CHAPTER VII.
AN UNEXPECTED DANGER.
During the remainder of that night Bob Brace stood at the wheel, savenow and then when Jim took his place that he might go into the galley tolight his pipe or solace himself with a pannikin of tea.
When the young fisherman lighted the flare both Harry and Walter firmlybelieved that the ship which had almost run them down would heave to andoffer assistance; therefore, as the Bonita plunged on through the densegloom and over the howling waters without receiving any answer to themute appeal for aid, their despair was intense. To have been so nearthose who might have given help seemed to make their position even moredesolate than it was before, and after watching in vain for some show ofa light from the stranger the boys gave way to grief.
"Now see here, fellers," Jim said gravely as he entered the galley andfound them weeping, "feelin' bad won't help matters, an' it'll only make'em worse. Bob says there wasn't a chance for them on the ship to lendus a hand, even if they wanted to, an' we must keep a stiff upper liptill the weather clears a bit. By this time to-morrow there may be afull crew on board, an' the brig standin' up for the coast; so don'ttake on so hard. It won't be any use to stay on deck 'cause neither Bobnor me can turn in, so you'd better go below. I'll sing out if there'sneed for help."
Neither of the boys protested against following this advice. Both wereperfectly willing to go where they could not witness the conflict of theelements, and when Jim went aft again they sought refuge in the cabinwith but little heed to what a few hours previous had been a placepeopled with phantoms of the imagination.
They were yet below when another day dawned, and Jim prepared anappetizing breakfast before awakening them.
The gale still continued in all its fury. With the single piece ofcanvas the Bonita plunged and rolled on her way southward, for thewind's direction had not changed by so much as half a point, and thewatch on deck looked haggard and worn from the long vigil.
During the early hours of the morning, while the sun, through its cloudyveil, was trying to dispel the gloom of night, Jim asked if it was notpossible to stand nearer the land in the hope of making some port, andBob replied very decidedly in the negative.
"It can't be done, lad. The boys below wouldn't be of any account inmakin' sail, an', besides, we'd stand a good show of plumpin' on thecoast where there wouldn't be the ghost of a chance to get ashore.We'll keep her as she goes till this wind blows itself out, an' thentake to the boat if there's no craft in sight. This brig never'll reachport, 'cordin' to my way of thinkin', and I'll be the first to say'leave her' when the time comes."
On this day there was but little change in the condition of affairs. Thegale held strong from the north, but no sail appeared within the anxiouswatchers' range of vision. Harry and Walter were eager to be of someassistance; but beyond taking a few lessons in steering there wasnothing they could do, and their time was passed in comparativeidleness.
Bob and Jim alternately stood watch and slept until, when night cameagain, they were in fair bodily condition for the work before them, andonce more Harry and Walter retired to the cabin, knowing they ought todo a full share of the labor, but too ignorant to give any save the mosttrifling aid.
Before midnight the wind fined down to a light breeze, still holdingfrom the north, however; and Bob said, with a sigh, as Jim made ready tostand his trick at the wheel:
"Ah, lad, if we only had a couple of good men aboard how quick the oldhooker's head would be turned toward the coast."
"In case we don't sight a vessel why can't you put her about, anyhow?"
"We'll make a try to get the lower canvas on in the mornin'. You an' Imust have a good bit of help from the watch below, an' they'd be worsethan wooden boys in the night."
This was not the only reason why Bob made no attempt to get sail on atonce. He was yet feeble from the exposure and privations of the ninedays in the Trade Wind's yawl, and although there was but little laborinvolved in such watches as had been kept since coming on board theBonita, the anxiety prevented an immediate return of strength.
"I've heard of vessels comin' in mighty short-handed," Jim saidthoughtfully, as if trying to bring forward some argument which mightinduce the old sailor to take greater risks. "There was a fishin'schooner from Newburyport what lost all her boats in a fog, an' thecaptain brought her home with nobody but the cook to help."
"I ain't a questionin' that, lad. The packet-ship Three Brothers, in theChinese trade, anchored inside of Sandy Hook ten years ago, an' nobodyaboard able to lift a hand but two men and the captain's wife--all therest down with fever. I could spin yarns from now till daylight 'boutjes' sich cases; we're fixed different. None of us knows navigation, an'its got to be all dead reckonin', which is a pretty shaky way of runnin'even a fishin' schooner. Then, again, Harry an' Walter ain't strongenough to handle the wheel in any kind of a decent breeze, an' it's onlyyou an' me. We must lay by till somethin' more'n a good fair chancecomes, else we'll find ourselves in a bad scrape."
"Of course you're the one that knows what we ought to do, an' I ain'tsayin' a word if we run way down to South America; but it's kinder toughon the boys. I can see 'em, when they think I ain't lookin', wipin'their eyes an' actin' like as if it wouldn't take much to make both yellright out. If they didn't have no more of a home than I've got neitherwould bother 'bout how long the cruise is likely to last."
