African Trader; Or, The Adventures of Harry Bayford

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  WE AT LENGTH GET OUT OF THE RIVER INTO THE OPEN SEA, BUT A CALM COMESON, AND THE CAPTAIN AGAIN BECOMES VERY ILL.--NO ONE ON BOARDUNDERSTANDING NAVIGATION, I DOUBT WHETHER I SHALL FIND MY WAY TO SIERRALEONE.--THE CAPTAIN DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT HE IS IN DANGER.--PAUL PLEADSWITH HIM ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HIS SOUL.--A FIRE BREAKS OUT IN THE HOLD.--WE IN VAIN ENDEAVOUR TO EXTINGUISH IT.--THE REST OF THE CREW DESERTUS.--PAUL AND I ENDEAVOUR TO SAVE THE CAPTAIN, BUT DRIVEN FROM THE CABINBY THE FLAMES LEAP OVERBOARD AND REACH A SMALL BOAT, WHICH WE RIGHT ANDGET INTO.--SEE A SCHOONER APPROACHING US.

  At day-break the pilot came on board, the sails were loosed, the anchorhove-up, and the "Chieftain," with a hot land breeze, which still blewstrong, glided down the river. Captain Willis, who had been broughtfrom his cabin by Paul and Sambo, sat propped up with pillows on thedeck. It was melancholy to see him, his once strong frame reduced to amere skeleton, his countenance pale and haggard, and his strong voicenow sounding weak and hollow, and scarcely to be heard by those to whomhe issued his orders. I stood by him to repeat them. I saw him cast aneye towards the spot which contained the graves of our shipmates, and Icould divine his thoughts. Perhaps he might have reflected that had henot been so greedy of gain, many of them might be still alive, while hehimself might be enjoying health and strength.

  The mangrove covered shores looked even more sombre and monotonous thanbefore, in the grey light of morning, as we glided down between them.The air was hot and oppressive, and full of pestilence, and it seemed awonder to me that I should have lived so many weeks while breathing suchan atmosphere. I dreaded lest the breeze should fail us, and we shouldbe compelled to spend another night under its influence; but the windheld, the tide was in our favour, and we had nearly reached the mouth ofthe river before the wind dropped, and we had to bring up. A fewminutes afterwards the fresh sea breeze came rushing in, pure and sweet,and comparatively cool. With what delight did I gulp it down. Iquickly felt like another creature. The captain also seemed to reviverapidly under its influence, and I began to hope that he wouldultimately recover.

  I eagerly watched the sparkling lines of white foam as the ocean waves,meeting the ebbing current of the river, broke across the bar. How Ilonged for the evening, when the land breeze would again fill our sails,and carry us out into the open bounding ocean. It seemed to me thatthen all difficulty would be passed, and we should only have to shapeour course for England, and steer on till we should reach it.

  The captain, unwilling again to go below, sat all day on deck under anawning, ready for the moment when we might venture to weigh anchor. Itcame at last. Just before sunset the hot wind began to blow. Althoughthe bar still wore a threatening aspect, the pilot declared that,without fear, we might venture over it.

  Not a moment was lost, on we stood towards it. In a short time foamingbreakers were hissing and bubbling around us. Once more I felt thevessel rising to the heaving wave, and welcomed the showers of spraywhich flew over her deck. On she sped, but very slowly; now she sankdownwards, and it seemed as if the next roller would send her back onthe bar. It glided under her, however, and then she appeared floating,as it were, almost at rest on its summit, and then downwards she slid,slowly making her onward way.

  In a few minutes more we were in the free open ocean, and the darksombre river, with its gloomy associations, was far astern. Every inchof canvas the vessel could carry was set, that we might get a goodoffing before nightfall, when a calm was to be expected.

  "I never wish to see that place again," I could not help exclaiming.

  "Don't say that, Harry," answered the captain. "We may hope to havebetter luck the next time. If you ever want to grow rich you must runsome risk. We have had an unusually sickly season, which may not againoccur; and if the owners ask me to go back, I am not the man to refuseto do so, and I should look to you to go along with me."

  Can it be possible, I thought, that a man, after running so fearful arisk, would willingly again expose himself to the same danger, merelyfor the sake of rapidly gaining wealth? I forgot at the moment thatpeople not only hazard their health but their souls, for that object.Had I remembered the fact, I should not have been surprised at what thecaptain had said.

