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Charley Laurel: A Story of Adventure by Sea and Land, a fiction by William H. G. Kingston |
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Chapter 23. A Hurricane |
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_ Chapter Twenty Three. A Hurricane
"I should be very thankful, however, if you could convey us to Saint Lucia, as we should prefer sailing in your ship to any other," he observed; "and as I am well known to your consignees, I may, perhaps, arrange the matter with them." I of course replied that I should be truly glad if this could be done, though I could not venture on my own responsibility to go there. "Oh, but my uncle will easily manage it," observed Emilie, "so we will consider it settled. I should not like to trust my dear brother on board any other ship." Sophie seemed inclined to speak, but hesitated: though the glance she gave me, I fancied, showed that she hoped I would not decline. "Oh, you must come, Laurel," said Henri. "My father will, I am sure, be glad to pay any expenses of extra insurance and that sort of thing, so that the interest of your owners will not suffer." Having seen my friends lodged at a comfortable hotel, I had to return on board to attend to my duties connected with the ship. I lost no time in discharging my cargo, and was not sorry to find that there would be some delay before the sugar and other produce I was to receive in return would be ready. I of course visited my friends every day, to see how poor Henri was getting on, and spent as much time with him as I could. They insisted as regularly on my remaining to dine and spend the evening. Every day that I saw the young ladies, I liked them better, and confessed to myself that I had begun to feel more than an ordinary interest for Sophie. Her eyes brightened when I entered, and her manner towards me was so gentle and so confiding, that I could not help fancying that the feelings I had for her were returned. Then I began to ask myself the question, Have I, with the precarious profession I have to depend on, without a name or family, with only one friend able to assist me, any right to attempt to win the affections of a young girl accustomed to all the luxuries of a rich planter's establishment? or is it indeed likely that her father would allow her to marry a person situated as I am? These and similar thoughts occupied my mind; and I determined, the next time I went to the house, to be very cautious in my manner, and, only paying such attentions to her and her cousin as common courtesy demanded, to devote myself rather to her uncle and aunt, or to Henri, who had now sufficiently recovered to be able to join the party in the drawing-room. The next day, however, when I went to call on the merchants to whom the _Ellen_ was consigned, they inquired whether I should have any objection to carry Monsieur de Villereine and his family to Saint Lucia. "He has made the necessary arrangements with us, so that, if the ship is ready, you can sail the day after to-morrow." I tried to look unconcerned, and replied that I should be very glad to do anything to accommodate them. "We will consider the matter settled then," was the answer; "you can get ready for sea." I own that I had had my cabins burnished up, and had procured a new dinner and tea service, while I directed the mates to get the ship in as trim order as possible. As soon as the cargo was discharged, the painters had been busy in all directions about her; while Dick, who suspected the truth, got the decks holy-stoned and scrubbed till they looked almost as white as snow. All things were ready by the day I had been directed to sail, and early in the forenoon I went on shore to escort my passengers on board. They too were in very different guise to that when they came on board after their shipwreck. Sophie looked more sweet and lovely than ever, in the light costume which the heat of the climate required, while Emilie was cheerful and full of conversation, doing her utmost to keep up her brother's spirits. I was sorry to see less improvement in him than I had hoped. He looked pale and ill, though he declared that he had recovered from the injuries he had received when dashed against the rocks. The weather was fine, and I did not expect to be long in running across to Saint Lucia, which is one of the nearest islands in the Caribbean Sea to Barbadoes. The wind, however, headed us soon after we got clear of the land, and a few hours afterwards it fell a dead calm, and we lay immovable on the glass-like sea. I cannot say that for my own sake I specially regretted this, though, knowing the wishes of my friends, I felt anxious to make the shortest possible passage. I had an awning rigged, so that the ladies could spend the day on deck, where they sat busy with their needles; for, unlike the Creoles generally, they were evidently good housewives. "As you may suppose, Captain Laurel, having lost all our things, we have plenty of work before us to make fresh ones," observed Emilie, laughing. "Though as we intended to get rigged out, as you would call it, in Paris, fortunately our loss was not so severe as it would have been on our homeward voyage. Ah, but I am wrong to talk so lightly, when I speak of that terrible event. Still, you understand, that we fancy we can make