CHAPTER IX
CLOSE TO A WATERSPOUT
It was decided to leave the mutineers in the hold undisturbed untilmorning. This done, those who had been hurt in the scrimmage had theirwounds attended to, and then Jeff was set to work to prepare a good mealfor all the loyal party. The galley was in a state of disorder, but thiscounted for nothing, and Jeff soon had matters straightened out.
After so much excitement nobody thought of retiring. Luke was stationedover the fore hatch, to give warning of any attempt on the part of themutineers to regain their liberty. He was armed and he threatened to"blow the hull head off" of anybody who dared to show himself or make anoise. As a consequence the mutineers did nothing. Two made their way tothe nailed-up door, but finding they could not open it, gave up theattempt as a bad job.
As a punishment for his misdeeds Conroy was kept at the wheel during thewhole of the night. He was willing enough to do the extra work if onlythe captain would forgive him for his actions. The master of the shipquestioned him closely, and in the end reached the conclusion that onlySemmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven were the leaders in the attempt to seizethe ship and that the others had followed after them like so many sheep.
"I am glad to hear this," he said to Grandon and Larry. "I think after Iread them a strong lecture they'll behave themselves."
"But we shall have to watch 'em closely," said the first mate.
"What will you do with Semmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven?" asked Larry.
"Put them in irons and keep them there until the end of the trip. Whenwe reach Nagasaki they can take their choice of leaving or of beingkicked off the ship. If they raise a row I'll hand them over to theauthorities."
"You ought to have them locked up."
"True, lad; but with this war on hand the courts won't want to botherwith such a case."
It was not until nine o'clock in the morning that Captain Ponsberry hadthe forward hatch raised once more. Those below were almost dying forfresh air and water.
"I want Wilbur to come up," he said.
"Can't we have some water?" demanded Shamhaven.
"Yes, if you'll behave yourselves," was the short answer.
There was a babble of voices, but the master of the ship paid noattention. Each man who had been thrown below was unarmed, so there wasno danger of any shooting. Presently Wilbur came up the rope ladderthrown to him, looking sheepish enough.
"What have you to say for yourself?" demanded the captain, when Wilburthrew himself on his knees.
"Don't count it against me, cap'!" he groaned. "I didn't want to go intoit, I tell you! I didn't want to go in!"
"If I forgive you, will you give me your word to behave yourself?"
"Yes, sir!"
"You won't do any more underhanded work?"
"You can shoot me if I do, captain."
"Very well; I'll remember that. Now go forward and help put the ship ingood order. Larry, set him to work, and see that he does just what youtell him." And Wilbur went off, with the young second mate following,thanking his stars that he had not been swung to the yardarm, for mutinyon the high seas is a capital offense.
One by one the mutineers were allowed to come on deck, until onlySemmel, Peterson, and Shamhaven remained below. Those to come up pleadedto be forgiven and promised to obey orders in the future and let thecaptain run the ship to suit himself.
During the night, Groot had had a bitter quarrel with Semmel, and theRussian appeared presently with a black eye and two of his front teethloose. He was promptly put in irons, and the handcuffing of Peterson andShamhaven followed.
"I have allowed the other men their liberty because you three led theminto this affair," said Captain Ponsberry to the trio of rascals. "Iintend to keep you in irons until the end of the trip."
At this there was a loud complaint, and the three made all manner ofprotestations, but the master of the _Columbia_ was obdurate, and atlast threatened to throw them into the hold again. This quieted them forthe time being, and after being given a square meal and a drink ofwater, they were marched off to the brig, which was cleaned ofeverything else for their accommodation.
Fortunately for the _Columbia_ the weather remained fair, so that theloss of the prisoners was not felt when it came to handling theschooner. Those who had mutinied were only too glad to get back intoCaptain Ponsberry's good graces and they did whatever was required withan alacrity which was as astonishing as it was gratifying. They atewhatever was set before them, and soon reached the conclusion that thefood was really better than they deserved.
"We were fools to follow Semmel," said Wilbur; and Conroy and someothers fully agreed with him.
But though it now looked as if the men could be trusted, CaptainPonsberry determined to keep his eyes on them. Vincent was placed at thehead of one watch and Luke at the head of the other, so that, with oneor the other of the mates, the deck was always guarded by at least twopersons that could be depended upon.
