CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.
I returned on deck followed by the master. "The barometer is rising,"said I aloud, to the first lieutenant; "so I presume the gale will breakabout twelve o'clock."
"I am glad to hear of it, sir; for we have quite enough of it," repliedthe first-lieutenant.
"Do you see the Dryad?"
"No, sir; it's quite thick again to leeward: we have not seen her theseten minutes."
Thank God for that, thought I, for they will never see her again. "Whatsoundings had you last?"
"Fourteen fathoms, sir."
"I expect we shall cross the tail of the bank in much less," replied I;"but, when once clear, we shall have sea-room."
As the captain is an oracle in times of danger, the seamen caught everyword which was uttered from my mouth; and what they gathered from what Ihad said, satisfied them that they were in no immediate danger.Nevertheless, the master walked the deck as if he was stupefied with theimpending crisis. No wonder, poor fellow; with a wife and familydepending upon him for support, it is not to be expected that a man canlook upon immediate dissolution without painful feelings. A sailorshould never marry: or if he does, for the benefit of the service, hismarriage should prove an unhappy one, and then he would become morereckless than before. As for my own thoughts, they may be given in afew words--they were upon the vanity of human wishes. Whatever I haddone with the one object I had in view--whatever might have been mysuccess had I lived--whether I might have been wedded to Minnie somefuture day, or what may have resulted, good, bad, or indifferent, as tofuture, all was to be, in a few hours, cut short by the will of Heaven.In the next world there was neither marriage nor giving in marriage--inthe next world, name, titles, wealth, everything worldly was as nought--and all I had to do was to die like a man, and do my duty to the last,trusting to a merciful God to forgive me my sins and offences; and withthis philosophy I stood prepared for the event.
About noon it again cleared up to leeward, but the Dryad was no longerto be seen: this was reported to me. As it was nearly three hours sincewe last had a sight of her, I knew her fate too well--she had plenty oftime to go on shore, and to be broken up by the heavy seas. I didhowever point my glass in the direction, and coolly observed, "she hasrounded the tail of the bank, I presume, and has bore up. It was thebest thing she could do." I then asked the master if he had wound hischronometers, and went down into the cabin. I had not, however, beenexamining the chart more than a minute, when the officer of the watchcame down, and reported that we had shoaled to twelve fathoms.
"Very good, Mr Hawkins; we shall be in shallower water yet. Let meknow if there is any change in the soundings."
As soon as the cabin door was again shut, I worked up the tide to seewhen it would change against us; I found that it had changed one hour atleast. Then it will be sooner over, thought I, throwing down thepencil.
"Mr Cross, the boatswain, wishes to speak to you, sir," said thesentry, opening the cabin door.
"Tell him to come in," replied I. "Well, Cross, what's the matter?"
"I was speaking to the first lieutenant about getting up a runner, sir--the fore-stay is a good deal chafed; that is, if you think it's of anyuse."
"How do you mean, of any use, Cross?"
"Why, sir, although no one would suppose it from you--but if the face ofthe master (and he is not a faint-hearted man neither) is to be taken asa barometer, we shall all be in `kingdom come' before long. I'vecruised in these seas so often, that I pretty well guess where we are,Captain Keene."
"Well, Cross, it's no use denying that we are in a mess, and nothing butthe wind going down or changing can get us out of it."
"Just as I thought sir; well, it can't be helped, so it's no usefretting about it. I think myself that the gale is breaking, and thatwe shall have fine weather by to-morrow morning."
"That will be rather too late, Cross; for I think we shall be done forin three or four hours, if not sooner."
"Eleven fathoms, sir," said the officer of the watch, coming in hastily.
"Very well, Mr Hawkins; let her go through the water," replied I.
As soon as the cabin door was again shut, I said, "You see, Cross, thetide is now against us, and this will not last long."
"No, sir; we shall strike in five fathoms with this heavy sea."
"I know we shall; but I do not wish to dishearten the men before it isnecessary, and then we must do our best."
"You won't be offended, I am sure, by my asking, Captain Keene, what youthink of doing?"
"Not at all, Cross; it is my intention to explain it to the ship'scompany before I do it. I may as well take your opinion upon it now.As soon as we are in six fathoms, I intend to cut away the masts andanchor."
