Part 9 (1/2)
Many, indeed, had no friendly plank to step on, for the frigate fell away and left them deserted on the _Hector's_ decks. No one thought of asking for quarter, and in the heat of that desperate fight no quarter was given. The instant the s.h.i.+p was free of her opponents, the crew flew back to their guns and began to blaze away with as much energy as before. Now the old seventy-four's yards and blocks, and rigging, came rattling down from aloft; her sails hung in tatters, and the water rus.h.i.+ng in told of numerous shot-holes between wind and water, while scarcely a brace or a sheet remained to enable her to alter her position. Once again the Frenchmen ranged up alongside. Again the cry was heard, ”Boarders, repel boarders!”
As before, two parties of seamen, and a few of the invalid soldiers and others, rushed to repel them. Neither party could tell how far success was attending the exertions of their friends. Paul's was very nearly overpowered; but again Billy True Blue's name was shouted to the rescue, and, with as much slaughter as before, the Frenchmen were driven back to their s.h.i.+ps. On the larboard side the fight was even more obstinate; but British pluck gained the day, and tumbled most of the Frenchmen into the sea.
Again the Frenchmen drew off and opened their broadsides. Dawn was now breaking, and what a scene of wreck and havoc did the pure fresh light disclose! Captain Drury gazed with grief at the state of the s.h.i.+p, for he knew that the increasing light would exhibit it to the enemy and encourage them in persisting in the attack. Still he resolved to make them pay dear for their victory, if they were to gain it; and calling on the half-fainting crew to persevere to the last, he ordered them to pour their broadsides into the enemy, who were just then pa.s.sing them abeam.
The men with alacrity obeyed, and cheers, though often faint and feeble, from nearly dying men ran along the decks, and showed the enemy that the true British courage of the _Hector's_ crew was still unabated. Again another broadside was loaded, and they were preparing to pour it in on the enemy, when what was their surprise to see both the frigates make all sail and stand away to the westward! Some parting shots and some hearty cheers were sent after them; and then numbers of the brave crew sank down exhausted on the decks, slippery with the gore of their s.h.i.+pmates.
Even Paul Pringle began to tremble like a child, and could scarcely drag his legs after him as he went below to a.s.sure himself of the safety of little Billy. Stout-hearted as he was, he could not help shuddering at the scenes of horror which met him on every side--at the shattered condition of the s.h.i.+p, and the shrieks and groans of the wounded, now in the hands of the surgeons. Many poor fellows lay about, too, apparently unhurt, but expiring through fatigue. Still, nothing stopped him till he reached the hold.
The water was finding its way down there from the shot-holes above, and all was dark and gloomy. He groped his way on, shouting out for Sam and Billy. At length little True Blue's voice was heard.
”Here I, Billy; but Sam no let me come.”
”Yes, Billy, you go now--you go now,” said Sam in reply. When Paul got up to them, he found by the dim light of the lantern which Sam had that he had made the child fast to a stanchion, evidently for fear of his again running away, and he was now busily engaged in casting him loose.
As soon as little Billy was free, he rushed up to Paul, who look him in his arms and hugged him and kissed him, as a fond mother would have done, while the child burst into tears, exclaiming:
”Billy so--so berry glad Paul not hurt. How Abel? how Peter? how Tom?”
”Not one of them hit, my boy, I believe,” answered Paul, giving him another hug. ”You've been thinking on us, then, have you? And we was thinking on you, that we was, bless your little heart; and we made the Frenchmen know that they shouldn't have you as long as we'd a plank to float you on, and an arm to strike for you. And now, Sam, just stump up out of this, and try and get Billy some breakfast. I must go and lend a hand in getting the s.h.i.+p to rights.”
In the action one lieutenant and eight men had been killed, and thirty-two wounded--their brave captain among the number, having lost his arm, and being otherwise much injured, while from that day many other poor fellows sank under their hards.h.i.+ps and privations.
The hope now of reaching England was abandoned, and the s.h.i.+p bore up for Halifax. Scarcely, however, was the helm s.h.i.+fted when a squall struck her, and in an instant, as if they had been mere willow wands, the already injured masts went with a crash over the sides. Now the tempest came on and roared louder and louder, and the sea got rapidly up and tossed the big s.h.i.+p helplessly about, and, before the slightest sail could be made to keep her before the wind and steady her, a sea struck her rudder and carried it away.
