IV.
May 2l.--I am sitting alone in the cabin writing. It is very late. Ihear the steps of the mate as he paces the deck. The calm still holds usin its fearful clasp. Great God! What is to be the end of it all? Therehas been a break in the monotony of our existence to-day. Uncle John gotinto a hot discussion with Captain Raymond at the dinner table about theefficacy of the wonderful explosive compound. The captain seemeddoubtful. Uncle John was for the instant angry.
"I'll show you, then," he said, and he rushed into the cabin where hisboxes are stored, and came out shortly with two tin cans, each holdingsomething less than a pint. He unscrewed the top of one disclosing abrownish powder. "Take care," said the captain, who seemed needlesslycautious, and almost fearful.
"Why, I thought you said it was useless," said Uncle John with a laugh,"and yet you are afraid of it. Look here." He lighted a match and heldit close to the powder. A dark smoke arose that instantly extinguishedthe little flame, and floated off, leaving a queer smell behind. Thatwas all.
"Perfectly harmless, captain," continued uncle, who had now recoveredhis usual good nature. "Perfectly harmless unless you wet it. Then lookout."
The cook had made a sort of dumpling for dinner, and a great lot of itremained. Uncle John took a mess of this dough, for it was little else,squeezed it until it was quite dry and molded it into a ball. "Come withme," he said, "and, Arthur, bring a plate of that dough with you." Hetook the cans and we followed him to the deck. There he carefullycovered the ball of dough with the powder, and, going to the rail, threwit as far as he could out over the placid sea. As the ball struck thewater there was a loud explosion and the spray was thrown high into theair. The crew, who had been hanging over the port rail forward, turnedand rushed over to see what was up. Uncle John made another ball andthrew it with like result.
"Oh, houly torpeter!" growled one of the men, and they turned back totheir former places. Uncle John, now evidently anxious to give usthorough proof of the value of his compound, was for throwing moreballs, when the boatswain, rolling aft, touched his hat, and said to thecaptain:
"Please, sur, there's a big shark as has showed his fin hoff the portbow, and if so be that the doctor'll wait a bit with his torpeters,we'll show 'im some fun a-catchin' of it."
"All right, bo'sun," said the captain, and we all went over to the portrail.
"There he is," said the captain, pointing to a sharp, black thing, that,rising just above the water, was cutting quietly through it. "That ishis fin, and there's a big shark under it or I'm much mistaken."
The sailors had got a large hook, and had baited it with a piece of saltbeef, and made it fast to a stout line with a chain that the fishcouldn't bite off. This tempting morsel was flung overboard, and, as itfell with a splash into the water, we saw the fin cut toward it, andthen disappear. The next instant there was a great tug at the rope.
"Hurrah! we've got 'um!" yelled the boatswain. "Walk away with 'im now,my hearties."
A dozen sailors had manned the rope, and now started to drag the bigfish out of the water. There was a tremendous pull, a great splashing,and then the men tumbled in a heap on the dock, and the hook was jerkedsharply over the rail.
"Cuss the luck," growled the boatswain. "The 'ook didn't 'old."
The taste of salt beef evidently suited the shark, for he was soon rightalongside, cruising back and forth, looking for more. We could see himdistinctly, and a tremendous fellow he was. Again the men baited thehook and dropped it overboard. We saw the big fish dart forward, turn onhis side and grab the bait with a sharp snap of his terrible jaws. Againthe hook would not catch, and the shark was waiting for more beef. Themen were about to make a third attempt when Uncle John started.
"Wait a bit, men," he said. "I've got a hook that will hold. Give me apiece of the meat."
The men fell back and looked eagerly. The cook handed up a big chunk ofmeat. "Wipe it as dry as you can," said uncle, "and tie it firmly to therope." When this was done he sprinkled the powder from the can carefullyover the meat; then he carried it cautiously to the rail. The shark wascruising back and forth. Uncle lowered the meat slowly into the water,right in front of the monster. He saw the bait and darted at it, andthen there was a tremendous report, and the spray flew into our faces aswe leaned over the rail. The next moment we saw the big fish floatingmotionless on the water.
"Blessed if 'e 'asn't blowed 'is 'ead clean hoff," said the boatswain.
It was so. That terrible compound of Uncle John's had needed only theimpact of the shark's teeth to explode it with deadly effect. Unclelooked perfectly happy. The effect on Helen was strange. For the firsttime since she had been with us she seemed to be angry.
"I think you are very cruel," she said to Uncle John, "to kill thatbeautiful shark. He had not harmed you. I shall not love you any more."As she said this she stepped to my side and grasped my hand, as thoughshe feared uncle and wanted my protection. The men heard her words andthe effect was marked. They had been in high good humor over the deathof the shark, the sailors' most dreaded enemy, but at these strangewords they shrank away with gloomy faces, and I could hear mutteredcurses, and the words "witch" and "she-devil." That put an end to thegood humor that for the first time in days seemed to pervade thebecalmed vessel. Uncle John made one more "torpeter" with the littlepowder that remained in the open can. The other he carried to his cabin.When I left the deck just before beginning this writing the sailors werehuddled together forward and eagerly talking, but very quietly. The seawas like a glass in which the stars of this strange southern sky wereall mirrored.
