CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
A RESCUE.
While some of the crew were engaged on deck, others, led by the secondlieutenant, the boatswain, and Rayner, ascended the rigging with bucketsof water to heave over the sails, which in several places had caughtfire.
It was a work of extreme peril, but it was quickly accomplished, beforemuch damage had been done. The ship all the time was standing on, herstarboard tacks aboard.
Nearly a quarter of an hour had elapsed before any one could look in thedirection where their late antagonist had floated.
A few dark fragments of wreck could alone be seen in the far distance,but no one supposed that any human beings could have escaped from thefearful catastrophe. The _Lily_ was quickly put to rights and stood onin chase of the stranger, which was now seen, under a press of sail,standing away to the north-west.
Evening was approaching, and it was feared that if she wished to avoidthe risk of an engagement, she might manage to escape in the night.
During the first part of it the atmosphere was tolerably clear, and thechase could dimly be seen in the distance. She was carrying all sail,evidently doing her best to escape. The _Lily_ had all her canvas set,but as at night a squall cannot be seen, as in the daytime, comingacross the ocean, all hands were kept on deck, ready to take it in at amoment's notice.
"Are we gaining on the chase?" asked the commander, when the secondlieutenant, who had just before gone forward, returned.
"I think so, sir; but unless the breeze freshens, it will be a long timebefore we can get her within range of our guns."
Everything that could be thought of was done to make the corvette movethrough the water. The sails were wetted, the hammocks were piped down,and the watch were ordered to turn in, with a couple of round shot witheach, under the idea that as the hammocks swung forward with the surgeof the ship, her speed would be increased.
The privateers were at that time committing so much havoc among theEnglish merchantmen, that it was of the greatest importance to stoptheir career.
As the night drew on, the crescent moon, which had before been affordingsome light, sank beneath the horizon, and the darkness increased, a mistgradually filling the atmosphere, and obscuring all objects around. Thechase was thus shut out from view. Still the _Lily_ continued standingin the direction she had last been seen.
Rayner was on the forecastle near Ben Twinch, both endeavouring topierce the veil which surrounded the supposed privateer.
"We may at any moment run through this mist, and we shall then, I hope,see the chase again," observed Ben. "It won't do for a moment to shutour eyes, for maybe we shall find her much closer than before."
"I fancy that I can even now see her, but my imagination may deceiveme," said Rayner. "Can that be her out there?"
"I can't see anything," said the boatswain, putting his hands on eitherside of his eyes.
"What is that on the lee bow?" suddenly exclaimed Rayner.
Before the boatswain could turn his eyes in the direction the midshipmanwas pointing, the latter added, "I must have been mistaken. It hasdisappeared, for I can see nothing. Still I must go aft and report tothe commander what I saw, or fancied I saw."
"It could only have been fancy," remarked Captain Saltwell. "Theimagination is easily deceived in an atmosphere like this. We'll keepon as we were standing."
Rayner accordingly went forward. He was not sorry at length to berelieved, as he was growing weary from having had so long to keep astrain on his eyes.
At last, awakened by the gruff voice of the boatswain turning up thehands, he went on deck, and found that it was already daylight; but nota sail was in sight, and it was pretty evident that the chase hadaltered her course.
The commander, thinking it likely that she had kept to the westward,steered in that direction.
The day wore on, but still no sail appeared, nor did it seem at alllikely that the chase would again be sighted. The ship was thereforeput about to rejoin the _Ione_.
Soon after noon the wind fell, and the _Lily_ lay motionless on theglassy ocean; the sun shining forth with intense heat, making the pitchin the seams of the deck bubble up, and every piece of metal feel as ifit had just come out of a furnace. The seamen sought every spot ofshade which the sails afforded, and made frequent visits to thewater-cask to quench their thirst.
A few hours thus passed by, when, away to the south-east, a few cloudscould be seen floating across the sky.
