CHAPTER VI.
STORM AT SEA.
"The wind Increased at night until it blew a gale; And though 'twas not much to a naval mind, Some landsmen would have looked a little pale. The wind blew still more fresh; as it grew late A squall came on, and some guns broke loose; A gust--which all descriptive power transcends, Laid with one blast the ship on her beam-ends."
There was something sublime in Harry Vernon's declaration:
"She must weather the gale, for the _Lively Bee_ has work to do."
But what a storm she encountered! Captain Vernon thought of the big warships, and feared for them.
He strained his ears to listen for the solemn booming of the signal gunof some vessel in distress.
His fears were more for the others than for his own tight little craft.
"The water is coming fast in the hold," said Scarron.
"All hands to the pumps, then!"
The men worked with a will.
They were accustomed to danger, and they did not magnify their trouble.
But it was an anxious night.
Not a star illumined the sky.
Not one glimmer of light could be seen.
Angry waves broke over the deck of the _Lively Bee_, and the boardscreaked and groaned like living things.
The masts bent beneath the weight of rigging, and every moment it wasfeared that they would go over.
"Tempest, are you afraid?" asked the captain.
"No, sir; but if I have to die soon, I'd rather it be in a strugglewith an English ship."
"Ay, ay; so would I. But we must be ready, for death won't wait ourpleasure."
"You do not think," and Tempest paused; he did not like to shape histhoughts in words.
"I think the _Lively Bee_ will weather the storm, but I may not."
"You are low-spirited. Oh!"
The exclamation was natural. A sudden gust had swept across the deck,the waves had broken with terrific force, and not one but thought hislast hour had come.
The calm which followed saw the captain at the tiller.
"All's well, sir," asserted the steersman.
"We can stand it here, if the water does not gain on us."
"The _Lively Bee_ can stand it, I think."
"Ay, ay, sir; she's the tautest boat I ever sailed in. But we're in fordirty weather afore morn."
Captain Vernon walked forward and again spoke to Tempest.
"Mr. Tempest, I want you to take an oath."
"Captain!"
"Yes, a solemn oath. We are engaged in fighting an enemy which claimsto be empress of the seas. Will you swear that, whatever happens to me,you will stay by the _Lively Bee_ as long as her timbers hold together,or until our flag is acknowledged on the ocean as well as on land?"
"I swear it, Vernon!"
"I thought you would. I have made my will; the _Lively Bee_ will beunder your command if anything happens to me."
"Why so despondent? You do not think we shall go down in the gale?"
"No, but ours is a venturesome life, and I like to get things in order."
"Captain, the water is gaining on us."
"Pump away, lads; the back of the storm is broken."
Tempest went to the pumps, and saw one of the men whose arms weretired, and whose whole body showed exhaustion.
"Stand away, Mike; let me have a turn for a few minutes."
"You, sir? You're a gentleman."
"I am a sailor, Mike, and can work as well as fight or give orders."
The rough seaman looked at the lieutenant and could scarcely believehis senses.
"No, no, sir; this 'ere work is not for the likes of you."
"Stand aside and rest a bit; I'll call you when I'm tired."
"Which'll be precious soon, I'll warrant me," growled Zeke Patten, asurly, discontented man.
"You hold your tongue unless you can be civil, Zeke," said Mullen, "orI'll make you."
Tempest heard both remarks, but did not let it be seen.
He took Mike's place and worked with an energy they had not counted on.
"Why don't you sing, boys?" he asked; "the work is so much easier."
"Can't get our breath then."
"Well, I'll try."
And Lieutenant Tempest began singing an impromptu doggerel, which thesailors thought the most perfect poetry ever written.
"The _Lively Bee_ will weather the storm, Yoho! my boys! yoho! For she's taut and trim and spick and span, Yoho! my boys! yoho! She'll make the British lower their rag, And make them honor our own dear flag, Then, boys, let not your spirits lag, Yoho! my boys! yoho!"
With what zest they worked! The water was diminished in the hold, andthe _Lively Bee_ was weathering the storm splendidly.
