CHAPTER XXXI
The Burning Ship
Within an hour or so we had approached sufficiently near to theconflagration to prove the truth of Captain Jeremy's assertion.
It was a large vessel burning from bow to stern, the flames mountingto a tremendous height and casting a lurid glow on a thick column ofsmoke that blew miles to leeward. The masts and spars of the shipwere still standing, though licked by the devouring fire, while herdouble line of ports shone like a line of gigantic glow-worms.
Even at the distance we were from her we could hear the crackling ofthe burning woodwork, and the subdued roar of the flames as theyissued from the bowels of that floating inferno.
"Near enough!" exclaimed Captain Jeremy. "'Twill not do to get toleeward of her. Heave-to and lower away a boat; we may be able torender assistance, though I fear 'tis too late."
These orders were promptly carried out, and the _Golden Hope_ wasbrought-to at about three-quarters of a mile from the burning ship.'Enery, with a willing crew, took one of the quarter-boats and rowedboldly towards the vessel, while lanterns were hung on our riggingand guns were fired at frequent intervals to attract the attentionof any boat-load of survivors that might have managed to effect anescape.
Spellbound, I, with the rest of our remaining crew, watched theconquering progress of the devouring element. Yard after yard camecrashing down from aloft, the blazing timber plunging into the seawith a loud hiss as the flames were extinguished in the water. Thetarred and hempen shrouds, long since severed at the deadeyes, weredangling like fiery serpents from the swaying masts; while ever andanon the shotted guns of her broadside would discharge theirdangerous contents, the balls ricochetting on the surface of the seawith a series of fountain-like jets. Some of the shots passedunpleasantly close to the _Golden Hope_, and orders were given toforge ahead till we were well in line with the stern of the burningship, where, being still to windward, we were in no danger.
Meanwhile we could perceive 'Enery and his men pulling slowly roundthe ship at a respectful distance, the shot whizzing well over theirheads; and though the mate was to be seen standing up in the sternsheets and carefully examining whatever floating piece of wreckagethey came across, we knew that none of the unfortunate crew had beentaken into the boat. If still alive, where were they?
The roar of our ordnance, fired at regular intervals, added to thedin; yet this signal seemed useless, for no strange craft was to beseen rowing for the shelter offered by the _Golden Hope_.
Suddenly, with a loud crash, the foremast of the vessel went by theboard, and lay, still burning fiercely, across the fo'c'sle. Themainmast soon followed, but, falling clear of the ship, it driftedclose alongside, the damp timber still emitting a dense cloud ofsmoke.
By now the vessel had burned almost to the water's edge amidships,and crash after crash could be heard as the guns plunged through theburning planks into the hold. The fo'c'sle and poop still rearedthemselves high above the sea, the latter surmounted by a pillar offire that encircled the mizen-mast.
Suddenly the dazzling glare of the flames was eclipsed by a flash sobrilliant that I was obliged to close my eyes to shut out itsbrightness. Then came the deafening roar of an explosion, andopening my eyes, I saw the air filled with flying pieces ofshattered timber. The magazine had taken fire.
Almost immediately the fire was extinguished; a thick cloud of smokehovered over the spot where the ship had been, while aloft athousand fitful streaks of light marked the downward course of theburning timbers that had been shot up to an immense height.
For a full half minute the meteor-like flight continued, till thehiss of the last of the burning timbers ceased and a great darkness,intensified by the sudden cessation of the glare, overspread theagitated sea.
We were now considerably concerned for the safety of 'Enery and theboat's crew, for they were exposed to a great danger from thefalling wreckage, till the gleam of the boat's lantern showed thatthey were at least still afloat.
At length the men rowed back to the brig, having sustained nodamage, though their faces were blackened with the smoke andparticles of dust that enveloped everything within half a mile ofthe burning vessel.
"No sign of anyone," reported 'Enery, as he came over the side,"though they may have taken to the boats long before we arrived."
"That's true," assented Captain Jeremy, "so keep the signal gunsfiring till dawn."
"'Tis well that there's no sea running," said the mate. "A few hoursin an open boat will do no harm on a night like this, e'en thoughthe air is sharp."
"Not if we pick them up," added Captain Jeremy; "but I should notwonder if they have already shaped a course for land. Yet do youkeep the brig hove-to till daylight."
The day broke with a red, angry sky that betokened foul weather. Thewind, hitherto light, began to strengthen, and an ominous swellpresaged rough water within a few miles of us.
Sunrise revealed no trace of the boats of the ill-fated ship, so,ordering the _Golden Hope_ to be again placed on her course, CaptainJeremy retired to his cabin to enjoy a well-earned repose.
Hardly had he turned in when, just as seven bells was striking, thelook-out reported four boats ahead.
Instantly there was a rush to see what manner of craft they were,and it was soon evident that they were indeed the boats from theburning ship.
By this time there was a fairly high sea running, and the boats,having perceived our approach, had turned and lay on their oars,with their bows facing us, the men giving an occasional stroke tokeep the boats so that they met the rollers bows on.
"She was no ordinary trader," observed Silas Touchstone, pointing tothe little flotilla. "Yon boats are crowded to excess. There's acouple of hundred aboard 'em, or I'm a Dutchman."
"They would never reach land with the wind piping up as it isdoing," said Captain Jeremy, who had been roused from his cabin,giving a hasty glance to windward. "Stand by to shorten sail."
Already three of the boats had shipped several seas, for we couldsee the men bailing vigorously. There was not a moment to be lost.
It being now eight bells, we hoisted our ensign, according tocustom, and the sight of the Cross of St. George was hailed by acheer that was faintly borne to our ears from the still distantboats. If the survivors had had any doubts as to our nationality,they were now set at rest.
