Adrift in a Boat

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  MAKING A RAFT--AFLOAT ON IT--THE GRIEF AT HOME--CAPTAIN RYMER'SAPPOINTMENT--THE VOYAGE.

  That raging sea, which it appeared at first would prove the destructionof those on board the brig, was in reality the means of theirpreservation. Just as the boys got their heads above the companionhatch, another whole broadside was let fly, and though many of the shotspassed over the ship, two or three struck her between wind and water.Had the sea been calmer, many more probably would have found their waythrough her sides, and she must instantly have gone to the bottom. Suchwas the fate the boys, not without good reason, now anticipated for her.Another broadside would prove sufficient.

  "Had we not better show ourselves, and ask to be taken on board?" saidDavid.

  "What, boys, and be murdered!" cried the old man from below. "Stick tothe ship, and don't trust those villains. There's One who will takecare of you if you put faith in Him."

  "Old Jefferies is right. Let us die rather than go on board thepirate," said Harry.

  Once more they climbed up the companion ladder, from which they hadjumped down at the last broadside. They watched the schooner. She hadtacked, as if about to run down close to them, and deliver anotherbroadside. Seeing this, they were prepared to leap back into the cabin,when suddenly she hauled her tacks aboard, and stood directly away fromthem. Did her crew believe that the shots they had fired would speedilyeffect their supposed purpose, and take the brig to the bottom, or werethey only firing for practice? As soon as the schooner had got a littledistance off, the boys jumped on deck and hurried to the pump. Harryfirst sounded the well. His face grew very serious.

  "David," he said, "the water has gained fearfully on us. The shot-holesmust be letting in the water fast, and I do not think that the brig canfloat another hour--perhaps not ten minutes."

  "What are we to do, then?" asked David.

  "Build a raft," answered Harry. "There are plenty of spars. I saw somecarpenter's tools and large nails in the cabin, and we may break off thehatches. They will help us. We must be sharp about it, though."

  Of this there could be no doubt. That they might give the old fishermana better chance of saving his life, they agreed to get him up first. Bytaking an abundance of food and rest, he had greatly recovered hisstrength, and was now able to do as they proposed.

  "If I cannot work, I may give you my advice," he observed. "I have morethan once had to trust to a raft for my life."

  The cat followed them on deck. The old man shook his head when he sawher.

  "She knows that the cabin is no longer a safe place for her, and thatshe will be better off up here," he said, as the boys placed him on aheavy coil of rope near the mainmast. The ship was happily more quietthan she had before been, and the boys, having collected all the sparsand planks they could find, as well as some chairs and a table from thecabin, commenced, under old Jefferies' directions, to form the proposedraft. They worked away with all their might, knowing well that a fewminutes' delay would be fatal. A large raft was not required, as it hadto support only three persons and their provisions. The great thing wasto make it strong enough. They brought up all the small rope they couldfind and lashed the stoutest of the spars together, so as to form anoblong framework, with a centre spar as a keel. They further securedthem with large nails. Then they placed planks and smaller spars acrossthis, with the table, top downwards, and the chairs on their backs,secured to it. They managed to wrench off two of the cabin doors, andthese, nailed down and lashed across the raft, raised the deck andincreased its strength. Besides the chairs, there were some strongstools in the cabin. These they nailed down at each corner, and securedthem also by lashings, with their legs up. They then passed ropes roundthe legs, thus forming a sort of bulwark that might save them from beingwashed off the raft. They had still much to do after this before theraft would be complete. They wanted a couple of chests in which to keeptheir provisions, a cask for water, a mast and sails, and oars, andblankets to keep them warm at night. They had been some time at work,and the water was already over the cabin floor. Any attempt to save thevessel was now hopeless. Harry, happening to look up, saw what, had hebeen on the watch, he would have observed long before, a large ship,under a press of sail, at no great distance. Was the wreck seen bythose on board? If so, their prospect of escape was greatly improved.They hoped that they were seen, for although they were thankful thatthey had had time to form a raft, they knew well that at best it was aperilous means of support, that it might be upset or dashed to pieces,or that they might float about on it unseen till all their provisionsand water were exhausted, and then die of starvation and thirst. Theyearnestly hoped, therefore, that they might be seen from the passingship. They had reserved a short spar as a mast for the raft. To thisthey fastened a flag, and secured it to the mainmast. So occupied werethey, indeed, in watching the stranger, that for a few minutes theyforgot to go on with their raft, till recalled by old Jefferies tocontinue the important work. They had now to search for some chests.They had seen several in the fore peak. It was with a degree of awe,perhaps not altogether free from fear, that they again went to where thedead seaman lay. They quickly cut two chests clear of the lashingswhich secured them, and were emptying them of their contents, when theycame upon a box or case, the size of an ordinary writing-case. It wasof foreign manufacture, and secured with strong brass bands. Whentaking it out with other things, Harry heard a sound like the chink ofmoney within. He shook it. There was no doubt about the matter."We'll keep it. It may be useful, and it is our lawful prize," heobserved, as he put it back into the chest. Fastening ropes to thehandles of the chests, they were soon hauled on deck, and secured to theraft. Now came the important work of provisioning their ark of safety.They had already got on deck some biscuits, and salt beef and porkuncooked. They again descended for more articles which they had seen,and which, together with some blankets, they brought up. Once more theywent below, and even during the short time they had been on deck, theyobserved that the water had considerably risen. Still they werepersevering in their search for more provisions, when old Jefferies'voice summoned them hastily on deck.

