CHAPTER SIX.
WE PULL SOUTH-WEST--WANT OF WATER AND FOOD--CATCH SOME FLYING-FISH--SUFFERINGS FROM THIRST--A BREEZE--A SAIL--TAKEN ON BOARD THE "VIOLET"--VISIT NEW CALEDONIA--OFF THE AUSTRALIAN COAST--A HURRICANE--BRIGWRECKED--THE PUMPS MANNED--HOPES OF GETTING HER OFF--LAND IN THE BOATS--MY FATHER REMAINS ON BOARD.
We pulled on all night, taking it by turns; and when the sun rose nextmorning we were out of sight of land. Mudge had come to thedetermination of steering to the south, under the belief that theinhabitants of the islands in that direction were less barbarous thanthose we had left. We thought, also, that we should be more likely tofall in with a whaler or sandal-wood trader belonging to New SouthWales, which Mudge understood were in the habit of visiting the islandsin those seas. Missionaries also, we knew, were settled on some of theislands to the southward; but, unfortunately, none of us had heard muchabout them, though we felt sure that, should we reach a place where onewas established, we should be treated kindly. But the London andWesleyan Missionary Societies had not in those days made the progressthey have since done,--the blessings of Christianity and civilisationhaving been by their means carried among a very large number of thebrown and black-skinned races of the Pacific. They had for some yearsbeen working among the Society Islands, and a few had visited Tonga,Samoa, and Fiji; while some of the native converts had gone forth amongthe more savage tribes, fearless of the perils they had to encounter.
Mudge proposed that we should at once be placed on an allowance both offood and water, to which we all readily agreed. We rowed on all day;but the boat was heavy, and though the water was calm we did not makemore than three knots an hour--and we knew not how many miles we mighthave to go before we should reach land. During the day we each pulledabout an hour at a time; and at night, that we might enjoy longer sleep,those at the oars continued two hours before they were relieved.Providentially, the weather continued fine, and the sea almost as calmas a mill-pond; thus we were able to make between sixty and seventymiles a day.
I cannot describe the events of each day, as they are much confused inmy mind. We did our utmost to keep up our spirits: sometimes we sang,and sometimes we told such stories as we could remember, either offiction or truth. Had poor Dick Tillard been alive and with us, hisfund of yarns would have been invaluable. We frequently spoke of him,and mourned his loss. Mudge had seen a good deal of service, but he hadnot the happy knack of describing what had happened to him in thegraphic, racy way poor Dick had of spinning a yarn. Mudge had been withLord Cochrane during the war, and had taken part in some of his mostgallant adventures. He was with him on board the _Pallas_ when herboats had gallantly cut out the _Tapageuse_ brig, and afterwards in heraction with the _Minerva_, a ship nearly double her size; but hisgallant commander having been, by the malignity of his foes, compelledto leave the navy, he himself had very little prospect of ever gettinghis promotion.
He gave us an account of the capture off Barcelona, by the _Speedy_sloop-of-war, of the _Gamo_ frigate, more than twice her size. The_Speedy_ was a little craft, of one hundred and fifty-eight tons only,and carried fourteen pop-guns--four-pounders--with a crew of fifty-fourmen; while the _Gamo_ measured six hundred tons, and had thirty-twoguns, with a crew of three hundred and nineteen men. After a desperateaction, Lord Cochrane laid the little _Speedy_ on board his bigantagonist. He had ordered his men to blacken their faces; and oneparty, led by his gallant Lieutenant Parker, boarded at the bow, andsoon gained a footing on the enemy's deck. Their begrimed faces and theimpetuosity of their onset struck dismay into the hearts of theSpaniards, and they incontinently gave way. Meantime Lord Cochraneheaded the aftermost division; and the enemy, thus unexpectedly assailedfore and aft, were driven a confused mass into the waist. Here adesperate hand-to-hand struggle ensued; till one of the _Speedy's_ men,having by the captain's direction fought his way to the ensign-staff,hauled down the Spanish colours, when the Spaniards, believing thattheir officers had struck the flag, cried out for quarter. Thedifficulty was to secure the prisoners, they having been driven into themain-hold of the _Gamo_. The ladders were removed, and guns werepointed down on them, a man being stationed with a lighted match, readyat any moment to fire among them should they attempt to retake the ship.Meantime sail was made on the prize, and she stood away from the shorejust as a number of gunboats were seen coming out of Barcelona, which,had they acted with any degree of spirit, might have captured the_Speedy_, or compelled her to relinquish her prize.
"I wish I had been with him," exclaimed Mudge; "but I was not, for thebest of reasons--I was still in the nursery, and had not thought ofgoing to sea."
We all said the same, though none of the rest of us happened to havebeen born at that time, as it was just the beginning of the century.Poor Mudge--and there were many officers at that time, like him, oldenough to be post-captains, who were still master's mates--often sighedas he talked of the events of former days, and I have seen him more thanonce brushing away a tear as he spoke of his disappointed hopes andblighted prospects.
