Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER SIX.

  Mr Seagrave and William went down below into the cabin, where theyfound that there was plenty of employment; the steward had brought abasin of very hot pea-soup for the children. Tommy, who was sitting upin the bed-place with his sister, had snatched it out of Juno's lefthand, for she held the baby with the other, and in so doing, had thrownit over Caroline, who was screaming, while Juno, in her hurry to assistCaroline, had slipped down on the deck with the baby, who was alsocrying with fright, although not hurt. Unfortunately, Juno had fallendown upon Vixen the terrier, who in return had bitten her in the leg,which had made Juno also cry out; while Mrs Seagrave was hanging herhead out of her standing bed-place, frightened out of her wits at theaccident, but unable to be of any assistance. Fortunately, Mr Seagravecame down just in time to pick up Juno and the baby, and then tried tocomfort little Caroline, who after all was not much scalded, as the souphad had time to cool.

  "Massa Tommy is a very naughty boy," cried Juno, rubbing her leg.Master Tommy thought it better to say nothing--he was duly admonished--the steward cleaned up the mess, and order was at length restored.

  In the meantime, they were not idle upon deck; the carpenter was busyfixing a step for one of the spare topmasts instead of a mainmast, andthe men were fitting the rigging; the ship unfortunately had sprung aleak, and four hands at the pumps interfered very much with their task.As Ready had prophesied, before night the gale blew, the sea rose againwith the gale, and the leaking of the vessel increased so much, that allother labour was suspended for that at the pump. For two more days didthe storm continue, during which time the crew were worn out withfatigue--they could pump no longer: the ship, as she rolled, proved thatshe had a great deal of water in her hold--when, melancholy as weretheir prospects already, a new disaster took place, which was attendedwith most serious results. Captain Osborn was on the forecastle givingsome orders to the men, when the strap of the block which hoisted up themain-topgallant yard on the stump of the foremast gave way, the yard andsail came down on the deck, and struck him senseless. As long asCaptain Osborn commanded them, the sailors had so high an opinion of hisabilities as a seaman, and were so encouraged by his cheerfuldisposition, that they performed their work well and cheerfully; but nowthat he was, if not killed, at all events senseless and incapable ofaction, they no longer felt themselves under control. Mackintosh wastoo much disliked by the seamen to allow his words to have any weightwith them. They were regardless of his injunctions or requests, andthey now consulted among themselves.

  "The gale is broke, my men, and we shall have fine weather now,"observed Ready, going up to the sailors on the forecastle. "The wind isgoing down fast."

  "Yes," replied one of the men, "and the ship is going down fast, that'squite as certain."

  "A good spell at the pumps would do us some good now," replied Ready."What d'ye say, my lads?"

  "A glass of grog or two would do us more," replied the seaman. "Whatd'ye say, my boys? I don't think that the captain would refuse us, poorfellow, if he could speak."

  "What do you mean to do, my lads?" inquired Mackintosh: "not get drunk,I hope?"

  "Why not?" observed another of the men; "the ship must go down soon."

  "Perhaps she may--I will not deny it," said Mackintosh; "but that is noreason why we should not be saved: now, if you get drunk, there is nochance of any one being saved, and my life is precious to me. I'm readyto join with you in anything you please, and you may decide what is tobe done; but get drunk you shall not, if I can help it, that's certain."

  "And how can you help it?" replied one of the seamen, surlily.

  "Because two resolute men can do a great deal--I may say three, for inthis instance Ready will be of my side, and I can call to my assistancethe cabin passenger--recollect the firearms are all in the cabin. Butwhy should we quarrel?--Say at once what you intend to do; and if youhave not made up your minds, will you listen to what I propose?"

  As Mackintosh's courage and determination were well known, the seamenagain consulted together, and then asked him what he proposed.

  "We have one good boat left, the new yawl at the booms: the others, asyou know, are washed away, with the exception of the little boat astern,which is useless, as she is knocked almost to pieces. Now we cannot bevery far from some of the islands, indeed I think we are among them now.Let us fit out the boat with everything we require, go about our worksteadily and quietly, drink as much grog as will not hurt us, and take agood provision of it with us. The boat is complete with her masts,sails, and oars; and it's very hard if we do not save ourselvessomewhere. Ready, do I give good advice or not?"

  "You give very good advice, Mackintosh--only what is to become of thecabin passengers, the women, and children? and are you going to leavepoor Captain Osborn? or what do you mean to do?"

  "We won't leave the captain," said one of the seamen.

  "No--no!" exclaimed the others.

  "And the passengers?"

