CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
Two fine vessels lay in mid stream a little way below London, with sailsloosened, ready to take their departure. The wind was light, and theywere waiting for the turn of the tide. Many boats surrounded them, andnumerous visitors still thronged their decks. On board one of them wasWilliam Mead and his family.
Wenlock Christison held Mary's hand as her father was about to lead herto the side of the vessel, to descend into the boat.
"Thou wilt be supported, Wenlock, if thou dost look whence support canalone be gained," said Mary; "and my father has promised that when thoudost return he will no longer withhold me from thee. What more can Isay? Thou dost know my love, and I have faith in thee."
"Thanks, Mary, for those words," said Wenlock. "I trust I may do myduty, and soon return to thee."
Thus the young Quaker and his betrothed parted. The other visitorsquitted the good ship _Amity_, and her consort the _John Sarah_, whichnow, with sails sheeted home, slowly glided down the Thames. They madebut slight progress, however, as they had frequently to come to ananchor before they altogether got clear of the river. They thenproceeded once more without interruption until they reached PlymouthSound. Here they took in more provisions. On board the _Amity_ alsothere came a passenger, who announced himself as Master Jonas Ford, theson of the factor of the Irish estates of Mr William Penn. He broughta letter. He was a Quaker, his figure slight, his cheeks smooth. Hisdress, his language, and manners were equally correct. Yet Wenlock didnot feel attracted towards him. Jonas Ford, however, seemed determinedto obtain his friendship, and from the first attached himself especiallyto him.
"Hast ever crossed the ocean before, young sir?" said honest RichardDinan, captain of the _Amity_, addressing Wenlock. "You seem to have apair of sea legs of your own."
"Yea, verily, friend. I served on board a man-of-war, and saw no littleservice," answered Wenlock.
"Then how didst thou quit it? It is an honest calling, to my mind,"observed the captain.
"Why, by being blown up and left floating alone on the water. Verily Ithought that was a sufficient sign to me no longer to engage in carnalwarfare."
"Oh, ay, I see. You have joined friend Penn. Well, well, each man tohis taste. However, I guessed you had served at sea directly I saw youwalking the deck."
After this, Captain Dinan paid considerable attention to Wenlock,--muchmore so, indeed, than he did to Jonas Ford. Altogether there were abouttwenty passengers on board the _Amity_, with a crew of forty men. Shealso carried guns, to be able to defend herself against Algerine rovers,or West Indian pirates, of whom there were not a few roving those seasat that time. Prince Rupert and his brother had made piracy somewhatfashionable during the days of the Commonwealth, and there were notwanting a few lawless spirits to follow their example.
For some time the voyage continued prosperous, though, as the wind waslight, the progress of the two emigrant ships was but slow. One dayWenlock had gone forward, when a seaman, whose furrowed countenance,thickly covered with scars and grey locks, showing the hard service hehad gone through during a long life, addressed him.
"I know your name, Master Christison," he said, "for I served under aman who I think was your father. It was many years ago; but yet Iremember his looks and tone of voice, as you remind me of him. He savedmy life, and did more than save my life, for he prevented me frombecoming a hardened ruffian like many of my companions." On this theold seaman ran on, and gave him many accounts of his father, to whichWenlock listened with deep interest. "Well, sir," said the old man,"whenever you have time to listen to a yarn, if I happen to be below,just send for old Bill Rullock." Wenlock promised the old man that hewould not fail to come and talk to him, hoping indeed, as in duty bound,to put the truth before him.
The two ships were now about ten days' sail from the American continent.Wenlock was walking the deck with Captain Dinan, most of the otherpassengers having gone to their cabins, for the sea was somewhat high,and the wind had increased. Dark clouds also were rising in thenorth-west, and driving rapidly across the sky.
"I do not altogether like the look of the weather," observed thecaptain. "I see Captain Smith is shortening sail; we must do the same:"and he forthwith summoned the crew to perform that operation.
