Part 4 (1/2)

”Eh! how much d'ye say?” he asked quickly.

”Five feet, sir; she surged heavily once or twice on the foremast, and I think must have started a plank.”

”Call all hands to work the pumps; and don't let the men know how much water there is in the hold. Come below, Ned. I want you. Keep her head steady as she goes.”

”Ay, ay, sir,” sang out O'Neil, as the captain descended the companion-hatch to the cabin, followed by his young friend.

The dim light in the swinging lamp flickered fitfully when the s.h.i.+p plunged into the troughs of the seas, and rose again with a violent surge, as each wave pa.s.sed under her, while every plank and spar on board seemed to groan under the strain. Darkness now added to the terrors of the wild storm.

Sitting down on a locker, Captain Bunting placed his elbows on the table, and covering his face with his hands, remained silent for several minutes, while Ned sat down beside him, but forbore to interrupt his thoughts.

”Boy,” he said, at length, looking up anxiously, ”we've sprung a leak, and a few minutes will shew what our fate is to be. Five feet of water in the hold in so short a time implies a bad one.”

”Five feet two, sir,” said the mate, looking in at the cabin door; ”and the carpenter can't get at the leak.”

”I feared as much,” muttered the captain. ”Keep the men hard at the pumps, Mr Williams, and let me hear how it stands again in ten minutes.”

”Captain,” said Ned, ”it does not become a landsman to suggest, perhaps, but I can't help reminding you, that leaks of this kind have been stopped by putting a sail below the s.h.i.+p's bottom.”

”I know it, boy, I know it; but we could never get a sail down in such a night.”

”Can nothing be done, then?”

”Yes, lad; it's hard to do it, but it must be done; life is more precious than gold--we must heave the cargo overboard. I have invested every farthing I have in the world in this venture,” continued Captain Bunting, sadly, ”but there's no help for it. Now, you were at the s.h.i.+fting of the cargo when we opened the hatches during the calms off the Brazilian coast, and as you know the position of the bales and boxes, I want you to direct the men so as to get it hove out quickly.

Luckily, bein' a general cargo, most o' the bales are small and easily handled. Here comes the mate again--well, Mr Williams?”

”Up another inch, sir.”

”Go, Ned, over with it. I'll superintend above; so good-bye to our golden dreams.”

There was a slight tone of bitterness in the captain's voice as he spoke, but it pa.s.sed away quickly, and the next instant he was on deck encouraging his men to throw the valuable cargo over the side. Bale after bale and box after box were tossed ruthlessly out upon the raging sea until little was left in the s.h.i.+p, save the bulky and less valuable portion of the cargo. Then a cry arose that the leak was discovered!

The carpenter had succeeded in partially stopping it with part of a sail, and soon the pumps began to reduce the quant.i.ty of water in the hold. At last the leak was gained and effectually stopped, and before daybreak the storm began to subside. While part of the crew, being relieved from the hara.s.sing work at the pumps, busied themselves in repairing damages, Ned went to his cabin to put on dry clothes and take a little rest, of which he stood much in need.

Next day the bright sun rose in a cloudless sky, and a gentle breeze now wafted the _Roving Bess_ over the Pacific, whose bosom still heaved deeply from the effects of the recent storm. A sense of fervent thankfulness to G.o.d for deliverance filled the heart of our hero as he awoke and beheld the warm sunbeams streaming in at the little window of his cabin. Suddenly he was roused from a deep reverie by the shout of ”Land, ho!” on deck.

Words cannot convey an adequate idea of the effect of such a shout upon all on board. ”Land, ho!” was repeated by every one, as he sprang in dishabille up the hatchway.

”Where away?” inquired Captain Bunting.

”Right ahead, sir,” answered the look-out.

”Ay, there it is,” said the captain, as Ned, without coat or vest, rushed to his side, and gazed eagerly over the bow, ”there it is, Ned,-- California, at last! Yonder rise the golden mountains that have so suddenly become the world's magnet; and yonder, too, is the `Golden Gate' of the harbour of San Francisco. Humph! much good it'll do us.”

Again there was a slight tone of bitterness in the captain's voice.

”Don't let down your spirits, captain,” said Ned, in a cheering tone; ”there is still enough of the cargo left to enable us to make a start for the gold-fields. Perhaps we may make more money there than we would have made had we sold the cargo at a large profit by trafficking on the coast.”

Captain Bunting hooked his thumbs into the armholes of his waistcoat, and shook his head. It was evident that he had no faith in gold-digging. Meanwhile the crew had a.s.sembled on the forecastle, and were looking out ahead with wistful and excited glances; for the fame of the golden land to which they were approaching had spread far and wide, and they longed to see the gold-dust and nuggets with their own eyes.