"Hands shorten sail!" Hardly had the last notes of the bos'n'smate's whistle died away, when the topmen were flying away aloft;the courses were taken up, the topsail yards lowered, and slowly the_Golden Hope_ began to lose way.
"Women and children too, by Jove!" ejaculated Captain Jeremy, as theboats made towards us. "'Tis well we are close to land, or we wouldbe hard put to it to feed them."
"'Twill mean half rations, in any case," replied 'Enery, "though themen will not mind that."
"I'm sure they won't," assented the Captain. "But stand by; let themen prepare bowlines, or we'll never get the women aboard withoutmishap."
A long-boat, with most of its passengers huddled on the bottomboards, was the first to get alongside, and willing hands helped theweary men to climb our heaving sides. This done, 'twas easier forour people to board the boat and fix the bowlines round the waistsof the female passengers; and without a hitch, though the frightenedwomen made no little commotion, we had them safely aboard. The crewfollowed, and we having no further use for the boat, she was castadrift.
The second and third boats were also relieved of their human loadsand likewise sent adrift, but the fourth gave us more trouble.
Being handled with less skill than her consorts, she crashedbroadside on to the _Golden Hope_ just as the brig was recoveringfrom a heavy roll, with the result that some of the boat's plankswere stove in and she commenced to fill.
In the confusion several of the passengers, despite the assurancesof the officers and seamen in the boat, jumped to their feet, sothat the already heavily laden craft was in imminent danger ofcapsizing.
Ropes were thrown from the towering sides of the
_Golden Hope_amidst a loud shout of "Women first!" Yet (though some excuse mustbe made for their cowardice) several of the men sprang for ourbulwarks. Others, with more presence of mind, assisted in slippingthe bowlines over the shoulders of the women; and as each one washoisted aboard the danger of the boat being swamped became less.
Just as the last female passenger was being hauled up, the knot inthe rope that held her became unhitched-no doubt 'twas a landlubberwho tied it--and the next instant she was struggling in the sea.
It so happened that at that moment I was standing in the main chainswith a coil of rope in my hands, ready to throw it into the boat.
Fastening one end of the line round my waist, and calling to some ofour men to tail on to the other end, I took a flying leap into thewater. In my haste I miscalculated the distance that the brigrolled, and ere I struck the surface I came into violent contactwith the side of the _Golden Hope_ as she swung back to larboard.
Half-dazed with the blow and well-nigh breathless, I plunged, orrather rolled, into the water. The shock of the immersion recoveredme some what, and I struck out to where I had seen the girl sink forthe second time.
Guided by the bubbles that rose to the surface, I swam downwards fornearly two fathoms, till just beneath me I saw her feebly strugglingform.
Grasping her by the hair--the only time I have ever served a womanthus--I reached the surface in a few strokes, and called to the mento haul handsomely on the rope. Then disengaging my hand andthrowing my left arm tightly round the girl's waist, I waited forthe _Golden Hope_ to come to the end of a roll, and shouted to themen to heave roundly. This they did, and in a trice we were on thedeck of the brig.
By this time the work of rescuing the other occupants of the boathad been completed. The female passengers had been sent into theafter cabins, there to be rigged out in motley garments of blankets,sailcloth, and what not. The male passengers were sent willy-nillyinto the fo'c'sle, where they and the crew of the lost ship wereaccommodated with the spare clothing of our men. The captain of thevessel, a short, red-faced man, was almost beside himself at theloss of his vessel, asserting in no mild tones that she had beenfired maliciously, and that he knew the culprit and would hand himup to justice at the first port we touched. Strangely enough, heuttered no expression of gratitude for the deliverance of the ship'scompany and passengers from the perils of the deep, nor did he seemsensible of the services we had rendered.
The ill-fated vessel was the _Phoenix_ of London, bound for Richmondand other parts of Virginia with a full cargo and a great number ofsettlers, mostly men of means who were dissatisfied with the stateof things at home, and hoped to live with greater freedom in the NewWorld. Many of them had lost their all, yet the worst sufferersseemed by far the most stouthearted of the forlorn crowd.
The _Phoenix_ was but four days out from the Downs when, just aftersunset, the alarm of fire was raised, and soon dense volumes ofsmoke were seen issuing from the fore hatch, apparently from thelamp and oil room. Already the flames had taken a good hold, and inspite of the utmost efforts of the crew, aided by many of thepassengers, the fire steadily gained, till just before midnight theorder was given to abandon the ship.
Directly the whole of the passengers and crew were embarked, theboats pushed off and shaped a course for the Lizard, and having theburning ship 'twixt them and us, they were prevented by the thickcloud of smoke and the roar of the flames from seeing our lights orhearing our signal guns.
Daylight showed them our sails well down to the west'ard, so, onmaking sure that we were proceeding in their direction, theyabandoned the attempt to reach land, and waited for us to come up.'Twas as well they did so, for all were of the opinion that none ofthe boats would have reached shore.
Having been unable to change my saturated clothing, the after cabinsbeing, as I have said, given over to the women, I borrowed someclothes from one of the men, putting on a thick pilot coat over all,for the air was raw, especially after our lengthy sojourn in theTropics.
Then, to regain warmth, I began to pace the deck vigorously. In themidst of my walk the poop door opened, and a girl appeared. In spiteof her quaint appearance--for she wore a skirt fashioned from a redblanket and a coat that belonged to Captain Jeremy--my heart gave asudden bound, for I was face to face with my sister Constance!
The Quest of the 'Golden Hope': A Seventeenth Century Story of Adventure Page 32