Daughter of Destiny

by Louise M. Gouge

  With a sigh, she put aside her useless musings and pulled Daniel up on her lap for another game of cat’s cradle. Later, when he lay down with his mother to take their afternoon naps, she would pour out her heart in prayer and in her journal, for there was no person on earth whom she would burden with these heartaches.

  Chapter Five

  Leah adjusted the small oak secretary on her lap, opened her journal, and dipped her newly sharpened quill into the inkwell. She loved these quiet afternoons. Gladys and Daniel napped, everyone else tended to duty, and she was free to do as she wished. First she read her Bible and prayed, then wrote journal entries or added news to an already long letter to Mother Adams, who had given her this little lap desk.

  Tapping the quill on the edge of its well to remove excess ink, she set pen to paper.

  Dear Lord, How lovely Your sky and ocean are today. How quickly You speed us along on our voyage. In these three months, we have come so far, and soon will reach the Straits of Magellan. In Your great mercy, please make it an easy passage, for many are turned back or lost in those turbulent waters.

  She sat back and regarded the page, chuckling at her words. Who was she to tell God about His own wide, wild ocean? And when had she begun to write her journal to her Heavenly Father? Perhaps as far back as her earthly father’s and mother’s deaths, when she no longer had anyone to whom she could pour out her heart. Yet she treasured her written prayers because often she would review old entries and realize how many of those prayers God had answered.

  Today she rejoiced in recalling her petitions concerning Sister Gladys’s continued illness, for time had revealed its cause. By the time the Hillermans arrived in the Sandwich Islands four or five months from now, Daniel would have a tiny sister or brother. Gladys no longer felt ill, but she had grown so large that her travel dresses needed to be let out. That task completed, the two women now sewed or knitted clothing for the coming infant.

  Lord, grant her and her baby strong, good health.

  Other prayers had been answered, as well. Only a few weeks out of New Bedford, Daniel had begun to grow weak and listless. Midway down the Atlantic coast, the ship docked in the Cape Verde Islands and restocked its stores. The Smileys procured fresh produce and two dozen hens to replace those that had stopped laying eggs and thus ended up in the stew pot. Also, because Gladys and Daniel needed milk, Captain Swain permitted the Hillermans to purchase a milk goat. Improvements in both mother and son came quickly, and Daniel made the animal his new pet.

  Not all prayers concerned health. Leah prayed daily for each person on the ship, with Jonah topping her list, of course. After their first days at sea, she had given up praying for his approval. Although distant, he treated her just as kindly as ever. Once Leah began thanking God for that instead of complaining to Him, she felt much happier.

  Now her prayers for her husband had to do with his excellent preaching, which had already made a difference in the behavior of the crew. Not one curse could be heard from their lips, and several had asked what it meant to be saved. With Jonah’s wise guidance, they found new life in Jesus Christ, and nearly all the crew had begun to decline their weekly ration of rum. Captain Swain expressed surprise, but he also voiced his gratitude to Jonah for refining erstwhile surly sailors.

  Another answered prayer came to Leah’s mind. Neither Jonah nor Reverend Hillerman had taken offense when the crew dumped the two ministers into the sea at the Equator, a ritual for everyone who crossed zero degrees latitude for the first time. Having crossed the line often in her father’s ship, Leah had wanted to warn them of the impending surprise initiation, but that would have spoiled the crew’s harmless fun. Even Daniel had received an on-board dousing. Only Gladys was spared due to her delicate condition.

  Leah never doubted Jonah could prove himself up to any task. These days, he only separated himself from the crew at mealtime, when he joined the captain and the other passengers. Only then could Leah talk with her beloved. Yet she appreciated those moments.

  Just the previous evening at supper, Jonah lamented that his original challengers, Sam and Pete, still had not come to repentance. Leah offered a suggestion. Perhaps if each man knew that he had been named for a wise, godly man in the Bible, he would wish to emulate his namesake. Jonah welcomed the idea as brilliant. He would begin right away to address them as Samuel and Peter.

  Lord, please save Samuel and Peter, for they are influential men among their shipmates and could do so much for Your kingdom.

