Part 15 (1/2)
Every one in the launch was soon eagerly looking out towards the land.
The cheering intelligence was announced to those in the cutter. They, however, had also seen the land, but were not so well informed about it as was Shafto. The boats now stood on, steering for the narrow pa.s.sage between the cliffs. Harry looked anxiously ahead. It seemed to him that the line of breakers ran directly across the pa.s.sage. If so, to attempt to enter would be hazardous in the extreme, although, in consequence of the wind leading directly in, the risk might be lessened; yet every instant the gale was increasing, and it was important to get without delay under shelter. He knew that there was a wide western entrance; but the wind might be blowing out of it, and a long time must pa.s.s before it could be reached. He hove to, therefore, till the cutter could come up, that he might consult with the boatswain.
”It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other,” answered Bollard; ”the boats have shown what they can do, and I am ready to chance running in.”
Harry could not conceal from himself the risk he was about to run; yet it might be greater should he continue at sea during the gale which was brewing. Giving, therefore, the helm to Lizard, he swarmed up the foremast, that he might the better examine the appearance of the entrance. It was sufficiently threatening to have deterred him under other circ.u.mstances from making the attempt to enter; yet as there appeared a narrow s.p.a.ce of dark water, a break in the line of foam, he resolved to stand on. On either side rose perpendicular cliffs; that on the north four or five hundred feet high, but that on the south considerably lower. The two boats stood on, the cutter keeping about a hundred fathoms astern of the launch. Harry placed Paul Lizard at the helm, he himself going forward, holding on by the foremast. The oars were got out, to be in readiness should any flaw come off the sh.o.r.e, and all hands not required to pull them, or tend the sheets, were ready with buckets to bail out the water should a sea come on board. Mrs Rumbelow had taken possession of the largest she could find, ever ready to set her companions a good example. She perhaps, as well as any one, knew the risk that must be run.
”Now, my dear ladies, and you soldiers' wives, don't be screaming out if a little drop of water cornea aboard; we'll soon send it back again; and in ten minutes or so we shall be safe at anchor. Just think how G.o.d has taken care of us heretofore, and He is not going to desert us now,” she exclaimed, looking round on those to whom she spoke.
The gale was rapidly increasing; dark clouds were gathering overhead, from which ever and anon flashes of bright lightning darted forth, with cras.h.i.+ng peals of thunder. The leaden-coloured waves danced up wildly on either side. The boats dashed on. The roaring of the breakers could be heard, as they leaped up madly against the frowning rocks. Harry kept his eye fixed on the spot of clear water ahead. On either hand of it rose up the white foaming wall of hissing waters, amid which the stoutest boats would have been in an instant overwhelmed. There was no possibility of turning back now; they must stand on, or their destruction would be inevitable. Harry, holding on to the mast with one hand, kept the other pointed in the direction Lizard was to steer. Many of those on board shut their eyes as they drew near the roaring breakers. The tide was running out strong. Such a wind as was then blowing would alone have enabled the boats to stem it. Tall basaltic cliffs rose up on either hand, while the foaming rollers, as they came in, appeared ready to engulf the two boats. Now the launch rose to the summit of a high sea, now downward she glided, the breakers hissing and foaming so close to her that it seemed impossible she could pa.s.s through the narrow opening between them in safety. Now a heavy ma.s.s of water came tumbling on board on the starboard side; now another fell over her on the other hand.
”Bail away, boys, bail away,” cried Mr Rumbelow; and all who had buckets or cans exerted themselves to the utmost, down to young Broke, the water being hove out again as fast almost as it had come on board.
The launch flew on. Harry breathed more freely. She was already within the breakers; but the waters still kept leaping and tumbling about in a way which showed the rapid current running against them. Should they be becalmed under the cliffs, they might find it impossible to stem it.
w.i.l.l.y had been standing near Lizard; he now looked back anxiously for the cutter. Where was she? His heart sank. Had she been engulfed? A huge roller came roaring up astern. Presently she appeared on its summit, darting forward with the speed of an arrow; now she descended, gliding on towards the pa.s.sage the launch had just pa.s.sed through.
w.i.l.l.y could not help feeling intense anxiety about her. It seemed impossible that so small a boat could pa.s.s through so fierce a tumult of water in safety; yet in another instant she was gliding on through the pa.s.sage, and, shooting forward, was almost up to the launch.
The crews of the two boats cheered each other as they thus found themselves in comparative safety, the sound of their voices echoing from cliff to cliff.
”Let us, my friends, return thanks to Heaven, which has so mercifully preserved us,” said Mrs Morley, who had during the time sat with her two daughters gazing at the scene, apparently fearless and calm. They had been so living that they were prepared without flinching to encounter any danger which might meet them.
The wind blowing directly up the harbour, they ran on, no place appearing on either side where they could land. A small island was pa.s.sed a mile from the entrance, but its sh.o.r.es were rugged, and afforded no resting-place. On they advanced; point after point was pa.s.sed, still no sheltering bay had been seen where they could securely anchor. At length Harry perceived on the port bow a wide opening. It was the entrance, he hoped, to an inner harbour, where shelter might be found. He shouted to the boatswain that he would stand in.
