of its shipwrecks and -disasters--topsails cautiously reefed and everything guarded snug--these -strangers at first unexpectedly encountering a tolerably smooth sea, -rashly conclude that the Cape, after all, is but a bugbear; they have -been imposed upon by fables, and founderings and sinkings hereabouts -are all cock-and-bull stories. - -"Out reefs, my hearties; fore and aft set t'-gallant-sails! stand by -to give her the fore-topmast stun'-sail!" - -But, Captain Rash, those sails of yours were much safer in the -sailmaker's loft. For now, while the heedless craft is bounding over -the billows, a black cloud rises out of the sea; the sun drops down -from the sky; and horrible mist far and wide spreads over the water. - -"Hands by the halyards! Let go! Clew up!" - -Too late. - -For ere the ropes' ends can be cast off from the pins, the tornado is -blowing down to the bottom of their throats. The masts are willows, -the sails ribbons, the cordage wool; the whole ship is brewed into the -yeast of the gale. - -And now, if, when the first green sea breaks over him, Captain Rash is -not swept overboard, he has his hands full to be sure. In all -probability his three masts have gone by the board, and, ravelled into -list, his sails are floating in the air. Or, perhaps, the ship -broaches to, or is brought by the lee. In either case, Heaven help the -sailors, their wives and their little ones; and Heaven help the -underwriters. - -Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver, but less daring. -Thus with seamen: he who goes the oftenest round Cape Horn goes the -most circumspectly. A veteran mariner is never deceived by the -treacherous breezes which sometimes waft him pleasantly toward the -latitude of the Cape. No sooner does he come within a certain distance -of it--previously fixed in his own mind--than all hands are turned to -setting the ship in storm trim; and never mind how light the breeze, -down come his t'-gallant-yards. He "bends" his strongest storm-sails, -and lashes everything on deck securely. The ship is then ready for the -worst; and if, in reeling round the headland, she receives a -broadside, it generally goes well with her. If ill, all hands go to -the bottom with quiet consciences. - -Among sea-captains, there are some who seem to regard the genius of -the Cape as a wilful, capricious jade, that must be courted and coaxed -into complaisance. First, they come along under easy sails; do not -steer boldly for the headland, but tack this way and that--sidling up -to it. Now they woo the Jezebel with t'-gallant-studding-sail; anon, -they deprecate her wrath with double-reefed-topsails. When, at length, -her inappeasable fury is fairly aroused, and all round the dismantled -ship the storm howls and howls for days together, they still persevere -in their efforts. First, they try unconditional submission; furling -every rag and heaving to; lying like a log, for the tempest to toss -wheresoever it pleases. - -This failing, they set a spencer or trysail, and shift on the other -tack. Equally vain! The gale sings as hoarsely as before. At last, the -wind comes round fair; they drop the foresail; square the yards, and -scud before it; their implacable foe chasing them with tornadoes, as -if to show her insensibility to the last. - -Other ships, without encountering these terrible gales, spend week -after week endeavoring to turn this boisterous world-corner against a -continual head-wind. Tacking hither and thither, in the language of -sailors they polish the Cape by beating about its edges so long. - -Le Mair and Schouten, two Dutchmen, were the first navigators who -weathered Cape Horn. Previous to this, passages have been made to the -Pacific by the Straits of Magellan; nor, indeed, at that period, was -it known to a certainty that there was any other route, or that the -land now called Terra del Fuego was an island. A few leagues southward -from Terra del Fuego is a cluster of small islands, the Diegoes; -between which and the former island are the Straits of Le Mair, so -called in honor of their discoverer, who first sailed through them -into the Pacific. Le Mair and Schouten, in their small, clumsy -vessels, encountered a series of tremendous gales, the prelude to the -long train of similar hardships which most of their followers have -experienced. It is a significant fact, that Schouten's vessel, the -Horne, which gave its name to the Cape, was almost lost in weathering -it. - -The next navigator round the Cape was Sir Francis Drake, who, on -Raleigh's Expedition, beholding for the first time, from the Isthmus -of Darien, the "goodly South Sea," like a true-born Englishman, vowed, -please God, to sail an English ship thereon; which the gallant sailor -did, to the sore discomfort of the Spaniards on the coasts of Chile -and Peru. - -But perhaps the greatest hardships on record, in making this -celebrated passage, were those experienced by Lord Anson's squadron in -1736. Three remarkable and most interesting narratives record their -disasters and sufferings. The first, jointly written by the carpenter -and gunner of the Wager; the second by young Byron, a midshipman in -the same ship; the third, by the chaplain of the Centurion. -White-Jacket has them all; and they are fine reading of a boisterous -March night, with the casement rattling in your ear, and the -chimney-stacks blowing down upon the pavement, bubbling with -rain-drops. - -But if you want the best idea of Cape Horn, get my friend Dana's -unmatchable "Two Years Before the Mast." But you can read, and so you -must have read it. His chapters describing Cape Horn must have been -written with an icicle. - -At the present day the horrors of the Cape have somewhat abated. This -is owing to a growing familiarity with it; but, more than all, to the -improved condition of ships in all respects, and the means now -generally in use of preserving the health of the crews in times of -severe and prolonged exposure.... - -Ere the calm had yet left us, a sail had been discerned from the -fore-topmasthead, at a great distance, probably three leagues or more. -At first it was a mere speck, altogether out of sight from the deck. -By the force of attraction, or something equally inscrutable, two -ships in a calm, and equally affected by the currents, will always -approximate more or less. Though there was not a breath of wind, it -was not a great while before the strange sail was descried from our -bulwarks; gradually it drew still nearer. - -What was she, and whence? There is no object which so excites interest -and conjecture, and, at the same time, baffles both, as a sail, seen -as a mere speck on these remote seas off Cape Horn. - -A breeze! a breeze! for lo! the stranger is now perceptibly nearing -the frigate; the officer's spyglass pronounces her a full-rigged ship, -with all sail set, and coming right down to us, though in our own -vicinity the calm still reigns. - -She is bringing the wind with her. Hurrah! Ay, there it is! Behold how -mincingly it creeps over the sea, just ruffling and crisping it. - -Our top-men were at once sent aloft to loose the sails, and presently -they faintly began to distend. As yet we hardly had steerage-way. -Toward sunset the stranger bore down before the wind, a complete -pyramid of canvas. Never before, I venture to say, was Cape Horn so -audaciously insulted. Stun'-sails alow and aloft; royals, moonsails, -and everything else. She glided under our stern, within hailing -distance, and the signal-quarter-master ran up our ensign to the gaff. - -"Ship ahoy!" cried the lieutenant of the watch, through his trumpet. - -"Halloa!" bawled an old fellow in a green jacket, clapping one hand to -his mouth, while he held on with the other to the mizzen-shrouds. - -"What ship's that?" - -"The Sultan, Indiaman, from New York, and bound to Callao and Canton, -sixty days out, all well. What frigate's that?" - -"The United States ship Neversink, homeward bound." - -"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" yelled our enthusiastic countryman, -transported with patriotism. - -By this time the Sultan had swept past, but the lieutenant of the -watch could not withhold a parting admonition. - -"D'ye hear? You'd better take in some of your flying-kites there. Look -out for Cape Horn!" - -But the friendly advice was lost in the now increasing wind. With a -suddenness by no means unusual in these latitudes, the light breeze -soon became a succession of sharp squalls, and our sail-proud -braggadocio of an Indiaman was observed to let everything go by the -run, his t'gallant-stun'-sails and flying-jib taking quick leave of -the spars; the flying-jib was swept into the air, rolled together for -a few minutes, and tossed about in the squalls like a football. But -the wind played no such pranks with the more prudently managed canvas -of the Neversink, though before many hours it was stirring times with -us. - -About midnight, when the starboard watch, to which I belonged, was -below, the boatswain's whistle was heard, followed by the shrill cry -of "All hands take in sail! jump, men, and save the ship!" - -Springing from our hammocks, we found the frigate leaning over to it -so steeply, that it was with difficulty we could climb the ladders -leading to the upper deck. - -Here the scene was awful. The vessel seemed to be sailing on her side. -The main-deck guns had several days previous been run in and housed, -and the portholes closed, but the lee carronades on the quarter-deck -and forecastle were plunging through the sea, which undulated over -them in milk-white billows of foam. With every lurch to leeward the -yard-arm-ends seemed to dip in the sea, while forward the spray dashed -over the bows in cataracts, and drenched the men who were on the -fore-yard. By this time the deck was alive with the whole strength of -the ship's company, five hundred men, officers and all, mostly -clinging to the weather bulwarks. The occasional phosphorescence of -the yeasting sea cast a glare upon their uplifted faces, as a night -fire in a populous city lights up the panic-stricken crowd. - -In a sudden gale, or when a large quantity of sail is suddenly to be -furled, it is the custom for the first lieutenant to take the trumpet -from whoever happens then to be officer of the deck. But Mad Jack had -the trumpet that watch; nor did the first lieutenant now seek to wrest -it from his hands. Every eye was upon him, as if we had chosen him -from among us all, to decide this battle with the elements, by single -combat with the spirit of the Cape; for Mad Jack was the saving genius -of the ship, and so proved himself that night. I owe this right hand, -that at this moment is flying over my sheet, and all my present being -to Mad Jack. The ship's bows were now butting, battering, ramming and -thundering over and upon the head seas, and with a horrible wallowing -sound our whole hull was rolling in the trough of the foam. The gale -came athwart the deck, and every sail seemed bursting with its wild -breath. - -All the quartermasters, and several of the forecastle-men, were -swarming round the double-wheel on the quarter-deck, some jumping up -and down, with their hands upon the spokes; for the whole helm and -galvanized keel were fiercely feverish with the life imparted to them -by the tempest. - -"Hard up the helm!" shouted Captain Claret, bursting from his cabin -like a ghost, in his nightdress. - -"Curse you!" raged Mad Jack to the quartermasters; "hard down, hard -down, I say." - -Contrary orders! But Mad Jack's were obeyed. His object was to throw -the ship into the wind, so as the better to admit of close-reefing the -topsails. But though the halyards were let go, it was impossible to -clew down the yards, owing to the enormous horizontal strain on the -canvas. It now blew a hurricane. The spray flew over the ship in -floods. The gigantic masts seemed about to snap under the world-wide -strain of the three entire topsails. - -"Clew down! clew down!" shouted Mad Jack, husky with excitement, and -in a frenzy, beating his trumpet against one of the shrouds. But, -owing to the slant of the ship, the thing could not be done. It was -obvious that before many minutes something must go--either sails, -rigging, or sticks; perhaps the hull itself, and all hands. - -Presently a voice from the top exclaimed that there was a rent in the -main-topsail. And instantly we heard a report like two or three -muskets discharged together; the vast sail was rent up and down like -the veil of the Temple. This saved the mainmast; for the yard was now -clewed down with comparative ease, and the top-men laid out to stow -the shattered canvas. Soon the two remaining topsails were also clewed -down and close reefed. - -Above all the roar of the tempest and the shouts of the crew, was -heard the dismal tolling of the ship's bell--almost as large as that of -a village church--which the violent rolling of the ship was -occasioning. Imagination cannot conceive the horror of such a sound in -a night tempest at sea. - -"Stop that ghost!" roared Mad Jack; "away, one of you, and wrench off -the clapper!" - -But no sooner was this ghost gagged than a still more appalling sound -was heard, the rolling to and fro of the heavy shot, which, on the -gun-deck, had broken loose from the gun-racks, and converted that part -of the ship into an immense bowling-alley. Some hands were sent down -to secure them; but it was as much as their lives were worth. Several -were maimed; and the midshipmen who were ordered to see the duty -performed reported it impossible, until the storm had abated. - -The most terrific job of all was to furl the mainsail, which, at the -commencement of the squalls, had been clewed up, coaxed and quieted as -much as possible with the bunt-lines and slab-lines. Mad Jack waited -some time for a lull, ere he gave an order so perilous to be executed; -for to furl this enormous sail in such a gale, required at least fifty -men on the yard, whose weight, superadded to that of the ponderous -stick itself, still further jeopardized their lives. But there was no -prospect of a cessation of the gale, and the order was at last given. - -At this time a hurricane of slanting sleet and hail was descending -upon us; the rigging was coated with a thin glare of ice, formed -within the hour. - -"Aloft, main-yard men! and all you main-top men! and furl the -mainsail!" cried Mad Jack. - -I dashed down my hat, slipped out of my quilted jacket in an instant, -kicked the shoes from my feet, and, with a crowd of others, sprang for -the rigging. Above the bulwarks (which in a frigate are so high as to -afford much protection to those on deck) the gale was horrible. The -sheer force of the wind flattened out to the rigging as we ascended, -and every hand seemed congealing to the icy shrouds by which we held. - -"Up, up, my brave hearties!" shouted Mad Jack; and up we got, some way -or other, all of us, and groped our way out on the yard-arms. - -"Hold on, every mother's son!" cried an old quarter-gunner at my side. -He was bawling at the top of his compass; but in the gale, he seemed -to be whispering, and I only heard him from his being right to -windward of me. - -But his hint was unnecessary; I dug my nails into the jackstays, and -swore that nothing but death should part me and them until I was able -to turn round and look to windward. As yet this was impossible; I -could scarcely hear the man to leeward at my elbow; the wind seemed to -snatch the words from his mouth and fly away with them to the South -Pole. - -All this while the sail itself was flying about, sometimes catching -over our heads, and threatening to tear us from the yard in spite of -all our hugging. For about three-quarters of an hour we thus hung -suspended right over the rampant billows, which curled their very -crests under the feet of some four or five of us clinging to the lee -yard-arm, as if to float us from our place. - -Presently, the word passed along the yard from windward, that we were -ordered to come down and leave the sail to blow, since it could not be -furled. A midshipman, it seemed, had been sent up by the officer of -the deck to give the order, as no trumpet could be heard where we -were. - -Those on the weather yard-arm managed to crawl upon the spar and -scramble down the rigging; but with us, upon the extreme leeward side, -this feat was out of the question; it was literally like climbing a -precipice to get to windward in order to reach the shrouds; besides, -the entire yard was now encased in ice, and our hands and feet were so -numb that we dared not trust our lives to them. Nevertheless, by -assisting each other, we contrived to throw ourselves prostrate along -the yard, and embrace it with our arms and legs. In this position the -studding-sail-booms greatly assisted in securing our hold. Strange as -it may appear, I do not suppose that, at this moment, the slightest -sensation of fear was felt by one man on that yard. We clung to it -with might and main; but this was instinct. The truth is, that in -circumstances like these the sense of fear is annihilated in the -unutterable sights that fill all the eye, and the sounds that fill all -the ear. You become identified with the tempest; your insignificance -is lost in the riot of the stormy universe around. - -Below us, our noble frigate seemed thrice its real length--a vast black -wedge, opposing its widest end to the combined fury of the sea and -wind. - -At length the first fury of the gale began to abate, and we at once -fell to pounding our hands, as a preliminary operation to going to -work; for a gang of men had now ascended to help secure what was left -of the sail. We somehow packed it away at last, and came down. - -At noon the next day, the gale so moderated that we shook two reefs -out of the topsails, set new courses, and stood due east, with the -wind astern. - -Thus all the fine weather we encountered, after first weighing anchor -on the pleasant Spanish coast, was but the prelude to this one -terrific night, more especially that treacherous calm immediately -preceding it. But how could we reach our long-promised homes without -encountering Cape Horn? By what possibility avoid it? And though some -ships have weathered it without these perils, yet by far the greater -part must encounter them. Lucky it is that it comes about midway in -the homeward-bound passage, so that the sailors have time to prepare -for it, and time to recover from it after it is astern. - -But, sailor or landsman, there is some sort of a Cape Horn for all. -Boys! beware of it; prepare for it in time. Graybeards! thank God it -is passed. And ye lucky livers, to whom, by some rare fatality, your -Cape Horns are placid as Lake Lemans, flatter not yourselves that good -luck is judgment and discretion; for all the yolk in your eggs, you -might have foundered and gone down, had the Spirit of the Cape said -the word. - - - - - THE MERCHANTMAN