  “Mrs. Adams!” Jonah burst into the cabin, interrupting her reverie, his face lit with joy. “My dear, you truly are brilliant.”

  Leah quickly set aside her secretary and jumped up to greet him. To her shock, he gripped her arms and set a quick kiss on her cheek.

  “Oh!” She gasped, but felt a grin of happiness spread across her face.

  Jonah stepped back and slapped his hands together. “I did as you suggested. I told Samuel the story of the prophet whose name he bears. He cannot read, and no one ever told him. When I read him the scriptures about the faith-filled prayers of Samuel’s mother, the poor fellow wept and said he has no idea who his own mother was. Nor had he ever met anyone who cared for his soul. Then he asked what he must do to be saved, and I told him, and he called upon the name of the Lord. Can you believe it? He had no idea of his namesake’s story being written in God’s Word, and now today his own name was written in the Lamb’s book of life, all because of you.”

  Jonah seemed about to burst with happiness. He gripped Leah’s shoulders again and placed another kiss on her cheek. But when she tried to reach up and respond in kind, he drew back and released her, almost pushing her away.

  “Forgive me, my dear.” His face flushed scarlet. “I didn’t mean to. . .”

  Leah felt the breath escape her lungs. He didn’t mean to touch her? Another mistake? How could she bear it? Before she could force out words, any words, to dispel this moment of awkward torment, Daniel opened the door of his cubicle and ran to them.

  “Mrs. Leah.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’m hungry.”

  She knelt down and pulled him into her arms, glancing an apology to Jonah, who appeared as relieved as she was at the interruption.

  “Go ahead, Mrs. Adams,” he said. “See to the boy. I must go back to work. The men have come to depend upon my doing may part.”

  “Yes, of course, sir.”

  But she spoke to his retreating back.

  “Mrs. Leah.” Daniel wiggled in her arms.

  “Shh, don’t fuss.” Leah spoke over the lump in her throat. “Let’s go find Mrs. Smiley. I’m sure she has a cold biscuit and some honey.”

  He threw his arms around her neck and kissed her on the very spot of Jonah’s kiss. Yet this little man did not push her away in disgust, but clung to her with love and trust.

  ***

  Jonah scrambled up the rat lines as if running from a demon. What had possessed him just now? He almost broke his vow to protect Leah. He almost pulled her into his arms and kissed her lovely lips. That would have led to disaster. Every day, he watched poor Sister Hillerman grow larger and more miserable, and he knew his decision had been wise. To escape the allure of his bride, he must take Pete’s place in the crow’s nest and let the ocean winds cool him down.

  “Say, matey.” Pete leaned out of the enclosure. “It’s not your watch yet. What’s your rush?”

  “Uh. . .” Jonah could think of no honest answer. “I, well. . .”

  “Not that I’m complaining, Rever’nd.” Pete climbed out onto the ropes.

  Jonah threw one leg into the nest and pulled himself upright, grateful he did not have to complete his answer.

  “Here’s the glass.” Pete loosed a slender leather pouch from his rope belt and gave it to Jonah before beginning his descent.

  “Thank you, my good man.” Jonah remembered his success with Samuel. “Thank you, Peter.”

  Pete looked up sharply. “What’s that you say?”

  “Peter. That is
your full name, is it not?”

  The other man narrowed his stare. “Don’t be calling me that, mister. Not unless you mean to back it up with your fists.” He scrambled down the ropes, jumped down the last several feet, and glared up at Jonah for another moment before he disappeared down the hatch to the crew quarters.

  Jonah shook his head. What a strange encounter. Pete’s threat did not frighten him, but it certainly cooled him down. He must not assume all these men were alike. After a moment, Jonah chuckled. Maybe he understood more than he thought. Pete had a temper just like his biblical namesake. Now Jonah just needed to study how the Lord had tamed the rash man whom He had called a rock.

  Jonah inhaled deeply. How grand the ocean air smelled up here, with no trace of the odors of the goat, chickens, or pigs kept in the deck below the crew quarters. He recalled the first time he had climbed the ropes. Not one to be fearful of heights, he nevertheless had spent several hours in prayer and hymn singing. The rail of the crow’s nest did not come up to his waist, and if he did not remain alert, he could easily fall into the sea or, worse, fall to the deck below.

