Part 4 (1/2)

The voice of the officer of the watch hailing the forecastle put a stop to Paul's wit. ”Ay, ay, sir,” he answered, in his usual stentorian voice; then he added, ”It seems to be growing darker than ever.” So w.i.l.l.y thought, but still he tried his best with his sharp young eyes to penetrate the gloom.

”I wish it would clear,” observed w.i.l.l.y. ”It is dark.”

”It couldn't well be darker, sir,” said Paul; ”to my mind it would be wise to shorten sail, or heave the s.h.i.+p to. The captain knows best, though.”

”It is getting very cold, though,” said Dicey. ”I can feel the difference since the last five minutes.”

”I can't say I feel it,” said Paul; ”but hark, sir; I fancy I heard the sound of breakers.”

w.i.l.l.y listened, bending forward in his eagerness. ”Yes,” he thought he heard a sound, and it seemed to be almost ahead, but yet it seemed to come from a long way off.

”It is only fancy after all,” observed Paul. The other men for'ard could hear nothing.

A few minutes pa.s.sed. ”What is that?” exclaimed w.i.l.l.y, with startling energy. ”There seems to be a great white wall rising up before us.”

”Iceberg ahead!” shouted Paul, and he never hallooed louder in his life, ”a little on the starboard bow.”

”Starboard the helm,” cried Harry from the quarterdeck. ”Man the starboard braces. Brace the yards sharp up; call the captain; all hands on deck to save s.h.i.+p.” Such were the orders he issued in rapid succession. In an instant the boatswain's whistle and the hoa.r.s.e bawling of his mates was heard along the lower decks, and the s.h.i.+p, lately so silent and deserted, teemed with life. The crew came tumbling up from below, some with their clothes in their hands; the soldiers quickly followed, hurrying from their berths. Commander Newcombe and the other officers were on deck a few instants after the order to summon them had been given. He now took command, issuing his orders with the calmness of a man well inured to danger. Another voice was heard; it was that of Colonel Morley. ”Soldiers, keep to your quarters,” he shouted out. The men, who had been rus.h.i.+ng on deck, without a murmur obeyed the command.

The danger was indeed imminent. Sheer out of the ocean rose a huge white mountain, directly against which the s.h.i.+p appeared to be running headlong; but, answering her helm, she came up to the wind, though not in sufficient time altogether to avoid the danger. As w.i.l.l.y looked up, he expected to see the yards strike the sides of the iceberg, for such it was. A grating sound was heard: now it seemed as if the s.h.i.+p would be thrown bodily on to the icy ma.s.s; still she moved forward; now she heeled over to the wind, the yards again almost touching the frozen cliffs. An active leaper might have sprung on to the berg, could footing have been found. Every moment the crew expected to find their s.h.i.+p held fast by some jutting point, and speedily dashed to pieces; the bravest held their breath, and had there been light, the countenances of those who were wont to laugh at danger might have been seen blanched with terror.

Again and again the s.h.i.+p struck, as she sc.r.a.ped by the berg. It seemed wonderful, indeed, to those ignorant of the cause, that she should continue to move forward, and be driven ever and anon actually away from the ice. This was caused by the undertow, which prevented her from being thrown bodily on to the berg. Not a word was spoken, not an order issued, for all that could be done had been done. All were aware, however, that, even should she sc.r.a.pe clear of the berg, the blows her sides were receiving might at any moment rip them open, and send her helplessly to the bottom of the cold ocean.

The voyager on such an occasion may well exclaim, ”Vain is the help of man!”

Harry, with the second-lieutenant, had gone for'ard among the men stationed on the forecastle, all eagerly looking out in the hopes of seeing the extreme end of the berg. Suddenly the white wall seemed to terminate, the s.h.i.+p glided freely forward, rising to the sea, which came rolling in from the north-west.

”Sound the well, Mr Chisel,” said the commander to the carpenter. All on deck stood anxiously waiting his report.

The berg appeared on the quarter, gradually becoming less and less distinct, till what seemed like a thin white mist alone was seen, which soon melted away altogether in the thick darkness. Still all well knew that other bergs might be in the neighbourhood, and a similar danger might have to be encountered.

The officers paced the deck, looking out anxiously, and those who, while the danger lasted, had not felt the cold, hurried below to finish dressing as best they could, or b.u.t.toned up their flus.h.i.+ng coats, and wrapped comforters round their necks.

Colonel Morley returned to the cabin to tell his wife and daughters that the danger had pa.s.sed. He found them pale and anxious, but neither trembling nor fainting. The two girls were seated on each side of their mother, holding her hands. They had been fully aware of the danger in which the s.h.i.+p had been placed, and they had together been offering up their prayers for their own safety and for that of all on board.

Peter Patch, finding himself near w.i.l.l.y, whispered that he should like to go and see how Ensign Holt had behaved himself. He would have found the ensign seated on the deck of his cabin with his bed-clothes pulled over his head, much too alarmed to think, or to utter any sounds but ”Oh! oh! oh! what is going to happen? Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, I wish I had not come!”

The other officers had collected in the main cabin, where Captain Power had taken his seat at the head of the table, giving encouragement to those around him, while their well-disciplined men, according to orders, kept to their quarters, the sergeants moving among them to see that no one went on deck. Mrs Rumbelow had taken the poor women under her charge, and did her best to comfort them.

”I told you so,” she exclaimed, when the s.h.i.+p was found to be moving easily forward, and those fearful grating sounds had ceased. ”Just trust in G.o.d, and all will come right. Never cry out that all is lost while there is life, and even at the last moment hope that a way of deliverance may be found.”

The wind had increased, the courses had been taken off the s.h.i.+p, and she stood out under her topsails. It might have been supposed that nothing particular had occurred. All hands were at their stations, however, both watches being kept on deck; indeed, no one, even the most careless, felt inclined to go below.

The commander was walking the p.o.o.p, awaiting the report of the carpenter; he had taken one or two turns, when a figure approached him.

”I don't like the state of things,” said a voice which he recognised as that of Mr Chisel. ”The s.h.i.+p is making water very rapidly; it's coming in in several places, though the worst leaks are for'ard.”

”We must do our best to stop them, however,” answered the commander.

”And, Mr Chisel, do not let more than necessary know this.” The first-lieutenant and master instantly hurried below to a.s.sist the carpenter in discovering the leaks. That they were high up seemed certain, and thus some hope existed that they might be reached. In time the chief injuries were discovered, and every effort was made to stop the leaks, old sails and blankets being used for the purpose. The pumps were immediately manned by the soldiers, who were told off to work them.

Their clanking sound echoed along the decks, while, at the same time, the loud gush of the clear water rus.h.i.+ng through the scuppers gave fearful proof of the large amount which must be rus.h.i.+ng in. How eagerly all on board longed for daylight. The wind, however, was rising, and the s.h.i.+p heeled over on the side which had received the injury; she was accordingly put on the other tack, although it would take her out of her proper course.