THE ADVENTURE OF THE "RANGER'S" BOATS.

A CALM--THE CUTTER SEEN ASTERN--PEOPLE CRY OUT FOR WATER--HARRY TAKES AN OBSERVATION--THE LAUNCH PUT TO RIGHTS--SQUIDS LEAP ON BOARD--A HAIL FROM THE CUTTER--HOLT'S SAD CONDITION--PETER BEGS TO JOIN w.i.l.l.y--LIZARD KILLS A WHALE--BLUBBER USED AS FUEL--WILD-FOWL SHOT--MRS RUMBELOW VISITS THE CUTTER--CUTTER'S CREW TRY TO DETAIN MRS RUMBELOW--THE CREWS TAKE TO THE OARS--MRS RUMBELOW a.s.sISTS IN ROWING.

When the young commander of the "Ranger's" launch awoke, he found her floating on a gla.s.sy sea. Not a breath of wind filled her sails, though every now and then a long, low undulation rose beneath her keel, and went rolling away to the southward. The sun was striking down with undimmed splendour upon the world of waters. Harry's head had been sheltered from its burning rays by a shawl which Mrs Rumbelow had thoughtfully thrown over him. He felt that heavy weight at his heart which those oppressed with care or sorrow are apt to experience. In a few minutes, however, after uttering a secret prayer to Heaven for strength, he was able to cast it off, and arousing himself, sat up to consider what he had to do. Most of the people, under the superintendence of the doctor, were employed in drying the tea and biscuits, and other articles wetted by the salt water. On lines stretched from the masts were hung up numberless articles of clothing and bedding. The women were seated in the bottom of the boat; one was nursing the baby, who appeared still flourishing. Very few were idle.

Mrs Morley and her daughters were setting them a good example, and Mrs Rumbelow was making her way among them, the most active of the party with hand and tongue. The doctor was busy for'ard over the stove, where, with the a.s.sistance of the armourer's and carpenter's mates, he was engaged on some iron work which absorbed his whole attention.

Harry's first impulse was to look out for the other boat. At first he could not distinguish her, but by the aid of a gla.s.s he made out her sail just rising above the horizon to the eastward; yet it was so indistinct that, had not w.i.l.l.y and Paul Lizard declared they could make it out, he might have supposed himself to be mistaken. He did not forget to speak a few words to his female pa.s.sengers.

"Oh, Mr Shafto, cannot you give us more water?" exclaimed Mrs Twopenny. "We have only had that little tin caseful a-piece the whole of this morning, and the doctor says we must be contented with it."

"We are under the doctor's orders on that point," answered Harry, afraid that others might join in the complaint made by the poor lady. "Captain Twopenny will, I am sure, agree with me in the importance of following his advice."

The captain, however, had no little difficulty in tranquillising the invalid lady. She had been accustomed all her life to be petted, and to have what she asked for, and was little prepared to endure the trials she would now be called upon to go through.

"It must be near noon," said w.i.l.l.y, remembering that an observation had to be taken. Harry pulled out his watch--there was but little time to lose. The quadrant was got ready. Harry felt somewhat weak, as he stood up with it at his eye, while w.i.l.l.y, with note-book in hand, marked down the degrees as he read them off. After a satisfactory observation was taken, the result showed that they were somewhat farther to the north than the lat.i.tude where they had left the ship, while he calculated that, since then, they had run upwards of a hundred miles.

Still their distance to the nearest known land was very considerable.

Water, Harry feared, would be their chief want. His mind on that point was, however, somewhat relieved when w.i.l.l.y, coming aft, told him that the doctor hoped to manufacture a still for producing fresh water from that of the sea.

"He forgets the amount of fuel he will require for the purpose,"

remarked Harry.

"He told me not to be unhappy about that," answered w.i.l.l.y. "Perhaps he expects to catch a whale."

Harry smiled faintly at the notion.

"But we may catch some smaller creatures, though," exclaimed w.i.l.l.y. "I have just found a harpoon, and Paul Lizard has often told me that he is a first-rate harpooner, and has struck many a porpoise and dolphin in his time."

"Please, sir, if we can see one of those creatures, I have little fear but what we may manage him," observed Paul, who was standing steering close to them.

Harry's hopes revived on hearing this; not that he would have allowed anybody to suppose that he entertained any fears about the ultimate safety of those confided to his charge.

The day was employed in putting the boat to rights, re-stowing carefully everything of value, and heaving overboard several useless and heavy articles. The carpenters' first care was to tighten the hoops round the water-casks, and it was hoped that, if water could be procured, the leaky cask would now hold it. The empty cases were now broken-up for firewood, to a.s.sist the doctor in his operations; and when they heard what he was about, the spirits of most of the party revived. Poor Mrs Morley and her daughters, however, could not forget the brave colonel left to perish with his men; and Mrs Rumbelow, though she did her best to cheer others, every now and then uttered a sigh she could not suppress, as she looked in the direction where the ship had been left.

The day was drawing to a close.

"Hurra!" shouted w.i.l.l.y, "the cutter is nearing us. I have been watching her for some time--they have got out their oars--that shows they have some strength left."

Still the other boat was at a considerable distance when night closed in. There was no change in the weather. The sky was clear and the stars shone out brilliantly; the watch was set, and all hands not on duty lay down to sleep, sheltering themselves as best they could under the thwarts, among the packages, or covering themselves up with cloaks, or pieces of sail-cloth or matting. w.i.l.l.y took the first watch. He felt not a little proud, as he sat in the stern-sheets, at being the only officer on duty. Strange sounds came across the ocean. He was sure that some were made by whales, as they rose to breathe at the surface. Now and then a splash was heard as some huge monster leaped out of the water. Suddenly a large flabby ma.s.s was dashed against his face, and at the same time several other dark objects sprang into the boat.