Day after day we pulled on, each day looking more eagerly than ever forland or for a ship. Our food was rapidly diminishing; and we had barelysufficient water to give us a wine-glassful apiece for two more days.Still, what might not happen in that time? Mudge urged us to keep upour spirits and pull on. Tommy grumbled a little now and then, andexpressed a wish that he had never come to sea; but neither Harry norPopo uttered the slightest complaint. When it was their turn to row,they pulled away with all their might; when they knocked off, theygenerally lay down in the bottom of the boat and went to sleep. The daywas the most trying period, when the sun beat down on our unprotectedheads. Even with an ample supply of food and water we should have foundit trying; as it was, we suffered doubly. But then came the coolrefreshing night and an unbroken sleep of two hours, when we allrevived, and felt much better in the morning.
With a feeling which I cannot well describe, we at length emptied ourlast nut-shell of the salt, strong-tasting liquid it contained.
"I trust we shall make the land before many hours are over, lads," saidMudge, in as cheerful a tone as he could command; "or maybe we shallfall in with some craft or other. I should prefer the latter, providedshe happens to be English, with a good supply of water on board."
"But suppose we don't," said Tom, gloomily.
"We mustn't think of that, lad," said Mudge; "we can all easily hold outfor another four-and-twenty hours; and we have still some cocoa-nuts,which we must chew to prevent ourselves from feeling thirsty."
We now counted the hours as they went by. As yet our strength was notmaterially decreased. Though our arms ached, we could stillmechanically labour at the oars when we got into our seats; but I verymuch doubt that we made as much as three knots an hour.
That next night was the most trying we had yet passed in the boat. Wehad had no breakfast in the morning, not a drop of water to cool ourparched tongues, or even to moisten our cracked lips. We might havemade the water, by more economy, hold out another day, but there was nouse regretting that now. We felt the heat greater than ever. Tomproposed getting overboard; but there was the difficulty of getting inagain; so Mudge advised that we should simply dip our clothes in thewater and put them on again, that we might thus imbibe some moisturethrough our skins. He charged us on no account, however thirsty wemight feel, to drink the salt water, pointing out the fearful resultwhich might ensue.
Once more the sun went down, and we tried to row, but could now scarcelymove the oars. At length, afraid of losing them, Mudge told Harry andme, who were then rowing, or rather trying to row, to haul them in; andwe all stretched ourselves in the bottom of the boat and went to sleep.
Morning came again, and one by one we sat up and looked about us, andthen gazed into each other's faces without speaking.
"I vote we have breakfast," said Tom at length, "for I'm sharp set andvery thirsty."
"There's neither food nor water remaining, boy," answered Mudge in ahollow tone. "G
od may, if he thinks fit, send us help before the day isover. We can hold out a few hours longer, I should hope; but if helpdoes not come, we must make up our minds like men to die. It has beenthe lot of many; why should we complain?"
These remarks were not calculated to raise our spirits. Perhaps Mudgeknew that it would be useless to make any attempt to do so. He spokebut the truth, and we all knew that. It was a perfect calm; no vesselcould approach us, and we were too weak to row. Mudge and I made theattempt, telling Tom to steer; but after a few strokes I could row nomore, and nearly let my oar slip before I could get it inboard.
"We must wait for a breeze," said Mudge, "which will come some time orother; it is our only hope."
For some time he was silent. He alone continued seated on a thwart, therest of us having sunk down with our heads upon them, while we leanedagainst the side of the boat. As the sun rose, the heat became more andmore oppressive.
"Lads, it won't do to give way to despair," exclaimed Mudge suddenly,after he had been silent for an hour or more. "Can't some of you sit upand talk?"
On hearing him say this, I endeavoured to arouse myself. Just then Iheard a gentle splash in the water not far off. "What's that?" Iexclaimed.
"A shoal of flying-fish," cried Mudge. "They are heading this way. Getout your oar, Rayner, and we will try and intercept them."
By a desperate effort I did as he told me, while he pulled the oar onthe opposite side.
"That will do now," he cried. "Stand by, lads, and try to catch yourbreakfast as they come this way."
The appeal was not in vain; even Tom showed that he had still some lifein him. The next instant several flying-fish fell into the boat, whilewith the stretchers we knocked down others which came alongside. Theywere pursued by a couple of albacores; one of these would have suppliedus with ample food for several days, but so rapid were their movementsthat we got but a single blow at one of them. It dashed by the boat,and was in an instant lost to sight.
The shoal having passed by, we had no hope of catching more, so weimmediately set to work eating those we had captured--more in thefashion of ravenous beasts than human beings. They had died directlythey were out of the water, or we should scarcely have waited to givethem a knock on the head as a quietus before we dug our teeth into them.When people are situated as we were, they do things at which underother circumstances they would be horrified.
