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diff --git a/21085.txt b/21085.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9aa2f8f --- /dev/null +++ b/21085.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10549 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Wreck of the Nancy Bell, by J. C. Hutcheson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wreck of the Nancy Bell + Cast Away on Kerguelen Land + +Author: J. C. Hutcheson + +Illustrator: W. S. Stacey + +Release Date: April 15, 2007 [EBook #21085] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRECK OF THE NANCY BELL *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + + +The Wreck of the Nancy Bell; or, Cast Away on Kerguelen Land + +By John Conroy Hutcheson +___________________________________________________________ + +A well-written nautical novel by J.C. Hutcheson. The "Nancy +Bell" appears to be a well-found ship, on its way out from +the United Kingdom to New Zealand, but she is beset early +on by a severe storm which leaves her rudderless and +mastless. One of the passengers was an ex Royal Navy +Commander who, for some reason, was travelling incognito. +He had offered the Captain advice which was rejected as the +Captain thought it came from a landsman. Very possibly, +had he heeded that advice, the whole train of disasters +might not have occurred. + +Hutcheson has a habit of introducing characters who speak +in their own form of English. In this case he has a +Jamaican, an Irishman, and a Yankee, all speaking with +their own native versions of the language. For good +measure there is also a Norwegian, who has to make himself +understood in a mixture of German and English. All this +makes for a rather difficult book to transcribe, but I hope +we have got it right. + +Eventually the vessel is wrecked just off Kerguelen Island, +where the crew and passengers land and build themselves a +shelter to take them through the winter. There had been a +mutiny just before the wreck, and some of the crew had +landed elsewhere, but eventually one or two men who had not +been the actual mutineers, but who had got caught up in +events, make their way back to the main party. + +When spring arrives they make their way to the other side +of Kerguelen Island, by a route which includes an overland +traverse by boat, portaging where necessary. Eventually a +vessel comes in, and they are saved. + +Hutcheson is very good at getting his characters to appear +quite real, and for this reason he is a good author to +follow. + +___________________________________________________________ + +THE WRECK OF THE NANCY BELL; +OR, CAST AWAY ON KERGUELEN LAND + +by JOHN CONROY HUTCHESON + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +OUTWARDS BOUND. + +"How's her head?" exclaimed Captain Dinks, the moment his genial, rosy, +weather-beaten face appeared looming above the top-rail of the companion +way that led up to the poop from the saloon below, the bright mellow +light of the morning sun reflecting from his deep-tanned visage as if +from a mirror, and making it as radiant almost as the orb of day. + +"West-sou'-west, sorr," came the answer, ere the questioner could set +foot on the deck, in accents short, sharp, prompt, and decisive, albeit +with a strong Milesian flavour, from the chief mate. He was the officer +of the watch, and was standing alongside the man at the wheel on the +weather-side of the ship, with a telescope under his arm and a keen look +of attention in his merry, twinkling grey eyes. + +"Ha-hum!" muttered the captain to himself reflectively. "I wish the +wind would shift over more to the nor'ard, and we'd then be able to +shape a better course; we're going far too much to the west to please +me! I suppose," he added in a louder tone, addressing the mate again, +"she isn't making any great way yet since daylight, McCarthy, eh?" + +"No, sorr, leastways, Captain Dinks," replied that worthy, a genuine +thorough-going Irishman, "from the crown of his head to the sole of his +fut," as he would have said himself, and with a shaggy head of hair and +beard as red as that of the wildest Celt in Connemara, besides being +blessed with a "brogue" as pronounced as his turned-up nose--on which +one might have hung a tea-kettle on an emergency, in the hope that its +surroundings would supply the requisite fire and fuel for boiling +purposes. "No, sorr, no way at all at all, sure! Not more'n five +knots, cap'en honey, by the same token, the last time we hove the log at +six bells, bad cess to it!" + +"Everything drawing, too, slow and aloft!" said the captain, with just a +shade of discontent in his cheery voice, as he took in with a quick, +sailor-like glance the position of the ship and every detail of the +swelling pyramids of canvas that towered up on each mast from deck to +sky--the yards braced round sharp, almost fore and aft, the huge square +sails flattened like boards, the tremulous fluttering of the flying jib, +and occasional gybing of the spanker, showing how close up to the wind +the vessel was being steered. "You couldn't luff her a bit more, +McCarthy, could you?" he added, after another glance at the compass and +a murmured "steady!" to the steersman. + +"Not a ha'porth, sorr," replied the mate sorrowfully, as if it went to +his heart to make the announcement. "I had the watch up only jist a +minit ago; an' if you'll belave me, Cap'en Dinks, we've braced up the +yards to the last inch the sheets will run, bad cess to thim!" + +"Well, well, I suppose we'll have to put up with it; though it's rather +disheartening to have this sou'-wester right in one's teeth before we +have cleared the Chops of the Channel, after all our good luck in having +so fair a wind down with us from the Nore!" + +The captain still spoke somewhat disconsolately; but, his temperament +was of too bright and elastic a nature to allow him long to look merely +on the dark side of things. Soon, he saw something to be cheerful over, +in spite of the adverse influence of Aeolus; and this was, as it +appeared to him, the wonderful progress the ship was making, although +sailing, close-hauled as she was, with the wind right before the beam. + +"Now, isn't she a beauty, though, McCarthy," he said presently, with a +sort of triumphant ring in his speech, after gazing for a few moments in +silence over the taffrail astern at the long foaming wake the vessel was +leaving behind her, spread out like a glittering silver fan across the +illimitable expanse of greenish-tinged water. "Isn't she a beauty to +behave as she does under the circumstances! There are not many ships +laden like her that would make five knots out of a foul wind, as she is +now doing, eh?" + +"That there ain't, sorr," promptly returned the other with hearty +emphasis, only too glad to have the opportunity of agreeing with his +skipper. "An' jist you wait, sorr, till we get into the nor'-east +trades; an' by the powers we'll say the crathur walk away from us, like +one of thim race-horses on the Skibbereen coorse whin you're a standin' +still and a watchin' thim right foreninst you." + +"Aye, that we will, McCarthy," chimed in Captain Dinks, now all good +humour again, chuckling with anticipated pleasure and rubbing his hands +together gleefully. "I wouldn't wish for a better ship under me in fair +wind or foul than the _Nancy Bell_. Bless her old timbers, she's +staunch and sound from truck to keelson, and the smartest clipper that +ever sailed out of the London Docks--when she has anything like decent +weather!" + +"That she is, sorr, plaze the pigs!" chorused the Irishman to this paean +of praise, which might have run on to an interminable length if it had +not been just then interrupted by the mate's suddenly raising his gilt- +banded cap in nautical salute to a new-comer, who now appeared on the +scene. + +Captain Dinks, at once "cutting short" any further rhapsodical encomiums +he may have contemplated anent the merits of the _Nancy Bell_, turned +round. + +"Ah, good morning, Mr Meldrum," said he in cordial tones, raising his +cap politely like his chief officer. "You are early on deck: an old +sailor, I presume!" + +"Good morning, Captain Dinks," smilingly replied the gentleman +addressed, one of the few saloon passengers who patronised the cuddy of +the New Zealand clipper on her present voyage. He had only just that +moment come up from below, tempted to turn out by the genial brightness +of the lovely June morning; and, as he emerged from the companion +hatchway, he bent his steps along the poop towards the binnacle, by +which the captain and his aide-de-camp were standing. "Yes," he +continued, in answer to the former's question, "I have had a voyage or +two in my time, and one is accustomed to keep early hours at sea." + +"Begorrah, ye're right, sorr!" ejaculated the Irish mate, with an +empressment that showed his earnestness. "An' a dale too airly for some +ov us sometimes. Sure, an' a sailor's loife is a dog's loife entirely!" + +"Shut up, you old humbug!" said the captain with a laugh, turning to the +passenger; "Why, to hear him you would think McCarthy to be one of those +lazy lubbers who are never content unless they are caulking below, +snoozing their wits away whilst the sun is scorching their eyes out; +whereas, he's the most active and energetic seaman I ever met with in +all my experience at sea, man and boy, for the last thirty years. Look +you, Mr Meldrum, he never waits to be roused out by any chance when +it's his watch on deck; while, should the weather be at all nasty, you +really can't get him to go below and turn in--it is `spell ho' with him +with a vengeance, night and day alike!" + +"Don't you belave his blarney, sorr," put in the mate eagerly, bursting +into a roar of merriment, although blushing purple with delight the +while at the skipper's compliment. "Why, sorr, whin I go to slape +sometimes, the divil himself couldn't wake me!" + +"Ah!" rejoined Captain Dinks, "that may be when you're ashore, Tim, but +I know what you are when you're aboard ship and duty calls! I don't +forget, old man, how, under Providence," and this the captain added +reverently, taking off his cap and looking up to heaven as he spoke, +"you saved the _Nancy Bell_ on our last voyage home--no, Tim, I don't +forget!" + +"Aye, aye, Cap'en Dinks," replied the other, not to be beaten, "true for +you, sorr; but, where was yoursilf the whilst, I'd like to know, and +what could I have done without your hilp sure, wid all your +blatheration?" + +"Nonsense, Tim," returned the captain, giving the mate a slap on the +back which must have taken his breath away for the moment, as it made +him reel again, and then holding out his hand, which the other grasped +with a vice-like grip, in a paw that resembled more in size and shape a +leg of mutton than anything else--"Tip us your fist, my hearty, and let +us say no more about it!" + +It would have done anyone's heart good to see the way in which these two +brave men--sailors both every inch of them--then looked each other +straight in the eyes, a smile of satisfaction illumining their faces, as +if each had reason to be proud of the other, their hands locked in a +friendly clasp that was true to the death! + +As for Mr Meldrum, the passenger, who was a delighted observer of the +good feeling existing between the captain and second in command of the +vessel in which, like Caesar, he had "embarked himself and all his +fortunes," and was now journeying across the surface of the deep--a good +feeling that was fairly indicative of everything going well on the +voyage--he was so carried away by the spirit of the moment that he felt +inclined to ask that the general hand-shaking might be "passed round for +the good of the crowd." What is more, he immediately put his "happy +thought" into execution; whereupon, much fist-squeezing ensued between +the trio, the steersman looking on with a grin of complacency at the +fraternal exhibition, and gripping the spokes of the wheel more firmly, +as it were, out of a sort of fellow-sympathy, as he kept the ship "full +and by!" + +"Tim McCarthy and I are old shipmates," said Captain Dinks presently, as +if apologising for the little ebullition of sentiment that had just +taken place, "and we've seen some rough times together." + +"Pray don't mention it," said Mr Meldrum; "your friendly feelings do +you both honour! But, how are we getting on, captain," he added, to +change the subject, "the ship seems to be slipping along through the +water?" + +"Pretty well, but not so well as I could wish. We've got an obstinate +head-wind against us, and cannot quite lay on our proper course; so I +don't think we'll be able to log much of a run when we take the sun at +noon. The wind looks like shifting now, however, so the next twenty- +four hours may tell a different tale." + +As the captain spoke, the sails flapped ominously against the masts; +and, in obedience to a motion of the mate's hand, the steersman had to +let the vessel's head fall off a little more to the westward, in order +to fill the canvas again and make it draw. + +"I think, cap'en, we'd better thry her on the other tack," said the +Irishman after a pause. "The wind's headin' us sure!" + +"All right, McCarthy," answered the captain, "go forwards and call the +watch, and we'll see about getting her about." + +Handing the captain the telescope, which he had retained until now under +his left arm, apparently regarding it as the badge of his authority as +officer of the watch--an authority which he now relinquished to his +chief--the mate was down the poop ladder and on the deck below in "a +brace of shakes;" and, in another moment, his voice was heard in +stentorian tones ringing through the ship fore and aft. "Hands 'bout +ship!" + +The cry was like the wave of an enchanter's wand in the realms of Fairy- +land; for, where all had been previously quiet and easy-going, with only +the helmsman apparently doing anything on board so far as the vessel's +progress was concerned, there was now a scene of bustle, noise, and +motion,--men darting forwards to flatten the headsails and aft to ease +off the boom sheets, and others to their allotted stations, waiting for +the well-known orders from the captain, who stood in the centre of the +poop, with the passenger beside him, looking on with a critical eye at +the way in which the manoeuvre should be executed. + +"All ready forward?" shouted the captain, as soon as he saw the crew at +their several posts. + +"Aye, aye, sorr," replied Mr McCarthy. + +"Ready, aye ready," repeated the captain--it was a sort of catch-word of +warning to prepare the men for the next word of command, like the +"'Tention!" of the drill sergeant to his squad of recruits--and he then +waved his hand to the man at the wheel to put up the helm. + +"Helm's a lee!" was the next cry; and, instantly, the jib and foresail +began to shiver and shake as the ship's bows came up to the wind, and +the square sails flattened against the masts, while the boom of the +mizzen swung to and fro until the vessel should get out of stays and pay +off on the port tack. + +"Raise tacks and sheets!" came in rotation, and the topgallant-bowlines +were let go, ready for the next move. + +"Mainsail haul!"--and the ponderous mainyard was swung round, bringing +with it the maintopsail and topgallant yards with all their acreage of +canvas: the foreyards followed suit, when the captain shouted, "Haul of +all;"--and, after the final order, "Brace sharp!" the _Nancy Bell_ might +have been seen heading a sou'-south-east course in lieu of her former +direction to the westwards, and gaining more southing by the change. + +The mate had just returned to the poop, after seeing the watch trim the +forward sails and curl down the slack of the ropes, while Captain Dinks +was wondering why the steward had not yet summoned them down to +breakfast, considering that it was past eight bells. He was just indeed +asking Mr Meldrum whether he felt hungry or not, when suddenly a great +commotion was heard down the companion hatch, as of voices in +altercation, a crash of crockery following in rapid sequence. + +"I'd like to know what that stupid lubber is up to now," ejaculated the +captain. "He's an ignorant ass, and as slow as a mute at a funeral. +I'm sorry I had to ship him; but I had no alternative, for my old +steward was taken suddenly ill, and I had to put up with this substitute +whom he sent me just as we were leaving Plymouth." + +"Perhaps," began the passenger, as if he were about to offer some good- +natured excuse for the man's awkwardness, but his observations were +drowned by a louder clatter below than ever; and, ere the captain could +descend to ascertain the cause, the new steward rushed up the companion +ladder, with his eyes half-starting from his head, his hair standing on +end, and his face pale with terror. + +"Howly Moses!" exclaimed the mate. "Be aisy, can't ye. What's the +matter wid ye, you spalpeen, to be rooshin' on deck like a bull in a +china shop? Spake, you blissid omahdawn, or I'll shake the loife out of +ye!" + +And the Irishman, putting his brawny hands on the terrified man's +shoulders, appeared about to carry out his threat, when the unfortunate +wight stuttered out in stammering accents, "Lor-ord, sir, do-oo-oo come +below. The-eer's a ghost in the cabin; an-an-and he wants to m-m-murder +me!" the man looking the while as if he was going to faint. + +"A ghost in the cabin?" said the passenger, laughing; "and in daylight +to? Why, Captain Dinks, he must be a sort of _rara avis_--not _in +terris_, however, in this instance." + +"A ghost in the cabin?" repeated the captain, in a serious tone of +voice, with a frown on his forehead that somewhat disturbed the usual +good-humoured expression of his countenance; "we must see about this. I +don't allow any ghosts aboard my ship!" + +And, with these words he dived down the companion, followed closely by +the mate and passenger; the panic-stricken steward contenting himself +with remaining at the top of the hatchway at a safe distance from the +object that had alarmed him, although he could not help peering down +below and listening with bated breath as to what might ensue in the +cabin--heedless of the entreaties of the man at the wheel, in whom +curiosity had overpowered the sense of duty for the nonce and made to +speak in defiance of discipline, to "tell him all about it!" + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +STOWED AWAY. + +When the "party of observation" under the leadership of the captain +arrived at the foot of the companion way, nothing very alarming was +presented to their notices as there were no signs of disturbance to be +seen in the steward's pantry, which was close to hand on their right; +although, judging by the crashing sounds they had heard when on deck, +one and all would have almost sworn that a "free fight" had taken place +in that sanctum, causing its complement of crockeryware to come to +irretrievable grief. + +Nor was anything wrong to be perceived, at first sight, on entering +within the cuddy. + +On the contrary, everything there seemed in due order. The doors of the +cabins on either side, as well as those of the state-rooms at the +further end of the saloon, were closed in their ordinary way--with the +exception of one, which was opened for an instant, to allow of a night- +capped head, evidently of female ownership, peering forth for a +momentary peep round, and then immediately slammed to again; and, the +long table, which ran fore and aft the vessel the entire length of the +apartment from the foot of the mizzen mast, was neatly spread over with +a snow-white cloth, on which knives and forks were laid equi-distantly +with trim regularity, as well as other prandial paraphernalia, in +preparation for breakfast; while to complete the category, the swinging +trays above, that oscillated to and fro as the ship gave an occasional +lurch and roll to port or starboard, betrayed no lack of their proper +quota of wine-glasses, decanters, and tumblers. No, there was no trace +of any disorder here, nothing to account for that noise of a struggle +and of breakages below that had preceded the sudden uprush of the +steward to the poop. What could possibly have caused all that clatter +and commotion? + +Evidently so thinking, the captain, mate, and passenger looked at each +other in a bewildered fashion, as if each were endeavouring to solve +some knotty conundrum, and had ultimately come to the conclusion to +"give it up!" + +They had not long to wait, however, for an explanation to the mystery. + +All at once, a deep, sepulchral groan came from abaft the mizzenmast, as +if some one was being smothered in the hold below; and, almost at the +same instant, there echoed from the adjacent cabin--that whence the +night-capped head before mentioned had popped out--a shrill scream, as +of a female in distress, succeeded by the exclamation, "Gracious +goodness, help us and save us! We shall all be murdered in our beds!" + +"Be jabers," ejaculated the mate, following up the captain, who had +immediately rushed aft to the spot whence the groan had proceeded; "sure +and that's the Meejor's swate voice! I'd know it onywheres, aven in the +Bog of Allen!" + +On the captain reaching the end of the cuddy table, which had, of +course, interfered with his view, the crash of crockery which they had +heard, and which had been hitherto inexplicable, became at once clear; +for, there on the floor of the deck was the debris of a pile of plates +and scattered fragments of cups and saucers which had been suddenly +dropped by the steward in his fright and were smashed to atoms; while, +in the centre of the scene of devastation, was the dungeon-like cavity +of the after-hatchway, the cover of which had been shifted from its +coamings by the man, in order for him to get up some of the cabin +provisions from the hold, whose gloomy depths were only faintly +illumined by the feeble rays of a lantern, which as it lay on its side +rolling on the deck, participated in the general upset. + +Captain Dinks promptly took up the lantern, holding it over the open +hatchway; and, as he did so, a second groan came from below, more hollow +and sepulchral than before. + +"Who's there?" shouted the captain down the hatchway. + +There was no reply, save a fainter moan, apparently further away in the +distance, followed by a sort of gurgling sound, and then the fall of +some heavy object was heard in the hold. + +"Who's there below?" repeated the captain, endeavouring to pierce the +cimmerian darkness by waving the lighted lantern about and holding it as +far down the hatchway as his arm could reach. "Speak or I'll fire!" + +This was an empty threat of the skipper's, as he held no weapon in his +hand save the lantern; but it had the necessary effect all the same. + +"It's only me, massa," said a thick guttural voice from below; "only +me," repeated the voice pleadingly. "Goramighty, massa, don't shoot!" + +"And who's me?" interrogated the captain sternly, as the mate and the +passenger looked at each other inquiringly, a smile creeping over Mr +Meldrum's face, while the Irishman screwed up his left eye into a +palpable wink. + +"Me, Snowball, sah--a 'spectable collud genleman from Jamaikey, massa," +replied the voice in the hold. + +"And what the dickens are you doing aboard my ship?" asked Captain Dinks +in an angry tone; but the others could see that he was half-laughing as +he spoke. + +"Me want passage, sah, back home. Very bad peoples, sah, in Plymouth; +tieve all poah niggah's money and make him drunk. Snowball starbing; so +um see lubly fine ship goin' way and get aboard in shore boat wid um +last shillun: eb'ryting scramble and jumble when come on deck; so +Snowball go get in cabin, and den down in hold, where he see steward +stow um grub, and lie quiet till ship sail. When hold open, he try get +out, but can't; box fall on um foot, and Snowball holler wid pain; +steward tink um de Debbel and knock down tings. Snowball done no harm; +um bery bad wid um leg!" + +"Sure, an' it's an impedent schoundrel he is, the spalpeen!" said the +mate. "Of all the cheeky stowaways I ever came across, he bates the lot +entirely. Shall I rouse him up with a rope's end, cap'en?" + +"No, wait a bit, McCarthy," said the captain; "we'll try a little +persuasion first. Here, `Snowball,' or whatever else you call yourself, +just sling your hook out of that, and come up here. I fancy I shall be +able to accommodate you with something, besides a free passage at my +owner's expense!" + +"Can't, massa," replied the stowaway, after making a movement, as they +could hear, below, succeeded by a suppressed cry of pain; "um leg jammed +'tween box and cask: Snowball feel bery bad--tink leg go squash: can't +move um nohow." + +"Be jabers!" exclaimed the good-natured Irishman, "sure an' the poor +baste's hurt, and, by your lave, cap'en, I'll go down and say what's the +matther." + +"Do," said Captain Dinks; but ere he could get out the word, the mate, +taking his consent for granted, had caught hold of the hatchway coamings +with his powerful hands and swung himself down on to the lower deck; +reaching up afterwards for the lantern, which the captain handed him, +and then disappearing from view as he dived amongst the heterogeneous +mass of boxes and casks, and bales of goods, mingled with articles of +all sorts, with which the place was crammed. + +After a moment's absence, he came back beneath the hatchway. + +"Plaze, git a blanket or two out of one of the cabins, cap'en, to hoist +him up," said he; "the unlucky beggar sames to be injured badly, and I +think his ribs are stove in, besides a heavy box having fallen on his +leg. He hasn't got such a chape passage this toime as he expected; for +he has been more'n half suffocated in the flour hogshead where he first +stowed himself away; and, begorrah, to look at him now, with his black +face all whitened, like a duchess powthered for a ball, and his woolly +hid, and the blood all over him, as if he had been basted wid a +shillelagh at Donnybrook Fair, why, his own mother wouldn't know him. +It's small blame to that fool of a steward to be afther taking him for +somethin' onnatural, sure!" + +While the mate had been giving this explanation of the stowaway's +condition Captain Dinks had not been idle. + +With an agility of which none would have thought him capable, looking at +his thick-set and rather stout figure, he had rushed in a second to his +own cabin, which was near aft; and, dragging out a couple of railway +rugs and a coil of rope had pitched them below to the Irishman, +concluding his operations by jumping down alongside him, to aid in +releasing the injured man from his perilous position--telling the +passenger as he quitted him to "sing out" for assistance. + +"Steward!" shouted Mr Meldrum up the companion, in obedience to the +captain's injunction; but never a bit did that worthy stir in response, +nor did the ringing of a hand-bell, which the passenger saw in one of +the swing-trays above the cuddy table expedite the recalcitrant +functionary's movements, albeit it brought others to Mr Meldrum's aid. + +"What is the matter, papa dear?" said a tall, graceful, nice-looking +girl, of some eighteen summers, as she emerged from the state-room on +the starboard side of the saloon and came towards Mr Meldrum. "Florry +and I heard a heavy crash which woke us up, and then a cry of alarm, and +a rush of feet along the deck which frightened us, for we could not tell +what had happened. I dressed as fast as I could, but I wouldn't have +come out if I had not heard your voice. As for poor Florry, she says +she won't get up, and is now hiding her head under the clothes, as she +thinks there's a mutiny going on or something dreadful!" and the girl +laughed merrily as she spoke, disclosing the while a set of pearly teeth +that were beautifully regular, and coral lips that would have put a +rosebud to the blush; but, when she came up beside her father, who +looked very young to be her parent, for he barely seemed forty years of +age, she placed her hand on his arm in a caressing way, looking up into +his face with a more serious expression, as if she had merely assumed +the laugh to disguise a fear that she really felt. + +"Oh, there's nothing very dreadful happening, Kate," replied Mr +Meldrum; "only a stowaway in the hold whom the steward took for a ghost, +to the serious detriment of the breakfast things which you heard being +smashed; so, pray go back to your cabin, my dear, and soothe `poor +Florry's' alarms. We are just getting our unexpected guest up from his +temporary quarters under the saloon, and I'll call you when the coast is +clear." This he said that she might not be shocked at the sight of the +wounded man; and he felt far more comfortable when she had retired into +her state-room and shut the door of communication that opened from it +into the cuddy. + +His comfort, however, was not of very long duration. + +"I'd like to know what all this terrible hullabaloo is about?" exclaimed +a gaunt and elderly female with sharp features and a saffron-hued +complexion, coming out from the cabin on the opposite side of the deck, +where she had previously appeared for an instant when in deshabille, as +her night-capped head had evidenced. "It is positively scandalous, +disturbing first-class passengers like this in the middle of the night +and frightening them out of their wits!" + +"My dear madam," said Mr Meldrum blandly; "why, it is just on the +stroke of eight o'clock, and we'll be soon having breakfast." + +"Don't `my dear madam' me, sir," returned the lady indignantly; "my name +is Mrs Major Negus, and I insist on being treated with proper respect. +Where is the captain of the vessel, sir?" + +"Down there," said Mr Meldrum laconically, pointing to the open +hatchway. + +"And why is he not at his post, looking after the welfare of his +passengers?" demanded the lady sternly, with the voice of a merciless +judge. + +"Really I think you had better ask him," replied Mr Meldrum laughing; +"it strikes me he is now looking after the welfare of one of his +passengers, unexpected though the sable gentleman may be!" + +What Mrs Major Negus might have rejoined to this, cannot unfortunately +be told, for at that moment, just as she had drawn herself up to her +full height of some five feet ten inches, or thereabouts, and appeared +prepared to demolish Mr Meldrum for his temerity in laughing at her--in +laughing at her, forsooth; the wife of the deputy assistant comptroller- +general of Waikatoo, New Zealand--the captain called out to him to bear +a hand to raise the wounded darkey from out of his self-selected prison. +Mr Adams, the second mate, turning out of his cabin at the same time +to take his watch, the two managed to raise "Snowball"--the captain and +the Irishman easing the burden by lifting him from below. As for the +grand Mrs Major Negus, she had to content herself with looking on with +an undisguised contempt at the whole proceeding, wondering all the while +that they should dare to introduce a negro into the saloon in that +manner without having first asked her permission! + +Help generally comes when it is not specially wanted; so, by the time +the stowaway had been lifted and placed on a berth in one of the vacant +cabins, having his wounds, which were somewhat serious, seen to and +bound up, some others of the passengers appeared on the scene. + +Notably amongst these was Mr Zachariah Lathrope, of Providence, Rhode +Island, an American gentleman of a particularly inquisitive nature, but +who, professing some knowledge of medical craft, was really of some use +in this instance, as there was no regular ship surgeon on board; and, +secondly, young Master Negus, a "born imp of mischief," whose +acquaintance will be further improved as the voyage proceeds; while, +Llewellyn, the steward, summoned courage at last to descend the +companion, in company with his wife the stewardess, who had been forward +to the cook's galley in search of some early tea for the lady +passengers. Seeing her husband on the poop she had brought him below, +being, as Mr McCarthy observed, "twice the man" that her presumptive +"lord and master" could possibly have been supposed, even by his warmest +admirer. + +The mystery being thus satisfactorily explained, and the stowaway made +comfortable for the while in a much more sumptuous lodging than he ever +expected--Captain Dinks waiting to call him to account until he should +have recovered from his injuries--the debris of broken crockeryware was +cleared away, and the saloon party piped to breakfast, throughout which +meal, it need hardly be added, Llewellyn got chaffed immeasurably anent +his supernatural visitor, never having a moment's peace about his +discovery of the "ghost in the cabin" and subsequent terrific fight +therewith. + +And, all this while, the ship was tacking every now and then to make the +most out of the wind, which was shifting from the west to the south, and +veering occasionally from the east to the north; rising as it shifted +and blowing with an ever-increasing force, till the vessel was running +under reefed topsails and foresail, with her spanker half brailed up, +her spread of canvas having been reduced by degrees, in preparation for +the threatening gale that seemed coming from the south-west, that is, if +the appearances of the sea and sky were to be trusted. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +A NARROW SQUEAK. + +During the forenoon watch, the deck was in charge of Mr Adams, the +second mate--a plain, steady-going, matter-of-fact sort of man, with +none of that buoyant spirit and keen sense of humour which characterised +hid senior shipmate McCarthy, although he was a thorough sailor to the +backbone, and believed the human race to be divided into two classes, +those who were seamen and those who weren't. The wind now took a more +favourable turn, settling itself in the south-east quarter as if it +meant to remain there, thus enabling the ship to steer a better course; +and, meanwhile, the sky clearing up a bit, the threatening clouds +drifted to leeward and the sun shone out again just as it did when the +captain first came on deck in the early morning. + +Taking advantage of the change, the reefs were shaken out of the +topsails, the courses let fall again, the jib and flying-jib hoisted, +and the topgallants set; and soon, with her head steering south-west and +a half south, the _Nancy Bell_ was bounding over the waves under all +plain sail, as if anxious to make up for the time she had lost in +tacking about against the head-wind that had barred her southward +progress ever since she took her departure from the Lizard Point on the +previous day when she hauled out from the Channel. + +The breeze was freshening, and there was a nasty sort of chopping sea, +when the captain came on the poop at noon to take the sun, in order to +ascertain his longitude--an operation which would have been much more +difficult in the hazy weather that had prevailed some few hours +previous, with the zenith every now and then overcast by the fleecy +storm wrack and flying scud that came drifting across the sky as the +wind veered; but the ship was making good running, and everything bade +fair for her soon crossing the boisterous Bay of Biscay, on whose +troubled waters she had now entered. + +"She's slipping along!" said Captain Dinks to Adams, rubbing his hands +together gleefully, as he put down his sextant on the top of the saloon +skylight for a moment and gave a glance aloft and then over the side to +windward. + +"Yes, sir," replied the second mate. "Going fine--eleven knots last +heave of the lead." + +"Ah, nothing can beat her on a bowline!" said the captain triumphantly. +"She's a clipper and no mistake when she has the wind abeam: bears her +canvas well, too, for a little un!" he added, with another glance aloft, +where the sails could be seen distended to their utmost extent and +tugging at the bolt-ropes, while the topgallant-masts were bent almost +into a curve with the strain upon them and the stays aft were stretched +as tight as fiddle-strings. + +"Yes, sir; she does," agreed Adams; "but, don't you think, sir, she's +carrying on too much now that the wind has got up? I was just going to +call the hands to take in sail when you came on deck." + +"Certainly not," replied Captain Dinks, struck aghast by the very +suggestion of such a thing. "I won't have a stitch off her! Why, man +alive, you wouldn't want me to lose this breeze with such a lot of +leeway as we have to make up?" + +"No, sir; but--" + +"Hang your `buts'!" interrupted the captain with some heat. "You are a +bit too cautious, Adams. When you have sailed the _Nancy Bell_ as long +as I have you'll know what she's able to carry and what she isn't!" + +With these pregnant words of wisdom, the captain resumed possession of +his sextant and proceeded to take the altitude of the sun, shouting out +occasional unintelligible directions the while through the skylight to +Mr McCarthy, who was in his cabin below, so that he might compare the +position of the solar orb with Greenwich time as marked by the +chronometer. Then telling Adams at the end of the operation to "make it +eight bells," whereupon the tinkling sounds denoting twelve o'clock were +heard through the ship, he himself also hurried below, to "work out his +reckoning." + +On Captain Dinks coming up again, he reported that the _Nancy Bell_ had +done better than he expected for her "first day out," considering the +adverse circumstances she had had to contend with, for she had logged +more than a hundred and fifty miles; but he did not look quite so +jubilant as he had done before going below, nor did McCarthy, who now +accompanied him on deck to relieve the second mate, whose watch had +expired. + +"What's the matter, captain?" asked Mr Meldrum, with a smile, "are you +not satisfied; or, did you expect the ship to have done more?" + +The passenger was patrolling the poop, in company with his two +daughters, Kate and Florry--the latter a rompish little girl, some +twelve years old, with long golden-brown hair which the wind was making +wild havoc of, dashing it across her face as she turned, and streaming +it out to leeward behind her in picturesque confusion. The girls had +some little difficulty in walking along the deck, as it was inclined to +a considerable angle from the vessel's heeling over; but, by dint of +clutching hold of their father, which they did with much joking and +merriment and silvery laughter, each taking an arm on either side, they +managed to preserve their equilibrium, keeping pace in regular quarter- +deck fashion. + +"No," replied Captain Dinks to Mr Meldrum's chaffing question, "I can't +say that I am satisfied, for I'm sorry to tell you that the barometer is +going down." + +"Indeed!" said the other, "and with the wind from the south-east! I'd +advise you, captain, to take in sail at once." + +"Why, you're as bad as Adams," returned Captain Dinks rather huffily; "I +suppose you'd like me to strip the ship just when we're getting the +first fair breeze we've had since leaving Plymouth! Excuse me, Mr +Meldrum, I know my business; and, I presume, you'll allow a sailor to be +better acquainted with his duties than any landsman can possibly be." + +"Oh, certainly, Captain Dinks," said Mr Meldrum with a bow, "and I'm +sure I beg your pardon for interfering! Of course, as you say, a +landsman has no knowledge of these things and has no right to speak." + +"Oh, papa!" exclaimed Kate Meldrum reproachfully, "how could you say +that?" while Florry pinched his arm and seemed convulsed with laughter, +which she endeavoured to choke down in vain, at some secret joke or +other; but Captain Dinks, quite restored to his usual good-humour and +politeness by Mr Meldrum's apology, did not notice the girls, and +presently all were chatting together with the utmost cordiality, the +captain enlarging on the excellent run he hoped to make to New Zealand, +and promising the young ladies that they should see Madeira ere the week +was out, for he anticipated that the south-easterly breeze they now had +would carry them well past the Spanish coast and into the north-east +trades, when their voyage would be all plain sailing down to the +Equator. + +How true, however, is the old adage, "Man proposes and God disposes!" + +While the captain was chatting gaily with his passengers, another change +was taking place in the appearance of the heavens. The heavy, +threatening clouds, which had risen up after breakfast and been swept +away to leeward by the south-east wind as it got up, were now slowly +being banked up along the horizon to the northward and westward, the +haze extending down to the south right ahead of the vessel's track, +while a lot of scud began to be seen flying aloft at a very considerable +rate--not from but towards the point from which the breeze was blowing, +a sign that betokened not merely another shift of the wind, but a +squall, and one not to be trifled with either! + +The obscuring of the sun by the drift was the first thing that called +the captain's attention to the altered state of the weather, and he at +once gave the order--"All hands shorten sail!" the mate rushing forwards +to see the details properly carried out. + +The order did not come an instant too soon. + +All at once, in a moment, the wind, which had previously been blowing +strongly from the south-east, died away and it was dead calm; while the +sea--already rough enough with the short chopping waves of the morning-- +began to run with those huge billows that seem to get up almost without +preparation on the advent of a gale, every second growing more +mountainous. + +At the captain's word of command, re-echoed by Mr McCarthy, the crew +had sprung aloft immediately; and, working with a will, had furled the +topgallant-sails, taken in the flying-jib, hauled up the mainsail and +mizzen-trysail and squared the after yards, when the ship resembled a +gladiator, entering the arena of the prize-ring stripped for a fight, as +she thus awaited the approach of the storm. + +In the south-east the sky was clear and cloudless, but in the opposite +direction dark heavy purple masses of vapour rolled over each other, +more unnatural in appearance owing to a lighter cloud covering the +curling, wreathing fluid as if with a veil. Shooting from this dark +pile of clouds, some few were detached and became separated, rising to a +higher region of the air, in which they were dissipated and blown out +like mares'-tails that passed rapidly across the zenith; whilst on the +water, and about a mile or so from the vessel, the sea appeared covered +with a thick white mist, before which ran a dark line of black. + +Mr Meldrum had sent the girls below the moment Captain Dinks had given +his orders to shorten sail, in spite of their entreaties to be allowed +to remain on deck with him and "see the storm;" so, being now alone, he +stationed himself near the binnacle close to the captain. + +As he stood watching the lull before the break of the squall, he felt a +hand touching his shoulder; and looking round he found his fellow +passenger, Mr Zachariah Lathrope, by his side. + +"Jee-hosophat! mister," said the American; "I guess we're goin' to have +a blizzard, and no mistake!" + +"What's a blizzard?" said Mr Meldrum, smiling at the other's nasal +intonation, which was more marked than usual, even for a citizen of the +land of the setting sun. + +"Why, darn my moccasins, deon't yew know what a blizzard is?" + +Mr Meldrum shook his head in the negative: he felt that he should laugh +outright in the other's face if he opened his mouth to speak, and he did +not wish to appear wanting in politeness. + +"Waal," said the American, drawing himself up, as if proud of his +superior knowledge and ability in being able to enlighten a backward +Britisher. "A blizzard's a hurricane and a tornader and a cyclone, all +biled inter one all fired smash and let loose to sweep creation. We +have 'em to rights out Minnesota way; and let me tell you, mister, when +you've ten through the mill in one, you wouldn't kinder like to hev a +share in another. Snakes and alligators! Why, a blizzard will shave +you as clean as the best barber in Boston, and then friz the marrow in +your bones an' blow you to Jericho. It's sarten death to be caught out +on the prairie in one of 'em: your friends won't find your body till the +snow melts in the spring. I guess you wouldn't like to try one, +streenger!" + +"No, I think not," said Mr Meldrum, shivering at the description, for +he had heard before of these "Northers" of the Far West; but, the next +moment, the thoughts of blizzards and all belonging to them were +banished from his mind by what he saw, for the storm was upon them. + +It came with a blast that shook the ship from truck to keelson and +almost turned her over, the wind being accompanied by a shower of hail +and rain that pelted those on deck like grape-shot and completely took +their breath away. + +"Let go everything!" shouted the captain. Fortunately, the halliards +being cast off in time, the ship was not taken aback; and the steersman +putting the helm down, she paid off from the wind and ran off for +sometime directly before it, tearing through the water at the rate of +twenty knots an hour, with everything flying by the run. + +"Thank God!" exclaimed Mr Meldrum, in heartfelt thanksgiving to Him who +controls the winds and storms, as he sprang to aid the man at the wheel, +seeing that he had a hard task to keep the helm over. + +"Ya-as, I guess that were a narrow squeak," said the American; "and I +kalkerlate I'll make tracks down south fore another of them snorters +come!" So saying, Mr Lathrope dived down the companion-way, his +departure being accelerated by a heavy sea which washed over the quarter +and floated him below. + +"Way aloft there!" shouted the captain; and, although his words could +not be heard from the howling of the wind, which shrieked and raved like +pandemonium broken loose as it tore through the rigging, the men knew +what was wanted and scrambled up the shrouds as well as they could, +sometimes stopping for breath as a stronger blast than usual pinned them +to the ratlines, where they stuck as if spread-eagled for sport. + +After a good half-hour's hard work, the courses were clewed up and +furled, the jib hauled down, and the topsails close-reefed, a staysail +being set to steady her, when the men came down from aloft pretty well +worn out with their exertions. + +Hardly had they got below, however, than the captain, seeing a second +squall coming, ordered them up again, to strip the ship of her remaining +sail. + +But, he was too late this time. + +Before the men could ascend the shrouds the wind struck the vessel, like +an avalanche, on her starboard broadside, heeling her over to port as if +she had been canted by the caulkers in dock. Then, another following +sea pooped her and cleared the decks fore and aft, sweeping everything +loose overboard, the maintopsail being split to pieces at the same time; +while the foretop-mast stay-sail was blown clean away to leeward, +floating in the air like a white kite against the dark background of the +sky. Finally, the foretop-gallant mast was carried by the board to +complete the ruin, leaving the ship rolling like a wreck upon the +waters, though, happily, no lives as yet were lost. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +SAVED! + +While all this turmoil and confusion was going on above on deck--with +the ship labouring and straining through the heavy seas that raced after +her as she ran before the wind, one every now and then outstripping its +fellows and breaking over her quarter or stern-rail with a force that +made her quiver from end to end, and "stagger like a drunken man," as +the Psalmist has so aptly described it, the thud of the heavy waves +playing a sort of deep bass accompaniment to the shrieking treble of the +wind as it whistled and wailed through the shrouds and cordage, and the +ragged remnants of the torn topsail flapping against the yard, with the +sound of a stock-driver's whip, in a series of short, sharp reports-- +those below in the cuddy were far from having a pleasant time of it; +for, they were almost in the dark, the captain having caused the +companion-hatch to be battened down, and a heavy tarpaulin thrown across +the skylight to prevent the tons of water that came over the poop at +intervals from flooding the saloon as the waves swept forward in a +cascade of foam. + +This was just after Mr Zachariah Lathrope, the American passenger, had +so well illustrated Virgil's line, _facilus descensus averni_, in coming +down the stairway by the run, on the top of a "comber;" and, although +the steward had lit one of the swinging lamps over the cuddy table, it +only served, with its feeble flickering light, to "make the darkness +visible" and render the scene more sombre. + +The _Nancy Bell was_ a wooden ship, clipper built and designed for the +passenger trade; but, being only of some nine hundred tons or so +burthen, she had not that wealth of accommodation below that some of the +first-class liners running to Australia and New Zealand possess, +especially in these days of high-pressure steamers and auxiliary screws, +which make the passage in half the time that the old-fashioned sailing +vessels used to occupy. + +She was, however, as well fitted up as her size permitted; and, as her +list of passengers was by no means filled, there was plenty of space for +those who now had possession of the main saloon, most of whom have been +already introduced to notice. If she had had, indeed, as proportionate +an amount of cargo as she had passengers it might have been all the +better for her seaworthiness. Instead of this, however, she was, by +far, too deep in the water, having a lot of deadweight amid-ships, in +the shape of agricultural implements and other hardware, which she was +taking out to Otago, that seriously interfered with her buoyancy, making +her dip to the waves instead of rising over them, and depriving her of +that spring and elasticity which a good ship should always have. + +Now, she was groaning and creaking at every timber, as if in the last +throes of mortal agony; and the manner in which she rolled when she got +into the trough of the sea, between the intervals of the following +billows, would have dispelled any idea one might have possessed as to +her proper angle of stability, and made the observer feel inclined to +treat it as "a vanishing point." + +Added to this, she pitched every now and then as if she were going to +dive into the depths of the ocean; and, when she rose again in +recovering herself, it seemed as if she were going down bodily by the +stern, the surge of the sea along the line of ports in the cabin bearing +out the illusion as it swelled up above her freeboard. + +With the glass and crockeryware in the steward's cabin rattling, as if +in an earthquake, and trunks and portmanteaus banging from side to side +of the saloon, or floating up and down in the water that had accumulated +from the heavy sea that had washed down the companion when Mr Zachariah +Lathrope so gracefully made his rapid descent below, the place was a +picture of discomfort and disorder such as a painter would have been +powerless to depict and words would utterly fail to describe. + +Kate and Florry Meldrum had retired to their berths, having experienced +a slight suspicion of squeamishness which the unwonted movements of the +vessel had brought about. They thought in such case that "discretion +was the better part of valour," especially as they felt no alarm as to +the safety of the ship, having perfect confidence that their father +would look after them if there was any danger; but Mrs Major Negus, on +the contrary, was firmly convinced that the _Nancy Bell_ was going to +the bottom. She sat in the captain's seat at the head of the cuddy +table, tightly clutching on to the sides to preserve her equilibrium at +each roll of the ship, loudly bewailing her untimely fate; and between +the paroxysms of her grief she found time now and again to scold her son +Maurice, who was enjoying himself most delightfully amongst the floating +baggage, narrowly escaping destruction every moment from the wreck of +the debris on the cabin floor, as it banged to and fro with the swish of +the water and the roll of the ship. + +During one of the lulls in the series of squalls that swept over the +vessel in rapid sequence, Mr McCarthy came below by the direction of +the captain--who, of course, could not leave the deck--to see how the +passengers were getting on, as well as to have the dead-lights put up in +the state-rooms, in case of the stern-ports being battered in by the +waves; for these had now swollen to an enormous size, and seemed +veritably mountains high, rising up far above the cross-jack yard +sometimes. + +"And how are we getting on now, Mrs Meejor?" said he, good-humouredly +addressing the lady at the head of the table, as he made his way to the +aftermost end of the saloon, followed by a couple of sailors, who had +accompanied him to aid him in his task of barricading the ports. + +"Sir," replied she, endeavouring to speak with as much dignity as her +insecure position and her qualmishness would allow, "I am surprised at +your asking me such a question and displaying levity when I feel as if I +am dying, and we are all going down to the bottom--stee-ured!" + +"Yes, mum," said that worthy from the pantry door, to which he was +holding on, surveying the scene of desolation before him with the air of +a connoisseur. + +"Bring a basin, please--oh, my!" + +"Yes, mum; coming, mum." + +"Maurice!" + +"Yes, ma." + +"Get up out of that mess there, and come to me at once!" + +"What, ma?" + +"Come to me here, im-mediately!" + +"Sha'n't!" + +"I'll--oh, Lord; oh, dear! Steward, send the stewardess to me, and help +me into my cabin. I'm dying, I know I am! Oh, gracious goodness, why +did I ever come to sea?" + +"Faix, the ould lady has had to give in," said the mate to one of the +sailors with him. "I thought she wouldn't hould out much longer!" +whereat, of course, there was a general laugh from the men. + +"The Major"--as everybody on board spoke of the lady, almost after a +day's acquaintance with her peculiarities and haughty airs--was just +then endeavouring to rise from the captain's chair, when the vessel, +after a deeper pitch forward than usual, settled down suddenly by the +stern, accompanying the movement by a lurch to starboard that carried +away the lashings of the chair; and, in an instant she and the steward +and stewardess, along with Master Negus, were rolling to leeward on the +floor amongst the dunnage, the whole quartette sputtering and splashing +in the sea-water, and vainly endeavouring for some time to rise, for the +"Major," first clutching one and then the other as they were scrambling +to their legs, hampered their efforts without improving her own position +in the least. + +At last, by the aid of Mr McCarthy and the sailors, the good lady was +pulled up on to her feet and assisted into her cabin, where lying back +in her berth, she loudly inveighed against the conduct of everyone, +particularly selecting the Captain, in her outpour of indignation, for +putting to sea when he must have known, as she held, that a storm was +coming on; he had only done it, she was certain, in order to annoy her +and put her life in peril! + +In the midst of her diatribe--which was listened to by no one, for the +mate and sailors had returned on deck after completing the job that had +brought them down in thorough ship-shape fashion, and the steward and +stewardess, now that they had got my lady to her bunk, were trying to +make matters more comfortable in the saloon--Mrs Major Negus suddenly +bethought herself of her young hopeful, of whose existence she had been +awhile oblivious while attending to her own woes. + +"Maurice!" cried she, in accents whose shrillness rose above the roar of +the waves and the groaning of the ship's timbers, "Maurice, come here at +once, sir, I order you!" + +But, lo and behold! no Maurice made his, appearance; nor did he respond +to his mother's heart-rending appeal. The young scamp had sneaked up +the companion, unperceived by the mate, and was now on deck in high glee +at his freedom from maternal thraldom, watching the battle of the +elements and the struggle of the ship against the supremacy of the wind +and waves, that were vying with each other to overwhelm her. + +The boy stood on the lee side of the poop, and was looking over the side +at the wreck of the fore-topgallant mast, which was still attached to +the ship by the stay and braces of the yard, the men not yet having time +to cut it adrift--all hands being busy in doing what was possible to +save the main-topgallant mast, that had begun to show signs of giving +way. + +Nobody knew he was there, or that he was on deck at all, till Mr +Meldrum happened suddenly to cast his eye in his direction, when he at +once motioned him to come away. + +But, "the imp" took no notice of the warning, and Mr Meldrum was +hesitating whether he should leave his station by the binnacle, where he +had been doing yeoman's service in aiding the helmsman ever since the +first squall burst over the ship, when a heavy wave came over the +quarter to windward, and, dashing violently against the port bulwarks, +carried a large portion away into the sea; and, along with the broken +timber-work, away went young Master Negus! + +Mr Meldrum hesitated no longer as to crossing the deck; but another was +sooner at the scene of action. + +Frank Harness, the "third mate," as he was euphemistically called--a +dashing young fellow of nineteen, and just completing his sea-time as +midshipman before passing the Trinity House examination for his +certificate in seamanship--who had been aloft bearing a hand in making +the mizzen-topsail snug, the leech of the sail having blown out through +the violence of the gale, was just on his way down the rigging again to +see where he could be of use elsewhere, when he noticed the boy's peril +as quickly as the passenger; and, with one bound, he alighted on the +deck. + +In a rapid eye-glance he took in the situation. + +Raised on the top of a curling wave, the fragments of the broken +bulwarks and stanchions had got entangled with the wreck of the fore- +topgallant mast, some twenty yards or so to leeward of the ship; and, +clinging to the mass, Frank could see the boy holding on with a grip of +desperation and terror, drenched with his ducking and the surf that +washed over him, and with his mouth wide open as if yelling for +assistance--although never a sound reached those on board for the roar +of a giant could not have been heard against the wind. + +Taking a turn of the signal halliards round his wrist, Frank Harness at +once leaped into the sea and struck out gallantly for the boy; those on +the poop cheering him as he cleaved through the foaming billows and +quickly neared the wreckage, forgetful for a moment of their own +immediate peril in the exciting scene before them, and waiting anxiously +for their turn to assist the rescuer and the rescued on board again. + +In the meantime, Mrs Major Negus--alarmed at the disappearance of her +young hopeful from below, neither the steward or stewardess being able +to give any account of him after searching the cabins in vain--had +managed to scramble up the companion-way, nerved to desperation by the +divine power of a mother's love; and by some means or other she +contrived to slide back the hatch and step out on to the poop-deck, +where, holding on by the rail, she eagerly looked to the right and left +in quest of Maurice. + +Seeing the group on the lee-side gazing steadfastly at the scene in the +water, she staggered towards them, clutching hold of the tarpaulin over +the skylight to steady herself. + +"My boy! my boy!" she exclaimed frantically. "Where is he? Oh, he's +lost," she added with a piercing scream,--"fiends, monsters, are you +going to let him drown before your eyes?"--and she made an effort as if +to plunge overboard to where she could see the curly head of her darling +rising just above the waves. + +"Hold!" cried Captain Dinks kindly, grasping her arm firmly and drawing +her back. "He's being saved, and we'll have him on board again in a +minute. There, don't you see, some one has plunged in after him and is +just gripping him; we'll have them up together as soon as he has made +fast!" + +"Bless him, the brave fellow!" exclaimed the poor lady, whose +peculiarities and bad temper were now forgotten by all in sympathy with +her natural alarm and anxiety, for she spoke in a voice broken with sobs +and tears. "Who is he? I'll fall down on my knees and thank him for +saving my boy!" + +"Frank Harness," said the captain; "but I'm sure the gallant fellow will +not want any thanks for doing a brave action! Look alive forward +there!" he called out to the men in the waist, "and ease off those +topgallant braces a bit and let the wreck drift alongside. So--easy +there--belay! Another minute, and we'll have them." + +Frank had reached the wreckage while Maurice's mother had been speaking, +and without an instant's delay had looped the end of the signal +halliards round the boy's waist as he held on himself to the end of the +topgallant yard, to which the lee braces were attached. A quick motion +of his arm had then apprised Captain Dinks what to do, and in another +minute or two the wreckage had been floated in under the ship's quarter, +and a dozen hands were helping the brave lad and the boy whom he had +rescued up the side--Maurice, indeed, being hauled up by the bight of +the signal halliards first. + +His mother almost went into hysterics when he was restored to her, as if +from the very gates of death; but her joy did not allow her to forget to +thank his rescuer, which she did far more enthusiastically than Frank +liked, with all the men looking on! + +The gale continued raging with unabated force all that evening; but +towards midnight it lulled sufficiently for some sail to be set on the +ship, which was then kept more on her proper course. