CHAPTER IV.
Insubordination of the Sailors.--Rapid Progress of the Fire.--The Boatslowered.--Ruth's Prize.--A Man saved.--Black Peter.--The Adventure of aReprobate Crew.--A Dangerous Comrade.
Then the harsh voice of Markham was heard pouring out orders, loud, butalmost inarticulate with rage and drunkenness; while, regardless of hisawful situation, with fearful blasphemy he imprecated curses on thenegligence which had caused the accident, and on the tardiness of actionamong his insubordinate crew. At length the fire-engine was got to work;lengths of leather hose were stretched down to the burning hold; bucketswere rapidly passed from hand to hand; and the splashing of water wasfollowed by the hissing of the flames.
The four young men joined the sailors and worked manfully at the engineor with buckets, while Mr. Mayburn, alternately trembling, weeping, anddespairing, and then, in earnest prayer, regaining his firmness andresignation, occupied the care and attention of Margaret almostentirely. Jenny, with practical good sense, was collecting the mostvaluable part of their property.
"If we be not burnt to death first, Miss Marget," she said; "Jack tellsme we shall be took off in boats, God help us! so it's time to be makingready. Come, lass!" to Ruth, "and tie this bag. What ails ye, yousimpleton? What are you staring round in that fashion for?"
Ruth was gazing about with a wild expression of terror in her eyes, and,unmindful of the injunctions of Mrs. Wilson, she suddenly threw down thebag, and fell on her knees before Mr. Mayburn, crying out, "Ah, master,will they hang me? I didn't think it would burn us all alive! I couldn'tfind it again, try all I would."
"Unfortunate girl," said Mr. Mayburn, "have you lost your senses, orwhat have you done? Speak the truth."
"I will tell truth, master," sobbed the girl. "It was when I were latingup them bonnie chickens as had got out, and big Peter tied a rope acrossin yon passage for me to tummel ower, and I rolled down t' ladder intothat big, dark place where they keep great bales and barrels, and allmanners of things; my lantern was broken and my candle was lost. I gotmysel' gathered up, and I groped about for t' candle, but I couldn'tfind it, and I got sadly flayed in that dark hole, so I climbed up andsaid nought to nobody; but, oh, master, I couldn't get to sleep, for itcame into my head, may be my candle might have set some of them bundlesin a low, and we might all be burned in our beds, and me not saying aword alike, for fear."
"God forgive you, Ruth," said her master. "Pray for mercy; and if itplease Him to save us in this fearful hour of peril, never forget themisery and destruction your carelessness has caused."
The penitent and affrighted girl shook in every limb, and Margaretkindly soothed and prayed with her till she calmed her agitation. Thenthe young and thoughtful daughter said,--
"Papa, we must not remain inclosed in this suffocating cabin. Let us goon deck, and if no other hope remains, we will demand a boat, that wemay escape from a horrible death."
"Lead the way, my child," said Mr. Mayburn, "and I will follow you, as Iever do; for I feel utterly helpless alone."
They proceeded to the deck, followed by Jenny and Ruth loaded withpackages; and when they reached the scene of terror and confusion, theywere embarrassed among piles of boxes, barrels, and bales, which werecontinually drawn up from below, the bales which were blazing beingimmediately thrown overboard.
By the light of the torches, Margaret discovered among the throng heryoung brothers, busily employed in hauling ropes and carrying buckets;they were heated with exertion and blackened with smoke. O'Brien hadeven got his hair singed with the flames. Still untired, they would havecontinued their efforts, but all seemed ineffectual, from the total wantof subordination and unanimity among the sailors. Mr. Mayburn walked upto Captain Markham, who stood aloof from the rest, in a perfect state offrenzy, from fear, anger, and intoxication. He continued to shout aloudcontradictory and absurd orders, which were utterly unheeded by thelawless crew; each man doing what he chose, and nothing being doneeffectually.
"The fire is certainly progressing, Captain Markham," said Mr. Mayburn."Let me entreat you to issue orders for some means of providing for thesafety of so many human beings all unfit for death. We, who are yourpassengers, demand the means of escape."
With a fearful oath, the wretch said his passengers might care forthemselves; he had enough to do to save his ship; and save it he would,if it cost him half the crew.
"I'll pitch the dogs into the fire," said he, "if they do not soonextinguish it; and not a man shall leave the _Golden Fairy_ living."