"That's our only chance, sir, and if it is well done, and the galeabates, it may save some of us; but how do you intend to anchor?"
"I shall back the best bower with the sheet, and let go the small bowerat the same time that I do the sheet, so as to ride an even strain."
"You can't do better, sir; but that will require time for preparation,to be well done. Do you think that we shall have time, if you wait tillwe are in six fathoms?"
"I don't know but you are right, Cross, and I think it would be betterto commence our preparations at once."
"Ten fathoms, sir," reported the officer of the watch.
"Very well, I will be on deck directly."
"Well, sir, we must now go to our duty; and as we may chance not to talkto one another again, sir," said Cross, "I can only say God bless you,and I hope that, if we do not meet again in this world, we shall inheaven, or as near to it as possible. Good-bye, sir."
"Good-bye, Cross," replied I, shaking him by the hand; "we'll do ourduty, at all events. So now for my last dying speech."
Cross quitted the cabin, and I followed him. As soon as I was on deck,I desired the first lieutenant to turn the hands up, and send them aft.When they were all assembled, with Cross at their head, I stood on oneof the carronades and said: "My lads, I have sent for you, because Iconsider that, although the gale is evidently breaking, we are shoalingour water so fast, that we are in danger of going on shore before thegale does break. Now, what I intend to do, as our best chance, is tocut away the masts, and anchor as soon as we are in six fathoms water;perhaps we may then ride it out. At all events, we must do our best,and put our trust in Providence. But, my lads, you must be aware, thatin times of difficulty it is important that we should be all cool andcollected, that you must adhere to your discipline, and obey yourofficers to the last; if you do not, everything will go wrong instead ofright. You have proved yourselves an excellent set of men, and I'm sureyou will continue so to do. It is possible we may not have to cut awayour masts, or to anchor; still, we must make every preparation in caseit is necessary, and I have, therefore, sent for you, to explain myintentions, and to request that you will all assist me to the best ofyour abilities; and I feel convinced that you will, and will do yourduty like British seamen. That's all I have to say, my lads. Pipedown, Mr Cross."
The ship's company went forward in silence. They perceived the fullextent of the danger. The first lieutenant and boatswain employed aportion in backing the best bower anchor with the sheet; the othersroued up the cables from the tiers, and coiled them on the main-deck,clear for running. All hands were busily employed, and employment madethem forget their fears. The work was done silently, but orderly andsteadily. In the meantime we had shoaled to eight fathoms, and it wasnow nearly three o'clock; but as it was summer time, the days were long.Indeed, when the weather was fine, there was little or no night, andthe weather was warm, which was all in our favour.
When everything was reported ready, I went round to examine andascertain if the cables would run clear. Satisfied that all was right,I then picked out the men, and appointed those who were most trustworthyto the stations of importance; and, having so done, I then returned tothe quarter-deck, and called up the carpenter and some of the topmen tobe
ready with the axes to cut away the masts and lashings of the boomsand boats. Just as these orders were completed, the gale blew fiercerthan ever. We were now in seven fathoms water, and pressed heavy by thegale.
I stood at the break of the gangway, the first lieutenant and master bymy side, and Cross a little forward, watching my eye. The men in thechains continued to give the soundings in a clear steady voice, "By themark seven," "Quarter less seven," "And a half six." At last, the manin the chains next to me, a fine old forecastle man, gave the sounding"By the mark six," and he gave it with a louder voice than before, witha sort of defiance, as much as to say, "The time is come, let theelements do their worst."
The time was come. "Silence, fore and aft. Every man down under thehalf-deck, except those stationed. Cut away the boom lashings, andclear the boats." This was soon done, and reported. "Now then, mylads, be steady. Cut away the lanyards in the chains."
One after another the lanyards and backstays were severed; the mastsgroaned and creaked, and then the fore-mast and main-mast were over theside almost at the same time; the mizen followed, as the frigatebroached to and righted, leaving the ship's deck a mass of wreck andconfusion; but no one was hurt, from the precautions which had beentaken, the mast having been cut away before we rounded to, to anchor, asotherwise, they would have fallen aft and not gone clear of the ship.
"Stand by the best bower. Stand clear of the cable. Let go theanchor."
As soon as the best bower cable was nearly out, the sheet anchor andsmall bower were let go at the same moment, and the result was to beascertained.
Percival Keene Page 39
