CHAPTER FOUR.
I PERFORM A SATISFACTORY EXPLOIT.
Scarcely had the albatross been shot, than the wind, which had hithertobeen moderate, increased considerably, and in a short time we had tworeefs in our topsails. The weather, however, was in other respectsfine, and away the ship went, careering over the foaming seas like ahigh-bred hunter, dashing them aside as she rushed onward on her course.There was something very exhilarating in the movement. The air, too,was bracing, and everybody seemed in high spirits. As I happened topass the caboose, however, I heard Potto Jumbo, the black cook,grumbling greatly. Some one had told him that he would have to roastone of the albatrosses for dinner. Although generally a very merry,good-natured fellow, this had made him excessively irate.
"No good ever came from shooting albatross!" I heard him exclaim. "Deylike to live as much as man. Dey love freedom. Soar high, high up inde sky, den swoop down, and fly along de foaming waves. Ah, if I hadwings like dem, I no peel potatoes and boil soup for ship's company!"
He looked up, as he spoke, towards the magnificent birds which ever andanon appeared high above the ship's bulwarks, as they darted forward asif to show at how far greater a rate they could dart through the airthan she could glide over the ocean.
"Ah, you once slave, Potto Jumbo! Fancy you flying with white wings!Ha, ha, ha!"
This remark was made by a dark-skinned native of the East, who wasstanding at the time near the caboose. He was the serang of theLascars, of whom we had a dozen on board. Ali Tomba was his name. Heand Potto Jumbo could not abide each other, so it seemed. His darkcountenance, with high cheek-bones and fierce eyes, was far fromprepossessing, though his figure was well-formed; his shoulders broad,with a small waist, and muscular arms and legs, denoting great strengthand activity. His hands and feet were wonderfully small, consideringthe work to which they had been put from his earliest days. He and hismen wore their Eastern dress, consisting of shirt and jacket, and a sortof kilt formed from a circular piece of plaid, a scarf worn over theshoulders, which served as a covering in bad weather, or could bewrapped round the arm for a shield in battle. A red cottonhandkerchief, generally well stiffened, was their usual head-dress.They were remarkably active fellows aloft, and few things which anEnglish sailor could do they would not venture to undertake. However,neither Ali nor his men were favourites on board. They obeyed thesuperior officers readily enough, but I observed that when Mr Tarboxdirected them to do anything, they did it in a sulky way. Why this wasI could not make out.--Ali stood by, bantering the cook about hisremark. Potto Jumbo had taken a liking to me. He had been on board theship in her former voyage, and I believe knew my history. He himselfwas deserted--without friends in the world--and this gave him a fellowfeeling, as he considered that his case was similar to mine. I had anidea, indeed, that there was more in Potto Jumbo than appeared. Thoughhe had a warm and quick temper, he was evidently kind-hearted I judgedit by the way he treated the animals on board. Merlin, especially, wasa favourite of his, and he took good care that he should never bewithout a plentiful dinner. Even in the way he put the dog's food downhe showed his kind disposition; and while he was mixing up the mess andMerlin stood by wagging his tail and licking his lips, Potto Jumboalways cast a kind glance downwards at his four-footed friend, andgenerally had a pleasant word to give him into the bargain.
For Oliver Farwell, however, he had a greater regard than for anybody onboard. I rather think because he more than any one else seemed torequire sympathy and protection. Though the boy had plenty of spirit,he seemed scarcely fitted for the rough life on board ship. The otherboys, when they could do so without being seen by Potto Jumbo, amusedthemselves by ridiculing and teasing Oliver. They seemed to delight inplaying him all sorts of tricks, and very often pretty rough ones too.I had never spoken much to Oliver, though I observed that whenever MrHooker was describing anything, Oliver, if he could do so withoutimpropriety, stopped and listened, and seemed to take great interest inwhat was said. When work was over, I often saw him in the pantryreading. Not only on Sundays, but every day nearly, it seemed to me, heread the Bible at odd moments; indeed, a sailor at sea, unless he takesodd moments for reading, may never read at all. Oliver had not only hisduties as a cabin-boy to attend to, but as he wished to become a sailor,and the captain desired that he should become one, he was frequentlyemployed on deck.