Thus like a log she lay, tossed about by the waves. The riven decks could ill keep out the water which washed aboard her, while many of the beams gave way, and those of the orlop-deck bent and cracked till several of them fell into the hold. Nothing now seemed to stop the entrance of the water. Paul and his old companions exerted themselves to the utmost. They did not like to believe for a moment that the s.h.i.+p would go down, and yet they could not help seeing that such a fate was too likely to befall her. Furiously raged the hurricane. Higher and higher rose the sea, and more and more the s.h.i.+p worked; and the leaks increased till the entire hold was flooded, and casks and provisions of all sorts were rolled helplessly about; the bread was spoiled, the water-casks were stove in, and the greater portion of the fresh water destroyed.
”Paul, what is to be done?” said Abel to his friend.
”Pump away, mates, and trust in Providence,” was the answer. ”Fresh hands to the pumps, ho!” he sang out with as cheerful a voice as he could command.
His s.h.i.+pmates followed his example and worked away with fresh energy; but pumping is exhausting work, and dry work, too, and there was scarcely any water left, and but a few casks of spirits could be got at.
These were carried aft and kept under charge of a sentry. A small quant.i.ty only was served out at intervals to each man with a little biscuit; and this was all the crew had to sustain life and enable them to undergo the increasing exertions they were called on to make. Many of the invalids could no longer exert themselves in the slightest degree, and numbers died every day. The surgeons went among the poor fellows and did their utmost, but without sufficient or wholesome sustenance their efforts were unavailing; and one of the saddest labours of each morning was to commit to the deep those who had perished during the night.
At length the gale ceased, and jury-masts were rigged, and the officers thought that by getting a sail thrummed under the s.h.i.+p's bottom some of the leaks might be stopped. By great exertions they got the sail placed as was intended, but it had no effect whatever: the leaks continued to increase, and consternation and despair appeared on the countenances of nearly all. Some poor fellows actually sank down at the pumps and died; others refused to work at them any longer, declaring that it was utterly useless making the attempt to keep the s.h.i.+p afloat, and the officers had to use the greatest exertions to persuade them to remain at their duty.
”Come, come, mates!” exclaimed Paul Pringle when he saw several quitting the pumps, ”there's not a man of you but what would be ready to stand to his guns and die at them gladly; then why not stand to the pumps to the last, and die like true men doing our duty? Hurrah! lads, who knows but what we may keep the old s.h.i.+p afloat till help of some sort comes to us?
And never let it be said that we turned cowards and shrank from our duty.”
Thus exhorted, the greater number again seized the pump-handles and buckets, and continued to work away as before. Still it was too evident that, spite of all their exertions, the leaks were gaining on them.
Even the most hopeful began to despair that all their efforts would do no more than prolong their lives. Some few, indeed, went to their hammocks, and, las.h.i.+ng themselves in, declared their intention of remaining there, and thus going down with the s.h.i.+p.
”Oh, shame on you!” cried Paul Pringle when he saw some of them doing this. ”Do you call yourselves British seamen, and yet afraid to face death at your quarters? The s.h.i.+p is still afloat, and may float for some hours longer for what you can tell. Think of your duty, lads-- think of your duty, and never flinch from it to the last.”
While Paul was saying this, however, his brave heart was very sad. In the cabin of the Captain's steward sat Sam Smatch, holding little True Blue on his knee. The child's countenance showed that he partook of the anxiety of all around, and, moreover, that he, too, was suffering from the want of proper sustenance; the colour had forsaken his cheeks, and he looked thin and weak. In vain his friends had foraged for him; they could find nothing but damaged biscuit and salt beef, uncooked. Paul often thought of making a raft; but out in the Atlantic what would be the use of that? It might only prolong the child's life for a few hours, and inflict on it greater sufferings. Still, he said nothing on the subject.
Again and again the carpenter sounded the well. Each time his report was more disheartening. The end of September arrived, and there was not a drop of spirits or water in the s.h.i.+p. Death in another dreadful form now stared the seamen in the face. Each day the poor feverish wretches cried out for water to moisten their lips, but none was to be had. Many died from that want alone, others from starvation.
Each morning the horizon was anxiously scanned, in the hope that some s.h.i.+p might be in sight to bring them relief. Even an enemy would have been welcomed, for their condition would have excited the compa.s.sion of their greatest foes.