AND THE PIRATE - - (From Hard Cash.) - - By CHARLES READE. - - -North Latitude 23-1/2, Longitude East 113; the time March of this same -year; the wind southerly; the port Whampoa in the Canton River. Ships -at anchor reared their tall masts here and there; and the broad stream -was enlivened and colored by junks and boats of all sizes and vivid -hues, propelled on the screw principle by a great scull at the stern, -with projecting handles for the crew to work; and at times a gorgeous -mandarin boat, with two great glaring eyes set in the bows, came -flying, rowed with forty paddles by an armed crew, whose shields hung -on the gunwale and flashed fire in the sunbeams; the mandarin, in -conical and buttoned hat, sitting on the top of his cabin calmly -smoking Paradise, alias opium, while his gong boomed and his boat flew -fourteen miles an hour, and all things scuttled out of his celestial -way. And there, looking majestically down on all these water ants, the -huge Agra, cynosure of so many loving eyes and loving hearts in -England, lay at her moorings; homeward bound. - -Her tea not being yet on board, the ship's hull floated high as a -castle, and to the subtle, intellectual, doll-faced, bolus-eyed -people, that sculled to and fro, busy as bees, though looking forked -mushrooms, she sounded like a vast musical shell: for a lusty harmony -of many mellow voices vibrated in her great cavities, and made the air -ring cheerily around her. The vocalists were the Cyclops, to judge by -the tremendous thumps that kept clean time to their sturdy tune. Yet -it was but human labor, so heavy and so knowing, that it had called in -music to help. It was the third mate and his gang completing his floor -to receive the coming tea chests. Yesterday he had stowed his dunnage, -many hundred bundles of light flexible canes from Sumatra and Malacca; -on these he had laid tons of rough saltpetre, in 200 lb. gunny-bags: -and was now mashing it to music, bags and all. His gang of fifteen, -naked to the waist, stood in line, with huge wooden beetles, called -commanders, and lifted them high and brought them down on the nitre in -cadence with true nautical power and unison, singing as follows, with -a ponderous bump on the last note in each bar:-- - - Here goes one, Owe me there one; - One now it is gone, There's an-oth-er yet to - come, and a-way we'll go to Flanders, A-mongst - our wood-en commanders, where we'll get wine in - plen-ty, Rum, bran-dy, and Ge-na-vy. - Here goes two. Owe me there two, &c. - -And so up to fifteen, when the stave was concluded with a shrill -"Spell, oh!" and the gang relieved streaming with perspiration. When -the saltpetre was well mashed, they rolled ton waterbutts on it, till -the floor was like a billiard table. A fleet of chop boats then began -to arrive, so many per day, with the tea chests. Mr. Grey proceeded to -lay the first tier on his saltpetre floor, and then built the chests, -tier upon tier, beginning at the sides, and leaving in the middle a -lane somewhat narrower than a tea chest. Then he applied a screw jack -to the chests on both sides, and so enlarged his central aperture, and -forced the remaining tea chests in; and behold the enormous cargo -packed as tight as ever shopkeeper packed a box--19,806 chests, 60 half -chests, 50 quarter chests. - -While Mr. Grey was contemplating his work with singular satisfaction, -a small boat from Canton came alongside, and Mr. Tickell, midshipman, -ran up the side, skipped on the quarter-deck, saluted it first, and -then the first mate; and gave him a line from the captain, desiring -him to take the ship down to Second Bar--for her water--at the turn of -the tide. - -Two hours after receipt of this order the ship swung to the ebb. -Instantly Mr. Sharpe unmoored, and the Agra began her famous voyage, -with her head at right angles to her course; for the wind being foul, -all Sharpe could do was to set his topsails, driver, and jib, and keep -her in the tide way, and clear of the numerous craft, by backing or -filling as the case required; which he did with considerable -dexterity, making the sails steer the helm for the nonce: he crossed -the Bar at sunset, and brought to with the best bower anchor in five -fathoms and a half. Here they began to take in their water, and on the -fifth day the six-oared gig was ordered up to Canton for the captain. -The next afternoon he passed the ship in her, going down the river to -Lin Tin, to board the Chinese admiral for his chop, or permission to -leave China. All night the Agra showed three lights at her mizzen peak -for him, and kept a sharp lookout. But he did not come: he was having -a very serious talk with the Chinese admiral; at daybreak, however, -the gig was reported in sight: Sharpe told one of the midshipmen to -call the boatswain and man the side. Soon the gig ran alongside; two -of the ship's boys jumped like monkeys over the bulwarks, lighting, -one on the main channels, the other on the midship port, and put the -side ropes assiduously in the captain's hands; he bestowed a slight -paternal smile on them, the first the imps had ever received from an -officer, and went lightly up the sides. The moment his foot touched -the deck, the boatswain gave a frightful shrill whistle; the men at -the sides uncovered, the captain saluted the quarterdeck, and all the -officers saluted him, which he returned, and stepping for a moment to -the weather side of his deck, gave the loud command, "All hands heave -anchor." He then directed Mr. Sharpe to get what sail he could on the -ship, the wind being now westerly, and dived into his cabin. - -The boatswain piped three shrill pipes, and "All hands up anchor" was -thrice repeated forward, followed by private admonitions, "Rouse and -bitt!" "Show a leg!" etc., and up tumbled the crew with "homeward -bound" written on their tanned faces. - -(Pipe.) "Up all hammocks!" - -In ten minutes the ninety and odd hammocks were all stowed neatly in -the netting, and covered with a snowy hammock cloth; and the hands -were active, unbitting the cable, shipping the capstan bars, etc. - -"All ready below, sir," cried a voice. - -"Man the bars," returned Mr. Sharpe from the quarter-deck. "Play up, -fifer. Heave away!" - -Out broke the merry fife with a rhythmical tune, and tramp, tramp, -tramp went a hundred and twenty feet round and round, and, with brawny -chests pressed tight against the capstan bars, sixty fine fellows -walked the ship up to her anchor, drowning the fife at intervals with -their sturdy song, as pat to their feet as an echo: - - Heave with a will ye jolly boys, - Heave around: - We're off from Chainee, jolly boys, - Homeward bound. - -"Short stay apeak, sir," roars the boatswain from forward. - -"Unship the bars. Way aloft. Loose sails. Let fall!" - -The ship being now over her anchor, and the topsails set, the capstan -bars were shipped again, the men all heaved with a will, the messenger -grinned, the anchor was torn out of China with a mighty heave, and -then run up with a luff tackle and secured; the ship's head cast to -port: - -"Up with a jib! man the topsail halyards! all hands make sail!" Round -she came slow and majestically; the sails filled, and the good ship -bore away for England. - -She made the Bogue forts in three or four tacks, and there she had to -come to again for another chop, China being a place as hard to get -into as Heaven, and to get out of as--Chancery. At three P.M. she was -at Macao, and hove to four miles from the land, to take in her -passengers. - -A gun was fired from the forecastle. No boats came off. Sharpe began -to fret: for the wind, though light, had now got to the N.W., and they -were wasting it. After a while the captain came on deck, and ordered -all the carronades to be scaled. The eight heavy reports bellowed the -great ship's impatience across the water, and out pulled two boats -with the passengers. While they were coming, Dodd sent and ordered the -gunner to load the carronades with shot, and secure and apron them.... - -The Agra had already shown great sailing qualities: the log was hove -at sundown and gave eleven knots; so that with a good breeze abaft few -fore-and-aft-rigged pirates could overhaul her. And this wind carried -her swiftly past one nest of them at all events; the Ladrone Isles. At -nine P.M. all the lights were ordered out. Mrs. Beresford had brought -a novel on board, and refused to comply; the master-at-arms insisted; -she threatened him with the vengeance of the Company, the premier, and -the nobility and gentry of the British realm. The master-at-arms, -finding he had no chance in argument, doused the glim--pitiable -resource of a weak disputant--then basely fled the rhetorical -consequences. - -The northerly breeze died out, and light variable winds baffled the -ship. It was the 6th April ere she passed the Macclesfield Bank in -latitude 16. And now they sailed for many days out of sight of land; -Dodd's chest expanded: his main anxiety at this part of the voyage lay -in the state cabin; of all the perils of the sea none shakes a sailor -like fire. He set a watch day and night on that spoiled child. - - * * * * * - -On the 1st of May they passed the great Nantuna, and got among the -Bornese and Malay Islands: at which the captain's glass began to sweep -the horizon again: and night and day at the dizzy -foretop-gallant-masthead he perched an eye. - -They crossed the line in longitude 107, with a slight breeze, but soon -fell into the Doldrums. A dead calm, and nothing to do but kill -time.... - -After lying a week like a dead log on the calm but heaving waters, -came a few light puffs in the upper air and inflated the topsails -only: the ship crawled southward, the crew whistling for wind. - -At last, one afternoon, it began to rain, and after the rain came a -gale from the eastward. The watchful skipper saw it purple the water -to windward, and ordered the topsails to be reefed and the lee ports -closed. This last order seemed an excess of precaution; but Dodd was -not yet thoroughly acquainted with his ship's qualities: and the hard -cash round his neck made him cautious. The lee ports were closed, all -but one, and that was lowered. Mr. Grey was working a problem in his -cabin, and wanted a little light and a little air, so he just dropped -his port; but, not to deviate from the spirit of his captain's -instructions, he fastened a tackle to it; that he might have -mechanical force to close it with should the ship lie over. - -Down came the gale with a whoo, and made all crack. The ship lay over -pretty much, and the sea poured in at Mr. Grey's port. He applied his -purchase to close it. But though his tackle gave him the force of a -dozen hands, he might as well have tried to move a mountain: on the -contrary, the tremendous sea rushed in and burst the port wide open. -Grey, after a vain struggle with its might, shrieked for help; down -tumbled the nearest hands, and hauled on the tackle in vain. -Destruction was rushing on the ship, and on them first. But meantime -the captain, with a shrewd guess at the general nature of the danger -he could not see, had roared out, "Slack the main sheet!" The ship -righted, and the port came flying to, and terror-stricken men breathed -hard, up to their waists in water and floating boxes. Grey barred the -unlucky port, and went aft, drenched in body, and wrecked in mind, to -report his own fault. He found the captain looking grim as death. He -told him, almost crying, what he had done, and how he had -miscalculated the power of the water. - -Dodd looked and saw his distress. "Let it be a lesson, sir," said he, -sternly. "How many ships have been lost by this in fair weather, and -not a man saved to tell how the craft was fooled away?" - -"Captain, bid me fling myself over the side, and I'll do it." - -"Humph! I'm afraid I can't afford to lose a good officer for a fault -he--will--never--repeat." - -It blew hard all night and till twelve the next day. The Agra showed -her weak point: she rolled abominably. A dirty night came on. At eight -bells Mr. Grey touched by Dodd's clemency, and brimful of zeal, -reported a light in Mrs. Beresford's cabin. It had been put out as -usual by the master-at-arms; but the refractory one had relighted it. - -"Go and take it away," said Dodd. - -Soon screams were heard from the cabin. "Oh! mercy! mercy! I will not -be drowned in the dark." - -Dodd, who had kept clear of her so long, went down and tried to -reassure her. - -"Oh, the tempest! the tempest!" she cried. "And to be drowned in the -dark!" - -"Tempest? It is blowing half a gale of wind; that is all." - -"Half a gale! Ah, that is the way you always talk to us ladies. Oh, -pray give me my light, and send me a clergyman!" - -Dodd took pity, and let her have her light, with a midshipman to watch -it. He even made her a hypocritical promise that, should there be one -grain of danger, he would lie to; but said he must not make a foul -wind of a fair one for a few lee lurches. The Agra broke plenty of -glass and crockery though with her fair wind and her lee lurches. - -Wind down at noon next day, and a dead calm. - -At two P.M. the weather cleared; the sun came out high in heaven's -centre; and a balmy breeze from the west. - -At six twenty-five, the grand orb set calm and red, and the sea was -gorgeous with miles and miles of great ruby dimples: it was the first -glowing smile of southern latitude. The night stole on so soft, so -clear, so balmy, all were loth to close their eyes on it: the -passengers lingered long on deck, watching the Great Bear dip, and the -Southern Cross rise, and overhead a whole heaven of glorious stars -most of us have never seen, and never shall see in this world. No -belching smoke obscured, no plunging paddles deafened; all was -musical; the soft air sighing among the sails; the phosphorescent -water bubbling from the ship's bows; the murmurs from little knots of -men on deck subdued by the great calm: home seemed near, all danger -far; Peace ruled the sea, the sky, the heart: the ship, making a track -of white fire on the deep, glided gently yet swiftly homeward, urged -by snowy sails piled up like alabaster towers against a violet sky, -out of which looked a thousand eyes of holy tranquil fire. So melted -the sweet night away. - - * * * * * - -Now carmine streaks tinged the eastern sky at the water's edge; and -that water blushed; now the streaks turned orange, and the waves below -them sparkled. Thence splashes of living gold flew and settled on the -ship's white sails, the deck, and the faces; and with no more -prologue, being so near the line, up came majestically a huge, fiery, -golden sun, and set the sea flaming liquid topaz. - -Instantly the lookout at the foretop-gallant-masthead hailed the deck -below. - -"Strange sail! Right ahead!" - - * * * * * - -The strange sail was reported to Captain Dodd, then dressing in his -cabin. He came soon after on deck and hailed the lookout: "Which way -is she standing?" - -"Can't say, sir. Can't see her move any." - -Dodd ordered the boatswain to pipe to breakfast; and taking his deck -glass went lightly up to the foretop-gallant-mast-crosstrees. Thence, -through the light haze of a glorious morning, he espied a long low -schooner, lateen-rigged, lying close under Point Leat, a small island -about nine miles distant on the weather bow; and nearly in the Agra's -course then approaching the Straits of Gaspar, 4 Latitude S. - -"She is hove to," said Dodd, very gravely. - - * * * * * - -At eight o'clock, the stranger lay about two miles to windward; and -still hove to. - -By this time all eyes were turned upon her, and half a dozen glasses. -Everybody, except the captain, delivered an opinion. She was a Greek -lying to for water: she was a Malay coming north with canes, and short -of hands: she was a pirate watching the Straits. - -The captain leaned silent and sombre with his arms on the bulwarks, -and watched the suspected craft. - -Mr. Fullalove joined the group, and levelled a powerful glass, of his -own construction. His inspection was long and minute, and, while the -glass was at his eye, Sharpe asked him half in a whisper, could he -make out anything? - -"Wal," said he, "the varmint looks considerably snaky." Then, without -moving his glass, he let drop a word at a time, as if the facts were -trickling into his telescope at the lens, and out at the sight. -"One--two--four--seven, false ports." - -There was a momentary murmur among the officers all round. But British -sailors are undemonstrative: Colonel Kenealy, strolling the deck with -a cigar, saw they were watching another ship with maritime curiosity, -and making comments; but he discerned no particular emotion nor -anxiety in what they said, nor in the grave low tones they said it in. -Perhaps a brother seaman would though. - -The next observation that trickled out of Fullalove's tube was this: -"I judge there are too few hands on deck, and too -many--white--eyeballs--glittering at the portholes." - -"Confound it!" muttered Bayliss, uneasily; "how can you see that?" - -Fullalove replied only by quietly handing his glass to Dodd. The -captain, thus appealed to, glued his eye to the tube. - -"Well, sir; see the false ports, and the white eyebrows?" asked -Sharpe, ironically. - -[Illustration: "By this Time all Eyes were Turned upon Her"] - -"I see this is the best glass I ever looked through," said Dodd -doggedly, without interrupting his inspection. - -"I think he is a Malay pirate," said Mr. Grey. - -Sharpe took him up very quickly, and, indeed, angrily: "Nonsense! And -if he is, he won't venture on a craft of this size." - -"Says the whale to the swordfish," suggested Fullalove, with a little -guttural laugh. - -The captain, with the American glass at his eye, turned half round to -the man at the wheel: "Starboard!" - -"Starboard it is." - -"Steer South South East." - -"Ay, ay, sir." And the ship's course was thus altered two points. - -This order lowered Dodd fifty per cent in Mr. Sharpe's estimation. He -held his tongue as long as he could: but at last his surprise and -dissatisfaction burst out of him, "Won't that bring him out on us?" - -"Very likely, sir," replied Dodd. - -"Begging your pardon, captain, would it not be wiser to keep our -course, and show the blackguard we don't fear him?" - -"When we _do_? Sharpe, he has made up his mind an hour ago whether to -lie still, or bite; my changing my course two points won't change his -mind; but it may make him declare it; and _I_ must know what he does -intend, before I run the ship into the narrows ahead." - -"Oh, I see," said Sharpe, half convinced. - -The alteration in the Agra's course produced no movement on the part -of the mysterious schooner. She lay to under the land still, and with -only a few hands on deck, while the Agra edged away from her and -entered the straits between Long Island and Point Leat, leaving the -schooner about two miles and a half distant to the N.W. - - * * * * * - -Ah! The stranger's deck swarms black with men. - -His sham ports fell as if by magic, his guns grinned through the gaps -like black teeth; his huge foresail rose and filled, and out he came -in chase. - - * * * * * - -The breeze was a kiss from Heaven, the sky a vaulted sapphire, the sea -a million dimples of liquid, lucid, gold.... - - * * * * * - -The way the pirate dropped the mask, showed his black teeth, and bore -up in chase, was terrible: so dilates and bounds the sudden tiger on -his unwary prey. There were stout hearts among the officers of the -peaceable Agra; but danger in a new form shakes the brave; and this -was their first pirate: their dismay broke out in ejaculations not -loud but deep.... - -"Sharpe," said Dodd, in a tone that conveyed no suspicion of the -newcomer, "set the royals, and flying jib.