At the moment I am describing, Oliver Farwell had gone forward, and withseveral other boys was in the fore-rigging. What they were about I donot remember, but, looking up, I saw they were skylarking, and it seemedas if the others were trying to play Oliver some trick. Be that as itmay, all of a sudden I saw one of them fall from aloft. I thought itwas Oliver. Of course it ought not to have made any difference to mewho it was. I expected that he would be killed, but he struck thehammock nettings, and bounded overboard. I did not stop a moment tothink. It did not occur to me that it would take a long time to heavethe ship to, and to lower a boat, and with the heavy sea running theoperation would be a difficult and dangerous one, and that it would beequally difficult to pick anybody out of the water. I had been noted atschool for being a good swimmer, and had, just before I left, saved thelife of a school-fellow who had got out of his depth, and been carriedout a good way by the current. I had followed him, dived after he hadsank, and brought him to the surface, and then hauled him on to the bankof the river where we were bathing. I remembered this, or perhaps Ishould say I did not think about anything but the one idea of saving thelife of a fellow-creature. I was lightly clad. Throwing off my jacket,before Potto Jumbo could cry out, or any one else attempt to stop me, Iwas overboard. I was in the water almost as soon as the cry of "A manoverboard!" was raised.
A glance aloft showed me that it was Oliver Farwell who had fallen. AsI reached the water I could see him on the top of a wave, just as theship's quarter glided past me. I shouted out to him, and swam forward.I now found how different it was swimming in smooth water and swimmingin the heavy sea there was running. At the same time I had beenaccustomed to fresh water, which is less buoyant than salt, and thus Ifelt myself greatly supported.
The instant the cry of "A man overboard!" was raised, a life-buoy waslet go. It fell some distance from me. I doubted whether I should swimto that and tow it to Oliver, or go to Oliver first and try to get himup to it. My fear was that Oliver would sink before I could reach him.I determined to get hold of Oliver. I could hear the cries of thepeople on board as they watched me, encouraging me in my attempt. I hadscarcely been in the water ten minutes when I heard a peculiar rushingsound, and turning round my head saw the long wings of an enormousalbatross passing close above me. A blow from its beak would have beenfatal. I looked towards Oliver more anxiously than ever, fearing that,passing me, it might strike him. I shouted to him, and told him toshout too, hoping that the noise might scare off the bird. Others,however, came sweeping by. Again a wing almost touched my head.Diving, I knew, would have been of no use, for the creature might havefollowed me far lower than I could have sunk. Still I swam on.
I heard another shout, and as I rose to the top of a wave I saw justastern of the ship a black head and face--it was Potto Jumbo. Above hishead he waved a long knife. He intended it as a signal that he wascoming to my assistance. At the same instant a loud bark came from thestern of the ship, and I saw Merlin, who appeared one moment at thetaffrail, and the next leaped over into the foaming ocean. Nearer andnearer he approached. I was more anxious for him than for my humanfriend, as I was afraid the albatrosses would attack him, and he had nomeans of defending himself. Although I had followed Oliver almostimmediately into the water, it seemed a long time before I could get upto him. A curling wave rolled towards him; he was buried beneath it. Ithought he had sunk for ever. I darted forward, and caught sight of himjust beneath the surface. I seized him by the collar of his jacket, andtogether we rose to the surface. He was still conscious.
"Throw yourself on your back!" I cried. I
helped him to do so. Andnow I struck out for the life-buoy. A sea providentially threw ittowards us. Sooner than I could have expected I had hold of it, and hadplaced one of the beckets in Oliver's hands. Not a moment too soon. Iturned my glance upward for an instant at the bright blue sky, out ofwhich the hot sun shone on the sparkling waters. Suddenly a dark shadowseemed to intervene. I heard a rushing sound, distinct amid the roar ofthe waves, and, to my horror, I saw close above me a huge pair of whitewings, from which projected the head and formidable beak of a bird. Hewas darting towards me. A blow from that beak might have struck eitherof us senseless. The only means of defence I could think of was myshoe. I pulled it from my foot to ward off the blow. The bird seizedit, and, as if content with his prize, off he flew. A shout of applausefrom Potto Jumbo reached us, and in another minute he and Merlin got upto the life-buoy. A sea was on the point of taking off Oliver, butMerlin seized him by the collar, and dragged him back within my reach.Satisfied for the moment, he kept swimming round and round us, as ifprepared to render any assistance which might be required. I was indeedthankful that he had come, for I could with difficulty help Oliver tohold on to the life-buoy. Another, and another bird flew towards us,but whether frightened at our shouts, or the flourish of Potto Jumbo'ssharp blade, I do not know, but, circling round, they flew off again asif in search of other prey.