"There's not many will do that," cried the audacious mate, "if they donot look sharp. The fire has just reached the tallow hogsheads, man, andwhere will your ship be then? Come along, lads, we can do no more; solet every fellow lay his hands on what he likes best, and lower theboats now or never."
The call was readily responded to, in spite of the threats of theinfuriated captain; and though the flames were now heard roaring below,and were even visible in some parts, the after-deck was still uninjured;and from thence the boats were lowered. Arthur and Jack went up to themen to request that a boat, or at all events seats in one of the boats,might be given to their party, who would be willing to reward the menfor any trouble they occasioned. The insolent mate, who seemed to haveassumed the command of the rest, laughed at the request.
"Charity begins at home!" cried he. "We have no places to spare. Comeon, my lads! lower the biscuit and the brandy casks. I'll manage thestrong box. Out of my way, gentry. If you say another word we'll pitchyou all into the sea--men and women."
"There's no hope of our getting a boat to ourselves, Mr. Arthur," saidJack, "for they 're all afloat now, and they'll soon have them off; so Iwould say, if you'd help a bit, we should set about getting up a raft asfast as we can--here are plenty of spare spars about."
When Markham saw the men preparing to forsake the vessel, he became morefurious than ever, and seizing the mate by the collar, he swore he wouldhave him put in irons. But his attempts were useless against thepowerful villain, who flung him on one side like a noxious reptile; andthe rest of the remorseless wretches, to rid themselves at once of theopposition of the violent drunkard, hurled him down into the flames,which were already bursting through the crevices of the deck.
"I can't stand that," cried Wilkins, one of the sailors, coming up toJack; "I'se not the chap to turn my back on my comrades; but I've nevercommitted wilful murder, and I'll just cut away from a gang of suchdeep-dyed rogues, and join ye, my honest fellow. Come, I'se ready tolend a hand."
A helping hand was truly desirable in their extremity of distress; butMr. Mayburn shrank from the fierce, rough aspect of the convict sailor,and besought Arthur, in a low tone, to reject any association with crimeand infamy.
"Be satisfied, my dear father," answered he, "I will do nothingunadvisedly; but if this man shrinks from evil and turns to good, howshall we excuse ourselves if we force him back to destruction? Besides,it is now too late; see, the first boat has already deserted the ship."
With loud cheers, the most daring of the crew headed by the mate, rowedoff in the long boat, and were soon lost in the darkness that shroudedall except the fearful space around the burning ship. The second boatfollowed, the hardened men turning a deaf ear to the entreaties of thepassengers whom they had abandoned on the wreck. They refused even toaid them in lowering their hastily-constructed and unsafe raft, butlaughed and sneered at the rude workmanship.
But the flames, fed by the hogsheads of tallow in the hold, now blazedup through the cabin windows, and bursting through the decks, ran alongwith fatal rapidity, momentarily threatening the distressed family witha dreadful fate. It was now that the cool prudence and skill of theirfaithful friend Jack rescued them. His observing eye had noted the meansadopted by the sailors; he had tools and appliances; he arranged anddivided the labor, of which even the women had their share; and the ruderaft was at length successfully lowered. A few necessaries were hastilythrown upon it, including a cask of biscuit and one of water, whichWilkins at great hazard
had obtained; he had also brought up a smallbarrel of rum, but Arthur peremptorily refused to take it, and, to endall discussion, flung it into the sea, and firmly told Wilkins, he wouldrather leave him to perish on the burning ship, than carry him away withsuch a temptation to evil.
The man grumbled unavailingly, but at last returned to his duty. Nothingmore could be secured, except a few ropes, and spars, with some tools torepair the raft. Then a spare sail was cast over the stowage, and, oneafter another, Mr. Mayburn and the trembling women were let down; theactive boys quickly followed. Jack and Wilkins were the last to descendfrom their perilous position, where they had been so surrounded by theflames, now crawling up the masts, that Margaret dreaded every momentthey should fall victims; but they happily alighted on the lumberingraft in safety. Then oars were taken up, and no time was lost inpushing off as far as possible from the ill-fated _Golden Fairy_; nordid they pause even to look round till they were at a safe distance,when they stood off for a few minutes to contemplate the splendid andfrightful spectacle.