”Cheer up! There's a harbour at last,” cried Mrs Rumbelow, as she surveyed the entrance. The men kept the halyards in their hands, ready to lower the sails at a moment's notice; the oars were got out, prepared for any emergency. The boats glided on. Instead of the tumbling, hissing waters through which they had lately pa.s.sed, all was calm and smooth. On the right was a high bluff, with a reef running out from it.
On the left the land was more level, but everywhere covered with low, stunted trees; while the sh.o.r.es on either hand were fringed with black, rugged rocks, and ahead rose ranges of hills, some bare and bleak, towering to the sky, the nearest clothed thickly with brushwood. The harbour they had entered proved to be of considerable size, extending far up into the interior of the island. As they sailed on, numbers of seals appeared--some swimming round them, others resting on the rocks and gazing at the intruders to their domains with wondering eyes, evidently unaccustomed to the sight of human beings.
At length, after proceeding several miles up the harbour, which branched off in several directions, Harry observed a small bay on the right which promised to afford shelter to the boats. The sails were lowered, and he steered for it. A ledge running out on one side formed a natural landing-place. The launch pulled in, and the men jumped on sh.o.r.e. The cutter came close up astern, and the crews, rejoicing in having reached a harbour in safety, gave vent to their satisfaction in hearty cheers.
The whole party were soon on sh.o.r.e. Beyond the rocks on which they landed was a broad plot of gra.s.s land, sloping gradually upwards, bordered by a ma.s.s of underwood and stunted trees. In the distance rose several hills, some of considerable height; while opposite the bay the harbour had the appearance of a large lake, dotted here and there with wooded islands, and encircled by a belt of hilly country, covered with trees. On the opposite side of the outer harbour which they first entered Harry told them was Adams' or South Island; while, eastward, a broad estuary stretched away towards the ocean, forming the entrance to Carnley Harbour. Close to where they landed a beautiful stream of clear water came rus.h.i.+ng down from the heights, making its way into the bay.
The moment it was seen most of the party rushed towards it, and in an instant were kneeling down by its side, taking it up with cups and cans, which the more provident had brought with them. w.i.l.l.y immediately ran back to the boat to secure a can and a small cup, with which, having filled, he hastened back to where Mrs Morley and her daughters, with poor Mrs Twopenny, were seated on the rocks. He saw that they, at all events, were not unmindful of G.o.d's protecting care, which had carried them through so many dangers, and that they were, with grateful hearts, offering their thanks to Him to whom their preservation was due. As they ceased, w.i.l.l.y approached them. The two young ladies were certainly not suffering less than others; but they would not touch the water till their mother and their invalid companion had quenched their thirst.
When they had done so, w.i.l.l.y could no longer resist placing the jug to his own lips.
”What, my boy,” said Mrs Morley, ”had you not first drunk of the water yourself?”
”No, how could I,” said w.i.l.l.y, ”when I knew how much you wanted it?”
w.i.l.l.y was amply rewarded with the smile the young ladies bestowed on him.
”That is indeed true chivalry,” observed Emma Morley to her sister.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
THE ”CRUSADER” IS DISABLED.
FEVER STILL ON BOARD--PLANS FOR THE FUTURE--EMILY AND MAY ATTEND THE SICK--MRS CLAGGET'S SUSPICIONS--SCENE ON DECK OF EMIGRANT s.h.i.+P--LAND IN SIGHT--ARRIVAL AT CAPE TOWN--”CRUSADER” AGAIN READY FOR SEA--”CRUSADER”
MEETS ANOTHER s.h.i.+P--CHARLES AND BILL WINDY ON BOARD--THE LOST ONE RECOVERED--CHARLES NARRATES HIS ADVENTURES--SEAMAN OVERBOARD RECOVERED-- ATTEMPTS TO FOLLOW THE s.h.i.+P--s.h.i.+P LOST SIGHT OF--WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER IN BOAT--WINDY KEEPS UP THE MEN'S SPIRITS--THEY STEER FOR TRINIDADA-- LONG VOYAGE IN PROSPECT--SUFFERINGS FROM HUNGER AND THIRST--PICKED UP BY HOMEWARD BOUND s.h.i.+P--GET ON BOARD s.h.i.+P BOUND FOR THE CAPE--END OF CHARLIE'S NARRATIVE--”CRUSADER” STANDS TO THE SOUTH--A GALE COMES ON-- TREMENDOUS SEAS--SAIL BLOWN FROM BOLTROPES--MRS CLAGGET'S TONGUE IN THE STORM--MRS CLAGGET BEGS THE CAPTAIN TO CHANGE HIS COURSE--s.h.i.+P THROWN ON HER BEAM-ENDS--THE MASTS CUT AWAY--THE ”CRUSADER” SPRINGS A LEAK.
The ”Crusader” having sailed sufficiently far south to obtain the a.s.sistance of the prevailing westerly winds, once more, with studding-sails on either side, glided rapidly over the ocean towards the southern end of Africa.
Besides the sickness which still prevailed, she had run short of water, in consequence of her long detention in the calms of the Tropics; and this made it doubly necessary for her to touch at the Cape, in order to obtain a fresh supply before she continued her course across the Southern Ocean.