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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 <a -href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: A Whaleman's Wife</p> -<p>Author: Frank Thomas Bullen</p> -<p>Release Date: June 28, 2021 [eBook #65718]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WHALEMAN'S WIFE***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4 class="pgx" title="">E-text prepared by MWS, SF2001,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (https://www.pgdp.net)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (https://archive.org)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/whalemanswife00bullrich - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="chapter"> - <div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_cover" style="max-width: 30em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover" /> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h1>A WHALEMAN’S WIFE</h1> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p> - -<div class="page-in-box"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WORKS_BY_THE_SAME_AUTHOR"><small>WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.</small></h2> -<p> -THE CRUISE OF THE CACHALOT.<br /> -THE LOG OF A SEA WAIF.<br /> -THE MEN OF THE MERCHANT SERVICE.<br /> -IDYLLS OF THE SEA.<br /> -WITH CHRIST AT SEA.<br /> -A SACK OF SHAKINGS.<br /> -DEEP SEA PLUNDERINGS.<br /> -THE APOSTLES OF THE SOUTH-EAST.<br /> -WITH CHRIST IN SAILORTOWN.<br /> -THE PALACE OF POOR JACK.<br /> -THE WAY THEY HAVE IN THE NAVY. -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter illowp50" id="i_frontis" style="max-width: 28em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_frontis.jpg" alt="" /> - - <div class="caption"><p>SHE STOOD THERE FRAMED IN THE PORTAL LIKE A GRACEFUL PICTURE.</p> - <div class="blockquot"> - <p><a href="#picture"><i>P. 11.</i></a></p> - </div> - </div> - -</div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p> - -<div class="page-in-box"> -<p class="center"> -<big><span class="red">A Whaleman’s Wife</span></big><br /> -By Frank T. Bullen<br /> -</p> - -<p class="center"><big>☙</big></p> - -<p class="center"> -LONDON: <span class="red">HODDER AND<br /> -STOUGHTON</span><big> 🙡 🙡</big> 27 <br /> -PATERNOSTER ROW : MCMII -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"> -<small>PRINTED BY<br /> -SPOTTISWOODE AND CO. LTD., NEW-STREET SQUARE<br /> -LONDON</small> -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"> -TO<br /> -<big>THEODORE ROOSEVELT</big><br /> -PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<br /> -<br /> -A SMALL TOKEN OF THE AUTHOR’S ESTEEM<br /> -FOR A STRONG CHRISTIAN<br /> -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table summary="TOC"> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="right"><span class="allsmcap">CHAPTER</span></td> - <td /> - <td><span class="allsmcap">PAGE</span></td> - </tr> -<tr><td class="right">I.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Unrequited Love</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">1</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">II.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">‘Veni, Vidi, Vici’</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">9</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">III.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">A Sudden Resolve</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">17</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">IV.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Departure</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">25</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">V.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Outward Bound</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">34</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">VI.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Disillusionment</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">43</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">VII.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">A Stricken Demon</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">54</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">VIII.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">A Disastrous Day</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">69</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">IX.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">Reuben Eddy, Mariner</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">85</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">X.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">The <i>Good</i> Ship ‘Xiphias’</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">99</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XI.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">At the Old Homestead</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">115</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XII.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Repairing Damages</a> - <span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></td> - <td class="tocpage">130</td> - </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XIII.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII" >The Captain Goes Ashore</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">146</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XIV.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV" >Among Right Whales</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">162</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XV.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV" >A Double Deliverance</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">176</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XVI.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI" >A Reign of Terror</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">192</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XVII.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII" >Salvage Operations</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">207</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XVIII.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">Humanity Rewarded</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">221</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XIX.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX" >A Great Blow</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">236</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XX.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX" >The Cyclone</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">251</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XXI.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI" >A Strange Rescue</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">267</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XXII.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII" >The Meeting</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">283</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XXIII.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">Farewell to the <i>Xiphias</i></a></td> - <td class="tocpage">297</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XXIV.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV" >Check to the King, and a New Move</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">311</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XXV.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV" >The Education of the Skipper</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">326</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XXVI.</td> - <td class="toctext"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI" >The Loss of the <i>Grampus</i></a></td> - <td class="tocpage">344</td> </tr> -<tr><td class="right">XXVII.</td> - <td class="toctext"> - <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">And Last</a></td> - <td class="tocpage">361</td> - </tr> -<tr><td /> - <td class="toctext"><span class="smcap"> - <a href="#WORKS">Works by the Same Author</a></span></td> - <td class="tocpage"> 379</td> - </tr> - </tbody> -</table> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">UNREQUITED LOVE</p> - -<p>‘Yew don’ seem ter keer any gret amount fer me, -Pris.’</p> - -<p>The speaker was a young man of twenty or thereabouts, -whose loosely jointed frame showed, even -under the shapely rig of homespun, consisting of -just a shirt and pants, a promise to the observant eye -that he would presently develop into a man of -massive mould. He lay upon the stubbly ground, his -head resting on one arm, looking wistfully up into -the face of a girl about his own age. His clean-shaven -face wore that keenness of outline so characteristic -of the true Yankee blend in which the broad -Saxon or Frisian features seem to have been modified -by the sharp facial angles of the indigenous owners -of the soil. But in the softness of his grey eyes a -close observer would have foreseen a well of trouble -springing up for their owner on behalf of others. It -was the face of the typical burden-bearer.</p> - -<p>In her face, on the other hand, there were evident -manifestations of discontent and weariness of restraint. -A healthy, pleasant countenance enough, with dark -brown eyes and curling hair, well-shaped nose and -short upper lip just spotted with freckles. The eyes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> -looked, however, as if they could harden and grow -black upon occasion, while the square chin and firm -curve of the shut mouth told a plain tale of self-will. -There was just a touch of petulance in the quick -movement of her head as she replied:</p> - -<p>‘You’re so exactin’, Rube. An’ surely you -wouldn’t want me to be a hypocrite an’ gush over -you when I don’t feel a bit like it. The honest fact -is that I like you better than anybody I’ve ever seen, -but you know I haven’t seen many people at all; and -as for the men folks about here, they’re almost as dull -and stupid as the cattle themselves. An’ more than -that, Rube, I’m afraid I don’t know what this love is -that you seem to be et up with, an’ I’m not going to -say I do to please anybody.’</p> - -<p>There was silence. Over the wide stretches of -newly reaped land not a breath of air was stirring; at -evening’s beckoning finger the voices of the day were -hushed. It was nearing the gloaming of one of those -heavenly days common in Vermont towards the end -of harvest, when Nature seems to be contemplating -in satisfied peace the result of her summer’s fruitage, -and baring her bosom to the mellowing sun for a while, -as if to store up warmth against the coming of the -fierce blasts of the bitter Northern winter. The smell -of the patient earth was sweet, restful in its effect upon -the senses, and insensibly moulding impressions upon -the mind that would remain through life ineffaceable -by any subsequent experiences, and assert themselves -in after-years by vivid reproductions of the present -scene. Yet the calm beauty of their surroundings -had upon each of the two young people an almost<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span> -entirely opposite effect. He was permeated with a -serene sense of satisfaction with life in all its details -but one—if only he could be certain that Priscilla -loved him! Born and bred upon the typical Green -Mountain farm, educated up to the simple standard of -the village school, and utterly unacquainted with the -seething world beyond his horizon, he was as nearly -happy as it is good for man to be in this stage of -his existence. His parents, although, like himself, -New Englanders born and bred, had somehow -escaped from the soul-withering domination of that -cruel creed that finds an awful satisfaction in the -consignment to eternal fires of all who by one -hair’s-breadth should dare to differ from its blindly -ignorant conception of theology. Love formed the -basis of their faith, and their ideas of an immanent -God were mainly derived from the parable of the -Prodigal Son.</p> - -<p>Under such mild influences it was hardly wonderful -that Reuben Eddy had early ‘got religion,’ in the -queer phraseology of the States, although in his case, -as in that of his parents, there was scarcely any point -of resemblance common to the ordinary religious -professor. Following none of the orthodox forms of -worship, and pretending to no formulated creed, the -Eddys lived and moved and had their being in a -quiet consciousness of the friendliness of God. They -looked as if they would at no time have been surprised, -as they certainly would have been unafraid, -to see His face with their mortal eyes. They seemed -to love God, as birds sing, from an inward impulse -that is not a duty but a part of the organism, as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> -natural a necessity as the breath or the heart-beat. -Yet, or perhaps because of this, they were intensely -human. There was none of that aloofness from the -interests of their kind that some excellent people -regard as the hall-mark of a Christian. In fact, they -were a lovable family whose influence was like that -of the spring sun upon all (though they were but few) -with whom they came in contact.</p> - -<p>Within this last year or two, however, Reuben had -felt the deep placid current of his life strangely disturbed. -His life-long playmate, Priscilla Fish, whose -parents’ farm (three miles away) was the nearest to -that of the Eddys, had suddenly assumed a totally -different appearance in his eyes. For some time he -went about dreamily wondering whatever the change -could be that had at once removed her so far above -the category of ordinary, everyday people, and at the -same time had made him long for her society so -ardently that every hour spent away from her seemed -to drag, and every thought was shot through and -through with side-issues about her. Now between -him and his father there had been a life-long intimacy, -gently sought and fostered by the elder man as soon -as Rube was old enough to know him. Thus they -were more than father and son—they were David and -Jonathan, with no secrets from one another. So -after Reuben had wrestled with this new experience -long enough to be able to reduce it to some formulable -expression, he took it to his father, as he had done -every other difficulty as long as he could remember. -The old man listened in sympathetic silence while his -son described his symptoms with a gravity that would -have been ludicrous but for its earnestness and sincerity.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> -How he felt like a caged bird until he saw Priscilla, -yet when she appeared he became hot and cold by -turns, and felt so awkward and clumsy that he wanted -to hide himself in the earth, and so on, in the same -old way that was all so new and disconcerting to -him.</p> - -<p>Very gently the old man explained matters to -him, winding up with a merry twinkle in his eyes, as -he said:</p> - -<p>‘Haow en the name er pashense yeu’ve shun clar -ov this complaint all these years ez er merricle. Ef -I know ye—en I ain’t so dead certain of that as I wuz—yew’re -just the kinder lad to fall in love fust go. -Anyhow, I’m goin’ ter chip in ’n ’elp ye if it kin be -did et all.’</p> - -<p>With all his fatherly instincts aroused, the fine old -fellow trudged over to his neighbour’s farm that same -evening, and sought out old man Fish. In quaint -fashion, and blaming himself whimsically for his lack -of observation in not seeing how things were going -before, he explained the situation, finding, much to -his gratification, that Priscilla’s father was entirely -agreeable to the match. Solemnly the two patriarchs -discussed ways and means, planning all manner of -pleasant things for the future of their children as -far as their sober wishes would allow them. That -Reuben and Priscilla should marry, inherit the Eddy -homestead, and glide placidly along through life as -their parents had done, seemed to these two fond old -hearts as roseate a prospect as could be desired. So -they sat on, exchanging their slow-moving thoughts, -until long past their usual early hour for bed. After -a long pause, Farmer Eddy stretched himself with a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span> -yawn and said:</p> - -<p>‘Wall, Zeke, I reckon I’ll be gittin’ to’rds hum. -Seems ter me we ben havin’ er mighty long yarn to-night, -’relse I’m most amazin’ sleepy. Good-night -t’ye.’</p> - -<p>There was no reply. It was perfectly dark, for -they had been sitting in the barn, and when the night -closed softly down they had not thought to get a -lamp, in their earnestness of conversation. Slightly -raising his voice, Farmer Eddy repeated his salutation, -but it fell upon the unresponsive darkness -around like a pebble dropped into a deep well. With -a chill creeping over his scalp the old man reached -forward to where his friend was sitting and groped for -his hand. It was some seconds before he could find -what he sought, and when he did, the truth sank into -his marrow instantly: Ezekiel Fish was dead.</p> - -<p>Trembling in every fibre, Eddy hastily made for -the house, coming into the well-lighted living-room -with his message in his face. The family, consisting -of Mrs. Fish, her two grown-up sons, and Priscilla, -were all seated there, eagerly discussing a knotty -point in some book Priscilla had been reading aloud, -but the entry of the old man and their first glance at -his face froze them into silence. Going straight up -to the mother, Eddy laid his trembling hand upon her -shoulder, and said, ‘Hepziber, the Lord be good t’ye. -He’s taken away yew’re husband.’</p> - -<p>There was no outcry. Priscilla came swiftly to -her mother’s side and tried to soothe the heavily -stricken woman, whose silent suffering was pitiful to -see; while the two sons and the old man, bearing -lights, returned to the barn and reverently carried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> in -the body. The usual sad offices were soon rendered -to the remains, and with slow, uncertain steps Eddy -returned home to tell his sorrowful story and warn -Reuben that, for the present at any rate, a prior -claim to attention had been made upon their neighbour’s -family.</p> - -<p>Some months, therefore, elapsed before anything -of the matter that lay so close to his heart passed -Reuben’s lips. But he was by no means impetuous, -and besides, he had always been trained to subordinate -his wishes to those of others, so that while -his love was undoubtedly rooting and grounding -itself more firmly every day, he was able to abstain -from all mention of it to its object. Summer came, -and with it an opportunity during a long Sunday -afternoon’s ramble with Priscilla to broach the important -matter to her. She listened—somewhat listlessly, -it is true, but still she listened; while Rube, -growing bolder as he went on, and marvelling at his -own powers of speech, poured out to her his hopes -and plans. But no enthusiasm could hold out long -under the unconcealed air of indifference with which -his fervent speech was received, and he soon sobered -down to wonder quietly how it was she took his -vehemence so coolly. Being ready, however, to -supply all deficiencies from his own abundant stock, -he was not unduly depressed. And as the days -went by his sweet sunny temperament asserted itself, -and hope, almost amounting to certainty, arose within -him that she would presently, as he had done, find -all things changed under the new light of love. Yet -in spite of his hopefulness, a weary sense of the hilly -road he was travelling would occasionally give him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> -serious pause, and he grew hungry for some return, -however slight, of his lavish affection. And it was -with one of these moods that this chapter and the -story open.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">‘VENI, VIDI, VICI’</p> - -<p>After the death of Ezekiel Fish the care of the -farm devolved upon the two brothers, both of them -typical Yankee farmers, but without a trace of the -kindliness so characteristic of the Eddys. Rube had -never been a favourite with them. They dared not -despise him openly—he was too big and strong for -that; but they spoke of him behind his back in terms -of disparagement, and did all in their power to discourage -the slightest feeling of affection for him that -they imagined their sister to have. Jake, the elder -brother, a man some three years older than Rube, -had by virtue of his seniority assumed full charge of -affairs, and already had begun to launch out in -various speculative ways that troubled the old lady -sorely. His visits to Boston ‘on business’ were -frequent and prolonged, and already he was becoming -known to a few of his less reputable associates -as a ’feller thet wuz makin’ things hum a bit.’</p> - -<p>In these altered circumstances it was no wonder -that Rube pressed his suit more earnestly than -ever. His unselfish nature was fully alarmed for -Priscilla’s immediate future, and his anxiety on her -behalf gave his love an added lustre which it had -lacked before. But to his distress and chagrin, the -steady growth of his affection did not awaken in her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> -the slightest responsiveness. To a stranger it would -have been at once manifest that she merely tolerated -the young man; even to his love-blinded perceptions -the fact stubbornly persisted in revealing itself. -Rube endured this coldness patiently for months, -until on the evening of the commencement of our -story he had drifted almost unconsciously into a -protest against this treatment of himself by Priscilla -who, if she had never given him any encouragement -worth speaking of, had at least tacitly accepted him -as a lover. She had received his complaint in the -manner already specified, speaking the exact truth -about the state of her feelings towards him as far as -she knew them. The trouble was that she had not -quite realised the strength of a feeling of unrest and -discontent with her surroundings which had been -steadily eating into her mind for months past. It -was largely due to her brother Jake, who, in the -elated condition generally noticeable on his return -from Boston, was wont to launch into extravagant -praise of city life with its light and bustle and -abundant enjoyments. Naturally he was correspondingly -contemptuous of the well-ordered procession -of days characteristic of the country. The majestic -harmonies and sweet confidences of Nature, the -changeful orchestra of each day, and the placid -stillness of the nights, had become to his disorganised -ideas like the stagnation of death. His -was that subtle malaise that stealthily undermines the -natural order of things, and, leaving the countryside -to go out of cultivation, herds men and women -together in vast feverish crowds to stew and fret -and die, but never to return to the quiet of the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>country -again.</p> - -<p>This miserable change had, without her knowledge, -infected Priscilla also in such a manner that now every -task was irksome, the stillness of the evenings almost -unbearable. Irritability, which had never before disfigured -her character, became increasingly noticeable. -Even Rube saw the change, but could not dream of -its cause, and innocently added to it by his dog-like -untiring affection. Matters were in this unsatisfactory -state when one evening the sound of wheels through -the crisp air warned the inmates of the Fish place -that Jake was returning from one of his Boston jaunts. -Priscilla dropped her knitting and went to the door -which looked across the wide paddock down the road. -To her surprise she saw in the fast approaching -buggy two forms. Jake was bringing a visitor! The -prospect of any break in what had now become -almost an intolerable monotony so affected her that -she felt nearly intoxicated, her face flushed rosily, -and a tingling thrill that was almost pain rushed all -over her. Yet she could not move, but stood there -framed in the portal like a graceful <span id="picture"><a href="#i_frontis">picture</a></span>, while the -buggy drew up at the roadside and the men alighted. -As they came across the paddock towards her she -saw that the stranger was tall and stalwart, walking -with the easy loose-jointed swing of the smart sailor. -He was dressed in the garb of an ordinary well-clothed -townsman, but a wide sombrero, of brown -velvet apparently, shaded his face. Whether by -accident or design on his part, this hat completed -his resemblance to one of the old conquistadores or -grandees of Spain painted by Velasquez. For his -visage was swarthy and oval, his eyes large, black,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> -and brilliant, and the lower half of his face was -covered by a pointed beard and immense moustache -so black and thick and silky that it hardly seemed -of natural growth. To Priscilla’s eyes he looked as -if he had just stepped across the years out of -Prescott’s living page, and, like so many others of -her sex, in that moment she gave him her whole heart, -offered herself up to the husk of a man, unknowing -and uncaring what it contained.</p> - -<p>Her mind in a confused whirl of thought, she -stood as if petrified until the travellers reached her, -and made no sign, even when Jake said, ‘Thishyer’s -my sister Priscilla, Cap’n. Pris, Cap’n Da Silva.’ -The Captain bowed, gracefully enough because naturally, -but with evident signs that the movement was -unusual, and held out his small and well-shaped -brown hand to meet Priscilla’s white and plump one. -The contact of their hands acted upon her like a -vigorous restorative, and the blood fled back again -from her face and neck, leaving them for the moment -unnaturally pale as she found her voice and bade the -stranger welcome. Even Jake’s dull eyes could not -fail to see how powerfully his sister was impressed -by the Captain, and it pleased him well. Selfish and -grasping, he was by no means sorry to get rid of his -sister, nor did the thought of his mother’s loneliness -affect him in the slightest degree. So that it was -with a chuckle of satisfaction he turned away to put -up his horse and buggy, saying carelessly as he did -so, ‘’Scuse me, Cap. My sister’ll look after you in -shape, won’t ye, Pris?’</p> - -<p>Thenceforward Priscilla and the Captain were -constant companions, their intimacy tacitly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>encouraged -by Jake, who was in a high state of -satisfaction at the prospect of getting rid of his sister -finally. The mother made many attempts to gain -her daughter’s confidence, for she felt an innate -distrust of the handsome stranger. But Priscilla, -forgetting all her mother’s claims, avoided with -intuitive diplomacy any approach to the subject on -her part, showing at times an irritability of manner -that sorely troubled the old lady, who, having no one -to turn to in her distress of mind, was lonely indeed. -At last, one day when Pris, the Captain, and Jake -had driven off upon some excursion of pleasure, she -felt that she could bear the trouble alone no longer, -and taking advantage of her younger son’s absence -at a neighbouring farm, she made a pilgrimage over -to the Eddy farmhouse, intent upon pouring out her -heart to Mrs. Eddy. The meeting between the two -old dames was full of pathetic interest, for Mrs. Eddy -loved her boy so fondly that, although she had never -felt drawn to Priscilla, it was enough for her that -Rube loved the girl. His happiness was the consideration -that overtopped all others in her heart. So -that when Mrs. Fish unburdened herself, her hearer -was torn by maternal solicitude for her boy, and for -the time her anxiety as to the effect this news would -have upon him was too great to allow her to reply. -And when she did speak, her words sounded hollow -and unmeaning—so much so that her visitor stared at -her wonderingly. For Mrs. Eddy’s powers of consolation -and wisdom of counsel were matters of common -knowledge over a wide extent of country—she was -looked up to as infallible. The look in her visitor’s -eyes recalled her to herself somewhat, and choking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> -down her feelings by a great effort, she said:</p> - -<p>‘Wall, Hepziber, yewrs ’s surely a hard case, ’n’ I -kain’t fur th’ life of me see wut yew’re to do. Ef Pris -is ’tarmined tu go her own way ’n’ wun’t listen to yew -on the matter ’t all, ’n’ ef, ’s yew say, Jake’s doin’ his -best t’ encourage her, yew’re jest brought face to face -with th’ wall, ’s yew may say. My Rube w’d hev -made her a good husband, an’ one ’bout whose record -there couldn’t be any doubt; but I’ve seen fur a long -time that she wuz jest puttin’ up with him like—she -didn’t love him more ’n she did me, ’n’ you know she -never took ter me, ner dad eyther. Go home ’n’ pray -about it, Hepziber; it’s all we kin do. As fur myself, -I’ve got ter wrassle with th’ Lord for my boy, fur how -he’ll b’ar this I kain’t begin ter think.’</p> - -<p>And with this cold comfort (to her), Widow Fish -had to depart for the home she was beginning to -feel a stranger in, after all these years, leaving Mrs. -Eddy with a heart overflowing with sorrowful love for -her only son. With a natural dread of the effect the -news would have upon him, she put in practice all the -simple arts she knew to keep him in ignorance of what -was brewing, and finally succeeded, by the aid of her -husband, in despatching him to Boston on business -without his calling at the Fish place first. He was -absent from home for a fortnight, and when he returned, -after an hour or two spent with his father and mother, -he rose and said, with a transparent attempt to conceal -his eagerness:</p> - -<p>‘I guess I’ll jest stroll over an’ see Pris. I’d like -to tell her ’bout some o’ the Boston sights. ’N’ I’ve -brought her a cunning little watch for a birthday -present.’</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p> -<p>The mother looked appealingly at her husband, -who, answering her gaze with eyes full of fondness, -rose, and laying his hand upon Rube’s shoulder, said:</p> - -<p>‘My son, yew’re a man in years an’ strength, ’n’ -I’ve brung ye up to be the <i>good</i> man I b’lieve y’ are. -Y’ haven’t hed enny big trouble yet, but y’ know ther’ -ain’t nothin’ in th’ world yew kin ’pend on till it’s tested. -Yew’re goin’ ter be tested now. Priscilla’s married.’</p> - -<p>The watch dropped from the young man’s fingers -on to the stone floor and was broken. Except for -that sound there was absolute silence: none of the -three seemed to breathe. Presently Rube spoke:</p> - -<p>‘Thank ye, father, fur tellin’ me plain ’n’ prompt. -Now I think I’ll go upstairs ’n’ rest.’</p> - -<p>And with heavy uncertain steps Rube left the -kitchen, mounted to the little room he had occupied -since he was a child, and shut himself in.</p> - -<p>It was true. With a haste that was explained by -the Captain as absolutely necessary on account of his -ship being ordered to sea at a very short notice, he -had pressed his suit when once he found how willing -Priscilla was to take him at his own valuation. Mrs. -Fish, thoroughly bewildered by the whole hasty proceeding, -wandered about the house like an unquiet -ghost, doing nothing either to help or hinder the -preparations. Jake was unwontedly lavish with the -funds necessary, and indefatigable in giving assistance, -so that two days before Rube returned from -Boston the newly married pair had departed for New -Bedford with the intention of spending their honeymoon -on board Captain Da Silva’s ship as she journeyed -southward on the commencement of her long voyage. -She was called the <i>Grampus</i>, and was one of the fine -fleet of South Sea whaleships then sailing from New<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> -Bedford, although so ignorant were the farm-folk of -Vermont of maritime matters that even Jake, smart -as he fancied himself, had but the dimmest, vaguest -idea of what the life was that his sister was going to -be shut up to for the next three or four years. Still less -did he care. As for Priscilla, she would have accepted -unquestioningly any situation into which she might -be brought so long as she was by the side of the man -she worshipped with a fierce unreasoning intensity. -Of Rube she never thought for more than a minute -at a time, and then it was only with a sense of relief -at the knowledge that he would trouble her no more. -From her mother she parted without regret: there -seemed to be no room in her mind for anything else -but intense satisfaction in the prize she believed herself -to have won. Even the prospect of seeing the -great world which had once claimed all her desires -was but a feeble unit now in the vast sum of her -delight in the possession of Ramon Da Silva. Nor -was her joy in the least damped by the masterful way -in which he accepted all the affection she lavished -upon him. To do him justice, he was hardly to -blame for this. His career, from the time he had -enlisted as a green hand on board of an American -whaler at Fayal, in his sixteenth year, had been one -long series of successes, due to the great force of -his character, his utter unscrupulousness, and entire -absence of fear. Step by step he had risen in his -dangerous profession until he had become master of -a whaleship, while his name was a household word -among the fleet for smartness, courage, and—brutality.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">A SUDDEN RESOLVE</p> - -<p>When Rube came down the next morning and composedly -met his father’s and mother’s anxious looks, he -had the listless air of a man whose spirit had been -broken. There was a droop in his shoulders, a dulness -in his eyes that contrasted painfully with the -bright alertness of his glance and carriage of the day -before. But he said nothing of his blow, and his -parents wisely forbore to say anything either, trusting -that his young and healthy body would come to the -assistance of his mind, and that the wound would soon -skin over. Unfortunately for their hopes, his love had -been the pivot of his life. While a good farmer, a -good son, and a good business man, he had no hobbies, -he read little, and, being much alone, he had allowed -his passion for Priscilla to become so interwoven with -his every thought and action that the knowledge of -her loss had been like a rending of soul from body. So -he went about his duties like a somnambulist, seeking -no comfort, making no confidences, and apparently -as insensible to externals as a hypnotised man -would be.</p> - -<p>In this dull round of daily tasks several weeks -passed away, until it happened that he found himself -at the village grocery on some trivial errand. -There was the usual knot of loungers ready to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>talk, and -absurdly grateful for the coming of any stranger with -something fresh to say. As he passed through them -with a brief nod of recognition to one and another, -and entered the store, he saw standing erect in their -midst a tall wiry-looking man, whose face was unfamiliar -to him. Pausing for an instant, with the first -symptom of interest he had manifested for many days, -he heard the stranger say:</p> - -<p>‘Yas, ’n’ if enny ov yew fellers hed th’ grit ov a -chipmunk, yew wouldn’t take twicet t’ think over yer -anser. Wut man’d go on grindin’ mud all his life in -a dead-’n’-alive God-fergotten corner like this when -he’s got ’n opportoonity of seein’ the world—all th’ -world, mind ye, east, west, north, and south—an’ -makin’ a small forchin ’s well? I dunno wuts -come over the yewth ov Amurica to-day. Sims t’ -me they’ve lost their old vim ’n’ push altogether. -Well, s’ long, boys; if I kain’t persuade ye I kain’t, -’n’ there’s an eend on ’t, ’n’ I mus’ be gittin’ ’long. But -ef enny ov ye wants time t’ make up yer minds, I sh’l -be back this way ag’in ter-morrer ev’nin’, ’n’ that’ll be -the las’ chance you’ll git, enny ov ye.’</p> - -<p>Although he had not heard any of the stranger’s -preliminary discourse, and shrank from making inquiries, -Rube’s interest was aroused to the highest -pitch. He returned to his home with the few words -he had heard seething and bubbling in his mind. -For he felt that at last here was a way of escape from -the almost insupportable deadness of his life. He -could not realise that ‘the mind is its own place,’ -and so, like a caged animal, seeing a door of hope -open to him, he felt an unconquerable longing to flee. -He said not a word throughout the evening meal,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> -but that was so much his habit now that it passed -unnoticed. Mechanically he bowed his head at -‘worship,’ but his father’s reading of a chapter from -the Bible might have been in the original Hebrew for -all he understood of it. After gaining the solitude of -his room, he sat on the bed, his head on his hands, -trying hard to reduce the whirlpool of his thoughts -to some definite shape until far into the night, but in -vain. Only one idea seemed to stand out sharply -and distinctly against the misty tumult: he must <i>go</i>. -At last, wearied with mental conflict, he fell backward, -dressed as he was, and went to sleep.</p> - -<p>He rose unrefreshed, with a racking headache for -the first time in his life, and went about his usual -round of duties automatically. But his face bore -such evident traces of his last night’s conflict that -they could not escape his mother’s keen eye. She -anxiously inquired after his health, but was met with -the careless reply that he was ‘all right.’ She knew -better, of course, but it had never been her way to -force confidence, and so she manifested no more -curiosity. She only looked wistfully at her boy when -unobserved by him, and hovered about him as if -more than ordinarily solicitous for his comfort. All -day long he moved and looked like a man in a dream, -every thought, every feeling merged in one idea—escape. -Strange, that it never occurred to him how -impossible it is for a man to flee from himself.</p> - -<p>Without waiting for supper, and as if dreading to -be questioned, no sooner was the day’s work done -than he strode off to the village grocery, assuming, -as he approached it, a most elaborate air of unconcern, -and lounging into the midst of the little knot of listless<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> -men hanging about the door as if nothing -mattered—an attitude common to all of them. He -had not long to wait. In about ten minutes after -his arrival a brisk footfall was heard, and turning the -corner sharply the lean, keen-looking stranger of the -previous evening strode into the midst of the group.</p> - -<p>‘Evenin’, boys,’ he jerked out, diving into the -pockets of his pants at the same time and producing -a formidable plug of hard tobacco and a knife. -Having provided himself with a fresh cud and passed -on the materials to his next neighbour, he proceeded:</p> - -<p>‘Wall, boys, hev ye made up yer minds yet? -This, as the paestor sez, is the last time ov askin’. -Ye’ve got ter speak up now, ’relse stay right whar y’ -are f’rever ’n’ ever. ’N’ that, <i>I</i> sh’d say, ’d be ’nough -t’ decide fr’anny young <i>man</i>. Veg’tables don’ count -anyhaow.’</p> - -<p>This short harangue ended, he looked slily at his -hearers to see whether he had made any impression -upon them, but with the exception of a vacant half -laugh or two, accompanied by an uneasy shuffle on -the part of the utterers thereof, they might as well -all have been deaf for any notice they took of him. -But suddenly, to his astonishment (although he was -careful not to show it), Rube, who was a stranger to -him, stepped forward and said:</p> - -<p>‘Wall, stranger, I guess I’ll hitch hosses with ye. -When d’ ye start, an’ what’s th’ ’rangements?’</p> - -<p>‘Right, my boy, I’m real proud of ye. I’m -startin’ this evenin’ as ever is; ’n’ as t’ ’rangements, -ye’ve only got ter sign thishyer paper agreein’ t’ join -any ship I s’lect f’r ye, ’n’ take a little keepsake from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span> -me in the shape of two-an’-a-haef dollars. Then -ye’ll pack up yer traps, ’n’ I’ll see ye booked through to -Noo Bedford. Yew’ll start first thing in the mornin’.’</p> - -<p>Hardly looking at the form of agreement, Rube -signed, the stranger being provided with pen and -ink, and dropping the money loosely into his pocket, -he strode off homewards, leaving the loungers all agape -at the idea of Rube Eddy, who was well known to -be one of the steadiest and most comfortably established -young men in the county, going off at a -minute’s notice to foreign lands. Long and earnest -was the discussion that followed, all sorts of possible -and impossible reasons for the step Rube had taken -being brought forward. The stranger lolled at his -ease, listening in the hope that Rube’s example -might prove contagious, but, to his disappointment, -it seemed to have quite a contrary effect. The -talkers were like men who had just witnessed one of -their number take a plunge into the fathomless -abyss, from the brink of which they all drew back -with horror. This state of mind soon became evident -to the stranger, who, jerking himself to his feet, shook -himself, stretched, yawned, and finally said:</p> - -<p>‘Wall, boys, kain’t linger with ye always. I’m -beginnin’ t’ feel like Rip Van Winkle meself in -thishyer slumbersom place. I reckon I shall hev to -hurry back to civilisation agen before I go to sleep -too. How on airth yew fellers keep ’wake long -’nough t’ eat ’n drink I d’no.’</p> - -<p>With this parting shot he turned on his heel and -disappeared into the gathering darkness, and they -saw him no more.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span></p> -<p>Meanwhile Rube, his mind a blank, reached home -and, hastily ascending to his room, busied himself -gathering together his clothing. Good serviceable -homespun, most of it, such as would be fit for any -work, however rough, that might fall to his lot. -Having made it into a compact bundle, with a -celerity that raised a dim wonder even in himself, -he drew himself up, as if bracing all his fortitude to -meet father and mother. Memories of the quiet, -pleasant years began to crowd in upon him, but with -a gesture as if to crush them back, he deliberately -walked down the narrow stairway, whose every step -seemed to utter a reproachful creak. Entering the -kitchen, he crossed over to the fireside, where his -parents sat facing each other and calmly talking over -some trivial happening of the day. Standing before -them, he waited a moment, while they both looked -up at him, and in that one swift glance his mother -knew that a crisis had arrived. In a husky voice, -that sounded as if it belonged to someone else, he -said:</p> - -<p>‘Mother, Dad, I’m goin’ away termorrer mornin’. -Fergive me fer leavin’ ye like this, but I jest had ter -go. I’m no good here any more. I’m goin’ t’ sea, ’n’ -when I come back mebbe I’ll be a stronger man. -Naow I’m a wuthless, dreamy shote, ’n’ I feel ’s if -thishyer quiet easy life ’d certainly drive me mad -befo’ very long.’</p> - -<p>‘<i>Must</i> you go to-morrow, my son?’ murmured -his mother hopelessly, for she knew the breed, knew -that once set upon a thing the Eddys were immovable, -and yet she felt obliged to make an effort.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, mother. ’Greement’s signed, th’ airnest -money’s in my pocket, an’ my duds are all packed.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> -I’m goin’, sure.’</p> - -<p>‘Rube,’ said his father, ‘we’ve been mighty cluss -friends all our lives, an’ we ain’t goin’ ter fall eout -naouw, I’m dead shore o’ that. But ye mout ha’ told -me wut ye wuz meditatin’. ’T wan’t far t’ me, boy, -naow wuz it?’</p> - -<p>For all answer Rube reached for his father’s hand -and held it tight, while the working of his face -showed how hard the simple words had hit him.</p> - -<p>The father broke the silence again by saying, -‘Let us pray.’ With a sudden return to his childhood -Rube knelt at his mother’s knee, while the old -man, as had been his nightly wont ever since he first -brought home his young bride, but with an added -solemnity born of the shadow of his first bereavement, -spoke to his Friend:</p> - -<p>‘Father, eour hearts air troubled. Yew’ve brung -us along a pleasant road right inter the green valley -of comfortable old age. We’ve hed a happy time together, -’n’ this our son hez alwus ben a delight to us. -We looked that he sh’d still be so, that he sh’d close -eour eyes when we laid us down at last t’ sleep. -P’raps we hev been selfish, ’n’ need a lesson to teach -us wut it means to spare an only son. He’s goin’ -away from us f’r a long time—where, he doesn’t know -himself; but however fur he goes, don’t let him -get away from you. We don’t ask you t’ spare him -t’ us ef it’s necessary we sh’d never see him alive any -more; but ef it <i>might</i> be, Father, you know how ’tis -yourself, ’n’ therefore you know what it’ll mean t’ us -t’ have him back again. Make him through all he’ll -have t’ bear such a man as yew’d love to have him, -’n supply his place at home, if it ken be supplied,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span> by -a truer sense of yew’re presence with us. Bless my -son, O Father, and bless us, f’r <i>yewr</i> Son’s sake. -Amen.’</p> - -<p>Little more was said, although they sat hand in -hand far into the night. Rube wanted nothing that -his father could give him, having sufficient money -for all his prospective needs; but he accepted his -mother’s Bible gratefully, feeling that it would be a -palpable link with her. At last they went to bed, -where Rube, not from callousness, but from sheer -overstrain of mind, slept soundly. His mother lay -all through the hours silently praying, while the unhindered -tears trickled slowly and continuously -down. And his father watched with her.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">DEPARTURE</p> - -<p>Morning broke over the Eddy homestead grey and -cheerless, a fitting reflection of the frame of mind -holding sway over its inmates. Rube came down -with his grip-sack in his hand, his best clothes donned, -and an air of stern resolve on his strong features. -He found his father and mother awaiting him in the -humble room where he had met them ever since his -mind first awakened to the knowledge of worldly -matters. For a few moments after the ‘good mornings’ -were said, no word further passed the lips of -the three. Suddenly the mother spoke, saying:</p> - -<p>‘Rube, my son, you never told us <i>whar’</i> you were -goin’.’</p> - -<p>To some of us perhaps it may seem strange that -neither father nor mother had asked this question -before, but the fact is that in their secluded lives the -mere idea of one of them leaving home for so long -was sufficiently terrible, without any definition of the -precise locality to which the wanderer might be -directing his steps being thought of. But the -mother’s heart was already in prospect reaching out -after the absent one, and therefore it was but fitting -and natural that she should be the first to desire to -know whither he was going. Rube flushed a deep<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> -red as the necessary vagueness of his reply dawned -upon him, but he said:</p> - -<p>‘I’m goin’ ter sea, mother; thet’s all I know at -present. When I git t’ Noo Bedford an’ find out -whar’ I kin git letters or write frum, be sure I’ll let -you know to onct. I’m drefful sorry I kain’t tell you -anythin’ more ’n thet.’</p> - -<p>The morning meal, ample and palatable as it -always is on these Eastern farms, was spread, and the -three took their places at the board; but although they -made a brave show of eating, the food would not be -got rid of, and suddenly Rube arose, as if the sight -of his father’s worn face and his mother’s eyes, bleared -with weeping through the long night, was too much -for him, saying as he did so:</p> - -<p>‘Wall, it’s time I wuz off. Good-bye, mother; -good-bye, father. I know yewr prayers’ll hover -roun’ me wharever I go; and ez soon ez I hev worn -out this drefful restless feelin’ I’ll come back and -settle down, please God, never to go away any more.’</p> - -<p>A silent kiss from the mother, a grave handshake -from the father, and Rube turned his back upon home. -Nor did he once look behind him as he strode down -the road towards where, in the little village, a conveyance -was waiting to take him to the station, -whence he might reach New Bedford by railroad. -He did not look back because he feared to see his -mother’s face. Not that his resolve to go would have -been thereby weakened, but that he could not help -feeling guilty in that he was weakly fleeing from -what he could not help knowing was his duty—weakly -giving way to what he could not help knowing was -after all, cowardice. But who shall dare to judge<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> the -action of his fellow-men under abnormal conditions? -‘Put yourself in his place’ is a good motto, but how -very rarely is it possible for us to act it out! Therefore, -although many of us may very well feel inclined -to judge Rube harshly for thus deserting father and -mother and a life of usefulness, and becoming a wanderer -on the face of the deep simply because the -woman of his choice could not be his, let us not -forget that ever since the world began, and men and -women have been able to recount their experiences, -strange things have been recorded as done by disappointed -lovers against their better judgment.</p> - -<p>Rube’s mind as the train sped him onwards -towards the beautiful New England town whence he -was to start upon his long sea journeyings was almost -a blank. Never given much to a habit of introspection, -he was by reason of the shock that he had -recently received less able now to devote himself to -concentrated thought than ever; and so, had he been -asked what he was thinking about during that long -railway journey, he would have replied, no doubt with -perfect frankness, ‘Hardly anything.’ I think this -experience is not uncommon, even among men and -women given to meditation, when suddenly they -have received a mental blow. Be that as it may—and -I will own that it is a debatable point—when -Rube arrived at New Bedford he had just the air of -stolid bewilderment that is generally noticeable upon -the faces of country-bred people first coming in contact -with the strangeness of life in a seaport town. -And truly one might have sailed the wide world -round and not have found a more wonderful seaport -than New Bedford was in those days. Men of almost<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> -every nation under heaven, clad in outlandish garments, -jostled each other along the strongly smelling -wharves and picturesque streets bordering the bay. -New Bedford was then in the height of her prosperity -as metropolis of the whaling world. Over six -hundred fine ships came and went on their adventurous -sea-questings, bringing with them from the -uttermost ends of the earth queer-looking denizens of -those far-off lands. Kanakas from the multitudinous -Isles of the Pacific, Aborigines from Central America, -Aleuts from Alaska, Japanese from Nippon, Chinese, -Malays, Papuans, and Dyaks from the East Indian -Archipelago, Lascars from Hindustan, Arabs from the -Persian Gulf, and last, but by far the most numerous -of all these wanderers, Portuguese of every hue, from -deepest black to creamy white, from the Fortunate -Isles. The diversity of peoples was not more wonderful -than the quaintness of their costumes, which -were, indeed, a chance medley of all the national -dresses of the world. Yet in every case a keen -observer, and one acquainted with the subject, might -have recognised evidences of an attempt on the part -of the wearer to give to his nondescript raiment some -national peculiarity. Not only were the people a -wonderful sight, but another sense—that of smell—was -overpoweringly arrested on the crowded -wharves, where scores of weatherbeaten ships discharged -their greasy spoils, the odour from which -permeated the entire atmosphere, seizing upon a -stranger with almost intoxicating effect. Then the -sounds!—the loud cries of the labourers as they -toiled to discharge the cargoes from the ships, the -wonderful medley of languages spoken by the strange<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> -seafarers slouching along the shore, and, pervading -all, the hollow murmur of the sea as it rolled in on -the beaches of the beautiful bay under the stress of a -strong landward gale.</p> - -<p>Amidst these novel sights, sounds, and smells, -Rube made his way like a man in a dream towards -the place whither he had been directed, not without -considerable difficulty, as three out of every -four persons of whom he inquired his direction -did not understand a word that he said. This, -to a man who had never before met with anybody -not speaking his own tongue, was really bewildering, -and it was not therefore to be wondered at that by -the time Rube had found the building he sought, his -mental processes, never too acute, were reduced -almost to numbness. Inquiring timidly at the door -of the building to which he had been directed as the -place where he should find Mr. Sawtell, he was -answered nonchalantly by an elderly man, whose -grey beard was plentifully streaked with tobacco -juice, that if he went right in and took the first door -on the left he’d find what he sought. Rube meekly -obeyed, and entered a large, high-ceilinged room, -scantily furnished, with several desks enclosed by a -low fence and some benches. Two men sat at the -desks looking as unlike the embodiment of our -modern ideas of clerks as could well be imagined, for -both of them had soft wideawake hats perched on -the backs of their heads, both were smoking enormous -cigars, and both bore in their countenances -the expression of temporarily out-of-work pirates -more than that of peaceful quill-drivers. As Rube -approached the nearest desk he was somewhat amazed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> -to see the clerk with his chair tilted back and his -feet apparently resting upon the papers before him. -He gazed at the strongly-marked lineaments of the -official, and that worthy returned his look with -interest, presently removing the cigar from his mouth -and saying: ‘Wal, young feller; an’ wut kin I hev -the pleasure?’ Rube stammered out, rather incoherently: -‘Mr. Sawtell engaged me th’ other day to -come down here to jine a ship to go to sea.’ ‘Oh!’ -said the clerk, ‘Sawtell engaged yer, did he? And -wut mought be the name of the ship?’ ‘I don’ -know,’ replied Reuben, who was fast recovering his -equanimity; ’he jest told me to come right here.’ -‘That’s all right, sonny,’ said the clerk. ‘Sit down -thar an’ wait fer him; he’ll be roun’ bimeby.’</p> - -<p>Reuben sat down as directed, and for nearly two -hours had the interest of seeing individuals, something -like himself, enter, ask almost the same question, and -receive almost the same reply, until the room was -fairly full. Then, when Reuben began to think that -the whole affair must be a mistake, Sawtell entered. -With him there came a man looking more like an -Eastern patriarch than a seafarer—a tall, loose-jointed, -hook-nosed, grey-bearded man, clad in homespun, a -long coat reaching nearly to his feet, and a soft -steeple-crowned felt hat upon his head. But quaint -as his figure might be, there was no mistaking the -keen, eagle-like glance of his eyes as he swept them -round on the silent men meekly awaiting the arbiter -of their fate. And it was he, the Patriarch, who -spoke first. ‘Is this the crowd you’ve gut fur me, -Sawtell?’ ‘Yes, Cap’n Hampden, an’ ez likely a -lookin’ lot ’s ever I see.’ ‘H’m, mebbe so, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> jest -naow I guess there’s a consid’ble quantity of plough -soil hangin’ to ’em. But they <i>do</i> seem likely enough, -as yer say. However, I gut no time to spare. We’re -bound out first tide to-morrer, an’ if these gentlemen -air <i>quite</i> disengaged’ (waving his hand towards -the clerks) ‘we’ll purceed to business to once.’ Then, -raising his voice, he addressed the waiting candidates -comprehensively, saying: ‘Wal, young men, so ye -feel inclined to try yewr fortunes upon the ragin’ -deep, do ye?’ Muttered responses went up, of -which no man might gather the import, save that -they were in the affirmative. ‘Right an’ good,’ said -the Patriarch; ‘step up here, and hear this <i>gentleman</i>’ -(with a sarcastic inflection upon the last word) ‘read -eout t’ ye the conditions of sarvice.’</p> - -<p>With an unexpected alacrity one of the clerks -sprang to his feet, and, from a somewhat grimy -document, read in a high sing-song tone of voice an -agreement whereby the said crew covenanted to -proceed in the good ship <i>Xiphias</i> to any port or -ports of the navigable ocean in pursuit of whales, -seals, and any other denizens of the deep capable of -being made profitable to crew and owners; voyage -not to exceed four years. It must be confessed that, -slurred over as the last two words were (unintentionally, -no doubt), several of the candidates suddenly -showed a wistfulness of countenance, as if they had -a prospective idea of what those four years might -mean, but no word was spoken by any of them. -Then, one by one, they stepped up to the desk and -signed their names, first being told that they would -be entitled to receive a good and sufficient quantity -of cooked provisions, and the 250th lay, in return for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> -their unquestioning obedience at all times to all orders -that Captain Hampden and his officers might issue -to them. And this important preliminary finished, -they were all sternly ordered, as being men now under -command, to be down at the ship by six o’clock in -the morning at latest.</p> - -<p>So the newly engaged crew filed out of the office -and stood in a little group on the sidewalk hesitatingly. -A few words passed—invitations to drink -for the most part—and one or two spoke to Rube; but -he answered them unthinkingly, feeling, indeed, the -need for being alone. It was all so new and strange -to the country-bred man, and he felt that conversation -with anybody would be insupportable. So, with -muttered excuses, he left the company, and went for -a stroll along the wharves, taking in all the wonders -of this strange place with wide-open eyes, but most of -his other senses nearly out of action. At last, utterly -weary, he turned into a respectable-looking eatinghouse -by the waterside, and called for some food, -inquiring of the young woman who brought it -whether he might take up his lodging there for the -night. She answered ‘Yes’ with a surprised air, -and, apparently unable to overcome her curiosity, -put several questions to him, as to whence he came -and whither he was going, all of which he answered -evasively, conveying the idea that what he wanted was -to be left alone in peace with his own thoughts. -Quite unaccustomed to such rudeness on the part of -her customers, the young woman tossed her head -and departed, leaving him to his solitary meal. Nor -did she return again until, rapping on the table, he -summoned her and asked to be shown his room.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span> -With a scornful look at a man who could be so -utterly unresponsive to the offer of polite conversation, -she led the way to a very small, barely-furnished -chamber, showed him in and left him; and he, with -the same bewildered air that he had worn ever since -reaching the town, slowly took off his clothes and -got into bed, although it was hardly yet dark. In a -few minutes the strain of the past twenty-four hours -was relaxed, and he was fast asleep.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">OUTWARD BOUND</p> - -<p>Rube awakened before dawn without being called, -but with a momentary feeling of terror lest he should -have overslept himself. The sound of a neighbouring -church clock striking five reassured him, and hurriedly -dressing he made his way downstairs, paid his modest -bill to the sleepy landlord, who was peering out into -the grey of the early morning, and rapidly passed -along the wharves in the direction of the ship which -had been pointed out to him the previous afternoon. -Arriving alongside, he was surprised to see how little -bustle and apparent preparation for seafaring was -in evidence. Several men were slouching about the -decks, and one energetic individual was bellowing -occasional orders in an exceedingly loud voice, but -beyond that the vessel might, for all he could see, -have been going to stay where she was indefinitely. -Presently, however, he noticed a little group coming -with swaying steps up the wharf, and soon they were -alongside, several of them evidently suffering from -their potations of the previous evening. Then the -tall patriarchal figure of the Captain appeared, stepped -on board, and instantly the ship wakened into life.</p> - -<p>All unaware of what was expected of him, Rube -stood on deck just where he had first stepped over -the side, his few belongings in his grip-sack lying<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> by -him, until a short, thick-set man, with a face like unpolished -mahogany, came up to him and said: ‘Naow, -wut yew doin’ here—hain’t shipped as passenger, hev -ye? Them yewr duds? Get ’em below and be -mighty smart abaout it, ’less you want consid’ble -trouble.’ Mechanically he obeyed the man’s actions -more than his words, which were, indeed, more than -half of them almost unintelligible to him. Going -forward in the direction indicated by his interlocutor, -and finding his way below, he entered a large apartment -wrapped in the densest gloom, and it was not -until somebody (who, he could not see) struck a light, -that he was able to discern its outlines, to see all -around it bunks, some occupied by bundles of clothing -and miscellaneous objects, and others by sleeping -men. The atmosphere of this dark den was foul in -the extreme—so much so, in fact, that he felt choking—and, -without losing any time, he pushed his belongings -into the nearest corner that presented itself -and hastened on deck.</p> - -<p>The next hour passed with him like a fevered -dream. What he was doing or why he was doing it -he knew not at all; for is there any creature more -helpless and ignorant than a grown-up man who, for -the first time in his life, takes part in the work of -a ship putting out to sea? The very language is -unintelligible. Everything is so new, so strange, and -when presently to these mysteries is added the -curious staggering motion of the ship, the neophyte’s -plight is a most unhappy one. But it may be -doubted whether of all the much-advertised remedies -for sea-sickness there are any so effectual as being -kept at work, allowed no respite, no moment to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> -brood over the physical inconveniences that assail -the candidate for sea honours. The remedy is a -terrible one, it is true, but that it is effectual is -equally true, and so Rube found it. But when he -was ordered aloft to loose a sail he gazed piteously -up the rigging and mentally commended himself -to the care of God. For as the ship was just -feeling the inroll of the wide sea, and putting on a -most disconcerting motion, it appeared to him perfectly -impossible that he should be able to get up -aloft and down again alive. Added to this was the -fact that he had not the remotest conception of what -he was intended to do. But a stalwart Portuguese -standing near him when the order was given murmured, -‘Kem along, Greenie; I shows you haow,’ -and, gratefully willing, in spite of his wretched bodily -condition, he clumsily clambered up the rigging after -his mentor, followed by a perfect hurricane of opprobrium -from the officer on deck, who felt justly angered -at his most reprehensible want of smartness. He -gained the foretopsail yard, and then, despite all his -earnest endeavours to learn from the Portuguese -what he was supposed to do, was so overcome with -nausea that he could do nothing but hold on, just -hanging there, a limp, swaying body, unconscious of -everything around and about him in the utter misery -of his inner man.</p> - -<p>Perhaps it is as well that we draw a veil over the -proceedings of the next few days. To follow a -novice like Rube through such an ordeal as he was -now undergoing, while it might certainly be interesting, -could not fail, if faithfully reported, to be -very distressing to anybody possessing a scintilla<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> of -sympathy. Let it, then, suffice to say that on the -third morning at daybreak Rube, while sitting between -the main stays keeping the look-out, began to -realise that an interest in his surroundings was -rapidly beginning. Also, for the first time since he -had left home, he found himself thinking of how -matters might be going on at the farm, and then, as -he pictured father and mother coming down to the -morning meal and offering up a prayer for the absent -one, his heart melted, familiar words of prayer formed -upon his lips, he bowed his head and sought the -ante-chamber of the King. And, for the first time -since he had received the news that had wrought -so tremendous a change in his life, he coupled with -his prayers the name of Priscilla, that she might be -blessed and helped wherever she might be, and that -her path in life might be made infinitely smoother for -her than she had, innocently enough, made his for him.</p> - -<p>While engaged in this sacred reverie he allowed -his head to droop upon his hand, and became for the -time utterly unconscious of his surroundings.</p> - -<p>And so it came to pass that the second mate, -whose watch it happened to be at the time, making -his periodical prowl round the deck to see that all -was in order, peered up at the look-out place and -saw, as he thought, the watchman asleep. His next -move was to procure a bucket of water, which he -launched with accurate aim at Rube’s crouching -form. Rube started upright, gasping and full of -bewilderment at this strange thing that had befallen -him. But he was not left long in doubt, for almost -immediately came a storm of profanity, interspersed -with grim warnings as to the kind and quantity of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> -evil that would befall him if ever again he went to -sleep on his look-out. At the first opportunity Rube -essayed to reply, and point out that he was not -asleep, not knowing, poor fellow, that no excuses of -the kind are ever accepted on board ship. His few -stammered words only brought the bucket flying at -his head, and being, after all, a sensible young fellow, -he took this rough hint to mean that the only -possible course for him to pursue, under present conditions -at any rate, was to take all that might be -tendered to him, making no reply unless ordered.</p> - -<p>But the <i>Xiphias</i> was not at all a bad ship. We -may go farther, and say she was a good ship, because -Captain Hampden, stern grey Quaker that he was, -discountenanced all ill-usage of the crew that was -not, to his mind, absolutely necessary. And as he, -being part owner, had provided his crew with a -plentiful supply of fairly good food, another great -source of misery on board ship was removed from -them. But still the life for a time seemed very hard -to our hero, and would have been much harder but -for his magnificent physique and his splendid patience. -Moreover, he now found much comfort and a grand -outlet for his long pent-up affections in ministering -to the many needs of his hapless shipmates. For -they, like himself, were drawn largely from inland -dwelling people, and several of them were much -more helpless than he. They had come to sea all -unwittingly, without the slightest foreknowledge of -what awaited them, just as he had, and therefore, of -necessity, it would be some considerable time before -they could settle down to the stolid endurance which -is absolutely necessary for all those who go down to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> -the sea in sailing ships.</p> - -<p>A week elapsed, during which all hands were -gradually being shaken down into their several -grooves. Every man on board had been allotted -his post in the boats or as a shipkeeper against the -day of battle with the monarchs of the deep. The -various green hands had now some of their greenness -mellowed, and were learning, or had learned, to get -aloft and do something else beside hold on tightly -when they got there. But this was the smallest part—the -mere rudiments, as it were—of their education. -Sailors on board whaling ships are, of course, required -to be fairly smart aloft, fairly smart at the -ordinary avocations of a sailor; but the principal -object of their life is that they shall be smart boatmen, -and herein they differ entirely from any other -merchant seafarers whatever. And this was soon -made evident to them, for at the first opportunity, the -weather being fine enough to admit of boats being -lowered with a crew of absolutely incompetent men -without danger of those valuable vessels being -damaged, all hands, except four retained to handle -the ship under the charge of the captain, were sent -away to practise boatmanship.</p> - -<p>This was a severe trial, and all the green hands -suffered much. But even here Rube’s patience and -muscular development stood him in good stead—saved -him, in fact, from the energetic attentions -lavishly bestowed by the officer and harpooner of his -boat upon the other occupants. It must be confessed -that he felt many misgivings upon being so near that -great heaving blue surface as he was in the frail whaleboat. -Different (and so much harder) as his life had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> -already been on board the ship from all his previous -experiences, it was ease and comfort as compared with -this apparent tempting of fortune in a mere cockleshell. -However, given sufficient energy on the part -of the teachers, a modicum of courage and sufficient -docility on the part of the taught, men can speedily -accommodate themselves to any alteration in their -habits of life, no matter how great it may be, and so, -after three days of tremendously hard training, Captain -Hampden expressed himself satisfied that his newly-gathered -crew of clodhoppers might safely be taken -into battle with the great sperm whale, and have a -reasonable chance of emerging therefrom victorious. -The weather had, mercifully to those new-comers, -been fairly fine for the time of year—late autumn—although -the wind had hung persistently from the S.E., -thus hindering their progress greatly; but one morning -at daybreak, the sky lowering threateningly, they -were suddenly attacked by a severe gale from the N.E. -Amid the hoarse cries of the officers and the blundering -but hearty efforts of the crew, sail was shortened -to the two close-reefed topsails and foresail, and the -old <i>Xiphias</i> fled southward at a great rate for her. -Then it was that Reuben, being sent aloft upon some -errand of fastening a loose end, was suddenly seized -with an attack of giddiness and fell, an inert mass, -into the sea. In a wonderfully short space of time the -vessel was rounded to and a boat lowered and manned, -not by her own crew, but by picked men capable -of handling her as she <i>should</i> be handled. So smart -were their efforts that in less than ten minutes they -came up with the helpless form of Rube as he lay -unconscious upon the surface. He was seized and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> -hauled into the boat, brought on board, and immediately -subjected to the orthodox operations for -restoring life to the apparently drowned. Long and -carefully they toiled to bring him back to life, and at -last succeeded in doing so, but when he opened his -eyes upon the world again all the details of his previous -life seemed as if they had been completely obliterated. -Dismissed to the forecastle, he groped forward like a -man suddenly awakened from a long dream, and to -all the inquiries of his shipmates he turned a blank -face, an uncomprehending demeanour.</p> - -<p>But his grand bodily powers enabled him to return -to his duties almost immediately, and from thenceforward, -strangely enough, he seemed to assimilate -all that was taught him with wonderful ease—in fact, -as the hard-bitten officer to whose watch he belonged -said: ‘Thet big hayseed o’ mine seems as if ’e was a -born sailorman.’ So fast did he learn that his watchmates -became absurdly jealous of him—a waste of -attention on their part, since of it he took not the -slightest notice whatever—seemed, indeed, really -incapable of doing so.</p> - -<p>Captain Hampden became interested in this peculiar -development, and occasionally condescended to ply -him with questions as to his previous experience, but -all in vain. Nothing could be got out of him, and, -baffled, the good old skipper had to content himself -by saying to his chief officer: ‘Wall, at any rate, we -seem to hev gut hold of a mighty good man.’ And -gradually his quiet perseverance in well doing, the -impossibility of making him angry, and the readiness -with which he would always help to the utmost of his -power any of his shipmates that were in trouble, won<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span> -him a high place in the hearts of all on board; even -the Portuguese (never very friendly to men of northern -breed) could not withhold from him some uncouth -tributes of affection.</p> - -<p>And so the ship made her way slowly down to the -Line, failing, however, to the disgust of the officers, to -raise a whale for the first month after her departure -from port. But the time was well spent, for all hands, -by dint of incessant practice, were now in a high state of -efficiency, only requiring their baptism of fire, if it may -be called so—their initiation into the art and mystery -of whale-fighting—to make them as good a crew as -any whaling skipper could desire to have under his -command. All bullying, hazing, and what we should -call brutality, had ceased. The ship was quite as -peaceful as any ‘limejuicer,’ and it was easy to see -from the contented faces and pleasant remarks of the -officers how well satisfied they were with the progress -made by the men under their command in the direction -of becoming decent sailormen.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">DISILLUSIONMENT</p> - -<p>Perhaps it is high time that we returned for a while -to the career of our heroine in her new sphere. It -must be remembered that she, as so many other -young women have done, took a leap in the dark, -committing herself and her future to the care of a -man about whose antecedents and character she -knew absolutely nothing, having only in the few -short days of their acquaintance seen him at his very -best. But such was the glamour with which she had -invested her hero that, although she was startled and -troubled in mind by his brutal language and still -more brutal treatment of the men under his command -from the first hour that she came on board his ship, -she attributed it all to the necessities of a captain’s -position. Every oath made her shudder, every blow -made her wince, yet she bore it all without remark, -as belonging to a new order of things of which she -had hitherto been entirely ignorant, and upon the -merits of which at present she felt herself quite -unable to give an opinion. Perhaps, had she been -able to hear the remarks that were passed by the -crew to one another when they thought such remarks -might safely be made, she would have shuddered -still more. But, poor girl, all such warning words -were hidden from her, neither did she know—how<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> -could she, indeed?—that her husband bore the unenviable -reputation of being the hardest skipper of -all the hard-bitten crowd of such men sailing from -the whaling ports of North America. Still, even her -trustful heart could not fail to be wounded at the -incessant cruelty which she was now compelled to -witness.</p> - -<p>The crew, driven on board at the last moment -before sailing like a pack of cowed dogs, were a set -of miserable ragamuffins, taken, apparently, because -none others could be obtained at any price. There -were only two Americans among them—two poor -lads from the Western States, who had run away -from home to go to sea; the rest were representatives -of almost as many races as there were members. -This, in itself, made for the safety of the officers—made -the brutality much less likely to be resented -successfully, because, among that medley of foreigners, -there could be no banding together for a common -purpose of revenge. Not that such an event was at -all probable, because, according to the fixed plan -pursued on board the majority of such vessels, the -precaution was taken while yet the crew, who were -nearly all green hands, were in the throes of nausea -and bewilderment at their strange surroundings, to -beat them, with or without pretext, until their spirits -were thoroughly broken and the possibility of their -retaliating was hopelessly remote. Captain Da Silva, -in spite of the presence of his wife, which might have -been expected to have a humanising influence over -him, was this voyage more savagely brutal than ever -he had been before. His four officers, who knew him -well, and who were all eager followers of his plans<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> -(had to be, indeed, in order to keep their position -with him), confessed one to another that the old man -seemed as if he wanted to show his bride how black -a demon he <i>could</i> be. <i>He</i> said, not by way of excuse, -but apparently stating a mournful fact, in conversation -with his officers, that in all his fishing he had -never had such a crowd to deal with as he had got -this time, and before they had been at sea a week he -discussed with the officers elaborate plans for running -across to the Azores, driving his present crew overboard -and shipping a crowd of his fellow-countrymen therefrom. -But this was going a little too far, for three -of his officers were Americans, and they by no means -relished the prospect of having an entire crew of -Portuguese on board an American ship. They felt -that it would be indeed exchanging the devils they -knew for the devils they did <i>not</i> know, and, as far as -they dared, made this plain to their brutal commander. -And he, wise as well as wicked, took the -hint, for he could not afford to lose such splendid -whalemen as his officers had proved themselves to -be. So, instead of working to the eastward, they -shaped a course for the Line, and met with such -good fortune in the shape of weather that, without -the parting of a rope-yarn, they found themselves at -the end of a fortnight well within the Tropics.</p> - -<p>It was one of the characteristics of Da Silva’s -career that he always seemed to have extraordinary -luck. This voyage was no exception, for no sooner -was the vessel shipshape, the whaling gear rigged, -and all fishing preparations made, than he, taking -the masthead trip one morning, sighted a grand -school of sperm whales. Instantly his voice rang<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> -throughout the ship, calling all hands to action, and -even those unhappy men who had had the hardest -experience of his cruelty could not withhold a tribute -of admiration for his wonderful powers of command, -presence of mind, and exact knowledge of how to do -the right thing at the right moment.</p> - -<p>That scratch crew of wastrels, broken-spirited as -they were, seemed to catch a spark of his enthusiasm, -and exerted themselves in extraordinary ways in -order to gain his approval.</p> - -<p>Priscilla, utterly neglected amid this hurly-burly, -sat perched on the taffrail looking with wide-eyed -wonderment upon the busy scene. A thrill of terror -seized her as she saw her husband, standing erect in -the stern of the first boat lowered, urging his -crew, with an unbroken stream of profanity, to the -highest efforts of which they were capable. She could -see the whales, but she hardly knew what was -afoot. All that was real to her was that the ship -was deserted by almost all hands, including the commander, -only three or four being left to handle the -sails. So there she sat solitary, alarmed, full of fears -for her husband’s safety, for the result of this tremendous -manœuvre, the object of which she only -dimly understood. The cries from the two men at -the masthead to those on deck she understood not -at all, nor did she dare to ask the helmsman for any -information for fear that her innocent inquiry might -reach her husband’s ears later and be fiercely resented -by him. But he had obtained such a hold over her -that even now she did not blame him: she only felt -sorry that he should not have had time (as she put -it to herself) to acquaint her with the reason for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span> his -hurried departure.