CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
A SHIPWRECK.
The _Lily_ had been continuing her cruise in the Caribbean Sea for somedays without falling in with the _Ariel_, or any other Englishship-of-war, nor had she taken a prize. Oliver Crofton had completelyrecovered. As one of the midshipmen was ill, he took his duty. Ourhero and Oliver soon became fast friends, and they were well able toappreciate each other's good qualities.
Commander Saltwell, not looking upon the Frenchmen he had picked up inthe light of prisoners, wished to put them on shore as soon as possible.He resolved, therefore, to stand in towards the coast of San Domingo,the western portion of which island belonged to France, and to land themat some settlement where they could obtain assistance.
The _Lily_ was still off the east end of the island, belonging to Spain,when a schooner was sighted running along the shore, apparentlyendeavouring to escape observation. The wind, however, headed her, andshe was compelled to tack off the land.
"She's French, to a certainty, or she would have run in and brought upsomewhere," observed Mr Horrocks.
The commander agreed with him. The ship was steered so as to cut heroff. On seeing this, the schooner wore, and, setting a large squaresail, ran off before the wind to the westward. Though the strangerevidently possessed a fast pair of heels, the _Lily_, making all sail,soon got near enough to send a shot skipping over the water close underher counter. The schooner, notwithstanding, still held on, when anothershot almost grazed her side. Her object was probably to run on untilshe could steer for some port where she could obtain shelter andprotection.
"If she doesn't shorten sail presently, send another shot through hercanvas, Mr Coles," said the commander.
The _Lily_ carried a long gun which could be run out at either of herbow ports. It was the gunner's favourite. He declared that he couldshoot as true with it, and ten times as far, as he could with a towermusket. The gun was loaded and pointed through the larboard bow port.
Still the chase held on. It was time to bring her to, for the wind gavesigns of dropping.
"Are you ready there, forward, with the gun?" asked the commander.
"Ay, ay, sir!" was the answer.
"Port the helm! Fire!" he shouted directly afterwards.
The gun was well aimed, for the shot went through the schooner's largesquaresail. The ship was again kept on her course, when the gun washauled in and reloaded.
"Stand by to fire again, and this time pitch it into her. All readythere, forward?"
"Ay, ay, sir!"
Again the helm was ported, but before the commander had time to shout"Fire!" the schooner was seen to haul down her flag, at the same time totake in her squaresail and clew up her foretopsail.
The corvette was soon up, when she was found to be a fine littleschooner, such as was employed in the carrying trade between theislands, or in bringing the produce of the plantations to some centraldepot.
"Heave to!" cried the commander; "and if you attempt to escape I'll sinkyou, remember that! Tell them in French what I mean," he added, turningto Rayner.
"Oui, oui; je comprende," answered one of the few white men on board--probably the master--and, the schooner's helm being put down, she cameup head to wind, with her foretopsail to the mast.
The corvette, which had by this time shot a little way ahead, alsohove-to, and the commander directed Rayner, with a boat's crew, to go onboard the prize and take possession.
The master stood, hat in hand, at the gangway, ready to receive him.
He was bound, he said, for Martinique, in ballast, to obtain a cargo andother stores for Leogane, the principal settlement of the French in theisland. The crew consisted of a Creole mate, two mulattos, and fourblacks, one of the former calling himself the boatswain.
"Then you'll do me the favour of accompanying the master and mate onboard the ship," said Rayner pointing to the boat.
The master seemed very unwilling to obey, but the crew soon tumbled him,with the mate and boatswain, into the boat, which returned to thecorvette, while Rayner remained with two hands on board.
He now ordered the crew to haul round the fore yard, and, keeping thehelm up, soon ran within speaking distance of the _Lily_.
"I intend to send you in to land the people picked up on the raft, witha flag of truce, and as soon as you put them on shore, come back andjoin me," said the commander.
"Ay, ay, sir," answered Rayner, very well pleased to have a separatecommand, although it might only last a few hours. He was still morepleased, however, when the boat came back, bringing Oliver Crofton, thefour Frenchmen, and Jack and Tom, to form part of his crew. The blacksand the mulatto were kept on board to assist in working the schooner.The mulatto said he was the steward, and one of the blacks, with a lowbow, introduced himself as the cook.