"I s'pose it does seem rough," Bob said reflectively; "but what's to bedone? I reckon they'd rather loaf 'round here a good many days than takechances on a raft. Sailorizin' is a mighty risky thing for green hands,an' while I can hold my own among the best of 'em in the fo'castle, I'dmake a poor fist of navigation. They'll have to grin an' bear it same'smany a good man has done before 'em."
Jim had no reply to make. Even before the conversation was begun herealized the difficulty of reaching port unless under the most favorablecircumstances; and now since Bob had spoken so freely he resolved to bepatient, no matter how long they might remain at sea.
The old sailor, instead of going below, where there would be sometrouble to awaken him in the event of a sudden emergency, laid down onthe deck to leeward of the house, and a few seconds later his loudbreathing told of unconsciousness.
To remain at the wheel, the only one of this small crew awake, and in acertain degree responsible for the safety of all, was a task from whicheven a more experienced sailor than Jim might be excused for shrinking;but it was a matter which could not well be bettered, and the boy stoodup to it bravely. Now and then the white crest of a wave in the distancecaused him to start with joy, only to be correspondingly depressed a fewseconds later as the true nature of the object was discovered; and thusamid alternate hope and despondency the two long hours of his watch werepassed.
Then Bob took his trick at the wheel, Jim camping down on the deck inthe place so lately vacated by the old sailor; and when his eyes wereclosed in slumber he did not open them again until the sun began to sendlong shafts of golden light across the leaping waters.
"What made you let me sleep so long?" he asked, with just a shade ofirritation in his tone. "I was better able to stand watch than you, an'a couple of hours' sleep would a'-fixed me up all right."
"Well, lad, somehow the thinkin' of what might be the end o' this 'erequeer cruise kept me awake, an' when I wasn't sleepy there could be noreason for pullin' you out. We'll square it before dark, though. Nows'posen we get a little grub, call the watch below so's they can take afew lessons in steerin', an' be ready for settin' the canvas."
Jim, feeling that he was in a certain degree responsible for having thusunconsciously shirked his duty, carried out these instructions with thegreatest alacrity. When Harry and Walter were awakened they went aft totheir teacher in seamanship, while the amateur cook prepared a heartybreakfast, which was served on the top of the house in order that allmight eat at the same time.
Then Bob went below for what he called a "double dose of snoozin'."Walter set things to rights in the galley, and Harry ste
ered while Jimstood beside him to make sure the Bonita was kept on the course,exercising as much care as if it was the only one which could be pursuedwith safety.
Although Bob had fully determined to turn the brig toward the coast onthis day, there was no change in her course at noon, and for a very goodreason. Before daylight the breeze had died away entirely, and at nineo'clock the Bonita was rising and falling on the glassy ocean with notair enough stirring to lift the narrow thread of blue bunting at themain-truck.
The involuntary crew had spread the yawl's sail from the house to thestarboard rail as an awning, for the heat in the cabin was too great toadmit of their remaining below, and under this all sought shelter fromthe sun's fervent rays.
Bob found a reasonably large stock of tobacco among the Bonita's stores,and with this and a short black pipe he occupied himself during thehours of enforced idleness, while the boys thought of home and the lovedones whom they might never see again. The seconds came and went untilthe sun was directly overhead, and the old sailor had but just settleddown for a noonday nap when all four sprang to their feet in alarm, asthe deafening crush of an explosion was heard.
The brig quivered from stem to stern as if from the effects of a torpedobeneath her keel, and the fore hatch was flung high in the air while adense cloud of what appeared to be smoke arose from the hold.
Astonishment and fear rendered the younger members of the crew incapableeither of speech or movement, and they might have remained staringstupidly forward an indefinite length of time if Bob had not shouted,excitedly:
"It's a case of fire, lads! Jump to it for what provisions an' water canbe got out in a hurry! There's no time to be lost if we want to leave,for most likely the hold is one mass of flame."
These hurriedly-spoken commands aroused the boys from theirstupefaction, and in an instant all three leaped toward the pantry. Eachtook what was nearest at hand, and in a very few moments there was areasonably large but varied collection of canned provisions in the yawl.No water had been put on board for the very good reason that they couldnot find a breaker; and Jim shouted, after they had searched severalmoments in vain:
"We shall have to leave without anything to drink, for we can't get oneof the scuttle-butts on the boat."
"I'll stand a pretty good scorchin' afore startin' like that," Bob saiddecidedly, "'cause you see I know what it is to be thirsty. Fill half adozen of the fire-buckets while I hunt after bottles."
During all this time the smoke had been pouring from the fore hatchwayin dense clouds, apparently giving evidence of some mighty conflagrationbelow; but before a supply of water could be put on the yawl it hadfined down to a thin curl of vapor, and to this Jim called Bob'sattention just as they were preparing to lower the boat.
"It looks as if somethin' had put the fire out," he said; and Bobreplied, as he let go the davit-falls:
"Make fast there, lads, an' I'll take a look below. We don't want toabandon the brig while there's a chance of standin' by her."