--Port!" - -"Port it is," cried the man at the helm. - -"Steer due South!" And, with these words in his mouth, Dodd dived to -the gun deck. - -By this time elastic Sharpe had recovered the first shock; and the -order to crowd sail on the ship galled his pride and his manhood; he -muttered, indignantly, "The white feather!" This eased his mind, and -he obeyed orders briskly as ever. While he and his hands were setting -every rag the ship could carry on that tack, the other officers, -having unluckily no orders to execute, stood gloomy and helpless, with -their eyes glued, by a sort of sombre fascination, on that coming -fate.... - -Realize the situation, and the strange incongruity between the senses -and the mind in these poor fellows! The day had ripened its beauty; -beneath a purple heaven shone, sparkled, and laughed a blue sea, in -whose waves the tropical sun seemed to have fused his beams; and -beneath that fair, sinless, peaceful sky, wafted by a balmy breeze -over those smiling, transparent, golden waves, a bloodthirsty Pirate -bore down on them with a crew of human tigers; and a lady babble -babble babble babble babble babble babbled in their quivering ears. - -But now the captain came bustling on deck, eyed the loftier sails, saw -they were drawing well, appointed four midshipmen a staff to convey -his orders; gave Bayliss charge of the carronades, Grey of the -cutlasses, and directed Mr. Tickell to break the bad news gently to -Mrs. Beresford, and to take her below to the orlop deck; ordered the -purser to serve out beef, biscuit, and grog to all hands, saying, "Men -can't work on an empty stomach: and fighting is hard work;" then -beckoned the officers to come round him. "Gentlemen," said he, -confidentially, "in crowding sail on this ship I had no hope of -escaping that fellow on this tack, but I was, and am, most anxious to -gain the open sea, where I can square my yards and run for it, if I -see a chance. At present I shall carry on till he comes up within -range: and then, to keep the Company's canvas from being shot to rags, -I shall shorten sail; and to save ship and cargo and all our lives, I -shall fight while a plank of her swims. Better to be killed in hot -blood than walk the plank in cold." - -The officers cheered faintly: the captain's dogged resolution stirred -up theirs.... - -"Shorten sail to the taupsles and jib, get the colors ready on the -halyards, and then send the men aft...." - -Sail was no sooner shortened, and the crew ranged, than the captain -came briskly on deck, saluted, jumped on a carronade, and stood erect. -He was not the man to show the crew his forebodings. - -(Pipe.) "Silence fore and aft." - -"My men, the schooner coming up on our weather quarter is a Portuguese -pirate. His character is known; he scuttles all the ships he boards, -dishonors the women, and murders the crew. We cracked on to get out of -the narrows, and now we have shortened sail to fight this blackguard, -and teach him not to molest a British ship. I promise, in the -Company's name, twenty pounds prize money to every man before the mast -if we beat him off or out-manoeuvre him; thirty if we sink him; and -forty if we tow him astern into a friendly port. Eight guns are clear -below, three on the weather side, five on the lee; for, if he knows -his business, he will come up on the lee quarter: if he doesn't, that -is no fault of yours nor mine. The muskets are all loaded, the -cutlasses ground like razors--" - -"Hurrah!" - -"We have got women to defend--" - -"Hurrah!" - -"A good ship under our feet, the God of justice overhead, British -hearts in our bosoms, and British colors flying--run 'em up!--over our -heads." (The ship's colors flew up to the fore, and the Union Jack to -the mizzen peak.) "Now lads, I mean to fight this ship while a plank -of her (stamping on the deck) swims beneath my foot and--_what do you -say_?" - -The reply was a fierce "hurrah!" from a hundred throats, so loud, so -deep, so full of volume, it made the ship vibrate, and rang in the -creeping-on pirate's ears. Fierce, but cunning, he saw mischief in -those shortened sails, and that Union Jack, the terror of his tribe, -rising to a British cheer; he lowered his mainsail, and crawled up on -the weather quarter. Arrived within a cable's length, he double reefed -his foresail to reduce his rate of sailing nearly to that of the ship; -and the next moment a tongue of flame, and then a gash of smoke, -issued from his lee bow, and the ball flew screaming like a seagull -over the Agra's mizzen top. He then put his helm up, and fired his -other bow-chaser, and sent the shot hissing and skipping on the water -past the ship. This prologue made the novices wince. Bayliss wanted to -reply with a carronade; but Dodd forbade him sternly, saying, "If we -keep him aloof we are done for." - -The pirate drew nearer, and fired both guns in succession, hulled the -Agra amidships, and sent an eighteen pound ball through her foresail. -Most of the faces were pale on the quarter-deck; it was very trying to -be shot at, and hit, and make no return. The next double discharge -sent one shot smash through the stern cabin window, and splintered the -bulwark with another, wounding a seaman slightly. - -"Lie down forward!" shouted Dodd, through his trumpet. "Bayliss, give -him a shot." - -The carronade was fired with a tremendous report, but no visible -effect. The pirate crept nearer, steering in and out like a snake to -avoid the carronades, and firing those two heavy guns alternately into -the devoted ship. He hulled the Agra now nearly every shot. - -The two available carronades replied noisily, and jumped as usual; -they sent one thirty-two pound shot clean through the schooner's deck -and side; but that was literally all they did worth speaking of. - -"Curse them!" cried Dodd; "load them with grape! they are not to be -trusted with ball. And all my eighteen-pounders dumb! The coward won't -come alongside and give them a chance." - -At the next discharge the pirate chipped the mizzen mast, and knocked -a sailor into dead pieces on the forecastle. Dodd put his helm down -ere the smoke cleared, and got three carronades to bear, heavily laden -with grape. Several pirates fell, dead or wounded, on the crowded -deck, and some holes appeared in the foresail; this one interchange -was quite in favor of the ship. - -But the lesson made the enemy more cautious; he crept nearer, but -steered so adroitly, now right astern, now on the quarter, that the -ship could seldom bring more than one carronade to bear, while he -raked her fore and aft with grape and ball. - -In this alarming situation, Dodd kept as many of the men below as -possible; but, for all he could do four were killed and seven wounded. - -Fullalove's word came too true: it was the swordfish and the whale: it -was a fight of hammer and anvil; one hit, the other made a noise. -Cautious and cruel, the pirate hung on the poor hulking creature's -quarters and raked her at point blank distance. He made her pass a -bitter time. And her captain! To see the splintering hull, the parting -shrouds, the shivered gear, and hear the shrieks and groans of his -wounded; and he unable to reply in kind! The sweat of agony poured -down his face. Oh, if he could but reach the open sea, and square his -yards, and make a long chase of it; perhaps fall in with aid. Wincing -under each heavy blow, he crept doggedly, patiently on, towards that -one visible hope. - -At last, when the ship was cloven with shot, and peppered with grape, -the channel opened: in five minutes more he could put her dead before -the wind. - -No. The pirate, on whose side luck had been from the first, got half a -broadside to bear at long musket shot, killed a midshipman by Dodd's -side, cut away two of the Agra's mizzen shrouds, wounded the gaff: and -cut the jib stay; down fell that powerful sail into the water, and -dragged across the ship's forefoot, stopping her way to the open sea -she panted for; the mates groaned; the crew cheered stoutly, as -British tars do in any great disaster; the pirates yelled with -ferocious triumph, like the devils they looked. - -But most human events, even calamities, have two sides. The Agra being -brought almost to a standstill, the pirate forged ahead against his -will, and the combat took a new and terrible form. The elephant gun -popped, and the rifle cracked, in the Agra's mizzen top, and the man -at the pirate's helm jumped into the air and fell dead: both Theorists -claimed him. Then the three carronades peppered him hotly; and he -hurled an iron shower back with fatal effect. Then at last the long -18-pounders on the gun-deck got a word in. The old Niler was not the -man to miss a vessel alongside in a quiet sea; he sent two round shot -clean through him; the third splintered his bulwark, and swept across -his deck. - -"His masts! fire at his masts!" roared Dodd to Monk, through his -trumpet; he then got the jib clear, and made what sail he could -without taking all the hands from the guns. - -This kept the vessels nearly alongside a few minutes, and the fight -was hot as fire. The pirate now for the first time hoisted his flag. -It was black as ink. His crew yelled as it rose: the Britons, instead -of quailing, cheered with fierce derision: the pirate's wild crew of -yellow Malays, black chinless Papuans, and bronzed Portuguese, served -their side guns, 12-pounders, well and with ferocious cries; the white -Britons, drunk with battle now, naked to the waist, grimed with -powder, and spotted like leopards with blood, their own and their -mates', replied with loud undaunted cheers, and deadly hail of grape -from the quarter-deck; while the master gunner and his mates, loading -with a rapidity the mixed races opposed could not rival, hulled the -schooner well between wind and water, and then fired chain shot at her -masts, as ordered, and began to play the mischief with her shrouds and -rigging. Meantime, Fullalove and Kenealy, aided by Vespasian, who -loaded, were quietly butchering the pirate crew two a minute, and -hoped to settle the question they were fighting for; smooth bore _v._ -rifle: but unluckily neither fired once without killing; so "there was -nothing proven." - -The pirate, bold as he was, got sick of fair fighting first; he -hoisted his mainsail and drew rapidly ahead, with a slight bearing to -windward, and dismounted a carronade and stove in the ship's -quarter-boat, by way of a parting kick. - -The men hurled a contemptuous cheer after him; they thought they had -beaten him off. But Dodd knew better. He was but retiring a little way -to make a more deadly attack than ever: he would soon wear, and cross -the Agra's defenceless bows, to rake her fore and aft at pistol-shot -distance; or grapple, and board the enfeebled ship two hundred strong. - -Dodd flew to the helm, and with his own hands put it hard a weather, -to give the deck guns one more chance, the last, of sinking or -disabling the Destroyer. As the ship obeyed, and a deck gun bellowed -below him, he saw a vessel running out from Long Island, and coming -swiftly up on his lee quarter. - -It was a schooner. Was she coming to his aid? - -Horror! A black flag floated from her foremast head. - -While Dodd's eyes were staring almost out of his head at this -death-blow to hope, Monk fired again; and just then a pale face came -close to Dodd's, and a solemn voice whispered in his ear: "Our -ammunition is nearly done!" - -Dodd seized Sharpe's hand convulsively, and pointed to the pirate's -consort coming up to finish them; and said, with the calm of a brave -man's despair, "Cutlasses! and die hard!" - -At that moment the master gunner fired his last gun. It sent a chain -shot on board the retiring pirate, took off a Portuguese head and spun -it clean into the sea ever so far to windward, and cut the schooner's -foremast so nearly through that it trembled and nodded, and presently -snapped with a loud crack, and came down like a broken tree, with the -yard and sail; the latter overlapping the deck and burying itself, -black flag and all, in the sea; and there, in one moment, lay the -Destroyer buffeting and wriggling--like a heron on the water with its -long wing broken--an utter cripple. - -The victorious crew raised a stunning cheer. - -"Silence!" roared Dodd, with his trumpet. "All hands make sail!" - -He set his courses, bent a new jib, and stood out to windward close -hauled, in hopes to make a good offing, and then put his ship dead -before the wind, which was now rising to a stiff breeze. In doing this -he crossed the crippled pirate's bows, within eighty yards; and sore -was the temptation to rake him; but his ammunition being short, and -his danger being imminent from the other pirate, he had the self -command to resist the great temptation. - -He hailed the mizzen top: "Can you two hinder them from firing that -gun?" - -"I rather think we can," said Fullalove, "eh, colonel?" and tapped his -long rifle. - -The ship no sooner crossed the schooner's bows than a Malay ran -forward with a linstock. Pop went the colonel's ready carbine, and the -Malay fell over dead, and the linstock flew out of his hand. A tall -Portuguese, with a movement of rage, snatched it up, and darted to the -gun; the Yankee rifle cracked, but a moment too late. Bang! went the -pirate's bow-chaser, and crashed into the Agra's side, and passed -nearly through her. - -"Ye missed him! Ye missed him!" cried the rival theorist, joyfully. He -was mistaken: the smoke cleared, and there was the pirate captain -leaning wounded against the mainmast with a Yankee bullet in his -shoulder, and his crew uttering yells of dismay and vengeance. They -jumped, and raged, and brandished their knives, and made horrid -gesticulations of revenge; and the white eyeballs of the Malays and -Papuans glittered fiendishly; and the wounded captain raised his sound -arm and had a signal hoisted to his consort, and she bore up in chase, -and jamming her fore lateen flat as a board, lay far nearer the wind -than the Agra could, and sailed three feet to her two besides. On this -superiority being made clear, the situation of the merchant vessel, -though not so utterly desperate as before Monk fired his lucky shot, -became pitiable enough. If she ran before the wind, the fresh pirate -would cut her off: if she lay to windward, she might postpone the -inevitable and fatal collision with a foe as strong as that she had -only escaped by a rare piece of luck; but this would give the crippled -pirate time to refit and unite to destroy her. Add to this the failing -ammunition, and the thinned crew! - -Dodd cast his eyes all round the horizon for help. - -The sea was blank. - -The bright sun was hidden now; drops of rain fell, and the wind was -beginning to sing; and the sea to rise a little. - -"Gentlemen," said he, "let us kneel down and pray for wisdom, in this -sore strait." - -He and his officers kneeled on the quarter-deck. When they rose, Dodd -stood rapt about a minute; his great thoughtful eye saw no more the -enemy, the sea, nor anything external; it was turned inward. His -officers looked at him in silence. - -"Sharpe," said he, at last, "there _must_ be a way out of them with -such a breeze as this is now; if we could but see it." - -"Ay, _if_," groaned Sharpe. - -Dodd mused again. - -"About ship!" said he, softly, like an absent man. - -"Ay, ay, sir!" - -"Steer due north!" said he, still like one whose mind was elsewhere. - -While the ship was coming about, he gave minute orders to the mates -and the gunner, to ensure co-operation in the delicate and dangerous -manoeuvres that were sure to be on hand. - -The wind was W.N.W.: he was standing north: one pirate lay on his lee -beam stopping a leak between wind and water, and hacking the deck -clear of his broken masts and yards. The other fresh, and thirsting -for the easy prey, came up to weather on him and hang on his quarter, -pirate fashion. - -When they were distant about a cable's length, the fresh pirate, to -meet the ship's change of tactics, changed his own, luffed up, and -gave the ship a broadside, well aimed but not destructive, the guns -being loaded with ball. - -Dodd, instead of replying immediately, put his helm hard up and ran -under the pirate's stern, while he was jammed up in the wind, and with -his five eighteen-pounders raked him fore and aft, then paying off, -gave him three carronades crammed with grape and canister; the almost -simultaneous discharge of eight guns made the ship tremble, and -enveloped her in thick smoke; loud shrieks and groans were heard from -the schooner; the smoke cleared; the pirate's mainsail hung on deck, -his jib-boom was cut off like a carrot and the sail struggling; his -foresail looked lace, lanes of dead and wounded lay still or writhing -on his deck, and his lee scuppers ran blood into the sea. Dodd squared -his yards and bore away. - -The ship rushed down the wind, leaving the schooner staggered and all -abroad. But not for long; the pirate wore and fired his bow chasers at -the now flying Agra, split one of the carronades in two, and killed a -Lascar, and made a hole in the foresail; this done, he hoisted his -mainsail again in a trice, sent his wounded below, flung his dead -overboard, to the horror of their foes, and came after the flying -ship, yawning and firing his bow chasers. The ship was silent. She had -no shot to throw away. Not only did she take these blows like a -coward, but all signs of life disappeared on her, except two men at -the wheel, and the captain on the main gangway. - -Dodd had ordered the crew out of the rigging, armed them with -cutlasses, and laid them flat on the forecastle. He also compelled -Kenealy and Fullalove to come down out of harm's way, no wiser on the -smooth-bore question than they went up. - -The great patient ship ran environed by her foes; one destroyer right -in her course, another in her wake, following her with yells of -vengeance, and pounding away at her--but no reply. - -Suddenly the yells of the pirates on both sides ceased, and there was -a moment of