  "She is going down!--she is going down!" he shouted.

  They rushed up, and had just time to drag him on to the raft, and toseize the oars and spars they had got ready, when the vessel's bow rose,and her stern gradually sank, till she glided away towards the bottom,literally from beneath their feet. Just before this the cat, who seemeddetermined to stick to the vessel to the last, made a spring on to theraft, where she stood trembling with fear and astonishment at thedisappearance of her home. As soon as the water reached the raft, bymeans of the poles they shoved off from the wreck, and then pulled awaywith all their might, so as completely to clear her. The raft rockedviolently, and, in spite of all their efforts, seemed dragged towardsthe vortex formed by the sinking vessel. In another instant the brigwas no longer to be seen, and her secret, whatever it was, was buriedwith her. They looked anxiously around. The ship was standing in thedirection the schooner had gone. They floated alone on that wild,stormy waste of waters. The old man had been placed in the middle ofthe raft, while the boys took their places on either side of him,endeavouring with the oars to keep the raft before the seas. Amongother things placed on it were some carpenter's tools, spars, blankets,and a good supply of rope. They had thus the means of rigging a mast.They did this by nailing boards between the two front legs of the table,and lashing the mast to the middle of the boards, while they carriedstays forward and on either side. The wind was so much warmer, thatthey supposed it must have shifted to the west, though the thick cloudswhich still shrouded the sky prevented them from finding out the pointsof the compass. By Jefferies' advice, they continued making thearrangements which have been described, though they still hoped theymight be seen from the passing ship, which Harry declared to be thefrigate to which he belonged--the _Ariadne_. At last, however, they hadto abandon this hope, as the frigate c
ontinued her course, in chase,apparently, of the mysterious schooner. Unless seen by some othervessel, Harry and David felt that they must now, humanly speaking,depend on their own exertions for reaching the shore. Harry rigged amast; they next fitted a sail, and with no small satisfaction hoistedit. By fixing an oar so as to act as a rudder astern, the raft, as soonas the sail was hoisted, behaved remarkably well, and glided over theseas with considerable ease and rapidity. Their spirits rose again, forthey fully believed that they should in two or three days reach eitherthe English or the Irish coast. They had no idea how far to thewestward they had been driven. By degrees the sea went down, which wasvery pleasant, but so also did the wind, till it became a perfect calm.An end was thus put to their hopes of soon reaching the land. However,they were far more comfortable than they had been for some time. Theafternoon sun shone out brightly, and dried their clothes; and they hadplenty to eat--biscuits, and cooked meat, and cheese and butter, andfigs and raisins, and several other fruits, and some bottles of wine, ofwhich they wisely partook very sparingly. It, however, did the old manmuch good, and he appeared to have recovered both his strength andspirits. Although well off in many respects, they had, however, ascarcity of one article, without which they could not hope to prolongexistence. That was water. They could only secure one small cask, andthey saw, therefore, that they must husband the precious liquid with thegreatest care.

