Part 10 (1/2)
The s.h.i.+p was kept running to the eastward all that day under studding- sails, and by sunset had travelled a distance of nearly seventy miles.
At that hour, however, Ned requested that sail might be shortened and the s.h.i.+p allowed to go along under easy canvas during the night, urging the experience of the morning as a reason for caution whilst navigating that comparatively unknown sea. Williams at once a.s.sented to the suggestion, remarking immediately afterwards to Rogers, with a self- satisfied chuckle:
”That was a rare good move of ours, Bill, to keep the young woman aboard. See how cautious Mr Ned has grown all of a sudden! You may take my word for it, there will be no more tumbling over islands so long as she remains aboard of us.”
As it happened, it was just as well that the precaution was taken; for at midnight, just as the watch was being relieved, breakers were discovered ahead, and the s.h.i.+p was only brought to the wind just barely in time to avert a disaster. But even then the craft was by no means out of danger; for, when an attempt was made to claw off from the reefs to leeward, it was soon discovered that the vessel was embayed, other reefs being found to exist both to the northward and to the southward of her. For a few minutes something very like a panic took possession of the mutineers; but Williams proved himself equal to the occasion, stilling the tumult by a few brief authoritative words, and promptly ordering a man into the chains with the lead. Soundings were taken and a sandy bottom found, with just the right depth of water for anchoring.
So the cable was roused on deck and bent on to the best bower, the s.h.i.+p making short reaches to the northward and southward meanwhile; and as soon as everything was ready a position was taken as nearly as possible midway between the reefs, and the anchor let go in twelve fathoms of water, with sixty fathoms of chain outside the hawse-pipe. The canvas was securely furled, the watch set, with one man told off to tend the lead-line which was dropped over the side to show whether the anchor held securely or not, and then nothing remained for them but to wait, with what patience they could muster, for daybreak.
This was a somewhat trying ordeal; for the night was pitch dark--the moon being new and not a star visible, the sky overcast, and the wind fresh and at times gusty. Moreover, they could form but a very vague idea of the dangers by which they were surrounded, the chart showing nothing but a clear sea; and, to further increase their anxiety, there was a heavy ground-swell rolling in from the westward, which caused the s.h.i.+p to bury herself to her hawse-pipes. Altogether, what with the uncertainty of their position, the inky darkness, and the ominous roar of the breakers all round them, it was a very anxious time for everybody on board the _Flying Cloud_.
At length, after what seemed an eternity of darkness, the hara.s.sed watchers caught the first faint signs of returning day. The forms of the clouds became dimly perceptible along the horizon to the eastward; then the cloud-bank itself broke up, revealing little patches here and there of soft violet-tinted sky, which rapidly paled, first to a pure and delicate ultramarine, and then to a soft primrose hue before the approaching dawn. The leaden-tinted clouds imperceptibly a.s.sumed a purple hue, then their lower edges became fringed with gold; and presently a long shaft of white light shot from the horizon half-way to the zenith, tinging the higher clouds--now broken up into a crowded archipelago of aerial islets--with flakes of ”celestial rosy red,” and in another moment the golden upper rim of the sun's disk flashed on the horizon, sending a long path of s.h.i.+mmering radiance across the bosom of the heaving, restless sea; and it was day.
The awkward character of the predicament in which the s.h.i.+p was involved now became sufficiently apparent. To the eastward and astern of her a small island, measuring about two miles from north to south, was seen.
Its sh.o.r.es were indented and rocky, the surf beating upon them with great violence; and between it and the s.h.i.+p, at a distance nowhere greater than a mile, there lay an extensive crescent-shaped reef, almost completely encircling the unfortunate craft. The swell, rolling heavily in from the westward, hurled itself with appalling fury upon this reef, the far-reaching expanse of white water revealing distinctly the extremity of the peril through which the s.h.i.+p had pa.s.sed during the previous night. Indeed, it was difficult to understand how she had escaped at all, for the opening between the two horns of the reef was so narrow that he would have been a bold navigator who would willingly have risked the pa.s.sage, even in broad daylight.
Williams' first act was to summon Rogers and Martin, in whose company he paid a visit to the fore-topmast cross-trees, where the trio devoted a full half-hour to a careful and critical examination of the s.h.i.+p's position. Fortunately there was no occasion for haste, the anchor maintaining a firm grip of the ground, notwithstanding the occasional heavy plunges of the s.h.i.+p when some exceptionally big roller came sweeping in unbroken through the narrow channel in the reef. It was possible, therefore, for the mutineers to weigh well the advisability of the steps they contemplated, and to act with due caution. The cross- trees afforded a clear and thoroughly comprehensive view of the entire reef; and from this lofty stand-point the position of the s.h.i.+p was seen to be much less critical than it had appeared to be when viewed from the deck below. The _Flying Cloud_ was, in fact, found to be lying in about the centre of a natural harbour. True, it was rather a wild berth for a s.h.i.+p, especially in the particular spot which she then occupied--this spot happening to be exactly opposite the opening in the reef and fully exposed to the unbroken run of the sea--but it was seen that by moving her half a cable's-length either to the north or south the craft would be sheltered by one of the arms of the reef, and, with a couple of anchors down, might hope to ride out a moderately heavy gale in safety.