  We had got out of sight of land, but the wind was very light, and wemade little progress. In a short time it fell calm altogether, and thevessel lay like a log on the water. The heat, too, was very great, andthe captain appeared to suffer from it. It was evident, indeed, that hewas falling rapidly back, and he had now no strength to come on deck. Iwas much alarmed on his account, for I thought it too likely that, afterapparently being so near recovery, he would die. I was anxious also onour own account, for knowing so little as I did about navigation, Icould not tell how I should take the vessel into port. I got out achart and studied it, and marked the spot where I believed we then were.I then drew a line from it to Sierra Leone, the place for which Iintended to steer. It lay about north-west of us, and I hoped that if Icould sight the land to the southward I might coast along till I came toit. There were, however, I knew, strong currents running, which mighttake us out of our course, and we might have contrary winds, which wouldfurther increase the difficulty. I thought that very likely some of theblacks knew more about the matter than I did, but I did not like toconfess my apprehensions to them lest they might be tempted to play sometrick, and perhaps run away with the vessel altogether.

  The only person in whom I could confide was Paul. I knew that I couldtrust him thoroughly, but then I suspected that he was not a betternavigator than I was, as he had only served on board a man-of-war andmerchantmen, when he would not have been able to learn anything aboutthe matter.

  The captain caught sight of me through the open door of his berth, as Iwas poring over the chart spread out on the table of the main cabin."What are you about, Harry?" he asked.

  I told him that I was looking at the chart to see what course we oughtto steer.

  "Don't trouble yourself about that, lad," he answered; "I shall be wellas soon as the breeze comes. It's this hot calm keeps me down. If thewind had continued, I should have been myself again by this time, thoughI have had a narrow squeak for it I'll allow."

  His face looked so pale and haggard, his eyes so sunken, his voice soweak and trembling, that I could not help fearing that he was mistaken.I was unwilling to alarm him, but it was so important that I should knowhow to act in case of his death, that I could not help saying,--"Butsuppose anything was to happen to you, sir, what should you advise me todo?"

  "I do not intend that anything shall happen to me, Harry," he answered,evidently annoyed at my remark. "After having got this valuable cargoon board we must not think of such a thing. Why Harry, in all myvoyages I have never collected half so rich a freight."

  "I earnestly hope that you may recover your health, sir," I said. "Imentioned the subject simply in case of accidents, and I did not supposethat you would be offended."

  "Of course I am not, Harry," he replied. "You don't suppose that I am acoward and afraid to die; and if it was not for the sake of the vesseland her freight, I should not care, I fancy, so much about the matter;but it would never do now to knock under--so don't, Harry, put thosegloomy thoughts again into my head."

  On going on deck I told Paul my fears about the captain. "Yes, he verybad," he said; "but I more sorry about him soul. He think more of thecargo, which may go to the bottom in one moment, than of his soul, whichlive for ever and ever. O Massa Harry, we must speak again to him aboutdat. We will plead with him with tears in our eyes, that he think abouthis soul, and we will tell him not to trouble about the vessel."

  Without loss of time we went to the captain. At first he listenedsomewhat coldly to what Paul said, but he did not grow angry. "I thankyou for interesting yourself about me," he said at last. "You may beright, and if you will pray with me I will try to join you."

  Paul and I thereon knelt down, as we had done before, and Paul, in veryplain language, ear
nestly besought God to send His Holy Spirit to softenthe captain's heart, to show him that he was a lost sinner, and had needof a Saviour--to enlighten his mind, and to enable him to take hold ofChrist as the only way whereby he could be saved.

  The captain remained for a long time afterwards silent. At length heput out his hand and grasped Paul's. "I see it now," he said, sighingdeeply. "I have been, and still am, a great sinner. Oh, that I knewbetter how I could be saved."

  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," said Paul,in a firm voice. "That is God's loving message. He sends no other;and, captain, if all the ministers of your country were to come to you,they could bring you no other. If you do believe on Jesus, and are todie this very day, He says to you just what He said when hanging on thecross on Calvary to the dying thief, `This night thou shalt be with mein paradise.'"

  The captain was greatly moved, and I heard him, between his sobs,exclaiming, "Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief."

  Oh how necessary is that prayer! and I am sure it is one which is alwaysanswered, when the sinner is truly desirous of turning from his sins,and is seeking, by every means in his power, to strengthen his belief.