We could now see the ship hove to. A boat was lowered, but so long wasshe before shoving off, so it seemed to me, that we were afraid someaccident had happened. One idea occurred to me while in the water.Should I be lost, what would become of Emily? I thought of the prayerof the sinking master of the ship in Falconer's "Shipwreck," and Iprayed for her I loved best on earth, as many a seaman undoubtedly hasprayed, when tossing on the foaming waves. Still I had no fears; I knewthat that prayer would be heard.
"Keep up, Massa Walter! Keep up!" cried Potto Jumbo, as he helped me tohold our companion on to the life-buoy, and saw that I indeed requiredaid myself. "Keep up, Massa Walter! boat soon come. See, see! dere sheis away from the ship! Hurrah! Never say die! See, she comes! JoeTarbox or the first mate in her. Never fear! Hurrah, hurrah!"
Thus he continued shouting, for the double purpose of keeping up ourspirits, and of scaring away the albatrosses. Now, at length, I sawthat the boat was clear of the ship. On she came. Now she appeared onthe summit of a foaming sea, now she was hid from view in the troughbelow it; then again she came in sight, for when she was sinking we atthe same time were rising in most instances, and could therefore lookover the intervening seas. Still the time seemed very long. Itrequired careful management to get near the life-buoy without strikingus. To pick up one person was difficult, but to take up three the riskwas far greater.
"You go first!" cried Potto Jumbo, as the boat approached.
"No, no," I said; "let Oliver be taken in. He is almost drowned as itis."
We could see the boat's bows almost above us. It seemed as if the nextinstant she would come down like a huge hammer upon our heads. But JoeTarbox knew well what he was about, and turned her head aside, while astrong arm stretched forth, seized hold of Oliver as Potto Jumbo heldhim up, and he was safe on board. My companion insisted on my goingnext. Again the boat, which had been driven off by the sea, approachedus.
"Quick! quick!" cried Joe. "Have them both in at once!"
I was nearest my friend, and seizing hold of me he hauled me in over thequarter, while Potto sprang to the side, and was dragged in by the othermen. Merlin waited till he saw us both on board, and not till then didhe push for the boat, with his snout lifted up as if asking forassistance. Ready hands were stretched out to him, and with their helphe quickly scrambled on board, and made his way aft to the stern-sheets,where he looked into my face as if to inquire whether I was all right.
"We must have the life-buoy, though," cried Joe; "for another of us maybe falling overboard before long."
As there was no danger of injuring the life-buoy, that was quickly goton board. And now commenced our return to the ship. It requiredcareful steering to make our way amid those heavy seas, and still moredangerous was it to get alongside. Oliver, who was scarcely conscious,was first hoisted up. I was very glad of assistance to get up too; forthough I did not feel fatigued, my strength had really almost gone. Nosooner had I reached the deck than I found myself in Emily's arms.
"Dear, dear Walter!" she exclaimed; "you brave boy; and yet--" and sheburst into tears.
Mrs Davenport and Grace were close behind her. "You must come below,Walter--come below and get off your wet things!" they exclaimed.
Merlin followed Potto Jumbo on deck, and, giving himself a thoroughshaking, came aft, wagging his tail, to receive the approving pats ofhis friends; while the black cook, casting a look behind him, whichseemed to say that he was indifferent to the compliments which mighthave been paid him, made his way forward into the fore-peak to shift hiswet clothes.
I will not repeat the complimentary things which were said to me by thepassengers. Mr Hooker wrung my hand.
"It was well and bravely done, Walter," he exclaimed. "I am glad to seethat you have got it in you."
"Oh! I did not think about it," I answered honestly. "I once beforepicked a fellow out of the water, so I thought I ought to try to do itagain. I know there are a good many people who cannot swim, and I hopedthat I could do it."
I quickly had my wet things off, and made my appearance again on deck,not much the worse for my exertions, though perhaps my hand did tremblea little; and I was not sorry when the captain asked me into thecuddy-cabin, and gave me a glass of wine.
"I am thankful that you saved that poor boy, Walter," he said, giving meone of his kind looks. "I should be deeply grieved to lose him. He isthe only son of a widowed mother, and her heart would have been brokenhad he been lost. He had shipped on board a vessel bound for the coastof Africa, when I found him, and persuaded the captain to let him comeaboard my ship; for the crew were a rough lot, and he would have learnedno good among them, while the risk of losing his life on the coast wouldhave been very great. His poor mother had seen better days, I found. Ido not know much of her history, but I know she brought up twodaughters, and gave them a good education, and she had done in the sameway all she could for this boy; but I believe that her means failed her,and she was then unable to pay for his instruction, so that he only gotwhat she herself could give him. The boy's whole heart had been set ongoing to sea, little knowing, of course, what he would have to gothrough."