But the storm was not over. It seemed as though the elements were tiredand had need of a short respite, for there was a lull and the menbreathed again, glad that they would get a rest.
Mike had again taken his place at the pump, Zeke and Mullen had beenreplaced by others, and the pumps gained on the water splendidly.
Suddenly a flash of lightning darted along the sky, making the greenbillows as bright as in daytime.
Like a glittering serpent it flashed across, and simultaneously the airwas rent with a report so loud that the _Lively Bee_ quivered and shookas though it had been an animate being and was afraid of the storm.
There was such a lull and awful stillness that the helmsman had nocontrol of the _Lively Bee_.
"Hard-a-weather----" shouted the captain; "hard-up, for your life!"
He sprang to the helm, but the head of the schooner remained immovablein the same direction.
Vernon watched the approaching hurricane.
His experience told him that it was coming again with redoubled fury.
The lightning flashes showed them a glimpse of the storm.
Everything was done to save the schooner which experienced seamanshipcould suggest.
"Head her off," cried the captain, "or we shall capsize!"
Onward came the hurricane, ploughing up the sea, which boiled andfoamed and roared before it, a moving spasm of awful surge.
"Look to yourself, captain!" shouted Tempest, and the words died awayon the wind just as the wild waters leaped over the deck with thethunderous roar and fury of a cataract.
The weather main-chains were wrenched like threads, with all theirrigging, from the sides of the vessel; and the main mast, bending likea cane, broke off with a loud crash close to the deck.
It was an awful moment.
A wild cry arose from the sailors, but it was drowned in the roar ofthe waters and the thunder of the gale.
The lightning flashed and leaped about like phantasmagoric demons, asif mocking the sailors in their frantic dread.
"Cut away the foremast--look lively, men!"
Lieutenant Tempest had been prepared for this order, and with an axsevered the distended shrouds, which flew wildly in the air, lashingthe sea as they fell.
The remaining straps parted with sharp reports before the ax descended,and the unsustained mast, after a few vigorous blows by the daring handof the young officer, snapped off a few feet from the deck.
A large wave lifted it like a straw and bore it away to leeward.
The _Lively Bee_--a wreck--drifted about on the billows.
Captain Vernon almost sobbed as he thought of her.
The heavens were as black as raven wings, the lightning played acrossthem in streams of fire, the water was phosphorescently illuminated,while great masses of water, swollen into gigantic billows, burst intoglittering foam over the deck.
"We are lost," cried Mike. "Holy Mary, have mercy," Zeke blasphemed,and then with all the superstition of his class declared that there wasa Jonah aboard.
The captain heard him.
"What of it?" he cried. "We can't find the Jonah in this storm."
"I kin," answe
red the man.
"Perhaps it is yourself, Zeke; I remember we were nearly wrecked offCape Cod the last time you were with me."
Vernon had turned the tables on the man, who now shivered with fear.
"Doan't say that, cap'n, or they'll throw me overboard."
Zeke had no more to say about Jonahs, and while he blasphemed theothers prayed.
The storm ceased its anger, the winds were calmed down, the furiousbillows gradually subsided, and the _Lively Bee_ drifted along assteadily as on a river.
When morning came all eyes were strained for a sail.
Signals of distress were made, and soon in the far distance an answerwas made.
A brave-looking ship was seen, and soon a boat was lowered to go to theassistance of the _Lively Bee_.
"What flag?" asked the captain.
Tempest was looking through his glass at the distant ship.
"I cannot see, but she is a war ship."
Captain Vernon folded his arms and waited.
"If she floats the British flag I accept no aid. If she wants to takeus prisoners, those of you who are willing, can go, but for myself,I shall fire the magazine and blow up the _Lively Bee_ and myself aswell."
"I shall stay by your side, captain," said Tempest.
"So say all of us," shouted Mullen.
"Captain!" said Tempest.
It was a sudden shout, and almost startled Vernon.
"What is it, Mr. Tempest?"
"The flag----"
"Yes?"
"Is ours."
"God be praised! Are you sure?"
"Yes; and--the boat--is commanded by--Mr. Farragut."
"Then the ship is the _Essex_."
"Yes!"
"Thank Heaven!"