“Be jabers, I can’t say, sorr,” returned McCarthy; “sure an’ it’s yoursilf that knows bist. I belave, however, it’ll be the wisest coorse; for the divil a harbour can anyone say ilsewhere; and, by the same token, sorr, the current is setting shoreward in that very direction. Look at thim planks there, sorr, sure an’ if that’s the case it’ll hilp the rhaft along foinely!”
“You’re right,” said Mr Meldrum, glancing in the direction to which Mr McCarthy pointed, where some of the broken timbers of the ship, after being carried away to leeward, were now steadily drifting past her again—although now in an easterly direction and in a parallel line with the cliffs to the left. “The sooner, too, that we take advantage of that same current the better, as it will be hard work for the jolly-boat to have to tow us all the way. Let us see about getting the raft over the side at once, Mr McCarthy. The sea is much calmer now, and I think we’ll be able to launch and load it without much difficulty. The jolly-boat won’t give us half the trouble to float that the raft will, for the deck forms an inclined plane with the water and we can run her in when we please.”
“Aye, aye, sorr,” answered Mr McCarthy, and breakfast being now finished—a cold one for all parties, Snowball and his galley having parted company, and the waves now rolling between the two sections of the ship—the tough job of floating the raft alongside was proceeded with; purchases being rigged so as to lower it down easily, and prevent it afterwards from breaking away when it had reached the surface of the sea, which was still rough and boisterous.
The weather keeping calm and bright, and the wind lulling instead of increasing in force as the sun rose in the heavens, the task was at length satisfactorily accomplished.
It was not done, however, until after two hours of continuous labour, in which all hands were engaged, even Mr Lathrope assisting as well as his still injured arm would permit. By six bells in the forenoon watch, too, the jolly-boat had also been lowered into the water safely. Now, nothing remained but to get the provisions and whatever else they could carry that was necessary on board; for, Mr Meldrum sternly negatived any attempt at taking private property, thereby incurring Mrs Major Negus’s enmity, for he refused passage to three large trunks of hers which she had declared were absolutely indispensable, but which, on being opened, were found to contain only a lot of tawdry finery which might possibly have helped to astonish the natives of Waikatoo, but was perfectly useless, even to herself, on the inhospitable shores where the passengers of the Nancy Bell were about to seek refuge from the sinking ship.
Kate Meldrum was far more sensible, taking only those articles of warm clothing which her father recommended for the use of herself and Florry; and, indeed, leaving behind many things that he would probably have permitted as necessaries, in order that she should not overburthen the raft with what would not be serviceable to all. Unlike the “Major,” Kate thought that it would be selfish on her part merely to consider her own and her sister’s wants!
As for Mr Zachariah Lathrope, his luggage consisted chiefly of an old fur cloak, in addition to the clothes he stood up in, besides his inseparable “six shooter” and a rifle—which latter he stated had been given to his grandfather by the celebrated Colonel Crockett of “coon” notoriety, and was “a powerful shootin’ iron.” The rest of the men folk took with them almost as little; but Mr Meldrum did not forget charts and nautical instruments, besides a compass and the ship’s log-book and papers. These latter he removed from Captain Dinks’ cabin, at his especial request, that, should he ever see England again, he might be able to give a circumstantial account as to how the vessel was lost, and satisfy both his owners and Lloyd’s.
In reference to the general provisioning of the raft, it may be briefly mentioned that all the bread and flour that had not been washed out of the after-hold had been collected, in addition to several casks of salt beef and pork, and such of the tinned meats and other cabin stores that had not been stowed in the long-boat—for the benefit, as it subsequently turned out, of the mutineers.
Some casks of water were also embarked; but not many, for, in the event of a fresh supply not being found on landing they could easily melt down the snow and thus manufacture what they required from time to time.
While considering the important question of a proper supply of food, the pertinent fact was not lost sight of, that they would be exposed to a climate of almost arctic severity for, probably, many months to come; and, consequently all the blankets in the ship were collected and put on board the raft, besides spare bedding and some hammocks. Snowball also, true to his culinary calling, took care to secure his cooking utensils, clambering back into the dilapidated forecastle for the purpose, almost at the peril of his life—the darkey subsequently bewailing much his inability to remove the ship’s coppers, which were too firmly fixed in the galley for him to detach them from that structure.