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A CALM. + +It was a lovely dawn the morning after the storm in the Bay of Biscay. + +Even Mr Adams, plain, matter-of-fact, simple, and unsympathetic sailor +as he was, without a particle of poetry or imagination about him, could +not but gaze with admiration at the glory of God's handiwork, as he +noticed the grand panorama of change that marked the progress from +darkness to light, from night to day! + +Soon after his watch began, the twinkling stars had gone to rest, +putting out their tiny lanterns, as they had arisen, one be one; and +now, the violet blue of the firmament paled gradually into sea-green and +grey, soft neutral tints mixed on the great palette of Nature to receive +the roseate hue that presently illumined the whole eastern sky, +heralding the approach of the glorious orb of day. Next, streaks of +light salmon-coloured clouds shot across the horizon, their edges +decorated with a fringe of gold that gleamed brighter and more intense +each moment, the water glowing beneath the reflection as if wakening +into life: and then, the majestic sun stepping up from his ocean bed-- +all radiant--"like a bridegroom out of his chamber," and moving with +giant strides higher and higher up the heavens, as if "anxious to run +his course," and make up for the lost time of the night--shone through +the transparent purple mist of the morning like a blush rose behind a +glittering veil of dewdrops! + +By the time the breakfast hour arrived--"eight bells"--the blue sea was +dancing merrily in the sunshine, the waves calming down to only a +crisping curl of their foam-flecked summits, and the _Nancy Bell_ was +speeding along under a pile of canvas fore and aft from deck to truck, +Mr Adams having made good use of his time while others were sleeping to +get up the spare topgallant-mast forward and set all the upper sail he +could; so the passengers, roused up to new life by the cheery influence +of the bright summer day, coming after all the gloom and misery and +storm and tempest of the past, mustered round the cuddy table in full +force. + +Mr Meldrum and the American were there as a matter of course; but, by +the side of her father, on the right of the skipper, appeared now for +the first time at the table since the ship had left port, the graceful +form of Kate Meldrum accompanied by the slighter figure of Florry, +supported on the other side of the table by Mrs Major Negus and her +young hopeful; while Mr Adams faced Captain Dinks--it being the chief +mate's turn of duty on deck--having brave Frank Harness close alongside. + +They formed a very joyous coterie altogether, and enjoyed themselves all +the more from their natural revulsion of spirits after all the +discomfort and misery they had passed through, Captain Dinks himself +setting an example and provoking the merry laughter of the girls with +his absurd jokes, although the young ladies seemed brimful of fun, +especially Miss Florry, who the skipper said might make a good match for +mischievousness with Master Negus--whereat a grim smile was seen to +steal across the face of "the Major," lightening up her sallow +countenance and making her "come out in new colours." + +As for Mr Zachariah Lathrope, he was too busy with the ham and eggs to +do much talking; although, like the monkeys, he probably thought the +more, for ever and anon he would pass encomiums on the viands and pass +up his plate for a fresh helping, the steward having enough to do in +supplying his wants quickly enough. + +After breakfast, a visit was paid to "Snowball," the darkey Stowaway, +who was found much better and progressing so favourably that the captain +ordered his removal to the "fokesail," to complete his convalescence; +which it may be here added he satisfactorily accomplished in a few days, +when he was installed in the galley as cook, in the place of a Maltese +sailor who was glad to get forward again before the mast. The negro had +slept continually from the time he had been released from durance vile +in the after-hold, neither the racket below nor the turmoil on deck +during the storm having disturbed his slumbers. This, no doubt, had +hastened his recovery, for Mr McCarthy was positive that three of his +ribs at least had been broken. + +"Why is Snowball like a worm, Miss Meldrum?" said Captain Dinks to Kate, +after telling her that he intended installing the darkey in the galley +as cook; "do you know, eh!" + +"Oh, if that's a conundrum, captain," replied she with a piquant laugh +that lit up her whole face, making it quite beautiful, Frank Harness +thought, "I give it up at once. I'm a bad hand at guessing riddles." + +"Well, you see," said Captain Dinks, with that cheery "ho, ho!" of a +laugh of his, which always preceded any of his good things, "the worm or +grub develops into the butterfly; but Snowball made the butter fly when +he tumbled over that cask in the steerage, and now he is going to +develop into the grub line and turn cook!" + +"That's too bad!" said Kate laughing. "I never heard a worse sort of +pun in my life." + +"Then it's all the better, my dear," replied he; and as everybody else +laughed too, they possibly shared the captain's opinion. + +After this, there was a move on deck--not before it was needed perhaps! + +At noon, Captain Dinks, after manipulating his sextant and adjusting the +sights, seemed to be much longer taking his observation than usual; and +when he went below to his cabin to work out the reckoning he certainly +remained a most unconscionable time. + +By and by, however, he came up the companion again, his face beaming +with delight. + +"What do you think, Mr Meldrum?" said he, somewhat excitedly, to that +gentleman, who, along with the remainder of the saloon party, was +standing on the poop leaning over the taffrail to windward, looking over +the apparently limit less expanse of water, that stretched away to the +horizon, and basking in the sunshine, which was tempered by a mellow +breeze that seemed just sufficient to keep the sails of the _Nancy Bell_ +full--and that was all. + +"I'm sure I can't say," replied Mr Meldrum good-humouredly. "Found +another ghost in the cabin, eh?" + +"No, no; couldn't have two in one voyage," said the skipper. + +"Made another conundrum?" again inquired the other slily, poking fun at +the captain's previous attempt in the riddle line. + +"Oh, no," said Captain Dinks, laughing out at this. "That was too good +to be repeated: I've got better news than that, Mr Meldrum--something +really to surprise you!" + +"I'm all attention," said Mr Meldrum, "but pray do not keep us long in +suspense. Don't you see we're all anxious!" + +"Why," exclaimed Captain Dinks triumphantly, "the _Nancy Bell_ has made +nearly five degrees of latitude since I last took the sun, there!" + +"Oh dear!" said Florry ruefully; "I thought you were going to tell us +something funny!" and she looked so disappointed that Kate laughed at +her and Master Maurice Negus grinned; whereupon Florry, in a pet, +smacked the young gentleman's face, for which she was reproved by her +father and ordered below, although the sentence of banishment was +remitted later on at Mrs Major Negus's especial request. + +This little interlude over, the captain proceeded with his explanation. + +"Yes," said he, "we're now in latitude 44 degrees 56 minutes north, and +longitude 9 degrees 42 minutes west; so that we've run pretty close on +four hundred miles since yesterday at noon. Just think of that, now!" + +"A pretty good distance," said Mr Meldrum; "but, you must recollect we +had the gale to drive us on." + +"Aye, sorr," said Mr McCarthy, joining in the conversation, "and didn't +it droive us too! Begorrah, there was some times that the wind tuck the +ship clane out of the wather and carried us along in the air like one of +them flying-fish you'll say when we gits down to the line!" + +"It was fortunate it was in our favour," observed the captain +reflectively. "We couldn't have tried to beat against it; and, heavily- +laden as we are, it would have been madness to have tried to lay-to!" + +"You're right," said Mr Meldrum, "and it was equally fortunate that the +gale carried us so far and no further! Another twelve hours of it and +we would have been high and dry ashore on the Spanish coast." + +"I think you're not far out," replied the captain, scratching his head +and pondering over the matter, "for we'll only just shave past Cape +Finisterre now keeping our course; and if we hadn't made so much westing +when we got out of the Channel I don't know where we should have been!" + +"Faix and it was grumbling at it you were all the toime, cap'en!" said +McCarthy with a knowing wink; "though you do now say it was all for the +best, as the man said when they buried his wife's grandmother!" + +"Aye, you're right," said Captain Dinks more seriously, "all is for the +best, if we could only know it at the time!" + +Thenceforward, the weather kept fine; and the fates seemed favourable to +the _Nancy Bell_ in her pilgrimage across the sea. + +There was no lack of incident in the voyage, however. + +One day, about a week after they had bidden farewell to the Bay of +Biscay with all its terrors and troubled waters, as the ship was +approaching that region of calms which lies adjacent to the Tropic of +Cancer, her rate of progression had grown so "small by degrees and +beautifully less," that she barely drifted southward with the current, +until at length she came to a dead stop, so far as those on board could +judge, lying motionless on the surface of the water "like a painted ship +upon a painted ocean," as the situation is described in Coleridge's +_Ancient Mariner_. + +Round about the vessel, dolphins disported themselves, and "Portuguese +men-of-war" floated over the sea with their gelatinous sails unfurled, +and everything seemed lazy and enjoyable to the passengers--although the +captain and crew did not evidently relish the state of inaction which +the calm brought about, for they were looking out in all quarters for +the wished-for wind. + +Not a ship was in sight--nothing happening to break the peaceful repose +of the deep for hours. + +The captain was "having a stretch" below; the men snoozing away on the +deck forwards in all sorts of odd corners; the officer of the watch +blinking as he squinted aloft to see if the dog-vane stirred with any +passing breath of air; even the steersman was nodding over the helm, as +the wheel rotated round to port or starboard as it listed, according as +the ship rose or fell on the long heavy rolling swell that undulated +over the bosom of the deep; and most of the passengers were in the same +somnolent state--when all at once an event occurred that soon broke the +monotony of the afternoon, waking up the sleepy ones to fresh vitality, +for an object of interest had at last arisen in the uneventful day +sufficient for the moment to enchain their attention. + +The listless lotus eaters had to thank Master Negus for the excitement, +in the first instance. + +That young gentleman was possessed of a keen desire for knowledge, which +his more prosaic seniors were in the habit of misconstruing, deeming it +to arise, as they said, from an insatiable and impertinent curiosity +combined with an inherent love of mischief. Be that as it may, this +desire for knowledge on Master Maurice's part frequently led him into +places where, to put it delicately, his presence was undesirable in many +ways; his love for investigation taking him especially to certain +dangerous localities whither he was peremptorily forbidden to go both by +his mother and the captain. + +Among such tabooed spots in the ship was the forecastle; and here, +consequently, as a matter of course, Master Maurice most delighted to +steal away when neither the maternal eye of Mrs Major Negus was upon +him nor any of the other people aft were watching him. He did not mind +the sailors, for they made a point of encouraging him forward and took +much pleasure in developing his propensities for mischief. + +This afternoon, he was enjoying himself after the desire of his heart- +climbing about the rigging in a way that would have made his mother +faint, when, in one of his scrambles up to the foretop, he saw something +in the water which was hidden from the sight of the others on board, +through the head-sails of the ship shutting out their line of view. + +"Oh, crickey," shouted out Master Negus at the top of his voice, at once +betraying his whereabouts in his excitement, "there's a fight going on +in the water, and two whales are leathering each other like fun!" + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +THE BLACK FISH AND THE THRESHER. + +"Good gracious me!" exclaimed Mrs Major Negus, jumping up in a fright +from the comfortable nap which she had been taking in a lean-back chair +on the poop; "where is that unhappy boy? He'll be the death of me some +day!" + +"I'm here, ma!" shouted out Maurice from the forecastle. "Do come, +everybody. It's such fun! Ah, there, the big one has just got such a +whack and is in a terrible wax. He's hunting about for the little one, +who has dived away from him out of reach!" + +"Fokesall, ahoy!" hailed Mr Adams, who had charge of the deck; "what's +the matter forward!" + +"Only a fight, sir, between a black-fish and a thresher," answered Ben +Boltrope, the carpenter, an old man-o'-war's man, and one of the most +efficient hands of the _Nancy Bell's_ crew. + +"A fit!" exclaimed Mr Zachariah Lathrope, drawing his long telescopic +legs together and rising into a sitting posture on the top of the cabin +skylight, where he had been taking his usual afternoon siesta instead of +putting himself to the trouble of going below and turning into his bunk, +as was his usual wont after luncheon. "A fit! Wa-al I guess I'm on. I +allers likes to hitch in with a muss!" and, so saying, the lanky +American was soon scrambling down the poop-ladder and making his way +forward, followed by all the remainder of the passengers--Mrs Major +Negus, of course, going to look after her darling boy, while Frank +Harness accompanied Kate Meldrum, as he said, to "take care of her," +although, as her father was not far distant, it might have been supposed +that his protecting arm was not so absolutely necessary as he thought! + +A very strange spectacle was seen, when the party, after diving beneath +the slackened sheets of the mainsail, that flapped about an inert mess +of canvas above their heads, and picking their way past the galley and +windlass, at last climbed up into the bows of the ship, where the +majority of the crew had already assembled and taken up vantage points +in the rigging, half-way up which was Master Maurice, waving his hat +wildly in a great state of excitement, and the master as it were of the +situation. + +"There they are!" said he pointing to where the water was lashed up and +broken into foam, about half a mile ahead of the ship, amidst which a +couple of dark bodies could be seen tumbling about--one occasionally +jumping up high in the air and coming down on the other with a thud, and +a smack that sounded like the crack of a whip, or report of a rifle. +"There they are, Miss Meldrum, I saw them first!" + +"Come down out of that, sir, at once!" screamed out his mother, with a +pant and a puff between each word, her breath having been almost taken +away by her unusually quick movements in getting forwards. "Have I not +ordered you never to go up those ropes?" + +"Oh, bother, ma!" exclaimed the young hopeful, paying not the slightest +attention to his mother's command. He had been so spoilt, petted at one +time and scolded another, that all her authority over him was lost save +in name. "There! bravo, little one--oh, my, wasn't that a good one, +now?" + +And so, Mrs Major Negus--abandoning any expectation of making Maurice +descend from his perch in the shrouds, where, however, she could see +that he was in no imminent danger, for he had one of the sailors on +either side of him who would catch him should he slip--was obliged +perforce to do as all the rest were doing and gaze at the thrilling +marine drama that was being acted out with such tragic earnestness on +the surface of the deep before their eyes. + +A black-fish--which, it may be mentioned here, for the benefit of the +uninitiated, is a species of cachalot, although differing from the true +spermaceti family of whales in having the spout-holes placed on the top +of the head, in place of on the snout, and the pectoral fins shorter-- +was being assailed by its bitter enemy the thresher or "fox shark." +This latter is one of the most peculiar fishes to be seen throughout the +length and breadth of the ocean, that world of living wonders; for it +has a most extraordinary face, or head, which is more like that of an +ape than of one of the piscine tribe; while its tail is divided into two +lobes or blades, one of which is small and insignificant, and the other +larger than the body of the animal, curling up at the end like the tail- +feather of a bird of paradise. + +There could be no comparison between the two combatants, in respect to +size at least; for, while the whale was some fifty feet long--nearly a +third of the length of the _Nancy Bell_--the thresher could not have +exceeded thirteen feet; and as for girth, the former was in proportion +like a portly, Daniel-Lambert sort of man put by the side of a starving +street urchin of seven. The only advantage the thresher apparently +possessed was in its eyes, which, when one could get a glimpse of them, +looked like those of a hawk; while the unwieldy cetacean had little tiny +optics, not much bigger than those of a common haddock, which were +placed in an unwieldy lump of a head, that seemed ever so much bigger +than its body, with a tremendous lower jaw containing a row of teeth, +each one of which was nearly a foot long. + +The thresher, seemingly, had only the advantage of his antagonist in the +proportionate size of his eyes; but, "just wait till you have seen him +use his long feather-like tail!" as Maurice Negus said, and you will +arrive at the conclusion that the combatants were not so very unequally +matched after all. + +The very size of the black-fish militated against his chances for, while +it took him more than his own length to turn in the water, the thresher +darted, here, there and everywhere, like an eel--just getting out of his +reach when the other thought he had got him and had opened his ponderous +jaws to crush him. It was at this moment that his agile tormentor, +seizing his opportunity, would leap out of the water and give the whale +a "whack" on his side behind the fin, one of his tenderest spots, the +blow resounding far and wide over the water and probably leaving a weal +if not an indentation in the animal's side. + +Mr Zachariah Lathrope got quite interested, bobbing from one side of +the topgallant-forecastle to the other, and trying to obtain the best +view he could of the contest. + +"Bully for the little scorpion, marm!" he exclaimed to "the Major," as +he shoved his hands down into his trouser pockets and seemed to lift +himself up in his eagerness. "I'll bet my bottom dollar he'll fix that +air whale to rights! By gosh, that wer a sockdolager; I guess the big +varmint is kinder gettin' riled!" + +The whale here spouted and fluked his tail, diving down for a moment +beneath the surface; but, he did not long disappear, and when he came up +shortly afterwards nearer the ship, the spectators could see that the +water around him was dyed with blood. + +As the black-fish rose, the thresher, who evidently had been waiting for +him and knew the precise spot where he would reappear, threw himself up +in the air, turning a sort of summersault; and, "whack!" came his whip- +like tail round his victim's body, the whale seeming to writhe under the +blow as if driven half mad with pain. + +"Look, look!" exclaimed Florry Meldrum, "the thresher isn't alone; what +are those long-nosed fishes swimming about under the whale? They seem +to be helping the other one!" + +"You're right, Florry," said her father, "they are swordfish. What you +think are their noses are long projecting saw-like blades, and they are +the whale's deadliest enemy. I never saw them, however, attacking one +in company with a thresher before: they must have formed an alliance for +the express purpose, as they have really nothing in common." + +"It reminds me, mister," said the American, putting a chew of tobacco in +his mouth pensively, "of a bull fit I once see in Carthagena when I was +to Spain some years ago. That air thresher is jist like the feller all +fixed up with lace and fallals called the Piccador, who used to stir up +the animile with squibs and crackers and make him fly round like a dawg +when he's kinder tickled with a flea under his tail; and the sword-fish, +as you calls them outlandish things, are sunthen' like the Matador that +gives the bull his quietus with his wepping. That air power of blood +that you see, I guess, is from them, and not from t'other's cow-hide of +a tail!" + +"Golly, massa, you speaks for true," said Snowball, who formed one of +the party of lookers-on, abandoning his coppers in the galley in order +to see the fun. "Bress de Lord! see how dat long snout chap dere gib +him goss now!" + +It really seemed an organised attack. + +As soon as the back of the black-fish appeared above the surface, the +thresher, springing several yards out of the water, descended with great +violence on the object of its rancour and inflicted what sounded like a +hearty slap with its tail, the sword-fishes in their turn striking the +whale from below; so that, try how he might, the unhappy monster of the +deep could not escape his persevering foes. + +"Sure and be jabers it bates Donnybrook Fair entirely!" said Mr +McCarthy, who had also come up from below, the news having also reached +him of what was taking place. "The poor baste will soon be bate into a +cocked hat with all them ragamuffins on to him at once! It's liking to +help him I'd be if I saw the chance!" + +But the doom of the black-fish was evidently by this time sealed and +human aid was powerless to assist him: all could see for themselves that +the last act in the drama was close at hand! + +Suddenly, the thresher gave another violent bound upwards into the air +from the surface of the ensanguined water, leaping almost over the +whale; and, as he fell back again into the sea, his tail, which was bent +like a bow, delivered a terrible lash, surpassing any of its previous +attempts. At the same time, as if by a concerted movement, those on +board could see--for the combatants were now so close alongside the ship +that the bight of a rope could have been easily hove over them--one of +the sword-fish made a dart at the exposed flank of the whale, burying +its ugly saw-like weapon almost up to the head and inflicting a wound +that must have been mortal. + +The black-fish instantly emitted a sort of hollow muffled roar; and, +sending up a fountain of watery spray mixed with blood from its spout- +holes, splashed the sea violently with its formidable flukes, after +which it rolled over, rocking from side to side in its last dying flurry +or death agony. + +"I guess he's a gone coon!" said the American, hitching up his trousers +again and turning over the quid of tobacco in his mouth. "It seems a +terrible pity to waste him though. There's a powerful sight of blubber +in that air animile!" and the speaker appeared to gaze sadly at the +carcase of the conquered cetacean as it floated by. + +"It's all over," said Mr Meldrum, turning from the now pitiful +spectacle with disgust. "Come away, girls!" But Kate had long since +left the scene, the sight not having been of a nature to suit her tender +heart; and, she was now far away aft with Frank Harness, sitting in a +secluded corner of the poop, where she could see nothing of the +sanguinary ending of the contest. Florry, on the contrary, had remained +to the last, as well as Mrs Major Negus--who, it may be observed, had +watched the struggle from its commencement to its close with almost as +much interest as her enthusiastic son and heir; and Mr Meldrum had much +difficulty in tearing the little girl away from her rapt contemplation +of the dead whale. + +"Stop a minute, papa," she urged when he took hold of her arm to draw +her from the rail. "Do look! they have all left him now they have +killed him. I wonder what they quarrelled about?" + +"Sure, an' just for the same rayson, missy, that Christians hate sich +other," said Mr McCarthy, "just for no cause at all, but bekaze they +can't help it, alannah! And now that the little divils have kilt him, +sure they've swum off and left the poor crathur to die, just the same as +some ov us does to sich other, more's the pity, by the same token!" + +It was true enough. + +The thresher and his active allies had all at once disappeared, how, +when, or where, none of those looking on could tell; the lifeless body +of the black-fish only remaining in evidence of the battle that had +taken place. + +There it was, floating sluggishly on the heavy rolling swell of the +ocean, in solitary grandeur; for the dolphins and "Portuguese men-of- +war" that had been seen earlier in the afternoon had taken themselves +off as soon as the light began--evidently preferring calmer scenes and +not relishing the proximity of such inveterate enemies of their several +species as the late combatants. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +FIRE! + +The calm continued for four days, during which time not a breath of wind +came from any point of the compass to waft the ship on her way; +although, of course, she could not help drifting a few miles every +twenty-four hours southwards, under the influence of the great +equatorial current. + +However, if there was no wind, there was no lack of novelty to those of +the passengers who had never been to sea before; for, from their being +now within the tropical region, the ocean around, albeit so still and +glassy, seemed to swarm with life. Thousands of flying-fish were to be +seen fluttering on either side of the vessel, while skipjacks and +bonetas also showed themselves occasionally; and the dreaded shark, with +his close attendant and valet the pilot-fish, was not an absentee, for +he was continually cruising about astern on the constant look-out. + +"How funny those flying-fish look!" said Florry Meldrum, watching a +shoal of them that rose from the water just like a covey of white larks, +and which, after skimming past the _Nancy Bell_, again settled in the +sea, quite tired out with their short flight. + +"You should see them nearer," said Frank Harness, who was between the +two girls, looking out over the gangway aft--"and then you would call +them funnier. Ah! here is one," he added, catching one of the little +fluttering creatures that had become entangled in the mizzen rigging; +"you see, it doesn't have wings as you think, but only a membrane +between its fins, just like what a bat has." + +"Yes," said I "I see. It is curious, though, that they should look so +white at a distance, when their backs are dark and blueish, like a +mackerel!" + +"Ah! that is because the under part of their wings is only then visible. +Look, now, at that lot there that have just risen to escape the boneta. +They seem exactly like a fall of snowflakes!" + +"Poor things!" said Kate. "The boneta seems to be their inveterate +enemy, or rather consumer, as he appears to be in good condition on the +diet. It's a pity, though, that he's such a glutton; for he's a nice- +looking fish, all purple and gold, and he oughtn't to be so cruel!" + +"Oh! he's not the only enemy of the flying-fish, Miss Meldrum," answered +Frank; "you should see the albatross after them down near the Cape. The +bird hunts them as soon as they rise in the air, and the boneta when +they're in the water; so, between the two, they have little chance of +escape--just like the fight, the other day, between the black-fish on +the one side and the thresher and sword-fish on the other." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Kate with a shiver, "I couldn't look at that long! The +boneta hunt the flying-fish in a fairer way, and they do look so pretty +when they jump out of the water! How disappointed the boneta must then +feel when they see them take unto themselves wings and fly away?" + +"They needn't be disappointed long," said Frank Harness, laughing, "for, +they must know that they're bound to catch them up in the long run. +But, look at that cloud there, Miss Meldrum, slowly creeping up the sky. +`I guess,' as our American friend says, that we're going to have some +rain." + +"Do you think so?" she answered, smiling at Frank's rather good +imitation of Mr Lathrope's nasal intonation of voice; "I thought it +looked too bright for that." + +"We'll have it soon; just you see," said Frank. + +"All right, Mr Positive, I suppose we must bow to your superior +nautical skill." + +"Oh, Miss Meldrum, don't laugh at me, if I am only a poor sailor," said +he reproachfully; "you always seem to taunt me with my profession!" + +"I!" exclaimed Kate in surprise. "Why, I would not make fun of you, or +hurt your feelings, for the world!" + +Frank seized her hand and pressed it, as if he were about to say +something in response; but, just at that moment, the rain, without +offering the apology of a warning drop or two to give notice of its +approach, came down in a perfect deluge, making them rush for shelter +beneath the poop awning. + +This was just after lunch, early in the afternoon; and the rain lasted +until the dinner-bell sounded, coming down in regular sheets of water, +as if emptied out suddenly from some enormous reservoir above. + +All sorts of tubs, buckets, kegs, and open casks, including the scuttle +butt, were ranged along the spar-deck, below the break of the poop, to +catch the welcome shower, tarpaulins being spread over the open +hatchways, where exposed, to prevent the flood from going below: while +the ends of the after awning were tied up in a sort of huge bag for the +rain to drain off into it, so that none of it might be wasted--the +canvas being let down, when the receptacle was pretty full, to empty the +contents into the water-puncheons--for the pure liquid was a precious +godsend, being an agreeable relief to the brackish supply which the ship +carried in her tanks. + +As might have been imagined, Master Negus and Miss Florry watched all +these operations with the greatest interest, for they would have been +only too glad if their respective guardians had allowed them to take a +more active part in the watery campaign than that of merely looking on. + +Mr Zachariah Lathrope, however, was his own master, and he made himself +very busy amongst the dripping sailors, who were hopping about on the +wet decks as if enjoying their ducking, much amusement being caused when +Mr McCarthy, for a joke, let the leach of the awning once go by the +run, when, the American passenger being off his guard, some hundred +gallons of water came down on him, giving the worthy gentleman an +impromptu shower-bath. + +It was grand fun while the rain lasted, all the men folk paddling about +in it to their hearts' content and ducking each other when they had the +chance; while the ladies observed the sports from the shelter of the +poop, seeming to take equally as much pleasure in the skylarking. It +was amazing, too, to notice the amount of dirt and rubbish which the +downpour washed away into the scuppers. What with the continual +swilling and scrubbing and swabbing that the decks underwent every +morning, it ought to have been an impossibility for any dust or debris +to exist; but, there it was, to prove the contrary--the rain "exposing +the weakness of the land," and making a clean sweep of everything that +was dirty which lay about in the odd corners fore and aft the ship. + +The day after the rain, just when all on board--sick of the calm, the +listless monotonous roll of the ship, the flapping of the idle sails +against the masts, and the sight of the same cloudless sky and endless +expanse of tumid sea, with surface unbroken by the tiniest ripple, save +when a dolphin leaped out of the water or a fairy nautilus glided by in +his frail shell craft--were longing for the advent of the north-east +trades, which Captain Dinks had expected them to "run into" ever since +they lost their first favourable wind, there came a visitor to the +_Nancy Bell_, the most dreaded of all the perils of the deep--Fire! + +Eight bells had just been struck in the morning watch; and the +passengers were just preparing for breakfast--that is, such as were late +risers, like Mrs Major Negus and Mr Lathrope, neither of whom turned +out earlier than was necessary. Those who knew what was the healthiest +plan, like Mr Meldrum and his daughters, had been up and out more than +an hour before, walking up and down the poop and getting up a vigorous +appetite for the first meal of the day. + +The captain had not long come up the companion; and, after looking aloft +and to the northward, scanning the horizon around, had stepped up to the +binnacle, where he stood contemplating the compass hopelessly, as if he +had given up all idea of the wind coming, while the hands of the watch +on duty were listlessly idling about the waist of the ship, dead weary +of having nothing to do. + +The cook, apparently, was the only really busy person on board at the +time, for he could be seen popping in and out of his galley forwards, +handing dishes to Llewellyn, the steward, to bring aft for the cuddy +table. The darkey seemed bathed in perspiration, and looked as if he +found cooking hot work in latitudes under the constellation of the Crab, +whither the vessel had drifted. + +All at once, however, a change came over the scene. + +As the steward was passing the main hatch in his second journey aft to +the saloon, he noticed a thin column of smoke ascending from the main +hold, where the principal portion of the cargo was stowed. Like a fool, +although it might have been pleaded for him that he was constitutionally +nervous, he let fall the dishes he was carrying on a tray, in his fright +at the sight of this evidence of a conflagration below, instead of going +quietly up to the captain and telling him what he had seen; and, to make +matters worse, he called out at the same time in terrified accents, as +loud as he could bawl--"Fire! fire! the ship's on fire!" + +Had a thunderbolt burst on board, or had the vessel struck on a rock in +the middle of the ocean, the alarm that was instantly spread on board +could not have been greater; and where all had been listless inactivity +but a moment before, was now all life, motion, and excitement. + +"A fire! whar?" exclaimed Mr Zachariah Lathrope poking his head out of +the companion-way, judiciously concealing the remainder of his lanky +person, as he had not yet quite finished his toilet. "Snakes and +alligators, Cap'en, but I'm terrible skeart at fires! I hope it ain't +up to much chucks?" + +"Oh, no!" said Captain Dinks, reassuringly, expressing what he wished +more than what he felt. He had remained aft in order to somewhat allay +the alarm which the outcry of the steward had excited; but he was +itching to get to the scene of action himself, although he had sent Mr +McCarthy there already, besides ordering the crew to their respective +stations, and having the hose-pump manned.--"Oh, no, nothing at all, +only one of that ass, Llewellyn's, happy discoveries, another sort of +ghost in the cabin! Here, Harness," he added aside to Frank, who had +just come up from below, dropping his voice to a whisper. "Just stop on +the poop a minute, and keep these people quiet. I must go down to the +hold myself to look after matters; don't say anything more than you can +help." + +So saying, the captain scuttled down the poop ladder on to the spar-deck +in a jiffey, and in another second he was descending the main hatch, +whence the smoke could be now clearly seen, coming up in clouds. + +Mrs Major Negus's voice was also heard at this juncture. The good lady +had ascended the companion behind the American, who still remained at +the spot where he had first made his appearance, and was just then +adjusting his braces; and almost at the same instant that her dulcet +accents reached the ears of those on deck she burst upon them, as it +were by storm, carrying Mr Lathrope along with her, still _en +deshabille_, it is true, as regarded his coat and waistcoat, but +fortunately now with his trousers, or as he called them "pants," +properly arranged. + +"Goodness gracious, man!" she exclaimed frantically--"do get out of the +way. Lord a mercy! where's the fire? Oh dear, oh my! We shall all be +burnt alive? Maurice, my darling boy! come to your mother's arms and +let us die together. Maurice! Where's my boy?" + +"You'd better stop that screechin' and say your prayers, marm," said Mr +Zachariah Lathrope, sententiously. "The b'y is all right below, +sleepin' in the corner of the sofy, and I'd advise you to go and rouse +him up, instead of rushing up har like a mad bull in fly time, a +knocking folks down and hollerin'." + +Mrs Major Negus took his advice; for, without withering up the American +with her scorn, as she would probably have done another time, she at +once rushed back below to the cuddy as quickly as she had come up, to +wake up Maurice; while Kate Meldrum, seizing the opportunity which the +diversion afforded, sidled up to Frank Harness unperceived. + +"Is there any danger really?" she asked the young sailor in a low tone, +so that no one else could hear; and her face was pale, but composed and +resolute, as she looked into his. + +"Could you bear to be told the truth?" said he hesitatingly. + +"I could," she replied; and he saw that she meant it. + +"Well, there certainly is danger, although it is best not to alarm +everybody, for when people get frightened they interfere and hinder what +is being done to save them. I wouldn't like to tell the crew, Miss +Meldrum, what I tell you; but I know you are brave, and see that you can +bear to be told the truth. A lot of woollen goods are on fire in the +main hold, and must, from the extent of the area already consumed, have +been smouldering for days. We are doing all that men can do to quench +it, and we may succeed, as there is no wind and nothing to fan the +flames; but the only thing that hinders us is our being unable to get to +the seat of the mischief, which is in the very centre of the cargo. +However, the men are now breaking in the deck above, and as soon as we +are able to get the end of the hose down and pass buckets, all may be +well. Keep a good heart, Miss Meldrum, there's no absolute danger yet; +when there is I will tell you. So, please, prevent that `Mrs Major' +from going into hysterics!" + +"I will, for I trust you," said Kate with a somewhat sad smile on her +pale face. "Here, Florry, come below away from the smoke and sparks; +Mr Harness says the fire will soon be out and that there is no danger, +and I don't want you to spoil your new frock!" + +So courageously speaking, the brave girl then went below with her +sister; and by her presence and example assuaged "the Major's" fears, +thus preventing that lady from going back on deck and spreading +consternation amongst the crew by her cries, as would otherwise have +been the case. Mr Zachariah Lathrope, too, came down to the cuddy, +attracted by the smell of breakfast, which the captain had directed the +steward to go on getting as if nothing had happened--thus to punish the +poltroon in a sort of way for his cowardly alarm; hence, the coast was +left clear for the officers and men to put out the fire without being +flurried by the fears and importunities of the passengers. + +Meanwhile, Captain Dinks with Mr Meldrum, who was the first to +volunteer--their efforts well supported by the exertions of McCarthy and +the second mate and Frank Harness--were working like Britons in the +_Nancy Bell's_ hold. + +The fire had broken out, as Frank had stated, almost in the centre of +the ship; for two bulkheads had to be battered down and the main deck +cut through, before the source of it could be reached. However, by dint +of arduously plying the axe and crowbar, an opening was at length made +whence the fire could be got at. Flames immediately burst forth the +moment air was admitted into the hold, but these were pressed down with +wet blankets, and, the fire-hose being carried down and the pumps manned +by the watch on deck, a copious stream of water was directed throughout +that portion of the ship where all the light woollen and textile goods +were stowed. The hose, too, was supplemented by a continuous relay of +buckets full of water passed rapidly along the lower deck and down the +hatchway by the starboard watch--whose turn it was below, but whom the +alarm of fire had caused to rouse out again to duty--so that in half an +hour from the discovery of the outbreak all danger was over and the last +spark quenched. + +"Thank God!" said Kate Meldrum, with heart-felt earnestness, her lovely +eyes full of tears as she looked up into Frank's face when he came to +tell her the news. "I thought all hope was gone, you were so long in +coming!" + +"But were you not certain I would come?" asked Frank anxiously. + +"Yes, I had confidence in your promise." + +"Thank you," was all he replied; but his look spoke volumes. + +At the same time another mutual "confidence game" was being played in a +different part of the ship; but in this the understanding was between +Mr Meldrum and Ben Boltrope, the ship's carpenter and ex-man-o'-war's- +man. + +"Aye, aye, sir," said the latter when the two were parting on the main +deck after the termination of their labours in the lower hold. "I +recognised your honour the moment you came on deck that morning of the +storm in the Bay of Biscay. I couldn't mistake the cut of your honour's +jib, sir, begging your pardon." + +"Well, I'm sure I did not recognise you, or you may be sure I would have +spoken to you. Still, you need not blurt out my identity to everybody, +you know." + +"Sartinly not, your honour. I'll keep mum, sir, never you fear, though +I don't forget the old--" + +"Stop," said Mr Meldrum, changing the subject. "I've no doubt all +hands are pretty dry after all the heat we've been in down below, so, +with the captain's permission, I'll send something forward for them to +splice the main brace with." + +"Aye, aye, your honour," replied Ben; "a nod's as good as a wink to a +blind horse." + +And the two parted, the one going forward to the forecastle and the +other aft into the saloon. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +AN OCEAN WAIF. + +"Wa-al, Cap," said Mr Lathrope after dinner that day, when he was +sipping his coffee on top of the skylight, which he had selected for his +favourite seat when on the poop, the "location," as he expressed it, +having the advantage of possessing plenty of "stowage room" for his long +legs--"I guess we've had a long spell o' calms, and a tarnation +slitheration of a del-uge, 'sides being now a'most chawed up by a fire; +so I kalkerlate its 'bout time we hed sunthen' of a breeze. Thunder, +mister, it's kinder gettin' played out, I reckon, knocking about in +these air latitoods, without nary going ahead even once in a blue moon!" + +"Oh, the wind isn't far off now," replied Captain Dinks, "you see those +porpoises there, passing us now and playing astern? Well, they are a +certain sign of a breeze soon coming from the quarter towards which +they're swimming." + +"Wa-al, I dew hope so," drawled the American, with a sigh and a yawn of +weariness, "guess I shall snooze till it comes;" and he proceeded to +carry his thought into execution. + +Captain Dinks turned out a true prophet. + +A little later on in the day a breeze sprang up, that subsequently +developed into the long-wished-for south-east trade-wind, thus enabling +the good ship to bid adieu to the Doldrums and cross the equator, which +feat she accomplished two days after the fire. + +From the line--which Master Negus was able to see distinctly with the +aid of one of Mr McCarthy's fine red hairs neatly adjusted across the +object-glass of his telescope--the ship had a splendid run over to the +South American coast, following the usual western course adopted by +vessels going round the Cape of Good Hope, in order to have the +advantage afterwards of the westerly winds and get well to the south; +and, when she had reached the thirty-fourth parallel of longitude and +latitude 18 degrees 22 minutes south--that is, about midway between +Bahia and Rio Janeiro, her head was turned to the south-east with light +winds from the northward and eastward, and she began to make way towards +the "Cape of Storms," after getting to the southward of which she would +have a straight run due east to New Zealand. + +The _Nancy Bell's_ bows, however, were not long pointed in the direction +of the rising sun, when another incident occurred to vary the monotony +of the voyage--although, fortunately, this time not a second fire, nor +any peril from the sea to those on board. + +It was the second day of her south-easterly course; and from the wind +blowing fresh from the north-east, right on her port quarter, with fine +bright weather, the ship was running pretty free, all sail being set, at +the rate of over twelve knots an hour, leaving a wake behind her like a +mill-race. + +"Arrah, sure, and I call, that goin'!" exclaimed the first mate +exultantly, as he walked up and down the poop quickly--just as if his +doing so helped the vessel along, in the same way as one sees the +coxswain of a boat bending backwards and forwards to keep time with the +rowers! + +"Yes, like one o'clock!" chimed in Captain Dinks, showing an equal +enthusiasm. "The old girl is walking away with us at a fine rate, +McCarthy. I wouldn't be surprised if we logged three hundred by noon." + +"And fifty more tacked on it, sorr," said the mate. "Why, we've done +twelve knots ivry hour of my watch; and Adams tould me she wor running +the same at eight bells. By the piper that played before Moses, it's a +beauty she is--she'd bate aisy the fastest tay clipper from Shanghai!" + +"Aye, that she would!" chorused the captain. "What do you think of the +ship now, Miss Kate?" he added to that young lady, who was leaning +against the bulwarks to leeward, looking out over the sea. She was all +alone with her thoughts, Frank Harness being away forwards attending to +the cutting out of a new main-topgallant sail to replace the one they +had lost in the storm, the one they were now using being old and unable +to stand any further rough usage.--"You are not ashamed of the old +_Nancy_, now, eh?" + +"Oh no, Captain Dinks," answered Kate, "I never was, even in her worst +moments when we were becalmed; and I'm sure I couldn't be now, when she +is sailing along so beautifully; but, what is that speck out there, +captain, away to the right--is it a bird, or what?" + +"Eh, my dear?" said the skipper, looking in the direction the girl had +pointed--"a bird? no, by Jove, it looks like a sail of a boat well down +on the horizon. Here, McCarthy, hand me your glass." + +Captain Dinks seemed even more excited than he had been a moment before +when he spoke of the vessel's progress; for, taking the telescope that +the mate handed him, he scrutinised eagerly the object Kate had noticed. + +"Good heavens, it is a boat!" he exclaimed presently, "and I think I can +see a man in the stern-sheets, though I'm not quite sure: at all events, +I'll run down and overhaul it, for it would never do to abandon a poor +fellow in distress; no English sailor would think of such a thing! This +is all your doing, Miss Kate, you and your pretty eyes, which have the +best sight of any on board. We'll have to put the ship about, +McCarthy," he added to the mate; "we can't fetch that boat on this +tack." + +"Hands 'bout ship!" roared the mate, in response to the captain's +implied wish; and, immediately, there was much running to and fro on the +decks, and a yelling out of orders and hoarse "aye ayes" in reply--a +striking difference to the quiet that had reigned a moment or two +before, when the ship was slipping along through the water with the wind +on her quarter, never a sail having to be shifted or a rope pulled, and +only the man at the wheel for the time being having anything to do out +of the thirty odd hands on board. + +"Helm's a lee!" cried the captain, and the head-sheets were let go; +"raise tacks and sheets!" and the fore-tacks and main sheets were cast +off; while the weather crossjack braces and the lee main braces were +belayed, ready to be let go at a moment's notice, and the opposite +braces hauled taut. "Mainsail haul!" then sang out the captain when +these preparations were completed; when the braces being let go, the +yards swung round like a top. The after yards were subsequently braced +up and belayed, the main sheet hauled aft, the spanker eased over to +leeward, and the watch stood by the head braces. + +"Let go and haul!" was the next word of command; upon which the weather +fore-braces were let go and those to leeward hauled in by the men +forward under the personal supervision of Mr McCarthy, after which the +men boarded the fore-tack and hauled down the jib-sheet, clapping a +tackle on it as it blew fresh; and the _Nancy Bell_, braced round on the +starboard tack and with the wind a little more aft than when she was +running eastwards just now, stood towards the boat that Kate had been +the first to perceive, drifting a bout upon the wild ocean so far away +from land. + +At this juncture, Frank Harness sprang up into the fore cross-trees to +con the ship, by Captain Dink's directions; and presently his orders to +the steersman could be heard ringing out clear and distinct above the +creaking of the cordage and the wash of the sea alongside--those on the +poop, listening to all they could hear with intense eagerness, and +waiting for the moment when they could see for themselves the object of +the ship's quest. + +"Keep her up a bit--steady!" + +"Aye, aye, sir; steady it is!" + +"Port!" + +"Port it is!" + +"Steady!" + +"Steady it is!" + +"Luff!" + +"Aye, aye, sir!" + +"Keep her so!" + +"There is a man in her, sir!" Frank now called out in a different tone +of voice; "I can see him distinctly! He is trying to wave a +handkerchief or something. He looks almost dead, poor fellow!" + +The excitement on board at hearing this piece of news became all the +more intensified. + +"Are we nearing him?" shouted out Captain Dinks. + +"Oh yes, sir; the boat bears now broad on the weather beam. Keep her +steady as she is, and we can round-to close alongside. Look out, we're +getting pretty close now!" + +"Look out forward there!" cried the captain: but several hands were +there already with the first mate at their head, a coil of rope in his +hand, on the watch to heave it over the boat as soon as she was +approached near enough. + +"Time to come about, sir," hailed Frank from the cross-trees; and, +"Hands 'bout ship!" roared out Captain Dinks, almost in the same breath. + +During the bustle that ensued, those on the poop could not see what was +going on forward; but when the _Nancy Bell_ paid off again from the wind +on the port tack--thus resuming again what had been her previous course +before the boat had been sighted--it was found that the object for which +they had gone out of their way was safely alongside. + +It was a shocking sight! + +Four dead bodies were stretched, in every conceivable attitude of agony, +across the thwarts and in the bottom of the boat, which from its shape +had evidently belonged to some whaling vessel; while, sitting up in the +stern-sheets, close to the helm, which his feeble hands were powerless +to grasp, was the living skeleton of another sailor, whose eyes seemed +starting out from their deep sockets and whose lips appeared feebly +endeavouring to shape the syllables of "wa-ter!" + +In a second, Mr McCarthy had leaped down into the floating coffin as it +towed alongside; and, lifting the body of the solitary survivor from +amidst the corpses of his dead comrades, handed the light load--for the +poor, starved creature did not weigh more than a child of ten, although +a man of over six feet in height--up to hands that as carefully received +him; and then, leaping back again on board himself, the whale-boat was +scuttled by a plank being knocked out of her bottom and cut adrift, to +sink with her mortal freight into the common grave of those who die on +the deep, the stench from the remains being horrible and permeating the +whole ship while the boat was in contact with her. + +The rescued sailor was placed in a cot and given at first a small +quantity of thin soup which Snowball was busily concocting for the cabin +dinner, and after that, nourishment at intervals. By these restorative +measures, in a day or two, he recovered sufficiently to be able to tell +who he was and how he came to be in such a sad plight. + +He was a Norwegian sailor, he said, and belonged to an American whaler +which had been on her voyage home after a three years' whaling cruise in +the South Pacific. On rounding Cape Horn, they had encountered a +fearful storm which had nearly dismasted the ship and washed the master +and five hands overboard. He and four others had launched the only boat +they had left over the side, trying to pick up their shipmates; but, the +sea was too heavy for them, and when they endeavoured to return, they +found they could not fetch their vessel again, which perhaps was just as +well, for soon afterwards they saw her go down stern foremost. After +that, they ran before the wind for several days and nights--how long he +could not tell--until his four comrades had died from exhaustion, and he +himself, he believed, was just on the point of giving up his life when +providence sent the _Nancy Bell_ to succour him. + +"Ach der goot Gott!" said the man in his half German, half English way, +speaking brokenly and with tears in his eyes. "Der lieber Gott! I +shall nevare vergersen sie nevare!" + +They had had, he said, a breaker of water in the boat when they quitted +the whaler, but this was soon drunk out, and although they had +occasionally something to eat, catching several fish, they suffered +terribly from thirst. It was that which had killed his comrades mainly. +As for him, he bore it better than them, but it must have been eight +days since a drop of liquid had passed his lips. + +"Golly, dat am bad," said Snowball in the galley that evening, when some +of the hands gathered round the caboose to have a comfortable pipe and +talk over the events of the day. "Dat orful bad, eight day widout grub +or liquor! dis niggah not able 'tomach dat for sure!" + +"Lor', Snowball, that's nothing when you are used to it," said Ben +Boltrope, the man-o'-war's-man, who was pretty well king of the +forecastle by reason of his service in the navy and general smartness as +a seaman. "What is eight days in a boat without grub, when you've got +to go ten, as I've done, besides wandering about on a sandy shore after +swimming for a day and night to save my life? Why, that's nothing!" + +"Goramighty, Massa Boltrope, you no swim ten day widout habin' notin' to +eat, nor no water, hey?" said Snowball in astonishment. + +"No, you blessed donkey, I didn't say that," replied the worthy Jack +tar. "I said as how I had gone without grub or water for ten days after +swimming for more than twelve hours." + +"Dat berry rum for sure," said the darkey--"don't know how to belieb +dat, no how!" + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE CAPE OF STORMS. + +The steady nor'-east wind that was driving the good ship so gallantly on +her way when Captain Dinks put her about in order to rescue the +Norwegian sailor, continued for days, accompanied by such magnificent +weather, that the _Nancy Bell_ was enabled to make very rapid progress +down to those lower parallels it was necessary for her to reach before +she could stretch forward, in a straight line eastward towards her port +of destination. + +"I guess, Cap," said Mr Zachariah Lathrope, noticing the quick change +of temperature in the air, day by day, as they left the tropics behind-- +the mornings and evenings becoming gradually colder--"she air making as +straight tracks fur the south as them northern carpet-baggers did after +our little onpleasantness, what you folks called the civil war in the +States; when they used to rush down from Washington arter +postmasterships and other sich like offices, which wer to be hed, they +kinder thought, fur the asking! She air goin' slick, and that's a +fact!" + +"Yes," replied the worthy captain, whose face beamed with good humour +and satisfaction at the splendid run the vessel was making; "we are +going ahead, working down our southing, and will soon be able to steer +for New Zealand. She does walk along, and no mistake!" And then he +would look aloft, perhaps, and give an order for a brace to be tautened +here, or a sheet slackened there--the hours thus flying by in halcyon +moments, as far as the wind and sea, and the course of the ship, and all +on board were concerned--collectively and individually. + +The nights in these southern latitudes were simply beautiful beyond +compare. + +The moon had no sooner died out than she revived again, as if gifted +with perpetual youth--not an evening passing without her presence, +sooner or later, on the scene--and appeared, too, to have more dignity +of position and greater size than in the frigid north, ascending right +up to the very zenith, instead of merely skirting the heavens, as she +sometimes does here, and shining down from thence like a midnight sun in +radiant splendour. The Scorpion, also, amongst the various +constellations, was similarly promoted, occupying a place nearer the +centre of the firmament; while the Southern Cross, quite a new +acquaintance, followed by Castor and Pollux, began to descend towards +the sea, becoming more diagonal as the days drew on than when originally +observed, and finally vanishing from view head foremost. + +As for the North Star, it had long since entirely disappeared; and only +the horses in Charles' Wain yet remained above the horizon towards that +point of the compass. + +To Kate Meldrum's eyes, the sunsets were especially grand; for, as soon +as the time came for the glorious orb of day to sink to rest in the +golden west, a series of light amber-tinted clouds would arrange +themselves all round the horizon, as if with a studied pictorial effect, +like the stage grouping in what theatrical people term "a set piece;" +and then, by degrees, these clouds would become tinged with the +loveliest kaleidoscopic colours, all vividly bright--while the far-off +heaven that lay between them was of the purest palest rose-hued gold, +and the sky immediately above of a faint, ethereal, blueish, transparent +green. + +In the daytime, especially as the ship drew nearer to the meridian of +the Cape, there was more life in, on, and about the ocean; and on +passing the Island of Tristan da Cunha, which the _Nancy Bell_ sailed by +some three hundred miles to the northward, Master Maurice Negus was +greeted with the sight of a sperm-whale. + +This fellow was much smaller than the black-fish which had come to such +an untimely end when assailed by the thresher, being scarcely longer +than thirty-two feet. Maurice was especially credited with the +cetacean's discovery, because, when he noticed the spout of spray the +animal threw up from his blow-holes in the distance, he surprised +everybody by calling out that he could see one of the Crystal Palace +fountains--getting much laughed at, as might have been expected, for the +naive announcement. + +As those on board watched, they could see the whale every now and then +heave himself out of the water, half the length of his long dark body, +and fall "flop" down again, with a concussion that sent up the water +around him in white surf, like breakers. After this little diversion, +he amused himself with swimming backwards and forwards past the ship, as +if just showing what he could do, at a great rate; exposing only a thin +streak of his back and the fin and tail, but making the sea boil up as +if a plough were going through it, and leaving a wake behind him like +that of a paddle-wheel steamer--finally starting off suddenly due north, +as if he had all at once recollected an appointment in that direction, +when he soon disappeared from sight. + +The flying-fish and dolphins, bonetas and sharks, like the "Portuguese +men-of-war," were long since all left behind; but their places were +taken by the albatross, the Cape pigeon, the shearwater, and a sea-bird +called the "parson," dozens of which flew about the ship every day. + +The shearwater was a larger species of tern, or sea-swallow; the +"parson," so called for his sombre appearance and sedate manner, was a +kind of sable gull about the size of an English crow. His colour, +however, was not black, but a dusky brownish black, as if the reverend +gentleman's coat had got rusty from wear. These birds had a very odd, +"undertakerish" air about them, which amused Maurice and Florry very +much, and some having venerable white heads, which appeared as if +powdered with flour, like a footman's for a party, were so much more +eccentric looking, that even the grave Mrs Major Negus could not help +smiling at their appearance and queer ways. + +"Do look, papa!" exclaimed Kate--who during the voyage would at one time +be in the highest spirits, and the next pensive, as if occupied by a +world of thought--"I declare if that one isn't the very image of Mr +Trotter, our curate at Allington! He has the same little tuft of hair +on top on his head; and, besides, he has the identical same way of +popping it on one side when he used to speak, and staring at you with +his little round eyes. Is he not like Mr Trotter, father?" and she +pointed out one especially jaunty little "parson" to his notice. + +"Well, there is a little resemblance, certainly," said Mr Meldrum, +joining in Florry's laughter at the remark. "I don't suppose, though, +my dear, we'll ever see poor Mr Trotter or Allington again." + +"Dear old Allington!" murmured Kate with a sigh; and, in a moment, her +memory flew back to the past, with all its sad associations. + +The Cape pigeons were the prettiest of all the birds that visited the +ship, being very like the common wood pigeon in the shape of their head +and bill, but having webbed feet to suit their aquatic habits. They +were much plumper, too, than either the shearwaters or parsons--which +latter, by the way, unlike the fat cleric of popular opinion, were of +very slender and delicate proportions. + +In the matter of plumage, the Cape pigeons were white and downy, with +the head and wings striped with brown like butterflies, a large species +of which they strongly resembled when flying away from the ship, with +their pinions spread. + +But, of all the birds they saw, the albatross was the most wonderful to +observe. Not much larger than a goose in the size of its body, it had +enormous thin-edged wings, that enabled it to float about in the air, at +will apparently, without any perceptible motion, for hours at a stretch. +It seemed to direct its course by the slightest possible turning of its +body, so as to alter the inclination of its wings, which, extending out +straight and firm, bore the bird up or down, or away many miles off in a +second of time, in the most surprising manner. + +The albatross floats, or skims along the air, but does not fly according +to our ideas, although it has an extraordinary power of launching itself +from enormous heights down to the level of the sea with the velocity of +lightning. + +"Just like a white-winged messenger of light," as Kate Meldrum observed +in the hearing of Captain Dinks, "sent out from the angelic host above +on some divine mission to suffering humanity below!" + +"Ah; that sounds very pretty, missy," said the captain; "but the +albatross' mission happens to be fish; and I fancy that spoils the +sentiment a bit!" + +Eighteen days after passing the line, some seven weeks from her start, +the _Nancy Bell_ crossed the meridian of Greenwich, or longitude zero-- +at which precise time her position could not be said to be either east +or west--in latitude 38 degrees south, a couple of degrees below the +Cape; and the wind, which had kept steadily from the north-east and +northward ever since the South American coast had been left astern, now +got well round to the south-west, enabling every stitch of canvas to +draw, from the spanker to the flying jib. Seeing this Captain Dinks +caused the upper yards to be squared a bit and the main and fore top- +gallant studding-sails set, thus helping the vessel on her way. + +This sort of weather lasted for five days, the ship being steered east +by south, meeting the sun and losing an hour a day by the chronometer +and going twelve knots each hour out of the twenty-four; when on +reaching the longitude of the Cape "a change came o'er the spirit" of +the _Nancy Bell's_ "dream." + +The wind shifted suddenly from the south-west to the north-east; and the +heavy rolling sea, peculiar to the Southern Ocean, set in, accompanied +by showers of rain, and hail, and snow. Soon, sail had to be reduced, +and the ship, with all her gay canvas stripped off her, had as much as +she could do to stagger along under reefed topsails and foresail, the +mizzen staysail being set to give her more power aft, her steering +becoming very wild after a bit although two men were at the helm. + +From merely looking squally, the clouds gathering on the horizon grew +thicker and thicker, till they got as black as ink. The sea, also, +darkened to a dark leaden hue, and the swell increased so rapidly in +height that when the vessel sank down into the intermediate valley not a +glimpse could be obtained of anything beyond the watery mountains on +either side. + +"I guess we're going to have it pretty rough, Cap, eh," said the +American to Captain Dinks; "it looks all-powerful squally, it dew!" + +"You're right," said the captain. "We're now in the vicinity of the +Cape of Storms, and we've got to look out." + +So saying, Captain Dinks showed his determination of "looking out," by +having all the lighter spars of the ship sent down from aloft, besides +causing everything to be made secure on deck and below for the expected +storm. + +Not long after the _Nancy Bell_ was made snug the tempest burst upon +her. The high, smooth rolling waves were torn and wrenched asunder, as +it were; and their summits wreathed into masses of foam, which curled +over as they advanced against the wind, and, breaking away in fragments, +blew off in masses of snowy whiteness to leeward. The ship was meeting +this swell nearly head on; and as the rollers caught her fairly on the +bows she struck them with a sound as heavy as that with which the weight +falls in a pile-driving machine, taking in some of the sea over the +forecastle and carrying it aft as far as the break of the poop--washing +about everything in its course until the water finally found vent from +the deck through the scuppers. + +One of these waves--a regular mountain of a sea, the water all green, +and standing up like a huge pellucid wall before it toppled over--coming +in over the bows, made a clean sweep of all that was movable lying +forward of the mainmast, carrying over the side all the hen-coops, +sheep-pen, water casks, as well as spare spars that had been stowed +along the deck, nothing being left to show that they had ever been +there! Even Snowball's galley was upset and rolled about in the waist +to leeward, the sea having not been quite strong enough to carry it +overboard, while its unhappy occupant, half drowned in the scuppers and +not able to extricate himself from his perilous position, was loudly +calling for aid. + +Ben Boltrope--who had been having a confab with the darkey, and probably +a "drop of something hot," his special failing, in the galley when the +sea washed over the ship and fetched it away--was promptly at hand to +help his sable friend; when the galley was reinstated in its proper +place, and so tightly lashed down to the ring-bolts that a sea would +have had to carry away the deck itself to have lifted it again. But, +sad to relate, the sheep and the poultry had disappeared for ever from +human ken, along with their pens and coops, and the saloon passengers +would thenceforth have to fare without any such delicacies as roast +mutton and boiled fowl--a terrible piece of news for Mr Lathrope when +it was brought to his ears! + +As the evening closed in and night came on, the force of the wind and +sea both seemed to increase, and it appeared incredible that a fabric +formed by human hands should have been capable of sustaining the rude +shocks and ponderous blows which the ship received again and again as +she battled with the waves; but the captain had in the end to let the +vessel fall off her course and scud before the gale, going whither the +elements listed. + +"Oh, father," said Kate to Mr Meldrum, the two remaining on deck long +after the others had gone below, "what confidence sailors must have in +the qualities of their ship, not to be overcome with dread at such a +scene, especially if they direct a thought to the frail timbers that +only separate them from the watery abyss!" + +"Aye, my child," replied he; "but, what greater confidence in God's +protecting power!" + +"True, father," said Kate, and after that she remained silent until Mr +Meldrum declared it was time to go below. They did not retire, however, +until it was as dark as pitch, when nothing could be seen beyond the +wall of water on either side of the taffrail--the tumid mass looking +like a black avalanche about to overwhelm them, while the roaring of the +wind and rattling of blocks and creaking of cordage, in conjunction with +the groaning of the ship's timbers, and crashing sounds of the waves as +they broke against the quarter, as if trying to beat the vessel's sides +in, made such a discord and concert altogether that it drowned +conversation, even had either been inclined to talk in the presence of +such a display of the mighty power of Him who rules the waves. + +Down in the cuddy, the scene was certainly more cheerful; and, what with +the bright light of the swinging lamps, and the well-spread table +comfortably arranged for tea, with the cups and saucers placed between +"fiddles" to prevent them from slipping adrift when the vessel pitched +or rolled, it afforded a strong contrast to the barren bareness and +gloomy discomfort of the deck, especially on such a cold night, with +suspicions of hail, and sleet, and snow at intervals. But, still, here +also everything was not quite so rose-coloured as might have at first +appeared; for stormy weather at sea discounts what might be called the +market value of the comforts and conveniences of everyday life to a most +surprising extent! + +The cups and saucers were all right, or so they seemed at first sight in +their abnormal position; but, the moment those who sat down at the table +began to use them, they took to flying about like shuttles in a carpet- +loom. Bread-baskets and cake-dishes discharged their contents like +catapults against the panelling of the cabin doors, while jugs of +condensed milk--which was used not from any special liking for the +article, but through default of there being a cow on board--were emptied +most impartially on to the shirt-fronts and dresses of the gentlemen and +ladies who unfortunately sat opposite to them. + +"Durn my boots!" ejaculated the American once; "but if them air sheep +hadn't gone overboard to feed the fishes, I guess we'd hev hed capers +enuff goin' on down har to sarve for sass to the biled mutton!" + +All put up, however, with these petty annoyances gleefully enough, only +too glad to be able to joke and make capital out of them and pleased +that their present calamities were not too serious for laughter; and +when they separated at bedtime, it was with the cheerful wish that the +weather might be a trifle brighter on the morrow. No one seemed to +think for a moment of danger, or took heed of the bustle on deck, or of +the quivering and shaking of everything in the saloon, which seemed +suffering from what Mr Lathrope styled a "seaquake"--in +contradistinction to earthquake. + +But, hardly had six bells been struck in the first watch when the order +"out lights" was given and the welcome gleam of the cuddy lamp +disappeared summarily, plunging all in darkness--than a sudden +stupendous shock assailed the ship startling the sleepers. + +There came first a stunning blow, apparently from a wave, right +amidships; and then, the vessel seemed to go down to the very water's +edge on one side, heeling over as rapidly immediately afterwards to the +other. + +Away went everything that was movable below, flung backwards and then +forwards right across the ship--the thumping noise made by the heavy +boxes falling in the cabins and state-rooms, combined with the crashing +and smashing of glass and crockeryware in the cuddy, where the table and +settle-seats had been carried away by the run, and the outcry of the +sailors yelling and stamping above, not to speak of the grinding and +groaning of the bulkheads and shuddering of the ship's timbers between +decks, all making up a babel of sound and confusion that was worse by a +thousand fold than what had previously occurred during the first storm +which the vessel, experienced in the Bay of Biscay. + +Naturally, the majority of those below thought that all was over, and +piercing cries of terror and appeal for help resounded through the ship. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +CAUGHT IN A CYCLONE. + +A storm at sea is bad enough in the daytime, but at night it is +terrible; for then, the peril unseen is so magnified by the terror- +stricken mind as to become far more appalling than a much greater danger +seen face to face and realised:-- the latter can be grappled with, but +the former, by its very intangibility and "unreachableness," daunts the +bravest heart and paralyses the strongest arm! + +Llewellyn, the steward, managed to procure a light, which he did only +after much delay--the racket and uproar having apparently sent his +little wits wool-gathering--the cuddy looked the very picture of +desolation, almost leading to the belief that the sea had made a clean +breach through the sides of the ship in one of its rude onslaughts +dashing everything to pieces. + +Fortunately, however, this was not the case, although the saloon +skylight had been carried away, gratings and all, and a considerable +amount of water had come down through the opening, which loomed now +above the semi-lighted space like a large hole broken in the deck; but, +by reason of the carrying away of the table and seats from their +lashings and ring-bolt fastenings and now being washed in a jumbled heap +to one side of the cuddy, the cabins to leeward were so completely +barricaded that their occupants were prevented from issuing forth. It +was from this quarter that the cries for help proceeded--the voice of +Mrs Major Negus, it need hardly be mentioned, predominating, although +the American passenger, who had a berth alongside that distinguished +lady, also sang out pretty loudly. + +"Hullo, steward!" called out Mr Meldrum on seeing the light, having +already opened the door of his state-room, which had a sliding panel and +was undamaged as far as he could notice. "Why, what's the matter!" + +"Only shipped a sea, sir," answered Llewellyn rather gruffly, for he was +annoyed at being roused from his sleep, "though from the row they're a- +making one would think we were all going to the bottom!" + +"Much mischief done, eh?" asked Mr Meldrum, taking in at a glance the +havoc in the cuddy--"I mean on deck," he added. + +"Can't say, sir," replied the other; "ain't had time to look about here +yet, much less to go up and see! It's a bad berth that o' steward to a +lot of bawling females on a passenger ship; I'd liefer--" + +But, his grumblings were stopped for the moment by the renewed loud +screams of Mrs Major Negus--who was his pet aversion on board on +account of her giving him more trouble than all the rest combined, while +Master Maurice really was the plague of his life. + +"Steward--stew-ard!" she cried, "Come here at once and get me out! I'm +all smothered and drowned, and nobody will help me! Stew-ard! I'm +dying--I'll tell the captain with my last breath. Stew-ard!" + +"Sure I'm coming, mum, as fast as I can," sang out Llewellyn aloud, +adding _sotto voce_ for his own satisfaction, "Hang that Major Madam! +I'd never have shipped in the _Nancy Bell_ if I had a-knowed she was +coming aboard! Bless you, mum, I'm coming--everything is all right and +there isn't no cause for alarm!" + +"Isn't there?" indignantly demanded the lady in a queer sort of half +suffocated voice from behind the barred door of her cabin. "If you were +jumbled in a pool of water, with all your luggage on top of you, I don't +think you'd think everything right. Help, man! release me at once, or +I'll be drowned and flattened into a pancake!" + +"Say, you Mister Steward, you jest hurry up and git the lady out of her +muss, and come and fix me up," chimed in the voice of Mr Zachariah +Lathrope. "I guess I've had my innards a'most squoze out agin the +durned bunk, an' feel like a dough-nut in a frying-pan. If you leave me +much longer I kalkerlate this old boss'll be cold meat, you bet, and +you'll have the funeral to pay!" + +Mr Meldrum coming to Llewellyn's aid, the steward managed at length to +clear away the wreckage from before the door of Mrs Major Negus' cabin, +and then from that of the American, when both the occupants were found +more seriously hurt than either of their rescuers had imagined, they +thinking that their outcries had proceeded more from alarm than any real +injury. + +The wife of the deputy-assistant comptroller-general of Waikatoo was +lying, all purple in the face, with a heavy portmanteau on the top of +her, on the deck of her cabin in nearly a foot of water; and by the time +they got her up from her perilous position she fainted dead away in the +steward's arms. + +"Here, Mary!" called out Llewellyn to his wife, the stewardess, who +quickly appeared on the scene half-dressed. "Attend to this lady, while +we go and see after Mister Lathrope." + +The American was in a much worse plight; for, whereas Mrs Major Negus +had only swallowed a lot of sea-water and had been only nearly +frightened to death, Mr Lathrope's sallow face was so unearthly pale +that Mr Meldrum was certain he had received some severe injury; as he +was tightly jammed between his bunk and the washing-stand, while a heavy +packing-case had tumbled out of the top berth on to one of his +shoulders, preventing him from moving. + +"I guess, mister, you jest come in time," said the poor fellow with a +sickly smile, as they pulled away the case and wash-stand, and helped +him into a sitting position on the bunk, "another minnit and it would +have been all up with Z Lathrope, Esquire!" And he gasped for breath, +putting his hand to his left side, as if feeling pain there. + +"Oh, papa, are you there?" said Kate, coming out, in a charming state of +dishabille, from the state-room she shared with her sister on the +opposite side of the saloon, alongside to that of Mr Meldrum. "Is +anybody hurt?" + +"Yes, my dear," answered her father, "you'd better bring some sal +volatile or something. Mrs Negus has fainted; and I'm afraid poor Mr +Lathrope is in a bad way." + +The plucky girl did not delay, or exhibit any of that feminine weakness +or nervousness which might have been expected under the circumstances. +Retiring for a moment, to throw a shawl round herself and get what was +required in the emergency, she quickly reappeared again at the door of +the state-room,--which she closed behind her to prevent Miss Florry, +inquisitive as usual, from coming forth; and then proceeded to cross the +floor of the cuddy as well as she was able--a somewhat difficult task +considering the rolling and pitching of the vessel, and the fact that +the table and seats, which generally formed points of vantage for +holding on, had been swept away, so that there was nothing for her to +cling to. + +Half running, half sliding, she, however, reached the opposite side and +was quickly engaged in the Samaritan task of bathing Mr Lathrope's +temples with Eau de Cologne. + +"Don't you bother, miss," said the American faintly, "I guess I ain't so +much hurt arter all!" but he couldn't help groaning as he spoke, +whereupon Mr Meldrum laid him down gently and sent the steward for some +brandy, which revived him somewhat. + +"I got a pretty considerable gouge in the ribs from that air wash- +stand," said he, pointing out the objectionable piece of furniture as he +uttered the words; "but I guess I'll be all right presently. How's +Madam Negus!" + +"Oh, she was more frightened than hurt," said Mr Meldrum laughing; "she +was in a nice pickle on the floor of her cabin. You should just have +seen her. I really don't think she could ever be dignified to me any +more!" + +"For shame, papa, to laugh at misfortune!" said Kate; "and now, as Mr +Lathrope seems better, I'll go and look after his fellow-sufferer." So +saying, the girl clambered along by the side of the saloon to where Mrs +Major Negus was ensconced in state, in the adjoining cabin--now revived +from her fainting fit and with Mary Llewellyn ministering to her wants, +although "the Major" could not help scolding the latter at intervals, as +if she were the cause of the disaster. + +In the midst of all this, down came Mr McCarthy, the first mate, from +the poop. + +"Be jabers and it's a foine time you are having of it, any way!" said he +by way of greeting, looking round with a quizzical cock of his eye at +the dismantled cuddy. "I only thought you'd have had a drop of wather +or two whin the skoilight got adrift, and we've rigged up tarpaulins +over it and battened it down comfortably, so that ye'll not be throubled +any more by the say washing down. But, how did the table git carried +away! It was fixed down so strong it's a puzzle to me entirely!" + +"Goodness only knows," said Mr Meldrum; "there came a tremendous crash +amidships soon after midnight, and away it went!" + +"Ah that was whin that gossoon Adams had howlt of the helm. The +omahdawn, he was looking up at the spars and tellin' the cap'en about +taking the topsails off her, as she was carrying too much sail, instead +of mindin' his own business and lookin' to the steering; and, faix, he +let the ship broach to, bad cess to him!" + +"And how are you getting on now, on deck?" asked Mr Meldrum. + +"Will, sorr," said the mate, speaking more earnestly than was his usual +wont, and dropping his voice so that no one else could hear him. "To +spake the truth and shame the divil--faix it's no lie I'm telling--we're +right in the centre of a cyclone, and the Lord only knows if we'll iver +git out of it!" + +"I thought so," murmured Mr Meldrum; "my poor children!" + +"Sure and be a man now!" whispered the mate as Kate came out of Mrs +Major Negus' cabin. "I wouldn't have tould you if I had thought +contrariwise!" + +"I was not thinking of myself," said Mr Meldrum sternly; "what sail are +you carrying?" + +"Sail!" exclaimed Mr McCarthy; "faix and its joking ye are! Ivery +stitch of canvas, sure, was blown to smithereens when the ship broached +to, and the foretop-mast was thin took out of her, too, by the same +token! The divil a hap'orth are we carrying, save a piece of tarpaulin +lashed in the weather rigging to kape her hid to the say, and that's all +we can do till daylight comes, if we iver say it, please God, for it's +as dark now as a blue dog in a black entry, and you couldn't say your +hand before your face to set any sail, if ever a man could git up the +rigging--but whist now about that! Steward," he added in a louder key, +"come, look alive here and git the cuddy to rights in shipshape fashion! +By the powers, but the skipper'd be in a foine rage if he saw it all +mops and brooms like this! Bear a hand, man, and be smart, and I'll +send the carpenter to help you as soon as the watch is relayed." With +these words he bustled on deck again, after changing his oilskin, which +was all knocked to pieces, for a rough pea-jacket, and saying to Mr +Meldrum that he thought the latter would be more handy, for it was +blowing enough to take one's hair off! + +"Papa," said Kate as soon as the mate had ascended the companion, "what +was that Mr McCarthy was saying when he spoke so low to you?" + +"Eh, my dear?" answered her father a little confusedly, with some +hesitation in his voice. "Oh, only that the storm was raging violently +and did not seem to lull at all yet." + +"Did he say that there was any danger?" + +"Danger, eh? no, I--I can't say. I think I'll just step up and see for +myself;" and, anxious to escape this cross-examination, as well as +really to judge whether the position of the ship was as precarious as +the chief mate had indicated, Mr Meldrum likewise went up on to the +poop, finding some trouble when he reached the top of the companion +stairs, in opening the hatch. + +For a moment, after emerging on to the deck, all was terribly dark--as +black as ink, as Mr McCarthy had said; but, the next instant, the whole +awful scene was lit up by the most intense and vivid flash of lightning +Mr Meldrum had ever beheld--the electric fluid being quite +unaccompanied by any peal of thunder, although that might have been +drowned by the continuous roar and shriek of the howling wind which +appeared to have gone mad with the unbridled fury of a demon. + +During the brief space of time in which the zigazag stream of fire from +the vault of heaven momentarily lit up the surroundings of the ship, +which it did with a brightness that eclipsed the light of day, Mr +Meldrum could see the vessel tumbling about amid a chaotic mass of +waves, which it was no exaggeration to term mountains high, as if she +were in the vortex of a whirlpool; while dense opaque black clouds +hovered over her, vomiting forth wind, apparently from every quarter of +the horizon, the gusts tearing at the ship with harpy-like clutches, as +if they would rend her to pieces--she, like a poor human thing racked +with pain, labouring and groaning, and bending this way and that to +escape the relentless wind, so well aided by the clutching billows from +below that leaped up to engulf the vessel when they themselves were not +absolutely flattened to the surface of the water, as they were +sometimes, by the force of the hurricane. + +The scene was literally awful! + +The next moment all was darkness again; with the night black as Erebus, +and Mr Meldrum unable, as the mate had said, to see his hand before his +face. + +Captain Dinks, however, had noted his arrival on deck; and approached +him without being seen. + +"I advise you to go below, Mr Meldrum," said he, "you can do no good +here, nor any of us, indeed, until morning, when I hope we'll have +better weather. It's a terrible night, the worst I have ever seen at +sea in all my time!" + +"Aye, terrible," replied the other, shouting in the ear of the captain, +but, as he was facing the wind, his voice seemed to the latter only like +a whisper. "I'll take your advice, as I see I could be of no use; +still, if I can be of any service, mind you call me!" + +"Aye, aye," said Captain Dinks, "you go down and go to sleep. We are +all in God's hands now, though I'll do all that man can--good night!" + +"Good night," said Mr Meldrum; and he then went below again to give +what report he could to Kate, who was waiting anxiously for his expected +reappearance, as he had said he should not be gone long when he left +her. + +She had been certain the ship was in great danger; and she now read the +confirmation of her worst fears in her father's face. + +"Oh, papa!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms round his neck as soon as +he came down the companion, without waiting to hear a word from him. "I +thought so, I thought so!" + +"Hush, my child!" said he soothingly, leading her towards her state-room +and opening the door, "go in to your cabin and pray!" + +And thus the weary night passed away. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +IN UNKNOWN LATITUDES. + +When daylight came, through the exertions of Ben Boltrope, the +carpenter, and a couple of the crew sent to aid him, the cuddy offered a +more presentable appearance than it had done just immediately after the +midnight scare; for, the table and seats were fixed back in their +original positions, the debris cleared away, and a portion of the +skylight restored--all of which so brightened up the interior that what +had passed but a few hours before seemed but a dream, at first, to those +of the passengers who turned out early. The continuous sustained roar +of the wind and waves had so drowned the noise of the men hammering and +moving about that the repairs appeared to have been accomplished by +magic. + +As soon as Mr Meldrum went on deck, however, he could see little +alteration for the better there. + +The great rolling billows, as Maury has described them, were running +high and fast, tossing their white caps in the air, looking like the +green hills of a western prairie capped with snow, and chasing each +other in sport; while the wind was still blowing a hurricane, and the +ship, resembling a crippled bird with her foretop-mast gone, was running +now before the gale under a single storm-staysail, that looked no bigger +than an ordinary sized pocket-handkerchief, at a greater rate of speed +than she would have done in a stiff breeze with all her canvas spread. + +The outlook around, too, was by no means cheering. + +The horizon was piled up with masses of blue-black clouds, whose ragged +edges meant mischief, and scraps of greyish white scud were flying +across the sky in all directions--now towards the same point as the +wind, now against it, as if there were contending currents aloft and +they could not decide what precise course to travel. + +Captain Dinks, who, with the other officers, had been on deck all night, +looked haggard and care-worn. The men, too, seemed worn-out, which +could not be wondered at, as no sooner had the watch whose turn it was +to be relieved, got below than they were roused up again at the call of +"All hands"--when, of course, they had to tumble on deck again, without +a moment's time for the rest and repose they needed after the exposure +they were subjected to in battling up and down the rigging in the +tempest of wind and rain and hail that had lasted through the livelong +night. + +"Not a very bright look-out!" said the captain, trying to speak +cheerily, but failing miserably in the attempt. "Old Boreas, too, I'm +afraid, is going to put on a fresh hand to the bellows, for the +barometer has fallen again." + +"Indeed?" answered Mr Meldrum. + +"Yes," continued Captain Dinks; "it stood at 29.50 at three o'clock this +morning, and when I looked just now it was at 29.25." + +"That's bad," said the other; "it shows we've not got the worst of the +cyclone yet." + +"No," replied the captain; "we've got that all to come! Luckily, I sent +down the topgallant-masts yesterday evening, or we'd have had every +stick out of her by now:-- they would have been safe to go when the +foretop-mast went, if not before. However, there they are, all lashed +together by the longboat, not gone yet; and I hope we shall have some +use for them yet bye and bye." + +"I only hope so," said Mr Meldrum sadly, the despondent way in which +Captain Dinks spoke affecting him too. + +The ship seemed easier running before the wind than when lying-to, +although there was the risk of the heavy following seas pooping her, a +contingency that had already happened when a portion of the bulwarks +were carried away at the time the saloon skylight was smashed, leaving +an ugly gash in the ship's side; but a spare hawser had been triced up +and secured fore and aft to prevent the men being washed overboard +through the aperture, and life lines were rove and passed along the deck +for the same purpose. + +"It's safer to carry on," observed Captain Dinks, seeing the anxious +glance Mr Meldrum bent to windward. "I've heard of a ship outrunning a +hurricane before; and so might we again." + +"So have I," said Mr Meldrum; "but not a cyclone! Look there, ahead, +at that bank of storm-clouds; perhaps we're running into a worse gale +than the one we've got." + +"Well, we can only act for the best," replied the captain curtly, +apparently not relishing this criticism of his seamanship from a +landsman--as he thought--who knew nothing about the matter; and he then +moved back to his post by the binnacle, leaving Mr Meldrum standing by +the head of the companion, where he was presently joined by Frank +Harness, the first and second mates being both forward, superintending +the bending of preventer stays to secure the masts, which seemed to be +ready to jump out of the ship from the leverage exercised even by the +little sail she was carrying. + +By noon, when it was utterly impossible to take an observation, the +heavens being black all round, with showers of hail and snow coming down +at intervals, and the wind, blowing over the Antarctic ice-fields, +seemed to cut the face as with a knife--the temperature of the air had +become bitterly cold, while the barometer fell to 29 inches. The very +spirit of destruction appeared to brood over the ill-fated _Nancy Bell_. + +Mr Meldrum, after a brief visit below to look after his daughters and +see how the American passenger was progressing since his accident, had +returned on deck, accompanied by Kate, who pleaded so earnestly to be +allowed to come that he could not resist her entreaties. She now stood, +sheltered behind him, in the mouth of the companionway, watching the +brewing of the fresh storm with which the vessel was about to be +assailed--Frank Harness close to her side as if for additional +protection, although the captain had told him he might go below and have +a spell off after being up all night. The young sailor, as soon as she +came up, had taken off his own monkey-jacket and fastened it round her +shoulders to protect her from the wind and hail, despite all Kate's +protests, to which he was obliged to turn a deaf ear by reason of the +force of the gale. + +Suddenly, the dark looming mass of clouds in front of the ship appeared +to split asunder, showing gaping ragged edges fringed with white, just +like a shark's mouth. + +Mr Meldrum at once rushed to where Captain Dinks was standing close to +the wheel-house, where two men had all they could do to control the +helm, although they were the strongest hands on board, the one being Ben +Boltrope, the ex-man-o'-war's-man, and the other Karl Ericksen, the +Norwegian sailor who had been rescued from the boat, and who was a +perfect giant now that he was restored to health and strength--standing +over six feet, and with long brawny arms that seemed as powerful as +those of a windmill when he threw them about. + +"For God's sake, Captain," exclaimed Mr Meldrum, "round the ship to, if +you can! If that squall that's coming right forward catches her in the +teeth, she will go down stern foremost in a second!" + +"Nonsense, Mr Meldrum!" answered Captain Dinks hotly. "Who are you? a +landsman, to give orders to a trained seaman! I don't allow passengers +to interfere with me in working my own ship." + +"Considering I have been in the royal navy all my life, and left the +service with the rank of commander," said Mr Meldrum quietly, not a +whit angered by the captain's somewhat reasonable indignation, "I think +I am something of an authority on the point. But, don't let us argue +that matter now, Captain Dinks. I apologise for interfering; but I have +seen and been through a good many cyclones in the China seas, when I was +in command of a gunboat there, and I advise you to do as I've said." + +"Trust his honour, Capting, sir," chimed in Ben Boltrope, for once +forgetting his sense of discipline, and speaking to his superior officer +without leave; "I've sarved with Commander Meldrum, and knows what he +is." + +"I'm sure, sir, Mr Meldrum, I hardly know how to address you," said +Captain Dinks, his old polite sell again, and smiling as if there was no +storm near. "I beg your pardon for not recognising that you were of the +same craft; but what could I think, or how could I judge?" + +"Oh, never mind that now," said Mr Meldrum eagerly. "Put her about at +once, as you value all our lives." + +"All right!" replied Captain Dinks; "down with the helm there, sharp!" + +The men strained every sinew to get the wheel round, the muscles on the +Norwegian's arms standing out in relief like wire ropes, and Ben +Boltrope using his utmost strength and assisting him with a will. + +"Look out forward!" shouted the captain in the meantime, to warn +McCarthy and the men what was going to be done so that they might hold +on; "were going to 'bout ship." And although they could not hear a word +he said, they judged what he meant by his motions and prepared +themselves accordingly. + +The manoeuvre was executed at last, but very nearly a moment too late. + +As the ship came round, she met the sea full butt, and was for the +instant almost buried--the water coming in high over the forecastle and +falling like a cataract into the waist, engulfing the men there in a +well of green wave and foam; while, at the same moment, the squall ahead +struck her on the port bow, the vessel, between the two opposing forces, +being like a piece of iron 'twixt hammer and anvil. The concussion was +tremendous, knocking everybody off their feet just as if the ship had +struck on a rock. + +Crash went the remains of the foremast over the side, carrying with it +the maintop-mast and the solitary scrap of sail that was set; and for a +moment the ship broached to, heeling over as if she were going to +founder. + +However, the same expedient that had been tried in the night, that of a +tarpaulin in the weather-rigging, was again resorted to; and the helm +being kept down, the vessel's head was got to the sea, the wreck of the +foremast, which had swung clear of the ship although still kept attached +by the gear forwards, acting as a sort of breakwater, and tempering down +the strength of the waves, so that after a time she rode somewhat easy. + +Meanwhile, Kate had a terrible fright. + +As the shock came when the _Nancy Bell_ was put about, Frank Harness +threw his arm round Kate's waist to prevent her from being thrown down, +holding on himself at the same time like grim death to the rail of the +companion; and on the ship steadying, he released the girl and let go +his hold. At that moment, however, a wave came over the poop, and he, +being taken off his guard, was rolled over on the deck and washed +towards the opening in the broken bulwarks. + +Kate instantly, without hesitating for a second, made a snatch at his +collar; and, clutching hold of it, in the very nick of time, saved him +by a miracle--had he been carried overboard, no earthly power could have +rescued him! + +"Oh, Frank!" she exclaimed, "I thought I had lost you!" And, as he +scrambled to his feet, pale with the suddenness of his peril and her +effort to rescue him, the brave girl sank down, apparently lifeless, on +the deck--all of a heap. + +"Good heavens, she is dead!" cried Frank. "She has been killed in +trying to save me!" and in the desperation of grief he looked as if he +were going to throw himself into the sea. + +"No, no, my boy," said Mr Meldrum, who had witnessed the incident from +the wheel-house, and had now come to his aid; "she has only fainted from +revulsion of feeling and the strain on her nerves. Help me to carry her +below." + +And, as the two descended the companion-way with their apparently +inanimate burden, the young sailor could not help furtively kissing the +floating tresses of dark brown hair that swept across his face as he +tenderly supported Kate's head on his shoulder, guarding it jealously in +the passage below. His anxiety was soon afterwards relieved by Mr +Meldrum coming out from the cabin where they had deposited poor Kate, +and telling him that she was getting better. + +It was a bad case with the ship, however; worse than anyone thought. + +Soon after Frank and Mr Meldrum had left the deck, Ben Boltrope, who +was still in the wheel-house with the Norwegian, called out to Captain +Dinks:-- "I think there's something wrong with the rudder, sir," he +said. + +"Wrong with the rudder!" repeated the captain. "What do you mean?" and +he came nearer to look himself at the steering gear. + +"Why; the wheel goes round either way, just as you please, without any +strain at all, as if the ropes were parted, or the rudder gone adrift!" + +"Mercy on us! That would be a calamity!" exclaimed Captain Dinks; and, +watching his opportunity, when the stern of the ship rose up in the air, +he looked over the rail below. "It is really the case!" he said, in +grave accents. "The rudder and rudder-post have both been carried away. +What a blessing that they did not go before we got her about; if they +had, nothing could have saved us." + +"True for you, sir," responded Ben in acquiescence; while the Norwegian +nodded his head and said, "Ja! ja!" + +"Come away from there, my men," presently said the captain after a long +silence, as if he were thinking to himself what should be done; "it's no +use your stopping there any longer. But, stay, it is best not to alarm +the crew too soon. You stop, Norwegee," calling that sailor by the name +the men had dubbed him; "and you, carpenter, go and sound the well to +see what water we have taken in. Mind and do it quietly, now, so as not +to be seen; and you need not tell any of the hands about the loss of the +rudder, you know." + +"Aye, aye, sir, I twig," said Ben, going forwards and then down the main +hatchway, slipping off the cover for the purpose. + +Presently he returned aft, looking very serious. + +"There's four feet water in the hold, sir," said he. + +"Only four feet?" replied Captain Dinks, pretending to treat the matter +with great unconcern; "why, I thought she would have had ever so much +more in her, with all the straining she has gone through in the last +twenty-four hours, besides the lot of seas she took in before we had the +hatches battened. Still we'd better get rid of it, carpenter, as +there's no use our carrying more cargo than we are obliged, eh?" + +"No, sir," said Ben somewhat dubiously, not taken in by the captain's +manner. + +"Just what I think," said Captain Dinks. "Here, McCarthy," he cried out +to the first mate, who, ever intent on duty, was busily engaged in +trimming matters amidships, having the lashings of the longboat and +spare spars overhauled in readiness for the next sea that might flood +the decks--for nothing could be done about the wreck of the foremast +till the gale moderated, as to loose it now would be to lose their +sheet-anchor. "McCarthy, just have the chain-pumps rigged and pump out +the hold to get rid of all that water we have taken on board." + +"Aye, aye, sorr," was the hearty response, and the "cling, clang" of the +pumps was soon heard resounding with a will through the ship, the men +encouraged by the mate to do their best. + +Still, it was a bad look-out. + +The ship had first been scudding due east, and then to the northward, +goodness only knew how many miles off her course; and now, here she was, +drifting southwards, dismasted and rudderless, a hopeless wreck in +unknown waters, at the mercy of the elements! + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +ICE AHEAD! + +Although the wind and sea had being doing their utmost, without, to +transform the previously trim ship, that had sailed from Plymouth so +gallantly, into the veritable semblance of a battered hulk, no further +damage had been done below: so that, in the cuddy, all was comparative +comfort--in contrast to the scene on deck. + +Mr Zachariah Lathrope, who made light of his injuries, albeit his left +arm was in a sling--confessing, too, that his side "felt kinder painful, +as if some coon had given him a sockdolager in the ribs, or a grizzly +bar put his hug on"--was seated at the replaced table, pitching into a +sort of heavy lunch, to make amends for his missed breakfast, while the +steward was cutting up a plentiful supply of ham for him on his plate, +so that he could use his solitary hand with a fork and so feed himself. +Mrs Major Negus was busily engaged in her cabin, and with the +assistance of Mary Llewellyn, the stewardess, was rearranging all her +numerous goods and chattels that had been so ruthlessly banged about in +the night; and Master Maurice, whom the turmoil had not disturbed in the +least, was still sleeping in the top bunk as composedly as he had +continued doing all through the period of his mother's struggles on the +floor and narrow escape from suffocation, unawakened either by the noise +or her loud calls for help--the worthy lady as soon as she came to +herself having earnestly cautioned Kate and the stewardess not to arouse +her darling boy, for "he would be so frightened, you know, if he saw me +like this!" + +Kate herself, recovered from her faint, but yet feeling weak and languid +from the effects of all she had gone through, was mechanically assisting +Florry to dress, wondering the while, in a dull apathetic way, whether +she would ever again have to tender the same offices to her little +sister, for she was prepared for the worst and believed that the ship +was in imminent danger--although she hoped still, with the ardent nature +of youth, that they might be delivered, trusting to the loving mercy and +watchful care of that God to whom she had prayed during the night, even +before her earthly father's counsel, and before whose footstool she had +already that morning bent the knee more than once. + +As for Mr Meldrum--who had remained below from the consciousness that +he could not be of any service in the immediate present on deck and from +an unwillingness to having the appearance even of shoving himself +forward and interfering with the management of the ship after what +Captain Dinks had said--he had tumbled out a portmanteau in his state- +room in order to overhaul some old papers; and he presently came out +into the cuddy with a chart in his hand. + +"Hillo, mister," said the American as soon as he noticed him, "jest +roused up, hey? I thought you wer havin' a bit of snooze, and wondered +when you were goin' to turn out!" + +"Ah," said Mr Meldrum gravely, "it's no time for sleeping now for any +one on board. The ship is in far too perilous a position for that!" + +"Is she?" asked Mr Lathrope, most unconcernedly apparently. + +"She really is," replied Mr Meldrum. + +"Wa-al, if she is," returned the other, lifting a huge morsel of ham on +the end of his fork, and surveying it critically with much relish of eye +before placing it in his capacious mouth, "why, it's a bad business, +that's all I ken say; and I'm right down sorry fur it, I am--things was +going on so slick and pleasant! But if we can't help it, mister, what's +the sorter use in grievin'? I don't see the good in cryin' over a spilt +petroleum can, I don't! Now, dew, mister, draw up har and make yourself +comf'able; you'll find this bacon prime, for I knows it's the gen-u-ine +Chicago brand and came out of the States." + +"No, thanks," said Mr Meldrum, smiling at the other's imperturbable +philosophy and epicureanism that seemed proof against everything, even +the sense of mortal peril, "I had something to eat earlier, and do not +care about anything now." + +At that moment, Captain Dinks came down the companion and looked into +the saloon, when, seeing Mr Meldrum, he beckoned to him. + +"Would you mind coming on deck for a few moments," said he hurriedly, "I +want to speak to you about something?" + +"Certainly," said Mr Meldrum, at once getting up from the table, on +which he had spread out the chart he had brought from his cabin and was +engaged with a pair of compasses in picking out the ship's possible +position. + +"Say, mister--" commenced the American. + +"Pray, excuse me," interrupted Mr Meldrum, "I'll speak to you when I +come down again; I must join the captain now, as you see;" and he +hurried to the companion-way, Captain Dinks standing aside and motioning +to him to go up first. + +"Say, Cap--" called out Mr Lathrope, not to be baffled. + +"Can't stop now," curtly replied Captain Dinks; and he, too, disappeared +in the rear of Mr Meldrum. + +"Now, I do jest wonder what them two coons hev on hand?" said the +American, when they had thus left him with his curiosity unslackened; +"I'm durned if I don't go up myself and see: people must rise pretty +airly o' mornin's to take a rise out of this old hoss!" + +A roll of the ship, however, coming as soon as he had risen from his +seat, settled his inquisitiveness. "I guess I'd better bide har," he +murmured to himself, uttering his thoughts aloud. "This air vessel's a +durned sight too skittish on her footing to please me, an' that air +ramshackly arm o' mine might git squoze agin if I went on deck! No, I +guess I'll bide har in the land of Gilead--Steward!" he added, raising +his voice. + +"Yes, sir," answered Llewellyn, coming out of his pantry. + +"Hev you got any coffee or tea fixins?" + +"No, sir, that lazy nigger Snowball says he can't light the galley +fire." + +"Does he? I'd make him smell fire if I'd got him out on the plantation +whar I was riz! Then, bring me a glass of brandy and water, and make it +stiff: I allers go in fur temperance drinks when I can get them, that is +before sundown; but if I'm obleeged to take pizen, why, I likes it +strong!" + +When Mr Meldrum gained the deck, in company with the captain, he found +the wind still blowing with terrific force and a dangerous sea on, +although as the gale had not shifted during the last hour from the +north-west, to which quarter it had finally veered, there was some hope +that they had escaped from the worst of the cyclone and were now being +hurried along its outside edge. In one of the last onslaughts of the +wind, however, the mainyard truss had been carried away, and the yard +swung so violently to and fro after snapping the braces like pack-thread +that it seemed as if the main-mast would go; but, fortunately, in one of +its mad gyrations, as it moved about like the arms of a semaphore, the +yard-arm had caught in the standing rigging on the starboard side, +where, through the gallant exertions of Frank Harness and the Norwegian +sailor, who performed the task at the peril of their lives, it was +firmly lashed and secured from doing further mischief. This operation +eased the ship considerably, and certainly saved the masts. + +The worst piece of news that the captain had to tell Mr Meldrum was +with reference to the manner in which the ship was leaking. + +"We had four feet water in her when the carpenter sounded the well at +six bells," said Captain Dinks; "and after rigging the pumps we reduced +it considerably; but since then, she has made nearly two feet again--all +clear and clean without any bilge in it--which shows she's taking it in +fresh and fast." + +"There must be a big leak somewhere," said Mr Meldrum, "and the sooner +we see about stopping it the better." + +"Yes," said the captain, "we might keep it down certainly by an hour's +spell in each watch; but it tires out the men so. I think it is coming +in somewhere astern; the rudder-post must have started some of the +timbers when it got wrenched off." + +"Very probably," said the other; "but then, the ship has had a good deal +of straining the last day or two, besides from the storm in the Bay of +Biscay." + +"Ah! she felt that," replied Captain Dinks. "That's what, no doubt, +weakened the rudder and made it go so easily this morning; but I'll call +the carpenter." + +The port watch had gone below with Mr Adams, to have a little rest, for +there was no need of all the crew being on deck, the ship riding out the +gale to leeward of the floating anchor which providence had sent them in +the shape of the broken foremast, and there being nothing to do; so, on +a hail from the captain, Mr McCarthy passed the word forwards for Ben +Boltrope, who soon made his appearance out of the fo'c'sle--scrambling +aft as well as he could by holding on to every rope in his way, for the +vessel rolled and pitched most uneasily, rendering upright walking along +the deck an utter impossibility. + +"Sarvent, sir," said he, touching his hat to Mr Meldrum on coming up +the poop ladder; "glad to see you on deck." + +"What about this leak, carpenter?" said Captain Dinks. "Please tell Mr +Meldrum all you know." + +"Well, your honour," said Ben, "all that can be said lies in a nut- +shell! She's making water as fast as it can pour in; and if we don't +find the leak and stop it, she'll founder pretty soon." + +"Have you any idea where it is coming in?" inquired Mr Meldrum. + +"Well, sir, the cap'en say it's by the rudder-post; but I myself thinks +it's amidships or else forrud: I'd have looked, but I couldn't shift the +cargo without help." + +"This must be seen to at once, Captain Dinks," said Mr Meldrum. "As +you have asked my aid, I would advise your calling the watch below; and +I'll go down with the carpenter and see whether we can spy out the +leak." + +"Oh, by all means, if you think that will do any good, although I'm of +the opinion that the leak is in the stern. McCarthy, call the port +watch up to go below and break cargo!" + +"All hands, ahoy!" + +This cry soon brought up the weary sailors, who had only just retired +after more than twenty hours of duty, before they had had time to close +their eyes in their first sleep, but they came out of the forecastle +willingly enough, well knowing the peril the ship was in; and, down +below the main-hatch they bumbled after Mr Meldrum and the carpenter, +glad that it was not for another spell of pumping for which they had +been called up. + +Ben Boltrope was found to be right. After tossing to one side the bales +and boxes and heavy masses of iron that filled the midship section of +the hold, they found a great gap between the timbers through which the +water was spouting in at the rate of some hundred gallons an hour--the +cause of the hole being apparent enough in a long iron girder which had +got jammed against the side of the ship, end outwards, and in the +working of the ship had made its way clean through the strakes and +planking--just as if it had been an auger, the hole had been bored so +round and neat! + +This orifice was now carefully plugged and battened over; and when the +pumps were again rigged and the vessel cleared it was found that she had +ceased to make water to any appreciable extent. + +"Thank God for that!" said Captain Dinks heartily. "I own I was wrong, +for I was certain that the rudder-post was the seat of mischief:-- the +ship was bound to leak there!" + +"It was a very natural thought of yours," said Mr Meldrum, to soothe +his sense of defeat. "I would have held to the same but for the +carpenter." + +"Ah! he's a roight good man, sorr," chimed in Mr McCarthy, "and a +cridit to the sarvice that brought him up. Sure, an' he's a sailor ivry +inch ov him, from the crown of his hid to the sole of his fut!" + +The sky was still obscured by clouds and the stormy billows were tossing +about, striving to bear down the ship and beat her to pieces; but she +bravely held her own, head to sea, and rode out the gale all that day +and night, as if she had been at anchor, although drifting steadily the +while in a south-easterly direction, the impulse of the waves and the +force of the wind on her hull carrying her thither. + +It was the same the next day; but, on the third morning, the gale +somewhat moderated, although still blowing with considerable force from +the northward and westward, and under Mr Meldrum's advice, which +Captain Dinks now eagerly sought on every occasion, sail was got upon +the ship and she was allowed to run before the wind, hoping that the +vessel might reach smoother latitudes and fine weather, when they would +be able to repair damages and continue their voyage. + +It was but a poor pretence of making sail, however! + +All they could set was a close-reefed mizzentop-sail and a fore +staysail, which latter was hoisted on a jury-mast rigged forwards in +place of the foremast; while the missing rudder was replaced by an +ingenious makeshift, the joint handiwork of Mr Meldrum and the +carpenter, composed of lengths of a spare hawser and some of the smaller +spars, sawn up, lashed together, and then planked over, so as to offer a +yielding surface to the sea, and secured under the stern by guys and +tackles leading from the quarter galleries, the steering gear being then +attached. + +This contrivance was found to work admirably in guiding the ship before +the wind, although if they had tried to wear her or put her about by it, +there might have been some difficulty and danger in the operation. + +Towards the evening of this day, while the crippled _Nancy Bell_, so +ruthlessly shorn of her fair proportions, was going along pretty +bravely, nevertheless, at some six knots an hour or more under the +little sail she was carrying, with the sea still rough and wintry and +the sky all clouded over, the thermometer was noticed to go down again +several degrees; and Mr Meldrum, who alone had made the discovery for +the wind having been bitterly cold for days past the feeling in the air +would not have specially attracted attention--at once warned Captain +Dinks that they had run so far southwards that he was certain they were +near ice, and consequently it would be best to keep a strict look-out. + +"Ice?" exclaimed the captain aghast. "Why, we aren't much below the +latitude of the Cape, I take it!" + +"You'll find you are wrong when we're able to get an observation," +replied Mr Meldrum. "I wouldn't be surprised to find that we were far +below `the Forties,' with all that drift and leeway we've had! However, +wherever we are, we're not far from ice, take my word for it, whether it +be a wandering berg out of its latitude or the drift from the Antarctic +ice-fields." + +"All right, sir," said Captain Dinks laughing, "I'll take your word for +it; though an iceberg hereabouts, to my thinking, is a rather rum +visitor this time of year, and I'll believe it when I see it!" + +However, the captain was wrong again. + +Just before dark, the look-out in the maintop reported something ahead, +which presently turned out to be an enormous iceberg, fortunately far +away to leeward out of the course of the ship. It was an immense +irregular mass several miles long and of great height, appearing to +reach up into the clouds above as it heaved up and down on the heavy +rolling sea; and its top and points, covered with snow, stood out +distinctly against the dark horizon. + +"Ah, we are well away from that fellow!" said Mr Meldrum rubbing his +hands; but his congratulations were cut short in a moment by the look- +out man forward--the Norwegian sailor, who as an old whaler was +accustomed to Antarctic sights and sounds--shouting out that there was +field-ice ahead, and that from the crashing of the floes he thought the +ship must be near the pack. + +"Take in sail at once," said Mr Meldrum, "and keep a sharper look-out +than ever. If the vessel runs against the ice woe betide us all!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +"LAND HO!" + +"Let go the mizzentop-sail halliards, and man the fore staysail down- +haul!" shouted out Captain Dinks the moment Mr Meldrum had spoken; and, +the helm being put down at the same time, the ship was again brought +head to wind, almost sooner than it has taken to describe the operation. +However, as it was observed after a little while that the vessel +drifted so rapidly to leeward, through the mere force of the wind on her +exposed hull and remaining spars, not to speak of the wash of the sea, +and thus ran in quite as great danger of colliding with the ice as if +she had been going ahead, the fore staysail, reefed into the most +attenuated proportions, was set again--so that the ship might be under +steerage way and be able to avoid, under judicious control, the numerous +small bergs that now hove in sight like miniature islands in every +direction, making the navigation perilous in the extreme. + +As night came on, too, the dangers surrounding the _Nancy Bell_ +increased tenfold; for, the wind not only blew with greater strength, +but it was accompanied by blinding showers of hail and snow, while a +thick fog rose from the freezing water, more like steam than anything +else, obscuring everything and preventing the floating ice from being +seen until it was immediately under the bows. + +It was just about the beginning of the second dog-watch at four bells-- +six o'clock in the evening--that the mist came; so, after a brief +consultation with Mr Meldrum, Captain Dinks told the chief mate to call +the hands aft. + +"We are in as tight a hole, McCarthy," said he, "as the poor old ship +was ever placed in, and it will take us all our time to get out of it; +so, it's best to let all the hands know it, that each may do his best +for the good of all." + +"Aye, aye, sorr," answered Mr McCarthy; "it's no sight o' use beating +about the bush when danger's under weigh. Till 'em the truth, Cap'en, +and shame the divil!" Soon afterwards, his ringing voice calling, "all +hands ahoy!" was heard forwards. + +The crew were not long tumbling aft; and, when they had assembled on the +main deck, Captain Dinks addressed them from the break of the poop. + +"Men," said he, "I'm sorry to say the _Nancy Bell_ is in a position of +the greatest peril. We are now, after fighting with a cyclone for five +days, being carried along by a rising gale into the midst of scattered +icebergs, any one of which may knock a hole in the ship; while if we +should run upon one of the bigger ones we must go to pieces at once. +You know how, throughout the bad weather we've had, I have tried, to +spare you as much as I could, conveniently with the proper working of +the ship, and I've always allowed the watches their regular spell below; +but to-night, and as long as we are surrounded by the ice, I can't allow +a man off duty! None of us can tell whether the _Nancy Bell_ will be +afloat and we alive by morning; so, no single hand must leave the deck +without special permission. You may be certain I sha'n't set the +example, and you can now go forwards. I am about to set fresh look- +outs, and each man will have his station." + +The majority of the crew gave a cheer at this, Ben Boltrope's lusty +voice being conspicuously to the fore; but some, amongst whom was a lazy +lout named Bill Moody, who was the chief grumbler in the forecastle, +expressed their discontent audibly; saying that they "hadn't signed +articles to be worked like dogs!" + +Captain Dinks' ears were pretty sharp, and he heard what was said; so he +called the men back. + +"I know who spoke," said he, "and I wouldn't disgrace the rest of the +crew by supposing that they share his feelings; but I'll add this for +his benefit, that anybody who may be discontented will find me easy- +going enough when I am stroked the right way, but a pretty tough +customer when anybody falls athwart my hawse!" + +While this little incident was taking place, of course, the usual look- +out was not neglected, the Norwegian being still aloft in the maintop, +with Frank Harness and Mr Adams on the forecastle; but now, extra men +were detailed for the duty. Karl Ericksen, called down from the maintop +where his range of view had become limited through the increasing +darkness and snowstorm, was placed between the knight-heads; a man on +each bow; Frank Harness on the fore scuttle; Mr McCarthy and Adams on +the port and starboard quarters; and Ben Boltrope at the wheel--Captain +Dinks being here, there, and everywhere to see that everybody was on the +_qui vive_, even ascending the mizzen rigging sometimes into the top, to +have an outlook from there and try whether his eyes could pierce the +misty vapour that hung over the sea by dint of looking down into it. + +Thenceforward, throughout the weary night, there was little to do save +looking out and conning the ship. + +When a large cake of ice or berg was seen drifting perilously near, or +bearing down upon the vessel, the word was passed along the deck from +forward to aft and her head turned one way or the other, the yards of +the mizzen-mast--now the only ones left on the ship, with the exception +of the fouled main-yard--being squared or braced up to help her +inclination to either side, which was also assisted by the loose +mizzentop sail. This latter had only been hauled up by the clewlines +and buntlines when sail was shortened, so as to be available to be +dropped and sheeted home at a moment's notice in any sudden emergency +when it might be necessary to get way on the ship to prevent her running +foul of some giant iceberg that was trying to overtake her. From +midnight the only break in the monotony of the silent watch, throughout +the anxious hours that elapsed before daylight, was the warning cry of +the look-outs' forward "Ice ahead!" or "Ice on the lee bow!" with the +sailing directions of the captain to the steersman, quickly following +the words of warning, "Hard up with the helm!" or else, "Keep her off a +little, my man!" or the single word,--sometimes the most important order +of all,--"Steady!" + +In the cuddy, naturally, it was an equally anxious time throughout the +trying night; indeed, more so, considering the state of mind of those +concerned. + +Mr Meldrum, on going below, had told of the course of things above, +explaining the perilous position of the ship without unduly alarming the +nervous susceptibilities of the women folk, and after his periodical +visits to the deck he brought back the cheering news that all was as yet +going on well; but still, the very fact of being unable to do anything +save watch and pray, was even more exhausting and wearying than in being +exposed to the bitter weather like the crew and officers of the ship +were--for the sense of duty and something constantly calling on their +attention prevented the latter from thinking, as those could only do who +had no cause or call for action. + +The American passenger did not, however, appear in the least put out or +more than ordinarily impressed with the gravity of the situation, taking +it, as it were, as a matter of course. + +"It's no use making a muss over what can't be helped," he said with the +utmost sang-froid. "The ship's in good hands, and as I can't do +anything, why I guess I'll let things ride and be as comf'able as I +ken." So he ate and drank with just as good an appetite as ever when +dinnertime came--though it was later than usual, through Snowball not +having been able to light the galley fire till nearly dark; and, on the +arrival, according to Mr Zachariah Lathrope's reckoning, of bedtime, he +curled himself up in his bunk, going to sleep as composedly as if he had +been safe and sound ashore, with the comforting assurance to the others, +as he said "good-night," that "if things should kinder turn out +onpleasant, why, I guess they'll rouse me up!" + +Florry Meldrum, too, and Master Maurice Negus were not one whit the more +alarmed by the critical condition of the _Nancy Bell_ either; but, +neither Maurice's mother nor Kate closed their eyes for a moment the +livelong night. + +When some feeble rays of light at length strayed down through the +skylight, causing the lamps over the cuddy table to burn more dimly, +when the scuttles in the cabins, seen through the half-opened doors, +became illumined by some reflection from without, showing that the long- +wished-for morning had broken at last, Kate, unable to endure the +suspense any longer, put on her cloak and went on deck. + +The scene and all its surroundings had very much altered since she had +last been up the companion-way; so that when she got on the poop now, so +great a transformation had occurred that it seemed to her as if she were +in a species of nautical fairyland. + +The ship herself was cased in ice--hull, spars, and standing rigging, +and all--with long pendulous icicles hanging from the main and mizzen +yards. The fog or mist having also cleared away and the clouds vanished +from the sky, every object glittered like jewels in the golden rays of +the rising sun. + +But the _Nancy Bell_ was not the only object of attraction and interest. + +She was surrounded by icebergs in every direction--to the right, to the +left, right in front, and astern--some little mites not bigger than +cockle-shells in comparison with the larger ones, baby bergs, so to +speak, and others as lofty as mountains, extending as far as the eye +could reach to the horizon; the ship racing by them and threaded her way +in and out between the moving masses with the dexterity of a Highlander +executing the sword-dance. The wind was still blowing more than half a +gale from the northward and westward, and the vessel was running before +it under the fore staysail and mizzentop-sail, which had been dropped +again with the reef points shaken out, making eight knots good, too, at +that. + +Where there was no ice, the rolling sea was of an intense ultramarine +blue, reflecting the colour of the distant sky; while, as the sun came +up higher, different tints were displayed by the icebergs, whose shape +was as various as their sizes--bergs that in their gorgeous architecture +and fairy magnificence, with fantastic peaks and airy pinnacles, which +glittered now in the full light of day with all the varied colours of +the rainbow, flashing out scintillations and radiances of violet and +iris, purple and turquoise, and sapphire blue, emerald green and orange, +blush rose and pink and red--all mingled with soft shades of crimson and +carmine, and interspersed with gleams of gold and silver and a frosting +over all of bright white light. + +"Ah!" ejaculated Kate, uttering her thoughts aloud, so carried away was +she by the vivid beauty of the scene, "those who haven't seen an iceberg +at sea at sunrise, have no idea of the grand loveliness of God's +handiwork in nature!" + +"They look beautiful enough now, missy," said Captain Dinks, who had +come to her side unnoticed, and seemed much jollier than he had done the +night before, when he thought the ship in her last extremity; "but we +didn't think them so a little while ago, when it looked as if the poor +old _Nancy Bell_ would lay her old bones amongst them!" + +"Ah! Captain Dinks," replied she, "there was One above looking after us +then, as he is now!" + +"You are right," said he earnestly; "or we should never have escaped as +we did; once or twice, when we grazed a berg, I thought it was all up +with us." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Kate with a shudder, "it was a terrible night; and you +and the poor fellows on deck must have found it bitterly cold." + +"Not a doubt of that," said Captain Dinks laughing. "I was almost half- +frozen in the mizzen rigging; and as for poor Frank Harness, when he +came off the fore-scuttle, where he was stationed all night to pass the +word from the look-outs forward, he could hardly move his limbs! If it +hadn't been for the hot coffee our friend Snowball served out every two +hours to warm us up, I don't believe any of us would have been alive +this morning. But here comes your father. How sly your were all to +keep it so carefully concealed that he was in the navy; and I taking him +all the time for a lubberly landsman! I'll never forgive myself; for +you must all have laughed at me, especially you, Miss Kate, and your +roguish little sister. Ah! good morning, Mr Meldrum," added the +captain turning to that gentleman; "I was just thinking about you. I +wanted to have a consultation about our course. My dead reckoning is +all at sea, and I hardly can guess where we are now; but I trust we +shall be able to get an observation of the sun at noon, and then we will +be able to prick off our position on the chart." + +"I sincerely hope so," said Mr Meldrum; "for I think we're going far +too much to the southward." + +"Do you, still, eh?" replied Captain Dinks. "I don't quite agree with +you. I thought it best to keep the ship before the wind, not only +because it eases her but on account of the gale being bound to slacken +down soon; and if we run down to a lower latitude, as I have frequently +done in this part of the ocean before, we will probably get fine weather +and be able to tinker up the old craft and make her look all a taunto +again." + +"Ah!" said Mr Meldrum, "you are just as likely to run on to something +else, not quite so pleasant as fine weather! Mark my words, Captain +Dinks, I am as certain, and more so now than I was three days ago, as I +told you then, that we are far down in the Forties; and what with the +easting we have made since passing the meridian of the Cape and the +leeway we have drifted, we must be pretty close to the Crozet Islands or +Kerguelen Land." + +"Kerguelen Land!" ejaculated the captain; "nonsense, man; why we are +hundreds of miles to the westward of it." + +"Are we?" replied Mr Meldrum. "Well, just wait till twelve o'clock and +we'll see who is right, you or I!" + +Hardly, however, had the words escaped his lips than the look-out man in +the maintop--who had been replaced as soon as day broke, when the +prospect around the ship became more extended, thus rendering his +services useful--shouted out a cry that had almost been forgotten, and +which made every heart on board leap with mingled feelings of +overpowering joy, consternation, surprise, dismay! Every pulse stopped +for a second spellbound! The cry was--"Land ho!" + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS. + +"Land!" called out the captain. "Where away?" + +"On the weather-beam," answered the man aloft, who still spoke in a +voice which sounded as if he had been greatly startled. "It's rising +rapidly every moment, sir, out of the water." + +"The fellow must be blind!" exclaimed Captain Dinks. "There is no land +there in that direction, if I know it. He must be taking one of those +big icebergs for an island; that's about the matter. Hanged if I don't +go up and see for myself!" + +Running down the poop ladder, the captain soon started up the shrouds on +the port side towards the maintop where the lookout man was stationed. +It was not Karl Ericksen this time, whose word he would have implicitly +taken, but Bill Moody, one of the worst of the crew, and who, it may be +remembered, had already evinced an unsailorlike spirit by his +insubordination on an occasion when the pluck and endurance of everyone +required to be tested. From this fact alone, Captain Dinks was the less +inclined to trust him. + +The captain, however, found mounting the ratlines not so easy a task as +he might have imagined, for the rigging was all frozen hard and as +unbending as iron; but he persevered unflinchingly, and disdaining to +creep through the "lubber's hole," climbed over the top in the usual +sailor's way, although he puffed and panted a good deal when he got +there, which proved to him that the flesh he had gained on his plump +little person, since he had been a youngster and first shinned up the +rigging, had not improved his climbing powers. + +"Now, where's this wonderful land of your's!" he asked, as soon as he +got alongside of Bill Moody, taking his glass out of his pocket and +adjusting the focus ready for action. + +"There," answered the man surlily, pointing towards the north-east, +where a faint blue bank seemed to rise out of the ocean above and beyond +the ice-fields. It could be seen with the naked eye to be of a +different colour to even the most distant bergs, the distinction being +quite marked. + +"By Jove, the man's right!" ejaculated Captain Dinks with surprise. + +"I knew I were," said Bill Moody in a bragging sort of way. "I think I +can see a hole in a ladder as well as most people; and if that ain't +land, why, I'll eat it." + +"There, that will do," interposed the captain to stop any further +remarks, while he proceeded to inspect the hazy object with keen +attention for some minutes, after which he replaced his glass in his +pocket and prepared to descend to the deck again. + +"Keep a sharp look-out," he said to Moody as he disappeared over the +side of the top, "and sing out, as soon as we get any nearer, whether +you can see a line of breakers at the foot of the island; for island it +is, sure enough!" + +"Aye, aye," grunted out the man; and Captain Dinks went down the rigging +even more carefully than he had ascended, finding great difficulty in +preventing his unaccustomed feet from slipping off the ratlines, which +were like rungs of the smoothest and most polished ice. + +"You were right, and I was wrong," he said to Mr Meldrum, as soon as he +had regained the poop. "There is land in sight, sure enough, although I +can at present only see it faintly towards the north-east. It must be, +as you say, either the Crozet Islands or Kerguelen Land, for there's +nothing else between us and the Australian continent, as we haven't yet +got quite so far south as the Antarctic regions." + +"It's probably Kerguelen Land," observed Mr Meldrum, "for you couldn't +see the Crozets nearly so far off; but I hope there's not going to be +another change of the weather. It seems clouding over again." + +"Not before we get an observation, I trust," replied the captain; "I +don't like knocking about any longer without knowing where I am." + +"Nor I, sorr," put in the first mate heartily. "Sure it's like goin' in +the dark to Bandon Fair, for all the worruld over." + +"It's not what we like," interposed Mr Meldrum somewhat dryly. "We +have got to put up with what we can get." + +"True for you, sorr," said Mr McCarthy, not to be beaten; "sure, but +isn't it best to make the best on it." + +"That's incontestable," replied Mr Meldrum with a laugh; and there the +conversation ended, Kate and her father going below to breakfast. + +The weather got thicker, with the wind coming in gusts and now and then +shifting a bit, so that the solitary mizzen-topsail of the _Nancy Bell_ +had now again to be close reefed, and her course directed more towards +the land, which they did not seem to near so rapidly as they had thought +they would--owing probably to some current that was all the time +carrying them southwards while they were steering towards the east. + +They were actuated, however, by no vulgar curiosity to inspect this +ocean land in thus seeking to approach it. + +On an ordinary occasion they would most certainly have given it a pretty +wide berth; but now, should the sky cloud over so much as to prevent +their getting an observation of the sun by which to correct their +latitude and longitude, the identification of the land would at once +prove their position on the chart without further trouble. This was why +they wanted to near it. + +After breakfast, when Mr Meldrum came on deck again, the wind had +freshened considerably, although still blowing from the north-west, +while the outlook was generally squally; but the sky above still kept +clear, with the sun shining down at intervals, when the scud, which was +beginning to fly about again, did not interpose to hide its beams. The +land, the while, was steadily rising to the northward and eastward. + +"It's Kerguelen Land, sure enough," said Mr Meldrum, when, after +imitating Captain Dinks and paying a visit to the maintop to +reconnoitre, he returned to the poop. "I can see the outlying rocks +towards its north-west extremity called `The Cloudy Isles,' and away to +the east I noticed the snow-white peak of Mount Ross, which stands in +the centre of the island and is over six thousand feet high." + +"Well, you've good eyesight to see that at the distance," observed +Captain Dinks in a chaffing way. "I wish my optics were as clear." + +"I can see pretty well," replied the other; "and if you had had to look +out as sharply as I've had to do for pirate junks up the Gulf of +Tonquin, I fancy you would have had your eyesight improved!" + +"All right, Mr Meldrum," said Captain Dinks frankly. "I'm sure I did +not doubt your word for a moment. I've never been so far south before, +and feel a little out in my reckoning. However, it will soon be time to +take the sun, and that will decide the point." + +A few stray snowflakes came fluttering down on the deck just then, and +both he and Mr Meldrum looked aloft. No cloud was to be seen exactly +overhead, but a heavy bank of haze was creeping up from the south +towards the zenith that looked ominous. + +"We shall have a repetition of yesterday again, I'm afraid," said Mr +Meldrum presently with much concern, after a long interval of silence +between the two. + +"I'm afraid so," was Captain Dinks' reply; "but I hope it won't come for +another hour at least." He then hailed the steward down the companion- +way, telling him to bring up his sextant from the cabin. + +Fortunately, it just kept clear enough for an observation to be taken; +and when Captain Dinks had worked it out, both he and Mr Meldrum acting +independently so as to test the accuracy of the reckoning, it was found +that the ship was in 48 degrees 50 minutes south latitude, and 68 +degrees 40 minutes east longitude. Consequently, the land they were +approaching could be none other than Kerguelen Land. + +"As we now know where we are," said Mr Meldrum, when the fact was +established, "we must give the island as wide a berth as we can, for the +coast is most dangerous; and in winter-time, as it is now, July being +the December of the antipodes, the most fearful storms are said to +spring up at a moment's notice in its vicinity. As the wind is still +from the north-west, and we are well up to the northward, I should try +to weather it if possible; and, if we can't do that, we must pass to the +south of the land." + +"Very good," replied the captain. "Only, you know the poor old _Nancy_ +cannot sail as well now, as she could when in full trim. I don't at all +like the look of the weather, though, Mr Meldrum. It seems to me that +ono of those coast storms you were speaking of is brewing up. The ice, +too, is getting thick round us again; and if a fog comes on again we'll +be in a worse position than yesterday, for then we'd plenty of sea-room +at any rate, while now, we have that blessed island almost dead to +leeward." + +"We must trust in Providence," said Mr Meldrum, "and keep a sharp look- +out if the fog thickens; but try to beat to windward we must, if +possible!" + +During the bright morning, the hands, working diligently under the +supervision and help of the first mate and Adams, the second, had been +trying to make the _Nancy Bell_ a little more shipshape, and, although +they had been greatly hampered through the ropes and running gear being +frozen so stiff that it was almost impossible to unbend or run them, +they succeeded finally in trussing the mainyard again and splicing the +braces, so that they now were able to set the mainsail reefed, a welcome +addition to the limited sailing power of the ship in working to +windward. + +All things were proceeding very satisfactorily in the afternoon, by +which time they had got the land to bear well on the lee-beam, and it +looked as if they could weather it; when, suddenly, there came on a +thick snowstorm, mingled with showers of hail, and the same kind of mist +which had risen almost at a precisely similar hour on the previous day +again enveloped them in its folds, shutting out all view of the water at +even a short distance from the vessel's side. + +The _Nancy Bell_ was then steering nor'-nor'-east and some ten miles off +the land, with the wind coming from the northward and westward in +squalls. Presently, it blew so fresh that the lately set mainsail had +to be taken in again, and next the mizzen, for the ship heeled over so +much that it was thought at one time she would not recover her +stability; but, even under the reefed fore staysail, which was still +retained to enable her to weather the land, she tore through the water +at such a rate, that, in spite of the continual watch, it was most +difficult to avoid the heavy masses of floating ice that seemed to +spring up on all sides again, and which she had appeared to have been +leaving behind her in the morning. + +"Sure and it's a worse look-out than last night, sorr," said the first +mate to Mr Meldrum, who was peering out anxiously to windward, the gale +veering round just at the most critical time to the northward. "Faix, +and I don't think we can weather them islands now, with all this ice +about too." + +"Nor do I," replied Mr Meldrum. "Captain Dinks, we'll have to run for +it. Do you think you can wear her?" + +"If your rudder holds out," said the captain. + +"I'll guarantee the rudder," answered Mr Meldrum. "The only thing is, +I fear the spars will go." + +"We must risk those, my friend. It's a case of neck or nothing now. +Listen! Can you hear anything?" and the captain bent his ear to +leeward. + +Yes, Mr Meldrum could hear something. They all could hear something +above the shrieking of the wind, and the roar of the waves, and the +crash of the cakes and bergs of ice tumbling against each other. It was +something that sounded like the death-knell of the _Nancy Bell_, and +made their faces blanch with fear. It was the noise of breakers, +distant yet, but still as plainly distinguishable as if quite near-- +breakers breaking on a lee-shore, the most terrible sound of all sounds +to a sailor's ear! + +"Stand by to wear ship!" shouted Captain Dinks, and he himself took hold +of the spokes of the wheel as he uttered the words, easing it round, +while the mate rushed forwards, calling the hands. + +"Tumble up, men, tumble up!" cried Mr McCarthy; "don't stop for your +clothes. All hands wear ship." + +Frank Harness and Mr Adams had already darted towards the braces; and, +the men soon joining them, the yards were braced round, the mizzen and +mainsail being again dropped and sheeted home to enable her to pay off +from the shore, which the vessel soon did on the other tack, although +the canvas made her bury her bows in the sea and almost heel over till +the mainyard dipped. + +"Let her carry on, she'll bear it," said the captain. "We cannot do too +much to get away from those confounded breakers; I'd sooner hear +anything than them!" + +"So would I," responded Mr Meldrum, still looking pale, for the _Nancy +Bell_ had had a narrow squeak of going to the bottom when wearing; "but +we are rushing into almost as terrible a danger as the lee-shore. If we +come in contact with one of these icebergs, going at the speed we now +do, the shock will sink us to a certainty." + +"Well," said the captain, "of the two dangers that is the least. By +keeping a good look-out we may avoid the ice, which we could never do +with the lee-shore, save by getting away from it, as we are doing now. +By Jove, isn't she walking along--the beauty, crippled as she is--just +as if she knew the peril she was in!" + +"Better not holler till yer out of the wood," observed Mr McCarthy; "as +for myself, I wish it was mornin' agin, sure!" + +He'd no sooner uttered the words, however, than the look-out man forward +suddenly gave vent to a frightened exclamation, drawn from him by the +sight of something unexpected and terrible. + +"Ice on the lee bow!" shouted he. "Port your helm hard!" + +But the warning came too late. + +Almost at the same instant as the cry reached the ears of those aft, the +_Nancy Bell_ struck full butt against a dark object that loomed up out +of the fog right ahead of the ship, and which had been unperceived a +moment before. + +There was a grinding rending crash and sound of breaking timbers, the +vessel quivering from stem to stern; and then, the main and mizzen +masts, with all their yards and the sails which had so lately been +urging the ship on to her destruction toppled over the sides, whilst a +wave, washing back from the base of the iceberg and coming in over the +bows, swept the decks fore and aft. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +MAKING THE BEST OF IT. + +All hands were on deck at the time of the collision; and, with one +concentrated cry of alarm which was more a yell than anything else, the +men rushed in a body amidships to where the long-boat was stowed. + +Captain Dinks, however hesitating and undecided as he had shown himself +frequently of late in the navigation of the ship, now all at once +brought out in this emergency that courage and capacity for command +which he had really at bottom but which had been before dormant. + +"Back for your lives, men, to your stations!" he shouted. "Although the +bows are stove in, the bulkhead forward will prevent the water from +flooding us beyond the fore compartment and give us time to run the ship +ashore, when we can all escape. No boat could live in the sea that's +now on; and if it did, it would run a worse chance of being stove in by +the ice than our poor vessel had!" + +His words made the men hang back, all save Bill Moody and a couple of +others, who began casting off the lashings of the longboat; but Mr +McCarthy rushing down on the main deck and seizing a capstan bar with +which he threatened to brain the first man who resisted the captain's +authority, the unruly ones desisted for the time, slinking forwards +grumblingly. + +"Carpenter," called out Captain Dinks, "sound the well and see what +damage has been done; and, Mr Adams, send the port watch aft to clear +away this top hamper. It is thumping away alongside and may make +another breach in our timbers!" + +The captain's apparent calmness, combined with the sense of duty +paramount on ship-board, made the men set to work with a will; besides +which, they well knew that by acting together in harmony they had a +better chance of escape than by any mere individual effort. Mr +McCarthy, too, and Adams showed themselves equally as capable as Captain +Dinks in lending a hand and encouraging the crew--Frank Harness being +not one whit behindhand either; so that, within a very few minutes after +the consternation which the catastrophe had caused on its first +happening had passed away, all, recovering that equanimity habitual to +sailors in almost any predicament or calamity, were engaged in carrying +out the orders given them, as coolly as if the _Nancy Bell_ were snug at +anchor in some safe harbour. But, in what a sadly different position +was she now! + +Battered as she had been by the storm in the Bay of Biscay and crippled +by the terrible cyclone off the Cape, which had left her tossing +rudderless and almost dismasted on the deep, her then condition was +favourable in comparison with her present state--that of a complete +wreck, with her bows stove in, her masts all carried by the board, and +her decks swept fore and aft of everything! + +Fortunately, as the mainmast had fallen over the side, it had jammed +against the iceberg with which they had collided, so fending off the +vessel's head that she had sheered to starboard and thus passed by the +floating mountain; otherwise, probably, the poor _Nancy Bell_ would have +been ground down by the pressure of the ice below the surface of the +sea. Ben Boltrope, too, returning from forward after a survey of the +damage, in accordance with the captain's command, reported another piece +of good news. The bows had been stove in, it was true, and the bulkhead +smashed, filling the fore compartment and bringing the ship's head so +much down that it would be almost impossible to sail her even in a +smooth sea; but the jury-mast, which had been rigged forward in place of +the lost foremast, had gone over on the port bow, instead of falling to +the starboard side of the ship like the other masts, and the fore +staysail attached to it, dragging overboard, had got sucked into the +hole which the iceberg had made, thus stopping the inrun of water to any +appreciable extent Ben said that he believed they would be able so to +patch up the damaged place in the bows after a time, thanks to this +circumstance, that they might hope to make a shift of rigging up a sail +again to run the ship ashore with. + +"Bravo!" said Captain Dinks on hearing this. "Take what men you like +and commence the repairs at once, for there's no time to be lost Mr +Meldrum, what say you to this?" + +But, Mr Meldrum had gone below to his daughters, well imagining the +state of alarm they would be in and rather surprised that Kate had not +already made her appearance on deck. When he reached the cuddy, the +reason of her absence was explained. + +Poor Florry had met with an accident, the concussion when the ship had +struck the iceberg having thrown her out of her berth, cutting her head +against the cabin door; and Kate, assisted by Mr Lathrope, was binding +up the wound and comforting the sufferer. + +"I guess, mister," said the American, looking up as Mr Meldrum entered +the main saloon, "I've had to act the good Samaritan, same as your gal +did to me when I got jammed together t'other day in my innards agin the +wash-stand! We're fixin' up the little miss finely. 'Tain't much of an +injoory, I kalkerlate, missy, though thar be a sight of blood, and it'll +soon git closed up agin!" + +"Thanks for your kind services," said Mr Meldrum. "I would have been +down before, but was too busy on deck." + +"I know," replied the other, nodding his head--"helping the captain out +of the muss, eh? That wer an allfired smash, though! Done much hurt?" + +"Yes," said Mr Meldrum guardedly, with a glance at the girls; "but the +mischief's over now for the present, though." + +"I see, I see," whispered Mr Lathrope; "I don't need nary nother +explanation, mister. I hev shed my eye-teeth, I hev, and thar's no use +in skearin' folks. That madam the Meejur, now, has been going on tree- +men-jus, an' it has ben as much as your gal could kinder dew to get her +to quiet down. Jee-rusalem! but she wer goin' to have the cap'en up on +court-martial, an' the steward tarred and feathered, an' the Lord knows +what! Then, too, ther wer that b'y of hern, squalling like a frog in a +fit, the durned young imp, I'd lief have skinned him! If it hadn't been +for your gal, they'd have raised thunder aboard, they would: you oughter +be kinder proud, mister, to hev sich a sensible young woman fur yer +darter! She warn't a bit skeart when the shock came; but braced herself +up as cool as a cowcumber, and thar she's ben, keeping them noisy folks +quiet, and tendin' her little siss like a Christian!" + +"Indeed I am proud of her," said Mr Meldrum, gazing at Kate fondly; +"but you say nothing about yourself. You've been making yourself of use +too." + +"Snakes and alligators, mister, I ain't worth a corn-chuck alongside of +your gal! In course, I wer a bit flabbergasted when we collided just +now--with one of them hammocks of ice, I guess, hey!" + +"Yes," said Mr Meldrum, "we ran against an iceberg, and a pretty big +one too." + +"I thought so," continued the other. "But you knows me by this time. I +never gets upsot by no matter what happens, so I jest fixes on one of +them life-belts I always has handy whenever I travels on them high- +pressure steamboats we hev on the Mississippi--whar you run the chance +of getting busted up regular every trip--and thar I turned out of my +cabin slick for anything, so I wer able to help miss, har, in shaking +down that dreadful old screech-owl yander, and plaster up little missy +arterwards." + +"How's your arm now?" asked Mr Meldrum kindly. + +"Oh, the durned thing's all right, only a bit stiff. Madam gave it a +squoze jist now when I histed her off the floor, whar she got throwed +down and wer bellowin' like a mad bull in fly time. That made the pain +grip me agin; but I dessay it's all right now for a scrimmage if needs +be." + +"And where's Mrs Negus, eh?" + +"Thar she is, with that young imp clasped in her arms, sobbin' her heart +out in her cabin; and if you go fur to comfort her, as I did just now, +why, she bites your nose off like a crocodile, she dew! She sez we'll +all go to the bottom; and that the cap'en and everybody else have runned +the ship ashore just to spite her--she knows, she sez, it's ben only +done fur that!" + +And the American laughed with a keen relish of the joke, which no sense +of his own peril could subdue. + +"She isn't far out in thinking the ship going down," said Mr Meldrum +gravely. "The vessel has a hole knocked in her bows, through which you +might drive an omnibus, and her fore compartment is full of water. +We'll soon have to abandon her, although, I've no doubt, she'll keep +afloat for some hours yet. I advise you, Mr Lathrope, to put on the +warmest suit of clothes you've got, and get together any few little +things that may be of use in a boat, as I'm going to do. Kate, my +dear," he added, addressing his daughter, who had been listening +attentively while he had been talking to the American, at the same time +that she hushed and soothed Florry, who was moaning with pain from her +injured head, "you'd better do likewise; and see also to poor Mrs +Negus, who appears utterly helpless and unable to look after herself. +Where are the steward and stewardess?" + +"The stewardess went on deck some time ago, papa, to try and get a cup +of tea for Mrs Negus from the galley, and she has not yet returned," +answered Kate; "I think the steward is asleep in his pantry." + +"I thought him too big a coward to keep so quiet when the ship was in +any danger," said her father. "However, he'll have to rouse up now, +whether he likes it or not." + +"Hi, Llewellyn!" shouted he, going up to the door of the pantry, which +was closed, and rapping outside with his fist loudly several times. + +But there was no answer; so, turning the handle of the lock +unceremoniously, he looked within and saw to his astonishment the object +of his quest coiled up in a corner of a locker that ran across one side +of the pantry, with a heap of blankets drawn tightly over his head. + +Mr Meldrum entered and proceeded to shake the human bundle, calling the +man again by name; when, after a little while, he disinterred his +terrified face from amidst the folds of his coverings, looking as pale +as a Niobe in marble. + +"Wha-wha-what do you want?" Llewellyn stammered out, with his usual +stutter when spoken to sharply. + +"Rouse up, man, and turn out at once," said Mr Meldrum. "What do you +mean by hiding yourself here, cowering in a corner like a frightened +hound, when the ship's in danger and there's work for all hands to do." + +"I thought she was going down, sir, and--and--" + +"And you hadn't the pluck to face your fate like a man, eh!" continued +Mr Meldrum, finishing his sentence for him. "But you must know that +brave men don't allow cowards to hamper their movements! Get up at +once, sir, and see about raising up all the tinned meats and cabin +stores you can fetch out of the steerage. Now, look sharp!" + +"Ye-e-es, sir," replied Llewellyn, crawling unwillingly out of his +corner; "but, Cap'en Dinks said--" + +"No matter what Captain Dinks said," interrupted Mr Meldrum, "I've got +his authority for what I am doing, and order you at once to set about +getting the provisions up for the boats. We'll shortly have to abandon +the ship; and, if you don't obey my orders, you shall be left behind." + +"I'll do it at once, sir," answered the steward with alacrity, the +threat of being abandoned in the sinking vessel being quite sufficient +to expedite his movements; and he at once made for the after hatch to +get down into the hold, Mr Meldrum satisfying himself that he had set +about the task before leaving him, and then, with a kindly word or two +to Kate and Mr Lathrope, going on deck again. + +On gaining the poop, Mr Meldrum found that the snow had ceased to fall, +the gale having gone down a bit. There was also a clear sky overhead, +and a few stars were shining out; but the heavy misty fog still hung +over the water, like a curtain, preventing the view of anything beyond a +limited range from the sides of the ship, while the sea was extremely +rough, the waves being nasty and choppy, as if some current or tideway +was working against the wind, causing the rollers to break over the +battered bows every now and then in sheets of foam. + +However, the outlook was better than he expected; and, besides, he could +see, on looking round, that no time had been lost by Captain Dinks and +the crew since he had been below. + +The wreck of the main-mast and mizzen-mast, with the yards and sails +attached, which had been knocking about in the water alongside the +ship--bumping against the timbers and threatening a danger almost as bad +as the collision--had been cut adrift, the smaller spars being first +cast loose and hoisted on board in case of need for jury-masts. The +carpenter and some of the hands, meanwhile, had braced up the broken +bulkhead with stout beams placed across, so as to prevent it from giving +way under the strain and allowing the contents of the fore compartment +to flood the main hold; for, it was utterly impossible for the present +to clear it of water, although the pumps, which had been kept constantly +going, sufficed to keep the rest of the ship pretty free and avert the +danger of sinking for a time. It was only a question of time! + +The captain was just then overhauling the longboat, which, with the +jolly-boat, that had been stowed inside of the former for safety and +convenience, were the only two boats that had been left, the others +having been washed off the beams at the time that the cook's caboose had +been carried away during the cyclone; and Mr Meldrum, going down on to +the main-deck, approached the skipper. + +"We'll have to take to the boats soon," said the captain, turning round +as he came up, "that is, when the sea moderates a bit. I don't see +anything else that can be done--do you?" + +"If I were you," suggested Mr Meldrum, "I would try and run her ashore +first and beach her. We're not far from Kerguelen Land, and though it +is now winter time on the island and desolate enough, it would be better +our stopping there than wandering about the ocean in the boats, trying +to get into the track of the Australian liners, or else making for the +Cape, the only place we could steer for." + +"It's a bad look-out any way," said the captain despondently. + +"Yes, I grant that," replied the other; "but, if we land there and +manage to hold out till September or October, only three months at the +outside, a lot of whaling craft generally put into Kerguelen for the +seal-fishery about that time, and I daresay we could get one of these to +take us to the Cape." + +"Perhaps that would be the best," said Captain Dinks, reflecting a +moment--"but what would you advise now--how are we to get ashore, eh!" + +"Why, rig up a jury-mast or two at once and make for the land!" answered +Mr Meldrum promptly. "The island must be close to us now to leeward; +and with this wind we ought to be able to reach the shore by daybreak, +when we would be able to look about us better. It is certainly not the +slightest good our remaining here doing nothing till then, for the +carpenter tells me, it is only just as much as the men can do to keep +down the water by constant pumping, so by the morning they'll be pretty +nigh exhausted and we be no better off. Besides, as you can observe for +yourself, it would be madness while that sea is on to try to launch the +boats, unless we are absolutely compelled to do so in order to save our +lives; whereas, if we run the old craft ashore, we will have the boats +for a last chance." + +"I suppose you're right," said Captain Dinks, "though I can't say that I +like to leave the poor old thing's bones to bleach on this outlandish +coast. What say you, Mr McCarthy, eh?" + +"I agree, sure, with Mr Meldrum, son. He spakes like a sailor; and as +he's a naval officer he ought to know best," answered the chief mate. +Mr Adams and Frank Harness, who were both also admitted to the "council +of war," having given a similar opinion, Mr Meldrum's advice was +immediately acted upon. + +Without delay, a small jury-mast was rigged up aft, attached to the +stump of the mizzen-mast, and one on the main-deck, close to where the +main-mast bitts yet remained, as it was thought better not to step the +jury-masts too far forward, for fear of the vessel plunging her bows +under. After this, the mizzen-topsail and topgallant-sail, which had +been cut off from the yards and saved from the wreck, were hoisted on +roughly improvised yards; when, the _Nancy Bell_ being brought round +with the wind abeam, was cast loose from the wreckage and headed due +east towards the land--in the very direction whence had been heard the +sound of breakers, and which all on board had been so anxious to give a +wide berth to but so few short hours before. What had been her dire +peril was now looked on as a haven of safety! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +ALMOST A MUTINY. + +Towards midnight, the slight surface fog, which had up to that time hung +over the sea, lifted, when it could be seen that the ice had almost all +disappeared--drifting towards the south, where some towering bergs, +amongst which probably was the one that had done all the mischief to the +ill-fated vessel, were conspicuous in the distance. + +The wind, also, had diminished considerably in force, blowing now from a +point to the westward of north, although the waves were still rolling +heavily, as they always do for some time after a storm in the southern +ocean, setting in towards the land that was just faintly visible right +ahead of the _Nancy Bell_, and whither she was now proceeding steadily, +but, of course, making but very slow progress through being waterlogged +forwards and possessing such small sail-power. + +There was no moon, to complete the description; but the heavens above +were twinkling with bright stars that gave sufficient light to illumine +the horizon for miles round, for they touched up the crests of the waves +with coruscations of silver, and made the broken spray gleam like jets +of flame above the dark expanse of water. Everything, in a word, looked +favourable for their enjoying a quiet interval on board after all the +anxiety and hard work of the preceding day and night. + +Seeing that no pressing danger was imminent, and that nothing more could +be done for the present, Mr Meldrum tried to induce Captain Dinks, who +had been on deck for over forty-eight hours, to go below and have some +rest, as he had a good deal yet before him to go through, and looked +fagged and worn-out. + +But the captain would not hear of the suggestion for a moment. + +"No," said he; "I mistrust that mutinous chap, Bill Moody, and the lot +who sided with him in making a rush for the boats when we struck. I +know they would be up to some mischief or other as soon as my back is +turned." + +"But there is McCarthy your chief mate," replied Mr Meldrum, "surely he +can take command of the vessel, as he has so often done before, while +you have a spell off?" + +"Ah, McCarthy, though as good an officer as ever stepped a plank, isn't +myself, Mr Meldrum; and as for Adams, he wants backbone, while Frank +Harness is too young a lad for the men to obey him if any difficulty +arose. Besides, there are a lot of things to see to that want my +supervision, which must be given while I have this breathing time--the +boats have to be prepared and provisioned, for instance." + +"Talking of that," interrupted the other, "I have roused up that lazy +steward of yours and set him to work collecting all the tinned meats and +cabin stores he can find, and getting them up out of the steerage." + +"That's right," said the captain. "It was very thoughtful, and just +what I had intended doing myself, only I forgo it! I have got our old +friend Snowball, the cook, busy here in the same way, boiling as much +salt beef and pork as he can cram into his coppers, so that it may be +ready-cooked when wanted and save time. The darkey has got the galley +fire in full blast now." + +"A good precaution," said Mr Meldrum; "but I do wish I could get you to +go below. If you like I'll remain on deck in your stead?" + +But, no! Captain Dinks would not hear of leaving the deck until the +fate of the poor _Nancy Bell_ was settled for good or ill; and there he +remained amidships--the mates sticking by him and lending a willing hand +so as to inspire the crew with an equal energy--superintending the +constant pumping operations which were necessary to keep the water from +gaining, one watch at a time being engaged solely on the task. Others +were preparing the longboat and jolly-boat for service, which was a +tedious job, for the gunwales and bottom planking of both had been +damaged greatly by the knocking about they had sustained since leaving +England, even if they had been properly seaworthy then--a very +problematical point, for many of the boats of merchant ships which carry +passengers on distant voyages are never taken off the chocks or tested +from year's end to year's end, in spite of all marine codes and +Passenger Acts or Board of Trade ordinances to the contrary, and Mr +Plimsoll's effort notwithstanding! + +When Mr Meldrum got below again he found that matters had quieted down +in the cuddy. Mrs Negus, persuaded at last that the ship was not +immediately going to engulf herself and her darling boy, had been +induced to take some refreshment--Snowball sending in a splendid hot +supper by the direction of the captain, as the regular routine of the +meals in the cuddy had been somewhat revolutionised through the +calamities of the vessel. If she had any scruples, Mr Lathrope set the +good lady a praiseworthy example in looking after the necessities of the +inner man. + +"S'pose we air gwine down to Davy Jones's Locker," said the American, +with a comical twinkle in his cunning grey eyes; "thar's no reason why +we shouldn't go with a full stummick as well as one like an empty meal +sack, hey? Look at me, marm. I treats it philosopherically, I dew, fur +I find thars nothin' like feedin' to keep up a coon's grit." + +Mrs Major Negus murmured something about "somebody" being "shockingly +vulgar," but, whether inspired by Mr Lathrope's "philosopherical" +remark or not, she could not resist a second helping of some capital +"lobscouse" which the darkey cook had dished up most appetisingly; after +which the good lady retired to her cabin for the night in much more +cheerful spirits. + +Florry's cut head was easier, too, and by Mr Meldrum's directions she +and Kate turned in comparatively early. They really both wanted a good +night's rest, and their father was not long in following out his own +precept, advising Mr Lathrope to do likewise, to which he was nothing +loth; so that, soon after eight bells had struck, all the occupants of +the saloon were buried in repose and the ship quiet--with the exception +of an occasional tinkering sound from the main-deck, coupled with the +"clink-clank" of the chain-pumps and the wash of the waves past the +sides, all of which were almost inaudible aft. + +About four bells in the morning watch, Mr Meldrum awoke; and, without +disturbing any of the others, he rose and went on deck. + +He seemed to have a presentiment of something happening. + +It was quite dark now, the stars having gone in and the sky become +clouded over; while the wind had changed and was blowing in short sharp +gusts from the southward, which, with the chopping sea, made the ship +labour a good deal, taking in lots of water forward. She seemed to bury +her head in every wave, her bows being so depressed from the fore +compartment being full; and this compelled the crew in consequence to +work double spells at the pumps, which caused much grumbling, for the +men were almost dead beat, although Captain Dinks still kept them hard +at it. + +The disaffection had almost reached a head before Mr Meldrum came up, +on account of the captain keeping the port watch, in which was Moody and +two of his special chums--at the unpleasant task, without allowing them +a turn off below, as he had done the other watch, the members of which, +however, had had their spell of duty before "all hands" had been called, +and thus were fully entitled to the relief. But, the grumblers, in +considering their own grievance, did not recollect this, and the +appearance of the passenger, whom some of them were already inclined to +dislike from something Ben Boltrope had dropped of his being a naval +man, and the fact of his now ranging himself alongside of the captain, +as if to support his authority, brought matters to a crisis. + +"Spell ho!" shouted Bill Moody defiantly, dropping his arms and striking +work. "I'm hanged if I pump another stroke! The blessed old hulk can +go to the bottom as soon as she likes." + +"Nor I," exclaimed another, likewise leaving off. "Nor I!" chorused +half a dozen more; and, in a second, the pumps were at a standstill. + +Adams, the second mate, who was in charge of the men on the main deck-- +Mr McCarthy and Frank Harness having been sent below by Captain Dinks +along with the starboard watch--stood meanwhile, staring aghast at the +delinquents and not knowing what to do, "like a stock fish," as Mr +Meldrum thought, looking on the scene. + +It was a critical moment. + +Captain Dinks, of course, hearing the steady "clink, clank" of the pumps +stop, knew that something had occurred, and guessed the cause; but he +waited to hear what the second mate would say before he interfered, +nudging Mr Meldrum to call his attention, although the latter was +already listening with keen interest. + +"Do, my men," they could hear Adams entreat the rebellious gang, "do put +your hearts into it and start work again! It won't be for long, you +know." + +"A cursed sight too long for me!" said Moody, interrupting him with a +coarse laugh. "You aren't a going to come over us with your soft +sawder, nor the skipper neither! I, for one, ain't agoing to have any +more o' this slave-driving work! Why should we sweat our hearts out +trying to keep the old tub afloat and drive her to shore, when we can +reach there quite as well in the boats, without half the trouble? I +votes for quitting her at once--what say you, mates?" and he turned +round to the others, seeking their support. + +"Aye, aye!" shouted several voices together with acclamation. "Let us +have no more pumping or slaving; but quit the ship at once and leave the +cussed thing to sink. To the boats! To the boats!" + +Captain Dinks thought he had allowed the matter to go far enough. The +time for action had arrived, and he was ready. + +"Hold!" cried he, in clear ringing tones that penetrated fore and aft +the vessel and which could be heard above every other sound, advancing +to the top of the poop ladder and drawing a revolver from his pocket as +he spoke. "The first man who touches either of those boats without my +orders, I'll shoot like a dog!" + +At the first sound of his voice the men had stopped speaking, and now +there was a dead silence in which you could have heard a pin drop. Not +a movement was made by any of the men--all standing still as if turned +to stone. + +"Do you know that what you are doing, men, is rank mutiny?" continued +the captain, taking advantage of the occasion. "Return to your duty at +once, however, and I'll think no more about it. What I am making you do +is for the good of us all, and I wouldn't give you a moment's +unnecessary work if I could avoid it!" + +"But," interposed Bill Moody. + +"Ah, I thought it was you, you scamp, ever trying to foment discord +amongst the crew--a lazy hound, always grumbling and skulking, you're +not worthy the name of a sailor--you are only a thing aboard a ship! +I'll soon settle your reckoning, my hearty!" And, little man as he was, +Captain Dinks sprang down the poop ladder in one bound; and, dashing up +to where Moody was standing, knocked him senseless to the deck with a +blow from the butt end of the pistol which he held in his hand right +across his temples. + +"There!" exclaimed he, when the ringleader of the gang was thus disposed +of, kicking his body on one side and spurning it with his foot. "That's +the way I deal with mutineers! Now, man the pumps again, my lads, and +set to work with a will. As Mr Adams told you just now, it will not be +for long that you'll have to stick at it, for we'll soon be able to +beach the vessel, and then your task will cease!" + +Cowed by his summary treatment of Moody, rather than encouraged by his +words, the men started pumping again, although without any heartiness, +clink-clanking till daylight, when they were relieved by the other watch +and went below, taking Moody with them--that worthy having regained his +consciousness after a time, in consequence of the water in the lee +scuppers, where he was lying, washing over him and acting more +efficaciously than the application of smelling-salts or sal volatile +would have done under other circumstances. + +Before the mutineer went below, however, he turned his scowling face +towards the poop, the blood all streaming down from a rather ugly cut on +the left temple, and shook his fist in the direction of Captain Dinks, +although the latter did not see the gesture, for his face was turned at +the moment to the binnacle. + +But, Mr Meldrum saw it. + +"You'll have some more trouble yet from that fellow!" said he to the +captain, relating what he had seen and telling how Moody looked. + +"Pooh!" exclaimed the captain. "He's only a bully and a lazy grumbler; +and all bullies and grumblers are curs at heart!" + +"Ah," said the other, "but those sort of sneaking chaps are just as +likely to knife you as not when your back's turned, though they would be +afraid to face you pluckily, like a man." + +"Let him knife away," replied Captain Dinks. "That is, if I give him +the chance! I fancy he'll remember that little tap I gave him just now; +and if he gives me any occasion for it he shall have another!" The +skipper then went away laughing, but Mr Meldrum, from the vindictive +look he had seen on the man's face did not think it a laughing matter at +all. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE BARRIER REEF. + +As the light increased, the land in front could be seen more distinctly +rising steadily out of the seal with the high elevated peak in the +centre which Mr Meldrum had identified the day before as the Mount Ross +marked on the chart. The mountain, however, showed now on the port bow; +so, the ship must necessarily have run down a considerable portion of +the western coast, after they had abandoned the idea of weathering the +island on the port tack--which they had done as soon as they were +alarmed by the sound of breakers, letting her drive to leeward--before +the collision with the berg. This was a discovery which did not appear +to give Mr Meldrum much satisfaction. + +"It's a great pity," he said to the captain, "that we could not get +round that northerly cape I pointed out to you, before the snowstorm and +sea-fog set in! There were one or two good bays there marked on the +chart, such as Christmas Harbour and Cumberland Bay, which have been +properly sounded and have the points laid down; but of this western +coast little appears known, and it has been only from surmise that the +outlines of the map have been sketched in. I really don't think any +exploring party has ever visited it since Monsieur Lieutenant de +Kerguelen-Tremarec briefly surveyed it in 1772--more than a hundred +years ago." + +"And it might have changed a lot since then," observed Captain Dinks. + +"Yes," continued Mr Meldrum; "for the French discoverer narrated all +sorts of wonders about a raging volcano, with geysers and hot springs +like those of Iceland; and if volcanic agency has been at work since +then, no doubt the place is very much altered." + +"If there is a live crater there, it can't be so very cold then, eh?" + +"I don't know about that," replied Mr Meldrum. "Away in the north, I +have seen boiling water freeze as soon as it was exposed to the outside +air; so I don't suppose it will be much warmer here than we can expect +from all accounts." + +But, warm or cold, it was the only haven of refuge for the sinking ship, +which slowly, and more slowly still, by reason of the stormy sea and +shifting wind, the latter of which grew gustier as the morning advanced, +made her laboured way towards the land in crab-like fashion--half +sailing, half drifting, and burying her bows deeply every now and then +in the heavy rollers she was powerless now to ride over, and rising +again from the water so sluggishly that it sometimes seemed impossible +that she would recover herself, but must founder, whenever she took a +deeper plunge than usual. + +Bye and bye, Mr Lathrope came on deck escorting Kate Meldrum; although +our heroine looked more like escorting him, for he was very pale and +appeared much thinner than before--if that were possible to one +belonging to the order of "Pharaoh's lean kine!" + +It was the first appearance of the American outside the cuddy since the +accident that had crippled him, and he could not help noticing the +altered state of the ship--having last seen her just before she +encountered the cyclone. + +"Snakes and alligators, Cap, but you hev hed it rough, and no mistake!" +said he to Captain Dinks, gazing with surprise at the broken bulwarks, +which had been torn away when the masts went by the board, the wrecked +forecastle, and the unsightly stumps to which the jury-masts had been +attached, which now occupied the place of the tall graceful spars and +neatly-braced yards, with the canvas smoothly stowed away in shipshape +fashion, that he had left so trim when he went below that stormy night. +"Why, you're busted up entirely, I guess!" + +"Not quite yet, I hope," replied Captain Dinks, smiling mournfully as +he, too, looked around; "but, the old _Nancy_ has been sadly battered +about. Ah, Mr Lathrope, if she hadn't been a stout built one, she'd +have gone to the bottom before this!" + +"You bet!" said the American, humouring this little remaining bit of +pride the old seaman had in the ship he had commanded for so many years, +a pride that was mingled with a sorrow at her approaching end, which he +could foresee and mourn over, as if the vessel had been a living +thing--"she's been a clipper in her time, and made a smart fit for it; +but, the winds and the waves have licked her at last, same as they done +me, when they squoze in my durned ribs t'other day." + +But, the captain could not laugh at what the other had said as a joke +about himself, just in order to banish the poor skipper's gloom. It +seemed to him a sort of sacrilege towards the _Nancy Bell_ to liken her +mortal injuries to the mere temporary ones of the American; so he turned +the conversation. + +"I hope you feel better now?" he said. + +"Wa-al, I ain't downright slick and hearty agin, that's a fact; fur my +innards got a'most druv into smash! But I'm picking up, I guess, and +feed reg'ler; so I s'pose I'll do, Cap, for an old hoss, eh? Durned if +I don't feel kinder peckish now. Hullo, my lily-white friend," added +he, catching sight of Snowball, who was bustling about the galley close +to him, for Mr Lathrope had gone down on the main-deck along with +Captain Dinks, to inspect the damage to the ship more narrowly than he +was able to do on the poop. "Ain't it near breakfast-time? I hope +you've got something for us as good as that lobscouse last night: it wer +prime, and no mistake!" + +"Golly, massa, no time for um 'scouse dis mornin'--too busy bilin' beef; +but breakfast in um brace of shakes," replied the darkey, grinning from +ear to ear and showing his white teeth and full lips to great advantage. + +"I'm durned glad to hear it," said Mr Lathrope. "Look alive, Ivories, +fur I feels a kinder sinkin' in my stummick that tells me it's time to +stow in grub. You're a prime cook, let me tell you, darkey, and hev +done me a heap of good since I've ben aboard!" + +"Glad massa like um cookin'," replied Snowball; and he bustled back into +his galley with the intention of continuing to deserve the high encomium +he had received from such an authority on eating as the steward had +reported the American to be, while the latter proceeded to remount the +poop ladder and join Kate. She, however, was not now alone, Frank +Harness having seized the opportunity of seeing her on deck to come up +and speak to her; and the two parted with some little embarrassment as +soon as Mr Lathrope approached. + +Towards mid-day, the _Nancy Bell_ had closed with the land so much that +its features could be distinguished. A bare, inhospitable coast it +looked! + +It seemed nothing but a series of abrupt cliffs and headlands, six to +eight hundred feet high--as well as could be judged from the distance +they were off--at the base of which the waves thundered, sending up +columns of spray, without any bay or opening into which they could run +the ship with any chance of getting ashore in safety. + +There was, certainly, a projecting cape stretching far into the sea, +like an arm, to the southward, to which point the coast-line trended, +and beyond that there might probably be a harbour of some sort for it +was to the lee of the island; but then, the wind was now blowing from +the southward and westward--the very direction almost they ought to take +to give the point a wide berth--and thus, unless it chopped round, it +would be utterly impossible for the crippled vessel to round the +headland, save by a miracle. + +Captain Dinks and Mr Meldrum looked at each other in blank dismay; for, +the gale seemed to be rising again, while the sea got rougher and +rougher every moment, and dark masses of cloud began to pile themselves +up along the horizon to seaward. If they were unable to beach the ship +soon it was but only too apparent that she would sink from under them in +deep water, when--God help those on board! + +Suddenly, however, when hope abandoned them both, there was a break in +the dark sky just overhead and a bit of blue was to be seen, followed +presently by a gleam of sunshine which sent a ray of comfort into their +hearts and bid them not utterly despair. This caused one, at least, to +pluck up his courage again. + +"It is close on noon now," said Mr Meldrum, speaking cheerfully, "we +had better take an observation, so as to see where we precisely are." + +"And what good will that do us?" asked the Captain disconsolately; "no +amount of observations are of any use to us now." + +But he fetched out his sextant all the same, as well for the mere sake +of doing "something" as to oblige Mr Meldrum; and taking advantage of a +favourable opportunity, he "took" the sun. + +"We're in 49 degrees 10 minutes south latitude," he observed after a +short interval during which he had been calculating his reckoning, "and +68 degrees 45 minutes east longitude--if that information can help us!" + +"I'll soon tell you," answered Mr Meldrum stretching out on the +binnacle a chart of Kerguelen Land which he had brought up from the +cabin, and marking on it the position of the ship with a pencil. "Yes, +it's exactly as I thought just now. You see that headland, there to +starboard? That is the promontory put down here as Cape Saint Louis; +and if we can get round it, there, as you see in the chart, we'll find +ourselves in a large sheltered bay, safe from the ocean swell, where we +can run her ashore with ease. Why, it is the very thing! how +providential it was that I put in this chart by accident along with some +others of the Pacific I had amongst my papers! I didn't know I had it +till the other day." + +"Ah," said Captain Dinks, returning to the main question, "but how are +we going to weather the point, eh? That's the difficulty." + +"We may do it yet," replied Mr Meldrum, whose hopes appeared to rise +the more the Captain seemed determined to look gloomily on the outlook. +"You can see for yourself that we are drifting equally as much to the +south as we are sailing towards the coast, and making about the same +progress each way. From this circumstance I have little doubt that +there is a considerable current running southwards; and if so, it may +carry us round the cape--especially should the wind shift to the +northward." + +"Aye, if it should!" said Captain Dinks sarcastically. + +"I do not really see why it should not," persisted Mr Meldrum, "it has +already veered about a good deal this morning; and, if you remember, +both yesterday afternoon and on the previous day it shifted shortly +after sunset to that very direction." + +"Yes, I recollect," said the other with grim humour, "and the shift +brought a snowstorm and a fog with it on each occasion! I hope, really, +with all my heart, Mr Meldrum," he added more heartily, "that the +weather may be as accommodating as you seem to fancy; but, as a matter +of precaution, I will go and see that the boats may be ready, in case we +have to abandon the ship soon, which I think will be the end of it all. +They are both patched up now, so as to be pretty serviceable; and +fortunately, there'll be no difficulty in getting them over the side, as +the bulwarks have been swept away, and all we'll have to do will be to +launch them into the water. I am just going to superintend the stowage +of the provisions and water casks. They are piled on the main-deck +quite handy; and I will see, too, that the oars and sails are not +forgotten." + +"Very good," answered Mr Meldrum. "But I hope we sha'n't want them +after all; and, while you are down there, I'll remain here and look +after the pilotage of the ship--that is, if you'll send some one below +in my place to see to my daughters and their arrangements. I have told +Kate already that she must only take the barest necessaries with her, in +case we have to embark in the boats, and above all, not to forget warm +clothing for herself and Florry; so you'd better advise whoever you send +down, to see that Mrs Major Negus does the same. Mr Lathrope is smart +enough to look after himself." + +"Aye, aye," said Captain Dinks, as he turned to descend to the main- +deck, "I think I'll send down Frank Harness. He's the most of a ladies' +man on board the ship, and I imagine that he and Miss Kate will get on +pretty well together, eh, Mr Meldrum?" + +But the other made no reply to this remark. He was too busily engaged +just then in looking out across the rolling sea astern, and watching a +haze which appeared to be creeping up over the water to the northward, +with a dark line of cloud hovering over it, both coming rapidly towards +the ship. + +"Hurrah!" he exclaimed at last in an ecstasy of joy, when his faint hope +became confirmed into a certainty; "the wind's shifting, and chopping +round to the north in our favour!" + +"You don't say so?" said Captain Dinks equally excited, abandoning the +provisioning of the boats and skipping up the poop-ladder like a young +two-year-old; "why, yes, really! It's the best piece of news I ever +heard! Put the helm amidships!" he added to the man at the wheel. +"We'll have to ease her round and run before it a bit for the last time; +and if the wind only holds to the northward for a short spell, we'll get +round the point yet and lay her old bones ashore decently. Steady, +Boltrope, steady!" + +"Steady it is!" laconically answered the carpenter, whose trick it was +at the wheel, obeying the captain's directions implicitly. + +"Look alive, McCarthy, and square the yards," was the captain's next +command; "but do it gingerly, my man, do it gingerly! If we lose the +jury-masts now it will be all up with us." + +"Aye, aye, sorr," was the response of the chief mate, as he aided +himself in carrying out the order; and the vessel's head coming round +south by west, under the impulse of the helm and the shifting of the +sails, she began to exhibit some of her old powers and claw off the +land, bringing the cape now to bear upon her port bow well to leeward. + +In addition to this, it was perceived that she made much better way +through the water than when she had been steering direct for the shore, +as, from the breeze being now well abeam, it made her heel over on her +side, thus elevating her broken bows somewhat and preventing her from +dipping her head so frequently in the waves. + +It was a moment of intense interest and suspense, everybody being on +deck to witness the struggle the ship was making against the odds +opposed to her. + +If she got round the point, they would be comparatively safe--at least +they thought so; whereas, if the wind failed, or a brace started, or the +rudder proved powerless to guide her at a critical period, the vessel +would be driven against the iron-bound cliff they were approaching in an +oblique line--against whose base the heavy rollers were now thundering +with a crashing roar that each instant became louder as they neared the +point, throwing their spray high up its precipitous face; and then--Why, +they were lost! + +Frank Harness was at this time standing by the side of Kate and Florry +on the poop; but nearer to the former, who had just asked him to save +her little sister should the ship strike. + +"I will," said he in a whisper close to her ear, "God helping me! and +you, too; but call me `Frank' again, Miss Meldrum. You did so once, you +know, when you caught me that time I was nearly washed overboard, and +saved me!" + +"Do you remember that?" asked Kate. + +"I do," said he; "how could I forget it? Do not fear, I'll save you and +Florry too!" + +"Thank you, `Frank,' then for your promise," whispered she--in accents +so low that they were almost drowned by the noise of the waves dashing +against the cliff; but he heard her, and his face lightened up as +brightly as if he had been redeemed from all peril and saw heaven before +him. + +Onward the ship sped, ever drawing closer to that terrible wall of rock +and yet gaining at the same time inch by inch on the promontory, that +jutted out into the sea like an arm stretched forth to stay her +progress; while, as the anxious moments flew by, the northerly wind +which had come so opportunely to their rescue gradually rose into a +gale, threatening to destroy them--the _Nancy Bell_ approaching the +cliff so closely, as she skirted by, that it seemed to those on board +that they might have touched it by merely stretching out their hands +over the side. The sky, too, was growing darker and darker every +moment. + +They were now quite near the southerly point of the cape, and within +half a cable's length of its precipitous face: five minutes--three +minutes--one minute--would settle the question. + +"Luff, man, luff!" shouted the captain, as all held their breath with +excitement. + +It was a case of touch and go! + +"Hurrah! down with the helm! she's done it!" called out Captain Dinks +again, as the vessel glided by the last spur of the promontory, and, +rounding to on the other side, she seemed to get into smoother water--a +fine beach stretching out in the distance a few miles away and no rocks +being apparent--"the old ship has conquered, and won the race after +all." + +His triumph, however, was as short-lived as it was premature. + +Hardly had the _Nancy Bell_ rounded the cape, than the air grew dense +around them, and snow began to fall heavily; while a thick fog rising, +shut out the shore and every object from view. Then, as Captain Dinks +and Mr Meldrum were deliberating whether it would be better under the +circumstances to run the ship straight for the beach--which they had +calculated to be some five miles in front of them to the south-east or +the cape they had just passed--or else to continue pumping until the +weather got lighter and they could see better where they were going, the +matter was settled for them, in a very unexpected manner, by the ship +running on to a sunken ridge of rock immediately under her forefoot; +and, in a moment, there she stuck hard and fast, bumping and scraping +her bottom, with a harsh, grating sound and a quivering and rending of +her timbers, as if every plank below the water-line was being torn out +of her piecemeal. + +The _Nancy Bell_ had struck on some barrier reef, which guarded at a +distance the desolate and inhospitable shore, just at the very moment +everything was deemed secure and all danger past! And, as she stranded, +the thick-falling white snow which had already covered the decks seemed +to be busy wreathing a shroud for the ill-fated ship, while the surges +sang her requiem in their dull, heart-breaking roar--the sea-fog hanging +over the scene of the calamity the while like a sombre pall. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +A FOUL BLOW! + +Every one was on deck at the time--the crew, the officers, the +passengers; but, with the exception of a slight scream from Mrs Major +Negus, which passed unnoticed, not a single exclamation of terror or +alarm was uttered. All seemed completely stupefied by the unexpected +shock, their consternation being too great for words--they stood as if +spell-bound! + +Captain Dinks was the first to break the silence. + +"God forgive me!" he cried out to everybody's surprise. "It is all my +fault!" + +"Your fault!" repeated Mr Meldrum; "how--why?" + +"I should have had a man forward, sounding with the lead, but I quite +forgot it--quite forgot it; and this has happened." + +"Nonsense, man!" said the other to cheer him up--the captain appearing +to be more concerned at his own neglect, as he regarded it, than he was +at the actual fact of the ship's striking on the reef--"such a +precaution would have been utterly useless! We were probably in deep +water a minute before; and even if a man had been stationed in the +chains, he could scarcely have had time to have swung the lead and sang +out the marks, before she was on the rocks! It is one of those +unforeseen calamities that are inevitable and which can never be +prevented by any human foresight. I for one, and I've no doubt every +one else here agrees with me, entirely exonerate you from all blame." + +The captain was endeavouring to make some broken reply, as far as his +deep emotion would allow, when Mrs Major Negus interrupted him. + +"Speak for yourself, please, Mr Meldrum," she exclaimed, elbowing +herself forwards in front of the group, her shrill high-pitched voice +sounding almost like another scream, as she waved her arms wildly about +and addressed Mr Meldrum and Captain Dinks alternately. "Speak for +yourself, please, for I don't agree with you at all! I say it is the +captain's fault; and he knows it, though it's rather late in the day for +him to acknowledge it! And I'd like to know, sir, how I and my darling +boy are going to get on shore now in this blinding snowstorm--in such a +bleak and dreary outlandish place, too! A nice captain you are; and you +bargained to take us safe to New Zealand when you took our passage- +money. My poor Maurice, oh my dear boy, you'll never, never see your +father now, for we'll all be drowned, and Captain Dinks is the cause of +it!" + +So shrieking, she proceeded to weep and wail in a way that made Mr +Meldrum lose all patience with her. + +"Peace, woman!" cried he indignantly. "This is no time for hysterics +and such violent displays: you'd better keep them till the fine weather +comes, and remain quiet now! The best thing you can do if you hope to +escape, is to allow the captain to see about getting the boats ready to +take us off, for the ship will probably break up soon." + +His latter remark, while it reduced "the Major" to a state of limp +collapse that made her silent and subdued, had the effect he intended, +of rousing the captain to action--thus causing him to forget for a time +his grief at the _Nancy Bell's_ disaster in having to exert himself so +as to provide for the safety of those on board. + +"Main-deck ahoy there!" he shouted. + +"Aye, aye, sorr," answered the first mate, who had remained there, +looking to the trimming of the sails while the ship was working up to +the cape. + +"Have the men finished storing those things in the boats yet?" + +"They're jist at it now, sorr. We were all a bit flabbergasted when the +poor crathur struck; but we're working hard now, sorr, and the boats +will soon be ready to launch into the wather." + +"That's right, McCarthy, we've no time to lose. Send one of the hands +forwards to see how her head lies." + +"Aye, aye, sorr. Mr Adams has gone already sure: an' I've sint the +carpenter, Boltrope, to sound the well." + +"He'd better by far sound alongside, to see what depth of water we're in +and which would be the best side for launching the boats off!" replied +Captain Dinks. "But stay, Harness," he added, "you can do that. Heave +the lead aft here, and then amidships, telling me what soundings you +get." + +On returning from his mission forwards, Mr Adams reported that the +vessel's bows were fixed hard and fast between two conical points of +rock, which were covered by about four fathoms of water; while Frank +Harness, who had been sounding round the ship as the captain directed, +stated that there were twenty fathoms of water aft and the same on the +port side amidships, but on the starboard, or right-hand side, the lead +only gave the same depth the second mate had found forward-- +consequently, the ship's stern, being so much lighter than the flooded +fore-compartment, had slewed round with the sea towards the reef, on +which therefore the _Nancy Bell_ must have projected herself more than +half her length. Probably, had her bows not been so depressed, she +would have gone over it altogether with a scrape, merely taking off her +false keel and dead-wood without doing any material damage. + +As it was, however, there she was; and the question now was whether the +tide was at the ebb or flow at the time she struck. If the former, the +likelihood was that as soon as the tide began to rise, the vessel would +float off and founder, Boltrope having reported that there were eight +feet of water in the hold and that it was gaining fast--the pumping +operations, of course, having long since been stopped, but, should she +have run on the reef at high water, there she was immovably fixed as +long as she held together; and in that case they would be able to get +ashore to the mainland in comfort, almost at their own convenience, +should the weather remain calm, in addition to saving many articles from +the wreck that would be of use to them, and a much larger proportion of +the ship's provisions and stores. + +After the first bumping and scraping that had immediately succeeded her +stranding, the _Nancy Bell_ had remained quiet, as if the old ship was +glad to be at rest after all the buffeting about and bruisings she had +received from the boisterous billows. Hence, the natural alarm that had +been excited by the ship's striking had calmed down, there being nothing +in her present situation to heighten the sense of danger; for the vessel +was sheltered from the wind under the lee of the cape, and the sea, in +comparison with the rough water she had recently passed through and the +stormy waves she had battled with when beating round the point, was +almost calm. Everybody, therefore, inspired by the example set them by +Mr Meldrum and the captain, remained perfectly cool and collected, the +crew obeying the orders given them with alacrity and working as heartily +as if the poor old _Nancy Bell_ were still the staunch clipper of yore, +careering over the ocean in the full panoply of her canvas plumage and +prosecuting her voyage, instead of lying, a broke and battered hulk, +hard and fast ashore on an outlying reef of rocks at Kerguelen Land, the +"Desolation Island"--name of ominous import--of Antarctic whaling ships! + +Even Bill Moody, mutinous as he had shown himself before and lazy to a +degree, now appeared metaphorically to "put his shoulder to the wheel," +as if to make amends for the past, lending a willing hand to the +preparations that were being made by Mr McCarthy for equipping the +boats and laying down ways for launching them from the main-deck--there +being no davits now, nor any means for rigging a derrick to lift them +over the side. Indeed, when Mr Adams ordered a gang to man the pumps +again on the carpenter's reporting that the water was gaining in the +hold, the whilom mutineer was one of the first to step forwards for the +duty, although Captain Dinks at once countermanded the order, seeing its +inutility, and saying that there was no use in working a willing horse +to death! + +"They could never clear her now, Adams," said he, "pump as hard as they +could; and if they did it would be useless, for she'll never float +again. However, if you want to give the men something to do, you can +set to work breaking cargo and lightening her amidships, for then we'll +swing further up on the reef and get fixed more firmly." + +"Very good, sir," replied the second mate; and the hands were therefore +at once started to open the hatches, getting out some of the heavy goods +from the hold below, especially the dead-weight from just abaft the +main-mast, that had so deducted from the ship's buoyancy when sailing on +a wind during the earlier part of her voyage. + +Moody's change of demeanour had not escaped the notice of the captain; +and he commented on it to Mr Meldrum, saying that he thought the lesson +he had given him had had a very satisfactory result. "There is +nothing," said he, "so persuasive as a knock-down argument!" + +The other, however, did not believe in the rapid conversion. + +"I've heard of shamming Abraham before," said he. "The rascal may have +something to gain, and wishes to put you off your guard by his apparent +alacrity and willingness to work. If you had seen the scowl he gave you +when your back was turned that time after you knocked him down, you +wouldn't trust him further than you could help! I believe all this good +behaviour of his is put on, and that you'll see the real animal come out +by and by." + +"All right!" said Captain Dinks as cheerfully as if the matter were of +no moment to him; "we'll see! But we must first observe the tide and +the ship's position on the rocks; I think we'll be able to decide those +points before the other matter can be settled, by a long way!" + +When the _Nancy Bell_ struck, it had been close upon six bells in the +second dog-watch--seven o'clock in the evening--the entire afternoon +having passed away so rapidly while those on board were anxiously +watching the struggle of the vessel against the wind and sea in her +endeavours to weather the cape, that, in their intense excitement as +they awaited the denouement which would solve all their hopes and fears, +they took no heed of the flight of time. It seemed really but a few +brief minutes, instead of hours, from the period when Captain Dinks had +taken the sun at noon to the terrible moment of the catastrophe. + +Now, it was midnight, or approaching to it, the intervening period +having glided by much more speedily through the fact of everybody having +been engaged in doing something towards the common safety of all. Not +even the lady passengers had been exempted from the task, Mr Meldrum +having told Kate to go below and collect whatever she saw in the cabins +that might be of use to them on the island; while Mrs Negus, dropping +her dignity for once, cordially assisted. As for Florry and Maurice +they participated in the work with the greatest glee, looking upon the +wreck as if it had been specially brought about for their enjoyment, +like an impromptu picnic--it was the realisation of their wildest +childish dreams. + +All this while the ship lay quiet, as has been stated, save that after a +time she took a slight list to starboard, as if settling down on the +rocks, a fact which confirmed the captain in his belief that it had been +high water when she went on the reef. This increased his satisfaction. + +"She won't move now," said he to Mr Meldrum. "She's wedged as securely +forwards as if she were on her cradle; and, unless a storm comes, she'll +last for a week." + +"How about when the tide flows again?" asked the other. + +"Oh, she can't float off. That weight of water in the fore compartment +has regularly nailed her on the rocks, thus preventing the only danger I +feared--that of her slipping off into deep water as the tide ebbed. As +she struck when it was flood and jammed herself firmly then on the reef, +there she'll remain when it flows again; so, we have plenty of time +before us to transport the whole cargo ashore if we like!" + +"I hope so, I'm sure," replied Mr Meldrum; "but you should recollect +that, from the experience we've already had, the weather is not to be +trusted for very long hereabouts. If it comes on to blow again from the +south and the sea should get up, we'll be in a nasty position." + +"Don't croak," said Captain Dinks, who seemed to have quite recovered +his spirits as the others around him became despondent. "Look, the +snowstorm has ceased already and the sea-fog is rising and drifting +away. Why, we'll have a fine bright night after all!" + +It was as the captain had stated. The fog had lifted up and the snow +stopped falling; but, his hopes of a fine night were doomed to be +disappointed, for, although the sky above cleared for a short spell and +allowed a few stray stars to peep out, while an occasional gleam of +moonshine lit up the ship's surroundings, the heavens were soon obscured +again with thick driving clouds, the wind shifting to the southward and +westward and blowing right into the bay behind Cape Saint Louis, where +the _Nancy Bell_ was aground. + +Presently, a heavy rolling sea began to sweep in upon her from the +offing; and as the tide rose again, her stern swung more to the +starboard side, being driven up higher on the rocks, while her whole +frame became uneasy, rocking to and fro and quivering from abaft the +main hatch, the fore part of her grinding and working about in a way +that threatened to tear her soon to pieces. + +"I'm afraid she won't last till morning," said Mr Meldrum, who had +never left the deck, but was watching the course of events. "We'd +better take to the boats while we can. By and by it may be too late!" + +"Oh no," replied Captain Dinks, "she'll hold out all right, and it's +best for us to land by daylight. Besides, I've allowed the hands to +turn in, save two or three who are keeping a sort of anchor watch, and +I'm not going to rouse them out again unnecessarily--poor fellows, +they've had a hard time of it the last few days!" + +"Not many of them have taken advantage of your permission," said Mr +Meldrum drily. "I fancy they feel like myself, too uneasy to sleep, +with this fresh gale springing up again and the ship rocking about so!" +As he spoke, he pointed to a group amidships, where at least half the +crew were gathered about the boats, while some others were standing by +Snowdrop's galley and having a warm, for the night was intensely cold. + +"They can please themselves," replied the captain sententiously. "If +they don't choose to turn in, they needn't; but I'm not going to launch +the boats yet and leave the ship while it is safe. I'm considering what +is best for us all, Mr Meldrum; and, excuse me, but as long as the +vessel holds together I'm captain of her, and don't intend to give over +my duty to anybody else." + +This was speaking pretty plainly, so Mr Meldrum had perforce to remain +silent and nurse his uneasiness; the two pacing up and down the poop on +opposite sides, without ever a word passing between them for some time, +just as if each ignored the other's presence. + +At two o'clock in the morning, however, the wind increased and the heavy +waves began to break against the windward side of the ship, dashing over +her amidships in columns of spray. She also lurched more to starboard, +as if thrown on her bilge, the deck inclining to an angle of forty-five +degrees. + +At the same time, too, the group of men forward could be dimly seen in +the half light moving about excitedly. They were evidently tired of +their forced inaction; for, their voices could be heard occasionally +between the lulls of the breaking waves and sound of the wind whistling +by. They were grumbling in tones of dissatisfaction. + +The climax was put to the matter by the sudden rushing up on deck of Mr +McCarthy, whom Captain Dinks had told to go below until the morning +watch. + +"Be jabers, cap'en," he exclaimed, "she's druv in her starboard streeks +against the rocks, and the wather is pouring in like winking. Faix, it +is breaking up she'll be before were out of her, sure!" + +Thus urged, the captain at length gave the order to launch the boats. +This was, now, a very difficult task, for the water was boiling in +eddies round the ship to leeward even on her sheltered side, although a +couple of hours before it had been as calm there as a mill-pond, so that +a Thames outrigger might have been floated off in safety. + +As soon as the men heard the tardy word of command, there was a tussle +and a rush towards the long-boat, seeing which Captain Dinks, who was +standing just over the break of the poop, ran down the ladder-way and +stood amongst the excited group, with his arm uplifted to enforce his +orders. + +"Avast there!" cried he; "get away from that long-boat, and prepare to +run in the jolly-boat. I want that launched first for the ladies and +passengers, and I must see them all safely out of the ship before a man +Jack amongst you leaves her! Go down, McCarthy," he added to the first +mate, "and ask the ladies to come on deck, sharp; we'll have the boat +prepared by the time you come up with them." + +The crew still hustled round the long-boat, however, and showed signs of +insubordination, whilst a voice called out, "Let the passengers be! I +say every man for himself now!" + +"What is that I hear?" exclaimed the captain. "Are you men--are you +British seamen--to abandon women and children in time of peril and seek +your own safety?" + +"My life's as good as anyone else's, passenger or no passenger," cried +out Bill Moody defiantly, pressing closer to Captain Dinks. + +"Ah!" ejaculated the latter, "I thought it was you--what! you haven't +learnt your lesson yet, eh?" and he made a grab at the man's neck as if +to grasp it. + +But, Bill Moody was prepared this time. The captain did not catch him +unawares, as he had done on the previous occasion when he had knocked +him down with the butt-end of his pistol. + +Raising a sheath-knife, which he must have had ready drawn for the +purpose in his hand, the man plunged it with all his force into the +breast of the captain as he approached him. + +Captain Dinks was borne back and half turned round by the strength with +which the blow was delivered. Then, staggering first on to his knees, +and exclaiming, "Murder! I'm a dead man! The villain has stabbed me!" +he fell forwards on the deck in a pool of blood. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +DESERTED! + +There was a cry of consternation from the men on seeing the captain +fall, for, although the majority of them evidently supported Moody in +the rush for the boats, none had dreamt of going to the lengths he did; +still, not a man stepped forward to seize the assassin, who, coolly +throwing overboard the bloody blade with which the foul blow had been +dealt, proceeded to carry out his original intention of casting loose +the lashings of the long-boat and launching it over the side, several +assisting him as he began the task. + +However, Mr Meldrum had seen what had happened from the poop, not +having followed Captain Dinks too closely, for fear of being again +accused of interfering with the duties of the ship. + +Now, single-handed as he was, he at once dropped on to the lower deck, +rushing to where Moody was standing, but the other men got in between +and hustled him away; so, seeing that he could do nothing towards +arresting the miscreant for the present, he bent over the poor captain +and lifted him on his knee to see whether life was quite extinct. +Happily he still lived! moaning faintly as Mr Meldrum raised him in his +arms; consequently, as it was too dark--for it was just under the break +of the poop where the wounded man was lying--for him to see what was the +extent of the injury he had received, Mr Meldrum called out loudly for +assistance, that he might be able to carry him below to the saloon and +bind up the wound properly. It was vitally necessary to staunch the +blood speedily, as it was flowing copiously and had already saturated +the coat-sleeve of Mr Meldrum's supporting arm. + +"What are you calling out for?" shouted out the miscreant Moody in +derision. "None of them will hear you through the bulkhead. Let the +cursed brute bleed to death and be hanged to him! I'm sorry I didn't +settle him, right out, as I intended!" + +Somebody did hear, however; for at that moment, Frank Harness--who had +been told to go below along with McCarthy and Adams at midnight by the +unfortunate captain, who said he would take the sole duty of the ship on +himself until the morning watch was called--rushed up the companion way +on to the poop. + +"Did you call, Captain Dinks--Mr Meldrum!" he cried, looking about and +seeing nobody there. "I thought I heard someone call out for help!" + +"I'm here below on the main-deck," shouted Mr Meldrum. "Call for +assistance and come and help me at once. Poor Captain Dinks has been +stabbed by one of the crew, and I fear he's dying!" + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed Frank in startled surprise, staggered for the +moment; but he did not stop long to think or act. + +"Mr McCarthy!--Mr Lathrope!" he called loudly down the companion. +"Come up here at once and leave the ladies for the present. Something +dreadful has happened!" + +Then, without uttering another word, he jumped down alongside of Mr +Meldrum on the lower deck; where, catching up a marlinspike that was +handy, he rapped vehemently against the coamings of the hatchway, some +of the hands having gone to bunk down there since the cargo had been +partly removed, on account of the forecastle being quite untenable from +the water that had accumulated there, besides which the waves were now +washing over it freely. + +"All hands ahoy!" sang out Frank. "Tumble up, men! Tumble up just as +you are! There's murder afloat!" + +"Stow that yelling!" cried the group around Moody, who did not wish to +be interrupted yet awhile with their plans; but Frank took no notice of +their observations, save that a contemptuous smile passed over his face +as he compressed his lips. + +"Who did it?" asked he of Mr Meldrum, looking down at the latter as he +bent over the poor captain, supporting his head and shoulders still on +his knee so that he might breathe more freely. + +"That man there," was the answer, Mr Meldrum pointing to where Moody +was standing in the centre of some ten others of the same kidney. "The +same man whom Captain Dinks knocked down the other day for +insubordination, and whom I saw threaten him afterwards, as I can swear. +If the captain dies, he will be tried for wilful murder, and hung, for +it was no accidental blow, but a deliberately premeditated deed!" + +"Oh, Bill Moody? I thought it was that scoundrel!" exclaimed Frank; and +in a moment he had leaped fearlessly amidst the throng--with the +marlinspike fortunately still in his hand, for he was otherwise +weaponless. + +"Stand back!" shouted one of the men warningly, pushing him away--not in +any rough fashion, but as if to keep him out of harm's way. "We don't +wish to do you any hurt, Mr Harness, but I'd advise you to leave Moody +alone! He's desperate now and might cause you an injury; besides which, +he's one of us, and we don't intend to give him up!" + +"Don't you?" exclaimed Frank, flaming up and struggling with the man who +held him back; while the would-be murderer, drawing another knife from +his belt, stood apparently at bay waiting for him to come on. + +"Hillo! what's all this yere muss about?" called out Mr Lathrope, +appearing on the poop at this juncture; "whar's everybody!" + +"Here, help!" said Frank. "The crew have mutinied and the captain has +been stabbed. I'm trying to get hold of the murderer; but they're too +many for me. Help, Mr Lathrope, help!" + +"You will have it then, you young devil!" screamed out Moody savagely, +making a plunge at Frank with the formidable knife that he had now +drawn, which had a much longer blade than that with which he had +stricken down the captain. "I'll soon stop your cursed yelling, my +joker, and give you something better to cry for!" + +"I guess not, sez Con," drawled out the American, the crack of his six- +shooter echoing through the air at the same time that the knife fell to +the deck from the miscreant's hand, which had been neatly perforated by +a bullet. The instant he raised it above his head to strike Frank, Mr +Lathrope catching sight of it, had "drawn a bead on it," as he would +have expressed it, without delay. "No, sirree, I guess not, as long as +old Zach hain't forgot to handle the shootin'-irons!" he continued. "I +fancy, mister, I've spiled your murdering little game; an' now we'll go +in for a rough and tumble, I opine!" + +So saying, the American, not shooting again for fear of wounding Frank, +was down on the main-deck in a jiffey and by the side of the brave young +sailor who was tackling the mutineers so gallantly--Mr Meldrum also +joining in the struggle, first laying down the now nearly lifeless body +of the captain again on the deck, however, and drawing off his coat to +place it under his head so as to raise it up. The trio were shortly +afterwards reinforced by the arrival of Mr McCarthy, panting and out of +breath, with the side of his monkey-jacket half torn off by Major Negus, +who had caught hold of it in trying to prevent his rushing up the +companion ladder on hearing Frank's cry for help, the good lady +imploring him not to leave her to be murdered! + +The first mate's brawny fists, hitting out right and left, did yeoman's +service in the melee that ensued, and so did Mr Lathrope, while Frank +and Mr Meldrum also fought well; but the four were powerless against +Moody's gang, who numbered a round dozen and had, by battening down the +main-hatch, prevented the loyal portion of the crew from coming to their +assistance--when, of course, the tables would have been turned. + +Fortunately, there was no knife used in the fray, beyond the one which +Moody had so unceremoniously dropped, and thus further bloodshed was +prevented; but some hard knocks were given and received, and the party +from the poop did not come off scathless, Mr Lathrope having his rather +long nose somewhat flattened and almost turned to one side by a blow +from the sledge-hammer fist of one of the mutineers. Mr Meldrum had +also been considerably mauled about, and Frank had a splendid black eye. +As for the first mate, who had gone into the very thick of it, he +"hadn't a sound bone in the howl of his body from the crown of his head +to the sole of his fut"--that is, according to his version of it! + +The struggle did not last very long, the opposing forces being so +unequally matched; so, as soon as Frank and his coadjutors had been +borne down by the sheer weight of numbers, their conquerors hustled them +into the corner of the deck under the break of the poop, where the +captain was still lying, throwing them down beside him and telling them +they had better keep quiet now they had had the worst of it, that is if +they valued their lives. It was no empty threat, either; for, the +mutineers emphasised the order by leaving two of their number on guard +over them, with belaying pins in their hands, with which they were told +to "knock them on the head" should they stir or call out--a command +which they looked quite capable of executing. + +The gang then proceeded to drag the long-boat to the opening in the +broken bulwarks on the starboard side of the ship and launch her into +the water, for it was a little smoother there on account of being +inclosed like a sort of lagoon between the vessel and the reef. It was +a ticklish job, for an occasional roller swelled into the boat from +round the stern of the ship; while as the waves that broke over the +forecastle and weather quarter of the _Nancy Bell_ washed through the +vessel, they poured like a cascade from the inclined deck, threatened to +swamp the little raft as she lay tossing uneasily alongside until the +mutineers could complete their arrangements for embarkation. + +There was not much to do, for, thanks to Captain Dinks' precautions, +provisions and small water casks, or barricoes, had already been stowed +in the bows and along the sternsheets of the long-boat; so, after +chucking in one or two articles which they had brought up from below +beforehand on the sly, amongst which was a good-sized barrel of rum, +they proceeded to drop down into the boat one by one, Moody going first +and the others following until the whole number, a round dozen in all, +had got in--the two who had remained as sentries over the poop party +being the last. + +Then the little craft, which appeared loaded down to the gunwales, was +shoved off with a cheer of bravado from the side of the ship, and was +soon lost to the sight of those left behind. The latter, however, +eagerly looked after the boat as it was rapidly borne towards the shore +between the heavy rolling waves that raced after it, until it finally +disappeared in the night gloom. + +"Sure an' it's a good riddance they are!" exclaimed Mr McCarthy, rising +to his feet and shaking out his legs to see how far they were capable of +movement after the mauling he had received. "May joy go wid them!" + +"I hope the hull durned crowd will git swallowed up in Davy Jones' +Locker afore they git ashore, I dew!" said the American fervently, +stroking his nose tenderly and speaking more nasally than ever through +the injury the organ had received. "Of all the tarnation mean skunks I +ever kim across from Maine to California, I guess they're 'bout the +right down slick meanest--not nary a heathen Chinese would ha' done what +they hev! I'd tar and feather them, I would sure, if I hed the chance, +right away!" + +"Never mind them," interposed Mr Meldrum, whose first care after the +mutineers had released him and gone over the side, was to raise up poor +Captain Dinks' head again and feel his pulse. "I have no doubt they +will meet with their proper deserts! Let us see to the captain now. I +think he had better be moved into the cabin, for this night air is doing +him no good; and, besides, we'll there be able to see to his wound +better. However I shall want some assistance." + +"I'll hilp you in a minit, sorr," ejaculated Mr McCarthy, who, as soon +as he had satisfied himself that his limbs were pretty sound, had +devoted his energies to opening the hatchway--"that is as soon as I've +unkivered this limbo and let the other hands come up. Faix, an' if them +divils had not battened it down and Boltrope and the Norwegee could a +got at thim, it's too many for tbim we'd ha' been, I'm thinking!" + +"I didn't see what they were after," said Frank, "or I would have +slipped the cover before they secured it; but I wonder where Mr Adams +is all this time? Surely he must have heard the row! He ought to have +come to our aid." + +"By the powers," exclaimed the first mate, "I niver thought of him till +this blessid minnit! Where, in the name of Moses, can he be? I believe +he wint down and turned into his cot when I did." + +"He ain't jined them copperheads and left us in the lurch, hey?" +inquired the American. "I didn't kinder think it on him, though he wer +sorter quiet and sly-like." + +"No, sorr," replied Mr McCarthy, "Adams is a first-rate seaman and a +good officer too! He would be the last man to join a mutiny. Something +must have happened to him, I'm thinking." + +"I wonder, too," said Mr Meldrum, "that my daughter Kate has not come +up before from the saloon! She must have known that something unusual +was taking place on deck from our calls for help and the report of your +pistol, Mr Lathrope?" + +"I'm durned if I know! I'm all in a tangle, I guess," answered the +American; "but I'll go down and see, mister." + +All this while, Mr McCarthy had been fumbling at the fastenings of the +hatchway, where the remainder of the crew were supposed to be +imprisoned; but when he and Frank Harness, who lent his assistance, had +at last got off the cover by a violent effort, not a soul appeared, +rushing up as they expected, nor was there any response to their +summons--"All hands on deck!" + +What could have become of them all? + +The mysterious silence below was a proof that something unforeseen had +happened! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +NOTICE TO QUIT! + +The mystery, however, was soon solved. + +Hardly had the strange disappearance of the crew from below been +discovered, than the whole of the missing men, with Mr Adams at their +head and Kate Meldrum bringing up the rear, rushed up the companion- +ladder on to the poop with a loud "hurrah," as if with the intention of +taking part in the contest with the band of mutineers:-- their +mortification may be imagined when they found that, as the first mate +expressed it in his happy Irish way, "they were jist in toime to be too +late, sure!" + +But, had the mutineers not so rapidly abandoned the ship, the arrival of +his rescue party on the scene of action would no doubt have tended to +considerably alter the complexion of events; and the credit of +organising the force and bringing the men from such an unexpected +quarter with so great a dramatic effect had to be shared equally between +Miss Kate Meldrum and Snowball, the cook--Mr Adams being only admitted +as a partner in the scheme at the last moment. + +It seems that Snowball, while in the galley about midnight, had heard +Moody talking to two or three of his especial "pals" in the port-watch; +and, thinking from his knowledge of the man that he was up to some +mischief, the darkey had listened--thereby indulging a propensity which +was Master Snowball's weak point, that of being inordinately curious +about other people's business! + +He listened, however, to some purpose on this occasion, for he heard +enough to learn that a large proportion of the crew intended, as soon as +they saw a favourable opportunity, to seize the long-boat--which +contained nearly all the provisions that had been got up from the hold-- +and desert the ship before morning. + +What was their intention in doing this the cook could not guess, but he +imagined that they must have thought that they would perhaps have to +work to save the cargo if they remained on board, whereas if they went +off, as they planned, they would escape all supervision from the +officers and be under their own control. Besides, he knew that Moody +was anxious to pay off the grudge he had against the captain, for he +heard him specially chuckle over the fact that if they took away the +long-boat, the "old man" would never be able to leave the ship with all +the remaining hands and the passengers, and the rest of them would all +thus "sink together, and a good job too," as the bloodthirsty ruffian +said. + +Primed with this news, Snowball at first hardly knew how to make use of +it for the benefit of those the mutineers intended to abandon; for, the +men were all hanging about the galley, where he pretended to be asleep, +and if he attempted to go aft then, where nothing was stirring and when +no one called him there, it would have at once aroused their suspicions +and, probably, precipitated matters. + +Snowball was in a quandary. He could see no way of warning the +unsuspecting captain; and yet, even while he waited, the cowardly gang +who thus purposed to desert their shipmates might carry out their +intention! + +Presently, he heard Captain Dinks tell the mates and starboard watch +that they might go below, and Mr McCarthy and the others went to their +cabins aft while the "star-bowlines" tumbled down the main hatchway, all +glad to have a spell of rest and be out of the bitter cold night wind +which almost seemed to freeze their bones and pierce them through and +through. + +"Its just like the grinding old tyrant," he heard Moody mutter at this +to another of his gang, "to keep us here on deck when there ain't no +need for it!" But Snowball was quick to notice that, when the captain +subsequently called out that all the rest of the hands might turn in if +they liked, save two or three to keep an anchor-watch, not one of them, +in spite of all their grumbling at the hardship of having to stop on +deck previously, now stirred to go below. He also saw Moody and some of +the others, when the captain was not looking at them, stealthily shift +round the bows of the long-boat on to the top of the hatchway, in +addition to battening it down on the quiet, so that those who had gone +below could not easily get up again, and they would thus have things all +in their own hands. + +Moody's gang evidently intended to carry out their nefarious plan; but +how was he to prevent it? + +At last, while the mutineers were watching for their opportunity, he saw +his; and at once took advantage of it. + +During the excitement that ensued when Mr McCarthy rushed on deck, +declaring that the vessel had bilged in to starboard--at which time +Captain Dinks at length gave his tardy order to launch the boats-- +Snowball crept out of the galley; and making his way aft, entered the +saloon. + +He was so frightened and confused, and full of what he had heard, that +he did not know what to do at first, and this had prevented his speaking +to the captain as he should have done; while, when he grew collected +again, there was Frank Harness shouting down the companion and Mr +McCarthy and the American passenger bolting up on to the poop, and no +one to speak to, that he could see, who could do any good. He called +out for the steward, but he had disappeared; and the darkey feared that +his plan for defeating the schemes of the mutineers would turn out +fruitless from his failing to find any one to help him in undertaking +it, when all at once he saw Kate Meldrum, for whom he had a profound +respect on account of her plucky behaviour during the storm and her +kindness to him when he was discovered as a stowaway and so injured in +the hold. + +"Lor, missy," exclaimed he, "help me sabe ship and capting, and all; or +dey all go way and leab us drown on board!" + +"Why, what do you mean?" said Kate, who was pale and excited, for she +could not help hearing Frank's call for assistance; and was just about +proceeding to ascend the companion ladder to see for herself what was +going on and if she could be of any aid, when Snowball thus ran against +her. "What is the matter on deck; and why do you come here?" + +"Dat debbel Bill Moody, an' all him gang in port watch, say dey is goin' +murder capting and go way in long-boat, and leab us drown on board!" + +"But won't the other men prevent them?" asked Kate anxiously. + +"Dey can't, missy! Dey is down in main-hold; an' Moody shut um under +hatchway so dat dey can't get up." + +Just then the report of Mr Lathrope's revolver sounded above, and Kate +almost screamed; but she controlled herself by a strong effort. + +"And what can you or I do to help the captain and the others?" she said +as calmly as she could, longing all the while to go above, although her +presence there would be useless. + +"Dat jus why I come here," replied Snowball eagerly. "We can get down +steerage, whar I'se stow away dat time--I knows de place well--clear way +traps in de way, and knock down bulkhead; starboard watch come troo de +openin' and up on poop; den Moody's gang knock all of a heap, catch it +hot, missy! But, really, poah Snowball not able do it all alone down +dere!" + +Such were the darkey's spasmodic utterances, as they came out in gasps, +amidst the sound of the struggle going on on the main-deck and the +hoarse cries of those engaged, which could be plainly heard in the +cuddy. Kate at once comprehended the situation. + +"I see," said she, as eagerly now as Snowball. "There's Mr Adams in +his cabin asleep. He was so worn out, I suppose, that he couldn't hear +Frank--I mean," she corrected herself blushing unconsciously--"Mr +Harness call! Rouse him up at once, and I'll get a light for you to go +below." + +The darkey did as she told him, although he found it a difficult task to +awaken the second mate, who was so fast asleep that he had to be pulled +out of his cot before he opened his eyes. + +He was already dressed, however, and would have rushed up on deck the +moment Kate told him what had occurred had she not laid her hand on his +arm and prevented him, pointing out how much better Snowball's plan +would result in bringing material assistance to the little party who +were still struggling with the mutineers, and fighting desperately, as +they could hear. + +"Do be quick and go down at once," she pleaded. "A moment's delay may +sacrifice a valuable life; and then, it will be all your fault!" + +So urged, Mr Adams consented against his will almost; and, following +Snowball down into the after hold with the lantern Kate had procured +from the steward's pantry, which she found tenantless, Llewellyn having +mysteriously vanished out of the saloon, the two proceeded as rapidly as +they could to work their way through the packing-cases and casks that +were stowed right under the cuddy floor, towards the bulkhead that +divided this portion of the ship from the main hold. + +Arrived here, Snowball soon recognised the advantage of having Mr Adams +along with him; for, in addition to the fact that the second mate, as is +usual in merchant vessels, knew where each and every article of the +cargo was stowed, he also was acquainted with the circumstance of there +being a sliding door in the bulkhead, which the darkey was unaware of +and had thought they would have to break it down, which would have been +a rather long job. + +Consequently, in far less time than either he or Kate had imagined, the +imprisoned crew, who had been long aroused by the trampling on deck and +the noise of the struggle immediately over their heads, and had been +knocking madly at the hatchway cover and trying vainly to lift it up, +were released. Eager for the fray, from which they had so long been +debarred from taking part, they rushed up through the cuddy and up the +companion to the poop, prepared to take summary vengeance on those who +had incarcerated them but with what result has been already described. + +While Kate was giving this explanation to her father of the course of +events below and how the affair was planned--Frank Harness listening to +her the while with glistening eyes, and squeezing her hand furtively as +he pressed to her side--it was amusing to watch the demeanour of the +darkey cook. + +His mouth was spread open from ear to ear in one huge grin at the +recital of his well-planned scheme for the defeat of the mutineers' +machinations and release of the imprisoned crew. His chest expanded, +too, with pride at the praise bestowed on him for his pluck and +perspicacity; and when, finally, Ben Boltrope, who, of course, with Karl +Ericksen, had remained loyal and been locked down below with the rest of +the starboard watch, proposed "three cheers for Snowball," the cook +could contain himself no longer, but burst into a loud guffaw, thus +taking a prominent part in the demonstration in his own honour. + +In the meantime nobody had been idle. + +Poor Captain Dinks had been carefully lifted into the saloon, where, on +removing his clothes, it was discovered that Moody's stab, although +inflicting a dangerous cut across the chest, had touched no vital part, +the sufferer's exhaustion proceeding more from loss of blood than from +any imminent risk. He was therefore placed in his own cot and the wound +strapped up, after which he sank into a feverish sleep, with Kate +watching by his side. + +Mr Meldrum, who had been urgently asked by Mr McCarthy and Adams to +take command of the ship while the captain was incapacitated, a request +that the crew heartily endorsed and which Captain Dinks himself +confirmed as soon as he recovered consciousness proceeded in the interim +to devise the best means he could for saving all on board; and, in the +first place, he ordered the men to renew the lashings of the jolly-boat. +This was their sole remaining means of escape, and was now in danger of +being washed overboard by the heavy seas that were breaking over the +ship in cataracts of foam. + +Immediately the mutineers had got away in the long-boat it had come on +to blow harder; and, shortly after they were out of sight in the haze +that hung over the land, a tremendous squall had swept over the water in +the direction they were last seen, the billows mounting so high as they +raced by the stranded vessel that it was very problematical whether the +boat would ever reach the shore. Mr Meldrum could not help observing +that those left on board had much greater chance of saving their lives, +in spite of the waves breaking over the ship, which trembled through her +frame with the repeated shocks she was subjected to as she was jolted on +the rocks as if coming to pieces every minute. + +"The poor captain was right after all," said he to Mr McCarthy. "Those +scamps in the long-boat had better have waited till morning, as he said. +I don't think they'll ever get to land." + +"Nor I, sorr," replied the first mate; "but it sarves them right, bad +cess to 'em!" + +"Well," said the other, "if they have gone down, they've gone with all +their sins on their heads, for they certainly believed that they left us +to perish, and did so purposely, too!" + +"Jist so, the murtherin' villins!" ejaculated Mr McCarthy. + +Mr Lathrope at that moment came up from the cuddy. + +"Whar's that sanctimonious cuss of a steward!" inquired he. "I've +shouted clean through the hull ship, and I'm durned ef I ken find him to +git some grub; for I feels kinder peckish arter that there muss. I +guess the critter has sloped with them t'other skunks!" + +"We'll muster the hands and see," said Mr Meldrum. + +This was soon done; but the steward did not answer to his name--nor +could he be found anywhere on board, although parties of the men hunted +through every portion of the ship fore and aft for him. + +"Snakes and alligators, mister," said the American, "I guess it's jest +as I sed, and the slippery coon has skedaddled with the rest of the +varmint!" + +"Perhaps so," answered Mr Meldrum; "but I think it far more probable +that he has accidentally tumbled over the side!" In this belief, it may +be added, the stewardess shared, bewailing her loss accordingly, +although she was not quite so much overwhelmed with sorrow as might have +been imagined to be proper on the loss of a helpmate by those +unacquainted with the domestic relations of the pair. + +In addition to securing the safety of the jolly-boat, Mr Meldrum +ordered preparations to be made for constructing a large raft, upon +which an additional stock of provisions, which were brought up from +below to replace those taken away by the mutineers in the long-boat, +were stowed; but no attempt was made as yet to leave the ship, all +hoping that the sea would go down as the tide fell, besides which, they +thought that when daylight came they would be able, as Captain Dinks had +told them, to "see their way better." + +And so they waited in hope till morning should come. + +Just before four bells, however, and when the faint light of day was +beginning to streak the eastern sky, bringing out in relief the snow- +white peaks of some mountains on the mainland, which were a little +distance to the left of where the vessel was lying on the reef, a larger +wave than any of the rollers that had yet assailed her struck the ship +right amidships; and the timbers dividing under the strain, the poor old +_Nancy Bell_ broke in two. Still, the two sections of the hull did not +immediately separate, the seas apparently losing their force and +reserving their powers after delivering such a telling blow. + +"I guess, mister," said Mr Lathrope, who took the catastrophe as coolly +as he did every other incident of his life apparently, "this air smash +is a kinder sort o' notice to quit, hey?" + +But Mr Meldrum made no reply. He saw that the end was coming. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +GETTING ASHORE. + +Fortunately, the jolly-boat had been safely secured abaft the main +hatchway, the very point at which the ship parted amidships; and, being +lashed to ring-bolts athwart the deck, close to the break of the poop, +the little craft remained uninjured in the general rending of timbers +and splintering of planks that ensued when the beams gave way under the +strain upon them. The poor _Nancy Bell_, indeed, seemed to fall to +pieces in a moment; for, as soon as the keel broke in two and the lower +works of the vessel began to separate, the hold opened out like a +yawning gulf, dividing the bows and foremost sections from the stern by +a wide gap. Through this the sea made a clean breach, washing out the +cargo--the waves bearing away such articles as were floatable to +leeward, whilst the heavier portion of the freight, after being tossed +about and battered out of shape, quickly sank down to the bottom out of +sight. + +Some of the men had been on the forecastle immediately before this +happened; but roused by Mr Meldrum's cry of warning they had just time +to escape the inrush of the sea and scramble aft to where the others +were grouped together on the poop, which was now considerably elevated +above the level of the water, the stern having been gradually forced up +more on the rocks as the fore part sank down, until it was now nearly +high and dry. This circumstance enabled all hands to proceed all the +more expeditiously with the construction of the raft that had been +already commenced, and which they had luckily begun here, instead of on +the main-deck that had just been broken up, where they would have lashed +it together but for the accidental fact of the mizzen jury-mast forming +the base of the raft, and their being unable to drag it forward before +the keel of the vessel began to give way. The extra quantity of +provisions, too, which had been got out of the hold had also remained on +the poop; and thus everything providentially was in their favour. + +Certainly, their chances of escape now seemed more hopeful! + +No time, however, was to be lost; for, although their haven of refuge, +the stern section of the ship, was high up on the reef and almost out of +reach of the remorseless waves that had already done such damage, still +there was no knowing what another tide would effect if the wind should +again get up. It behoved them all therefore to take advantage of the +opportunity afforded them and make their preparations for getting ashore +before it should be too late. Thus urged, the seamen, working with a +will under the supervision of Mr McCarthy and Adams, had completed a +substantial raft by eight o'clock, at which hour a spell was cried and +all hands piped to breakfast. + +Meanwhile, the morning had advanced; and the sky being pretty free from +clouds, Mr Meldrum was able to obtain a good view of the land that +surrounded the bay in which the _Nancy Bell_ had come to grief. + +The ship had, evidently, not merely been carried to leeward of the cape +by the strong current before striking, but had also been taken some +distance inshore as well; for the reef on which she was lying seemed +more than two miles to the eastward of the projecting point which she +had so much difficulty in rounding, close in to a range of rock-bound +coast similar to that which they had passed to the northward and +extending almost due east for from eight to ten miles--as nearly as Mr +Meldrum could judge--the line of the shore then trending off to the +south-west at an acute angle, as far as the eye could reach. High above +this latter stretch of coast rose a series of snow-crowned hills, +arranged in terraces the one above another, gradually increasing in +height until their peaks culminated in one that towered far beyond all, +like a giant amongst pigmies; while, to the right of this mountain, and +apparently much nearer, on a spur of the chain projecting into the sea +nearly south of the vessel's position, was one solitary peak, which +occasionally emitted thin columns of smoke and which, from the fact of +its summit being denuded of snow, most likely marked the site of some +volcanic crater in active operation. + +Altogether, the prospect was sad and dispiriting in the extreme, for, +nothing was to be seen in the immediate foreground but the bare black +basaltic cliffs, against whose base the angry billows broke in endless +repetition, throwing up clouds of spray and tracing out their +indentations with lines of creamy foam; and, beyond the cliffs, were +high table-lands and hills all clad in the spectral garb of winter--with +never a tree or a single prominent feature to vary the monotony of the +landscape! + +"We must endeavour to make for that curve in the bay to the north-east, +where the shore breaks off and leads southward," said Mr Meldrum to the +first mate, who, having seen the raft completed, had now come to his +side for further instructions. "It is only there, as far as I can see, +that there is likely to be any sort of harbour where we can land in +safety." + +"Be jabers, I can't say, sorr," returned McCarthy; "sure an' it's +yoursilf that knows bist. I belave, however, it'll be the wisest +coorse; for the divil a harbour can anyone say ilsewhere; and, by the +same token, sorr, the current is setting shoreward in that very +direction. Look at thim planks there, sorr, sure an' if that's the case +it'll hilp the rhaft along foinely!" + +"You're right," said Mr Meldrum, glancing in the direction to which Mr +McCarthy pointed, where some of the broken timbers of the ship, after +being carried away to leeward, were now steadily drifting past her +again--although now in an easterly direction and in a parallel line with +the cliffs to the left. "The sooner, too, that we take advantage of +that same current the better, as it will be hard work for the jolly-boat +to have to tow us all the way. Let us see about getting the raft over +the side at once, Mr McCarthy. The sea is much calmer now, and I think +we'll be able to launch and load it without much difficulty. The jolly- +boat won't give us half the trouble to float that the raft will, for the +deck forms an inclined plane with the water and we can run her in when +we please." + +"Aye, aye, sorr," answered Mr McCarthy, and breakfast being now +finished--a cold one for all parties, Snowball and his galley having +parted company, and the waves now rolling between the two sections of +the ship--the tough job of floating the raft alongside was proceeded +with; purchases being rigged so as to lower it down easily, and prevent +it afterwards from breaking away when it had reached the surface of the +sea, which was still rough and boisterous. + +The weather keeping calm and bright, and the wind lulling instead of +increasing in force as the sun rose in the heavens, the task was at +length satisfactorily accomplished. + +It was not done, however, until after two hours of continuous labour, in +which all hands were engaged, even Mr Lathrope assisting as well as his +still injured arm would permit. By six bells in the forenoon watch, +too, the jolly-boat had also been lowered into the water safely. Now, +nothing remained but to get the provisions and whatever else they could +carry that was necessary on board; for, Mr Meldrum sternly negatived +any attempt at taking private property, thereby incurring Mrs Major +Negus's enmity, for he refused passage to three large trunks of hers +which she had declared were absolutely indispensable, but which, on +being opened, were found to contain only a lot of tawdry finery which +might possibly have helped to astonish the natives of Waikatoo, but was +perfectly useless, even to herself, on the inhospitable shores where the +passengers of the _Nancy Bell_ were about to seek refuge from the +sinking ship. + +Kate Meldrum was far more sensible, taking only those articles of warm +clothing which her father recommended for the use of herself and Florry; +and, indeed, leaving behind many things that he would probably have +permitted as necessaries, in order that she should not overburthen the +raft with what would not be serviceable to all. Unlike the "Major," +Kate thought that it would be selfish on her part merely to consider her +own and her sister's wants! + +As for Mr Zachariah Lathrope, his luggage consisted chiefly of an old +fur cloak, in addition to the clothes he stood up in, besides his +inseparable "six shooter" and a rifle--which latter he stated had been +given to his grandfather by the celebrated Colonel Crockett of "coon" +notoriety, and was "a powerful shootin' iron." The rest of the men folk +took with them almost as little; but Mr Meldrum did not forget charts +and nautical instruments, besides a compass and the ship's log-book and +papers. These latter he removed from Captain Dinks' cabin, at his +especial request, that, should he ever see England again, he might be +able to give a circumstantial account as to how the vessel was lost, and +satisfy both his owners and Lloyd's. + +In reference to the general provisioning of the raft, it may be briefly +mentioned that all the bread and flour that had not been washed out of +the after-hold had been collected, in addition to several casks of salt +beef and pork, and such of the tinned meats and other cabin stores that +had not been stowed in the long-boat--for the benefit, as it +subsequently turned out, of the mutineers. + +Some casks of water were also embarked; but not many, for, in the event +of a fresh supply not being found on landing they could easily melt down +the snow and thus manufacture what they required from time to time. + +While considering the important question of a proper supply of food, the +pertinent fact was not lost sight of, that they would be exposed to a +climate of almost arctic severity for, probably, many months to come; +and, consequently all the blankets in the ship were collected and put on +board the raft, besides spare bedding and some hammocks. Snowball also, +true to his culinary calling, took care to secure his cooking utensils, +clambering back into the dilapidated forecastle for the purpose, almost +at the peril of his life--the darkey subsequently bewailing much his +inability to remove the ship's coppers, which were too firmly fixed in +the galley for him to detach them from that structure. + +Finally, one or two small spars and sails were added to the general pile +of heterogeneous articles that had been heaped up in the centre of the +raft, whose buoyancy had been much increased, since it was first made +and launched overboard, by the accidental discovery in the steerage of +some empty puncheons, which were carefully bunged-up so that no water +could get into them and lashed underneath the floating platform; the +catalogue of stores being then completed by heaving on the heap all the +cordage that could be got at and cut away, in addition to some blocks +and a few odds and ends--the tarpaulin from off the broken cabin +skylight, which was certain to be of the greatest use, being, like other +equally serviceable articles, only thought of at the last moment. + +By the time all these things were stowed on board, and the raft immersed +as deeply as it was considered advisable with safety--as few things as +possible being put in the jolly-boat, which was kept light in order that +she might be more usefully employed in towing the other--it was close on +twelve o'clock. + +This was the hour Mr Meldrum had fixed for abandoning the ship, as then +the tide would be at the half flood, and they would be able to utilise +not only that but the current as well, which would about that time set +inshore--at least, judging by its influence on the previous day in +carrying the _Nancy Bell_ in that direction of the reef. By these +various means Mr Meldrum thought the raft might be floated onward +towards the curve in the coast-line which he had pointed out to the +first mate as a probable place where they might expect to discover some +small bay or harbour to land at. + +Besides this, Mr Meldrum believed that by starting on the half tide, in +the event of the stream turning before they were able to reach an +available beach in some sheltered cave--for the current which he had +noticed took a southerly direction with the ebb--the retiring tide could +not possibly drift them out to sea. At the very worst, it would only +sweep the raft down the coast in the direction of the volcanic peak that +had been observed to cap the spur of the mountain chain which stretched +out right into the water at an angle with the land; and, here, there was +every probability of their finally finding an opening in the breastwork +of adamantine rocks that ranged along the coast-line as if to prevent +any intrusive strangers like themselves from getting on shore! + +Before Mr Meldrum gave the order for embarkation, however, he had one +last duty to perform on board the _Nancy Bell_. + +It was just noon; and, the sun being for a wonder unobscured, he +determined to take a final observation to fix their position, or rather +that of the reef on which the ill-fated vessel was doomed to leave her +bones. This was an eventuality which evidently could not take long in +its accomplishment, for the forward portion of the ship was being +rapidly broken to pieces, and it would not be any great time before the +stern followed suit, some of the cabin furniture below having already +been shaken down, while the poop did not offer a very firm foothold, +trembling every now and then from the washing in and out of the waves +below, as if, the poor thing were seized with a submarine ague fit! + +After a brief calculation, as briefly worked out, Mr Meldrum found that +the ridge of rocks, which bore north-west by south-east, was in +longitude 68 degrees 45 minutes east, and latitude 49 degrees 16 minutes +south. These facts indisputably settled the point of their being to the +southwards of Cape Saint Louis, put down on the chart as the westernmost +point of Kerguelen Land, and that the highest of the snow-covered +mountain peaks to the south-east was Mount Ross. The information, he +thought, might possibly be of much assistance to them hereafter in +directing their course, should such a step become necessary, to those +better known portions of the island on the eastern side which whalers +and seal-hunting craft were reported to be in the habit of frequenting +during the short summer season of that dreary region. This period, +however, would not come round for the next three or four months, as it +was now only the first week in August, the midwinter of antarctic +climes. + +The last observation made, and the ship's ensign hoisted, upside down, +on the stump of the mizzen-mast--not so much for the very unlikely +chance of any passing vessel observing it, as from the special request +of Mr McCarthy, that, as he expressed it, the poor _Nancy Bell_ should +"have a dacent burial"--Mr Meldrum at length gave the word for all +hands to embark, an operation which occupied even less time than that of +his "taking the sun." + +First, in due order of precedence, the ladies were lowered down in a +chair by a whip from a boom rigged out over the stern right on to the +raft, where a comfortable place had been arranged in the centre and +barricaded round with chests and barrels. Next, Captain Dinks was +lowered down in his cot, which had been removed bodily from its slings +in his cabin below, so that he might be shifted without disturbing him; +then, Mary Llewellyn, the now husbandless stewardess, followed suit; +and, after her, Mr Lathrope and the children. Eight of the remaining +sixteen men of the crew were then directed to take their places around +the ladies' inclosure, along with Mr Adams and Frank Harness, while the +other eight hands, under the command of Mr McCarthy, were told off to +the jolly-boat, which was provided with double-banked oars and attached +to the raft by a stout tow-rope--it being the intention of Mr Meldrum, +who remained on the raft as deputy commander-in-chief of the whole party +in poor Captain Dinks' place, to relieve the rowers every alternate +hour, so that all should have an equal share in the arduous task of +towing, a job which would tax all their strength. + +Everything being ready, the signal was given to start, when, away went +the jolly-boat, smartly at first, but more slowly afterwards as soon as +the strain of the tow-rope was felt, moving gradually from the wreck of +the old ship, and tugging after her the unwieldy raft, which seemed +somewhat loath to go. But, not an exclamation was uttered, not a word +spoken, as the survivors of the wreck glided off through the water +towards the shore, leaving behind them the wave-scarred craft that had +so long been their ocean home. + +It was like a funeral procession. + +The thoughts of all were too deep for words. + +Even the children were awed into silence by the seriousness of their +elders;--a seriousness that was as much owing to the uncertainty of +their own fate as to their regret at parting the last link that bound +them to their English home and civilisation, from which they seemed to +have been cut adrift for ever in casting off from the poor, old, ill- +fated _Nancy Bell_! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +DESOLATION ISLAND. + +Kate Meldrum was the first to break the melancholy silence that reigned +as they rowed away from the old ship, all looking back sadly at her +battered hull, whose crippled condition could now be better seen--the +bows all rent and torn by the violence of the waves, the gaping sides, +the gutted hold washed out by the water, and the sea around covered with +pieces of shattered planking from the 'tween-decks, besides the curved +knees and other larger parts of the timber work, that had been wrenched +off during the vessel's battle with the elements, and numbers of +packing-cases and empty casks and barrels that were floating about, the +flotsam and jetsam of the cargo. + +"Papa," said she, speaking low in order that none of the others could +hear her, "did you see anything of the long-boat, or of the men who went +away in her, when you were looking round the coast this morning--I +forgot to ask you before." + +"No, my dear," he answered. "There was not a trace of them, as far as I +could see with the glass; either along the shore in the direction in +which we are going now, or down to the southwards off there to the +right!" + +"Do you think they have landed in safety, papa?" + +"Hardly, Kate. There was a terrible squall which came on shortly after +they deserted us, and I believe they must have gone down in it. But, +why do you ask the question, my dear? I don't suppose you have much +sympathy with the treacherous scoundrels!" + +"No, papa," said she; "but I thought that if we got on shore at the same +place that they did there might be a quarrel, or that something dreadful +would happen; and I'm sure we had enough of horrors on board the poor +old ship!" and Kate shuddered, as she spoke, at the recollection. + +"You need not be afraid of that, my dear," replied her father kindly. +"If the mutineers have managed to run in the boat anywhere during the +frightful sea that was on at the time they deserted us, it must have +been miles away from any spot near here, for the wind was blowing in +quite the contrary direction. Besides, my child, only a few could have +saved their lives; so that, in case we should ever come across them, +they would be quite powerless against the strong force we have now to +oppose them, in the very impossible event of their trying to molest us. +I hope, however, that we may not meet." + +"Isn't it shocking," observed Kate presently, as if reflecting over what +had happened, "to think that, companions in misfortune as we are, we +should be so anxious now to avoid them!" + +"Yes," replied her father; "but the fact only exhibits a common phase of +human nature, and thus affords but another proof of the inherent +selfishness of the animal man. Wickedness, my child, ever begets +wickedness!" Mr Meldrum then lapsed again into silence. + +The raft proceeded but very slowly, in spite of the exertions of the +towing party in the jolly-boat. This was on account of the current and +the tideway neutralising each other, instead of being both in their +favour, as Mr Meldrum had expected; so, in order to fight against the +drawback, he ordered Ben Boltrope to get up a sail on one of the +studding-sail booms which was rigged as a yard across the mizzen +topgallant mast that had been stepped in the centre of the platform. +However, the wind was so light from their low elevation in the water, +that the influence of this new motive power was only faintly +perceptible, the shore seeming almost quite as far off after an hour's +hard rowing as before, and the ship equally near. + +This would never do. + +At such a rate of progress, nightfall would probably still find them +afloat in the centre of the bay, in danger, should the sea again get up, +of being dashed to pieces against the precipitous cliffs to the left; +while, in the event of their escaping that peril, the raft might run on +to some hidden shoal or reef down southwards in the darkness, or else be +swept out into the offing, where they would be the sport of the waves, +and could never hope to reach the land again. + +They had hitherto been keeping well out from the adjacent coast, by +reason of their seeing its inhospitable look, and the scanty chance +there was of their effecting a landing there. This fact, indeed, was +self-evident, for they could see the surf breaking in one continuous +line, as far as the eye could reach, against the steep rocky face of the +cliff. Besides, Mr Meldrum had thought it the best plan to take the +shortest course towards the curve he had selected, where the southern +shore branched off at an angle with the eastern one, in the hope of +there being some sort of a beach in that vicinity. Now, however, he +determined to try another way of gaining his end; and that was by going +"the longest way round." + +"Pull in to the left," he sang out to Mr McCarthy, "and let us see how +the current will then affect us. I fancy we'll feel it all the more as +we get inshore." + +"Aye, aye, sorr," replied the first mate, directing the head of the +jolly-boat right towards the face of the frowning cliff nearest to them; +but still, for some time, there was no increase in their rate of speed, +the short chopping waves that formed the backwater of the surges, which +had already expended their strength on the rocky rampart of the coast, +militating against any slight advantage they gained by the current +taking them along with it. + +At last, however, after three hours' hard work, and when the fourth +relay of men had just begun to handle the oars in the jolly-boat, the +raft appeared all at once to move along more briskly and smoothly, +while, at the same time, the sea grew calmer. + +Things looked promising. + +They had approached close inshore to the rocky wall of the cliff; and, +if it had seemed formidable at a distance, it looked ten times more +imposing now that only a few hundred yards of sea divided them from it. +Its bold precipitous face appeared to ascend right up into the clouds, +while the counterscarp, or base, seemed to dive abruptly into the deep +without a slope. It was really just like a gigantic iron wall, straight +up and down and quite even in contour, without a fissure or break as far +as could be seen; and the surf made such a thundering din as it dashed +fretfully against the lower part of the cliff, that it was almost +impossible for the shipwrecked voyagers to hear each other speak. + +Indeed, the whole scene could not but force their imagination to picture +what might be their fate should a storm arise just then and give them +over into the power of the billows. These were only in play now, so to +speak; but if their demeanour changed to one of dreadful earnest, the +mad waves would easily toss them as high and as savagely as they did the +yeasty fragments of spindrift, which circled up into the air like +snowflakes--flung off from the tops of the breakers after each +unsuccessful onslaught on the rocky barrier that balked their endeavours +to annihilate it. + +However, there was little fear of such a catastrophe at present. Thanks +to the aid of the current, combined with the towing powers of the jolly- +boat's crew--the sail having been found useless in the little wind there +was and lowered again--the raft was proceeding steadily along at the +rate of some three miles an hour; keeping all the while at a safe +distance from the cliffs, in order to avoid any undertow, and rapidly +losing the hull of the _Nancy Bell_--albeit, the flag of the ship could +yet be seen distinctly far away astern to seaward, fluttering in the +slight breeze that expanded its folds. + +Each moment, too, the coast on the starboard hand rose up nearer and +nearer, closing in sharply with that to port, thus showing that they +were approaching the embouchure which Mr Meldrum had marked out. Soon, +a little more exertion on the part of the rowers would decide whether +the naval officer had judged rightly or wrongly as to there being a bay +there--a veritable "harbour of refuge" it would be for them. + +"I guess, mister," said Mr Lathrope, who had been for some time quieter +than usual, "that air animile ain't far off its roosting peg; and whar +he lands I kalkerlate we can dew too." + +As he spoke, the American pointed out a species of black shag or +cormorant, which had evidently been on a fishing expedition and was +returning home with the fruits of his spoil in his bill for the +delectation of the home circle. + +"You are very likely right," said Mr Meldrum. "That sort of sea-fowl +generally selects a flat shore for its habitat, in preference to high +places--just as the penguins do, so that they may the sooner tumble into +the water when desirous of taking to that element. I would not be +surprised to find a landing-place as soon as we round that further point +of the cliff, where the line of surf seems to end. Stretch out with +those oars, men," he added, speaking in a louder tone to those in the +jolly-boat. "One more long pull altogether and we'll be able to get +ashore." + +"Aye, aye, sorr; go it, my hearties," sang out Mr McCarthy; and, the +hands, giving a responsive cheer and putting their backs into each +stroke, made the boat race along--dragging the raft behind it at a speed +that caused it to rock from side to side, and slightly startle the +ladies, while the boat, too, shipped a little water that came in over +the bows as it dipped forward from the jerk of the tow-rope. + +At length the limit of the cliff line was reached. It terminated as +abruptly as it rose from the water; for, when the boat had pulled past +the last of the breakers, a long narrow fiord or inlet of the sea opened +before the eager eyes of the castaways, stretching far inland and +bordered on each side by shelving slopes of hills that from their shape +must have been composed of the same basaltic rock as that of the cliffs, +although now completely covered with snow. A sight that pleased them +more, however, was a broad beach of black sand--extending up to the +slope of the higher land--on which they could ground the raft in safety. +It was the very thing they sought! + +"Hooray boys!" exclaimed the first mate, taking off his cap and waving +it round his head in excitement. "Sure an' we've rached the land at +last!" + +A shout of joy came from all, in sympathetic response. + +A few strokes more, and the jolly-boat had touched the shore; when, the +men jumping out, and those on the raft following suit, although the +water was icy cold and almost up to their arm-pits, the raft was quickly +hauled up close to the beach and everybody scrambled on shore. Even +Mrs Major Negus was so delighted to stand once more on _terra firma_ +that she did not mind getting her feet wet for once, and was almost one +of the first to jump off the raft. + +"Thank God!" exclaimed Mr Meldrum as he stood up in the centre of the +group, taking off his hat reverently in acknowledgment of the divine +mercy of that watchful providence which had guided them safely through +all the perils of the deep and now permitted them to land without harm-- +the untaught seamen around him appearing to sympathise with his +heartfelt thanksgiving as they, too, bowed their heads in silence; while +Kate fell upon her knees also in an ecstasy of gratitude to Him who +ruled the wind and waves and had protected them to the last! + +Then, all began to look about them. However, as they surveyed the +strange scene, they found to their surprise that they were not the only +inhabitants of "Desolation Island," as Captain Cook so aptly named, when +he first saw the place, the land which had been previously discovered by +Monsieur de Kerguelen. + +From the beach, the land rose up on both sides of the fiord in a gentle +slope to the hills above, which latter were broken away in some places, +forming flat level tables of basaltic debris that had tumbled from the +tops of the cliffs; and, these stretches of table-land being under the +lee of the hills, were sheltered from the snow that otherwise covered +every place in sight, valley and mountain peak alike. + +On these tables of bare black ground, numerous colonies of penguins had +established themselves--the tenants already in possession of the island, +to prove that it was not altogether deserted. + +The birds were standing about in crowds in the queerest and most +ungainly attitudes in the world, croaking and barking, according to +their usual wont, at the unexpected visitors who had so unceremoniously +come to disturb the quietude of their island home. They looked +excessively funny, waddling about awkwardly on their short legs and +flapping their wings as if grumbling at the intrusion, much resembling a +lot of little dumpy old women with grey tippets on; and Maurice Negus +and Florry Meldrum went into fits of laughter at their appearance. + +The penguins were not very busy at that time of year evidently. + +They were simply idling about the beach and "loafing," as if they had +nothing particular to do but gossip with each other as to what meant the +outlandish creatures, who had invaded their territory. Occasionally, +two or three would proceed out together to fish in the quiet waters of +the creek, and these would pass another party coming back from the same +errand, when they would croak a greeting; but the majority did nothing +but strut about from one position to another in order to stare the +better at the intruders--an inspection which, it need hardly be told, +the latter returned with an equal interest. + +However, the survivors from the _Nancy Bell_ had a good deal to do +besides watching the penguins, for it was now late in the afternoon and +growing dark, with the wind rising again. A few premonitory scattered +flakes of snow, too, that fell flutteringly down in a half hesitating +way every now and then, pointed out what the weather might be expected +to be bye and bye and reminded them that it would be just as well for +them to be under shelter of some sort before night came on to interrupt +their labours. + +A word from Mr Meldrum was sufficient, the first mate then giving the +necessary orders for setting the whole party to work. + +"All hands shift cargo!" he cried, stepping back upon the raft; when, +the men following him, he divided them into two gangs, the first of whom +he directed to carry out Mr Meldrum's instructions under Frank Harness, +while the second remained with him to remove the stores on to the beach, +where Mr Adams supervised their landing. But, before anything else was +done, the cot containing poor Captain Dinks--the only one who had not as +yet been ashore--was carefully lifted up from the raft and transported +to a spot high up from the water and shielded by a spur of the hills on +the right from the winds. This Mr Meldrum had selected as a favourable +place for their camp, and Snowball was already engaged there in building +up a fire with some wood that he had fortunately brought from the +wreck--for not a scrap of brush or twig, or the sign of any tree, could +be seen in the neighbourhood of the fiord, nor a single bit of drift on +the beach! + +The stores being all landed and piled up on the shore some little +distance beyond high-water mark, Mr McCarthy's portion of the crew then +proceeded to take the raft to pieces and carry up the timbers of which +it was composed likewise to a place of safety, for fear lest the waves +should bear them away in the night-time when the tide again came in; +besides which, the material was wanted for other purposes--as Mr +Meldrum had foreseen when causing the raft to be constructed--although +it was now too late in the day to utilise it to that end, for, even +while they were landing the things, the evening had closed in and it was +nearly dark. + +Meanwhile, the second body of men, working under Frank Harness's +direction and Mr Meldrum's personal supervision, were equally +industrious. + +The site for the camp having been chosen, a couple of the largest spars +that had been brought ashore on the raft were erected as uprights, some +twenty feet apart, close under the scarp of the cliff; and a block and +running tackle having been previously attached to the top of each of +these, a third spar was hoisted up and lashed across them at right +angles. After this, a spare top-sail, which had been brought with them +in the jolly-boat, was pulled over the framework; and, the ends of this +being tied down by the reef points to stout pegs driven in the ground, +the structure formed a good sized tent which would do well for temporary +accommodation for a night or two. Of course, something more substantial +would be required if the shipwrecked people were forced to remain long +on the island--which, indeed, seemed more than probable, considering the +time of year, and the faint hope of their rescue by any whaling vessel +before the month of November. + +"I guess it air prime," said Mr Lathrope, looking at the tent with much +satisfaction as he walked round it. He evidently took considerable +pride in the construction, in which, indeed, he had some share, his +experience "out west" having been of great use in suggesting the shape +and location of the shelter. + +"Yes," replied Mr Meldrum, who was still busy at work on the details. +"I think it will do till we can rig up something better." + +"Wa-ll, all you've got to do neow, I guess," said the other, "is to +stretch a rope across the hull consarn, and fix up a blanket or two to +screen off the femmels from the menfolk; and the thing's done slick and +handsome." + +"Right!" responded Mr Meldrum, taking his advice and dividing the tent +across into two portions, one of which was reserved for the ladies; +when, the spare bedding and blankets having been brought up from the +raft, the improvised apartments were made to look as comfortable as +circumstances permitted. Really, the interior, on being lighted up by +the ship's lanterns, which had not been forgotten, appeared quite cosy, +especially when Snowball's fire, which was now burning up briskly from +the chips shovelled on to it, could be seen sparkling and leaping up in +spurts of flame through the open flap that had been left to serve for a +doorway. + +"And now, I kalkerlate, it's time for grub," said the American when the +tent was finished and the ladies' comfort provided for--Captain Dinks, +still in his cot, being ensconced in a warm corner--"I hope that blessed +darkey has got something good, for I feel powerful holler, I dew!" + +He need not, however, have been in any doubt as to Snowball's capacity. +That worthy allowed nothing to interfere with the exercise of his +culinary skill; so, when the first mate by Mr Meldrum's directions had +"piped down" all hands, he had ready a repast which appeared to the +hungry castaways more like a splendid banquet than an improvised meal, +and one as well cooked as if Snowball had all the facilities of the +galley on shipboard to prepare it. His chief dish was a well-seasoned +"Irish stew," compounded of salt beef and preserved vegetables, which +seemed on that cold evening a perfect _chef-d'oeuvre_, and would, as Mr +Lathrope "guessed" after a third helping, have "made a man leave his +grandmother for his wife's mother's aunt, any day!" + +Soon after the meal was finished, night came on, when the snow began to +fall heavily and the wind to blow piercingly from the north'ard and +westward, just as it had done the evening before when the poor _Nancy +Bell_ was struggling round Cape Saint Louis and rushing on to her doom; +but the castaways happily were now sheltered from the inclemencies of +the weather, and as they one and all nestled into their blankets as soon +as bedtime came;--man and woman, Jack tar and landsman alike!