Chapter 9. The Adventure Of The "Ranger's" Boats

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_ CHAPTER NINE. THE ADVENTURE OF THE "RANGER'S" BOATS.

A CALM--THE CUTTER SEEN ASTERN--PEOPLE CRY OUT FOR WATER--HARRY TAKES AN OBSERVATION--THE LAUNCH PUT TO RIGHTS--SQUIDS LEAP ON BOARD--A HAIL FROM THE CUTTER--HOLT'S SAD CONDITION--PETER BEGS TO JOIN WILLY--LIZARD KILLS A WHALE--BLUBBER USED AS FUEL--WILD-FOWL SHOT--MRS RUMBELOW VISITS THE CUTTER--CUTTER'S CREW TRY TO DETAIN MRS RUMBELOW--THE CREWS TAKE TO THE OARS--MRS RUMBELOW ASSISTS IN ROWING.

When the young commander of the "Ranger's" launch awoke, he found her floating on a glassy sea. Not a breath of wind filled her sails, though every now and then a long, low undulation rose beneath her keel, and went rolling away to the southward. The sun was striking down with undimmed splendour upon the world of waters. Harry's head had been sheltered from its burning rays by a shawl which Mrs Rumbelow had thoughtfully thrown over him. He felt that heavy weight at his heart which those oppressed with care or sorrow are apt to experience. In a few minutes, however, after uttering a secret prayer to Heaven for strength, he was able to cast it off, and arousing himself, sat up to consider what he had to do. Most of the people, under the superintendence of the doctor, were employed in drying the tea and biscuits, and other articles wetted by the salt water. On lines stretched from the masts were hung up numberless articles of clothing and bedding. The women were seated in the bottom of the boat; one was nursing the baby, who appeared still flourishing. Very few were idle. Mrs Morley and her daughters were setting them a good example, and Mrs Rumbelow was making her way among them, the most active of the party with hand and tongue. The doctor was busy for'ard over the stove, where, with the assistance of the armourer's and carpenter's mates, he was engaged on some iron work which absorbed his whole attention. Harry's first impulse was to look out for the other boat. At first he could not distinguish her, but by the aid of a glass he made out her sail just rising above the horizon to the eastward; yet it was so indistinct that, had not Willy and Paul Lizard declared they could make it out, he might have supposed himself to be mistaken. He did not forget to speak a few words to his female passengers.

"Oh, Mr Shafto, cannot you give us more water?" exclaimed Mrs Twopenny. "We have only had that little tin caseful a-piece the whole of this morning, and the doctor says we must be contented with it."

"We are under the doctor's orders on that point," answered Harry, afraid that others might join in the complaint made by the poor lady. "Captain Twopenny will, I am sure, agree with me in the importance of following his advice."

The captain, however, had no little difficulty in tranquillising the invalid lady. She had been accustomed all her life to be petted, and to have what she asked for, and was little prepared to endure the trials she would now be called upon to go through.

"It must be near noon," said Willy, remembering that an observation had to be taken. Harry pulled out his watch--there was but little time to lose. The quadrant was got ready. Harry felt somewhat weak, as he stood up with it at his eye, while Willy, with note-book in hand, marked down the degrees as he read them off. After a satisfactory observation was taken, the result showed that they were somewhat farther to the north than the latitude where they had left the ship, while he calculated that, since then, they had run upwards of a hundred miles. Still their distance to the nearest known land was very considerable. Water, Harry feared, would be their chief want. His mind on that point was, however, somewhat relieved when Willy, coming aft, told him that the doctor hoped to manufacture a still for producing fresh water from that of the sea.

"He forgets the amount of fuel he will require for the purpose," remarked Harry.

"He told me not to be unhappy about that," answered Willy. "Perhaps he expects to catch a whale."

Harry smiled faintly at the notion.

"But we may catch some smaller creatures, though," exclaimed Willy. "I have just found a harpoon, and Paul Lizard has often told me that he is a first-rate harpooner, and has struck many a porpoise and dolphin in his time."

"Please, sir, if we can see one of those creatures, I have little fear but what we may manage him," observed Paul, who was standing steering close to them.

Harry's hopes revived on hearing this; not that he would have allowed anybody to suppose that he entertained any fears about the ultimate safety of those confided to his charge.

The day was employed in putting the boat to rights, re-stowing carefully everything of value, and heaving overboard several useless and heavy articles. The carpenters' first care was to tighten the hoops round the water-casks, and it was hoped that, if water could be procured, the leaky cask would now hold it. The empty cases were now broken-up for firewood, to assist the doctor in his operations; and when they heard what he was about, the spirits of most of the party revived. Poor Mrs Morley and her daughters, however, could not forget the brave colonel left to perish with his men; and Mrs Rumbelow, though she did her best to cheer others, every now and then uttered a sigh she could not suppress, as she looked in the direction where the ship had been left. The day was drawing to a close.