But eight fish had been caught; we had consumed five, and thus onlythree remained to be divided among us for our next meal. However, eventhe small amount of food we had taken somewhat restored our strength,and I felt that I could hold out another day if water could be obtained;but there was no prospect of rain--the only source from whence it couldbe derived.
"If a bird would just tumble into the boat, it would give us meat anddrink," observed Mudge. "We must hope for that, since no rain is likelyto come."
In vain, however, did we look around for sea-fowl; by theirnon-appearance we feared that we must still be far distant from land.Though we felt the gnawings of hunger, we suffered still more fromthirst. When I at length dropped off to sleep, I dreamed of sparklingfountains; I saw bottles of champagne, and bitter beer, and all sorts ofcooling beverages,--which, however, in some unaccountable way, I couldnot manage to carry to my lips.
But I will not dwell longer on the sufferings my companions and Iendured; the subject is a painful one.
Mudge would not let us take the remainder of the fish that night,observing that it would last till the next morning, when we should wantit for breakfast. We all acquiesced in his decision. He was constantlyawake during the night, but the rest of us dozed for the greater part ofit. At daylight, when I awoke, I saw that he had rigged one of the oarsas a mast, to the upper end of which he had fastened a largehandkerchief.
"Rouse up, boys!" he said, "and take your breakfast; we shall obtainrelief to-day, or I am much mistaken."
"Why?" I groaned out--for I could scarcely speak.
"Because there is a breeze coming. And look up there at those birds--perhaps one of them will come down and pay us a visit; and if so, wemustn't stand on ceremony, but knock it inhospitably on the head."
Mudge got out the fish, and cut each in two.
"You must take a whole one," I said; "you require more food than we do,and our lives depend on your keeping up your strength."
"No; I shall reserve it for luncheon," he answered; "even that littlewill be better than nothing, and it will be something to look forwardto."
So dry were our mouths, however, we could scarcely masticate theuncooked fish.
We again sank down into our places. I felt that I could not hold outmany hours longer; while the rest appeared still more exhausted.
Not a word was uttered by any of us excepting Mudge, who in vainappealed to us to talk. "Say something, boys! say something!" he everynow and then cried out; "this silence is bad for us all. I won't askyou to crack a joke, or tell a funny story; but talk, boys--talk!" Agroan was the only answer any of us gave.
A gentle breeze blew from the eastward; I had just consciousness enoughto be aware of that--to see honest Mudge sitting near me, and constantlylooking about him.
What length of time had passed I know not, when I heard him shout, "Asail, boys! a sail!--we shall be saved!" His voice aroused me, and Isaw him standing up, shading his eyes with his hand, while he leanedagainst the oar which formed the mast. "She's standing this way; dotry, my lads, to hold out for an hour or so longer, and we shall have asmuch water to drink and food to eat as we want," he exclaimed. "Here,you shall have your luncheon;" and taking the half fish, he divided itinto four equal portions.
"No, no, I don't want any; I can hold out well enough," he answered,when I made signs to him to take some. The rest of the party stretchedout their hands feebly for the portion he gave them, but could withdifficulty carry the food to their lips, or swallow it when they had gotit into their mouths. So exhausted were we, indeed, that though we knewthat a vessel was approaching, we were unable to sit up and watch her.I too saw her, and as she got nearer Mudge sang out that she was a brigunder English colours; yet I could not believe that she was a reality.I several times heard him speaking about her approach. Once heexclaimed, with a deep groan,--"She's hauled her wind, and is standingaway from us!" then again,--"No, no; she sees us!--thank God, we'resaved! we're saved!" Still, his words had no effect upon me or the restof the party. Again I heard him hail; and a voice came from the brig inreturn. I was just conscious that we were alongside, and soonafterwards I felt myself lifted upon the deck; but my senses wereconfused; I could not understand anything that was going forward, andsoon lost all consciousness.
How long I thus lay I could not tell, when, on opening my eyes, I saw aface bending over me; it was that of my mother. I was sure that I wasdreaming, and again closed my eyes. The next time I opened them, theyfell on the sweet features of my young sister Edith. She stood by theside of the cot in which I lay. I gazed at her for some seconds. Thereshe stood, watching me eagerly; yet I could not persuade myself that itwas really her. I knew how very vividly I had often seen persons andobjects in my dreams.
I was in a neatly furnished cabin; just before me was a picture of ourhouse at Clifton, and near it were hanging a girl's straw hat andmantle. Again I turned my eyes towards the figure at my side. "Edith,"I murmured, not expecting to receive a reply.
"Yes, yes, dear Godfrey, I am Edith! Oh, how thankful I am that you aregetting better, and know me."
The reply was very distinct, but so are often replies in dreams. Justthen I heard a voice which came down the skylight, giving an order tothe crew in an authoritative tone: it was that of my father, I was sure.