"The calm can only be partial, for there's wind out there," observed thecommander, pointing the clouds out to the first lieutenant. "I hope weshall soon get it."
In this he was disappointed. The day went by; the ship still laymotionless on the waste of waters. Another night came on. It was notuntil the sun again rose that the sails were heard to give several loudflaps against the masts; a few cat's-paws were seen playing over thesurface of the water, and at length the canvas swelled out to aneasterly breeze. The tacks were hauled aboard, and the _Lily_ stood inthe direction it was supposed the _Ione_ would be found, over the courseshe had just come.
The wind was light, and she made but little progress. It freshened,however, in the evening, and during the night the log showed that shewas going at a fair rate.
Rayner was in the morning watch, and was forward when the look-out fromthe mast-head shouted, "A piece of wreck away on the starboard bow." Asthe ship would pass close by it, she was kept on her course. Rayner wasexamining the piece of wreck through his glass, when he saw what hesupposed was a person moving on it.
He went aft, and reported this to the first lieutenant, who was on deck,and the ship was headed up towards it. "I can see four or five men!"exclaimed Rayner, "some are lying down. One man is kneeling up andwaving."
By this time the commander had come on deck, and as the ship drew near,he ordered a boat to be got ready.
Two of the men were seen to rise on their knees, and wave.
"They must have belonged to the crew of the ship which blew up the otherday, though how they escaped seems a miracle," observed the commander."Poor fellows, they must have suffered fearfully! Put a beaker of waterand some food in the boat. They'll want nourishment as soon aspossible."
The corvette was hove-to. Rayner took charge of the boat, the crewpulling eagerly away to the rescue of the hapless men on the raft.
As they drew near, Rayner observed, to his surprise, as he stood upsteering, that one of the persons kneeling on the raft was dressed inthe uniform of an English midshipman.
"Give way, lads--give way!" he shouted.
The boat was quickly up to the raft, which was a portion apparently ofthe poop deck. Besides the young Englishman, there were five personsdressed as ordinary seamen, dark, swarthy fellows, their countenanceshaggard, and their whole appearance wretched in the extreme.
"Water, water! in mercy give us water!" cried the young Englishman;while the other men, who were scarcely able to move, pointed to theirmouths. One lay stretched on the raft, apparently lifeless, and anotherseemed almost too far gone to recover.
Two of the _Lily's_ crew leapt on the raft, and, lifting up the Englishmidshipman, carried him to the stern-sheets, where Rayner stood with acup of water ready to give him.
He grasped it with both his hands, and eagerly drank the contents. Asecond mug had in the meantime been filled. One of the Frenchmen, inhis eagerness to reach it, stretched out his arms, and fell flat on hisface. The English seamen lifted him up, and gently poured the waterdown his throat. He and two more were lifted on board. They then tooka cup to the rest, who were too weak to make the slightest exertion.They poured some water down the throat of one; he gave one gasp, andthen sank back, apparently lifeless. A sixth person was already beyondhuman help. On raising his arm, it fell again at his side.
"Are we to take these two bodies with us?" asked one of the men. "Theydon't seem to have any life in them."
"Yes, by all means," answered Rayner; "we must let the doctor judgeabout them--per
haps he may bring them round."
The two bodies were placed in the bows, and the crew giving way, Raynersteered for the ship. As he looked at the countenance of the Englishmidshipman, he thought he had seen him before. He did not trouble himwith questions, however; indeed, although the latter had asked forwater, it was very evident that he was unable to answer them.
The boat was soon alongside. The young midshipman was the first liftedon board.
"Why, who can this be?" exclaimed the commander. "How came he among thecrew of the privateer?"
Rayner explained that he had seen him spring on deck the instant beforethe ship blew up, but more about him he could not say, as he had notspoken a word since he was taken on board the boat.
"Carry him at once into my cabin," said the commander. "You'll do allyou can for him I know, doctor," he added, addressing the surgeon, who,with the aid of the master and another officer, had already lifted upthe young stranger.