"Hurra!" shouted Willy, "the cutter is nearing us. I have been watching her for some time--they have got out their oars--that shows they have some strength left."

Still the other boat was at a considerable distance when night closed in. There was no change in the weather. The sky was clear and the stars shone out brilliantly; the watch was set, and all hands not on duty lay down to sleep, sheltering themselves as best they could under the thwarts, among the packages, or covering themselves up with cloaks, or pieces of sail-cloth or matting. Willy took the first watch. He felt not a little proud, as he sat in the stern-sheets, at being the only officer on duty. Strange sounds came across the ocean. He was sure that some were made by whales, as they rose to breathe at the surface. Now and then a splash was heard as some huge monster leaped out of the water. Suddenly a large flabby mass was dashed against his face, and at the same time several other dark objects sprang into the boat.

"Hilloa!" cried the doctor, towards whom one of them had directed its course. "Who gave me that slap in the face? Ah, I see," he added, sitting up and lifting the flabby mass in his hand. "A _cephalopoda-sepia octopus_, commonly called a squid. The fellow nearly poked out my eye with his beak. What, Willy, were you assaulted too?"

Willy, who had been almost knocked over by the blow from the creature, was just recovering himself.

"It nearly drilled a hole in my nose," said Willy, laughing.

"Well, never mind," exclaimed the doctor. "I wish only a few more would come on board. They are ugly beasts; but, fried in butter, will serve us for breakfast, and prove a better dish than salt pork. How many are there of them?"

"Five or six, I think," said Willy.

"Well, hand them to me, and I'll put a stop to their crawling propensities. They would frighten the ladies if they were to make their way into the cabin."

The doctor had got out his knife, and was engaged in scientifically depriving the creatures of life. This done, they were stowed away in the stern-sheets.

"A covey of flying-fish would have been more acceptable," observed the doctor, as he again composed himself to rest; "but they are not to be found in these latitudes."

Two or three people, awakened by the doctor's voice, inquired what was the matter.

"Only a few squids come on board to be cooked for breakfast," answered Willy. Those who had spoken, satisfied with the reply, were quickly again asleep.

Silence once more reigned on board, broken only by the snores of the sleepers, though the blowing of whales or other cetacea could be heard every now and then, now in the distance, now somewhat nearer; and Willy hoped that in the morning they might be successful in catching some of the smaller ones, and obtain a supply of oil. Some time thus passed away; the first watch was nearly over, when he was startled by hearing a loud hail astern. Unwilling to awaken the ladies, he refrained from replying. He could just then distinguish the splash of oars; and straining his eyes through the darkness, he at last made out a boat approaching. He had no doubt she was the cutter, and he hoped to receive good tidings of those on board. As she drew near, he heard every now and then a strange wild shout, and several persons speaking. At length the boat came close up under the stern of the launch.

"Is that the cutter of His Majesty's ship 'Ranger?'" asked Willy.

"Ay, ay," answered a voice, which he knew to be that of Roger Bollard, the boatswain.

"Why, Mr Bollard, what is the matter?" he inquired.

"One of our people has lost his wits, and if you have the doctor aboard, we wish he could see what he can do for him."

"Who is he?" asked Willy.

"Mr Holt, sir."

The doctor had started up on hearing Willy speaking. Roger Bollard repeated what he had before said. "Clap a strait-waistcoat on him, and keep his head cool," cried the doctor, sitting up. "I'll see him in the morning; I cannot do him much good now."

"But he may be overboard before then, sir," answered Bollard. "It's a hard job to keep him quiet now, and he is getting worse and worse. He swears that he will swim back to the ship, as he has left all his traps aboard, and abuses us for not going to get them."

"Lash him to a thwart, then," said the doctor. "Still, if you will come alongside, I'll see what I can do for him."

"Do! What can a wretched saw-bones like you do? I say that I am an officer in His Majesty's service, and I decline being treated like a common lunatic," exclaimed the poor young man.

"He has got some sense left, at all events," observed the doctor. "He never had much in his brains, however."

The cutter coming alongside, the doctor stepped on board. "Don't desert us, Dr Davis," said several of those on board the launch. While Dr Davis was talking to the unfortunate young officer, and trying to calm him, Willy asked the boatswain how those with him had fared.