Wilkins now confessed to them that there were some barrels of gunpowderconcealed in the vessel, which the reckless sailors had smuggled fromMelbourne for their own purposes; for it had been their fixed intention,at a favorable opportunity, to murder the captain and passengers, orland them on some desert island; and to take possession of the ship forpiratical enterprises in the Indian Ocean. The knowledge that thispowder was in the ship had hastened their flight from the certainconsequences, and Wilkins was surprised that the catastrophe had been solong averted. But now, as they watched the blackened ribs of the vessel,through which the intense flame glowed, while clouds of smoke, myriadsof sparks, and burning flakes, rose from the wreck, a loud explosionalmost deafened them; another and another succeeded; then blazed up amass of flame, which seemed to rise to the very clouds for a fewminutes, followed by utter darkness and silence.
"May God, in his infinite mercy, still preserve the weak creatures hehas so miraculously delivered," said Mr. Mayburn, devoutly. "We wereface to face with death, and never, my children, can the crackling,roaring sound of that fierce and unconquerable conflagration fade frommy recollection. We had not the consolation of the martyrs who sufferedfor the faith, and who could look on the flames as the brief path toeternal glory. We were summoned in the midst of life's cares andfrailties, unwillingly, fearfully, to be dragged to doom; and He sparedus, that we might better prepare to appear before His tribunal. Blessedforever be His holy name!"
Solemnly and earnestly rose the Amen from the rescued. Even the hardenedconvict lowered his voice as he said, with levity, to Jack, "That was acanny bit prayer; will 'it help us ony, think ye?"
"Yes, Wilkins," said Jack, "I do believe that God never fails to helpthem who pray to Him. And some day, my man, you will be glad to believeit too."
Wilkins said no more, but he often remembered the new, strange words hehad heard poured out amidst that horror of darkness.
"Now, Captain Arthur," cried out Hugh, "please to say where we are, andwhither we are to go?"
"I wish I could determine where we are," answered Arthur; "but we havebeen so tossed about for the last two days, that I have no idea of ourposition. Certainly we are out of our regular course."
"If Bully Dan were right," said Wilkins, "we ought to be now a good bitnorth of Swan River, and among islands and reefs puzzling enough atnoonday; and in this black darkness it's odd that we ever see landagain. If any on ye had thought of an anchor, we might have laid offtill day."
There was nothing but patience and resignation for the voyagers. The seawas less agitated than it had been during the day, and they driftedsteadily over the waves; but in what direction they could not determine;for such was the confusion of their embarkation, and such the darknessthat enveloped them, that no one could pronounce from what point thewind was blowing.
"What is that fluttering sound I hear?" asked Mr. Mayburn, in a voice ofalarm.
A moment's silence followed, then every one distinctly heard thefluttering. At length Ruth said, "Oh! if you please, master, it was onlyme. I couldn't bide that they should be burned alive, bonnie things; itwere not their fault! It's them bits of chickens as I were hunting upwhen all this bad work were done--God forgive me!--and I gathered theminto a basket; and if ye please, Miss Marget, dinnot let them be eaten,they're so bonnie."
Margaret readily granted the noisy little prisoners their life, andapplauded the humanity of Ruth, whose struggles to keep her restlesscharge in order created some mirth, and diverted them for a time fromthe contemplation of their own troubles.
But another sound was now heard above the monotonous rumbling of theunquiet ocean. It was surely, they thought, a human cry! It was againrepeated; and Wilkins said very coolly, "It'll be some of our chaps.Like enough they'll have capsized yon big crazy boat. They'd a keg ofbrandy to fight about; and I'll be bound they'd never settle as long asthere were a drop left in't."
"Can we not show them a light?" said Mr. Mayburn: "that was a cry ofdistress, and humanity calls on us to aid them."
"There's no room here for any more hands," muttered Wilkins. "Drunkenrogues! they'd kick these few shaking clogs to bits in no time: and thenwhere are we?"
"Nevertheless, Margaret, we must do our duty. Arthur, what do you say?"asked Mr. Mayburn anxiously.
A loud and dismal scream, at no great distance, decided the questionwithout further discussion. Gerald produced a match-box; and though thewind had got up rather boisterously, they succeeded in lighting anddisplaying a long splinter of wood. Then a voice was heard to cry,"Help! help!" and Wilkins, with a suppressed curse, said, "It's thatdesp'rate rogue, Black Peter, and no mistake. Better let him drown, Itell ye, comrades; but I've heared 'em say, water won't haud him.They're all alike bad dogs to let loose among us; they've guns andpowder, and they're up to ony sort of bloody work."