"Why, Edith, how has it all happened?" I asked; "is it a reality, or amI still dreaming?"
"It is all real, I assure you," answered Edith. "I must call mamma.Oh, how thankful she will be! We were afraid sometimes that you wouldnot get better, and poor Pierce has been so unhappy, and so hav
e I; butpapa said he knew that you would recover, and we ought to haveremembered that he is always right. And now you must get well as fastas you can."
As she said this, I began to be convinced that I was awake, and thatEdith really stood by my side. I did not detain her; and in anotherminute my mother was bending over me, and folding me in her arms, justas she had done the night before I came to sea. In a short time Piercemade his appearance, but was only allowed to remain a few seconds. Thenmy father came down, and said a few words expressive of his happiness;and then Edith, who had gone away, returned with a cup of broth, withwhich my mother fed me just as she had done when I was a baby.
I wanted at once to know how it had all happened, and what had broughtmy family out into the Pacific.
"It is a long story, and you are not strong enough to listen to it now,"answered my mother; "we will tell you in good time. One thing I maysay: we were providentially sent to rescue you and your companions."
"Are they all right?" I asked. "Have Mudge, and Harry, and Tom, andPopo been saved?"
"Mr Mudge has almost recovered; and the rest are, I trust, out ofdanger, though at first they appeared even weaker than you were,"answered my mother. "Mr Mudge has told us Harry's interesting history.Your father knows Captain Hudson, who is an old shipmate, and he willdo his best to restore the long-lost boy to his parents. However, wemust not talk more at present. Go to sleep again. Our medical booksays, that the more a person exhausted as you have been can sleep, thesooner he will get well."
My mother having arranged a shawl over my shoulders, and bidding Edithsit down out of sight, glided out of the cabin. When I tried to talk,Edith only answered, "Hush!" and in a few minutes I was again asleep.
I do not know how it would have fared with us had we fallen into lesscareful hands; but my companions and I, in spite of the heat, in a shorttime recovered.
When I was strong enough to bear conversation, my mother told me how myfather, finding his mercantile business in England was not likely toflourish, had resolved to emigrate to Australia, where, as an officer inthe navy, he could obtain a grant of land. Following his nauticalinstincts, he had purchased a brig, on board of which he had shipped allthe family; purposing to make a trading voyage before finally settlingdown, and hoping thus to realise a considerable sum, and pay theexpenses of the vessel. He had hitherto been tolerably successful,though they had run no slight risk twice, if not oftener, of being cutoff by the treacherous natives--"Treacherous because, I fear, they havebeen treated treacherously," observed my mother. "We have beenmercifully preserved, and are now on our way to Sydney, where we shallsell the brig and commence our settlers' life. Your father, however,intends first visiting New Caledonia; and perhaps New Guinea, and someother islands."
"Oh, then, I will leave the navy and settle with you!" I exclaimed."And I am nearly certain that Mudge will also be ready to give up thenavy and join us; as also, I am sure, will Harry, and Tom, and Popo."
It was, indeed, most providential that the brig picked us up, for it wasmore than a fortnight after this that we made New Caledonia, along thenorthern shore of which we coasted; my father intending to bring up insome convenient harbour, where we could communicate with the natives,and purchase sandal-wood, or other productions of the country. Theshore consisted of ranges of hills of some height, mostly covered withwood, with low plains and valleys intervening. We saw several doublecanoes under sail, such as I have before described.
At last we found a harbour, the appearance of which from the sea temptedmy father to enter it. The instant we dropped our anchor, the vesselwas surrounded by canoes, which brought off vegetables and all sorts ofprovisions; but having heard of the way in which many vessels had beencut off by the natives, my father wisely resolved to allow no one tocome on board. The crew were kept under arms while he and his matestrafficked with the natives; the articles he had to dispose of beinglowered down into the canoes, while the provisions were hoisted up ondeck. Had similar precautions been taken by the commanders of othervessels, numerous fearful tragedies might have been prevented.
Some of the canoes I speak of had outriggers; but others, usedapparently only for the smooth water of the harbour, consisted merely offour trunks of some light wood, partially hollowed out by fire, andlashed tightly together. Two men sat in them,--one in the bows and theother astern,--who used long pointed paddles like the heads of spears.They usually carried one passenger; in some instances this passenger wasa woman, enveloped from head to foot in a cloak of matting.
As the brig had her six guns pointed through her ports, and the crewwere seen pacing the deck with cutlasses by their sides and muskets intheir hands, the people showed every disposition to behave peaceably,and to traffic on fair terms. Finding that we wanted sandal-wood, theybrought off an ample supply, for which my father gave them a price whichthoroughly satisfied them. Had all traders behaved as he did, I amconvinced that the natives, who have often been stigmatised astreacherous savages, would have gained a very different character.