"Hilloa!" cried the doctor, towards whom one of them had directed its course. "Who gave me that slap in the face? Ah, I see," he added, sitting up and lifting the flabby ma.s.s in his hand. "A _cephalopoda-sepia octopus_, commonly called a squid. The fellow nearly poked out my eye with his beak. What, w.i.l.l.y, were you a.s.saulted too?"

w.i.l.l.y, who had been almost knocked over by the blow from the creature, was just recovering himself.

"It nearly drilled a hole in my nose," said w.i.l.l.y, laughing.

"Well, never mind," exclaimed the doctor. "I wish only a few more would come on board. They are ugly beasts; but, fried in b.u.t.ter, will serve us for breakfast, and prove a better dish than salt pork. How many are there of them?"

"Five or six, I think," said w.i.l.l.y.

"Well, hand them to me, and I'll put a stop to their crawling propensities. They would frighten the ladies if they were to make their way into the cabin."

The doctor had got out his knife, and was engaged in scientifically depriving the creatures of life. This done, they were stowed away in the stern-sheets.

"A covey of flying-fish would have been more acceptable," observed the doctor, as he again composed himself to rest; "but they are not to be found in these lat.i.tudes."

Two or three people, awakened by the doctor's voice, inquired what was the matter.

"Only a few squids come on board to be cooked for breakfast," answered w.i.l.l.y. Those who had spoken, satisfied with the reply, were quickly again asleep.

Silence once more reigned on board, broken only by the snores of the sleepers, though the blowing of whales or other cetacea could be heard every now and then, now in the distance, now somewhat nearer; and w.i.l.l.y hoped that in the morning they might be successful in catching some of the smaller ones, and obtain a supply of oil. Some time thus pa.s.sed away; the first watch was nearly over, when he was startled by hearing a loud hail astern. Unwilling to awaken the ladies, he refrained from replying. He could just then distinguish the splash of oars; and straining his eyes through the darkness, he at last made out a boat approaching. He had no doubt she was the cutter, and he hoped to receive good tidings of those on board. As she drew near, he heard every now and then a strange wild shout, and several persons speaking.

At length the boat came close up under the stern of the launch.

"Is that the cutter of His Majesty's ship 'Ranger?'" asked w.i.l.l.y.

"Ay, ay," answered a voice, which he knew to be that of Roger Bollard, the boatswain.

"Why, Mr Bollard, what is the matter?" he inquired.

"One of our people has lost his wits, and if you have the doctor aboard, we wish he could see what he can do for him."

"Who is he?" asked w.i.l.l.y.

"Mr Holt, sir."

The doctor had started up on hearing w.i.l.l.y speaking. Roger Bollard repeated what he had before said. "Clap a strait-waistcoat on him, and keep his head cool," cried the doctor, sitting up. "I'll see him in the morning; I cannot do him much good now."

"But he may be overboard before then, sir," answered Bollard. "It's a hard job to keep him quiet now, and he is getting worse and worse. He swears that he will swim back to the ship, as he has left all his traps aboard, and abuses us for not going to get them."

"Lash him to a thwart, then," said the doctor. "Still, if you will come alongside, I'll see what I can do for him."

"Do! What can a wretched saw-bones like you do? I say that I am an officer in His Majesty's service, and I decline being treated like a common lunatic," exclaimed the poor young man.

"He has got some sense left, at all events," observed the doctor. "He never had much in his brains, however."

The cutter coming alongside, the doctor stepped on board. "Don't desert us, Dr Davis," said several of those on board the launch. While Dr Davis was talking to the unfortunate young officer, and trying to calm him, w.i.l.l.y asked the boatswain how those with him had fared.

"It's a mercy we were not swamped, so we ought not to complain in regard to other matters," answered Mr Bollard. "We have, however, but a scanty supply of water, and that poor young gentleman and several others have been crying out for more than I could venture to give them. Our provisions, too, are nearly all wet--the flour and biscuit especially."

"That's bad news," remarked w.i.l.l.y. "We must hope soon to get a fresh supply of water, and to do without the biscuits and flour."

After a time the doctor came back to the launch; he appeared to have quieted the young ensign, though he left directions with his companions to watch him narrowly, observing that he could not answer for his not suddenly taking it into his head to leap overboard.

"Hilloa!" cried a voice, after the doctor had returned. "Is that you, Dicey? I was fast asleep till this moment. I am so glad."

It was Peter Patch who spoke. "I wish Shafto would let me come into your boat; we should have much better fun together."

"I should be very glad to have you," said w.i.l.l.y, "but I am sure Shafto will not allow it. You were ordered into the cutter, and there I would advise you to make up your mind to remain."

Peter seemed rather annoyed at this rebuff; but still he knew very well that w.i.l.l.y was right. Bollard remarked that he was afraid all the other boats had gone down. He had looked around for them as he was making sail to follow the launch. One, which was at no great distance, was evidently deeply laden, the seas threatening every instant to break over her. Soon afterwards she suddenly disappeared, and he had seen her no more. The people in the cutter seemed to have suffered more than those in the launch, having been completely wetted by the seas which broke on board; only by constantly bailing had she been kept afloat.