"He wants nourishment more than doctoring," answered the surgeon.
While the midshipman was being carried into the cabin, theassistant-surgeon was examining the other men. He ordered some broth tobe given to the three who had first been taken into the boat, observingthat it was the only thing they required; and he then at once turned hisattention to a fourth man, whose pulse he felt with a seriouscountenance.
"There's life in him still," he observed; and ordering his head to beslightly raised, he hurried down to his dispensary, and quickly returnedwith a stimulant, which he poured down his throat. The effect waswonderful, for scarcely had it been swallowed than the patient gavesigns of returning animation. The last poor fellow, after a carefulexamination, he pronounced beyond human aid.
"Had we arrived half an hour sooner, his life might have been saved," heobserved, "for even now he is scarcely cold."
The surgeon soon came up.
"We'll try what can be done," he said, "for I never despair in a case ofthis sort."
All his efforts, however, proved vain; and he at last had to acknowledgeto the assistant-surgeon that the unfortunate man was beyond recovery.The yards had in the meantime been braced round, and the ship had beenstanding on her course.
Rayner was now sent for into the cabin, where he found the midshipman hehad saved placed in the commander's cot.
"Do you see a likeness to any one you know?" asked Commander Saltwell.
"Yes," answered Rayner, looking at the countenance of the youngstranger, who was sleeping calmly; "I thought so from the first; hereminds me of Mrs Crofton, or, rather, of her daughter."
"So he does me. I have little doubt that he is Oliver Crofton, and Ican fully account for his being on board the privateer," said thecommander. "She must have captured the prize of which he was in charge.I fear that the rest of the men who were prisoners on board haveperished."
"I am thankful that he has been saved," said Rayner. "It wouldwell-nigh have broken Mrs Crofton's and her daughter's hearts if theyhad heard that he had died in so dreadful a manner, though to be sure noone would have known of it unless we had fallen in with the raft."
The doctor would not allow any questions to be asked his patient untilhe had several times taken a small quantity of nourishment, and hadpassed the intermediate time in sleep; and the commander also kindlydirected that he should be allowed to remain in his cot, while he had ahammock slung in his cabin for himself.
The surgeon or assistant-surgeon was in constant attendance on himduring the night.
Their unremitting care was rewarded, for soon after the hammocks werepiped up the young stranger opened his eyes, and exclaimed in a faintvoice, with a tone of astonishment, "Where am I? What has happened?"
"You are all right, and safe among friends," said the commander, who hadjust turned out of his hammock, coming to his side. "You shall havesome breakfast, and then I must get you to tell me all about yourself.Unless I am mistaken, we have met before. Are you not Oliver Crofton?"
"Yes, sir," answered the midshipman. "How did you know that, sir?"
"I made a shrewd guess at it," answered the commander, smiling, "andtruly glad I am to have you on board my ship. However, do not exertyourself just now, but go to sleep again if you can till the stewardbrings you your breakfast, and you shall then, if the doctor thinks youare strong enough, tell me all that has happened."
The commander, coming on deck, told Rayner that he was right in hisconjectures, and invited him to breakfast with him.
The surgeon, however, would not allow Oliver to get up, but said that hemight give an account of his adventures, provided he did not spin toolong a yarn.
"Thank you, sir," said Oliver. "I'll try to collect my thoughts; for,to say the truth, I find them somewhat scattered at present.
"It must have been nearly ten days ago when the _Ariel_, to which Ibelonged, captured a French brig. Captain Matson sent me on board totake her to Port Royal. We were just in sight of the eastern end ofJamaica, when a large privateer bore down on us. We did our best toescape, but as she sailed two feet to our one, and carried twenty-twoguns, we were compelled to yield, and I and my men were taken on board,while our prize was sent away to one of the French islands.