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the five boats, their crews straining at -the oars to the utmost limit of their strength, sped -away at right angles to the direction in which the -whales lay. The Captain kept the lead, not that the -men in the other boats were not doing their best, -but that he had a picked crew, and that every man -of them was working as if in imminent bodily fear of -some terrible punishment unless he exerted all his -muscular power. The oars rose and fell with the -regularity of steam pistons, the water foamed past -the boats, but no other sound was heard save the -laboured panting of the men and the low, hissing -execrations of the Captain. It is popularly supposed -that when rowing boats after whales there is a great -deal of shouted encouragement, either kindly or the -reverse, that the men themselves are apt to break -into song, as Dr. Beale permits himself to say, ‘The -men sang the time-honoured whaling chant of “Away, -my boys, away, my boys, it’s time for us to go,”’ but -when it is remembered how very slight a sound, even -at the distance of miles, will suffice to alarm the -valuable quarry, it will at once be seen that experienced -whale hunters would not be likely to do -such a foolish thing as to make unnecessary noises, -even supposing that they had breath to spare for -doing so.</p> - -<p>At last, when the rowers felt as if their arms -would drop off at the shoulders, the Captain’s deep -voice was heard saying, ‘Peak oars, step mast, up -sprit.’ These actions were immediately copied by -each of the other boats, and, in three minutes from -the time they had ceased rowing, the five boats, under<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> -the steady stress of their big sails, were bounding -over the bright sea before the wind down on to the -whales. The propulsion with the oars had only been -resorted to for the purpose of obtaining a good -weather gauge. That once reached, and the sails -set, the boats’ heads were turned at right angles to -the course they had been pursuing so that they -might now, with the wind almost astern, run down -upon the whales at high speed, and with the least -possible amount of splash.</p> - -<p>It was a splendid sight, that group of unconscious -monsters calmly and methodically pursuing their -way, quietly attending to their own business of procuring -food and enjoying their life; and here, close -at hand, stealing upon them like pirates upon a -helpless merchantman, this little flotilla of destroyers. -Each officer and harpooner was now in the throes of -expectation, every nerve tense, all their hopes high -that they would reach their prey before the periodical -descent of the whales took place. In nine cases out -of ten this would not have been the case, but here -again, Captain Da Silva’s luck appeared to be in the -ascendant, for, as if the boats were living creatures, -full of eager desire to come to close quarters with the -enemy, they leaped forward with ever-accelerating -speed, until the foremost whale, a large bull of about -seventy barrels (or, say, sixty feet in length) was -only a couple of lengths ahead of the skipper’s boat. -Hoarsely he growled, ‘Stand up, Jose!’ The harpooner’s -crouching form straightened itself, and, -raising the harpoon in both hands while steadying -himself by his left thigh in the hollow of the clumsy -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>cleat, he waited,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> a heroic figure, until, by a skilful -sweep of the steering oar, the boat swung end on to -the whale’s broad side, and struck it, at the same -moment as the harpoon flew from those nervous -hands and buried itself in the quivering blubber up -to the hitches. Calmly pitching the stray line out of -the box over the boat’s side, the harpooner turned to -go aft with the face of a man knowing that his duty -had been well done. Without taking the slightest -notice of the writhings of the tortured leviathan so -near or the tremendous commotion in the water, he -superintended the rolling up of the sail, the unshipping -of the mast, and the passing of it aft where it -would be out of the way of the operations.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp50" id="i_048fp" style="max-width: 28em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_048fp.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>THE WHALE WENT STEADILY DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.</p> - -<p><i>P. 49.</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p>While the crew of the boat were thus engaged -the Captain, with that skill for which he was justly -famous, had, by means of the big steering oar, -manipulated the boat so that she lay at a safe distance -from the whale. The hardly-pressed monster, -in orthodox fashion, finding that he could not -free himself from the galling weapon, descended -steadily, taking out line at a gentle rate, while the -Captain changed ends with the harpooner, unsheathed -his favourite lance, and awaited the return of the whale -to the surface. While so doing, his countenance was a -study in ferocity. The immediate prospect of bloodshed -seemed to arouse in him all the animal, and, as -he glared fiercely around upon his crew, they hardly -dared meet his eye, so terrible did he look. But he -was compelled to forego his delightful occupation for -a while, and remain as quiet as it was possible for -him to do while the whale went steadily down, down, -down. Meanwhile, by a piece of amazing good -fortune, each of the other boats had succeeded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span> in -getting fast to a whale without any accident, and -now they were all engaged in the same manner as -the Captain’s boat, waiting, with such patience as -the officers could command, for the rising to the -surface of their respective whales. The remainder of -the school, having apparently lost all control of -themselves, wandered aimlessly around the little -company of boats, going slowly backwards and forwards, -thrusting their great heads out of the water -without apparently the slightest idea of what to do -or where to go, and arousing in the minds of the -officers, especially in that of the Captain, the fiercest -resentment at their inability to take more advantage -of so splendid an opportunity as was now offered -them. After a wait of nearly half an hour, all the -harpooned whales came to the surface at nearly the -same moment, and immediately the scene underwent -a change as complete as it is possible to -imagine. The wounded monsters, rushing frantically -in every direction in their vain efforts to escape, the -fierce guttural yells of the officers as they plied their -slender, gleaming lances upon those vast bodies, the -welling fountains of blood that befouled the bright -sea surface, all went to make up a picture of savagery -which could hardly be equalled by that presented in -any land battle. So successful was the conduct of -this first encounter that hardly two hours had elapsed -since the boats first left the ship when the whole five -whales were dead, the boats cleared up, and all was -in readiness for the prey to be taken alongside the -ship. She, being well and smartly handled by the -three or four people left on board, and having got well -to windward of the area of battle, now ran down to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> -where the Captain’s boat lay by the side of his dead -whale. Having made the line fast to a hole in the -whale’s fluke, he ordered his boat to run alongside -the ship, and, climbing smartly on board, he superintended -the hauling of the whale alongside. Now, -the ship being hampered by that gigantic body made -fast to her, it became necessary for the crews of the -other boats to tow their whales as best they could in -the direction of the vessel. Fearfully long and tedious -was the process, and the impatience of the Captain -rose to a height of almost maniacal fury, although he -knew full well that every man was doing his utmost -to perform the tremendous task allotted to him. -Without a break they toiled until the sun was nearly -setting, nor was one moment’s respite allowed them -until the whole of the day’s catch was secured alongside -and astern of the ship. Then, and not till then, -the Captain shouted with a grudging note in his -voice, ‘Mr. Court, send the hands to dinner.’ The -order was repeated by the mate, and the men wearily -dragged themselves below, where the food—cooked -long ago—was awaiting them. But as they went the -Captain shouted again, ‘Look lively now; yew -wanter be on deck again in twenty minutes.’ Having -delivered himself thus, he turned towards his -cabin, where, for the first time that day, he greeted -his wife. She, quite bewildered by the day’s proceedings, -summoned up all her affection, and came -to greet him with arms outspread, but he, glowering -fiercely at her, said, ‘I got no time for fooling now; -I got something else to think about.’</p> - -<p>This rebuff reduced her to a pitiable state of mind, -for it was utterly incomprehensible. That she had done<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> -anything to deserve it she could not feel, and, indeed, -it was a strange thing that a man in the height of his -success, having inaugurated his cruise in so splendid -a fashion, with enormous profits lying only waiting -to be realised, should be so hatefully morose and -savage in his demeanour.</p> - -<p>It was a puzzle beyond hope of solution. The -meal was taken in utter silence, the food being bolted -in truly animal fashion; and, while yet the last mouthfuls -were being masticated, the skipper rose abruptly -from his seat and said, ‘Now, then, Mr. Court, start -the hands again.’ While they had been at dinner -the shipkeepers had completed their task of getting -the gear ready for cutting in, so that when the -officers came on deck and summoned the hands it -only remained to commence cutting in the whales at -once. Loud orders resounded along the decks, but, -for perhaps half a minute, there was no response, and -this seemed to act upon the Captain maddeningly. -Snatching a belaying-pin from the rail, he strode -forward muttering curses, and, beating his weapon -upon the scuttle hatch of the forecastle, he roared down -into the gloomy cavern, ‘D’ ye want to be smoked -out like a nest of hornets?’ Full of alarms, the -weary men clambered up the steep ladder, but as the -first one reached the deck he was met by a tremendous -blow full in the face, which sent him reeling to -the deck.</p> - -<p>It must be admitted that captain and officers -worked hardest of all; in fact, they seemed like men -of steel rather than of flesh and blood, and even the -weary seamen could hardly refuse a tribute of admiration -to the way in which they were led. By midnight,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> -under the glare of blazing cressets suspended -from the davit heads, they had managed to cut in two -of the whales, and had decapitated the remaining -three, the great columnar heads being strung astern -by hawsers. Then the Captain reluctantly gave -orders that half the crew should retire for an hour -while the other half busied themselves in making -some sort of a clearance on the deck, which was now -piled almost from end to end with blubber, and ankle-deep -in oil. How speedily that hour passed for the -privileged ones only they could tell. Indeed, it -seemed but a moment before they were back at work -again, and the other half were sent for the same brief -period to rest. But the savage brute of a captain -took no rest. He seemed superhuman, and when -day dawned the whole of the spoil had been taken -on board, with the exception of the three heads, for -which no room could be found at present.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">A STRICKEN DEMON</p> - -<p>It has been a frequent matter of remark, not merely -by myself, but by all the writers with whom I have -conversed who have ever interviewed old sailors on the -subject of their experiences, how difficult it is for the -latter to tell what they have seen. Their memories -are most keen, but the mighty happenings they have -witnessed seem to overwhelm their simple vocabulary, -and they will suddenly break off in the midst of a -splendid tale, and, holding up their hands in a gesture -of despair, cry out, ‘Oh, God, if I <i>could</i> only tell ye -what I’ve seen!’ I am led to think that perhaps it -is this felt inability to do justice to the memory of -what they have really seen that has often made -sailors possessed of vivid imaginations invent magnificent -lies, rushing by some curious mental paradox -into the opposite extreme, from the sober recital of -fact to an absurdly extravagant invention of fiction.</p> - -<p>But be that as it may, there can be no doubt that -even those who have been most successful in the -attempt to transport their readers to the scenes which -they themselves have witnessed, are often touched by -the same feeling of inability, as the grandeur of the -scenes they would fain depict flashes through their -minds. They sit with poised pen—present, indeed, as -to the body at their desks, but in spirit, by some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> -unexplainable mystery, away back amid the surroundings -of those former years, going through it all -again. And thus they sit waiting, waiting, prisoners -of hope, until relief comes in some commonplace -word or thought, and the pen is re-started, to run -perchance glibly enough until again arrested in like -manner.</p> - -<p>These reflections irresistibly arise as I recall -similar scenes to the one which I would now describe: -that splendid silken circle of sea and dome of -sky just commencing to palpitate with the glories -of the new day; those low, tender ranges of softest -cloud like carelessly piled heaps of snowy down, with -sober grey bases almost parallel with the horizon, and -summits blushing sweetly with all the warm tints of -the coming sun; through the eternal concave overhead -running tremulous sprays of liveliest colour -throbbing and changing incessantly on their background -of deep violet, from which the modest stars -are quietly fading before the advent of morning. -Across the mirror-like surface of the ocean great -splashes of colour come and go in never-ending progression, -although there be never a cloud from which -they may be reflected and their pure hues come direct -from the impalpable ether around. And in the centre -of it all, grating at first upon the mind as the only -discordant note in the harmony otherwise reigning, -is a ship surrounded by the greasy, mutilated carcasses -of her spoil—that spoil which was so recently fulfilling -the exhortation of that glorious hymn, ‘O ye -whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the -Lord, praise Him and magnify Him for ever.’ What -a hideous scene of squalor it does appear, to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> sure! -Great shapeless masses of flesh and fat and bone, huge -clots of black blood, an undefinable odour of death—for -the time has not yet come for corruption to defile -air as well as sea—and in the midst of it all, fiercely -toiling, hacking, thrusting, tearing, yelling, blaspheming, -are the slayers. From every pore the ship -exudes oil warm from the body, at every roll a new -extent of ‘sleeky’ water is thrust out from her slimy -sides. Gradually, as the space in her main-hold -known as the blubber-room becomes filled up, the -limited area on deck is piled with the masses of -blubber, and the oil which exudes from them fills up -the carefully caulked decks and at each wallowing -roll she makes rises against the bulwarks, which are -almost as impervious as the deck itself. So inside, -outside, half-way up the mainmast, she reeks with -blood and grease, while the water all around is a -seething mass of silent voracity. From who knows -how far away the hungry denizens of the deep sea have -hastened to the feast, summoned by some unerring -sense, of which we know nothing at all. No one, as -far as I know, has ever attempted to compute the -number of the host of sharks alone which surround -a whaleship while she secures her spoil; so I shall -not try. It would be only a wild guess, after all, for -they come and go incessantly in utmost haste, and as -far as the eye can see the water is aboil with their -strugglings to secure at least some portion of the great -feast.</p> - -<p>Of the other deep-sea citizens present I can say -little. They are to be seen of course, but only -occasionally, for this feast is peculiarly the shark’s -great opportunity, and it is no easy matter for any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> -other fish to displace him. In the air, the hungry -self-invited guests may be few or many, according to -the position of the ship. In the North Atlantic birds -are far less plentiful than they are in the South, for -some reason which I have never been able to find -out, and consequently in this great scene of spoliation -which I am now attempting to limn there were only -about a dozen or twenty ’gulls.’</p> - -<p>During its progress, as during the hunting, Priscilla -sat on the top of the after-house motionless -under the influence of some horrible fascination -which she could not resist. She watched the lithe -form of her saturnine husband as, leaning over the -rail of the cutting-stage, he dealt blow after blow at -the black and white masses beneath him, or occasionally -varied his labours by a sidelong thrust which -severed some thieving shark’s head from its body. -But she noted that while he appeared to be doing -more than any other member of the crew, his physical -efforts never interfered with his mental energies in -the oversight of his men. He seemed to know where -every man was, and what he was, or ought to be, -doing. An incessant stream of orders, threats, and -cursings poured from his throat, which was apparently -of brass, since it never got hoarse. The -only physical sign of his vocal labours was the foam -with which his raven-black beard was flecked.</p> - -<p>Utterly brutal, utterly callous and heartless as -she now knew her husband to be, she could not -withhold from him a silent tribute of admiration for -his powers of command and organisation, and for his -courage. She felt shuddering pity for the poor men, -who, against the most urgent calls of Nature to rest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span> -their tortured limbs, went fiercely toiling on as if -only by that means could they avert sudden, violent -death. Once or twice she gave vent to a low moan -of compassion as she saw the Captain leap inboard -with a tiger-like spring and fall upon some man -whom his eagle eye had detected lagging behind the -others, assailing him with the utmost ferocity by -knocking him down, jumping on him, kicking him as -if determined to do him to death. Again and again -she turned to go, overcome by the horror of these -constantly recurring scenes, but she could not: she -was compelled to remain and witness them while -powerless to help and unable even to pray that God -would have mercy upon these poor wretches upon -whom man—at least her man—had none.</p> - -<p>What man has done, man can and will do unless -restrained by powerful laws, and what was done amid -such scenes as I am recalling was gentleness itself -when compared with what went on aboard the galleys -of ancient days—scenes which no modern writer -has dared, or would dare, to put comprehensively -into print. For even on board a whaler, where one -man embodied all the law or justice obtainable by -anybody, the blessed influences of Christianity in the -modifying of cruelty were felt, and things were thus -not nearly as bad as they might have been; nay, they -were only in exceptional cases as bad as I have -represented. This fact, I think, deserves special -emphasis, because it goes to show that the majority -of men in command of these ships, knowing full well -that they were never likely to be called to account -for any cruelties they might commit in the name -of discipline, yet abstained from exercising their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> -autocratic power, or only used it when it became -undoubtedly necessary that they should do so.</p> - -<p>Gradually the mighty task drew to its close. One -by one the vast carcasses were cut adrift and floated -away, each the centre of a writhing mass of hungry -creatures fiercely fighting for places at the feast, -which, great as it was, seemed but a trifle compared -with the host of candidates for it. One by one the -huge square ‘cases’ were hove up alongside and -their bland contents ladled out into the tanks below. -But when the last but one was being emptied, as it -hung, a weight of some twenty tons, suspended from -the cutting-in falls, Captain Da Silva went to the -waist, and, leaning up against the case, looked down -to see whether or not the precious spermaceti was -draining away from some cut in its walls, as he -suspected it was. As he did so the ship rolled ever -so slightly, and without any warning the massive -chain slings which held the case aloft tore out. It -fell like an avalanche descending, a big flap of -‘white horse’ or head integument curling round the -Captain’s body and whirling him after it into the -fathomless depths. It was so terribly sudden that -Priscilla was momentarily stunned, but with returning -breath she uttered a wild cry of terror and fell fainting, -her overwrought condition of nerves unable to bear -this last great shock. For one moment the crew -also stood like statues, but ere one could count five, -the third mate and second boat-steerer had leaped -into the sea after their commander, although they -knew (none better) of the swarming sharks and the -many other reasons why they should be unsuccessful. -But all traces of him had vanished, and realising that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> -not only were they most dangerously situated, but -that they could see better from above, they climbed -on deck again with all the speed they might, reaching -it at the same moment as Captain Da Silva’s head -appeared on the other side above the rail.</p> - -<p>For a few moments all who witnessed his rising -stared with starting eyes at what they deemed to be -his wraith, but his hoarse voice, full of anger, roused -them instantly from their brief lethargy. ‘Naouw, -then, whutye all gapping at, like a lot er—— suckers’s -y’air. Git along wi’ thet work, ’relse I’ll be ’mong ye -in mighty short order, naouw I’m telling ye.’ And -each man sprang to his task as does a mettled horse -when the lash falls unexpectedly across his flanks. -And Captain Da Silva strode off muttering maledictions. -Perhaps it was all the formula of thanksgiving -which he knew: certainly no word of praise for the -miracle of his escape out of the very jaws of death -crossed his lips. He had been carried down by that -long sliver of skin which had enwrapped him and -held him tightly bound to the mighty mass of the case -until he felt as if his head were a boiler under a full -pressure of steam. But as the ‘case’ sank, by some -mysterious influence it spun round, or rather revolved, -for its motion was but slow, and in doing so it unwound -the clinging band from the skipper’s body. -Never having lost his presence of mind, and being as -nearly amphibious as the rest of his island countrymen, -he sprang upward to the surface, just grazing the -bilge on the opposite side of the ship to that from -which he had descended, and grasping a bight of the -main sheet which dangled invitingly alongside, he -swung himself aboard, ready and alert to resume the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span> -tyranny he loved.</p> - -<p>The whole affair of his departure and return had -been so dramatically sudden that Captain Da Silva -was in his cabin shouting for Priscilla to give him dry -garments before she had recovered from her swoon. -His angry demands brought the trembling steward -at his best gait. To his breath-bated inquiry the -skipper shouted:</p> - -<p>‘Whar’s Mrs. Da Silva, yew black beast; whar’s -my wife?’</p> - -<p>‘Please, sah, de madam’s done gone swounded, -an’ I ain’t can fotch ’er to yit. I ——’</p> - -<p>But flinging him aside as if he had been a bundle -of rags, the skipper rushed on deck to where Priscilla -was sitting up wearily passing a hand over her dazed -eyes and wondering what strange thing had befallen -her. He seized her arm roughly, and in tones of -deepest scorn demanded what sort of —— game she -called this? Was he to wait in his wet clothes while -she lolled about on deck playing the (more unsavoury -adjectives) fool? Mechanically she staggered to her -feet, and, like some unreasoning but faithful animal, -tottered towards the cabin. I doubt if she would -have been surprised had her husband accelerated her -progress by a kick, to such a numbness of brain had -she come. But she did his bidding, accepted all his -blasphemous grumbling, and made no sign. For she -was, in the fullest sense of that much-abused brace of -words, heart-broken. Her spirit was crushed, never -to awake again as it had been; her love was dead, and -only patient, animal-like obedience remained. Did -any compunction arise in the man’s mind for what he -had done to that trusting, loving woman? Those<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> -who think so little know the capacity of man for -cruelty. A grim smile lit up his diabolically handsome -features as he noted her quiet performance of -his commands, and although he said no word it was -easy to see with what fiendish pleasure he realised this -new proof of his power to rule others with a rod of iron.</p> - -<p>Without pausing to do more than glance at his -injuries—one long black and green bruise which -wound twice round his body, and another extending -from his right thigh to his heel, with the skin broken -in many places—he hastily dressed himself in dry -clothes and, without casting another glance at the -submissive figure of his wife, rushed on deck. -Fortunately for all of them, the crew were working -hard to secure the masses of junk (solid pieces, each -several tons in weight, cut from the whale’s head), -lashing jaw-bones, clearing away try-works, getting -up mincing-machine and tricing up gear out of the -way of the all-pervading grease. He cast one comprehensive, -scowling glance around, which deepened -in its frown when he found no cause of complaint, -and at once assumed sole command. For the next -hour his orders flew like volleys of musketry, -spurring on the almost spent men to give up the last -ounce of their strength. And then suddenly, as if -God had taken pity on those hapless men, the -tyrant’s indomitable strength and pluck gave out -together, and he sank to the deck moaning feebly, -‘Take me below, —— ye, take me below.’ Even -with what seemed the last breath he needs must -curse those upon whom he was now utterly dependent -for all his wants.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span></p> -<p>So, inert, all his great energy vanished, and his -wiry limbs hanging limply as loose ropes’ ends, he -was borne below to his bunk, his appearance in this -guise startling Priscilla again, but arousing in her -now no such feelings as those with which she had witnessed -his disappearance over the rail so short a time -before. With quiet dignity she directed the bearers -where to lay him, thanked them, and dismissed them. -Then, left alone with the man for whom she had -given up her life, and more than her own life, had -she but known, she went about the duty of attendance -upon him methodically, carefully, but with no -more feeling than if he had been an utter stranger. -All that she could do for him she did, but of affection -in her ministrations there was no trace. Presently -with a feeling of relief, such as usually accompanies -the successful conclusion of a difficult task, she saw -him pass from coma to sleep, heard him breathe -naturally, and watched the ghastly pallor of his face -give place to its healthy olive hue. Then she took -some needlework and sat down by his side, ready to -attend upon him when he woke, determined to do -her very utmost for him dutifully, and hoping to -make faithful service take the place of the love she -knew she would never feel for him again.</p> - -<p>Perhaps I may be pardoned for anticipating -criticism here by a word or two. I know well that -women can, and do, show love of the deepest, truest, -holiest kind for men who not merely speak to them -harshly, but beat, starve, or ill-treat them in every -way. But Priscilla was not one of these women. -It may be, too, that her love for Ramon Da Silva -was not love in the best sense of the word, but -merely a hurricane gust of passion that for a season<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span> -had changed the whole surface of her being, while -leaving unruffled the great depths below. I do not -know, nor do I care to dogmatise, but of this I am -sure—that there are many Priscillas about, worthy of -all the love of a good man, and fully capable of returning -it, whose love, calmly, thoughtfully given, would be -changed into utter dislike and contempt for the once -loved one if they should have the misfortune to discover -him to be cruel or disgusting. And for one I -dare not say that they are therefore in any way worthy -of blame, or are not perfectly true and lovable women.</p> - -<p>Now ensued a period of calm satisfaction for all -hands, tempered only by the knowledge that it would -soon come to an end. The exceedingly heavy toil -of mincing the blubber, boiling down the oil, storing -it in casks, and disposing those casks in easily accessible -positions about the decks, went on without -intermission, but quietly. Every man worked as if -the knowledge of his tyrant’s impotence, for a time -at any rate, had supplied him with an incentive. -But the Captain was suffering utter torment below. -Ordinarily he was quite wanting in what we vaguely -speak of as nerves: he worried about nothing. Now, -however, his great strength entirely gone from him, -knowing how large a task was in hand on deck, and -knowing, too, how glad was every man on board -that he, their despot, was helpless, he raged and -fumed, and thereby retarded his recovery greatly. -But for those who came in contact with him, this -time was a terrible one. His poor wife and the -negro steward lived in utter terror of him, although -physically he was powerless to do them harm.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p> -<p>Perhaps it may be thought that too severe a description -of this man has been given, and that thereby -some injustice has been done to men generally. But -if so, I would like to ask objectors whether they have -never had the misfortune to know anybody, not -necessarily a man, who would, given the opportunity -have behaved quite as badly as Captain Da Silva. -God knows, I have no wish to libel any of my fellow -men or women, but I am absolutely certain that but -for the grace of God, the sweet influences of Christianity, -there are very few of us who can be trusted with -absolute power over our fellows. And if any doubt -were possible, surely the records of the National -Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children -would dispel it. The sight of helplessness does in -some infernal way seem to generate in many minds -an irresistible desire to inflict suffering upon the helpless. -And it needs all our faith in God, as well as all -our recollection of the tender love that fills so many -hearts, to keep us from feeling that mankind in -general is possessed by all those attributes which we -have agreed to consider as the characteristics of -Satan. Of course, like all other qualities, cruelty -needs special opportunities for its full development as -well as a deliberate cultivation. And for this reason -I have never been able to understand why so many -otherwise level-headed people should object to corporal -punishment for the perpetrators of cruelty, -since it is almost invariably the case that cruel -people are most tenderly solicitous for the care of -their own susceptibilities to pain. Exceptions there -are to this rule, of course, and Captain Da Silva was -one. No amount of corporal punishment would -have deterred him from being again the merciless<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> -monster he was by nature, given fitting opportunity; -for he, as I have already endeavoured to point -out, had an almost Chinese disregard of personal -suffering. But even he was certainly no worse -for the tasting in his own proper person of some -of the pains he was wont to bestow lavishly upon -others.</p> - -<p>Only two persons wished him speedily well, and -for obvious reasons. They were his personal attendants. -The chief mate, whose business brought him -below periodically to report progress, always had to -summon up all his courage to face his suffering chief, -always returned to upper air again acutely conscious -of relief, although he was a man of great ability and -resource, and, moreover, had the comforting knowledge -that under his (comparatively) mild rule the -work was slipping along on greased wheels. But -(and this is one of the peculiarly subtle depravities of -some natures) he could not help feeling that his commander’s -irritation at his own helplessness was in -no way lessened by the knowledge that affairs were -going on quite smoothly without his interference—that, -in fact, it would have been in some measure an alleviation -of his sufferings could he have known that, bereft -of his oversight, matters were at sixes and sevens. -And each time the mate came to report, and gave -him the bland information that all was going as well -as possible, the men were working with a will, the -weather continued fine, and the blubber was yielding -most richly, the skipper was instant in cross-examination -on every detail, apparently in the hope that he -might somehow find occasion to vent his long pent-up -spleen upon someone else beside his wife and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> -negro steward.</p> - -<p>Nothing transpired, however, to gratify him, and -at the end of the sixth day from his accident the mate -reported all oil barrelled and half of it stowed; that -the crew were busy now with lye and sand cleaning -up; that the mastheads were manned, and—— But -right in the middle of his flow of words came the -most thrilling cry of ‘Blo-o-o-o-w.’ The mate -stopped in the middle of a word and looked round -listeningly. But his skipper, maddened almost -beyond endurance at the knowledge of his own helplessness, -and that his subordinates would now have -an opportunity of showing their capabilities without -any overlordship of his, hurled at the listening mate -one long yell of profanity which had the effect of -sending the latter scampering rabbit-wise up the -tortuous cuddy stairs on deck.</p> - -<p>Fortunately for Priscilla, the raging emotions of -her husband, conjoined with his bodily weakness, had -the effect of rendering him utterly helpless both in -mind and body. For a while she busied herself -quietly in such necessary attentions as she was able -to render, then, hearing as in some realistic dream -the weird tumult on deck, and feeling her own utter -loneliness, she did that which is, thank God, open to -us all, if in varying degrees. She lifted her tired -heart to God, remembering with a bitter pang of -repentance the many perfunctory repetitions of ‘Our -Father’ she had performed; a remembrance which -brought a host of others in its wake. The quiet -times of family worship she had yawned over -behind her hand, the glorious words of Holy Writ -passing her then unlistening ears like meaningless<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> -jargon, the tender father who had never given her -a harsh word during her recollection of him, the faithful, -plodding mother, whom she had forsaken at the -lightest word of a stranger, and the dog-like devotion -of—— But no; <i>that</i> thought must not be encouraged. -From her uneasy seat she slid to her knees, and from -her overloaded heart poured forth her unspoken -prayers—not for deliverance, but for strength, for -peace of mind, for knowledge how to do and say the -right thing and word at the right time. And as the -subtle communications passed between that suffering -heart and the Centre of all Solace, the blessed dew of -peace descended upon her spirit, and she felt that -the victory was won, for the present at any rate.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, though unheeded by her, the uproar -on deck had reached its climax, then suddenly ceased, -and a profound silence reigned. She sat, listening -intently, but in nowise alarmed: she felt past all that. -Until presently a comical black head, with wide white -eyeballs, protruded from the state-room door. Its -glance, fearfully questing, caught hers, and in reply -to her whispered inquiry came a murmur: ‘Dey’s awl -goen away, Mistis; on’y me an’ de cook, carpenter -an’ cooper an’ shipkeepers am lef’. But it looks laik a -mighty fine school of spam whales dey’s onter, an’ ef -dey gets um may be de skipper please, an’t it?’</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">A DISASTROUS DAY</p> - -<p>Undoubtedly there was a certain fierce delight in -Mr. Court’s mind, as well as great relief, when he fled -precipitately on deck from the presence of the terrible -man who was his present commander. As any other -man of his abilities and bravery would have done, he -felt a certain measure of contempt for himself that -he should be so meekly subservient to one whom he -believed in his heart of hearts to be no braver or more -skilful than he was himself; but the deeply ingrained -habit of discipline prevented that feeling from reaching -its logical conclusion. And, unlike the Dago, he, -being an Anglo-Saxon, also felt a certain compassion -for a man stricken down by accident in the -performance of his duty, and utterly unwilling to take -the smallest advantage thereof. More, in some dim -manner he felt that if his part were well played now, -there might be some alleviation in the lot of that pale -saint (for in such a light had the mate come to regard -Priscilla—you cannot keep family secrets on board -a ship); and so, fired with all the best ambitions that -can energise a man, he sprang on deck, every sense -keenly alert.</p> - -<p>The air was full of wailing cries of ‘Bl-o-o-o-o-w.’ -All hands were waiting ready by their boats with an -air of expectation, as if each man was taking the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span> -highest personal interest in the outcome of the present -adventure. The second mate, standing on the little -bridge over the wheel conning the ship, no sooner saw -his superior than he said, ‘School o’ th’ biggest sparm -whale ever I sot eyes on, sir. Ain’t one under a -hundred an’ thutty bar’l, I swar. An’ thar’s one—ef -he ain’t the father of all the whales ever bo’n I ain’t -ever seen one before.’</p> - -<p>For all answer the mate shouted ‘’Way boats! -Down from aloft.’ And for the next few minutes the -whirring of patent sheaves, as the graceful boats -ran waterwards, the hoarse, gasping orders given by -the boat-headers, and the sharp concussions in the -water, filled the air. What a scene of furious energy -manifested by men who a little while before were -lolling uncouthly about as if incapable of any exertion -whatever, under no matter what stimulus or provocation! -Within five minutes the ship was deserted by -all her crew, save only the discontented half-dozen -whose unhappy lot it was to abide by the stuff and -labour monotonously to keep the ship as far to -windward of the arena of battle as might be. In -every man’s heart there was a deep sensation of -thankfulness that one ominous figure was absent from -this fray—that for once they were free to do their best -unhampered by the paralysing knowledge that, whatever -they did, their efforts would surely be rewarded -by savage treatment which they must endure, because -no safe way of rebellion presented itself. How -the rowers did lay to their oars! How keenly when, -a sufficient weather gauge being reached, the sails -were set and the boats bounded blithesomely over -the blue waves under the stress of the freshening<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> -breeze, did every man peer forward for sight of their -gigantic prey; and how fervently each harpooner -hoped that he might be privileged to strike the first -blow!</p> - -<p>I have never been able to understand how it is -that all other seamen seem to have cherished contemptuous -feelings towards the whale-fishers. That -they always have done so is undoubtedly true, and -possibly the foundation of so utterly false a sentiment -may have been that it is but seldom that -ordinary seafarers have been able to witness the -mighty conflict between men and whales. Usually -when sailors meet whalers it is at a time when the -latter are conserving their energies against the -coming of the next great fight, or are greasily -labouring to harvest their spoil, an occupation which -needs much true appreciation of the romantic to see -anything in it at all worthy of admiration. In the -rare cases that have occurred when sailors have been -in at the death of a whale, they have been simply -stricken dumb with admiring wonder, and thenceforward -have enjoyed a vicarious popularity as the -retailers of yarns in the dog-watches to a gaping but -utterly sceptical crowd of their shipmates.</p> - -<p>So, swiftly the four boats sped whalewards, the -mate always ahead, for his intense nervous energy -had communicated itself to his crew, who, not content -with the pace being made under the pressure of the -wind, had each stealthily seized a paddle, and were -thrusting them deeply into the hissing waters alongside -at every opportunity that was presented, as if -their overmastering impatience could not let them -rest for one instant. Strange to say, on this occasion,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> -although it seemed to the mate that, large as the -whales were, they should have long ago made their -periodical descent, they did not do so, but lolled -about on the bright sea-surface in an orderly series -of rows which converged, until at the apex, as it -were, of the whole school lay the gigantic leader of -whom the second mate had spoken in such breathless -terms of admiration. There could at last be no -doubt about the matter: that school of whales had -seen their aggressors coming, and for some mysterious -reason had decided that on this occasion they -would not obey their natural promptings bidding -them flee, but would await the foe and do battle with -him in befitting manner, with never a doubt as to -the issue.</p> - -<p>The reason for this strange behaviour could not, -of course, be known to the mate, since even the -keenest of human observers has never been able to -penetrate the motives influencing what we are pleased -to call the ‘lower animals’ in their pursuance of any -abnormal course of behaviour; although there can be -no doubt that had he known why the whales thus -awaited him, the knowledge would not have caused -him to alter his procedure in any way. For he was a -perfectly brave man, whom no amount of prospective -peril could turn aside from what he considered to be -the path of duty. True, he was but an ordinary -example of the New England whale-fisher; but it -must ever be remembered that this wonderful calling—<i>i.e.</i>, -hunting the sperm whale—of necessity bred a -most extraordinary type of man, having as it did the -grand old Puritan stock to work upon.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span></p> -<p>So Mr. Court led his little flotilla into battle, -every man watching with keenest anticipation the -gently heaving masses of the mighty foes, and wondering -much what so unusual an attitude portended. -Some of the fellows felt a queer clutching sensation -at the pit of the stomach as every bound of the -buoyant craft brought them nearer those silent, listless-looking -whales. But it was not fear; it was but -the nerve-centres notifying the brain to call up all -the energies of the body to face the unknown, and it -would at the first crash of battle be replaced by a -tautening of every muscle, an exaltation of spirit -heady as that produced by wine, and a great, if dimly -understood, sense of the power of man in the world.</p> - -<p>A short, blast-like order, and Mr. Court, gripping -his steer-oar fiercely, bent his body almost double -and swung his boat’s head round at right angles to -the leader of the great company. His harpooner, -Gonsalvo, one thigh firmly pressed into the ‘clumsy -cleat,’ raised the harpoon high overhead, and a hissing -expiration burst from his clenched teeth as the -weapon flew from his hand and buried itself up to -the hitches in the whale’s broad side. One could see -the convulsive quiver run through that vast body as -the stab was felt; but Gonsalvo did not look; he -snatched up his second iron and hurled it after the -first to such good purpose that it buried itself like -the first one—only about a foot higher up the body. -Then, turning coolly round, the gratified assailant -cast adrift the backstays of the mast and proceeded -to roll up the sail as if quietly coming alongside a -wharf. Meanwhile the boat had swung up into the -wind and lay side by side with the whale, at a -distance of about twenty feet. Hoarsely the mate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> -encouraged his crew in their efforts to get the hampering -mast unshipped, keeping at the same time a -wary eye upon his prey. He was astonished beyond -measure to see that the whale made no sign beyond -that quivering of the skin before spoken of, but lay -as if meditating upon this strange event. Then without -further sign the whale sank, sank with hardly a -ripple, and for a moment or two all was quiet, just -giving Mr. Court an opportunity to glance around -and see that his lieutenants were all busily engaged -similarly to himself.</p> - -<p>There was no lack of readiness or watchfulness; -but suddenly a vast black mass appeared on the -other side of the boat, and with a perfectly indescribable -motion turned a somersault in the air, just -missing, in the downward sweep of that awful tail, -the frail boat by an inch or so. But the steer-oar -was snapped off soundlessly, like a radish severed by -the sweeping blow of a knife, leaving the boat helpless. -Mr. Court’s orders flew; his men seconded -him nobly, pulling first on this side, then on that, to -turn the boat; but, bereft of that great oar aft, her -movements were slow and hesitating. Then uprose -that massive head, with jaws wide extended, which, -taking the boat amidships, crashed through her as if -she had been a stick of celery, destroying utterly two -men and seriously injuring the mate. His right arm -and leg were broken, and his whole side lacerated in -appalling fashion.</p> - -<p>In the suddenness of the shock the mate was -mercifully spared the full realisation of his injuries; -but the absence of pain only made his brain more -active, and his mental agony was extreme. For not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span> -only had he been the victim of a complete defeat, -but he did not know how matters were proceeding -with his subordinates, and he feared the worst. -Then as he paddled mechanically, conscious of a -whelming drowsiness stealing over him, his left arm -touched something hard—an empty line-tub. With -one last flash of energy he rove his arm through its -becket and passed immediately into blissful unconsciousness, -that merciful suspension of the ‘suffering’ -faculties that has been Divinely provided to smooth -the way from life to death of shrinking, sensitive -flesh. His poor fellows, those who were left, were -fortunately uninjured, but thoroughly demoralised at -the terrible shock they had received. They also were -able to support themselves amid the whirling waters -upon fragments of the broken boat; but, of course, -like their officer, in a most precarious and tentative -fashion.</p> - -<p>And round about them, in leisurely fashion, as if -contemplating the result of his strategical effort, -swam the whale, neither doing nor attempting to do -them any harm, but putting them in serious danger -of drowning from the abnormal whirling of the water -which the passage of his monstrous bulk effected. -Occasionally, too, there would appear, cutting the -water in erratic directions, the tall dorsal fin or -‘gaff topsail’ of a great shark, hunger-driven almost -to madness by the taint of blood in the water, but -(as yet) scrupulously respecting the bodily integrity -of the hapless men still living. Overhead flitted -restlessly a few birds, screaming mournfully, as if -they realised that in the effort of providing a great -banquet for them man had utterly failed this time.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span> -But of everything except the fast-weakening desire -of living the principal actors in this stormy scene -were utterly oblivious, and thus for a while we must -leave them.</p> - -<p>The other three boats, arriving upon the scene -of conflict almost simultaneously, saw their leader -get fast to the monarch of the school. And had -they obeyed the regular rule, well known to them -all, they would certainly have deputed the fourth -boat to lie off and watch events, in case of need for -assistance. But, freed from the baleful overglance -of the skipper and fired to utmost emulation of each -other as they were, it was easy to forget so necessary -a precaution, and consequently, each singling out -his whale, the three boats rushed to the attack, -all harpooning about the same time. At once the -scene became almost indescribable. For the stricken -whales, unlike their leader, each fought with Titanic -energy to free himself from the galling weapon, rearing -monstrous heads high in the air at one moment, -at the next flourishing with sufficient force to smash -in a ship’s side their mighty tails, the supple corners -of which actually snapped like whip-lashes from the -vigour with which they were lashed to and fro. -Also the loose whales, apparently with some indefinite -object in view of rendering aid, glided about and -between the combatants, making it impossible for -the men to do what they tried and converting the -sea into the semblance of the surface of a huge -cauldron of water fiercely boiling.</p> - -<p>Yet such was the skill and energy displayed by -these hardly bestead hunters that for a considerable -time they all escaped damage, although they often<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span> -did so by a couple of inches only. At last, as they -were weakening, the first calamity came, sudden and -complete. The third mate’s boat was towed swiftly -in a certain direction (and so furious had been the -fight that the sail had not yet been secured) until -the crew found themselves between two ominously revolving -bodies, one that of the whale to which the -fourth mate was fast, and the other their own quarry. -There was no room wherein to use oars, nor was -there time had there been place, when the two huge -carcasses, rolling in opposite directions, crashed -against the tender shell of the boat, which collapsed -into matchwood, while the crew leapt madly upon the -shiny, slippery bodies of the monsters, and, slithering -downwards, disappeared in the smother of foam -around.</p> - -<p>With a groan of regret the fourth mate cut from -his whale, and, regardless of his own immediate -danger, incited his crew with all his powers to pick -up their shipmates. And they did strive, literally for -dear life. The huge bulk of the whales brushing -past them, the frantic motions of their boat, apparently -harassed them not at all. Intent upon the orders of -the erect, keenly observant figure at the stern, they -pulled, backed, peaked oars, or lay still as commanded, -and while in the full tide of their tremendous labours -were suddenly hoisted, as if by some submarine -earthquake, upon the uprushing head of a whale ten -feet into the air. They were flung in a writhing -heap from their thwarts, and when they recovered -themselves they were clinging sadly to a wreck, for -the boat, although still holding together as to her -frame, had her keel or backbone broken in three<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span> -places, and, full of water, just sufficed to sustain their -weary heads occasionally above the sea surface. -Even at that dread time the minds of all were bent -upon the fate of those whom they had failed to rescue. -For themselves they cared nothing; they were -comparatively safe with something floatable beneath -their uncertain feet; but alas for those who in that -tormented whirl of waves had not even a splinter -unto which they might cling hopefully.</p> - -<p>What of the second mate? Well, some might -call him a coward, for although he had got fast like -the rest, before three minutes had passed, having -witnessed the disaster which had overtaken his -senior officer, he had coolly cut his line and withdrawn -with all the speed he could command from the arena. -One thing, and one only, was in his mind, and that -was how he could avoid being entangled in a fight, -so that he might, as soon as opportunity offered, -rush in and rescue some of the drowning ones. But, -as he afterwards said, never in all his fishing had -such a task fallen to his lot. For every whale in the -school seemed to make for him, and although they -did not attack, whales being magnanimous beyond -all other powerful and sensible animals, they circled -about him with majestic movement, occasionally -scarifying the faces of himself and his patient men -with the blistering drops from their condensed -spoutings as they blew across his boat, and clearly -made him understand that he existed only by their -favour. And he was fretting his heart to fragments -over his inactivity, and wondering how long it would -be ere he could emerge from his august environment, -and save those shipmates of his whom he knew to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> -perishing so near. Even then he had no notion of -the completeness of the disaster. But his heart -failed him as he thought of meeting the tyrant of his -life, on that terrible man’s recovery, and endeavouring -to explain away so great a failure.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile as far as the eye could reach the boat -was hemmed in by whales, that with majestic movement -circled around their tiny captive, or, perpendicularly -erected in the water, protruded their vast -cylindrical heads from the surface like symmetrical -columns of black rock. Then, as if at a given signal, -the great assemblage divided, leaving between their -closely packed ranks a lane of clear water. Not an -instant was lost by Mr. Winslow; if his hand -trembled, in its grip of the steer-oar, his voice did -not; if his men looked wistfully at one another and -at their gigantic escort, they pulled none the less -lustily at the word of command. And presently they -came upon a pitiful sight. In an area that might -have been covered by a big ship’s mainsail floated -listlessly six men, each clinging to some derelict -portion of their late vessel’s equipment. None of -them appeared able to appreciate their most perilous -position; no gasp of fear passed their cracked and -blistered lips when the long, quivering body of some -ravening shark glided closely past them. No; for -them nothing mattered any longer: they had passed -beyond the reach of either hope or fear. And had -one remembered how painful were their lives, how -remote the possibilities of brightness ever lightening -their dreary way through the world, the thought -would inevitably have compelled admission that -it was almost criminal to bring them back again<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span> to -the suffering they had left behind—especially remembering -how full of pain to them would be the -process.</p> - -<p>Such an idea, however, never occurred to those -tender-hearted if ruffianly looking rescuers. Forgetting -all their own danger—oblivious, indeed, to -anything else but the manifestly urgent needs of the -perishing ones they saw around them—they toiled -furiously to get the exhausted men into their boat. -Nor did they desist until, the gunwale of the boat -being just awash, they were warned that any further -attempts to pick up men would certainly mean the -loss of all, both rescuers and rescued. Six were still -a-missing, but that could not be helped, and with the -utmost care they moved heavily off towards the ship, -which was standing down the wind in their direction. -A careful shipkeeper of a whaleship always devotes all -his energies, as soon as boats have left, to keeping his -vessel to windward of the scene of conflict—a position -of advantage whence, when the great fight is over, he -may run down with a free sheet and pick up the -boats and their gigantic prizes.</p> - -<p>So that, although the time seemed interminably -long, it was really only a matter of minutes before the -boat was alongside the ship and the broken men were -being hauled on board. All the time this work was -going on the ship was the centre of a vast assemblage -of whales, seemingly satisfied that their enemies were -now powerless to harm them, and, although majestically -refusing to attack a helpless foe, quite determined -to let that foe see unmistakably what might -be his fate should his late prospective victims become -aggressive. No sooner were the rescued men on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span> -board than Mr. Winslow, as if he and his crew were -machines of iron rather than men of weariable -muscles, pushed off from the ship’s side and carefully -steering between the bulky bodies of the assembled -whales, made the best of their way back to where -they hoped to find the remainder of their shipmates. -Six were still missing, among them the mate, who -since the captain’s accident had endeared himself to -all hands. But it really seemed as if their colossal -escort knew the errand they were upon, for their -progress was hindered in the most extraordinary -manner by the whales crowding about them. No -assault was made; had it been, however slight, they -must all have perished; but it was as if they were -incessantly reminded by the whales that forbearance -had, even with such magnanimous monsters, its -limits, and that while no advantage would be taken -of primary helplessness, they (the whalers) would not -lightly be permitted to help those who were receiving -the due reward of their own aggression.</p> - -<p>So, with infinite pains, the second mate and his -hardly entreated boat’s crew made their way back to -the scene of conflict, and found one man, the mate, -still afloat, and possibly alive. They could not be -sure of the latter, but took him in on the chance. -Further search, although prolonged to the utmost -limit of their endurance, failed to show them any -more of their lost shipmates, and at last in a faint -voice Mr. Winslow ordered them to give way for the -ship. As his men doggedly obeyed, and called up -their final reserve of energy, the attendant whales, -as if satisfied with the progress of the day’s events, -drew off, and with their great leader well ahead, took<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span> -their departure to windward along the bright glorious -path of the setting sun, whose rays touched their -mighty bodies with gold and made every little spray -they threw upwards in their stately progress glisten -like a shower of diamonds.</p> - -<p>The overburdened crew reached the ship without -further incident, and, once alongside, realised how -terrible had been the strain imposed. For even the -simple business of hoisting the boat, usually a matter -of at most two minutes, became a herculean task -hardly to be accomplished by the united efforts of -all hands remaining capable of standing on their feet. -Once secured on her cranes, Mr. Winslow dismissed -his boat from his mind and wearily slouched to where -the mate lay on a mattress brought up by one of the -harpooners. So great was his loss of vigour, that -although he saw the mate had recovered consciousness -and was now peacefully asleep in his drying -clothes, he felt a dull want of interest in that fact, -as in everything else, and without taking further -interest of his surroundings or of the claims of his -position, he cast himself down in the little clear -space abaft the wheel on the starboard side, pillowed -his head upon his right arm, and immediately fell -asleep.</p> - -<p>The shipkeepers—that is, the four petty officers, -carpenter, cooper, steward, and cook, with the four -men appointed to assist them in the duty of managing -the ship during the process of catching whales—had -been hardly pressed both by work and anxiety. -But they saw and realised how easy had been their -lot as compared with that of the hunters; and -although they had well earned a relief, they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> -said nothing, but went grimly on with their by no -means easy task of preparing the vessel for the night, -clearing away gear, &c.</p> - -<p>Now during this terrible day Priscilla had found -great peace. We left her at its beginning comforted -as only those heavy-laden ones can be comforted -who are in direct communication with the Comforter. -Permeated by that Peace which passeth all understanding, -she felt content to abide in quiet security any -event that might happen, and she looked down upon -the insensible form by her side with something of -the Divine compassion, although without one spark -of the human love which should exist between husband -and wife. All that her simple ideas of nursing -could suggest as good to be done for him she did -assiduously, while his face twitched convulsively, -unintelligible muttering flowed ceaselessly from his -lips, and every muscle of his body seemed as if -under the influence of a powerful galvanic battery.</p> - -<p>It was very quiet down in the small cabin. The -workers on deck went about their duties softly in -dread of rousing the skipper, and only a faint echo -of an occasional carefully modulated cry from aloft -came stealing softly to her ears. She did not feel -hunger, weariness, or anxiety. Whenever the good -darkey steward could spare a few minutes from the -work of the ship he stole down to see if he could do -anything for her; but beyond accepting a cup of tea -and a biscuit at midday, she gently declined all his -kindly offers. The only feeling, as she said afterwards, -that did occasionally shoot athwart the placid -state of her mind was one of thankfulness that her -husband was so long oblivious of all that must, she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span> -knew, be going on, for she could not help realising -what his fury would be if, with all his senses about -him, he should be unable to take part in the hunting.</p> - -<p>And so quietly the long day wore to its close. -She remained in utter ignorance of the outcome -until, at about 7 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, the steward crept to her side -with a cup of soup, and begged her to sup it. While -she languidly did so, he sketched for her in a few -hurried whispers the condition of things, and wound -up by saying, his swart face looking a ghastly green -in the dim light of the swinging lamp: ‘An’ de good -Lawd Hisself only knows wa’s gwine happen t’ us -wen <i>he</i> comes to an’ fine’s eout abaout it. Lawd -hab massy on us all den.’ She answered him not a -word, but, handing back the cup, laid her tired head -back in her chair and passed peacefully to sleep.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">REUBEN EDDY, MARINER</p> - -<p>We left Rube not only entered conclusively upon his -new career, the very antithesis of all his previous -experiences, but, by one of those mysterious happenings -which prove how little we know of the workings -of the human brain, completely dissociated from that -former life of his as if it had never been. And yet -by some merciful connection, inexplicable in view of -his entire loss of memory, but certainly bridging the -dark gulf, his former Christian training not merely -influenced him, but its effect was intensely deepened -and strengthened. So with all his old attributes of -patience, of kindliness, of love; attributes which all -must confess may exist without any acknowledgment -on the part of their possessor of the power of Christianity -at all. Also his physical powers developed amazingly. -Seemingly quite careless what he ate, but always with -bared head returning thanks to God for it, he throve -upon that poor food until his torso would have served -as a model for an ancient Greek statue of Hercules. -Upon his bright face the shadow of a frown was -never seen, his serenity of mind seemed proof against -all the pettiness of aggravation that men allow to do -so much harm in the world, the gnat-bites of daily -intercourse which fester into various plagues far more -deadly in their continual evil than all the great crimes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span> -which shock us so by the horrors of their incidence -upon the life of man.</p> - -<p>And with all this he was essentially a <i>man</i>, taking -with highest intelligence his daily part in all around -him, excelling in ability as he did in strength every -one of his shipmates until he came to be looked upon -by them as a kind of demi-god whose superiority in -all things they ungrudgingly acknowledged because -he himself was obviously entirely unconscious of it. -Forward and aft it was the same. If any felt they -had aught to teach him they immediately did so -for the sheer joy of the thing; he was so eager to -learn, so keen-witted in absorbing new knowledge, so -humble and entirely grateful. At first this attitude -of his was looked upon with suspicion by his shipmates, -for suspicion and jealousy are baleful plants -that thrive apace on shipboard among the crew, -especially on long voyages; then, when the impossibility -of being suspicious or jealous of such a man -had been fully demonstrated, good-natured, bantering -toleration took its place. This was succeeded by -reverence, which gradually overcame the most sceptical, -those who longest maintained that ‘Rube wuz -jest a easy-goin’ loony ’at y’ c’d do anythin’ y’ liked -with.’ This latter phase of feeling towards him -arose, I think, as far as the foc’s’le was concerned, in -consequence of the stand he took against rows in -their common abiding place. Whenever men quarrelled -(and shore-folk can hardly imagine how difficult -it is to keep the peace in a small apartment tenanted -by thirty men), Rube was at once on hand, unless it -happened to be his wheel or masthead look-out. -And, owing to his great size and strength and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>utter -disregard of himself, it was impossible to bring off a -fight when he was about. For he would propose the -most absurd things, such as that the two belligerents, -if they felt they must beat somebody, should beat -him in turn; but beat one another they should not -while he was able to prevent them, and they could -not doubt his ability to do that. Once an infuriated -man did strike him a heavy blow full in the mouth. -It was like striking a rock. Rube leaped at the -striker, caught his fist, and, holding it up, said, ‘Poor -feller, jes’ look at them knuckles, they’re all cut -about shameful. Less get a bit er rag an’ tie ’em up.’</p> - -<p>What could they do with a man like that but love -him? Nothing. And surely never was man so loved -aboard ship before. When in the long evenings after -the first dog-watch the crew lolled about the fore part -of the deck smoking, it became quite an institution -for Rube to sit (he didn’t smoke) and tell them stories -in his own quaint language out of the Bible from -memory. He possessed the only one on board, and -read it continually in his watch below, giving up to -its delights much of the time his great frame needed -for sleep. Perhaps the quotation of a sample of his -Bible yarns (as the fellows termed them) may be -admitted.</p> - -<p>‘Way back in the old days, boys, it seems t’ me -thet most people hed a mighty rough time of it. In -th’ cities, frum what I c’n see, they wuz pow’ful little -’musement fur the wealthy folks ’cept buildin’ uncomfortable -palaces, stuffin’ grub down their necks they -didn’t feel to want, gettin’ drunk, an’ seein’ a lot of -poor people suffer. Funny how a man or woman -should <i>like</i> to see <i>sufferin</i>’, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>ain’t it? Even then when -these rich folks was havin’ what they persuaded -themselves wuz a hot ole time, they wuz always -expectin’ some feller’d come along an’ make a big -hole in ’em with one o’ them old-fashioned stickers -you see in pictures, about a foot long, four inches -wide, and razzur sharp on both edges. But they was -a lot o’ people hadn’t got no palaces. They was -something like sailors ashore—always on th’ move, -carryin’ their grub with ’em, an’ only stoppin’ any -length o’ time where there was water an’ plenty grass -fur th’ live stock. ’Course they managed t’ steal a lot -of poor fellers ’at didn’t know enough t’ keep out er -the way, and make these slaves do all the work. -We’re most of us built like that. Comfort was a -word that hadn’t come into use those days; but then -neither had indigestion, nerves, corns, or rheumatics. -Well, among these people was one a good deal better’n -most ov ’em, though, of course, he had his faults, an’ -his name was Isaac. Only that. Jest a given name, -an’ no more: easy to remember. Now this good -man was well off as those days went. He had lots o’ -sheep ’n’ goats an’ donkeys an’ camels, an’ a mighty -big country to travel about in, an’ let ’em feed -wherever they would, with no rent or taxes to pay. -He had a wife he was very fond of—only one, which -was sing’lar for those times, when th’ best o’ men didn’t -seem able to get along without a bunch o’ wives. -An’ he had two sons. One of these sons was a fine -fellow, free an’ open an’ brave, fond of all manly -sports, but one of those chaps such as we say’ll never -get on in th’ world. He was his father’s darlin’. -The other was a quiet, say-nothin’-t’-nobody sort o’ -feller, fond of hangin’ around the tents and looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> -after the breedin’ o’ the cattle an’ sheep, an’ he was -what we call a good business man. But you had -to watch him close, or he’d get t’ wind’ard of ye -every time. His name was a sort o’ warning to anybody -t’ keep their weather eye liftin’ when he was -havin’ truck with ’em. It was Jacob, meanin’ a feller -that gets into another feller’s place after he’s jockeyed -him out of it. An’ he wasn’t partikler who it was he -bested, his father or his brother jes’ as soon as -anybody else. He was his mother’s favourite.</p> - -<p>‘Well, after both boys had grown up, an’ Jacob -had ben workin’ off his little schemes pretty frequent, -’specially on his twin brother Esau, his dotin’ mother -puts him up to a dodge to take in the old man, who -was gettin’ pretty shaky, so’s he’d scratch Esau outer -his will, and put Jacob in. And between ’em they -rigged up Jacob in goatskins to make him feel like -Esau, who was one of those big, burly, hairy men, so -as his poor old father, who was blind, shouldn’t know -the difference, an’ give him all the property as well -as his blessin’, which counted in them days fur even -more than property. And th’ scheme worked all -right. But when Esau come home from the country, -and found it out, Jacob had to quit, or else Esau -would have killed him sure. So his mother lost him -altogether. I don’t s’pose that bothered him greatly. -Anyhow, he did just as well in the new country he -run to, and in just the same way. An’ he kem back -a good many years after with quite a procession -of wives an’ children an’ no end of property, an’ who -should meet him but Esau, without any wives an’ -children or property, but an army, which was almost -the best thing to have in those days, ’cause when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span> -you’d got it you could get the other things whenever -you wanted ’em by taking ’em away from somebody -else.</p> - -<p>‘And Jacob, bein’ scared ’most to death, offers to -buy Esau off from what he s’posed was goin’ to be -his revenge, with a whole heap of his property. But -Esau says, “Thanks, old man, I don’t want to take -away what belongs to you; I’ve got all I want. But -I’ll send a bit of my army along with you to see that -nobody else comes and robs ye.” But Jacob says to -himself, “Oh, no, this is just a scheme for taking all -I’ve got away bymeby.” So he refused. An’ they -parted, an’ never saw one another again.’</p> - -<p>Loud cries of ‘Bully for Esau!’ and opprobrious -remarks about Jacob, changing into utter bewilderment -when next evening Jacob’s subsequent history -was told in the same quaintly familiar fashion, and -the justification of his being chosen by God was -pointed out. For not only did Rube tell Bible stories, -but in the most artless manner he based conversation -upon them; never arguing, but gently suggesting; -familiarising his hearers with Scripture in the most -pleasing way, and never attempting to compel belief -by his efforts. It is no exaggeration to say that in -spite of the disappointment felt by the men at the -long period of unsuccessful searching, Rube’s sweet -influence was felt by all hands. And although many -of them still had their occasional doubts of his sanity, -none doubted the perfect goodness and beauty of his -character.</p> - -<p>They became a very smart crew. Every duty -they were called upon to perform they did as if they -loved it, and the skipper’s rugged face glowed with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span> -eagerness to see how they would behave on whales if -and when the chance came. But it was not until -they were midway between the Line and Cape Horn -that they sighted their first sperm whale. He was a -lone whale of enormous size, and evidently making -a passage to some other feeding-ground, since he -kept his course as if steering by compass, spouting -with the utmost regularity a given number of times, -descending and rising again as if timed by a chronometer. -Cautiously, but with all the attention possible, -the ship was worked to windward of him, until, in a -suppressed shout, Captain Hampden gave the order, -‘’Way boats!’ It had previously been decided that -only two boats were needed for the job, so the first -and second mates’ boats started, dropped alongside -lightly as foam flakes, and with a long, swinging -stroke they pulled away to windward. Rube was in -the mate’s boat pulling midship oar—the heaviest of -the five—and the mate simply gasped with astonishment -to see how this recent yokel handled his -eighteen-foot oar, how all his powers were given to -its manipulation, and what a beautiful stroke he had. -They pulled for half an hour, then with sails set -to the strong breeze that was blowing, bore down -upon the unconscious whale, the other boat following -hard after them at a cable’s distance. Nearer, nearer -they drew, all hands holding their breath. Now a -wide sheer to port because of that little eye’s power -of seeing astern. They gain rapidly; they are -abeam. A strong sweep of the steer oar, the main -sheet is slacked off, and the boat sweeps round and -leaps at the whale’s broadside like a living thing. -Before she strikes, the harpooner has hurled his iron,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span> -and it sinks its length into the black side; the whale -is fast. Haul aft the sheet, flat as possible, the boat -flies up into the wind, the harpooner casting out the -stray line meanwhile, and there, although tossing -tremendously because of the fuss being made by the -indignant whale, they get the hampering sail rolled -up and mast unshipped and fleeted aft out of the -way.</p> - -<p>Before they have finished their task the second -mate is alongside awaiting orders. He is told not to -go near, but wait and see what the whale is going to -do, always an uncertain factor in scenes like this. -The whale is going to behave in orthodox fashion—<i>i.e.</i>, -descend to where beyond these voices there is -peace. Downward he goes deliberately, as if hurry -were never less needed, but apparently taking no -heed of the strain kept on the line by the buoyant -boat above. Presently it becomes evident that he is -a stayer, for the second line-tub is nearly empty, and -he shows no signs of slackening in his downward -path. So the second mate is called upon to pass the -end of his line aboard, and it is spliced on at once. -(The strands are always kept plaited up, so that a -splice may be made almost as rapidly as a knot, and -much neater and more safe.) Still he goes down, -down, down; while faces gather blackness as fake -after fake of line disappears. Will he <i>never</i> weaken? -The heavy drogue (equal in retarding strain to four -boats) has been bent on at the splice, but seems to -have no effect upon him. The mate’s heart sinks. -Up goes the urgent wheft, a signal to the ship that -more line is needed immediately; but, alas! it is too -late. There is a short interval of almost agonising<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span> -suspense, and the end of the line flips over the bows. -He is gone!</p> - -<p>Then the mate gives vent to his feelings. His -cursings comprehensively embrace everything he can -bring to memory, himself chiefly. When he is exhausted -Rube’s lips are seen to be moving, and the -mate, fiercely desirous of some animate object whereupon -to vent his rage, yells, ‘You hayseed, what <i>you</i> -mumblin’ about?’ (I suppress even the blank profanity -with which every word or two is loaded.) -Rube softly replies, ‘I was so sorry for your disappointment -and the skipper’s that I was just askin’ -God that all our labour shouldn’t be lost.’</p> - -<p>The mate was dumb—what could he say to this? -And every man in the boat looked at Rube as if he -were uncanny—they had no more idea than most -professing Christians have of the simple faith that -believes in an immanent God always ready and -willing to hear the requests of His children. And up -into the midst of their wonderment rose the whale, -the long line trailing behind him, evidently exhausted -by his tremendous efforts to reach a depth of safety. -A dozen strokes in reply to the swiftly shouted orders -of the mate, and they were alongside of him, the harpooner -had hooked up the line and passed it into the -boat, and the mate had thrust his long lance so -fiercely in between the third and fourth ribs of the -leviathan that the whole vast body quivered from -snout to flukes with the pangs of approaching death. -Secure in the knowledge that he had dealt a deathblow, -the mate shouted to the harpooner to cut the -loose line adrift; but even that small loss was -avoided, for the second mate’s boat sheered alongside<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span> -in the nick of time and took it.</p> - -<p>No other stroke was needed; a thin stream of -blood was seen to be trickling over the edge of the -spiracle, and the next great expiration hurled into -the air, with a bursting groan, masses of clotted blood -so large that it was almost miraculous how they had -been forced along the single air-tube which supplies -the lungs with breath. Filled with a great awe, the -new hands drew off slowly in obedience to the orders -given, unable to take their eyes off the dying giant. -And then, to their horror, they saw him suddenly -rear his gigantic head high in air, and hurl his body -along the blood-stained sea-surface in hundred-foot -leaps, swaying first to this side and then to that as if -under the influence of an agony so intolerable that he -was endowed with at least ten times his usual great -strength. All around his awful way the sea was torn -into a thousand fantastic shapes, and blocks of purple -foam were flung on high and caught by the wind, -which drove them like some dreadful snow in showers -of flakes far to leeward. At last—and although the -paroxysm had only lasted about three minutes, they -seemed like hours—there was a momentary lull: the -whale disappeared. But almost immediately after -there was an upheaval like the rearing of a suddenly -formed volcano in the midst of the sea, and high into -the air soared the whole mighty mass, apparently -hung suspended there for an appreciable space, and -fell! In the thundering noise and violent commotion -occasioned by that great act, the hunters lost for a -moment their strained attention on the whale. When -they regained it he lay an inert mass, gently undulating -to the touch of the waves, with his head as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span> -usual pointed straight towards the wind’s eye.