by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER III.
AN ACCIDENT TO THE SECOND CUTTER.
The gentle breeze from the southward enabled the fleet to proceedwithout delay up the fjord to the town of Christiansand; and, as therewas very little ship's duty to be done under such circumstances, thestudents had an excellent opportunity to examine the islands and themain shore. On board the ship and her two consorts the boys swarmedlike bees in the rigging, eagerly watching every new object that waspresented to their view. As nautical young gentlemen, they criticisedthe Norwegian boats and vessels that sailed on the bay, comparing themwith those of their own country. The two yachts, which were notrestrained by any insurance restrictions, stood boldly up the fjord,following closely in the wake of the two schooners.
The course of the vessels up the fjord was through an archipelago, or"garden of rocks," as it is styled in the Norwegian language. Therocky hills in the vicinity were of a reddish color, with a few firtrees upon them. The country was certainly very picturesque, but thestudents did not regard it as a very desirable place of residence. Thefleet passed between the Island of Dybing and the light on Odderoe,and came to anchor in the western harbor. For half an hour the severalcrews were occupied in furling sails, squaring yards, hauling taut therunning rigging, and putting everything in order on board.
The accommodation ladder of the ship, which was a regular flight ofstairs, had hardly been rigged before a white barge, pulled by fourmen, came alongside. The oarsmen were dressed in blue uniform, andwore tarpaulin hats, upon which was painted the word "Grace,"indicating the yacht to which they belonged. The bowman fastened hisboat-hook to the steps, and the rest of the crew tossed their oars inman-of-war style. In the stern-sheets, whose seats were cushioned withred velvet plush, were three persons, all of whom were old friends ofour readers. Captain Paul Kendall, the owner and commander of theGrace, though he is a few inches taller and a few pounds heavier thanwhen we last saw him, was hardly changed in his appearance. Even hisside whiskers and mustache did not sensibly alter his looks, for hisbright eye and his pleasant smile were still the key to hisexpression. The Grace carried the American yacht flag, and hercommander wore the blue uniform of the club to which he belonged.
Three years before, Paul Kendall had experienced a heavy loss in thedeath of his mother. She had inherited a very large fortune, which,however, was held in trust for her son, until he reached his majority.At the age of twenty-one, therefore, Paul came to an inheritancebequeathed by his grandfather, which made him a _millionnaire_. Hisfortune had been carefully invested by the trustees, and now all hehad to do was to collect and spend his income, of which there was aconsiderable accumulation when he attained his majority. Paul was ayoung man of high moral and religious principle. He had never spent adollar in dissipation of any kind, and though he knew the world, hewas as child-like and innocent as when he was an infant.
His tastes were decidedly nautical, and the first large expenditurefrom his ample wealth was in the building of the yacht Grace, whichwas now anchored near the Young America. She was a beautiful craft inevery respect, constructed as strong as wood and iron could make her.As her cabin was to be Paul's home during a portion of the year, itwas fitted up with every appliance of comfort, convenience, andluxury. It contained a piano, a large library, and every availablemeans of amusement for the hours of a long passage. At the age oftwenty-one, Paul was more mature in experience and knowledge than manyyoung men at twenty-five; and hardly had he been placed in possessionof his inheritance than he sailed for Europe, and, of course, hastenedfrom Queenstown to Belfast, where Mr. Arbuckle, father of the lady whooccupied the stern-sheets of the barge, resided. Six months later hewas married to Grace, who still regarded him as "the apple of hereye."
On his return to New York his yacht was finished, though too latein the season for use that year. Her first voyage in the springwas to Brockway, which was the residence of Mr. Lowington, and theheadquarters of the Academy Squadron. Learning that his old friend theprincipal was about to sail for Europe with his charge, he promptlydecided to accompany him, and the Grace was one of the fleet thatcrossed the Atlantic in April.
Mrs. Kendall was dressed in a plain travelling suit. She was tallerand more mature than when she went down the Rhine with the YoungAmericans, but she was not less beautiful and interesting.
If Fortune had been very kind to Paul Kendall, she had not been soconstant to all who formerly sailed in the Young America, and who hadthen basked in her sunny smile. The third person in the stern-sheetsof the barge was Mr. Augustus Pelham. He was a fine-looking fellow,with a heavy mustache, dressed like his commander, in the uniformof the yacht club. By one of those disasters common in Americanmercantile experience, Pelham's father had suddenly been hurled fromapparent affluence to real poverty. Being well advanced in years, hecould do nothing better for himself and his family than to accept asituation as secretary of an insurance company, which afforded him asalary only sufficient to enable him to live in comfort. Augustushad completed his course in the Academy ship when the change ofcircumstances compelled him to abandon all luxurious habits, and workfor his own living. This was by no means a calamity to him, any morethan to other young men. Doubtless it was annoying to have hisallowance of pocket money suddenly stopped, and to find himself faceto face with one of the sternest realities of life. His training inthe Academy ship had been a blessing to him, for it had reformed hislife, and elevated his tastes above the low level of dissipation. Ithad made a new man of him, besides preparing him for a usefulcalling. He was competent, so far as nautical skill and knowledge wereconcerned, to command any vessel to any part of the world, though helacked the necessary experience in the management of a miscellaneouscrew, and in the transaction of business. He was ready to accept asituation as chief or second mate of a ship, when he happened to meetPaul Kendall, and was immediately engaged as chief officer of theGrace, at a salary of one hundred dollars a month. Another ex-studentof the ship, Bennington, upon whose father fickle Fortune had notcontinued to smile, had been appointed second officer. Pelham hadshipped the crew of the Grace, and no better set of men ever trod adeck.