dead silence on the sea. - -Yet nothing fresh had happened. - -Yes, this had happened: the pirates to windward, and the pirates to -leeward, of the Agra, had found out, at one and the same moment, that -the merchant captain they had lashed, and bullied, and tortured, was a -patient but tremendous man. It was not only to rake the fresh schooner -he had put his ship before the wind, but also by a double, daring, -master-stroke to hurl his monster ship bodily on the other. Without a -foresail she could never get out of his way. Her crew had stopped the -leak, and cut away and unshipped the broken foremast, and were -stepping a new one, when they saw the huge ship bearing down in full -sail. Nothing easier than to slip out of her way could they get the -foresail to draw; but the time was short, the deadly intention -manifest, the coming destruction swift. After that solemn silence came -a storm of cries and curses, as their seamen went to work to fit the -yard and raise the sail; while their fighting men seized their -matchlocks and trained the guns. They were well commanded by an heroic -able villain. Astern the consort thundered; but the Agra's response -was a dead silence more awful than broadsides. - -For then was seen with what majesty the enduring Anglo-Saxon fights. - -One of that indomitable race on the gangway, one at the foremast, two -at the wheel, conned and steered the great ship down on a hundred -matchlocks, and a grinning broadside, just as they would have conned -and steered her into a British harbor. - -"Starboard!" said Dodd, in a deep calm voice, with a motion of his -hand. - -"Starboard it is." - -The pirate wriggled ahead a little. The man forward made a silent -signal to Dodd. - -"Port!" said Dodd, quietly. - -"Port it is." - -But at this critical moment the pirate astern sent a mischievous shot, -and knocked one of the men to atoms at the helm. - -Dodd waved his hand without a word, and another man rose from the -deck, and took his place in silence, and laid his unshaking hand on -the wheel stained with that man's warm blood whose place he took. - -The high ship was now scarce sixty yards distant: _she seemed to -know_: she reared her lofty figure-head with great awful shoots into -the air. - -But now the panting pirates got their new foresail hoisted with a -joyful shout: it drew, the schooner gathered way, and their furious -consort close on the Agra's heels just then scourged her deck with -grape. - -"Port!" said Dodd, calmly. - -"Port it is." - -The giant prow darted at the escaping pirate. That acre of coming -canvas took the wind out of the swift schooner's foresail; it flapped: -oh, then she was doomed!... Crash! the Indiaman's cut-water in thick -smoke beat in the schooner's broadside: down went her masts to leeward -like fishing-rods whipping the water; there was a horrible shrieking -yell; wild forms leaped off on the Agra, and were hacked to pieces -almost ere they reached the deck--a surge, a chasm in the ear, filled -with an instant rush of engulfing waves, a long, awful, grating, -grinding noise, never to be forgotten in this world, all along under -the ship's keel--and the fearful majestic monster passed on over the -blank she had made, with a pale crew standing silent and awestruck on -her deck; a cluster of wild heads and staring eyeballs bobbing like -corks in her foaming wake, sole relic of the blotted-out Destroyer; -and a wounded man staggering on the gangway, with hands uplifted and -staring eyes. - - - - - A GALE OF WIND - - (From John Holdsworth, Chief Mate.) - - By W. CLARK RUSSELL. - - -At midnight Holdsworth came on deck to relieve the second mate. A man -out of the port watch came to the wheel, and stood yawning, scarcely -awake. The night was dark--a hazy atmosphere, through which the stars -gleamed sparely, and the sea like ebony. The rise and fall of the ship -flapped the sails against the masts and drove eddies of air about the -decks, but in reality there was not a breath of wind. There was -something stupendous in the black, profound, and breathless placidity -of the night. The compass swung round in the binnacle anywhere, but -the swell made the rudder kick heavily now and again, and gave the -wheel a twist that flung the spokes out of the man's hand and woke him -up. - -This prolonged inactivity was galling. One longed to hear the rush of -parting water and the singing of the wind in the shrouds. - -The mainsail flapped so heavily that Holdsworth ordered it to be -furled. The song of the men brought the captain on deck. He flitted, -shadow-like, about the binnacle, sniffed at the night impatiently, and -then went to Holdsworth. - -"The glass has fallen half an inch since eight bells," said he. - -"Yes, sir; there'll be a change before morning." - -"Better stow the royals and mizzentop-gall'ns'l." - -"Ay, ay, sir." - -These, the topmost sails of the ship, were just discernible from the -deck. In a few moments their dim outlines melted, and some dark -figures went up into the gloom and vanished. - -The captain returned to his cabin, and Holdsworth strolled the deck. -At two bells (one o'clock) the haze went out of the sky and the stars -shone fiercely. Holdsworth, standing on the starboard side of the -poop, felt a light air creeping about his face, and the sound of the -flapping sails ceased. - -"How's her head?" - -"North-a-quarter-west, sir." - -He sang out an order, and a crowd of figures came tumbling out of the -forecastle and manned the port braces. The air died away, but -presently came a quick puff which made the water bubble around the -ship. - -Holdsworth's eyes were upon the weather horizon. The stars burned -purely, but away upon the water-line was a thick shadow. - -Again the wind died out, and there was a breathless stillness, amid -which you might hear a sound--vague, murmurous, indescribable--a distant -echo it might seem of something infinitely distant. - -"Stand by the topgallant halyards!" - -A sense of expectation seemed to pervade the very ship herself as she -stood upright, with her dim canvas flapping in the darkness above. - -The distant murmur grew more defined, and took such a tone as you may -hear in small sharp rain falling at a distance upon leaves. Then out -of the murky horizon some clouds came rolling--long, attenuated -shadows, resembling visionary arms clutching at the stars. The murmur -approached; the clouds, swinging along the sky, formed into compact -groups. Hark to the quick hissing of the water lashed by the wind! - -In a moment the sails were round and hard, the ship with her -port-chains under water, and the wind screeching fiercely over the -ebony surface of the sea and whitening it with foam. - -The captain was on the poop, holding on to the main-topgallant -backstay, and shrieking orders like one possessed. It was, indeed, -briefly, a case of "Let go everything!" Under full topsail, foresail, -staysail, and jibs, the ship was too heavily weighted for the -surprising violence of the wind, and was powerless to right herself. -But every order given was the right one. And now you heard the deep -tones of Holdsworth's powerful voice mingling with the agitated -commands of the skipper, while yards came rushing down upon the caps, -and sails banged and roared aloft, and men shouted lustily about the -decks, and the sea fled in cataracts of foam under the vessel's bows. - -A time of deep excitement, but scarcely of suspense--there was too much -hurrying for that. - -There would have been something incredible to an inexperienced -landsman in the sight of the dark figures swarming up the shrouds to -give battle to the wild array of canvas which groaned and bellowed -like a dozen thunder-storms in the sky--a spectacle of human pluck not -to be realized, or in the faintest degree appreciated, by those who -have not beheld it. The night black; the yards slanting so that the -extremity of the mainyard touched the water; the footing upon those -yards a thin line which must be felt for by the feet; the canvas, -loosened by the lowering of the yard, bellied by the force of the wind -many feet above the heads of the reefers, and presenting to their -hands a surface of iron; and the three masts quivering under the -shocks and convulsions of the sails! - -All hands were at work now, and there were men enough to reef both big -topsails at once, while others over their heads furled the -topgallant-sails. Holdsworth had been one of the first to spring up -the main-rigging; he knew the value of every pair of hands in that -moment of danger; and away--active, daring, his hands and arms like -steel--he clambered for the weather-earing. But the boatswain was -before him, so he made for the lee yard-arm. - -Figure a smooth spar, forty-five feet long, sloping at a height of as -many feet to the water's surface, the said surface not being a -mill-pond, but a sheet of foam; figure a pitch-dark night, a line -stretched along the yard down which you must slide to the extremity, a -sail weighing half-a-dozen tons banging at your head and your feet, -and doing its utmost to throw you; then, having reached the extremity -of the yard, figure your legs thrown across it as you might bestride a -horse, beneath you the foaming sea, almost at right angles the -inclined deck of the ship, a long stone's-throw distant--a deep -darkness everywhere, save where a wave, breaking massively, flings out -a phosphorescent light and deepens the blackness of its own -chasm--while the gale yells about your ears, and blinds you with spray -that stings like hail! - -Figure this, and then you will very faintly realize what "taking the -lee-earing" in a gale at sea means. - -The cries of the men aloft, and the beating of the canvas, sounded -like an unearthly contest in mid-air; but they ceased presently, and -then the hands came hurrying down the rigging and fell to the -halyards. Holdsworth sprang on to the poop, his cap gone, his hair -blown about his eyes, and roared out orders, while the captain, more -easy in his mind about his spars, went aft and hung about the -binnacle, watching the compass often. - -The ship was now under double-reefed topsails, and reeling through the -darkness almost bare of sail. The wind was increasing in violence -every five minutes, and an ugly Atlantic sea was running right athwart -the ship's course, hurling great waves against her starboard beam, -which ran in water-spouts of foam as high as the maintop, and was -blown in big, hissing flakes through the rigging to leeward. It was -soon deemed expedient to close reef the topsails; but even under these -mere streaks of canvas the Meteor lay over to the gale down to her -water-ways, with the water bubbling in her lee-scuppers. But luckily -the gale was right abeam, and the vessel could hold her course; but -her speed was comparatively small, and she labored heavily. - -So passed the darkest hours of the night. At four o'clock the gale was -at its worst. They had rigged up a hurricane-house in the -mizzen-rigging--a square of tarpaulin, which the wind flattened hard -against the shrouds--and under this shelter sat Holdsworth and the -captain, scarce able to hear their own voices, pitched in the loudest -key, amid the howling of the tempest. Once Holdsworth went below to -look at the glass, and came back saying it was steady. The skipper -roared that he never before remembered so sudden a gale, and -Holdsworth owned that only once was he so caught--in the Pacific, when -they lost their foretop-mast. - -There was nothing more to be done, unless they hove the ship to; but -this was not needful. The dawn broke at five, and the pale, cheerless -light illuminated a wild and dreary scene of tumbling desolate waters -billowing in mountains to the horizon. The Meteor, almost under bare -poles, her yards pointed to the gale, her ropes and lines blown in -semicircles to leeward, labored heavily, caught now by a sea that -threw her on her beam-ends, and now swooping into a chasm walled with -boiling green water, making the gale screech like a million -steam-whistles through her rigging, as she drove up against it, while -coiling tongues of water ran in cataracts up her glistening sides and -fell in dead weights upon her deck. The sky, from horizon to horizon, -was a dark lead color, along which under-clouds, in appearance -resembling volumes of smoke, were swept along, torn and rent, and -discharging at intervals quick, biting showers of rain. - -Some of the passengers came on deck--the general, Mr. Holland, and Mr. -St. Aubyn. The general turned about when he had advanced a few feet, -and disappeared; Mr. Holland in a very short time followed his -example; but the actor, with manifest looks of terror in his pallid -face, pushed onward with outstretched hands for the hurricane-house. -The captain advised him to go below; but at that moment the ship, -rolling suddenly to windward, shipped a shower of spray, which soaked -the poor actor through and through; a moment after, the vessel heeled -heavily over to leeward; away rolled the actor, impelled both by the -wind and the unerring law of gravitation, and was flung against the -lee mizzen-rigging, to which he was pinned by the violence of the gale -as effectually as if he had been lashed to the shrouds. He screamed -for help, on which Holdsworth went over to him, took him by the arm, -and dragged him against the wind to the companion-hatchway. As Mr. St. -Aubyn staggered below, clinging like a kitten to whatever he could lay -hands on, he was heard to implore Holdsworth to tell him if there was -any danger; but, before the words were out of his mouth, Holdsworth -was clinging to the weather-rigging and calling the captain's -attention to a brig, which had risen out of the sea like an -apparition, and was tearing before the gale with full topsails and -topgallant-sails set. - -"A Yankee, by her build!" said the captain. "It's only a Yankee who -would carry that sail in such a wind." - -It was a sight to see her flying along, sinking her hull sometimes out -of sight, then poised on the giddy summit of a huge wave, whose crest -broke under her bows, her copper bottom glistening like red gold -against the slate-colored water. She passed within a quarter of a mile -of the Meteor's weather-beam, and up flew the stars and stripes and -stood like a painted board at her peak. The second mate answered the -salutation by bending on the small ensign and running it up. Any -further signalling was out of the question in that gale. The men on -board the brig could just be made out. She was a smart vessel, -black-hulled, with bows like a knife, and skysail poles, which gave -her masts an aspect of perfect symmetry; and she was splendidly -handled. She went like a swan over the seething billows, streaming a -foaming wake, and in a very few moments was lost in the haze and gloom -of the near horizon. - -As the morning advanced the gale decreased, but a terrible sea was up, -which made the ship labor so furiously that to steady her in some -degree they set the trysail and foresail. There was, however, the -comfort of daylight abroad, and the men could see what they were -about. Both Holdsworth and the captain went below to get a little -sleep, and the vessel was left in command of the second mate, a young -man named Thompson. There were two hands at the wheel and two on the -lookout on the forecastle, glittering in oil-skins, and ducking now -and again to the seas which swept over the ship's bows. - -The fore and main hatches were battened down, and the main-deck was a -foot deep in water, which washed to and fro as the ship rolled, and -which, as fast as it ran through the scupper-holes, was replaced by -fresh and heavy inroads of the sea. - -But all this was trifling; the vessel was snug, the gale was -moderating, and the extra sail that had been made was driving the ship -through the water in fine style. - -Meanwhile, the passengers below, having been reassured by the captain, -were making what breakfast they could off the rolls, tea, and rashers -of ham which clattered about the table and tumbled into their laps. -The trays swung wildly from the deck, and it demanded great vigilance -and close attention to their convulsive movements to repossess one's -self of the cup or plate one placed upon them for safety. The negro -steward shambled round the table, halting every moment to make a grasp -at anything that came in his road to steady himself. Now and again you -heard the smash of crockery. Some conversation was attempted, and the -general invited Mr. Holland to go up on deck and witness a scene which -would probably exceed in majesty Niagara Falls; but Mr. Holland said -he would wait until the vessel was steadier. Mr. St. Aubyn had changed -his clothes and sat holding on to the table, looking the part of fear -infinitely better than he could hope to impersonate it before the -footlights. The ladies remained in their cabins. Mrs. Ashton, overcome -with sickness and the fear of drowning, was driving her maid -distracted with orders which it was out of the poor wretch's power to -execute. In truth, the maid's legs were perfectly useless to her, -which Mrs. Ashton, lying on her back, refused to understand. Cries -were repeatedly coming from the direction of her cabin for "Harry! -Harry!" which received no attention, owing to Harry's--in other words, -to Mr. Ashton's--utter incapacity to move a step without being flung -upon the deck. - -A somewhat different scene was presented by the interior of the -forecastle, where both watches were having breakfast. Men holding tin -pannikins stepped easily round to the galley, where the cook was -dispensing a milkless, sugarless black fluid called tea, and retreated -into the twilight of the forecastle, carrying the steaming beverage. -There sat the sailors, some swinging in hammocks with their legs -dangling down, some on sea-chests, some on canvas bags, drinking from -pannikins, swallowing lumps of biscuit hard as iron, or hacking with -the knives they wore in their belts at bits of cold pork or beef -floating in vinegar in tin dishes held between their knees; some -smoking, some making ready to "turn in," and all jabbering away as -gayly as if they were comfortably seated in a Liverpool or Poplar -singing house--the mariner's earthly paradise--and each with his Sue or -his Betsey by his side. Here, more than in any other part of the ship, -you felt her motion--the mighty lifting of her bows, and the long -sweeping fall as she pitched nose under, while the heavy seas boomed -against her outside as though at any moment the timbers must dispart -and the green waves rush in. - -At twelve o'clock the gale had decreased to such a degree that they -were able to shake two reefs out of the main-topsail and set the -topgallant-sail. The action of the sea, moreover, was much less -violent. The weather had cleared, the pale blue sky could be seen -shining through the white mist that fled along it, and the sun stood -round and clean and coppery in the heavens, throwing a dark red lustre -upon the quick, passionate play of the sea beneath. - -Some of the passengers crawled upon deck and gazed with wonderment -around them. Certainly the panorama was a somewhat different one from -what had been unrolled to their eyes the day before. The ship had a -fagged and jaded look with her drenched decks, her ropes blown slack -with the violence of the wind, and the canvas made unequal to the eye -by the reefs in the topsails. It was again Holdsworth's watch on deck. -The captain walked up and down, chuckling over the improved aspect of -the weather and on the wind, which was drawing more easterly, and -therefore more favorable. - -"You can shake out the reefs, Mr. Holdsworth. She'll bear it now," he -called out. - -Out reefs it was: the ship felt the increased pressure, and rushed -forward like a liberated race-horse. - -"This is capital!" exclaimed the old general, tottering about with -out-stretched hands, ever on the alert for a special roll. "A week of -this, captain, will carry us a good way on our road." - -"Ay, sir, and we must make up for lost time." - -And then presently he gave orders to set the mainsail and the other -two topgallant-sails. - -"The glass still keeps low, sir," said Holdsworth. - -"But let's take advantage of the daylight, Mr. Holdsworth. We mustn't -lose an opportunity." - -The sky had now cleared, the sun shone cheerily; the wind, having -drawn aft, was now no more than what sailors would call a main-royal -breeze. - - - - - THE WRECK OF THE GROSVENOR - -The story of the wreck of the Grosvenor is supposed to be told by Mr. -Royle, the second mate of that unlucky ship. She was a small vessel -bound from England to Valparaiso with a heavy cargo and no passengers. -Captain Coxon and his first mate, Duckling, were so brutal in their -treatment of the crew, that before many days a mutiny arose, headed by -Stevens the ship's carpenter. The captain and the mate were murdered, -but Royle was spared to guide the ship to the West Indies. The crew -were a treacherous gang, and near Bermuda they scuttled the Grosvenor -and abandoned her to sink with the skipper, the boatswain, and the -steward who remained faithful to him, and Mary Robertson, a girl whom -Royle had rescued from a passing wreck. But the mutineers' plot had -been discovered by the boatswain, who plugged up the holes in the -ship's side, and when the crew deserted her the Grosvenor cheerfully -sailed away. Discovering their mistake one boatload of the villains -went in pursuit. In the ensuing skirmish all of this party, except Jim -Cornish, were killed, and he was captured with the quarter-boat -itself. But even with Cornish turned a faithful ally, the Grosvenor -had not sufficient crew to man her, and she was soon crippled by a -tremendous gale. Their signal of distress was disregarded by a Russian -ship which might have rescued them, and the shock of this -disappointment destroyed the poor steward's wits and broke the heart -of Cornish. The Grosvenor was fast sinking; there was no alternative -but to take to the quarter-boat which they had captured from the -mutineers. The following story tells how the three men and the girl -were saved from the wreck of the Grosvenor. - - - - - SAVED - - (From The Wreck of the Grosvenor.) - - By W. CLARK RUSSELL. - - -We had never yet had the leisure to inspect the stores with which the -mutineers had furnished the quarter-boat, and we now found, in spite -of their having shifted a lot of provisions out of her into the -long-boat before starting in pursuit of us, that there was still an -abundance left: four kegs of water, several tins of cuddy bread, -preserved meats and fruits, sugar, flour, and other things, not to -mention such items as boxes of lucifer matches, fishing-tackle, a -burning glass, a quantity of tools and nails; in a word, everything -which men in the condition they had hoped to find themselves in might -stand in need of to support life. Indeed, the foresight illustrated by -the provisioning of this boat was truly remarkable, the only things -they had omitted being a mast and sail, it having been their intention -to keep this boat in tow of the other. I even found that they had -furnished the boat with the oars belonging to the disabled -quarter-boat in addition to her own. - -However, the boat was not yet stocked to my satisfaction. I therefore -repaired to my cabin and procured the boat's compass, some charts, a -sextant, and other necessary articles such as the "Nautical Almanac," -and pencils and paper wherewith to work out my observations, which I -placed very carefully in the locker in the stern-sheets of the boat. - -I allowed Mary to help me, that the occupation might divert her mind -from the overwhelming thoughts which the gradual settling of the ship -on which we stood must have excited in the strongest and bravest mind; -and, indeed, I worked busily and eagerly to guard myself against any -terror that might come upon me. She it was who suggested that we -should provide ourselves with lamps and oil; and I shipped a lantern -to hoist at our masthead when the darkness came, and the bull's-eye -lamp to enable me to work out observations of the stars, which I -intended to make when the night fell. To all these things, which sound -numerous, but in reality occupied but little space, I added a can of -oil, meshes for the lamps, top coats, oil-skins, and rugs to protect -us at night, so that the afternoon was well advanced before we had -ended our preparations. Meanwhile, the boatswain had stepped a -topgallant-stun'-sail boom to serve us for a mast, well stayed, with a -block and halyards at the masthead to serve for hoisting a flag or -lantern, and a spare topgallant-stun'-sail to act as a sail. - -By this time the wind had completely died away; a peaceful deep-blue -sky stretched from horizon to horizon; and the agitation of the sea -had subsided into a long and silent swell, which washed up against the -ship's sides, scarcely causing her to roll, so deep had she sunk in -the water. - -I now thought it high time to lower the boat and bring her alongside, -as our calculation of the length of time to be occupied by the ship in -sinking might be falsified to our destruction by her suddenly going -stern down with us on board. - -We therefore lowered the boat and got the gangway-ladder over the -side. - -The boatswain got into the boat first to help Mary into her. I then -took the steward by the arms and brought him along smartly, as there -was danger in keeping the boat washing against the ship's side. He -resisted at first, and only smiled vacantly when I threatened to leave -him; but on the boatswain crying out that his wife was waiting for -him, the poor idiot got himself together with a scramble, and went so -hastily over the gangway that he narrowly escaped a ducking. - -I paused a moment at the gangway and looked around, striving to -remember if there was anything we had forgotten which would be of some -use to us. Mary watched me anxiously, and called to me by my Christian -name, at the same time extending her arms. I would not keep her in -suspense a moment, and at once dropped into the boat. She grasped and -fondled my hand, and drew me close beside her. - -"I should have gone on board again had you delayed coming," she -whispered. - -The boatswain shoved the boat's head off, and we each shipped an oar -and pulled the boat about a quarter of a mile away from the ship; and -then, from a strange and wild curiosity to behold the ship sink, and -still in our hearts clinging to her, not only as the home where we had -found shelter for many days past, but as the only visible object in -all the stupendous reach of waters, we threw in the oars and sat -watching her. - -She had now sunk as deep as her main-chains, and was but a little -higher out of the water than the hull from which we had rescued Mary -and her father. It was strange to behold her even from a short -distance and notice her littleness in comparison with the immensity of -the deep on which she rested, and recall the terrible seas she had -braved and triumphed over. - -Few sailors can behold the ship in which they have sailed sinking -before their eyes without the same emotion of distress and pity, -almost, which the spectacle of a drowning man excites in them. She has -grown a familiar name, a familiar object; thus far she has borne them -in safety; she has been rudely beaten, and yet has done her duty; but -the tempest has broken her down at last; all the beauty is shorn from -her; she is weary with the long and dreadful struggles with the vast -forces that nature arrayed against her; she sinks, a desolate, -abandoned thing, in mid-ocean, carrying with her a thousand memories -which surge up in the heart with the pain of a strong man's tears. - -I looked from the ship to realize our own position. Perhaps not yet -could it be keenly felt, for the ship was still a visible object for -us to hold on by; and yet, turning my eyes away to the far reaches of -the horizon at one moment borne high on the summit of the ocean swell, -which appeared mountainous when felt in and viewed from the boat, then -sinking deep in the hollow, so that the near ship was hidden from -us--the supreme loneliness of our situation, our helplessness, and the -fragility and diminutiveness of the structure on which our lives -depended, came home to me with the pain and wonder of a shock. - -Our boat, however, was new this voyage, with a good beam, and showing -a tolerably bold side, considering her dimensions and freight. Of the -two quarter-boats with which the Grosvenor had been furnished, this -was the larger and the stronger built, and for this reason had been -chosen by Stevens. I could not hope, indeed, that she would live a -moment in anything of a sea; but she was certainly stout enough to -carry us to the Bermudas, providing that the weather remained -moderate. - -It was now six o'clock. I said to the boatswain: - -"Every hour of this weather is valuable to us. There is no reason why -we should stay here." - -"I should like to see her sink, Mr. Royle; I should like to know that -poor Jim found a regular coffin in her," he answered. "We can't make -no headway with the sail, and I don't recommend rowin' for the two or -three mile we can fetch with the oars. It 'ud be wurse nor pumpin'." - -He was right. When I reflected, I was quite sure I should not, in my -exhausted state, be able to handle one of the big oars for even five -minutes at a stretch; and, admitting that I _had_ been strong enough -to row for a couple of hours, yet the result to have been obtained -could not have been important enough to justify the serious labor. - -The steward all this time sat perfectly quiet in the bottom of the -boat, with his back against the mast. He paid no attention to us when -we spoke, nor looked around him, though sometimes he would fix his -eyes vacantly on the sky as if his shattered mind found relief in -contemplating the void. I was heartily glad to find him quiet, though -I took care to watch him, for it was difficult to tell whether his -imbecility was not counterfeited, by his madness, to throw us off our -guard, and furnish him with an opportunity to play us and himself some -deadly trick. - -As some hours had elapsed since we had tasted food, I opened a tin of -meat and prepared a meal. The boatswain ate heartily, and so did the -steward: but I could not prevail upon Mary to take more than a biscuit -and sherry and water. - -Indeed, as the evening approached, our position affected her more -deeply, and often, after she had cast her eyes toward the horizon, I -could see her lips whispering a prayer, and feel her hand tightening -on mine. - -The ship still floated, but she was so low in the water that I every -minute expected to see her vanish. The water was above her -main-chains, and I could only attribute her obstinacy in not sinking -to the great quantity of wood--both in cases and goods--which composed -her cargo. - -The sun was now quite close to the horizon, branding the ocean with a -purple glare, but itself descending in a cloudless sky. I cannot -express how majestic and wonderful the great orb looked to us who were -almost level with the water. Its disk seemed vaster than I had ever -before seen it, and there was something sublimely solemn in the -loneliness of its descent. All the sky about it, and far to the south -and north, was changed into the color of gold by its lustre; and over -our heads the heavens were an exquisite tender green, which melted in -the east into a dark blue. - -I was telling Mary that ere the sun sunk again we might be on board a -ship, and whispering any words of encouragement and hope to her, when -I was startled by the boatswain, crying, "Now she's gone! Look at -her!" - -I turned my eyes toward the ship, and could scarcely credit my senses -when I found that her hull had vanished, and that nothing was to be -seen of her but her spars, which were all aslant sternward. - -I held my breath as I saw the masts sink lower and lower. First the -cross-jack yard was submerged, the gaff with the ensign hanging dead -at the peak, then the main-yard; presently only the main-topmast -cross-trees were visible, a dark cross upon the water; they vanished. -At the same moment the sun disappeared behind the horizon; and now we -were alone on the great, breathing deep, with all the eastern sky -growing dark as we watched. - -"It's all over!" said the boatswain, breaking the silence, and -speaking in a hollow tone. "No livin' man'll ever see the Grosvenor -again!" - -Mary shivered and leaned against me. I took up a rug and folded it -round her, and kissed her forehead. - -The boatswain had turned his back upon us, and sat with his hands -folded, I believe in prayer. I am sure he was thinking of Jim Cornish, -and I would not have interrupted that honest heart's communion with -its Maker for the value of the ship that had sunk. - -Darkness came down very quickly, and, that we might lose no chance of -being seen by any distant vessel, I lighted the ship's lantern and -hoisted it at the masthead. I also lighted the bull's-eye lamp and set -it in the stern-sheets. - -"Mary," I whispered, "I will make you up a bed in the bottom of the -boat. While this weather lasts, dearest, we have no cause to be -alarmed by our position. It will make me happy to see you sleeping, -and be sure that while you sleep there will be watchful eyes near -you." - -"I will sleep as I am here, by your side; I shall rest better so," she -answered. "I could not sleep lying down." - -It was too sweet a privilege to forego; I passed my arm around her and -held her close to me; and she closed her eyes like a child, to please -me. - -Worn out as I was, enfeebled both intellectually and physically by the -heavy strain that had been put upon me ever since that day when I had -been ironed by Captain Coxon's orders, I say--and I solemnly believe in -the truth of what I am about to write--that had it not been for the -living reality of this girl, encircled by my arm, with her head -supported by my shoulder; had it not been for the deep love I felt for -her, which localized my thoughts, and, so to say, humanized them down -to the level of our situation, forbidding them to trespass beyond the -prosaic limits of our danger, of the precautions to be taken by us, of -our chances of rescue, of the course to be steered when the wind -should fill our sail--I should have gone mad when the night came down -upon the sea and enveloped our boat (a lonely speck on the gigantic -world of water) in the mystery and fear of the darkness. I know this -by recalling the fancy that for a few moments possessed me in looking -along the water, when I clearly beheld the outline of a coast, with -innumerable lights winking upon it; by the whirling, dizzy sensation -in my head which followed the extinction of the vision; by the emotion -of wild horror and unutterable disappointment which overcame me when I -detected the cheat. I pressed my darling to me, and looked upon her -sweet face, revealed by the light shed by the lantern at the masthead, -and all my misery left me; and the delight which the knowledge that -she was my own love, and that I held her in my arms, gave me, fell -like an exorcism upon the demons of my stricken imagination. - -She smiled when I pressed her to my side, and when she saw my face -close to hers, looking at her; but she did not know that she had saved -me from a fate more dreadful than death, and that I--so strong as I -seemed, so earnest as I had shown myself in my conflicts with fate, so -resolutely as I had striven to comfort her--had been rescued from -madness by her whom I had a thousand times pitied for her -helplessness. - -She fell asleep at last, and I sat for nearly two hours motionless, -that I should not awaken her. The steward slept with his head in his -arms, kneeling--a strange, mad posture. The boatswain sat forward, with -his face turned aft and his arms folded. I addressed him once, but he -did not answer. Probably I spoke too low for him to hear, being -fearful of waking Mary; but there was little we had to say. Doubtless -he found his thoughts too engrossing to suffer him to talk. - -Being anxious, to "take a star," as we say at sea, and not knowing how -the time went, I gently drew out my watch and found the hour a quarter -to eleven. In replacing the watch I aroused Mary, who raised her head -and looked round her with eyes that flashed in the lantern light. - -"Where are we?" she exclaimed, and bent her head to gaze at me, on -which she recollected herself. "Poor boy!" she said, taking my hand, -"I have kept you supporting my weight. You were more tired than I. But -it is your turn now. Rest your head on my shoulder." - -"No, it is still your turn," I answered, "and you shall sleep again -presently. But since you are awake, I will try to find out where we -are. You shall hold the lamp for me while I make my calculations, and -examine the chart." - -Saying which, I drew out my sextant and got across the thwarts to the -mast, which I stood up alongside of to lean on; for the swell, though -moderate enough to pass without notice on a big vessel, lifted and -sank the boat in such a way as to make it difficult to stand steady. - -I was in the act of raising the sextant to my eye, when the boatswain -suddenly cried, "Mr. Royle, listen!" - -"What do you hear?" I asked. - -"Hush! listen now!" he answered, in a breathless voice. - -I strained my ear, but nothing was audible to me but the wash of the -water against the boat's side. - -"Don't you hear it, Mr. Royle?" he cried, in a kind of agony, holding -up his finger. "Miss Robertson, don't you hear something?" - -There was another interval of silence, and Mary answered: "I hear a -kind of throbbing." - -"It is so!" I exclaimed. "I hear it now! it is the engines of a -steamer." - -"A