Scarcely were the men off the yards, when the wind, as if suddenly letloose, struck the ship with terrific fury, throwing her on her beamends. Many of the passengers cried out for fear, thinking that she wasgoing down. Among those who exhibited the greatest terror was JonasFord, who wrung his hands, bitterly repenting that he had ever come tosea. The captain issued his orders in a clear voice, which the crewreadily obeyed, Wenlock giving his assistance.
"Cut away the mizen mast," cried the captain.
A glittering axe soon descended on the stout mast, while the active crewcleared the shrouds and all the other ropes, the mast falling clear ofthe ship into the foaming ocean. Still she lay helpless in the troughof the sea.
"The mainmast must go," cried the captain.
That too was cut away. The ship instantly felt the relief, and nowrising to an even keel, she flew before the furious gale. Those onboard had been so taken up with their own dangerous condition, that noone thought of looking out for their consort.
When, however, the most imminent danger was over, Wenlock cast his eyein the direction in which she had last been seen. In vain he looked outon either side; no sail was visible. Others also now began to makeinquiries for the _John Sarah_. Many had friends on board. Tooprobably, struck by the furious blast, she had gone down. Sad were theforebodings of all as to her fate. Such might have been theirs. Humannature is sadly selfish, and many were rather inclined to congratulatethemselves on their escape, than to mourn for the supposed fate of theircountrymen.
On, on flew the _Amity_ towards the south, far away from the Delaware,from the land to which she was bound. The dark foam-crested seas roseup on every side, hissing and roaring, and threatening to overwhelm her.Still the brave captain kept up his courage, and endeavoured to keep upthat of those on board.
"We must get jury-masts up," he said, "when the storm abates; and plyingto the north, endeavour to regain the ground we have lost."
"Verily we had a fierce gale, friend Christison," said Ford, coming upto Wenlock when the weather once more moderated. "Didst not thou feargreatly?"
"No," answered Wenlock; "though it seemed to me that the ship mightprobably go down."
"Ah! truly, I felt very brave too," said Ford.
"You took an odd way of showing it," answered Wenlock, who had observedthe abject fear into which his companion had been thrown.
"Ah! yea, I might have somewhat trembled, but that was more for thethought of others than for myself," said Ford. "And now tell me, whendost thou think we shall arrive at our destination?"
"That is more than any one on board can say," said Wenlock; "but we mustdo all that men can do, and leave the rest to Him who rules the sea!"
All hands were now engaged in getting the ship to rights. Scarcelyhowever had jury-masts been set up, than signs of another storm appearedin the sky.
"I like not the look of the weather," observed the captain."Christison, your eyes are sharp; is that a sail away to thenorth-east?"
"Yes, verily," answered Wenlock.
"Can it be our consort?"
"No; she would not appear in that quarter. She is a stranger, and seemsto be coming rapidly on towards us," observed Wenlock, after watchingher for little time. "A tall ship too, I suspect."
Captain Dinan had hoped before this to haul up to the wind, but theincreasing gale made this impossible. As, however, he was going out ofhis course, he only carried as much sail as necessity required. Thestranger therefore came quickly up with the _Amity_. The captain nowbegan to eye her very narrowly.
"I like not her looks," he observed. "She is a war ship, and yet showsno colours."
The captain asked his officers their opinion. They agreed with h
im.Bill Rullock, who was a man of experience, was called aft.
"I have little doubt about it," he observed. "That craft's a pirate,and we must keep clear of her if we would escape having to walk theplank or getting our throats cut." Nearer and nearer drew the stranger.
"Rather than surrender we must fight to the last," observed the sturdycaptain. "Christison, Ford, which will you all do, gentlemen?" heasked, addressing the passengers.
"Verily, I will go below and hide myself," said Ford. "It becometh notone of my creed to engage in mortal combat."
"If you order me to work a gun, I will do so," answered Wenlock."Albeit peace is excellent and blessed, and warfare is accursed, yet Icannot see that it would be my duty to allow others to fight for thedefence of my life which I will not defend myself; or, for lack offighting, to allow myself or those who look to men to protect them,--thewomen and children on board,--to be destroyed by outlawed ruffians suchas are probably those on board yonder ship."