--thanked +God fervently that they were now no longer on board ship. + +Towards morning, a slight alarm was created by some of the melted snow +finding its way down upon the sleepers through the sail that served for +the roofing of their tent; but this was soon remedied by lashing over it +the old tarpaulin from off the cabin skylight, which, it may be +recollected, was only thought of at the last moment, although such a +useful article. The leak in the roof stopped, all turned to sleep again +with the greater zest, enjoying such a night's rest as they had not had +for the last week at sea--not a soul indeed waking up till long after +daybreak, all were so dead tired out with the fatigue and anxiety they +had undergone. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +NEARLY A CATASTROPHE! + +SLept till long after daybreak, did they? + +Why, it was getting on for noon when Mr McCarthy roused the crew from +their unusually long caulk amongst the blankets in the corner of the +tent reserved for them with his cheery call of "All hands ahoy! Tumble +up there! tumble up!" coupled with the information that the sun was +"scorching their eyes out"--which latter observation, it may be casually +remarked, was a slight stretch of his imagination, considering the +feeble power of the solar orb at that time of the year on the snow- +covered wastes of Kerguelen Land! + +Still, late or early as they might be in rising, the first point to +which everybody turned their gaze on getting out into the open, was the +little spot on the horizon to seaward where they had left the ship, +where she had been last seen on the previous afternoon just as the +evening was beginning to close in. Since they had quitted her, however, +the wind had been blowing pretty stiffly all night, although it had +calmed down again towards the morning; while the last thing they had +heard, ere they had sunk into the sound dreamless sleep all had enjoyed +through the complete exhaustion of their frames, had been the roaring +noise of the breakers thundering against the base of the cliffs beyond +their sheltering fiord. So, it was with but very faint hopes of +perceiving the remains of the poor old _Nancy Bell's_ hull still fixed +on the treacherous reef of her destruction, that they looked wistfully +out into the offing! + +But, lo and behold! in spite of all their forebodings, there in the +distance they could yet dimly descry the stern section of the ill-fated +vessel still intact, as far as they could judge with the naked eye, +amidst the rocks; and about it the waves played and circled and the surf +showered its spray. Above the wreck, too, there still fluttered feebly +the flag which Mr Meldrum had attached to the stump of the mizzen-mast, +as if defying the powers of the wind and the waters to destroy the +gallant old ship and her belongings, strive how they might in all their +majesty! + +Every heart felt glad at the sight. + +"It does me ra-al good, mister, it dew!" said Mr Lathrope to the first +mate, who was intently watching the object of general interest, as if he +could not take his eyes off it. "When I riz just neow, I felt kinder +lonesome, a thinking we'd parted company with the old crittur fur ever +and wouldn't never see her no more; but thar she is still as perky as +ever, in spite of last night's gale, which I thought would ha' blown all +her timbers to Jericho!" + +"Ah, sorr!" replied Mr McCarthy with a heavy sigh and a troubled look +in his usually merry twinkling grey eyes, "you'll never say another ship +the likes of her again! If you'll belave me, Mister Lathrope, sorr, +she'd sail ten knots on a bowline; and I'd like to know where you'd bate +that now?" + +"I'll not deny she had her good pints," said the American +sympathisingly; "but I guess the poor thing'll soon be bruk up." + +"Yes, son, more's the pity," responded the other; "sure an' I wish we +had her safe ashore here and we'd save ivory plank of her." + +"It wouldn't be a bad notion," observed Mr Meldrum, who just then came +up to where the two were talking, "to take another trip out to the ship +in the jolly-boat and see whether we could not land some more things +that might be of use to us?" + +"Sure the hould's gutted now enthirely," said the Irish mate sadly, "and +the divil a hap'orth we'd get by going. Look at the say that's running, +too; and considther the long pull out there and back again--not that I +wouldn't be afther going, sorr, if you were to say the word!" + +"Oh, no, never mind," replied Mr Meldrum. "There's not the slightest +necessity for it, for I believe we brought away all the provisions that +were left in her, and we'd find little enough now! I only thought we +might secure some more of the timber work, as there doesn't seem to be a +particle of wood on the island." + +"We'd better wait till she breaks up, sorr," said Mr McCarthy; "sure +and it'll float in thin to us, widout the throuble of fetching it." + +"All right!" answered the other. So the contemplated last trip to the +stranded vessel would have been abandoned, had not Florry at that moment +rushed up to her father. + +"Oh, poor puss!" she exclaimed, half-crying and almost breathless with +excitement as she clung to his arm and looked up into his face +entreatingly. + +"Puss!" repeated Mr Meldrum in astonishment; "what puss?" + +"The--the--poor pussy cat we used to play with in the cabin," sobbed +Florry. "It was shut up by the stewardess, and has been left behind in +the ship!" + +"Yes, sir," said Mary Llewellyn, who with Kate had followed Florry. "I +clean forgot the creature in the flurry of coming away. I locked it in +the pantry, as it seemed frightened and was scurrying about the cuddy; +and when we went on deck, I didn't think to take it out, so there it'll +be starved to death, or drownded!" + +"It was my fault as well," interposed Kate, looking quite as unhappy as +her sister and the stewardess. "I told Mary to lock it up." + +"Be jabers!" ejaculated the first mate, "it'll never do to lave it +there. Sure and we'd be onlucky altogether if a cat came to harm in the +old ship! I didn't know it was aboord at all, at all. Sure an' there's +no knowing but what all our misfortunes have been brought about by the +same baste, bad cess to it?" + +"Oh, Mr McCarthy!" exclaimed Kate, "how can you believe that?" + +"Sure, and I mane it," answered the Irishman promptly, as if he put the +greatest faith in the superstition. + +"Well," said Mr Meldrum, "I'm sorry for the poor animal; but it will +have to stop there now! The sea is very rough, and I would hardly like +to risk men's lives to save a cat!" + +"I'll go back for it, sir," volunteered Frank Harness with a look at +Kate, which said as plainly as looks could speak that he was ready to do +a good deal more than that to please her. "You were speaking just now +of sending off the jolly-boat to fetch what we could from the wreck; so +we can bring the poor cat on shore at the same time." + +"Yes, I certainly did suggest that just now," said Mr Meldrum; "but, as +Mr McCarthy pointed out, there is a good deal of sea on, and--" + +"Sure, but I said, sorr, I'd go if you liked," interrupted the first +mate eagerly, not wishing to be behindhand when Frank had offered; "and, +faix, I'm ready at once." + +"Let the durned animile slide," put in Mr Lathrope. "It ain't worth a +cent, much less such a tall price as yar life." + +"No, we won't," said Mr McCarthy, all anxiety now to start. "Who'll +volunteer to go back to the wreck and save the cat!" he called out +aloud. + +"I will," and "I," and "I," cried out several of the seamen, laughing +and passing all sorts of chaff about the expedition; and soon there were +more than enough offers to man the jolly-boat twice over if all had been +taken who offered. + +Ben Boltrope was one of the first to stand out; but Mr Meldrum at once +motioned him back. + +"You must not go," said he. "I shall want your carpentering aid very +soon, and can't spare you." It was the same with some others amongst +the hands, Mr Meldrum picking them out as they stepped forwards. + +Before long, however, a crew was selected; when, the jolly-boat being +run down into the water by the aid of a dozen other willing hands, +besides her own special crew, she was soon on her way back to the scene +of the wreck of the _Nancy Bell_--McCarthy steering her, and Frank +Harness, who would not relinquish his privilege of going in her after +having been the first to volunteer, pulling the stroke-oar, no idlers +being wanted on board. Kate looked at him and waved her hand in adieu +as the boat topped the heavy rolling waves and got well out into the +offing; and, after that, Frank did not mind what exertion he had to go +through. + +It was a long pull and an arduous one, although, in spite of Mr +McCarthy's warning to the contrary, there was nothing dangerous in the +accomplishment of the feat. The first mate had probably felt a little +lazy when he endeavoured to set Mr Meldrum at first against the +expedition, for after a couple of hours' hard work, having the tide to +contend with most of the way, they easily managed to approach the reef +and bring up the boat under the vessel's stern, where the side ropes and +slung chair, which they had omitted to remove on board the raft remained +just as they had left them, swinging about to and fro as the wind +brushed by, causing them to oscillate with its breath. + +On climbing up to the deck, they found the poop pretty much the same, +but the forward portion of the ship had all broken to pieces, hardly a +timber being left, save part of the forefoot or cut-water, which had got +jammed in between the rocks along with the anchor-stock, the heavy mass +of iron belonging to which must have fallen down below the surface when +the topgallant forecastle was washed away. + +Going down into the cuddy, Frank could hardly at first believe that its +former tenants had quitted it for good and all, for the cabin doors were +thrown wide open, and dresses and other articles of feminine attire +scattered about--one special shawl of Kate's, which he readily +recognised as the one she had on her shoulders the night they had +watched the stars together in the South Atlantic, being placed over the +back of the captain's chair at the head of the table, as if the owner +had just put it down for a minute and was coming back to fetch it. He +at once took charge of this, besides collecting sundry other little +articles which he thought Kate might want; but he was soon interrupted +in his quest of feminine treasure-hunting by a mewing and scratching at +the door of the steward's pantry, which made him recollect all at once +what had been the ostensible object of his mission on board the vessel. + +"Gracious goodness!" he exclaimed, speaking to himself, for Mr McCarthy +was busy raking amongst his clothes in his own cabin, also oblivious to +the fate of the poor feline for whom they had come aboard the ship. "I +almost forgot the cat after all. Puss, Pussy, poor Puss!" and he +wrenched open the pantry door, setting the animal free. + +If ever mortal cat purred in its life, or endeavoured to express its +pleasure and satisfaction by walking round and rubbing itself against a +person, raising and putting down its fore-feet alternately, with the +toes extended, as if practising the goose step or working on some feline +treadmill, why that cat did then. The poor animal could not speak, of +course, but it really seemed to utter some inarticulate sounds that must +have been in cat language a paean of joy and praise and thanks at its +deliverance; and, finally, in a paroxysm of affection and endearment, it +turned itself head over heels on the cabin floor in front of Frank. + +"Poor Puss; poor little thing!" said the young sailor, taking it up in +his arms. "I believe I would have come back for you even if it hadn't +been to oblige Kate--my darling!" and he kissed the fur of the animal as +he held it in his arms, as if he considered it for the time being her +deputy. + +Judging by several well-picked bones that could be noticed lying on the +deck of the pantry, Frank assured himself that Puss had not been starved +since she had been locked up; and, indeed, she could not have been in +any serious want, as there was a freshly-cut ham on one of the shelves +and a round of spiced beef, which she had not touched, both of which +Frank took the liberty of appropriating for the benefit of those on +shore. + +Then, still in company with Puss, who would not leave his side, he +imitated the example of the first mate, and selected a coat or two and a +change of clothes from out of his own sea-chest. He did not forget the +others either, but gathered together various garments which he saw lying +about in the captain's cabin and that of Mr Meldrum, thinking that both +might perhaps be glad of them bye and bye. + +Beyond what Frank had found in the pantry, however, neither he nor Mr +McCarthy could discover any provisions, or other things that might be +useful on shore, save the unbroken half of the cuddy skylight. This +they carefully lowered down into the jolly-boat, for the glass framing +would come in handy for the windows of any house they built--Mr Meldrum +having hinted on the previous evening of some more substantial structure +being necessary than the tent, which had been only put up for temporary +accommodation on their first landing on the island. + +The several articles that had been collected being now put on board the +jolly-boat, in addition to the accommodation chair, which was cut from +the slings, at McCarthy's especial request, and lowered down on +board--"jest to plaze the meejor," as he said, alluding to Mrs Negus's +weakness for sitting in high places during the voyage. Frank then +descended with the cat in his arms and took a seat in the stern-sheets, +the first mate very good-naturedly pulling the stroke-oar on the return +journey in his place; and, all these little matters being thus arranged, +Pussy's rescuers started again for the shore. The tide, luckily, was +with them all the way; so they accomplished the distance back to the +beach inside the fiord in very nearly half the time they had taken in +rowing out to the ship--getting everything ashore and the jolly-boat +hauled up safely beyond high-water mark with none of the trouble they +had anticipated on setting out, the wind and sea having both calmed down +in the interim. + +Kate's thanks to Frank need not be alluded to:-- they were simply +inexpressible; but, if Puss is described to have been pleased when she +was first released from captivity and an untimely end on board the +shipwrecked vessel, what can be said for her raptures now that she was +landed on _terra firma_--which she probably had never expected to see +again--especially when she recognised the bevy of old friends amongst +whom she found herself alive once more. + +"I guess," said Mr Lathrope, as he watched her affectionate antics, +"the stoopid old cuss will purr herself to potato parings, and rub all +her darned fur inter a door-mat with joy!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +AN AFTERNOON CALL. + +"I'm glad you brought the skylight," said Mr Meldrum to the first mate +when the excitement attending the return of the boat's crew with Miss +Pussy had somewhat calmed down. "Its the very thing we'll want +presently!" He then proceeded to show Mr McCarthy what he and those +who had remained ashore had done during the absence of the others. + +Adjoining the site of the tent, and under the lee of a sort of gable-end +of the cliffs, a piece of ground had been cleared of the snow close to a +freshwater tarn some little distance above the sea-shore, where it was +not affected by the tide; and here the land had been levelled in the +form of a parallelogram, some thirty feet long by twenty wide, round +which a trench had been dug about a foot deep. + +At the four corners of this, stout posts, selected from some of the +deck-beams of the _Nancy Bell_ that had been secured for the under- +structure of the raft, were set up in holes excavated of such a depth +that they would firmly resist any lateral pressure brought to bear +against them by the wind; and, round the top of these uprights, a +scantling of deal had been nailed on, thus making the framework of a +good-sized cottage. + +Mr McCarthy was quite surprised at the progress made. + +"You've been pretty busy, sorr," he said. "Be jabers, you'll have a +cabin built in no time!" + +"Yes," replied Mr Meldrum, "we have got along; but you must remember +we've had fourteen hands at work besides the carpenter, including Mr +Lathrope and myself; and such a number of men, when their labour has +been systematically divided, can accomplish a good deal in a short time. +I wish we had some more timber, though! We've got the roof yet to +make, and a partition or two in the inside for the proper division of +the building. I have planned out a separate room for the ladies, and +one for us men; in addition to a general sort of apartment, where we can +all have our meals together, and which will serve as a store-room as +well." + +"Sure an' you don't think, sorr, we'll have to live here long!" said the +first mate, a little alarmed at the magnitude of the other's plans. + +"Indeed I do," answered Mr Meldrum. "It is now only the beginning of +August, which is the worst season here, as I mentioned to poor Captain +Dinks; and the winter will probably last from four to five months; +during which time, according to all accounts that I've read of the +place, we may expect to experience the most bitter weather, and have to +depend entirely on our own resources; for, none of the whaling schooners +that go seal-hunting in these parts ever visit the island, as far as I +know, before November or December--and even then they go generally to +the eastern side and do not come here! Before that time, however, that +is as soon as the snow melts and the spring sets in, we'll have to try +and cross over the land to one of the harbours which the whalers +frequent, and which I've got marked on the chart. Until that period, +Mr McCarthy, as you must perceive, we will have to remain here; so it +is best for us to try and be as comfortable as we can under the +circumstances. Last night, as you know, it was cold enough in all +conscience; but that will be nothing to what we may expect later on when +the regular gales and sea-fogs and snowstorms set in, and they continue +for weeks, I believe!" + +"Begorrah, it's a bad look-out!" said the mate,--"a bad look-out, +anyway!" + +"It is; there's no good of our blinking the fact," replied the +other,--"but, still, other shipwrecked crews have borne worse hardships +than we'll have to contend with, and, you know, what men have done men +may do! I wish we had some more of the poor old ship's planks, however. +Besides their being necessary for completing our house properly, we +shall want a large supply of them for fuel during the next four months." + +"Sure and they'll float ashore," said the mate. + +"I don't know about that," responded Mr Meldrum. "You said just now, +when you returned in the jolly-boat, that all the bows and forward parts +of the vessel had been washed to pieces; and yet, of all that wreckage +not a single scrap came ashore here to tell the tale before you brought +the news:-- what do you think of that, eh!" + +"Be jabers, it's all that blissid current that takes it back agin! Sure +an' I've sane it floating in foreninst the land myself." + +"Well, we'll have to try and baulk the current, then," said Mr Meldrum. +"We must keep a good look-out on the ship; and, as soon as we see that +the stern has broken up, the jolly-boat will have to be manned and +cruise about to pick up and tow ashore whatever timber and stray planks +may be seen." + +"Right you are, sorr," replied Mr McCarthy. "I'll say to that!" + +"Say, mister," interposed the American, who had remained silent during +the deliberations of the other two, although he was supposed to be +present at the council and a deliberative member. "How'll the grub last +all that air time! Twenty-seven folks all told, as I've kalkerlated +'em, take a powerful lot of feedin' in four months!" + +"Ah!" said Mr Meldrum, "that's a serious consideration. However, with +that lot of penguins there,"--and he pointed to the little colony of the +quaint birds, which were still croaking and grumbling at them, not +having yet become accustomed to their strange visitors,--"I don't think +we'll starve! Besides these gentry, too, there will be lots more sea- +fowl, and perhaps some land ones as well. Still, it will be advisable, +Mr Lathrope, as you have introduced the subject, to take stock of all +the stores we have, and Master Snowball must be instructed to be not +quite so lavish in his display at dinner-time as he was yesterday." + +"Sorry I spoke," said Mr Lathrope, rather chop-fallen at the way in +which his suggestion had been taken. "I didn't want you to cut short +the vittles, but only to kinder kalkerlate!" + +"I'm just doing that," replied the other, "and we'll see what we've got +to depend upon at once." + +As the American had remarked, they were just twenty-seven souls in all: +_Imprimis_, Captain Dinks--whose wound evidently was progressing +favourably, for he had lost all those feverish symptoms that were +apparent the day previous and was now in a sound sleep, after eating +some thin soup which Snowball had concocted for him by Mr Meldrum's +direction--Mr McCarthy, Adams, Frank Harness, Ben Boltrope the +carpenter, and Karl Ericksen the rescued Norwegian sailor, besides +Snowball and thirteen others of the crew of the _Nancy Bell_, making +twenty of those belonging to the ship; while, of the passengers, there +were six--Mr Meldrum, Kate, Florry, Mrs Major Negus and her son and +only hope Maurice, and lastly, though by no means least, Mr Lathrope-- +the grand total, with the stewardess, who must not be forgotten, coming +exactly to seven-and-twenty. + +Now, to feed all this large family, they had brought ashore on the raft +three barrels of salt beef and four of pork, six hams uncooked, besides +the one which Frank had removed from the steward's pantry along with the +round of spiced beef on his visit to the ship in search of the cat; some +four dozen eight-pound tins of preserved meats and vegetables; about a +couple of hundredweight of flour; five bags of biscuit; a few bottles of +spirits; and sundry minor articles, such as pickles and salt, and one or +two pots of preserves--not a very considerable amount of provender, +considering the number of souls to be supplied, and the length of time +Mr Meldrum thought it wise to estimate that the provisions would have +to last. + +Just as they were rolling back the casks under the shelter of the tent, +Maurice Negus rushed up to Mr Meldrum in company with Florry, both of +the children being intensely excited evidently about something they had +seen or heard. + +"Oh crickey!" cried out the former before he had quite got up to the +party, so as to have the first voice in the matter,--"Do come! There's +an awful long thing just crawled out of the sea, and it is creeping up +to the tent as fast as it can!" + +"Yes," chorussed Florry, "and it's like the seals we saw in the +Zoological Gardens; only it's twice as big and has a long trunk like an +elephant!" + +"Jeehosophat!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, feeling for his revolver. "It +must be a rum outlandish animile, if it's like that!" + +"Zee-oliphant," said Karl Ericksen, the Norwegian sailor, in his broken +English. "He is not harmful:-- he good for man eat." + +"Snakes and alligators! that's prime anyhow, I reckon," put in Mr +Lathrope. "I guess this air animile'll save your old stores, mister, +hey?" + +"I hope so," answered Mr Meldrum. "Although I've never tasted seal +beef myself, I have heard it's very fair when you can't get the genuine +article; the whalers generally use it, at all events, some of them even +thinking it a dainty. But, let us go and see this sea-elephant that the +children have discovered!" + +They did not have to go far; for, the queer-looking amphibious creature +had by this time crawled up on to the rocks close outside the tent, and +was quite near to where they were standing--the Norwegian sailor having +already seen and recognised its species before he spoke. + +The animal was a gigantic sort of seal, some twenty-five feet in length +and quite five high. If big, it was certainly also most unwieldy, for +it appeared to waddle up from the shore with the greatest difficulty. +Its body was covered with a short brown fur, with lighter hair of a dun +colour under the throat; and, what gave it the singular appearance +whence its name of "sea-elephant" was probably more derived than from +its size, was the pendulous nostrils, which hung down over its mouth, +just like the proboscis or long trunk of the children's old friend, +"Jumbo." + +Karl Ericksen had managed to rummage out a harpoon one day amongst the +odds and ends in the forecastle of the _Nancy Bell_, and the sailor +having been familiar with its use from long whaling experience, had not +forgotten to bring it ashore when they abandoned the wreck--looking upon +the weapon with almost as much veneration as Mr Lathrope regarded the +rifle he had inherited from the celebrated Colonel Crockett. + +This harpoon Karl now brought forth, approaching the seal with the +obvious intention of despatching it summarily; when another evidence of +its elephantine character was displayed, well justifying its title. + +As the sailor came up to it and raised the harpoon to strike, the animal +raised itself on its fore-flappers, snarling and emitting a hollow roar +which startled everybody near, causing them to jump away, and give it a +wide berth; while at the same time it erected its nose so that it stood +out quite stiff, more than a foot long, and, opening its mouth, it +exposed the bright scarlet palate and gullet, from the bottom of which +its hoarse bellow proceeded. Karl, however, was not frightened by the +sea-elephant's rage, but with a single swinging blow from his harpoon on +the snout stretched it lifeless on the ground, when all were better able +to appreciate its enormous size. Its girth alone exceeded sixteen feet, +and the animal appeared all the more imposing when dead than alive. + +The Norwegian sailor cut out the tongue, telling Mr Meldrum that this +portion of the sea-elephant and the snout were considered great +delicacies by the whalers; but none of the party relished either, +although Snowball served up both at dinner in his most recherche +fashion. The flesh of the body, too, was of a blackish hue, and had an +oily taste about it, which made the sailors turn up their noses at it +and wish to fling it away; but this Mr Meldrum would not allow. + +"We will probably be glad enough to get it bye and bye," he said; and he +then caused the despised seal "beef" to be cut up in pieces and salted +down in one of their spare casks in case of future need. + +During the time Mr Meldrum had been taking stock of their stores, +before the coming of the sea-elephant--"to pay them an afternoon call," +as Florry said--the carpenter, with a number of the hands working under +him, had been proceeding with the house-building operations; but he had +to stop at last, more from want of the proper timber wherewith to +complete the job than through the darkening of the afternoon on account +of the approach of night. + +"I can't get along nohow," Ben explained to Mr Meldrum, who was now +regarded as the head of the party, and the one to look to in every +difficulty. "I'm at a standstill for planking, sir. I can manage the +roof part pretty well, by breaking up those old puncheons we brought +under the raft and using the staves for shingles; but the joists and +rafters bother me, sir." + +"Well, we must hope to get some more to-morrow from the wreck," said Mr +Meldrum. "The ship cannot last much longer; but, recollect, we can't +get any ashore till she breaks up." + +"Aye, aye, sir, I knows that," replied Ben. "Still, I hopes it won't +all drift away to sea when she do go to pieces." + +"We'll try to prevent that, Boltrope," said the other. "Mind, Mr +McCarthy, and have a look-out stationed in the morning to keep an eye on +the ship, with a man to relieve him watch and watch, the same as on +board! She's all firm now, for I saw the flag still waving when I +looked before the light began to fail; but if the wind and sea get up +again, as they very likely will towards midnight, tomorrow will tell a +very different tale!" + +"I'll have a look-out, never fear, sorr." + +"And, McCarthy--" + +"Yes, sorr!" + +"See that the jolly-boat is ready and a crew picked for it to put off +the moment any wreckage is observed floating inshore. We must not +neglect any chance of securing all the timber we can for fuel, putting +the house out of the reckoning entirely!" + +"Indade I will, sorr," answered the mate cheerily; and then, all struck +work for the day and retired into the tent, not sorry to have another +easy night's rest. Every one was anxious to turn in, for really there +was nothing else to be done. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +BREAKING UP OF THE VESSEL. + +They did not sleep so soundly, however, on this occasion as they had +done the first night of their landing on the island; for, soon after +dark, the wind rose into a tempestuous gale, making the tent flap about +in such a way that it seemed as if it were about to be carried off +bodily! + +As it was, indeed--through the blowing in of the sides, and the jumping +up and down of the tarpaulin on the roof every now and then as the +boisterous gusts got under it--a lot of snow, which had begun to fall +before they retired to rest and was now coming down in a regular storm, +as fast and furious as the flakes could succeed each other, managed to +find its way inside, not contributing much to their comfort; and this, +combined with the roar of the breakers against the base of the cliffs, +which seemed louder than ever now that the men were lying down with +their ears to the ground, tended to keep the majority of the castaways +awake and made them long for the morning to come again. + +At last, the day broke; and, as the faint light gleamed through the +chinks in the tent, telling all that the dreary night was past, they +quickly bestirred themselves--Snowball being one of the first to turn +out, and at once hastening to kindle up the fire, which he had left +carefully banked up the previous evening, besides wisely hedging it in +with heavy pieces of stone so that the wind should not scatter it away, +as would otherwise probably have been the case. + +"Soon get drop hot coffee, massa," said he to Mr Meldrum, who was an +early riser too and not far behind the darkey; "Um berry good for de +tomack fust thing in mornin'!" + +But the other was too much concerned about the fate of the ship to think +of coffee then; and, long before Snowball had finished his remark, he +was actively ascending the highest rock near to get a good view out to +seaward. Here he was shortly joined by Mr McCarthy and Ben Boltrope, +who were also equally anxious in the matter; although the others, not +having been called, did not hurry themselves to leave the warm +atmosphere of the tent for the cold and raw air without. + +The lookers-out, however, could not see much as yet; for the usual +surface fog--which in these regions generally creeps up in the evening +and hangs over the sea till broad daylight--had not yet completely +cleared away; and so, a curtain of haze shut out the offing from their +gaze. Still, as far as the eye could reach, the sea was very rough, +with heavy rollers rolling in landward. The gale of the night had not +abated much, albeit the wind was not so gusty as it had been, while its +force seemed to be lessening as the morning drew on. + +"I'm afraid," said Mr Meldrum, after vainly trying for a long time to +peer through the impenetrable veil of mist which hid the reef from +sight, "that this last blow has settled the old ship." + +"Faix, and I'm thinking just that very same," responded the first mate. +"It blowed tremenjus towards four bells, sorr, an' the poor crathur must +be clane smashed up by now!" + +"It's very unfortunate if that has happened," replied the other. "The +sea is running too high for us to launch the jolly-boat, and so we'll +lose all chance of saving the wreckage." + +"True for you, sorr, save and onless it drifts ashore." + +"There's not the slightest hope of that," replied Mr Meldrum. "Nothing +has come up on the beach here yet, that I've been able to perceive!" + +"But, sure an' the wind's bin blowing on to the land, sorr, all night. +P'r'aps that might make a difference!" + +"Perhaps it might," said the other; "but I very much doubt it." + +"Well, sorr, we'll say," retorted the mate. However, the argument was +settled offhand by Ben Boltrope, who had clambered up to a higher ledge +of rock from whence he could see further out to seaward over the fog, +which hung low on the water and did not extend to the upper regions of +the air. + +"There she is, your honour, bless her old heart!" he exclaimed. "She's +still hard and fast on the reef, and never another plank sprung from the +starn, as far as I can see!" + +This was good news; and Mr Meldrum, with the mate, hastened to join the +carpenter on his perch above. + +Yes, there in the distance, rising out of the mist, could be seen the +upper portion of the poop of the _Nancy Bell_, although the wreck was +still occasionally obscured by a wave breaking over it; and, presently, +on the lifting of the fog, as the clouds cleared off from the face of +the sky and a gleam of sunshine stole out, lighting up the sea and +landscape around, it could be observed that the remains of the vessel +were nearly in the same condition, apparently, as when last noticed on +the evening before--save that the poor ship was now surrounded by a line +of breakers which dashed over the stern continually, looking as if they +meant to pull it in pieces before they had done with it! + +"She's shifted more on to her side," said Mr Meldrum, who had taken out +a glass from his pocket and was now inspecting the remains of the old +ship more carefully. "I can see the deck clearly. The waves are +spurting up through the hole where the skylight was removed, so the +cabins must be pretty well washed out by this time." + +"Ah! that's the rayson we couldn't say the flag, sorr," observed the +mate. + +"It is there still," replied Mr Meldrum; "although it is now all to +port, instead of right amidships as it was when we left. This is on +account of the mizzen-mast stump leaning over into the water, for I +couldn't see it myself till I took the glass. She can't last much +longer, though. Those seas are breaking over her with frightful force, +judging by the amount of surf they send up, and they must soon make an +end of her!" + +"I hope it'll calm down a bit, sir," said Ben Boltrope. "I'm nervous +about them timbers for the roof of the house." + +"Be aisy with you, man," put in Mr McCarthy. "Sure an' all the anxiety +in the worruld won't dhrive a pig to market! If we're to have the +crathur's planks we'll have thim sure enough; and if we aren't, why we +won't, that's all about it!" + +"The sea may run easier at low water, Boltrope," said Mr Meldrum to +console the carpenter; "and if she should be broken up by that time, +we'll send out the jolly-boat and pick up what we can." + +"Begorrah, you won't have to wait long," cried the mate; and almost as +he spoke, a heavy roller was seen to lift up the wreck on the top of its +crest and roll it over, after which the dark body they had observed on +the reef with the little scrap of a flag fluttering over it was there no +longer! + +The _Nancy Bell_, or rather the remaining fragments of her hull, had +disappeared at last beneath the waves! + +"I'm afraid we sha'n't be able to save anything," said Mr Meldrum, +after a moment of silence, in which each of the three witnesses of the +vessel's end had drawn a deep breath, showing how affecting had been the +sight. "It is such a long distance out there, and the sea is running so +heavily besides, that I wouldn't like to risk the boat." + +"Sure and we could thry, sorr," pleaded the first mate eagerly. + +"No, Mr McCarthy, it would be hazardous in the extreme; and we ought +not to peril the men's lives unnecessarily! Still, if you want to do +something--" + +"Bedad I do," interrupted the other, as if ready at once to dive into +the sea if required. + +"Well," continued Mr Meldrum, "you can post a man on the watch here and +one or two other places along the cliff, to notice if anything floats +inshore; and then, of course, we'll make an effort to bring it to land +should the wreckage drift near." + +"Aye, aye, sorr, you may dipind upon me that same," said Mr McCarthy; +and, rushing down from the rock, he was soon in front of the men's +compartment of the tent, rousing them out with a cry of, "Ahoy there! +All hands on deck to save ship! Tumble up, tumble up there, my +hearties, there's no time to lose!" + +The men coming out with alacrity, half bewildered by such a hail under +the circumstances and surroundings, four were picked out and posted to +look out like sentinels--two on the beach and two on the ridge above-- +and all with strict injunctions to report anything they saw at once, +just as if they were put to the same duty on board ship. + +"Now, mind ye kape a good watch," said the first mate, as he left them +to their own devices, "and out if you say a single hincoop floating in +the say foreninst ye--though it's little enough of them you'll say, +sure, considerin' they were all washed overboard off the Cape!--I mane +if ye say any timbers or spars from the wrack drifting inshore, just you +hould your eye on thim, or the divil a mother's son ye'll have a roof +over his hid or a pace of foire to warm his-self! Faix, ye needn't +snigger, ye spalpeens; it's the truth I'm afther tellin' ye!" and Mr +McCarthy then went off, shaking his fist good-humouredly at those who +laughed at his quaint speech. + +Four other men he selected as a crew for the jolly-boat, which was +hauled down on the beach in readiness to shove off as soon as any of the +wreckage was reported in sight; the remainder of the hands being +directed to place themselves under the orders of the carpenter until +their services should be required to relieve the look-out men at the end +of their watch. The duty of these latter, however, was for some time a +sinecure, as the breakers were still breaking angrily against the cliffs +and keeping up the hoarse diapason in which they expressed their +impotent rage; while the wind, though blowing with less force than +during the night time, was yet strong enough to sweep off the tops of +the billows when it caught them well abeam, carrying the spindrift away +to leeward and scattering the surge with its blast as it transformed it +into fairy-like foam bubbles and wreaths of gossamer spray. + +Noon came before there was any change. + +Then, soon after the end of the ebb and just as the tide began to flow +again, the wind died away into a dead calm; and the sea settling down +somewhat--the rollers still rolling in, but only breaking when they +reached the shore, instead of jostling one another in their tumultuous +rushings together and mimic encounters out in the open--every eye was on +the _qui vive_. It was either "now or never" that they might expect +anything coming inshore from the wreck! + +"Sail ho!" at length shouted one of the look-out men on the ridge. The +sailor evidently could not help using the nautical term from old habit, +although he well knew that there was little chance of his seeing a +"sail" that quarter! + +"Where away?" called out Mr McCarthy, who had the jolly-boat's crew +round her, running her into the water the moment he heard the cry. + +"Right to leeward of the reef, sir, about a mile out," answered the +look-out, adding quickly afterwards, "it looks a pretty biggish bit of +timber, sir, and rides high in the water." + +"All right, my man," said the mate; "mind you kape still on the watch, +and fix any other paces of planking you may say in your mind's eye! You +can till me where to look for thim whin I come back agin within hail. +Shove off, you beggars!" he then cried out to the boat's crew, as he +jumped in over the side. "Arrah put your backs into it, for we're bound +to save ivery scrap of the ould vessel we can come across, in order sure +to tow it ashore!" + +Watching for an opportunity, the boat's head was shoved out on top of a +return wave, when, the oars being plied with sturdy strokes, the little +buoyant craft was soon well out of the broken water and making steady +progress in the direction that had been pointed out. No object, +however, could be seen as yet by Mr McCarthy; for the rollers were +still so high that when the boat was sunk in the hollow between them +nothing could be noticed beyond the curving ridge of the next wave and +the broken wash of the one just overtopped. + +"Go it, boys, kape at it with a will," cried the mate, rising up in the +stern-sheets after a while to look round better, steadying himself by +holding on to the yoke-lines and leaning forwards. "Ha! I can say it +now, right in front! We'll soon have it--one more stroke, and we'll be +there, sure!" + +"Aisy, now--avast--row of all!" he cried out in turn; and then, with a +sullen, grating sound the boat brought up against a large mass of broken +timberwork which the men had no difficulty in recognising as the larger +portion of the poop deck. It had the combings of the companion and +skylight still attached, as well as a part of one of the ladder-ways, +and was in every sense a treasure trove. + +"Sure we're in luck, boys, anyhow," said Mr McCarthy joyfully. "Be +jabers, I niver expected to git so much ov it all at once without any +trouble!" + +The first mate proceeded without delay to attach the small hawser which +they had used for towing the raft to a ring-bolt, left as if for the +purpose on the floating mass; and then the men, backing water on one +side, and pulling sharp on the other, soon had the boat on her way back +to the land, with the mass of broken timberwork trailing behind her. It +was in itself, without picking up another plank, more than sufficient to +supply all the carpenter's needs for the roof of the house, "besoides +making the ladies a prisint of a staircase for the front door," as Mr +McCarthy observed! + +It was fortunate they came across this, for little more of the wreckage +was secured, the tide having evidently carried out the lighter portions +of the planking too far to sea for it to be brought back again by the +returning flood. It was probably only owing to the weight of the poop- +deck that they had been able to make certain of that. + +Still, on making a trip out to the reef later on, to see whether any +more of the timbers remained there, a "find" was discovered which +greatly rejoiced Snowball's heart when it was brought on shore. + +This was nothing less than one of the ship's coppers, which had become +detached from the galley framework and in falling on to the reef had +managed to get securely fixed between the rocks, just a little below the +surface of the water. A couple of the men were easily able to pull it +up into the jolly-boat, where, on being inspected, it was found +perfectly sound and as good as ever! + +"Golly, massa," exclaimed the darkey, when Mr Meldrum presented him +with the recovered copper--which Snowball looked upon almost as the +apple of his eye--"me able cook pea-shoop now, sah, and bile de beef in +'spectable style, sah! Dat sospan, massa, no good for ship's company. +Um bile, and bile, and bile, and nebbah bile enuff!" + +"Ah! mind you don't go cooking too extravagantly," said Mr Meldrum. +"If I see you wasting anything, I'll taboo the copper." + +"Lor, massa, I'se too careful for dat," replied the negro cook, with a +grin which displayed his ivory-mounted mouth from ear to ear; "when de +men sing out for more thoop, why, sah, I just water um grog! Yah, yah! +ho, ho!" and he burst into a roar of laughter in which those around +could not help joining, the darkey's hearty merriment was so contagious. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +KERGUELEN CABBAGE. + +While Mr McCarthy and the jolly-boat's crew were thus trying to save +all the "flotsam and jetsam" they could from the wreck, Ben Boltrope and +those of the crew told off to help him, as "carpenter's mates," were as +busy as bees house-building, if running up the shanty which Mr Meldrum +had designed could be so designated; while the rest of the party were +lending all the aid they could in fetching and carrying what the actual +workers required. + +It was only a rough wooden hut, or rather "composite" structure; but as +it was more than probable that it would have to be the home of the +shipwrecked people for some five months at the least, no trouble or +pains were spared in endeavouring to make it as substantial and +comfortable under the circumstances as Ben and his active assistants +could effect with the limited means at their command. + +The gable-end of the cliff, under whose lee the hut was erected, so as +to gain shelter from the southward and westward winds, which seemed to +be the most prevalent on the coast, presented a flat and even face, just +like a slab of black slate standing up perpendicularly from the ground. +The wall of rock, which was of a hard volcanic material that was +evidently not porous, was made to serve for the back of the building, a +niche or groove being excavated along it, about ten feet from the +bottom, for the insertion of the ridge poles. This was a task of some +difficulty, owing to the toughness of the stone; but it was a necessary +one in order to prevent the moisture from above trickling down into the +interior between the roof and the face of the cliff. The lower ends of +the ridge poles, which sloped down from the top at an angle of some +fifteen degrees, were then firmly fastened to the posts placed in the +holes dug for them and lashed together with stout seizings of rope and +sennet, so strongly that it would almost have taken a hurricane to have +blown them away. + +The next proceeding was to fix, at equal distances apart across the +rough framework of the roof, a series of slender scantlings cut from the +deck planks by splitting them with an axe, which Ben was forced to make +use of on account of his having no saw, that and other similar useful +instruments having been left in his tool-chest, which had been placed in +the long-boat when the first preparations were made for abandoning the +_Nancy Bell_. + +The scantlings were secured to the ridge poles diagonally, not only for +greater security but on account of the shortness of some of the pieces +of timber they had and the necessity there was for their economising it; +and, over the scantlings were laid in due order, the one overlapping the +other to prevent any crevices in between, the shingles which the +ingenious carpenter had improvised out of the staves of the empty +casks--although, as the space to be covered amounted to some seven +hundred superficial feet or thereabouts, every one of the casks had to +be broken up save the six containing their beef and pork and the salted- +down flesh of the sea-elephant, Ben even then hardly having enough +shingles for his purpose. + +However, casks or no casks, the roof of their house was a consideration +that stood at the moment before all others; and, being now properly +shingled, it was rendered additionally watertight by spreading over it +the old tarpaulin and sail that had already temporarily done duty above +their tent, and then giving them a good coating of pitch. A supply of +this article had been fortunately thrown on to the raft along with the +other odds and ends that had came in so usefullys and it was now melted +down in Snowball's recovered copper. The finishing touch was given to +the structure by piling several big boulders over the upper row of +shingles along the ridge pole, for greater stability and to prevent +boisterous Boreas from playing any of his rude tricks to its +disadvantage. + +The roof done, all hands turned their attention to raising the sides of +the shanty. This was a much easier job, consisting in nailing rough +pieces of planking at intervals across the corner-posts from end to end, +both inside the building and without, and then filling up the +interstices, or intervening hollows, with the basaltic debris that was +scattered around--just as rubble is thrown in between skeleton brickwork +by what are termed "jerry-builders" to form party-walls of modern +tenements. The side walls were then carried up to within a foot or so +of the eaves of the roof, the sail-covering of which after being allowed +to lap over was now tucked in at the top, thus closing up the chinks and +making all snug. + +The front of the shanty was afterwards finished off in the same way, +although more planking was employed as greater nicety of detail was +necessary in order to arrange for the doorway and windows, for which +latter the remains of the cabin sky-light Frank thought of bringing +ashore supplied the material; but it took a couple of days to complete +the building to the satisfaction of Ben and Mr Meldrum, notwithstanding +which drawback the whole party took possession of it the night after the +wreckage had been landed, the recovered timber enabling the carpenter +and his crew to proceed with the work--all declaring that the house was +perfect and ever so much better than the discarded tent, in spite of +many things being still wanting. + +In the interior, of course, a flooring had been dispensed with, from the +simple fact of their having no wood to spare for such a luxury; but +otherwise it was made to look very comfortable. + +Through the aid of canvas curtains suspended from the roof, it was +divided, as Mr Meldrum had originally planned, into three tolerably +commodious apartments, the cosiest and most sheltered of which, at the +extreme end of the building, was apportioned to the ladies some +sailcloth being spread on the bare ground to render it warmer; while the +middle and larger room was reserved as a store and place of general +assembly for eating and carrying on such avocations as were required +when the weather was too rough for out-of-door work. + +The third apartment, at the beach end of the building, was devoted to +the dormitory accommodation of the men folk, who slept on the bare rock +below in their blankets--Mr Meldrum, with the American and the officers +of the ship swinging above the crew in hammocks. + +They had a tight fit of it altogether, some one-and-twenty sleeping in a +space of not more than twenty feet by eight, according to the dimensions +of the floor; but Captain Dinks' cot was hung for the present in the +general compartment, on account of his wounded condition and the +necessity of his having free air and ventilation, lest there should be a +return of his feverish symptoms, which a confined atmosphere might have +brought about. + +When all these arrangements were completed, and the stores neatly ranged +round the central division, which Ben Boltrope had further adorned with +a rough deal table and some settles placed in the centre, the place +presented quite a homelike appearance to the castaways. The children, +indeed, declared that it was like the cuddy of the poor old _Nancy +Bell_--that is, when things went well with the vessel. This resemblance +was especially apparent on the second night after taking possession of +the new house, when it was "declared open" in state, on which occasion +it was lit up by no less than two of the ship's lanterns as a sort of +house warming in honour of the event. Snowball was also allowed by Mr +Meldrum to spread the festal board with as luxurious a feast as their +scanty supplies permitted, a bottle of wine being subsequently produced +for the ladies and grog served out to the men. + +"I guess, mister," said Mr Lathrope, who took quite as much pride as +Mr Meldrum in the building--indeed had an equal share in planning its +construction, although he did not work quite so hard in carrying out the +details--"I'd a sight rayther have this air shanty than a brown stone +front in Philadelphy--yes, sir!" + +"Well, we've got a roof over our heads at all events!" replied Mr +Meldrum, "and I confess I was anxious about that point. We've had +exceptionally fine weather for the time of year here, however, and +there's no knowing how soon it will turn off; so, now that our house is +finished, the next thing to be considered is the state of our +provisions." + +"Ah!" said the American, "I kalkerlate that's coming to hum." + +"The food question is a vital necessity in most cases, and especially +now in ours,"--continued the other--"taking into account the many mouths +we have to feed." + +"But the Lord filleth the hungry, we're told," said Mrs + +Major Negus, who had developed, since landing on the island, what had +evidently been a strong religious trait previously dormant in her +character, if quoting Scripture texts were any proof of this +disposition. + +"Ah ma'rm," responded Mr Lathrope, "don't you believe it, unless the +hungry work for it." + +"And much you've done to earn your food!" said the lady tartly. + +"Wa-al, ma'rm, if it warn't for me, as Mr Meldrum here will tell you, +I've no doubt yer wouldn't have a chimbley, nor nary fire to sot by +inside haar!" + +"A fine smoky chimney it is too!" retorted Mrs Major Negus. "It is +quite suffocating, I declare." + +"That's better nor bein' friz," said the American, with some little +heat. He was rather annoyed at having his special contrivance sneered +at, for it was only after repeated attempts and failures that the +building party had at last managed to rig up a fireplace against the +back wall of the shanty--running up through the roof of the "general" +room a chimney-shaft of loosely piled stones, enclosed within a +framework of planks to which was nailed on the sea-elephant's skin in +order to prevent the wood from catching fire. This served the purpose +of warming the whole of the interior, as the other apartments opened +into this room, which indeed also provided the only means of +communication with the outside of the hut, the principal and solitary +door of the establishment being here. + +"I'd sooner be smoked any time fur chice, myself, than friz!" said Mr +Lathrope again, as if to provoke his opponent. + +"No wonder," retorted the lady, eager to have the last word, "when +you're at it all day long, smoking your brains out with that vile +tobacco!" + +"What were you going to say about the provisions, papa?" interposed Kate +at this juncture, in order to give a turn to the conversation, which +seemed to be getting a trifle too personal between Mr Lathrope and "the +Major." + +"Well, my dear," said her father, glad of the interruption, "I was about +to call a council of war. What we have can't last us very long, at our +present rate of consumption. We shall have to eke it out, as far as it +is practicable, by the native products of the island." + +"That's snow and pumice-stone, as fur as I ken see," put in Mr +Lathrope; "and I guess I must be durned peckish fore I tackle those!" + +"You forget the seals and the penguins," said Mr Meldrum. + +"Waal, mister," rejoined the American, "we've only seed one seal, as I +reckon. That was that air `Sea Olly-fant,' as the Norwegee called it, +and the animile's meat warn't 'zackly what this child ken stomach! As +for them penguins, I guess they're kinder fishy." + +"My dear sir, we can't be squeamish," said the other. "Perhaps we'll be +only too glad to get anything we can presently! Besides the seals and +birds, however, there's something else I shall have to look after to- +morrow. It is what I should have thought of before, only we were so +busy about the house--some vegetable food to eat with our salt beef. We +must use some antiscorbutic; and we haven't a tin of our preserved stock +left, I think." + +"And whar'll you find vegetables haar, mister?" + +"Why, there's one specially distinctive of the island and I daresay +we'll not have to hunt far for it. From the accounts I've read it ought +to grow quite close to the seashore." + +"And what's that, mister?" asked the American. + +"Kerguelen cabbage," promptly answered Mr Meldrum. + +"Snakes and alligators, mister! Do you expect to find sich kitchen +stuff haar?" + +"I do," replied the other; "and intend to search for it to-morrow +morning, as soon as I turn out!" + +"It was lucky we have poor puss, papa," said Florry just then. "We +would have had all our things eaten up by the mice only for her." + +"Dear me!" ejaculated Mrs Major Negus, drawing her skirts closer to her +in alarm, "you don't say so? Mice! gracious goodness that I ever should +have come to such a place. Of all the things I hate, those nasty +creatures are the worst." + +"Ah! ma'rm," put in Mr Lathrope, seeing his chance of revenge for the +lady's comments on his chimney; "if all Mister Meldrum kalkerlates comes +true about the shortness of our provisions, I guess you'll be glad to +eat 'em bye and bye! I've seed the Chinee immigrants gobble 'em up in +Californy often enough!" + +"Disgusting!" ejaculated Mrs Major Negus, raising her nose in the air +with an expression of intense scorn. "I for one, sir, will never +descend to adopt Chinese fashions and live on rats and mice, whatever +you may have learnt to do in your travels." + +"Pray, do not alarm yourself," interposed Mr Meldrum, laughing. "Can't +you see that Mr Lathrope is only joking! I do not dread our being +reduced to such a sad extremity as he pictures! Are you sure about the +mice, Florry?" + +"Oh yes, papa," answered that young lady. "Pussy killed four not long +ago, and brought them purring, one after another, to Kate and me--as if +to show us what she had done! Besides, I'm sure I heard them squeaking +behind the boxes last night." + +Florry's statement was true enough, for on hunting amongst the stores it +was found that the corners of the bags containing the small supply of +biscuits they had left had been nibbled through and their contents +scattered on the ground; in addition to which there were other evidences +of the presence of the little depredators. The mice must have been +originally introduced into the island by some whaling ship; and, they +had evidently multiplied considerably since then, for they were now very +numerous and puss would have all her work cut out for her in keeping +them down. + +In spite of the mouse diversion, Mr Meldrum did not forget what he had +said about the "Kerguelen cabbage." + +Instituting a search next day, it was not long before he came across the +plant in a little hollow, close to the fresh-water tarn adjoining their +hut and just peeping out from a thin covering of half-melted snow that +lay on the ground. + +This peculiar vegetable production, which was first noticed by Captain +Cook a century ago and is indigenous to the island, is termed by +botanists the _Pringlea antiscorbutica_, and belongs to the order of +plants classed as the _Cruciferae_, which embraces the common cabbage of +every household garden, the radish, and the horse-radish--to the latter +of which the Kerguelen cabbage is the most closely allied, on account of +its hot pungent taste when eaten raw as well as from its habit and mode +of growth. + +Mr Meldrum could not have failed to discover and recognise it at first +sight from the description he already had, for the leaves of the plant +grew thick about the root and put forth an upright stem, some two to +three feet high, from which proceeded shoots, like broccoli sprouts on +an enlarged scale, the outer petal-like leaves of which were six to +eight inches long, and of a dark olive-green hue and fleshy nature, +rounded and ciliated at the margin; while the inner leaves were of a +paler green that approximated to yellow in the centre, where they were +crumpled together, exactly like as in the "heart" of the well-known +cabbage, to which the vegetable bore a very close likeness on being +first seen. + +"Begorrah, it's a cabbage, all the worruld over!" exclaimed the first +mate, who had accompanied Mr Meldrum in his quest. "Sure you'd hardly +know the hid ov the baste, if it was cut off, from one grown in +Connemara!" + +"Not quite so strong a resemblance, perhaps," replied Mr Meldrum, +smiling. "Still, there's likeness enough to recognise its membership to +the general cabbage family; but, we have yet to try how it tastes!" + +"Aye, aye, sorr," said Mr McCarthy. "The proof of the pudden's in the +aiting, sure!" + +However, the Kerguelen cabbage stood this test well enough. + +It was tried that very day at dinner; and, although tasting slightly +acrid and hot flavoured when raw, on being cooked in the same water in +the copper in which some salt pork had been boiled, it seemed not very +much dissimilar to the native home-grown article commonly known as +"greens." + +"I guess, mister, it air downright prime, an' no mistake," said Mr +Lathrope, passing opinion on its qualities; "and more'n that, it fills a +feller up fine!" + +"Begorrah, it's jist like bacon and greens!" observed Mr McCarthy. + +The majority of the men, too, relished it greatly. It was a long time +since any of them had tasted fresh meat much less vegetables, by reason +of the _Nancy Bell_ not having stopped at any port on her way after +leaving England; so, thenceforth, both on account of its antiscorbutic +as well as from its "filling up" qualities, the plant invariably formed +a leading feature in the dietary scale of the castaways; Snowball never +failing to have a plentiful supply of "cabbage" to cook when meal times +came round, or else he or somebody else in fault for its absence, would +have to "tell the reason why!