The barge came up to the steps, and Paul and Pelham assisted Mrs.Kendall out of the boat, and the three went upon the deck of the ship.Mr. Lowington, who had not seen them, except at a distance, since thefleet sailed from Brockway harbor, gave them a warm greeting, shakinghands heartily with the lady first, and then with her companions.
"I am glad to see you looking so well, Mrs. Kendall," said theprincipal.
"I have enjoyed myself every moment of the voyage, and have never beensick a single hour," she replied.
"We have had a fine passage, and there was no excuse for an old saltlike you to be sick," laughed the principal.
"But I think we shall go on shore, and stay at a hotel a few days,just for a change," added Paul.
"That's a good plan; of course you will see more of the town and thepeople, than if you remain in your yacht."
"I am sure I like the cabin of the yacht better than any hotel I evervisited," laughed Mrs. Kendall.
"But a change will do you good, my dear," suggested Paul.
"What did you pick up last evening, when you hove to, Mr. Lowington?"
"We picked up a young Norwegian, about sixteen years old," answeredthe principal, detailing the circumstances under which Ole had beentaken on board.
"Where is he now?" asked Paul, looking about him to obtain a sight ofthe stranger.
"We clothed and fed him, and had become quite interested in him; butjust as the pilot came alongside we missed him. I have had the shipsearched for him, but we have not been able to find him, though hemust be concealed somewhere on board."
"That's strange!" exclaimed Mrs. Kendall, glancing at her husband.
"Perhaps not very strange," continued the principal. "The boy refusedto tell us how he came in an open boat, half full of water, and out ofsight of land. Probably he has run away from his friends, and hasconcealed himself to avoid being recognized by the pil
ot, or otherNorwegian people who may come on board. I judged by his appearancethat he had some reason for running away from his master or hisfriends, for he was only half clothed, in the filthiest rags that evercovered a human being."
"I should like a Norwegian in my yacht, to act as interpreter for us,"added Paul.
"I intended to keep him for that purpose myself, if I could ascertainwho his friends were, and make an arrangement with them, for I willnot encourage any boy in running away from his employers. Very likelywe shall find him again in the course of the day."
"Very well, sir; if you want him, I will look out for some one onshore," added Paul. "At what time do you pipe to lecture, Mr.Lowington?"
"Not before to-morrow forenoon, at two bells."
"I want to hear the lecture."
"So do I," laughed Mrs. Kendall. "I think it is a capital idea to havea professor tell us all about a country before we attempt to see it. Iused to read about the Norsemen, but I have forgotten all about themnow, and I want to refresh my memory."
"I wish all our boys had the same view of the matter," said Mr.Lowington.
"We will come on board before nine to-morrow morning, sir," addedPaul, as he handed his lady up the steps over the rail.
Descending to the boat, the three oarsmen shoved off, and pulled forthe shore, where they landed. The boat had not reached the land,before another barge, the counterpart of the first, and similarlymanned, left the Feodora, and pulled alongside the ship. Mr. RobertShuffles, the owner and commander of the second yacht, assisted hiswife up the ladder to the deck of the ship, where they were cordiallyreceived by the principal. The yacht Feodora was only six months olderthan the Grace, for which she had served as the model. Shuffles hadnot come into possession of any inheritance yet, but his father wasas liberal as he was wealthy, and gave his son an annual allowance,which enabled him to marry and keep a yacht. He and Paul had beenintimate friends since they were graduated from the Academy ship, andthey had made their plans in concert. He had married Lady Feodora ayear before, and she had now dropped her aristocratic title, andbecome a republican lady. Like her husband, she had acquired nauticaltastes, and was even more enthusiastic than he in anticipating thepleasures of a yacht cruise up the Baltic, and up the Mediterranean.Shuffles had not been so fortunate as Paul in finding needy graduatesof the Academy to officer his yacht, and a fat old shipmaster servedas first officer in the Feodora, while the second mate was a youngtar, not yet of age. Having paid their respects to the principal, theyoung couple returned to the boat, and followed Paul to the hotel onshore.
