CHAPTER XVI
WRECK OF THE SHIP
Though the vessel was in great danger Bob could not help smiling atthe success of his prank. When Mr. Tar-bill, with every evidenceof terror, had left the deck, Bob crept cautiously forward to peerahead into the wild waste of waves that threatened to overwhelm the_Eagle_.
"If it isn't a Jilla-Jilly wind, it's almost as bad," thought ourhero. If he had known more about the ocean and its terrors hewould have been more frightened than he was. If it was not exactlyan instance of "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise,"it was, in Bob's case, the next thing to it.
"Wow! That was a bad one!" exclaimed the boy, as anextraordinarily large wave made the ship tremble.
At the same instant a frightened shriek rang out through thedarkness. It was one full of terror.
"It's got me! It's got me!" yelled the voice. "What in the worldis that?" shouted Captain Spark above the din of the storm. "Issome one overboard?"
"Sounds like Mr. Tarbill," replied the mate, putting his lips closeto the captain's ear, so as to be heard.
"Maybe something has happened to him," suggested the commander."Better look after him, Mr. Carr. We shall do very well for thetime being. We've got her before the gale now, and she's scuddingalong very nicely."
Once the first fury of the storm was past, and it settled down to asteady blow, Captain Spark knew how to handle his vessel. Mr. Carrwent below. He found Mr. Tarbill in the main cabin, pacing to andfro and starting nervously at every unexpected lurch of the ship.
"Is it blowing? Is the ship going up or down?" asked the nervouspassenger.
"Is what blowing?"
"The Jilla-Jilly wind!"
"The Jilla-Jilly wind?" repeated the mate in wonder, thinking Mr.Tarbill might be out of his head.
"Yes, Bob told me about it. It blows up and down and is liable totake one up Into the clouds or down into the ocean."
"What nonsense! Look here, Mr. Tarbill, that was one of Bob'sjokes. I'll scold him for this."
Yet, secretly, the mate was not sorry that Bob's trick had beeneffective in getting the frightened man off the deck.
"Then there isn't any such wind?"
"Of course not. Don't be frightened."
"Is the ship in any danger?"
"Well, to be honest, I can't say that she is not. There is alwaysdanger in a storm such as this is, particularly near Cape Horn.But we're doing our best."
"Oh! I knew something was going to happen!"
"What's going to happen?" asked the mate. "You must not be sonervous."
"Oh! I wish I had never come on this dreadful voyage!"
Mr. Carr wished the same on behalf of the nervous man, but he saidnothing. The mate soon went back on deck, where he found plenty todo, as one of the storm sails had blown off the bolt ropes andanother canvas had to be bent on. Captain Spark had sent Bobbelow, as it was risky for any one but an experienced sailor tomove about the constantly sloping deck.
That night was one of terror. First the storm seemed to abate, andthen it began again with redoubled violence. Once the _Eagle_ wasalmost on her beam ends, but skilful handling brought her once moreup into the teeth of the wind and she rode the waves lightly, likethe gallant craft she was.
The nervousness of Mr. Tarbill increased. He would not stay alonein his cabin, and finally begged for Bob to keep him company. Bobwas a little diffident about going in, after the trick he hadplayed, but the nervous passenger seemed to forget all about that.The two sat up and talked instead of going to their berths, forsleep was out of the question amid the howling of the gale.
It was nearly morning when Captain Spark, wearing an anxious look,came into the cabin.
"Has the ship foundered? Has it sprung a leak?" asked Mr. Tarbill,for he saw that something was troubling the commander.
"No, we are safe yet," replied Mr. Spark gravely. "But I think youhad better put on life-preservers."
"Why?" asked Bob, beginning to feel a nameless fear.
"We are approaching a dangerous reef. If this wind holds we canbarely wear off enough to pass it. If we strike it that will bethe last of the _Eagle_. We are going to do our best to wear theship off, but we may not succeed. It is best to be prepared."
At this ominous warning Mr. Tarbill seemed to collapse. However,with Bob's help he donned one of the cork jackets, and the boy didlikewise. Captain Spark would not allow them on deck, but promisedto give them timely warning if the ship struck.
Then came an hour of anxious waiting. Outside there sounded thedash of rain, the screaming of the wind, and the rush of sailorsabout the deck as they hastened to obey the captain's commands.
Then, very gradually, there seemed to come a slack in the storm.The ship rode more easily, and Bob began to take heart. A littlelater Mr. Carr came down into the cabin. He breathed a sigh ofrelief as he said:
"We're all right. We've passed the reef and we have nothing moreto fear for the present. The gale is going down."