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp50" id="i_094fp" style="max-width: 28em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_094fp.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>HIGH INTO THE AIR SOARED THE WHOLE MIGHTY MASS.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>There was a great peace succeeding the tumult, -and a moaning little voice in the wind which filled -the air with mournfulness. Also the plash of the -wavelets over the quiet bank of flesh had in it, to all -seeming, a murmur of regret. The influences of that -restful time affected all for a brief space, and Rube’s -eyes glistened as he thought of the cruel end so -suddenly befalling the brave, strong, harmless monster, -a short hour ago so placidly enjoying his life, and -perfectly filling his appointed place in the scheme of -things. But with a jerk all musings were ended, for -the mate’s voice broke harshly upon the accented -silence, as he shouted, ‘Naow, then, m’ lads, pull two, -starn three, an’ le’s git th’ tow line fast, ’relse the -ship’ll be here ’fore we’re half ready.’ She was -coming straight for them before the wind, and only -about a mile away—a homely, clumsy-looking craft -enough, but invested for each of the green hands with -a new character now, a home of rest after their late -heavy toil, a place where they would be met with a -great satisfaction as returning conquerors bringing -their gigantic spoil with them, warriors who had -abundantly justified the training they had received. -They had been able in that one fleeting hour of tremendous -experiences to attain unto the highest -physical pleasure of which man is capable—the sense -that, by the use of his puny powers, rightly directed, -he is able to overcome what seems to be at first sight -the most overwhelming odds brought against him. -All the solemnity of the first moments of victory was -forgotten, and even Rube’s eyes sparkled with delight -as he watched the look of content glowing on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span> -mate’s face, as with his short boat spade he hacked -at the great limber tail until he had cut a hole in it -through which the tow-line could be passed.</p> - -<p>The ship rounded to as easily as one of the boats -would have done, only about her own length from -the whale. And the mate with a triumphant roar -of ‘Give way, m’lads!’ steered for her, no man prouder -than he of the way in which his ‘greenies’ had -acquitted themselves on their maiden venture. The -grizzled leonine head of the skipper loomed in the -waist, where, the boards out, all was in readiness to -receive them. And as ready hands hooked up the -tow-line, and prepared to walk up alongside the huge -mass of their prize, he said to the mate standing -beneath him erect in the stern of the boat: ‘Wall, -Mr. Pease, yew du seem t’ hev got on t’ a logy this -time. I sh’d say he’s all ov a hundred an’ forty bar’l -be his look, ’less he’s dry-skin.’ ‘Nary dry-skin ’baout -him, Cap’n Hampden,’ replied the mate, cheerfully. -‘He’s jest a-teemin’ outer him. Iron went in’s if it -hed fell into a kag er butter. Fattes’ whale ever I -struck, ’n’ thet’s the cole truth, sir.’</p> - -<p>Then with a joyful noise all hands tallied on to -the tow-line, and snaked that whale alongside in great -shape. Everything had been prepared for the arrival, -cutting falls rove, spades ranged, cutting stage ready, -and although the experience was absolutely novel -to most of the men, they were so keen, so eager to -do as they were told to the best of their ability, that -really I doubt whether the most seasoned crew could -have made a better show than they did. And this -in spite of the almost feverish desire possessed by all -to look upon the gigantic prize they had won in fair<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span> -fight from his appointed realm, the vasty deep. It -was all so wonderful, so new, so strange. And then -in hurried glimpses they saw coming up in the clear -blue around hosts of queer-looking creatures (to them, -for none of the new hands had ever seen a shark -before). One fellow, a lank Kentuckian, in a stolen -moment remarked in a stage whisper to a shipmate, -as they leaned over the rail hauling at the fluke-chain, -‘Gosh! look’t all them little fish daown thar.’ -Said little fish, rising rapidly, presently revealed -themselves as sharks averaging ten feet in length, -who, regardless of consequences, hurled themselves -end-ways at the whale’s body, and gouged at it -furiously, as if driven mad by hunger.</p> - -<p>The whale fairly secured alongside, the skipper’s -voice rose above the tumult, commanding instant -attention from everybody. ‘Mr. Pease, let th’ boys -go to dinner. I guess we won’t miss an hour, and -th’ weather looks sorter settled.’ ‘Dinner!’ shouted -the mate, and there was a stampede forward, for every -man, as soon as he had time to think of it, was -ravenously hungry. The cook had, under orders -from the skipper, made a few additions to the usual -dietary, and it is not too much to say that every man -there when he sat down to enjoy his well-earned -meal was, for the time being, as happy as ever he -had been in his life. And only because the man -who controlled their destinies for the time had in -addition to his fund of common-sense, a little of the -milk of human kindness.</p> - -<p>A little judicious appreciation costs nothing, and -is so valuable: it often lifts weary men over the dead -centres of life; indeed, it often makes a youth who,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span> -full of fear lest in his very anxiety to do well he has -made some irreparable mistake, feel that no effort -can be too great to please a man who has recognised -his desire to do his duty. And when, at the call of -‘Turn to!’ the rested, well-fed crowd climbed on -deck again into the keen, pure air, and found that -while they had been dining the skipper and his -officers had been toiling at the stupendous task of -cutting off the whale’s head, they almost felt ashamed -at having taken so long over their meal.</p> - -<p>I know very well that there will be many a -cynical sneer at this, but that does not matter at all -so long as the thing is true. If men (and I care not -whether they be white, black, brown, or yellow) are -treated like cattle they will yield worse than bovine -service; if they are pampered and allowed to feel -that they can do as they like, they will, their natural -depravity getting the upper hand, become practically -worthless; but if, as under Captain Hampden, they -are kept under discipline, yet made to feel that their -efforts to do well are fully appreciated, they will -behave as men should behave who realise to the full -the dignity of obeying the call of duty, who realise -abundantly how good it is to be a <i>man</i>.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">THE <i>GOOD</i> SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’</p> - -<p>Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in -the heading of this chapter because I have often -feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the <i>Cachalot</i>’ -may have been led to believe that there could not -be such a thing as a good whaleship. And yet even -there I did try to show how vast a difference a change -of captains made. The <i>Xiphias</i>, however, was good -from the beginning. A certain amount of unavoidable -suffering was endured by the new hands at the -beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the -sudden violent change in their lives. And perhaps -the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their -attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were -endeavouring to lick into shape. But there never -was any actual cruelty. Discipline once firmly -established, and rudimentary ideas of the work they -must do instilled into the men’s minds, their lives -became as comfortable as a sailor’s life can ever be -at sea. They worked hard, but only at necessary -duties, and they were never wantonly deprived of -needed rest. Their food was none too good, but it -was certainly better than usual and always plentiful. -Even here the genial spirit of the skipper was able -to exercise itself beneficially for the comfort of his -men. He and his officers were always on the keenest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> -look-out for fish of any sort, and no effort was spared -to catch them, all sorts of fishing tackle being carried -for the purpose. He knew, too, many little dodges -by means of which sea-fowl could be rendered -palatable, and was a past master in the art of devising -changes of dietary for his crew.</p> - -<p>But more than all this, the man himself was one -of those glorious old Yankees who combine with a -supreme ability to command their fellows—a power of -enforcing discipline among the roughest with splendid, -never-failing courage—the simple, fun-loving, joyous -instincts of a child: terrible in their just anger to -meet as a tiger in the jungle, but happy and light-hearted -as any child when their men behave like -men. So that Captain Hampden was not merely -obeyed, he was loved both by officers and men, and -all the more because not one of them would have dared -to impose upon him in any way. I speak feelingly, -for I know the man, who now, midway between -eighty and ninety years of age, is not in his second -childhood, but his first, his broad back unbent, his -hawk-like eye undimmed, his huge limbs as steady as -they were half a century ago. To him the children -flock as to one who understands them. They talk -to him as to one of themselves, and parents laughingly -upbraid him with being foremost among the mischief-loving -urchins of the sweet little New England town -in which he lives. And I am sure that when the -call comes for him to close his long and useful -schooling here, he will lie down to sleep with the -perfect confidence of a little child. It would be an -impertinence to say ‘God bless him,’ for God has -blessed him exceedingly abundantly, and made him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> -also a blessing to many thousands who are the -happier for his having lived.</p> - -<p>But I must get back apologetically to the <i>Xiphias</i>, -with her crew girding their loins to the great task in -front of them. The cutting-in of the first whale of a -voyage is always a serious matter, since the crew, -however willing, must needs be educated in the -performance of an entirely novel task. I am anxious -not to repeat myself, but the work of collecting the -spoil from a dead whale is of so wonderful a character—is, -in spite of the greasy nature of the surroundings, -so truly romantic—that the temptation to dwell upon -its description is ever present. To the casual unthinking -observer there may seem nothing very -wonderful in the operation of cutting-in, except the -astounding magnitude of the masses raised from the -body and disposed of in the blubber-room and on -deck. But really it is a piece of work requiring not -merely the utmost skill and care on the part of its -directors, but a certain natural aptitude as well, for -want of this latter characteristic always entails an -enormous amount of extra labour upon the crew. -Take, for instance, the preliminary operation of -cutting off the huge head. Even with the utmost -skill this task demands an amazing amount of -muscular force, but if that be wrongly applied it is -indeed a heart-breaking job. There is practically -nothing to guide the eye in the selection of a line -upon which to start cutting down into the body and -finding the junction of the neck. And there is in a -whale of the size captured by the <i>Xiphias</i> fully six -feet of muscular tissue to be severed by the spades -before the central bone is reached. In other words,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> -the diameter of the body there is about fourteen feet. -A few inches to one side or the other, and the work -may take double the number of hours it should do, -while the able whaleman will plunge unerringly down -through the mass blow after blow of his razor-edged -spade until he feels—he cannot see—his blade strike -the exact spot in the centre of the joint, a ball-and-socket -about fourteen inches in diameter.</p> - -<p>So well had Captain Hampden and his officers -performed their task that when the crew rushed on -deck eager for work the joint had been severed, a -hole had been bored through the snout, and the end -of a snout-chain was already passed through this hole -and dangling down under water, awaiting the turning -over of the carcass to be got hold of. This was for -the purpose of dropping the head astern when it was -cut off, for it is always the last to be dealt with.</p> - -<p>Swiftly the chain-sling was passed round the -base of the lower jaw, hooked to one of the big -tackles, with a cheery shout the windlass levers were -manned, and presently, upward pointing, arose the -shaft of bone, studded with foot-long teeth, while the -officers cut vigorously away at the throat, and started -the unwinding of that thick overcoating of rich fat -their prize had worn so long. And all the while the -busy spades of the skipper and mate went plunging -almost with the regularity of a pair of pistons down -into the scarph dividing the head from the body, -until as the first blanket piece rose alongside the -head slipped easily aft and floated, an almost cylindrical -mass of some thirty-five tons in weight, at the -end of a hawser passed over the taffrail.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> -<p>All plain sailing now for a time. Merrily -clattered the pawls, accentuated by the occasional -cries of ‘Heave on yer whale!’ ‘Surge on yer piece!’ -‘’Vast heaving!’ ‘Lower away!’ ‘Walk back!’ and the -like, all so definite in their application with seamen, -and so utterly unintelligible ashore. So briskly, indeed, -did the work go on that in less than an hour from -the time that the first blanket piece was lowered into -the blubber-room, all hands were gratified to see the -great flukes dangling at the end of a tackle, the last -joint of the backbone having been cut through and -the mountainous mass of black flesh allowed to drift -slowly away, torn at by innumerable sharks on all -sides, and the centre of a perfect cloud of screaming -sea-birds.</p> - -<p>Now for the head. Smart as the work had been, -there was no time to be lost. Although the whale -had been struck at 8 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, it was now nearly 3 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> -Barely three hours of daylight remained; and, besides, -on the south-eastern horizon there was rising a mass -of cloud, with outlines as sharp and clearly defined -as those of a mountain. It loomed ever higher, vast, -menacing, and deepening into blackness. But although -the skipper could not help casting an anxious glance -to windward occasionally, his manner was cheery -as ever, and he and his officers toiled as if fatigue -was to them a word without meaning. Certainly, -whatever other virtues be denied them, the Yankee -whaling officers could never be accused of laziness. -If they worked their men almost to death they -never spared themselves: they always led the way, -and showed by their example what a man could do -if he tried.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span></p> -<p>The task of dividing the ‘case’ and ‘junk’ from -the head, which was now taken in hand, is the -heaviest of all, not excepting cutting off the head. -For the case is a huge oblong tank, full of pure spermaceti, -and extending almost the whole length of the -head, of which, indeed, it forms nearly half the bulk. -It must be cut out, for in a whale of this size it contains -nearly three tons of spermaceti as fluid as oil, -and there is no way of getting at this precious substance -without lifting the whole case. Lifting the -head entirely is sometimes effected, but only when -the whale is small. In so large a one as this -the lifting of the case alone when detached is a task -demanding the utmost energy of all hands, and often, -when a heavy sea is running, straining the ship -dangerously. Even then it cannot be taken on -board, but must be suspended alongside, and the -spermaceti baled out of it with a bucket in a most -cumbrous and unsatisfactory way. The junk, being -one solid mass cut off the point of the snout, and -weighing about four or five tons, is easier dealt with, -since a slip of the spade in cutting it off does not -mean a possible leakage of all its valuable contents, for -in it the spermaceti is contained in cells as water is -held in a sponge, and is, moreover, almost congealed.</p> - -<p>By dint of the most strenuous toil, the junk and -case were separated, and the former hove on deck -and secured, half an hour before dark. Then the -mighty case was hooked on and held up alongside. -As the ship was beginning to roll uneasily in the -new cross swell coming up from the south-east, -precursor of the impending storm, it was necessary -to pass a heavy chain around it to bind it in to the -side. Then a light spar was rigged across the two<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> -tackles, high above the case, and a single whip or -pulley, with a rope running through it, to one end of -which was attached a long bucket. Then a man—he -happened to be a merry little Irish teamster, -named MacManus—mounted nimbly aloft, and sat -upon the spar grasping a spade pole, with which to -push the bucket down into the case after he had slit -open the top of it. Then, at his word, the waiting -men on deck hauled the bucket out and lowered it -to the tank awaiting its contents on deck.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile all on deck were as busy as ants. -Inspired by the skipper, they toiled to get the decks -clear, and certain of them, at the word, rushed aloft -to furl the few remaining sails that were set, except -the close-reefed main topsail. Rube, being on the -leeside, did not trouble to cross the deck and go up -in orthodox fashion, but as he climbed somewhat -wearily he saw MacManus take a header from his -precarious seat into the yawning cavity of the case. -A scream of horror burst from his lips, but overcoming -the paralysis that momentarily affected his -bodily powers, he leaped like a cat from the main -shrouds to the cutting falls, and, grabbing the bucket -in one hand, slid down into the yawning chasm -beneath. As he went he felt the slimy walls of the -great case embracing him all round, and thought with -agony of the depth beneath him—fourteen feet at -least of oil—then soundlessly the bland greasiness -closed over his head, and all was darkness. But his -mind was clear, and his hope was high that those -who saw him go would spring to the whip and haul -up ere it was too late. And while he thus thought -he groped with one arm through the bucket loop,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span> -and, feeling something hard, seized it with a drowning -man’s grip just as he felt himself ascending. Reluctantly -those sucking walls yielded up their prey; his -arms felt as if they were being torn from their -sockets; but although there was a roaring as of -loudest thunder in his ears, he held on. And presently -he hung limply in mid-air, one arm still -through the bucket loop, the other around the body -of MacManus. Four eager and willing men slid -down the falls and seized the pair. Securing them -with ropes passed to them from the main-top, they -lowered them as rapidly as possible on deck. Even -then there was no time to be lost, for both were -apparently dead—ears, nostrils, and mouths being -clogged with the rapidly coagulating spermaceti. -But after the application of some highly original -methods of clearing it away, and most patient artificial -respiration following it, the pair gradually returned -from their visit to the shades, and sat up wonderingly.</p> - -<p>It was not for several hours that either of them -could recall what had befallen them, and when they -did both fell a-trembling violently as they again -realised the sensation of sliding down into that darksome -well of grease. But Rube recovered first, having, -as he said, the need laid upon him to offer up thanks -to God for permitting him to save his shipmate’s life. -He remembered how, as he slid out of the fast-fading -daylight, his heart said, ‘O God, make me save -him,’ and he felt that by nothing short of a miracle -he had been able to do so. Poor MacManus could -not speak of it, so broken up was he, but for hours, -emitting every now and then a rending sob, he lay<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> -holding Rube’s hand in his as if only by so doing -could he be prevented from gliding back again into -that pit of death.</p> - -<p>This accident had, of course, caused much delay, -but still, through the now almost pitchy blackness of -the night, by the aid of cressets of blazing fuel -suspended from the boat-davits, the work had gone -on, until at four bells (10 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>) a few strokes of a -spade released the ponderous mass from its slings, -and with a sullen, thunderous boom it fell back into -the sea. Immediately upon its disappearance the -skipper ordered half the crew below for a couple of -hours’ rest, and himself hastened to visit the victims -of the late mishap. He found MacManus asleep, -nervously twitching all over, but Rube lying with hands -folded on his breast, his lips moving slowly as he -murmured praises for his deliverance.</p> - -<p>‘Well, Rube, ’n’ haow d’ye seem t’ be hittin’ it -b’ now, hey?’ said the old man cheerily.</p> - -<p>Rube turned on him a dazzling smile, and -answered in a quiet tone: ‘Jes ’s grand ’s grand kin -be, Cap’n. I don’t know as I was ever so happy in -all m’ life. Only one thing I’m sorry fur, ’at I kain’t -be up ’n’ doin’ my share o’ th’ work thet’s goin’ on. -But as yew’re all so kind, I don’t feel able t’ worry -nearly ’s much ’bout thet ’s I feel I oughter.’</p> - -<p>‘Jes’ yew stop right thar,’ said the skipper. -‘Don’t wanter hyar ‘et yew’re worryin’ any ‘t all. -Why, blame my cats, I want ye well, ’n’ haow in -thunder air ye goin’ t’ git well ef you lays thar -a-worryin’? Guess me an’ th’ rest ov yew’re shipmates -’ll dew all th’ worryin’ thet’s called fur till -yew’re round again. We kain’t git ’long ’thout <span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>yew a -bit, ’n’ thet’s a fact.’</p> - -<p>‘Ah, Cap’n,’ murmured Rube, ‘it does sound good -ov ye to say so, and say it so kinder tender like. -Fact is, yew’re all of ye so kind ’at I’m’s happy as a -man k’n be. Nothin’ don’t seem able t’ hurt me. -Naow and then thar’s a set o’ blurred pictures comes -up in my mind of a long time ago, when I was very -unhappy an’ looked ahead to see nawthin’ but trouble -an’ misery waitin’ fur me all my days. But it never -gits quite clear. I never remember anything fur -certain, and I don’t seem ter—I kain’t seem ter—feel -’at I keer a row o’ pins what’s goin’ t’ happen ter-morrer. -I seem ter ben here all my life, ’n’ don’t -want a little bit t’ be anywhere else. I ain’t gut -a care ner a fret ner a want in the world.’ Then, as -the Captain turned as if about to leave abruptly—for -the need upon him to do so was great—Rube gently -laid a detaining hand upon his arm, saying: ‘Cap’n, -I believe it’s all the goodness of God. Some of us -don’t think as much of Him as we might. I know -I don’t, but I b’lieve ther’ ain’t one of <i>us</i> but what -thinks more about God’s love to ’em than they do -’bout anythin’ else in this world.’ ‘Stop,’ almost -shouted the skipper, ‘yew’re hurtin’ me wuss ’n ye -know. I dassent say a word ’at w’d hurt yer faith in -us, but fur God’s sake don’t make us out like that. -I kain’t tell ye haow mean an’ low down an’ ord’nary -yew make me feel when yew talk like that. Naow I -must git, fur yew’re mighty low, ’n’ I got work wants -doin’. Try an’ git t’ sleep an’ be about among us as -quickly as ever yew can.’ And the skipper hurriedly -departed.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span></p> -<p>In truth he was glad to get away from what was -rapidly becoming an intolerable situation. Back to -his mind had been brought with startling clearness -the old Quaker home, the sweet placid face of his -mother, as with a cooing gentleness she taught him -to utter his earliest prayers to the All-Father with -whom she was on such beautifully intimate terms. -He remembered how the light upon his mother’s face -always seemed to him to be reflected from the sky, -and how he used to shut his eyes tight and wish that -he might have a vision of that dear Friend whom he -felt sure that mother could see and hear so clearly. -Also the grave face of his father came up before him, -never, as far as he could remember, lit by a smile, -always looking as if the tremendous realities of life -had left their indelible impress there. He knew that -while he had loved his mother he had reverenced his -father, but never seemed able to get beyond that feeling -of awe-stricken admiration. Then came the death -of both those holy ones, the breaking up of the old -home, and the gradual loss through the struggling -years that followed of personal communion with his -mother’s Friend, while still retaining through all the -hardnesses of a whaler’s life a blend of her sweet -temper and his father’s exalted rectitude. And now -he was set a-wondering in the presence of this gentle -‘greenie’ how much he had lost through his gradually -letting slip his acquaintance with his mother’s God. -But like most men of Anglo-Saxon race, he felt -a strange fear lest he should betray to anyone around -him these ennobling, uplifting thoughts that welled -up from his heart. His face burned and his voice -trembled curiously as he walked among his toiling -men, glancing furtively at each familiar face as <span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span>if -wondering whether any of them could detect any -difference in him—for difference he knew there was—from -what he had been yesterday.</p> - -<p>After a short interval of oversight, a few words with -the officers who were superintending the commencement -of the trying-out process, and an entirely contented -look around at the storminess of the night, he -said to the second mate, who was in charge of the -watch at the time: ‘Wall, Mr. Peck, I guess I’ll go -and turn in fur a spell. It’s goin’t’ be a dirty night, -an’ ye mout’s well rig up the cover over th’ try-works, -’case it rains, ’r she ships any water. Don’t want th’ -pots bilin’ over ’n catchin’ light, do we? Nawthin’ -else yew’d like t’ talk t’ me abaout, is there, ’fore I go -below?’ ‘No, sir,’ said the officer; ‘everythin’ seems -to be goin’ in good shape so far, ’n’ as fur this dirt, -wall, I reckon the moon’s ’bout due at seven bells ’n’ -I shouldn’t wonder if she scorfs it all.’ ‘Ha, ha,’ -laughed the old man; ‘it’s mighty certain she wunt -scorf the fly jib anyhaow. It’s too well fast fur thet. -Good-night.’ He alluded to the old, old yarn at sea -of the careful mate who, because the night was -threatening in appearance, asked the skipper whether -he shouldn’t ‘take some of the kites off her.’ ‘Oh, -no,’ said the skipper, ‘the moon’ll scorf (eat) all -that’ (alluding to the ugly appearance of the clouds). -But when aroused by the tumult on deck an hour or -two latter the skipper came rushing on deck and -anxiously inquired what had become of the flying -jib, the mate replied nonchalantly, ‘Oh, the moon’s -scorfed that, sir.’</p> - -<p>Diving below, the old man took a searching look -at his barometer, noted the direction of the ship’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span> -head, and then passed on to his own tiny state-room, -slipped off his boots and sat down. Alone with his -thoughts, they flew back again to that far-off time to -which they had been directed by his contemplation -of Rube. Slowly his head dropped upon his hands, -lower and lower he bowed himself, until, utterly -oblivious of all the sea-noises around him, of the -uneasy motion of his ship as she headed the -rising sea, or of his responsibility for the welfare -of every soul on board, he slipped down upon his -knees, and as simply as ever he did when a child, -but with an added fervour, he lifted up his heart -to God.</p> - -<p>It was at least half an hour before he rose from -his knees, but in the space of that brief period he had -learned more than most men learn during the whole -of their lives. Confessing his sins he asked for -pardon, admitting his blindness he asked for sight, -acknowledging his ignorance he asked for teaching; -and he obtained all his desires. Then with a sense -of lightness and freedom from care never before felt -he lay down on his little settee to be ready for a -call, and in about the space of one minute was fast -asleep.</p> - -<p>On deck, the scene to an uninitiate would have -been appalling. With a monotonous, never-ceasing, -and ever-increasing wail the wild wind bore down -out of the windward blackness upon the brave old -ship. A peep over the weather bulwarks revealed -the long, long ranges of gleaming wave-crests rolling -down upon her, their uncanny greenish light flickering -against the black background and showing by -the distances they were apart longitudinally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> how -mightily the waves had grown. There was a fascination -about them, too, which held the observer -gazing until like a splash of small shot a spray of -spindrift struck him in the face and sent him smarting -to shelter. But as if it had been the finest of -summer evenings the steady stress of labour continued. -Up from the blubber-room were hurled the massive -horse-pieces of blubber, carved with so much labour -from the great blanket pieces by the slipping, struggling -labourers below. Of all the strange places I -have ever seen I think the blubber-room of a whaleship -at night in a gale of wind is beyond comparison -the strangest. It is a square space of about thirty -feet each way and between six and seven feet high. -Into it are piled the blanket pieces, those immense -widths of blubber, each weighing a ton or so, which -have been ripped from the carcass of the whale. In -uncouth masses they lie one upon another, piled often -almost to touching the beams overhead. As the -ship rolls they glide and heave upon one another as -if still actuated by the breath of the monster they so -lately covered. From a beam, generally in a corner, -swings a primitive lamp, little more than accentuating -the darkness. And at the beginning of operations -two dim forms crawl precariously about among -those greasy masses, occasionally slipping a leg down -into a temporary crevice and having it squeezed into -numbness before being able to withdraw it. They -wield short-handled spades like Dutch hoes, and with -infinite labour hew off blocks from the masses of -blubber of a fit size to pass through the mincer. -When they have a dozen or so of these blocks ready -they must needs in some unexplainable fashion<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> -balance themselves under the hatchway, and with a -sort of diminutive pitchfork hurl the blocks (horse-pieces) -upwards into a shallow trough secured to the -coaming or upper edge of the hatch, whence the -attendant on the mincer loads a tub with them and -drags them away. And unless these blubber-room -men be exceedingly skilful as well as strong, -they will not only never have a breathing space -during the six hours of their stay below, but will, -in addition, have to bear much contumely from the -officer in charge, who will be instant in his sarcastic -inquiries as to what they may be doing below—whether -they are asleep or not.</p> - -<p>The clank-clank of the mincer is unceasing, tall -tongues of flame from the funnels of the try-works -make long red smears upon the gloom as they stream -away to leeward, and the two harpooners feed the -bubbling cauldrons with minced blubber, bale out the -sufficiently boiled oil, and watch with unceasing care -against a sudden splash of cold water into the pots, -which may cause the oil to rise in a moment, and, -overflowing into the furnaces, set fire to the ship. -All the watch is so busy that there is no time to -notice the weather, or moralise upon this most -romantic scene—a ship’s company who, having -succeeded in winning from a hostile element the -spoil of the mightiest creature known, have now converted -their vessel into a floating factory, and under -the most extraordinarily difficult conditions conceivable -are engaged in realising that spoil in order to -convey it to their home port thousands of miles -away.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> -<p>Here let us leave them for awhile, and exercising -our privilege of instant transition, glance back at the -quiet village whence the departure of our hero withdrew -so much consolation and manly assistance in -the old age of his parents.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">AT THE OLD HOMESTEAD</p> - -<p>Saturday night in the Eddy homestead. In their -respective chairs, occupied by them with hardly a -break through thirty-eight years of ideally happy -married life, sat Farmer Eddy and his wife. The -labours of the week were ended, the hired people -gone to rest, and husband and wife sat face to face -as they had done for so many years, but never until -the last six months with such weary hearts. Mrs. -Eddy had aged very much. Not that any care for -her boy’s spiritual welfare worried her—she felt as -certain of him in that respect as if he had been always -under her eye. But since his departure from New -Bedford in the <i>Xiphias</i> it was as if he had passed -into the eternal silence, and although she said little -her heart-hunger was terrible. His last letter was -but half-a-dozen lines, hastily scrawled and posted -without signature, telling his parents that he was outward -bound on a South Sea whaling voyage, and in -the hurry of the moment omitting to mention even -the name of his ship. Naturally, therefore, as the -days went by lengthening into weeks, the weeks into -months, the disease of uncertainty made her its prey, -and she aged fast, perhaps as much from the heroic -effort she made to conceal her anxiety from her husband -as from its direct effect.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span></p> -<p>Alas, what Mrs. Eddy endured has too often been -the lot of American mothers. For in those days -recruiting agents for the New England whalers -prowled about the country beguiling simple young -men with specious tales of the glories of a roving life -and the wealth they would by-and-by bring home. -And as the recruits never knew where they were -going except that it was out upon the wide ocean, -nor when they might possibly return, except that it -must not <i>legally</i> be longer than four years, the news -they were able to send their people at the time of -shipment, even supposing they felt in good heart -enough to do so, was of necessity extremely meagre. -Nor were opportunities for sending letters frequent -afterwards. An occasional whaler was spoken which -might or might not be homeward bound in the course -of a year or so. It was hardly worth while entrusting -letters to such a casual packet as that. And the land -touched was almost always carefully selected for its -aloofness from civilisation, as well as its offering few -inducements to a would-be deserter who was anxious -to return home.</p> - -<p>Farmer Eddy went about much the same as usual -but noticeably graver, and, if possible, more gentle -than ever. He never spoke to his neighbours about -his son, and scarcely ever to his wife, but this latter -omission mattered little, since at the evening prayer -he had ever since Rube’s departure devoted at least -half of that pleasant season to pleading with his Father -for his son. Together as the old couple knelt they -saw with the eye of faith Rube upheld in right-doing, -cleansed by affliction, drawn nearer to God, and never -unmindful of them. Their simple assurance that all -was well with him never wavered, nor, although they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span> -so seldom mentioned his name at any other than -these sacred times, did either of them lose his image -from their mental vision for one waking hour. Here, -however, Farmer Eddy had one advantage over his -wife—the usual one, she was the mother. And as such -she could no more help yearning over her absent son -than she could help breathing. Her faith was as robust -as her husband’s without doubt, but, oh, she wanted -her boy back so badly.</p> - -<p>In a worldly sense all had prospered with them, -and looked as if that prosperity would continue. And -they had been almost compelled to extend their -possessions by the acquisition of the Fish farm. For -after Priscilla’s departure with her husband, Mrs. Fish, -feeling utterly alone except for the hired girls who -came and went, visibly drooped day by day. Mrs. -Eddy came as often as she could to visit her old friend, -but that was not often, and moreover her visits were -of necessity very short. Not only was Mrs. Fish -lonely, but her heart was a prey to all sorts of apprehensions. -Jake, her eldest son, was steadily going -from bad to worse, leaving the oversight of the farm -more and more to his younger brother Will, who, -instead of rising to the occasion, chafed and fretted -at his position of, as he put it, farm-bailiff without -salary, except what Jake was minded to fling him -occasionally with an air of lofty contempt. Unknown -to either his mother or brother, but not unsuspected, -Jake was also mortgaging the farm up to the very roof-tree -of the house, and, with an infatuation almost -amounting to lunacy, was spending the money in -riotous trips to New York and Boston. He apparently -did not permit himself to think at all of the certain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span> -ruin he was courting, nor spend one thought upon -the unmerited suffering he was bringing upon his -mother and brother.</p> - -<p>The climax was reached at last by his returning -from one of his New York trips accompanied by an -exceedingly handsome but vulgar young woman, -whom he swaggeringly announced as his intended -bride. His brother and mother were sitting at their -evening meal when this happened, and when he -made the announcement his mother, with one swift -and comprehensive glance at her son’s female companion, -rose from her seat, saying, ‘Will, he’p me up -stairs.’ Jake, his face flaring with rage, interposed -between the departing pair and the door, demanding -almost in a shout and with many oaths what they -meant by insulting him and his intended wife. Releasing -his mother’s arm, Will took a step towards -his brother, saying quietly and distinctly: ‘Yew -misbul shote, ain’t it ’nough fur yew t’ break mother’s -heart with yer goin’s on but yew must insult her ole -age by bringin’ <i>thet</i> home an’ flauntin’ it in her face. -Naow, ’r ye goin’ t’ git aout o’ eour way or ain’t -ye——?’</p> - -<p>There were no more words. Jake, maddened, -flew at his brother’s throat, and the pair, both strong -young men, but the elder much debilitated by his -recent excesses, writhed and wrestled and tumbled -about the living-room like a pair of tigers. The -woman Jake had brought with him, retreating to a -safe corner, eyed the wretched struggle with a serene -aloofness befitting a Roman amphitheatre, but the -mother sat wringing her hands and feebly calling -upon her sons for God’s sake to cease their unnatural<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span> -strife. Suddenly, over the wreck of the table, the -pair collapsed, Will uppermost. Hoarsely he shouted, -as with one knee on his brother’s breast, one hand -clutching Jake’s throat, he raised himself a little: ‘Y’ -onnatural beast, will y’ git eout o’ this, ’r sh’ll I kill -ye t’ onct? Y’ ain’t fit t’ live, I know, but b’ th’ -’Tarnal y’ ain’t fit t’ die. Will y’ git ’r shall I mash -y’r face into a jelly?’ ‘Yes, I’ll go,’ gasped the -almost choking man, and Will, carefully releasing -him, watched him out of the house, and into the -buggy, which had been waiting ever since he arrived. -No sooner had the pair taken their seats, and the -horse, under a merciless cut of Jake’s whip, had -bounded off, than Will returned to his mother, finding -her in a dead faint; indeed, looking as if coming to -again was a quite unlikely contingency. Desperately -alarmed, Will called for the hired girl, who had been -busy outside, and leaving his mother to her care, -hitched up his cart and drove furiously over to the -Eddy place. It did not take many minutes for him -to persuade Mrs. Eddy to return with him to the aid -of his suffering mother. But when they arrived she -was past all earthly comfort. Her mind wandered -from the good man of her youthful days to Priscilla -and Jake; the only one she did not mention in her -rambling remarks was Will. But he, good fellow, -made no sign of how this omission smote upon his -heart. Nevertheless, could anyone have read his -thoughts, it would have been seen how deeply he was -wounded, and how sincere was his unspoken resolve -that, should his mother die, the home of his youth, -grown hateful to him, should know him no more.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span></p> -<p>At 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> Mrs. Fish passed away, still unconscious -of those around, still talking more or less intelligibly -of her husband and elder son and daughter. And -Mrs. Eddy, tired out, having first persuaded Will to -retire, went to her own well-earned rest against the -labours of the coming day. The following week -tried her and her husband to the utmost, for Will, -besides being almost penniless (his brother having had -every cent he could lay hands on), manifested much -eagerness to be gone and leave everything just as it -was. Farmer Eddy was at his wits’ end what to do, -and it was no small relief to him when a Boston -lawyer came down empowered to sell the place and -all that was on it to the highest bidder for the benefit -of the mortgagees. Then it was that Mr. Eddy -decided to buy, being, as he said, desirous that the -heart-broken young man, now so eager to be gone, -should, if he were ever able, be allowed to redeem the -home of his childhood from the careful hand of a -friend instead of seeing it pass into the unsympathetic -grip of a stranger. Will professed entire indifference, -but no doubt the unostentatious kindness of his -father’s old friend did him much good—especially -when in the kindest manner possible Farmer Eddy -pressed upon him a sufficient store of dollars to allow -him time to look around in Chicago, whither he was -bent upon going.</p> - -<p>Farmer Eddy saw him off, gave him his blessing, -but very little advice (wise man!—full well he knew -how advice at such a time would be received), but -earnest encouragement to keep up communication -between himself and his old home; ‘for—who knows?’ -said the good old fellow—‘your sister may want a -home some day.’ To his utter amazement Will<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span> -turned upon him almost fiercely, saying: ‘That -wouldn’t be a bad thing for her. It might throw for -her the true light upon how she treated mother. Don’t -talk t’ me of Pris. I don’t care a cent what becomes -of her ——’ But the farmer, with uplifted hand, -stayed him, saying: ‘Don’t, Will. Yew’re het up -naow, an’ say wut ye don’t at all mean. Thar, we -won’t persoo th’ subjec’. Let me know as often as -ye can haow yew’re gittin’ along, an’ I’ll be glad. -Good-bye, my boy, good-bye.’ And the last of the -Fish family departed.</p> - -<p>Thenceforward the Fish place received even more -attention than did his own homestead from old man -Eddy. He looked upon it in the light of a sacred -trust, a view in which he was keenly supported by -his wife. For he did cherish an earnest hope that -some day his old friends’ children might be reunited, -purged by suffering, and, returning to their old home, -find with grateful hearts how good to them had been -the God of whom they had thought so little. And -to this end he and his wife added to their nightly -intercourse with their Friend the petition that these -wayward ones might yet be gathered in and find -peace at home.</p> - -<p>Of Priscilla, of course, they had never heard a -word since her departure, but without a shade of -resentment they remembered her and wondered how -she was faring. Their ideas, naturally, could be only -of the vaguest, since they knew no more than they -did of Reuben where she was or whither she was -going. But from what they had heard from Will, -applying sensibly considerable allowance for pique, -they feared that she had before now found how great<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span> -a mistake she had made, and had repented too late -to avoid the suffering it had entailed. But none of -these reflections had the effect of making them -despair of a righting of matters at the long last, and -so they cheerfully took up the additional burden of -their self-imposed duties, finding that, so far from -their being irksome to perform, they brought with -them many consolations. If only they could have -heard from Rube! But apparently that could not -be, and so they waited, in patient well-doing, for the -breaking of the day.</p> - -<p>When Jake, driven forth ignominiously from the -home he had so wronged, by the brother he had despised, -returned to New York, he was utterly reckless. -Without troubling to look into his affairs, he -and his companion were driven from the depot to a -high-class hotel, where they immediately resumed -the course of high living and deplorable extravagance -which seemed to have become necessary to Jake’s -life. Now, the squandering of money is a thing that -requires very little teaching, and can be carried on -successfully in most so-called centres of civilisation, -but I doubt very much whether any great city can -afford the spendthrift more facilities for speedily -reaching the end of his resources than New York. -For its plethora of supereminently wealthy men have -perhaps unconsciously raised such a standard of expenditure -as does not obtain anywhere else in the -world, and, of course, this is ever before those fools -who have neither sufficient money nor brains as a -shining example to go and do likewise as closely as -circumstances will permit them. Without blaming -the multi-millionaires too much, there can be no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> -doubt that the example most of them set in the -direction of foolish waste of money is wholly evil.</p> - -<p>So it came about that a fortnight after Jake -Fish’s return to New York he had exhausted every -possible means of raising funds, and was confronted -with the prospect of being utterly unable to meet -his bill due on Saturday at the Hoffman House. -Sobered a little by this, he consulted his companion -on the matter, and suggested her parting with some -of the costly jewellery he had given her. Vain fool! -She sympathised with him tearfully, avowed her -willingness to share a crust with him rather than live -in luxury with any other man, said the shock had -so unnerved her that she must go and lie down -awhile to recover herself, after which she would come -with him and dispose of all the glittering ‘trash’—yes, -she called it that—when they would go away to some -quiet spot and be very happy. Overjoyed, Jake -lavished multitudinous caresses upon her, sent her -up stairs, and retired to the smoke-room to work out -some plan for making these new funds go as far as -possible without too much appearance of retrenchment. -Then in his easy chair, surrounded by every -luxury of appointment a man could desire, he fell -asleep.</p> - -<p>He was awakened by a waiter, who handed him -a scented note. At first he stared at the man stupidly, -only half awake, and utterly uncomprehending. -Then as sense returned he tore open the envelope -and read:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>‘Dear Jake,—You’ve had a pretty high old time, -and so have I. But you might have the savvy to let -it go at that. You must be a bigger fool than even -I <span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>took you for if you imagine that I am going to -slide down to the bottom along with you, and begin -by coughing up all the stuff you’ve paid me with. -No, no; you’ve been playing long enough: now run -along like a wise little man and <i>earn</i> something. I’m -off on a much better campaign. Good luck.—Not -yours,</p> - -<p class="right"> -‘A. C. -</p> - -<p>‘P.S.—If you feel inclined to kick, watch out how -you do it. It isn’t very healthy exercise for you.’</p> -</div> - -<p>Jake read this letter thrice without understanding -a word of it. Its general import he knew, and it had -paralysed him. He sat staring stupidly at the paper -until the waiter, nudging him, politely called his -attention to the fact that his bill was before him. -That roused him as does the far-heard crack of the -fowling-piece arouse the timid hare. Summoning all -his energies, he dismissed the waiter with a curt ‘All -right, I’ll ’tend t’ this d’reckly,’ and rising, lounged -toward the lift, his head throbbing furiously. Poor -wretch, he was really more fool than rogue—thoroughly -selfish, yet beaten by one more selfish than himself, -upon whom he had lavished all he had; heartless -towards his own, yet punished for his benevolence to -a stranger who had befooled him; he was really -a fair type of a large class of men everywhere who -are only virtuous because they lack opportunity or -initiative to be otherwise. Reaching his sumptuous -room, he found his clothes bestrewing the floor, -showing how thorough had been the search made by -the departed one for portable plunder. He felt his -head beginning to swim, and realising that he <i>must</i> -escape or make the acquaintance of a Tombs gaoler, -he pulled himself together, slammed his door, and, -descending by another lift, passed from the hotel and -was soon lost in the crowd.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> - -<p>Now, there is one tremendous difference between -the cities of North America and those of Great -Britain in respect of their harbourage of such men as -Jake Fish was now in a fair way to become. London, -for instance, seems to offer a premium to the most -worthless. A loafing, shiftless vagabond need exercise -no ingenuity, no originality of resource, in order -to be better looked after in every way than, let us -say, a seaman in a merchant ship. London workhouses -swarm with humans of this type, well fed, -well clothed, well housed, and, oh, <i>so</i> tenderly entreated -as to work. Any little ailment that a working -man would never notice is considered sufficient -warrant for lapping these spoilt children of fortune -in cotton wool and tenderly nursing them back to -convalescence again in palace chambers fitted with -all the appliances for the healing of disease that the -mind of benevolence and medical skill can devise. -And for all this the sorely burdened ratepayer must -needs provide, although he, in common with most of -England’s working poor, thinks of the workhouse as -the home of disgrace, and would in most instances -rather die of starvation in silence than go there.</p> - -<p>But in North America, while there is great store -of loafers, not confined either to the lowest class, they -must have some original talent, some inventive -enterprise about them, whether in criminal way or -merely low trickery. Otherwise they become hoboes, -or as we should call them in England ‘tramps,’ whose -chief qualifications must be an unconquerable aversion -to work, great powers of passive endurance, a love -of filth—in fact, a reversion to the worst type of savage -without one savage virtue. There is little room,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span> -however, for the hobo in a city. The exercise of his -chosen calling needs great open spaces sparsely peopled, -where there are hardly any police. Moreover, the -hoboes, according to Mr. Josiah Flynt, are a close -corporation looking with much disfavour upon would-be -recruits, so that admission to their ranks is not -easily gained.</p> - -<p>Jake Fish then, had he realised it, was in evil -case. He was a veritable prodigal, unrepentant, and -with no father’s house to return to in case of repentance. -Only fit for farming, and hating that furiously, -he had no idea of doing anything else for his bread, -and, as we have seen, his tastes were costly. Consequently, -now that he had spent all, he felt that he -had a bitter grievance against society for not graciously -providing him with the means to continue his -career of viciousness. But he was, besides, an arrant -coward, an essentially worthless man, such as may -be, by a miracle, made into a useful member of -society, but, alas, very seldom is. He drifted down, -down, down. The few dollars in his pockets when -he left the hotel were squandered with the same -utter absence of forethought as had always characterised -him, and then, when, driven by hunger, he -would have obtained some labouring work, he found -himself fiercely shoved aside by far better men.</p> - -<p>He disappeared. Not that there is not work and -food for all in the Great Republic, but the conditions -of life are strenuous, and if a man will not work, and -work hard, he must scheme, and that cleverly, or he -will certainly disappear as Jake did, and no one will -take any trouble to inquire whither.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> -<p>Will, on the other hand—bright, eager, and industrious—arrived -in Chicago with resolute determination -to take his fate by the throat, also to husband -his small resources with the utmost care while seeking -among the busy throngs for something that he could -do. And he was determined not to stand choosing, -but to do as he had read that so many others had -done—take the first employment offered, no matter -how deficient in qualification he might feel himself to -be for it, and, having once got work, to strive manfully -to keep it, and rise from one point to another -by ceaseless attention and industry, and, above all, to -avoid the saloon (public-house) as he would a plague-spot. -Fortunately for him, he had never acquired -the taste for dissipation which had destroyed his -brother, for opportunity had been lacking. It was -not a question of moral principle at all. And now, -although he did not know it, would not have believed -it had he been told, he was in a position of the utmost -danger. Without any home ties, with no religious -convictions, nothing to safeguard him from ruin, -he might easily have sunk; but he had no physical -inclination for the destroying vices, having never -been tempted.</p> - -<p>At this juncture he was standing one day watching -a busy little knot of porters loading up packages -of hardware from a warehouse into a couple of heavy -waggons. The swiftness and apparent eagerness with -which they did their work, without any appearance of -being driven, appealed to him, and unconsciously his -face took on a wistful expression—he would so much -have liked to be one of that busy band. A keen-eyed, -pleasant-faced man of middle age, who stood in -the doorway with a book in his hand making certain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span> -entries, caught sight of the waiting, earnest-looking -man. And being of an imaginative, romantic turn of -mind (which, scoff at the idea as you may, is almost -essential to the making of a successful business man), -he began in a side alley of his brain to build up a -theory concerning this evidently country-bred young -fellow who was watching manual labour being carried -on with such manifest desire to take part in it. -Moreover, the owner of the warehouse, for it was he, -was a kindly Christian, whose interest in all men, but -specially his own employés, was proverbial in Chicago—that -humming hive of business that contains so -much that is evil, but, thank God, has also so much -that is pre-eminently good.</p> - -<p>Will began to move away slowly, but Mr. -Schermer made half-a-dozen swift strides after him, -and tapping him smartly upon the shoulder, said, -‘Say, young man, are you looking for work?’ ‘I -am, sir,’ Will replied smartly. ‘Then come right in -here, and I’ll start you at once. I’m wanting a -young fellow of your build pretty bad.’ And in ten -minutes Will felt that he was on the high road to -fortune. Plenty of work, not difficult to learn, good -thews and muscle to do it, and a hearty, appreciative -man at the head of things; he was delighted. More -by a turn of Fortune’s wheel than any design discoverable -by man, Will had fallen into just the place he -needed, where not only did he receive fair play, but -where the employer kept ever before himself the fact -that each of his men was an individual soul for whom -Christ died, and not just the cog of a machine; -where the employer shouldered his responsibility for -his men as he did the bills he endorsed, and with just<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span> -the same absence of consciousness that he was doing -anything more than his obvious duty. No one -praised him for meeting his bills as they fell due; -why should they praise him for considering the men -who were serving him faithfully, and all the more -faithfully because they knew full well that their -employer had their interests at heart as well as his -own—nay, that he regarded their interests and his as -inseparable?</p> - -<p>I must leave Will here, under the most favourable -conditions, to push his manful way up the ladder of -prosperity, and to preserve, if he can, a measure of -humility with it all, in that it was his lot to fall into -good hands without any seeking of his own. Also I -have a half-guilty feeling that this has been a prosy -old chapter, quite at variance with the strain of high -adventure which I have endeavoured to maintain -throughout the rest of the book. And now we must -return to Priscilla.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">REPAIRING DAMAGES</p> - -<p>The old <i>Grampus</i>, all unknowing of the hopes and -fears and aches and pains she bore, rolled uneasily -throughout that terribly long night. To tell the -exact truth, she was often left entirely to herself, -existing only by the good will of the elements or any -passing ship. In much the same condition as the -remnant of a beaten army, whose outposts, weary to -death, fall down and sleep weltering in mud and -blood because poor human nature has said her last -word, the broken mate lay sleeping, his fractured -leg, benumbed from heel to thigh, straightened out, -and his utterly worn-out body not disturbing it by a -single movement. The battered men below in the -stifling reek of the foc’s’le also lay asleep (blessed be -God for sleep and death), utterly unconscious of their -woes. The shipkeepers, whom a sense of duty kept, -desperate as their need was, from sleeping too long -at one spell, lay in uncouth attitudes about the moonlit -deck. Occasionally one of them would rise and -aimlessly rove aft to the binnacle, gaze into its -glittering oval with eyes that distinguished not North -from South, and then with another owl-like glance -aloft would stagger forward and tumble down asleep -again. And the missing ones, six stalwart men who -yesterday morning were each a centre of activity and -private hopes, desires, and possibilities? At any rate -their rest would be long and sound.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span></p> -<p>Priscilla woke about midnight, and looked uneasily -about her. The almost stifling atmosphere of the -tiny cabin, the reek of the lamp, and the innumerable -exhalations from below, made the place almost unbearable. -And as with a feeling of nausea overpowering -her she surveyed her prison, there came to -her, like a voice from a previous life, the most vivid -recollection possible of the sweet breath stealing over -the fields of her old home; of the careless days -when singing she went about her household work; -of the many delights brought by the changing seasons, -each with its own particular charm; yes, even the -hard, bitter winters when all the land was held in a -grip of steel, and only amusement, out of doors, seemed -possible. That seemed to her like a glimpse of -paradise, from which, by her own act and because -she did not value its joys, she had been shut out: -she had exchanged it for this. And her eyes filled, -her heart swelled with self-pity, regret, repentance, -until suddenly a hoarse murmur by her side resolved -itself into: Pris, whar air ye?’</p> - -<p>Immediately she was recalled to present realities. -Swift as thought she had asked and received strength, -and leaning over her helpless husband, she said, quite -tenderly, ‘Yes, dear, I am here. What can I do for -you?’ Apparently ignoring her gentle question, he -muttered savagely but disconnectedly, ‘What’s th’ -matter? whar’s everybody? what’s doin’? call th’ -mate.’ I do not see any necessity for indicating the -stream of fantastic blasphemies which followed, -apparently to emphasise his demand for information. -They made her shrink, as does a delicate skin upon -meeting a cold blast; but as soon as she was able -she said, ‘The mate has been badly hurt, Ramon,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span> but -I can call the second mate if you will. He can -explain so much better than I can what has happened.’ -‘Well, whyn’t yew call him, then? Kain’t ye see, -yo’ pulin’ idiot, ’at I want t’ know—t’ <i>know</i>, d’ ye -hear?’ More horrible emphasis, in the midst of -which Priscilla crept from the cabin, and, going to -the companion, rung a little handbell, an agreed -signal for summoning the steward. That worthy -man was lapped in profoundest slumber by the side -of the galley, but at almost the first tinkle of the little -bell he sprang to his feet, and, hastening to the -companion, listened breathlessly to his mistress’s -orders (he called them so, but they sounded more -like entreaties).</p> - -<p>As soon as he understood them he departed, and -returning in two minutes announced to Priscilla that -he had succeeded in arousing the second mate, who -was coming immediately. Receiving Priscilla’s instructions -to keep handy in case she wanted anything, -he retired to the lee-side of the skylight and waited. -In about a minute the second mate appeared, still -heavy with sleep (the deep sleep of utter exhaustion -from which he had been aroused), and lumberingly -made his way down into the darksome cabin. Tapping -gently at the skipper’s state-room door, he was greeted -with a torrent of oaths, and understood that if he -didn’t hurry in nameless consequences awaited him. -Trembling in every limb, he instantly obeyed, and -presently stood beside his commander’s couch like -an utterly abject coward. Yet he was, as we have -seen, nothing less than a hero. His deeds on the -preceding day were those of a man who counted the -preservation of his own life but a very little thing,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> if -haply he might save some of his shipmates from -death. In the midst of those aggressive monsters -he did not quail, but led his men on to deeds as -noble as any that have ever been recorded—yet here -he stood abashed and quivering before a helpless -man morally as much his inferior as it was possible for -a man to be. Mystery of mysteries, and one that -men have never yet taken sufficient account of, even -with the stupendous object-lesson of that utterly contemptible -animal, but supereminent commander of -men, Napoleon, before their eyes. The meanest -soldier of Napoleon’s armies was a greater hero than -he; but the possession of that awful power of -domination enabled this utter egotist, this unutterable -cad, to rule Europe and send to sordid deaths -rejoicingly hundreds of thousands of men, most of -whom were in a moral and physical sense immeasurably -superior to himself.</p> - -<p>Thus Mr. Winslow stood before his skipper, who, -glaring up at him with an expression of fiercest -contempt in his black eyes, demanded of him why he -had not reported before the doings of that disastrous -day. Falteringly, as if personally to blame for the -skipper’s incapability of receiving any information -before, Mr. Winslow began his melancholy narration. -His nervousness, coupled with a most excusable -desire to make the best account he could of an -exceedingly bad job, caused him at times to be -almost unintelligible, and subjected him to the -fiercest abuse from the skipper. But this incitement -had one good effect. It tended to brevity of account, -and in ten minutes there was little left to tell. For a -moment or two after he ceased speaking there was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> -a dead silence, through which the ceaseless wash of -the watchful waves outside against the topsides could -be felt rather than heard.</p> - -<p>Then suddenly the skipper spoke again. ‘’Spose -ye’re all hard at it repairin’ damages, hey?’ ‘Well, -sir,’ stammered the officer, ‘ye see, sir ——’ ‘Give -<i>me</i> none o’ yer lyin’ backin’ an’ fillin’, y’ lazy hog, -’r I’ll ——’ He got no further. All Mr. Winslow’s -manhood came to his assistance, breaking through -the mysterious bonds that had held him so long. -With all his nervousness gone, he made one stride -nearer the skipper, a dangerous light gleamed in -his blue eyes, and he said: ‘Stop right thar, Cap’n -Da Silva. Ther’ ain’t a man aboard this ship but -wut’s done his duty like a man, an’ no one could ha’ -done any better. We’re all nearly dead with fightin’ -fag, all ’cept me sleepin’ w’ere we fell down, an’ some -of us is broke up so in body ’at it’ll be months before -we’re fit again. An’ you dare t’ lie there ’n’ speak t’ -me ov lyin’ and laziness. Say it again, an’ jes’ ’s if -yew wuz any other varmint I’ll choke th’ life outen -ye where ye lie.’ He wound up with a terrible oath. -But Priscilla rose and confronted him, her grave eyes -looking unnaturally large in the whiteness of her -face. ‘Go on deck, Mr. Winslow,’ she said; ‘you -forget yourself. The Captain is very ill and irritable, -and cannot be held responsible for what he says.’ -Without a word the second mate bowed his head and -departed, leaving her alone to face the fiendish -malice of her husband, who, as soon as his officer had -departed, turned upon her and exhausted even his -perverted ingenuity in abuse.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span></p> -<p>Strange to say, this bad exercise seemed to improve -his bodily condition, for in about an hour, -during which Priscilla waited on him with the utmost -care and in as perfect a silence as if she were stone -deaf to his shameful words, he ordered her to assist -him to dress. When she had done so he staggered -to the state-room door, rudely thrusting aside her -proffered arm, and dragged himself on deck. As -soon as he was gone from the room she prayed with -all her heart on her lips for peace, filled with pity -for the poor men above now that their tyrant was -unloosed again. A hoarse cry of pain sent a thrill -of sympathy through her, but she <i>would</i> not be distressed, -believing that in some way she would have -a satisfying answer to her prayer.</p> - -<p>On deck the skipper, his cold heart full of -malicious intent, had stumbled over the body of the -steward lying by the side of the cabin skylight, and -kicking savagely at the prostrate man had aroused -him to an immediate sense of his peril. Scrambling to -his feet, the frightened black man was slinking below, -when the hoarse command of the skipper to ‘Come -here’ arrested him, and he obeyed with shaking knees. -‘Whar’s the helmsman?’ demanded the Captain. ‘I -d’ no, sah,’ pleaded the steward. ‘I’ll go see, sah.’ -‘Stop right whar y’ air, will ye?’ was the fierce answer, -and in the dim light of the binnacle the steward saw -the skipper’s hand go to his hip-pocket, produce -something that glittered, and immediately a couple -of shots rang out startlingly through the quiet night. -At that dread summons men began to appear from -all around, first of them all the second mate, with -wild inquiry in his eyes. ‘Mr. Winslow,’ snarled the -skipper, whose voice was growing stronger with each<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> -word he spoke, ‘call all hands t’ make sail. A hand -’t th’ wheel at once.’ By this time all those who were -able to do so had mustered, and with the instinctive -habit of obedience, as if all recollection of their -recent interview had disappeared from his mind, the -second mate replied in his usual tone, ‘Aye, aye, sir,’ -then roaring, ‘All hands make sail, loose taups’ls ’n -t’gallants’ls fore and aft. Clear away stays’ls, jib, ’n’ -spanker. Naow git a move on yerselves, d’ ye hear?’</p> - -<p>There was a rush to obey, for all felt somehow -that their brief season of relief from the skipper’s -oversight had come to an end, and as they disappeared -in different directions with their old frantic -haste, the skipper said to the second mate in a voice -that could not be overheard by any other: ‘See -hyar, Mr. Winslow, fur what yew said to me to-night -I’ll pay ye full price an’ interest, ef it takes me all -this voy’ge. But fur now yew go scot free ’cause I -need yer assistance, ’n’ I hain’t goin’ t’ hev enny -limejuicer rot of bullyin’ my officers ’fore the men an’ -destroyin’ disciplin’. Only ef thar’s enny sign ov ye -playin’ it on me, wall, yew’ll hev to shoot quick ’r -yew’ll be a goner. I’m heeled an’ I’m watchin’ fur -ye.’ Again the second mate replied steadily, ‘Aye, -aye, sir,’ and almost instantly after his shouts of -‘Sheet home fore taups’l, sheet home mizen taups’l, -histe away stays’ls,’ &c., made the solemn night -hideous.</p> - -<p>A low groan a little forward of where the skipper -stood caused him to move that way, and, stooping, -he found the mate, who had been aroused to a -miserable consciousness of bone-wrenching pain by -the clamour around him. Stooping towards him,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> -the skipper said in a grating tone, ‘Wall, ’n’ wut’s -wrong with yew? Whyn’t yew gettin’ abaout yer -dooties? Pretty fine condition yew’ve let the ship -git into in a few days.’ Pausing as if for a reply, -and receiving none, the skipper went on, ‘What in -thunder yew lyin’ thar fur? Don’t ye know it’s “all -hands”?’ ‘Kain’t move, sir,’ came slowly from the -mate’s parched lips, as if dragged thence by torture, -‘fur me right arm an’ leg seem’s if they wuz one big -pain. Fact, I seem to be all raw on thet side of me. -<i>Kain’t</i> I hev a drink o’ water, sir?’ ‘Wall, I guess -yew kin. Here, boy!’ to one of the younger men -hastening across the deck, ‘give the mate a drink of -water, an’ look slippy.’ The skipper looked on while -the unfortunate man drank as if his poor throat had -been a bed of unslaked lime. Then he said, ‘I -guess yew wun’t du any wuss till daylight, ’n’ I’ll be -all th’ better fit to see wut kin be done with ye. But -yew’ve made a hell ov a mess ov th’ cruise, naow, -ain’t ye?’ The sufferer drew in his breath sharply -as this mental blow was added to all his physical -sufferings, but he did not—indeed, he could not—answer. -The merciful climax of suffering was -reached, the broken human machinery protested -vainly to the surcharged brain, and Mr. Court, relapsing -into blessed insensibility, passed into a place -where neither the malignity of man nor the liabilities -of the body could trouble him.</p> - -<p>The Captain strode away muttering until he stood -by the wheel and gazed into the face of the compass. -He was revolving in his mind the possibilities of -fetching the Cape Verde Islands, as they were now -on the edge of the Doldrums, those neutral latitudes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> -between the trade winds that are such a sore trial to -the patience of sailing-ship masters. Only a gentle -zephyr was stirring, like the last breath of the departing -N.E. trade winds, and it was rather a serious -question to decide whether to struggle eastward to -Brava, or keep on southward, doing all the repairs -possible until reaching Rio de Janeiro. One thing only -was needed to turn the scale—the personal touch. -And it availed. He knew the place so well; although -he had not been born there, much of his youth had -been spent there, and he was sure not only of getting -a few fresh hands who would be devoted to himself, -but there would not be the faintest opportunity given -for any one of his remaining crew to desert. So he -gave a muttered order to the helmsman, followed by -a shout of ‘Square away the mainyard,’ as the old -ship fell off the wind. With his usual skill and alertness -he conned her as she slowly wore round on to -the port tack, and to his grim satisfaction he found -that she would head a little to the northward of east, -and that the breeze was even then freshening a little.</p> - -<p>By this time the whole of the available canvas had -been set, and the men were busy coiling up the gear. -Again the skipper called Winslow to him, and in -a quiet, passionless tone gave him certain orders -concerning the repairing of damage that would keep -all hands busy for some time to come. Then the -carpenter and cooper were summoned, and each -received a few vitriolic remarks concerning their -so-called laziness, coupled with a warning that before -long they would have paid very dearly for the advantage -they had taken of his helplessness. Moreover, -he told them that, being now quite well again, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span> was -fully prepared to keep them at their work, if he had -to do it at the mouth of a revolver. They stood -perfectly silent and submissive, neither attempting -the faintest justification of himself, and when dismissed -with the contemptuous remark, ‘Naow git t’ hell eout -er this, an’ do some work,’ they turned and slunk -away like beaten curs. Both were Americans of the -best type, both were splendid workmen of middle age, -with whose way of performing their duties it would -seem utterly impossible to find any fault, and yet -both endured such utterly undeserved and blistering -contumely as this without a word, and, what is more, -without a thought of retaliation. So well had they -been trained in whaleship ways.</p> - -<p>Thus having resumed the reins of power in -altogether vigorous fashion, and reasserted his ability -to make himself feared as well as obeyed fore and -aft, the skipper went below, growling as he passed the -helmsman, ‘Naow jes’ keep her full an’ bye, an’ ef I -hear anythin’ shakin’, by—— I’ll shake <i>yew</i>, till y’ -don’ know whether yew’re dead ’r alive.’ The man -replied cheerfully in the stereotyped phrase, ‘Aye, -aye, sir,’ relieved beyond measure to find that he -should be free of the presence of his enemy for a little -while, at any rate.</p> - -<p>The skipper’s first action on getting below was to -send for the steward by ringing his bell, and on the -darkey’s immediate appearance to order some food -and coffee to be prepared for himself. Of his wife -he took not the slightest heed. Then going to his -medicine-chest he took out the little book of simple -instructions in surgery and medicine that is always -part of the furniture of a ship’s medicine-chest, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>and, -seating himself at the cabin table, with one hand -fiercely tugging at his black beard, he began to study -the chapter on setting broken limbs. A sardonic -smile twitched upwards the corners of his mouth as -he imagined how the poor mate would suffer. There -was just a glint of pleasure in the thought lighting -the otherwise beclouded horizon of his mind. When -he had settled to his own satisfaction the course of -his operations upon his mate (fancy learning to set a -broken arm and leg in an hour!), he sulkily called to -his wife, ‘Here, you, git me some bandages ready, -an’ be quick abaout it.’ She, watching for his lightest -word, came on the instant, and quietly asked how long -and how wide he wanted them. Even this essential -question seemed to afford him an opportunity of -venting more of his spleen upon her, but wearying of -that soon (indeed, he was as yet far from strong), he -supplied the information, and went on with his -studies. Then lying down upon the transom locker -he composed himself to sleep, well satisfied with his -watches work.</p> - -<p>On deck the ship hummed like a hive. Even the -men who had been so badly bruised that the most -elementary exercise of humanity would have allowed -them to rest, dragged themselves wearily up out of -the forecastle, and did whatever they could do -towards the general refitment which was going on. -Some were hoisting on deck coils of ‘tow-line,’ the -beautiful rope which is fastened to the harpoons; -others were taking the superfluous turns out of it, and -stretching it by passing it through a block as high as -the topgallant crosstrees, and coiling it again and -again the reverse way of the lay. Others, again, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>were -fitting harpoons to poles, and securing to them their -bridles of tow-line; others were doing the same to -lances, or putting keen edges on new weapons. -Several, under the carpenter’s orders, were working -away at the repairing of the one boat which had been -picked up, sawing timbers and planks, and carefully -unriveting broken knees from splintered skin. Two -men were assisting the cooper to make new line-tubs. -And amidst it all Mr. Winslow moved alert, with -eyes like a cat’s, unhindered by the encompassing -darkness, but for all that earnestly desirous of the -day.</p> - -<p>Unto these toilers at last came the blessing of -light, bringing with it a certain satisfaction, as it -always does, to those who have been working in the -dark, but also sadly associated with the idea that the -skipper would soon be on deck among them. Every -now and then one of them would glance furtively aft -in search of his dreaded appearance, and, relieved -temporarily by the assurance that he was not yet -among them, would renew energetically his efforts -to accomplish his task. Suddenly all hands were -startled by his voice, all its old vigour having -returned, shouting, ‘Mr. Winslow.’ The second -mate immediately hurried aft, and saying inquiringly, -‘Yes, sir,’ awaited his orders. ‘Clear away the carpenter’s -bench, an’ bring it aft here!’ snarled the -Captain. ‘Pedro, Bibra, come here.’ The carpenter’s -bench having been placed on the fore side of the -skylight, athwart the deck, the steward made his -appearance, carrying the bandages and certain -bottles, also some pieces of rough but thin boards, -just portions of canned meat cases with the nails<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span> -drawn, split to necessary narrowness, and cut in -proper lengths. At an order from the Captain, the -two Portuguese harpooners lifted the still insensible -body of the mate on to the bench, and began to -bare his broken limbs, a most difficult task, owing -to their having become glued to the clothing with -dried blood.</p> - -<p>This operation roused him at once from his stupor, -and with groans that shook his whole frame his glazed -eyes opened. He muttered feebly, ‘For God’s sake -go easy: ain’t I sufferin’ enough?’ But a glance at -the skipper showed these rough attendants that, even -had they been inclined to yield to the mate’s prayer, -and ‘go easy,’ they dare not, so, disregarding his -agony, they persevered, and after dragging and -slitting and soaking his clothes, succeeded at last -in exposing the leg and arm, each with fragments of -bone protruding through the torn and swollen flesh. -By the time this had been done the mate could only -feebly gasp, ‘Water! water!’ and the steward, with -a fearful glance at the skipper for permission, put a -pannikin full to his cracked lips. Then with a corner -of the towel he carried he was about to wipe the -sweat from the mate’s drawn face, but an execration -from the skipper caused him to scuttle back into his -place like a frightened rabbit.