"The privateer continued her cruise in search of our merchantmen, or anyprizes our ships might have taken. A more ruffianly set of fellows Inever set eyes on. My poor men were robbed of everything they had aboutthem, and I should have had my jacket taken off my back but for theinterference of the officers, who allowed me to mess with them, and togo on deck whenever I wished. Considering the style of theirconversation at table, however, I should have thankfully preferredliving by myself.
"When they discovered that you were English, the officers took a fearfuloath that nothing should compel them to yield. They, however, did theirbest to escape; but when they found that you had the heels of them, theymade up their minds to fight, fully expecting, I believe, to take you.Nothing could exceed the savageness of the crew as, stripped to thewaist, they went to their guns. Several of them, as they cast theireyes on me, vowed that they would shoot me through the head should theday go against them. Having no fancy to be so treated, I thought itprudent to go below, knowing very well that, in spite of their boasting,they would soon get the worst of it, and that you, at all events, wouldfight on until you had compelled them to strike their flag or sent themto the bottom. I felt the awful position in which I was placed. Imight be killed by one of your shot, even should I escape the knives andbullets of my captors.
"I considered how I could best preserve my life, as I thought it verypossible that you would send the privateer to the bottom should she notyield or try to escape. I determined, should I find her sinking, toleap out through one of the stern windows of the captain's cabin. Iaccordingly made my way there, and was looking out for some instrumentwith which to force open the window when I saw smoke curling up throughan opening in the deck below me. I at once knew that it must arise froma spot at no great distance from the magazine. In the hopes of inducingthe commander to send some men down to try and extinguish the firebefore it was too late, I sprang on deck. Scarcely had I reached it,and was telling the captain of our danger, when I felt a fearfulconcussion, and found myself lifted into the air, the next instant to beplunged overboard amidst the mangled crew, some few around me shriekingvainly for help, though the greater number had been killed by theexplosion and sank immediately. Being a strong swimmer, I struck out,narrowly avoiding several who clutched at my legs, and swam towards alarge piece of wreck which had been blown to some distance from wherethe ship went down. I scrambled upon it, and was soon joined by threeother men, who had, they told me, been forward, and found themselvesuninjured in the water.
"I saw soon afterwards two others floating at some distance from theraft. One of them shouted for help saying that he was exhausted, andcould no longer support himself. The other, notwithstanding left him tohis fate and swam towards us. I could not bear to see the poor fellowperish in our sight with the possibility of saving
him, and as there wasno time to be lost, I plunged in and made for him, picking up in my waya piece of plank. I placed it under his arms, and telling him to holdon to it, shoved it before me in the direction of the raft. The otherfellow had in the meantime got hold of a piece of timber, on which hewas resting, but was apparently almost exhausted. As I passed, I toldhim that if I could I would come to his help, and I at length managed toget back to the raft, on to which the three other men had hauled uptheir other shipmate.
"I was pretty well tired by this time, and had to rest two or threeminutes before I could again venture into the water. While I was tryingto recover my strength, the man clinging to the log, fancying that noone was coming, again shrieked out for help. Once more slipping intothe water, at last by shoving the piece of plank before me, I contrivedto reach him; then getting him to take hold of it, I made my way back tothe raft, when we were both dragged nearly exhausted out of the water.
"At first I had hopes that you would discover us and put back to take usoff; but when I perceived that you were on fire, I began to fear that weshould not be observed, though I did not say so to my companions inmisfortune, but endeavoured to keep up their spirits. I told them thatif the ship with which they had been engaged should come back, mycountrymen would not look upon them as enemies, but would treat themkindly, as people who had suffered a great misfortune. When, however,they saw you standing away, they began to abuse the English, declaringthat we were a perfidious nation, never to be trusted; and I had somesuspicion that they would wreak their ill-temper on my head.
"My position would have been very dreadful even had I been withwell-disposed companions. The sun beat down upon our heads withterrific force; we had not a particle of food, nor a drop of water toquench our thirst. I was thankful when, the sun at length having set,the men, accustomed only to think of the present, and not suffering muchas yet from the want of food or water, stretched themselves on the raftto sleep.