"That's the way to go about Europe," said Sanford, who was sitting onthe rail with several of his shipmates.
"What's the way?" asked Stockwell.
"Why, as Kendall and Shuffles do it--in a yacht, with no Latin andgeometry to bother their heads, and no decks to wash down on a coldmorning."
"That's so; but those fellows were the lambs of the squadron, we aretold," laughed Stockwell. "They didn't have black marks; didn't pickupon the professors, and didn't run away from the ship."
"What has all that to do with yachting?" asked Rodman.
"They were good boys, and therefore they have yachts as theirreward," replied Stockwell, laughing.
"Pelham was as good as Shuffles, but he has no yacht, and has to workon a salary for his living."
"He has the fun of it all the same, and Paul Kendall will not overworkhim. But I haven't a word to say against them. They were all goodfellows, if they were the ship's lambs."
"All the second cutters!" shouted the boatswain's mate, after his pipehad sounded through the ship.
"That means us," said Sanford. "Take your money and pea-jackets,fellows. Something may turn up before we come back."
"Ay, ay," replied Stockwell. "Pass the word to all our fellows."
In a few moments the fourth cutters appeared in the waist, withpea-jackets on their arms, and touched their caps to De Forrest, thefourth lieutenant, who appeared as the officer detailed to go in theboat, which now, as formally, was called the professors' barge,because it was generally appropriated to the use of the instructors.It was pulled by eight oarsmen, and Sanford was the coxswain. Theparty who had been considering the plan for an independent excursionon shore without incurring the perils and penalties of running away,were the crew of the second cutter. The fact of being together so muchin the boat, had united them so that they acted and plotted inconcert.
"What are you going to do with those pea-jackets?" asked De Forrest,when he saw their extra clothing.
"It's rather chilly up here in the evening, and we thought we mightwant them, while we were waiting," replied Sanford.
"I don't think it is very cold, and as to the evening, the sun don'tset till about eight o'clock," added the officer, as he went aft tothe professors who were going on shore, and reported that the boat wasready; for it had already been lowered into the water, and made fastto the swinging boom.
Her crew went over the side, and seated themselves in the cutter.
"Ready!" said the coxswain, as the stern-sheets of the barge rangedalongside the little stage at the foot of the ladder. "Up oars!"
Up went the eight oars to a perpendicular position, where they wereheld till the boat should be ready to go.
"I wonder where Ole is," said Sanford.
"Sh!" whispered Stockwell, who pulled the bow oar, shaking his headwith energy.
"What do you mean?" demanded the coxswain, in a low tone, for he wasvery much mystified by the pantomime of the bow oarsman.
"Don't say a word."
"Where is he?" persisted Sanford, who was not willing to have a secretkept from him even for a moment.
Stockwell pointed into the bottom of the boat, and then looked up atthe sky, with an affectation of cunning, while the rest of the crewsmiled as though they were in possession of the secret. Sanford saidno more, and joined the bowman in studying the aspect of the sky. Olewas in the boat to act as guide and interpreter, and if they chose toleave without running away, everything seemed to be favorable to theenterprise. Mr. Mapps and Dr. Winstock presently descended the steps,and seated themselves in the boat, followed by De Forrest.
"All ready, coxswain," said the latter.
"Ready! Let fall!" said Sanford, as he shoved off the stern of thecutter. "Give way--together!"
The well-trained crew bent to their oars, and the boat shot away fromthe ship towards the shore. Mr. Mapps was going to the town to obtainsome additional material for his lecture the following morning, andthe surgeon intended to call on Paul Kendall and lady at the hotel.
"This is a very picturesque town, doctor," said Mr. Mapps, as he gazedat the high, rocky steeps which surround Christiansand.
"Very; and I am rather sorry we are not to see more of the environs ofthe place," replied the surgeon. "I understand we sail to-morrownight."
"I dare say the students will see enough of Norway before they leaveit."
"We want to go into the interior," said De Forrest. "There is finefishing in the streams of Norway."
"Very likely Mr. Lowington will take you into the interior fromChristiania," suggested Dr. Winstock.
"I don't exactly see how it is possible to do so," added Mr. Mapps."The only conveyance of the country is the cariole, which seats butone person--perhaps two boys; and our squadron has nearly two hundredstudents. I am afraid there are not carioles enough in Christiania tocarry the whole of them."
"I think it's too bad we can't have a trial at the salmon," pouted DeForrest.
"Perhaps, if you waited till July, you might catch them," replied Mr.Mapps.
"We should be contented with trout, then."
"I have no doubt Mr. Lowington will do the best he can for you," saidDr. Winstock, as the boat neared the pier.