</p> - -<p>The operation began, and really it is questionable -whether the utter callousness and brutality of the -operator were not more merciful to the sufferer than -the tender, half-afraid manipulations of a kindhearted -and unskilful man would have been. For in -any case much pain had to be endured, and, as I -have before noted, the human body can only feel a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span> -certain amount. When that has been borne, whatever -you may have to endure does not matter in the -least as far as your consciousness of it goes. It is a -comforting thought when reading of the infliction of -ancient tortures. So now, before the mangled arm -had been straightened, the fragments of bone drawn -within the swollen muscles, the mate had again -lapsed into insensibility. The attendants glanced -fearfully at the white, set face, and from it to the -scowling visage of the skipper, but dared not utter -their fears that the patient was dead. The operator -worked on with a skill amazing to see in one who had -never performed such an operation before, nor had -ever seen such a thing done. Without again referring -to his book, without a moment’s hesitation, he -placed the splints, passed the bandages, saturated -them with carbolic lotion, and then, having satisfied -himself that, in spite of the ghastly appearance of -the mate’s side, it was only an extensive superficial -laceration—there were no ribs broken—he ordered the -two harpooners to carry the patient to a mattress -placed for his reception on the after corner of the -deck behind the tiller, and leave him there. The -steward was given orders to keep an eye on him, and -feed him occasionally with a little soup and bread, -and again the skipper retired below.</p> - -<p>By this time the meal-hour had arrived—eight -bells—and a brief respite from their labours was -enjoyed by all hands. The day was fair and bright, -the wind was steady at about north, and the old ship -was making good progress. So Mr. Winslow sent -everybody but the helmsman to breakfast, and himself -came aft and sat beside his brother officer, full<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span> -of pity, but oppressed by his own utter inability to -do anything for him. But he had the satisfaction of -noting how well the work of repairing the broken -limbs had been done, and, as he was thinking how -even the worst of men sometimes compel our admiration, -he was intensely gratified to see Mr. Court open -his eyes and look wearily round. ‘Wall, haow d’ ye -feel abaout it naow, sir?’ said he earnestly. The -mate stifled a groan, and at last managed to reply, -‘Winslow, I’d rather ten thousan’ times ’a’ died than -ben thro’ wut I’ve suffered this laest twenty-four -hours. But I don’t feel’s much pain’s I did, an’ if -only I k’n git a little food ’at I k’n eat I think I sh’ll -do. Ole man’s awful mad, ain’t he?’ Bending his -head close down, Winslow gave the mate a hurried -outline of the proceedings since the skipper’s return -to command, and wound up by saying, ‘He ain’t said -nawthin’ abaout it, but I believe he’s makin’ fur Cape -Verdes. We’re carryin’ all sail to th’ eastward.’ -‘Thank God fur that,’ murmured the mate; ‘thar’ll -be some chance ov seem’ a doctor if I need one -by then. Say, Winslow, ef ye k’n git one o’ th’ -fellows t’ give an eye to me now an’ then, I’ll be -glad.’</p> - -<p>For all answer Winslow patted his cheek, and in -response to the breakfast bell departed below. He -and the mate, while respecting each other, had not -been chums in any sense of the word, but the recent -happenings had drawn them very close, this feeling -especially affecting Winslow. And he began to feel -as if he could do anything, endure anything on the -mate’s behalf while he was so helpless—yes, even -dare the risk of being shot by the skipper, if he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span> -should go too far in his calculated brutality.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">THE CAPTAIN GOES ASHORE</p> - -<p>Favoured by exquisite weather, and trade-winds -hanging well to the northward, the <i>Grampus</i> ploughed -steadily along towards her objective, no one but the -skipper knowing that it was Brava. After the first -three days of almost frantic labour the skipper’s experienced -eye noted how stale the men had become; -want of rest and poor food had reduced them so that -threats and blows no longer goaded them; they -were fast approaching that stage when nothing -matters, and suffering least of all, because it had -become a normal condition. So Captain Da Silva, -being anything but a fool, ‘let up’ on them as he -termed it, not because he considered their punishment -at all adequate to the crime they had committed -of being beaten in spite of having done their -best, but because he needed their services in the -future. He restored their regular watches, and -although the amount of quite unnecessary work still -carried on would have caused a mutiny in any British -merchant ship, this crew chuckled to think what a -good time they were now having. And, besides, -their lives were not so devoid of interest, for there -could be no doubt that they were bound to some -anchorage—it did not matter much where—they -would see the land again and perhaps taste vegetables.</p> - -<p>And the sorely wounded mate, despite the roughness -of his treatment, the almost utter absence of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> -nursing, steadily improved. His iron constitution, a -certain ox-like patience, and the absence of drugs -combined with perfectly pure air—all these helped -to make his recovery marvellously rapid. But he -almost had a relapse ten days after the accident. -He had so far progressed as to be able to sit up -upon an improvised little platform by the taffrail, -and was watching the sea, when his dull eye suddenly -brightened, his form stiffened, and lifting up his -voice he raised the cry of ‘Blow!’ The skipper -since the surgical operation had held no conversation -with the injured man, except one or two of the -briefest remarks passed each day, just what were -absolutely necessary. But now he spun round on -his heel, his black eyes flaming, and shouted, ‘Whar -away, Mr. Court? Aloft there! wut ye doin’? -Kain’t ye see ’t all?’ Springing up on the little -hurricane deck peculiar to all whaleships, he at once -caught sight of the whale, a big lone fellow, proceeding -in leisurely fashion due south. Without -apparently considering for one moment the fact that -he had only two boats to use, he issued his orders, -sharp and sudden like rifle-shots. Sail was shortened -to the topsails, the vessel put upon the other tack; -then, springing upon the starboard quarter, where -the best boat hung, he shouted, ‘’Way boats!’ sweeping -contemptuously away the third mate, who of -course was standing by to take his place in his -regular craft. A whirring of the sheaves followed, -and down went the boat, striking the water fairly -and being released at once with a smartness delightful -to see. Then, grasping the dangling falls with -one hand, the skipper turned to the mate, who lay<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span> -fretting himself into a fever at his inability to move, -saying as coolly as if just setting off for a pleasure -trip, ‘Guess yew k’n con th’ ship whar y’ air, Mr. -Court, kain’t ye?’ ‘Sure, sir,’ murmured the mate, -the prospect of being able to do something seeming -delightful to him. No answer, but for a moment the -skipper’s body was outlined against the sky as he -launched himself downwards, struck the boat, seized -the steer oar, and issued his orders. Away flew both -boats as if the lives of their crews depended upon their -utmost speed.</p> - -<p>Now, I do not wish to weary my readers with -repeated accounts of whale-fights, and therefore I -must omit all the circumstantial details of this one. -But I do need to say that Captain Da Silva had -apparently found exceeding compensation for his -late tribulations in this opportune encounter, and he -behaved as one possessed of a demon of destruction, -to whom no mishap could possibly come. Yet he -was by no means reckless. Every precaution that -could be taken against disaster he took, but, on the -other hand, he neglected no opportunity of rushing -in whenever and wherever the slightest opening presented -itself. Scorning bomb-lances, he used only -the long primitive spear, and with fiendish howls he -ordered the second mate to keep aloof in readiness -to aid in case of accident. The whale, evidently an -old hand at the game, tried every ruse known to -whales, but in vain, for, rolling over towards the -oncoming boat, and sinking his body in the middle -in order to get a grip of the boat with his gaping -jaws, he felt suddenly the diamond-shaped head of -a lance gliding through the thick muscles of his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span> -throat downward to his mighty heart. Six feet from -that searching point the captain leaned his shoulder -upon the lance-butt, lending all his great strength to -the thrust. The boat passed to the other side of the -body. ‘Pull ahead all!’ yelled the skipper, and out -drew the steel, distorted to the likeness of a conventional -lightning flash. ‘Pull all!’ again yelled the -skipper, and in response the boat shot away from the -vast writhing body, so fatally pierced that in three -minutes, with a few gigantic convulsions, it lay still, -dead.</p> - -<p>Again the voice of the skipper arose—no note of -triumph in it, no suggestion of rest for his crew. -‘Hull in thet line, lively naow. Hyar yew,’ to the -after oarsman, ’histe thet wheft’ (small blue signal -flag) ‘’n’ wave fur th’ secon’ mate t’ come up.’ So -they hauled up alongside of the whale and cut the -line from the harpoon, by which time Mr. Winslow, -who had kept close to the fight all the time, was also -alongside. ‘Naow,’ shouted the skipper to him, ‘git -thet fluke-rope passed ’s if ye knew haow, an’ be -ready with yer eend to pass aboard when I come. -Pull two, starn three, so, all together,’ and away shot -the boat towards the ship, which was coming down -towards them at a fine rate. So fast, indeed, did the -two craft draw together, that barely ten minutes -had elapsed from the time the skipper’s boat left the -whale until he was again on board and, hoisting his -boat, was issuing his orders as if he were an engineer -handling the cranks, levers, and throttle-valves of his -engines. Now he was in his element—now he felt -the primal delight of power—to rule his fellows and -bend to his moulding will. The whale was not large<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span> -as regards bulk, but full of fatness—so full, indeed, -that the utmost care must needs be exercised lest the -hoisting gear should tear out of the almost rotten -blubber. The operations were conducted in peerless -fashion, the skipper being apparently the mind of all -hands—his late disablement appeared to have given -him an impetus that none of his previous experiences -had supplied. So great, indeed, was he that muttering -passed from man to man after this fashion: ‘Oh, but -he’s a horse, ain’t he?’ ‘Don’t he do it?’ ‘What a -man he is!’ &c.</p> - -<p>The work of securing the spoil was carried on -with such vigour, such exquisite skill, and due -apportionment of labour, that before the day was -closed all the worst of the duty was done, and the -skipper strode proudly the scanty limits of his quarter-deck -with the mien of a man who could not possibly -learn from any a better way of doing his work. And, -as I have already noted, he had also earned the -intense admiration of all hands, although each one of -those men was aching from head to heel with the -extraordinary strain put upon him.</p> - -<p>And Priscilla? Well, she had not suffered. She -had learnt to wait in patience the outcome of all -things—not to be distressed by strange noises as of -strife, or no less strange interludes of silence, when it -seemed as if everyone but herself was dead. Even -when upon the deep quiet (as of the grave) which -enwrapped her there impinged a great noise, she did -not shrink or shudder: she just looked up and was -comforted. That she should have been thus becalmed, -as it were, in the midst of tempests, that to her wilful, -wayward heart should have come so bountiful a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> -measure of the Divine patience, will naturally seem -incredible to many—quite as great a miracle as the -raising of the widow’s son. But, thank God! there -are also many of us who know that such miracles are -daily wrought by the direct interposition of God. -Sometimes man is honoured by being the instrument -in such cases, but more often they are the outcome -of an answer given by the trembling, tired soul out -into the darkness whence comes the comforting, still -small voice.</p> - -<p>When at last the skipper came down he wore all -the self-conferred honours of a successful tyrant. He -had vindicated his position as the one man who could -do things without making mistakes, who could be -depended upon to come upon the scene when disaster -seemed imminent, and, taking the helm of affairs, -conduct them triumphantly to victory. And the -knowledge was almost too much for him. He strode -into his state-room and flung his orders at Priscilla -much as if she had been a negro slave—with little -distinction between her and the steward. And she, -with calmest demeanour, obeyed him to the foot of the -letter. She gave him no cause of complaint, and to -his intense surprise he found himself looking furtively -at her and wondering how it was she did not cry or -protest or do something, anything except act like one -whom nothing could make unhappy or disobedient. At -last he could no longer endure the spur of his curiosity, -and he said, in strangely subdued tones (the steward -having gone on deck), ‘Wut’s th’ matter with ye, -Pris? Ain’t feelin’ sick, air ye? Yer lookin’ kinder -curis, y’ know.’ She turned her calm face to him and -said, ‘No, Ramon; I’m feeling very well, thank you.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span> -Is there anything more I can do for you?’ He did -not answer. For his keen Latin wits had come up -against something that was quite outside of his experience. -Something of the baffled rage of the early -persecutors possessed him as he realised that his -wife had passed into a region from which he was -quite shut out. So he hurled a savage curse, a farrago -of Portuguese blasphemy, at her, which sounded like -the rattling of manacles, and passed on deck again.</p> - -<p>Remember, if you would blame Priscilla for not -trying to win this bad man, that she knew him, knew -that any language she might use would be utterly -unintelligible to him, knew that his long and successful -career of cruelty had hardened in him all the -baser attributes, and she felt it would be hopeless to -try. She felt, too, that she would only be bringing -more suffering down upon herself, and was not at all -confident as to the limit of her endurance. She was -wrong, of course: she had not a sufficiently ample -idea of the power of God to save. But we dare not -blame her: many of us in her position would have -gone mad. And she did pray for him, but without -the faintest belief that her prayer would be answered. -She felt, as Mr. Moody once expressed it, as if when -she prayed for that man the heavens above her were -as brass, that prayers on his behalf could not ascend.</p> - -<p>So the <i>Grampus</i> sped onward towards Brava -under the most favourable conditions possible. The -work of securing the spoil of the whale was carried -through in marvellous fashion; the wind held true to -the north, even sometimes a point to the westward of -north, and freshened enough to give the old ship a -speed, rap-full, of five knots an hour. Whether it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> -was any anticipation of meeting old acquaintances (a -man like that never has friends) or not, the skipper, -too, was certainly less severe than usual in his treatment -of his men. He even condescended to inquire -occasionally after the health of his mate, who was -doing wonderfully well in the pure air and utter lack -of all medicine, aided by his splendid constitution. -So well, indeed, did the old ship progress, that by the -time she had been restored to her ordinary condition -of spotless cleanliness, the beautiful outlines of the -islands were sighted, and all hands, with quickened -pulse-beats, began to look forward to a little change -in the ordered monotony of their lives. But great -was their disappointment when they found that, -instead of going as closely in as was safe, the Captain -anchored his ship in thirty fathoms of water—far out -to sea. And without the loss of an hour he ordered -his boat to be manned (by Portuguese only), and, -dressed like a bridegroom, mounted the rail preparatory -to descending. The second mate stood -near; the mate listened from the corner aft, where he -sat helpless, with painful earnestness for any word -the skipper might drop of his intentions.</p> - -<p>‘See here, Mr. Winslow,’ drawled the skipper, -‘ye’ll keep the men at work, watch on watch, same’s -at sea. Yew’ll keep a bright look-out for me comin’ -back, as I shall be ’fore long, anyway. An’ if anythin’ -happens ’at ye want me sudden, set the ensign -at the peak.’ And without another word he was -gone, and his boat’s crew, with the splendid stroke of -the trained American whaleman, was making the -pretty craft fly towards the shore, its captain standing -erect in the stern, handling his steer-oar, like<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span> a figure -of stone. The second mate watched him out of -definition range, then, descending from the rail with -a sigh, he sought the mate, saying, ‘Well, Mr. Court, -whut ye think of him? Ain’t he a daisy? I really -dunno haow it es, but th’ wuss he is th’ more I admire -at him, until his back’s turned, ’n’ then I want t’ kill -him. An’,’ dropping his voice, ‘d’ jever before in a -’Merican ship see a lady treated like this one? I -have stood, I k’n stand, a good deal frum him, but if -ever he raises his hand t’ thet poor broken-hearted -woman when I’m erroun’ I’m goin’t’ kill him right in -his tracks—naow, yew hear me!’ ‘Oh, shet yer -head!’ fretfully replied the mate. ‘I know all abaout -thet; wut’s th’ use er chawin’ it over? What I wunt -t’ know is, wut sort of a gang of dagoes is he goin’ t’ -bring with him. All his own relations, I suppose, ’n’ -thar’ll be the usual amount er spyin’ an’ lyin’ an’ -devilishness generally. If only I had this leg ’n’ arm -o’ mine usable! I ben thinkin’ over a good many -things sense I ben a-laying here, I tell ye, but I got -one idea solid, ’n’ that is thet, live er die, I’m a-goin’ -t’ stand up t’ him an’ whoever he brings aboard here, -an’ hev’ my rights as mate. You, too, I know, -Winslow; but only as man to man; no hatchin’ -anything’ or conspirin’. We’ll leave that to them. -But I do wish we could help the poor woman.’</p> - -<p>‘Thank you, friends,’ said Priscilla, who had -glided on deck and overheard the last portion of the -mate’s remarks. ‘It’s very good of you to think -about me, but I shall be grateful if you will behave -as if I were not on board. I cannot, must not, be -a source of trouble, and, moreover, the Captain is my -husband. Now don’t, please don’t, think of helping<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span> -me, as you call it, any more. I’ve got help of the -best kind always available. I didn’t know I had -until a short time ago. I’d forgotten God, as it seems -to me God <i>is</i> forgotten at sea. But when I was -ready to go mad with what I thought was my -undeserved trouble, He came to my rescue, and now -I feel I can bear anything. And, anyhow, what is -my trouble compared with yours? Ah, Mr. Court, -I have felt so much for you in your awful pain, and -not to be able to help you at all. Are you in pain -now?’ ‘Oh, no, ma’am, thank you kindly,’ murmured -the mate; ‘that’s all over and done with. Anyhow, -it was never quite as bad as you might think. Sounds -a good deal worse than it is. I’m hurt more at havin’ -to lie here doin’ nothin’ than by any pain I’ve got.’ -‘Well, I’m glad to hear you say so. Now I must go -down. I feel that I’m doing wrong sitting up here -talking to you, as I should certainly not be doing if -my husband were here.’ And she departed below, -leaving the two mates, with a totally new set of -sensations, staring at each other dumbly.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, mischief had been done. One of -the Portuguese sailors had been ostensibly occupied -in renewing the seizings on the mizen shrouds, but -for the last ten minutes he had devoted all his -faculties to listening. Vainly; he did not know -enough of the language to take in the conversation, -but he knew that the Captain’s wife had been talking -for a long time to the two mates. And he determined -that the knowledge should not be wasted. -The two officers, so deeply interested were they, did -not notice this man, and when presently the second -mate almost guiltily resumed his oversight of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> -men and their work he did not even see Lazzaro -furtively glancing at him from the mizen rigging. -No more was said by either of the mates or Mrs. Da -Silva on the subject, and the work of the ship went -on throughout the day with something of its old -machine-like regularity. Night fell, and still no sign -of the skipper. With deepening distrust and anxiety -the officer saw the watches set, attending to every -detail of his duties with the utmost fidelity, and -reporting at eight o’clock all his doings to the mate. -Mr. Court sent a respectful message to Priscilla on -hearing this, acquainting her with the condition of -affairs and assuring her that she had no cause for -alarm. She would receive instant attention to her -lightest wish, and probably the Captain would be -aboard before morning. And so, quietly enough to -all outward seeming, but with much anxiety among -the afterguard, the night passed away.</p> - -<p>Ashore the Captain was having what sailors -term a mighty good time. Congenial spirits awaited -him of both sexes, long known to him, and, flinging -aside all the restraints he felt he had been bound by -during the last year, he plunged into the wildest -excesses. He was one of those men to whom such -an outburst, even at very long intervals, seems a -necessity of life—one that when the opportunity for -obtaining it arrives can by no effort of will be refrained -from, although it is hard to suppose that such an -effort is ever made or attempted. And yet he could -be, as far as abstention from vulgar vice was concerned, -a very eremite for a year at a time, otherwise -he would never have reached his present position; for -the American shipowner—or, indeed, employer of any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> -kind—is entirely intolerant of drunkenness or debauchery -among his servants, and will have none of it -if by any means he can prevent it. Now, however, his -boat’s crew disposed of—allowed to run a little riot -of their own among their cronies, and merely ordered -to turn up in the morning at eight o’clock, bringing -six recruits with them, he abandoned himself to the -fierce delights of the Latin seaman when let loose.</p> - -<p>But in spite of the long night’s excesses there was -little alteration in his appearance or manner when he -met his men in the morning, noting with high approval -that they had succeeded in obtaining the new hands -he wanted: six huge piratical-looking ruffians, three of -whom were of that peculiar type of Portuguese which -can only be found in the islands of the North-West -Atlantic—men, that is, with the high-bred facial characteristics -of the Portuguese allied to a perfect blackness -of skin. Some of these men are of great size, and -almost all of them know something about sperm-whaling, -since all of these islands were for hundreds -of years most prolific haunts of the cachalot. Therefore -they have always been welcomed as recruits for -whaleships, their undoubted courage and great -powers of endurance adding to their desirability. But -to Captain Da Silva they represented more than these -advantages. They were his own countrymen, and -might be relied upon to abet him in any scheme of -devilry he might devise, in which he would certainly -lack the support of his American officers. And a -dim idea of vengeance upon those officers was -certainly taking shape within his mind, which, once -definitely arranged, he would spare no pains to carry -out nor allow any peevish scruples to prevent him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span> -doing so.</p> - -<p>With a few quiet words to the newcomers about -pay, position, &c., also the time of meeting to make -the engagement—a very simple matter in those ships—he -gave them some money, and went his way to -purchase three new whaleboats. In this he was also -fortunate, for a local bay whaling company had just -dissolved partnership, and all their gear was on sale. -He succeeded in purchasing from the representative -of the late company four boats and a large quantity of -gear for less than half their ordinary value, which -pleased him so much that he determined to stay -another night ashore and continue his enjoyment. -But first he made arrangements for his new purchases -to be taken off to the ship. The only message he -condescended to send was that the boat should return -for him the next day at 10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> And not an ounce -of fresh meat or fruit or vegetables went off. These -articles were cheap enough in all conscience, but -Captain Da Silva never pampered his crew, especially -this early in a long voyage, and, besides, there was -punishment to be carried out. And no form of punishment -on board ship as applied to a whole crew is more -effective than to be anchored near a fruitful shore after -months of bad salt food and be denied a taste of the -delicious things they can almost see growing. Under -ordinary conditions such a deprivation would be -next to impossible, as there are always people along -shore anxious to earn a little by catering for the needs -of a ship’s company, except in the most savage lands. -And if there be no money on board, barter can -always be resorted to: quite a quantity of sweet -potatoes, oranges, or bananas can be obtained for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> -a shirt. The Captain, however, had arranged all -that; according to his wishes not a boat had been -near his ship. And, besides, she was a long way -out.</p> - -<p>When the officers saw the gear and boats, and -received the message, they looked at each other -significantly, but said no word. Mr. Court, now able -to hobble about, took charge of operations, and in -quite a short time the newly acquired boats had been -placed in position, had each received a coat of white -paint, that being the colour of the <i>Grampus’s</i> boats, -their gear fitted to them, and everything made ready -for their lowering to a whale. They came alongside -at midday, and by nightfall were ready for use. -During all this activity Priscilla had been quite forgotten. -The officers felt doubtful how she would -receive any information about her husband which, in -answer to questions, they might have felt tempted to -supply, so they did not mention the matter. Only -the genial darkey steward, in the perfectly respectful -yet familiar manner common to negro servants in -America, chatted away to his mistress, and kept her -from being too lonely or dwelling too much upon -the unknown reasons which had induced her husband -to leave her on board the ship for two days without -giving her any information at all of his doings. Had -she known it, she might have felt surprised that he -had never so much as given her a thought. But she -would hardly have been grieved at anything he did -now to her, having fortified her mind against the worst -that could befall.</p> - -<p>Punctually at the time appointed the boat arrived<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span> -at the place ordered by the Captain, who almost -immediately appeared, and gave orders for the -transhipment to the boat of a number of cases. Altogether -they made a heavy cargo for such a frail boat; -but whalers are most expert at this business, and -effect transportation by means of these boats that -seems impossible to any ordinary sailormen. This -done they shoved off, Captain Da Silva standing -erect in the stern, his eyes fixed upon his ship, and -noting detail after detail as they became visible. A -frown, never entirely absent from his handsome face, -deepened upon it as he failed to see any cause for -complaint. She looked beautifully trim; not a rope -yarn out of its place, the weather-beaten patches on -her side carefully touched up, the boats all bright -with new paint, the three mastheads manned, and, -as he came alongside, the mate at the gangway to -receive him, and the crew all standing by the boat’s -falls ready to hoist her up the moment he should step -on board.</p> - -<p>As he put his foot on the rail, Mr. Court said, -‘Good morning, sir.’ But instead of replying, the -Captain said, ‘Whyn’t ye git under weigh?’ And -without pausing for an answer shouted: ‘Man th’ -windlass.’ The cry was re-echoed all over the ship, -and almost immediately nothing could be heard for -the clatter of the pawls as the big windlass barrel -revolved at top speed. ‘Down frum aloft there an’ -loose sail, courses, taups’les, an’ t’gallantsails,’ again -shouted the Captain. ‘Lively naow; think yer goin’ -t’ sit up thar an’ sleep while th’ ship’s gittin’ under -weigh?’ Oh, he was a hustler, was Captain Da Silva. -In ten minutes from the time he came on board the -boat’s cargo was discharged, she was hoisted, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span> -<i>Grampus</i> was under weigh, and pointing south for the -resumption of the long and weary voyage. Then, -and not till then, did the skipper condescend to say -anything to his chief officer. He called him, and -with a coldly sarcastic curl of his lip as he saw him -hobbling aft on improvised crutches, he said, ‘Anythin’ -t’ report?’ ‘No, sir,’ replied Mr. Court, ‘’cept -thet I’ve returned t’ duty.’ ‘No need t’ report <i>thet</i>, -anyhaow,’ growled the skipper; ‘I k’n use my eyes. -But yew don’t look pretty, ’n thet’s a fact. Mout’s -well hide yerself a bit longer, moutn’t ye? Hain’t -gut tired doin’ nawthin’, I’m sure.’ ‘See here, Captain -Da Silva,’ hissed the mate, ‘you’ve gut th’ whip -hand now, I’ll own, but if ever I git on equal terms -with ye, all this’ll hev t’ be settled fur.’ ‘Go, lie -daown, dog,’ muttered the Captain. ‘I’ll attend t’ you -an’ all th’ rest right along ’n’ git all th’ sleep I need -too.’ And the <i>Grampus</i> began to rise and fall gently -to the incoming swell as the Captain went below.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">AMONG RIGHT WHALES</p> - -<p>We left our hero Rube suffering in body but triumphant -in soul, and also in perfect ignorance of the astounding -change his behaviour was bringing about in all hands. I -have always maintained that a Christian ship presents -as near an approach to what most of us agree Heaven -must be like as we can make on this side of the gate -thereof. For look at the position! The grosser -forms of temptation are entirely absent, yet there is -none of the selfish side of monasticism present. Men -talk and laugh and work with their fellows amid the -most glorious of all earthly surroundings—the pure, -wide, bright ocean. There is no monotony, since every -day brings diversified duties, and in hours of rest not -needed for sleep there is an ever-changing panorama -of glory present to the newly awakened eyes, drawing -ever-deepening thankfulness from the regenerated -heart. The thousand-and-one miseries and pettinesses -that distract men ashore are absent. From the little -world evil has departed—almost the knowledge of it, -since there is no daily paper recording the never-ending -succession of crimes.</p> - -<p>Yes, it is an ideal state of existence, a sort of -Happy Valley in the midst of the ocean, whence the -trail of the serpent has been removed, and where the -community bask, unshadowed by sin, in the sunshine -of God. Of course, it will be cynically remarked that -this is a picture of perfection, unattainable, impossible. -Well, it is nearly, but not quite. I have experienced<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span> -something very near it, and I beg to submit that it -was so idyllic that it could not be made a subject for -cynical sarcasm, even by the editor of the <i>Freethinker</i>, -if he only saw it in operation. It might be called -right fruit of wrong belief; but I do not love paradoxes. -I prefer to believe that men do not gather -grapes of thorns or figs of thistles.</p> - -<p>But I am doing an injustice to Reuben and his -shipmates by interpolating my own meditations in -their story. When the work of realising the spoil of -their first whale had been finished, all hands felt that -they had now served their apprenticeship—were now -fully equipped for their work on board, whatever -it might be. And in their watches below the men -found a wondrous fund of conversational matter in -the happenings of the past few days. But whenever -they approached the subject of Rube’s rescue of -MacManus there was a perceptible lowering of the -voice, an air of solemnity upon everybody, for they all -felt that here was a man who, given opportunity, -would have dived into hell itself if by so doing he -might haply rescue a comrade. And that a comrade -by no means specially dear to him, but just one of -the many. The incident brought them a truer insight -into the character of Christ than millions of sermons -could have done. And in saying this I in no wise -undervalue sermons. ‘It hath pleased God through -the foolishness of preaching to save them that -believe.’ But the living example of faith’s outcome, -a far-off and feeble imitation of Christ, carries us beyond -the reach of argument, makes the most sceptical -silent. Against it the waves of criticism beat in vain. -Logic, with all its perverseness; the scornful finger-pointing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> -at the unfaithful professors; the cavilling of -the sticklers for formulated creeds—all, all are -silenced or stopped; and the splendour of Christ -manifest in the flesh again, though it be but in the -flesh of one of His humblest servants, overwhelms us.</p> - -<p>But it must be confessed that Captain Hampden, -even in the midst of his new-found peace of soul, had -occasional fits of despondency when he realised how -little progress the ship was making towards a prosperous -voyage. Over six months had now elapsed and -only one sperm-whale had been seen. Hope buoyed -him, of course, but it was often deferred, and, consequently, -though he maintained a cheery demeanour -towards his officers his heart was becoming very sick. -Going below into his lonely little cabin he would -stand as if in deep thought, gazing into vacancy and -wondering in some indefinite way how it was that he -was so unfortunate this voyage. For he had the reputation -of being a ‘lucky’ skipper who never stayed out -all his legal time, and on several occasions so great -had been his success that he had found no need to -go out of the Atlantic Ocean. Twice, indeed, he had -spent gloriously successful seasons on ‘Coffin’s -Ground,’ just a little south and west of the English -Channel, finding there sperm-whale, so numerous and -fat that he was inclined to wonder why it should ever -be necessary to go farther afield. I could not help -thinking of him last year, when, on my way to the -Mediterranean in one of the crack P. and O. liners, -I heard the veteran captain tell a lady at dinner that -there were hardly any whales now—they had been almost -exterminated. I ventured to question his dictum, -and we had rather an interesting discussion. But next<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> -morning he and I met on deck a little after daybreak, -to find the ship gliding along at her usual seventeen -knots through the midst of a school of sperm-whales of -the largest size, extending to the horizon on both -sides, and taking us an hour to get away from them.</p> - -<p>Nothing of that kind, however, came in the way -of the <i>Xiphias</i>. Day after day passed, lengthening -into weeks, during which from the lofty eminence of -the crow’s-nest nothing could be seen but sea and -sky, an occasional barnacle-encrusted piece of drift-timber, -a school of dolphin or bonito, a few porpoises, -flying fish innumerable, and now and then a fin-back -whale. But with the exception of the skipper nobody -seemed to worry or find the life monotonous. Work -went on with clock-like regularity, but outside of the -work the men’s lives appeared to be full of interest. -Interminable yarns, often inconsequential, were exchanged, -and hardly a detail of their lives remained -unrevealed to each other. Reuben’s return to active -service was hailed with such delight that he did not -appear to understand what it meant. He could not -realise that the service he had rendered to his shipmate -so readily could have taken such heroic proportions -in the eyes of the crew. If he could have known, -that great deed was, after all, but an incident: it was -the lovely life, the splendid man in him which appealed -to all hands, as, indeed, it will ever do where -men are gathered together. Many complaints of lack -of appreciation are heard from men of all classes, but -the truth appears to be that with few exceptions men -and women are marvellously generous in their appreciation -of one another’s good deeds. There is, of course, -a bogus hero-worship, an undiscriminating appreciation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span> -of work that only makes for evil, and consequently -had far better be left undone, but it is only a virtue -carried to excess. Let men or women do ever so -little good work to-day, and, if it becomes known, -their reward is almost certain to transcend their merits -by far.</p> - -<p>So Reuben, unconsciously as the sun shines or the -birds sing, was made the means of sweetening the -crew of the <i>Xiphias</i>, and keeping them sweet, and -at the same time, as a consequence, was teaching them—teaching -them how to teach themselves from the -great book open around them lessons that would be -the delight of their whole remaining lives. Meanwhile -the Captain grew more and more irritable, moody, -despondent. He still prayed, but listlessly, as if wondering -what good it could do. And all this mental -agony of his was just due to the lack of common-sense -appreciation of the benefits conferred by the Gospel -of Christ. What should we say of a parent, who, -while ever ready to confer upon his children the best -of advice, the best educational advantages possible, -and who gave them promises of glorious prospects in -the future, should yet keep them without the common -necessaries of life, food and clothing—yes, not only keep -them without, but hinder them from obtaining those -things for themselves? Yet this is the idea which so -many, the vast majority of orthodox Christians, have -of the dear Father God. But the educational process, -if of any value, is slow, and Captain Hampden was -learning, unwillingly it is true, but still he <i>was</i> learning. -At times, though, the content which seemed to possess -all hands but himself was very trying to him. He -naturally felt that his crew should in some measure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> -share his anxiety over the non-success of the voyage -so far, and resentment at their apparently callous -conduct often made him miserable. Their behaviour -was irreproachable. There was no slackness shown -in any duty, and he knew that as far as the look-out -was concerned not a fish could leap by day within -a radius of four or five miles without being instantly -noted by one or more of the six pairs of keen eyes at -the mastheads.</p> - -<p>But it was not until the old <i>Xiphias</i> had rolled -her way eastward as far as Gough Island that payable -whales were sighted again. Then when within about -ten miles of that huge isolated crag rising solitary, -awful, out of the vast waste of the Southern Ocean, -a dubious cry of ‘Blo—o—o—w’ was heard from the -fore crow’s-nest. It told plainly that the utterer was -not at all sure whether what he was reporting was -worth while troubling after. So many false alarms -had been raised, rorquals, finbacks, grampuses had so -often filled them with delusive hopes, that only the -unmistakable bushy spout of a sperm-whale was -looked for. Since, however, no chance, slight though -it might be, was neglected, the warning was given, -and was presently being repeated by all the other -watchers. Captain Hampden rather listlessly -mounted the rigging, his binoculars slung to his neck, -and reaching the mainyard, focussed them upon the, -as yet, far-off whales. One glance was enough. In -a tremendous voice he roared his orders to come -down from aloft, prepare to leave the ship, alter the -course, &c. He had discovered that a school of -‘right’ whales was in sight: a species of cetacean, -almost identical with the great Greenland whale,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span> and -because of the high value of the baleen, or whalebone -found in the mouth, worth almost as much in those -days as the sperm-whale in spite of the poor quality -of ‘right’ whale oil—perhaps, when all the circumstances -were taken into consideration, more, for even -the Southern right whale, although certainly more -elegant in figure and swifter in movement than his -Northern congener, is a meek and gentle creature, in -the chase of which an accident is almost unknown.</p> - -<p>There were about twenty individuals in the school, -of average size—that is to say, each looking as if he -or she might yield eighty or ninety barrels of oil -and seven or eight hundredweight of bone. I mix -up the genders, for, curiously enough, while the -sperm-whale cow never attains to much more than -one-fourth of the size of the adult cachalot, the -mysticetus, or right whale has little or no disparity -between the size of the sexes; what difference does -occur is usually in favour of the female. With great -glee the skipper ordered all five boats away, leaving -the ship in charge of the four petty officers and two -men only; and having told each boat-header to do -his level best to get fast to a whale for himself, and -not interfere with any other boat’s quarry, also to -make the best possible time down to where the -whales awaited them all unconscious of their -proximity, the chase began. Oars and sails were both -used with such good effect that although the breeze -was not strong the boats fairly flew over the darkened -surface of the sea. It was in the mid-morning—about -10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> and the sky was, as usual in those latitudes, -on the edge of the roaring forties, overcast with a -thick veil of grey clouds which shut out the sun as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span> -effectually as night. And when the sun goes the -sea’s aspect is cold and cheerless even on the Line. -Also, there rolled up from the west mighty knolls of -water, the heaving of old ocean’s breast, which when -they caught a boat, hurled her forwards as if she -were flying, sometimes accurately balanced upon -a gliding summit as if by the fingers of a juggling -genie. Viewed from an independent standpoint, -the enterprise of these seafarers would have looked -like some forlorn hope whereof the prize was leave to -live a little longer and the penalty death. But the -men in those boats had no such thought. Their -teeth clenched, their nostrils expanded, their eyes -ablaze with excitement, they plied their oars, scorning -fatigue, overcoming the ache in their bones by sheer -will-power, and without a word or sign of encouragement -save those which proceeded from their own -fierce desire to do better than the fellows in the next -boat. It was emulation unpaid, unfostered, raised to -its highest power, and achieving far more than any -hope of reward could have done.</p> - -<p>With a wild yell of delight, the mate’s boat -dashed into the centre of the school, and his harpooner’s -weapon flew into the body of the nearest -monster like a lightning flash. The other boats, -spreading themselves fan-wise, came on the scene -almost immediately, and then all the wild delight of -the chase, all the romantic interest of the scene was -for a season in abeyance. It was too sordid. The -clean sea became a slaughter-house; the soul-sickening -smell of blood permeated the air. The exuding -oil from the wounds made the sea quite smooth, -although, of course, the swell rolled high as ever.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> -The bewildered victims, unable to fight or flee, rolled -helplessly upon the surface, exposing their vitals to -the deadly thrust of the long lances, and only by an -occasional flap of their mighty tails did they show -any sign of resentment or desire to escape. Happily -it was soon over. Within half an hour from the time -of attack and without the expenditure of one hundred -fathoms of line, five whales lay dead upon the solemn -sea. No boat was injured, no damage of any kind -had been done. And round about the victims and -their slayers quietly circled the still-living monsters -as if by some horrible fascination held to the spot. -The skipper gave orders that none of these apparently -mourning ones should be molested—not, be it noted, -because of any tenderness for them, but because the -average sailor, and especially the whaler, is averse to -taking life wantonly. Where profit is concerned -blood flows like water—slay, slay, slay, insatiable -apparently of slaughter; but kill for killing’s sake as -some gentlemen do in a pheasant battue—no: the -rude whalemen leave such practices to their betters.</p> - -<p>The deadly work had been so well and swiftly -done that, as the mate said figuratively, ‘a good-sized -handkerchief would have covered ’em all.’ -Making allowance for pardonable exaggeration, the -whole of the five certainly lay within half a square -mile, and, therefore, two boats were judged sufficient -to attend to the needful tail-boring, &c., while the -other three cut adrift and sped back to the fast -approaching ship, all their crews in a state of wild -delight at so successful an encounter, and feeling -quite fresh, for really they had hardly got their second -wind. Indeed, it was a busy day for them, although<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span> -rendered much easier than it would otherwise have -been by the exceptionally favourable circumstances. -Still, even then the work of getting alongside and -securing by the passing of fluke-chains five gigantic -bodies like those was bound to be a heavy one in any -case. However, it was successfully accomplished by -eight bells, noon, and with a satisfied sigh of relief -every man made his way below to as good a dinner -as the circumstances would admit of.</p> - -<p>A full hour was allowed the resting men for food -and smoke, and then at the first cry of ‘Turn to!’ -they all scurried on deck as if eager to get to work -again. But a surprise awaited them. Instead of the -tedious and terribly hard work which they had seen -before of cutting off and splitting lengthways the -head of the sperm-whale, now the clatter of the pawls -was unceasing. Once the upper jaw of the right -whale, with its valuable fringe of baleen, is lifted out, -the rest of the work of ‘flenching,’ or skinning the -blubber off the body of the whale, is just a pleasant -piece of recreation. And here let me say that, whatever -may be the practice in bay-whaling when the -big body is stranded, it is utterly ridiculous to -suppose, as so many readers of fiction do suppose, -that men with spikes in their boots get down upon -the whale’s back and hew slabs of blubber off his -body, which they fling on deck. Such a feat would -be utterly impossible, besides being most wasteful of -time as well as spoil. For the ship and the whale -roll and tumble about to such an extent that standing -upon that rolling mass alongside is inconceivable. -No: the great ‘cutting-tackles’ come into play, and -once having a wide riband of blubber started off <span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>the -whale’s neck the blubber is unwound as it were by -continual hoisting, cutting at the still attached side, -and the rolling round of the body.</p> - -<p>The men all toiled as if fatigue were a word of no -import, nor was a word spoken or needed to spur -them on to greater efforts. They toiled until the -deck, as well as the blubber-room, was packed from -end to end with the mountainous masses of blubber -and upper jaws with their wealth of bone. And as -the last despoiled carcass was cut adrift the men -raised a great shout of joy. It had been such a -mighty task, so well and profitably performed, that -their exultation was legitimate, and even praiseworthy. -But the Captain, feeling the reaction -from his great exertions, in a sense of almost overpowering -lassitude, slowly dragged himself up on to -the little deck aft to have a look round before going -below for a meal and a short rest. And he saw a -sight that drove the blood back to his heart, and left -his extremities cold and numb. In the fury of -labour no one had noticed the drift of the ship, nor -indeed, the worsening of the weather. True, the -sails had all, except the close-reefed main topsail and -fore topmast staysail, been furled before beginning, -so that the weather mattered little, but—the grim, -towering mass of the island was close abeam to leeward. -Like some vast cloud it loomed above them, -while to windward, through the fast-gathering -gloom of evening, came thundering on the rising, -gleaming seas of the great Southern Ocean, precursors -of the gale that would presently be here—nay, -was already making its presence felt and heard.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span></p> -<p>For a few moments Captain Hampden stood and -gazed irresolute. What could he do? With his -deck so hampered by those vast greasy masses that -movement fore and aft was well-nigh impossible, -with night almost here, and crew worn out with -the severe labour they had so cheerfully performed all -day, what could he resolve upon? Like an inspiration -came the thought, ‘Man’s extremity is God’s -opportunity,’ and baring his head he said, ‘O God, -save us, don’t let us perish like this. Let us escape, -please, Father, from this awful danger.’ In a moment -his relaxing muscles stiffened, he stood erect, and -with a voice that reached every corner of the ship he -shouted, ‘Lay aloft and loose taups’les an’t’gallants’les. -Drop everything, men, and get sail on her.’ There -was a momentary hush as the crew took in his words, -and then cheerful cries of response came back to him -as the weary fellows realised that they were being -called upon for a supreme effort. Slipping, clutching, -fighting their way over the greasy masses, they -scrambled aloft, and soon the white gleams above -told of the loosened canvas, while the waiters below -tailed on to the halyards and sheets, and in all kinds -of apparently impossible attitudes among the slimy -obstructions dragged the reluctant sails up again. By -the time all possible sail was made there was another -and a deeper note mingling with the voice of the -storm—the deep roar of the great Atlantic rollers -beating up against those aged barriers of rock. But to -their amazement the crew felt the vessel’s motion ease. -She had been rolling heavily, labouring under the -immense upper weight as if bewildered by it and hardly -knowing what to do. And now she hardly moved at -all, while overside the whole sea seemed smoothed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> -down and ablaze with phosphorescent light. Even -the veteran officers were puzzled, until the Captain -suddenly bethought him of the gigantic seaweed that -in fronds of hundreds of feet in length, and the thickness -of a man’s body, grows upward to the surface -in those waters all around the bases of the island -mountains. But was there any protection there? -True, the sea had become smooth, but the ship’s way -had also deadened so that she no longer forged ahead, -while it was impossible to ascertain in any way whether -or not she was drifting broadside on over the heads -of the kelp towards the stern precipices to leeward. -The night was now so dark that in spite of the -proximity of the mountain to leeward it was impossible -to distinguish between one side and the other. -Only the ear could tell by that deep moan of the sea -against the rock bases.</p> - -<p>Nothing could be done now but wait patiently to -see what was the will of God concerning them. -It was most obvious that if the kelp let them through, -the ship must be battered to pieces against those -precipices, where the sea was at least twenty fathoms -deep alongside the rocks. Anchoring was out of the -question—seamanship, in fact, was entirely discounted. -And so, feeling all this, Captain Hampden, again -raising his voice, summoned all hands aft. ‘Boys,’ -he said, when they had gathered around him, ‘this -looks like our last night of life. Now we’ll pray that -God will let us live, but specially we’ll pray that if He -doesn’t see fit to grant us any more life we may die -clean an’ wholesome. An’ whether we live or die -we’ve done our best, and that’s a great comfort.’ -So holding on in all sorts of attitudes, those hardly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> -bestead men prayed with the skipper, full of faith -that whatever the outcome of the night might be, it -would be all right. They finished and were dismissed -to their quarters, while the gale howled ever louder, -and the awful shadow to leeward deepened.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">A DOUBLE DELIVERANCE</p> - -<p>Hour after hour wore on, while many of the men, in -spite of their fears, slept soundly. Rube, indeed, -seemed unable to realise that there was any danger -at all. Having joined in the general prayer for -deliverance he appeared to regard the matter as quite -settled, and as not requiring any more care on his or -anyone else’s part except the Father’s. Most of the -men, over-borne with weariness both of body and -brain, slept fitfully in many uncouth attitudes, some -half reclining upon banks of grease-exuding blubber -gently heaving with the motion of the ship, others -twisted into comfortable corners, apparently impervious -to cold, or wet, or fear. But the Captain, -more at peace with his surroundings than he could -understand, and dimly, subconsciously wondering -why, sat on the little deck aft listening to the angry -roar of the baffled sea far outside the engirdling -groves of kelp. The sullen boom of the rollers -against that unseen mass to leeward, the hissing, -swishing sound of the great leaves restlessly sliding -over each other and against the ship, and the ever-deepening -roar of the gale overhead made up a concert -truly terrifying in its effect upon the heart. -And yet Captain Hampden felt little terror. Knowing -his utter helplessness, he was driven to as utter a -dependence upon a kindly Power which he knew was -not merely capable of saving his ship and all hands, -but was always benevolently disposed towards man,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> -and never more so than in his hour of deepest -distress.</p> - -<p>So he sat calmly and wished for the day. -Several times he made the beginning of a move, -feeling that action of some kind, even though only in -the direction of clearing the decks, would be better -for all than quietly enduring this season of suspense. -But each time he realised how hopeless such an -attempt would be in the present condition of the -deck and the state of all hands. Therefore, he -waited with wonderful patience until the cook’s head -appeared at his side above the break of the house, -and a deferential voice said, ‘Wun’t yo hab drop ob -hot coffee, sah? I got it yah, all ready, sah.’ ‘Yes, -cook, think I will. Jest wut I ben needin’ fur a long -time ’n’ didn’t know it.’ And as he took the cup -from the delighted black man he thought how good -a thing was service done whole-heartedly, and how -well and willingly it was rendered by such men as -these. A smile may rise at the thought of any shipmaster -considering his cook like this, but it would -be the smile of ignorance. For if a cup of cold -water given in the Master’s name shall in no wise -lose its reward, there is little doubt that a cup of -coffee on a bitter night, prepared with much difficulty, -by a man who, although only doing his duty, -is doing that duty with all his might, will in like -manner gain him a reward. I remember when I was -lamp-trimmer on board the <i>Wentworth</i>, running -between Sydney and Melbourne, I used to be called -at daybreak to duty. After taking in the lamps, my -first thought was to make a cup of coffee—it being -some time before the cooks were at work. And it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> -was my practice, though in no sense my duty, to -take a cup and a piece of toast up to Mr. Wallace, -the chief officer, on the bridge, whom I used to -picture as burdened with the care of the ship up -there in the bleak night. He was a brusque, almost -coarse, sailor, but I know he was grateful. A word -of thanks from him set my heart dancing (I was -barely fifteen years of age), but my chief reward was -in the knowledge of having done a kindness. And -this is the spirit that moves the world to-day. -Everyone should take courage, whatever their creed, -in the thought that the Christ ideal, which is unselfishness -raised to its highest power, is becoming -universal, and that the many exceptions have no -contradictory force at all.</p> - -<p>By the time Captain Hampden had finished his -coffee he found that there was a perceptible lightening -of the gloom around, although the wind had -increased so much that it was evident, unless something -was speedily done to ease the strain upon -them, the masts would certainly go. So, rising stiffly -to his feet, the skipper sought the mate, finding him -ready, standing near the compass, and apparently -endeavouring to get a bearing of the land, which was -becoming more visible, and, if possible, more horribly -threatening in appearance as it did so. ‘Good -morning, sir,’ said Mr. Pease, as soon as he saw the -skipper; ‘pipin’ up, ain’t she, sir?’ ‘Yaas; guess -she is, an’ ef we want to carry any of our sticks eout -o’ this, we’ll hev t’ git thet canvas off her as quick ’s it -kin be did. I don’t think it matters much, anyway, -whether she hez canvas on her or not—she can’t -make much, if any, headway through this weed, an’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span> -it looks ’s if th’ Lord wunt let her go ashore. Go -ahead, Mr. Pease, git th’ rags off her, ’n’ by thet time, -please God, it’ll be daylight good.’</p> - -<p>So the mate obediently roared out his message to -the crew, who responded with a phenomenal cheerfulness, -clambering over those slimy, greasy masses on -deck as if they cared nothing at all for the difficulty -of their passage. In half an hour they had shortened -her down to the three close-reefed topsails, and -besides had cleared up the gear so that no ropes -should be in the way of the whale-matter lying about. -And having done this they stood by, waiting, oh, -so anxiously, the whole of that ship’s company; with -just one exception—Rube. He it was who wore -always a beaming smile, and sidled up to first one -and then the other with some cheering word. Just as -a doctor who is always hoping for the best, while -taking precaution against the worst, is the most likely -to pull his patient through, so this Divine teaching of -cheerfulness in the presence of dangerous and depressing -circumstances does really seem to win the -battle before it is fought. In any case, if the warrior -does fall he falls with his face to the foe, and with the -high satisfaction thrilling his soul that he has behaved -in that last dread hour as became a <i>man</i>.</p> - -<p>To this little waiting crowd came suddenly the -blessing of light. As if some mighty angel’s hand had -grasped the swart veil of cloud closing them darkly -in, and had rent it in sunder from horizon to zenith, the -whole western quadrant of the sky was suddenly lighted -up by the brilliant beams of the newly risen sun. So -splendid was this enlightening that for a few moments -all hands stood awe-stricken, watching the rapidly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span> -glancing sabres of glorious flashing colour thrusting -the encompassing gloom through and through. Then -as if by one impulse all turned to leeward to see how -near was the fateful rock. As if it had just leapt out -of the gloom, Gough Island was revealed, within a -mile (which looks at sea less than a hundred yards -does ashore), and every heart for a moment stood -still. But after that tribute to human weakness hope -instantly reasserted her lovely self. Had they not -been kept from perishing all through the blackness of -that terrible night? Was it not certain that they -were now no nearer the land than when they last saw it -clearly, in spite of the stress of the gale upon the ship’s -broadside? Undoubtedly it was; and more—some -of them began to take mental bearings and compare -them with the position they could remember the -previous evening, finding that at any rate if they were -not gaining ground they were certainly not losing.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the Captain shouted to the mate, ‘Mr. -Pease, turn the hands to on the tryin’ out. We kain’t -do nothin’ with the ship as she is, an’ we mout so -well ’muse ourselves doin’ somethin’ useful.’ This -pronouncement was hailed with the utmost delight -by all hands, and like a swarm of ants they were soon -busy cutting, slicing, mincing, boiling, and getting -out the bone—so busy, indeed, as well as interested in -their work, that they scarcely ever paused to look at -the great precipices to leeward of them.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the Captain had very carefully taken -his cross bearings, and had no sooner completed the -simple operation than he felt certain that his vessel was -drifting south in almost imperceptible fashion. Hope -revived, and he joined his workers with a heart<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span> greatly -lightened. There by his tremendous exertions and -cheery voice he encouraged all hands to attend to -present duties, and thus exclude forebodings for the -future. And two hours later when he again took his -bearings his hopeful supposition became a definite -certainty: she had drifted through that hindering -kelp, in apparent defiance of the fateful pressure of -the gale striving to thrust her on shore, quite two -miles nearer safety. Now he felt impelled to shout -the glad news to his splendid men who had so nobly -responded to the call made upon them. So raising -his voice to its fullest compass he roared: ‘She’s -gettin’ eout ov it, boys. Praise God we’ll be all right -yet. There isn’t any shipwreck coming off this time. -She’s gettin’ raound th’ corner ov th’ island in great -shape. So peg away, men—while yew’re workin’ she’s -a-dreeftin’, an’ as soon ’s ever she gits clear we’ll give -her every rag she’ll drag, an’ git away fr’m this -uncomf’ble neighbourhood.’</p> - -<p>A wild cheer answered him, and all hands -immediately redoubled their efforts to clear that -grease-encumbered deck. Perhaps the gentle reader -may feel a little nausea at the idea of a whole crew of -men wallowing about in a deck full of dripping—for -really it is no exaggeration to call it by that homely -name—but I dare make no apology for being as literal -and realistic as possible in this matter, since by such -methods alone is it possible to make the land-living -reader understand what manner of men these were -who wrested such gigantic spoil from the depths of -the mighty ocean, and under what circumstances -they lived. Here you have men involved in toil of -the most strenuous kind under conditions which <span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>to -the majority of mankind would preclude any action -whatever except for self-preservation. And in addition -thereto destruction to all waits grimly by the -vessel’s side, unveiling all its possibilities of horror -and inviting man’s heart to quail, his muscles to grow -flaccid, his mind to become unhinged. And in spite -of all you find this lonely group of seafarers steadfastly -setting their strength to the accomplishment of their -unpoetic task in the highest frame of heroism, which -is to do what lies before you with a single eye, not -looking for the commendation of your fellow men, -but because of the inherent joy involved in just doing -one’s duty.</p> - -<p>So hour by hour slipped by, the mincing-machine -clattered incessantly, the flame from the twin chimneys -of the try-works soared palely into the keen air, and -was swept off at right angles to leeward by the wind -as if it were some angelic sword stabbing at the grim -mass to eastward of them. And the effect of their -labours was manifest in that a clear gangway along -the deck was now made right fore and aft. Into the -midst of the toil came the clear, cheerful voice of the -skipper calling, ‘Dinner, men, an’ befo’ y’ go remember -she’s gittin’ cl’ar’s fast ’s ever th’ weed’ll allow her. -She’s made quite four miles of southin’ sence eight -bells—thet’s a mile an hour. An’ ef she keeps thet -goin’ through the afternoon as she has this forenoon -we’ll be cl’ar o’ th’ whole thing by sundown.’ -‘Hooray! bully fer th’ skipper,’ shouted -the crew, and seizing such rags, wads of oakum, -and the like, as they could get hold of they -sauntered forward, wiping down as they went. They -were saturated from head to heel with oil,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span> they looked -like a gang of piratical scarecrows, but I make bold -to say that they were as heroic a crowd as ever came -out of the most hardly contested battle. And on -reaching the dim chamber, reeking with a foul combination -of evil smells, they squatted around on the -greasy deck and received each man in his little tin -dish a portion of salt pork, a few spoonfuls of haricot -beans, and a little loaf. Everyone doffed his cap, -everyone felt thankful for this portion of coarsest -food, and Reuben only focussed the general sense of -the company when he said, holding one hand out -before him, ‘Lovin’ God, we’re alive t’ eat, an’ work, -an’ thank Thee. We do, an’ ask You t’ make us -thankful men, keep us good men, not ashamed of -one another or of Thee. For Christ’s sake. Amen.’ -The ‘Amen’ was so heartily echoed that Rube looked -around startled. He could hardly believe his ears. -With all his beautiful, childlike faith in God, he had, -like most of us, but little faith in man, and when he -found how mightily God was working in the crowd -around him he was, as most of us would be, moved -to profoundest wonder. Like most of us, he had not -believed ’according to your faith be it unto you,’ or -that when man’s faith fails, God, who cannot be -disheartened, steps in and does in His own way His -own work at His own appointed time.</p> - -<p>Little was said during the meal—all were too -ravenous with hunger for that; but when the last -scrap of food had been eaten up, and the utensils -cleared away by the cook of the mess, pipes were -stuffed with greasy tobacco and lighted, and although -each pipe emitted a peculiar frizzling sound as of -frying, and the odour of the oily weed would certainly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span> -have driven an ordinary smoker frantic, each man’s -face wore a perfectly satisfied expression, and a -desultory conversation began. ‘Don thatt wass a -narr’ squeak, hey,’ muttered a square-built little -Italian, who lay coiled up by the pawl-bitt. ‘I -thinkin’ I promesso giva candela thosa sainta, onlee -I carn faget thees name thata time.’ ‘Mean yew -cuddent ’member, I ’spose,’ grumbled a Down Easter -by his side. ‘Si, grazie,’ eagerly responded the -Italian. ‘Don’t can memb’. Nev’ mine. Savea one -dolla. ’Sides, how I know ef thatt Sancta goin’ elpa -me bord una barca eretico lika thees?’ ‘Look here,’ -Antone,’ said a deep voice out of the gloom across -the fo’c’sle, ‘You better pay fur thet candle, annyhow. -Give it as a thank-offrin’ ’at yew wuz aboard a -heretic ship. I guess ’fore th’ machinery of your crowd -c’d a-got in working order we sh’d all a-ben gone -up. Wut d’ ye say, boys?’ A hoarse murmur of -approval ran round, while poor Antone grew hot as -if feeling that it was incumbent upon him to defend -his faith. But suddenly realising that as he had -never understood what his faith was except doing -just what he was told (when it was easy) by the -priest, he fell back upon common-sense, and replied, -‘Well, ’corse I don’ know anyt’ing about ’cept I’m -eatina dinner, smokina pipe. Ef I say Dio Grazie -thatt goin’ be alia righta, no Rube, eh, whatt?’ The -deep, cheerful voice of Reuben immediately chimed in, -‘Of course, Antone, if you reelly are thankful to God. -But if He’s spared your life, you ought to remember -it an’ see if you can’t do somethin’ with it for Him. -An’ when you come to think of it—it ain’t much to -ask—that you shall be clean in mind, an’ tongue, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span> -you shall be kind and helpful, an’ true, an’ that you -shall remember not now and then, but always, the -gentle, loving Jesu Christo, your every-day and all-day -Friend.’ The impressionable little Italian’s face -was all awork as this little talk fell from Rube’s lips. -It went, in spite of his disability in language, right -home to his hot southern heart, and the bright drops of -sensibility’s precious dew glistened on his russet beard.</p> - -<p>But Mr. Pease’s stentorian voice was heard -shouting, ‘Turn-to!’ and on the instant pipes were -laid aside, belts were tightened, caps pressed down -upon tanned brows, and a rush upwards was made -from those fœtid quarters into the bright, invigorating -air, which really seizes upon a man newly emerged -from the foulness below like a pleasant vertigo, -making him wonder whatever can be the matter with -him. The first thing each man did upon reaching -the deck was to give a swift glance to leeward. And -as each did so a very real sense of gratitude flooded -his heart. For it no longer needed the skipper’s -cheery assurance that all was well to satisfy the most -ignorant of them that they were now, humanly -speaking, out of danger. True, they were not yet -past the fringe of kelp, their vessel was as yet quite -unmanageable, and the gale blew with undiminished -vigour. But still it was evident that the steady -stress of that invisible force beneath them would not -allow them to be driven any farther shoreward, and, -quite satisfied, they turned to their work with as -much lack of concern for the safety of the ship as if -no land had been in sight.</p> - -<p>Seeing that all was proceeding so cheerily, Captain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span> -Hampden called the mate, and said, ‘Mr. Pease, -I ain’t quite ’s young’s I wuz, ’n’ after last night I -begin t’ feel the flesh pullin’ a bit. So if you’ll jest -give an eye t’ her, I’ll go ’n’ hev an hour’s caulk. -Maybe I’ll need it to-night, though I hope all will be -in good shape ’fore dark. ’N’ ’s soon ’s ever yer git -th’ decks cl’ar o’ blubber, set yer watches—blubber -watches, o’ course. Le’s give this grand lot er -fellows all th’ rest we kin.’ ‘Aye, aye, sir,’ cheerily -answered the mate; ‘ef I hadn’t ’a felt it ’d be persoomin’ -I’d ’a’ asked yew to go ’n’ hev a spell long -ago. We kain’t afford t’ hev yew crackin’ up, y’ know, -sir. An’ yew c’n be quite sure ’at everythin’ ’ll go -like clockwork. I don’t believe they’s a spouter afloat -to-day ’s got such a bully crowd ’s we hev, an’ I’m -sure yew think the same, Cap’n.’ ‘I dew jest thet,’ -sleepily murmured the old man as he swung off towards -the companion and disappeared.</p> - -<p>Thoroughly wearied as he was, and with a great -weight lifted from his mind, the good old man sank -at once, as soon as he lay down, into a deep sleep. -But although it was in reality fully two hours since -he lay down, when he suddenly realised that he was -wide awake he seemed certain that he had but just -dozed off. It is a curious sensation, but fairly -common among seamen, this of suddenly passing -from the depths of sleep to uttermost clearness of -thought and readiness for action. For a moment he -waited, listening intently for some recurring sound, -explaining why he should thus have awakened, as he -thought, so soon. But except for the creaking of the -old ship’s timbers and the deep murmur of the gale -there was no sound noticeable, and these lullabies -would certainly have kept him sleeping. However,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span> -the feeling that something had happened which -needed his attention forced itself upon him, and -rising stiffly from the hard cushions of the transom -locker, he snatched his cap and climbed on deck. -One swift glance forward showed him how strenuously -his men had been toiling while he slept, for the deck -was clear to the try-works, and the latter were smoking -furiously, while the attendant gnomes came and went, -tirelessly carrying on their great task. He looked -overside and saw that the weed was perceptibly less -in quantity; he looked at the land and—surely it -could not be—and yet—his hawk-like vision could -not play him false. He grabbed his glasses and -focussed them on what he saw—a rag of fluttering -white among the sombre rocks, immediately satisfying -himself that someone needing help was there. -Instantly all the powers of his mind were busy -devising means for the assistance of any unfortunate -stranded in so wild a spot. Again and again he -surveyed that tiny flutter of white; again and again -he took an undecided step forward as if to give an -order, until at last he said aloud, ‘Wall, God he’pin’ -us, we ort to do something, though how is more than -I can see. All hands on deck!’ he roared, and in two -minutes the mate was by his side, his big eyes staring -full of inquiry at his commander. ‘Wut is it, sir?’ -he gasped. ‘It’s a wrecked crew, I reckon, Mr. Pease. -D’ ye see yonder flicker of white in that cleft between -those two big rocks—no, a bit to starboard, so?’ -‘Yes, sir, I see it,’ said the mate; ‘d’ ye make it out to -be a signal, sir?’ ‘I do, jest that, Pease, an’—but -here kems the boys. Naow, then, m’lads, thar’s life -to be saved. Lower away starboard quarter-boat,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span> -’n’ yew, Mr. Peck (it’s yewr boat anyhow) make the -best way yew kin to whar yew see yon white flicker -among th’ rocks. Yew’ll hev to warp yewr way -along through the kelp as best yew can, and when -yew git cluss to it, be keerful—be jest as keerful as -yew know how; fur we kain’t spare either yew er -yewr boat’s crew. Thar’ll be an all-fired heavy -swell on the beach (if they is any beach) fur all it -looks so smooth frum here. Thish yer kelp stops the -sea rollin’ in, but it kain’t stop th’ swell, y’ know. -Now, give way, and God go with yew t’ save.’</p> - -<p>At the word the boat left the ship, the crew plying -their oars with great difficulty, because of the encumbering -weed. So they soon shipped oars, and -took their paddles—every whaleboat having five of -these primitive but exceedingly useful propellers -stowed in their beckets under the thwarts—and with -much laborious effort urged their boat shoreward. -As they neared the black, forbidding cliffs the officer’s -heart sank, for he saw how apparently inaccessible -they were, and how the gigantic southern swell, with -never a foamy break, rose and fell against those -awful precipices. The long streamers of kelp like -multitudinous serpents writhed around the bared rock -bases, then disappeared as the whole mighty body of -water lifted, lifted, lifted until it seemed as if it must -submerge the mountain tops. And still that tiny -white rag fluttered forth its agonising message: -‘Come and save us.’</p> - -<p>Be it noted that while Mr. Peck was fully alive to -the tremendous danger awaiting him and his brave -fellows, the possibility<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span> of his not being able to fulfil -his errand of mercy never occurred to him. He was -one of those wonderful fellows who never calculate -beforehand the chances of defeat. And these are the -men who do great deeds, although it be accounted -criminal in war to neglect the keeping open of a line -of retreat. So by every encouraging word he could -speak he urged the toiling crew to greater effort, until -the kelp became so thick that paddling was no longer -possible, and they had perforce to haul the boat along -by grasping the long strands of black vegetation that -rose and fell rhythmically around them. Nearer and -nearer they drew, near enough to distinguish a forlorn -little company of people clambering precariously over -the rocks and making (as yet) unintelligible signs to -them. Nearer and nearer yet, until it became evident -that the refugees were waving them towards a gigantic -escarpment which rose fully five hundred feet almost -perpendicularly from the sea, and at one angle seemed -to present an edge just like a jagged sabre. They -altered their course in obedience to these frantic -signallings, and presently found themselves fighting -for life against the heave and hurl of the swell, which -suddenly seemed to have found force that was lacking -before when they were farther from the land. The -ropes of kelp slithered through their bleeding hands, -great fronds arose mysteriously from the blackness -and swept across the boat, scourging them as with -giant whips; they cowered and groaned, and begged -for mercy in undertones, but toiled on. And then, -when all their efforts appeared to have failed because -the poor human machines could no longer respond to -the merciless call made upon them, came a blessed -lull, the boat swept round the sabre-edge of the cliff, -and there, free from kelp, was a tiny crevasse with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span> -deep blue water just gently rising and falling, and a -ledge of clean rock running all round it. Upon this -ledge was clustered a strange company, savage and -weird-looking, long elf-locks bleached by wind and -storm, garments of every imaginable material and -shape. Ten of this company were crouching at the -edge nearest the boat with uplifted hands and streaming -eyes.</p> - -<p>But when the boat came near enough for them to -leap in there was a pause. Even in here the outer -swell made itself felt, and without careful handling a -calamity was imminent at the last moment. Therefore -Mr. Peck shouted to the little group to watch -when the swell came gently, as it did after every -three rolls, when he would let the boat almost graze -the rocks, and four, no more, at a time, must jump -into the middle of the boat. Then it was seen that -the refugees were encouraging three smaller figures, -patting them, pointing to the boat, making signs as -they talked, until one voice rang out sharply from the -shore: ‘Dear boys, these three are women—do try -and catch them, they’ve suffered so much.’ Ah! had -any stimulus been wanted this would have supplied -it, for it is the glory of the Anglo-Saxon race, and -especially of the American branch of the old tree—its -reverence for woman, whether mother, wife, or -sister. The boat rose gently shoreward, the officer -shouted, ‘Now,’ and three shrinking figures half -jumped, half fell, into the outstretched arms of the -boatmen. ‘Safe, thank God!’ shouted the former -speaker from the shore. The rest was easy. The -remaining seven took careful bearings and leaped at -the right moments until the whole ten were snugly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span> -bestowed, and it was time to turn the boat’s head -seaward again.</p> - -<p>But now she was overloaded. If it had been -a heavy task coming in with her light before the -swell, what would it now be going out deeply laden—not -six inches of freeboard amidships—against that -awful surge? For one moment Peck’s heart failed -him as he weighed the possibilities. Then—and this -was a miraculous thing, seeing that never before had -he entertained such an idea—he lifted his cap and said, -or rather shouted, for the roar of the swell was almost -deafening: ‘Boys, le’s ask God t’ he’p us out of this -hole. Keep her steady with the paddles. “O God, -we’re all in Your han’s. We’re tryin’ t’ save life, we’re -doin’ our best, we b’lieve we <i>kain’t</i> go under without -You lets us. Naow save our lives so’s we k’n praise -You all the days ov our life.” Naow let her have it, -boys. Paddle fur yer lives, an’ as soon ’s we strike -the kelp, gather it in an’ haul fur all yer wuth. -Passengers, lie still in th’ bottom o’ th’ boat.’