CHAPTER SIX.
IN TROUBLED WATERS.
Hassall had left me his telescope. I could see the people on board thewreck stretching out their hands towards the boat as she left the shoreon her errand of mercy. Mason every now and then asked for the glassand looked towards the wreck. He seemed more and more convinced thatthe lady on board was his wife. Yet could he do nothing? Yes, hecould. Though he could not exert his body I saw that he was doing allthat man in his utmost extremity can do. His lips were moving, his headwas bent forward, his eyes glancing at times at the boat and the ship,his hands were clasped tightly in prayer, forgetful of the crowdssurrounding him. The boat, impelled by lusty strokes, darted on. Shereached the wreck. The lady was lifted in. No one seemed inclined tofollow. The danger was fearful. Not before, since she struck, had oneof the huge rollers failed at much shorter intervals to dash over andover the ship. Should one of them overtake the boat her fate would besealed. On came the boat towards the beach. A number of seamen rusheddown into the surf to receive her and haul her up as soon as she shouldtouch the sand. The excitement among the crowd was tremendous. Far offI saw one of these huge billows rushing onwards. If it broke before theboat could reach the beach it would overwhelm her. The least excited ofthe crowd, to all appearance, was my friend Captain Mason. He advancedslowly towards the spot which it seemed probable the boat would reach,then he stopped for a moment. On she came, her keel grated on the sand,sturdy shoulders bore her along upwards, and ere the coming roller burstshe was safe beyond its reach. The lady lay almost overcome in thestern sheets. Mason uttered his wife's name, she looked up, and inanother moment she was placed in his arms. A communication wasafterwards established between the wreck and the shore, and most of thecrew landed before the gale again came down with redoubled fury. By themorning scarce a vestige of the ship remained. I had the pleasure ofseeing Mrs Mason completely recovered two days afterwards, and thankfulfor her providential escape.
My brother William got leave of absence for three or four days, and hewas anxious to spend the time in a cruise along the coast, and to get meto accompany him. I had wound up my mercantile business at the place,but as the _Barbara_ would be detained a few days longer to complete herrepairs, in a weak moment I consented to his proposal, as if we had notenough knocking about on salt water in the pursuit of our professionalduties. It is difficult to put old heads on young shoulders. We didnot remember that it was still the stormy season, and that the nativesmight not be so inclined to be civil to us, their late conquerors,coming in a half-decked boat with fowling-pieces, as they would had weappeared under the protection of the frigate's guns.
We agreed that it would be as well to have companions. I askedO'Carroll, who was very ready to come, and William brought a friend,whom he introduced as "My messmate, Toby Trundle." His name was acurious one--at first I did not suppose that it was anything but anickname--and he himself was one of the oddest little fellows I evermet. From the first glance I had of him, I fancied that he was rather ayoung companion for my brother, but a second look showed me that he wasfully his age. We had hired a craft, a schooner-rigged, half-deckedboat, about five-and-twenty feet long, with a well aft, in which wecould sit comfortably enough. She was not a bad boat for smooth water,but if caught in a heavy sea, very likely to drown all on board.
Our crew consisted of a Frenchman, Paul Jacotot, the owner of the_Dore_, as our craft was called, his son Auguste, a boy of thirteen, andJack Nobs, a boy I brought from the _Barbara_. The Frenchman was to actas pilot and cook. The boys were to scrape the potatoes--or ratherprepare the yams, for we had none of the former root--and tend thehead-sheets. A boatswain's mate, Sam Kelson, who had been in hospital,had been allowed to accompany the midshipmen before returning on board.The two midshipmen were to act as officers. O'Carroll, whom they didnot know was a sailor, and I, were to be passengers, and the rest of theparty were rated as crew. We had laid in all sorts of provisions, anample supply for the few days we were to be away. Port Louis, it mustbe remembered, is on the north side of the island, and we had agreed tomake our cruise to the eastward, where there are some small islands--Gunners Coin and Flat Island. If the wind should prove favourable wehoped to circumnavigate the island. With a fair breeze off the land,and Le Pouce seen standing up astern beyond the town, we sailed out ofthe harbour, the weather being as fine as heart could desire. Williamand Toby Trundle took it by turns to steer, Jacotot pointing out thedangers to be avoided, for we kept close in shore for the sake of thescenery. Toby Trundle sat aft steering, looking, in a broad-brimmedstraw hat, a white jacket and trowsers, contrasting with his sunburntcomplexion, more like a monkey than a midshipman. Jacotot, when notengaged in any culinary matter below, was jabbering away at a rapid rateto us, if we would listen; if not, he was addressing his son, whom hekept constantly on the move, now scolding, now praising with terms oftender endearment.