steamer? Yes! I hear it! where is she?" shouted the boatswain, and -he jumped on to the thwart on which I stood. - -We strained our ears again. - -That throbbing sound, as Mary had accurately described it, closely -resembling the rhythmical running of a locomotive-engine heard in the -country on a silent night at a long distance, was now distinctly -audible; but so smooth was the water, so breathless the night, that it -was impossible to tell how far away the vessel might be; for so fine -and delicate a vehicle of sound is the ocean in a calm, that, though -the hull of a steamship might be below the horizon, yet the thumping -of her engines would be heard. - -Once more we inclined our ears, holding our breath as we listened. - -"It grows louder!" cried the boatswain. "Mr. Royle, bend your -bull's-eye lamp to the end o' one o' the oars and swing it about, -while I dip this masthead lantern." - -Very different was his manner now from what it had been that morning -when the Russian hove in sight. - -I lashed the lamp by the ring of it to an oar and waved it to and fro. -Meanwhile the boatswain had got hold of the masthead halyards, and was -running the big ship's lantern up and down the mast. - -"Mary," I exclaimed, "lift up the seat behind you, and in the -left-hand corner you will find a pistol." - -"I have it," she answered, in a few moments. - -"Point it over the stern and fire!" I cried. - -She levelled the little weapon and pulled the trigger; the white flame -leaped, and a smart report followed. - -"Listen now!" I said. - -I held the oar steady, and the boatswain ceased to dance the lantern. -For the first few seconds I heard nothing, then my ear caught the -throbbing sound. - -"I see her!" cried the boatswain; and, following his finger (my sight -being keener than my hearing), I saw not only the shadow of a vessel -down in the south-west, but the smoke from her funnel pouring along -the stars. - -"Mary," I cried, "fire again!" - -She drew the trigger. - -"Again!" - -The clear report whizzed like a bullet past my ear. - -Simultaneously with the second report a ball of blue fire shot up into -the sky. Another followed, and another. - -A moment after a red light shone clear upon the sea. - -"She sees us!" I cried, "God be praised! Mary, darling, she sees us!" - -I waved the lamp furiously. But there was no need to wave it any -longer. The red light drew nearer and nearer; the throbbing of the -engines louder and louder, and the revolutions of the propeller -sounded like a pulse heating through the water. The shadow broadened -and loomed larger. I could hear the water spouting out of her side and -the blowing off of the safety-valve. - -Soon the vessel grew a defined shape against the stars, and then a -voice, thinned by the distance, shouted, "What light is that?" - -I cried to the boatswain: "Answer, for God's sake! My voice is weak." - -He hollowed his hands and roared back: "We're shipwrecked seamen -adrift in a quarter-boat!" - -Nearer and nearer came the shadow, and now it was a long, black hull, -a funnel pouring forth a dense volume of smoke, spotted with -fire-sparks, and tapering masts and fragile rigging, with the stars -running through them. - -"Ease her!" - -The sound of the throbbing grew more measured. We could hear the water -as it was churned up by the screw. - -"Stop her!" - -The sounds ceased, and the vessel came looming up slowly, more slowly, -until she stopped. - -"What is that?--a boat?" exclaimed a strong bass voice. - -"Yes!" answered the boatswain. "We've been shipwrecked; we're adrift -in a quarter-boat." - -"Can you bring her alongside?" - -"Ay, ay, sir!" - -I threw out an oar, but trembled so violently that it was as much as I -could do to work it. We headed the boat for the steamer and rowed -toward her. As we approached, I perceived that she was very long, -bark-rigged, and raking, manifestly a powerful, iron-built ocean -steamer. They hung a red light on the forestay and a white light over -her port quarter, and lights flitted about her gangway. - -A voice sung out: "How many are there of you?" - -The boatswain answered: "Three men and a lady." - -On this the same voice called, "If you want help to bring that boat -alongside, we'll send to you." - -"We'll be alongside in a few minutes," returned the boatswain. - -But the fact was, the vessel had stopped her engines when further off -from us than we had imagined; being deceived by the magnitude of her -looming hull, which seemed to stand not a hundred fathoms away from -us, and by the wonderful distinctness of the voice that had spoken us. - -I did not know how feeble I had become until I took the oar; and the -violent emotions excited in me by our rescue, now to be effected after -our long and heavy trials, diminished still the little strength that -was left in me; so that the boat moved very slowly through the water, -and it was full twenty minutes starting from the time when we had -shipped oars, before we came up with her. - -"We'll fling you a rope's end," said a voice; "look out for it." - -A line fell into the boat. The boatswain caught it, and sung out, "All -fast!" - -I looked up the high side of the steamer: there was a crowd of men -assembled round the gangway, their faces visible in the light shed not -only by our own masthead lantern (which was on a level with the -steamer's bulwarks), but by other lanterns which some of them held. In -all this light we, the occupants of the boat, were to be clearly -viewed from the deck; and the voice that had first addressed us said: - -"Are you strong enough to get up the ladder? If not, we'll sling you -on board." - -I answered that if a couple of hands would come down into the boat so -as to help the lady and a man (who had fallen imbecile) over the -ship's side, the other two would manage to get on board without -assistance. - -On this a short gangway-ladder was lowered, and two men descended and -got into the boat. - -"Take that lady first," I said, pointing to Mary, but holding on, as I -spoke, to the boat's mast, for I felt horribly sick and faint, and -knew not, indeed, what was going to happen to me; and I had to exert -all my power to steady my voice. - -They took her by the arms, and watching the moment when the wash of -the swell brought the boat against the ship's side, landed her -cleverly on the ladder and helped her on to the deck. - - - - - THE CAPTURE OF THE COTTON SHIP - - (From Tom Cringle's Log.) - - By MICHAEL SCOTT. - - -The northwester still continued, with a clear blue sky, without a -cloud overhead by day, and a bright, cold moon by night. It blew so -hard for the three succeeding days, that we could not carry more than -close-reefed topsails to it, and a reefed foresail. Indeed, toward six -bells in the forenoon watch of the third day, it came thundering down -with such violence, and the sea increased so much, that we had to hand -the fore-topsail. This was by no means an easy job. "Ease her a bit," -said the first lieutenant,--"there,--shake the wind out of her sails for -a moment, until the men get the canvas in." Whirl, a poor fellow -pitched off the lee foreyard-arm into the sea. "Up with the helm--heave -him the bight of a rope." We kept away, but all was confusion, until -an American midshipman, one of the prisoners on board, hove the bight -of a rope at him. The man got it under his arms, and after hauling him -along for a hundred yards at the least--and one may judge of the -velocity with which he was dragged through the water, by the fact that -it took the united strain of ten powerful men to get him in--he was -brought safely on board, pale and blue, when we found that the running -of the rope had crushed in his broad chest, below his arms, as if it -had been a girl's waist, indenting the very muscles of it and of his -back half an inch deep. He had to be bled before he could breathe, and -it was an hour before the circulation could be restored, by the joint -exertions of the surgeon and gun-room steward, chafing him with -spirits and camphor, after he had been stripped and stowed away -between the blankets in his hammock. - -The same afternoon we fell in with a small prize to the squadron in -the Chesapeake, a dismantled schooner, manned by a prize crew of a -midshipman and six men. She had a signal of distress, an American -ensign, with the union down, hoisted on the jury-mast, across which -there was rigged a solitary lug-sail. It was blowing so hard that we -had some difficulty in boarding her, when we found that she was a -Baltimore pilot-boat-built schooner, of about seventy tons burden, -laden with flour, and bound for Bermuda. But three days before, in a -sudden squall, they had carried away both masts short by the board, -and the only spar which they had been able to rig was a spare topmast, -which they had jammed into one of the pumps,--fortunately she was as -tight as a bottle,--and stayed it the best way they could. The captain -offered to take the little fellow who had charge of her, and his crew -and cargo on board, and then scuttle her; but no--all he wanted was a -cask of water and some biscuit; and having had a glass of grog, he -trundled over the side again, and returned to his desolate command. -However, he afterwards brought his prize safe into Bermuda. - -The weather still continued very rough, but we saw nothing until the -second evening after this. The forenoon had been even more boisterous -than any of the preceding, and we were all fagged enough with "Make -sail," and "Shorten sail," and "All hands," the whole day through; and -as the night fell, I found myself, for the fourth time, in the -maintop. The men had just lain in from the maintopsail-yard, when we -heard the watch called on deck,--"Starboard watch, ahoy!"--which was a -cheery sound to us of the larboard, who were thus released from duty -on deck and allowed to go below. - -The men were scrambling down the weather shrouds, and I was preparing -to follow them, when I jammed my left foot in the grating of the top, -and capsized on my nose. I had been up nearly the whole of the -previous night, and on deck the whole of the day, and actively -employed too, as during the greater part of it it blew a gale. I -stooped down in some pain, to see what had bolted me to the grating; -but I had no sooner extricated my foot than, overworked and -overfatigued as I was, I fell over in the soundest sleep that ever I -have enjoyed before or since, the back of my neck resting on a coil of -rope, so that my head hung down within it. - -The rain all this time was beating on me, and I was drenched to the -skin. I must have slept for four hours or so, when I was awakened by a -rough thump on the side from the stumbling foot of the captain of the -top, the word having been passed to shake a reef out of the topsails, -the wind having rather suddenly gone down. It was done; and now broad -awake, I determined not to be caught napping again, so I descended and -swung myself in on deck out of the main rigging, just as Mr. Treenail -was mustering the crew at eight bells. When I landed on the -quarterdeck, there he stood abaft the binnacle, with the light shining -on his face, his glazed hat glancing, and the raindrops sparkling at -the brim of it. He had noticed me the moment I descended. - -"Heyday, Master Cringle, you are surely out of your watch. Why, what -are you doing here, eh?" - -I stepped up to him and told him the truth, that, being over-fatigued, -I had fallen asleep in the top. - -"Well, well, boy," said he, "never mind, go below, and turn in; if you -don't take your rest, you never will be a sailor. - -"But what do you see aloft?" glancing his eye upwards, and all the -crew on deck, as I passed them, looked anxiously up also amongst the -rigging, as if wondering what I saw there, for I had been so chilled -in my snooze, that my neck, from resting in the cold on the coil of -rope, had become stiffened and rigid to an intolerable degree; and -although, when I first came on deck, I had, by a strong exertion, -brought my caput to its proper bearings, yet the moment I was -dismissed by my proper officer, I for my own comfort was glad to -conform to the contraction of the muscle, whereby I once more staved -along the deck, glowering up into the heavens as if I had seen some -wonderful sight there. - -"What do you see aloft?" repeated Mr. Treenail, while the crew, -greatly puzzled, continued to follow my eyes, as they thought, and to -stare up into the rigging. - -"Why, sir, I have thereby got a stiff neck--that's all, sir." - -"Go and turn in at once, my good boy--make haste, now--tell our steward -to give you a glass of hot grog, and mind your hand that you don't get -sick." - -I did as I was desired, swallowed the grog, and turned in; but I could -not have been in bed above an hour, when the drum beat to quarters, -and I had once more to bundle out on the cold wet deck, where I found -all excitement. At the time I speak of, we had been beaten by the -Americans in several actions of single ships, and our discipline -improved in proportion as we came to learn by sad experience that the -enemy was not to be undervalued. I found that there was a ship in -sight, right ahead of us--apparently carrying all sail. A group of -officers were on the forecastle with night-glasses, the whole crew -being stationed in dark clusters round the guns at quarters. Several -of the American skippers were forward amongst us, and they were of -opinion that the chase was a man-of-war, although our own people -seemed to doubt this. One of the skippers insisted that she was the -Hornet, from the unusual shortness of her lower masts, and the immense -squareness of her yards. But the puzzle was, if it were the Hornet, -why she did not shorten sail. Still this might be accounted for, by -her either wishing to make out what we were before she engaged us, or -she might be clearing for action. At this moment a whole cloud of -studding-sails were blown from the yards as if the booms had been -carrots; and to prove that the chase was keeping a bright lookout, she -immediately kept away, and finally bore up dead before the wind, under -the impression, no doubt, that she would draw ahead of us, from her -gear being entire, before we could rig out our light sails again. - -And so she did for a time, but at length we got within gun-shot. The -American masters were now ordered below, the hatches were clapped on, -and the word was passed to see all clear. Our shot was by this time -flying over and over her, and it was evident she was not a man-of-war. -We peppered away--she could not even be a privateer; we were close -under her lee-quarter, and yet she had never fired a shot; and her -large swaggering Yankee ensign was now run up to the peak, only to be -hauled down the next moment. Hurrah! a large cotton ship, from -Charleston to Bourdeaux, prize to H.M.S. Torch. - -She was taken possession of, and proved to be the Natches, of four -hundred tons burden, fully loaded with cotton. - -By the time we got the crew on board, and the second lieutenant, with -a prize crew of fifteen men, had taken charge, the weather began to -lower again; nevertheless we took the prize in tow, and continued on -our voyage for the next three days, without anything particular -happening. It was the middle watch, when I was startled by a violent -jerking of my hammock, and a cry "that the brig was amongst the -breakers." I ran on deck in my shirt, where I found all hands, and a -scene of confusion such as I never had witnessed before. The gale had -increased, yet the prize had not been cast off, and the consequence -was, that by some mismanagement or carelessness, the sway of the large -ship had suddenly hove the brig in the wind, and taken the sails -aback. We accordingly fetched stern away, and ran foul of the prize, -and there we were, in a heavy sea, with our stern grinding against the -cotton ship's high quarter. - -The mainboom, by the first rasp that took place after I came on deck, -was broken short off, and nearly twelve feet of it hove right in over -the taffrail; the vessels then closed, and the next rub ground off the -ship's mizzen channel as clean as if it had been sawed away. Officers -shouting, men swearing, rigging cracking, the vessels crashing and -thumping together, I thought we were gone, when the first lieutenant -seized his trumpet--"Silence, men; hold your tongues, you cowards, and -mind the word of command!" - -The effect was magical. "Brace round the foreyard; round with it--set -the jib--that's it--foretopmast staysail--haul--never mind if the gale -takes it out of the bolt rope"--a thundering flap, and away it flew in -truth down to leeward, like a puff of white smoke. "Never mind, men, -the jib stands. Belay all that--down with the helm, now don't you see -she has stern way yet? Zounds! we shall be smashed to atoms if you -don't mind your hands, you lubbers--main-topsail sheets let fly--there -she pays off, and has headway once more, that's it--right your helm -now--never mind his spanker-boom, the fore-stay will stand it--there--up -with helm, sir--we have cleared him--hurrah!" And a near thing it was -too, but we soon had everything snug; and although the gale continued -without any intermission for ten days, at length we ran in and -anchored with our prize in Five Fathom Hole, off the entrance to St. -George's Harbor. - -It was lucky for us that we got to anchor at the time we did, for that -same afternoon, one of the most tremendous gales of wind from the -westward came on that I ever saw. Fortunately it was steady and did -not veer about, and having good ground-tackle down, we rode it out -well enough. The effect was very uncommon; the wind was howling over -our mastheads, and amongst the cedar bushes on the cliffs above, while -on deck it was nearly calm, and there was very little swell, being a -weather shore; but half a mile out at sea all was white foam, and the -tumbling waves seemed to meet from north and south, leaving a space of -smooth water under the lee of the island, shaped like the tail of a -comet, tapering away, and gradually roughening and becoming more -stormy, until the roaring billows once more owned allegiance to the -genius of the storm. Then we rode, with three anchors ahead, in safety -through the night; and next day, availing of a temporary lull, we ran -up, and anchored off the Tanks. Three days after this, the American -frigate President was brought in by the Endymion, and the rest of the -squadron. - - - - - TREASURE ISLAND - -Jim Hawkins, the boy hero of Stevenson's tale, had sailed with a party -of adventuresome gentlemen on the ship Hispaniola, to find the pirate -gold which, as they had private proof, lay buried on Treasure Island. -Unfortunately, the crew was largely composed of ruffians, who had -themselves been pirates, and who also knew of the buried treasure. On -reaching the island, these fellows mutinied and tried to kill brave -Captain Smollett and the