CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
A GALE AND A NARROW ESCAPE.
This is a world of alternations. We need not turn aside to prove that.The calm with which the voyage of our discoverers began lasted aboutfour days and nights, during which period they advanced sometimes slowlyunder oars, sometimes more or less rapidly under kites--if we may soexpress it--according to the state of the wind.
And, during all that time the discipline of two and two--at watch, or atsleep, if not at work--was rigidly kept up. For none knew better thanCaptain Vane the benefit of discipline, and the demoralising effect ofits absence, especially in trying circumstances. It is but just to addthat he had no difficulty in enforcing his laws. It is right also tostate that the women were not required to conform, even although theywere accustomed to hard labour and willing to work as much as required.In all three boats the bow was set apart as the women's quarters, andwhen Toolooha, Oblooria or Tekkona showed symptoms of a desire to go tosleep--(there was no retiring for the night in these latitudes)--ablanket stretched on two oars cut their quarters off from those of themen, and maintained the dignity of the sex.
But soon the serene aspect of nature changed. Grey clouds overspreadthe hitherto sunny sky. Gusts of wind came sweeping over the sea fromtime to time, and signs of coming storm became so evident that theCaptain gave orders to make all snug and prepare for dirty weather.
"You see, lads," he said, when the three boats were abreast, and thekites had been furled, "we don't know what may happen to us now. Nobodyin the world has had any experience of these latitudes. It may come onto blow twenty-ton Armstrongs instead of great guns, for all we know tothe contrary. The lightning may be sheet and fork mixed instead ofseparate for any light we've got on the subject, and it may rain whalesand walruses instead of cats and dogs; so it behoves us to be ready."
"That's true, father," said Benjy, "but it matters little to me, forI've made my will. Only I forgot to leave the top with the broken pegand the rusty penknife to Rumty Swillpipe; so if you survive me and gethome on a whale's back--or otherwise--you'll know what to do."
"This is not a time for jesting, Ben," said Alf rather seriously.
"Did I say it was?" inquired Ben, with a surprised look.
Alf deigned no reply, and Butterface laughed, while he and the othersset about executing the Captain's orders.
The arrangements made in these india-rubber boats for bad weather werevery simple and complete. After the lading in each had been snuglyarranged, so as to present as flat a surface on the top as possible, awaterproof sheet was drawn over all, and its edges made fast to thesides of the boat, by means of tags and loops which were easily fastenedand detached. As each sheet overhung its boat, any water that mightfall upon it was at once run off. This, of course, was merely put on toprotect the cargo and any one who chose to take shelter under it. Theboat being filled with air required no such sheet, because if filled tooverflowing it would still have floated. All round this sheet ran astrong cord for the crew, who sat outside of it as on a raft, to layhold of if the waves should threaten to wash them off. There were alsovarious other ropes attached to it for the same purpose, and loops ofrope served for rowlocks.
When all had been arranged, those whose duty it was to rest leanedcomfortably against the lumps caused by inequalities of the cargo, whilethe others took to their oars.
"It's coming!" cried Benjy, about half-an-hour after all had beenprepared.
And unquestionably it _was_ coming. The boy's quick eyes had detected aline on the southern horizon, which became gradually broader and darkeras it rose until it covered the heavens. At the same time the indigoripple caused by a rushing mighty wind crept steadily over the sea. Asit neared the boats the white crests of breaking waves were seengleaming sharply in the midst of the dark blue.
"Clap the women under hatches," shouted the Captain, with more goodsense than refinement.
Benjy, Butterface, and Anders at the word lifted a corner of theirrespective sheets. Obedient Toolooha, Oblooria, and Tekkona bent theirmeek heads and disappeared: The sheets were refastened, and the men,taking their places, held on to the cords or life-lines. It was ananxious moment. No one could guess how the boats would behave under theapproaching trial.
"Oars out," cried the Captain, "we must run before it."
A hiss, which had been gradually increasing as the squall drew near,broke into a kind of roar, and wind and waves rushed upon them as themen bent their backs to the oars with all their might.