"Me talkee English, massa, well as French, and me cookee anyting datbuckra officer like to order," he said, with a grimace which made themidshipman laugh.
"By-the-bye, before we part company with the corvette, we may as wellascertain what Sambo here has got to cook," said Oliver.
It was fortunate that he had this forethought, for, except a supply ofsalt-fish, some yams and bananas, and a small cask of flour, with ahalf-empty case of claret, no other provisions were discovered forofficers or men. Oliver accordingly returned, and obtained some beefand biscuit, and a few articles from the mess.
"And just bring five or six dollars with you, in case we want topurchase any fish or vegetables," said Rayner, as he was shoving off.
No time was lost in procuring what was necessary, when Oliver returnedto the _Mouche_, for such was the name of the prize. The corvettemaking sail, she and the schooner ran on in company until they came offthe French part of the coast. The commander then ordered Rayner tostand in, directing him, should any people be seen on shore, to hoist awhite flag, and land the four Frenchmen.
Scarcely, however, had they parted company for a couple of hours, when adead calm came on, and Rayner and Oliver believed that there was nochance of being able to land the Frenchmen that night.
"I am very sorry for it," remarked Oliver; "for from the experience Ihave had of them, I think it more than possible, if they can get theassistance of the black crew, they will try and play us some scurvytrick. I have not hitherto pointed out the fellow who tried to take mylife, and who was so nearly dying himself; but I suspect his dispositionhas not altered for the better. You'll fancy me somewhat suspicious,but I cannot help thinking that should he win over the blacks, they willtry and take the schooner from us."
"They'll find that rather a tough job with you and me and our four mento oppose them," answered Rayner. "However, after your warning, I'llkeep an eye on the gentlemen, and I'll tell Jack Peek to let me know ifhe sees anything suspicious in their behaviour. He understands Frenchalmost as well as I do, and he'll soon find out what they are about."
"I do not like to think ill of other people, even though they areforeigners; but I cannot forget what a villain one of those men is,"remarked Oliver.
"Forewarned, forearmed," said Rayner. "We need not, after all, beanxious about the matter; but it will be wise to keep our pistols in ourbelts and our swords by our sides, and not to let the Frenchmen and theblack crew mix together more than is necessary." The steward now cameaft, hat in hand, and speaking in a jargon of French and Spanish,interlarded with a few words of English, of which he was evidentlyproud, requested to know what the officers would like for supper.
"We shall not find fault, provided that the cook supplies us with thebest he can," answered Rayner. "One of our men there,"--pointing toJack Peek--"will give him the materials, unless he happens to have someducks or fowls, or a fine fish, for which we will pay him."
The steward shrugged his shoulders, regretting that the only fish he hadon board were salted; but, notwithstanding, the cook would exercise hisskill upon them, and would produce a dish which even an epicure wouldnot disdain.
While waiting for the evening meal, th
e young officers walked the deck,whistling for a breeze, but there seemed no chance of its coming. Theland lay blue, but still indistinct, away to the northward, its outlinevaried by hills of picturesque form, which rose here and there along thecoast.
Rayner called up Jack Peek, and told him to keep a watch not only on theblack crew, but on the Frenchmen. "Notwithstanding the kind way theyhave been treated, they may think it a fine opportunity for obtaining avessel in which they can carry on their former calling," he observed.
"They'll be audaciously ungrateful wretches if they do, sir," answeredJack. "To my mind they'll deserve to be hove overboard to feed one ofthose sharks out there;" and he pointed to a black fin which was glidingjust above the surface.
"I hope that they will not prove treacherous, and it is our business totake care that they have no opportunity of being so," said Rayner. "Doyou and Tom keep an eye upon them, that's all."
"Ay, ay, sir," answered Jack.
The English seamen kept together. Though there were but four of them,they were sturdy fellows, well armed, and it was not likely that eitherthe blacks or Frenchmen would venture to attack them.
At length the mulatto steward announced supper ready, and Rayner andOliver descended to partake of it, leaving Tom in charge of the deck.
