A Boy Crusoe; or, The Golden Treasure of the Virgin Islands
Page 3
*CHAPTER III.*
_*A Terrible Storm; Leaving the Ship*_*.*
The weather continued fine for three days, after passing the latitude ofSan Salvador, with a fresh breeze blowing from the northwest, which spedthe bark on her course so that she logged better than ten knots; but onthe fourth day the wind swung around to the north and gradually hauledinto the northeast, and the long, steady swells began to rise.
The Captain at once prepared for a gale and ordered the sails trimmed tomeet it. That the apprehensions of the Captain were grave was proven bythe precautions taken; for not only was sail shortened to the lastextremity, but the hatches were securely battened down.
The barometer began to fall about noon, and from that time the windincreased until it was blowing a gale; but just after sunset the windalmost died away, though the mountainous foam-flecked seas continued.
As the sun went down the sky rapidly became overcast, and a cloud ofinky blackness appeared along the horizon. As we stood watching it along line of whiteness appeared between the sea and the black cloud, andstretched away far toward the east. Gradually the white line camenearer, until it proved to be a wall of foam. It was advancing towardthe ship with great rapidity; and as it came nearer the air above it wasseen to be filled with flying spray.
The wind began to freshen, and the sailors were hurrying about inobedience to the orders of the Captain, still shortening sail. All theupper sails were reefed.
Nearer and nearer came the wall of foam, and with a roar it struck theship, and the storm broke in a perfect tornado.
The bark was careened until the lee scuppers were submerged; and thestaunch craft shook from end to end. For an instant she seemed buriedbeneath the raging sea, and then rose and plunged into the next wave.
Mr. Sargent and I made haste to go below, where we remained holdingourselves in our berths while the ship reeled, plunged and groaned inevery timber and plank.
A fearful report like the crack of a rifle told us that some sail hadbeen carried away; and then followed others. At length, from a changein the ship's motion, we judged that the Captain was trying to put herabout and run before the gale; but suddenly a fearful crash which seemedas though the bark had split from stem to stern was followed by aterrible rolling and plunging.
Crack! Crack! and the bark pitched and groaned worse than ever.
We heard the Captain making his way toward the cabin, and then saw himenter. His face wore a look of deep anxiety.
"The masts have gone," he said, "and the bark is unmanageable. You mustprepare for the worst. We may have to take to the boats."
"At once, Captain?" asked Mr. Sargent.
"I cannot tell until the well is sounded; but I fear that she mustfounder."
At that moment the first mate entered the cabin and stated that the barkwas leaking badly. The water was rising fast in the hold.
"We must remain on the ship to the last moment," said the Captain, "fora boat could not live in this sea."
The Captain returned to the deck, and how long we clung to the berths Icannot tell, for I was dazed by the peril which threatened us--Were weto be lost at sea, drowned, all hands?
The Captain again entered the cabin. "We must take to the boats," hesaid, "and Heaven help us."
We hastened on deck just as we were, half clothed, leaving everythingbehind. Nothing could be taken.
When we reached the deck we saw the Captain standing by the starboardboat. The other had been launched, and had instantly disappeared in thedarkness and foaming water.
The Captain, first and second mate, Mr. Sargent and myself now aloneremained on the bark.
We hurried into the boat. "We should not be far from one of theoutlying islands of the Windward group," said the captain; "and if theboat can live in this sea until daylight we may reach one of the VirginIslands."
The tackle was let go, and a great sea caught the boat. She was liftedup, and up, and up, and then sank, it seemed, into a fathomless abyss.
I saw the first and second mate bend to the oars. The Captain was inthe stern. The boat careened and seemed to start suddenly upward on aninclined plane.
A rush of water enveloped her. I heard a roaring sound in my ears, andI knew no more.