</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">A REIGN OF TERROR</p> - -<p>Far more frequently than any shore-living people -can imagine, there occur times on board ship when it -seems as if the whole condition of things must be -overwhelmed in one red holocaust. No ship, whatever -her position or character may be, is quite exempt -from such crises as these. For at sea all hands are -compelled to feel that they have been driven back -upon primitive conditions, and the one paramount -question demanding answer is: ‘How much longer -can I bear this?’ No such problem ever confronts -shore people, for the most obvious reason: there is -always a way of escape—at sea there is none. And, -if the true inwardness of all the awful sea tragedies -that have ever been known were inquired into, it -would be found that nearly all of them originated in -a condition of things such as I have been sketching. -A brutal, unscrupulous villain (we have had them in -the British Navy) at the head of affairs, a vilely -truckling gang of officers ready at a nod to carry out -that villain’s behests, and before the mast a mob -of men driven frantic by ill-treatment yet lacking -initiative, the one ignition spark which only a genius -can supply. A case in point is afforded by the -tragedy of the <i>Bounty</i>. Concerning that terrible -mutiny reams have been written wherein the horrid -crimes of the sailors are continually held up to -execration, but how seldom is passing mention given -to the true cause of the whole awful business—the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span> -treatment of the men by the commander, who seemed -to have felt it his duty to make his men realise before -death what sort of a place the infernal regions must -be. Only the lack of initiative has prevented the -tale of sea tragedies from being a hundredfold as -many, not the desert of those in charge, who seem -to have exhausted the ingenuity of fiends in their -behaviour towards their hapless crews.</p> - -<p>Still, it must be confessed, and gladly, too, that -few indeed are the captains or officers who set out -with the deliberate intention of goading their crews -to the point of madness just apparently in order to -exhibit their power of command, their ability to -control even the most frantic crowd of men. Few -men are as wicked as that. But Captain Da Silva -certainly was, and his visit to Brava was made with -deliberate intent to procure certain auxiliaries upon -whom he could rely for aid in the vile purpose he had -set before himself—viz., that of trampling under foot -triumphantly men of the hated Anglo-Saxon race, -with all their nonchalant assumption of moral and -mental superiority. Therefore it was that no sooner -had sail been made and filled away for the southward -than his plan of campaign began. The recruits—all -of whom, be it noted, had been to sea before—were -carefully apportioned by him throughout the two -watches. They alone were allowed to steer the ship, -and with each of them while at the wheel the skipper -would converse in their own language, while the -American officers could not help but listen uncomprehendingly, -with black rage in their hearts, yet -in utter impotence. For what could they do? If the -skipper was powerful before, sufficiently so to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span> enforce -his will, he was omnipotent now. And these six -black Portuguese felt it in their bones. They did -not refuse to carry out any order given them by the -officers, but they behaved in a singularly offensive -manner as who should say, ‘We do this not to obey -you, but because we are your master’s cronies, and it -isn’t yet time in his opinion that we should show you -how we regard you.’</p> - -<p>If this state of things was hard of endurance for -the officers, it was trebly so for the men. In the -foc’s’le the Dagoes were now about even in numbers -with the Americans and other white men, but in -physique the former were far superior. And all conversation -ceased in that sad place. No man dared to -complain, even under his breath, for everyone felt -that the foc’s’le was a sort of Dionysius’ Ear, where -every word uttered immediately resounded in the -private apartments of the skipper. All the worst of -the work was reserved for the white men, every soft -job was kept for the blacks, and no man durst say a -word, for all knew as well as could be that sitting in -the midst of this web of devilishness was the skipper -pulling the cords and gloating over his revenge.</p> - -<p>Finest weather, bluest of skies, and an almost -utter absence of squalls attended the <i>Grampus</i> as she -crossed the Line. And through it all, watch and -watch, the sorely tried white portion of the crew -were kept at work scrubbing and polishing until -even the flagship of our Mediterranean Squadron -would not, so far as cleanliness went, have surpassed -her. And it was with a perfect pang of delight -that all hands heard the long-drawn cry of ‘Blow’ -from the mastheads when off Fernando Noronha.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span> -Well knowing what bone-wrenching toil it would -bring, they yet welcomed the prospect of whaling -almost gleefully—anything for a change in the deadly -monotony of their daily life. Poor fellows!</p> - -<p>They had a grand day’s sport, about which I can -say very little since it was all so orthodox and free -from extraordinary incident. The whales were -medium-sized cows—that is to say, ranging from -twenty-five to forty barrels each—and as the big bull -leader of the school went off to windward at top -speed when the battle began, there was but little -fighting: it was just a butchery. The poor, silly -creatures crowded round each other quite helplessly, -and submitted to be done to death almost as complacently -as does the great right whale of the Arctic -regions. Of course, Captain Da Silva took part in -the slaughter. Else it had been but a wasted day -for him. For he had, in common with some of the -old Romans, an insatiable blood-thirst that could not -be gratified as he craved owing to the hampering -laws of civilisation, and he was therefore driven to -quench it by conflict with the mighty whale, utterly -heedless, to all appearance, of any probability of -danger to himself. His absence from the ship -tempted Priscilla on deck.</p> - -<p>She has been neglected of late in this chronicle -for several reasons. First, any allusion to her must -of necessity be tame, since she had voluntarily taken -upon herself the <i>rôle</i> of a patient martyr, from whom -no taunt or even ill-usage could wring a complaint. -Secondly, any information about her is scarcely possible -since she was more like an automaton than -aught else—moving, indeed, waking, sleeping, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span> -eating (very little), but speaking hardly ever, and -apparently determined to efface herself as much as -possible from the life of the ship. She was an insoluble -puzzle to her husband. At first he was brutal -in the extreme, even to the length of striking her, -but to this treatment she opposed a stolidity of -demeanour which alarmed him. Then he became -gentler, spoke to her civilly, almost kindly, with the -same result. Superstitious terrors took possession of -him, for he began to wonder whether, indeed, she -had not died, only her body retaining sufficient -volition to keep about among them. He noticed -that she never spoke one word to anyone but him, -and gave way to the opinion that some change—he -knew not what—had taken place, and unless he wished -to be haunted (of which, like the majority of Latins, -he had an awful dread) he had better let her alone. -So, unconsciously, she had been led to do just the -right thing in order to secure what tiny modicum of -comfort still remained possible of attainment in her -present position. And, as for suffering—well, the -edge of that was dulled to such an extent that she -often surveyed herself as it were from an impartial -mental standpoint, and wondered mildly whether she -was indeed the discontented, prideful Priscilla Fish -of olden days or not. I do not like, especially in a -work of this kind, to insist continually upon the -sacred ability to detach oneself from the things of -sense that God gives His dear ones, yet how otherwise, -I ask myself, can the literalness, the common-sense -application of real Christianity be brought -home to people who have been trained from infancy -to believe that religion is an excrescence, as it were—something<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span> -of external growth which can be applied -like a poultice by a skilled professional at hand at -seasons when needed?—how otherwise explain that -Christ <i>does</i> dwell in the hospitable heart, and there -produces a toleration of (not an indifference to) the -world’s vicissitudes, so that ‘in the world, but not of -it’ becomes a fact of experience, not a pretty theory?</p> - -<p>Priscilla had been taught this by the Teacher -Himself; the Comforter had come with His consolations -to this poor soul, and there amid all that made -for misery she was as nearly happy as the flesh will -allow. Occasionally, in almost an ecstasy of joy, -she sat communing with God, forgetting all else, -unconscious for the time of any other environment -than that of the Holy of Holies. Herein I can see -lie twin dangers—in the expression of this fact, I -mean: the one that this must be an argument for -the conventual life, the other that such matters are -entirely unreal—the outcome of mystical meditation, -and as unsubstantial and inapplicable to the ordinary -details of life as is the hermetic philosophy of the -ancients. Well, it takes all sorts of people to make -a world, and if there were no unbelievers in God’s -immanent companionship and no misunderstandings -of His dealings with His children, His Kingdom would -be come, and we should no longer need to pray for -it. I can only reiterate with all simplicity and -directness that in such wise (as I have feebly tried -to describe Priscilla’s case) God <i>does</i> associate with -men and women. That the words, ‘Lo, I am with -you always, even unto the end of the world,’ are -literally, not figuratively, true; and that millions of -His children, given the opportunity, will gladly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span> -testify to the same. How else, do you think, do men -and women live on through long lives, seeing what -they do see of their fellow humans, knowing what -they must know of the Powers of Darkness visible, -and still preserve intact their childlike faith in Jesus -and His love? Only because it is literally, absolutely -true that ‘He that dwelleth in the secret place of the -Most High shall abide under the shadow of the -Almighty.’</p> - -<p>But in spite of her joy in the Lord, it must be -admitted that Priscilla occasionally felt an almost -overwhelming longing to breathe the free, fresh air -of Heaven. For that had of late been a luxury -denied her. She had been practically forbidden to -go on deck, to appear at table. Her husband had -developed along with his belief in her uncanny -powers a horrible jealousy of her—so much so that he -would not allow her to be seen by any of the crew or -officers. And although he had not actually in so -many words forbidden her to come on deck, yet so -many obstacles had been placed in her way, even to -locking her in her berth, that at last she had dumbly -acquiesced in this condition of things, and submitted -to breathe the fetid air of the little cabin, which, as -everyone who has ever been on board of even a trading -vessel knows, is foul and vitiated beyond description. -It is no paradox to say that there is more air -and less ventilation at sea than anywhere on earth. -Therefore it was no wonder that, learning from the -faithful darkey steward of her husband’s absence at -the whaling, she crept timidly on deck and sat on -the transom, looking out over the wide brightness of -the sea with feelings of almost intolerable complexity.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span> -She had learned, in the same perfect way, to take the -keenest delight in the beauties of creation; scenes -that so many of us pass over unheedingly were to her -almost poignant in their revelations of the Father’s -benevolent and beautiful designs, and in proportion -as she was debarred from enjoying them so she prized -them. Perfectly natural. How many an old sailor -has gone grumbling through his long seafaring career -apparently all unheeding the glories so lavishly -spread before his sullen gaze, and then when retired -to some dull, inland village in his old age, perhaps -blind and deaf, he has feasted on the treasures of -memory, and again in fancy watched his gallant -vessel leaping blithely from sea to sea, or breasting -steadily as if with unconquerable resolution and force -the relentless thrust of the storm-wind and its accompanying -sea.</p> - -<p>So Priscilla sat aft, soaking her soul in beauty and -utterly oblivious of her surroundings, until even her -inexperienced eye detected a returning boat—one -that neared the ship at a great rate, the oars rising -and falling as if steam driven, and with a feather of -spray at her bow, showing at what a high rate of -speed she was approaching. Priscilla slipped quickly -below, her heart full of thankfulness that she had -been enabled to get a glimpse of the sea and sky, -and also that she had succeeded in retreating before -the advent of her husband. Truly she had but little -margin of time, for he, standing erect in his boat’s -stern, had been watching the ship with vulture eyes, -and before she had been ten minutes below he was -on board, his awful voice ringing fore and aft like that -of some destroying angel.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span></p> - -<p>Seven cow whales had been killed, and the securing -of them alongside meant a truly herculean task, -which was prolonged until nearly midnight, by which -time the vessel looked as if she was the centre of -an island of flame. Surrounded by these great -carcasses against which the sea broke in lambent light, -the rendezvous for tens of thousands of sharks, whose -swift coming and going through the phosphorus-charged -waves made them glow like the moon, the -scene was one of almost awful beauty. But none -there took any notice of it. The crew, half dead -with fatigue, stumbled about obeying mechanically -the orders given, but hardly able to keep awake, -much less pull or lift as they were ordered. At last -the mate approached the skipper, saying: ‘Cap’n Da -Silva, hadn’t I better order the men to rest awhile? -I’m afraid we’ll be losing some of ’em overboard if I -don’t, they’re all so dead beat, sir.’ Looking around -to see if any of the men were within hearing, the -skipper took a step towards the mate, and with a -perfectly devilish glare in his eyes, said: ‘Yew lazy -American pig, yew dirty helpless dog, I’ll teach yew -t’ interfere with <i>my</i> business. I’d jes’ soon kill ye -as look at ye, f’r all th’ good y’ are. But I’ll do -worse ’n that. I’ll make yew wish yew was dead, -hunderds of times ’fore I’m done with ye.’ Up flew -the mate’s fist as he made a spring towards his -skipper, but as he sprang he was confronted by the -muzzles of two revolvers in the skipper’s hands. He -stopped with a groan—the thought of his dear ones at -home in Fairhaven was too much for him; and as he -fell back he heard a chuckle overhead, and there was -a Portuguese harpooner on the top of the house with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span> -another revolver pointed at him. ‘Wall,’ drawled -the skipper, ‘y’ see I’m heeled. I’m layin’ fur ye -every time. Ef y’ git t’ windward of me yew’ve only -one more t’ git ahead of, an’ thet’s Satin himself. -I tell ye, I’m goin’ t’ make this ship hell f’r all of ye, -but yew an’ th’ secon’ mate specially. But if y’ -wa’n’t such curs, yew’d take y’r chances. I don’t -mind dyin’ a little bit, ’n’ ef yew liked to try it on at -a little risk why y’ mout git my gun an’ shoot me.’</p> - -<p>For decency’s sake it becomes necessary to draw -a veil over the proceedings of the next few weeks. -No one likes to record the degradation of his fellowmen -or dwell upon their unmerited miseries. And, -indeed, every white man on board the <i>Grampus</i> -endured for the rest of the passage such torments and -indignities as make the blood boil only to think of—endured -them helplessly, hopelessly. Meanwhile, -every slice of good fortune imaginable seemed to -attend upon the miscreant. The passage round the -Cape was made in lovely weather, and as soon as -ever they hauled up for the Mozambique Channel -they fell in with a school of whales extending to the -horizon. It was at daybreak, too, so for the whole -of that terrible day they toiled at slaying under the -furious sun. No idea apparently was entertained by -the skipper of the enormous amount of labour being -accumulated. When night fell there were over -twenty carcasses encumbering the sea, the ship was -unable to move for the weight already attached to -her, and, had she been able, the wind had fallen to -an almost perfect calm. But not until every man, -including his own personal bodyguard, had succumbed -to sheer weariness did the skipper ‘let up,’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span> -and say that a ‘spell-ho’ of an hour or two might -be enjoyed. In strict justice it must be said that he -had taken no rest—in fact, it appeared as if he had -laboured harder than any other man on board. But -what of that? What would become of us all if we -were compelled to keep up to the physical standard of -the most sinewy and strenuous among us? Certainly -a great thinning out of the population would immediately -ensue.</p> - -<p>Therefore, at 8 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> a halt was reluctantly called, -and one by one the boats returned, their crews barely -able to drag themselves on deck, and utterly incapable -of hoisting the boats when they had done so. Of -the difficulty of getting alongside, thrusting their frail -boats in between the massy bodies attached to the -ship and tumbling gigantically about upon the sullen -swell, I dare not speak: it needs a chapter to itself. -It must be sufficient to say that all hands returned, -succeeded in getting on board, fell down where they -alighted, and slept like the dead—so much like that -two happy fellows did not trouble to wake again: -they were found stiff and cold in the morning. But -as that was merely an incident of the campaign (in -war it is thought nothing of) there is no excuse for -dwelling upon it—let it pass.</p> - -<p>The matter worth recording is that at midnight, -the placid moon looking down upon the deck of the -<i>Grampus</i> as if it were a stricken field—the corpses -lying hideously scattered where they fell—there was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>a great outcry. The skipper, ever alert, had seen -along the moonbeams’ path the oncoming of some -suspicious-looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span> craft. His experience fixed them -at once as Arab<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span> dhows bent on plunder. Strange -how the Arab is a born thief and murderer, as is the -Chinese, and neither of them ever feels any compunction -for his crimes.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp50" id="i_202fp" style="max-width: 28em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_202fp.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>THE DHOWS CREPT CAUTIOUSLY TOWARDS THE IMMOVABLE SHIP.</p> - <div class="blockquot"> - <p><i>P. 203.</i></p> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>The dhows crept cautiously towards the immovable -ship, and Captain Da Silva watched them -coming, the fierce light of battle in his eye. But -he wasted no time. He knew that his ship was -surrounded by an almost impregnable defence (at -night), and so he devoted his leisure to loading carefully -the half-dozen Sniders possessed by the ship. -(Those old Tower Sniders have gone all over the -world.) Then he called up his chums, sailors and -harpooners, and no small task it was to get life into -them. But he succeeded at last, and then posting -them all aft with a Snider and a revolver apiece, and -much ammunition, he waited gleefully the advent of the -sea Bedawy. They came, and were astonished to find -that a barrier of something floating, slimy, massive, -and impassable interposed between them and their -objective. And while they groped darkling, the -Sniders sang their awful song, red spear-points of -flame clove the darkness, and many an Arab sank -down upon the rough-timbered deck of his buggalow -coughing out his foul life. Only an hour, and the -attack was over. It would never have been begun -but that the Arabs forecasted a helpless merchant -ship whose crew they could kill easily as sheep, -and with as little compunction, and whose hold -they should find crammed with choicest merchandise -only awaiting the advent of the enterprising sons of -the East.</p> - -<p>It seems incredible, but such was the fatigue of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span> -the crew that when morning dawned the majority of -them were quite unaware of the happenings of the -night. Perhaps, dimly through their dreams had -come the ping of dropping shots, uneasy shudderings -might have accompanied the dying yells of the Arabs, -but taking everything all round they knew nothing -about it. Nor did they greatly care. The dawn but -brought them bone-wrenching toil. Who among -them would have given thanks for the paternal (?) -care manifested for them by the skipper during the -dead hours of the night? For their condition was -that so amply and aptly summed up by Moses in his -dread warning to the children of Israel: ‘In the -morning thou shalt say, Would God it were evening, -and in the evening thou shalt say, Would God it were -morning.’</p> - -<p>Long before daylight they were aroused and -started upon the tremendous task, too broken to -give more than a passing regretful thought to the -two favoured ones whose trials were over. This will, -I know, strike many as an utterly uncalled-for -exaggeration of horror, an incident that could only -have occurred during mediæval times. I beg to say, -however, that in the American whaleships mediæval -disregard of life persisted as nowhere else among -civilised peoples down to well within the latter half -of the nineteenth century. Heroic figures the commanders -were, brave beyond praise were the officers, -but with that wonderful quality was, alas, too generally -mingled an utter callousness to suffering—an -utter disregard of the elementary rights of their -fellow men which to a humaner age will hardly bear -detailed description. And, of course, this was an -exceptionally bad case. The cruelty of the Latin<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span> -is inherent—generally speaking, he takes a greedy -pleasure in the suffering of others; while the cruelty -of the Teutonic races is incidental—an abnormality -calling forth the fiercest reprobation from those of -the same race to whom it becomes known.</p> - -<p>For the next ten days the <i>Grampus</i> was a horrid -shambles. She reeked in every part with blood and -grease, and the blazing sun, pouring down upon her -with never a cloud to temper his fierceness throughout -the long and weary days, made her foul with a fœtor -beyond description. Captain Da Silva and his Portuguese -seemed to flourish and wax stronger among -the awful vileness of stench and filth, even as do the -Arabs of African coast-towns. But the American -portion of the crew fell ill one by one. Although -haggard and woe-worn, they stuck to their work -until they fell at their posts. In this calamity Priscilla -was involved. Indeed, it would have been a -miracle had she escaped. The confinement alone in -that terrible climate was sufficient to make anyone -seriously ill, especially when the miserable food and -lack of exercise were added, without the fearful foulness -of that ten days.</p> - -<p>The sickness of his crew gave the skipper no -concern. He thought grimly of the splendid recruits -he would by and by obtain, supposing all the cursed -Americans were dead. But the illness of his wife -gave him pause. In some inexplicable way, he—well, -I cannot say loved or had a tenderness for her—I -would not desecrate the holy word love by associating -it with such a monster of evil as he was, but he did -not desire to be without her. And so, cursing his -ill-luck, he bore up under all sail for the Cosmoledo<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span> -group of islands intending to spend there, amid the -pure fresh breezes of the South-East Trade, and free -from the miasmatic vapours of a great port, a -sufficient time to rest his invalids, and by judicious -distribution of quinine, fresh cocoanut, and fresh food -to bring them round again. Strangely enough, this -complication in the midst of his success, the dread -presence on board of fever, and the illness of half -his crew gave this extraordinary man no anxiety. He -seemed to stand aloof from all merely human emotions -except the viler ones, and as for fear he apparently -knew not the meaning of the word. And his -auxiliaries were the same. For them it was a time of -rejoicing. They were the undoubted rulers of the -vessel, and their superiority to the much-vaunted -white man was overwhelmingly manifest.</p> - -<p>Two more poor fellows succumbed to their -burden before reaching port. One of them was the -third mate. Their passing excited no comment, nor -did their informal burial (they were just dumped -like so much lumber) more than punctuate the day’s -work. Then the vessel arrived, and was piloted in -between the reefs with consummate skill by the -skipper. Down went her anchor, and in the peaceful -waters of a coral-locked lagoon the <i>Grampus</i> lay -secure.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">SALVAGE OPERATIONS</p> - -<p>Thorough in all his undertakings, Captain Da Silva -wasted no time after the vessel was well moored in -carrying out the purpose for which he had visited -this outlandish group of islands. Boats were at once -lowered and loaded with all the requisite material for -erecting tents ashore. Then while one party was -sent to establish a temporary sanatorium on a high -part of the largest island, a place where the sweet -unceasing breeze should blow through the open doors -of the tents, another party was detailed to catch fish, -tortoises (for here are to be found still some of those -most interesting survivals of a long-departed day, -the gigantic tortoise), and to collect unripe cocoanuts, -one of the most healthful of all foods as well as one of -the pleasantest of drinks. The preparations were -rapidly completed—when Captain Da Silva was -around no one wasted time—the sick were transferred -to the shore, and in business-like fashion attended -to, as far as a change of diet and such primitive -medicines as were available could be brought to bear -upon them. Priscilla, much to the skipper’s concern, -apparently took no interest in the proceedings at all. -He was really alarmed to see how automatically she -behaved and how attenuated was her once bonny -form. He did <i>not</i> want to lose her—would rather -have lost all hands—though he could not tell why. -And therefore, having done all he could think of for -her, and consequently much more for the other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span> -sufferers than he would otherwise have thought of -doing, he turned from sheer need of occupation to the -ship again; and his energy was such that all his innate -power of command was needed to maintain discipline -among his own countrymen. The Portuguese, like -the Italian, can and does work for amazingly long -periods at high pressure, always providing that the -incentive is sufficiently powerful. But always these -two races would rather loaf than work—would rather -lie round in the sun and let the world wag as it will -than put their shoulders to any wheel whatever. -And they always make the severest task-masters, -slave-drivers. There must be a deep delight for a -truly lazy man in the power of compelling his fellows -to stretch their sinews under his eye. Must be, -because one sees so much of it in journeying around -the world—the measureless content evidenced in the -boss who lolls and shouts curses and commands at -the toilers below him, with a very real satisfaction in -the knowledge that any one of them would gladly -trample his face into the mud they work in if only -the chance came.</p> - -<p>Captain Da Silva, then, having arranged for his -invalids satisfactorily, and left the negro steward and -one of his cronies to guard his wife in her lonely -tent, returned on board and entered upon a furious -campaign of scrubbing and disinfecting. His countrymen, -who were practically the whole working gang, -seconded his efforts splendidly, albeit with deep -resentment, at first against him, but by his clever -manipulation, afterwards against all the whites on -board. ‘Why should these fellows be lyin’ up ashore -while better men were doin’ the work?’ This with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span> -but little variation was the burden of the Portuguese -song, and by a skilfully dropped word at well-chosen -intervals Captain Da Silva fanned the incipient flames -and made every Dago understand that the <i>Grampus</i> -was a Dago ship from henceforth, and that, although -the American flag flew overhead, her American crew -were of no importance whatever. In spite of this -satisfaction, however, the Dagoes were very sore at -being worked so hard, and it needed all the great -influence of the skipper’s master mind to prevent an -outbreak. He kept them at work so steadily, too, that -they got little or no chance to brood over their -wrongs. The water in the casks below was started -and run off, fresh, sweet water being brought on board -to re-fill; and the newly emptied casks were all fresh -scoured and fired within before replenishing. An -enormous supply of wood was obtained, mostly drift-timber, -for upon this little group of neglected islands -the whorl of many currents centres, bringing flotsam -from immense distances. And when nothing else -was a-doing, the sick needed attention, and got it too, -although of a horribly rough and grudging kind.</p> - -<p>At last the discontent ran so high that it may -reasonably be doubted whether even Captain Da -Silva could have much longer held it in check, but -then with his usual extraordinary good fortune there -came a diversion that effectually settled all grumbling -and put all hands in high feather. A huge four-masted -iron ship, grossly under-manned as usual, -came blundering up through the Mozambique -Channel, bound for Diego Garcia with coal. The -parsimony of her owners had provided her with but -one chronometer, and her skipper was not <span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>only a -poor man who couldn’t afford one of his own, but he -was withal so poorly educated that he couldn’t have -worked a lunar observation to save his life. Thus it -came to pass that one night during a heavy thunderstorm, -when the whole heavens were apparently -draped with black velvet, he found his vessel bumping -upon the reefs, not heavily, for there was but little -wind or swell, but sufficiently forceful to make him -feel that his command was doomed. And ships like -the <i>Warrior Queen</i> are only manned for the finest of -fine weather—when trouble of any kind comes they -must needs trust to luck. Out of eighteen men in -the forecastle, four were sailors, and they were old, -the rest were just unskilled labourers, loafers, not -worth their salt, whose one aim was to do as little as -possible, and take the maximum time over it. There -were eight apprentices, nice lads, each of whom had -paid sixty guineas premium for the privilege of doing -men’s work, and were expected to learn how intuitively, -for no one ever showed them anything—no, -not even how to live decently in their den of the halfdeck. -These boys were really the backbone of the -ship, for being all decently brought up young fellows -they had not yet learned the vicious root-idea which -is sapping the heart out of our workers—viz., that a -man’s duty to himself is to study how best he can get -money without working for it, and that his highest -aim in life should be to give as little as possible in -labour for the wages he receives.</p> - -<p>In consequence of this wretched condition of -things on board there was something very like a -collapse of all the energies (not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span> many at the best of -times) of the crew. According to the novelists -who write of the sea from the abyss of utter ignorance -of sea conditions, the crew should now have raided -the ‘spirit-room’ (there isn’t such a place in the great -majority of merchant ships), and fearful scenes of -bloodshed and anarchy would have ensued. As a -matter of fact, the whole situation was peculiarly -sordid and commonplace. There lay the great -cumbrous tank upon the reef, canted to one side in a -shamefaced manner as if acknowledging how much -she owed to the sea for any gainliness of outline she -ever possessed. Listlessly the crew slouched about -the sloping decks, obeying such calls as were made -upon them in a half or quarter hearted fashion and -casting wistful eyes upon the sandy shore. They -were a motley gang, and there was no prospect of -immediate danger to life, only to property—and that, -they knew, didn’t matter a row of pins to anybody: -they had obtained sufficient smattering of insurance -problems to tell them that.</p> - -<p>So that I think, apart from the disheartened condition -of skipper and officers, it will be seen that the -<i>Warrior Queen</i> was in evil case. How evil may be -imagined from the fact that not one of her company -had seen, far off on the other side of the little group, -a trio of upright trees with branches crossing them at -right angles with extraordinary regularity. When -seamen neglect the obvious duty of looking around -for another ship things are bad indeed. It was so -in this case, and the first intimation that Captain -Smith had of there being any help at hand was the -arrival alongside of a white double-ended boat with -five swarthy-looking men at the oars and a tall -devilishly handsome man erect in the stern. This<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span> -boat rounded to under the <i>Warrior Queen’s</i> stern in -grand style, and before the dreaming fellows on -board had realised that a visitor was coming Captain -Da Silva had swung himself on board by the mizen -chains, and with light elastic step had gained the side -of Captain Smith on his broad quarter-deck. ‘Good -morning, sir,’ said the new-comer. ‘G’ mornin’,’ sulkily -replied the merchantman, for even in his dire distress -he had the quaint old notion that he must show himself -unapproachable in order to maintain his dignity. -Dignity, forsooth! It’s worth a great deal when a -man has to make a hog of himself to keep it in -evidence. ‘Got a bit er trouble here, Cap’n?’ said -Da Silva. ‘Yaas,’ drawled Captain Smith; ‘I’m -afraid she isn’t worth more ’n old iron price, if that. -It’s a bad job. Compasses wrong, y’ know.’ ‘Oh -don’t say that,’ interjected the Portuguese; ‘I’ve got -a bully crowd o’ boys here all spoilin’ fer a job. -They’d ask nothin’ better than t’ git y’ afloat ag’in.’ -‘You have—an’ where, may I ask?’ said Captain -Smith haughtily. (You see, his dignity needed conserving.) -Captain Da Silva waved his hand airily to -where the <i>Grampus</i> lay just discernible as a three-masted -ship far off to the southward. ‘Thet’s my -ship,’ said he, ‘’n’ ef yer like t’ come t’ terms with me, -I’ve a-got a gang aboard thar thet’d snake yew eout -of Purgatory itself. It’s only a matter of terms.’ -‘Come down below, Cap’n,’ said the now thoroughly -aroused Mr. Smith. ‘I want t’ talk to you.’ And -as they descended the polished teak companion, he laid -his hand familiarly upon the swarthy visitor’s shoulder, -saying in a confidential tone: ‘I ’spose yew’re a -wrecker of some kind, ain’t you?’ ‘Me! oh, no,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span> -Captain. I’m jest a low-down whaling skipper, -but I got a crew of boys a-spilin’ fur somethin’ t’ do, -and ef yew’ll only say th’ word, an’ give me jes’ a -leetle bill on yewr owners, I’ll bet we’ll snake yewr -ship eout o’ this in short order.’ By this time they -had reached the cosy saloon of the big ship, and -Captain Smith had summoned the steward to bring -the whisky and cigars. Solemnly they drank to each -other, and then Captain Smith broached his latent -idea. His ship had run ashore through no fault of -his. Couldn’t he arrange for his new-found friend -to take on a contract to get her off on the ‘no cure, -no pay’ principle? Indeed he couldn’t. In Captain -Da Silva he had met a man as much his superior in -business ability as he was in seamanship, and that -scheme did not work for a moment. Well, then, -couldn’t he arrange for a liberal payment to the -salvors with an equally liberal percentage to himself?—‘for,’ -said he, ‘my pay is only twelve pounds (sixty -dollars) a month here.’ The Portuguese shook his -head decisively, as befitted a man who held the reins -of the team.</p> - -<p>‘Naow looky here, Cap’n Smith,’ drawled he, ‘I’ll -tell you what I’ll do. My best endeavours t’ git -yewr ship offn thishyer reef—yew givin’ me a bill -on yewr owners fur 2,500 dollars t’ begin with, and -a note t’ th’ effect that if I git her off the pay’s double. -As fur pussentidges, I don’t know anything about -’em an’ don’t want. Ef yew mean that I’m to share -any of my earnin’s with yew—well, yew’re ’way off, -’n’ thet’s all there is to it. Ther’ isn’t anythin’ o’ that -kind abaout <i>me</i>, young man, be sure o’ thet.’ And -the two men sat and looked hard at each other. Not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span> -for long. The odds were too great, and with a heavy -sigh Captain Smith went to his state-room producing -paper and pen, and wrote out the agreement and the -bill on his owners. This instrument, having been -duly witnessed by the mate and steward, was carefully -read and signed by Captain Da Silva, who then -pocketed it, and springing to his feet declared himself -ready to begin the carrying out of his contract. The -merchant skipper, not at all used to such energetic -proceedings, was taken ‘flat aback,’ as the sea saying -has it, but said nothing, and Captain Da Silva -departed with big leaps up the cuddy stairs. As -soon as he reached the deck he shouted in a voice of -thunder: ‘My boat ready? <i>Grampus</i> boat’s crew -away!’ Then without waiting for an answer he -rushed to the gangway, and finding his men all in -their places (they had not dared to come on deck) he -flung himself over the side, and in one minute was on -his way back to his ship, standing erect in the stern -and urging the toiling rowers with many figures of -profane speech to do better than their very best.</p> - -<p>It was a long pull back to the <i>Grampus</i>, but not -one of the rowers got a spell until she was reached. -Well was it for them that their training had been so -severe and thorough. And on reaching the side all -hands were summoned to prepare the ship for the -most arduous task she had yet undertaken. Sundry -orders were given with reference to mooring-chains, -hawsers, kedges, &c., and while the crew fled about -their tasks of filling those orders, the Captain dived -below and knitted his brow over a calculation of the -tides. He found (and it is noteworthy that he was -able to detach his mind from all else while he worked -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span> -out this important matter) that the ‘springs’ were due -the following day at noon. This important matter -settled, he replaced his books and sprang up the companion -to the deck as if his life depended upon the -ensuing minutes being husbanded with the most -jealous care.</p> - -<p>A few short, volcanic orders, and the windlass was -manned, the cable came clattering in, and as soon as -the anchor was ready to be broken out the sails were -set, and the <i>Grampus</i>, obedient to the master mind, -turned gently to the wind, while the few remaining -links of cable were hove in, and she passed out of the -tortuous reef channel seaward. The skipper stood by -the helmsman, conning his vessel as if he had been -acquainted with the navigation of those intricate -channels all his life. It was only the usual whaler’s -style, but to the ordinary seaman it was nothing -short of wonderful. The clumsy-looking old ship -sidled out to sea as if she knew what was required of -her, and presently the waiting men on board the -<i>Warrior Queen</i> were astonished to see a short, thick-set, -full-rigged ship come around the nearest point -and suddenly bring to with a kedge about two miles -away, waiting apparently for the word of command -to do something totally unexpected. But there was -no time wasted. Two boats were lowered from -the new-comer, each double-banked, and under the -pressure of foaming oars they ranged alongside the -big helpless hulk, their crews leaped on board -headed by the Captain, who immediately demanded -that all hands should be called and placed under -his orders. There was a moment or so of hesitation -on the part of the English ship’s officers, but -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span> -while they paused the new comers had the hatches off -and had rigged a couple of single whips over each. -Then as the original crew realised what was a-doing, -they buckled to manfully, and soon the coal was -flying overboard in an almost continuous stream. -Something of Captain Da Silva’s superhuman energy -communicated itself to the crew of the <i>Warrior Queen</i>, -for before many minutes had elapsed they were -toiling as fiercely as any of the whaler’s men, and -without in the least understanding why they should -thus do violence to their long-cherished leisureliness.</p> - -<p>Through the thick haze of coal dust might have -been seen Captain Da Silva and a chosen little body -of men fiercely engaged in unbending the cables from -the great anchors, getting up hawsers from below, -and overhauling the long-neglected boat gear. The -big wire rope, intended for towing purposes and therefore -leading forward, was unwound and passed aft on the -starboard side, while on the port side a length of cable -was shackled on to the stoutest of the ship’s hawsers, -and ranged in readiness to be taken off when needed. -Then Captain Da Silva, getting into his boat, carefully -sounded the reef to see whether the <i>Warrior Queen</i> -had, as so often happens, found her way alone along -some special channel. He knew that many wrecks on -coral reefs have done just that, and afterwards, owing -to superficial observation of the surroundings, it has -been taken for granted that some awful convulsion of -nature in the shape of an earthquake wave or something -of the sort must be held responsible for the -vessel’s reaching so apparently inaccessible a spot. -After an absence of only an hour he returned, having -found the channel by which the ship had entered, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span> -buoyed it with sundry lengths of lead-line and ‘blackfish’ -pokes, or bladders of the small cetacean known -to whalers by that trivial name. Just a few minutes -on board to see that the jettison of the coal was -proceeding with as much vigour as possible under -the circumstances, and then off again on board the -<i>Grampus</i>. He caused her to be worked right into the -channel he had found, but stern first and as easily as -a barge is taken up a winding canal. Finally, when -near enough for his liking, he had two hawsers -attached to his bow anchors, and the latter dropped -in the channel. These were veered away to their -utmost length, which brought the stern of the <i>Grampus</i> -near enough to the stern of the <i>Warrior Queen</i> to -allow of the wire hawser and cable-bridled hawser -being secured to the former. When all these preparations -were complete he gave orders that all hands -should rest so as to be capable of a supreme effort -next day at noon, it now being about 10 -<span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, and -some five hundred tons of coal having been jettisoned.</p> - -<p>After a good meal all round, the worn-out men -went to their bunks—all except Captain Da Silva, -who, calling upon his particular boat’s crew, started -at midnight for the long and perilous pull back to -the islet where the sick were encamped. Threading -the dangers of that terrible group of reef-rocks and -sandbanks apparently was mere amusement to him, -although at times it must have seemed to a novice -as if nothing could save the frail craft from being -overwhelmed by the breaking of one of those vast -swells over the jagged surface of a fringing reef, -through one of whose openings they were passing. -But this extraordinary man seemed to bear a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span> -charmed life, and, without shipping a drop of water -even, the boat arrived at the camp in three hours -from the time of leaving the <i>Warrior Queen</i>. Noiselessly -she grounded on the smooth sand, light as a -fawn the skipper sprang out, and in a few minutes -had peered in at both tents and seen that all was -silent as the grave, at which peaceful termination to -his investigations he was apparently much annoyed. -Returning to the boat, he caused an impromptu -shelter to be rigged up by turning her over and -spreading the sail over the upraised gunwale, and, -creeping in under with his satellites, all were soon -sound asleep; not, however, before a huge black -bottle had been impartially passed round.</p> - -<p>At daylight the skipper awoke and went to visit -his sick, finding, to his great satisfaction, that several -of them were sufficiently recovered to be brought on -board—they could do something, if it was only holding -on the hawsers abaft the windlass. To Priscilla -he said nothing—he stood looking at her doubtfully -for a few minutes, while she endured his gaze as if -unconscious of it. Then he turned on his heel and -departed, and in a few minutes the trembling -steward reported to her that ‘de Cappen, he make’n -dem boat’s crew pull fur sixty sure, ma’m; dat boat -jes’ a-flyin’.’</p> - -<p>He was back at the scene of salvage operations -by ten o’clock, and found, as he had expected, that -all hands were loafing about, waiting for him to come -and tell them what to do. But he said nothing -about that, only gave orders for all square sail to be -loosed on both vessels and set with as little delay as -possible. For there was the usual sea breeze setting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span> -in, at no great rate it is true, but with every promise -of being much stronger by noon. And it blew right -fair for the channel, along which, if in any direction -at all, the <i>Warrior Queen</i> must go. Nearer and -nearer drew the critical moment, the tide rising -rapidly. All hands were ordered to their stations, -the <i>Warrior Queen’s</i> crew being, with the exception -of just sufficient to trim her yards in case of necessity, -all on board the <i>Grampus</i> at the windlass. The -breeze freshened as the tide rose, and a few minutes -before noon Captain Da Silva gave orders for all his -reinforced crew to heave away at the windlass for -dear life. The powerful leverage of that great spread -of canvas on both ships, aided by the strain on the -hawsers applied at just the right time, gradually -made itself manifest. The vast bulk of the <i>Warrior -Queen</i> slowly rolled, shuddered, slipped, and with a -long grinding groan she moved. Frantic yells arose -from the windlass-men on board of the <i>Grampus</i>. -They felt the weight yielding, and forgetting the -danger of breaking the old-fashioned machine they -were trying so hardly, redoubled their efforts.</p> - -<p>Slowly, majestically, the big ship glided seaward, -steered by the mate in response to the desperate -signals made from the whaler, where the skipper -was now in an almost insane state of excitement lest -some fool should, at the last minute, spoil all his -work. But no; gently the whaler increased her -speed, followed clumsily by her tow, until, at 1.30 -the rescued merchantman was able to turn and -pursue her way alone. Before she did so, however, -Captain Da Silva, having anchored his ship, -hastened on board the saved vessel, and, shaking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span> -hands warmly with Captain Smith, bade him ‘so -long,’ saying to himself as he did so: ‘I guess yew -want somebody to dry-nurse yew mighty bad. -Don’t matter to me, though. Five thousand dollars -ain’t half a bad day’s pay, an’ I guess I’ll snake it in -soon ’s ever I git t’ port. He ain’t a bit t’ be ’pended -’pon, thet man.’</p> - -<p>And, leaving the big ship to pursue her journey, -the energetic rascal returned on board his own vessel, -got under weigh and hastened back to his former -anchorage, fully determined to get the rest of his -ailing men on board, fit or not, and leave next day -for sea. He reached the camp at sunset, anchored, -and went ashore, finding that his wife was well on -the way to complete recovery, and the rest of the -poor fellows doing very well. So without any further -delay, he caused the camp to be broken up, the -invalids brought on board, and everything got in -readiness for departure the following day.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">HUMANITY REWARDED</p> - -<p>Doubtless many of the superior persons, who, like -Matthew Arnold, their high priest, have led sheltered -lives, will, also like him, curl the lip of scorn at any -sorely pressed human creature in his extremity of -need lifting his heart in prayer to God for help. -Let them do so, if it please them, while they may. -For many thousands know most gratefully that -prayer is indeed a perfect communication between -man and his Maker, and is answered so fully and -so frequently as to put all coldly logical or brilliantly -poetical objectors entirely out of court. Who, indeed, -would accept the evidence of a blind man as to the -value of a certain picture, or of a deaf man upon -the merits of an oratorio? Therefore, <i>pace</i> Matthew -Arnold and his ‘Self Help,’ let me gratefully return -to the comforted little company in that sorely bestead -whaleboat. In the midst of that wilderness of kelp, -with the awful hand of the gale pressing them back -from the goal they so sorely desired, they yet felt a -security, a peace such as can only accrue to those who, -in a like position, know that underneath them are the -Everlasting Arms.</p> - -<p>Almost literally inch by inch they fought their -way seaward. Much as they valued the smooth -which the kelp brought them, its hindering environment -was terribly wearisome to the humanly limited -strength. But doggedly they toiled on, often only -half consciously, as squalls of sleet slashed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span> savagely -across their cowering faces and every fresh blast of -wind beat at them as if it were the spirit of some -malicious demon determined upon their destruction. -Suddenly they emerged from the slimy smoothness of -the kelp into the free dash of the great waves. -And as they did so Mr. Peck, with a great voice, -shouted, ‘Now, boys, for y’r lives; out oars an’ pull -jest a leetle bit; perhaps we can histe a rag of sail -and keep her away a bit presently. That’s it—lift her, -lift her; oh, too good, boys, too good, one, two, three; -better ’n’ better. I see the ship! She ain’t no -distance off. Stick t’ it, me hearties, give ’r all you -got—thet’s y’r style.’ In such wise did the fine fellow -encourage his men, who were taking the last ounce -out of themselves in their desperate fight with the -forces of nature. And the passengers cowering in -the bottom of the boat heard and saw not, endured -dimly, dumbly; until just as it seemed impossible -that the overborne sailors could hold out any longer -came the glorious cry of ‘Boat ahoy!’ A yell of -thankful reply, and the great bulk of the ship -materialised out of the darkness. A minute or two -of breathless suspense as the boat swung off the wind, -and then a blessed sense of security and calm as she -surged up under the lee of the grand old tub, where -all hands, by the light of the flaring try-works, were -awaiting them. Life from the dead, fellow creatures -welcomed back from out the gaping jaws of the grave—how -glorious a sensation to true men! And when -the whisper ran round that some of the saved ones -were women there were chokings and dim eyes among -these rough-looking but tender-hearted fellows, -although comments were mostly limited to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span> -commonplace expression, ‘Poor things, poor things.’</p> - -<p>Safely on board, and the boat hoisted into her -place, Captain Hampden whispered an order to his -mate to keep all the southing he could so as to get -well clear of that awful pile of rock, still much too near -for comfort. Then with a courtly old-world grace he -led the way to his cabin, and begged his strangely -shipped passengers to make themselves at home. -The three quaint little figures revealed themselves as -ladies—young, but haggard with anxiety and privation. -Alone in the world, too. For the story of the -lost ship from which they had escaped was just this, -so bald and simple, yet so full of pathos to the imaginative -mind. She was a huge four-master, with splendid -passenger accommodation, bound for Australia, -and specially recommended as affording a grand -opportunity for a perfect sea trip for consumptives. -So thirty poor wrecks of humanity, but possessing -money enough to buy a chance of life, availed themselves -of the opportunity, for, after all, the fare was -much lower than in a fast steamer, and the attendance -likely to be much better. But the crew! What -agony the Captain endured as he found that sailing-ships -were in such bad odour that men could not be -obtained—that if he would get to sea at all he must -needs ship men who hardly knew a cringle from a -scupper-hole. However, this is one of the penalties -a man must pay to-day when working his way up in -a sailing-ship prior to taking charge in steam. And -Captain Weston paid it. Running the easting down, -he found his handful of wastrels not merely incompetent, -but afraid—a poor group of fellows whom no -threats or bribes could make do their duty, while he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span> -had upon his heart the helpless passengers. So he -ran her, recklessly as it appeared, really because he -could do nothing else, and strained his heartstrings -nightly as he looked up through the blackness at -those great sails, and wondered what <i>would</i> happen -should they blow away, for to take them in he knew -was impossible.</p> - -<p>Is it fair to put such a strain upon one man as -this? I do not think so, yet most captains of our -big sailing-ships must shoulder such a burden to-day, -and for, at most, £200 a year. No wonder the -Mercantile Marine is unpopular. Captain Weston -endured his load almost helplessly in view of the -season and the quality of his crew; and when, while -snatching a few moments’ sleep in his chart-room, he -felt his ship go over, over, over, until on her beam -ends, and knew that she had broached-to in the -height of one of the southern gales, he gave a sigh -almost of relief as knowing the worst. Out of the -half-dozen boats he carried one succeeded in getting -away with three ladies on board, whose charges, a -consumptive father, uncle, and sweetheart, were -practically killed by the shock. There were also two -male passengers, the mate, and four seamen. And -these were all the survivors of that awful mid-sea -catastrophe, when a great ship, through bad steering, -was thrown on her beam ends and, her decks bursting, -sank like a broken cup in the midst of that -lonely ocean.</p> - -<p>For two days the surviving boat and her miserable -freight managed to keep ahead of the hungry, following -sea, until, in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span> the blackness of the third night, -when hope was well-nigh dead, she entered the kelp -fringing Gough Island, and after a series of hairbreadth -escapes the whole party succeeded in landing -upon its frowning shores. There, for nearly three -months, they had maintained life in semi-savage -fashion, wondering whether they were doomed to -spend the rest of their days there, when help came -in the shape of the hardly beset <i>Xiphias</i>, and they -were once more restored to a little world of living -people.</p> - -<p>With a sigh Captain Hampden bore up for Cape -Town. It was much out of his way, and, besides, he -was so far to the southward that it would be difficult -to make the port, especially in such a sluggish old -craft. But the idea of carrying those poor ladies on -to the Mauritius, which was the only place that lay -anywhere near his track whence they could be -shipped home, was not to be thought of for one -moment. And having decided upon what to do, he -did it with all his heart, allowing no one to see what -a struggle it had cost him. All sail was made, therefore, -and the course set for Cape Town, the rescued -mate and his four shipmates taking a vigorous part -in the handling of the ship, so that the <i>Xiphias’</i> crew -could finish their heavy task of securing the oil from -their previous catch.</p> - -<p>She was a mighty busy ship, as well as a happy -one, for there was so much to do with the two and -a half tons of baleen secured, after the oil was all -stored below, that no one had any time of leisure. -This peculiar substance—‘whalebone,’ as we have -agreed to call it—is really of the nature of dried -gristle or soft horn, and when it is green—<i>i.e.</i>, newly -taken from the whale—it needs constant care and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span> -labour in scraping, drying in the sun, and other trade -treatment. Without this it soon becomes valueless, -and, since it is so high-priced when properly cured, -it is obviously the most important duty on a whaleship -to attend to it. But this duty tries the patience -of all hands most sorely. In the present case, however, -there were compensations. For, in the first -place, Captain Hampden was not the man to keep -his crew at other work all day and scraping, &c., -whalebone all night; and, secondly, a cheery whisper -ran round the ship that he (the old man) intended -landing the stuff at Cape Town for transhipment to -market.</p> - -<p>And then, to the great joy of the crew and the -unbounded chagrin of the passengers, the ship ran -one morning at daybreak into the midst of a vast -school of sperm-whales, extending from one horizon -to the other. Their numbers no man could calculate, -any more than what stupendous stores of food must -be necessary to feed such an army of monsters. -Captain Hampden’s heart glowed with thankfulness -that he had been by humanity turned thus far out of -his intended course, and, in obedience to his newly -born instinct, went away into a corner by himself -and lifted up his heart, not merely in gratitude to -God, but for wisdom, after all these years of experience, -to do just the right thing in the manipulation -of this great store so lavishly spread before him. -It only took a minute or two (how simply and -quickly can we prefer our petitions and praises to -the King of kings), and he was back again among -his men, the guiding, ruling spirit of all. As if his -plan of campaign had been laid out a week ahead,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span> -he apportioned to each officer his place in the coming -struggle, took advantage of the presence of the passenger -mate and four seamen to give them the -handling of the vessel, and then gaily took the field -himself with five boats, skipper leading.</p> - -<p>It was an ideal day, the great sun just rising from -the smooth ocean bed into an absolutely clear sky—clear -from clouds, that is, but splashed with all the -splendid colours of a tropical dawn, the glassy undulating -sea-surface broken in all directions by the -lolling masses of the sea monsters, each lazily exhaling -his or her bushy tuft of vapour. Occasionally -the heavenly silence was broken by a playful rush of -a dozen or so of these colossal forms in some given -direction, making the placid sea foam and curdle -around their massive bodies as if it had suddenly -met some newly risen rocks. Or a few sedate bulls -would gravely invert themselves, and as if by a concerted -movement slowly beat upon the sea with their -great flukes, the gigantic strokes reverberating along -the silent surface like the echoes of a distant cannonade.</p> - -<p>Yes, they were a happy, placid company, recking -not of evil, least of all apparently of the presence of -those five small white things that, a hundred fathoms -or so apart, were coming gliding among them, each -with cruel points protruding from its front and glittering -fiercely in the rays of the mounting sun. And -before any attempt at flight could be made by one -member of that great company, the five boats were -among them, each boat had singled out the largest -victim near (for so had run the Captain’s orders), -and the slaughter had begun. Now while it is undoubtedly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span> -true that the sperm-whale is brave and -will under ordinary circumstances fight for his life -with a fury and sagacity not to be excelled by those -of any mammal afloat or ashore, it is also quite true -that occasionally, especially in large companies like -the present one, sperm-whales will become panic-stricken, -and, making not the slightest attempt either -to fight or flee, will suffer themselves to be slain like -a flock of silly sheep when the wolf leaps into the -fold among them. The present was one of those -occasions. Harpoons flew and lances flashed, the -boats rode easily, hardly moving in any direction -amid closely packed squads of utterly demoralised -whales, and the sea speedily became foul with blood -and oil. It needed all the skipper’s power of command -to call his men off, frantic as they were with -the lust of killing, which overtakes the gentlest and -most amiable of mankind once the first shudder of -compunction has been overcome. But Captain -Hampden’s cool judgment realised that already—only -one hour from lowering—sufficient work had -been provided to last all hands, work as they would, -until the odour of their spoil would become utterly -intolerable, which is the principal drawback in -sperm-whaling to taking full advantage of such an -opportunity as the present one.</p> - -<p>Reluctantly the boats drew each to her prey, -unwillingly the officers ceased plying their lances -among the aimlessly wandering monsters, and there -amid lanes of coming and going whales they laboured -to attach their tow-lines to dead whale flukes, while -the Captain, returning on board, took charge of his -ship again, and aided by a gentle southerly breeze<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span> -that had just sprung up, manœuvred her around in -order to secure the spoil. It was a wonderful sight -when all the great carcasses had been secured alongside -to see the assembled hundreds—maybe thousands—of -survivors surrounding the ship as if held there -by some dread fascination they were unable to resist. -Usually the sight or scent or presence of blood is -sufficient to send them fleeing at the top of their -speed to the four airts; but now was one of the exceptions, -and in the clear sleeky water around the -ship their vast bodies rolled and turned without -apparent objective, until one of the passengers was -fain to ask the skipper whether he did not think they -were meditating an attack in force upon her. Captain -Hampden laughed loud and long, for he had -several times been privileged to witness a similar -scene, and he knew that no more danger was to be -apprehended from the presence of all those whales -than there was from the coming of the thousands of -sharks that in all the fury of their ravenous hunger -were already tearing at the mighty carcasses secured -to the ship.</p> - -<p>Again was that ship’s company involved in the -most tremendous toil, but better fitted than before -by experience, and unhindered by the awful prospect -of imminent death by their vessel being dashed -ashore. Moreover, the weather was beautifully fine -as well as mild, the barometer stood steadily high, -the sea was as smooth as it ever is in 35° S., and -there were seven willing additional hands. All the -more willing because the skipper assured them that -as soon as ever the cutting-in was accomplished he -would make sail again for Cape Town, and that this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span> -splendid accession to his profits for the voyage would -only hinder their progress for at most a couple of -days. A ship’s company all in the highest spirits, -working as if their very lives depended upon the -amount they did, with never a harsh word spoken; -every man, seaman or officer, bubbling over with -cheerfulness and good temper, and seven splendid -auxiliaries joining their forces as if the whole affair -was a gigantic piece of fun. It was too. For as the -capture of the whales had been the easiest on record -for sperm-whales, the whole seven taken having been -slain in less than one hour, so the weather was as -perfect as the most exacting desire could make it. -The little southerly breeze that had been so valuable -in the getting of the spoil alongside had died completely -away, and the only movement of the vessel, -hardly noticeable, was due to an almost imperceptible -westerly swell. As Mr. Pease said, ‘Anybody ’d -think we wuz ridin’ snug in some harbour.’</p> - -<p>As the weather was so propitious, every effort was -directed at first to getting the whales beheaded, and -the strange spectacle was to be witnessed of men -hacking away at those great masses below them -from little stages slung all round the ship, wherever -a whale’s head could be got at comprehensively. -And all this to such good purpose that by sunset, -although the men were not over-fatigued, the whole -of the seven heads were off and floating astern at the -ends of stout ropes, and one whale had been skinned -and his blubber carefully stowed below. A perfect -illumination of the ship by means of cressets was -devised, each of which, slung where it could be of the -most service, was kept supplied with whale ‘scrap,’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span> -or the blubber from preceding whales, from which as -much oil had been boiled as possible. This is the -only fuel used for boiling the oil, and as it blazes -almost like a Lucigen light it makes a splendid -illuminant as well. Besides, the glorious moon, a -huge disc of blazing silver, made the night bright, -enough to read quite small print—so bright, indeed, -that although there was not a trace of cloud or mist, -the pretty stars were hardly visible. So as soon as -the well-earned supper was eaten a system was -devised whereby ten men and two officers at a time -should have two hours’ sleep, there being then quite -sufficient to handle the windlass and rip off the -blubber.</p> - -<p>Then the great night’s work began. The rattling -of the windlass pawls was incessant; there seemed -to be no pause in the steady ascent of the great -black-and-white blankets, and the shouting of orders, -the cheerful gabble, and the roaring of the fires made -a most pleasant tumult. In the midst of it all, after -midnight, a voice was heard across the sea shouting, -‘Ship ahoy! Want any assistance?’ Mr. Pease, -in charge at the time, roared back, ‘No; why?’ -‘Thought ye was on fire. I’ll send a boat on board.’ -And sure enough from a trim frigate, which had -stolen up by the aid of the light upper airs, came a -boat, full of sorely puzzled men, who had never -witnessed a scene like it in their lives, and, having -witnessed it, would never be likely to forget it. It -was only by the most careful piloting and obedience -to the instructions shouted at them from the deck of -the whaler that the boat was able to pick her way -among those floating masses; but, that difficulty successfully<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span> -overcome, the officer in charge leaped on to -the rail and stood gazing with wide-eyed wonder upon -the deck. For, do what they would, the hardly pressed -toilers had been unable to stow more than the -blubber from two whales in the blubber-room, so that -the blankets of three others were encumbering the -deck and making it, to anybody but a whaleman, -almost impassable.</p> - -<p>The visitor clambered aft and introduced himself -to Captain Hampden, newly awakened, as a lieutenant -of H.M.S. <i>Griffon</i>, and apologised for intrusion, saying -that he, with all the rest of his ship’s company, could -not help but believe that they were coming in the -nick of time to the assistance of a vessel on fire. But -he added, while he was glad to find that not the case, -he was delighted to have had the opportunity of -gazing upon such a scene, which his wildest dreams -of sea-happenings had never before pictured. Then -the skipper gave him the news of the rescue, and -asked if it would be agreeable to have the passengers -transferred. This, however, they themselves demurred -to, feeling no doubt that such an opportunity as now -presented itself for gaining experience was not to be -lightly given up; and, besides, they found that there -would be no saving of time, as the warship was bound -to Ascension. So, after a hearty shake hands all -round, the gallant officer swung himself over the rail -and departed, primed with material for yarns for -years to come.</p> - -<p>That night passed with almost the rapidity of a -sound sleep, but its hours had been so well utilised -that when the lovely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span> morning broke and gilded the -haggard faces of the toilers, all the carcasses had -been disposed of and the great heads were ranged -alongside ready for dissection. Now these whales, -though large, were by no means of the largest, and -therefore it occurred to the skipper to test his lifting-gear -to the utmost. So he had the ‘junk’ or snout -point of the first cut off, hoisted on deck, and secured; -then, hooking both tackles on to the remainder of the -head, all hands buckled on to the windlass, and, -although the old vessel listed dangerously, succeeded -in bringing the great mass on deck. Now for activity. -A long rip fore and aft the case; ten willing hands -dipping their buckets at once into the reservoir of -spermaceti. Plenty more behind passing it away -into the tanks. Wonderful! In twenty minutes it -is empty, and at a word from the skipper as the ship -rolls to starboard, two or three swift spade blows -release the empty head and it slides massively into -the sea. Hurrah! Now for another. Will these -men never tire? Apparently not. But the skipper’s -brow is knotted with care. Receptacles for the bland -spermaceti, semi-liquid as it is, are beginning to fail. -‘Cooper, what shall we do? Tanks are all full. -Kain’t ye git us some pipes?’ ‘Gimme three hands, -sir, ’n’ I’ll git y’ all yew want.’ ‘Bully fur you, cooper. -Jim, Rube, Manuel, go with the cooper and help him.’ -And in half-an-hour two 336-gallon pipes are ready -to receive the rest of the spermaceti: the difficulty is -met.</p> - -<p>Four <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> sees the <i>Xiphias</i> so utterly blocked -from knight-heads to cabin skylight with blubber -that the passenger seamen look solemnly at one -another and wonder what will be the end of it all. -They do not know how recently this crowd have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span> -disposed of an almost similar difficulty, with an awful -shore grinning up at them from close a-lee. A faint -westerly breeze springs up, the passengers are asked -if they will make sail, and as they gladly assent, away -goes the grand old tub under every stitch, smoking -like two or three steamers rolled into one, and leaving -behind her a wide wake of smoothness from exuding -oil—for she is fast becoming more like an oil-saturated -sponge than a ship. But nothing daunts her crew. -They are happy. Visions of a glorious ending of -their voyage, of farms bought, and a position among -their stay-at-home neighbours proudly pre-eminent, -fill their minds and make them call up the last ounce -of energy to cut a horse-piece or turn the mincer-handle -when they have felt for the last half-hour that -it was impossible to put in another stroke.</p> - -<p>These visions come to all but Rube. For of him -it may truly be said that he lives in the present. -The past has no memories for him, the future no -anticipation. To all the cheery chatter of his shipmates -anent their plans for the future he turns a -disinterested ear. When they say, ‘Wut <i>you</i> goin’ -t’ do, Rube ole man, w’en yew gits home?’ he replies -solemnly, ‘Only God knows. I ain’t got no plans. -I want Him to ’range things fur me, then I know -they’ll be all right. Anyhow, I know I kain’t be any -happier than I am ’mong yew dear fellers—I never -thought ’t would be possible t’ be so happy ’s I am -naow. But, dear chaps, ef I wuz yew I wouldn’t go -buildin’ too many castles. Y’ see at fust, yew know, -they’re only castles in th’ air, but ef yew go on buildin’ -an’ buildin’, bimeby they gets t’ be so real t’ yew thet -w’en yew finds ’at yew kain’t build ’em indeed, th’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span> -disappointment is awful.’ So he talked, and, good-naturedly, -they bantered him. And meanwhile the -great work was being well done; so well done that -two days before they entered Table Bay, and passing -close under Robben Island, anchored well clear of -the mail steamers’ track into the harbour, the last -trace of foulness was removed from the old ship—she -looked clean as a ship should look. She did not -smell sweet, but that, alas! could not be helped. In -those warm climates it is only possible to avoid bad -smells in a whaler that has no luck, and the <i>Xiphias</i> -certainly had redeemed her apparent bad luck at last; -for she had only been out seven months, and now -she had on board 800 barrels of sperm oil and 550 -right-whale oil, besides two and a half tons of baleen, -so that her catch at the market price of that day may -be invoiced thus:—</p> - -<table summary="Invoice"> -<tbody> -<tr><td>800 barrels of sperm oil = 80 tons, at £100 =</td> - </tr> -<tr><td> $500 per ton</td><td class="right"> £8,000</td> - <td> =</td> - <td class="right"> $40,000</td> - </tr> -<tr><td>550 barrels of black oil = 55 tons, at £20 =</td> - </tr> -<tr><td> $100 per ton</td> - <td class="right"> £1,100</td> - <td> =</td> - <td class="right"> $5,500</td> - </tr> -<tr><td>2½ tons, bone at £1,500 =</td> - </tr> -<tr><td> $7,500 per ton</td> - <td class="bb right"> £3,750</td> - <td>=</td> - <td class="bb right"> $17,750</td> - </tr> - -<tr><td /> - <td>£12,850</td> - <td> =</td> - <td> $63,250</td> - </tr> - -</tbody> -</table> - -<p>An ideal trip so far, and yielding even to the poor -holder of the 250th lay, a comfortable sum of £51 8<i>s.</i> -= $256·50, of course subject to deduction for slops, -tobacco, advance, &c.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">A GREAT BLOW</p> - -<p>Many and terrible are the temptations which await -the striving Christian, whatever his or her spiritual -age may be. It is a moot point whether they (the -temptations) are felt more severely by the babe in -Christ in the first fervour of the new life, or by the -mature Christian who is insensibly led to feel that he -or she has attained unto a firm standing in the Faith. -But one thing is, or should be, beyond controversy, -and that is that no fiercer temptations assail any man -than those which await the newly converted sailor, -who has begun, in the solitude of the ocean and its -sweet freedom from the allurements of shore vices, -the upward way. He has been born, and has grown -up to a certain Christian stature in a state of peaceful -freedom from the evils of shore life, and has almost -come to regard them as belonging to a previous state -of existence to which he can never return. Then, when -he is suddenly plunged headlong into them again he -is in great, very great, danger of a relapse that may -give him an agonising season of remorse. But I -must not carry this digression too far. I only wish, -in beginning this chapter, to point out how dire were -the perils awaiting the crew of the <i>Xiphias</i>, many of -whom were only, in the imitative way common to the -majority of human beings, behaving as they saw the -general sense of their little community would have -them behave, and not at all from any conviction as to -the necessity of such behaviour to their peace or <span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span>from -any inward urging whatever.</p> - -<p>It is, however, safe to say that such considerations -troubled no one on board the ship at all. Every -man was in an overflowing state of happiness at -again anchoring in a civilised port after the long -and weary cruise and the many hardships and -dangers encountered. Every man, too, with the -exception of Rube, was half-intoxicated with a quite -lawful pride in his achievements during the past two -months. All remembered how helplessly, ignorantly, -and painfully they had begun the voyage, traced -easily the educational way they had come, mentally -visualised vividly each heroic detail, and gradually -lost sight of the great central fact of it all, the -Fatherly care of God. Therefore, when, the next -day after arrival, the rescued passengers returned on -board with urgent requests to the Captain that -he would allow them the privilege of entertaining the -crew ashore as a slight return for benefits received, -all who could be spared on that day, except Rube, -joyfully availed themselves of the permission readily -given and went ashore.</p> - -<p>They were royally welcomed at one of the -principal hotels by the rescued ones, some of whom -had wired home and received in reply advices -enabling them to draw upon the local banks for -all moneys needed. They were entertained far too -well, for two-thirds of them returned on board drunk -and quarrelsome, and for the first time that voyage -the foc’s’le was the scene of a riotous conflict, in -the midst of which Rube moved like a strong -apostle of peace, able, as well as eager, to enforce -quietude upon the most unruly, even though it -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span> -involved a considerable amount of what some weak-minded -people might call brutality. The lesson -taught by this episode was not without its valuable -effect upon those who had remained on board. With -a self-sacrifice entirely laudable, they refused to go -ashore at all. This may not, probably will not, be -assessed by my readers at its proper value; but, oh, if -landsfolk could only realise the intense longing for -a run ashore which seizes upon sailors after being -cooped up on board ship for seven or eight months, it -would be understood. Truly, Reuben and the skipper -had done their best to give the ship-keeping crew -such amusement as was possible, and the best shore -food, fresh beef, mutton, and vegetables that could be -procured had been provided.</p> - -<p>Table Bay swarms, or did swarm, with a splendid -species of crustacean known as ‘craw-fish,’ many -of which grow to a huge size, weighing several -pounds, and have a flavour in no way inferior to -that of a lobster. There was great sport in -catching these in impromptu nets made of rope-yarn -meshed upon hoops and baited with bones, -and even greater satisfaction in knowing that they -would live for months in tanks of salt water frequently -renewed. Then there was ordinary fishing, or, -perhaps, I should say extraordinary fishing, of the -schnapper, the cod, and other fish which swarm -around the southern extremity of Africa almost -unmolested. And sailors love fishing, though scarcely -any class of men living within reach of fishable waters -get less of it.</p> - -<p>So quite pleasantly the time passed away—the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span> -four days during which Captain Hampden found -it possible to sell his baleen and tranship it, and -to expend a liberal sum in fresh food, vegetables, and -live-stock. On the fifth morning, at daybreak, the -cry of ‘Man the windlass!’ rang along the deck of the -<i>Xiphias</i>, and all hands responded. But, unhappily, -most of those who had been ashore did so very -unwillingly. The memory of their spree was secretly -most alluring; they had tasted illicit delights again, -and were lamenting the deprivation of them. Thus -they were sullen, unwilling, and miserable. Vainly -did Rube exert all his simple arts to rouse them out -of themselves, to cheer them. They would not be -cheered; they hugged their misery and almost infected -several of their shipmates.