"That's the best news I've heard in a year!" exclaimed Mr. Tarbill."Never again will I take a sea voyage for my health. I've lostseven pounds to-night, I know I have."
Mr. Carr's words were soon verified. When morning broke the windand rain had ceased, though there was still a heavy sea on, whichmade the _Eagle_ toss and pitch in a dangerous way.
Bob managed to get out on deck, however, and, through the clearatmosphere that followed the storm, he saw the dim outlines ofTerra del Fuego--"The Land of Fire"--as part of the end of theSouth American continent is called.
They finished the passage of the Straits of Magellan withoutfurther incident. After that it seemed as if their troubles wouldbe at an end. The sea went down, and, as they made the turn aroundthe South American coast and once more began to approach theequator, the _Eagle_ skimmed along like the bird whose name it bore.
"If this weather and the fair breezes keep up," said Captain Sparkone day, "we'll arrive ahead of time."
"I guess you didn't think so during the storm, did you?" inquiredBob.
"No indeed! It seemed as if it was going to be touch and go withus one spell. But how do you like your trip--so far?"
"Very much."
"I'm glad of it. I promised your mother it would do you good, andI think it will."
Captain Spark was secretly delighted with the success of hisexperiment. He thought Bob had given up all his tricks, but thatsame day showed how much mistaken he was. The boy, seeing a chanceto have some sport with one of the sailors--a German--sewed up thesleeves of the man's Jersey. When the man tumbled out of his bunk,in a hurry to take his watch on deck, he could not understand thereason why he could not put on his garment.
"Vot's der madder?" he exclaimed, struggling with the sleeves."Der vitches haf been at vork! I am bevitched!"
"More like that onery critter of a boy done it," suggested hismessmate, a practical Yankee.
"So? I plays a joke on him, alretty yet. Vatch."
And the German was as good as his word. The next afternoon Bobsuddenly felt himself being pitched over the rail toward the sea.He yelled and made a grab for the mizzen shroud near which he wasstanding, but he suddenly found himself brought up with a roundturn, for the German had caught the boy's feet in a bight of cable,so that he would not go overboard.
"So!" he exclaimed. "You sews up my sleeves, eh? I t'inks youdon't do so no more! Eh?"
"More tricks!" exclaimed the captain, when matters had beenexplained to him, "I wonder if he'll ever be cured?"
But Bob's cure was nearer at hand than either he or the captainexpected.
The fine weather continued for a week, during which time the_Eagle_ made good progress. Then came several days of dead calm,when they were near the Tropic of Capricorn, and they suffered muchfrom the heat of the sun.
"I don't like this," remarked Captain Spark one day, as he lookedup at the brassy sky.
"Why not?" asked Bob, with the familiarity of a relative.
&nbs
p; "I think this means a storm, and we're in a poor location for a badblow. I don't like it."
As the day wore on it became evident that the captain's prophecywas about to be verified. The wind sprang up suddenly, almostbefore sail could be shortened, and the _Eagle_ heeled over untilif seemed as if she would not right. That was the beginning of astorm that was worse than the other.
Scudding along under mere rags of canvas, the ship headed rightinto the swirl of waters agitated by the wind. As night settleddown the captain prepared for the worst. It was evident that hefeared something, and every man was on the alert.
The wind increased, but there was no rain. On and on rushed theship, all through the night. The captain seemed to grow moreanxious and would not leave his place at the wheel.
Suddenly, just as the darkness was giving place to the gray lightof morning, the _Eagle_ hit something. A shiver seemed to runthrough the whole length of the ship.
"Breakers ahead!" yelled the lookout. "Breakers all around us!"
"I feared as much!" cried the captain. "We've struck on a reef!"
The _Eagle_ seemed to back off, probably the recoil from the blow.The wind swirled around, and then, once more, the good ship wasdriven on the rocks.
Once more she crashed upon the low-lying barrier, and this time anominous splintering sound followed. There was a terrific crash,and the foremast went by the board. At the same time there was apounding beneath the bows of the vessel.
"There's a big hole stove in the bows, sir!" cried a sailor,running to Captain Spark. "The water's coming in fast!"
"I'm afraid we're foundering!" added Mr. Carr.
"Stand by to lower the lifeboats!" yelled the captain. "Every manto his place!"
With a great crash the mizzen mast went over the side, crushing oneof the lifeboats that hung on davits there.
"What has happened?" yelled Mr. Tarbill, rushing up on deck.
"The _Eagle_ is wrecked," replied the captain, speaking calmly,though only a sailor could know what anguish the words cost him.