CHAPTER XII
A STORM
Captain Hill must have observed Harry and Mr. Stubbs, but walked bythem without notice, and attended to his duties, giving his orders ina sharp quick tone. He was an experienced seaman, and thoroughlyfitted for the post of chief, when not under the influence of liquor.
"I am glad to see that the captain is sober," said Stubbs, in a lowvoice.
"So am I," answered Harry.
One change, all noticed in Captain Hill. He became silent, reserved,morose. His orders were given in a quick, peremptory tone, and heseemed to cherish a grudge against all on board. Some captains addmuch to the pleasure of the passengers by their social and cheerymanners, but whenever Captain Hill appeared, a wet blanket seemed tofall on the spirits of passengers and crew, and they conversed in anundertone, as if under restraint.
Between the captain and the mate there was a great difference.Mr. Holdfast had a bluff, hearty way with him, which made him popularwith all on board. As an officer, he was strict, and expected hisorders to be executed promptly, but in private he was affable andagreeable. The sailors felt instinctively that he was their friend,and regarded him with attachment, while they respected his seamanship.If a vote had been taken, there was not one but would have preferredhim as captain to Captain Hill.
Thus far--I am speaking of a time when the Nantucket was three monthsout--there had been no serious storm. Rough weather there had been,and wet, disagreeable weather, but the staunch ship had easilyovercome all the perils of the sea, and, with the exception ofMontgomery Clinton, no one had been seriously alarmed. But oneafternoon a cloud appeared in the hitherto clear sky, which would haveattracted no attention from a landsman. Mr. Holdfast observed it,however, and, quietly calling the captain, directed his attention toit.
"I think we are going to have a bad storm, Captain Hill," he said."That's a weather breeder."
The captain watched the cloud for a moment, and then answered,quietly: "I think you are right, Mr. Holdfast. You may give yourorders accordingly."
The sails were reefed, and the vessel was prepared for the warfarewith the elements which awaited it.
The little cloud increased portentiously in size. All at once a strongwind sprang up, the sea roughened, and the billows grew white withfury, while the good ship, stanch as she was, creaked and groaned andwas tossed as if it were a toy boat on the wrathful ocean.
The passengers were all seriously alarmed. They had never beforerealized what a storm at sea was. Even a man of courage may well bedaunted by the terrific power of the sea when it is roused to such anexhibition.
"Harry," said the professor, "this is terrible."
"Yes, indeed," answered the boy, gravely.
It became so rough and difficult to stand on deck, on account of thevessel being tossed about like a cockleshell, that Harry feltconstrained to go below.
As he passed the cabin of Montgomery Clinton, he heard a faint voicecall his name.
Entering, he saw the dude stretched out in his berth, with anexpression of helpless terror in his weak face.
"Oh! Mr. Vane," he said; "do you think we are going to the bottom?"
"I hope not, Mr. Clinton. Our officers are skillful men. They will doall they can for us."
It was a terrible night. None of the passengers ventured upon deck.Indeed, such was the motion that it would have been dangerous, as eventhe sailors found it difficult to keep their footing. Harry was paleand quiet, unlike his friend from Brooklyn, whose moans were heardmingled with the noise of the tempest.
It was about three o'clock in the morning when those below heard, withterror, a fearful crash, and a trampling of feet above. One of themasts had fallen before the fury of the storm, and the shock made thegood ship careen to a dangerous extent. What happened, however, wasnot understood below.
"I wonder what has happened," said the professor, nervously. "I thinkI will go up and see."
He got out of his berth, but only to be pitched helpless to the otherend of the cabin.
"This is terrible!" he said, as he picked himself up.
"I will try my luck, professor," said Harry.
He scrambled out of his berth, and, with great difficulty, made hisway upstairs.
One glance told him what had occurred. The crippled ship was laboringthrough the sea. It seemed like a very unequal combat, and Harry mightbe excused for deciding that the ship was doomed. All about the seawore its fiercest aspect. Harry returned cautiously to his cabin.
"Well?" said the professor.
"One of the masts is gone," answered the boy. "The ship is having ahard time."