"Call me if you see the slightest sign of a breeze," said the former, ashe went below.
The cabin was not very large nor yet very clean; indeed, cockroaches andcentipedes were crawling about in all directions, and every now and thendropped down on the white cloth from the beams above. The table,however, was covered with several dishes, which, from the fragrant odourascending from them, promised to satisfy the hunger of a couple ofmidshipmen. It was difficult to make out the materials of which thedishes were composed, but on examination it was found that theyconsisted chiefly of salt beef and fish dressed in a variety offashions, fricasseed, stewed, and grilled, and mixed with an abundanceof vegetables, with some delicious fruit, such as the West Indies canalone produce.
"Me tinkee better keep on de cobers, massa," observed the steward, "orde cockroaches fall in an' drown demselves."
"By all means," said Rayner, laughing. Indeed, he and Oliver had toexamine each mouthful before they raised it to their lips, lest theyshould find one of the nauseous creatures between their teeth.
As soon as the midshipmen had finished supper, they returned on deck.
The sun had sunk beneath the ocean in a refulgence of glory, its partingrays throwing a ruddy glow over the surface, unbroken by a singleripple.
"We must make up our minds to spend the night where we are," observedRayner. "It will be as well for you and me to take watch and watch, andnot to trust to any of the men, for although I have every confidence inPeek, I cannot say the same for the rest."
Oliver, of course, agreed to this, and took the first watch. Atmidnight he aroused Rayner, who had stretched himself on one of thelockers, not feeling inclined to turn into either of thedoubtful-looking bunks at the side of the vessel.
"I suspect that we are going to have a change of weather," said Oliver,as he came on deck. "The air feels unusually oppressive for this timeof night. There is a mist rising to the southward, though the starsoverhead shine as bright as usual."
"I don't know what to think of it, having had but little experience inthese seas," answered Rayner; "I must ask the oldest of the Frenchmen,but I don't see any of them on deck."
"No, they and the blacks have all turned in," said Oliver. "They didnot ask my leave, but I thought it useless to rouse them up again, asthere seemed no chance of their being wanted."
"Well, go and lie down and take a caulk, if the centipedes andcockroaches will let you," laughed Rayner. "They have been crawling allover me during the time I have been below, but I knew there was no useattempting to keep them off, so I let them crawl, without interferingwith their pleasure. If I see any further change in the appearance ofthe sky, I will rouse you up, and we'll make the black fellows turn outto be ready to shorten sail."
Rayner for some time walked the deck of the little vessel alone. Jackwas at the helm, and one of the men forward. The watch was very nearlyout, and he determined not to call up Oliver until daylight. On lookingto the southward he saw that the mist which had before remained only afew feet above the horizon was rapidly covering the sky, while beneathit he distinguished a long line of white foam.
"Turn out, Oliver!" he shouted through the cabin skylight; "I'll takethe helm. Peek, run forward and rouse up the blacks and Frenchmen toshorten sail. Not a moment to be lost!"
Jack as he went forward shouted down the main hatchway, where Tom andthe other men were sleeping, and then in a stentorian voice called, inFrench, to shorten sail.
The Englishmen were on deck in a moment, but the blacks came upstretching their arms and yawning.
"Lower away with the throat and peak halyards!" shouted Rayner.
Oliver and the two English sailors hastened to obey the order.
"Brail up the foresail. Be smart, lads! Aloft with you and furl theforetopsail, or it will be blown out of the bolt-ropes!"
The mainsail was quickly got down. The black crew were pulling andhauling at the brails of the headsails, when a fierce blast struck thevessel. She heeled over to it.
Rayner immediately put up the helm; but before the vessel had answeredto it, she heeled over till the water rushed over the deck. Then therecame a clap like thunder, and the main-topsail, split across, was blownout of the bolt-ropes.
"Square away the foreyard!" shouted Rayner.
The vessel, righting, flew off before the fierce gale, the water rushingand foaming round her sides. Astern, the whole ocean seemed a mass oftumultuous foam-covered waves.