It was soon found that the boats had so little hold of the water thatthe wind and oars combined carried them forward so fast as to decreaseconsiderably the danger of being whelmed by a falling wave. These wavesincreased every moment in size, and their crests were so broken and cutoff by the gale that the three boats, instead of appearing as they hadhitherto done the only solid objects in the scene, were almost lost tosight in the chaos of black waves and driving foam. Although they triedtheir best to keep close together they failed, and each soon becameignorant of the position of the others. The last that they saw of Alf'sboat was in the hollow between two seas like a vanishing cormorant or anorthern diver. Leo was visible some time longer. He was wielding thesteering-oar in an attitude of vigorous caution, while his Eskimos werepulling as if for their lives. An enormous wave rose behind them,curled over their heads and appeared ready to overwhelm them, but thesturdy rowers sent the boat forward, and the broken crest passed underthem. The next billow was still larger. Taken up though he was withhis own boat the Captain found time to glance at them with horror.
"They're gone!" he cried, as the top of the billow fell, and nothing wasseen save the heads of the four men like dark spots on the foam. Theboat had in truth been overwhelmed and sunk, but, like a true lifeboatit rose to the surface like a cork the instant the weight of water wasremoved, and her crew, who had held on to the life-lines and oars, werestill safe.
"Well done the little _Hope_!" cried the Captain, while Benjy gave ventto his feelings in a cheer, which was evidently heard by Leo, for he wasseen to wave his hand in reply. Next moment another wave hid the _Hope_from view, and it was seen no more at that time.
"I feel easier now, Benjy, thank God, after _that_. Alf is a fairsteersman, and our boats are evidently able to stand rough usage."
Benjy made no reply. He was rubbing the water out of his eyes, andanxiously looking through the thick air in the hope of seeing Leo's boatagain. The poor boy was grave enough now. When the might and majestyof the Creator are manifested in the storm and the raging sea, themerely humorous fancies of man are apt to be held in check.
The Captain's boat went rushing thus wildly onwards, still, fortunately,in the right direction; and for some hours there was no decrease in theforce of the gale. Then, instead of abating, as might have beenexpected, it suddenly increased to such an extent that speedydestruction appeared to be inevitable.
"No sort o' craft could live long in _this_," muttered the Captain, asif to himself rather than to his son, who sat with a firm expression onhis somewhat pale countenance, looking wistfully towards the northernhorizon. Perhaps he was wondering whether it was worth while to risk somuch for such an end. Suddenly he shaded his eyes with his hand andgazed intently.
"Land!" he exclaimed in a low eager tone.
"Whereaway, boy? Ay, so there is something there. What say you,Chingatok? Is it land?"
The giant, who, during all this time, had calmly plied a pair of oarswith strength equal almost to that of four men, looked over his shoulderwithout, however, relaxing his efforts.
"No," he said, turning round again, "it is an ice-hill."
"A berg!" exclaimed the Captain. "We will make for it. Tie yourhandkerchief, Benjy, to the end of an oar and hold it up. It will serveas a guide to our comrades."
In a wonderfully short space of time the berg which Benjy had seen as amere speck on the horizon rose sharp, rugged, and white against theblack sky. It was a very large one--so large that it had
no visiblemotion, but seemed as firm as a rock, while the billows of the ArcticOcean broke in thunder on its glassy shore.
"We'll get shelter behind it, Ben, my boy," said the Captain, "hold theoar well up, and don't let the rag clap round the blade. Shake it outso. God grant that they may see it."
"Amen," ejaculated Benjy to the prayer with heartfelt intensity.
There was danger as well as safety in the near vicinity to this berg,for many of its pinnacles seemed ready to fall, and there was always thepossibility of a mass being broken off under water, which might destroythe equilibrium of the whole berg, and cause it to revolve with awfullydestructive power.
However, there was one favourable point--the base was broad, and theice-cliffs that bordered the sea were not high.
In a few more minutes the western end of the berg was passed. Its lastcape was rounded, and the _Faith_ was swept by the united efforts ofChingatok, Benjy, and Toolooha, (who _would_ not remain under cover),into the comparatively still water on the lee, or northern side of theberg.
"Hurrah!" shouted Benjy in a tone that was too energetic and peculiar tohave been called forth by the mere fact of his own escape from danger.
Captain Vane looked in the direction indicated by the boy's glisteningeyes--glistening with the salt tears of joy as well as with salt seaspray--and there beheld the other two boats coming dancing in like wildthings on the crests of the heaving waves. They had seen the signal ofthe handkerchief, understood and followed it, and, in a few minutesmore, were under the lee of the ice-cliffs, thanking God andcongratulating each other on their deliverance.
A sheltered cove was soon found, far enough removed from cliffs andpinnacles to insure moderate safety. Into this they ran, and there theyspent the night, serenaded by the roaring gale, and lullabied by thecrash of falling spires and the groans of rending ice.