We again sailed, steering westward, as my father wished to inspect someof the northern portions of the eastern coast of Australia, at that timebut little known. His intercourse with savages had led him to believethat, if properly treated, as he had always treated them, they could beeasily managed; and he had therefore no fear of settling at a distancefrom other colonists. Indeed, he wished to be as far as possible fromother stations; so that, by keeping the convict servants assigned to himaway from the contaminating influence of their old companions, he mighthave a better opportunity of improving them, while he might at the sametime win the confidence of the natives.
I have as yet said nothing about the brig, or those on board. She wascalled the _Violet_, of nearly two hundred tons burthen. The first andsecond mates were respectively men selected by my father for their goodcharacter, but there was nothing remarkable about them. The boatswain,Ned Burton, took the place in my regard which I had bestowed on poorDick Tillard, whom, strangely enough, he knew.
"And a right honest fellow he was, Master Godfrey," said Ned; "and ifever I go to that island from which you have escaped, I'll pay a visitto his grave. He and I served His Majesty for many a year; and if thepeace hadn't come, we should have been serving him still. When the warwas over, and I was paid off, I had made up my mind to remain on shore;and so I should, had not your father, who made his first trip to seawith me, asked me to come out on board the _Violet_. He would have mademe second mate; but then, you see, I don't understand navigation, and soI couldn't take the situation. Howsomdever, when he said he would makeme a boatswain, I couldn't refuse him; and I'm thinking, when the shipis sold, and if I like the country, of settling down along with him, andsending for my old woman and our two daughters."
I told Ned I thought he would act very wisely; and that in consequenceof what Mr Mudge had said to me, and believing that I should have verylittle chance of promotion, I had made up my mind to quit the service,if Captain Bracewell would allow me.
"Not much difficulty about that, Master Godfrey," answered Ned,laughing. "They don't set a high value on midshipmen, according to myexperience; and as he has probably long before this given you and therest up for lost, he won't be ferreting you out in Australia."
"But I should not like to do anything dishonourable," I said; "and ifthe captain were to insist on my returning in the ship, I am bound to doso: besides which, I left my chest on board, and there is pay due tome."
"I thought a midshipman's pay was always nothing, and find yourself,Master Godfrey," said Ned. "And as for your chest and its contents,they've been sold by auction on the capstan-head long ago, so that itwould be a hard job to get them back again."
I talked the matter over with Pierce, who earnestly advised me not tothink of quitting our father, and said he was sure that he would give methe same advice, as he had often said how much he wished I could havebeen with him.
I must not forget to mention my young sister's pet goat Nanny, which hadlong
afforded her and my mother milk for breakfast and tea. Nanny wasthe most affectionate of animals; and the moment Edith appeared on deckin the morning would come bounding up to her, and seemed delighted atbeing fondled, though she would butt at any one else who touched her.She, however, made friends with Harry, and when Edith was below wouldcome up to him and wait to be caressed; but no sooner did she see hermistress, than she would hasten to her--looking at Harry, as much as tosay, "I like you very well, but I like her best."
We were progressing favourably on our voyage, which would in a shorttime terminate. I have said little or nothing about the wonders of theocean, for they have been so often described. I cannot, however, avoidmentioning a beautiful phenomenon which occurred one night as we wereapproaching the Australian coast. There was a light breeze, which justrippled the water into wavelets, amid which the brig glided onward. Thesky was overcast sufficiently to hide the stars. Dark as it wasoverhead, the whole ocean was flashing with light,--at some places instreaks, at others in vast masses, the spouts of several whalesappearing like jets of liquid fire; while numberless huge medusaefloated about, appearing as if composed of molten silver.
"I wonder the ship doesn't catch fire!" exclaimed Tommy, who had justcome on deck. "It would be a bad job if it did, for how should we everput it out again? What can light up the water in this fashion?"
My father overheard him. "We call it the phosphorescence of the sea,because it resembles the glow emitted by phosphorus," he answered."Those who have studied the subject say that it is caused by thepresence of myriads of minute marine organisms, some soft andgelatinous, and others--such as the Crustacea--of a hard nature; but, inreality, under some conditions of the atmosphere all sorts of marinecreatures, like those huge medusae, shine both in the water and out ofit."
This appearance continued many hours. I got up Edith, who had alreadyretired to her cabin, to look at it. She was as delighted as we were,and wanted us to have a bucketful brought on deck. Greatly to oursurprise, the water in the bucket shone almost as brilliantly as it didin the ocean.
The next day the wind changed, and the weather became much worse than ithad been since we had been taken on board. The wind was continuallyshifting, now coming from one quarter and now from another. I saw thatmy father was unusually anxious. He felt that the safety of the vessel,and the lives of all on board, depended on him. It was a long timesince he had been at sea, and he had never been off this coast before.I believe that it would have been better for us had we at once stood offthe land. It was too late to hope to do so, when the wind, coming roundto the eastward, began to blow a perfect hurricane. My father thenhoped to find shelter within the coral reefs which ran along the coastat a distance of from five to a dozen miles, on which Captain Cook'sship, the _Endeavour_, was nearly cast away, in his first voyage.
