|
|
[Written for The Flag of our Union.]
BEYOND "DESOLATION." No. XI. by W. H. Macy.
About this time there was considerable excitement about a new island, supposed to lie about two degrees to the southward. The " Ripple," while on her return passage from Desolation, had experienced much thick weather, and been drifted far out of a direct course. While boxing about in the fog, they had seen land, or, at least, what all on board supposed to be land, but had little opportunity to examine it, still less to determine its position by observations. But this was enough to stir a fever in the minds of the more enterprising spirits. If land existed in that direction, it was, doubtless, well stocked with phocae, and rich cargoes of oil and skins awaited those who should first succeed in making a landing there. As the tenders must lie idle a few days, waiting for their lading, it was thought the time might be given to the search for this Ophir, and an expedition was accordingly determined upon. The " Woodlark," with both captains, King and Comstock, was to sail in company with the "Ripple." The vessels were to diverge and take different routes, so as to pass over as much ground as possible, both returning to the anchorage within a week. I was surprised when Dave Bryant came over to my outpost on the south-west beach, and announced to me his intention of sailing in the " Woodlark " on this cruise. He had, at this time, nearly recovered his strength, but was hardly able, as yet, to play his part in the arduous duty of beach-work. "What has started you on this wild-goose chase?" said I. "I want to be doing something, Joe," he replied. "I can't bear this inaction any longer, and the labor of tramping the beach and rolling casks of blubber across the island is too heavy for me. I can fill a better man's place on board the schooner, and a week's cruise will do me good, I think. Besides, if there is an El Dorado out south here, I want to be one of the first to see it." "Ay, there's the rub. I'm afraid, Dave, that not even your love for the little Nereid can overcome that harum-scarum love of adventure. However, I don't blame you. I wish I could go, too; but I suppose I must be tied down to my drudgery here, for the present." "Well, good-by, Joe. I must be back to the north beach within an hour or so, for I am to go in the boat with the admiral. And then for a stretch up into unknown seas! 'Prospecting,' eh, Joe! Good-by for a week. Take good care of Carrie while I'm gone, and don't let her be lonely." And my friend struck a beeline for Daphne Cottage. Within a couple of hours afterwards, the sails of the two schooners, distended by a cracking breeze, came into view over the low land of the Point, and passed rapidly into the dim distance. Towards sundown of the same day, the wind piped on from the northward, and increased during the night to a gale exceeding in fury anything which we had yet experienced. It was impossible, even at our partially sheltered position on the lee side of the " tussock land," to carry on our regular duty the next day; and everything was hidden from view by the mingled gloom from the mists of heaven and the sands of the earth. The angry sea, heaving down along shore, broke into the arc with a force that swept all before it, and the low, flat part of the Point was completely submerged. Many elephants which had been killed by several parties were washed away and lost. Small heaps of blubber, which had not yet been backed up to a place of safety, were scattered far and wide, while carcasses and skeletons in every stage of decay were knocked about like footballs. The fury of the gale did not prevent our going abroad to attempt to save what we could of the property which had cost us so much toil to obtain. In doing so, we came upon several casks, which had, probably, been washed off the deck of one of the vessels at the anchorage. . I knew they could not be ours, as the "Woodlark" was far away in search of the supposed island. But it was a time for every gang of men to save what they could, and fix all questions of ownership afterwards. In trying, with two others of my shipmates, to roll one of the casks up beyond the reach of the sea, 1 lost my footing, and was thrown on my back in the seething caldron of waters. Luckily I escaped being crushed by the casks, but a block of ice, one of the thousands broken off from the sea-face of the Glacier, was thrown upon me with great force. My comrades seized and dragged me up to the higher ground, where the pain of a broken arm soon restored me to consciousness. Here was an unfortunate situation for a cripple! surrounded by men who, though full of sympathy for me, knew as little about repairing an injury of the kind as I myself did. There was no surgeon on shore, for Doctor Churchill had returned to the " Garrick," and, so far as communication was possible at that time, might as well have been at the antipodes. The nearest place where I could make a harbor was Daphne Cottage, and there, drenched, shivering, and nearly mad with pain, I presented myself before Captain McDougal and his lovely daughter. The captain did the best he could for me, and set the bone as well as he knew how. I remained with him all night, and, but for the pain of my arm, would have passed the time very pleasantly. Rawlings, who came in late in the evening from