  I had got out my Bible several days before, and I now read it constantlyto the captain, as well as to myself. Whenever I came to a passagewhich seemed to meet his case, he desired me to read it over and overagain. Notwithstanding this, the desire was strong within him torecover, for the sake of carrying home the vessel and her rich freightin safety. That was but natural, and I earnestly hoped that he might berestored to health. Instead, however, of gaining strength, he appearedto grow weaker and weaker.

  The calm had now continued for several days. Often as I looked over theside I saw dark triangular fins just rising above the surface, andmoving here and there round the ship, and frequently the whole form ofthe monster could be discerned as it glided by; and when I saw its keencruel eyes glancing up towards me, I felt a shudder pass through myframe, such as, according to the vulgar notion, a person feels when itis said that some one is walking over his grave. Occasionally, whenanything was thrown overboard, a white flash was seen rising out of thedeep, and a large pair of jaws, armed with sharp teeth, opening, gulpedit down, and directly afterwards the creature went swimming on, watchingfor any other dainty morsel which might come in its way. "How dreadfulit would be to fall overboard," I thought. "Calm as the sea is, aperson, with those creatures around, would have very little chance ofescaping with life."

  Dark clouds had been gathering around, and the wavelets began to playover the hitherto calm ocean. Although as yet there was not much wind,the sails were trimmed, and, by the captain's orders, the vessel was puton a north-west course. I concluded, consequently, that he at allevents intended touching at Sierra Leone, to obtain a mate and somewhite hands. The wind, however, rapidly increased, sail was taken in,and before long it was blowing a perfect hurricane. This made the poorcaptain more anxious than ever to get on deck, but when he attempted tomove he found that he had not strength even to sit up. The wind howledand whistled, the vessel tumbled fearfully about, and the seas, whichrose up in foaming masses, frequently broke on board, deluging her deck.

  I had gone down to the captain, who had directed me to visit him everyquarter of an hour to let him know how things were going on, when, as Ientered the cabin, I discovered a strong smell of burning, and directlyafterwards I saw thin wreaths of black smoke making their way throughthe forward bulk-head. The dreadful conviction came upon me that thevessel was on fire. I sprang on deck, and calling the boatswain andPaul, I told them my fears. That they were too well founded we had soonfearful evidence, for the smoke, now in thick volumes, rose above thedeck, both fore and aft. Still there might be time to extinguish thefire. To do this it was necessary to take off the main-hatchway, and,in spite of the risk of a sea beating over us, it was done. The instantit was off dense masses of black smoke rose up from below, preventingall attempts which the boatswain and some of his men made to discoverthe seat of the fire.

  "We must take to the boats," he exclaimed, "the ship soon all in flames,then the boats burn and we no get away."

  Paul and I as well as Sambo tried to persuade him and his Krumen to makemore efforts to put out the fire before they lowered the boats. Withthe sea then running, indeed there was every probability that they wouldbe swamped. We set them the example, by rigging the pumps, and fillingbuckets from alongside to heave down the hold. Thus encouraged, theylaboured for a short time, but finding their efforts of no effect, theyabandoned the work and began to lower the boats.

  The wind had happily by this time somewhat moderated; while most of thepeople were engaged in launching the long boat, Paul and I with twoother men set to work to lower one of the smaller boats. We had notforgotten the poor captain, and as the smoke had not yet made its wayinto his cabin, I did not intend to let him know what had occurred tillthe last, when I hoped, with the assistance of Paul and others, to gethim lowered safely into one of the boats.

  All hands were working away with frantic haste, for we could not tell atwhat moment the flames might burst forth, and render the deck untenable.At length the long boat was launched, and the boatswain and the Krumenleaped into her. They called to Sambo and the rest to follow. Ithought Sambo would have remained faithful to the captain, and have cometo assist him, but at that moment a forked flame burst up from the hold,so alarming him, that he followed the rest. Paul and I entreated theother men to remain by the smaller boat, while we went into the cabin tobring up my poor friend the captain. As I was descending the companionhatch, I heard the boatswain shouting to the other men, and caught sightof them running to the side. Still I hoped that should they desert us,Paul and I might be able, after placing the captain in the boat, tolower her in safety.

  "The ship on fire," exclaimed Captain Willis, when I told him what hadoccurred, "Heave water down the hold. Do all you can to save our richfreight, that must not be lost on any account."