The sky was as black as ink. To bring the vessel to the wind wasimpossible. All that could be done was to run directly before the gale,and even then it seemed that at any moment the fast rising seas mightbreak over her stern and sweep her decks.
The schooner, however, by continuing her course, was running ondestruction, unless some port could be found under her lee to afford hershelter; but even then there was a great risk of being captured by theenemy, who would not pay much attention to a flag of truce, or believethat she came for the object of landing the Frenchmen. Besides which,as the vessel was a prize, it would be thought perfectly right to detainher.
Dawn broke; for an instant a fiery-red line appeared in the easternhorizon, but was quickly obscured. The increasing light, however,enabled the crew to carry on work which could not otherwise have beenperformed.
Rayner and Oliver resolved that they must, at all risks, try to heavethe schooner to while there was yet sea-room; and, should the weathermoderate, beat off shore until the gale was over and a boat could landthe people with safety on the beach. The first thing to be done was tostrike the maintopmast. Peek took the helm, while the rest went aloft.
It was no easy matter to get out the fid--the pin which secured the heelof the topmast in the cross-trees--but after considerable exertions,with a fearful risk of being jerked overboard, they succeeded inlowering down the mast.
They had next to get fore and main-trysails ready to set, should it befound possible to beat to windward, though at present it was evidentthat the schooner could not bear even that amount of canvas.
The foretopsail had stood, being a new stout sail, and it being closelyreefed, Rayner hoped that the little vessel would lay to under it. Itwas a dangerous experiment he was about to try, but he had to choosebetween two evils--that of being driven on shore, or the risk of havingthe decks swept by the tremendous seas rolling up from the southwardbefore the schooner could be hove-to. She had already run aconsiderable distance nearer the land.
Stationing the men in readiness to brace round the yard, he looked outfor a favourable opportunity to put down the helm and bring the vesselup to the wind.
That favourable opportunity, however, did not come; every sea thatrolled up astern threatened to overwhelm her should he
make the attempt.
The land appeared closer and closer. If the vessel was to be hove-to itmust be done at once, in spite of all risks.
"Hold on, lads, for your lives!" cried Rayner, in English and French,setting the example by clinging to the larboard main rigging. "Nowstarboard the helm. Haul away on the larboard headbrace. Ease off thestarboard."
Oliver and Jack, who were at the helm, as they put it down prepared tolash it to starboard; but as the vessel came up to the wind, a fearfulsea struck her, sweeping over her deck, carrying away the caboose andthe whole of the bulwarks forward; at the same moment the foretopsailsplit as the other had done, and the canvas, after fluttering wildly inthe blast, was whisked round and round the yard.
"Up with the helm!" cried Rayner.
Oliver and Jack, knowing what was necessary, were already putting it up.Before another sea struck the vessel she was again before the gale.Her only resource was now to anchor, should no port be discovered intowhich they could run.
The cable was accordingly ranged ready to let go at a moment's notice;but Rayner and Oliver well knew that there was little hope of the anchorholding, or if it did, of the vessel living through the seas which wouldbreak over her as soon as her course was stopped. Still, desperate aswas the chance, it must be tried. There might be time to set theforesail yet, and she might lay to under it.
The order was given to get the sail ready for setting as soon as shecould be brought up to the wind. Again the helm was put down.
"Hoist away!" shouted Rayner.
But scarcely had the sail felt the wind than it was blown away toleeward, and another sea, even heavier than the first, struck thevessel, sweeping fore and aft over her deck.
Rayner, who was clinging on to the rigging, thought that she would neverrise again. A fearful shriek reached his ear, and looking to leeward,he saw two of his people in the embraces of the relentless sea.
In vain the poor fellows attempted to regain the schooner, farther andfarther they were borne away, until, throwing up their arms, theydisappeared beneath the foaming waters.
At first he thought they were his own men, but on looking round he sawOliver and Jack clinging to the companion-hatch, and the rest holding onto the main rigging. One of the Frenchmen had been lost, and thecoloured steward.
Ere long the rest on board might have to share the same fate. StillRayner resolved to struggle to the last.
