Part 4 (2/2)
The next operation was to boil the spermaceti, and to stow it away in casks. The blanket-piece being cut up into small portions, they were thrown into the try-pots; the crisp pieces which remained after the oil was extracted, called ”sc.r.a.ps,” serving for fuel. This last operation is called ”trying out.”
Four days elapsed before both the carca.s.ses were got rid of, and the oil stowed away in casks in the hold. Fortunately the weather remained calm, or the operation would have taken much longer. This was considered a very good beginning, and the captain hoped he should hear no more grumbling.
We must rapidly pa.s.s over the events of several weeks. Two ports in the northern part of Peru were visited, in order to dispose of to the inhabitants some of the goods brought out, and to obtain fresh provisions. It was a work of some risk, as the _Champion_ would have to defend herself against any Spanish men-of-war which might fall in with her. After this, she touched at the volcanic-formed Galapagos Islands, situated on the line, at some distance from the continent. Here a number of huge tortoises were captured,--a welcome addition to the provisions on board. The s.h.i.+p remained some time in port, that the rigging might be set up, and that she might undergo several necessary repairs. From this place she sailed northward, touching at the Sandwich Islands,--then in almost as barbarous a condition as when discovered by Captain Cook. The inhabitants, however, had learned to respect their white visitors, and willingly brought them an abundance of fresh provisions. Captain Tredeagle was too wise not to take precautions against surprise. Some of the worst of the crew, however, grumbled greatly at not being allowed to visit the sh.o.r.e, and showed signs of mutinous intentions; their ringleader, as before, being the boatswain.
By constant watchfulness and firmness the captain managed to prevent an actual outbreak; and having taken on board an ample supply of fresh provisions, and filled up with wood and water, he sailed for the south-west,--intending to try the fis.h.i.+ng-grounds off the Kingsmill and Ellis's groups, and thence to proceed to New Guinea and the adjacent islands.
After the _Champion_ had been some weeks at sea, a sail was seen to the westward: whether a friend or a foe, could not be discovered; but she was apparently of no great size. The crew loudly insisted that chase should be given, and that she should be overhauled, many even of the better-disposed joining in the cry.
”I warn you, my men, that if a foe, though small she may be strongly armed, and you may have to fight hard for victory--not probably to be gained till several lives have been lost.”
”We want prize-money, and are ready to fight for it,” shouted the crew.
”I am willing to please you, though it is my belief that we shall be better off in the end if we keep to our proper calling. Even if we come off victorious, our crew will be weakened; and while we are repairing the damage we receive we might be filling our casks with oil.”
”One rich prize will be worth all the whales we can catch,” shouted the crew.
The captain yielded, and all sail was made in chase of the vessel in sight. The stranger soon discovered that she was pursued, and set all the canvas she could carry to escape.
The _Champion_ sailed well, and carried a strong breeze with her, while the vessel ahead had but a light wind. The former soon came up with the chase, which hoisted French colours. She was a brig, and from her appearance many thought that she was a man-of-war. If so, though much smaller, she might prove a formidable antagonist, or turn out a Tartar.
It was too late, however, to escape, and their best chance of gaining the victory was to put a bold face on the matter. Shot and ammunition were got up from below, the guns were run out, and the crew went to their quarters ready for battle. Many surmises were hazarded as to the character of the vessel. It soon became evident that she was not a man-of-war; but she might be a privateer, and if so, would prove a tough customer. That such was the case was soon evident. She now got the breeze; but instead of setting all sail to escape, she hauled her wind, and stood away on a bowline, manoeuvring to obtain the weather-gage.
This Captain Tredeagle was too good a sailor to let her obtain; and seeing that she could not do so, she stood boldly towards her antagonist.
Captain Tredeagle told Walter and Nub to carry Alice down below, to remain in the lower hold, the safest part of the s.h.i.+p. She was very unwilling to go, and begged that she might stay on deck to share the danger to which he might be exposed.
”It is impossible,” he answered. ”I should have my thoughts fixed on you instead of on the enemy; and should you be wounded, I should never forgive myself.”
”Come, Miss Alice. Enemy soon begin to fire, and time you out of harm's way,” said Nub, taking her hand to lead her below.
”May I return, father?” asked Walter. ”I cannot bear the idea of hiding away while there is fighting going forward.”
Captain Tredeagle hesitated. ”I must not place my son out of the way of dangers to which the rest of the crew are exposed. They will look down upon him if I did.”
”You may return,” he answered.
”Thank you, father, thank you,” said Walter, springing after his sister and Nub.
He soon came back. ”Alice is now all right,” he said. ”Nub has been telling her that we probably shall not have much fighting, as the battle will soon be over, and we shall no doubt take the enemy.”
The brig was soon within range of the whaler's guns, and showed her readiness for the fight by firing the first shot, which came cras.h.i.+ng through the bulwarks, and striking one man to the deck.
”Give it to them, my lads!” cried Captain Tredeagle; and the whaler's broadside was fired at her opponent with an effect scarcely expected-- one of the shot going right through the brig's foretopmast, sending it with all its sail and rigging overboard. The English crew cheered l.u.s.tily. Captain Tredeagle ordered the helm to be put down, intending to shoot ahead of the brig and rake her; but before he could do so, she fired her broadside, which came sweeping across the deck, killing two men and wounding three others. It was her last effort, however; for the whaler, pa.s.sing ahead of her, poured in her broadside in return, rending her mainmast, and killing several of her crew. Finding that all resistance was useless, the French colours were hauled down.
Walter's first impulse was to rush below to Alice. ”Good news! good news!” he exclaimed; ”we have taken a prize! Hurrah! hurrah! You may come up into the cabin; but you had better not go on deck, for there are sights there you would not wish to see.”
Walter was right, for the three men lately killed lay stark and stiff on the deck, which was sprinkled in many places with blood; while three others severely wounded were under the doctor's hands. Besides this, a portion of the bulwarks was knocked away; and, what was of still more consequence, two of her boats were almost irretrievably damaged.
A boat was lowered, and the first mate pulled away to board the prize.
The damage she had received was severe; besides which, a number of her crew had been killed and wounded. The captain and two of his officers had also lost their lives. The prize was of less value than was expected, as she had only a small a.s.sortment of articles on board, for the purpose of trading with the natives. Captain Tredeagle's own crew would of necessity be weakened to carry her into port; the nearest to which he could send her being Sydney in New South Wales. Some time must also be spent in rigging jury-masts and refitting her for the voyage: so that, whatever others might have thought, he very much regretted having fallen in with the brig, the battle proving, as in most instances when nations or people fall out, a loss to both parties. He gave the command to the third mate and six hands, all that could be spared; and they would have, besides navigating the brig, to look after the prisoners, most of whom remained on board.
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