</p> - -<p>But the work was going on, all unconsciously -the best cure was being applied, and by nightfall, -with their fine old ship heading northward for -the Mozambique Channel before a fine following -breeze, they had gone much farther than they -were aware of on the road to repentance and -recovery. By repentance I do not mean that spurious -sentiment which is really sorrow for one’s inability to -go and repeat former sins or excesses, disgust and -annoyance at being compelled to reap what one has -sown, but a comprehensive change of mind with -reference to one’s former behaviour, a distrust of one’s -own powers of resistance to the drawings of evil, and -a determination to trust for deliverance from them -to Almighty God. A simple definition, perhaps, but -one that I know is far too often neglected or wilfully -misunderstood.</p> - -<p>Day succeeded day in perfect loveliness of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span> -weather and peace on board. The routine of the -ship had fallen easily back into its accustomed -grooves, and opportunity had been taken to renew -all the wastage that had been made in the general -equipment of the ship and boats by reason of the -recent heavy demands made upon it. But no whales -were seen. Eager eyes scanned the wide sea for -every moment of the daylight, but nothing was seen -of any value. Still, the previous sense of irritation -and almost hopelessness was not there, could hardly -be, since so great an accession of profit had been -made during the last two months; a haul that, as -Captain Hampden gratefully admitted, might not -have been made on some voyages during the first two -years. But as day succeeded day and week followed -week, there came upon all hands a querulous desire -to question the wisdom which had brought the ship -into a part of the ocean where everything desirable -was found except the one central object of the -voyage: profit. As watch followed watch under -those lovely skies, the watchers became listless, careless, -their attitude at the mastheads showed how -weary they had become of the fruitless gaze across -the wide sea-plain. And the wise skipper, who, as a -skipper should, carefully noted all the symptoms of -discontent, gradually tightened the somewhat relaxed -disciplinary fibres, and had many things done which, -under the pressure of whaling, might quite safely -have remained undone. The recently obtained cargo -was overhauled and re-stowed, the reeking hold was -thoroughly cleansed, and although nothing was ever -undertaken which could not be dropped at one -minute’s notice, had whales appeared, an enormous -amount of valuable work was accomplished, and that, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span> -too, without any friction whatever. In addition to -the work of the ship, the Captain unofficially encouraged -the men to undertake in their leisure -moments the making of ‘scrimshaw,’ the name given -to <i>objets-d’art</i> (?), fabricated of ivory and bone, and -calling out all the latent mechanical genius possessed -by the men.</p> - -<p>To this end, foreseeing an easy, quiet time, he had -caused several jaw-pans of the sperm-whale to be set -aside and towed astern in order that they might -bleach to a dazzling whiteness. All the teeth had -been saved and pickled in barrels of strong brine, and -a considerable number of the shorter blades or -laminæ of baleen had been retained when the bulk -of it was transhipped at Cape Town. Word was -passed forward that any man who felt inclined might -have for the asking such of these materials as he -chose in order to try his hand at curio-making; and -the carpenter, although, like most good workmen, he -would not lend his tools, never refused to saw off a -length of jawbone for a walking-stick, or cut up into -rough pieces the bleached bone, for any man who -asked him. Nor did he make any favour of showing -a man how to make his own tools out of old knives, -files, rasps, or even sail-needles. This amiability had -great results, for before long practically all hands -were engaged upon this fascinating hobby, and, -emulating one another, were turning out some really -beautiful pieces of work in carved ivory, bone, and -baleen. Some of the sticks were quite works of art. -A length of, say, three feet by one inch square, sawn -from a jaw-pan after it had been subjected to a long -tow astern, would be tightly lashed down to a spar -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span> -in the sun so that it would dry perfectly straight. -Then, by the aid of a ‘cutter’ or rasp, softened in -the fire and filed into deep ridges with cutting edges, -it would be worked down into a rough roundness of -outline. By the aid of other equally primitive tools -the stick would then be gradually fashioned into the -semblance of a rope, with ‘worming,’ or a much -smaller rope twisted into its lays—a form of art -which is highly interesting, as having been practised -by sailors from very remote days. Three years ago, -when staying at Repton School, I was shown over -the ruins of the ancient abbey there, and in the -recently unearthed crypt, dating back to Anglo-Saxon -times I was told, there were four monolithic -pillars of stone supporting the roof, each of which -was carved into the same semblance of a rope with -‘worming’ in its lays. Also at a great country -house where I stayed last year, whose noble and -hospitable owner made a hobby of collecting books -on ancient art, I saw some superb illustrations in -colour of ancient croziers, upon which were carved in -ivory or worked in precious metals the universally -used ‘Turk’s-head’ of the sailor, which has not -altered one jot of its details down to the present day -through all those hundreds of years.</p> - -<p>But to return to our stick-maker. At one end of -the stick about eight or ten inches would be cut -away until only a slender square rod of about three-eighths -of an inch thickness remained; upon this -would be threaded medallions of ivory, baleen, silver -(quarter-dollars), ebony, and coco-tree wood. An -albatross head or some similarly well-known object -would be patiently carved and secured on -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span> top, and -the whole stick was then polished, first with fine -sand, then with powdered pumice-stone, and finished -with chalk and oil. And really, when completed, -many of these pieces of work would have made no -bad show in an industrial exhibition, especially if the -primitive tools could have been shown with them. -Besides this fascinating pursuit, there were several -others tacitly encouraged by the skipper, such as -model-making, gymnastics, swimming (on calm days), -and, of course, fishing. And thus gradually what -had threatened to become a painful set-back to all of -them turned out to be a veritable blessing, a halcyon -time which many remembered all their lives after -with the most tender regret.</p> - -<p>But still they were not earning anything, and -after their experience on the other side of the Cape -they began to feel as if their fortunes were already -made. They did not realise the vastness of the -ocean and the tiny little circle, after all, that their -outlook gave them from the mastheads. And in -spite of the noble bounty offered by the skipper of -twenty-five dollars to whoever should ‘raise’ a sperm-whale, -it was very hard, to hang up there for -two hours in that blazing sun and keep one’s attention -fixed upon one’s business. At last, however (eleven -weeks having passed since they left Cape Town), it -happened to be Rube’s masthead at daybreak—that -is to say, shortly after 5 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> With his usual -pleasant alacrity he swallowed his coffee and sprang -into the fore-rigging at the cry from aft, ‘Man mastheads!’ -As he went MacManus said jestingly, -‘Reubin, darlin’, ef yez do be raisin’ sperm-whales -Oi’ll share th’ bounty wid yez.’ ‘Yew shall that,’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span> -replied Rube gaily, ‘an’ everybody else as well ef I -know myself.’ As he went springingly aloft his eye -dwelt lovingly upon the marvellous colouring of the -sea, the ever-changing sequence of shades reflected -from the glory above; and his heart filled with loving -worship, for there is no education in appreciative -observation of God’s wonderful works like an intimate -acquaintance with Him. When he reached the -topgallant-yard he saw the great glowing arc of the -sun’s upper limb just shedding a long line of blazing -gold along the horizon, as if it could not contain all -its store of glory, but must needs let some run freely -on every hand. And as Rube climbed into his perch -the awful majesty of the whole orb swung clear of -the sea, and ocean and sky blazed ineffably, blindingly -upon Rube’s sight, making him for a moment veil his -face in his hands and murmur a few disjointed words -of praise.</p> - -<p>Never in all his experience had he seen so glorious -a sunrise. He could not help feeling an intense -desire for more ability to appreciate its marvels, for -more power to praise, more capacity for gratitude. -And then as his eyes swept the horizon round, remembering -his duty, he saw immediately beneath the -sun’s disc a curious peak, black, but edged with -flame, which gave him the impression of its being -some gigantic mountain top upon which the sun had -been resting, and now was rising after it in readiness -to receive it if it should fall. So strong was the -impression that it made him shudder in spite of himself -and turn away. As he did so, broad on the port -beam about five miles away rose the well-known figure -of a sperm-whale exhaling a great volume of vapour<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span> -diagonally from his spiracle and sending before his -blunt head a perfect cascade of diamond spray. One -moment’s pause, and from Rube’s deep chest burst -the startling whalers’ call, at which the previously half-awakened -decks below burst suddenly into seeming life. -Not one minute was lost, for the crew were in the -highest state of efficiency and eagerness. Only two -boats were lowered, for the whale had no fellow; he -was apparently one of those morose old bulls that -had been ejected from his overlordship of the school -he had led so long and was doomed to wander lonely -till the end. One drawback there was to the chase; -it was almost a flat calm, and at such a time approach -to a lone sperm-whale is exceedingly difficult. His -senses (whatever they are, they are not like ours) are -so acute that unless there be a little sea on, something -that by its natural sounds may render the splash -of an oar or the rattle of a rowlock inaudible, the -whale will almost certainly be alarmed and make -good his escape. But as they were paddling with the -utmost caution in his direction, a puff of wind -darkened the water and at the same time sent a cold -shiver through all hands. The mate recovered from -his surprise first, and his hoarse whisper ran through -the crew’s ears: ‘In paddles, step mast, quietly now.’ -He was obeyed in swiftness and silence, and the -second mate, following the example, had his sail up -almost as soon. Then, as the graceful boats glided -noiselessly across the just rising ripples, all hands had -leisure to look about them, and to their intense uneasiness -they saw that the whole aspect of the heavens -was changed. The colour of the blessed sun itself -had faded from glowing gold to a stale, sickly,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span> -greenish hue, and the morning cheerfulness of the -sky was replaced by a dreary, leaden blue, to which -the sea had responded by turning almost black. -And it was so cold. The sun seemed at once to have -been shorn of his beams and his power of distributing -warmth. He still shone, it is true, but as if through -a veil of some deadly mist depriving him of all his -beneficent influences. Yet there was no vapour whatever -visible.</p> - -<p>The mate, however, alone of the little company, -seemed entirely unconscious of any change in the -weather. With his eyes fixed upon the supine -monster ahead he steered the boat as if he were part -of it, as if, indeed, he were enduing it with some of his -own personality. Occasionally, it is true, he cast -furtive glances at the second mate’s boat, but that -was only to see whether he was keeping as far ahead -of that officer as etiquette demanded. And as the -breeze freshened the lively craft began leaping gamesomely -over the infant waves, nearing the whale at a -great rate. At last! The harpooner, a lean American -from Nantucket, rose stealthily to his feet, balancing -the clumsy-looking weapon as if it were a feather -in his right hand, and methodically arranging the -coils of stray line on the little forward deck or ‘box’ -of the boat. She made one last spring forward; then, -with a great swooping curve, graceful as that of an -albatross, she glided alongside the whale, and two -harpoons flew from Walter’s sinewy fingers into the -whale’s body. She passed into a little offing of safety -as the sail was brailed in, but the whale wasted no -time or strength in fruitless struggle to free himself of -the irons. He apparently gathered all his powers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span> -together and fled to windward through the rapidly -rising waves, heeding not the weight behind him -more than as if it had not existed. He went so fast, -indeed, and so dead end on to the sea that the accomplishment -of the boat’s clearance was a task of uncommon -difficulty, taking nearly thrice the usual time. -And when it was finished neither the companion -boat nor the ship was to be seen. More, the black -pinnacle of cloud noted by Rube at sunrise had now -overspread fully one half of the heavens. The other -half had a menacing shade, not of cloud, but the -shadow of the great eastern mass, and yet behind the -gloom there was the suggestion of an unearthly glow. -No one could say why or how the ship had disappeared, -but not a sign of her was visible. A -strange fear fell upon all, even Rube, who by virtue of -his great strength had the midship thwart (the heaviest -oar) in the mate’s boat. Instinctively the mate came -aft and got out the compass; but, except to tell -in which direction the whale was going, which they -already knew was something near east, its indications -were of little value—they had no bearing of the ship. -And the whale went steadily on into the gathering -darkness.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, on board the ship signals of recall -were being frantically made in the hope that the fast -boat might see them. Mr. Peck did see, and in less -than half an hour was safe alongside again, his boat -hoisted, and his men putting all their energies into -the preparations to meet the coming cyclone. The -ship was now between the Seychelles and the Saya -de Malha Bank, having been gradually working north -and east from the Mozambique Channel upon finding<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span> -that usually prolific hunting ground so barren of -result. And consequently she was now in one of -the very worst places in the whole ocean for meeting -with those awful circular storms which are variously -known as hurricanes, cyclones, or typhoons, according -as they are experienced in the Atlantic Ocean, the -Indian Ocean, or the China Sea, but which are all -the same kind of terrible natural convulsion, beneficent -in their after-effects undoubtedly, but while they last -filling most men with the conviction that the end of -all things is at hand. Still, so staunch and seaworthy -was the <i>Xiphias</i>, in common with most of -her sisters built by those old-fashioned, methodical -descendants of the old Puritans in New England, -that the near approach of such a cataclysm would -have given Captain Hampden very little additional -uneasiness but for the fact of his mate’s boat being -away, lost to sight, and of his own inability to follow -it up when once the meteor burst, which it was now -evidently upon the point of doing. Nothing, however, -could be left undone that ought to be done for -the safety of those remaining on board, and no time -wasted in vain regrets; so for two or three hours all -hands were kept at full pressure putting extra lashings -upon everything movable—double gaskets, ‘marling’ -down the sails, hoisting the boats as high as -they would go to the davit-heads, and there securing -them with all the skill available. Also a quantity -of food was hastily cooked (the <i>Xiphias</i>, like most of -those old ships, carried little canned provisions) and -stored where it could be got at without opening -hatches or depending upon a lighted fire. Everything, -in fact, was done that skill and forethought<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span> -could suggest or urge to, and then the men were -called aft. All hands stood facing the gallant old -skipper as with head bare he steadied himself against -the skylight.</p> - -<p>‘Men,’ said he, ‘we’ve kem up agenst big trouble, -for a boat’s crew of our shipmates air a-missin’, an’ -only God He knows whether we sh’l ever see ’em agen. -I feel a’most heart-broken at lettin’ ’em go; but, -men, I’d no idea ’at thishyer hurrican’—fur hurrican’ -it’s a-goin’ t’be, there’s no possible doubt o’ that—wuz -a-comin’ on so sudden. An’, besides, yew all know -how eager all han’s wuz t’ git some whale after eour -long spell athout seein’ one. Thar’s no denyin’ the -fact, eour shipmates air in terrible danger. We’re in -danger, too, fur these hurrican’s is enough t’ make the -bravest man ’at ever lived feel quaky t’ his very soul. -But we’ve a grand ship under eour feet, an’ we’ve -a-done all thet man k’n do to make her ready fur the -great fight thet’s a-comin’. Naow we’ve a-got another -duty t’ perform. In thet boat beside Mr. Pease, -as good an officer ’s ever trod a deck ’r hove a lance, -an’ Walter his harpooner, also one ov th’ very best, -and MacManus, Joey, and Manuel, all good, sterlin’ -men as all th’ crew is, thar’s Rube Eddy. Thet man’s -taught us all lessons we needed worse than any of us -knew. By his example he’s shamed us into bein’ -better men, an’ every one of us is happier then we -could ’a’ben if we hadn’t known him. Already I feel -at the thought of losin’ him’s if I don’t care t’ live -myself, an’ I know thet all of you ’r feelin’ with me -how great a blessin’ he’s ben t’ us aboard this ship. -So I ask you all t’ kneel down like men an’ pray each -in your own fashion fur Rube an’ his fellows in th’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span> -boat; thet in this fearful time, God, who kin do -anything, may be with ’em t’ save, and thet He may -see fit t’ bring us all together again. An’ if not, to -make us all what Rube Eddy often prayed we might -be—good men, ready t’ live ’r die as it should please -God, but whichever it is, to keep unbroken the image -of God in us. Let’s pray.’</p> - -<p>All hands fell on their knees, and there, in the -gathering darkness, these wanderers from many lands, -uncouth, ignorant, careless seafarers, each in his own -way silently pleaded with an unmistakably present -God for the safety of the boat’s crew, and all added, -‘especially Rube.’ Occasionally an ejaculation which -could not be suppressed burst forth, but for the space -of about a quarter of an hour, except for the voice of -the wind like the growing wailings of a tortured spirit, -and the continual mutter of the thunder, there was no -other sound. Then, as if at a given signal, the skipper -lifted up his voice in the sublime old Apostles’ Prayer, -the Amens were fervently murmured, and with perceptibly -strengthened hearts the crew dispersed to their -several duties or resting places, and thick darkness -clothed them as with a garment, shutting out all the -view of sea and sky.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">THE CYCLONE</p> - -<p>Although all hands had dispersed and half of them -were free to seek their berths, they could none of -them go below. A great awe, not to say fear, was -upon them, for none of them save the skipper and -some of the officers had ever witnessed the upheaval -of the sea and down-pressing of the heavens -which were now imminent, and the coming thereof -exercised a fearful fascination upon them. They -huddled in groups, only whispering an occasional -word, and waited for they knew not what. Yet all -had a feeling that it must be the Trump of Doom. -As yet the wind had not attained any great force, -but the motion of the ship was exceedingly uneasy, for -the ocean is so responsive to the power of the wind -that long before a gale which is somewhere raging has -reached a ship, she will often be most violently tossed -by big waves coming sweeping towards her, and this -without any barometrical warning that can be noticed. -Nay, it sometimes happens that after several hours of -anxious waiting for the expected gale, with almost -every stitch in the ship close furled, the restless sea -will again quiet down, the filminess will disappear -from the sky, and serene weather will once more -prevail: the gale has either blown itself out or has -by a very well understood meteorological event been -diverted from its original course into a totally new -one.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span></p> -<p>None of these things, however, was known to or -noticed by the crew of the <i>Xiphias</i>. They felt the -pall above descending lower and lower until they -could imagine its inky folds resting upon the mastheads; -they heard the wailing and moaning of the -wind, rising to an occasional wild shriek, as if impatient -to begin the elemental strife; they experienced -the peculiar sensation inseparable from the environment -of an atmosphere surcharged with electricity; -and they were obliged to hold on to keep themselves -from being thrown off their feet by the unnatural, -unexpected lurches of the puzzled ship. But it is fair -to them to say that through all their apprehensions -for the next few hours they felt most for their half-dozen -shipmates in that frail boat, far away in the -awful darkness, doomed to face the fiercest conflict of -wind and wave known to seafarers, all unsheltered -even by a little deck. Then came a new terror. The -accumulation of electric fluid all around them, having -become greater than the atmosphere could hold, -commenced to discharge itself in blinding streaks of -vari-coloured flame, which quiveringly ran about the -blackness overhead and almost seemed to light up -the black heaps of water rising and falling without -order all around them. Every yard-arm, masthead, -davit-head—in fact, every point, even to their own -heads—gleamed palely with latent electricity, and -strange sensations as of pricking roughened all the -surfaces of their bodies. Some became numbed with -fear, others wished they could be so.</p> - -<p>And then—it was almost a relief—with a roar as -of ten thousand lions mad with hunger, the full hurricane -burst upon them. Where it struck them<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span> none -knew, or what the ship did when she felt it; for -whether she was beneath the sea or above no one -could tell. The awful blast ripped off the surface of -the sea, and spread it through the air so that sight, -speech, almost breath became impossible. But they -all noticed that, although the ship beneath their feet -seemed as if she was being hurled through space, she -was now quite steady; the drunken uncertain motion -she had previously been suffering from had altogether -ceased, for under that pressure of wind no sea could -lift its head. I said there was almost a sense of relief, -and this is really true, for now it did not appear -possible that matters could become worse. Men’s -minds refused to entertain the possibility of any -increase in the force of the wind, and all felt dimly -that any change now must be for the better—that the -hurricane was doing its worst.</p> - -<p>The skipper, aft by the useless wheel, with the -two mates near him, endured like the rest. Having -done all that was humanly possible, and commended -himself and his charge to his Father, he had now but -to set his teeth, bend his head, and bear in patience, -awaiting without a tremor the manifestation of God’s -will concerning him. There was a certain indefinite -satisfaction in having his two mates near him—the -same feeling that the other members of the crew had -in being huddled together like sheep on the edge of -a cliff when the gale howls furiously landward and -sweeps the downs like the breath of a destroying -angel. In fact, neither Captain Hampden nor his -officers took the trouble to think now. They just let -their mental powers lie dormant, having used them at -the right time to the best advantage, and being -quite ready to exercise them again when any good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span> -could thereby be done.</p> - -<p>And now, what of those brave men so perilously -cut off from their ship, left to themselves in the midst -of such potentialities of destruction that camping out -unsheltered and unarmed in the heart of an Indian -jungle would have been safety itself by comparison? -For a time, while the whale kept his unswerving and -unfaltering rush into the blackness ahead, Mr. Pease’s -energies and thought seemed solely concentrated -upon the means of compassing the death of his -gigantic steed—any ideas concerning his own danger -or that of his crew did not seem to find admission to -his mind. After satisfying himself that the whale -was holding a straight course he called upon all hands -to put forth a supreme effort to get up near enough -to the monster, and make some feasible attempt at -fatally wounding him. And they, seizing the tow-line -and straining every sinew to the work, found that -they could actually gain upon him a little, although -the sprays coming over the bows threatened every -now and then to swamp them. But gradually they -found their task becoming easier, and although the -thickening gloom chilled their hearts they encouraged -one another with shouts of ‘There she feels it,’ ‘Hand -over hand, hearties,’ ‘Walk her up to him!’ ‘He’s our -whale,’ &c. And suddenly the mate yelled at the utmost -strain of his lungs, ‘Lay off—lay her off, Walter; -lay off, fur God’s sake!’ Nobly Walter responded; the -light craft sprang off sideways under the pressure of -the great steer oar and Walter’s straining muscles, -and the whale’s huge flukes, brandished high in air, -came down with a crash like thunder, and smote the -water just a yard or two abaft the after oar. But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span> -that blow cost the whale his life. For the boat shot -up alongside of him, and in towards his side withal, -and at the same moment Mr. Pease, taking deliberate -aim, sent a bomb-lance point blank into the great -body. Almost before the muffled report from within -told that the destructive weapon had exploded, a -hand-lance had followed it, and slid up to its pole -within the vast black mass.</p> - -<p>Either of those terrible wounds had been sufficient -to kill, and the two combined had the effect of bringing -the whale to a sudden stop, when, with a long -expiration, like the escaping steam from a water-loaded -syren, he gasped out his life and was still, save -for the easy motion communicated to his huge carcass -by the waves. So sudden was his death that the -usual tremendous convulsion which takes place when -these leviathans die was totally absent. As soon as -it was evident that he <i>was</i> dead, Mr. Pease, rising to -the height of his responsibilities, and realising how -short a time was left during which anything might be -done, caused two more harpoons to be driven into -the whale’s side near the first two, but bridled to the -main line. Then allowing about fifty fathoms drift he -cut the tow-line, and veering away to the tail succeeded -with very great difficulty in getting a hole -cut through its thickest part, and the end of the towline -rove through it. That accomplished, the boat -was hauled back again to a position midway between -the whale’s tail and its head, the lines made well fast, -and the men told to make themselves as comfortable -as circumstances permitted by crouching low in the -bottom of the boat, and arranging the sail so as to -keep off just a little of the spindrift that was already<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span> -beginning to fill the air.</p> - -<p>It was now quite dark, although but little after -noon; the sea was in that curiously undecided state -before-mentioned, and the mate knew very well that -at any moment the full power of the hurricane might -burst upon them. Yet, strange as it may seem to -landsmen or even ordinary sailors, he had by no -means lost hope, neither had Walter. Both of them -knew from long experience, and not theoretically, how -splendid a breakwater is made by a dead whale. -Both of them had time and time again owed their -lives to the shelter afforded by one in the midst of -such stupendous seas as are encountered in the -Southern Ocean, where unhindered the lone sea sweeps -round the globe, and consequently both felt that even -in the present apparently hopeless circumstances -they might yet be found living when the hurricane -had passed and left the ocean bestrewn with the -wreckage of many a score of noble ships. I think it -is not generally known on land how magical (there is -really no other word to describe it) is the power -exercised by oil upon the sea. A little oil spilt upon -the water during the prevalence of the roughest -gale makes a tiny oasis of smoothness, around which -the most gigantic waves rear their furious crests in -vain in the endeavour to encroach upon it. ‘Oil upon -the troubled waters’ has long been a paraphrase for -the gentle work of the peacemaker, but it is much -more than that—it is a scientific expression of fact; -and since shipmasters (being, as I am never weary -of pointing out, the most conservative of men) have -taken to using oil, as it should be used, for the purpose -of stilling the angry waves, the number of shipping -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span> -disasters that have been averted is past all counting. -It is safe to say that if, wherever any breakwater, -pier, or similar structure is exposed to the fury of -stormy seas, a large perforated pipe were to be laid -on the sea-bed a few yards seaward of the foundations -and surrounding them, through which in time of storm -oil might be pumped at high pressure, we should -never have any of those costly works destroyed by -the impact of the waves at all; for they (the structures) -would be surrounded by a ring fence of -smoothness beyond which, no matter how fierce their -anger, the great waves could never pass.</p> - -<p>Now, a whale is a natural reservoir of oil, and, -whether alive or dead, he always has around him an -area of calm induced by the exudations from his -skin. Therefore, when we read of ‘whales taking -refuge in sheltered bays from the fury of gales,’ we -may be held blameless for curling the lip of derision, -and wondering what manner of fools they are who -perpetrate such twaddle for the deluding of their -readers. Also a whale when it is dead does by some -mysterious volition point its head, not in the wind’s -eye, or directly to the quarter from whence the wind -comes, but about eight points, or forty-five degrees, -therefrom, and, stranger still, does invariably drift -<i>towards</i> the wind, and not, like a ship, away from it. -Various explanations have been proffered to account -for this really wonderful movement of the whale’s -great carcass after death, but none of them, I think, -is feasible save this: that the whale’s tail, being a -huge limber piece of gristle of exquisite propulsive -shape, is so actuated by the wash of the waves past -the great body that its motions, like those of an oar -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span> -turned in a groove at the stern of a boat, are sufficient -to keep the body to which it is attached working to -windward. Not, be it noted, against a current, which -moves the whole mass of water, but against the wind -through the water and incidentally against the sea, -which is quite a different matter.</p> - -<p>Perhaps an apology is necessary for so long a -digression, when the fate of Mr. Pease and his brave -men is trembling in the balance, but there are so -many utterly impossible and unexplainable things -to be read in stories now, written to account for the -escape of the hero, that I have felt compelled to take -up a little more space than usual in which to explain -the entire reasonableness and possibility of escape -from their dire peril which actuated and hardened -Mr. Pease and his crew. A whisper had run from -end to end of the boat full of hope, and Rube in the -middle had accepted it with heartfelt joy, not for his -own sake (for this extraordinary man never thought -about himself at all), but for the sake of his shipmates. -And then all settled down to wait and watch. High -over them, with a most terrific noise, a blaze of -unearthly light, and a peculiarly chilling sensation, -burst the hurricane. Really, terrible though it was, -they were immensely surprised that it was not worse. -They did not, could not realise how that great bank -of flesh, already floating much higher than ever it did -with life in it, was protecting them, not merely from -the impact of the sea, but from the swamping effect -of the spindrift, the sea face carried airwards by the -wind. As this came flying along it met the body of -the whale, and shot upwards, just passing over the -frail cockleshell riding in the little smooth to leeward. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span> -All heaven’s artillery opened out, the roar of the -wind, the rumble of the thunder, the hiss of the -lightning; but cowering low down in their tiny craft -rocking easily in the quiet water under the lee of the -whale, those six men lived. And as the hours wore -on they forgot to be afraid; nay, they even slept, or -hazily speculated upon what they should do when, -the storm having passed, they might, and probably -would, find themselves alone on that wide, wide sea, -foodless and waterless. And so the hours succeeded -each other, day insensibly passed into night, leathery -tongues vainly roamed round parched mouths seeking -moisture and finding none, and still hope lived.</p> - -<p>How long they had thus patiently borne the burden -of a peril of which no landsman can have aught but -the feeblest adumbration of an idea, none of them -knew, for none of them had a watch, and even had there -been one there was no light. The darkness was of -that Egyptian character that one experiences in a -coal mine, and the blazing rivers of lightning which -occasionally coursed over their heads only added to -their blindness. But presently, as at some celestial -word of command, the elemental tumult ceased, the -wind fell to a dead calm, and a strange motion, totally -unlike the steady heave and roll of the former hours, -took its place. Overhead the cloud-pall thinned and -a star or two appeared. Their eyes, grown accustomed -to the velvety blackness, saw that they were -the centre of a charmed circle, all around which, at -so short a distance that they seemed to be at the -bottom of a whirlpool, enormous masses of water -rose and fell in disorderly heaps. It was an appalling -sight, and the mate, with thoughtful wisdom, distracted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span> -their attention from it by advising them to -take advantage of the temporary lull to get a -drink and eat a biscuit. Each whaleboat carries a -wooden vessel like a large bucket, holding about four -gallons of fresh water. It is headed up like a cask, -but has a wooden spigot attached by a short lanyard, -and this, withdrawn, suffers the water to escape in a -thin stream into a piggin which is held beneath it. -There is also a long narrow keg kept under the little -deck over the stern of the boat, also headed up tightly -but easy to open by those who know how, in which -are a number of biscuits, a lantern, and some candles -and matches. This was now produced, and a biscuit -each handed round, which, with a drink of water, -had a wonderful effect in raising everybody’s spirits.</p> - -<p>Mr. Pease then said, ‘M’ lads, I don’ s’pose ’at -ever in the history of seafarin’ a boat’s crew has bin -known t’ hang out a hurrican in the open sea same ’s -we’ve done, fur which we’ve gut t’ thank ole Johnny -Squarehead here as th’ means sent by Almighty God -fur our safety. B’lieve me, boys, we’re through th’ -wust of it. We sh’ll hev almost as much wind as -before, but not fur near as long, an’ yew know how -safe a harbour the whale gives us. I needn’t ask ye -t’ thank God: I know yew’ve all done that, ’specially -Rube thar. Say, Rube, sonny, haow’re ye hittin’ it, -eh?’ ‘Glorious, Mr. Pease, glorious. I wuz jest -thinkin’ as ye spoke, “though I walk through the -Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, -Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”’ ‘Bully -fer yew, Rube,’ said Mr. Pease. ‘They wuz a time -when I sh’d have miscalled yew ’r anybody else ’at -talked like that fur a darned hypocrite; but, thank<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span> -God, I know better now. I’ve a-learnt how good -a <i>man</i> a Christian kin be.’</p> - -<p>He had hardly uttered the last words than with -an awful howling sound the wind burst out upon -them from the opposite direction, bringing with it -such a cloud of spray that for a few minutes they -fought gaspingly for breath, and groped blindly to -bale the boat. They hardly knew while those few -fateful minutes lasted whether they were sinking -or not, but their faithful defender, in death returning -good for evil, gradually took up his relative position -to the wind as before, and although they could not -see they could feel that they were again on the -sheltered side of the great carcass. And, besides, -it seemed to them as if it afforded more protection -than it had done before. They could not think the -wind had lessened—indeed, they believed it to blow -harder than ever—but certainly their boat rode easier; -and with a relief not to be expressed in words they -saw that light was coming. Only one thing gave -them additional uneasiness: the increasing glare -beneath them. The lightning had almost entirely -ceased, but, as if to compensate for that cessation -of the unearthly fires above, the waters beneath them -fairly glowed with green illumination in broad bands, -which came and went incessantly. They all knew -that this meant the gathering of the ravening deep-sea -hosts, attracted thereto by the mighty banquet, -and entirely oblivious of the war of the winds above.</p> - -<p>How, throughout those hours of terror, had it -fared with the crew of the <i>Xiphias</i> remaining on -board that staunch old ship? Peacefully enough<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span> -until the passing of the storm-centre. Then indeed -they were in evil case. For <i>they</i> had no charmed -circle, beyond which the waves could not pass, to protect -them. It was an omission only too frequently -made, and almost unpardonable in these ships. Had -they but hung canvas bags of oil from both bows and -both quarters, through which the calming liquid -might have drained, they would have been spared -much of the labour, danger, and anxiety. But nothing -of the kind had been arranged for, and consequently -when that fearful vortex sea broke upon -them, not only did their vessel’s decks fill with water -in masses weighing hundreds of tons, and smashing -everything that was smashable, but the working of -the ship opened her seams so much that, in spite -of the risk of being exposed in the waist, it was -absolutely necessary for all hands to muster at the -pumps. There, secured by ropes around their bodies, -and occasionally entirely overwhelmed by the towering -masses of water breaking on board, they toiled -unmurmuringly. Again and again they were hurled -like a scattered bundle of chips in all directions; -the ropes with which they were secured threatened to -cut them in halves, making deep discoloured grooves -in their flesh, and floating wreckage beat and bruised -them savagely in its dashing to and fro. But they -still stuck to their posts unflinchingly, officers and -men together putting forth all their powers, and -hoping, ever hoping, even when all hope seemed dead.</p> - -<p>For the <i>Xiphias</i> was, to all outward seeming, a -wreck. Her bulwarks were gone fore and aft; the -massive brick erection of the try-works had been -swept so cleanly away that no trace of it remained; -three of the fine boats were gone, and only the ringbolts<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span> -with which they had been hoisted still dangled -at the davit-heads. Several sails, in spite of the care -exercised in their securing, had wriggled adrift, and -the tigerish wind had snatched them from the yards -as dry leaves are stripped from the trees in autumn. -But it is in times like these that the Divine in man -shines out, and Captain Hampden stood erect, not -counting his burden of years, nor his present load of -care for his crew, nor the heartache for the brave -fellows long ago, he thought, gone to their well-earned -rest in the silence of the sea. His eyes shone -bright, his heart beat temperately, his voice rang -steady, and when, the short calm gone, the hurricane -burst again upon them from its opposite segment, all -hands felt his noble influence, and braced themselves -to endure to the end.</p> - -<p>Forty miles away Mr. Pease and his brave little -crew still lived. Once settled into their old position -to leeward of the dead whale they felt, such was the -effect upon their minds of their recent experience, -almost safe from the tempest above and the assault -of the sea. They noticed, indeed, that the latter -gradually became more furious, as if, enraged beyond -measure by its previous restraint, it was now determined -to make up for loss of opportunity, and destroy -everything in its path alien to its domain. But even -that carried some comfort, for while feeling well protected -to leeward of the whale they cared little for -waves however high: the very fact of those waves -rearing their heads so savagely told them that the -force of the hurricane must be waning; and, besides, -the thinning of the cloud-pall above, the absence of the -lightning, and an indescribable elevation of spirits,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span> all -had their part in the growth of hope. Only, there remained -the increasing menace beneath. Occasionally -a slight tap, smartly given, under the boat sent a -shudder through them as it reminded them how -slight was the barrier which intervened between them -and the hungry jaws of that host of sharks. Men, -however, who had ridden out such a day and night -of terror were hardly likely now to become panic-stricken: -they had come to regard themselves as -under the special protection of God. So, terrible -as their position undoubtedly was, it had not the -same effect upon them as it would have had if it had -come upon them suddenly.</p> - -<p>The hurricane passed away, going as usual -through its various fining phases as better weather -came. By noon the sky was clear, the sea deeply -azure, the sun sending down new vigour into that -hardly used group of men. A great exaltation of -spirit possessed them all, for it is noticeable how, -whenever the hurricane, cyclone, or typhoon has passed, -everything in nature seems bound to rejoice, not -because it has been allowed to live, but because of -the cleansing, sweetening, freshening up of the world.</p> - -<p>The sharks swarmed in incredible numbers, the -birds came in myriads, the dead mass to windward -began to emit a charnel-house fœtor, but all the men -were cheerful, and munched their half-biscuit determinedly, -as if to show that they meant to live up to -the hopefulness engendered by their atmospheric -environment. Only the mate, in moments when not -engaged in cheering up his crew, looked grave. He -felt the responsibility for those trustful souls. And -he could not help feeling how remote was the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span> -possibility of their ship (or, indeed, any ship) picking -them up. He knew, too, how short a time would -elapse before they would be compelled to abandon -their shelter—how few the hours before it would become -so foul that not a human being could live near -it. But he said nothing of this. Instead, he maintained -his part, with that strange mixture of gravity -and cheerfulness puckering his brow. He often -caught Rube’s earnest eyes fixed upon him as if in -deep questioning, but he evaded them. ‘Time -enough,’ he thought, ‘for the revelation that must -surely come.’</p> - -<p>The night passed in perfect peace. The burning -stars mirrored themselves in the glassy bosom of the -deep, the new moon peeped shyly forth, a glittering -silver sickle with a clearly seen though dull disc filling -up the round. Gently as an infant on its mother’s -breast the boat rose and fell to the softly undulating -swell. All except Mr. Pease seemed asleep, but continually -sleepers half-raised themselves with indistinct -expressions of disgust as the foulness of the air half -awakened them. ‘To-morrow,’ thought the mate, -‘we must cut adrift flesh and blood can stand this no -longer.’ So with the dawn (and what a lovely dawn -it was!—like the first in its brightness), the lines -were cut, and with a few strokes of the oars the boat -was propelled beyond that area of stench, the whale -having now swollen to the semblance of a ship bottom -up or some huge oblong bladder floating high upon the -sea surface. When all hands had eaten the few -crumbs of food remaining, and had moistened their -aching throats with a little swallow of water, Mr. -Pease said, ‘Boys, we’ve been through a lot, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span> -perhaps we’ve got th’ worst ahead. Never mind. -We’re all men here, we know that, an’ whatever -happens we’ll remain men. We’ll die if we must die, -or live if we’re let live, like men made in the image -of God.’</p> - -<p>And the six of them solemnly said, ‘Amen.’</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">A STRANGE RESCUE</p> - -<p>Reluctantly, but of necessity, we return to the -<i>Grampus</i> getting under weigh from her snug anchorage -among the Cosmoledo reefs, and as smart as cleanliness -and a complete equipment can make her, -emerging once more upon her proper domain, the -sea. Her ruler sat in awful state upon the top of -the little house aft, Priscilla by his side in a deck -chair made for her by the carpenter. She gazed -with listless eyes upon the wonderful panorama -spread out before her, not daring to appear interested -lest her terrible husband should see in that some -excuse for ordering her below again. Full well she -knew that it was only because he feared that she -would have another serious attack of illness that -he allowed her this sweet privilege of breathing the -fresh air of heaven; a privilege she had enjoyed all -her stay ashore, and the deprivation of which while -on board had certainly led up to her illness. But in -pursuance of her resolve to endure unto the uttermost, -she would have died rather than ask any consideration -at his hands, while taking with calm thankfulness -such crumbs as he chose to fling her contemptuously.</p> - -<p>The late invalids, still pale from their recent close -struggle with death, were doing their best to ‘keep -their ends up’ with the Portuguese portion of the -crew, who—trained fine, hard as nails, and with that -elevating sense of superiority which counts for so -much in human conflict—were, while working harmoniously<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span> -side by side with the white men, continually -letting the latter see in what estimation they -were held. And no sooner was the ship clear of the -reefs, and watches set, than the white men were -confronted with another degradation. All sailors -know that there are certain berths in the worst of -forecastles which are considered better than any -others for who can explain what sea-reasons. These -berths are usually occupied by the best men in the -ship obviously, and especially on a whaling voyage. -Now, when the watch that was released went below, -its members, who were of the now despised race, -were confronted with a state of things which had -never before occurred to them. They were ordered to -shift and give up their bunks to better men. For a few -moments it looked as if there would be a great fight. -All the fighting blood of the Anglo-Saxon surged -up, but the odds were far too heavy: no anger could -blind men to that, nor any courage persuade them to -hurl themselves headlong upon the knives and pistols -borne by the black Dagoes and ostentatiously displayed -by them. Therefore the white men accepted -the inevitable and shifted, amid the chuckling jeers -of their triumphant watchmates, and another step in -Captain Da Silva’s carefully calculated revenge had -been attained.</p> - -<p>It may perhaps be thought from the way in which -I have insisted upon this sad tyranny of black over -white that I have a serious bias against the black -man. That is not true. I love him generally as a -man, and because I do I am not blind to his limitations, -and I say emphatically that he is not so -constituted that it is safe to trust him with the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span>rule -over white men. He may retaliate with the opposite -proposition, which I do not care to defend for one -moment. By all means let Black rule Black, but do -not ever let Black rule White, or you will see Hayti -reproduced wherever the shameful law is put in -operation, and what it means let my friend Hesketh -Pritchard tell you. Moreover, these rulers of the -<i>Grampus</i> were not negroes. I should no more wish -to be ruled by negroes than by a laughing bevy of -children out of the nursery, ready at any moment to -become cruel apes tearing in pieces their toys. But -I might be able to keep my masters amused, should -such be my sad fate, and so escape disintegration. -If, however, my negro masters had been bred in and -in with Portuguese or Spaniards, I ought to seek -death at once. When to the cold cruelty of the Latin -is added the irresponsibility of the negro, the blend -should never be allowed to exercise its power over -men of Teutonic breed. Wherever it has done so, -the records of such rule are not for general reading -lest readers go mad with horror.</p> - -<p>Aft the conditions were altered also. In every -whaleship there is a space (on the port side generally) -abaft the main hatch, and of course below deck, where -the harpooners and petty officers are berthed. The -first, second, and third mates have their berths -allotted to them in the main cabin, offshoots from it -of a grim and fearful stuffiness, but possessing a -peculiar desirability because of their contiguity to -the dwelling-place of the lord of all. Now Captain -Da Silva calmly intimated to his officers that he -contemplated considerable changes in the housing -accommodation aft. He told them that he had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span> -ordered the carpenter to knock up three extra berths -in the ‘half-deck,’ as the harpooners’ berth is called, -and as soon as that was done, why, they (the officers) -would have to clear out, as he needed all the space -aft for his own accommodation. The insult was -gross, palpable. Indeed, it was hardly veiled, -especially remembering the expression of face and -the tone of voice accompanying it. But Mr. Court -and his brother officer did not forget what they -owed to themselves. They were under no misapprehension -as to why this line of conduct was -being pursued by the skipper, and although both -of them felt that the time might arrive when further -endurance would be impossible, even at the cost -of death for rebellion, that time was not yet. So -apparently not noticing the triumphant glitter in -the skipper’s eyes, or the exultant ring in his voice, -they acquiesced, serenely to all outward seeming, -but with hearts on fire, and by so doing riveted -another link in the heavy chains they were wearing. -When does it become a sacred duty to rebel? Who -shall say? But one thing seems clear: that there -does come a time when, for the sake of others, it -is imperative that one man (or it may be woman) -stand up and face the tyrant. He may, probably -will, die, but how can man die better? And no such -death is in vain. However, this high strain may -seem unsuited to the present sordid recital—only a -little ship’s company being tyrannised over by one -devil, and enduring doggedly all that he chooses to -load them with.</p> - -<p>Once clear of the islands the ship’s course was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span> -made N.E., and under easy sail the <i>Grampus</i> bore -away across the smiling Indian Ocean. All went -well. Apparently it could not do otherwise where -Captain Da Silva was. He never seemed to make a -mistake. And when he suddenly came on deck one -beautiful afternoon and interrupted the busy tide of -work that never slacked off night or day by calling all -hands to make all possible sail, and altered the ship’s -course to due east, no one wondered. They obeyed -briskly enough to a casual observer, but in the heart -of every white man what weariness of life! For two -whole days the <i>Grampus</i> fled to the east as fast as her -braced-up condition would allow, the look-outs never -once relaxing their careful watch around. No one -discussed the movement—the time for that had gone. -Every white man in the foc’s’le knew that should he -speak one word capable of being construed into -something the skipper might be interested in, it -would, before many minutes had elapsed, be repeated -with such fantastic additions as the carrier of it was -capable of making, into the Captain’s greedy ear, with -results the most unpleasant to the original utterer -of the remark.</p> - -<p>As suddenly as the course had been altered and -all sails set so was another change made. Everything -was furled but the fore and main lower topsails, the -ship was brought to the wind on the starboard tack, -and lay lazily wallowing in the gentle swell coming -up from the south-east. And then, to the surprise of -no one on board (for by this time all hands, including -his own particular friends, if friends they could be -called, believed him to be in league with the devil), -there appeared as if from the bosom of the deep an -enormous multitude of small whales. Like sperm-whales<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span> -arrested in their growth, and only about twice -the size of ‘black-fish.’ That is to say, each of them -would not be more than three to five tons in weight. -It was early morning when they were sighted, and -immediately the whole ship was the scene of most -violent activity. All sorts of alterations were made, -notably the passing out of the boats of the big line-tubs, -and only leaving the small hundred-fathom ones -behind. Extra harpoons, too, were placed in each -boat, and before they left the ship all hands were -called aft and thus harangued by the skipper: ‘Looky -here,’ said he, ‘these ain’t sperm-whales, an’ I doan’ -want no foolin’ with ’em. Get fast t’ one or two, an’ -then as th’ others come roun’ lance ’em, an’ leave ’em. -T’ the fust man ’at kills over ten, I’ll give fifty dollars -in gold. Naow mind, I’m tellin’ ye. Don’t waste -line ’n’ irons on these fish: ef y’ du thar’ll be big -trouble with me ’fore the day’s over.’ There was no -response but a sort of guttural murmur, succeeded by -the quick splashes as the boats took the water and -sped away under the utmost pressure of the oars to -where the sea was all a foam by reason of the gambollings -of that great and joyous company of ‘kogia.’</p> - -<p>Just as the skipper had forecasted, no sooner had -a boat got fast to one of these quaint, short-headed -creatures than she became the centre of a curious -crowd of his unfortunate fellows, apparently bent -upon sharing his fate, and for that purpose thrusting -one another aside in their efforts to get as near as -possible to the boat. Every man was armed with a -lance, and directed to use it with all his might upon -the whale nearest him. What an awful scene of -slaying ensued, to be sure! The sea became literally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span> -encumbered with dead. The men who had felt that -life was not worth living took new hold upon life in -their fierce desire of killing, and forgot for the time -all their woes. It seemed as if this great slaughter -must be prolonged indefinitely, but suddenly, like a -trumpet blast, the voice of the skipper rang out: ‘’Vast -killin’! All but th’ mate and second mate’s boats, -pull for th’ ship’s quick ’s th’ devil ’ll let ye. Hurry, -naow.’ And they did hurry. The ship, having been -kept close at hand, required no great amount of -manipulation to bring her into the midst of the stricken -field, and presently the amazing sight was to be seen -of the great carcasses one after another, as she (the -ship) came alongside them, rising into the air, a chain -sling having been whipped round their tails and a tackle -hooked to it by means of which the whole body was -hoisted on deck. By five in the afternoon thirty of -those huge masses encumbered the deck of the <i>Grampus</i>, -and she presented an even more gruesome sight than -she did when her decks were full of the spoils of the -last great catch of sperm-whales.</p> - -<p>Now the skipper was in his element. No anxiety -about the overside business, everything on deck and -snug, although the ship did tumble about most -dangerously from the great top weight. All hands -were armed with spades, and driven like slaves to -use them. But N.B.: no two white men were allowed -to work together, lest they might, in desperation, -consider the time opportune for making a dash for -freedom. No; Captain Da Silva saw to that. He -had such a head for detail! All that night and all -the next day, without a minute for rest, except just -sufficient to swallow the indispensable food, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span> fuel -to keep these human engines performing their allotted -motions, the men laboured in silence for the most -part, save when the stern commands of the skipper -broke the stillness. Doggedly, desperately all hands -toiled on, every plunge of a great carcass denuded of -spoil over the starboard covering-board punctuating, -as it were, the progress being made. And if the -decks had been foul before when the last great -catch of sperm-whales was made, it was trebly so -now. Then, there was little besides the all-prevailing -grease, except an occasional block of flesh still left -adhering to the blubber: now, all the nameless foulnesses -inseparable from cutting up such huge bodies -in tropical heat on deck were present in full volume, -and—— But this is not a subject to be pursued.</p> - -<p>Wonderful to relate, the health of the recent invalids -held out against this tremendous strain upon it, and -as soon as the last carcass plunged overboard blubber -watches were set, and it looked as though relief had -come. But not yet. Some attempt must be made -to remove a portion at least of the accumulated filth -from the deck, and so for nearly half of their first -watch below the almost fainting men toiled with -water-buckets and brooms to that end. And as they -did so they noticed, in half-dazed, unappreciative -fashion, how frequently the skipper mounted his little -deck aft and gazed earnestly at the lee quadrant of -the horizon. This happened so often that at last -long dormant curiosity was aroused also, and they -looked earnestly in that direction too. ‘Thank God,’ -all thought, ‘it isn’t whales he’s looking at.’ No, it -was not: it was an awful-looking Himalaya of blackest -cloud, violet edged, that reared its mighty head <span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span>persistently -in that quarter, but did not seem to rise any -higher than half-way to the zenith. No one on board -knew with what consummate skill and attention, in -spite of the many matters claiming his oversight, this -wonderful man was manœuvring his ship out of the -path of what he knew to be a devastating cyclone. -He needed no sympathy, no help in his calculations; -in fact, he took a secret but colossal pride in standing -alone. And reckoning to a nicety, but with a -dangerously narrow margin, he kept his crew going -to clear away their last great catch, at the same time -making all preparations to meet what he knew would -soon be there—the frightful swell raised by the -hurricane and extending for thousands of miles on -either side of its track.</p> - -<p>When it came all was ready for it. Double -lashings on everything, the tiers of casks below all -carefully chocked and tom’d off to beams above, -preventer backstays on masts, &c. And as the great -green hills of water reaching from horizon to horizon -came sweeping onward, tossing the noble ship from -summit to valley and back again as if she were just -a ball in the hands of gleeful children, the crew cast -wistful glances at their saturnine tyrant, wondering, -‘How did he know this was coming? What kinder -man <i>is</i> he, anyhow?’ Well, had the answer been -forthcoming it would have been just this: That -Captain Da Silva was one of those men of native -genius who first of all absorb knowledge as a sponge -does water, whose capacity for courage is as great as -their capacity for mercy or consideration is small, -whose frames are more like automata constructed of -steel wire and rubber than sinews and flesh, and who,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span> -given the opportunity, could juggle the globe in their -hands as a conjurer does his properties, and would -do so, but for the wisdom of God, who has ordained -that such men shall never go too far. If this sounds -like fantastic eulogy as applied to the obscure master -of a whaleship, I do not feel at all inclined to argue -the point: it is for each one to study out for him or -herself and see whether the theory be reasonable -or no.</p> - -<p>The decks were quite clear, three-fourths of the -blubber had been boiled out and the resultant oil run -below, when a very strange thing happened. The -weather was beautifully fine, the air serene, and a -little breeze wafted the <i>Grampus</i> at a gentle rate -over the sunlit sea. Captain Da Silva, fully contented -with himself, was lolling in his wife’s chair abaft the -wheel smoking a peculiarly rank, oily, and foul-smelling -cigar, one of a large quantity which, just suiting his -taste, he had bought at Brava. I think it may safely -be said that he was just then in the full enjoyment of -<i>dolce far niente</i>, that peculiarly delightful frame of -mind and body conjoined of which ‘sweet doing nothing’ -seems so poor a description—when into the midst -of it came Priscilla. Lest it should be thought that -I have neglected her of late, I feel bound to say that -she had been leading a sort of comatose existence, in -this busy little cosmos but not of it, alive but hardly -conscious of her surroundings. What could I have -said of her but that she awoke, ate a little, lived alone -through the day, and slept again? If perfect life be, -as Herbert Spencer says, perfect correspondence with -a perfect environment, then was Priscilla only just -dwelling on the fringes of life, and might truly be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span> -said to be nine-tenths dead. Her placid demeanour -and speechless endurance of all things as they came -had become so regular an experience with her -husband that it was with something very like alarm -that he saw her standing before him on deck and -heard her sweet, low voice saying distinctly, ‘May I -speak to you, Ramon?’ With a gasp of surprise he -rose to his feet and, stepping to the wheel, said to -the shrinking helmsman: ‘Git t’ ’ell forrard outa this,’ -and the man was gone. Then, turning his lowering -eye upon Priscilla, yet not without a certain noticeable -twitching of his facial muscles, he muttered, -‘Wall, what is it naow? Spit it eout.’ She -answered timidly, but as if she must speak: ‘Ramon, -please forgive me, but I know there’s a boat with -some dying men in it over there.’ And she pointed -to the north. ‘It’s a whaleboat, and there’s six -men, all alive, but going fast. Will you try and save -them?’ He burst into a very storm of curses upon -her for daring to interfere with the working of his -ship and for her unmentionable folly in supposing -that he, of all men in the world, would be likely to -take any notice of such a baby-tale as that. But -even as he raved and hissed his foul language at his -wife, she could see that in his fierce eyes there was a -latent look of awe—that he was only trying by noise -and bluster to persuade himself that he was asserting -his power in the surest way. Priscilla appeared to -be entirely deaf to his awful words. And when, -breathless, he paused, she resumed quietly, ‘You -will find the boat before evening if you alter the -course now, but I am afraid some of the men are -already dying.’ And with that she turned and went<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span> -away, leaving her husband like a man just about to -have an epileptic fit. However, he managed to -restrain himself, and presently his voice was heard -roaring for the man whom he had sent from the -wheel. Having given up the wheel, he took a few -short, undecided turns about the quarter-deck, and -then, like one acting upon some entirely irresistible -impulse, he growled to the helmsman, ‘Keep her away!’ -‘Keep her away, sir,’ replied the man, immediately -putting the helm up. As she swung off the wind -the skipper shouted, ‘Square the mainyard!’ and -as the watch flew to the braces and trimmed sail -he steadied the course at north, which brought the -wind a little on the starboard quarter and made the -speed about four knots.</p> - -<p>This being done he went below as if, disgusted -beyond measure at having to do such a thing, he -must needs use more opprobrious language to his -wife for thus in some mysterious way imposing her -will upon his. But when he saw her sitting in their -little cabin looking with preternaturally bright eyes -into vacancy as if she were seeing something with -other than mortal vision, he could say nothing to her -at all, but with a muttered curse upon himself for -this unheard-of folly he fled on deck, not daring to -look behind him. As if he must do something, he -slung his binoculars about his neck and mounted to -the fore crow’s-nest, from which the occupant had to -depart suddenly upon the skipper’s appearance. He -searched the horizon with most jealous care, but -nothing could be seen, nothing but sea and sky and -an occasional bird. So after half an hour up there -he descended again and solaced his excited feelings<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span> -by harrying the men, who, as usual, were kept at -work upon perfectly needless jobs as if their very -lives depended upon getting the work done in record -time. And so congenial did he find this occupation -that he had almost forgotten why, contrary to his -own plans, he was running his ship almost dead -before the wind up the middle of the Indian Ocean instead -of getting away across to the Straits of Sunda -as he had intended, when ‘What’s that?’ shouted -the mate. ‘Somethin’ right ahead, sir; looks like -dead whale ’r a boat ’r a big log.’ Ah! Trembling -in every limb, Captain Da Silva snatched his glasses -and sprang aloft. Panting with his speed he reached -the crow’s-nest. He did not need to ask where the -object was. It stood up with remarkable distinctness -against that wide, clear blue, a little ungainly -black patch. He focussed his glasses upon it and -stared through the double tubes so earnestly that his -eyeballs burnt in their sockets. A cold shudder, in -that tropical day, possessed him, ran through him, -and made the hair of his flesh stand up. It was a -boat and nothing else. What manner of woman -could his wife be, and was it safe for him to treat her -as he had been doing? Superstitious fears seized -upon him, for ever it will be found that gross cruelty -and superstition go hand in hand, and at that -moment he registered a mental vow that in future -there should be a great change in his treatment of -Priscilla. Indeed, he blamed himself bitterly for -having allowed himself to behave to her as he had -done. But he took refuge in the mental coward’s -lying plea by muttering, ‘How was I to know?’</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span></p> -<p>Go down from aloft he dared not. Slow, -exasperatingly slow, as his ship’s progress was, he felt -that he must remain at his lofty perch until the last -moment, when he would go himself and see what -this strange business meant. It was a weary business, -for under such circumstances a ship’s progress -seems to be so deliberate, one’s impatience is so -futile and yet so impossible to avoid showing, that it -tries men more than any words can say. It was -nearly sunset when at last the waif was near enough -for a boat to be lowered for the purpose of bringing -her alongside. Long before that time arrived Captain -Da Silva had devoured every detail of her—had seen -that to all appearance the six men in her were dead, -that she was a whaleboat, but, of course, could not -read her name, since it was not the practice for -whaleboats to carry the name of their ship painted -on them, as is done in the merchant service. The -same haughty disregard of any other person’s -curiosity is usually shown in the Navy, where -scarcely any of the smaller boats give the ship’s -name—you can read it on the men’s caps if you want -to know it.</p> - -<p>Leaping into the boat he had ordered to be -lowered, the skipper gave the order to ‘give way’ -in such a tone that the men fairly lifted the boat -through the water. None of them dared to steal a -glance at him; if they had they would have marvelled. -He was in a piteous state of nervous excitement. -He felt as if his wife’s eyes were penetrating through -the massive sides of the ship, that she was cognisant -of his very thoughts; and the idea made great beads -of cold sweat stand out upon his swarthy skin. He -fought with his fears as a man fights with death, now<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span> -devising strange punishments for Priscilla for having -thus obtained a strange power of frightening him, and -now vowing to himself that he would devote the rest -of his time with her to making amends for his previous -treatment of her. Not that he was conscious -of having done anything he should not do—men of -that class seldom are—but because she did not seem -to be happy under the discipline which he felt was -his prerogative to mete out to all under his command. -And then they reached the boat.</p> - -<p>Are those bundles of rags and bones men? By -night the dews and by day the pitiless sun have -alternately soaked and scorched them. They have -endured such agonies as men do not care to think of. -The boat herself is so bleached with sun and dew -and wind that it seems wonderful she still holds -together. And there is a faint smell as of death. -Round to windward, quick. Look closely. Is there -any life at all? Yes, there is a slight movement. A -bight of tow-line is flung on board and secured to the -bow thwart, a curt order is given, and the waif is -being towed to the ship. Arriving alongside, she is -hoisted level with the rail so that the hapless ones may -be lifted out, as they are, so gently, so tenderly, by -those rude, much-persecuted men, while the skipper -looks on loweringly. One is dead. He is a little -Italian apparently so reduced by his sufferings that -he looks more like an Egyptian mummy uncased than -anything else. But in all the rest there is some spark -of life, notably in one big-framed—alas, every bone -is awfully visible, and his eyes are away in the back -of his head somewhere at the bottom of two long -tunnels—fair-haired man, whose broken lips part and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span> -whose blackened tongue tries pitifully to frame a -word.</p> - -<p>The skipper goes away and leaves willing, eager -hands to attend mercifully upon these castaways. -He has said no word forbidding anything to be -done, and so the group around the bodies give such -aid as they know how, while the rest of the crew -trim yards again for Anjer. And by the time she is -settled upon her old course and the Captain has -carelessly strolled forward again, he is humbly -informed that five of the men he has rescued are not -only still alive, but likely to go on living.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">THE MEETING</p> - -<p>Now, owing to the way in which Priscilla kept her -cabin when not absolutely driven on deck by the -foulness of the air below, she was, strange as it must -appear, quite ignorant of what was going on above -her. Had the steward not been exceedingly busy -upon some domestic task, he would, poor little man, -have gladly carried her the news. But so it was, the -boat’s crew had been rescued, the boat hoisted inboard, -and things had all resumed their normal course -without her being any the wiser. And yet somehow -she felt a lightening of the heart. She felt sure, -in spite of the coarse and brutal way in which her -husband had received her vision, that he had done, or -would do, what she had asked him—she had no -anxiety upon that head at all. But then she was -never anxious now. She had cultivated unintentionally -the serene detachment of mind of those Indian -devotees who, by dint of long meditation and abstinence -from all but the barest necessities in the way of -food and sleep, have attained unto a condition of -mind that is favourable to the detachment of body -from soul without the catastrophe of death. Of its -psychology I know nothing, but I do feel that, given -sufficient will power, the human brain may be capable -of some wonderful power of sending thought waves -out into the unseen. It does not matter, anyhow, -since I only wish to record the trance condition in -which Priscilla seemed now to spend most of her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span> -time.</p> - -<p>But in some mysterious way she was subconsciously -easier in her mind, and that although she -knew absolutely nothing about what was going on. -Also her husband seemed, for some reason or another, -to be anxious that she should not know. Perhaps he -was ashamed, or whatever kindred feeling to shame -he might be capable of, to let her know that he had, -after all, obeyed her words and found that she had -been absolutely correct. Truth to tell, he was immensely -impressed, and something very like fear of -his wife was slowly getting the mastery over him. -Thus days went by as the <i>Grampus</i> drew steadily -towards the great East Indian Archipelago, and the -rescued ones grew steadily well by dint of careful -letting alone and the help of their previous clean lives. -Then there came a day when Captain Da Silva took -it upon him to have the apparent head man of the -boat’s crew he had saved brought aft to him, and -the following colloquy ensued. (It must be borne in -mind that the rescued men’s voices had only just -returned to them.)</p> - -<p>The Captain: ‘Wall, wut ship d’ ye b’long to?’ -The Officer: ‘<i>Xiphias</i>, sir, of New Bedford.’ A -grunt from the skipper and a short interval of silence. -Then the skipper spoke again, after carefully rolling -his cigar between his lips, as if to extract the last -grain of nicotine out of it. ‘’N’ wut wuz ye doin’ t’ -git lost? Sounds funny, grown men like you air -gittin’ lost.’ The scorn and contempt and utter -brutality of his manner passed all description. ‘Wall, -sir,’ replied the mate faintly, ‘the circumstances wuz -peculiar. We left the ship in chase of a whale<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span> just -before a hurricane kem on, an’ I hung on t’ the whale -mebbe a bit too long, so ’t we got outer sight o’ the -ship. ’N’ then we’d all we knew t’ keep in shelter ov -th’ carcass till thet awful weather wuz over. ’N’ by -thet time th’ whale wuz so blown up we couldn’t -stand his stink any longer, an’ we cut away from him -an’ put fur th’ Seychelles as near as I could judge. -But there wuz only th’ lantern keg of bread an’ th’ -ushal water, an’ thet’s all we’ve a-had fur twelve days. -If th’ boys hadn’t been th’ very best we sh’d all a-ben -mad long ago.’ Another spell of silence, broken at -last by the skipper saying: ‘S’pose you don’ reckon -on ever seeing yewr ship agen, hey? Le’s see, old -man Hampden got her, er had her, I think. Ef so, -they ain’t ’nough of her left by this time t’ repair a -whaleboat with. He was a soft-hearted old greenie, -anyhow, kinder pious, I seem to remember, ’n’ didn’t -know his nose fr’m the jibboom end.’ ‘Excuse me, -sir,’ said the mate suddenly, with some energy, ’thet -kain’t be eour Capt’n Hampden. I ben fishin’ fur -two-an’-twenty year, and he wuz the smartest skipper -at anything a skipper ought to do ’at ever I gammed.’ -‘Oh, shet yer big mouth, yew wouldn’t know a smart -man w’en yew see him. It’s the same man right -enough. I knew him very well, an’ wouldn’t ha’ -carried him fur ballast in my ship. But I ain’t got -no time t’ be yarnin’ with yew, ner inclination either -if yer come to thet. I’m jest figgerin’ eout wut t’ dew -with ye. I want a few han’s, an’ although yew ain’t -th’ kind I’d have if I c’d choose, y’r better than none, I -s’pose, an’ so I’ll ship th’ five of yew ’n’ give ye th’ -250th lay, same’s th’ rest of th’ men ’r gettin’.’ ‘But, -Captain,’ replied the now thoroughly alarmed man,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span> -‘I wuz mate of the <i>Xiphias</i>—I ben mate fur th’ las’ -ten years, ’n’ yew kain’t mean t’ take such a slice of -my life as to ship me here fur a three years’ cruise on -a seaman’s lay. In th’ name ov common humanity, -sir, yew kain’t mean it.’ And the big drops of sweat -started out of the poor fellow’s face. ‘Kain’t I!’ -sneered the skipper. ‘Jest yew say yew don’ know, -and yew’ll be more ’n half right. I k’n an’ dew mean -just that thing. Yew’ll take my offer, yew an’ the -rest ov th’ great babies ’at come with ye, ’r if ye don’t -yew’ll wish yew’d been left to rot in thet boat. ’N’ -mine yew, not a word outa yewr heads, ’r ye’ll fine -me t’ deal with, ’n I’ll try an’ teach ye wut a smart -cap’n is.’</p> - -<p>Poor Mr. Pease! No braver man ever stepped, -but he was weak and trembling from exhaustion. A -strong desire to live had returned to him, and, moreover, -he was overborne by the fierceness of the terrible -man with whom he was confronted, and he dimly -remembered some of the terrible stories current about -him—of the dark deeds done by him in the secret -places of the sea, and up till now with impunity, -because of his phenomenal success as a whale-fisher. -When will people in business learn that it is a crime -against man and God to condone, yes, connive at -abominable wickedness in those they have set over -their employees, because, forsooth, they are ‘smart -men’? When will people learn to brand a man as a -demon, whatever his place in society or the Church -or in business, who, in his villainous methods of getting -rich, brings woe and death unto thousands of -homes? When will ministers of the Gospel dare -to say to such men bringing their vilely acquired<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span> -wealth and pouring it into the coffers of the Church, -‘Thy money perish with thee!’</p> - -<p>So with this terror upon him, Mr. Pease signed -the articles, and his crew followed suit, becoming by -that act the slaves of the skipper for the next three -years unless some heaven-sent happening should -release them. And immediately, though they were -yet so exhausted, they were set to such work as they -could do—making sinnet, scraping, and mat-weaving. -Well was it for them that no whales were sighted, or -assuredly they would have been called upon to take -their places in the various boats, under which severe -treatment they would probably have died.