  He pulled the telescope from its leather pouch, stretched it to full length, and scanned the horizon. Just two weeks before, he had seen a storm in the distance and called down the alert. Swain had steered the ship around the worst of the bad weather. A few days later someone on watch had spotted another ship, a merchant vessel returning to Boston from Chile, and Destiny’s Hope had heaved to for a gam, the sailors’ term for a friendly visit. The other captain had been delighted to meet Jonah and Reverend Hillerman and insisted they hold a church service for his merchant crew. Swain had granted permission, and the two missionaries marveled that God would bring souls to hear His Word even on this vast ocean.

  Not long into his watch, Jonah began to think a second such service would soon be in order. Billowing white sails peeked over the horizon and grew larger. He tucked the telescope under his arm, cupped his hands, and called, “Sail ho.”

  Swain gave the helm to First Mate Turner and lifted his own telescope to see the newcomer. Even from high above, Jonah could see the captain stiffen.

  “Pirates!” The call sounded throughout the ship, and the entire crew scrambled on deck.

  “Adams, come down.” Swain beckoned furiously.

  By the time Jonah reached the deck, the captain and mates had retrieved guns and ammunition from a locked cabinet below. The officers passed the weapons around, but when Swain thrust a musket toward Jonah, he stepped back.

  “No, sir, I will not shoot anyone.”

  Swain again thrust it at him, forcing him to take the weapon. “You’ll protect the ladies, or I’ll throw you to Davy Jones’ locker myself.”

  Jonah felt himself grow warm with shame. Of course, he would protect his wife and Sister Hillerman and little Daniel. He hurried to take his place at the ship’s railing beside Samuel, Pete, and Brother Hillerman while other crew members scrambled up the ropes to make certain the sails caught all the force of the brisk summer wind.

  “I’ve instructed our wives to pray,” Hillerman said. “Perhaps God will turn aside these miscreants.”

  Jonah nodded his agreement, but fear gripped his heart. He knew he would protect Leah with his life, but could he shoot to kill?

  ***

  Leah clung to Sister Gladys, with little Daniel squeezed between them, and all three shook. Their prayers poured out in tremulous tones as they pleaded for God’s mercy and protection for everyone on board. Gladys wept out tearful words for her husband and son, adding a plea for her unborn child. Wide-eyed Daniel watched his mother, and began to cry too. Leah almost permitted herself to be swept into their despair, but something inside her jolted. With a deep breath, she shook off her anxiety. Then she shook Gladys.

  “Sh! God will protect us. You must lock yourself and Daniel into your cubicle. I’m going up to help the men.”

  “Oh, no, you mustn’t.” Gladys glanced at her son. Her eyes widened, and she gave her head a little shake. “Forgive me. I’ll be all right. Go. Do what you must.”

  Leah dashed to the deck and located Jonah at the rear of the quarterdeck. A gun rested on the rail before him. In the distance she saw the ominous specter of the pirate ship in pursuit. The mid-sized vessel appeared to have no forward cannon, but its crew lined the bow, some waving sabers and some aiming muskets.

  “Mrs. Adams!” Jonah stared at her, a flicker of fear in his eyes, and then a frown. “Go below, madam. This is no place for a woman.”

  “If I load your guns, you can shoot more times.”

  “Will you disobey me?”

  “She’s right.” Captain Swain stepped over and thrust pouches of powder and shot into her hands. “You know how to do this?”

  “I learned from my father.” She glanced at her husband. She had never disobeyed him. What would he think? What would he do? His glower softened, and he gave her a curt nod before turning back to the approaching ship.

  The wind seemed to favor the pirates. Their ship quickly drew closer. Leah could see Jonah’s jaw working. Was he angry with her?

  A round of gunshots rang out from the other vessel, but the distance prevented the shot from reaching Destiny’s Hope.

  “Steady, men,” Swain called out. “They’re trying to intimidate us into trimming sail or wasting our shot before they’re in range.”

  “Merciful Father, blow them away with Your mighty wind.” Jonah whispered his prayer, but Leah heard, and her heart lifted. Yes, Lord, blow them away.