"It's a mercy we were not swamped, so we ought not to complain in regard to other matters," answered Mr Bollard. "We have, however, but a scanty supply of water, and that poor young gentleman and several others have been crying out for more than I could venture to give them. Our provisions, too, are nearly all wet--the flour and biscuit especially."

"That's bad news," remarked Willy. "We must hope soon to get a fresh supply of water, and to do without the biscuits and flour."

After a time the doctor came back to the launch; he appeared to have quieted the young ensign, though he left directions with his companions to watch him narrowly, observing that he could not answer for his not suddenly taking it into his head to leap overboard.

"Hilloa!" cried a voice, after the doctor had returned. "Is that you, Dicey? I was fast asleep till this moment. I am so glad."

It was Peter Patch who spoke. "I wish Shafto would let me come into your boat; we should have much better fun together."

"I should be very glad to have you," said Willy, "but I am sure Shafto will not allow it. You were ordered into the cutter, and there I would advise you to make up your mind to remain."

Peter seemed rather annoyed at this rebuff; but still he knew very well that Willy was right. Bollard remarked that he was afraid all the other boats had gone down. He had looked around for them as he was making sail to follow the launch. One, which was at no great distance, was evidently deeply laden, the seas threatening every instant to break over her. Soon afterwards she suddenly disappeared, and he had seen her no more. The people in the cutter seemed to have suffered more than those in the launch, having been completely wetted by the seas which broke on board; only by constantly bailing had she been kept afloat.

In the morning, when Shafto awoke, he was surprised to find the cutter so close at hand. It showed how soundly he had slept that he had not heard a word of the conversation which had gone on forward. The two boats now floated close together, the ocean being as calm as on the previous day. It need not be repeated that every morning and evening prayers were offered up, and two or more chapters read from the Bible.

The doctor did not forget to cook the squids, and produced a dish which was pronounced excellent, with plenty of pepper and salt, by several of the party; though others, not pressed by hunger, declined eating such hideous-looking creatures. They had the satisfaction of supplying their friends in the other boat with a warm meal, no stove having been found in her. There were, however, several iron pots, and out of these the armourer undertook to manufacture a stove, should more fuel be obtained. Several monsters of the deep had been seen rising at no great distance from the boat. Paul Lizard, therefore, as soon as breakfast was over, placed himself in the bows, and stood ready, harpoon in hand, in the hopes of striking one; while the doctor, the tea-kettle being removed from the stove, went on with his still. Numerous birds were also flying about in the distance; the rifles were got ready in the hopes of shooting some of them.

Mrs Morley appeared much concerned on hearing of Ensign Holt's illness, though he was no favourite of hers or her daughters'. The day wore on, the doctor working at his still, and the rest of those on board employing themselves in a variety of ways. Paul Lizard had stood for some hours, harpoon in hand, hoping that a porpoise or dolphin might rise near the boat. The creatures were seen in numbers at a distance, but it seemed as though they were aware of the visitors to their realms, and purposely kept away from them. Still Paul persevered, his keen eye looking as if it could pierce down to the bottom of the ocean. Now he let his weapon rest at his feet, now he raised it again, ready to strike. At length it was seen flying from his hand with tremendous force.

"Get a running bowline ready," he shouted out--"one for the head, and another for the tail. Be sharp, lads! We must make the creature fast, or it will get away from us." The line was flying out as he spoke. "It's a big fish, at all events," he exclaimed; "we must take care it doesn't get away." As the rope approached the end, he secured it round the bits, and away went the boat, towed by the monster.

"Hilloa," shouted Bollard, "I wish we had been fast to you, to see the sport. Out oars, lads!"

The crew of the cutter obeyed the order, and pulled away after the launch. Now Paul began to haul in on the line. Suddenly it slackened.

"It will drown itself if it doesn't come up to breathe," he shouted. "We shall soon have it lads!"

Captain Twopenny had got his rifle ready; the line was hauled rapidly in. Presently a huge black mass rose alongside.

"Give it a shot in the head, sir," cried Paul, "and the creature will be ours."

The seamen had got the ropes ready, and now dexterously slipped a running bowline over the head and another over the tail. The creature, which appeared to be a small sort of whale, was evidently much exhausted; a rifle-shot sent through its head contributed yet further to weaken it; but even as it was, its struggles so violently shook the boat that Harry was afraid he should be compelled to order it to be cut loose. After, however, giving two or three violent lashes with its tail, which sent the water flying over the boat, it remained perfectly quiet.

"This is a prize!" cried the doctor exultingly. "If we can secure the blubber we shall be no longer in want of fuel."