* * * * *
Again, impelled by I know not what power, I come to my journal. For whatstrange eyes am I writing these words? I doubt whether I shall havestrength to put down the record that I feel ought to be put down.Perhaps the power that impels me to write at all will give me the neededstrength. I have lost the reckoning of the days, but that matters not.After writing the words with which my last entry closed I went to mylittle cabin and was soon asleep. I was awakened by stealthy feetwithout my door, followed by sounds of a struggle on deck, two or threepistol shots, curses and groans and the trampling of feet. I jumped frommy bunk, threw on some clothing, and hurried out. The large cabin was intotal darkness. I rushed to the companion way. As I stepped upon thedeck I saw before me a struggling throng, and then there was a crash,and I knew no more for a time. I know now that I was struck on the headby one of the crew who had been watching for me. When I recoveredconsciousness I was lying bound hand and foot on the deck. It was earlydaylight, I struggled to rise, but could not stir. I saw the crewcarrying bags and casks and clothing and lowering them over the side.Two or three forms lay on the deck, but I could not see who or what theywere. I recognized the boatswain's voice giving orders. He asked ifthere was water enough and food, if the log and chronometer andcompasses had been stowed away. It was all confusion, and my brainseemed on fire; but I knew that the crew were preparing to quit theship. Where was Uncle John, where was Captain Raymond, and where wasHelen? At this I again struggled and strove to rise, and the noise Imade attracted the boatswain and he came to me.
"You're fast enough, my lad," said he, smiling grimly. "Best lie quietand listen. Th' lads 'ave 'ad enough of this bediviled ship and thewitch that 'as bediviled 'er. So we're goin' to ship our cable and puthoff. You seem so fond o' the witch that we'll leave you with 'er.She'll care for thee, never fear," and he turned on his heel.
I tried to speak, but must have fainted with the effort. When I againbecame conscious, I was still lying on the deck, but my bonds had beencut, and I managed to stagger to my feet. I looked all around. Not aliving being could I see. Just then the sun came up, and as his glowingdisc showed above the quiet water, I caught, far away in the south, afaint sparkle, and then saw two small dark spots, that before mystraining gaze disappeared. I doubt not that what I saw were the boatscontaining the crew of the _Albatross_. I turned and looked around thedeck. The forms that I had seen were n
o longer visible, but just aft ofthe wheel was a piece of canvas covering something. I walked overfeebly, for the blow that I had received had shaken me badly, and liftedthe canvas. There lay the dead bodies of my dear uncle and CaptainRaymond and big First Mate Robinson. Like a man in a dream I coveredthem again, and again looked about the deck. Where was Helen? Not on thedeck. Had the villains taken her with them? I made my feeble way belowand went to Helen's cabin. The door was shut. I tried to open it. It waslocked. I examined the lock. The key was in it, and on the outside. Theyhad locked her in. I cautiously turned the key, opened the door, andentered. There lay Helen, her dark hair streaming back over the pillow.One round cheek rested softly on her brown, dimpled hand, the other borea lovely flush. The half-parted lips were like crimson rose-buds, andover her bosom her white nightrobe rose and fell gently. She was asleep.As I stood there she opened her eyes. When she saw me she smiled happilyand said in a sweet, sleepy voice, "Is it time to get up, Arthur? Why,how pale you look. Are you ill?" And she rose on one arm and the smilefaded away.
"Yes, Helen," I said, as steadily as I could. "It's time to get up. Comeinto the cabin as quickly as you can. I am not at all well." And I leftthe little cabin, still like a man in a dream. Helen soon joined me. Iasked her if she had slept well. She had. Had she heard no unusualnoises in the night? No; she had not awakened once. So it was. Like atired, healthy child, Helen had slept through all that awful tragedy. Ishan't attempt to try and tell of the task I had in making hercomprehend our awful situation. She did not comprehend it. She weptbitterly when I told her of the three dead bodies on the deck. Shemoaned over my "poor, bruised head," and with gentle hands bathed andbound it up. Then she said that she was hungry. We found the lockers ingreat confusion, but the crew had left food enough of one sort oranother to satisfy our immediate needs. There was an awful task beforeus, and I explained it to Helen. We must consign those dead bodies tothe sea. She shuddered at the thought, but, like an obedient child,tried to help me. How I managed to encase those silent forms in canvas Ihardly know, but I did, and got them to the side of the ship. Then I gotmy prayer book and read the blessed burial service, while Helen lookedon in troubled wonder. Then came the hardest task of all, but it wasdone, and the bodies, one after the other, fell with a great splash intothe still sea. I had thought to bind heavy weights to the feet, and theysank at once, and Helen and I were left quite alone. I am writing thiswith great difficulty, for we are dying--dying of thirst. Why I write Ido not know. There is no water on board. The sailors, after fillingtheir casks from the great casks in the hold, left the water running.When we sought to draw there was not a drop left. There is a changecoming over Helen. She sometimes looks at me strangely. She seems almostshy. I wonder what it is. Is memory coming back? Or has she learned thatshe is a woman and I a man? But she is not for me. There is John Bruce,and I vowed to take her safely to him, and I shall----. Mother,good----. I can't write more. I see that the end is....
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