Mr. Mayburn groaned at this speech, and said, "What shall we do,Arthur?--we are wholly defenceless against those bad men."
"Don't you think of that, sir," said O'Brien; "Hugh and I looked afterthat. We brought off a pair of first-rate rifles, with lots of powderand shot. We are the boys to manage the defences. We left the nauticalmatters to our captain, Arthur; Jack sought up the spars and hammers,and such matters; and Margaret did the commissariat. Division of labor,you see, sir--all regular."
"I did not think your giddy brain could have arranged so well," said Mr.Mayburn: "I am ashamed to say I have not been so thoughtful."
"No, no, papa," said Hugh; "Gerald is taking more credit than is due tous. It was Margaret who arranged what each should do, and allowed us toadd to our duties as we chose; in consequence of which, you see, Geraldand I thought of destroying life, and Ruth of preserving it."
While thus talking, the young rowers had been endeavoring laboriously toforce the heavy raft, against the wind, towards the spot from whence thecries seemed to proceed. The darkness was so intense that it was in vainthe eye sought to penetrate it; but the cry, still heard at intervals,seemed to approach nearer, probably directed by the light. Still it wasnot without an involuntary shudder, and a half-uttered shriek, that theyfelt and saw a hand grasp the raft, and heard a hoarse voice demandhelp. This was immediately given; Arthur and Jack, with much difficulty,drew upon the raft the almost lifeless form of a tall, powerful man, wholay gasping many minutes before he was able to reply to the anxiousinquiries of his preservers if any of his companions yet survived.
"Every rogue among 'em gone to his reckoning," said he, with adiabolical laugh. "A good riddance! If we'd only saved the gold and thebrandy! But hand me a sup of something, good folks."
"We have nothing but water," said Arthur gravely.
The man made a wry face, and said, "I've had more nor enough of that.Well, then, what are ye bound after in this queer craft? It'll not standmuch weather, I take it. And," with an oath, "Wilkins, man, how came youto drop in among these saints?"
Wilkins gave the man a fiery glance, as he answered, "It were a bitsafer to-night among
saints nor amang sinners, it's like; and I guess yewere thinking so a bit sin' yersel'."
"Never heed that that's gone, man," said the careless villain: "I'm inas good a place as they are now."
"Ay, Peter," said Wilkins, "it's all true as how neither fire nor waterwill touch thee. We'se see what thou was born to."
"Keep a civil tongue in thy head," replied Peter, "for thou and me mustchum together, and see what we can pick up."
"What was the cause of your accident, unhappy man?" said Mr. Mayburn,coming up to him.
"None so unhappy now," answered the surly fellow; "better off nor I havebeen for a few years past, if it were not for want of brandy. I'se freeand idle, and can have plenty of grub, I reckon," looking at the casks;"so I'se do now. We might have kept together; but, ye see, we began owersoon with our brandy, and had only one drinking-cup among us, andeverybody wanted it first; and so we chaps got to words, and then tohard hits, and then out came our knives. We were badly crowded; and,somehow, in our scrimmage, we all fell atop of one another, and capsizedour boat, and away we all went down. Then, when we came up, such cursingand yelling never was heard on earth or sea, and, dark as it was, nonecould catch hold on aught to save him. It was soon settled, however; forall our chaps were over far gone in drink to help themselves, and theywent down, shouting out, one after another. I had the luck to catch holdof the brandy-keg, and I took care to keep hold; but I could not stop itfrom leaking, and it vexed me sore that so much good liquor should bemade into salt-water grog, and no time to get a sup. I shouted as loudas I could, and let myself float, till I got sight of your signal, andthen I thought there was a bit of a chance; so I managed to swim a fewstrokes, keeping one hand on my barrel; but I made little way, if thesea and the wind hadn't brought me right up to you. When my barrelbumped again the raft, I lost hold, and I hardly know how it was Iclutched the spars; but here I be snug and safe in harbor."
"Thank God for your preservation, reckless man," said Mr. Mayburn. "He,who is all mercy to His sinful creatures, has granted you a respite,that you may learn to know and serve Him. Cast not away the preciousboon, but in this awful hour, turn to Him, repent, and pray."
The good man kneeled down beside the reprobate, and offered up anearnest prayer for the wretched sinner, who was sound asleep before Mr.Mayburn had concluded; and it was with a sigh he turned from the man,sorrowful, but not hopeless.