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +COLONEL CROCKETT'S RIFLE. + +Captain Dinks was gradually getting better; but his recovery was so very +slow that it would be weeks before he would be able to quit his cot. +His wound had been a severe one, and had narrowly missed his heart. + +Under these circumstances, therefore, Mr Meldrum still retained the +position of chief of the party--not only the first mate and Mr Adams +acquiescing in the arrangement, which the poor captain desired; but the +general bulk of the men themselves, who were prejudiced in his favour +from Ben Boltrope's frequent yarns of his ability when an officer in the +navy, requested his continuing to be their leader by acclamation, when +he expressed a wish of surrendering the command as soon as they had +landed safely from the wreck and things had been made comfortable for +them on the island. This was only a repetition of what they had done +when they were in peril of their lives on board the _Nancy Bell_, at +which momentous time, it may be remembered, Mr McCarthy, speaking on +behalf of all, had asked him to assume the direction of things and +endeavour to extricate them from danger, looking upon him as the most +competent person to guide them in the emergency. + +Just so, now, on his speaking of relinquishing the leadership, he was +requested to retain it for the common benefit, at least until Captain +Dinks should be able to get about. This was the more desired from the +fact of Mr Meldrum having managed matters so well for them already that +they expected him to "see them through" all present difficulties. + +As on the previous occasion, Mr Meldrum did not hesitate to retain the +post, believing from his training and experience in commanding bodies of +men that he really would be the best leader they could have, in default +of the captain; but, before consenting to the general wish, he addressed +all hands, impressing on them the necessity of implicit obedience to his +orders and a rigid attention to whatever duties he might set them-- +adding that they might be certain he would not tell them to do anything +which was not, to the best of his impression, for their own good. + +To this the men assented with a cheer of acquiescence, and he then +dismissed them with the assurance that he would endeavour to deserve the +confidence they had displayed in him. But, prior to separating from Mr +McCarthy and Adams, Mr Meldrum drew up a code of rules for their +guidance, premising that where a large party of seamen such as they had +under them were thus thrown ashore with no regular duties to perform, +such as they had on board ship, it was most urgently necessary that +employment of some sort should be made for them; not only to keep them +out of that mischief which the evil one is proverbially said to find +"for idle hands to do," but also to prevent them from dwelling on the +misery of their situation. + +"We must keep watches, turn and turn about," Mr Meldrum explained, +"just the same as we did on board the ship; for, although there'll be no +sails to attend to, in the cold nights which we will shortly have the +fire will need careful looking after to prevent it from going out and +leaving us all perhaps to freeze to death, while, in the daytime, there +will be seal-hunting and water fetching to employ the hands, besides +seeing to keeping the rooms clean. These and such similar duties must +be performed regularly, so that through their aid the long hours will +pass the more rapidly, until we are able--as I trust we shall about +November, when the snow melts here, I believe, and we can travel--to +start towards the other side of the island, where I hope we'll fetch +some harbour where the whalers touch, and get taken on board and landed +at the Cape or some other civilised spot. But, mind, in order to do +this," he added in conclusion, "we must all work together in harmony; +and, to prevent discord, and all sorts of unpleasantness, we must keep +the men constantly employed--not too onerously, but so that they shall +always have something to do--in order that the weary time of waiting +shall not hang heavy upon them. However, my friends, to encourage them, +you must likewise find something to be busy at for yourselves, as I +shall find for myself! Excuse this little bit of a sermon, gentlemen," +said Mr Meldrum at the end of his discourse; "but I thought it +necessary to say it, as I've seen the evil of having a lot of men about +me with nothing for them to do on a foreign station before now, and I've +learnt wisdom by experience!" + +"True for you, sorr," replied Mr McCarthy, stretching out his brawny +fist; "and there's my hand on it to say I'll attind to your orders, if +it's to holystone the face of that ould cliff there." + +"All right, my friend!" said Mr Meldrum, shaking the hand outstretched +cordially. "I see we understand each other; and, believe me, I'll not +be a hard taskmaster." + +"I'm certain of that, sir," responded Mr Adams; and the trio then +parted company to carry these arrangements into effect, the first result +of which was that everybody looked more cheerful than they had been +since the completion of the house, after finishing which some dulness +and lassitude had been observable in the men, coupled with a tendency to +idle about and mope. + +This soon disappeared now when the first mate and Mr Adams, in +pursuance of Mr Meldrum's directions, made them bustle about here and +there. + +They did all sorts of jobs. They scraped the jolly-boat's planking, and +pitched her inside and out; after which they collected all the stray +blocks of basalt they could find and built a "shebeen," as Mr McCarthy +called it, to contain her, and then housed it and her over with all the +spare planks they could get hold of--marching miles along the black +sandy beach for the purpose of seeing what stray timber might be +stranded. In addition to this work achieved, they rigged up a flagstaff +on the head of the cliff and used to signal from thence at stated hours +of the day. In fact, they were employed in doing everything that could +be thought of to give employment to their minds and bodies, McCarthy and +Adams finding them fresh jobs continually. + +Amongst all these various tasks, however, the very needful one of +replenishing their gradually diminishing larder was not forgotten. + +"We've got some green-stuff," said Mr Lathrope--whom the question of +eating, or rather what to get to eat, seemed more materially to affect +than anyone else--"and I ain't a-going to gainsay but what it's fust- +rate green-stuff of the sort, and right down prime filling stuff too; +but, mister, we ain't all ben brought up to live on sauerkraut, like +them German immigrants as I've seed land at Castle Garden, New York. I, +fur one, likes a bit o' somethin' more substantial, that a feller can +chew. 'Spose we goes a-huntin', hey?" + +"Very good," replied Mr Meldrum to this exordium; "but what shall we +hunt!" + +"Anything you durned please, siree," said the other. "There's seals and +them penguins besides lots of cormorants and sichlike." + +"Well, I don't think the seals will want much hunting or shooting," said +Mr Meldrum; "for, if we come across any, a stroke over the nose with a +stick will settle them, and the same can be said of the penguins-- +although I don't want them to be disturbed yet, as it will soon be their +breeding season and I hope to get a lot of eggs from the little colony +adjacent to us. As for the cormorants, if you complained about the +former birds having a fishy taste, you'll find these fishier still. +However, to relieve your mind, I believe that there are a number of wild +rabbits on the island, so we'll try to shoot some of those." + +"Bully for you!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope. "We'll go rabbit-hunting, +mister, as soon as you please. If there wer one thing I liked in the +old country it wer rabbit-pie, and it kinder made me lonesome to think +I'd never fix my grinders through another 'fore I got played out!" + +"I've heard, too," continued Mr Meldrum, "that there's a very fine sort +of tern or duck here that is good eating; and I fancy I saw a brace fly +across the creek the other day. We might come across some!" + +"If we dew," said the American complacently, tapping the barrel of the +old rifle he had brought ashore as his most valued possession, and +spoken of as the gift of his deceased grandfather, "I guess Colonel +Crockett haar ken give a sorter good account of 'em. When I draws a +bead with that thaar rifle, mister, what I shoot at's as good as a gone +coon!" + +"I hope you'll have plenty of practice with it then, to the advantage of +our dinner-table," replied Mr Meldrum pleasantly, preparing for the +expedition by loading carefully a double-barrelled gun which he too had +saved from amongst the various goods and chattels he had left on board +the wreck. "You can have all the rabbits I kill if you let me have the +ducks." + +"That's a bargain, mister," said Mr Lathrope; "though I guess you'll +gain by the swop." + +"Sure and it sames to me you're both countin' your chickens afore +they're hatched," observed the first-mate with a huge grin at his own +joke. + +"You're not far wrong, Mr McCarthy," said Mr Meldrum. "I, for one, +don't expect to come back overladen with game; but of course I can't +answer for my friend here, who may be another American `Deerslayer,' for +all I can tell, though he'll find rabbits his biggest quarry on this +island." + +"Sir," retorted Mr Lathrope, "I ain't goin' to let out all I ken dew, +fur a leaky sieve's gen'rally bad for holdin' water, I guess; but, you +jest wait and see what you jest see!" + +"Arrah sure and we will, sorr," said Mr McCarthy, bursting into a +regular roar of laughter, in which Mr Meldrum and the others joined-- +Mrs Major Negus being especially prominent in her merriment, as she +always was when anything was said to the American's disadvantage, he +being apparently her direct antipathy. "But I hope, sorr, though it +goes agin my own counthry to say it, what you bring back won't be as +much as Paddy shot at." + +"You slide along with your durned brogue," was all the retort that Mr +Lathrope condescended to make to this hit. It touched him, however, on +his tenderest point, for he certainly prided himself on his proficiency +in the use of "the lethal weapon;" so, when he turned round and observed +that Master Snowball had heard the remark and was indulging in a quiet +guffaw at his expense, he rounded on him a little more sharply. "I +guess you'd better stow that, you ugly cuss!" said he menacingly; "or +else I'll soon make you rattle your ivories to another toon!" Whereupon +the darkey reduced his grin to a proper focus and endeavoured to look as +grave as he could. + +This appeased Mr Lathrope at once. + +"Oh! durn it all, nigger, laugh away," he said, his wrath passing away +as quickly as it had risen. "I guess those ken laugh who win;" and he +handed Snowball a chaw of tobacco to show that he did not harbour any +ill-will. + +Leaving their house on the creek--which, by the way, Florry had +christened "Penguin Castle," in consequence of its propinquity to the +colony of queer sea-fowl--Mr Meldrum and Mr Lathrope, with Frank +Harness, who was also of the shooting party as well as two men to help +in carrying back home the fruits of the sport, all pursued their way in +company up the valley in a north-easterly direction to the right of the +cliff against which the house was built. + +The ground here rose gradually as they went along, and the walking +became rather heavy after a time, in consequence of the snow having +partly thawed and the soil beneath it being of some sort of peaty +substance, into which their feet sank deeply at each step. + +Presently, Frank, to whom Mr Meldrum had lent a second gun he had +brought ashore, saw a bird just like a little bantam cock, which he at +once shot. + +This bird was pure white, with strong yellowish feet, that were not +webbed like those of aquatic habits, rather short wings like those of a +game bird, a strong black bill, stout spurs, and a bold black eye, which +latter seemed to reproach Frank when he went to pick it up. Mr Meldrum +said it was what was called a sheathbill, and not good for eating, which +made Frank regret all the more having killed it, especially when its +mate hopped up to him presently--as if asking him why he had shot her +husband! + +It was next Mr Lathrope's turn, a wild duck flying right over his head; +but, somehow or other, "Colonel Crockett's rifle" didn't happen to be +just ready in time, and the duck would have escaped but for Mr +Meldrum's bringing it down with his right barrel. It was really very +curious. + +The same thing resulted when a second teal, or widgeon--the wild duck +appearing to partake of the characteristics of both varieties--came by. +Strange to say, the American's weapon again missed fire, and Mr Meldrum +had to kill the bird with his left barrel. These repeated failures to +bring down anything made Mr Lathrope use rather strong language anent +the rifle. + +"Burn the old thing!" said he; "I can't make out what's come over it. +My old grandfather's shot scores of deer with the tarnation weppin, and +I guess it's jest cranky, that's all. I bet I'll shoot the next fowl +that comes across haar, or I'll bust it." + +Unfortunately, however, no more ducks were to be seen; but as they +ascended a rather steep and bare hill at the back of their own cliff, +and somewhat sheltered, like that, from the ocean winds, they noticed +one or two little objects, jumping up and down out of holes in the +ground and then scuttling back again--not from any alarm at their +appearance, but as if only in play, for they did not interrupt their +pastime for a moment as the shooting party approached. + +"By Jove! there are the rabbits," said Frank, levelling his gun. + +"Jeerusalem! so they air," exclaimed Mr Lathrope. "Dew let me hev the +first shot!" + +"All right; fire away!" replied Mr Meldrum, who was ready to aim at a +couple of the little creatures that were sitting up on a fragment of +rock right opposite the three sportsmen, apparently combing their +whiskers and eyeing them curiously the while. So near were they, +indeed, that the most unskilful marksman in the world could hardly have +missed them. + +"Here goes, mister!" ejaculated Mr Lathrope, pulling the trigger of his +piece with as strong an effort as if he were wrenching back a gate-post. +"I guess you'll soon see the fur fly." + +Instead of this, however, the phenomenon was witnessed of the fragments +of the rifle dispersing in all directions the moment it was discharged, +the American being at the same time knocked backward to the ground by +the kick of the weapon, which went off with a loud report. + +"You're not hurt, I hope?" asked Mr Meldrum, who with Frank had at once +hurried to the American's side and taken hold of his hand to raise him +up. + +"No, I guess not," replied Mr Lathrope slowly, getting up on to his +feet and proceeding to feel himself carefully all over. "No, I ain't +hurt; but I feels flummuxed by the durned old shootin'-iron. I +kalkerlate my grandfather was a fraud, and took me in on that job. I +would ha' betted my bottom dollar on the weppin, and now it ain't worth +a cent!" + +There was a pretty good laugh round at "Colonel Crockett's rifle," and +what it had brought down, but the American took it all with very good +temper. After that, Mr Meldrum and Frank handing him their guns +alternately, so that they all three could have a fair number of shots +apiece, they managed to make a very good bag out of the rabbits, which +were not in the least dismayed either by the bursting of the rifle in +the first instance, or by the rapid disappearance of their companions +subsequently, although each discharge of the sportsmen's guns laid many +of them low. + +Indeed, they might have shot the lot had not Mr Meldrum observed that +they had secured enough; besides which, the two sailors who accompanied +the party said they could not cram any more into the sacks they had +brought. Thereupon all set about counting the spoil, and found that +they had bagged no less than sixty-three brace. + +These, with five wild ducks--Mr Lathrope bringing down a pair right and +left, on their way back, in a fashion which amply retrieved his +character as a shot, and Frank securing the odd one--were the nett +result of the day's sport, in addition to the little sheathbill; and the +shooting party returned to the house under the cliff as well satisfied +with their own prowess as the home party were to welcome them, +especially as they were now so plentifully provided with what all had +been longing for since the last sheep had been washed overboard the +_Nancy Bell_ when she was off the Cape--fresh-meat! + +That very day Mr Lathrope had a pie made for his own special +delectation by Snowball as a sort of _amende honourable_ for the +darkey's laughter at Colonel Crockett's celebrated rifle, which had come +to such a deplorable and dangerous end; and, for some time after, the +entire community of "Penguin Castle," with the exception of the penguins +themselves, feasted upon bunnies _ad libitum_, until they could say, as +did the servants of that parsimonious nobleman who fed them without +change on similar fare:-- + + "Of rabbits young and rabbits old, + Of rabbits hot and rabbits cold, + Of rabbits tender and rabbits tough, + Thank the Lord, we've had enough!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +A CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION. + +In spite of the abundance of their supply of rabbits, however, Mr +Meldrum would not allow them to be prodigally wasted. + +Wisely "providing for a rainy day," he caused a considerable quantity to +be split open and cleaned; and, after the skin was removed, had them +rubbed over with dry salt, of which fortunately they had plenty. The +carcasses were subsequently hung up on lines across the general room, +adjacent to the fireplace, the warmth of which in a short time cured +them like hams, so that they would keep for weeks, and even months if +not required for culinary purposes earlier--as, it eventually turned +out, they were. + +It was a lucky thing that the shooting party went on their excursion +when they did. Had they delayed it, as might have been the case, until +they had turned their attention to the seals--which it had been Mr +Meldrum's intention first to have hunted, in order to obtain as many +furs as possible before the severe cold weather, that he expected soon +to set in--they might have starved; for, the very day that succeeded the +one on which they brought home the rabbits, a heavy fall of snow +commenced that completely blocked up all the approaches to the creek, +and compelled them to remain indoors during the ensuing week. The wind +blew so terribly keen and strong from the north-east, right over the +cliffs on the opposite side of the bay, during the whole time the snow +continued to fall, that it was painful in the extreme to be exposed to +it; while, if the door of the house happened to be left open but for a +few minutes, the driving snow-flakes made their way within and banked +themselves up like a heap of frozen drift in their midst. + +"Ah!" said Mr Meldrum, "I told you that the fine weather we had was +very exceptional, and could not last. It was providential that we were +prepared for this, or we should have been in a miserable plight." + +"You're right, boss," observed Mr Lathrope. "This air snow-storm is +jest like one of them blizzards I told you about when we were aboard the +old ship that I had noticed in Minnesota. I didn't kinder think then +that I should come across another o' them this side of the globe! I'd +ha' bet agin it any day." + +"Aye," responded the other, "it is a fortunate thing for all of us that +we cannot foresee the future, and that our strength is apportioned by +degrees to the burdens sent us to bear. The great majority of us would +succumb at once if we only knew the struggle that lay before us, the +griefs, the trials, the mental weariness, the physical pain!" + +"Oh, papa," said Kate, "don't speak so sadly! Let us rather think of +the joy and unlooked-for happiness which so frequently comes to our lot +when we have the least cause to expect them; and--and--" but here the +girl's voice faltered. + +Kate well knew the reason of her father taking so sombre a view of life, +and she shared the sorrow that filled his heart, for her mother had but +died a short period before they left England. + +"Think, papa," she added, after a pause, "of the glorious hope of +eternity, and the city within the golden gates, where we shall all of us +meet the loved ones who have gone before!" + +"Thank you, my child," replied Mr Meldrum, drawing her fondly to his +side, and speaking as if they were alone together. "You have taught me +a lesson, and I will repine no longer about the immutable. It is best +to look forward, as you say. We ought to recollect that all our days +must not necessarily be gloomy because for the moment they may happen to +be overcast!" + +"No, sirree," interposed Mr Lathrope, "and I guess this air blizzard +ain't going to last for ever:-- it looks now railly as if it wer' goin' +to leave off snowing." + +"I think you are right," said Frank Harness, who had been sitting on the +other side of Kate, listening quietly to the conversation between her +and her father. "I don't see any flakes now coming through the chinks +of the door, as they were doing a short time ago. It is either leaving +off, or the wind has chopped round to the southward and westward again." + +So saying, Frank got up and went to peer without the portal, the others +that were in the general room not stirring, for the greater number of +the seamen were asleep in their dormitory. It was getting towards +evening and most of the limited duties which it was possible to give the +men to do, now that they were continuously confined indoors, had been +already got through for the day. + +Only Ben Boltrope and Karl Ericksen, amongst the hands, were up and +awake; and they were engaged in playing a game of chequers with a set of +counters which the Norwegian had skilfully carved out of black basalt +and white pumice-stone, both of which had been found lying close +together at the bottom of the creek. The board that they played on was +made by the carpenter, but it had been divided into proper squares +through the aid of Mr Meldrum's compasses and parallel ruler, wielded +by Mr Lathrope; so that all of them, so to speak, had a hand in the +construction of the complete article. + +Both Mr Lathrope and Frank were right as to the weather, for, although +the snow-flakes came down more slowly and were much smaller than they +had been, the shifting of the wind had created the change. This was now +blowing into the bay straight from the sea; and while the gale was still +as high and fierce as at the beginning of the snow-storm, it was not +quite so cold. + +The waves, however, were rolling against the cliffs just as they had +done when the _Nancy Bell_ struck on the reef, and the reverberation of +their roar was fearfully grand out in the open. The piled-up snow +against the sides of the house had so deadened the sound within, that +the party ensconced there could hear little beyond the whistling of the +wind round the eaves of the house. + +Frank returned to those within, after carefully closing the door again +behind him, just like the dove messenger came back to Noah and his +imprisoned family in the ark! + +Like the bearer of the olive branch, he too was a herald of glad +tidings. + +"There is a change," said he, addressing himself to Mr Meldrum, "and I +think, sir, we'll soon be able to get out again." + +"I'm glad to hear that," replied the other, getting up to look; but he +came back even sooner than Frank, and did not seem quite so jubilant. + +"I'm afraid the shift of the wind will not do us much good, as far as +getting about is concerned," he said. "It will only tend to drift the +snow where it has not penetrated before; and may very probably shut us +in more firmly than ever. I notice one good thing, however, that the +snowstorm has done. It has covered over the house, and we will be all +the warmer should it start freezing again!" + +"But won't it break down the roof?" said Mrs Major Negus, alarmed at +this. + +"Oh, no!" replied Mr Meldrum, "the roof is too strongly built for that; +besides which, we're under the lee of the cliff that protects us from +this very wind. Still, I hope we'll have a chance of getting some more +Kerguelen cabbage before the snow commences to fall heavily again, as +I've no doubt it will. I ought to have laid in a stock when we went +rabbit shooting that time. In this sort of treacherous climate one +should take advantage of every fine day and provide for the next." + +"You forget," said Mrs Major Negus, "sufficient for the day is the evil +thereof!" + +"But it don't say the good, only the evil, ma'rm; mind that," put in Mr +Lathrope. "Some folks seem to take a pleasure in twisting Scripture +contrariwise, jest to suit theer own squintin'-one-eye-skimmin'-the-pot- +and-t'other-lookin'-up-the-chimbley sort of conscience!" + +"Some people," retorted the lady, "never apply the parable of the mote +and the beam, because they can't see their own faults." + +"We should live and let live," said Mr Meldrum, trying to put a stop to +a sort of argument which was endlessly going on between the pair of +combatants, much to his annoyance generally, when Florry created a +diversion. + +"Look!" she exclaimed. "Puss has caught another mouse!" + +"Thar, boss," said Mr Lathrope laughing, "is a case in pint, to +illustrate yer saying about lettin' folks be. I'm afeard me and Missis +Meejur is unkimmon like the mouse and the cat!" + +"Speak for yourself, please," interposed the lady, thinking that he +meant to designate her as the feline animal. "If you've a mind to liken +yourself to one of those dreadful creatures that are always nibbling, I +don't choose to be called a cat." + +"I aren't a bit pertickler what you call me, ma'rm," replied the +American very good-humouredly, "although I confess I am a bit partial to +nibblin' when thar's anything good to eat!" + +"That's you all over," said Mrs Major with much satisfaction; when, as +she appeared pleased, Mr Lathrope allowed the conversation to rest +there, which satisfied Mr Meldrum also, as he did not like these +continual bickerings going on before the younger members of the party, +besides their being, as has been said, especially distasteful to +himself. + +The next day it stopped snowing altogether; consequently a vegetable- +hunting expedition was organised, a small party which started up the +valley managing to bring back with some difficulty a few heads of +cabbage, which with the dried rabbits alone now constituted their daily +fare--both the beef and pork getting so low that Mr Meldrum had to stop +their issue, although the men were not so hard pressed yet as to take to +the salted sea-elephant. + +Had the cabbage not been out of the line of drift, in a more secluded +portion of the creek, the vegetable-seekers would have been unable to +find it; for, the entire landscape was covered with a deep snow that was +evenly distributed over hollow and hill alike--the lower lying land and +the higher eminences so running into one another that they could not be +distinguished. The tops of the loftiest peaks, indeed, seemed to be +dwarfed down to the monotonous level of the plain; and, where elevated +at all, they resembled more a cluster of little round mounds like sugar- +loaves than anything else! + +During the cessation of the snow-storm, the castaways contrived to +secure another sea-elephant which visited the bay, Karl Ericksen +harpooning him in the water. This time the men did not despise the +flesh, but appeared to relish it very much when Snowball fried it +fresh--a considerable portion of it being eaten in this way; while all +the fat and blubber was melted down, and the remainder of the meat +salted and packed in the cask with the other seal beef which was as yet +untouched. + +On one of these days, too, Ben Boltrope went fishing from the lower +cliffs, just above the bay at the head of the creek--on account of the +sea there being calmer, and no breakers ruffling the water near. + +This pursuit would have been tried before, only that amongst the various +articles that had been brought away from the ship there was not a single +fish-hook The old man-o'-war's man, however, had at length managed to +overcome the difficulty, manufacturing in his leisure moments a very +good substitute by beating out some small nails that he had previously +made malleable by putting them in the fire. After spending some hours +angling, Ben returned home with some half a dozen fish about the size of +a small haddock. These had their heads armed with stout strong spines; +but in spite of this peculiarity, they proved under Snowball's +manipulation to be very palatable, and Mr Lathrope, "for one," as he +himself said, regretted that the carpenter had not caught more; he +"guessed" he would have "gone for 'em!" + +The interregnum of fine weather did not last long; for, soon the snow +set in falling again as if it would never stop. The days, consequently, +grew unutterably dreary, from the misfortune of all being perforce +confined, as before, to the house by the bitter cold wind; and, to make +matters worse, the snow-flakes now seemed to penetrate through the +tiniest crevices within the hut, so that the air in the interior of the +dwelling was of the temperature of freezing, no matter how great a fire +was kept up! + +While this lasted, Mr Meldrum devised all sorts of amusements for the +men. + +Amongst other things tried was music, one of the crew having made a +banjo, the strings of which were twisted from the smaller intestines of +the last sea-elephant they had killed; and by the aid of this instrument +harmonic meetings were organised in the evenings, Mr Lathrope +developing an almost forgotten talent he possessed, and coming out as a +comic singer. He absolutely bewitched even the "Major," with his +version of "Buffalo Gals," and the "Cackle, cackle, flap your wings and +crow," chorus of the Christy Minstrels, who certainly, in his person, +did perform on this occasion out of London! + +It was at this period, when the days seemed as if they would never end +and the nights longer, that a memorable event occurred for two, at +least, of the party. + +Ever since that night of the storm on board the _Nancy Bell_, when she +had, as he firmly believed, saved his life by catching hold of him as he +was on the point of being washed away by the sea, Frank had become +deeply attached to Kate; and the more he saw of the true-hearted girl-- +her fond affection for her father, her anxious solicitude towards her +little sister, her kind sympathy for everybody--the more his affection +ripened, until at length he thought he could conceal his dawning love no +longer. + +Then came the wreck; and, in the trying scenes which subsequently arose, +in which the two were each in their own way actors, the more Frank saw +to admire in his fairy ideal, the prompt courageous woman of action. +Subsequently they were thrown more closely together in the enforced +companionship of the castaway community on the desolate shores of +Kerguelen Land, when every moment increased their intimacy, while it +enabled him to study more closely those salient points of her character +which appeared to develop themselves as circumstances called them +forth--her filial love, her devotion to her sister, her unconquerable +faith, her unbounded hope and cheerfulness in the most despondent +situations--but, above all, her innate sense of religion, a feeling that +seemed to underlie her nature and yet which in no wise detracted from +her superabundant animal spirits, which harmonised themselves to the +moods and weaknesses of all. Seeing all this, and noting what he saw +and reverenced, Frank could not but love Kate Meldrum with all the +warmth and passion of his heart. So loving her, and dying for the want +of some response to the wealth of affection he had so long treasured up +in his breast, he could not refrain from seeking from her a word of +hope. + +It was one evening when, save to him and her, it appeared to be the +dreariest of all the dreary ones they had already passed in their +extemporised dwelling--"home" they called it, as people will style any +shelter to which they can retreat from all the trials and exposures of +the outside world, "no matter how homely!" + +The seamen had all retired to their dormitory, as had likewise Mr +McCarthy and Adams; while Mr Lathrope was nodding in one corner of the +general room by the fireplace, and Mr Meldrum immersed in thought in +the other. + +Florry and Maurice Negus had both gone to sleep long since. Mrs +"Major," and the stewardess had also retreated to their sleeping +chamber; and thus, Frank and Kate were, so to speak, alone. The +opportunity was propitious. + +They had been talking for some time in a low tone of voice, so as not to +interrupt the others. In a desultory way, they had thus chatted about +all sorts of things and had at last lapsed into silence--a silence that +remained for some time unbroken. + +At length Frank spoke. + +By a strong effort, he at once went to the point + +"Kate," said he suddenly, in a voice rendered so thick by emotion that +she could not help starting, although she made no reply. + +"Kate, do you remember you promised to call me `Frank' that night on the +wreck when we expected every moment that the _Nancy Bell_ would go down +with us and every soul aboard?" + +"Ye-es," she murmured, very softly and in a hesitating way. + +"Well, I want you to call me always so--that is to have the right--you +know what I mean." + +Her tender blue eyes were raised to his inquiringly. + +"I love you," he cried passionately, "and I want you to promise--" + +"Hush!" said she, putting her hand over his lips; but he only kissed the +hand, and went on with what he was about to say when she had interrupted +him. + +"I want you, Kate, my darling, to promise to be my wife!" he said. "I +love you more than I can tell--I have loved you since ever I first saw +you--and I shall love you till my dying day; will you promise, Kate, to +be my wife? but, if you can't yet do all I ask, will you try to love me +a little? Oh, Kate, I do love you so dearly!" + +Her head bent lower and lower, so that he had to bend his too in order +to see what her face said, for she would not speak; and, as the +firelight danced upon the dear face and lightened up the blue eyes which +so shyly looked into his, Frank seemed to read an answer there that was +favourable to his hopes, for he passed his arm round her waist without +another moment's hesitation, and ventured to imprint a kiss upon her +lips. + +"My darling, my darling!" he murmured in an ecstasy of joy; but just +then Mr Meldrum raised his head from between his clasped hands and +looked at the pair. + +He evidently realised what had happened, and, as evidently, he was not +taken by surprise at the event. Nor, indeed, would anyone else have +been in the whole community; for Frank's love to Kate had been as +palpable to all as the famed ostrich of the story was when it hid its +head in the sand and imagined itself invisible to its pursuers! + +"My children," said he kindly, coming over to them and holding out his +hand to Frank, who at once grasped it, "I expected this; and I cannot +say I am displeased. I know you have an affection for each other--" + +We love each other," interrupted Frank eagerly. + +"Well, you love each other, if you prefer it being so put; but you are +both very young, and you must wait for some time even after we are +released, as I hope we shall be by and by, from this desert isle. I +have seen enough of you, Frank Harness, to feel confident that I can +trust my daughter's happiness to your keeping; but you must first secure +a name and a competence for yourself before you can dream of asking her +to be your wife. You see, my boys I may perhaps have overheard more of +your whispered conversation than you thought! I can give Kate nothing, +for I am a ruined man, and was going out to New Zealand to try and +retrieve my lost fortune when this untoward disaster happened!" + +"Mr Meldrum," said Frank respectfully, standing up by the side of the +other and facing him like a man, "I want nothing but Kate. She is the +greatest fortune I could ever crave! My father is a rich man, one of +the largest ship-owners in Liverpool, and my taking to the sea has been +strongly against his wish, although he consented to it when he saw how +bent I was upon being a sailor. He could make me independent to-morrow +if I asked him." + +"I prefer you as you are, Frank," responded Mr Meldrum; "and I'm sure +so does Kate, eh?" + +Yes," said she shyly, and blushing as she looked up for an instant. + +"Then keep as you are, my boy,"--continued her father--"and as soon as +you are captain of a vessel of your own--and Mr McCarthy tells me you +are quite competent to pass the Trinity-House examination for a first- +mate's certificate; why, you may come to me and claim Kate's hand!" + +"Is that a bargain?" asked Frank anxiously, looking from one to the +other. + +"It is," replied Mr Meldrum, while Kate faintly whispered another +"yes." + +"Then," said Frank triumphantly, "she shall be my wife before another +year goes over our heads; for, I can pass as soon as I go home for a +first officer's certificate, and get a ship to command immediately +afterwards if I like. Look out for me to make my claim within that +time, according to your promise!" + +"And I guess I'm witness to that thaar agreement," exclaimed Mr +Lathrope, starting up. + +The artful old fellow had been "playing 'possum," as he termed it, all +along; only waiting for the denouement of the little drama before +disclosing himself. However, he seemed so genuinely pleased with what +had taken place that neither of the principal performers could be angry +with him for listening. + +"I'm downright real glad," said he after a bit, congratulating them both +and wringing poor Frank's hand well nigh off in the exuberance of his +delight. "Say, if yer don't believe me, may I never eat another clam +chowder agin--durn my boots if I ever will, thar!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +BLACK SNOW! + +By the middle of September, the worst of the winter weather was over, +the snow gradually ceasing to fall and the drifts that had accumulated +in the valley up which the creek entered, and where the shipwrecked +people from the _Nancy Bell_ had built their house--beginning to melt +under the influence of the milder winds and increasing warmth of the +sun's rays. + +But, everywhere the landscape still remained wrapped in the same white +mantle it had worn ever since the castaways had first taken up their +residence on the island, the bare spots then apparent in some places, +which was a circumstance owing to the shelter of the cliffs and crags in +the immediate vicinity of the sea, having been subsequently covered by +the heavy storms at the end of August. + +It would take a long time, all saw, for the snow to clear away even if +the most rapid thaw were now to set in; and this the climate did not +permit of, the transition from winter to spring being carried through a +course of progressive stages that were as disagreeable as they were +prolonged. + +There was balm in Gilead, however. + +Not long after the last of the heavy snowfalls, and when the days began +to grow brighter, thus enabling the castaways to crawl out in the open +and have a little more exercise than they could obtain within doors, the +bird colony adjacent to "Penguin Castle" became largely increased, their +numbers swelling continually by fresh accessions; so that, in a short +time, it was impossible for any of the people to stir out of their +habitation without stumbling across a batch of penguins, ever +continually grumbling, croaking, chuckling, and otherwise expressing +their indignation at being, as they seemed to think, so unjustly +interfered with by the castaways. + +It was evident that the building season of the birds had arrived; and it +could not certainly have come at a more auspicious time, for their +provisions were almost exhausted and Mr Meldrum was in great straits +how to supply the party with food. The despised flesh of the sea- +elephants, even, had by this time been consumed and all hands placed on +short allowance, it being impossible to go out hunting again as yet, or +to penetrate up the valley to the rabbit warren, on account of the snow +blocking the way and rendering the ascent of the hills impracticable. + +The influx of the penguins, therefore, for which he had been looking out +for the last few weeks and had almost despaired of, was hailed by Mr +Meldrum with the deepest joy, for it solved his greatest difficulty at +once, taking away the fear of starvation that had been haunting him. +With such a plentiful supply of the birds, they might now hope to last +out until they could procure more palatable food; and those who were +"squeamish" in objecting to the fishy odour of the penguins themselves, +would _faut de mieux_ find plenty of sustenance in the eggs that there +was no doubt would soon be laid in much greater abundance than they +either required or could consume. + +As the penguins mustered their forces, each day seeing some fresh +arrivals to fight for the occupation of the rookery, they were a +constant source of amusement to the snow-bound party, who, not being +able to stir far from the doorway of the "castle," had nothing hardly to +occupy their attention save the movements of the birds. + +The penguins, they observed, were of four different classes or +varieties, although all belonged to the same family, partaking of the +common characteristics of such; but, even as they differed in size and +appearance, so they presented diverse modes of conducting their domestic +arrangements and varied in their habits. + +Some were of the most retiring nature. These, isolating themselves in a +separate encampment, drew a strong line of demarcation between the abode +of their neighbours and their own retreat, as if they were of too +exclusive a temper to associate with the common herd; while others, of +quite a different species, appeared to have no false pride which +prevented them from associating with the rest, of whatever class they +might belong to, for they were "hail fellow well met" almost on their +arrival with every bird in the rookery. + +"Them's republicans, I guess," said Mr Lathrope, noticing this trait of +character. "They don't care a cuss for social distinctions!" + +Mr Meldrum, having had some previous acquaintance of the penguin family +when on board a ship which had been employed in surveying duties in the +Straits of Magellan and round the Falkland Islands, was able to give the +others a good deal of information about the birds. + +There were four varieties, he said, on Kerguelen Land, as far as he +could see, namely:-- the "king penguin," the aristocrat of the +community, who kept aloof from the rest; a black-and-white species that +whaling men call the "johnny;" a third, styled the "macaroni penguin," +which had a handsome double tuft of rich orange-coloured feathers on +their heads; and a fourth variety, distinct from the last-mentioned only +from its smaller size, and the fact of its plume or crest being single +instead of double, and of a pale sulphur yellow in lieu of orange. + +Amongst the penguins, too, were to be seen numbers of little +sheathbills--just like small bantams, similar to the specimen Frank +Harness had shot, and which he was so sorry about. The little birds +went about in pairs and appeared to act as the scavengers of the larger +ones, for they haunted their breeding-places, scraping about the nests +and dung, clearing out the rotten eggs, and making free with the insects +that properly appertained to the penguins. Indeed, they were impudent +enough sometimes to seize upon the freshly-laid egg that some lady +macaroni had laid, right under the eyes of its owner, feloniously +appropriating it to their own use; while they thought nothing of giving +an occasional peck to one of the king penguins if he got in their way, +regardless of his exalted position! + +Flocks of shags, or cormorants, also visited the bay at the same time. +These were found good eating, although not so fleshy as the penguins; +and, before the end of the month, there came a large family of seals, +which would probably have taken up their abode in the creek had not some +of the sailors frightened them away so effectually by their +indiscriminate slaughter that they never returned, nor did any others +come subsequently to the place. + +The coats of these seals were of a fine iron-grey hue, something like +that of an otter, only with much more delicate hair. Mr Meldrum was +very anxious to secure as many of them as was possible, so he was much +chagrined when they disappeared and left him fur-less. + +Another visitor was the pretty little Cape pigeon, which Kate recognised +as an old friend and was delighted to see. It reminded her, she told +Frank, of "old times," when they grew acquainted with each other on +board the _Nancy Bell_ and watched the stars at night--and all the rest +of it! + +But the penguins were the great attraction. + +They were "food for the mind and food for the body as well!" the +American would say, as he watched Snowball picking the feathers off some +scores of the birds when preparing the dinner. The darkey would persist +in putting himself to this trouble every day, in spite of Mr Meldrum +telling him that the easiest plan was to skin them, when the feathers +would come off in a lump in a quarter of the time; but Snowball would +not be persuaded to adopt this course, although the majority of the +sailors did so when preparing the penguins for storing up, and there was +consequently a large accumulation of skins, which came in very handy +presently for tailoring purposes. + +Through constant wear, the trousers of the majority of the menfolk were +into such a dilapidated condition that it became absolutely necessary to +try and restore them--none of the entire party having a single change of +clothing with them, excepting the ladies; while the only material +available for their rehabilitation was sailcloth, which, besides not +being enough for all, was rather too stiff a material for either comfort +or warmth. + +In this dilemma, the happy thought struck Mr McCarthy of fashioning a +pair of "unmentionables" out of penguin skins; and he had no sooner +"hatched the idea" than he carried it into practical effect by +instructing Ben Boltrope, who was by a long way the smartest and most +ready-witted of the men, to make him the trousers. + +The deed was accomplished; and, really, the garments did not look at all +bad when finished, for, on the removal of the outside feathers, the skin +of the bird was found to be coated with a fine down like that of the +eider-duck, which lent an originality of appearance to the trousers that +could hardly be described. + +"They're just like Barnum's woolly horse," said Mr Lathrope, +criticising them calmly. "If I were you, Mac, I wouldn't go nigh the +rookery with them on, or them birds will take you for a fledgeling, +mister, I guess!" + +"Begorrah, I don't care, for they're worrum and comfortable," said Mr +McCarthy, "and it's raal white ducks they are, anyhow!" + +They certainly looked it; but, as the first-mate would not be put out of +any conceit with the garments, in spite of their appearance, and as +others began to be similarly in need, they had perforce to follow his +example, when penguin trousers may be said to have "become the rage" on +the island--even Mr Lathrope, who had laughed at Mr McCarthy for +wearing them, having to follow the fashion and don the "ducks." + +Owing to this new demand on the feathered colony it would seem like +exaggeration to state how many thousands came to an untimely end, in +addition to the numbers that were killed to supply the daily necessities +of the table and the large quantity which Mr Meldrum had caused to be +prepared and dried, like the rabbits, "for a rainy day;" while, as to +the eggs that were eaten--well, the least said about these the better! + +From all of this it may be gathered that the penguins made a bad move +when they came back to their old breeding-place; but the stupid birds +never seemed to be aware that they could at any time save themselves by +flight if they liked, although they must have been somehow or other +acquainted with the deplorable fact--in a bird-like way--that their +rookery was becoming rapidly depopulated! No, notwithstanding that they +saw their friends and relatives repeatedly slaughtered before their very +eyes--their penguin parents, children, godfathers, godmothers, and first +cousins thus perishing at the hands of miscreants in human form, and +subsequently converted into food and clothing and to other "base uses" +by those who took their innocent lives--they never appeared to make an +effort in self-defence, either by executing a "strategical movement" or +otherwise! + +The spirit of penguinism, so to speak, was dead, the bird colony +contenting themselves by grumbling, an infallible resource for all +similarly constituted creatures--in which respect, as Mr Lathrope was +pleased to put it, they resembled a class of modern politicians who need +not be alluded to here. + +Amongst those included in the list of penguin slayers was one who +pursued them to the death--although rather through a desire for +malicious sport and self-gratification than from any actual necessity-- +and this vindictive enemy was Master Maurice Negus. + +The young gentlemen had developed many pleasing traits of character +during the comparatively short period during which he was brought into +public notice as one of the passengers of the ill-fated _Nancy Bell_; +but in none of these had he so well exemplified his natural and +ingenious bias of mind as in the little predilection, if it may be so +termed, for bird slaughter _in ovum_, which first saw the light in +Kerguelen Land. + +Soon after the penguins came to breed there, Master Maurice noted them +carefully, and it pleased him much thereafter to go "bird-nesting," as +he called it. He would go by himself and remain away for hours, no one +knowing what "the imp," as all spoke of him, was up to; but one day it +was discovered that the fancy for "collecting eggs," according to his +own explanation, consisted in swallowing as many raw ones as he could +get hold of unseen--he being observed on the occasion in question to get +rid of a round dozen of the eggs deposited by the penguins, just as he +would have done so many oysters, saying afterwards when taxed with the +gluttony that he felt delicate, and had heard that eggs were recommended +by doctors for consumptive patients! + +But, later on, the young gentleman "caught a tartar." + +On his last bird-nesting excursion he happened, fortunately or +unfortunately, to shove a half-hatched egg down his throat; and, the +embryo bird nearly choking him, his poultry-fancying propensity was +transformed into an inveterate dislike towards the entire penguin +tribe--a slightly lucky mistake for the creatures in question, as +thereby the list of their enemies became decreased by one. + +Time thus slipped by with the inhabitants of the house on the creek. + +Melting by degrees, the vast piles of snow began to vanish from the +valleys and low-lying lands, although still clothing the distant hill- +sides and mountain-peaks, from the loftier ones of which it probably +never entirely cleared away even in the height of summer; but, the +ground around was naturally so damp and marshy, and had become so +soddened now with moisture, that it was almost as impracticable for Mr +Meldrum or any other of the party to get away from the vicinity of the +hut, as it had been during the heavy storms of August when the snow had +drifted up the gullies and levelled the country. + +In fact it was more so, for, the accumulated water, proceeding from the +thaw and the rain, which came every now and then to aid it, had swelled +the fresh-water tarn near them so greatly that it had overflowed its +banks, which now extended on the right to the base of the furthest hills +at the head of the valley that penetrated the creek; while, to the left, +the water was pouring down, a foaming torrent, into the sea--the house +being almost surrounded and separated by the newly-made river from the +little building in which the jolly-boat had been housed on the beach. + +They were thus threatened with a flood, for the water was rising every +moment and slowly creeping up to their feet, narrowing the little +peninsula on which their habitation stood. + +That was not the worst either! + +While they were pondering as to the best means for extricating +themselves from the danger of being washed away, a new one arose. + +Through the melting of the snow on the mountains above, a sparkling +cascade commenced all at once to leap down the face of the cliff at the +back of the house, right on to the roof over their heads. + +This was serious; for, should this peril not be guarded against and some +sort of pent-house put up as a shield, the slight timber work of the +roof would soon be crushed in and swept away by the ever-increasing +weight of the falling water. + +In the midst of these imminent dangers, a phenomenon occurred which for +the moment appalled everybody, not even excepting Mr Meldrum--it was so +strange, so awe-inspiring! + +It commenced snowing again; but there was nothing unusual in that. What +was unusual was, that the flakes which fell, instead of being white, +were as black as ink! + +What could the awful portent foretell? + +It was inexplicable. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +AN APPARITION! + +"Goodness gracious me!" exclaimed Mrs Major Negus in accents of genuine +terror, "the world's coming to an end!" and she sank down in a heap on +the ground, close to the door of the general room, where she had been +standing uncertain whether to go out or in. + +There was ample reason for the good lady's consternation, for danger +seemed staring her in the face in either direction. + +On the one hand, the flood in the valley appeared approaching as if to +swallow up the hut and all its belongings; while, on the other, the +deafening noise of the water pouring down from the cliff above on to the +roof made everybody feel impelled to quit the house. + +Mary Llewellyn, the stewardess, generally a quiet and retiring person, +was driven into a fit of hysterics by the concatenation of horrors that +all at once surrounded them. + +As for the children, they shared the fright of their elders, Florry +clinging convulsively to Kate, who had dropped on her knees and was +praying in the corner--believing really that the last supreme moment was +at hand. + +The men, too--they had been hastily called together the moment the +dangerous predicament of the roof was noticed, and had begun to knock +together a sort of wooden shield to interpose between the cliff and the +top of the house, so that the water might rim over it in the fashion of +a spout--stopped in their task with one accord, staring as if bewildered +at each other the moment the terrible black snow began to fall from the +sombre pall-like clouds which hung over the creek. This was immediately +after the cascade of water came down the cliff; and so frightened were +they, that not one of them uttered a word, nor did Mr McCarthy, who had +summoned them together, urge them on with their work. All remained +spell-bound and tongue-tied. + +"It air orfull," said Mr Lathrope, drawing a deep breath, and looking +up at the sky as if to peer into its mysteries. "I guess I never seed +such a fall before--no, nor nobody else in the land of the living!" + +No one answered him, however; for, at that moment, there was a strange +concussion in the air, the earth shaking beneath their feet, and they +were all thrown to the ground. At the same time, the black flakes +descended faster and faster as if to bury them, and some of the men, +imitating the example of the women, cried out in positive alarm. + +Mr Meldrum was the first to recover his self-command. + +"Silence!" he shouted, making his powerful voice heard above the chorus +of groans and shrieks that arose from the frightened men and screaming +women. "It's only an earthquake; and God will protect us here against +the perils of the land, the same as he did through the tempests of the +deep! Let us meet what may be in store for us with the courage of brave +men and faith of Christians!" + +His words at once checked the tumult--even the stewardess and Mrs Negus +hushing down their wailing outcry to an occasional moan or faint muffled +sob, which they could not quite stifle; but the strange rocking motion +of the ground, which seemed as if they were again on shipboard, +prevented the yen from at once regaining their feet, only a few being +able to scramble up into an erect position by holding on to the supports +of the house, which fortunately stood the shock of the subterranean +commotion without giving way. + +"The worst is past now," said Mr Meldrum presently, as the throbs of +the earthquake grew less and less potent and the quivering sensation, +which appeared to jingle through every nerve in their bodies, died away +into a faint rumbling in the distance, that finally disappeared a few +seconds afterwards--the whole thing not lasting longer than a minute +altogether, although it seemed more than an hour to the terror-stricken +people. "I don't think we'll have another shock." + +He stood up firmly as he spoke; and those of the men who were still +lying on the ground rose too. + +"But the snow, sir," said one. "What does that mean?" + +"Why, look--can't you see!" replied he, drawing his hand over his face +and showing it to the speaker. + +"Lor' bless us!" ejaculated the sailor. "It's only smut from the +chimbley." + +"Ah! it came from a bigger chimney than we have here," said Mr Meldrum. +"There has been a volcanic eruption on the island; and what we all +thought was black snow was only the ashes thrown up from the crater, and +these have now been brought down from the higher air by the descending +ram." + +"Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last +to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground +as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy +said. "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer +nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts +of the world! I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!" + +"I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the +earthquake. Then I recollected about the volcano." + +"Oh! the one down south, that we seed to leeward when the old ship poked +her nose on the reef?" + +"The same," said the other. "It was smoking then; and we've just had +the eruption. It is pretty nearly over, I think, however, for the ashes +are not falling quite so thickly now." + +"I'm glad to hear that," said Mr Lathrope. "Gin it didn't stop soon, +we'd all be transmogrified inter blacker niggers than the cook haar!" + +"I ain't no nigger, massa!" interposed Snowball, feeling his dignity +insulted by the remark. + +"My crickey!" ejaculated the American, emitting a shrill whistle of +astonishment at the naive assertion. "Then what, in the name of George +Washington and Abe Lincoln rolled into one, air you, sir-ree!" + +"I'se a 'spectable collud genlemun," replied the darkey pompously. + +"I guess you'll do," said Mr Lathrope laughing. "Jest hear that, now! +Waal, never mind, my Ethiopian serenader," he added good-humouredly. +"You're none the worse fur your colour, as fur as I ken see; and I will +say this fur you, that you're the slickest and smartest ship's cook I +ever came across from Maine to Californy; and that's saying something!" + +"Tank you, massa," replied Snowball, much flattered by the compliment. +"I make you one good rabbit-pie next time I'se get rabbits." + +"That's a bargain!" said Mr Lathrope; and there the incident ended. + +"Rouse up there with that spout!" shouted out Mr McCarthy, who had at +once turned back to tackle the roof as soon as the alarm caused by the +earthquake had passed away. "Bedad, if you don't look pretty sharp, +there'll be no ruff to put it on, at all at all!" + +"That's right!" said Mr Meldrum. "In the fear of a greater calamity, I +had forgotten the lesser danger! Do you think the roof will bear the +pressure on it?" + +"Sure, sorr," replied the other. "It has borne it all this toime, and +the ould house has stood the airthquake; so, there's hopes that it'll +last out yit! It is more frightened of the flood coming up and swaping +it away I am, than that the wather'll do it any harm." + +"Then we're safe, thank God!" said Mr Meldrum. "The river has not +swelled any more since I last marked it. It seems to have worn a +channel deep enough to carry off all the overflow from the valley, +without spreading further and threatening the house. I think we are out +of danger now." + +"We've much to be thankful for, papa," observed Kate thoughtfully. + +Frank had joined her within, after the last shock of earthquake, having +been engaged before in helping Mr McCarthy on the roof; so his prayers +had ascended to heaven along with hers, the two kneeling side by side in +silent worship and praise to Him who had watched over them. + +Coming out of the house together, they had approached the spot where Mr +Meldrum was standing. + +"Yes, my child, we have much to be thankful for," said he in answer to +Kate's observation. "You need not fear now, my dear," he added. + +"I was not frightened, even when the earth trembled, papa." + +"No!" said he inquiringly. + +"No, not a bit," she answered quietly; "although, I confess, I thought +we should all be killed. I can't tell what sort of feeling seemed to +possess me; but I felt quite peaceful and happy, as if I were prepared +to die!" + +"Ah!" said her father, "you had that peace which the world cannot give! +I--I--" + +"I felt happy, papa," continued Kate, as if uttering her thoughts aloud, +"because I thought we would see mamma again--you, and I, and Florry." + +"And didn't you think of me too, Kate; and wish me to be with you?" +asked Frank eagerly. + +"Yes, you too," said she. "Don't you belong to me now?" Mr Meldrum +did not hear Frank's answer; for his attention was at that moment called +away by Ben Boltrope, who had come up to report that the roof had been +made snug, the water from the cliff now arching over it in a cascade, +and not pouring down directly on to it as it had done before, when it +fell with terrific force right upon the shingles, displacing some which +were now repaired as soon as the spout was put up. + +The weather improved very much after this, the sun appearing and shining +with increasing power each day, while the snow disappeared entirely from +the valleys and lower portions of the hills. The water below, however, +did not drain off sufficiently to allow of any excursion for some days +towards the rabbit warren they had visited before, or of their going +anywhere, indeed, far from the little stretch of beach before the creek. + +But, in spite of this drawback, the castaways' stock of provisions was +most unexpectedly added to, a very agreeable change of diet from penguin +fricassees being introduced, by the coming of large flocks of wild +ducks, which visited the valley a few days after they were all in danger +of being flooded out. The water evidently was the attraction, for, +previously, none of the water-fowl had ever come near the place--with +the exception of a solitary couple of teal that Mr Meldrum had noticed +flying over the creek shortly after they landed from the wreck. + +The first day that they had roast duck for dinner, everybody thought +that Mr Lathrope would have said something about the unexpected treat; +but he did not, and Mrs Major Negus seemed somehow or other much vexed +at his silence in the matter. + +"You generally speak a good deal about eating," said she at last +impatiently. "I wonder why you've nothing to say now!" + +"Ah! marm," replied Mr Lathrope, "don't you be surprised at anything! +I'd advise you never to measure other people's corns by your own +chilblains! Because you happen to set your fancy on a thing, that's no +reason for other folks to do the same!" + +"No," said she; "though I can't see the application of your remark about +chilblains, for I never had one in my life." + +"Ah! that's a sort of metaphorical conundrum, which I leave you to find +out bye and bye! But, if you'd really like to know why I ain't +satisfied with having roast duck to dinner, I'll tell you; it makes me +feel kinder lonesome, it dew!" + +"Why!" + +"'Cause there ain't no green peas with it, marm," said Mr Lathrope, +with a melancholy smile. "I guess I'm a whale on peas, I am!" + +It was now the end of September; but the month was not fated to pass +without another event happening to break the monotonous life of the +little party. On its very last day, something occurred which took them +all by surprise. + +It may be remembered that when Mr Meldrum assumed the command of the +party in the place of Captain Dinks, who was still on the sick list and +recovering slowly but yet far from well, he established certain +regulations for the employment of the men. + +Amongst the several duties they had to perform, in accordance with these +regulations, was the one of keeping watch, as if on guard, for a certain +stated number of hours at the foot of a short flagstaff which had been +erected on the top of a little eminence overlooking the beach in front +of the creek--a man being stationed here regularly to report anything +that might come in sight. This duty, it may be added, had been a +sinecure from the date of its institution, nothing having ever since +been seen. + +On this last day of September, however, all hands were electrified by +the look-out man calling out, just about noon. + +"Sail ho!" + +"A sail!" cried Mr Meldrum, quite as much astonished as the rest; and +he hurried out to scan the offing. However, he could not see anything, +and thought the man must have been asleep at his post and dreaming. "Do +you know what you are saying?" he called out to the look-out. "Where +away is this sail, my man!" + +"Far off on the port side of the reef, sir," answered the sailor, +speaking quite composedly. + +"What do you make it?" asked the other, as he hastened to the look-out +station, which commanded a larger stretch of the coast than could be +seen from the house--Mr McCarthy and the others following after him +with anxious curiosity. + +"Looks like a boat's sail, sir; but, it's so far to leeward, I can't +quite make it out yet." + +"I see," said Mr Meldrum, who had now reached the man, taking his glass +from his pocket and looking in the direction pointed out. "Yes, there +is a small boat, sure enough. By Jove," he added presently, "I wouldn't +be surprised if it were the missing mutineers in the longboat turned up +at last! Look, McCarthy, and see if you don't recognise the _Nancy +Bell's_ boat by the white streak below the gunwale." + +The first-mate took the telescope and gazed intently at the approaching +object for some few moments. He then turned round and stared at Mr +Meldrum. + +"Be jabers, it is the longboat, sorr!" he exclaimed at length; "and +faix, sorr, I belave I can say that baste Moody lookin' out over the +gunwale, as if tellin' thim where to steer, with his long black hair and +ugly mug, and the cut across his hid which the cap'en giv him wid the +butt end of his pistol! The murtherin' villin! won't I be aven wid him +if iver he comes ashore, and pay him out--bad cess to him!" + +"Are you sure," said Mr Meldrum, "that it is the long-boat?" + +"As sartin as there's mud in a ditch, son--the divil a doubt of it!