"Is there danger?" asked the professor, anxiously.
"I am afraid so," said Harry, gravely.
At length the night wore away. The violence of the storm seemed tohave abated, for, after a time, the motion diminished. Moreenterprising than the rest of the passengers, Harry resolved to go ondeck.
"Won't you come with me, Mr. Clinton?" he asked.
"I--I couldn't, 'pon my honor. I'm as weak as a rag. I don't think Icould get out of my berth, really, now."
"I'll go with you, my young friend," said Mr. Stubbs.
Harry and his Yankee friend set foot cautiously on deck. The prospectwas not reassuring. The ship rolled heavily, and from the creaking itseemed that the timbers of the hull were strained. The sailors lookedfagged out, and there was a set, stern look on the face of thecaptain, whom, nevertheless, Mr. Stubbs ventured to accost.
"What's the prospect, captain?" he asked.
"You'd better make your will," said the captain, grimly.
"That's cheerful," commented Stubbs, turning to Harry.
"Yes, sir," answered Harry, soberly.
"Don't tell our foppish friend below, or he'll rend our ears with hishowls. But you, my young friend, it's rather rough on you. How old areyou?"
"Sixteen."
"And I'm rising fifty. Even if I am taken away, I've a good thirtyyears the advantage of you. I've had a good time, on the whole, andenjoyed myself as well as the average. Still, I don't quite like goingto the bottom in the Nantucket. I was looking forward to at leasttwenty years or so more of life."
"We must submit to the will of God," said Harry.
"You are quite right, my boy! It is easy to see that you have beenwell trained. Mr. Holdfast"--for they had reached the place where themate was standing--"shall we outlive the storm?"
"It is hard to say, Mr. Stubbs. It depends on the stanchness of theship. We'll do all we can."
Ten minutes later there was a sinister answer to the inquiry ofMr. Stubbs. A sailor, who had been sent down into the hold, came withthe information that the ship had sprung a leak.
Then commenced the weary work at the pumps. The sailors were alreadyworn out with fighting the storm under the direction of the captainand mate, and it seemed almost more than flesh and blood could standto undertake the additional labor.
Harry and Mr. Stubbs had a hurried conference.
"Can't we help at this work, Mr. Stubbs?" asked Harry. "The poor menlook utterly exhausted."
"Well thought of, my boy! I am with you. I will speak to the captain."
But Mr. Holdfast, the mate, chanced to be nearer, and to himMr. Stubbs put the question:
"Can't I help at the pumps?"
"And I, too, Mr. Holdfast," put in Harry.
"I accept your offer with thanks. The men are very tired."
So Harry and Mr. Stubbs helped at this necessary work, and when theprofessor and the Melbourne merchant heard of it they, too,volunteered. But Marmaduke Timmins, the valetudinarian, and MontgomeryClinton felt quite inadequate to the task.
Harry found his work tiresome and fatiguing, but he had the comfort offeeling that he was relieving the exhausted sailors, and doingsomething to save his own life and the lives of his companions.
He caught sight of poor Jack, looking ready to drop.
"Jack, you must be very tired," he said, in a tone of deep sympathy.
"If I stood still
I should drop on the deck fast asleep," said Jack.
"Can't you lie down for an hour? I am taking your place."
Mr. Holdfast coming up at this moment, Harry suggested this to him,and the mate said kindly:
"Jack, my lad, go below and catch a little nap. I will call you when Iwant you."
So Jack, much relieved, went below, and, without a thought of thedanger, so fatigued was he, fell asleep the moment he got into hisbunk, and was not called up for four hours.
After a while they reduced the flow of water, but ascertained that theship was badly strained, and by no means safe. It was not till thenext day, however, that an important decision was reached.
All were called on deck.
"It is my duty to tell you," said Captain Hill, "that the ship is sodamaged by the recent storm that it is liable to sink at any time.Those who choose to run the risk may remain, however. I propose, withsuch as choose to join me, to take to the boats. I will give youfifteen minutes to decide."
Excitement and dismay were painted on the faces of all. The ship mightbe insecure, but to launch out upon the great ocean in a frail boatseemed to involve still greater danger.