the beach, reported the fury of the storm to be abating. But it would be many hours ere the force of the breakers would subside, and, probably, two days must elapse before I could see the surgeon. With the light of morning came clear weather, and we were all astir at an early hour. Spite the pain from my bandaged arm, I accompanied Mr. McDougal and Carrie to the north beach, and our first glances were directed toward The Bight. All the vessels still hung to their anchors, plunging and pitching, though dimly seen against the sterile background. The captain took a look through a pocket telescope which he had brought, wiped it, and silently handed it to me. "Look at the 'Garrick,' " he said. " See if you make out anything new or strange." "She has her ensign set at the gaff," I replied, " and—and—it's union down!" "I thought so, too," returned McDougal, quietly. "But I wouldn't say so till some one else had looked." "What can be the matter there, father?" asked the young girl, who stood close at his side. "She may have parted one of her chains; or she may be dragging, perhaps. But she doesn't seem to have altered her position by the land. I can't think what else can have happened." As soon as Rawlings joined us, he proposed to climb the Glacier, to see what he could discover by looking down upon the anchorage. But he had been anticipated by Morgan, who came to bring us the intelligence that the bark appeared to have started a bad leak, as the pumps were going steadily, and the water gushing from her scuppers both sides. He had observed the signal as aoon as day broke, and had ascended the bluff and looked down upon her. Nothing could be done by us, and it was necessary to wait all that day before we could know more. When, at length, the sea had gone down sufficiently for Proctor to send his boat, orders were received for McDougal and his party to abandon all and come on board as fast as possible. There was no time for argument or delay. The bark was leaking very badly in the bows, in consequence of straining during the gale. The only course to be adopted was to get under way at once, and proceed to Three Island Harbor. They might, perhaps, be able to so far repair the ship as to return; but, as this was doubtful, the voyage must, for the present, at least, be abandoned, and the whole force would be required at the pumps. The necessary arrangements were hurried up, and the whole party were ready to embark within an hour. Everything was left as it stood, for it was possible that they might return. Carrie, as she shook my hand at parting, left with me a letter for Dave, which she had hastily written after the order to embark had arrived. "This will explain all to him," she said. "If the ship returns to Hurd's Island, I shall be on shore again; if not I will write again from Desolation by the next vessel. Good-by, Joe; I hope we may meet again soon." I echoed this hope, and she took her place in the boat without trusting herself to say more. She could not conceal her feelings from me, much as she had, of late, schooled herself to hold them under control. She was, of course, anxious about her lover, who was at sea when a heavy gale came on, and who, if he returned safe, would naturally be equally anxious about the fate of the " Garrick," until he could see or hear from her again. The captain of the "Adelaide " offered to keep company with the bark, if her sailing was deferred till he could have a smooth day to raft off his cargo. But Proctor could not afford to wait even one day; and the leak was not so heavy as to excite apprehension of immediate danger, especially as she would have more than forty men on board to work her pumps. Two days of fair weather succeeded that of her departure, and the time was improved by us in rolling our casks to the beach, and having everything in readiness for loading the " Woodlark." I was unable to do anything myself but oversee the others; but my arm seemed to be doing well, thanks to McDougal's rude surgery. Our work was finished just in time. The "Woodlark" was absent only five days, and in response to our signal that all was ready for her, came directly to anchor off the rafting-place at the Point. Her consort also arrived the same day. They had been in chase of fogbanks, it seems. At all events, they had found no land, though the weather had been favorable, and they had not felt the gale to the same extent that we had on shore. Dave Bryant seized my hand at landing with the grip of a vice. He did not seem to notice my arm in a sling. "Where's the' Garrick ?'" he demanded, almost fiercely. "Where's McDougal?" "And his daughter, you mean to say. Here, read," said I, presenting Carrie's letter. "I must go up to Desolation in the schooner," he said, as soon as he ran his eye over its contents. "I'll see the admiral at once about it." "And I'm going to see him, too," said I. "I would like to exchange and go up this trip. I shall not be able to use my arm for some weeks, and I'll tell him I want to see Doctor Churchill." Our applications were successful, and my place was supplied by the mate of the schooner, who was glad of the change for the time being. In a few hours our cargo was all on board, and we were under all sail for the great rendezvous, Three Island Harbor. We made good progress, with fair weather, all that day and night. But the next forenoon