  I told him that we had done what we could, and that the rest of the crewhad already deserted the vessel.

  The captain sank back on his pillow, "I Have no strength to move," hemurmured, "and you and Paul cannot lift me."

  "We will try, Massa Captain," said Paul.

  I proposed that we should lift him in his cot through the skylight. Thecaptain at length agreed to this. I sprang on deck, intending to securea tackle to the main boom, by which we might carry out my proposal withgreater ease. What was my horror on reaching the deck, to find that theblacks, on quitting the falls, had neglected to secure them, and thatthe boat having fallen into the water had been washed away and capsized.The flames, too, which were now ascending through the main-hatchway hadcaught the other boat, and already her bows were burned through.

  With this appalling intelligence I returned below. Escape seemedimpossible. I proposed building a raft, it was a desperate resource,and there might not be time even to lash a few spars together. I couldnot bear the thought of allowing the poor captain to perish miserablywithout an attempt to save him. He divined my thoughts. "Its of nouse, Harry, I am prepared for death, and resign myself to the arms ofthat merciful God whom I have so lately learned to know," he said, withperfect calmness.

  Paul, while the captain had been speaking, seized a bright axe whichhung against the bulk-head as an ornament, intending to cut awaywhatever might assist in forming a raft, and had sprang on deck with it.He now came down through the skylight hatch, "It is too late," heexclaimed, "the flames come aft."

  He spoke too truly. At that instant dense masses of smoke rushed intothe cabin, and the flames burst through the after bulk head. I wasscorched, by the heat and almost suffocated. So dense was the smokewhich filled the captain's berth, that I could no longer see him.

  I felt Paul grasping my hand, "Come Harry, come, too late to save poorcaptain," he said, dragging me after him. I was almost stifled, andgasped for breath. In another moment I should have fallen, indeed I wasso over
come with the smoke that I did not know what was happening.

  Happily however I kept firm hold of Paul, and suddenly I found myselfplunged headlong into the water. He had hauled me through the cabinwindow.

  "Now strike out Massa Harry, I see boat not far off, we get to her," heexclaimed. I did as he directed me, but the thought of the horridsharks I had seen swimming about the vessel, almost paralysed my senses,and every moment I expected to find myself seized by the cruel jaws ofone of them.

  "Cheer up Harry, cheer up," shouted Paul; "there is the boat, we gotFriend in heaven who look after us; never fear, we reach her soon, cheerup."

  With such like cries he continued to animate me. He shouted thus notonly for that object, but to keep any sharks which might be inclined toseize us at a distance. The boat, as we got near her, was, I saw, keelupwards.

  "Never fear Massa Harry," said Paul, "we soon right her."

  We at length reached the boat, and Paul showing me the way, after someexertion, he going ahead and I keeping astern, we managed to turn herover. We then shook her from side to side till we had hove out aconsiderable amount of water in her. He told me to get in over thestern, and to begin bailing with my hat. I did as he advised, thankfulto find myself out of the grasp of the sharks. He kept splashing aboutwith his heels, and constantly turning round to see that none of themonsters were near. Looking up I caught sight of the long boat standingaway from us under sail towards the shore. She had already got too faroff to allow of our cries reaching her, or even indeed for those onboard to see us. We were thus cruelly deserted by our shipmates. Wecould only hope for their credit that they supposed we had already lostour lives, and that there would be no use looking for us.

  At length I having partially cleared the boat, Paul also got in, and weboth began bailing away as hard as we could with our hats. While thusemployed I saw a huge shark approaching, and I fancied lookingdisappointed at our having escaped his hungry maw. Happily the sea bythis time had gone considerably down, or our task would have beenrendered hopeless. As it was it took us a considerable time to lessenthe water in the boat, for deep as she was, the water which leaped inoften again nearly refilled her. Still we persevered, for we were, weknew, labouring for our lives. Meantime the shark, as if longing tomake us its prey, kept swimming round and round the boat. At a shortdistance the brigantine was burning furiously, and already the flames,ascending the masts, had caught the rigging and sails.

  While as I could not help doing, I turned my gaze at her I saw far awayin the horizon the white sail of a vessel. "A sail! a sail!" Ishouted; "we are saved Paul, we are saved."

  Paul looked up for a minute. "Yes," he said, "she standing this way.The burning ship bring her down to us. She big schooner. May be good,may be bad! though."