Have ye seen Samson yet, sir? asked the boatswain, with an unusually grave look.
No; I was just going to inquire about him. No worse, I hope?
I think he is, sir. Seems to me that he aint long for this world. The lifes bin too much for him: he never was cut out for a sailor, an he takes things so much to heart that I do believe worry is doin more than work to drive him on the rocks.
Ill go and see him at once, said our hero.
Fred Samson, the sick man referred to, had been put into a swing-cot in a berth amidships to give him as much rest as possible. To all appearance he was slowly dying of consumption. When Brooke entered he was leaning on one elbow, gazing wistfully through the port-hole close to his head. His countenance, on which the stamp of death was evidently imprinted, was unusually refined for one in his station in life.
Im glad you have come, Mr Brooke, he said slowly, as his visitor advanced and took his thin hand.
My poor fellow, said Charlie, in a tone of low but tender sympathy, I wish with all my heart I could do you any good.
The sight of your kind face does me good, returned the sailor, with a pause for breath between almost every other word. I dont want you to doctor me any more. I feel that Im past that, but I want to give you a message and a packet for my mother. Of course you will be in London when you return to England. Will you find her out and deliver the packet? It contains only the Testament she gave me at parting and a letter.
My dear fellowyou may depend on me, replied Brooke earnestly. Where does she live?
In Whitechapel. The full address is on the packet. The letter enclosed tells all that I have to say.
But you spoke of a message, said Brooke, seeing that he paused and shut his eyes.
Yes, yes, returned the dying man eagerly, I forgot. Give her my dear love, and say that my last thoughts were of herself and God. She always feared that I was trusting too much in myselfin my own good resolutions and reformation; so I have beenbut thats past. Tell her that God in His mercy has snapped that broken reed altogether, and enabled me to rest my soul on Jesus.
As the dying man was much exhausted by his efforts to speak, his visitor refrained from asking more questions. He merely whispered a comforting text of Scripture and left him apparently sinking into a state of repose.
Then, having bandaged the finger of a man who had carelessly cut himself while using his knife aloft, Charlie returned to the cabin to continue an interrupted discussion with the first mate on the subject of astronomy.
From all which it will be seen that our heros tendencies inclined him to be as much as possible all things to all men.
Chapter Six.
Disaster, Starvation, and Death
The least observant of mortals must have frequently been impressed with the fact that events and incidents of an apparently trifling description often lead to momentoussometimes tremendousresults.
Soon after the occurrence of the incidents referred to in the last chapter, a colony of busy workers in the Pacific Ocean were drawing towards the completion of a building on which they had been engaged for a long time. Like some lighthouses this building had its foundations on a rock at the bottom of the sea. Steadily, perseveringly, and with little cessation, the workers had toiled for years. They were small insignificant creatures, each being bent on simply performing the little bit of work which he, she, or it had been created to do probably without knowing or caring what the result might be, and then ending his, her, or its modest labours with life. It was when this marine building had risen to within eight or ten feet of the surface of the sea that the Walrus chanced to draw near to it, but no one on board was aware of the existence of that coral-reef, for up to the period we write of it had failed to attract the attention of chart-makers.
The vessel was bowling along at a moderate rate over a calm sea, for the light breeze overhead that failed to ruffle the water filled her topsails. Had the wind been stormy a line of breakers would have indicated the dangerous reef. As it was there was nothing to tell that the good ship was rushing on her doom till she struck with a violent shock and remained fast.
Of course Captain Stride was equal to the emergency. By the quiet decision with which he went about and gave his orders he calmed the fears of such of his crew as were apt to lose their heads in the midst of sudden catastrophe.
Lower away the boats, lads. Well get her off right a way, he said, in a quick but quiet tone.
Charlie Brooke, being a strong believer in strict discipline, at once ran to obey the order, accompanied by the most active among the men, while others ran to slack off the sheets and lower the topsails.
In a few minutes nearly all the men were in the boats, with hawsers fixed to the stern of the vessel, doing their uttermost to pull her off.
Charlie had been ordered to remain on deck when the crew took to the boats.
Come here, Mr Brooke, I want you, said the Captain, leading his young friend to the taffrail. Its pretty clear to me that the poor old Walrus is done for
I sincerely hope not sir, said Charlie, with anxious looks.