We enjoyed ourselves, and lunched and dined with great contentment,voting Jacotot a first-rate _chef_, which he undoubtedly was. He was,however, a better cook than seaman we before long discovered.
"The next prize we take I hope that we shall find some cooks on board;we must secure one for our mess," observed Toby, helping himself to oneof the dishes Jacotot had sent aft. I had not been long on board beforeI found out, what seemed to have escaped the midshipmen's observationwhen they hired the boat, that the rigging was sadly rotten, and thatshe herself was in a somewhat leaky condition. They, however, onlylaughed at the leaking. "It will keep the boat sweet, and give JackNobs and Auguste something to do," observed Master Trundle, cocking hiseye at me. Notwithstanding this, we stood on, the breeze shiftingconveniently in our favour till nightfall, when we put into a smallharbour, the entrance to which our pilot for a wonder knew. The nextday we continued our course, landing in a bay, up which we ran to have alook at the country, and to get some goat's milk and fruit. We found asmall farm, the only white people being an old-fashioned Frenchman, witha somewhat dingy wife, and two grown-up daughters. All the rest of thepeople were either brown Orientals or black Africans. The old Frenchmanwas very civil, merely shrugged his shoulders when he saw our flag, andobserved that it was the fortune of war, and that, as we were the mostnumerous, France had lost no honour, though she lost the dependency. Hesupplied us for a trifle with a bottle of goat's milk, and as manymelons, pines, and mangoes as we could manage to eat. He politelyassisted in taking them down to the boat. As he did so he looked roundthe horizon seaward, and up at the sky. "Messieurs will do well toremain at anchor for a few hours longer," he observed. "We are going tohave a change of weather. It may be slight, or it may be very great,and you will be more content on shore than at sea." We thanked him forhis advice, but the midshipmen asserting that if we stopped they mightnot be able to rejoin their ship at the right time, it was disregarded.On standing out again, however, we saw that the hope of getting roundthe island was vain, and that our surest course would be to return bythe way we had come. The weather soon changed; ugly clouds collectedand came sweeping up from the west and south, though as yet but littlewind filled our sails.
"I am afraid that we are going to have a storm," I observed.
"Oh, no fear; I don't think that there will be anything in it," answeredToby Trundle.
"I think that there'll be a great deal in it, and I would advise yougentlemen to make the best of your way back to the bay we have justleft," said O'Carroll.
The midshipmen looked at him as much as to say, What do you know aboutthe matter? Jacotot was too busy cooking an omelette to attend to theweather, or he should have warned us. The question was settled by asudden gust which came off the land, and laid the boat on her beam-ends.I thought we were going to capsize, and so we should, but crack awaywent both our masts, and the boat righted, one-third full of water. Weall looked at each other for a moment aghast. It was a mercy that noone was washed overboard. A second and stronger gust followed thefirst, and on drove the boat helplessly before it.
"You'll pump andbale out the water, and get on board the wreck of the masts," saidO'Carroll, quietly.
We followed his advice as best we could. Jacotot, who was attending tohis little stove below when the squall struck us, popped up his headwith his white nightcap on, and his countenance so ludicrouslyexpressive of dismay that, in spite of the danger we were in, Trundleburst into a fit of laughter. The Frenchman had not time to get outbefore the vessel righted. He now emerged completely, and franticallyseizing his cap, tore it off his head and threw it into the boilingwater. He then joined in hauling on board the wreck of the rigging.
"If we are to save our lives we must forthwith rig a jury-mast, so as tokeep the boat before the gale," observed O'Carroll.
With the aid of a wood-axe we knocked out the stump of the foremast, andmaking a fresh heel to the broken spar, managed, in spite of the rollingof the boat, to slip it into its place. This was done not a moment toosoon. The wind increased so rapidly, and blew with such fearfulviolence, that we should have been unable to accomplish the task, thoughas yet there was not much sea.