This was all very well, and very satisfactory--so far as it went--for it relieved their minds of all anxiety respecting the immediate safety of the s.h.i.+p. But, safe as she might be for the moment, the spot was not one in which a prudent mariner would linger one unnecessary instant; and Williams' only anxiety just then was how to get out.
The channel into this natural harbour trended as nearly as possible due east and west; and, with the wind as it then stood, the s.h.i.+p, in order to get to sea, would have to make a series of short tacks to windward.
But the opening was so narrow and tortuous that the little party in the cross-trees considered it exceedingly doubtful whether this would be possible with so lengthy a s.h.i.+p as the _Flying Cloud_; and, for the moment, it looked very much as though they would have to remain where they were until a change of wind should occur to release them.
At length, however, an expedition in the gig to the mouth of the channel was decided upon, and Ned--who had already distinguished himself by the exhibition of an altogether exceptional apt.i.tude and dexterity in his handling of the s.h.i.+p--was instructed to join the party. The boat was soon lowered and manned, and, with Williams, Rogers, and Ned in the stern-sheets, pulled away towards the entrance. They had had the precaution to provide themselves with a hand-lead; and as soon as the channel was reached a very complete set of soundings, from end to end and over its entire width, was taken under Ned's supervision. The result was unexpectedly satisfactory, no detached rocks being found in the fairway, whilst a tolerably even depth of water, nowhere less than five fathoms, and extending right up alongside the edge of the reef, prevailed throughout the entire length of the channel.
The progress of this survey was watched with the utmost anxiety by Williams--who, indeed, actually took the soundings with his own hands; and upon its completion he was so intensely gratified at the way in which this important service had been executed that he actually went the length of stammering out a few half-intelligible words of thanks to Ned.
The only question now remaining for settlement was, whether it would be prudent to make the attempt to work the s.h.i.+p out to sea. All hands were most keenly anxious to get clear of the place, for, safe as the s.h.i.+p just then undoubtedly was, they knew that it might prove a death-trap to them if it came on to blow heavily from the westward; but they also had the sense to know that a single mistake or miscalculation on the part of the person working the s.h.i.+p would send her on to the reef, a hopeless wreck.
Rogers and the boat's crew were unanimously of opinion that the project was an impossibility; Williams expressed his belief that the thing _might_ be done, but he at the same time frankly confessed that he had not faith enough in himself to undertake the responsibility. Ned prudently kept his opinion to himself until he was directly appealed to, when he modestly said that, with a smart hand at the wheel, a keen look- out aloft to warn him of the presence of any sunken rocks which might perchance have escaped their search, and a lively crew at the sheets and braces, he believed he would be able to work the s.h.i.+p into open water.
”Then,” exclaimed Williams with an oath, ”you shall try your hand at the job. But remember,” he added, ”if the s.h.i.+p touches anywhere, though it be only lightly enough to just graze the paint off her bottom, you may look out for squalls!”
”Now, look here, Williams,” answered Ned hotly, ”if you want me to do my best for you, you had better be somewhat more sparing with your threats; and unless you withdraw what you have just said I shall decline to have anything to do with this matter. The task you have asked me to undertake is a most difficult and delicate one. I am quite willing to do my best, if you see fit to intrust me with the care of the s.h.i.+p, but it is a case in which even so slight a matter as a temporary flaw in the wind may bring about a very serious accident. If, therefore, I am to make the attempt, it must be with the distinct understanding that I am not to be held responsible for anything which may happen.”
”What d'ye think, mates? dare we trust him?” asked Williams, appealing to Rogers and the other men in the boat.
They said they thought that Ned's objection was quite fair and reasonable; and Rogers, unceremoniously changing places with Ned, whispered something in Williams' ear, whereupon the latter said:
”Very well. Will you swear, Ned, to honestly do your best to get the s.h.i.+p out of the fix she is now in, and to navigate her safely into open water?”
”Certainly I will, if you wish it,” answered Ned, ”but a little reflection would convince you, I think, that I must be as little anxious as any of you to be cast away in such an unpromising spot as this.”
”All right, then,” said Williams; ”we'll chance it. Give way, men, for the s.h.i.+p.”
A quarter of an hour later all hands were once more on board, the boat was hoisted up to the davits, and the word was pa.s.sed to man the windla.s.s and heave short.
CHAPTER NINE.
THE CAPTAIN'S DENUNCIATION.