Soon after we came on board, it began to blow much harder; and we hadgood reason to be thankful that the accident had not happened later inthe day. I was, after this event, made a good deal of on board. Thecaptain observed that I ran a considerable risk of being spoiled. Itwas not fair, indeed, that I should get all the praise, when the blackcook had also behaved in a gallant manner. Indeed, if it had not beenfor him, I suspect that the albatrosses would have finished both Oliverand me before the boat could have got up to us.
"Very glad you escaped, Massa Walter," said Potto Jumbo, the followingday. "Dear me! I jump overboard twice as much sea as dat!" he added,when I told him how thankful I was to him. "Me fight shark with one bigknife, and cut him under the t'roat and kill him. Potto Jumbo one'phibious animal, so doctor once say to me. I swim in de water likeporpoise, and climb tree like monkey. Ah! you see de monkeys when weget out dere," and Potto Jumbo pointed eastward. "Ah! dat one finecountry, only little too hot sometimes for lily-white skins;" and PottoJumbo grinned from ear to ear, as if congratulating himself that his owndark covering was impervious to the sun's rays of that or any otherregion.
Potto Jumbo's chief friend was an English seaman--Roger Trew by name.Roger was short and stout, with wonderfully long arms, and of immensestrength; but he never put it forth except in the way of duty, and wason ordinary occasions as mild and gentle as a lamb. I believe PottoJumbo admired him because he had the power of knocking any man down onboard who might offend him, and yet d
id not use it. The captainconsidered Trew a good seaman; and so, I know, did Joe Tarbox. Hisfigure did not appear well suited for going aloft, and yet no man couldmore quickly overhaul the weather earing in a heavy gale than he could.I have said sufficient about the ship's company for the present. I donot mention others, because there was nothing very remarkable aboutthem. I had been doing my best to become a seaman ever since I steppedon board, both by making myself acquainted with every manoeuvreperformed, and learning the arts of knotting and splicing, reefing andsteering, as well as studying navigation. The captain told me that hewas well pleased with my progress, and this encouraged me to persevere.My great ambition was to learn a profession, and thus to be independent.It is what all boys should aim at. I had originally no particulartaste for the sea; but having chosen it, I was determined to be athorough sailor. How many among my schoolfellows could not make uptheir minds what to be, or did not seem to think that it was necessaryto be something or other. Now my idea was, and is stronger now, thatevery person ought to possess some especial knowledge of a profession,calling, or trade, by the practice of which he can maintain himself. Ifall boys and lads were impressed with this important practical truth,how many might be saved from ruin, from "going to the dogs," as thephrase is, simply because they have no honest means of supportingthemselves. I say this here, because I may otherwise forget to say itelsewhere, and I am very anxious to impress it on the minds of myreaders. We had two men on board the _Bussorah Merchant_ who had beenat good schools, and at a university, but had failed to benefit by theiradvantages. They had had money--one, indeed, several hundreds a year--but they had dissipated the whole of it, and had been wandering aboutthe streets of London for several months utterly penniless, till theyshipped as seaman before the mast on board a ship bound round Cape Horn.After knocking about in the Pacific for some years, they had returnedhome no richer than when they went out, and were glad immediately toship aboard us. From their appearance and manners I should not havesuspected what they had been, till one day I heard one of them quoting"Horace" to the other. He was rather surprised when I capped the verse;and by degrees, having gained their confidence, they gave me the accountI now repeat, with a great many more circumstances which I do notconsider it necessary to narrate. Poor fellows, they had been sothoroughly accustomed to the rough ways of the roughest of seamen, thatI suspect they had lost all taste for a more refined style of life. SoI say to my young readers, whatever you do, fix upon a profession, andtry to make yourself thoroughly competent to fill it. Do not rest orflag till you have done so; and never for a moment suppose that you willhave any permanent enjoyment in an idle life.
We had got nearly half-way across the Indian Ocean, when, one day as Iwas aloft, I saw in the far distance an object which looked like a logof wood, with a tiny white sail appearing above it. I hailed the deck,and Mr Thudicumb bringing his glass, came up to look at it. After sometime it was reported to the captain, and the ship was kept away towardsit. As we approached, Mr Thudicumb said it appeared to him like acanoe; but though she seemed to be steering steadily before the wind, noone could be seen aboard her.