O'Carroll showed that he was a man for an emergency. "This will be morethan a gale," he observed; "it will be a regular hurricane! we mayexpect that. But still, if we manage properly, we may save our lives."
Close-reefing the foresail, we got it ready to hoist as a square sail;the rest of the spars we lashed fore and aft on either side, while wecut up the mainsail and raised the gunwale a foot or more all round tohelp keep out the water. We also, as far as we could, covered in theafter-part of the little craft. While we were thus engaged the boyswere pumping and baling. This task was scarcely accomplished before thewind had blown us helplessly so far off the land that we became exposedto the full violence of the sea, which had rapidly risen. The water wasleaping on every side tumultuously--the foam flying in thick masses offit--each sea, as it rose high above our heads, threatening to overwhelmus.
We gazed wistfully at the land which we had so unwisely left, but we hadno power of returning there. Our only prospect of passing amidst theheavy seas now rolling around us was to hoist our sail and scud beforethe wind.
O'Carroll now took the helm. "I have had more experience in these seasthan you, young gentlemen, and the slightest want of care may send sucha craft as this to the bottom!" he observed.
Without a word, they set to work to pump and bale. Even Trundle grewserious. Jacotot every now and then stopped pumping or baling, orwhatever he was about, and pulled his hair, and made a hideous face,scolded Auguste, telling him to _depechez vites_, and then set to workhimself harder than ever. The English seamen worked away without sayinga word beyond what was absolutely necessary. Jack Nobs behaved verywell, but cried in sympathy when Auguste was scolded. The latter alwaysblubbered on till his father ceased speaking. I could not helpremarking what I have described, notwithstanding the fearful danger wewere running. The sky was of an almost inky hue, while the sea was ofthe colour of lead, frosted over with the driving spray torn off fromthe summits of the tossing seas by the fury of the wind. Our stump of amast, as well as our sail, had been well secured, though I dreaded everyinstant to see the ring-bolts, to which the ropes had been made fast,dragged out of the sides, and the rotten boat torn to pieces.
Thus on we flew, right into the Indian Ocean, though in what directionwe could only guess, for our compass, like everything belonging to thecraft, was defective. Intending only to make a coasting trip, we had nochart, except one of the island from which we were now being drivenrapidly away. To be in a gale of wind on board a stout ship in the opensea, is a fine thing once in one's life, but to have to sit in a rottenboat, with a hurricane driving her, one knows not where, across theocean, is a very different matter. Our only prospect of saving ourlives, humanly speaking, was to keep the boat dead before the wind; amoment's careless steering might have caused our destruction.
We were all so busy in pumping or baling that we had no time to watcheach other's countenances, or we might have seen alarm and anxietydepicted on them as the rising seas came following up astern,threatening to engulf us. I felt for the young brother who was with me,so lighthearted and merry, and yet so little prepared for the eternityinto which any moment we might be plunged. After fervent inward prayer,my own mind was comforted, so much so that I was able to speak earnestwords, not only to my young brother, but to the others. Trundle andJack looked very serious, but rather bewildered, as if they could notcomprehend what was said.
Such is, I fear, too often the case under such circumstances. Iremembered how, a few days before, I had seen Mason praying at a time ofthe utmost extremity, and I urged my companions to pray for themselves.Jacotot was the only person who seemed averse to listen to the word oftruth. Though he had raged and pulled his hair with grief at the injurydone to his vessel, he could not bring himself to care for anythingbeyond the passing moment. But while the rest grew calm and resigned,he became more and more agitated and alarmed. In each sea which rolledup after us in the distance he saw the messenger which was to summon himto destruction. Poor little Auguste could only cry with fear of theundefined. He had never been taught to believe in anything, and thus hecould not even believe in the reality of death till he was in its grasp.
Under the circumstances in which we were placed, people can talk butlittle, though the thoughts crowd through the mind with frightfulrapidity. Unless when occupied, we for most of the time sat silent,watching the ocean. Night was coming on, and the fury of the tempesthad in no way decreased. It was difficult to steer in the daytime--itwas doubly difficult and dangerous at night. After O'Carroll had beensteering for some time, Trundle begged that he might again take thehelm.
"Trust me," he said, "I have been in a gale of wind in an open boatbefore now, and know how to steer carefully."