Another attempt was made. The main-trysail was shifted to the foremast;if that would stand, the vessel might possibly be kept off shore; butscarcely had it been set, than the hurricane came down on the haplessvessel with redoubled fury. The weather rigging gave way, and down camethe mast itself, killing one of the blacks, and fearfully crushinganother; and, to Rayner's dismay striking down Jack Peek. He sprangforward to drag Jack out from beneath the tangled rigging and spars,calling Tom Fletcher to assist him. They ran a fearful risk of beingwashed away, but he could not leave Jack to perish.
"Are you much hurt?" he shouted, as he saw Jack struggling to freehimself.
"Can't say, sir; but my shoulder and leg don't feel of much use,"answered Jack.
Tom, with evident reluctance, had to let go his hold, but could notrefuse to run the same risk as his officer.
By lifting the spars they got Jack out, and dragged him to theafter-part of the vessel, where, as he did not seem able to helphimself, Rayner secured him by a lashing to a stanchion.
"I'll stand by you, Peek, and, if it becomes necessary, I'll cast youoff, so that you may have a chance of saving yourself," he said.
As it was now evidently hopeless to attempt heaving the vessel to, shewas once more kept before the wind, while Rayner and his men, armed withtwo axes, which they found hanging up in the companion-hatch, and theirknives cut away the rigging, and allowed the foremast, which hung overthe side, to float clear of the vessel.
"We must now cut away the mainmast. We shall have to bring uppresently, and it will enable her to ride more easily," cried Rayner.The standing rigging was first cut through, then that on the other side,when a few strokes sent the mast overboard. Still the schooner ran onbefore the wind. Had she been laden, she must have foundered. Thehatches had been got on and battened down. They now, as far aspracticable, secured the companion-hatch, for they all well knew thatthe moment they should bring up, the seas would come rolling on board,and sweep the decks fore and aft. By Rayner's advice, each man gotlashings ready to secure himself to the stanchions or stumps of themasts. Nearer and nearer the vessel drew to the shore. Looking ahead,the line of breakers were seen dashing wildly on a reef parallel withthe shore, beyond which there appeared to be a narrow lagoon.
Rayner, observing that the surf did not roll up the beach to anyconsiderable height, looked out for a passage through which the vesselmight be steered. The continuous line of breakers ran as far as the eyecould reach along the shore. There was only one spot where they seemedto break with less fury. Towards it Rayner determined to steer theschooner. He and Oliver soon came to the conclusion that it would beuseless to attempt anchoring. The water, probably, was far too deepoutside the reef for their range of cable, and even if it were not, theanchor was not likely to hold.
They accordingly steered for the spot they had discovered, the only onewhich afforded them the slightest hope of escaping instant destruction.
On rushed the vessel, now rising on the top of a sea, now plunging intoa deep hollow. Rayner and Oliver held their breaths.
"I say, what's going to happen?" asked Tom of one of the other men."Shall we get safe on shore? I shouldn't mind if we could, although theFrenchmen made us prisoners."
"As to that, it seems to me doubtful," was the answer. "Maybe, in a fewminutes we shall be floating about among those breakers there, with nomore life in us than those poor fellows who were washed away just now;or it may be that this little craft will be carried clear over the reefinto smooth water."
"Oh dear, oh dear!" exclaimed Tom, "I have often wished that I hadstayed at home; I wish it more than ever now."
"No use wishing. It won't undo what has been done. But, see, we aregetting very close. We shall know all about it presently."
The schooner was farther off than Rayner had at first supposed; and asthey got nearer he saw, to his relief, that the spot for which he wassteering was wider than he had fancied.
There seemed just a chance that the vessel might be thrown throughwithout striking; at the same time, tossed about as she was, it wasimpossible to steer her as might be wished. He commended himself andhis followers, as every wise men would do, to the care of the Almighty,and nerved himself up for whatever might happen.
The roar of the breakers sounded louder and louder. On the vesseldrove, until there was a crash. She had struck, but, contrary to allexpectation, another sea lifted her and flung her completely through thebreakers, when, swinging round, she grounded on a sandbank just withinthem, heeling over with her head to the eastward, and her deck towardsthe shore.
Though the sea, which washed over the reef, still beat against her, shemight possibly hold together for some time.