it blew on strong from westward, which brought us sharp by under double reefs, and the little "Woodlark" showed her old accomplishments as a diver. A sail was raised ahead about noon, and, as we drew near, we made her out to be a bark. She wore and stood towards us, and as she presented her broadside to us, she was instantly recognized. "The Garrick!" was cried by half a dozen voices at once; and, at the same moment, the British flag went aloft and blew out in the fresh gale, union down! Everything appeared to be in confusion on board, and the vessel herself to move sluggishly in wearing. We also thought she seemed deeper in the water than when lying at the anchorage. As we drew nearer, we noted that both pumps were going for dear life, and a board was now pushed out over the weather quarter, on which was chalked, in immense capitals, the one fearful word, "sinking!" Proctor appeared to have lost all control of himself in the emergency. In fact, as we learned afterwards, he was raving drunk, and had no longer any control either of himself or of any one else. McDougal had assumed the direction of affairs, and, with the assistance of Rawling? and the mate of the bark, had brought order out of chaos, and kept the nearly exhausted men at the pumps. We ran near enough to hail, and were informed that the ship was fast settling, the water gaining upon both pumps, in spite of their exertions. If we could save the lives of the crew, it was all that could be done. The wind was freshening, and there was every reason to expect a strong southwest gale that night. Carrie stood, seemingly calm and fearless, by her father's side at the taffrail, and recognized Bryant as we shot past, with a glad smile and a wave of her hand. "Just heave to, close under our lee," hailed her father. "We have boats enough to carry all hands—you needn't pull to windward." "All right!" and a wave of the trumpet was sufficient reply; and the little schooner came to the wind, as near the sinking ship as was safe or prudent. We could observe all that was done on board, and even hear what was said whenever the voices were raised. There were five whale-boats on board the "Garrick," including the one which had been launched off the skids, and was now ready to sling over the side. The young girl took her place in the lee-quarter boat, of which Rawlings was to take charge. She seemed to demur a little at this arrangement, but a word from her father seemed to satisfy her. It was evident that he had assumed the responsibility of which Proctor had proved himself unworthy; and meant to see all the rest in safety before he left the wreck himself. As the first boat was being carefully lowered away, the drunken captain hoisted his clumsy figure over the rail, to be ready to jump into her. He was instantly seized from behind by some one, I could not tell whom, and jerked heavily back to the deck. A picked crew were ready to take their places in the boat, and she was pushing clear of the ship, when again Proctor, with the reckless agility of intoxication, jumped over to the mizzen chains, and, before he could be again seized, had slung himself off by a gripe. But he was too late. The boat had already passed from under him, and he hung for a moment, dangling. "Help, here!" shouted McDougal, as he jumped himself to his assistance. "Lay hold of him and haul him upl" But before this could be done, the poor wretch, with his feet braced against the ship's side, surged back heavily upon the worn gripe. It parted, and he fell with a heavy splash into the sea—fiat on his back. I saw his head once, as he rose directly under the counter, while the bark was making a heavy pitch that buried her whole figure-head. Then, with a quick recoil and "send-aft," she brought her quarters down over the spot. He was seen no more. McDougal gazed a moment over the taffrail, and turned away to watch the movements of the boat in which he had sent his daughter. As soon as he saw her in safety on the deck of the " Woodlark " he was fully himself again. The other boats were quickly despatched, he himself taking command of the last one; and without further accident, the whole complement of forty-two persons were crowded on board our little schooner, in addition to our own proper crew. The boats were cast adrift, and went dancing buoyantly away on the crests of the angry waves. We lost no time in filling away on our course, and, as the wind hauled to the southwest, we were soon enabled to give her a free sheet. The " Garrick" settled quickly, after the pumps ceased working, and when we last saw her she was wallowing helplessly in the trough, her deck flush with the sea. We soon lost sight of her, as the weather was hazy, and she had nothing aloft higher than stump topmasts, her light spars having been all sent down at Hurd's Island. We had ran so far by midnight as to make a partial lee from the gale under the south end of the great island of Kerguelen; and the next day, without further suffering than such as arose from the crowded state of our little craft, we entered Royal Sound, beat up past the three islands, from which the harbor is named, and anchored alongside the "Cerberus." |
Source:W. H. Macy
This publication may be found in the ProQuest/American Periodicals collection.
.
Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, January 08, 2025.
|
|