"I sat up, hoping against hope that you might come back to ascertain ifany people had escaped, or that some other vessel might pass withinhail. We had no means of making a signal, not even a spar on which tohoist our handkerchiefs or shirts. The only article which had by somemeans or other been thrown on the raft was a blanket. How it had fallenthere I cannot tell. I secured it, and doubling it up, it served as arest to my head. I constantly, however, got up to look about, but novessel could I see, and at length, overpowered by weariness, I lay downand fell asleep.
"At daylight I awoke. The sea was calm. I gazed anxiously around. Nota speck was visible in the horizon. The sun rose, and its rays beatdown upon us with even greater fury than on the previous day, or, at allevents, I suffered more, as did my companions. They now cried out forwater and food, and I saw them eye me with savage looks. I pretendednot to observe this, and said that I hoped and thought that we mightcatch some fish or birds.
"`It will be better for some of us if we do,' muttered one of the men.
"Although I saw several coveys of flying-fish leaping out of the waterin the distance, none came near us. Once I caught sight of the blackfin of a shark gliding by; presently the creature turned, and as itpassed it eyed us, I thought, with an evil look; but while the water wascalm, there was no risk of its getting at us. Had the brute beensmaller, we might have tried to catch it. I remembered having heard ofseveral people who saved their lives, when nearly starved, by gettinghold of a shark. One of the men stuck out his leg, and when thecreature tried to grab it, a running bowline was slipped round its head,and it was hauled up. My companions, however, had not the spirits tomake the attempt--indeed, we could not find rope sufficient for thepurpose on our raft.
"The day wore on, and scarcely any of my companions spoke, but laystretched at full length on the raft. Others sat with their arms roundtheir knees, and their heads bent down, groaning and complaining, one ortwo swearing fearfully at the terrible fate which had overtaken them,regardless of that of their late shipmates, hurried into eternity. Invain I tried to arouse them. Now and then one would look at me with anominous glance, and I confess I began to fear, as night drew on, that Ishould not be allowed to see another day dawn. I stood up, though itwas with difficulty that I could steady myself, for my strength wasalready failing. Anxiously I looked round the horizon. The sky hadhitherto been clear; but, as I cast my eye to the eastward, I observed acloud rising rapidly. Another and another followed. They came ondirectly towards us, discharging heavy drops of rain. My fear was thatthey would empty themselves before they reached us. The looks of mycompanions brightened.
"`Now, my friends,' I said, `we must try and catch some of that rain.Here, spread out this blanket, for if a shower falls but for ten minuteswe shall have water enough to quench our thirst.'
"We got the blanket ready. The first cloud passed by, nearly saturatingthe blanket. The men wrung it out into one of their hats, two or threesucking at the corners. They seemed inclined to fight for the smallquantity they had obtained, but did not even offer to give me any. Igot no water, though the blanket was somewhat cleansed, not that I feltinclined to be particular. In a few minutes another shower fell. Eachof us got an ample supply of water. My spirits rose in a way I couldnot have expected. For some time I did not suffer from the pangs ofhunger; but they presently returned with greater force than before, andI guessed how my companions were feeling. I encouraged them as well asI was able. `God, in His mercy, has sent us water, and He may, I trust,supply us with food.'
"Some of them stared at my remark, but others replied--
"`Yes, yes, perhaps to-morrow we shall have an ample breakfast.'
"Still I did not trust them completely, and endeavoured to keep awakeuntil they had all dropped off to sleep.
"Another heavy shower fell during the night, and I roused them up toobtain a further supply of water. We filled all our hats, for we hadnothing else to put it in. The next day was but a repetition of theformer. The water we had obtained during the night was quicklyexhausted. My hopes of catching some fish appeared likely to bedisappointed. Twice a shark came near us, but the brute was too largeto give us a chance of catching it. It was far more likely to havecaught us had we made the attempt. We shouted to drive it off. Atlast, smaller fish of some sort approached--albicores or bonitas. Itwas extraordinary with what eager looks we eyed the creatures.