  They now floated tranquilly on the calm waters, and though they wouldfar rather have been sailing northward, they were thus enabled tostrengthen the raft, and to prepare for it encountering any more roughweather which might come on. They had made old Jefferies as comfortableas they could in the centre of the raft, and they soon had the satisfaction of finding that he had fallen asleep. Having accomplished allthat could be done, they began to chat away as composedly as if nothingvery particular had occurred. They went on, indeed, almost with theconversation which had been interrupted when they discovered that therock on which they were sitting was surrounded by water. Strange tosay, Harry expressed no wish or intention of leaving the profession hehad embraced should they reach the shore, while David was as determinedas ever to enter it should he be able to obtain his father's leave. Nowonder, when the long list of glorious victories won by the British navywas fresh in the memory of the nation, and naval officers in all socialcircles were looked upon and courted as heroes. At length old Jefferiesawoke.

  "Now, boys, you must take your rest," he said. "You have watched forme, and now I'll watch for you. It won't do for us all to nap together,and if I see any change I'll call you. Never fear, puss and I will lookafter the ship."

  The boys did not require a second bidding, but stretching themselvesinside the legs of the upturned table, were soon fast asleep.

  We must now return for a short time to their friends on shore. PoorMrs Merryweather was almost broken-hearted on being at length compelledto give up all hopes of ever again seeing her gallant son, and on beingable to account in no other way for his and his friend's disappearancethan that they had fallen over a cliff, or been washed away by the sea.She knew where to go for comfort and consolation; and her chiefsatisfaction, when she heard that old Mrs Jefferies had lost herhusband and grandson on the same night, was to show her whence she couldderive the same consolation she herself had found. It was a sore trialto the poor old woman. Mr and Mrs Morton also did their best tocomfort her; indeed, had it not been for them she would have beencompelled to resort to the workhouse for support. They sympathised withthe old woman, not because they were aware of the service her husbandhad rendered those dear to them, but because, as they supposed, a likecalamity had overtaken her and themselves at the same time. Still MrMorton did not cease for a long time to have search made for them, tillat length he was with a sad heart compelled to give it up in despair.Captain Rymer sympathised heartily with his neighbour's misfortune, andpretty little Mary shed many a tear for the loss of her two friends.Several months passed by, and still no news came of the lost ones. Withgreat reluctance the two families at length went into mourning. It wasa sad day, for it was an acknowledgment that hope was given up, and thatthe two dear lads were no longer among the living.

  One morning Captain Rymer and his family were seated at breakfast; MrsRymer had just poured out a cup of tea, and Mary had handed it to himwith a slice of toast which she had carefully buttered, when thepost-bag was brought into the room. He opened it, and drew forth a longofficial-looking envelope.

  "No other letter?" asked his wife.

  "No, not one; and this is probably of no great importance either," heanswered, placing it by his side, and beginning to eat the toast Maryhad just given him. Captain Rymer had been actively engaged during thewhole of the late war in many dangerous and arduous services, and, likeother officers, felt somewhat aggrieved that his services had not beenfully recognised. He had frequently applied for some civil appointment,but his requests had not been attended to, and the only results werepolite answers, couched in the same official language, stating that hismerits would be duly considered. At last he made up his mind that hewas to be laid on the shelf, and that he should never get anything.However, when he had finished his toast, he opened the letter.