A short time will settle the question, returned the Captain, with unwonted gravity. If she dont move in a few minutes, Ill try what heaving out some o the cargo will do. As supercargo, you know where its all stowed, so, if youll pint out to me which is the least valooable, an at the same time heaviest part of it, Ill send the mate and four men to git it on deck. But to tell you the truth even if we do git her off I dont think shell float. Shes an oldish craft, not fit to have her bottom rasped on coral rocks. But well soon see.
Charlie could not help observing that there was something peculiarly sad in the tone of the old mans voice. Whether it was that the poor captain knew the case to be utterly hopeless, or that he was overwhelmed by this calamity coming upon him so soon after the wreck of his last ship, Charlie could not tell, but he had no time to think, for after he had pointed out to the mate the bales that could be most easily spared he was again summoned aft.
She dont move, said the captain, gloomily. We must git the boats ready, for if it comes on to blow only a little harder well have to take to em. So do you and the stooard putt your heads together an git up as much provisions as you think the boats will safely carry. Only necessaries, of course, an take plenty o water. Ill see to it that charts, compasses, canvas, and other odds and ends are ready.
Again young Brooke went off, without saying a word, to carry out his instructions. Meanwhile one of the boats was recalled, and her crew set to lighten the ship by heaving part of the cargo overboard. Still the Walrus remained immovable on the reef, for the force with which she struck had sent her high upon it.
If we have to take to the boats, sir, said Charlie, when he was disengaged, it may be well to put some medicines on board, for poor Samson will
Ay, ay, do so, lad, said the captain, interrupting; Ive been thinkin o that, an you may as well rig up some sort o couch for the poor fellow in the long-boat, for I mean to take him along wi myself.
Are you so sure, then, that there is no chance of our getting her off?
Quite sure. Look there. He pointed, as he spoke, to the horizon to windward, where a line of cloud rested on the sea. Thatll not be long o comin here. It wont blow very hard, but itll be hard enough to smash the old Walrus to bits. If youve got any valooables aboard that youd rather not lose, youd better stuff em in your pockets now. When things come to the wust mind your helm, an look out as I used to say to my missus
He stopped abruptly and turned away. Evidently the thought of the missus was too much for him just then.
Charlie Brooke hurried off to visit the sick man, and prepare him for the sad change in his position that had now become unavoidable. But another visitor had been to see the invalid before him. Entering the berth softly, and with a quiet look, so as not to agitate the patient needlessly, he found to his regret, though not surprise, that poor Fred Samson was dead. There was a smile on the pale face, which was turned towards the port window, as if the dying man had been taking a last look of the sea and sky when Death laid a hand gently on his brow and smoothed away the wrinkles of suffering and care. A letter from his mother, held tightly in one hand and pressed upon his breast told eloquently what was the subject of his last thoughts.
Charlie cut a lock of hair from the sailors brow with his clasp-knife, and, taking the letter gently from the dead hand, wrapped it therein.
Theres no time to bury him now. His berth must be the poor fellows coffin, said Captain Stride, when the death was reported to him. The swell o the coming squall has reached us already. Look alive wi the boats, men!
By that time the rising swell was in truth lifting the vessel every few seconds and letting her down with a soft thud on the coral reef. It soon became evident to every one on board that the Walrus had not many hours to liveperhaps not many minutesfor the squall to which the Captain had referred was rapidly bearing down, and each successive thud became more violent than the previous one. Knowing their danger full well, the men worked with a will and in a few minutes three boats, well provisioned, were floating on the sea.
The need for haste soon became apparent, for the depth of water alongside was so insufficient that the long-boatdrawing as she did considerably more water than the otherstouched twice when the swells let her drop into their hollows.
It was arranged that Charlie should go in the long-boat with the captain, Raywood the passenger, and ten men of the crew. The remainder were to be divided between the other two boats which were to be in charge of the first and second officers respectively.
Jump in, Brooke, cried the Captain, as he sat in the stern-sheets looking up at our hero, who was busily engaged assisting the first mate to complete the arrangements of his boat, weve struck twice already. I must shove off. Is Raywood ready?
Hes in the cabin looking for something, sir; Ill run and fetch him.