Axes and knives were soon out, and the thick mass which surrounded the creature was quickly cut off. A considerable quantity of the flesh was also secured, the fore part of the boat being soon well loaded with it, many of the articles which had before been stowed there having been brought aft to keep her in trim. By the time this operation was finished the other boat came up; and Harry, finding that he could now depend on obtaining enough water for all on board on short allowance, ordered one of his casks to be given to their friends in the cutter. Instead of charcoal, which was kept in store for the future, a fire was now made up of blubber, which burned with a hot flame, and the still was found to work remarkably well, though fresh water could be obtained from it only at a very slow rate. The chief cause of suffering which had been dreaded was, however, removed. Several wild-fowl were shot during the day, giving to each person a small quantity of fresh provisions, which were so much needed. The drowned fowls had also been boiled. Though somewhat tough and flavourless, they were not to be despised; altogether, there seemed but little fear of any suffering from want of food. Harry Shafto, however, knew better than any one on board that their voyage might still be a long one; and he advised the doctor to be very careful in serving out the provisions. He gave the same counsel also to the boatswain, the people in his boat being disposed to eat as much as they fancied, without thought of the future. Mrs Rumbelow, on hearing this, offered to go into the boat, and lecture them on the subject.

"They will listen to me, Mr Shafto," she observed, "more perhaps than to others in authority over them--the soldiers will, at all events. They are accustomed to me, and so are the women. As to the sailors, I'll try to make them ashamed of themselves, if they hold out."

Harry was very glad to obtain the assistance of the brave woman. She soon talked the unruly crew of the cutter into obedience. Even poor Ensign Holt quailed under her eye, when she rated him for his behaviour; she would not leave him until he had promised to behave himself for the future, as she observed. She whispered, however, to the boatswain to keep an eye on him during the day, and at night to have him lashed securely to a thwart.

"You never can tell what these demented people will do," she observed to the boatswain. "I just tell you to do what the doctor advises you, remember; and now I must go back to my party in the launch."

The cutter's people, once having got her, were in no way disposed to let her go, and declared that if she did not stop by fair means, she must by foul. However, she laughed at their threats, and ordering two of the seamen to get out their oars, desired the boatswain to steer alongside. She was obeyed; but as she was stepping from one boat to the other, several of those in the cutter jumped up as if to detain her, while her friends in the launch held out their hands to assist her on board. For a moment it seemed as if there was to be a regular skirmish.

"I shall know how to trust you again," she exclaimed, in her cheery tone, much amused at the incident. "I am grateful to you for the compliment; but a woman likes to have her own way, and I intend to have mine as long as I can get it."

Notwithstanding the wetting and cold to which every one had been exposed, few on board either of the boats complained of illness. The doctor, therefore, had but two or three patients, who did not occupy much of his time, the rest of the day being employed in attending to his still. From its very moderate dimensions, however, notwithstanding the heat created by the burning blubber, it produced but a very small quantity of fresh water; yet that was sufficient to quench the thirst of all in the two boats. His great wish was to produce enough to make tea for the poor women, at all events.

"But you must tell Lizard to look out for another whale or porpoise, or some other cetacea, or we shall run short of fuel, and that is a calamity we must avoid, if possible," he observed to Willy.

Paul, on receiving the message, again took his harpoon in hand to strike any fish which might rise sufficiently near. The calm continuing, and the men being sufficiently refreshed, Shafto, after consulting with Bollard, resolved to row on till nightfall in the direction of the land they hoped to reach. The order was given, "Out oars," and the boats began to glide smoothly over the calm surface. When the men began to grow tired, Mrs Rumbelow was ever ready to cheer them up. "Pull away, boys! pull away!" she cried out. "We are not badly off as it is, but we shall be better still on dry land. We shall find the breeze, may be, a few miles ahead, and that will spin us along without the necessity of making your arms ache." Sometimes she would sit down, and grasping an oar, assist one of the younger seamen; she showed, indeed, that she could pull as good an oar as any one on board, and thus no one ventured to exhibit any signs of weariness. Thus the day wore on till supper time arrived, and a substantial meal, cooked under the superintendence of the doctor, was served out to all hands, the cutter coming alongside for her share.

"Little fear of their parting intentionally with us, since we are the dispensers of the good things of life," observed the doctor. "I am afraid, however, that we shall have to be put on short allowance unless we get along faster than we have lately been doing." The last remark was made in a whisper to Willy. As most of the soldiers could row, the men on board were divided into watches, so that they might relieve each other at the oars, and thus the two boats continued their course during the night. _

Read next: Chapter 10. Water! Water!

Read previous: Chapter 8. The "Ranger's" Boats Are Sent Away

Table of content of Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader, and what befell their Passengers & Crews


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