The old sailor went forward, the boys remaining aft ready to lower awayat a moment's notice, and in a few seconds, to the surprise of all, hewas seen going below.
"Now, that's what I call queer!" Jim said after five minutes had passedand Bob did not make his appearance. "He couldn't stay down there verylong if the fire amounted to much."
"Perhaps he's been suffocated and can't get back," Harry suggested in alow, tremulous tone.
This idea was sufficient to alarm the other boys, and stopping only longenough to make the falls fast they rushed forward, reaching the forehatchway just as Bob began to ascend.
"Is the fire very big?" Jim asked; and the reply astonished them quiteas much as had the explosion.
"There ain't even a spark!"
"Then what caused the smoke?"
"The brig is loaded with alcohol in casks made of red-oak. That kind ofwood is porous, an' the fumes escapin' have formed a gas that lookedlike smoke, but which had force enough to blow off a hatch that wasn'tbattened down." Then, as Bob seated himself on the combing and wiped theperspiration from his face, he added: "Now we can have a pretty goodidee as to why this craft was abandoned. There was an explosion same ashappened a few minutes ago, an' all hands thought what we did--that thebrig was on fire. They hove her to an' got the boats over, most likelymeanin' to lay at a safe distance until it was possible to find out whatwould happen. The mainsail was stowed, so she had no after-canvas tohold her steady. Then she got stern-way-on an' backed off till the windfilled her topsails, when she started like a rocket, leavin' the crewbehind. Of course she would run a couple of miles, then come to, an'before the men could catch her she'd be off once more. The chances arethat them maneuvers were kept up till night set in, when she was lostentirely."
The three boys listened with the utmost attention to this very plausibleexplanation of what had previously been such a deep mystery, and whenBob concluded there was a look of most intense relief on their faces. Upto this moment the brig herself terrified them because of what hadpossibly happened on board; but now all seemed changed, and she wassuddenly transformed from something supernatural to the most innocentand peaceful of traders.
"Then there's no reason for abandoning her?" Harry saidhalf-interrogatively.
"Not a bit of it, lad. We'll leave the hatch open to let the gas out,an' run her in on the coast if we don't speak a craft that can lend ustwo or three hands."
"S'posin' you could get some more sailors, then how would you fix it?"Jim asked, remembering what the old man had said regarding his ignoranceof navigation.
"Take the chances of keepin' off the shore till we sighted a New Yorkpilot-boat, an' then lay claim for a fat salvage."
"And we should be landed at home!" Walter exclaimed in delight. "Wemight stop in front of Harry's father's store, which is close by thewharves; and I guess there'd be a big time when Mr. Vandyne found outwho had brought in the Bonita!"
"Don't count too much on anything like that, Walt," Harry added gravely."Bob said he would try to make that port if he could find some sailorsto help him; but according to the looks of things now it'll be a longwhile before such good luck comes."
"We can believe it will be here any moment, and then the nights won'tseem so lonely, nor the days so long."
"That's right, lad; don't trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.Keep a stiff upper lip whatever happens, an' you'll stand a better showof pullin' through!" Bob cried in a cheery tone. "I was shipmate oncewith a chap what was allers worryin' 'bout findin' hisself on a hauntedvessel. He never'd put his mark to the articles till after he'd askedall about the craft, an' whether there was any ghosts aboard. Now, youlet a man go nosin' 'round expectin' to see things, an' it happens thatwhat he's huntin' for most allers comes, or else he conjures 'em up.Well, so it was with Tom--Tom Byard, he called hisself. He got drunk onenight, an' the next mornin' awoke on a ship bound 'round the Horn with acargo of railroad iron.
"It wasn't long before he commenced to hunt after ghosts, 'an this timehe didn't have to look very far. I reckon the liquor--he'd been on afour days' spree--had considerable to do with his eyes; an' that verynight, while they was within sight of Sandy Hook, he saw, or thought hedid, the biggest kind of a ghost makin' right for him with a bloodyknife. Tom was on the maint'gallant-yard with another chap when thething come. He give a big yell, singing out that he knowed it would bethere some time, an' over he went. Nobody ever saw hide or hair of himafterward, an' the captain put in the log-book as how it was deliriumtre--tre--tremenjus, or somethin' like that, what killed him."
The point that Bob sought to make was forgotten owing to the length ofthe story, and even he himself appeared to have lost sight of any moral;therefore, what had been intended as a strong argument why people shouldnot seek out trouble passed for nothing better than a very improbableyarn.
The boys were eager to see the cargo which had given them so much alarm,and had also possibly been the cause of the brig's abandonment by heroriginal crew; therefore they went below on a tou
r of investigation,which was not very satisfactory because there was nothing but a quantityof casks to be seen.
Ten minutes in the hot hold was sufficient to gratify their curiosity,and then the amateur cook sat about preparing the noonday meal.