"But you've not steered in a hurricane in the Indian seas, Mr Trundle,"answered O'Carroll. "Any moment the wind may shift round, and if wewere to be taken aback, it would be all over with us. As long as I cankeep my eyes open I'll stay where I am, if you please." And O'Carrollwas as good as his word; hour after hour he sat there, as we rushed onup and down the watery hills through the pitchy darkness--it was indeeda long, long night. Though we had eaten nothing since the hurricanecame on, we were all of us rather weary than hungry. As for sleepiness,that was very far from any one. When compelled to rest, we could employour thoughts in little else than wishing for daylight, and hoping thatthe storm would soon cease. It was a relief to be called on to pump orbale, for the increasing leaks required three of us at a time to beactively engaged in both operations. But I am wrong in saying that Icould think of nothing except my own fearful peril. Frequently Ithought of my dear mother and other loved ones at home. The thoughtgave me comfort and courage, and cheered me up through the horrors ofthe night. Daylight came at last, and revealed the tumultuous ocean onevery side, but not a speck of land was visible. Trundle was the firstto exclaim that he was hungry; but to light a fire was almostimpossible, and even Jacotot could not have cooked by it had it beenlighted. We managed, however, to serve out some bread and the oldFrenchman's fruit to all hands, and then we had to turn to and clear thecraft of water, which was finding its way in through every seam. Itseemed scarcely possible that she could float much longer, should thehurricane continue, with the violent working to which we were exposed.Had we been stationary, the tempest would have passed over us; butdriven along with it, we had for a much longer time to endure its fury.It seemed, indeed, surprising that the boat should have floated so long.As far as we depended, indeed, on our own exertions, the most carefulsteering could alone have saved us. We had been longing for daylight;now that it had come, the dangers of our condition appeared moreevident, and we almost wished again for night. We could not calculate,either, in what direction we were being driven, but we feared it mightbe where rocks and coral banks and islets abound, and that at any momentwe might be hurled on one of them. O'Carroll still sat at his post. Iasked if he did not feel tired.
"Maybe, but till the gale is over, hereI'll stick!" he answered. "And sure it's as pretty a sample of ahurricane as any of you'll be after wishing to see for many a day tocome."
At length, towards noon, the wind began to fall, and in a very shorttime, though it still blew hard, and the sea ran almost as high asbefore, and was consequently as dangerous, it was evident that thehurricane was over. Our hopes revived. Still, we were obliged to runon before the wind; and to avoid the danger of being pooped by thequickly-following sea, we had to hoist more of our sail: indeed, we nowdreaded not having wind enough to avoid the sea. Thus passed the day,and before nightfall we were rolling on a tolerably smooth swell with amoderate breeze. Still we had to exert ourselves as before to keep theboat afloat. The moment, however, that one of us was relieved at thepump or baling bucket, he dropped off to sleep. I was even afraid, atfirst, that we should all go to sleep together. Nothing, indeed, forsome hours could rouse up the two boys. My young brother and Trundlewere, however, after a short snooze, as lively as ever, and as merrytoo. Midshipmen-like, they did not seem to trouble themselves about thefuture. I, however, still felt very anxious about it. The SouthernCross and many another bright constellation not long familiar to my eyeswere shining forth in the clear sky. Had we known our position, eventhough we had no compass, we might have shaped a course for theMauritius. We calculated that we had been driven two hundred miles awayfrom it in the direction of the equator. Should we steer south we wereas likely to miss as to find it. We proposed, therefore, to steer tothe west, knowing that we must thus reach some part of the coast ofMadagascar, where the English had at that time a fort and a garrison."But we must have our craft rigged before we talk of the course we'llsteer," observed O'Carroll, who at that moment awoke from a long sleep.With the morning light we set to work to fit a mainmast, and to rig theboat as best we could. There was a light breeze, but as it was from thewest we lay without any canvas set.
While all hands were busily employed fitting the rigging, I looked upand saw a brig under all sail approaching us at no great distance.Beyond her was another vessel, a ship--I pointed her out. O'Carrolltook the telescope.
"She's an English vessel chased by an enemy," he observed. "She'll notstop to help us, so the closer we lie the better." He kept after thiscontinually taking up the glass for some time, when suddenly heexclaimed, "As I'm an Irishman, it's that villain La Roche again!"
His countenance fell as he spoke. He handed me the glass--I took asteady look at the ship, and had little doubt that it was our oldantagonist the _Mignonne_ in sight.