Soon after daybreak, the hurricane came down with redoubled fury. Thebrig was hove-to under close-reefed fore-topsails. She behaved well;and we hoped, believing that we were still some thirty miles or morefrom the coast, that she would not near the reefs till the gale hadabated. An anxious look-out, however, was kept all day to leeward. Myfather did not tell my mother and Edith the danger we were in, butmerely begged them to remain in the cabin.
It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the first mate, whohad been seated in the main-top looking out, came down on deck, and gavemy father the alarming intelligence that he saw a line of breakers toleeward, extending north and south as far as the eye could reach.
"Could you discover no opening in them?" asked my father.
"I am not certain at this distance that there is none, though the lineof surf appeared to me without a break for its whole length," was theanswer.
"It will take us some time to drift so far, at all events," observed myfather; "and before then the wind may come down."
The mate looked anxiously to the eastward. "I don't see any sign ofthat," he answered.
"We must trust in Providence, then," said my father. "However, I willgo aloft; and if we can discover an opening, we will endeavour to carrythe ship through it."
I followed my father to the main-top, and stood looking out with him forsome minutes. At length it appeared to me that about half a mile to thesouthward there was a space where the ocean was much less agitated thanin other parts. I pointed it out to my father.
"You are right," he said, after a pause. "It may afford us the means ofescape; for should the gale continue during the night, no human powercan save us--long before it is over, we should be on the reef."
Having accordingly taken the bearings of the opening, he descended therigging.
The operation of keeping away, when a ship has been hove-to, is at alltimes a dangerous one, and requires the most careful management, as thesea may otherwise strike her, and wash everything from her decks. Thecrew were ordered to their stations. The first mate, with a couple oftrusty hands, went to the wheel.
"Up with the helm!" cried my father, waiting till an enormous sea hadpassed by us. "Brace round the fore-yard!"
It was done, and the brig's head fell off to the westward. Themain-topsail, closely reefed, was set, and we had then as much canvas asshe could stagger under. As it was, several seas swept over her deck,carrying away portions of her bulwarks, and doing other damage; but allhands clung on to the stanchions around the mast, and happily no one waswashed overboard. As we flew on, we could see the breakers flying highup on our starboard bow; while ahead appeared the opening which we hadbefore made out. The wind, it should be understood, was on our port, orlarboard quarter, as it was then called. The topsail-yards bent withthe pressure put upon them. Should they go, the brig, deprived of herafter-sail, would be unable to weather the southern end of the reef.
On and on we flew. A few minutes would decide our fate. Huge seas camerolling up astern, threatening to break aboard us; while, on eitherhand, the white breakers rose to the height of our tops,--those on thestarboard side being so near us that it appeared even now that we shouldbe overwhelmed. We flew through it, however; and I heard an expressionof thankfulness escape my father as the white wall of foam appeared overour starboard quarter. For the present we were in comparative safety;but night was coming on, and the shore could not be far off. Once morewe hauled up to the northward; then hove-to under the lee of the reef,hoping that the drift during the night would not carry us on shore.Still, our position was not free from danger. The water, even under thelee of the reef, was considerably agitated, although there was butlittle risk of the seas actually breaking on board as long as weremained afloat. The order was given to range the cable, and get readyfor anchoring, should we approach the shore.
No one turned in, for we could not tell at what moment all hands mightbe required. Towards the end of the first watch, the gale began tomoderate, and our hopes of ultimately escaping rose considerably. Myfather waited till midnight, and then ordered the watch just relieved toturn in, to be ready to take their duty in the morning. It was mymorning watch; so I followed his directions, and turned in to my berth,hoping at daylight to see the coast of Australia, which I had picturedin glowing colours.
I was awakened by an ominous grating sound, and then by a blow whichmade the vessel quiver from stem to stern. She lifted for an instant,and then down she came again with a crash which seemed to be wrenchingher timbers asunder. I knew too well what had happened. We were onshore; and in an instant I realised all the horrors of our situation.The cries and shouts which reached me from the deck left no doubt aboutthe matter.
Shipping on my clothes, I hurried into the cabin, where I found mymother and Edith. Entreating them to remain where they were till myfather summoned them, I next went on deck to ascertain the worst.
The brig had been carried over a sunken reef, and lay with her mastspointing towards the shore, which could be distinguished through thegloom not more than half a mile away. My father stood by the mainmastperfectly composed, issuing orders as if nothing had occurred. Handswere
sent aloft to furl the foretopsail; and he then directed that theboats on the starboard side should be brought over, so as to be launchedinto the smoother water under our lee--where, on sounding, we found thatthere was sufficient depth to float them without risk of their strikingthe coral below. We had driven on to a small inner reef--a portion,probably, of what was once the fringing reef of the continent.