party of gold-seekers. As their only means of -safety the latter went ashore and entrenched themselves in a stockade -which former visitors had built there; while the Hispaniola, anchored -in the harbor, fell into the hands of the pirates, who promptly -hoisted the black flag. One foggy night Jim, who was an adventurous -and inquisitive lad, secretly stole out from the stockade and found -hidden in a cove a tiny home-made boat, clumsy and queer. This boat -was "buoyant and clever in a sea-way, but the most cross-grained, -lopsided craft to manage. Turning round and round was the manoeuvre she -was best at." However, he managed to paddle out to the Hispaniola, -intending to cut her moorings. With some difficulty he accomplished -this design, but immediately a change of wind and current seized both -ship and coracle, and sent them spinning out through the narrows -towards open sea. Expecting to be dashed in pieces on some bar or in -the raging breakers, Jim lay down helpless, and overcome by weariness -and anxiety fell asleep. "The Cruise of the Coracle" begins at this -point. - - - - - THE CRUISE OF THE CORACLE - - (From Treasure Island.) - - By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON. - - -It was broad day when I awoke, and found myself tossing at the -southwest end of Treasure Island. The sun was up, but was still hid -from me behind the great bulk of the Spy-glass, which on this side -descended almost to the sea in formidable cliffs. -Haulbowline Head and Mizzenmast Hill were at my elbow; the hill bare -and dark, the head bound with cliffs forty or fifty feet high, and -fringed with great masses of fallen rock. I was scarce a quarter of a -mile to seaward, and it was my first thought to paddle in and land. - -That notion was soon given over. Among the fallen rocks the breakers -spouted and bellowed; loud reverberations, heavy sprays flying and -falling, succeeded one another from second to second; and I saw -myself, if I ventured nearer, dashed to death upon the rough shore, or -spending my strength in vain to scale the beetling crags. - -Nor was that all; for crawling together on flat tables of rock, or -letting themselves drop into the sea with loud reports, I beheld huge -slimy monsters--soft snails, as it were, of incredible bigness--two or -three score of them together, making the rocks to echo with their -barkings. - -I have understood since that they were sea-lions, and entirely -harmless. But the look of them, added to the difficulty of the shore -and the high running of the surf, was more than enough to disgust me -of that landing-place. I felt willing rather to starve at sea than to -confront such perils. - -In the meantime I had a better chance, as I supposed, before me. North -of Haulbowline Head, the land runs in a long way, leaving, at low -tide, a long stretch of yellow sand. To the north of that, again, -there comes another cape--Cape of the Woods, as it was marked upon the -chart--buried in tall green pines, which descended to the margin of the -sea. - -I remembered what Silver had said about the current that sets -northward along the whole west coast of Treasure Island; and seeing -from my position that I was already under its influence, I preferred -to leave Haulbowline Head behind me, and reserve my strength for an -attempt to land upon the kindlier-looking Cape of the Woods. - -There was a great, smooth swell upon the sea. The wind blowing steady -and gentle from the south, there was no contrariety between that and -the current, and the billows rose and fell unbroken. - -Had it been otherwise, I must long ago have perished; but as it was, -it is surprising how easily and securely my little and light boat -could ride. Often, as I still lay at the bottom, and kept no more than -an eye above the gunwale, I would see a big blue summit heaving close -above me; yet the coracle would but bounce a little, dance as if on -springs, and subside on the other side into the trough as lightly as a -bird. - -I began after a little to grow very bold, and sat up to try my skill -at paddling. But even a small change in the disposition of the weight -will produce violent changes in the behavior of a coracle. And I had -hardly moved before the boat, giving up at once her gentle dancing -movement, ran straight down a slope of water so steep that it made me -giddy, and struck her nose, with a spout of spray, deep into the side -of the next wave. - -I was drenched and terrified, and fell instantly back into my old -position, whereupon the coracle seemed to find her head again, and led -me as softly as before among the billows. It was plain she was not to -be interfered with, and at that rate, since I could in no way -influence her course, what hope had I left of reaching land? - -I began to be horribly frightened, but I kept my head, for all that. -First, moving with all care, I gradually baled out the coracle with my -sea-cap; then getting my eye once more above the gunwale, I set myself -to study how it was she managed to slip so quietly through the -rollers. - -I found each wave, instead of the big, smooth, glossy mountain it -looks from shore, or from a vessel's deck, was for all the world like -any range of hills on the dry land, full of peaks and smooth places -and valleys. The coracle, left to herself, turning from side to side, -threaded, so to speak, her way through these lower parts, and avoided -the steep slopes and higher, toppling summits of the waves. - -"Well, now," thought I to myself, "it is plain I must lie where I am, -and not disturb the balance; but it is plain, also, that I can put the -paddle over the side, and from time to time, in smooth places, give -her a shove or two towards land." No sooner thought upon than done. -There I lay on my elbows, in the most trying attitude, and every now -and again gave a weak stroke or two to turn her head to shore. - -It was very tiring, and slow to work, yet I did visibly gain ground; -and, as we drew near the Cape of the Woods, though I saw I must -infallibly miss that point, I had still made some hundred yards of -easting. I was, indeed, close in. I could see the cool, green -tree-tops swaying together in the breeze, and I felt sure I should -make the next promontory without fail. - -It was high time, for I now began to be tortured with thirst. The glow -of the sun from above, its thousand-fold reflection from the waves, -the sea-water that fell and dried upon me, caking my very lips with -salt, combined to make my throat burn and my brain ache. The sight of -the trees so near at hand had almost made me sick with longing; but -the current had soon carried me past the point; and, as the next reach -of sea opened out, I beheld a sight that changed the nature of my -thoughts. - -Right in front of me, not half a mile away, I beheld the Hispaniola -under sail. I made sure, of course, that I should be taken; but I was -so distressed for want of water, that I scarce knew whether to be glad -or sorry at the thought; and, long before I had come to a conclusion, -surprise had taken entire possession of my mind, and I could do -nothing but stare and wonder. - -The Hispaniola was under her mainsail and two jibs, and the beautiful -white canvas shone in the sun like snow or silver. When I first -sighted her, all her sails were drawing; she was lying a course about -north-west; and I presumed the men on board were going round the -island on their way back to the anchorage. Presently she began to -fetch more and more to the westward, so that I thought they had -sighted me and were going about in chase. At last, however, she fell -right into the wind's eye, was taken dead aback, and stood there a -while helpless, with her sails shivering. - -"Clumsy fellows," said I; "they must still be drunk as owls." And I -thought how Captain Smollett would have set them skipping. - -Meanwhile, the schooner gradually fell off, and filled again upon -another tack, sailed swiftly for a minute or so, and brought up once -more dead in the wind's eye. Again and again was this repeated. To and -fro, up and down, north, south, east, and west, the Hispaniola sailed -by swoops and dashes, and at each repetition ended as she had begun, -with idly-flapping canvas. It became plain to me that nobody was -steering. And, if so, where were the men? Either they were dead drunk, -or had deserted her, I thought, and perhaps if I could get on board, I -might return the vessel to her captain. - -The current was bearing coracle and schooner southward at an equal -rate. As for the latter's sailing, it was so wild and intermittent, -and she hung each time so long in stays, that she certainly gained -nothing, if she did not even lose. If only I dared to sit up and -paddle, I made sure that I could overhaul her. The scheme had an air -of adventure that inspired me, and the thought of the water beaker -beside the fore companion doubled my growing courage. - -Up I got, was welcomed almost instantly by another cloud of spray, but -this time stuck to my purpose; and set myself, with all my strength -and caution, to paddle after the unsteered Hispaniola. Once I shipped -a sea so heavy that I had to stop and bale, with my heart fluttering -like a bird; but gradually I got into the way of the thing, and guided -my coracle among the waves, with only now and then a blow upon her -bows and a dash of foam in my face. - -I was now gaining rapidly on the schooner; I could see the brass -glisten on the tiller as it banged about; and still no soul appeared -upon her decks. I could not choose but suppose she was deserted. If -not, the men were lying drunk below, where I might batten them down, -perhaps, and do what I chose with the ship. - -For some time she had been doing the worst thing possible for -me--standing still. She headed nearly due south, yawing, of course, all -the time. Each time she fell off her sails partly filled, and these -brought her, in a moment, right to the wind again. I have said this -was the worst thing possible for me; for helpless as she looked in -this situation, with the canvas cracking like cannon, and the blocks -trundling and banging on the deck, she still continued to run away -from me, not only with the speed of the current, but by the whole -amount of her leeway, which was naturally great. - -But now, at last, I had my chance. The breeze fell, for some seconds, -very low, and the current gradually turning her, the Hispaniola -revolved slowly round her centre, and at last presented me her stern, -with the cabin window still gaping open, and the lamp over the table -still burning on into the day. The mainsail hung drooped like a -banner. She was stock-still, but for the current. - -For the last little while I had even lost; but now redoubling my -efforts, I began once more to overhaul the chase. - -I was not a hundred yards from her when the wind came again in a clap; -she filled on the port tack, and was off again, stooping and skimming -like a swallow. - -My first impulse was one of despair, but my second was towards joy. -Round she came, till she was broadside on to me--round still till she -had covered a half, and then two-thirds, and then three-quarters of -the distance that separated us. I could see the waves boiling white -under her forefoot. Immensely tall she looked to me from my low -station in the coracle. - -And then, of a sudden, I began to comprehend. I had scarce time to -think--scarce time to act and save myself. I was on the summit of one -swell when the schooner came stooping over the next. The bowsprit was -over my head. I sprang to my feet, and leaped, stamping the coracle -under water. With one hand I caught the jib-boom, while my foot was -lodged between the stay and the brace; and as I still clung there -panting, a dull blow told me that the schooner had charged down upon -and struck the coracle, and that I was left without retreat on the -Hispaniola. - - - - - THE LANDING ON THE ISLAND - - (From The Swiss Family Robinson.) - - By JEAN RUDOLF WYSS. - - -For many days we had been tempest-tossed. Six times had the darkness -closed over a wild and terrific scene, and returning light as often -brought but renewed distress, for the raging storm increased in fury -until on the seventh day all hope was lost. We were driven completely -out of our course; no conjecture could be formed as to our -whereabouts. The crew had lost heart, and were utterly exhausted by -incessant labor.... - -My heart sank as I looked round upon my family in the midst of these -horrors. Our four young sons were overpowered by terror. "Dear -children," said I, "if the Lord will, he can save us even from this -fearful peril; if not, let us calmly yield our lives into his hand, -and think of the joy and blessedness of finding ourselves forever and -ever united in that happy home above." - -At these words my weeping wife looked bravely up, and, as the boys -clustered round her, she began to cheer and encourage them with calm -and loving words. I rejoiced to see her fortitude, though my heart was -ready to break as I gazed on my dear ones.... - -Amid the roar of the thundering waves I suddenly heard the cry of -"Land, land!" while at the same instant the ship struck with a -frightful shock, which threw everyone to the deck, and seemed to -threaten her immediate destruction. - -Dreadful sounds betokened the breaking up of the ship, and the roaring -waters poured in on all sides. - -Then the voice of the captain was heard above the tumult, shouting, -"Lower away the boats! We are lost!"... - -Throughout the night my wife and I maintained our prayerful watch, -dreading at every fresh sound some fatal change in the position of the -wreck. - -At length the faint dawn of day appeared, the long, weary night was -over, and with thankful hearts we perceived that the gale had begun to -moderate; blue sky was seen above us, and the lovely hues of sunrise -adorned the eastern horizon. - -I aroused the boys, and we assembled on the remaining portion of the -deck, when they, to their surprise, discovered that no one else was on -board. - -"Hallo, papa! what has become of everybody? Are the sailors gone? Have -they taken away the boats? Oh, papa! why did they leave us behind? -What can we do by ourselves?" - -"My good children," I replied, "we must not despair, although we seem -deserted. See how those on whose skill and good faith we depended have -left us cruelly to our fate in the hour of danger. God will never do -so. He has not forsaken us, and we will trust him still. Only let us -bestir ourselves, and each cheerily do his best. Let each try to -procure what will be of most use to us."... - -Fritz brought out a couple of guns, shot belt, powder flasks, and -plenty of bullets. - -Ernest produced a cap full of nails, an axe and a hammer, while -pinchers, chisels, and augers stuck out of all his pockets. - -Little Franz carried a box, and eagerly began to show us the "nice -sharp little hooks" it contained. "Well done, Franz," cried I; "these -fish-hooks, which you, the youngest, have found, may contribute more -than anything else in the ship to save our lives by procuring food for -us. Fritz and Ernest, you have chosen well." - -"Will you praise me, too?" said my dear wife. "I have nothing to show, -but I can give you good news. Some useful animals are still alive; a -cow, a donkey, two goats, six sheep, a ram and a fine sow. I was but -just in time to save their lives by taking food to them." - -"All these things are excellent indeed," said I; "but my friend Jack -here has presented me with a couple of huge, hungry, useless dogs, who -will eat more than any of us." - -"Oh, papa, they will be of use! Why, they will help us to hunt when we -get on shore!" - -"No doubt they will, if ever we do get on shore, Jack; but I must say -I don't know how it is to be done." - -"Can't we each get into a big tub, and float there?" returned he. "I -have often sailed splendidly like that, round the pond at home." - -"My child, you have hit on a capital idea," cried I. "Now, Ernest, let -me have your tools, hammers, nails, saws, augers, and all; and then -make haste to collect any tubs you can find!" - -We very soon found four large casks, made of sound wood, and strongly -bound with iron hoops; they were floating with many other things in -the water in the hold, but we managed to fish them out, and drag them -to a suitable place for launching them. They were exactly what I -wanted, and I succeeded in sawing them across the middle. Hard work it -was, and we were glad enough to stop and refresh ourselves with wine -and biscuits. - -My eight tubs now stood ranged in a row near the water's edge, and I -looked at them with great satisfaction; to my surprise, my wife did -not seem to share my pleasure! - -"I shall never," said she, "muster courage to get into one of those!" - -"Do not be too sure of that, dear wife; when you see my contrivance -completed, you will perhaps prefer it to this immovable wreck."