  Another volley blasted from the other ship, and several men ducked, despite the shortfall of the shot. Now they could see the forward cannon bay doors open, and Swain swore.

  “Captain,” cried Jonah, “Do you not think it would be better to address the Almighty with a little more respect. He is the only one who can get us out of this.”

  Swain made as if to rebuke him, but instead he gave him a curt nod. “God, help us,” he cried, gazing up to the sky.

  “God help us,” echoed Jonah, Reverend Hillerman, and several crew members.

  As another blast of shot exploded toward them, three great white birds flew between the ships and began to follow Destiny’s Hope. The pirate vessel instantly ceased fire.

  “Praise be,” shouted Swain, and once again crew members echoed his cry, adding cheers and hurrahs.

  Hillerman and Jonah traded looks.

  “What on earth. . .?” Jonah said.

  “Albatross,” cried Leah. “They wouldn’t dare shoot an albatross. Seafaring men believe if they kill an albatross it brings a curse on the entire ship.”

  Jonah stared at her and then at the birds, who now seemed like a heavenly escort. “Oh, God, how wondrous are Thy works!”

  “Amen and amen,” Hillerman shouted.

  Their protectors glided on the air behind them, and the gap between Destiny’s Hope and the pirate ship widened. Some of the men jumped up and down in celebration, and others danced a jig. Jonah and Hillerman clapped each other on the shoulder.

  As the celebration died down, Swain ordered two men to stay on the quarterdeck with their muskets in case the pirates resumed their pursuit. The others returned to their duties, and Smiley brought a bucket of stale bread to throw to the birds in gratitude for their protection.

  Jonah turned to Leah, and she felt her heart sink. She should have trusted God rather than disobey her husband. She deserved whatever rebuke he gave her.

  “Mrs. Adams, you were very brave.” His gentle tone turned her descending heart and sent it soaring into the sky like the albatrosses sailing on the wind in their wake.

  “Thank you, Reverend Adams.” He smiled at her, and his gaze grew more intense.

  Despite the wind, her face felt on fire, and she stared down. “I’ll go see to Sister Gladys and Daniel.” She fled before he could respond, for surely he would now say something about her disobedience.

  Chapter Six

  “How is your wound, Reverend Hillerman?” Captain Swain s
at at the head of the supper table and inquired about the health of each of his passengers, as he did each evening.

  At first, Leah thought he did it as a ritual, but after more than five months aboard his ship, she could see his genuine concern.

  Reverend Hillerman chuckled. “I should take you to task for it, Captain. This landlubber had no idea walking on land would be so difficult after all these months at sea. Still, the limb was not broken, and I expect to be back on my feet soon.”

  “Good man. As for you, Reverend Adams, I am amazed at your ability to adjust to any circumstance. You scaled the rocks at Tierra del Fuego as if you were a mountain goat.”

  Jonah shrugged, but his eyes lit with pleasure, and he inclined his head at the compliment. “Thank you, sir. Despite Brother Hillerman’s fall, I am certain we all feel better for having those two days on land before this next portion of our journey.”

  “Is it so very difficult navigating these Straits of Magellan?” Sister Gladys pulled Daniel close and put a hand over her unborn child.

  Instead of his usual cheery reply, Swain gazed at her with concern. “Mrs. Hillerman, I will not mislead you. The main portion of the passage is fairly calm. But when we near the western end of the straits, I think it will be best to lash you ladies and young Daniel to your beds. Nothing we have encountered has prepared you for the violence of those seas. Yet many have gone before us, and I have navigated the channel numerous times. We may have to try more than once, but I shall deliver you safely to the other side.”

  “Oh, mercy,” said Gladys. “Should we not have gone around Cape Horn instead?”

  “No ma’am. That route might entail months of trying and turning back, because where the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific meet, each ocean seeks preeminence. Many ships have met their doom there.”

  “Oh, mercy,” Gladys repeated, pressing her hand to her heart.

  “Don’t be frightened, sister.” Leah reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “God has not failed us in this voyage. We may have a bit of rough going, but He will see us safely to our destination.”