It may seem strange that my father had not gone into the cabin, but hisprofessional duty overcame all other considerations. His first thoughtwas to take measures for preserving the lives of all on board.
As soon as he heard my voice near him, he directed me to go back to thecabin, to assure my mother and Edith that, though the brig might belost, he felt perfect confidence that we should all be conveyed safelyon shore, and desired them to put together such things as they were mostlikely to require under the circumstances that we might be placed in.Although my mother was alarmed, her fears did not overcome her; andEdith, seeing her comparatively calm, did not give way to terror.
"This is indeed a sad misfortune," said my mother; "but God's will bedone. We must trust to him to protect us. Tell your father we will dowhat he desires, and shall be ready to leave the vessel as soon as hesummons us."
I went on deck, and found my father and the mates, aided by Mudge,labouring with the crew in getting two of the boats into the water. Ourboat had unfortunately been stove in by the falling of the topmasts whenthe brig struck.
"It is as well to be on the safe side, and to have the boats ready toshove off in case it should be necessary," I heard Mudge observe to myfather. "But, if I mistake not, it was somewhere about here thatCaptain Cook, on his first voyage round the world, was nearly lost inthe _Endeavour_; though I think he must have been further off-shore.His ship was in a worse condition than ours, I suspect, for she went onshore at high-water; and it was not till after two or three tides hadfallen and risen, and a large quantity of her stores had been hoveoverboard, that she was got off. Even then she would have foundered,had not a fothered sail--the use of which was not so generally knownthen as at present--been got under her bottom, by which she was keptafloat till she was carried into Endeavour River. Never perhaps was aship so nearly lost; and yet, bad as was her condition, she continuedher voyage round the world, and arrived safely in England."
"You hear what Mr Mudge says, my men," observed my father to the crew;"it ought to encourage us: but whether we get the ship off or not, Ifeel very confident that we shall reach the shore without difficulty."
"Never fear for us, sir," cried Ned Burton--"we'll do our duty; and ifthe brig don't budge, it will not be our fault."
In the meantime, while I was below, the sails were furled, and thecarpenter, by my father's orders, had sounded the well. He now reportedsix feet of water in the hold; which showed that the water must berushing in with fearful rapidity. The pumps were immediately manned,and all hands set to work to keep it under as much as possible.
While the mates were labouring with the men at the pumps, my father andMudge and I tried the depth of water round the ship. Although there wassufficient on the lee side to float the boats--we found six feetastern--there were not more than eight feet on the weather or starboardside. We thus knew that she must have beaten over the ledge into a sortof basin, from which it would be very difficult, if not impossible, toextricate her. As the sea, however, did not beat against her with muchforce, we hoped, should the wind not again increase, that she would holdtogether till we could get such stores out of her as would be necessaryfor our support. We were, we knew, a long way from any of thesettlements, and, though we might reach them in the boats, a voyagealong that rocky and inhospitable coast would be a dangerous one. Myfather did not perhaps express what he thought to the crew, as he wishedto keep up their spirits, and to make every possible effort to get offthe brig before he abandoned the attempt as hopeless. Nothing effectualcould be done till the return of high-water, however, and daylight wouldenable us to see our position more clearly than at present.
As soon as "Spell O!" was cried, my father and Mudge and I took our turnat the pumps, and worked away as energetically as any one, though wewell knew that all our efforts might be in vain. Again and again thecarpenter sounded the well, and each time reported that, notwithstandingour exertions, the water was gaining on us. Still we laboured on, tillat length the first streaks of morning appeared in the sky. It was verynearly high-water when we first drove on the reef; the tide had sincebeen falling, and for the present it would be utterly impossible to movethe ship. Our fear was that should we leave her she would fill, and thestores and cargo be damaged.
My father now for the first time went below, and I accompanied him. Wefound my mother and Edith still employed in packing up the articles theyconsidered would most be required on shore.
"This is a sad event, my dear wife," he said; "but we must bear itpatiently, and endeavour to do the best we can in the circumstances inwhich we are placed. I am anxious to land you and Edith without delay;and I propose to send you and the boys under the charge of Mr Mudge orone of the mates, with a tent and as many provisions as the boat willcarry, so that should bad weather come on you will be out of danger."
"I will do as you wish," answered my mother; "but I would far ratherremain on board till you yourself think it necessary to leave the brig.I don't like the thought of landing on a strange shore without you; andI should be very anxious there while you are still on the wreck andexposed to danger."
"I don't expect to incur any danger by remaining; and should it becomenecessary to leave the brig in a hurry, we shall be able to do so farmore easily when you are already safe on shore," answered my father."However, as you wish it, you can wait a little longer. In themeantime, the boat can be got ready; and you and those who are toaccompany you can have breakfast."
