Part 5 (1/2)
The other pa.s.sengers, in common with the crew, are still in entire ignorance of the extremity of peril to which we are exposed, although they are all aware that there is fire in the hold. As soon as the fact was announced, Mr. Kear, after communicating to Curtis his instructions that he thought he should have the fire immediately extinguished, and intimating that he held him responsible for all contingencies that might happen, retired to his cabin, where he has remained ever since, fully occupied in collecting and packing together the more cherished articles of his property and without the semblance of a care or a thought for his unfortunate wife, whose condition, in spite of her ludicrous complaints, was truly pitiable. Miss Herbey, however, is unrelaxing in her attentions, and the unremitted diligence with which she fulfills her offices of duty, commands my highest admiration.
OCTOBER 23.--This morning, Captain Huntly sent for Curtis into his cabin, and the mate has since made me acquainted with what pa.s.sed between them.
”Curtis,” began the captain, his haggard eye betraying only too plainly some mental derangement, ”I am a sailor, am I not?”
”Certainly, captain,” was the prompt acquiescence of the mate.
”I do not know how it is,” continued the captain, ”but I seem bewildered; I can not recollect anything. Are we not bound for Liverpool? Ah! yes! of course. And have we kept a northeasterly direction since we left?”
”No, sir, according to your orders we have been sailing southeast, and here we are in the tropics.”
”And what is the name of the s.h.i.+p?”
”The Chancellor, sir.”
”Yes, yes, the Chancellor, so it is. Well, Curtis, I really can't take her back to the north. I hate the sea, the very sight of it makes me ill, I would much rather not leave my cabin.”
Curtis went on to tell me how he had tried to persuade him that with a little time and care he would soon recover his indisposition, and feel himself again; but the captain had interrupted him by saying:
”Well, well; we shall see by-and-by; but for the present you must take this for my positive order; you must, from this time, at once take the command of the s.h.i.+p, and act just as if I were not on board. Under present circ.u.mstances, I can do nothing. My brain is all in a whirl, you can not tell what I am suffering;” and the unfortunate man pressed both his hands convulsively against his forehead.
”I weighed the matter carefully for a moment,” added Curtis, ”and seeing what his condition too truly was, I acquiesced in all that he required and withdrew, promising him that all his orders should be obeyed.”
After hearing these particulars, I could not help remarking how fortunate it was that the captain had resigned of his own accord, for although he might not be actually insane, it was very evident that his brain was in a very morbid condition.
”I succeeded him at a very critical moment,” said Curtis thoughtfully; ”but I shall endeavor to do my duty.”
A short time afterward he sent for his boatswain and ordered him to a.s.semble the crew at the foot of the main-mast. As soon as the men were together, he addressed them very calmly, but very firmly.
”My men,” he said, ”I have to tell you that Captain Huntly, on account of the dangerous situation in which circ.u.mstances have placed us, and for other reasons known to myself, has thought right to resign his command to me. From this time forward, I am captain of this vessel.”
Thus quietly and simply was the change effected, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that the Chancellor is now under the command of a conscientious, energetic man, who will s.h.i.+rk nothing that he believes to be for our common good. M. Letourneur, Andre, Mr. Falsten, and myself immediately offered him our best wishes, in which Lieutenant Walter and the boatswain most cordially joined.
The s.h.i.+p still holds her course southwest, and Curtis crowds on all sail and makes as speedily as possible for the nearest of the Lesser Antilles.
CHAPTER XIII
BETWEEN FIRE AND WATER
OCTOBER 24 to 29.--For the last five days the sea has been very heavy, and although the Chancellor sails with wind and wave in her favor, yet her progress is considerably impeded. Here on board this veritable fire-s.h.i.+p I cannot help contemplating with a longing eye this vast ocean that surrounds us. The water supply should be all we need.
”Why not bore the deck?” I said to Curtis. ”Why not admit the water by tons into the hold? What could be the harm? The fire would be quenched; and what would be easier than to pump the water out again?”
”I have already told you, Mr. Kazallon,” said Curtis, ”that the very moment we admit the air, the flames will rush forth to the very top of the masts. No; we must have courage and patience; we must wait. There is nothing whatever to be done, except to close every aperture.”
The fire continued to progress even more rapidly than we had hitherto suspected. The heat gradually drove the pa.s.sengers nearly all on deck, and the two stern cabins, lighted, as I said, by their windows in the aft-board were the only quarters below that were inhabitable. Of these Mrs. Kear occupied one, and Curtis reserved the other for Ruby, who, a raving maniac, had to be kept rigidly under restraint. I went down occasionally to see him, but invariably found him in a state of abject terror, uttering horrible shrieks, as though possessed with the idea that he was being scorched by the most excruciating heat.
Once or twice, too, I looked in upon the ex-captain. He was always calm and spoke quite rationally on any subject except his own profession; but in connection with that he prated away the merest nonsense. He suffered greatly, but steadily declined all my offers of attention, and pertinaciously refused to leave his cabin.