Part 23 (2/2)
Before Archie could reply, Captain Rogers ca a feords, the commander and lieutenant accompanied him into the cabin, while Archie was led off by his old shi+pive the about theirs, which of course occupied some time
”And now,” said Toon_ lost?
was it heron the rocks, or was that soon_, there can be no doubt,” answered Archie ”You reme up
We had just got on board and were looking out for you, when the co that we should to a certainty be driven on shore if we reot up, intending to run round and take you on board We had not got far, however, when one of our boilers burst, killing half a dozen e We had now to depend upon our canvas, while the hurricane was every instant increasing in strength The shi+p, however, behaved very well We ran on before the gale for four and twenty hours, when a lull coet back to the Bonins, hauled the shi+p up We had not, however, stood on long under close-reefed topsails, when a furious blast suddenly struck her, and in one fell swoop carried away all our ain by hoisting a sail on the stuet under the lee of so jury ht ca for daylight Our belief was that ere a considerable distance from any island, when suddenly a loud crash was heard, and we had too sure evidence that the shi+p was on shore Happily the sea had gone down, and although she struck heavily several tiether until we had made our escape The coh he could not get the shi+p off, seeing that already she had two or three holes in her bottoht all be preserved if we ht caht of a small island, but it looked barren and inhospitable, with intervening reefs, over which the sea was breaking, so that we could have but little hope of reaching it Outside, however, it was much calmer, but as the boats could not carry us all, the commander deterht convey all who could not go in the boats, and carry provisions and water
”We hoped to reach the Loo-choo Islands, should weon perfectly fine, ere able to get three rafts rigged and the boats prepared for sea The boats were to take the rafts in tow and keep within hailing distance, steering as the coht wind fro a ht and the rafts towed soood spirits, except that we regretted the loss of the shi+p and could not help thinking what had becoan to look out for Gra As the barometer fell, so did our spirits Had we all been in the boats, we ht by this time have reached the shore, but of course they would not desert the rafts The second lieutenant had charge of one raft, Josling another, and I volunteered to co up, we did not altogether despair of navigating our rafts, so that wewashed off
”The wind blew stronger and stronger; the sea got up, and as night approached, reeable The co us what to do, and pro that the boats should reht was dark and squally The catah at times we scarcely expected to see another sunrise When day at length broke, ere still in sight of each other, but there was no abateale, nor could land anywhere be discerned
”Though we had weathered one night, froht not be exposed to a still severer gale, and yet there see For an to think it was a pity those in the boats should expose the by us, and was considering that we ought to urge the commander to leave us to ht to the southward As she stood towards us weup to us she hove to, when our commander went on board We were, it ements he wouldin settling nal for the other boats to coside, which they quickly did The stores and the people not required for pulling were at once taken on board The boats then caot into them and towed the rafts up to the shi+p
The stores were at once hoisted up, when the rafts were cast adrift, while our larger boats were allowed to tow astern, as they could not be taken on board The American captain, as bound to the coast of japan in search of whales, agreed to land us at Yokohaer than we expected We were first of all caught in a heavy gale which caht, and were co astern A day or two after this several whales were seen, which the captain was naturally anxious to catch As he had plenty of hands on board, he put off with all his boats, and no less than three fish were killed Then we had to cut them up and stow them ahich occupied the best part of a week
Scarcely was the operation concluded when two more whales were seen and taken, the A much to our assistance that he was able to secure such prizes
”After this we had cale was a protracted one We had brought provisions and water, though they were nearly exhausted What with soon board, and the dirty condition of the whaler, it was a wonder that sickness did not break out a us so the doctor said, and so it would have done had not the people lived as much as possible on deck
”The American captain fulfilled his promise, and landed us at Yokohama
We were detained there a considerable tiet across to this place As soon as we arrived we sent word to Hong-kong of our safety, but I suppose the news had not reached that place before you sailed”
”Well, I alad, old fellow, that you and the rest have escaped,”
said Tom, ”and I hope that we three shall be as fortunate as were my brother Jack and his two friends, when they were midshi+pot leave to go on shore together with a few other h the European settleht angles to each other Many of the houses ell built, and stood in co wooden barriers had been put up at the beads of all the main streets, with loopholes in them, so that the place could be defended should the rebels succeed in capturing the native town beyond This town is a short distance to the south of the European settlement It was surrounded by a brick wall of about twenty-five feet in height, with an earthen e a rampart six to ten feet wide
The parapet o feet thick and seven high, containing ealls three or four feet only apart Between each gingall was a small hole in the parapet which held an earthen vessel filled with slaked li to escalade the walls A considerable nuay-coloured flags of various devices flying above their heads It seelish were at ith the emperor, they should be in alliance with soainst his rebel subjects
”This is hty dull work,” exclai about the native town soallop into the country We shall have the fun of a ride, at all events, and perhaps see so curious”
”But suppose we fall in with the Tae-pings--that would not be pleasant; they would cut off our heads before we could explain ere,”
observed Archie, who always took the cautious side
”They look upon the English as friends, I believe,” reht, to be sure, take us prisoners and hold us as hostages; however, we et near them, and by the last reports they were at Pow-shun, twenty miles off at least”