"In, bows!" called the coxswain; and the two bowmen tossed and boatedtheir oars, taking their stations in the fore-sheets, one of them withthe boat-hook in his hand. "Way enough!" added Sanford; and the restof the crew tossed their oars, and t
hen dropped them upon the thwarts,with a precision which seemed to astonish the group of Norwegians onthe wharf, who were observing them.
The two gentlemen landed, and walked up to the town together, leavingthe barge to wait for them.
"Part of you may go on shore for half an hour, if you wish, and walkabout," said De Forrest to his crew.
"I don't care about going ashore," replied Sanford.
"Nor I either," added Stockwell; and so they all said, very much tothe astonishment of the fourth lieutenant, who naturally supposed thatboys who had been at sea about four weeks would like to stretch theirlegs on the solid land for a short time.
"Don't any of you wish to go on shore?" he inquired.
"Not yet," replied Sanford. "If you wish to take a walk, I will pushoff from the shore, and wait till you return," said Sanford, veryrespectfully.
"What's up? You won't go on shore, and you wish me to do so!"exclaimed the suspicious officer.
"Nothing, sir," protested Sanford. "We don't intend to run away. Wethink that is played out."
"If you wanted to do so in this desolate country, I would let you doit, if I were the principal. But you are up to some trick, I know."
"What trick, sir?" demanded the coxswain, innocently.
"I don't know, but it is your next move," replied De Forrest, as heseated himself, and seemed confident of his ability to check anymischief which might be in the minds of his crew. "Shove off, bowman!Up oars! Let fall! Give way together!"
The oarsmen, rather vexed at the turn of events, obeyed the severalorders, and the boat was again cutting the still waters of the fjord.All around them were rocks, with several large and small islands insight. In various places on the rocks were affixed iron rings, towhich vessels could make fast in warping out of the bay when the windwas light or foul. A portion of the rock to which they were attachedwas whitewashed, so that the rings could easily be found, even in thenight. To one of these rings, on a small island near Odderoe, whichcommanded a full view of the landing-place, De Forrest directed thecoxswain to steer the boat.
"Make fast to that ring," said the officer.
"Ay, ay, sir," replied the bowman.
"Perhaps you would like to land here," added the lieutenant, in ajeering tone, as though he felt that he had checkmated his crew in anyevil purpose they entertained. "Whether you do or not, I think I shallstretch my legs on these rocks."
De Forrest leaped from thwart to thwart, and then over the bow uponthe island, as though he felt nothing but contempt for the power ofthe boat's crew to do mischief. He walked up the rough rocks to thesummit of the islet, where he paused, and for the first time glancedat his companions, whom he suspected of harboring some design againstthe peace and dignity of the ship. As he did so, he discovered asteamer, which had just passed through the narrow opening betweenOdderoe and the main land, and whose course lay close to the point ofthe island where the cutter was moored. He saw that the swash of thesteamer was likely to throw the boat on the rocks, and grind herplanking upon the sharp points of the island.
"In the boat!" he shouted, lustily. "Shove off!"
Sanford saw the danger which the lieutenant wished to avert, andpromptly obeyed the orders.
"Shove off, Stockwell!" he promptly shouted. "Up oars! Stern, all!Give way!"
Stockwell gave a tremendously hard push when he shoved off, and thecutter shot far out upon the still waters; in fact, so far that shewas forced directly into the way of the approaching steamer.
THE ACCIDENT TO THE SECOND CUTTER. Page 57.]
"Oars!" yelled the coxswain furiously, when he saw that he hadoverdone the matter. "Hold water! Go ahead! Give way!"
The crew, even in this moment of deadly peril,--for it looked asthough, in another instant, they would all be under the wheels of thesteamer,--obeyed every command with their wonted precision. But it wasa second too late to take the back track. If the boat had continued toback as at first, she would probably have escaped, for the steamer puther helm a-starboard a little, in order to favor her manoeuvre. Whena collision seemed inevitable, the steamer's bell was rung to stopher, and then to back her.
She struck the cutter; but as her progress had been powerfullychecked, the blow did not carry her under, though it stove in the sideof the boat. The water poured in through the broken broadside, and thecrew sprang for their lives. They leaped upon the guys and bob-staysof the steamer, and were hauled in by the people on the bow.
"Come out of there, Ole," said Stockwell, as he pulled the boat's sailfrom the extended form of the waif, who was concealed in the bottom ofthe boat.
Ole lost not a moment in following the example of his companions. Asthe steamer's headway had now been entirely checked, Stockwell heldthe wrecked cutter in her position, while Rodman passed thepea-jackets up to the forecastle of the steamer. Having done this,they abandoned the boat, and followed the example of their companions.No one was drowned, or even wet above his knees, for the steamer hadstruck the boat just hard enough to stave in her side, withoutcarrying her under.
The Norwegians hooked up the boat's painter, and taking it in tow,proceeded on her course; for the captain--as interpreted byOle--declared that his boat carried the mail, and he could not waitfor anything.