our own things better than anybody else can make them for us, and therefore you must not expect to find us sitting, like other young ladies, with our hands before us." Sophie, however, was not so diligent as her cousin, and did not object to come to the side of the ship, and watch the strange creatures of the deep as they swam or floated by. When night came on, and the stars shone forth from the clear sky, each reflected in the deep as in a mirror, she stood with me while I told her their names. I was scarcely aware how time had passed by, when I heard Monsieur de Villereine's voice summoning his niece, and telling her that it was time for her to retire to her cabin. I was never addicted to whistling for a wind, and certainly should not have done so on that occasion. A breeze, however, came at last, and the _Ellen_ gliding swiftly over the calm sea, we came in sight of that most beautiful and picturesque island of Saint Lucia. Two lofty heights of a sugar-loaf form, shooting up from the sea, and feathered from base to summit with the richest foliage, were the first objects which attracted our attention. Beyond these rose a range of mountains, running north and south through the island, and broken into the most fantastic shapes. As we sailed along the shore, having the mountains still as the background, here and there appeared the most lovely little caves and bays, fringed with luxuriant cane-fields, and enlivened by the neatly laid-out mansions of the planters; while numerous fishing and passage boats, with their long light masts and lateen sails, were gliding over the calm waters. "I used to tell you, Laurel, that our island was one of the most beautiful in the world--don't you think so?" said Henri, as, while standing near his sister and cousin, I was watching the shore, and every now and then addressing them. "Indeed it is. I am not surprised that you are so fond of it, and, could I leave the sea, I should be content to spend my days there," I answered, speaking as I felt. "Oh, do," exclaimed Henri. "Come and turn planter; we can give you plenty of occupation, and my health as been so bad lately, that I should be glad if you could take my place." "I am afraid that, having lived so little on shore, I should make but a poor farmer," I answered, laughing. Sophie looked up at me, and remarked: "The difficulties to be overcome are not very great, I suspect, and I am sure you would soon learn all that is necessary." "The proposal is indeed a tempting one," I answered; "and yet I love the sea, and should be sorry to abandon it." "Oh, you can take an occasional trip to England," observed Henri. "Have a ship of your own, and just make a voyage when you get tired of the shore." Our conversation was interrupted by a shift of wind, which compelled me to issue orders for trimming sails. The steward then announced luncheon, and I remained some time on deck after my passengers had gone below. I had observed Dick, who did not often trouble himself about scenery, watching the coast with more than usual interest. "Do you know, captain," he said, coming up to me, "I have a notion that I have seen this island before. The look of the coast is very like that we sailed along when I was aboard the _Laurel_, before I picked you up. I shall be able to tell better when we come off the harbour, for then I think I should be sure to know the place again. It will be strange if it should turn out that I am right in my idea, and if so, I would advise you to make inquiries, and learn if any of the families on shore about that time lost a little boy in the way you were lost. Maybe, as the newspapers say, you will hear of something to your advantage; and if you don't, why you won't be worse off than you are now, and you may be very sure that as long as Dick Driver lives, you have got a friend who will stick to you, blow high or blow low." "I am sure you will, Dick," I answered. "Though perhaps, as many years have passed by since you were last on these seas, you may be mistaken as to the island." Yet, although I said this, I could not help allowing strange hopes and fears to agitate my bosom. I might discover my parents, or they might be dead, and their successors might be unwilling to acknowledge a stranger coming among them. I could scarcely calm myself sufficiently to go into the cabin. I determined, however, to say nothing about Dick's remarks, but to try and overcome all the hopes which I found rising within me. I apologised for being late to luncheon, on the plea of being detained on deck by duty, and did my best to perform the honours of the table and try to converse in my usual manner. The ladies were eager to know when I thought we should get in. "The wind is so light that I do not expect to enter the harbour till to-morrow morning," I replied. "I cannot pretend to regret this, as I know my stay will be very short, and it will defer the time when I must bid you farewell." Sophie looked up at me, and a shade of sadness passed over her sweet countenance. I could not be mistaken. I interpreted her feelings by my own, and just then I would have given a great deal to have had a proper excuse for remaining at Saint Lucia. Night came on, and the _Ellen_ floated calmly on the moonlit sea. Emilie had insisted on Henri going below, afraid of his being exposed to the night-air: indeed, the trying