  "This is indeed what I little expected," he exclaimed. "I am appointedas Lieutenant-Governor of Saint -- in the West Indies. It is one of themost healthy of the islands. I have often been there; indeed, it is inconsequence of my knowledge of the inhabitants that I have beenselected; and you will all be able to accompany me."

  This information, as may be supposed, caused a great deal of excitementin the family. As Captain Rymer was ordered to proceed at once, therewas no time to be lost in making the necessary preparations. Theirfriends called to congratulate, and at the same time to express theirregret at losing them. The Mortons, and poor Mrs Merryweather, wouldcertainly miss them more than anybody else. Mary could not help lookingforward with pleasure to the interesting places she would probablyvisit, and the new style of life she would have to lead; though she wasvery sorry to leave so many kind friends, and the attached servants, whocould not accompany them. In those days outfits were not to beprocured, nor other arrangements made, so rapidly as at present, andCaptain Rymer found it impossible to be ready to sail in the shipappointed to carry him out. He had, therefore, to take his passage in aWest India trader, to sail a few weeks later. The _Betsy_ was a finelarge ship, carrying guns, to enable her to defend herself against thepirates and small privateers, often no better, which at that timeinfested the Caribbean Sea, and especially on the Spanish main and roundthe coast of Cuba. The cabins of the _Betsy_, on board which manywealthy West India planters frequently came backwards and forwards, werefor their accommodation fitted up in a style of luxury seldom found onboard merchantmen in general. The _Betsy_ put into Falmouth to take thefamily and their baggage on board. She then had to remain till joinedby several other West India ships. Everything was then made ready forsailing, and a bright look-out was kept for another fleet, bound in thesame direction, coming down channel under convoy of two men-of-war.They were at length descried, and the ships in Falmouth harbourimmediately got under weigh, and stood out to join them. At that time,although most of the men-of-war carrying the flag of England's enemieshad been swept from the seas, a large number of their privateers stillremained to annoy and often injure her commerce. It was therefore notconsidered safe for merchantmen to sail without the protection of one ormore men-of-war. Mary was delighted with the appearance of the cabins,so luxurious compared to what she had expected; and she was still morepleased when, on going on deck, she observed a large fleet of statelyships with which she was surrounded. The water was calm, the sky clear,and the sun shone brightly on the pyramids of white canvas towering upfrom the black, shining, freshly painted hulls which floated on the blueocean in all directions. On the outskirts were the still more statelymen-of-war, their bright-coloured signal flags continually moving up anddown, while they occasionally fired a gun either on one side o
r theother, in rather a difficult attempt to keep their somewhat refractorycharges on their proper course. Mary, after watching the manoeuvres ofthe men-of-war and the fleet of merchant vessels for some time,exclaimed--

  "Why, papa, they put me in mind of a herd of cattle driven through thecountry, the drovers running here and there, shouting loudly, andsending their sharp barking dogs now to one side, now to the other, tokeep them together."

  "Not a bad idea, Mary," answered Captain Rymer. "But should thickweather come on, or a heavy gale spring up, the work will be much moredifficult. Sometimes a whole herd, as you would call them, isscattered, and lions or wolves occasionally pounce down on the weakest,and carry them off."

  "I hope that will not be our fate, papa," said Mary, timidly.

  "No fear of that, dearest. I am sorry that I should have put such anotion into your head," answered Captain Rymer. "The _Betsy_ is awell-found ship, well manned and well armed, and Captain Bolton has thecharacter of being a first-rate seaman, so that we have every reason forexpecting to arrive in safety at our destination."

  "Oh, I am not at all afraid," said Mary. "Besides, you know, papa, wecan pray to be protected; and what a comfort it is, and how brave itshould make us, to know that God hears our prayers, and will grant themwhenever He sees that to do so is best for us!"

  What a support in daily life, what a consolation to the voyager over thestormy ocean, is a firm confidence in that glorious truth!