The composed way in which my father spoke considerably reassured mymother. Having given orders to the steward to get breakfast ready, withas much calmness as if we were still running on under easy sail in anopen sea, my father went on deck.
Mudge assisting us, we immediately set to work to get up such stores ascould be most easily reached, with some sails and several spars forrigging a tent. While we were thus engaged, the mates got a hawserranged ready to carry the stream-anchor out ahead, to be ready to tryand haul the brig off at the top of high-water; the rest of the peoplestill labouring at the pumps.
My father now sent Pierce and Tommy Peck into the cabin, telling them toeat a good breakfast, that they might be able to make themselves useful.Harry, Mudge, and I followed; but we scarcely sat down a minute,tumbling the food into our mouths as fast as we could, and drinking ourcoffee while standing with the cups in our hands. Mudge was off againalmost immediately, to allow my father to come down and take hisbreakfast. I was struck by the way in which my mother presided at thetable, Edith helping her as if nothing unusual had occurred.
Harry and I soon followed Mudge, whom we found engaged in stowing theboat. We were assisting him, when we were again summoned to the pumps;for they could not be allowed to rest for a moment, and the gang who hadjust been working at them were quite tired out, and required theirbreakfast.
All this time the sea, though it did not break over the vessel, wasstriking her side, and every now and then made her give a lurch which Ithought would send the masts out of her. The tide having turned, wasnow again rapidly rising; so the anchor was carried out ahead, andpreparations made to heave her off! As the tide rose the seas began tobeat with greater force against the side of the vessel, frequentlyflying over her deck.
"Mudge," said my father, "I must no longer delay sending Mrs Rayner andthe young people on shore; I confide her and them to your charge,feeling sure that you will act, according to the best of your judgment,for their good. I trust that you will meet with no natives; but if youdo, and they appear to be hostile, you have arms with which to keep themat a distance."
"Depend on me, sir," said Mudge; who now, with the men chosen to man theboat,
hauled her alongside.
My father went below, and returned conducting my mother and sister.They were then carefully lowered into the boat, in which Mudge and thecrew were seated; Pierce went next; Harry, Tom, Popo, and I followed.
"Oh, may we have Nanny with us?" cried Edith, not even then forgettingher favourite.
"Where's Nanny? where's Nanny?" was cried along the deck; it was fearedat first that she had been washed overboard.
"Here she is, all right," cried the cook, who had looked into thecaboose, where it was found that the goat had wisely taken shelter onfinding herself neglected by her friends. Her usually sleek hair wassomewhat blackened, but that did not matter. She was hauled out of herhiding-place and carried to the side of the vessel. On seeing Edith inthe boat she would of her own accord have leaped in after her, but as indoing so she might have pitched upon some of our heads, she was loweredcarefully down.
"Thank you, thank you," cried Edith, as she patted the head of herfavourite, who was exhibiting her satisfaction at being with her youngmistress.
As we shoved off, my mother looked anxiously at the brig, stillevidently not liking to leave my father on board. He had told Mudge toascertain if there were any natives in the neighbourhood; and should hebe certain that there were none, to send the boat back, that she mighteither assist in getting the brig off, or take more stores andprovisions on shore. As we pulled away the position of the brigappeared hopeless indeed, and I believe my father would have thought sohad he been with us; but he could not bring himself to abandon her tillhe had tried every possible means of getting her off. She was heelingover on her side; and as the pumps were kept going, the water flowed outat the scuppers in a continuous stream.
"Is there no hope, Mr Mudge, of getting the vessel off?" asked mymother.
"The commander thinks that there is, or he would not have remained," heanswered evasively, not giving his own opinion; but I saw by hiscountenance that he did not think there was any hope.
Our attention was now turned towards the shore. As we approached wediscovered what appeared to be the mouth of a river some way to thesouth of where the brig lay, and as Mudge considered we should obtain abetter landing-place within it than was offered by the beach, all alongwhich the surf broke with some force, he steered towards it. We foundthat it was directly opposite the passage through the reef by which wehad entered. The ground on the south side rose to a considerableheight, with a line of cliffs facing the sea-shore; while on the norththe country was much lower, and covered sparsely with trees of a curiousgrowth, such as I had never before seen, and with no underwood anywherevisible; but the mouth of the river on the lower side was lined withmangroves, which extended into the water.
There was some sea on the bar, but not sufficient to make Mudge hesitateabout entering. He waited, however, for a good opportunity. "Give way,my lads," he shouted. Just then a roller came foaming up astern, whichmade me dread that my mother and Edith would get a wetting, even if theconsequences were not more serious; but we kept ahead of it, and inanother minute were in smooth water.
We soon discovered a rocky point on the north side, which offered a goodlanding-place, with green turf and a few trees growing on the upperside; and here we first set foot on the shores of Australia.