The captain had hoped for favorable breezes following the heavy storm,but these did not come, and day after day passed with the old _Columbia_making slow progress toward Nagasaki. Formosa was passed during a bit ofthick weather, so that nothing was seen of that island. Then the suncame out again, hotter than ever, so that Larry was glad to keep in theshade as much as possible.
"It's not so exciting as it was a few days ago," remarked Luke to Larryone day, when both were seated in the shade of the forecastle.
"I am glad that mutiny is at an end," answered Larry. "It's a greatwonder that somebody wasn't killed or seriously wounded."
"The men didn't have their hearts in the rumpus, thet's why, Larry. Ifthey had really meant business--well, I reckon some of us wouldn't behere now to tell the tale."
"I think Semmel meant business."
"Yes, he's a heap sight worse nor any o' the others."
"It was a mistake to take him on board. I tell you, a captain can't betoo careful who he puts in his forecastle."
"Well, you know the reason--those other hands gettin' sick at Manila.But I can tell you, I'd rather have a crew of Americans any day."
"They are hard to get."
"True fer you." The old Yankee tar heaved a sigh. "The old days aregone, sure enough. My! my! what times we used to have, when we'd go out,every man a-knowin' every other man on the ship, an' all about him, too!Then it was like a big family settin' sail. Now, if you go on a new shipye don't know nobody an' nobody knows nobody else."
"I guess you expect to live and die a sailor, don't you, Luke?"
"Don't know but what I do, unless somebody leaves me money enough tolive like a millionaire," and the old tar grinned.
Day after day passed and the _Columbia_ kept on her course, making asstraight a passage for Nagasaki as possible. One day there would be afair breeze and the next a dead calm.
"This is unusual weather for this quarter of the globe," said CaptainPonsberry to Larry. "Like as not it will end in another hurricane."
"In that case what will you do, release Semmel and the others?"
"I may release Peterson and Shamhaven, but not Semmel, for he was thereal ringleader."
There were strong signs of a storm in the air that night, but theybrought forth nothing, and on the following morning the sun came up asfull and bright as before. The breeze came by fits and starts, fromfirst one direction and then another, and the man at the wheel had allhe could do to keep the schooner to her course. Sails were shifted halfa dozen times, but without making any improvement.
"The weather is certainly queer," said Grandon. "Puts me in mind of thetime I was caught in a tidal wave in the South Seas. Before the wavestruck us we had just such cuttings-up."
"I trust we don't strike a tidal wave," answered Larry. "If it was highenough it might swamp us."
"True; but when you're on the deep blue sea, lad, you've got to takewhatever comes," replied the first mate, solemnly.
Dinner was a quiet affair for all on board, and shortly after the repastLarry went to the forward de
ck, to have another chat with Luke. Whilethe two were talking they were joined by Captain Ponsberry; and soon thethree were conversing about old times once more.
"Do you remember the swim we once took in the Pacific?" said Larry toLuke. "The time the sawfish smashed the boat and came after us?"
"Reckon I do," was the Yankee tar's response. "We had a lively swim ferit, didn't we?"
"And the time we visited the island and you turned the turtles?" went onLarry. "And do you remember that snake that chased us into the water?"
"I do, Larry. Tell you what, we've had our share of adventures. WhenAdmiral Dewey----What is it, captain?"
Luke broke off short and looked at Captain Ponsberry inquiringly. Themaster of the _Columbia_ was gazing over the port bow in an earnest,puzzled fashion.
"Do you see that little black cloud, Striker?"
"I do, sir!" And now Luke became all attention and so did Larry. "Kindo' funny lookin', ain't it?"
"It is odd," answered the captain. "Do you see how it seems to bedancing around in the sky?"
"Is it a cloud?" questioned Larry. "If so, I never saw its like before."
"I'll take a look at it through my glass," went on the captain, and senta sailor for the article.
The cloud came swiftly closer and they heard a most unusual roaring andhissing. Then of a sudden the cloud seemed to dip down into the sea.When it came up, the waters of the ocean followed, and there loomed upbefore those on the ship a waterspout ten or fifteen feet thick.
"A waterspout!" cried half a dozen in concert.
"And a mighty powerful one, too," said the captain. "I trust it don'tcome this way."
"It is coming this way!" yelled Larry. "Look! look!"
The young second mate was right, the waterspout appeared to be headeddirectly for the schooner. But then it shot off to the westward,churning the water into a foam behind it.
"It's going away," murmured Luke, when once more the waterspout made acurve and then shot directly toward them. It was off the port bow andless than a hundred feet away. It looked as if the old _Columbia_ wassurely doomed!