Stay! Weve touched again! shouted the Captain. You an Raywood can come off with one o the other boats. Ill take you on board when in deep watershove off, lads.
Jump in with me, sir, said the first mate, as he hastily descended the side.
Come along, Raywood, shouted Charlie, as he followed. No time to lose!
The passenger rushed on deck, scrambled down the side, and took his seat beside Charlie, just as the long threatened squall burst upon them.
The painter was cut, and they drifted into deep water with the second mates boat, which had already cast off.
Fortunate was it for the whole crew that Captain Stride had provided for every emergency, and that, among other safeguards, he had put several tarpaulins into each boat, for with these they were enabled to form a covering which turned off the waves and prevented their being swamped. The squall turned out to be a very severe one, and in the midst of it the three boats were so far separated that the prospect of their being able to draw together again until evening was very remote. Indeed the waves soon ran so high that it required the utmost attention of each steersman to keep his craft afloat, and when at last the light began to fade the boats were almost out of sight of each other.
No chance, I fear, of our ever meeting again, remarked the mate, as he cast a wistful look at the southern horizon where the sail of the long-boat could be barely seen like the wing of a sea-gull. Your lot has been cast with us, Mr Brooke, so youll have to make the best of it.
I always try to make the best of things, replied Charlie. My chief regret at present is that Raywood and I, being two extra hands, will help to consume your provisions too fast.
Luckily my appetite is a poor one, said Raywood, with a faint smile; and its not likely to improve in the circumstances.
Im not so sure o that sir, returned the mate, with an air that was meant to be reassuring; fresh air and exposure have effected wonders before now in the matter of healthso they say. Another pull on the halyards, Dick; that looks like a fresh squall. Mind your sheets, Will Ward.
A prompt Ay, ay, sir from Dick Darvall and the cabin-boy showed that each was alive to the importance of the duty required of him, while the other menof whom there were sixbusied themselves in making the tarpaulin coverings more secure, or in baling out the water which, in spite of them, had found its way into the boat.
Charlie rose and seated himself on the thwart beside the fine-looking seaman Dick Darvall, so as to have a clearer view ahead under the sail.
Long-boat nowhere to be seen now, he murmured half to himself after a long look.
No, sirnor the other boat either, said Darvall in a quiet voice. We shall never see em no more.
I hope you are wrong, returned Charlie; indeed I feel sure that the weather will clear during the night, and that we shall find both boats becalmed not far off.
Maybe so, sir, rejoined the sailor, in the tone of one willing to be, but not yet, convinced.
Our hero was right as to the first, but not as to the second, point. The weather did clear during the night, but when the sun arose next morning on a comparatively calm sea neither of the other boats was to be seen. In fact every object that could arrest the eye had vanished from the scene, leaving only a great circular shield of blue, of which their tiny craft formed the centre.
Chapter Seven.
Adrift on the Sea
You are ill, Will Ward, was Dick Darvalls first remark when there was sufficient daylight to distinguish faces.
Youre another! was the cabin-boys quick, facetious retort, which caused Darvall to smile and had the effect of rousing the half-sleeping crew.
But you are ill, my boy, repeated the seaman earnestly.
No, Dick, not exactly ill, returned Will, with a faint smile, but Im queer.
Each man had spent that stormy night on the particular thwart on which he had chanced to sit down when he first entered the boat, so that all were looking more or less weary, but seamen are used to uncomfortable and interrupted slumbers. They soon roused themselves and began to look about and make a few comments on the weather. Some, recurring naturally to their beloved indulgence, pulled out their pipes and filled them.
Have ee a light, Jim? asked a rugged man, in a sleepy tone, of a comrade behind him.
No, Jack, I havent answered Jim, in a less sleepy tone, slapping all his pockets and thrusting his hands into them.
Have you, Dick? asked the rugged man in some anxiety.
No, I havent, replied Darvall, in a very serious voice, as he also took to slapping his pockets; nonor baccy!
It was curious to note at this point how every seaman in that boat became suddenly sympathetic and wide awake, and took to hasty, anxious examination of all his pocketsvest jacket, and trousers. The result was the discovery of a good many clay pipes, more or less blackened and shortened, with a few plugs of tobacco, but not a single match, either fusee or congreve. The men looked at each other with something akin to despair.