cough from which he suffered showed how necessary it was that all care should be taken of him. Sophie still lingered on deck. I invited her to come to the side and watch the moonbeams playing on the waters. "I know what sailors have to go through," she observed, "but yet I fancy the enjoyments of a night like this must almost recompense them for the tempest and rough seas they have to endure." "We get so well accustomed to both one and the other. Though acknowledging the beauty of the ocean under all its various phases, whether sleeping as now under the beams of the pale moon, or glowing in the rays of the ruddy sun, we value them less, I fear, than those who only occasionally venture on the world of waters," I remarked. "Oh, but I am sure I could never look with indifference on such a scene as this," said Sophie, "and should be content to make voyage after voyage to witness it." However, I do not feel disposed to say what else we talked about. I was young, and said what I certainly did not intend to say. I told Sophie that I loved her, and would never marry any one else. She did not withdraw her hand, and, whispering that I had made her very happy, promised that she would be faithful to me, and that she did not suppose her father and mother would object to me, especially as I was the friend of her cousin. The time flew by faster than I supposed, as we thus stood talking; Dick, who had charge of the deck, keeping at a judicious distance. Suddenly the light on the water disappeared, a cloud had obscured the moon; again the light shone forth, and again was shut out; still no wind filled our sails. I knew, however, that it might come ere long. Sophie still lingered by my side. Hitherto the ocean had slept in silence. Suddenly a rushing murmuring sound fell on my ear. "Hands aloft, and shorten sail!" I shouted. There was not a moment to be lost. "Go below, I entreat you," I said, leading Sophie to the companion-hatch. "Oh, what is going to happen?" she asked, in an anxious tone. "A hurricane is, I fear, upon us," I answered, "and you will be safer below." She no longer hesitated, and her father, aroused by my voice, happily came to assist her down. "Turn the hands up!" I shouted to Dick, who hurried forward to rouse up the watch below. In less than a minute the other mates and the rest of the crew were on deck. Courses were hauled up, topgallant sheets were let fly, topsails lowered. The crew had sprung aloft. The fore-topsail was hauled, but before the men were off the yards, the hurricane was down upon us. Over the ship heeled. In an instant the topgallantsails were blown to ribbons. "Down, for your lives, down!" I shouted. No human power could have handled the canvas now, with wild roars lashing furiously in the wind. The main and mizen-topsails were blown out of the bolt-ropes, and soon with innumerable coils encircled the yards. The ship, relieved of the pressure of the sails, righted. Happily the wind was off the land, or in a few minutes she would have been driven on shore. Still there was the danger of it shifting; I therefore put the helm up, and ran off before the wind. Every instant the sea rose, and as she got farther and farther from the land, she began to pitch and tumble wildly about. Dick and several hands, going aloft with axes, at length cleared the topgallant yards, and we got them down on deck, and struck the gallant masts. Getting the main-topsail set, a lull occurring, I was able to heave her to. Not till then could I venture to leave the deck. On entering the cabin, I found my passengers clinging to the sofas. By the light which swung to and fro in the centre, I saw that they all looked pale and alarmed, expecting again to have to encounter the fearful dangers from which they had lately escaped. I did my best to reassure them, by expressing my hopes that the hurricane would soon cease, and that, God protecting us, we might be able to enter port. "Oh, then I have no fear," exclaimed Sophie; and raising her head, she did her best to impart the same confidence she felt to her companions. Not knowing, however, what might occur, I was compelled again to return quickly to the deck. The gale howled and whistled through the rigging, the waves roared, and the sea, as it rose in wild billows around, every now and then broke on board, threatening to sweep our decks clear of all upon them. The lightning, darting from the clouds in vivid flashes, played around our masts. At any instant the electric fluid might, I knew full well, come hissing down on deck, and set the ship on fire. Should also the wind shift, we should lose more of our sails, and might be driven before daylight helplessly on shore. It was a very anxious time; for I felt that I had not only the ship to look after, but her whom I loved more than my life, and those dear to her, under my charge. Still the confidence in God's protecting care which has cheered me through life supported me on that trying occasion. I knew too that it was enjoyed by my friends; for, from the conversations I had had with them, I had discovered that they possessed the same faith as I did, and though, from living among those who differed from them, they did not speak in public on religious subjects, they made the precepts of the Bible the rule of their lives. _ |
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