"While we were watching the fish, trying to devise some means ofsnatching them, one of the men, who lay stretched on the raft apparentlyasleep or in a state of stupor, suddenly sat up, uttering an exclamationof delight. We turned our heads, and saw him eagerly gnawing at aflying-fish; but he snarled and growled, eating eagerly all the time,just as a dog does when a person attempts to take a bone from him. Hehad managed to gulp down the larger portion before the others couldsnatch the prize from him. The next moment he sank back, and neverspoke again. I saw no violence used, except the force they exerted totake the fragments of the fish from his hands. It appeared to me as ifone of them had stabbed him, so suddenly did he fall.
"The others gave me none of the fish: indeed, my portion would have beenso small that I did not miss it, though for the moment I would have beenthankful for the merest scrap of food.
"I still endeavoured to keep up my spirits, and prayed for strength fromabove. I am sure it was given me, or I should have sunk. I did notlike even to think of the pain I suffered. The Frenchmen, too, weregrowing ravenous, and I heard them talking together, and looking at meas if meditating mischief.
"I thought over the means by which I could best preserve my life. Iknew that it would not do to show the slightest fear, so arousingmyself, I said, `My friends, you are hungry, so am I, but we can endureanother day without eating. Now I want you to understand that we aremore likely to be saved by an English vessel than by one of any othernation, as there are three times as many English cruisers in these seasas there are French, and ten times as many merchantmen. If we arepicked up by an English vessel, you are sure to be well treated for mysak
e, but if any accident were to happen to me--if I were to falloverboard, for instance--there would be no one to say a word in yourfavour. Remember that I was the means of saving the lives of two ofyou, although, when I plunged into the water and swam to you at the riskof being caught by a shark, or sinking myself from fatigue, I did notexpect any return. I suppose that you do not wish to be ungrateful.'
"This address seemed to have some effect on the men I had saved. Eachof them uttered an exclamation of approval, while the two others, whostill retained some little strength, turned aside their heads, notdaring to look at me. I did not move until night came on, when Icrawled from the place I had occupied, and lay down between the two menwho seemed most disposed to befriend me. In the middle of the night Iawoke, and finding that there was a light breeze. I endeavoured tokneel up and ascertain if providentially any vessel were approaching.
"I was raising myself on my elbow when I saw one of the men who hadthreatened me by their words creeping towards me. I instantly awoke mytwo friends, for so I will call them, by exclaiming, `There is a breeze.Perhaps a vessel is approaching us. We should not be sleeping;' whilethe man whom I suspected of a design against my life drew back and layperfectly still. I determined not again to fall asleep, if I couldavoid it, until daylight. I believe, however, that I frequently droppedoff, but I was preserved. When morning dawned, I discovered that theman who had, as I believed, intended to kill me was utterly unable tomove. The other fellow, however, seemed to be the strongest of theparty. He got up, and stretching out his arms, exclaimed, addressinghis countrymen--
"`Food we must have this day at every coast, or we shall perish.'
"I also rose, and found, to my surprise, that I could stand on my feet.
"`I pray God that we may have food, and that some friendly vessel maybring it,' I exclaimed.
"As I spoke I looked round the horizon, when I need not tell you howgrateful I felt to Heaven at seeing a sail standing, as I judged,directly towards us. I pointed her out to my companions; but as theywere sitting down, they could not for some time make her out. I, too,could no longer support myself, and once more sank on the raft. In ashort time, however, we could all distinguish her. The Frenchmen beganto weep. Now they expressed their fears that she would pass us; nowthey tried to shout for joy at the thoughts of being saved. I at timesalso dreaded lest we should not be observed, but all my doubts vanishedwhen I made you out to be an English sloop-of-war, and saw you haul uptowards us."
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