</p> - -<p>It may perhaps be thought strange that as yet no -allusion has been made to the strange fact of Reuben -and Priscilla being on board the same ship at last. -But really, as far as these two principal actors in our -story are concerned, it did not seem possible that -anything should come of it, the circumstances being -so peculiar. As repeatedly observed, Priscilla came -on deck but little, for she could not bear the jealous -watchfulness with which her husband followed her -every movement. And in the fo’c’sle, or, indeed, out -of it, such was the terror under which all hands -lived, not merely of the skipper, but of his Portuguese -allies, that any conversation concerning the -skipper was tacitly banned. No word ever passed -between the white men about him or his affairs. -The Portuguese may have discussed him freely, but -as it was in their own tongue, no one but themselves -was any the wiser. Thus it came to pass that Reuben -was on board the ship a month before he so much as -knew that the Captain had his wife with him, which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span> -is all the more noteworthy from the fact that in small -vessels like the <i>Grampus</i> it is the rule that the -Captain cannot sneeze in the solitude of his state-room -without it being known and commented upon -all over the ship in an hour. Poor fellows, they have -so little to talk about. But whalers generally needed -to be exempt from this law. Their discipline was -much too strict for it to run even in the best of them, -while in the <i>Grampus</i>, as we have seen, it was in the -highest degree dangerous to mention the Captain’s -name at all.</p> - -<p>The ship had passed through the Straits of Sunda -into the Java Sea, and was one night, under the skilful -pilotage of the skipper, working her darkling way -westward along the south coast of Borneo. There -was but little wind, except occasionally when a passing -squall gave a heavier puff than usual, causing the -staunch and well-balanced ship to heel like a yacht. -Terrific peals of thunder and blazing flashes of lightning -followed one another in quick succession, for the -heat of the day was being healthfully dispersed over -the sea from the land, although in a somewhat terrifying -manner. Rube was at the wheel, his great figure -erect and head slightly turned aside to listen for the -skipper’s slightest word, while keeping one eye fixed -upon the faithful little face of the compass suspended -inside the skylight. Suddenly there was an awful -crash of thunder as if a Himalayan Range were -tumbling to pieces, a short breathless hush, and with -a hiss as of escaping steam, sky and sea were flooded -with violet flame. As Rube raised his arm instinctively -to shield his face he saw by that brief blaze a -woman facing him within a few feet. For that vivid<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span> -instant the two faces were revealed, then utter blackness -succeeded. Through Priscilla rushed a spasm -of fear. Who was this huge bearded stranger, and -whence had he come? More, why did the sight -of him put her poor deadened mind into such a -ferment as the optic nerves experience when after -long darkness the eyes are suddenly exposed to the -glare of day? As she groped her way below these -things flitted across her brain, but never for one -moment did she imagine why or how, and soon, very -soon, she resumed her listless introspective attitude -again. She had only crept up with some message to -her husband of trivial import, and soon the whole -incident receded to the background of her mind.</p> - -<p>As for Reuben, for one moment he thought he -had been struck by lightning, and with the stroke had -come a vision of an angel, a sorrowful angel outlined -in living light. But the shock, great though it was, -did not suffice to unlock that closed door of memory, -only to let a few broken gleams of illumination -through, tantalising, almost maddening in their incompleteness. -He soon recovered, and when relieved -from the wheel at eight bells, sought one of the -American portion of the old crew and whispered, -‘Is they a woman aboard this ship?’ ‘Hush, for -Heaven’s sake. If the skipper gits to know you’ve -asked such a question, or I’ve answered it, he’ll trice -us up an’ flog us, sure’s death. An’ ye kain’t breathe -here without somebody listening. Yes.’ ‘Thanks,’ -replied Rube; and straightway going to his bunk he -lifted up his heart in fervent though silent prayer for -the owner of that sweet pale face. In doing this -he but obeyed an irresistible impulse, since he <span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span>knew -not at all of Priscilla’s suffering, and, indeed, even -before the accident which shut him off from the past, -had always thought of her as being full of happiness -with her husband. Now, however, knowing no more -of who Priscilla was than of a person he had never -seen or heard of, he was full of a mysterious compassion -for her, and felt that he would gladly have -laid down his life to serve her.</p> - -<p>The crew of the <i>Grampus</i> never ate any idle -bread, but now they were indeed having a time -of travail. For Captain Da Silva was making a -passage to the Japan grounds, being mightily wroth -because of the ill-success which had attended him -lately. The wonderful good fortune enjoyed by him -previously had been relegated to the limbo of forgotten -things. He felt no joy in it now, looked upon -it as only a bare reward for his phenomenal ability -and smartness, of which no man was more fully -conscious than himself. So he harassed his crew by -night and by day, making, trimming, furling, sail; -so that no breath of wind should be wasted, and -when, as occasionally happened, a dead calm befell, -getting all the boats out and setting their crews to -tow the vessel along with their oars. It was a fearful -ordeal in that climate, and some of the crew were -only kept at it by sheer dread of the skipper. They -feared him more than sunstroke or death by sheer -exhaustion. It was this state of things which brought -about a collision between him and Reuben. The -latter stalwart recruit being always so willing and -apparently eager to work, had hitherto escaped even -the usual opprobrious epithets with which most of the -crew, except the Portuguese, were favoured. But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span> -because no occasion of fault could be found in him -he was jealously watched by the skipper’s cronies, and, -as it was bound to do sooner or later, the longed-for -opportunity came. The boats had just returned to -the ship, after a four hours’ tow in the afternoon sun, -because a little breeze had sprung up and relieved -them. The boat in which Reuben pulled midship -oar had just come alongside, and Mr. Pease, who had -been pulling tub-oar (next to Rube) had fainted, -overcome by heat and exhaustion. Unfortunately, -just then the skipper looked over the side, and taking -in the position of things with one glance of his -flashing eyes, shouted with an awful Portuguese oath, -‘Start that lazy Yankee brute there, Pedro! Hit -him, hit him with anything!’ Pedro, not at all -unwillingly, seized a bight of the towline, and was -just about to deal the unconscious man a tremendous -blow, when Rube, calmly turning round, seized the -descending arm, and with his other hand quietly -wrenched the rope from the harpooner’s fingers. -The maddened Portuguese snatched his knife from -his belt at the moment of his release, and with his -skipper’s yell of ‘Kill him, kill him!’ piercing his -ears, made one frantic stab at Rube. But as calmly -as he had caught the rope-wielding wrist, so now he -caught the murderous one, and with a quick twist -made Pedro drop his knife into the sea. A yell -of pain escaped the Portuguese as his wrist cracked, -and Rube, releasing him, said quietly, ‘Sorry t’ hurt -ye, shipmate, but ye mustn’t kill, y’ know.’ By this -time the skipper had recovered from the speechlessness -of rage into which he had been thrown by -Rube’s action, and shouted, ‘On deck with ye, on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span> -deck!’ All obeyed but the man who had fainted: -he was beyond obedience. As Rube stepped over -the rail the skipper met him with a blow of a heavy -bludgeon of oak that might have felled an ox. -Right across the head and face it came, and the -splendid fellow dropped senseless and bleeding at his -master’s feet. Stooping, the latter dragged the unconscious -body to the middle of the deck, and sang -out, ‘Up waist boat.’ But the white men stood -irresolute for one moment as if inclined to resent the -vileness of this last assault. That moment was fatal. -For without a sign made every Portuguese in the -ship had ranged himself by the skipper, and in their -hands gleamed revolver barrels. Howling out the -order again, the unled whites seized the falls and ran -the boat up on to her cranes. One of the Portuguese -asked if the man was to be lifted out of the boat, but -the skipper turned upon him with an oath so fierce -that he shrank back, regretting that he had spoken.</p> - -<p>No one dared suggest aid to Rube, and so, with -the knowledge that again he had fully asserted his -superiority over the white man, Captain Da Silva went -quite happy to his supper. And sitting there with -his wife, he could not forbear saying exultantly: -‘Nice crowd o’ hogs these countrymen o’ yours are. -I d’ ’no’ wut I wuz fool ’nough t’ take any of ’em aboard -here for at all. Some of ’em kem aboard through -yew, anyhow—one ’specially I remember just now. -I’m goin’ t’ give myself th’ pleasure of floggin’ him -to-morrow, if he ain’t dead, and yew shall be a witness -to see it’s all done legally, y’ know.’ And he winked -hideously at her. She, poor thing, sat as usual silent -and white, hardly realising the horror of the whole thing.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span> -And her misery of mind and body was only slightly -increased when, as a sort of praise-meeting to whatever -devil they felt protected by, the skipper invited -the Portuguese harpooners below to a drinking bout, -first locking Priscilla into her room. The baffled -Pedro was there with his arm in a sling, looking a -veritable fiend. ‘Never mind,’ said the skipper in -Portuguese, ‘yew shall have the flogging of that big -Yankee beast if he lives. What do you think of that?’ -Pedro muttered some inarticulate profanity and took -another drink. He did not mind much what was -done as long as he ‘got even,’ as he termed it. And -now it is time to draw a veil over that bestial scene, -worthy of the worst days of the pirates, and especially -those Portuguese pirates who sailed the China Seas -commanding gangs composed of all the scum of the -Far East and outdoing them all in cruelty.</p> - -<p>On deck a stealthy figure had crept forward to -where Rube lay, with a mat to put under his head and -a little water to moisten his parched lips. It was the -poor darky steward, who had been shut out of the -cabin while the drinking was going on, and who thus, -for pity’s sake, risked undergoing the same treatment. -Not that it would have been much novelty, for there -was scarcely an inch of the poor wretch’s body which -had not its scar. And at last men get used to such -treatment (some men, that is) and take it as a matter -of course. It is pleasant to record that this poor -samaritan was enabled to carry out his beneficent -little ministration unseen, save by Mr. Court, who still -kept his watch, although in a dogged sullen way that -was intensely painful to see, but which, strange to say, -did not seem to detract from his efficiency. But,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</span> as he -said to himself very often in the solitudes wherein -his soul roamed during the night watches, was there -ever an officer so treated? He did not know, from -his favourable position heretofore in American ships, -that many hundred British mercantile officers have -had to endure treatment even worse than his, because -they have been, as well as kept at arm’s length by the -skipper and made to feel that they were of less -account than anybody on board, openly and constantly -reviled before all the crew, and then expected -to maintain discipline. Happily, with the morning -came, instead of the shameful exhibition purposed -by the skipper, a diversion welcomed by all hands, -except Rube, who, but for his stertorous breathing, -appeared to be dead. It was the raising of a ‘pod’ of -cow whales at daylight, with a brisk breeze and everything -in favour of a splendid day’s hunting. Rube -was dragged aft out of the way. Pedro, whose wrist -was so badly strained that he could not lift a harpoon -with it, grumblingly took up his station aloft for signalling -purposes, and in ten minutes from the time of -sighting the whales five boats were away, the skipper -leading as usual. This, however, was to be an exception -to the usual celerity of capture shown by the -<i>Grampus’s</i> crew. In the first place, the whales were going -so fast that it seemed for a long while as if the chase -must be fruitless; and then, when at last the boats did -rush in among them, their movements were so marvellously -agile that the danger was very great. The -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span>skipper as usual seemed ubiquitous, compelling the -admiration of all by the way he manipulated his boat. -He had already <span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</span>killed his whale when he saw that -Mr. Court was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span> exceedingly hampered by the movements -of a loose cow, which behaved as if she understood -exactly how best to frustrate all the deadly -intentions of the enemy of her companion. Without -a moment’s hesitation the skipper cut loose from his -whale, shouted to his men, and tore off to help the mate, -leaping like a flying fish from one boat to the other -as they flew swiftly in opposite directions. Snatching -the lance from the hand of the amazed officer, he had -just dealt a tremendous blow at the fast whale with -it, when, as the boat lay off, the loose whale rose spectrally -between, on her back, with her jaws agape. -Swiftly turning, those great jaws closed, catching the -skipper’s arm, with which he was poising his newly -straightened lance again, and dragging him headlong -out of the boat. Paralysed with horror, the mate -stood for a moment, then stooped and caught the -skipper as he came bounding to the surface almost at -the spot where he went overboard. But in doing so -Mr. Court overbalanced himself, and he and the -skipper, interlocked in each other’s arms, went down -again. The harpooner, a wonderfully smart black -Portuguese, immediately cut the line, allowing the -whale to run, and after a minute or two’s manœuvring, -succeeded in bringing the mate and skipper to the -surface and into the boat, the latter almost dead.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp50" id="i_294fp" style="max-width: 28em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_294fp.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>THE LOOSE WHALE ROSE SPECTRALLY BETWEEN, ON HER BACK, WITH HER -JAWS AGAPE.</p> - -<p><i>P. 295.</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p>The best haste possible was made to the ship, -and the skipper was carefully lifted on board, laid on -the deck aft, and his clothes cut off as the only way -of uncovering his wounded arm and side. All the -time the examination took place he was unconscious, -so the mate was able to dress the extensive lacerations, -set two broken ribs and the mangled arm, and -make him fairly comfortable before he came to.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</span> -Then with very great care he was lowered through -the cabin skylight and laid upon the settee in his -berth. Here he was left to the care of his wife, -while the mate returned to his arduous duties on -deck. It is pleasant to record that his first care was -to see some adequate attention given to the case of -Rube, who was moaning and tossing ceaselessly in -the throes of brain fever.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">FAREWELL TO THE <i>XIPHIAS</i></p> - -<p>We left the <i>Xiphias</i> in evil case as far as appearance -went, but with her brave crew still undaunted by the -long series of misfortunes which had now, as they -thought, almost reached the culminating point in the -loss of their vessel and all of their lives. Perhaps a -bitter pang did stab some of their hearts as they -realised that if the hurricane now raging should -succeed in its efforts to destroy them all, their fate -would never be known. That adds a new terror to -death, for man loves to think that his going hence is -no mystery, and that its incidents will be remembered -to his credit by someone, if only for a little -time. But gradually hope grew stronger (they had -never quite lost it) that they might be saved, for the -weather was, as always in the following segment of a -cyclone, growing perceptibly better, although the -force of the wind showed as yet no sign of lessening. -Unfortunately, herein lay their present danger; for -the <i>Xiphias</i> was leaking so badly, she had evidently -been strained to such an extent, that the sea, now -rising and tossing her about like a ball, bade fair to -complete her destruction after all. Therefore, encouraged -by the skipper and Mr. Peck, who had now -of course assumed the position of chief officer, they -all toiled unremittingly at the pumps, even though -the face of the carpenter as he sounded the well every -hour never lightened.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span></p> -<p>The struggle for life had been so fierce that when -at last the awful meteor had passed quite away, the -sea had resumed its placid calm, and all nature -seemed through that tremendous convulsion to have -renewed its vigorous youth, the poor tired old ship -was hardly able to rise to the long, long swell that -still came rolling majestically towards her, extending -from one horizon to the other. She just slowly -wallowed like a top that is ‘going to sleep’ and will -presently lie dead. So alarming was the outlook -that Captain Hampden and a few of the more weary -of the men commenced to provision the boats in -readiness to leave the ship in case she foundered. -One thing puzzled the fine old skipper, though, and -that was how, with nearly twelve feet of water in her, -the <i>Xiphias</i> floated at all. And then suddenly, -calling himself a fool, he remembered all that oil -below tightly bunged in stout casks, which in their -turn were well stowed and secured from floating -adrift by ‘toms’ from the beams above them. Due -to his own forethought, and yet he had forgotten—could -not realise why his ship had not, long ere this, -‘turned turtle’ and sunk.</p> - -<p>Having realised it, he called all hands aft and -explained the circumstances to them; told them that -they were only about three hundred miles south of -Mahé, in the Seychelles, which was the nearest port -where they could hope to find their needs supplied -and whence they could send news home that would -arrive there within reasonable time. Finally, he -concluded his speech by saying: ‘Men, God hasn’t -forgotten us. We shall live, I feel sure. And I don’t -believe He’s forgotten our poor shipmates either. -I feel almost certain that they are still alive,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span> and -that in His own good time we shall see them -again. Carpenter, sound that well again.’ The -order was obeyed amidst breathless attention, and -the cheer that went up when Chips announced, -‘Eleven-three, sir, just what it was an hour ago,’ -could not have been improved upon by the healthiest -and most vigorous crew. Now every man went on -with his work soberly and in good heart, as if persuaded -of his perfect security, and the ship crawled -daily nearer port, while, although regular pumping -continued, there was none of the energy of despair in -the work because it certainly was not needed. But -at the mastheads every eye while daylight lasted -roamed around the great blank circle unceasingly as -untiringly, hoping against hope to see, not whales, -but some sign of the lost ones. In the foc’s’le the -fellows could talk of nothing else but Rube; and -MacManus, who had been one of those left on board, -refused to be comforted. In fact, with the emphasis -of his warm-hearted, illogical race, he went so far as -to say that if Rube was lost he wouldn’t survive him, -and that if even his own father confessor dared to -suggest to him that Rube was a heretic instead of a -blessed saint and martyr he would peril all his -chances of eternal salvation by committing a fierce, -premeditated assault upon the unworthy man.</p> - -<p>All the patience possessed by this crew of good -fellows was needed by them now. For while their -hope was strong again, it was sickeningly deferred -day after day by the lightness of the airs and the -sluggishness of the vessel. Besides, as often happens -in such cases, the leak, having unaccountably ceased -to gain upon them, now began to increase again,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span> -although very slowly. There is something appalling -in being on board ship under such conditions. -Knowing the possibilities, one cannot help expecting -that presently the opening through which the hungry -water is forcing itself may widen out so extensively -as to make the sinking of the ship a matter of -minutes. This feeling of dreadful anticipation is, I -am bound to say, not nearly so much warranted on -board a wooden ship as it is in an iron or steel -vessel, where the springing of a leak may mean the -starting of one rivet in a row, which, resenting the -extra strain put upon them, promptly give up their -hold, and the great plate, gaping, admits the sea so -fast that the hull sinks like a bottle with the bottom -knocked out.</p> - -<p>However, all hands stuck manfully by their task, -and on the twelfth day from the ceasing of the hurricane -they were rewarded by hearing from the masthead -the joyful shout of ‘Land-ho!’ It was early -morning, but so slow was the pace at which their -vessel crawled towards this haven of refuge that it -was nightfall before they anchored in the beautiful -little bay of Mahé. And as the anchor rattled joyfully -down, its clangour reverberating among the hills, all -hands felt deeply grateful, and then very sad, as they -thought of the brave fellows who had not been permitted -to reach port with them. Then the sails were -quickly furled and the decks cleared up, and a spell at -the pumps was decided upon by the skipper before -allowing everybody to have a long night’s rest. So -after a good meal and smoke, the pumps were manned -by three gangs, who relieved one another at ten -minutes’ intervals until nine o’clock, by which <span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</span>time -the water in the hold had been so much reduced that, -after consultation with the carpenter, the skipper -decided that except for an anchor watch of one -seaman and a harpooner, all hands might go below -and remain until eight bells (eight o’clock) the following -morning.</p> - -<p>When aroused, not only did they find a splendid -assortment of fruit alongside, but the anchor watch -had been busy fishing, and the appetising odour of -fresh fish being cooked greeted their nostrils as they -came on deck. It was a happy breakfast party held -forward that morning. Sweet potatoes, fried fish, -coffee, and soft bread, with oranges and bananas to -follow, made up a meal which, after their late terrible -experiences, seemed to them the richest banquet -imaginable. As soon as breakfast was over, their -heavy task began. First of all, they got under weigh, -and worked the vessel in as near the shore as possible. -Then, having moored her head and stern, they commenced -operations by discharging her cargo, lowering -the casks of oil into the water and towing them -to the beach, where they were laboriously rolled -up above high-water mark. Then, some lighters -being hired, all the provisions, movable furniture, -clothing, &c., were also discharged, the sails were -unbent and sent ashore also, while the upper yards -were sent down and floated alongside. A great raft -was made ready to work upon, and then the vessel -was hauled in as closely as she would go in her now -empty condition to the beach, the cutting falls secured -to the fore and main lower mastheads, and the two -bower anchors laid out shoreward. This heavy toil -occupied four days. Then came Sunday, when, comfortably<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</span> -housed in tents of their own rigging ashore, -the weary crew enjoyed a long luxurious day’s rest, -helped by a very homely service of thanksgiving -conducted by the skipper.</p> - -<p>On Monday the great work of repairing the ship’s -bottom began by attaching the cutting falls to the -bower anchors, leading the hauling parts ashore, and -heaving the ship down upon her side until her keel -was exposed. It was then found that the leak was -in the garboard-strake, or the next plank to the keel, -and manfully did the carpenter, the cooper, and as -many of the crew as could handle a tool, attack the -work of repair. Four days from sunrise to sunset were -spent in this labour, then, satisfied that all was right -on the starboard side, the skipper ordered the vessel -to be turned round and the other side hove out for the -same treatment.</p> - -<p>It is very wonderful to consider in how few words—in -a sentence, for instance, like the preceding -one—can be described an enormous amount of -work. A whole chapter might easily be devoted to -the elucidation of the various processes necessary for -the performance of this work spoken of so baldly, but -I am afraid it would be far from interesting. Sufficient, -perhaps, to say that these duties, involving so -much painful labour, and for so long a time, are now -performed in dry docks or on patent slips with a -celerity and ease that, considering the bulk and -weight of modern ships, would be nothing short of -miraculous to a casual observer unversed in engineering -feats.</p> - -<p>Fortunately the men were all contented with as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</span> -well as interested in their work. They had grown -to love the ship as they had the captain and officers, -and so each duty, however hard or unpleasant, was -gaily performed, and apparently without half the -labour expended on similar tasks by discontented -men. At the expiration of a month from the time -of entering Mahé the ship was again ready for sea. -‘Tight as a bottle,’ said the proud carpenter, who -had worked like any three men, and, besides, had -managed to teach much of his art to sailors (farmers -most of them a year ago), so that they were able -to assist him, not merely in sawing, hauling, or chopping, -but in much more important detail work. No -man had given any trouble. Loafing natives or beachcomers -of doubtful nationality, skulking around for -an opportunity to do mischief by purveying a -peculiarly vile brand of fire-water, were sternly warned -off the premises of the sailors—told to keep outside -a certain area set apart as the special grounds of the -men of the <i>Xiphias</i>.</p> - -<p>When the work was all done, the cargo reshipped, -and the <i>Xiphias</i> quite ready for sea, Captain Hampden -called all hands aft, and said: ‘Men, I’m dredful -proud of ye. Ye’ve take the last ounce out of yourselves, -you’ve never given me a minute’s uneasiness, -and I don’t know how to thank ye enough. But I -got it in my head that as we are all ready to sail -to-morrow if need be, maybe yew’d some of yew -like a little run loose with some money of your own, -and if so I feel that yew’re all so worthy of trust that -I ought to give yew the opportunity, and I will—if -yew want it. Ef not, I’ll gladly go with yew to -a regular picnic down to one of these beautiful -outlying beaches. We’ll take all our own provisions,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</span> -we’ll cook them ourselves, every man shall amuse -himself just as he likes, fishing, rambling, swimming, -or what not, and we shall come aboard tired out with -real enjoyment, but happy and not a cent poorer -in pocket or health. Now, all those in favour of -my scheme step forward—those that want to go -by themselves and spend their own money remain -behind.’</p> - -<p>All hands stepped forward but two harpooners. -The prospect of such a ‘Sunday School outing,’ as -one of them termed it, did not appeal to them—they -were men, not babies. So they went both of them -together in search of what they considered to be -enjoyment, while Captain Hampden and all hands, -except the mate (Mr. Peck), the carpenter, and -steward, left the ship on their excursion, and spent -a day of unalloyed pleasure, happy as a lot of children -let loose from school. And if any old sailor turns -up his nose at this I would like to ask him, as an -honest fellow, to tell me how much enjoyment he -ever got prowling about the purlieus of a great -seaport from one dirty public-house to another, always -meeting the same kind of furtive-eyed loafer and -blatant female, and always pounced upon by these -harpies with shouts of welcome, changing into derisive -curses as soon as they found he had no more money -to spend on them or to give them? I have no doubt -but that his answer would be that it was all sickening -and exasperating in the last degree, but as long as -he knew of no other way in which to spend his -money and leisure, it was not his fault that he behaved -as an utter idiot.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</span></p> -<p>But enough of this. The two malcontents returned -in the morning sadly, having had their enjoyment -and looking fearfully the worse for it. No one said -anything to them about their experiences, and they -did not volunteer any information, but it was at least -a fortnight before they had regained their healthy -appearance, and a much longer time before they had -lost a certain hanging of the head. This last was -novel, and would not have been the case, but that -they had been practically alone in their folly. And, -perhaps, there was just a little of the Pharisee’s -attitude in their shipmates, who, having chosen to -keep out of harm’s way, were inclined to be inordinately -proud of their virtue. It is this which -makes so many Christians offensive, makes them -shunned by those who are really penitent. They -do not understand the Divine pity nor the Divine -humility, much less endeavour to practise them, and -so repel those whom they are professing to try and -attract.</p> - -<p>At noon that day the <i>Xiphias</i> sailed short-handed -by the loss of those six fine men (for recruits were -not to be obtained in Mahé), but well equipped again -for the voyage. She now carried seven boats—five -in the davits and two on the skids aft, and all repairs -had been substantially carried out. As soon as she -was clear of the land and heading across east for the -archipelago, Captain Hampden called all hands aft, -and in their presence complimented the carpenter for -his noble efforts and his great skill. The Captain -said that what he had done was truly above all -reward, but as a mark of his appreciation he had -much pleasure in handing Chips an order on the -owners for $250 = £50. Chips turned brick red,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</span> -fidgeted, shuffled, and finally said, ‘Thankee, sir.’ -More than that he could not say—he was one of those -doers who cannot talk. But the men cheered him to -the echo, and another kindly link in the chain which -bound all hands was forged.</p> - -<p>That evening Captain Hampden communicated -to his officers his plans. He intended making a -passage with all possible speed to the Bonins, hoping -there to pick up half-a-dozen good men, and then go -on the Japan ground for a season—it being then at -the height of its fame. But, he said, he was not without -hope that on the way thither they might meet -with some whales, and be fortunate enough to obtain -such an addition to their stock as would repay them -for their recent losses. All the officers were in the -best possible spirits. They felt that, depleted as the -crew was, if only favoured with opportunity they -would all give the best possible account of themselves, -and each reiterated his firm belief that this would yet -be a most successful voyage. Then they separated -for the night.</p> - -<p>At daylight in the morning the gladsome cry -was again heard from the crow’s-nest notifying the -nearness of sperm-whales. And for the next week -they had a real, old-fashioned busy time. They -killed four fine large bulls, one of which was -apparently very sick, and, besides, so fat that each -lance-thrust was almost like piercing a bladder of -lard. So peculiar was his lethargy that, in the absence -of any apparent reason for it in the shape of recent -encounters with whalers, the Captain decided upon -an unusual examination of the body, which, favoured -by wonderfully fine weather and a smooth sea, Mr.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</span> -Peck was able to accomplish successfully. The -search revealed an enormous mass of ambergris, -packed tightly in the lower bowel, and weighing over -two hundredweight. This alone at the lowest possible -quotation of $5 an ounce represented nearly $18,000, -or about £3,500, more than the value of the whole -four whales put together, although in those days -sperm oil and spermaceti were easily worth $500 -per ton to the ship.</p> - -<p>All hands rejoiced exceedingly, feeling that the -monetary loss of their late disaster was well wiped -out, and anticipating again a most prosperous voyage. -Heartened and encouraged thus, they worked so -splendidly that by the time they reached the Sunda -Straits the vessel was in her normal state of cleanliness -and fitness for further adventure. But none -came along. They just glided quietly through the -straits, buying up with great delight the stores of -fruit and vegetables brought by the islanders, who -could hardly believe their good fortune. For most -of the sailing ships that loiter through there do not -yield the canoe-men much profit—the trade is mostly -barter, an old shirt for a punnet of sweet potatoes, a -pair of shoes for a section bunch of bananas, &c. -And the demand for monkeys, parrots, musk-deer,&c., -has greatly fallen off even in homeward bound ships. -The <i>Xiphias</i>’ crew, however, took all the fresh food -that came along, and got it a bargain, because they -paid for it in silver dollars or five-franc pieces, money -current all over the islands of the Indian Ocean from -Madagascar to Singapore.</p> - -<p>All the way along from Anjer to Luzon they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</span> -coasted peacefully, keeping wide-eyed watch for possible -thieves—it would be using too big a word to call -them pirates—who, even to this day, are ever ready -to pounce upon a helpless craft and rifle her, incidentally -killing her crew. Our splendid sea-patrol, ever -engaged in keeping the peace all round the world, is -specially busy in Eastern waters protecting the world’s -commerce from these polyglot marauders, and on the -East Coast of Africa in suppressing slavery. Yet for -this truly beneficent work one never hears a word of -praise. All our sins, or even our supposed sins, are -remembered—not merely, I regret to say, on the -Continent of Europe, where we expect it to be so, -but in the United States of America, and all our -good deeds are studiously ignored, or, worse still, -distorted into deep-dyed hypocritical designs upon -some innocent people’s independence. But I often -wonder what would become of Eastern commerce if -the British Fleet in those seas were to be suddenly -withdrawn.</p> - -<p>One more piece of good fortune awaited the -<i>Xiphias</i> and her good crew before getting clear of -those mazy waters. It was just after they had cleared -the Molucca Passage, and were hauling up north for -the Bonins. About half an hour before sunset the -fore crow’s-nest reported something, he didn’t know -what, but it was making a tremendous commotion in -the water away ahead about four or five miles. The -vessel being under full sail, and with a moderate -breeze, nothing more could be done but keep her as -she was going, except that Captain Hampden mounted -up to the fore-topgallant yard with his glasses and -succeeded in noting a black object in the sea. No -more disturbance was visible. The sun went down,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</span> -the quick tropical twilight faded into night, and still -the skipper kept his eyes fixed upon the spot. Then -to his great joy the moon rose—in that clear -atmosphere shedding a flood of light along the sea. -Suddenly the skipper’s voice rang out of the darkness -above: ‘Lower away y’r boat, Mr. Peck, an’ keep -her jest ez we’re goin’. I think yew’ll find somethin’ -worth havin’ jest ahead there. The res’ of th’ hands -shorten sail an’ heave ship to.’ ‘Aye, aye, sir,’ -responded the cheery voice of the mate. And in -about three minutes the vessel was lying-to, the -rattle of boat’s falls was heard, and the faint glimmer -of a lantern was seen as Mr. Peck sped away along -the lane of silver sheen spread by the moon on -the surface of the quiet waters. He was no sooner -gone than the skipper reached the deck, and immediately -kept the ship away again after the boat. -In half an hour all hands were straining to get alongside -the biggest whale any of them had ever seen, -slain apparently by one of his fellows, since his jaw -and part of his throat were completely torn away. -Thus, without any effort on their part, beyond realising -the spoil, they had gained a prize worth about $6,000; -a sort of crumb flung to them out of the boundless -wealth of the sea.</p> - -<p>And now, much to my sorrow, we must part -company with Captain Hampden and his crew. The -further matters treated of in this history do not -concern him: he did not even hear of them till two -years later. It would be a pleasant task to tell of -how he reached the Bonins in peace, and found there -the recruits he needed, also an indefinite rumour, -which gave him many anxious hours, of some men<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</span> -having been there in the <i>Grampus</i>, who said they had -been lost from his ship. For his own peace of mind -he was bound to put it down to one of those loosely -invented tales that ship-frequenters in foreign ports -concoct in order to get on fairly intimate speaking -terms with shipmen; terms which, skilfully manipulated, -should result in profit to the tale-tellers. Also -of how, through the usual thrilling series of adventures -which always fell to the lot of a whaleship in -those days out for a three-years’ cruise to the uttermost -parts of the sea, Captain Hampden and his men -passed unscathed bodily and exceedingly prosperous -financially, since the <i>Xiphias</i> returned, having been -absent three years to the week, with almost the -largest cargo ever brought from the depths of the sea -to New Bedford, or, indeed, any other port in New -England.</p> - -<p>But that must not be. Our business now is with -the <i>Grampus</i>, and to her, however unwillingly, we -must return, bidding the <i>Xiphias</i> a long farewell.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">CHECK TO THE KING, AND A NEW MOVE</p> - -<p>As on a previous and never-to-be-forgotten occasion, -in the midst of the multifarious activities prevailing -on the deck of the <i>Grampus</i> there was a sense of -profound peace. And now there was also a feeling -of fierce delight that their tyrant was tasting in his -own body some of the pains he had so joyously -inflicted upon others. All the white men’s faces -wore a pleasant expression, not at all mitigated by -the presence of the Portuguese jealously noting the -satisfaction and fully aware of its cause. And, human -nature being what it is, there is no doubt whatever -that had Captain Da Silva died, his Portuguese -henchmen would have been compelled to eat the -humblest of humble-pie, or commit themselves to a -fearful mutiny with all its consequences.</p> - -<p>Mr. Court moved majestically among the toilers -with the air of a man from whom an awful incubus -has been removed, and to whom has come a veritable -inspiration. He did not shout; all his orders were -issued quietly, but how wise and far-seeing were all his -arrangements! And, first of all, he told off Mr. Pease -to watch Rube, who was fighting with all the splendid -reserve of force in his clean, healthy body against -the encroaching Angel of Death. Mr. Court’s -reasons for this were two-fold. First, he needed -badly to show his detestation of the malice which -had placed this fine officer in the position of a seaman, -and next he had noticed that in Rube’s delirium<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</span> -one name continually fell from his lips like a peal of -dactyls, ‘Priscilla, Priscilla, Priscilla.’ And Mr. Court -knew that Priscilla was the name of his skipper’s wife. -Therefore, although he fully believed poor Rube’s -chanting of that name to be a mere coincidence, he -knew how essential it was that the skipper should not -hear of it. For he was sure that in that case Rube’s -days would be few and evil, supposing the skipper to -live. So calling Mr. Pease to him, after being exceedingly -careful to see that none of the Dagoes was -within earshot, he explained the matter to him carefully, -winding up by saying that at least until the -devil was unchained again, he (Mr. Court) would see -that a brother officer was, as far as possible, saved -from the degradation deliberately prepared for him.</p> - -<p>All this, of course, was seen, noted, and commented -upon by the Portuguese, secure in the -general utter ignorance of their language by the -white men, and consequently not needing to get -away in private for consultation. But all they could -do under present circumstances was to ‘bide their -time, doing their duty meanwhile as before, for they -knew quite enough of their skipper to be sure that no -amount of favouritism would be held to excuse slackness -of work when money-making was to the fore. -And as the Americans worked now with a hearty -good will because of the absence of the skipper, it -was truly marvellous to see how the tremendous task -of cutting-in and trying-out was tackled. A spirit of -emulation was abroad, manifesting itself in extraordinary -ways. For instance, a lean American from -Connecticut, who had somehow learned to swim -splendidly, was down on the back of a whale for the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</span> -purpose of hooking a mighty iron hook into what is -called the ‘rising,’ or eye-piece. He sprang there at -the word, alighting in the foul pool of grease and blood -and salt water at the same moment as a gigantic -Portuguese, but just as they both reached out for the -hook a big swell came along, the ship gave a heave, -and a vast volume of water swept over the carcass, -washing both the men into the sea alongside, which -as usual was alive with sharks. They disappeared -for a moment among the shovel heads and dorsal fins -crowding round; then, springing to the surface, Nat, -the American, snatched at a strip of blubber, and by -sheer agility flung himself back to his former position, -grabbing at the dangling hook as he reached it, and -yelling in a half-strangled voice, ‘Heave away!’ -Then, with a contemptuous look at the Dago struggling -to climb back, he seized the already rising -parts of the tackle and swung himself on deck. The -Dago’s friends had flung him a rope, and he mounted -easily enough by its aid, but their remarks to him, -aided by the satisfied chuckles of the white men, -seemed to depress him very much. He was about -to slouch off to the foc’s’le to change, when Mr. Court’s -voice rang out clearly:</p> - -<p>‘Whar you goin’?’</p> - -<p>‘Changea me close,’ was the sullen answer.</p> - -<p>‘You git right on with the work,’ said Mr. Court, -and, taken by surprise, the man obeyed. He and his -countrymen felt that it was only another item in the -account to be paid off presently when their champion -returned to his command.</p> - -<p>Below, however, that champion was in evil case.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</span> -In his previous mishap, although his bruises were -many and severe, there had been no bones broken, -but now his injuries were of so extensive a character -that he could hardly find energy enough to curse his -wife and the steward, his only attendants. In fact, -the conditions of things were entirely altered. Mr. -Court, in full vigour, was in charge, and came in to -report to him twice a day in the most formal manner -how matters were progressing on deck. The mate -never asked him how he was, never attempted any -conversation, and, after the report had been made, -only answered questions, and that in the curtest -manner possible. At certain intervals, being responsible -for his commanders welfare, he made careful -examination of the injuries, and saw that they were -doing as well as possible under the circumstances. -Also he gave the steward secret orders that all the -ventilation possible should be secured in the cabin for -the Captain’s wife’s sake, who throughout this trying -time, as before, scarcely ever left her husband’s side.</p> - -<p>On deck Rube progressed most favourably. His -splendid constitution won in the great fight, and -when at last he opened his eyes sanely on his devoted -nurse, that much-tried man made up his mind at once -that Rube would live. No matter that he was worn -to a shadow, that he looked even worse than when -rescued from the boat, he had evidently got a grip on -life which he had no idea of relinquishing just yet. -He wanted to live, and, as all doctors know, that is -the great factor in the problem of recovery from any -illness. But Mr. Pease was mightily puzzled as Rube -grew stronger to find him so constantly referring to -the early incidents occurring during the cruise of the -<i>Xiphias</i>. He seemed to have no knowledge whatever<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</span> -of the stirring events which had happened since. -Also Mr. Pease noticed that his eyes had an anxious -careworn look in them as of a man who feels that -the threads of his life are all entangled, and that he -has no ability to clear them. He had, besides, a habit -of muttering to himself and of mentioning names all -unfamiliar to Mr. Pease, as if by some freak of -memory a certain portion of his life, utterly forgotten -until now, had just been recalled, while another -portion, much more recent in its incidence upon his -brain, had become completely obliterated. There -was as well an utter absence of that cheery, wide-eyed -outlook which he used to wear, the true expression -of the Biblical injunction to take no thought for the -morrow. Moreover, he was so anxious to get well. -He did not know where he was, except that he was -at sea and ill, and his helplessness worried him much. -It took all Mr. Pease’s power of persuasion to convince -him that by worrying he was retarding his own -recovery, and that, as matters were, it really did not -matter a pin whether he was fit again in a week or a -month. But it was a difficult job to explain things -to a man who knew absolutely nothing about the -necessary details, who remembered nothing at all of -the happenings of the last eleven months. At last -Mr. Pease sought an audience of the mate, taking -care that there should be a white man at the wheel, -and that all the rest of the hands should be busy -forward.</p> - -<p>To him Mr. Pease told all that he knew about -Rube, of his joining the ship, of his terrible accident -and recovery<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</span> therefrom, how since then he had -always behaved more like an angel than a man, and -how every man on board had grown from deriding -him to loving him—in fact, the story which the -reader knows. During the recital Mr. Court glanced -from time to time most curiously at Mr. Pease, as if -wondering whether the latter were crazed or not. -Nor could this be wondered at, remembering the life -Mr. Court had been leading in the <i>Grampus</i>. What -wonder that he had come to disbelieve in the existence -of a God at all?—having always been indifferent in his -acceptance of the existence of a Supreme Being as a -matter of course, and since he had been mate of the -<i>Grampus</i> having grown certain that whether there -was a God or not there must be a devil, and that this -devil was apparently permitted to have everything his -own way for the present. Now he was interested in -spite of himself at the idea of one greenie having been -permitted to alter the character of everybody on -board his ship. Also he told Mr. Pease how Rube’s -present condition was entirely due to his interference -on behalf of his former officer. At this news, now -first made known to him, Mr. Pease bowed his head, -saying:</p> - -<p>‘Wall, I alwuz thought he wuz a sure-’nough -angel, but I never calculated on him so nearly coming -to his death for me. Anyway, my life’s his frum this -eout, ef he wants it—there’s no question ’bout that.’</p> - -<p>Now, whether it was the intensity of devotion -manifested towards Rube thenceforward by Mr. Pease, -or his own innate vigour asserting itself, is no doubt -a moot point, but certainly from that day Rube’s -recovery was exceedingly rapid. But he was puzzled -beyond expression at his former mate’s dog-like -affection for him, also at the want of deference shown<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</span> -to Mr. Pease by all hands. And as it was entirely -useless trying to remember anything about recent -events or to understand what he was told about them, -he resigned himself to the mystery. Long before the -skipper was able to move sufficiently to come on deck -he had resumed his place among the crew, and was -doing his work, but with a hesitation, awkwardness, -and want of spring that made Mr. Pease tremble for -his welfare when once the skipper had again taken -command of the ship.</p> - -<p>With that consummate ability for navigating -difficult seas that seems inherent in American whaling -officers, Mr. Court had, despite his limitation of -access to the means of navigation, due to the -Captain’s behaviour, brought the <i>Grampus</i> through -the intricacies of those waters south of Celebes, and -had steered her safely past the western end of New -Guinea out to the southward of the Pelew Islands -before Captain Da Silva came on deck. I have -purposely avoided all mention of his behaviour while -thus laid helpless a second time, for the subject is -such a painful one that it is difficult to do more than -hint at it. A wounded tiger would certainly have -been far more docile, and have repaid his nurses with -much more gratitude than this man, from whom -every one of the Divine qualities of our nature -seemed to have been withheld. Doubtless this vile -temper did much to delay his recovery, but that he -could not see; and hard as his language was to bear, -the mate felt that it was infinitely better to listen to -it occasionally below than to have his presence on -deck again. And as the news of his approaching -recovery crept about the ship, every white man,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</span> -except Rube, kept repeating to himself most fervently, -‘Oh, if he would only die!’—‘he,’ of course, -being the common enemy. As for Priscilla, the long -confinement and constant strain of nursing this -terrible man had worn her to a shadow. He did not -abuse her so much now, but she had to listen constantly -to his abuse of others, listen to his furious -conversations with his Portuguese harpooners, who -were daily summoned below to his bedside to report -to him their observations of how the Yankee -unmentionables were handling the ship. But this -latter affected her as little as the former, which she -could understand. The abominable phrases in her -own language fell upon utterly unheeding ears, and -left no more impression than did the imprecations -in an unknown tongue. What she was suffering -from was purely physical, as it had been before -reaching the Cosmoledos.</p> - -<p>At last one lovely morning, with the ship’s head -pointed towards the Bonins under his instructions, -the skipper gave orders that Pedro and Manuel -should attend him and assist him on deck. He -needed help. He was worn to a shadow, his face -was like a hatchet for sharpness of outline, and many -threads of white appeared in his hair and whiskers. -But from out the caverns whither his eyes had -retreated gleamed the same infernal fires: the indomitable -will had not been subdued in the slightest -degree. Upon reaching the deck, he cast a comprehensive -glance around the vessel. She was like a -new pin for cleanliness, not a rope yarn was awry, -and most of the watch were busy scraping the spare -spars, always a favourite device with him when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</span> -nothing else could be found for them to do.</p> - -<p>From forward came the clink, clink of iron where -the remainder of the men were beating iron-rust off -the anchors and cables. Everything was going, in -fact, as goes a good watch after it has been wound -by the master’s hand. There was absolutely nothing -to find fault with, yet the mate surely knew that -fault would be found. So he stood near, offering no -salutation nor expecting any, but awaiting the contemptuous -burning words he knew would soon be -flung at him. Suddenly the skipper said, without -looking at the mate:</p> - -<p>‘Wall, seems yew’ve mistook th’ ship fur a -pleasure boat. Wut in thunder yew ben doin’ all -the way up hyar from Borneo?’</p> - -<p>‘Doin’ wut hed t’ be done, ’n’ doin’ it well too,’ -growled Mr. Court. ‘Wat d’ye expect I’d be doin’, -ef I mout be askin’?’</p> - -<p>‘Ha, <i>thet’s</i> wut ye ben doin’, is it—gittin’ things -ripe fur a mut’ny a’gin’ me. All right. I’m layin’ -fur ye. Y’ mout hev made sure while I ben lyin’ -thar he’pless ef yew hed th’ grit ov a purp, but yew -haint, yew ——’ There is no need to suggest the -remainder of the vile sentence. But Mr. Court had -found time not only to recover his self-control and -respect, but to gauge the capacity of Captain Da -Silva’s supporters to overcome the white portion of -the crew. Moreover he had, with commendable forethought, -drawn the stings of the harpooners and as -many of the foremost Portuguese hands as he could -convict of possessing them—that is, he had taken -away their revolvers and ammunition, and by perfect -equality of treatment had re-established <span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</span>a proper -order of things in the foc’s’le. All of these things -Captain Da Silva, with his almost superhuman grasp -of matters only faintly shadowed forth to his senses, -had already seen except the disarming of his gang. -He was not likely to mistake the import of the -change in Mr. Court’s tone and bearing towards him. -It was a heavy blow, but he was wily as a snake, and -immediately changing his tone slightly, he resumed:</p> - -<p>‘Thar, I s’pose it’s no use makin’ more trouble -than thar’s any need fur. P’r’aps I’m a bit frazzled -eout with lyin’ below like a gutted herrin’. Anyhaow, -I guess I’ll be all right time we git on the -Jappan groun’, an’ then we’ll hev some fun. Hyar! -Manuel, Pedro, come an’ git me b’low ’gen. I ain’t -feelin’ good a bit.’</p> - -<p>As the two scowling dark men passed him and -placed each an arm carefully behind the skipper’s -back to assist him down into the cuddy, Mr. Court -viewed them with clear eyes, saying nothing, but -pondering a great deal. He was not in the least -deceived by the change in his skipper’s tone. He -knew full well that no stone would be left unturned -to do him a mischief, and he determined to treble his -vigilance and that of his compatriot officers in order -to guard against any sudden surprise, and, satisfied -that he was doing all that in him lay both for duty -and self-preservation, he turned away and resumed -his daily business of supervision.</p> - -<p>What he did not, could not, know was that by his -resolute bearing and brave words he had saved one -of his countrymen from being put to the torture. It -had been the skipper’s determination when he came -on deck to see his cruel intention towards Rube<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</span> -carried out, and, as we know, he was not easily turned -away from his purpose. Ever since he had regained -consciousness the idea of wreaking his will upon -Rube—first as being one of the rescued boat’s crew -he had been, as it were, driven to save; and, secondly, -as the successful opponent of that will—had been -fermenting in his busy brain, and at the earliest -possible opportunity he had appeared on deck for the -purpose of putting it into practice. But for the first -time that voyage he had found himself successfully -thwarted by one of the hated Americans, and he -needed all his marvellous powers of self-control and -dissimulation not to indulge in some frantic outburst -that would certainly have resulted in his being disabled -from doing any more harm that cruise. His -cup of humiliation was not yet full either. As they -went slowly down the companion-way, Manuel -whispered to him in Portuguese:</p> - -<p>‘Do you know that the mate has taken away our -weapons?’</p> - -<p>‘What!’ he hissed, and wrenching himself free -from Pedro on the other side, he struck at Manuel -with all his might, and missed him, falling down four -stairs upon his injured side, and lying there foaming -with pain and fury. Manuel, his face green with -rage, turned upon his heel and remounted the cabin -stairs. What black thoughts filled his heart we -cannot tell, but certainly the cost of that injudicious -outburst to Captain Da Silva was an exceedingly -heavy one. He reckoned too much upon the perfect -subjugation of his countrymen to his will, forgetting -the obvious fact that if you give your subordinates -too much power over you they are apt to use it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</span> -at inconvenient times, to the complete upheaval and -reversal of some of your most cherished plans.</p> - -<p>Pedro, alarmed at the Captain’s condition, for the -latter was quite beside himself with agony, called -in that subdued voice common to sailors when they -are in the cabin, ‘Madem, senhora, Missis, Capena very -too mucha bad; pleasea come!’ But there was no -answer. Nor could be, for Priscilla, completely worn -out, was lying in a dead faint upon the settee in their -little state-room. The mate was away forward conducting -the work, the steward was busy washing -clothes on deck, and poor Pedro, looking upon his -skipper’s horribly distorted face, listening to the -gnashing of his teeth and watching the writhings of -his body, forgot everything but the need for instant -aid, and shouted, ‘On deck, dere, somebody, anybody, -comea down here quick!’ At that moment Rube -was on his way to relieve the wheel, being now fully -recovered as far as physical strength went. With -one glance at the sphinx-like face of the helmsman, -Rube sprang down the companion, finding the skipper -in convulsions, and Pedro at his wits’ end to know -what to do. Together they raised the twisting body -and carried it into the state-room, where the first -object which met Rube’s eyes was the apparently -lifeless form of his loved and lost Priscilla.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp50" id="i_322fp" style="max-width: 28em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/i_322fp.jpg" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>THE APPARENTLY LIFELESS FORM OF HIS LOVED AND LOST PRISCILLA.</p> - -<p><i>P. 322.</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p>For a moment all things reeled with him, and -then, quietly laying the skipper on the deck, and -controlling himself by a Titanic effort, he said,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</span> -‘Pedro, some water—quick!’ Even as he did so -and Pedro started off, Priscilla gave a deep, deep -sigh, opened her eyes, and seeing a strange man -before her, made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</span> an effort to rise, while a faint tinge -of pink came<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</span> into her face. But with a mingled pang -of regret and thankfulness Rube saw that there was -no recognition in the look—he was just one of the -crew to her, and nothing more. And then, to his -intense relief, came hurrying the steward and the -mate, called frantically by Pedro. Rube stole away, -leaving the new-comers to render such aid as was -possible, and wearily crept to the wheel, taking -absolutely no heed of the bitter words with which he -was greeted by the waiting helmsman.</p> - -<p>A trick at the wheel by a good steersman is a -splendid place for meditation. For while the -mechanical section of the brain is busy with the -primal duty of keeping the particular point of the -course given as near the ‘lubber’s point,’ or line -drawn on the inner rim of the compass-bowl, corresponding -to the midship line of the ship, as -circumstances will allow, the lobes devoted to thought -may be fully occupied with the most recondite -speculations. May be, but are not often, for your -ordinary sailor is a most unimaginative human -animal. Reuben, however, for the first half-hour of -the present ‘trick’ found the meditative side of his -brain one seething whirlpool surging around its -vortex. ‘Priscilla is aboard this ship.’ True, she -had not recognised him, and that was, so far, a gain; -but how could he control himself? His speech, his -looks? Moreover, she was unhappy. How much so -he did not, could not, know, for the reasons that have -before been fully given; but that wan face, those thin -hands, those deeply shadowed eyes, what a tale of -misery they had to tell to a loving heart like Rube’s! -Yet even had he not been powerless to do anything, -loyalty, honour, truth demanded that he should be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</span> -silent, cost what it might, unless he saw danger to -that dear life. Then the problem of her being here -at all suddenly came back with awful force. And -utterly confounded, he lifted his heart again to God, -not blithely or hopefully, but in a sort of mechanical -way, or instinctively, if it be better put so. Instantly -a great peace fell upon him. A merciful veil stole -down between him and his mental troubles, and the -utter blankness of want of thought enwrapped his -mind.</p> - -<p>In the cabin the mate and the steward had -laboured manfully at their task, although much -hampered by the want of knowledge of how this -condition of things had been brought about. Priscilla -had fully recovered consciousness, but was still -too weak to help. Still she was no hindrance. She -was just watching, and claiming no attention. Mr. -Court found several of his bandages displaced, much -of the laceration re-opened, and altogether the patient -in a bad way. With native skill and judgment he -did his best to make his tyrant comfortable, and -then having instructed the steward to devote his -whole time to the Captain and his wife, returned on -deck and sent for the two Portuguese.</p> - -<p>‘Now,’ said Mr. Court sternly, when they appeared, -‘I got to know wut yew two ben a-doin’ t’ -th’ Captain. Yew wuzn’t thar, Manuel, when I kem -an’ Pedro wuz. Wut d’ ye go ’way fur?’ Volubly -Pedro began, but the mate in a roar bade him ‘shet -erp,’ and turning to Manuel, said quietly, ‘Heave -ahead.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, sah,’ said Manuel savagely, ‘we’s a-he’pin’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</span> -ole man daown companyon, an’ ole man le’s go my -arm an’ hits me. Then he fall daown steps. I don’ -care if he break his neck, so I don’ go daown ’n’ look. -I kem on deck. Dat’s all, sah.’ And this lucid -explanation he followed up with asseverations unprintable—indeed, -untranslatable.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">THE EDUCATION OF THE SKIPPER</p> - -<p>In spite of the gravity of his position, a smile broke -over Mr. Court’s rugged face as he realised the -situation. All unversed in any Machiavellian arts of -diplomacy, he had unwittingly, by straightforward -conduct, driven a wedge into the base of the vile -edifice so laboriously reared by his commander. For -it was impossible for him to help seeing how deep -was Manuel’s resentment at the treatment meted out -to him by the Captain, although the reason for the -outburst was entirely hidden from the mate. He -was seriously troubled in his mind, though, about -Priscilla. How to proceed in order to save her from -another painful illness he did not know. For he felt -that, though he could and would dare a good deal -now to keep the ship from becoming a den of wild -beasts as far as the crew was concerned, interference -between the skipper and his wife was quite another -matter.</p> - -<p>Yet, could he see her die? For that sad event -seemed to him entirely probable within the next -few days. She looked so frail, almost transparent, -wax-like, in her perfect colourlessness of skin from -her long seclusion, and, which alarmed him most,—there -was a vacant, far-away look in her eyes -that was most uncanny to him. He discussed the -situation at great length with the second mate, who -was fast recovering from the morbid condition of -mind into which he had been thrown by the continued -success of the skipper. But discuss as <span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</span>they might -there seemed no solution of this difficult problem—indeed, -as they vividly remembered, the chief difficulty -was Priscilla herself, who, loyal to the core, -would not, whatever her sufferings, do or say anything -which might in her estimation weaken her -husband’s authority.</p> - -<p>So, with a heavy sigh, the two good fellows -would close their conference and part, the one to -his dreamless bunk, the other to his four hours’ -tramp up and down the small area of the <i>Grampus’s</i> -quarter-deck, revolving, almost maddeningly, all sorts -of schemes for a further amelioration of the present -conditions.</p> - -<p>I fear that many ship officers, whether of merchant -ships, whaleships, or men-of-war, deliberately cultivate -a kind of stultification of the mental faculties -while on watch. The mechanical side of the brain -previously spoken of will go on doing its part -no matter how dense have become the thinking -processes. But that any intelligent man should set -himself to become a Peter Bell, who ‘whistled -as he went for want of thought,’ is akin to the -idea of a man who should hermetically seal up -his nostrils so that he should not smell, or render -himself colour-blind so that pictures should not -appeal to him, or cultivate stone-deafness in order -not to enjoy harmony. It is true that to a highly -sensitive, overstrung organisation such an ordeal as -a cruise in a whaler must be a terrible one. For -there are no inducements to ‘get there.’</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">‘Day after day, day after day,</div><span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</span> - <div class="verse indent2">We stuck, nor breath nor motion;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">As idle as a painted ship</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Upon a painted ocean.’</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>This condition of things, so wonderfully portrayed -by Coleridge, is well-nigh intolerable to a merchantman, -whose employment probably depends upon the -smartness of his passage: to the whaler it matters -no more than it does to the steamship, for exactly -the opposite reason. The one doesn’t care because -his engines are doing the work and his ship’s swift -passage through the stagnant air makes a pleasant -breeze; the other doesn’t care because he isn’t going -anywhere, and consequently the longer he loiters -where he is the more chances there are of his seeing -what he wishes to see—whales.</p> - -<p>In the foc’s’le there was a marked improvement -in the mental and moral atmosphere. Released -from the awful nightmare of the skipper’s presence, -and quite conscious of the fact that the officers were -in sympathy with them, the white men grew cheerful -and spoke boldly. Moreover, the disarmament of -the Portuguese had a splendid effect. It enabled -men, hitherto silent under gross provocation because -they wanted to live a little longer, to lift up their -heads and speak with the enemy in the gate. This -feeling of freedom culminated one day in a huge -Portuguese ordering a smart little Yankee from Edgar -town to ‘git away wiv that face while I sit-a down -comf’ble.’ The invited party, being at the time sitting -on a stool he had made himself, felt naturally -aggrieved, and with a considerable amount of spirit -retorted in terms that need not be clearly set down, -at the same time retaining his seat. The Portuguese -stared stupidly for a breathing space or two, then -seizing the little Yankee, flung him in a clucking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</span> -heap across the foc’s’le. But Rube was sitting next -to Hiram, and immediately rose, seized the wrists of -the black man, and forcing him backwards on to the -deck, sat on his chest, saying: ‘Looky here, my -friend, we’ve done with this fun. They’s goin’ to be -no more of it onless yew’re prepared to take on the -job of killing every white man aboard. I doan’t -kyar much which way ’tis, but <i>this</i> hez t’ be stopped -anyhow.’ As soon as he had finished speaking every -white man sprang to his feet cheering lustily. The -Portuguese looked at each other, Reuben’s understudy -was allowed to rise, looking foolish and—nothing -happened. There was a sense of relief all round, for -all felt that the power of the tyrant was broken. And -in half an hour all the watch was as chummy as -possible, even the bruised Hiram feeling quite satisfied—at -least he expressed himself so to be.</p> - -<p>Naturally there was a perceptible falling-off in the -smartness with which the ship was worked. That -was inevitable. In a small unlimited monarchy, -such as a ship must be, you cannot have divided rule -without a certain loss of power. Mr. Court fought -against this tendency with all his might, but do what -he would he could not quite overcome it. Still, the -only visible effect of the ferment that was going on -below was that no whales were sighted, and that of -course might be due to natural causes. Four times -every day Mr. Court went below and attended on -his skipper, always looking stealthily at Mrs. Da -Silva as he did so, whenever he could look unobserved, -and endeavouring to note any change that -should make it imperative for him to interfere -actively on her behalf. There was none, however.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</span> -She seemed to exist and do her duty to her husband -automatically, but to grow no worse even in the close -confinement of that tiny cabin. But anything more -absolutely hopeless than her whole pose was surely -never seen.</p> - -<p>There was a great change in the skipper, though. -Since his mad outburst of rage at Manuel and its -result he had to all outward seeming been a different -man. His injuries, so rudely handled, resented -fiercely their treatment, and for long he had lain in -high fever, alternating with periods of utter exhaustion. -Only his splendid physique and iron constitution, -aiding the careful nursing he received, pulled -him through. And as he slowly progressed towards -convalescence, he looked strangely at Priscilla, not -gratefully, but with some such expression as the West -African savage regards his ‘ju-ju,’ believing it all -powerful to harm or help him as the case might -present itself to the reasoning powers of the dreadful -thing. A resolution slowly shaped itself in his brain -that come what would he must be very careful of this -white, frail woman, who seemed to have passed -completely beyond the reach of all the emotions. -And he determined to get better in order to carry out -this resolve, although had he been capable of entertaining -the feeling it would surely have forced its -way into his dark heart that the best way in which -he could treat his wife would be to die, and set her -free from the hourly horror of his companionship, -which for obvious reasons has not been insisted upon -definitely here.</p> - -<p>So he mended rapidly—so rapidly, in fact, that one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</span> -week after he had come to the conclusion above -noted he was seated on the top of the little deck aft -with Priscilla by his side, both luxuriously inhaling -the sweet air as the homely old ship wallowed along -northward. It was a heavenly afternoon. The sky -had the appearance of a great green field—the first -tender, unsullied green of spring, upon which lay -billowy masses of fleecy cloud, motionless as masses -of whitest wool and arranged in regular rows converging -to a point in the south-east. An unaccountable -longing for the peace of those heavenly solitudes, a -desire to leave behind her the weighing down of her -earthy part possessed Priscilla’s soul, and quite unnoted -by her the heavy tears rose to her eyes, coursed -down her thin cheeks and dropped upon the deck. -He, stealthily watching as usual while he was awake, -became alarmed, because he had not seen a tear for -so long. ‘Wut ails ye, Pris?’ he inquired anxiously. -‘Ain’t sick, air ye? C’n I order y’ anythin’—c’n I -do anythin’?’</p> - -<p>Immediately the gracious fountain ceased to flow, -and, turning, she looked steadily at him, saying, -‘No, thank you, Ramon; I want nothing.’</p> - -<p>‘Wall, wut ye cryin’ fur, then?’ he demanded -irritably.</p> - -<p>‘I don’t know, Ramon, and, what is more, I -didn’t know that I was crying until you spoke.’</p> - -<p>Then, to her great relief—for her dread was a long -and acrid cross-examination by her husband upon -any subject whatever—the skipper half rose from his -chair and hissed out, ‘Whar’s the watch? Wut ye -all doin’? Look thar!’ Involuntarily Priscilla -looked where he pointed, and was filled with admiration -and wonder. A mighty sperm whale had risen<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</span> -from unknown depths and roamings within a cable’s -length of the ship and lay there, clearly visible in the -beautifully transparent blue of the sea, almost motionless. -All his majestic outlines defined themselves to -the eye, the great down-hanging shaft of the jaw, the -huge rotundity of the belly, and the vast fans of the -flukes that, apparently motionless, were in reality -quivering with receptivity like the diaphragm of a -telephone. She had never before seen a whale at close -quarters, never had an opportunity of admiring this, -the mightiest of all God’s creations in the plenitude -of his powers and in his own proper element, and the -sight filled her with awe.</p> - -<p>The reason of the whale’s nearness to the ship, -not merely without alarm—for that can readily be -understood, since whales, like other animals, long -unmolested become perfectly tame—but without -having been previously seen, is not to be very clearly -stated. When such an occurrence does take place -on board a whaleship there is usually much unpleasantness, -because the captain is bound to believe -that it proves that the watchers aloft are neglecting -their duty, or they would have reported the proximity -of the whale before. The supposition is only reasonable -because really from the masthead of a ship on -a fine day, such as this was, the whole vast circle -spread out beneath one looks so small, and objects -upon it are so clearly defined, that it seems impossible -for four pairs of eyes to miss the spout of a whale. -And as the distance from that height to the visible -horizon is not less than fifteen miles, within which in -such weather a sperm-whale’s spout should be clearly -discernible, the whale should have risen twice within<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</span> -the visible range to spout. His utmost speed when -going for all he is worth is only about fourteen miles -an hour, his usual cruising speed when underneath -only about three or four. He can stay down an hour, -but rarely exceeds forty-five minutes, and he does -not care, unless driven by necessity, to travel fast -under water. When he does come to the surface, -too, after a stay beneath of that length, he must stay -up until he has finished a certain number of inspirations -and expirations or ‘spoutings out’—fifty, sixty, -or seventy, as the case may be. And no matter how -hardly he may be pressed by enemies, this always -holds good. Yet I have seen a sperm whale rise in -ghost-like fashion almost alongside the ship during -a stark calm on a day when sea and sky were one -flawless expanse of blue, blending into each other at -the horizon so perfectly that no one could tell exactly -where sea ended and sky began. All hands were -most eager to ‘raise whale,’ for the bounty offered -was five pounds—equal to twenty-five dollars—and -we had fine men at the mastheads. Yet our first -intimation of his appearance was given by himself -spouting almost alongside. As silently as shadows -we prepared to go after him, but as the boats were -about to be lowered he disappeared, nor did we ever -catch a glimpse of him again, although all hands -clustered aloft straining their eyes in every direction. -He vanished so unaccountably that there was an -uneasy feeling on board that what we had all seen -was no whale at all, but a sportive spook sent to -befool us by some sarcastic sea-demon. There is no -doubt that both coming and going were exceptions -to all the ordinary laws governing the actions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</span> of the -whale-folk.</p> - -<p>All this explanatory matter, taking so long to set -down, was as familiar as breathing to Captain Da -Silva, yet his only emotion upon ‘raising’ the whale -so closely alongside was black, murderous rage. He -dared not shout for fear of scaring or ‘galleying’ the -whale. But his enforced quiet made his hissed-out -orders sound all the more furious. The men flew to -their stations silently. The boats were lowered by -inches at a time, and with the utmost deliberation, -lest the rattle of the patent sheaves should alarm the -as yet unconscious monster. Only two boats went—the -mate’s and the second mate’s—and the skipper sat -on his high perch and watched them depart with -bitter muttered comments upon all they did. Every -movement was criticised as if the makers of it were -‘greenies’ just commencing the great business. And -the worst of the matter was that the men in the boats -knew this. It made them less confident than they -would otherwise have been, and therefore they felt as -if they were going into a fight whereof the issue was -already half decided against them.</p> - -<p>Still, they paddled steadily towards the foe without -him betraying by the slightest sign a knowledge of -any danger likely to be threatening him. By common -consent the boats parted company as they neared -him, and came on at the great head sheering slightly -to either side. Suddenly he saw them or felt them—no -one knows which it is—and with one great sweep -of his flukes he leapt forward. Too late. Both -boats closed in on him like sentient destroyers, and -as if at one signal the harpoons flew from either -harpooner’s nervous hands and sank quivering into<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</span> -the flank of the whale. Instead of turning to fight, -as usual, he settled at once, quite quietly, and immediately -the attackers felt an impetus forward, steady -and increasing. Away he went, well below, only -momentarily breaking the surface to spout, and -getting up speed in such a fashion that in a very few -minutes, despite the smoothness of the sea, it was -evident that all the boatmen could do was to hold on -and wait until their gigantic steed tired.