  "Very sorry for them," replied the former spokesman; "but we shall haveenough to do to save our own lives."

  "Well, my lads, I agree with you," said Mackintosh. "Charity begins athome. What do you say?--shall it be so?"

  "Yes," replied the seamen, unanimously; and Ready knew that it was invain to expostulate. They now set about preparing the boat, andproviding for their wants. Biscuits, salt pork, two or three smallcasks of water, and a barrel of rum were collected at the gangway;Mackintosh brought up his quadrant and a compass, some muskets, powderand shot; the carpenter, with the assistance of another man, cut awaythe ship's bulwarks down to the gunnel, so as to enable them to launchthe boat overboard, for they could not, of course, hoist her out nowthat the masts were gone. In an hour everything was prepared. A longrope was made fast to the boat, which was brought to the gunnel readyfor launching overboard, and the ship's broadside was brought to thewind. As this was done, Mr Seagrave came on deck and looked aroundhim.

  He perceived the boat ready for launching, the provisions and water atthe gangway, the ship brought to the wind, and rolling slowly to theheave of the sea; at last he saw Ready sitting down by Captain Osborn,who was apparently dead. "What is all this, Ready?" inquired Seagrave."Are they going to leave the ship? have they killed Captain Osborn?"

  "No, sir,--not quite so bad as that. Poor Captain Osborn was struckdown by the fall of the yard, and has been insensible ever since; but,as to the other matter, I fear that is decided: you see they arelaunching the boat."

  "But my poor wife, she will never be able to go--she cannot move--she isso ill!"

  "I'm afraid, Mr Seagrave, that they have no idea of taking either you,or your wife, or your children, with them."

  "What! leave us here to perish! Merciful Heaven! how cruel--howbarbarous!"

  "It is not kind, Mr Seagrave, but still you see it is the law ofnature. When it is a question of life, it is every one for himself, forlife is sweet: they are not more unkind than they would be to eachother, if there were too many for the boat to hold. I've seen all thisbefore in my time," replied Ready, gravely.

  "My wife! my children!" cried Mr Seagrave, covering his face with hishands. "But I will speak to them," continued he after a pause; "surelythey will listen to the dictates of humanity; at all events MrMackintosh will have some power over them. Don't you think so, Ready?"

  "Well, Mr Seagrave, if I must speak, I confess to you that there is nota harder heart among them than that of Mr Mackintosh, and it's uselessspeaking to him or any one of them; and you must not be too severe uponthem neither: the boat is small, and could not hold more people with theprovisions which they take with them--that is the fact. If they were totake you and your family into the boat, it might be the cause of allperishing together; if I thought otherwise I would try what I could doto persuade them, but it is useless."

  "What must be done, then, Ready?"

  "We must put our trust in a merciful God, Mr Seagrave, who will disposeof us as he thinks fit."

  "We must?
What! do not you go with them?"

  "No, Mr Seagrave. I have been thinking about it this last hour, and Ihave made up my mind to remain with you. They intend to take poorCaptain Osborn with them, and give him a chance, and have offered totake me; but I shall stay here."

  "To perish?" replied Mr Seagrave, with surprise.

  "As God pleases, Mr Seagrave. I am an old man, and it is of littleconsequence. I care little whether I am taken away a year or twosooner, but I do not like to see blossoms cut off in early spring: I maybe of use if I remain, for I've an old head upon my shoulders, and Icould not leave you all to perish when you might be saved if you onlyknew how to act. But here the seamen come--the boat is all ready, andthey will now take poor Captain Osborn with them."

  The sailors came aft, and lifted up the still insensible captain. Asthey were going away one of them said, "Come, Ready, there's no time tolose."

  "Never mind me, Williams; I shall stick to the ship," replied Ready. "Iwish you success with all my heart; and, Mr Mackintosh, I have but onepromise to exact from you, and I hope you will not refuse me: which is,that if you are saved, you will not forget those you leave here onboard, and take measures for their being searched for among theislands."

  "Nonsense, Ready! come into the boat," replied the first mate.

  "I shall stay here, Mr Mackintosh; and I only beg that you will promiseme what I ask. Acquaint Mr Seagrave's friends with what has happened,and where it is most likely we may be found, if it please God to saveus. Do you promise me that?"

  "Yes, I do, if you are determined to stay; but," continued he, going upto Ready, and whispering to him, "it is madness:--come away, man!"

  "Good-bye, Mr Mackintosh," replied Ready, extending his hand. "Youwill keep your promise?"

  After much further expostulation on the part of Mackintosh and theseamen, to which Ready gave a deaf ear, the boat was pushed off, andthey made sail to the north-east.