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +A TERRIBLE TALE! + +By this time, the news having rapidly spread amongst the little +community that the longboat was in sight, every one--save of course poor +Captain Dinks, who could not yet move--had come out of the house. + +The castaways were gathered together in little groups, some near Mr +Meldrum and the first-mate, who stood by the flagstaff, others along the +ridge which ran from thence above the beach, and the remainder on the +shore; but all were intent on one object, and looking down the bay at +the little speck in the distance that was said to be the boat, which was +steadily making its way towards the creek. The tide was on the ebb and +against its onward progress, although the wind was in its favour, so it +approached only very slowly. + +Mr Meldrum's first intention on having his suspicions confirmed by the +mate's opinion, had been to haul down the flag--a little white ensign +made out of portions of some old silk handkerchiefs which had been +mustered amongst the party and sewn together by Kate; but, he dismissed +the idea as soon as the thought occurred to him. + +"No," said he to Mr McCarthy, belaying the halliards again, "it is too +late now, for they must have seen it. Besides, what have we to fear if +they do come? We can easily prevent them from landing, if we like, for +we're nearly two to one against them in numbers should they try force; +and we are stronger by far in moral as well as physical courage!" + +"True for you, sorr," replied the first-mate. "It's a good larrupping +they'd git, if they thried that on anyway. Bedad, I'd die aisy an' I +could only give that baste Moody the bating I've had in store for him +since he and his gang abandoned us, the dhirty schoundrels!" + +"We must forget the past, considering we've been so mercifully +preserved," said Mr Meldrum. "Perhaps it was all for the best that we +were not able to leave the ship when they did." + +"Maybe; but faix, they didn't have the dacency to ax us!" + +"Well, we'll see what they have to say for themselves when we've a +chance of speaking to them," said Mr Meldrum. "The boat's coming on a +bit quicker now. It has got out of the set of the tide and has the wind +well abeam, just the thing for that lugsail she carries." + +"Sure and she's a smart sailer, sorr," observed Mr McCarthy after a few +minutes' interval, during which time the longboat, which had been +heading up the coast, hauled her wind and was steered towards the +entrance of the little creek at the top of the bay, close by where the +flagstaff was erected and the Penguin Castle people were on the look- +out. + +As she came nearer, however, it could be seen that Mr McCarthy's +imagination had been quicker than his eyesight, for there was no one +looking out over the gunwale--least of all Bill Moody, whose tall +herculean form and peculiar visage would have been easily recognisable +even at some distance off. + +Indeed, there seemed to be very few persons in the boat at all, only two +being observed in the stern-sheets, one of whom was steering with an +oar, while a third was sitting on one of the forward thwarts attending +to the sheet of the lugsail, slacking it out as the wind came aft +occasionally, and hauling it in taut again when the sail jibed on the +boat's head falling off a point or two through the alteration of her +course now and again. + +The castaways were all in a state of the greatest expectation and +surmise, as the longboat gradually grew more visible and the small +number of its occupants became noticeable; for, as she rounded the point +of the ridge, those on the beach could now observe her as well as Mr +Meldrum and the first-mate, who were by the side of the look-out man at +the signal station on the higher ground and were the only ones able at +first to see the boat. + +"They look as if they'd had hard times," said Ben Boltrope, who was one +of those who could now have a look at the boat, "and some of them seem +to have lost the number of their mess." + +"And a durned good job, too!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope; "the mean skunks, +to scoot away and leave a lot of wemmen and children to drown, as they +thought. They've well arned any troubles they've come by, I guess!" + +"Poor creatures!" said Kate, who was standing near the American, with +Frank, of course, the inseparable, by her side; "please don't say that! +If all of us only just got what we deserved, we should have a sorry +reckoning!" + +"Very proper, and just what I think," observed Mrs + +Major Negus in a sort of condescending and approving way. "I do not +consider it right myself to condemn others, and never do it on +principle, for--" + +"Thar you go agin, measurin' other folks' corns right away by your own +chilblains, marm," interrupted Mr Lathrope. "It's allers what you'd +do; and you never kinder give a thought to what t'other people would +have to say in the matter! I guess you're a bit narrow-minded, excuse +me, marm." + +"Narrow-minded, humph!" snorted "the Major," highly indignant at the +accusation. "The idea of the thing! to be sure, Mr Lathrope, I ought +never to be surprised at anything you choose to say; your manners and +conversation are so very--ah, well--elegant!" + +"Much obleeged, marm, I'm sure," said the other, chuckling at making her +angry. "I took fust-class when at school in the States for elegancy and +deportment." + +"I'm sure I wish you had stopped there!" retorted the lady; but any +further amenities were arrested from passing between them by the nearer +approach of the longboat, and the fact of Mr Meldrum and those with him +coming down from the ridge so as to be on the beach when their +unexpected visitors got in to shore. + +Closer and closer the boat came, until at last its keel touched ground, +when, slewing round broadside on, it was left stranded on the beach. + +"Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, the lugsail swinging +aside and enabling him and the others to see into the boat clearly, a +thing which had been previously impossible from the boat's coming up end +on. "They air a ruin lot, mister! Of all the starved, God-forsaken +critturs as I've ever seed they're 'bout the worst!" + +They were. + +Only the man who had been steering with the oar and the one who was on +the thwart amidships were apparently able to sit up, for three other +figures were observed stretched in the bottom of the boat in a lump +together; while one was by himself in the bows, doubled up in a +crouching posture, quite dead and with his ghastly eyes staring out +sightless from the retreating sockets. The closely-drawn features and +general appearance of this latter miserable object showed that he must +have expired in the last stage of starvation! + +"Why, this is almost worse than you were when we picked you up off +Pernambuco," said Ben Boltrope to Karl Ericksen. + +"Ja, ja!" replied the Norwegian. "It var sehr kalt, and we was expose +as mooch as starve; but it vor bad, very, and so is dese, it remind me, +oh! so much;" and he turned away his head, as Kate had already done, +from the hideous spectacle, quite unable to gaze any longer at it from +its association with his own rescue from a similar horrible death. + +The men by Mr Meldrum's side, however--forgetting the past conduct of +the survivors of those in the longboat and the fact of their not only +having deserted them but even locked them below to drown in the hold of +the sinking ship--rushed into the water, eager, in the common exercise +of that humanity which is common to us all, but especially noticeable in +English sailors, to relieve the misery that was so apparent, and to +separate those who were living from those who had ceased to suffer; and, +of all these Good Samaritans, Mr McCarthy, who had been so bitter in +his denunciation of the mutineers, was the first to go forward, with +Frank and Mr Meldrum, you may be sure, not very far off. + +"Only six out of the dozen that left the ship!" exclaimed Mr Meldrum to +the man in the stern-sheets, to whom he extended his hand to aid him in +getting out of the boat. "Where are the rest of your number?" + +But the emaciated wretch--who seemed to have suffered considerable +bodily injury as well as want of food, for one of his arms hung down +powerless at his side, and there was a broad cut across his face from +some weapon--was as incapable of speech as he was apparently of moving. +His lips only worked feebly, without any sound coming from them, and he +stumbled and fell forwards on his face when he tried to rise by the aid +of Mr Meldrum's arm. + +"Bedad, they're in a bad way, sorr," said Mr McCarthy sympathisingly, +coming up and helping Mr Meldrum to lift the man out and place him on +the beach, where he had already laid down the corpse that had been in +the bows, throwing a bit of the sail over it to hide it for the time +from observation. "The poor divil can't spake, sure. I wondther which +of them it wor? I'm blest if I can make him out, and I knew all the men +purty well, most of them being in my own watch, by the same token." + +But just then, the stewardess saved him from puzzling over the man's +face any further. + +"It's Llewellyn, my husband!" she cried out, pushing Mr McCarthy away, +and taking the almost lifeless figure he was supporting tenderly in her +arms, oblivious of everything save of her natural womanly pity and love. +"The poor fellow! the poor fellow!" and she burst into tears over the +miserable semblance of the man, who, coward and deserter as he had +proved himself to be, had yet once been dear to her as her husband. + +"Ah! then he accompanied them too!" said Mr Meldrum reflectively to the +first-mate, as the last man was raised from the bottom of the boat and +carried as tenderly ashore as if he had been one of their own party and +a loved shipmate. "So there were thirteen of them altogether, instead +of twelve, as I thought! That makes seven unaccounted for. I wonder +what became of them!" + +"Sure and the divil only knows," replied the first-mate laconically, +"for Bill Moody, the baste, must be along o' them, as he's not with +these here; and he was sartain to be will looked afther by the ould +gintleman in black down below!" + +"Hush!" said Mr Meldrum. "If he is dead, let him rest in peace!" + +"Aye, aye, sort; so say I," answered Mr McCarthy; "and may joy go with +him, for he was the broth of a boy!" + +Bye and bye, when Llewellyn, the steward, recovered sufficiently to be +able to speak, he had a terrible tale to tell. + +On the outbreak of the row on board the ship, he said, between Captain +Dinks and Moody, he was about to slip forward to join Snowball in the +galley to have a warm, for he found it cold in his pantry; and, besides, +he had no one to speak to there, and he felt dull and cheerless. + +Frightened at the altercation and afraid of getting hurt in the scuffle +that arose, he hid himself in the bows of the longboat; and, as luck +would happen, he was there when the boat was launched and went away from +the side of the vessel with the mutineers, for he could not scramble out +in time. + +Bill Moody, said the steward, wanted to chuck him over board when he was +discovered; but the rest of the men overruled him, and he was allowed to +remain. + +The boat was carried far to leeward, and so pitched about by the heavy +sea which was running, that every moment they thought she would be +swamped. They had to bale her out continuously, for the waves broke +over her each moment, half-filling her on many occasions. + +Fortunately, they were not dashed ashore in the darkness against the +cliffs, which they could faintly see through the haze to be quite close; +and towards daylight they were able to get up the fore-sail and steer +her along the land, which stretched far away down to the southward, +miles away from where they had left the ship. The mutineers tried all +they could to find some place where they could beach the boat without +risk of getting her stove in on the rocks; but their efforts were vain. + +At last, they came past a mountain which was smoking, and as the shore +seemed to shelve down here, Moody determined to endeavour to land there, +saying that they would find the vicinity of the volcano warm and +comfortable--better than some frozen ice-glaciers which they had noticed +further north. + +After many attempts and failures, they managed to run the boat on to a +black sandy stretch of beach which opened out beyond the smoking +mountain; and here, they unloaded her in safety. + +They had then more provisions than would have lasted them for months +with care. + +"All of ourn!" ejaculated Mr Lathrope, interrupting the steward at this +point of the narrative. "We would ha' swopped some o' them penguins and +Kerguelen cabbage fur the lot, I guess." + +But, continued Llewellyn, the men wasted all the stores, recklessly +destroying much more than they ate; for they pitched away half-consumed +cans of preserved meat, opening fresh ones with the greatest +carelessness before requiring them. + +Besides all this, there was the drink--a curse which followed them from +the ship. + +Moody had contrived to secrete a cask of rum in the boat before quitting +the wreck, and this was opened soon after landing, he and most of the +mutineers drinking themselves drunk and indulging in the wildest orgies +whilst it lasted. + +One evening, about a week after they had got ashore, in the middle of a +drunken debauch Moody set fire to a tent, which they had constructed out +of some of the spare sails placed in the boat. It was completely burnt, +many of the men being almost roasted alive before they could extricate +themselves and three dying subsequently from the injuries they had then +received. + +This was not the worst, however; for, in addition to the tent, their +entire stock of provisions, which were stored inside, was consumed; and, +beyond a few of the half-eaten tins that had been previously thrown +away, they had nothing afterwards left to eat. + +Starvation stared them in the face. + +"Did you not search about and find the cabbage that we got here?" asked +Mr Meldrum. + +"No," replied the steward; "the whole land thereabouts, before the snow +fell, was as bare as a brick-field, and just as black and burnt up +like." + +"And did no seals or birds come?" + +"Some animals swam in one day," said Llewellyn, "but the men were drunk +at the time and frightened them away; so they never came back again when +we needed them. Only a stray gull or two occasionally flew by, so far +out of reach that none of us could catch them." + +"Well, go on to tell the story in your own way," said Mr Meldrum. + +Their hunger got so great, the man proceeded to say, that they hunted +about for stray ham-bones, and even gnawed the soles of their boots; and +at last Bill Moody said they would have to cast lots and sacrifice one +of their number for the good of the rest. + +"Oh, the dhirty cannibal!" interposed Mr McCarthy. "He'd be quite +capable of that; bad cess to the baste!" + +There were now only ten of them left, with himself, continued Llewellyn, +and he could see that Moody wanted him to be killed, it being all a +pretence about casting lots. Some of the men saw through the plot, too, +as well as he did and took his part. It was then that a fight came +about, and in it he got that slash across his face which they had +noticed. + +Moody's own particular adherents amongst the party were only four in +number; but they had all got pistols, which the others did not possess; +and Llewellyn's party would probably have got the worst of it had not an +awful thing happened. + +Just at the moment the fight began, the smoking mountain blew up! + +"An eruption of the volcano," said Mr Meldrum. + +The steward did not know anything about that. He explained that, while +they were in the midst of the struggle, a lot of fire and stones came +down upon them, and Moody and some of the other mutineers were crushed +to death outright. The survivors, with himself, then managed to push +down the longboat into the sea again, and made off from the terrible +place--coasting back along the coast in the hope of coming across one of +the settlements of the whaling vessels, which some of them had heard +frequented the island. + +When they were suffering the last extremities of hunger and thirst--the +latter being a fresh privation, for they had had plenty of water to +drink on the volcano beach, however much they had wanted food--they saw +the flag of the "Penguin Castle" settlers, and made towards it as well +as they were able. + +"And, thank God, I'm here with you all!" concluded the steward when he +had brought his narrative to this point. "I have been saved from a +horrible death." + +"Arrah, sure, all's well that inds will!" said Mr McCarthy; "but I'm +glad you weren't a desarter, as I thought you were; and I'm roight glad, +too, that that thafe of a Moody has mit with his desarts at last!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. + +It was a fortunate circumstance, not only for the surviving mutineers +who had turned up so strangely, but for the little community at Penguin +Castle as well, that they did not make their appearance on the scene +earlier; for, had they came at the trying period, when famine, so to +speak, reigned in the land, they certainly would not have been "welcome +guests!" Of course, even then, Mr Meldrum and the others would have +felt bound to do as much for them as they could; but as at that time the +castaways were almost near upon starvation, they could ill have afforded +to help others in the same predicament, however much charity might have +constrained them. + +But, now, things were very different in regard to their larder, wild +ducks being plentiful enough and another heavy "bag" of rabbits having +been secured as soon as the road to the warren had become passable +through the partial subsidence of the flood in the valley; while, in +addition to those stores of substantial food, there was Kerguelen +cabbage _ad libitum_ at their disposal--all the fresher and more juicy +through being covered up by the snow and watered by the spring rains-- +besides an abundance of the haddock-like, spike-headed fish to be had +for the catching in the bay, not to speak of the dried penguins as a +last resource, should the other articles of diet fail to suit or pall on +the palate after a time. Indeed, as Mr Lathrope observed frequently +when seated at the central table of their general room and disposing of +the savoury residue of some gipsy stew of Snowball's concoction, during +this period of plenty, which came in such pleasing contrast to their +recent scarcity of provender, they were "living like fighting cocks, and +no mistake!" + +Such being the state of things at "Penguin Castle," it was not long +before the emaciated men, who arrived in the longboat almost at death's +door through want, were restored to health. Mr Meldrum, however, took +the precaution of binding them down by the most stringent conditions as +to their obedience and orderly conduct before admitting them on the same +terms as the rest to the common membership of the community--it being +clearly put before them that the least _lache_ or inattention to orders +would subject them to expulsion, when they would have to shift for +themselves and give a wide berth to those of the settlement. + +Captain Dinks had recovered so far now that he was able to sit up for a +short time each day; but the length of his illness and the amount of +blood he had lost had so aged and pulled him down that he was +transformed, from the smart energetic sailor he had been, into a feeble +old man, utterly incapable of ever resuming his former position should +events ever place it in his power to take command of a ship again--at +least so it seemed from his general state of prostration. + +Under these circumstances, therefore, Mr Meldrum was unquestionably +still looked upon as the head of the party, quite apart from any +appointment as such, from the simple reason that everybody recognised +that it would be only through his advice and forethought that they could +ever hope to escape from the island and see home once more. + +Although he had as yet never spoken directly to the point on the +subject, all could gather, from stray hints and observations which +occasionally dropped from his lips, that this thought was ever before +him; and that, when he considered that the proper time for action had +arrived, he would lay his plans before them. + +They were not mistaken. + +One evening, about the third week in October and the third month of +their residence on Desolation Island, when all were assembled in the +general room after the principal meal of the day--gathered together for +a social chat over the little petty details of their life since the +morning and cogitating as to what was best to be done on the morrow, as +was their invariable custom each night before separating at bedtime--Mr +Meldrum unbosomed himself, just when they least expected it. + +Mr Lathrope was having a spirited contest with the first-mate over the +chequer-board that he had assisted in making; Kate was reading out of a +little pocket Bible to the poor captain as he lay back in his cot; while +the others, grouped around, were talking and otherwise amusing +themselves--some of the men knitting a net, which it was intended to use +as a seine for catching fish some day when finished, and the steward +assisting Snowball in cutting up some cabbage which they were going to +pickle and lay by for emergencies--when Mr Meldrum, after a preliminary +"hem," to attract their attention, addressed the little gathering. + +"Friends," said he, "it was my intention to speak to you some little +time back about our future prospects here, but I waited for the weather +to become more settled. Now that the spring has fairly set in, however, +it is better not to delay our preparations any longer, for time is +precious and we shall have to accomplish a great deal in the short +period which will be at our disposal." + +"I 'spose," put in Mr Lathrope, "you mean about shifting our diggings, +mister, hey?" + +"Precisely," replied the other. "The season was not sufficiently +advanced before; but now that it is, the rain having stopped falling +persistently and the weather showing signs of clearing up, why, the +sooner we are up and stirring, the greater chance we shall have of +getting rescued!" + +"Waal," drawled the other in his usual nasal way, "you've only got to +say the word, boss, and I guess we're on the move!" + +"All right! I'm coming to that, but I want you to understand the +situation. Here is a map of Kerguelen Land," and Mr Meldrum unrolled +the old admiralty chart which has been alluded to before, as he spoke. +"You will see, from the rough outline given of the island, that it is +formed of two peninsulas, running nearly north and south respectively +and both of nearly equal size, but divided by a comparatively narrow +neck of land. The whole island is, taking its outside limits, about +ninety miles long by sixty broad in its widest part, although at the +narrow point or neck which I have mentioned--see, just here where I +place my finger--the distance from sea to sea between the eastern and +western sides does not exceed fifteen miles." + +"I say it clearly, sorr," said Mr McCarthy, all attention when his +especial element was mentioned. + +"Well, it so happens," continued Mr Meldrum, "that our position here, +the correctness of which I have carefully ascertained from observations +that I have taken and worked out, is, very fortunately for us, on the +western side of this isthmus, and not at the extremity of the broader +portion of the island. Consequently, we shall only have to traverse the +short width of this neck of land in our endeavours to get across to the +eastern side, whither we must go if we hope for any vessel to pick us up +and take us to a civilised port--none ever touching here on account of +the dangerous character of the coast, which we already know to our +cost!" + +"Bedad, I can't say how ye are going to get the boats over fifteen miles +ov solid ground, more or less," said the first-mate, scratching his head +vigorously, as he always did when puzzled by anything. + +"I'll tell you," answered Mr Meldrum. "You may have noticed since the +snow melted and the rains came, how the waters of that originally small +lake at the bottom of the creek have become extended so that they now +reach up the base of the furthest hills in the valley?" + +"Yis, sorr," said Mr McCarthy, stopping from disturbing his auburn +locks any further with his fingers and now all eagerness again, as if +only just then beginning to comprehend what the other was driving at. + +"All right, then," continued Mr Meldrum, "so far, so good! Now, to- +day, I went prospecting up to the top of the cliff here, and I see that +the waters of the swollen tarn are united in the extreme distance--to +the left there on the map--with a river, or some other lake, which comes +round that further hill. Hence, this very width of fifteen miles which +we have to cross may be but half of it land and half water, so that, +really, in that case, we should have only to haul the boat, or boats, +over the intervening bits of _terra firma_ in passing from sea to sea." + +"I guess, mister," said Mr Lathrope, "you mean what the lumber men on +the Susquehanna and Red River call `making a portage,' hey?" + +"I don't quite follow you," observed Mr Meldrum. + +"Why, when they come across a rapid in the river, they jest tote up +their canoes and carry 'em along the bank, or through the forest +sometimes, till they gits to whar the stream runs free agin, when they +floats 'em and sails along as slick as you please!" + +"Exactly," said Mr Meldrum, "you have just hit what I wished to +describe. Well, friends, whether we have to carry the boat a short +distance or a long one, we shall have to cross this isthmus; and, the +sooner we commence making our preparations, the better." + +"You sid only a boat, sorr; aren't ye going to take the pair ov 'em?" +asked Mr McCarthy. + +"No," replied the other, "one will be about as much as we shall be able +to manage, and the smaller of the two at that." + +"Be jabers!" exclaimed the first-mate in surprise; "and how, thin, will +you carry the lot ov us?" + +"When we have to cross land," said Mr Meldrum, "of course we'll have to +walk, and can go in a body or not, just as we please; but when we have +to take to the water again, why the boat will have to do it in so many +trips--taking over a certain number first and returning for a fresh +load, until all shall be taken over; and repeating the process from +stage to stage." + +"It kinder strikes me, mister," said Mr Lathrope, reflectively, "that +you'll find that thar jolly-boat a heap bigger and a pile heavier than +them birch-bark canoes of the lumber men and Injuns I was a talkin' +about; and yet, they're heavy enough to cart along fur any raal sort o' +distance, you bet, fur I've tried 'em!" + +"I've already thought of that," said Mr Meldrum, "and to-morrow the +carpenter and I will have a talk about a little job which will, perhaps, +relieve your mind in the matter; but, take the boat we must, by hook or +by crook! Do you know that, after crossing the isthmus and getting into +the open sea on the other side, we shall have to coast along for another +fifty or sixty miles before we can expect to reach Betsy Cove, the +little harbour out of Hillsborough Bay or sound, which--you can see it +here on the chart--is the rendezvous of the whalers. Thither, I tell +you, we must go if we hope to meet any of these in order to be taken off +the island. Now, if we can't get there by water we should have to go by +land; and the distance, by the circuitous route we should have to adopt, +would exceed two hundred miles, the way, too, taking us across mountains +which the ladies at least would find impassable!" + +"And when are you thinking of starting?" asked Captain Dinks, speaking +for the first time. + +"As soon as possible. The whalers are said generally to arrive at Betsy +Cove about the beginning of the summer, that is in November; and, what +with the difficulties we may meet in traversing the isthmus here, and +the subsequent long distance we should have to go by water--for we may +have to make repeated trips in order to transport all the members of our +party to the point I am aiming at--it will take us all our time to reach +there in a month." + +"All right!" responded the captain, who looked for the moment more +cheerful at the idea of moving away, "make all the arrangements you +like, Mr Meldrum; I'm only a useless old hulk now, and can do nothing +to help you." + +"Bedad you'll be all right agin, cap'en," said Mr McCarthy. "That is, +faix, when you say the say on t'other side, sure. Cheer up, my hearty, +and niver say die!" + +"Thank you, Tim," said Captain Dinks, actually smiling, which was the +best sign he had shown for weeks; "your face is as good as a tonic any +day, old friend, and you make me feel better already!" + +The very next day all began to prepare for the contemplated shifting of +their quarters, Mr Meldrum so contriving that each had his quota of +work to perform in making ready for the start. + +Ben Boltrope was commissioned to manufacture as speedily as he could, +out of what spare timber he could get hold of--and, if necessary, he was +empowered to break up the longboat in default of finding any elsewhere, +for they would not want to use it again--a small light carriage with +large broad wheels similar to those commonly used in transporting life- +boats from place to place along the coast, when their services are +suddenly required at some spot remote from their station and it would +take too long to send them round by sea. + +This carriage, of course, was for the accommodation of the jolly-boat, +whenever it should be found necessary for it to abandon its more +congenial element the water, for the land; and as the wheels required +some delicacy of manipulation, it was a lucky thing that the mutineers +had forgotten to take Ben's tool-chest out of the longboat, and that it +had been restored to his possession. Otherwise, the old man-o'-war's +man would have been unable to have completed satisfactorily the +difficult task set him with only an old axe and a hammer for his +available tools, as had been the case when the house was being built. + +Such of the party as were not assisting the carpenter were set to work +collecting and curing everything in the shape of food, or provisions of +any sort that came to hand--the rabbit warren being depopulated and wild +ducks slaughtered to such an extent that the latter abandoned the +valley; while, the last remaining birds in the penguin colony, old and +young alike, were sacrificed to appease the craving gods of the common +larder. + +Neither were the ladies idle; for, Kate Meldrum and Mrs Major Negus +were employed making canvas bags for the stowage of all these good +things in proper ship-shape fashion. Even Master Maurice--the whilom +"Imp," who had almost been reformed by his experience amongst the +penguins--and Miss Florry, had their services requisitioned in one way +or other. + +One and all, without exception, had each something to do! + +"I guess, mister," said Mr Lathrope a week later on, when he and Mr +Meldrum were returning from an unsuccessful foray on the adjacent +marshes that had been the haunt of the wild fowl--without once getting a +shot, much less bagging a duck to reward their trouble,--"this'll be a +tall moving; and the sooner we make tracks the better now, since all the +game's skeart. I don't see nary a grasshopper to aim at!" + +"The arrangements are all completed," replied the other, "and I have +determined to start to-morrow. As you say, there's nothing to be gained +by our waiting any longer; so, as we've now as much provision collected +as we shall either want or can carry, and as Ben has finished the boat- +carriage, I don't see any reason for delaying our departure a single +day!" + +Mr Meldrum was as good as his word. He gave out an intimation of the +projected start on the morrow to the household the same evening, as soon +as the two reached the little dwelling by the creek which they were +about to abandon so remorselessly after the long shelter it had given +them in their adversity! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +ACROSS COUNTRY. + +It was a lovely morning, the loveliest that the shipwrecked people had +seen since their landing on Kerguelen Land, when the little party +started away from Penguin Castle, bidding adieu to the spot which for so +many long months had given them a shelter and a home. + +The sun was shining out brightly, the sky without a cloud, and the air +felt quite warm, although with a freshness in it that just gave zest to +movement; while the atmosphere had that peculiar opalescent translucency +about it and an almost imperceptible colouring--in the faintest tints of +light mauve and amber, with a shade of tender apple-green--which is +rarely seen in more northern latitudes, excepting in those regions that +are well within the borders of the Arctic circle. + +Out in the bay opposite the creek, the water was as smooth as glass, +undisturbed by the slightest breath of wind so as to cause a ripple; and +numbers of baby puffins and young penguins, their spruce little downy +bodies clad in bright new coats of silky feathers, were scattered in +groups over the mirror-like expanse, diving and coming up again in a +moment in the centre of a series of expanding circles that gradually +grew wider and wider in diameter, as when a stone is flung into a still +pond, only to disappear the next minute. Others were flitting along +over the surface with the pinions of their little wings just dipped in +the water, so that they flicked it up, in the short flights they took +now and then in play and mimic pursuit of each other, like as rowing men +do when they "feather" their oars too soon in lumpy water. Sometimes, +the generally restless birdlets would rest tranquilly for a brief while +on the bosom of the sea, chattering away like so many aquatic magpies in +miniature mottled flocks; but this was only for a very short spell. + +To the right of the creek, rising abruptly out of the sea, the black +basaltic cliffs which formed such a bold headland to the bay stretched +far out to where the extreme point of Cape Saint Louis could be seen, +embracing within the compass of its arm the reef on which the _Nancy +Bell_ had been lost; and to the left, beyond the ridge at the back of +the castaways' dwelling, the higher ranges of the inland mountains, +which seemed to run down to the southwards and eastwards as far as the +eye could reach, stood up--towering in the distance above the hills +immediately near in the foreground and lifting their snow-clad summits +into the blue vault of the heavens. + +The "travelling caravan," as Mr Lathrope had styled the jolly-boat when +he saw it first mounted on its broad-flanged, awkward-looking carriage, +had been packed the night before with all the impedimenta of the +pilgrims. Their few "goods and chattels and household effects" were +stowed in and about below the thwarts, with the canvas bags containing +the dried birds and Kerguelen cabbage which formed their stock of +provisions ranged round the gunwales and crammed in anywhere; while a +special place was kept clear and reserved in the stern-sheets for the +accommodation of poor Captain Dinks, who was deposited here in his cot. + +Pussy, who had been so happily saved from the wreck at the last moment +and had since done such good service in demolishing the mice which +infested the house, was placed alongside of the captain to keep him +company, and he had also in charge a tame, or rather an educated +penguin, that Master Maurice Negus had displayed considerable ability in +training and which Mr Meldrum had allowed to be taken along with the +other things as a reward for the "imp's" services of late in assisting +at the preparations of the expedition. + +For some days prior to this, Mr Meldrum had been very busy taking short +excursions in various directions, but all tending to the same point of +the compass. He was endeavouring to find out which route would be the +most practicable for reaching the eastern seaboard; and, after +collecting all his observations into one harmonised whole and +deliberating over the matter with Mr Lathrope and the first-mate, who +had severally accompanied him in his various prospecting tours, the +final course of the party was at length agreed on. + +The bright morning appeared to all as an augury of success; so it was +with light hearts that they set out. + +They abandoned Penguin Castle in all its entirety, Mr Meldrum saying +that possibly they might have to seek its shelter again; but, if happily +there should arise no occasion for that eventuality, the building might +still be of service to other shipwrecked men in a like extremity to +themselves. Thus it came to pass that the place was left "all +standing," with rooms, furniture--such as it was--Snowball's copper and +the cooking range all intact. Even the flagstaff with Kate's ensign at +the peak was left hoisted, as if to show, that if deserted now, the spot +had once been inhabited! + +They were thirty-two souls in all now, reckoning the steward and the +other four men of the mutineers who had come back in the longboat--which +had to be broken up, by the way, after all, to form the jolly-boat's +carriage; and it was just "six bells in the forenoon watch" when they +started, a team of the sailors, tethered in traces like a pack of +Esquimaux dogs, hauling away at the boat-carriage and running it along +merrily with a chorus of "cheerily men, cheerily ho!" The others +tramped behind the queer vehicular conveyance, without respect of +persons; only poor Captain Dinks being allowed a seat in the boat, while +it travelled on land, and that only by reason of his helplessness and +inability to move without assistance. When they had to take to the +water, of course, the jolly-boat would have to carry more passengers. + +On the way, sometimes, they had serious difficulties to encounter, for +the ground in many places was moist and spongy, causing the feet of the +men hauling to sink deeply into the soil as they tugged at the towing- +rope of the jolly-boat's carriage; but, as frequently Mr Meldrum +remarked, to rouse the seamen's energies, "difficulties were only made +for brave men to conquer," so at it they went with a will which soon +overcame the dead weight of the load they had to drag behind them--a +fresh towing team relieving the first at the expiration of every half +hour, so as not to weary the men out by a too prolonged strain at such +unusual exertion. + +Bye and bye, they arrived at the end of their first "portage," the +shores of the little lake which Mr Meldrum had noticed trending in an +eastward direction. This water would now considerably aid their passage +across the isthmus by allowing the jolly-boat to take to its native +element, on whose bosom it would be borne some miles on the onward way. + +Here a halt was called and a short luncheon taken, after which the +jolly-boat was safely launched on the water by backing it down on its +carriage. This plan was easy as well as expeditious; for, as soon as +the boat had reached its proper point of immersion, it floated off the +wheels. + +The ladies then got into the stern-sheets, alongside of the captain, +accompanied by Mr Meldrum, while four of the seamen took their places +on the thwarts in order to row them across--the remainder of the party +stopping where they were, along with a portion of the packages that had +been removed from the boat so as to make room for Mrs Major Negus and +the others who went with her. The carriage belonging to the boat was +also left behind until the latter should have deposited its first cargo +on the other side of the lake and return to fetch a fresh load. + +Three trips were taken before the whole party were thus transported over +the lake, the boat's carriage being then towed over at the last +crossing. + +It would be needless repetition to recount in detail all the different +portages of the jolly-boat over the strips of land which lay between the +chain of lakes that were spread over the line of their route; or, to +tell the number of the trips by water that had to be made. + +There were many unloadings of the little craft, and many packings-up +again. + +Many weary miles the poor unaccustomed pedestrians had to tramp, +sometimes up-hill, sometimes down dale, through marshy lands and over +stony boulders that blistered their feet; and all the while they had to +drag after them that terrible Frankenstein-like monster, the jolly-boat +mounted on its carriage, which seemed to the worn-out men sometimes a +species of Juggernaut car, crushing out their spirits and sapping their +every energy. + +Suffice it to say, that, at the end of a fortnight's time, they at +length reached a magnificent stretch of blue water, which Mr Meldrum +said was Hillsborough Bay, on the eastern side of Kerguelen Land. + +Hurrah--they had crossed the isthmus, and arrived so far towards the end +of their destination! + +As they toiled over this neck of land which united the two principal +peninsulas into which the island was divided, they could mark how, as +had been noticed along the coast, the country was composed of a series +of terraced hills, rising above a chain of lakes and lagoons that +indented it deeply on either side and forming an endless succession of +deep fords and harbours, the hills being almost invariably covered, from +their crests down to a certain altitude, with perpetual snow. Below +this line, their sides were clothed with green verdure, composed chiefly +of a species of azorella and a rough spinated grass; while, the +strangest feature of all was, that not a single tree, or plant +approaching to the dimensions of a shrub, could be seen on any portion +of the island! + +The most charming characteristic of the scenery noticed, was the +profusion of cataracts, cascades, and waterfalls, which leaped and +sparkled from terrace to terrace of the basaltic net-work of peaks and +ridges that ran here, there, and everywhere across the isthmus, +enclosing the valleys and scarping the sea--the splashing of these +natural fountains making soft music everywhere as the water gurgled down +into tiny rivulets and brooks below, which stole their way along banks +bordered by chickweed and liverwort into the lakes, and from the lakes +into the ocean, only to be sucked up again by the clouds and deposited +on the hills in the form of rain, forming the cascades and cataracts +anew; and so on, _da capo_. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +RESCUED. + +"Snakes and alligators, mister!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope when the whole +party were gathered together on the shore of Hillsborough Bay, united +once more after the boat-carriage had been lugged over its final +portage, and the boat itself had accomplished its last separate short +trip before adventuring again on the open waters of the sea--"I guess +your fifteen miles has come to a considerable sight more'n fifty, you +bet." + +"Oh! please be a little more moderate in your estimate," laughed Mr +Meldrum. "I confess I somewhat understated the probable distance; but +really, now, fifty miles is a little too much." + +"Wa-al, then, let us call it five-and-twenty," said the American with a +genial grin over his sharp-cut features, which were almost as elongated +as his legs. "You can't grumble at that anyway, I reckon, boss!" + +"That's pretty much like the story of the five hundred cats which came +down, I believe, to two, if I'm not mistaken," slily put in Miss Kate, +smiling. + +"Now, don't you be too rough on a feller, missy," said Mr Lathrope, +pretending to be very serious over the matter, in his humorous way. "I +cave in to the fifty, that's a fact, as I kinder wanted to pile on the +agony; but when I took my stand to be euchred on twenty-five miles, I +meant the distance we've tramped over, and nary a bit of the water +passage, for my old boots hev got busted up, I guess, and the sooner I +git a noo pair the better for this child." + +"Bedad, that's the same case wid mysilf," interposed Mr McCarthy, +exhibiting the articles he wore as he spoke, which, from their repeated +patchings and general state of dilapidation, would certainly have +carried off the prize at a curiosity show. "Sure, and it's walkin' on +my fut I've bin the last foor days entirely." + +"You'd have ben a smart coon to have done the contrary, I guess, mister, +anyhow," said the American drily. + +"Sure, an' it's the sole of me fut I mane, sorr," explained the first- +mate in Hibernian fashion. + +"Jest so," said Mr Lathrope, laughing at the blunder; "and it would +puzzle you to walk different, I kalkerlate, that is onless you tried the +sole of your head!" + +"Well, here we are, no matter what distance we have travelled," said Mr +Meldrum, going back to business; while Frank and Kate, who had not been +able to get much conversation together of late, were having a very +interesting little _tete-a-tete_ confabulation in a corner, out of ear- +shot of the rest. "We shall, however, soon have to separate our forces +again, for we must make the next start on our journey by water, which +will now be our travelling medium all the way." + +"Be jabers, and it's glad I am to hear that same!" exclaimed Mr +McCarthy, interrupting the speaker in his jubilation at not being forced +to walk any more, a means of locomotion to which, from his long life at +sea, the first-mate was strangely averse. + +"As I was saying," continued Mr Meldrum, "we must now make up our minds +for a short separation, the rest of our journey having to be performed +by water. I'll tell you what I think will be the best plan, if you will +listen:-- From here to Betsy Cove, the harbour I have mentioned where +the whalers call every year, is in a bee-line just about thirty-five +miles right ahead across the stretch of sea there; but as we may have to +make a detour in order to avoid reefs and any rocks or islands which may +come within this straight line, we'd better call it fifty miles." + +"Better say a hundred, mister, while you're at it," said Mr Lathrope, +with a wink to the others; "you kinder forget the fifteen miles you made +it across the isthmus 'fore we started, hey?" + +"There's no fear of my making that mistake here," replied Mr Meldrum. +"This is all plain sailing, with correct latitude and longitude to go +by! It won't be more than fifty, indeed, even if we have to creep round +the coast of the bay all the way, instead of shaping a course right +across it, as I intend doing. Well, all things considered, it will be +best for the boat first to take half of us this distance to Betsy Cove, +going all the way in the one trip; and then to return for the other +portion of the party. We have lightened her considerably of the +provisions during the last ten days, and being able to carry twelve or +fourteen hands ordinarily, she will now easily take us across the bay in +two trips--that is, if some of you don't mind a little squeezing." + +"Will--will--it be quite safe?" said Mrs Major Negus in a hesitating +way, looking at the bright, frisking little wavelets which covered the +blue sea of the bay with some slight alarm. She had imbibed a perfect +horror of the water and all pertaining to it ever since the wreck. + +"Quite," answered Mr Meldrum. "We've had peril enough without my +seeking to endanger your safety now! I suppose," continued he, going on +to explain the arrangements, "the boat will take a day, say, in getting +to Betsy Cove, and another day coming back on the return voyage for the +rest.--We'll call it three days, to allow for contingencies; so that, we +shall not be apart more than four days at the outside, allowing due time +for the boat reaching the Cove again after her second trip hither." + +"Fancy!" whispered Frank to Kate. "Four whole days that I may not be +able to see you! I know it will be just my luck that I shall have to +stay behind at the camp; for, your father will most probably take all +the ladies with him in the first trip, as he did at setting out." + +"Oh, dear!" said Kate smiling, "that will be a terribly long separation, +won't it?" + +"You darling tease!" exclaimed he; "I don't believe you care for me half +as much as I do for you!" + +"Don't I!" she said softly; and her melting blue eyes would have +disclosed a secret if Frank had been looking into them at the moment-- +which very probably he was! + +However, the sad eventuality he had conjectured did not occur. Mr +Meldrum, knowing the condition of matters between the lovers, did not +have the heart to separate the two, even temporarily; and so Frank had +the supreme and unexpected felicity of accompanying Kate in the first +trip the jolly-boat took across the bay to Betsy Cove--Mrs Major Negus +and Maurice, Mr Meldrum and Florry, Mr Adams and Captain Dinks, of +course, besides six of the seamen, being their fellow-passengers. + +Mr Lathrope remained at the head of the inlet, with Mr McCarthy, in +charge of the camp and the remaining hands until the jolly-boat came +back to fetch them; and it really seemed, from the many earnest "good- +byes" exchanged between those starting off and the ones left behind as +if the castaways were parting for ever, the separation seemed to cause +such a wrench after they had been so long together! + +Thanks to the fine fresh breeze, and the fact of their being almost in +the open sea now--for the sides of the bay diverged so greatly after a +time that the opposite coasts could not be seen--the boat was under sail +instead of being pulled along; and the motion was ever so much more +pleasant than when it was oscillated to and fro by the sharp jerky +strokes of the rowers. + +The weather still continued fine and clear, with the sun shining on the +water and a bright blue sky overhead; and as the boat glided along, +heeling over to the wind every now and then and tossing the spray from +her bows as she came down with a flop on the crest of some little wave +which got in her way, Frank wished that he and Kate could glide on so +for ever. Everything seemed so delightful around them after the dreary +winter they had so recently passed through. + +Nature herself was smiling again upon them in the bright summer dawn! + +Even the penguins seemed to enjoy the change of season, for they raced +after the boat as she pursued her way, moving through the water like a +shoal of albacore, and rarely showing more than their heads above the +surface for a little while. Then, all of a sudden, as if playing a game +of leapfrog amongst themselves, they would spring out of the sea in long +lines, one after another, showing their steel-grey backs and silvery +sides, so that Kate could hardly believe they were not fishes jumping up +in sport, like as she had frequently seen the bonito do when off the +African coast in the Atlantic. + +The jolly-boat had such a spanking breeze from the north-west all the +way with her, right abaft the beam, that she accomplished the distance +between the head of the inlet and Betsy Cove before nightfall, Mr +Meldrum shaping her course so well by the old chart he had that she +fetched the harbour in a bee-line almost from their point of departure, +steering east by south. + +There was no mistaking the place. + +Betsy Cove was a second bay within a larger one, called "Accessible Bay" +on the chart and marked by a curious isolated mountain-peak which raised +itself on the very extremity of a low spit of land that ran out into the +sea, a long way out from the main shore. + +On the beach were several old wooden huts and a large iron boiler that +had evidently been used for "trying out" seal and whale oil from the +blubber; while further up the shore was a small graveyard, a rather +melancholy-looking spot with a few wooden crosses and piles scattered +about it bearing dreary legends relating to the untimely end of +different seamen who had either died there on shore, or had lost their +lives at sea in the immediate vicinity. However, the most important +point to our little party, was the fact that there were no signs of any +vessels having recently visited the place; and, consequently, Mr +Meldrum had carried out his original plan to the letter, having +evidently arrived there in time before the annual coming of the whalers. + +Early the next morning the jolly-boat was sent back to fetch the others, +and towards the evening of the day following the whole of the party were +once more together. + +A week passed by without any event of note happening, during which +period the little community did not suffer from any want of food or +other necessaries, for they found a store of provisions in one of the +huts that had evidently been placed there in case of need similar to +their own; so, things jogged on evenly enough. Still, all were in a +state of high-strung suspense, looking out eagerly from morning till +night for the promised vessel that every one expected was coming to +deliver them. + +"I guess they'd better look alive, mister, if they're coming," said Mr +Lathrope, "or else the summer'll be gone afore we git away, and then we +shall have to go back to Penguin Castle for another winter. I'd sooner +a durned sight be thar than haar if it comed on to blow!" + +"Patience, my friend!" replied Mr Meldrum. "Don't you recollect that +old French proverb, `Everything comes to him who waits!'" + +"Don't reckon I dew, mister," answered the other. "I guess, though, it +warn't a waiter at one of them hotels that said that, hey?" + +"Perhaps not," said Mr Meldrum, smiling at the American's hit; "but +I've no doubt we shall be rescued this year, even if we have to wait." + +He was not disappointed. + +On the Monday morning of the following week the look out man--for they +had set up another signal station here at the head of the harbour the +same as at Penguin Castle--sang out the welcome call--"Sail ho!" + +And, soon after, a large fore-and-aft rigged schooner was seen entering +the bay. + +She proved to be the _Matilda Ann_ of New London. She was engaged in +the whale and seal fishery between Kerguelen Land and the neighbouring +Heard Islands; and as she was empty, having transferred her oil to a +homeward-bound whaler belonging to the same owners, her captain readily +accepted the offer made him by Mr Meldrum on behalf of Captain Dinks, +to charter the schooner to convey the survivors of the passengers and +crew of the _Nancy Bell_ to the Cape of Good Hope, whence they would +easily be able to get a passage back to England or to their original +destination in New Zealand. + +"I guess that air prime," said Mr Lathrope; "but I've hed enuff v'yging +fur a spell, and I kinder kalkerlate I'll make tracks to hum. I don't +mind either, darkey, if I take you along o' me! I've got a fust-rate +brown-stone front in Philadelphy, and I'll chuck you in as cook, if you +like, hey?" + +"Golly, massa, you don't mean dat, suah!" + +"Guess I dew," said the American deliberately. + +"Tank you, massa; den you ken take down de bill, I ain't no longer to +let--I'm on, yah, yah!" shouted Snowball, giving way to the most +obstreperous merriment, in order to testify his satisfaction at Mr +Lathrope's engaging him in his service, the darkey having always had a +hankering after the American from his thorough appreciation of his +cookery. + +Mrs Major Negus was true to the last. + +"What an extremely fishy smell!" she exclaimed as she went on board the +whaler which had so opportunely come to rescue them from the solitude of +Desolation Island. "I'm sure I wish Captain Dinks had secured a passage +for us in a more respectable ship after choosing to cast away his own!" + +But little more remains to be added. + +The whaling schooner reached Table Bay in safety, without encountering +any storms similar to that which had led to the loss of the _Nancy +Bell_, and all the rescued castaways were shortly afterwards landed at +Cape Town. Here, Captain Dinks, who had recovered much from his wound +since he was taken off the island, secured a passage home to England for +himself and officers and such of the passengers of the lost ship as +desired to go back thither, sending on to New Zealand, at the owners' +expense, those who preferred proceeding to their original destination. + +Amongst these latter was Mrs Major Negus and her son, "the Major" being +extremely anxious to join her husband at Waikatoo as soon as possible. +Mr Meldrum and his family also went on; the ex-commander in the Royal +Navy having sold out the little property he had at home and capitalised +his pension with the object of settling in New Zealand, had now no +desire to return to England, or the means to live there if he had such a +wish. + +Frank did not forget his engagement with Kate, however. + +Although he was obliged to accompany Captain Dinks back to England, it +was not long after his arrival in London before he passed the Trinity +House Board, obtaining a certificate licensing him to act as chief mate, +in which capacity he went out to New Zealand on his very next voyage. + +This will not be his last trip to the Antipodes either, for rumour has +it that, not improbably, Frank Harness, promoted to the rank of a master +in the mercantile marine, will proceed shortly again to Otago in command +of a ship of his own, when, possibly, he will have one especial item of +human freight to bring home with him on his own account! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +THE LAST OF THE OLD SHIP! + +There is one thing more to tell. + +It all arises from the unpardonable stupidity of that donkey of a +steward, Llewellyn, who forgot the memorandum concerning the +circumstance and left it down below in the cabin--and that, too, in +spite of Ben Boltrope's telling him to be certain to bear it mind, +besides his wife, Mary, having continually jogged his memory on the +subject! Had it not been for this, the omission would never have +occurred, as the matter would have been mentioned in its proper place +some time ago. + +Shortly after the _Matilda Ann_ set sail from the little whaling station +at Betsy Cove with the rescued castaways of Kerguelen Land on board, and +just as she was weathering the Cloudy Islands, as they are called--a +group of rocks that lie to the north-east of the mainland--the look-out +man in the fore cross-trees, who was keeping a keen watch for breakers, +the navigation at this point being rather ticklish on account of the +treacherous reefs and stray currents that wander about there, suddenly +shouted down to the man at the wheel to put the helm down, which of +course he immediately did. + +"What is it?" called out the steersman, who happened to be the master of +the schooner himself. He noticed no sign of breakers anywhere near and +wondered at this sudden alteration of the vessel's course--"Where's the +reef?" + +"'Tain't no reef, sir," sang out the man aloft in answer, "but I see +something like a man in the water." + +"Man be hanged!" exclaimed the schooner's skipper in a rage. "And was +it for such an absurd idea that you've nearly made me shiver the masts +out of her? If it be a body, it can only be a corpse; for no man could +swim out here from Kerguelen, and I'm blessed if he could live on those +rocks of islands beyond!" + +"There!" shouted the look-out man again, taking no notice of the other's +upbraiding, and seeming to be very anxious about whatever he had seen in +the water. "It is quite close now on the lee bow." + +"Well, just to oblige you," said the skipper, speaking loud enough for +all on board to hear, "and to let you see for yourself what a confounded +fool you are, I'll fetch her up to it!" + +"Bully for you, cap'en!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who with the others of +the rescued party was on deck, not liking the rather fusty odour of the +schooner's cabin--which, to do justice to Mrs Major Negus, did smell +most abominably of seal-oil, and even worse scents! + +The floating object was soon approached on the schooner's bearing away +towards it; and a man in the bows, who had a boat-hook ready in his +hand, quickly grappled it and pulled it alongside. + +It was no man, however, as the look-out had thought; but only a piece of +square timber which had evidently once formed some portion of a vessel's +belongings, and it was carved out roughly on the uppermost side to +represent a female head and bust. + +"I wasn't far out in thinking it were a man in the water," said the +look-out man, gazing down on the object from his perch above, as the +schooner's skipper, giving the helm in charge of some one else, came +forward to have a look over the side at the innocent cause of all this +unnecessary fuss, as he thought. + +"You'd better say no more," replied the skipper, scornfully shouting +back up to the man. "I always thought you were a fool, and now I know +you are one! A drowning man, indeed! why, it's only the broken +figurehead of some old vessel or other!" + +"Look, Mr McCarthy!" cried Mr Meldrum to the Irishman, who just then +came up to see what all the commotion was about. "Don't you see what it +is?" + +"Be jabers, I do!" responded the ex-mate, quite as much excited as the +other. "Sure, an' it's the last of the ould ship! I wondther +howsomedever it iver floated all the way here?" + +It was the figurehead of the ill-fated _Nancy Bell_. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wreck of the Nancy Bell, by J. C. 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