... - -All being ready, we cast off, and moved away from the wreck. My good, -brave wife sat in the first compartment of the boat; next her was -Franz, a pretty little boy, nearly eight years old. Then came Fritz, a -handsome, spirited young fellow of fifteen; the two centre tubs -contained the valuable cargo; then came our bold, thoughtless Jack; -next him Ernest, my second son, intelligent, well-formed, and rather -indolent. I myself, the anxious, loving father, stood in the stern, -endeavoring to guide the raft with its precious burden to a safe -landing-place. - -The elder boys took the oars; every one wore a float belt, and had -something useful close to him in case of being thrown into the water. - -The tide was flowing, which was a great help to the young oarsmen. We -emerged from the wreck and glided into the open sea. All eyes were -strained to get a full view of the land, and the boys pulled with a -will; but for some time we made no progress, as the boat kept turning -round and round, until I hit upon the right way to steer it, after -which we merrily made for the shore. - -We had left two large dogs, Turk and Juno, on the wreck, as being both -large mastiffs we did not care to have their additional weight on -board our craft; but when they saw us apparently deserting them, they -set up a piteous howl, and sprang into the sea. I was sorry to see -this, for the distance to the land was so great that I scarcely -expected them to be able to accomplish it. They followed us, however, -and, occasionally resting their fore-paws on the outriggers, kept up -with us well. Jack was inclined to deny them this, their only chance -of safety. "Stop," said I, "that would be unkind as well as foolish; -remember, the merciful man regardeth the life of his beast." - -Our passage, though tedious, was safe; but the nearer we approached -the shore the less inviting it appeared; the barren rocks seemed to -threaten us with misery and want. - -Many casks, boxes, and bales of goods floated on the water around us. -Fritz and I managed to secure a couple of hogsheads, so as to tow them -alongside. With the prospect of famine before us, it was desirable to -lay hold of anything likely to contain provisions. - -By and by we began to perceive that, between and beyond the cliffs, -green grass and trees were discernible. Fritz could distinguish many -tall palms, and Ernest hoped they would prove to be cocoanut trees, -and enjoyed the thought of drinking the refreshing milk. - -"I am very sorry I never thought of bringing away the captain's -telescope," said I. - -"Oh, look here, father!" cried Jack, drawing a little spyglass -joyfully out of his pocket. - -By means of this glass, I made out that at some distance to the left -the coast was much more inviting; a strong current however, carried us -directly toward the frowning rocks, but I presently observed an -opening, where a stream flowed into the sea, and saw that our geese -and ducks were swimming towards this place. I steered after them into -the creek, and we found ourselves in a small bay or inlet where the -water was perfectly smooth and of moderate depth. The ground sloped -gently upward from the low banks of the cliffs, which here retired -inland, leaving a small plain, on which it was easy for us to land. -Everyone sprang gladly out of the boat but little Franz, who, lying -packed in his tub like a potted shrimp, had to be lifted out by his -mother.... - -Fritz meanwhile, leaving a loaded gun with me, took another himself, -and went along the rough coast to see what lay beyond the stream; this -fatiguing sort of walk not suiting Ernest's fancy, he sauntered down -to the beach, and Jack scrambled among the rocks, searching for -shellfish. - -I was anxious to land the two casks which were floating alongside our -boat, but on attempting to do so I found that I could not get them up -the bank on which we had landed, and was therefore obliged to look for -a more convenient spot. As I did so, I was startled by hearing Jack -shouting for help, as though in great danger. He was at some distance, -and I hurried toward him with a hatchet in my hand. The little fellow -stood screaming in a deep pool, and as I approached, I saw that a huge -lobster had caught his leg in its powerful claw. Poor Jack was in a -terrible fright; kick as he would, his enemy still clung on. I waded -into the water, and seizing the lobster firmly by the back, managed to -make it loosen its hold, and we brought it safe to land. Jack, having -speedily recovered his spirits, and anxious to take such a prize to -his mother, caught the lobster in both hands, but instantly received -such a severe blow from its tail that he flung it down, and -passionately hit the creature with a large stone. This display of -temper vexed me. "You are acting in a very childish way, my son," said -I; "never strike an enemy in a revengeful spirit." Once more lifting -the lobster, Jack ran triumphantly toward the tent. - -"Mother, mother! a lobster, Ernest! look here, Franz! mind, he'll bite -you! Where's Fritz?" All came crowding round Jack and his prize, -wondering at its unusual size, and Ernest wanted his mother to make -lobster soup directly, by adding it to what she was now boiling. - -She, however, begged to decline making any such experiment, and said -she preferred cooking one dish at a time. Having remarked that the -scene of Jack's adventure afforded a convenient place for getting my -casks on shore, I returned thither and succeeded in drawing them up on -the beach, where I set them on end, and for the present left them. - -On my return, I resumed the subject of Jack's lobster, and told him he -should have the offending claw all to himself, when it was ready to be -eaten, congratulating him on being the first to discover anything -useful. - -"As to that," said Ernest, "I found something very good to eat, as -well as Jack, only I could not get at them without wetting my feet." - -"Pooh!" cried Jack, "I know what he saw--nothing but some nasty -mussels; I saw them too. Who wants to eat trash like that? Lobster for -me!" - -"I believe them to be oysters, not mussels," returned Ernest calmly. - -"Be good enough, my philosophical young friend, to fetch a few -specimens of these oysters in time for our next meal," said I; "we -must all exert ourselves, Ernest, for the common good, and pray never -let me hear you object to wetting your feet. See how quickly the sun -has dried Jack and me." - -"I can bring some salt at the same time," said Ernest. "I remarked a -good deal lying in the crevices of the rocks; it tasted very pure and -good, and I concluded it was produced by the evaporation of sea-water -in the sun." - -"Extremely probable, learned sir," cried I; "but if you had brought a -bagful of this good salt instead of merely speculating so profoundly -on the subject, it would have been more to the purpose. Run and fetch -some directly." - -It proved to be salt sure enough, although so impure that it seemed -useless, till my wife dissolved and strained it, when it became fit to -put in the soup. - -"Why not use the sea-water itself?" asked Jack. - -"Because," said Ernest, "it is not only salt, but bitter too. Just try -it." - -"Now," said my wife, tasting the soup with the stick with which she -had been stirring it, "dinner is ready, but where can Fritz be?" she -continued, a little anxiously.... - -He presently appeared before us, his hands behind his back, and a look -of disappointment upon his countenance. - -"Unsuccessful!" said he. - -"Really!" I replied; "never mind, my boy, better luck next time." - -"Oh, Fritz!" exclaimed his brothers, who had looked behind him, "a -sucking-pig, a little sucking-pig. Where did you get it? How did you -shoot it? Do let us see it!".... - -"It was one of several," said Fritz, "which I found on the shore; most -curious animals they are; they hopped rather than walked, and every -now and then would squat down on their legs and rub their snouts with -their fore-paws. Had not I been afraid of losing them all, I would -have tried to catch one alive, they seemed so tame." - -Meanwhile Ernest had been carefully examining the animal in question. - -"This is no pig," he said; "and except for its bristly skin, does not -look like one. See, its teeth are not like those of a pig, but rather -those of a squirrel. In fact," he continued, looking at Fritz, "your -sucking-pig is an agouti." - -"Dear me," said Fritz; "listen to the great professor lecturing! He is -going to prove that a pig is not a pig!" - -"You need not be so quick to laugh at your brother," said I, in my -turn; "he is quite right. I, too, know the agouti by descriptions and -pictures, and there is little doubt that this is a specimen. The -little animal is a native of North America, where it makes its nest -under the roots of trees, and lives upon fruit. But, Ernest, the -agouti not only looks something like a pig, but most decidedly grunts -like a porker." - -While we were thus talking, Jack had been vainly endeavoring to open -an oyster with his large knife. "Here is a simpler way," said I, -placing an oyster on the fire; it immediately opened. "Now," I -continued, "who will try this delicacy?" All at first hesitated to -partake of them, so unattractive did they appear. Jack, however, -tightly closing his eyes and making a face as though about to take -medicine, gulped one down. We followed his example, one after the -other, each doing so rather to provide himself with a spoon than with -any hope of cultivating a taste for oysters. - -Our spoons were now ready, and gathering round the pot we dipped them -in, not, however, without sundry scalded fingers. Ernest then drew -from his pocket the large shell he had procured for his own use, and -scooping up a good quantity of soup he put it down to cool, smiling at -his own foresight. - -"Prudence should be exercised for others," I remarked; "your cool soup -will do capitally for the dogs, my boy; take it to them, and then come -and eat like the rest of us...." - -By this time the sun was sinking beneath the horizon, and the poultry, -which had been straying to some little distance, gathered round us, -and began to pick up the crumbs of biscuits which had fallen during -our repast. My wife hereupon drew from her mysterious bag some -handfuls of oats, peas, and other grain, and with them began to feed -the poultry. She showed me at the same time several other seeds of -various vegetables. "That was indeed thoughtful," said I; "but pray be -careful of what will be of such value to us; we can bring plenty of -damaged biscuits from the wreck, which, though of no use as food for -us, will suit the fowls very well indeed." - -The pigeons now flew up to crevices in the rocks, the fowls perched -themselves on our tent pole, and the ducks waddled off, cackling and -quacking, to the marshy margin of the river. We, too, were ready for -repose, and having loaded our guns, and offered up our prayers to God, -thanking Him for His many mercies to us, we commended ourselves to His -protecting care, and as the last ray of light departed, closed our -tent and lay down to rest. - - - - -NOTES - -Cooper, J. F., born in New Jersey, 1789; died, 1851. He followed the -sea for five years, after three years at Yale. His first novel, -"Precaution," was published when he was thirty. His chief books are -"The Spy," "The Pilot," "The Last of the Mohicans," "The Prairie," -"Red Rover," "The Bravo," "The Pathfinder," "The Deerslayer," "The Two -Admirals," "Wing and Wing," and "Satanstoe," all of them either -sea-tales or tales of frontier life. - -Bullen, F. T., English author and lecturer, born, 1857; educated at a -dame's school; started life as errand-boy; from 1869 to 1883 was at -sea in all capacities up to and including chief mate, then clerk in -the English meteorological office until 1899. In addition to "The -Cruise of the Cachalot," he has written "Idylls of the Sea," "The Log -of a Sea Waif," "The Men of the Merchant Service," "With Christ at -Sea," and many articles, poems, and sketches. - -Cleveland, R. J., was the brother of the great-grandfather of Grover -Cleveland; born in Salem in 1740; died about 1786; when sixteen years -old was seized by a press-gang in Boston streets, and served for -several years on board an English frigate under William Trelawney, -afterwards Sir William, Governor of Jamaica. He was long occupied in -the merchant service; and when the Revolution broke out he, with his -brig _Pilgrim_, captured over fifty British prizes. His "Narrative of -Voyages and Commercial Enterprises" was not published until 1842, and -it was republished at once in England, and went through three editions -here. - -Cupples, George, born in Berwickshire, Scotland, 1822; died, 1901. Son -of a Scottish clergyman. He had a strong desire to go to sea: at -sixteen he was apprenticed as a sailor, and made a voyage to India and -back. After studying art and divinity, on his return, he devoted -himself to literature, and besides "The Green Hand," he wrote "The Two -Frigates" and some other books, and contributed largely to magazines. - -Dana, R. H., American author and lawyer; born, 1815; died 1882; -graduated at Harvard 1837; afterward shipped as a common sailor and -made a voyage to California. He described the voyage in "Two Years -Before the Mast." Became a distinguished maritime lawyer, and wrote -"The Seaman's Friend," "To Cuba and Back," and edited an edition of -Wheaton's International Law. - -Defoe, D., born in London, 1661; died, 1731; a great politician in his -time, but best remembered by his "Robinson Crusoe." His political -pamphlets, of which he wrote over four hundred, caused him to be -imprisoned and pilloried, and his books to be burned by the common -hangman. Among his other writings are "The Memoirs of a Cavalier," -"Captain Singleton," "A History of the Plague," and "The History of -Colonel Jack." - -Dickens, Charles, born, 1812; died, 1870. As a boy he had a very hard -life, and much of the story of "David Copperfield" is -autobiographical. He became a reporter, and began to write about 1833. -His chief books are "Sketches by Boz," "Pickwick," "Oliver Twist," -"Nicholas Nickleby," "Old Curiosity Shop," "Barnaby Rudge," "A Tale of -Two Cities," "Martin Chuzzlewit," "Bleak House," "Dombey and Son," -"Little Dorrit," and "Our Mutual Friend." - -Ingelow, J., English poetess and novelist, born, 1820; died, 1899. Her -chief novels are "Off the Skelligs," "Fated to be Free," "Don John," -and "Sarah de Berenger." "The Hightide on the Coast of Lincolnshire," -and "A Story of Doom," are the best known of her poetical writings. - -Kingsley, Charles, an English clergyman and author, born in -Devonshire, 1819; died, 1875. From 1844, until his death, he was -rector of Eversley, in Hampshire. In 1873 he was appointed Canon of -Westminster and Chaplain to Queen Victoria. He wrote "Alton Locke" and -"Yeast," "Two Years Ago," "Hereward the Wake," "Hypatia," and -"Westward Ho!" And under the pen-name of "Parson Lot" wrote much on -Christian Socialism. A charming book of travel, "At Last," and "The -Heroes," "Glaucus," "The Water Babies," "Prose Idylls," "Health and -Education," are some of his other books. His "Life," by his widow, is -a most interesting biography. - -Kingston, W. H. G., English writer of boys' stories; born, 1814; died, -1880. His father was a merchant in Oporto, and his voyages thence to -London gave him his knowledge of ships and sailing. His first book for -boys, "Peter, the Whaler," had an immense success. Among his most -popular books are "The Three Midshipmen," "The Three Lieutenants," and -"The Three Admirals." He wrote over 120 books of this kind, all -simple, vigorous, and healthy in tone. - -Loti, Pierre, French marine officer and author, born in 1850. He -entered the navy in 1867, and at first sailed the Pacific Ocean. He -went through the Chinese campaign with distinction. Among his numerous -books may be cited, "Aziyade," "Le Mariage de Loti," "The Romance of a -Spahi," "The Iceland Fisherman," "Madame Chrysanthemum," "The Romance -of a Child," "The Book of Pity and of Death," and "A Phantom of the -East." - -Marryat, Capt. F., English author, born, 1792; died, 1848. In 1806 -went as midshipman on board the frigate _Imperieuse_. He followed the -sea until 1830, and then devoted himself to literature. He wrote -"Frank Mildmay," "The King's Own," "Peter Simple," "Jacob Faithful," -"Mr. Midshipman Easy," "Snarleyyow," "The Pasha of Many Tales," etc. -In 1837 he visited America, and afterward published his "Diary in -America;" "Settlers in Canada," and "The Children of the New Forest," -were his last works. - -Melville, H., American author, born, 1819; died, 1891; became a -sailor, and deserted, owing to the captain's harsh treatment; was kept -prisoner by a savage tribe in the Marquesas Islands, and was rescued -by an Australian whaler. "Typee" contains an account of this -adventure. "Omoo" continues his adventures in the Marquesas. "Moby -Dick" and "Red Jacket" are among his best-known sea tales. He also -published some volumes of verse. - -Reade, C., English novelist and playwright, born, 1814; died, 1884; -studied at Oxford, and was called to the bar. He wrote several plays -which proved very popular. Of his eighteen novels may be mentioned -"Peg Woffington," "Christie Johnson," "It is Never Too Late to Mend," -"The Cloister and the Hearth," "Hard Cash," "Griffith Gaunt," "Foul -Play," and "A Terrible Temptation." - -Russell, W. Clark, sea-story writer, born in New York, 1844. Son of -Henry Russell, author of "Cheer, Boys, Cheer." He went to sea in a -merchantman at thirteen and a half, but abandoned it after seven or -eight years. His first nautical novel was "John Holdsworth, Chief -Mate" (published in 1874). "The Wreck of the Grosvenor" is the most -popular of his stories. He also wrote "A Sailor's Sweetheart," "Little -Lou," "An Ocean Free Lance," "A Sea Queen," "The Lady Maud," "My -Shipmate Louise," "Round the Galley Fire," "An Ocean Tragedy," "The -Emigrant Ship," "List, Ye Landsmen," "What Cheer," "The Two Captains," -"The Romance of a Midshipman," and many others. - -Scott, Michael, English author, born, 1789; died, 1835. Spent a great -part of his life in the West Indies, and finally established himself -in business in Glasgow, where he died. He wrote "Tom Cringle's Log" -and "The Cruise of the Midge," and contributed largely to Blackwood's -Magazine, in which these stories first appeared. - -Stevenson, R. L., born in Edinburgh, 1850; died, 1894; was trained as -a lawyer, but soon turned his attention to literature. From his -childhood he had written constantly. Among essays and stories, he -wrote "An Inland Voyage," "Travels with a Donkey," "Virginibus -Puerisque," "New Arabian Nights," "Treasure Island," "Kidnapped," "The -Master of Ballantrae," "Prince Otto," "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll -and Mr. Hyde," etc., and "A Child's Garden of Verse." - -Wyss, J. R., born in Switzerland, 1781; died, 1830, at Bern, where he -was professor of philosophy and chief librarian. "The Swiss Family -Robinson" is the work by which his name is best remembered. It -appeared in two volumes in 1812-13. Was translated into English, the -first volume in 1820, the second in 1849. Since then countless -editions have appeared. - - - - -A BOOK OF SEA STORIES - -SUGGESTIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY READING - - The Loss of the Swansea - William L. Alden - - The Coral Island - Robert M. Ballentyne - - Picked up Adrift - James DeMille - - Perseverance Island - Douglas Fraser - - Voyage of the Constance - Mary Gillies - - Voyages of Elizabethan Seamen - E. Hakluyt - - Stories of the Sea - Edward Everett Hale - - Starboard and Port - George H. Hepworth - - Twenty Years at Sea - Frederick Stanhope Hill - - The Sinking of the Merrimac - Richmond P. Hobson - - Captains Courageous - Rudyard Kipling - - Notable Voyages from Columbus to Parry - W. H. G. Kingston - - Six Months on a Slaver - E. Manning - - Northward Ho - Albert H. Markham - - Typee - Herman Melville - - In Peril and Privation - James Payne - - The Boy Tar - Mayne Reid - - Around the World with the Blue Jackets - H. D. Rhodes - - Voyage to the Cape - William Clark Russell - - From Forecastle to Cabin - S. Samuels - - Midshipman Paulding - - Twelve Naval Captains - Molly E. Seawell - - Thirty Years at Sea - Edward Shippen - - Sailor Boys of '61 - James R. Soley - - From Pole to Pole - Gordon Stables - - By Way of Cape Horn - Paul E. Stevenson - - Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sea Stories, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SEA STORIES *** - -***** This file should be named 42409.txt or 42409.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/4/0/42409/ - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -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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