</p> - -<p>On board the skipper watched with eyes aflame, -blaming them all impartially for what he was pleased -to call their idiotic behaviour, only his expressions -were not so mild as that, and cursing his inability, -owing to the absence of wind, to follow them up. -Priscilla watched too, fascinated, and all unconscious -of the danger the brave fellows were in. And then, -with a suddenness seen only in tropical latitudes,</p> - -<p> -The sun’s rim dips; the stars rush out;<br /> -At one stride comes the dark;<br /> -</p> - -<p>and the fleeing boats fade from view. Only then -does it dawn upon her what awful danger these men -are in, and even then, such is the deadness of her -mind, she cannot bring herself to realise as she thinks -she ought to do the peril of her shipmates. There -is a great silence on board. No one can do anything -but wait, except the Captain, who can, and does, keep -up a muttered succession of evil words in his own -language. The leaden-footed minutes creep along, -the heavy dews fall, a solemn silence, only accentuated -by the creak of a spar or the slight rattle of a block, -reigns supreme, for the Captain has gone below, and -she is up there quite alone. And suddenly relief<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</span> -comes. Into her dry heart there steals the blessed -consciousness of God’s loving presence, her almost -deadened mental perceptions revive on the memory -of ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,’ and -immediately she is able to pray. Not for herself—that -has not yet come—but for the safety of those -whom she has seen go out into the night. Most -fervently she implores the Father that they may be -preserved through the perils around them, and that -when they return (as she at once feels assured they -will) her terrible husband may be merciful to them. -As she forms the petitions in her heart there -is a great cry from many throats, a rushing, roaring -sound, a crash, and the babel of many voices. All -hands spring into violent activity, and high over all -the other sounds rises the voice of the Captain. -Another boat is lowered into the darkness, which is -presently illuminated in ghastly fashion by a blue -light which is fired and spreads its glare all around -the ship.</p> - -<p>We must leave Priscilla for a few minutes suffering -all the tortures of uncertainty, and avail ourselves of -our privilege of knowing at once all that is happening. -Dragged away at such speed in the darkness, and -dependent entirely upon the phosphorescent glare in -the water for their knowledge of the whale’s whereabouts, -the two boats’ crews were in no enviable case. -But the officers did their manful best, whenever a -slackening in the whale’s speed gave them opportunity -to get near him, to hurl lances and fire bombs -into his shadowy-looking mass. But all had apparently -been of little or no avail in staying his -forward rush, and as for its direction they knew absolutely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</span> -nothing. In the midst of this confusion there -suddenly towered up before them the great bulk of -the ship, menacing like the shadow of death. Both -officers drew knives and touched the tow lines, yelling -at the same moment, ‘Lay off—lay on!’ So as the -impetus brought them alongside, instead of coming -end on at that great speed and being dashed in -pieces, one sheered to port and the other to starboard, -both intact and safe. They heard the crash, though, -in the midst of that strange evolution, and feared the -worst. It was not, however, as bad as they feared, -although bad enough. The whale, nearing his end, -and collecting all his powers to meet it, had suddenly -become instinctively aware of the ship confronting -him, and, swerving to the left almost cleared her. -But his great head struck the rudder such a tremendous -blow that it was wrenched from the sternpost, -without, however, doing that essential portion of -the ship any damage. The rudder was simply gone -clean, and none of them ever saw it again.</p> - -<p>Then were heard the strange noises made by a -whale in its dying agonies close alongside the ship. -She rolled and heaved in the swell he made, but he -was not near enough to give her another blow. -Presently the silence closed in upon them again. It -was broken by the skipper, who, excited beyond -endurance, yet compelled to inaction, almost -screamed, ‘’Longside thar! See anythin’ of th’ -whale? Hez he stove in th’ counter, or wut? ’R ye -all dead? ’n’ ef y’ ain’t, why’nt ye do somethin’ or -say somethin’ ’r make a sign?’ Then compliments -after his foul fashion.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</span></p> -<p>Presently up out of the darkness came a voice, -Mr. Court’s:</p> - -<p>‘All right, sir, we’ve got hold of him; just passin’ -tow-line.’</p> - -<p>There was a growl like that of a wild beast in -response, and an order to light up all the suspended -cressets. All hands girded up their loins for the long -night’s work pending, and as the tow-line was passed -on board bent their backs to the task of hauling the -great whale alongside, thinking meanwhile of the -possibility of his having started a butt when he -collided with the stern fittings. Priscilla, her heart -full of gratitude for answered prayer, went below, lay -down, and in a few minutes slept the blessed sleep of -a relieved mind.</p> - -<p>All through the night, goaded on by the rasping -voice of the skipper, who, perched aloft upon the -after platform, suffered terribly from his inability to -make himself felt as well as heard, the weary men -toiled on. And to such good purpose that when the -pageant of morning blazed forth upon the welcoming -sky they had actually consummated the cutting-in, -and were all ready for the trying-out. The -skipper having hobbled below, Mr. Court proceeded -to set blubber watches of six hours each, but also -gave word to go easy, for he knew, judging by his -own feelings, how spent all hands were, and he would -not be so foolish as to lay them up. The relieved -ones had just cast themselves down as they were -and passed into the depths of utterly exhausted -nature’s refreshment when, as Mr. Court was diving -below to his well-earned rest, the skipper reappeared -shouting, ‘Lay aft here, yew lazy hogs, ’n’ rig a stage -over the stern. I want ter git a jury rudder rigged.’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</span> -Returning to the deck, Mr. Court said gravely, -‘Captain, that kind o’ thing wunt work no more. -Yew’ve gut t’ be reasonable. I wunt let ye play the -fool with men’s lives any more, and ef yew’re goin’t’ -shoot, shoot quick, ’r ye’ll be too late.’ And Captain -Da Silva saw, to his intense amazement, a revolver-barrel -gleaming in the fingers of the officer whom in -his blind passion and prejudice he had abused as a -coward.</p> - -<p>His sufferings were terrible to witness. His keen -intelligence showed him clearly that at present, at -any rate, the mate had the key of the situation, and -that again he must stoop to dissimulation where he -had been used to enforce his will with the utmost disregard -of what anyone thought or felt. At last, when -the first few agonising spasms had passed, he -mastered himself by a supreme effort and said -huskily, ‘All right, Mr. Court. It’s yewr call. It’ll -be mine some day. Meanwhile we’ll keep eour trouble -indoors.’</p> - -<p>Raising his voice a little for the benefit of -the few haggard-looking, anxious men who were -clustered about the mainmast awaiting the word to -come aft and recommence work, he said, ‘Oh, all -right, Mr. Court; I guess we’ll leave it a bit. Don’ -look ’s if we sh’d hev enny change in th’ weather fur -a while, anyhow. We’ll git on with th’ tryin’-out, ’n’ -leave th’ repairs until she’s cleaned erp agen. Thet’ll -do th’ watch below,’ he snarled in conclusion. And -the worn-out men shuffled away.</p> - -<p>Without another word Mr. Court descended to his -bunk, not, to be sure, without many misgivings as to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</span> -whether, in the absence of any defence to his sleeping-place, -any door to bar, he should, in the quaint -sailor phrase, ‘wake up and find himself dead.’ But -he reasoned, and correctly, that under present conditions -the skipper would hardly proceed to open -murder, for open it must be since four men would be -in full view of the crime if it were done while he slept. -And with a final, ‘Well, I kain’t he’p it, anyhaow; -mout so well die this way ’s any other, fur all I k’n -see,’ the mate turned in, put his loaded revolver under -his pillow, and in two minutes was fast asleep.</p> - -<p>The Captain, in spite of his weakened body, of his -still aching limbs, paced the narrow limits of the -cabin like a caged leopard, his mind seething with -deadly thoughts about the mate and, in a lesser -degree, all the members of his crew. For this was -the first voyage of his career as captain that any of -his ship’s company had been able to oppose his -will successfully. Also it was the first voyage of his -life that he had suffered so much in his own body, -and he was gravely in doubt as to what the change -meant. He was inclined to lay all his disasters at -the door of his wife; but of her he was now quite -afraid, and, moreover, satisfied that if he were not -very careful in his treatment of her worse misfortunes -would befall him. These thoughts worried him so -much that he had recourse to the bottle, the great -store of fiery liquor he had brought on board at -Brava having been only slightly encroached upon. -And after a few glasses and a couple of cigars he -was reassured as to his own importance and power, -feeling, indeed, that his recent fears were quite unwarranted. -And yet he could not help casting a -curiously furtive glance at the pale, mask-like <span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</span>face -of his wife.</p> - -<p>The next day, his physical improvement having -been well maintained, he took full charge at eight -bells in the morning, and all hands fell obediently -into line at his word. Work on the blubber proceeded -apace, but there was a much more important duty -to perform, and that was the rigging of a contrivance -by means of which the ship might be steered. Here -Captain Da Silva shone as a perfect seaman. He -ordered a spar about the size of a medium scaffold-pole -to be made into a huge oar, the blade being -formed of stout planks bolted together athwart, and -the interstices on each side of the spar filled with old -chain for weight to keep the machine down. A solid -crutch, lined with leather and well greased, was fixed -on the taffrail for the upper part of the spar to work -in, with plenty of play allowed, but strong lashings to -prevent its jumping out of its bed. Also a severe -holdfast was made just above the blade of the ‘oar,’ -into which a stout tackle was hooked on either side; -the upper blocks of these tackles were led to outriggers -over each quarter, and the falls passed into -the barrel of the steering wheel. And—of course -recognising that a vast amount of uninteresting but -essential detail has been left out—that is how Captain -Da Silva rigged his jury-rudder. It was so successful, -too, that three days afterwards he navigated his -ship into the difficult harbour of Port Lloyd with it, -none of the captains of whaling ships anchored there -noticing any difference, except that there were one -or two remarks about the <i>Grampus’s</i> wild steering and -a little wonder as to what she was towing astern.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</span></p> -<p>Before going into the harbour Captain Da Silva -called all hands aft and made them a speech. He -said: ‘Men we’re a-goin’ in here fur repairs, wood, -an’ water. Any of ye ’at wants t’ run away ’ud -better make erp yewr mines before yew go fur the -wust floggin’ y’ ever had w’en yew’re brought back. -’N’ yew will be, fur I’m goin’ t’ offer one hundred -dollars reward fur any deserter brought back to the -ship dead er alive. ’N’ thar’s lots er folks here as’d -kill a man fur one dollar, let alone a hundred. No -gammin’ allowed. This ship’s ben runnin’ slack. I’m -goin’t’ tighten things up a bit. Naow git.’ And as -all hands slunk away the skipper cast a triumphant -glance at the officers as who should say, ‘What are -you going to do now?’ There was no answering -look. Who could reply to a challenge like that -without putting himself irrevocably in the wrong?</p> - -<p>Now it would be useless to recapitulate the proceedings -at Port Lloyd, so tame and commonplace -were they. The men were kept at work not merely -from daylight till dark, but before daylight till after -dark, doing all the thousand-and-one things needed -when a whaleship comes into harbour after a long -cruise. No boats other than her own were allowed -near the ship, so the men got no fresh fruit, while no -fresh beef or vegetables were sent on board by the -skipper, so that all the fresh food obtained by the -hungry men was fish, which, fortunately for them, bit -at night and were caught in fairly large numbers. The -skipper went ashore but very little; when he did, he -now took Priscilla with him, closely muffled up so that -no one should see her but himself. He saw none of his -fellow-skippers, and cared nothing that he was the -talk of the harbour. At the end of four days he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</span> -ordered the windlass to be manned, and took the -<i>Grampus</i> out to sea again, no man but himself knowing -whither he was bound.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">THE LOSS OF THE <i>GRAMPUS</i></p> - -<p>It could not possibly have escaped the memory of -Mr. Court that he had been told by the skipper that -their next cruising-place would be the ‘Japan-ground.’ -Not that he was foolish enough to place any serious -reliance upon anything said by Captain Da Silva, -only he knew, as every whaling officer did in those -days—I write of half a century ago—that the -Japan grounds were the most prolific of all known -haunts of the sperm whale. He was just a little -startled, then, on getting clear of the Bonins, to find -a course set S.W., which looked very much like -getting down on to the Line grounds, and in any -case could not mean that the <i>Grampus</i> was bound -for the carrying out of the previously arranged -programme. But he had such an implicit faith in -the astounding ability of his skipper, and he felt so -sure that even revenge would be made to wait until -the money-making was over, that he did not trouble -his head much about the rather startling change in -the course. He could not know, of course, what -Captain Da Silva did, that the common talk of Port -Lloyd had been the inexplicable absence of sperm -whales from the Japan grounds that season, neither -could he tell by what curious chain of reasoning, -amounting almost to instinct, the skipper had decided -upon going south among the islands and -gradually working his way down to the Line whaling -grounds.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</span></p> -<p>For two days they steered S.E., and then, as if -in justification of the skipper’s foresight, they ran -into a vast school of whales. Now, without going -over previously well-trodden ground, I may remark -that it will have been noticed how on board a whaleship, -as in an army, things may be done by officers -with impunity in time of war that would certainly -cause a mutiny in time of peace. And the skipper’s -eyes glistened as the boats took the water at the -thought of how, during the coming campaign, he -would take the last ounce out of his officers and men, -making them pay most dearly for any little ‘let-up’ -they might have enjoyed during his enforced retirement. -One other step he had taken which I have -omitted to mention, the separation of Rube and Mr. -Pease, taking the former to pull his own midship -oar, and putting the latter under his third mate, a -Portuguese very much after his own heart.</p> - -<p>Now for the next three months Reuben led the -life of a daily martyr, a galley slave. The ship -seemed never to be out of sight of whales, and -exercising the greatest possible skill in the manipulation -of his forces, the skipper managed to keep the -war going continually, favoured as the ship was by -the finest of weather. But he never in the midst of -all his multifarious energies forgot for one hour the -exercise of his awful animosity towards Reuben. -The other Americans suffered also, but in a much -lesser degree. It was Reuben who for any fault -committed by anyone in the boat was smitten with -the heavy oak tiller over head or shoulders or face, -Reuben who was selected for every dangerous, filthy, -and heavy piece of work; Reuben, in fact, saved the -rest of his white shipmates much pain and trouble<span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</span> -by being the lightning conductor, attracting nearly -all the skipper’s cruelty. And strangely enough, it -seemed to make little difference to him. He did not -smile so sweetly as he used to do, and his rather worn -face wore a puzzled look that was very pathetic. -But he never resented any of his ill-treatment, never -seemed to notice it, in fact, after the first week or two.</p> - -<p>What the condition of the ship became during -those three strenuous months I do not propose -attempting to describe. Only the pen of a Zola -could do it justice, and the result would be almost, -if not quite, unreadable to any cleanly living person. -She was an offence to the clean, wide sea—much -worse, indeed, than she was in the Mozambique -Channel in respect of foulness, but not so bad with -regard to health, because of the sweet breeze that -steadily blew, and kept clearing off some of the -miasma she exhaled. The skipper, however, alarmed -for the health of Priscilla, for the reasons before -noted, caused a little bower to be built on the top of -the tiny deck aft, and did away with the spanker -boom so that it (the bower) should not be disturbed. -Here Priscilla sat all day long carefully screened -from the smell as far as could be, and exposed to the -fresh air. And, although she naturally suffered very -much, as she always had done, since first she came -on board, from lack of exercise, she became better -in her general health, and more ready to take a -little interest in life than she had been for a long -time. Nevertheless, little as her ship surroundings -had ever power to impress her, she got very weary -of the incessant inflow of greasy masses from overside, -heartily sick of the aroma of slaughter. Also it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</span> -seemed to her as if, instead of her husband growing -more and more satisfied at the way in which he was -accumulating wealth without any other ship near to -share his good fortune, he became ever more morose -and scowling. Nor was she wrong. The check to -his cruelty which he had received worried him like a -green wound, and all his prosperity was not nearly -sufficient to compensate him for the loss of prestige -he felt he had endured. If only, without destroying -the efficiency of his ship’s company, he could have -set his foot upon the neck of those pale-faced men -of an alien race, who, despite his masterfulness, had -succeeded in great measure in setting themselves -free from his tyranny, and who now strode before -him with erect heads and clear eyes! The story of -Haman is no myth. It is being repeated all around -us every day, and I do not know of any more cogent -proof of the existence of the devil than this.</p> - -<p>At last the whales seemed to have learned their -lesson, and began to fight shy of this lonely ship -which had transferred so many of them to her own -interior. No longer did they crowd around like a -flock of frightened sheep awaiting the butcher and -unable to see whither to flee in all that wide expanse -of ocean. There came a time when the thoroughly -wearied men were able to, not rest, but find an -intensely welcome relief from the all-pervading filth -in strenuously endeavouring to cleanse it away. And -although they worked just as hard as ever, they went -about their altered occupation with something like -enthusiasm.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the skipper had by frequent secret<span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</span> -conferences, by sundry quietly bestowed tots of grog, -and such grim pleasantries as he could give utterance -to, been endeavouring quite successfully to regain his -former status among his countrymen. Mr. Court -saw, in common with every other white man on -board, the trend of matters, and passed, therefore, -many uneasy hours, unable to formulate any plans, -since he knew not what was brewing except that it -meant mischief for him and his compatriots. But in -the absence of any overt act of offence on the part of -the skipper he could take no step, he could only -whisper Mr. Winslow to keep a bright look-out for -whatever devilry might be afloat. What troubled -him principally was his utter want of knowledge of -the ship’s whereabouts. This is always a hardship -at sea even under the best conditions, and if sailors -were only to allow their minds to dwell upon the fact -that they are not allowed by the skipper to know -even the approximate position of the ship there -would be far more discontent than there is now. -I have been in a ship on a passage of nearly seven -months between Liverpool and an Indian port, and -during the whole of that time not one foremast hand -ever knew the ship’s position within a thousand miles, -so carefully was the secret guarded. And I have -been in ships where the skipper refused to allow his -mate to know, would not let him take an observation, -seeming to take some insane pleasure in knowing that -he alone of the ship’s company had any idea where -upon that vast blank space of sea the tiny dot of a -ship was poised.</p> - -<p>Thus it was in the <i>Grampus</i>, when at the last -clearing up certain sail was set, and a definite <span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</span>course -to the eastward was steered. Indications of land -were many, for they were now in that part of the -Pacific where Nature would appear to have her busiest -workshops; where islands rise in a few hours from -unknown depths and isolated patches of land are -suddenly met with, summits of submerged mountains -rivalling the Himalayas in their tremendous altitudes. -So, although no more whales were seen, the watchers -at the masthead scarcely passed an hour without -reporting some new appearance, some discolouration -of the bright sea that upon nearer approach resolved -itself into a floating island of weed about which -played an innumerable company of bright-hued fish -making the water foam again with their blithe -gambols. Or a derelict cocoa-palm torn from its reef-edge -moorings, and long since denuded of its feathery -crown, floated by, recognisable only to a whaleman’s -eye as anything belonging to earth at all from the -wealth of parasitic life which had accumulated upon -it, making it look more like the head of some vast -sea-serpent with a snowy mane than anything else -the mind can depict. An occasional canoe, waterlogged -or bottom-up, floated along, making the -watcher wonder where the recent occupant had gone, -and what manner of struggle he or she made for life -ere the fateful moment came when the sea claimed its -toll as of right.</p> - -<p>All through this pleasant time Priscilla kept her -vigil during the daylight hours in her breezy house -aloft, above the working people’s heads. There was -a sort of placid wonder why the Captain should -have so radically altered in his behaviour towards her. -Benumbed as her faculties had undoubtedly become, -since she had lived up on the after-deck she had begun<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</span> -to regain a certain interest in life which had not been -possible to her while confined to the cabin. And she -certainly found herself speculating upon the change -in her husband. She noticed that he was less brutal -in his behaviour to the crew, too, as far as physical -ill-treatment went, but, of course, she did not know -the cause. There was no easement of the hardships -of their lives, nor any relenting in those fierce black -eyes when looking upon a subordinate. But when -his gaze fell upon her it changed into the puzzled, -frightened glance of the savage face to face with the -unknown, and dominated by an illogical fear, a state -of mind which culminates in a sudden plunge into -nameless cruelties.</p> - -<p>She and her husband never held any conversation, -their intercourse being limited to monosyllables -almost. Discussion was out of the question, since -she was docile as a well-trained dog, and besides did -not seem to care about anything sufficiently to discuss -it. Yet all unknown to her, a change was taking -place in her mind. A renewed interest in life was -springing up there. It may have been her long -contemplation of the ever-wonderful and changeful -life of the sea, but I am inclined to think that it was -the intensity of that unknown love burning in one -loyal breast near her, the outpouring of those fervent -supplications for her well-being that Reuben was -continually offering communicating something of -their own force in some mysterious way, not understandable -as yet, but some day surely to be explained -to us. At last, after about a fortnight of this pleasant -sailing, she came up to her little haven of refuge -to witness a scene of almost fairy-like loveliness.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</span> -Stretching away to the northward like a cluster of -jewels set upon the shining bosom of the sea was -a group of islands. Some rose sheer from the waves -that rolled creamily against their jet-black bases, just -failing to reach the tender festoons of every shade -of green that clothed them from high-water mark -to summit. Others glittered in dazzling white against -the intense blue of the quiet lagoon, shielded from -all ruffling by a barrier of living rock encircling -them, and crested with a mighty feather of purest -white as the great swell surged up against it, and -found its onward sweep effectually stayed. Others -from serene palm-fringed heights sloped sweetly -seaward to inviting beaches of all colours sheltered -from any onslaught of waves and apparently inviting -the weary seafarer to come and rest himself after all -his ocean wanderings.</p> - -<p>Quite close to the ship was a long, formidable -barrier of black rocks, outliers of the main group, -whose jagged, saw-like teeth snarled threateningly -up from the fret and foam of the sea around. But -even they were robbed of half their terrors by the -beautiful play of light and colour around them, gift -of the golden sun which hung in the limpid sky, -shedding his fervent fires upon sea and land, and -investing the most commonplace objects with supreme -beauty. As Priscilla gazed upon the lovely scene -she felt the tears steal down her cheeks: the whole -panorama appealed to her innate sense of loveliness -so strongly that the happy tears would come, and -her heart was lifted by the adoring creature’s joy -in the Creator’s lovely handiwork. She forgot all -else in the glories of the present scene, took no heed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</span> -of the swift changing of the view as the homely old -ship glided past that long, long barrier through the -smoothest and brightest of seas. She took no heed -of the skilful handling of the ship, all her mind -being bent upon the wonders overside. It seemed -to her as if now for the first time she understood -what voyaging really meant, as if only now was she -realising some of the impressions given her long ago -in reading records of wonderful voyages. A faint -flush mounted into her pale cheeks, her breath came -and went quickly through her parted lips, and she -was nearer happiness than she had been since the -first week out from home.</p> - -<p>Suddenly she became conscious of an apparent -increase in the wind, caused by an alteration in the -vessel’s course, bringing her close-hauled, and like -magic the whole scene changed. The ship was now -running in between a wide opening in the great barrier -before mentioned, where on either side of her the -frowning rocks with their white crests of foam stopped -abruptly in a sea of deepest blue. Ahead this lovely -colour took a dozen different shades from inequality -in the depth, and here and there, where a patch of -coral neared the surface and the sun’s rays touched -its summit through the intervening water, there was a -blending of hues that would make an artist despair.</p> - -<p>Thus, piloted with the utmost skill by the skipper, -the <i>Grampus</i> drew near the main group of islands, -sheltered as they were by all this intricate network -of reefs from any roughness of water, and, finally, -turning sharply to starboard, she came up into the -wind behind a low bluff, and by her own impetus -forged ahead into a little bay, sheltered from every<span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</span> -wind of heaven, bordered by a snow-white beach, -which, in its turn, was fringed by tropical growth of -trees and shrubs of many kinds, and looking an ideal -haven of rest. Midway of the bay’s semicircle, and -at less than half a mile from the beach, at a hoarse -shout from the skipper the anchor rattled down, its -crash and roar awakening echoes that long resounded -like peals of distant thunder. Then the shouts of -the officers succeeded as they gave the necessary -orders for furling sails and clearing up the ship -generally. And in half-an-hour, when the word -‘supper’ was given, an intense hush as of the first -Sabbath succeeded—a calm and peace over sea and -land that fell upon Priscilla’s heart like the touch of -a mother’s cool hand upon the hot brow of her ailing -child.</p> - -<p>Captain Da Silva’s officers, however, were far -from enjoying a like serenity of mind. That very -peace which was so grateful to an unknowing one -was to them like the calm preceding the outburst of -a hurricane. They looked anxiously around, precluded -from consulting each other by their absurd -relations, yet fearing the worst. Then the skipper, -going below and summoning his unfortunate steward, -had the ‘trade,’ always carried by these ships in that -day for the purpose of barter among the islands, -brought out and placed in readiness for conveyance -on deck. His (the skipper’s) plans had long been -made, but only his Portuguese accomplices on board -knew anything of them. As far back as the visit to -Brava he had been preparing for this event, when -that load of cases of most potent liquor was brought -on board. And now it was not so much the possibility<span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</span> -of treachery on the part of the natives as the -ruin of his plan of pleasure (?) which made him -anxiously scan beach and bay for any sign of human -life.</p> - -<p>The sun neared the horizon, the busy fishing birds -began to fly shoreward to their nests laden with the -fruits of their labours, and the fresh sweetness of the -coming night began to make itself felt. Then, as if -at a given signal, a whole fleet of canoes came rushing -round the headland into the bay, the water foaming -around them under the strokes of multitudinous paddles. -As they neared the ship it was to be seen that each -canoe carried a green branch with streamers of white -‘tapa’ or native cloth, betokening peace, also that -the still green coverts ashore had suddenly burst into -life and scores of dusky female forms were hurling -themselves into the water, and almost like denizens of -the deep sea were rushing towards the ship. A few -sharp orders from the skipper, and the Portuguese -members of the crew hurried aft to assist him in the -handing and distribution of his presents. They had -barely got the things on deck when with yells of -delight the natives reached the vessel, climbing on -board everywhere like an invasion of happy children -without one thought save the joyful indulgence of idle -infantile curiosity. Priscilla had previously retired, -being sternly ordered below by her husband as soon as -the natives were seen, and in the little state-room she -sat listening with mingled feelings to the hubbub -prevailing on deck, not knowing what it meant.</p> - -<p>It was well that she did not, for there was now -commencing on board the <i>Grampus</i> one of those<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</span> -orgies which have done so much to hinder the spread -of Christianity among these savage isles. There is no -danger that I should attempt to particularise; that, I -am sorry to say, has been done <i>ad nauseam</i>, and to -what good end I am unable to see. Even the bald -official records of such scenes strike a chill of horror -into any decent mind, but they also leave a sense of -profound gratitude that in spite of all these dire hindrances -to the spread of the Gospel it does spread, it -is embraced by these simple children of Nature, so apt -to be influenced by the latest impression, especially if -that impression be evil. Every careful reader of -South Sea Island records must have noticed the frequency -with which the good work of the missionaries—and, -let it be said, in all justice, the good work of -the honest, sober, truthful, and decent trader—has been -undone by the infernal exploits of a crew of black-guards -coming soon after. Also, it must have been -seen how frequently the ill-usage (in the worst sense) -of the confiding but undiscriminating natives by -some bad ship’s crew has led to the awful massacre -of the next ship’s company calling there, and the -subsequent laying waste of the village of these dispensers -of wild justice. In Stevenson’s ‘Wrecker’ -one of the most appalling facts is stated quite dispassionately -concerning the murder of Bishop Patteson, -and it makes the flesh creep. Here it is:—</p> - -<p>‘He was tried for his life in Fiji in Sir Arthur -Gordon’s time, and if ever he prayed at all, the name -of Sir Arthur was certainly not forgotten. He was -speared in seven places in New Ireland—the same -time his mate was killed—the famous outrage on -board the brig <i>Jolly Roger</i>, but <i>the treacherous savages -made little by their wickedness</i>’ (the italics are<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</span> -mine) ‘and Bostock, in spite of their teeth, got -seventy-five head of volunteer (?) labour on board, of -whom not more than a dozen died of injuries. He -had a hand besides in the amiable pleasantry which -cost the life of Patteson; and when the sham -bishop landed, prayed, and gave his benediction to -the natives, Bostock, arrayed in a female chemise out -of the trade-room, had stood at his right hand and -boomed Amens. This, when he was sure he was -among good fellows, was his favourite yarn. “Two -hundred head of labour for a hatful of Amens,” he -used to name the tale; and its sequel, the death of -the real bishop, struck him as a circumstance of -extraordinary humour.’</p> - -<p>It was evident to Mr. Court at once what his -commander had come into this bay for, and he was -in a greater difficulty than ever. The ship was -practically in possession of the natives, all uproariously -good humoured, but all, liable to pass -at once from riotous pleasantry to mad fury of -slaughter. The only comfort he had was that no -natives were allowed to invade the cabin. The -foc’s’le, the half-deck, was overrun by them, and nearly -all the crew had been induced to join them in their -curious gambols—all the more curious that the -skipper had liberally distributed his fire-water among -them. Reuben, at the first descent of native men and -women into the foc’s’le, had made his way on deck and -into the fore-top, then along the topgallant stay he had -climbed to the main-crosstrees, and in similar fashion -had reached the mizen-top. Here he determined to -camp until morning with some vague idea of watching -over the safety of Priscilla, and at the least, descending<span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</span> -among the natives if they should prove treacherous (?) -and losing his life in her defence. From his lofty -perch he looked down upon that ugly scene, and -his clean soul revolted at it. But he saw to his -intense satisfaction the actors therein gradually sink -to slumber, overcome by fatigue, and by midnight the -pale moon shone down upon heaps of sleepers in all -sorts of varied attitudes, exposing shamefulnesses -that the tender dark had hidden. And overwearied -at last he slept also.</p> - -<p>The morning brought tumult, a renewal of the -orgies of the previous night. All work, discipline, -order, seemed to be at an end. The skipper, like a -maddened Bacchanal, swayed to and fro between -two dusky nymphs, daughters of the paramount -chief, and Mr. Court, looking at him with disgust, -could take no steps. Once, indeed, finding a huge -native endeavouring to force his body down through -the insufficient opening of the cabin skylight, the -mate almost forgot the stern control he had placed -upon himself, and was just about to seize the man -fiercely and hurl him away when he was seized from -behind, and turning furiously to see who it was he -looked into the mild but fearless eyes of Reuben, -who said, ‘For heaven’s sake, sir, don’t anger them—for -her sake.’ That was all, and Mr. Court’s anger -died instantly away.</p> - -<p>But none of the devoted few who throughout this -terrible time retained their manliness and clean living -were able to retain much hope that a final and -terribly complete disaster could be avoided. And -all they could do was to look helplessly on and see -it coming, powerless to avert it. For the skipper,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</span> in -spite of the madness of his orgies, not only kept -cunning watch over his end of the ship, and allowed -no native, whether male or female, to enter the cabin, -but he also kept the sober ones in view also, and by -this I do not merely mean those to whom he had -handed out drink—his own countrymen—but those -of the white men who had allowed themselves to -wallow in debauchery.</p> - -<p>The end came very suddenly, on the fourth night. -All the revellers had been carrying on furiously, with -but brief intervals of exhaustion, and the number of -natives was greatly increased by fresh arrivals from -some of the outlying islands. Several serious -quarrels had broken out, and been patched up without -bloodshed, and there was much murmuring -among the natives because the supply of liquor -seemed to be failing—at any rate, the Captain was -not so free with it as he had been. More, a belief -had steadily gained ground among them that something -of great value was secured in that after-part of -the ship into which none of them had been permitted -to penetrate. Now, whether either of these causes -had anything to do with the final catastrophe, or -whether it was just an outburst of savagery like the -mischief of petulant children, no one will ever know, -but the fact remains that about midnight there was a -strong smell of fire, and before any of the sleeping -roysterers had awakened, tall flames upreared their -terrible shapes from the main-hatch, and a roar as of -some vast furnace was heard. Almost in an instant -the ship was alive with men running hither and -thither as if dazed, others fiercely fighting, others -drawing water in buckets, and casting it into the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</span> -glowing furnace of the main-hatch without the -slightest appreciable effect. In the midst of it all -four men kept their heads clear—Reuben, Mr. Court, -Mr. Winslow, and Mr. Pease. As it was very evident -at an early stage that the fire, even if attacked -by competent hands, was unsubduable, and that, -moreover, the natives were bent not only upon -destroying the ship but the lives of every European -on board, these four devoted all their energies to the -means of escape. The Captain was somewhere in -the midst of the yelling crowd, fighting fiercely, no -doubt, his voice heard occasionally above the tumult, -so that no counsel could be taken with him. And to -make the confusion still more terrible, blinding -columns of smoke began bursting, as it seemed, out -of every crevice of the vessel. This decided Reuben -that the time had come to act finally, and tearing the -cabin door off its hinges by one effort of his strength, -he rushed below, and seizing the half-suffocated -Priscilla in his arms bore her on deck, and, half-blinded, -groped his way to the port quarter boat, and -placed her safely in the stern sheets. He had -previously ‘racked’ the falls—that is, fastened two of -the parts of each together—and had thrown the coils -into the boat. Now he took a round turn round the -midship thwart with both the falls, and, holding them -firmly, went to both ends of the boat consecutively -and cut the rackings, the boat falling a foot or so -each time with an ugly jerk. Then he lowered away -handsomely, feeling sure that in the hubbub on deck -the rattle of the blocks would never be noticed. She -took the water, he unhooked and pushed off, full of -anguish of mind as to the fate of his three friends,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</span> -but not knowing what to do for them without risking -the helpless woman for whom he would gladly have -suffered any pain or manner of death.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="h2sub">AND LAST</p> - -<p>It may well be wondered why in the much-abused -name of common-sense the mariners on board the -<i>Grampus</i> did not, seeing the hopelessness of saving -their vessel, make for the boats and leave her. But -it must be remembered that, apart from the fact -that they were nearly all mixed up in that horrible -compost of savagery, there were really only three -of them who had any clearness of head remaining. -These three, whom I have already named, were busy -preparing the starboard quarter boat for leaving when -suddenly there burst upon them, like a flood, a mob -of natives, and before they had time to draw their -weapons they were overpowered, and another dark -deed was consummated. As so often has happened -in South Sea Island story, the innocent suffered -equally with the guilty—indeed, more, for one guilty -man escaped for a time. Off in the dark Reuben -waited, all his nerves raw with anxiety for those who -would never come. What to do he did not know, -for light and graceful as a whaleboat is when she has -her full complement of men on board, she is cumbrous -as a barge to be handled by one man at any time -without sail; and when to that one man’s task is -added the hampering of darkness and ignorance -of the way he should go, the hill of difficulty becomes -well-nigh insurmountable.</p> - -<p>Reuben stood with his feet upon the two cleats, -made and fastened for the purpose of raising <span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</span>the -steersman’s body, one on each side of the stern-sheets, -staring with smarting eyes into the smoky, flame-stabbed -darkness where the ship lay. Occasionally -a great spurt of blood-red fire lit up sea, shore, and -sky, and made him tremble for fear of discovery; -then a wild chorus of yells and shrieks chilled his -blood as he pictured mentally the scene being enacted -on board. Strangely enough, he had quite forgotten -his own peril, had forgotten how many were the -native canoes, how impossible it would be for him to -propel that heavy boat one quarter as fast as those -amphibious natives could swim after him if once they -realised his departure. Ah! The boat sagged -heavily to one side, and in over the bluff of the bow -climbed a dark figure, gasping as if its chest was -being rent asunder. Reuben sprang forward, and -found it was the skipper. The two men stared at -each other for a moment; then the skipper gurgled -out, ‘Oars, pull for life; all dead but me.’ And as -he spoke he seized an oar and began to pull. Reuben -said no word, but took another, and with the long, -splendid stroke of the whaler they propelled the -beautiful craft silently seaward, passing the headland -safely and unobserved. A light breeze was blowing, -and no sooner were they clear of the head than the -skipper said, his native gruffness asserting itself even -in that terrible hour, ‘Come, lend a hand ’n’ git th’ -mast up. She’ll go twice as fast under sail. Git a -move on ye.’ It was a heavy task for two men, one -of whom was evidently fighting hard against overpowering -weakness, but Reuben’s great strength -again stood him in good stead, and before ten -minutes had elapsed the big sail was bellying bravely -forward, and the boat, heading out into the night,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</span> -was gently bowing to the incoming Pacific swell, -seeming eager to escape from those awful shores.</p> - -<p>Captain Da Silva took the steer-oar, and with -something of his old skill laid the boat on the direct -course for the nearest reef-opening, steering by the -white curdlings on the reef-tops around, which showed -up most conspicuously against the dark of the night. -Astern the <i>Grampus</i>, now one vast flame, filled the -sky with a lurid glare, and the smoke of her burning -came floating over the heads of the fugitives in a -long grey cloud. For a space of about half an hour -not a word was spoken by either of the men. Then -suddenly the skipper said sharply, ‘Who’s this?’ -pointing to the motionless figure lying in the stern -sheets at his feet as if he had only just seen it.</p> - -<p>‘It’s yewr wife, Cap’n,’ answered Rube in the -most matter-of-fact manner possible.</p> - -<p>‘How ’d she kem here?’ demanded the skipper -again.</p> - -<p>‘I brought her, sir,’ replied Rube, without the -slightest change of voice.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, yew did, eh?’ said the skipper faintly. And -then stooping and letting go his hold of the oar, he -laid his hand upon the unconscious woman and said, -‘’R y’ all right, Pris? I’m drefful sorry t’ have -brung ye t’ this; but I kain’t do nothin’ f’r y’ naow. -I’m mighty sick man myself.’ And with that word -he fell forward in a heap fainting.</p> - -<p>This brought Rube aft on the jump, but it was -well for him that Priscilla had been roused from her -curious stupor and was able to attend to her husband, -as the steering of the boat demanded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</span> all one man’s -attention now.</p> - -<p>They were nearing the reef passage, and the swell -meeting them was causing the boat to leap as she -surmounted its crests, and demanding a very steady -hand at the steer-oar to keep her bow on to it. -Besides, the channel was barely five boats’ lengths -wide, and the foam of the incoming breakers almost -obscured it at times. Still Rube steered seaward -with a steady hand, and presently with a sigh of -relief he saw the gallant craft shoot out from between -those walls of white on to the dark, free ocean -beyond. Then he was about to try and ship the -rudder, which always hangs alongside, when he heard -her voice saying:</p> - -<p>‘Would you please look at the Captain? I think -he has fainted, or something, and his clothes are all -sticky, as well as wet.’</p> - -<p>Rube answered thickly, ‘Certainly, ma’am, only -yew must ’scuse me if I divide my ’tention between -him and the boat. She wants a good deal of steering -just now, an’ we kain’t afford to linger about here, in -case we ain’t far enough from that awful place by -sun-up.’</p> - -<p>Then Rube stooped down and peered into the -skipper’s face, feeling all over his body at the same -time and noting the sticky feeling of which she spoke. -But he knew no more of what it was than she, and as -he had no light he could not investigate. And so he -gave all his attention to the navigation of the boat -away from those dangerous shores while yet the land -wind held, knowing full well that it would die away -before dawn and the sea breeze come with the sun. -Then if he were not well off the land he would run -great risk of being caught by the natives, whose blood<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</span> -thirst would by this time be unassuageable.</p> - -<p>Priscilla, only conscious apparently of one fact, -that her husband needed her ministrations, was doing -her best under those sadly hampered conditions to -give them. That she was tossing about on the open -sea in a small boat with only her unconscious husband -and one sailor to keep her company did not seem to -impress her at all. And yet it would be grievous if -anyone reading her story should think of her scornfully -as having degenerated under her terrible trials -into something very much resembling an imbecile. -Oh, no; really her present state of mind had been -reached through a series of shocks that would have -driven a weaker woman to death or madness, but in -her case had providentially resulted in a sort of calm -acceptance, without any apparent surprise, of whatever -strange experiences should befall her. Mechanically -she bathed her husband’s face with her handkerchief -dipped in the water overside, and, warned by -his stertorous breathing, she loosed his neckband and -managed to raise his head on to her lap. And thus -she sat quietly enduring the cramping of her limbs, -accepting the sharp pains shooting through her body -as inevitable, and making no sound.</p> - -<p>A hush stole over the dark sea as the wind died -away, broken only by the heavy occasional flap of -the now useless sail. Without a word Reuben -shipped the steer-oar and stepped lightly forward. -In a minute or two he had tightly furled the sail and -taken an extra pull at the backstays and stay, after -deciding that owing to his being single-handed and -not sure of his power to elevate it again he must take -the risk of being seen through leaving the mast<span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</span> -standing. He did not realise how far the swift boat had -glided under the gentle stress of the light land breeze -during those past hours of darkness. With almost -hungry eagerness he waited for the dawn, noted the -first faint blush as of surprise tinting the eastern -sky, watched with growing feelings of worship -tremulous threads of delicate colour running searchingly -into the sombre concave of the departing -night, saw the flood of palest golden light appear, -and then springing into its midst ablaze with glory, -majesty, and life, the sun. And the land out of sight. -His head sank upon his bosom, and he thanked -God for deliverance. Yet, having done so, he could -not help a sinking at his heart as he looked aft at -those two crouching forms—one so inexpressibly -precious to him, the other a sacred charge because—well, -because of right and truth and honour. He -knew that upon him, under God, depended their lives, -although he did not then know how far gone the -skipper was. And just one little moan escaped him -as he thought how ill-provided they were for a long -cruise in those unfrequented seas. Then hope revived -again as he felt, because of his ignorance, that he -could not sail far in any direction without making -land, and land meant food and water, and (but that -he did not trouble about) savages, cannibals made, if -possible, worse than they were by nature by the utter -villainy of white men far more culpable than they.</p> - -<p>Then, treading softly as a cat, he stepped over the -thwarts aft again, and as he did so Priscilla lifted her -wan face to his, saying calmly:</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</span></p> -<p>‘Are we safe from pursuit?’</p> - -<p>Rube nodded: he could not trust himself to -speak.</p> - -<p>‘Then, will you see what you can do for Captain -Da Silva. I—I am afraid he is badly injured.’</p> - -<p>With one glance at the boat fore and aft and a -satisfied noting of the little darkness on the water -which betokened the coming breeze, Rube obeyed, -and stooped to the Captain’s side. As soon as he -did so he saw to his horror that the stickiness they -had both felt during the darkness was blood; the -skipper had been wounded in many places, and his -blood, aided by the salt water, had congealed upon -him and stopped its own flow, or he would have been -dead long before.</p> - -<p>‘Ma’am,’ said Rube unsteadily, ‘I’ll dew my best -fur the Cap’n, but, as yew k’n see, that isn’t much. -He’s badly cut, an’ I daren’t interfere with his hurts -’cause at present they’ve stopped bleedin’, and if I -tech him an’ start ’em agen I mayn’t be able to stanch -th’ flow then. Pity I got nothin’ t’ give him but a -little soak biscuit an’ water. P’raps you’ll take a -little yewrself, ma’am, at the same time t’ keep up -yewr strength and courage.’</p> - -<p>The ghost of a smile flickered for a second about -her white lips, and she said simply, ‘Thank you. -You are very kind. What shall I call you?’</p> - -<p>He answered shortly, with a tightening at the -heart, ‘My name’s Rube, ma’am—at least, that’s -what I get usually. Call me thet, if ye don’t mind.’</p> - -<p>And then he busied himself with the preparation -of the simple meal, measuring crumb and drop as if -each represented so many minutes of life, and -deciding that, as for himself, he could go a much<span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</span> -longer time yet before encroaching upon the small -stock which must suffice for them all. The breeze -freshening, he set the sail again, and, hauling the -boat’s head as near the wind as she would lie, found -that she would make about E.N.E. on the starboard tack—by -guess, that is, for there was no compass in the -boat. And this course he chose, not because he knew -whither it would lead them, but because he saw that -it was taking them well away from those accursed isles, -of whose very name and whereabouts he was ignorant. -And having got the boat so easily trimmed that -by lashing the tiller at a certain angle she would steer -herself, coming up and falling off just as if a hand -was at the helm, he turned his attention again to the -skipper and his wife, finding that the former had -returned to a reasonable appreciation of his surroundings -and was quietly taking the biscuit pap from -Priscilla’s fingers. His filmy eyes lighted upon -Reuben, and he said in low but clear tones:</p> - -<p>‘Ah! yew never gut thet floggin’ I promised ye. -Wall, I doan’ know as I’m sorry thet yew missed it. -I guess I ben a pretty hard case ever sence I gut a -chance t’ be, ’n’ I don’t believe I ever ben sorry fur -anything I ever done befo’. I felt mad, but not sorry—no, -never. ’N’ I thought I’d go some day jest like -that. ’N’ now I kain’t. Pris’ (turning to his wife -with sudden energy), ‘I want yew t’ fergive me—I’ve -done y’ a power of harm. I ben an awful brute -t’ ye. Wut I ben t’ th’ men don’ matter—that’s wut -they’re aboard fur—but yew ben good t’ me, ’n’ I ben -a devil t’ yew. Naow I’m a-dyin’, ’n’ I don’ care a -plunk fer thet, but I’d like y’ t’ know I’m sorry fur -wut I done t’ ye. Ez fur this galoot, I don’t know -who he is er wut he is, ’n’ ef I a-hed my way with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</span> -him he’d a-hed a pretty tough time, but I do b’lieve -he ain’t half bad. Kiender soft mebbe fur all he’s so -big an’ hefty, but I think he’ll put ye through in -shape. An’ ——’ But then the voice suddenly melted -into a few unintelligible sounds, and again the skipper’s -head sank on to his wife’s lap and he was silent in -another swoon. Rube looked at him helplessly for a -moment, then, reflecting that the best thing for him -would be to concentrate his mind upon the only -thing he could do—viz., the handling of the boat—he -stepped thoughtfully back to the tiller, and cast -his eye first over the boat herself, then all around. -She was going sweetly along, unguided, like a creature -of intelligence, and as if she needed no human -intervention, so, satisfied of this, Rube busied himself -in making everything within her as neat and ship-shape -as possible. Having done all he could at this, -he counted their treasured biscuit, felt the weight of -the water supply, and looked inquiringly at Priscilla, -holding up the little wooden beaker or piggin with -one hand and pointing to the keg with the other. -But Priscilla, moistening her parched lips as well as -she could, shook her head, giving a meaning glance -at the little bucket wherein he had soaked the biscuit -of which she and the Captain had been partaking, -to show him that there was still some left.</p> - -<p>Just as Rube was wondering what he could do -next for her comfort, and his own satisfaction, there -was a commotion in the water alongside, and with a -series of sharp taps against the sides and bottom of -the boat, half-a-dozen large flying-fish fell into her in -their hurried rush upwards from the onslaught of a -big albacore, which went sweeping past with one of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</span> -their late comrades thwartwise in his mouth. In a -moment Rube had gathered the welcome little wanderers -together and hidden them all out of the sun’s -rays but one. This he cleaned with the utmost delicacy -and filleted, cutting the fillets into dainty narrow strips. -With half-a-dozen of them balanced on his knife-blade, -he approached Priscilla, who had been watching him -languidly, saying, ‘Here, ma’am, is suthin’ that’ll dew -yew and the skipper both good. It’s cool and moist, -an’ ef yew shet yew eyes fur a minit yew’ll be -surprised haow easy yew can take it. Thousan’s of -people prefer it this way t’ cooked. ’N’ I’ll dry some -fur ye then, only it ain’t so good fur ye because of its -makin’ y’ thirsty, an’ water’s none too plentiful.’ -With utmost docility she roused herself, took the -tender looking strips, and put one of them to her -husband’s cracked lips. His mouth opened mechanically -and his jaws moved, but he had no power to -swallow, and his breath began to come and go -laboriously. Putting one hand under his head, she -beckoned Rube with the other, whispering, ‘Is he -dying? Can’t you <i>do</i> anything for him?’</p> - -<p>With a fervent petition for aid to do the right -thing, for wisdom to see it, Rube stepped to her side -and took the Captain’s weight off Priscilla’s arm upon -his own. There was, even to a man with as little -experience of death as Rube’s, but scanty room to -doubt that Captain Da Silva was going to his account. -And then, incredible as it may seem to most of us, -this simple-minded Christian man, forgetting all else -but the pitiable plight of the sufferer before him, -actually burst suddenly into earnest prayer that he -might be spared—if only for a little while—spared to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</span> -repent of the evil done and intended. But as he -prayed he was conscious of something, he knew not -what, driving into his mind the certainty that his -prayer was not to be granted. That Ramon Da -Silva had done all the direct ill he was to be allowed -to do. Rube’s voice ceased, the skipper’s eyes opened, -glazed and fixed, his lower jaw dropped heavily, and -he was dead. Catching Priscilla’s eyes fixed earnestly -upon his face, Reuben said solemnly, ‘He’s dead, -ma’am, and the rest is with God.’ ‘May God have -mercy upon him now,’ she replied.</p> - -<p>Until the evening scarcely another word was -spoken by either of them, both busy with their own -thoughts. But just before sunset, Rube said questioningly, -‘We kain’t do no good, and may do much -harm, by keeping the body any longer: d’ you mind -my offering up a prayer an’ committin’ it to th’ -deep?’ She answered humbly, ‘Do what you -think is right—I am willing. God knows I have -every confidence in you.’ So Rube sank upon his -knees on the thwart, and with bowed head commended -the dead man to the mercy of the Merciful. -Then he rose, and with a sudden heave of his great -shoulders, lifted the piece of clay; there was a sullen -splash, an eddy, and all that was mortal of Ramon -Da Silva had disappeared for ever from human sight.</p> - -<p>With an unutterable sense of relief Reuben turned -to the business of living, and bringing forth his little -store of filleted fish and a handful of broken biscuits -gently pressed Priscilla to eat. She at once commenced -to try, only stipulating that he should also -take something, for she felt sure that, since the -catastrophe, at any rate, he had not broken his fast.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</span> -He gravely acceded to her wish and began to eat, -but had only taken two or three mouthfuls when he -laid down the morsel he was conveying to his lips, -put both hands to his face, and, his huge body shaken -as with ague, burst into a tempest of sobs. Priscilla -watched him in awe-stricken silence, until she, too, -moved beyond bearing by such a passion in this quiet, -self-possessed man, began to weep. But as soon as -she did, Rube, by a tremendous effort, regained command -of himself and began in tenderest fashion to -speak such comforting words to her as his close -acquaintance with the Source of all comfort had -given him possession of. But be it noted, neither his -consolation nor Priscilla’s distress had any reference -to their present desperate condition whatever. That -apparently gave them no uneasiness. These tears of -Priscilla’s were due to reaction, to self-pity perhaps a -little, but principally were an evidence of the passing -away of an awful bondage. Such tears as a prisoner -might shed on first emerging from a loathsome captivity -in an underground dungeon into the blessed -light of Heaven—free.</p> - -<p>There is no need to enlarge upon the cause of -Rube’s breakdown: if it be not palpable, it would be -futile to explain.</p> - -<p>Now he was torn with a raging conflict between -his desires and his fears. Would Priscilla, after all, -love him? Dare he make himself known without -appearing to take any unmanly advantage of her -helplessness, her utter need of some strong arm upon -which to lean, whether she loved its owner or not so -long as he was kind? Foolish—oh, yes, but quite -natural where such faithful love as Rube’s reigns<span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</span> in a -man’s heart, allied with such a distrust of self as he -possessed. So he sat speaking to Priscilla such -things as he found best to say with this backlash of -harassing thoughts occupying one corner of his brain, -and causing his eyes to shine with almost audible -intensity. And presently lifting her head Priscilla’s -gaze met his. For a moment she stared spellbound, -then gasped, ‘Rube, it’s <i>you</i>, it’s <span class="allsmcap">YOU</span>. O God, -how good You are to me!’ And she bent towards -him. All his fears were forgotten now, all his delicate -self-tormenting diffidences vanished like breath-mist -from a diamond, and he took her to his broad -breast as a mother takes her infant, yearningly, -hungrily.</p> - -<p>The boat sailed on steadily into the blankness of -the horizon, hunger and thirst, and dreadful outlook -all forgotten, and in that happy hour each lived a -lifetime of perfect joy, feeling that, come what might, -the price to pay would not be grudged by them. -Then, with a sigh of perfect content, they released -one another, and Rube, feeling as if the strength of -ten lay in his great frame, the wisdom of a dozen old -sea-captains had accumulated in his brain, set about -preparing for the night. He felt ready to wrestle -with death itself for her as Jacob did with the angel, -and with no more fear. And she followed him with -her eyes as he busied himself about the boat and made -ready their tiny meal. It was so sweet to feel once -more the presence of unselfish love ready to do and -dare all things for her. If the prospect of that wide -sea-plain and their utter loneliness upon it, and the -knowledge of their want of food, did for a moment -give her a chilly feeling as of the approach of darkness,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</span> -it was only momentary: one glance again at his -bright, brave, calm face dispelled it, and brought -instead the glow of perfect happiness—that is, as -nearly perfect as a spirit clothed with flesh can feel.</p> - -<p>They took their evening morsel of food, and -uttered their evening prayers sitting hand in hand -like little children, and with as little care or fear for -the future as babes would have; they saw the bright -sky darken into the violet of the night, while the -gentle breeze held steadily and the boat still swept -quietly forward to the east. Rube made Priscilla as -comfortable as possible, sacrificing the jib’s usefulness -for the night in order to protect her from the drenching -dew, and as she laid her head down upon his coat -rolled up for a pillow she gave a happy little sigh, -murmured, ‘Thank you, dear,’ put up her face to be -kissed as a tired child would out of its cot, and went -instantly to sleep. Rube, noting this with intense -satisfaction, composed himself upon the little deck -aft, where he could look down upon Priscilla’s form, -cast off the tiller, and, sitting with it under his arm, -steered the boat steadily by the wind, still making, -as nearly as he could judge by the stars, about a N.E. -course. So through the night he sat, and dozed and -woke alternately, never finding any alteration in the -pose of that recumbent figure beneath him, never -needing to do aught but just sit still and commune -with his own thoughts. Strangely enough, do what -he would he could not feel any apprehension for the -future. Again and again he endeavoured to depict -Priscilla and himself dying of hunger and thirst under -the great solemn eye of heaven. Again and again -he recalled his experiences in the <i>Xiphias</i>’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</span> boat when -all the bitterness of such a death was actually undergone, -and the survivors were literally haled back from -the dark entry of the grave. But no answering tremor -came. Not even when he thought of his father and -mother, those waiting, lonely figures sitting by their -cosy but quiet fireside praying for him. Ah—that -was it. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous -man availeth much, and whether he (and <i>she</i>) were -to live or die, the peace which they were enjoying -was undoubtedly due to that stream of real prayer -ascending continually from the Eddy Homestead for -the wanderers on unknown seas.</p> - -<p>Therefore, in the morning, as daylight filled the -sky, he faced the waking Priscilla with a countenance -scarcely less bright. He drew her a bucket of water -from overside, and recommended a sluicing of hands, -and face, and neck, telling her that for the next half-hour -it would be necessary for him to seat himself -upon the bow and look steadfastly ahead in case in -that clear dawn-light some vessel should be visible. -And when such a toilet as she was able to make was -completed, a word from her would bring him aft on -the jump supposing his vigil were not over. She -smiled gratefully, appreciatively; and met him -presently, when in response to her call he came -leaping aft, with a face so bright and rosy in spite -of its thinness that an involuntary exclamation of -wonder and admiration burst from him. Then they -sat down to their frugal breakfast of water and biscuit—the -fish was now too stale to eat, unless they were -much more ravenous than at present—and for sauce -they had reminiscences, all that Rube could remember -on both sides of the blank, and all that she <i>would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</span></i> recall -of the doings of her dead husband. Then Rube, -interesting Priscilla greatly, produced a hook and -line which he had found stowed away in the ‘eyes’ of -the boat. Carefully mounting a strongly smelling -flying fish upon the hook, he trolled it astern, and in -a few minutes succeeded in flinging into the boat a -beautiful coryphena, or dolphin as the sailor calls -it, of over ten pounds in weight. A portion of -its flesh was cut off, and preserved for bait, a portion -was carefully prepared for the next meal—they did -not mind raw fish now—and the rest cleansed, and cut -in strips, was laid in the sun to dry. And then they -thanked God, ate another meal, and took courage.</p> - -<p>On the fourth morning, although they had caught -plenty of fish—for in those prolific seas the deep-sea -denizens swarm—they drank their last drop of water. -They had husbanded it carefully, and as at the -outset there was but little over a gallon, it had lasted -well. But even now they did not feel dismayed. -Amid their terrible surroundings they were quite, or -nearly quite, happy. That same strange assurance -enjoyed by Rube had communicated itself to Priscilla, -and together they discussed their meeting with the -dear old people, and all the wonderments that people -so entirely ignorant of what had been happening -since their departure might naturally be supposed to -entertain. They caught a skip-jack that day, a kind -of vivacious mackerel, weighing about five pounds, -and almost gaily munched its juicy flesh, which was -so grateful to their already parching mouths.</p> - -<p>Then, at the close of day, as usual—it seemed as -if they had been thus associated for a lifetime—they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</span> -prayed, kissed each other good-night, and Priscilla -went to sleep, while Rube, as usual, sat erect and -dozed. He was suddenly awakened by a great glare -of light which dazzled him, proceeding from he knew -not where. Next moment a clear voice sounded -across the blackness following upon the blaze: ‘Boat -ahoy!’ ‘Hallo,’ replied the deep tones of Rube. -And then he saw the towering form of a ship, her -green light glaring down at him as if in judicial -inquiry just overhead. In fact, so close that only by -putting his tiller hard over and bringing his boat up -in the wind he escaped running into her with a crash. -A side ladder was lowered, a couple of agile men -glided down ropes into the boat, and in less than ten -minutes Rube and Priscilla stood upon the deck of -H.M.S. <i>Alcestis</i>, surveying ship, to whose splendid lookout -they owed their rescue, and whose crew they had -provided with a babblement of talk that was already -surging throughout the remotest corners of the ship.</p> - -<p>A cabin was immediately found for Priscilla, and -the wardroom attendants could not sufficiently show -their zeal and readiness to anticipate her every want. -Rube, brought before a charming young-looking officer, -was interrogated as to the how and why of this -miraculous appearance in mid-Pacific in a boat, at -night with one woman, but not before he had been -offered and had refused a glass of grog and a cigar, and -had accepted instead a plate of soup on the condition -that some was first given to Priscilla.</p> - -<p>So Reuben told his tale to the Captain of the -man-o’-war, and whether the sentry at the door had -his ear to the keyhole all the while or not I don’t -know, but certain it is that almost as <span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</span>soon as Reuben -retired for the rest of the night to a comfortable -berth, having first visited Priscilla’s cabin and found -her supremely happy, his story was the common -property of the ship’s company, and he could have -had any one of them shed blood, their own or -another’s, for him. Of that, of course, there was no -need, but anyone who knows the British man-o’-warsman, -officer or seaman, needs not to be told that -on arrival at Honolulu the paymaster of the <i>Alcestis</i> -handed over to Reuben a sum of money sufficient -for all reasonable expenses and fare to Vermont. -Among those <i>reasonable</i> expenses was included the -cost of a wedding at the English church, to which -over one hundred of the <i>Alcestis’</i> crew invited themselves, -and made those proceedings vibrate with their -own enthusiasm. I regret to say, though, that after -escorting the newly wedded pair on board the mail -steamer bound to ’Frisco, and cheering themselves -hoarse as she departed, several of those gallant blue-jackets -were found so full of spirits, animal and -vegetable, that it became necessary for the preservation -of the public peace to put them under lock and -key, with serious results to themselves.</p> - -<p>Reuben and his adoring wife had no more -adventures. They were the heroes of the passengers -and crew of the <i>Golden Gate</i>, and they had much ado -to dodge the wily reporters in the Queen City of the -West. Nor were they able to prevent the appearance -of their histories (with such extraordinary verbal -embellishments as the said reporters deemed it -necessary to add) in the flamboyant local newspapers. -But in due time they found themselves travelling -together the quiet moss-grown paths between Boston -and the home farm, and arriving at the door of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</span> -Eddy Homestead to be received as the latest and -best gifts of a loving God to the faithful old couple -who had never wavered in the long waiting for them, -nor doubted that they would come. Also it seems -an anti-climax to record their settling down to a -happy, useful, and loving life in the old farm of -Priscilla’s youth, kept in readiness for them by Rube’s -father against the day of their return.</p> - -<p>It was somewhat of a wrench for them to be compelled -to make a journey to New Bedford and depose -to the circumstances in which the <i>Grampus</i> was -lost, and there always remained a sense of something -incomplete in Reuben’s mind about the early days of -his departure from New Bedford, and the intervening -months before awaking on board the <i>Grampus</i>. But -these ripples made no impression upon the steady -flow of their stream of happiness. Brother Will came -to see them from Chicago, portly and full of dollar-talk, -being almost a millionaire, and departed West -again, feeling that there was, after all, something -which even dollars could not buy, and that Rube and -his sister possessed the chief of those things.</p> - -<p>Here let us leave the much-tried pair, nestling -under the wing of the Loving Father, whose watchful -care had been over them through all their perils, being -serenely carried onwards to a golden sunset.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<i>Spottiswoode & Co. Ltd., Printers, New-street Square, London.</i><br /> -</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</span></p> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WORKS">WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.</h2> -</div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</span></p> - -<h3>WITH CHRIST AT SEA<br /> -A RELIGIOUS AUTOBIOGRAPHY.</h3> - -<p class="center">Fifth Edition. Crown 8vo. cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>‘There is not a dull page in the whole narrative.’—<span class="smcap">Times.</span></p> - -<p>‘Those who are acquainted with Mr. Bullen’s work will -know that he cannot fail to compel the attention of his readers. -He writes with a sincerity and a simplicity which lend a great -charm to all he does.... He has much to say of the conditions -of the service in which he spent many years, and most of -what he tells us is extremely interesting. Moreover, to those -who love the sea the book is worth reading for its description -of the varied moods, the storm and stress, the calm benignity, -the delicate play of the ocean on which this religious life is -spent.’—<span class="smcap">Daily Telegraph.</span></p> - -<p>‘Mr. Bullen has told the story of his inner life of faith as it -grew amid the very real hardships and temptations of his life -at sea. And by doing so, we do not doubt that he will have -given to many men and boys the best help a fellow-man can -give in their own struggle with like circumstance. Had he -kept his book back for posthumous publication, he would probably -have considerably lessened, as well as postponed, the -good it is calculated to do, for the help to be got out of a biography -is very much increased by the contemporaneousness of -the experiences it records.’—<span class="smcap">Spectator.</span></p> - -<p>‘We count this one of the most daring books ever printed—a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</span> -book in which a very powerful writer has risked a great -reputation for Christ’s sake. It is quite as fascinating as the -book that made him, only in another kind of way. For simple -verity, for power to make the thing live before readers, few -autobiographies have the power of this. We could not put it -down until we were through with it, and as we were going -through we could not command our tears. The book will do a -world of good; and, we say again, the witness is a very brave -one, manfully borne.’— -<span class="smcap">Methodist Times.</span></p> - -<p>‘As a human document nothing more interesting of its -kind has appeared for many years.... No one can doubt on -reading this book that Mr. Bullen has lived his religion. -There is so little to be gained by professing to be a Christian -at sea that a man who does profess to be a Christian probably -is a Christian. If his rule is made applicable to the author of -this book the present writer records his impression for what it -is worth, that Mr. Bullen is one who has lived the Life, and that -his account of it is interesting and manly.’— -<span class="smcap">Daily Chronicle.</span></p> - -<p>‘One of the most popular books that he has written.... -Mr. Bullen, as usual, writes with considerable charm, and will -once again elicit the sympathy and admiration of all who -peruse his pages.’—<span class="smcap">Westminster Gazette.</span></p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h3 id="THE_APOSTLES_OF_THE_SOUTH-EAST">THE APOSTLES OF THE SOUTH-EAST</h3> -</div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</span></p> -<p class="center">Second Edition. Crown 8vo. cloth, 6<i>s.</i></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>‘The story is touching and impressive, and fully establishes -what we believe to be the real point about which Mr. Bullen is -zealous—that there are no actually Godless corners anywhere -in the world, simply because though men may forget God, God -does not forget men, and in some way or other witness is borne -to the truth of the spiritual life in the darkest times, and the -most seemingly abandoned places.’—<span class="smcap">Spectator.</span></p> - -<p>‘One of the most beautiful religious stories ever written. -Mr. Bullen’s incomparable knowledge of the details of the -sailor’s life is displayed as wonderfully as in his earliest books.’— -<span class="smcap">British Weekly.</span></p> - -<p>‘An inspiring book, and charmingly written.’— -<span class="smcap">Methodist Recorder.</span></p> - -<p>‘The whole tone of the book is healthy, inspirational, and -hopeful.’—<span class="smcap">Methodist Times.</span></p> - -<p>‘A story as interesting as any that could be written.’— -<span class="smcap">Daily News.</span></p> - -<p>‘A remarkable book, interesting in the extreme to really -religious readers as giving a view—accurate, the writer protests—of -a phase of London life very little known and hardly ever -realised by middle-or upper-class people.’—<span class="smcap">Record.</span></p> - -<p>‘No one knows better how to make his characters picturesque, -and yet actually faithful to nature, than does Mr. Bullen, and -these humble Christians of the slums of Rotherhithe are -wonderfully life-like. “The Apostles of the South-East” have -been drawn from real life, and are sketched with all that vigour -and fidelity that are so characteristic of the writer.’—<span class="smcap">Rock.</span></p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h3 class="nobreak" id="WITH_CHRIST_IN_SAILORTOWN">WITH CHRIST IN SAILORTOWN</h3> -</div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</span></p> -<p class="center">With Illustrations. Fcp. 8vo. cloth, 1<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>‘It stands apart from books of a similar kind, not only -because of the writer’s unique experience of the sailor’s life, -but because of the high literary gifts which he can bring to his -task; and it will help the public to know more than they do of -an excellent work which appeals, above all, to Englishmen.’—<span class="smcap">Literature.</span></p> - -<p>‘Never has the pathetic side of sailor life been more -vividly presented.’—<span class="smcap">Birmingham Daily Gazette.</span></p> - -<p>‘We congratulate the author without reserve upon the -judicious and generous use which he has made of his remarkable -ability and popularity.’—<span class="smcap">Manchester Guardian.</span></p> - -<p>‘Everybody should buy it, read, mark, learn, and inwardly -digest it, and do all in his power to forward the amelioration -and Christianisation of our merchant seamen, which implies -the creation of an adequate Royal Naval Reserve.’—<span class="smcap">Queen.</span></p> - -<p>‘It is written with sympathy and vivacity; and is full of -inimitable touches which throw into relief the manly sympathy -and moral courage of the writer, as well as the peculiar needs -of the poor fellows of whom he writes at once so wisely and so -well.’—<span class="smcap">Leeds Mercury.</span></p> -</div> -<hr /> -<p> </p> -<p class="center">London: HODDER & STOUGHTON, 27 Paternoster Row, E.C.</p> - -<p> </p> -<hr /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="transnote"> -<p>Transcriber's Note:</p> -<p>A number of typographical errors have been corrected silently.</p> -<p>Books by the Same Author added to Table of Contents.</p> -</div> - -</div> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="pgx" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WHALEMAN'S WIFE***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 65718-h.htm or 65718-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/5/7/1/65718">http://www.gutenberg.org/6/5/7/1/65718</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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