The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader Part 24

"It is time, Mr Shafto, for us to launch the boat, to go off to her, and we may then be ready. The captain thinks if he is once inside he will be all safe, but to my mind he will be greatly mistaken."

"I'll follow your advice, Mr Bollard," said Harry. "We will do our best, lads, to help the people if the ship gets on sh.o.r.e. I know that I can depend on you."

"Ay, ay, sir, and never fear," answered the men, as they followed the young officer down the the hill. They kept the ship in sight all the way, and could still see her clearly from the beach.

On she stood, and the wind holding, she was able to steer directly for the harbour. Under ordinary circ.u.mstances she would have appeared secure of entering a haven of safety; but with the wind constantly shifting, the rocky sh.o.r.e on either side, and deep water close up to it, there would still be great danger, even should she succeed in making the entrance.

The boat was reached, but now came the difficulty of launching her; for the wind having shifted to the south, the sea raised across the broad estuary drove directly into the bay. Could they once get her safely through the surf, however, they might obtain shelter under the western point, where a reef running out formed a natural breakwater. They ran her down the beach, but when near the water both Harry and the boatswain hesitated about attempting to launch her. Should they not succeed in getting her quickly through the surf, one of the heavy seas which were breaking on the sh.o.r.e might roll her over and knock her to pieces, as well as endanger all their lives. Still, if they waited till any accident happened to the ship, they might be too late to render a.s.sistance to those on board.

As the stranger stood in, the English flag was seen flying at her peak, and from her appearance the boatswain p.r.o.nounced her to be a merchantman, probably an Australian emigrant ship, and that if so she would probably have numerous pa.s.sengers on board.

"She has evidently been fearfully knocked about," said Harry, who was looking at her through his spy-gla.s.s. "And I can only see one quarter-boat. Come, lads, we must try to launch the cutter. Dicey and Patch, do you jump in and stand by with the oars. When I give the word, we will run her down without stopping, and back out as the sea falls off."

Harry waited till a heavy sea broke on the sh.o.r.e, then all hands uniting their strength, in another instant the boat was afloat. They leaped in, the oars were out in a moment, and before the next sea broke, the boat had been urged fifty fathoms from the beach. Only one small patch of water was visible where she could remain in safety, close inside the reef. They pulled towards it, the seas, as they rolled in, threatening to capsize her. It was reached, and by keeping the boat's head towards the outer rocks they were able to lie in comparative safety, and watch the progress of the ship.

"If the wind holds she will get in, and may be come to anchor under the south island," observed Bollard.

"It would be safer for her, then, to run up the inner harbour; for should the wind afterwards shift, she would be placed in a dangerous position," said Harry.

"No doubt about that, sir," observed Bollard. "The chances are that she will leave her ribs on the rocks."

"If so, we must do our best to save the people," said Harry. "The sea breaks heavily along the sh.o.r.e, and they will be placed in great danger."

The ship meantime was standing boldly on, keeping close to the southern sh.o.r.e, for the purpose evidently of being well to windward. She had already reached the entrance of the sound, and now she was in comparatively smooth water, though the fierce gale made her heel over, threatening every instant to carry away her masts. It must have been an anxious time to those on board. Away to leeward the waves were dashing fiercely on the rockbound coast, and well they must have known, should any accident happen, that no power could save them from driving against it, when few could have hoped to escape with life.

The party in the boat continued anxiously to watch the ship. Harry was considering how he could best render her a.s.sistance. It was a long way by land to the mouth of the sound, and should she drive on sh.o.r.e in that direction, all on board might be lost before he and his party could reach the spot. Still the masts held, and the captain evidently dared not shorten sail, as only by carrying on could he hope to keep to windward.

"He is a brave seaman, whoever he may be," observed Bollard. "Hold on, good sticks, hold on, and you may still bring the stout ship into port!"

he added, apostrophising the masts.

"They see our flagstaff, and will probably steer for it," said Harry.

"Or perhaps they are aware of the existence of the inner harbour, and purpose running up to an anchorage."

The ship had now got within two miles of where the boat lay; and, sheltered somewhat by the land, she stood up more bravely than before to her canvas. The captain evidently did not like the look of the sh.o.r.e on his port side, as no preparations were made for coming to an anchor.

"She will do it now," cried Bollard, "if the wind holds for another quarter of an hour. See, she is keeping away. They have made out the entrance of the inner harbour. We might pull outside the reef, Mr Shafto, and get on board, to pilot her in. If they see us coming, they will have ropes ready for us."

"It would be no easy matter to reach her, and we shall risk our lives and the loss of the boat, if we make the attempt till she is in smoother water," said Harry. "However, we may pull round to the harbour, and lead her in; they will be looking out for a boat, and will be sure to see us. Now, lads, give way. Dicey and Patch, you must keep the bailers going, for we shall ship some seas, and must be prepared. We will first get to windward, and step the mast, and then run merrily up."

The ship was now standing almost across the sound, making directly for the mouth of the inner harbour. As she drew nearer, the gush of water from her sides, evidently forced out by pumps at work, showed her distressed condition, and the reason which had induced her commander to seek a haven instead of keeping the open sea. The boat had just got from under the shelter of the reef, when the wind again shifted several points to the westward, and blew with greater violence than before. The crew tugged bravely at their oars; but all their efforts could scarcely send the boat ahead in the teeth of the gale. The ship, heeling over, made her way across the sound. The mouth of the harbour was almost reached, when with redoubled violence the wind struck her. Down she heeled, and all her masts in one instant falling over her side, she lay a helpless wreck upon the water, driving rapidly towards the reef. So close was she already that Harry could see the people running along her decks. An anchor was let go, but even when the whole cable had run out, so great was the depth of water that it did not hold. Another anchor followed. Still the ship drove onwards.

Harry, forgetting his previous caution, urged his men to pull out, in the hopes of getting alongside before she struck, and saving, if possible, some of the females who might be on board. There was but little time to do so, however, for she was already within three cables'

lengths of the rocks.

"She holds! she holds!" cried w.i.l.l.y. The last anchor had brought her up. "Whatever becomes of the ship, lads, the people may be saved."

It was now seen that the only boat had been stove in when the masts were carried away.

"The lives of those on board may depend on our exertions, lads," cried Harry, when he discovered this. The crew thus encouraged and incited, used every effort to reach the sorely battered vessel. Several persons were seen collected on the p.o.o.p, eagerly watching their approach. It was too probable that the anchor would not long hold, and when, driven on the reef, her destruction would be inevitable.

At length the boat succeeded in getting under the ship's quarter. "Let no one attempt to get into the boat till the women are cared for," cried some one from the p.o.o.p in a stern voice, as the boat lay tossing up and down.

A chair slung by ropes was lowered with a female in it, who shrieked out as she descended, "Hold on tight, hold on tight, good sailors! hold on, I pray you, hold on tight! Don't let me drop into the water. I was ready to sacrifice myself for the good of the rest by coming first; hold on, hold on!"

Her tongue had been heard even before the chair was over the side, and continuing till she was unlashed and handed over to the boatswain into the stern of the boat, where she continued uttering exclamations without intermission. "Oh, do take care of the girls, they are under my charge.

Let them come next; I must not be separated from them."

"Why," exclaimed w.i.l.l.y, as he caught sight of the lady's features, "are you not Mrs Clagget, and are my sisters and Charles with you?"

"Yes, to be sure they are, and there comes Emily. And is it possible that you are w.i.l.l.y Dicey, and can I believe my senses?" was the answer.

w.i.l.l.y did not stop to reply, but sprang to the bow of the boat to a.s.sist his sister, who was just then being lowered down. May followed her.

Harry recognised them. "Is Charles with you?" he asked, as he carried May aft.

"Oh, yes. Can he come with us?"

"Not till the other women are safe," he answered. "I am sure he would not."

There was no time to exchange further words, for more women and children were being lowered down. Poor Mrs Bolton, when she had got all her children with her, cried out for her husband, but the necessary rule was adhered to.

"He will come next trip, when you are all landed," said Harry.

Though anxious to take off as many as the boat could carry, Harry, afraid of overloading her, at length resolved to take no more.

The pa.s.sage to the sh.o.r.e, though short, was full of danger. The oars were got out, the rope which held her to the ship cast off, and now came the fierce struggle with the seas. The crew had to exert their utmost strength to clear the end of the reef. Those who watched her from the deck must have trembled for their safety. Often it seemed as if she must be driven into the surf, which broke in sheets of foam over the rocks; but the strong arms of the crew and their tough oars did not fail them. The point of the reef was doubled, and the boat now glided into comparatively smooth water within it. Instead of attempting to run on the beach, Harry steered her towards some rocks which formed the inner part of the reef. Even here the landing was far from easy. While some of the men kept the boat from being dashed against the rocks, Harry, with the boatswain and the rest, leaped into the water.

"Come, marm," said Mr Bollard to Mrs Clagget. "You were the first in the boat, and you should be the first out, and do just cling on to my back, and I will soon place you on dry ground."

"Oh, you will let me into the water, I know you will," answered Mrs Clagget.

"No, no, marm, don't be afraid," said Bollard, seizing her hands, and lifting her up on his shoulders as he would have carried his hammock.

"You must set the rest of the ladies an example."

Mrs Clagget's tongue did not cease; but the boatswain, regardless of what she said, ran with her over the rocks, and putting her down, quickly returned to the boat. Harry in the meantime having landed May, the boatswain next took up Emily, and bore her to the sh.o.r.e, while w.i.l.l.y and Peter scrambled over the rocks, each with a child on his shoulders.

One after the other, the whole of the pa.s.sengers were thus landed.

The midshipmen were then about to jump into the boat. "No, Dicey, do you and Patch remain on sh.o.r.e, and take care of the women," said Harry.

"If we are lost, there will be no one to send for help to the settlement. You understand me? I can trust to your judgment.

Good-bye." Saying this, Harry ordered the crew to shove off, and once more pulled away to the ship.

Harry had frequently cast an anxious glance towards her. She appeared already to have got nearer the reef; and his fear was, knowing the depth of the water on the outside and her already leaky condition, that, should she strike, she might go down before the rest of the people could be landed.

The boat had got to the outer end of the reef, when so heavy a squall met her that the crew, though exerting all their strength, in vain attempted to pull against it. The ship felt its force; nearer and nearer she drew to the reef, pitching her bows into the seas as they rolled along nearly the whole length of the broad estuary. At last she rose to a heavier sea than ordinary. The cable parted, and the hapless "Crusader" drove stern-on to the rocks. She struck heavily, the falling sea driving her broadside on to them. To rescue any of those on board from the outside of the reef was now an operation of too much danger to be attempted, and Harry, by the boatswain's advice, steered back, hoping to establish a communication with the ship across the reef.

Emily and May Dicey stood on the beach, watching with fearful apprehension the ship as she lay with her broadside against the reef, the sea wildly breaking over her. "Oh! they will be lost, they will be lost," cried May.

Emily clasped her hands. "w.i.l.l.y, can nothing be done for them?" she exclaimed.