Fearing the threat might be executed, Ernest watched his chance to escape, and succeeded in getting away two days later, probably saving his life by doing so, as the boy taken in his place died of yellow fever in Rio Janiero, whither the ship sailed.
Ernest succeeded in finding a chance to return home by working his passage on a Hanoverian barque called "Emil," commanded by Captain Onkier. When he went on board the ship, it being in the night, a big Newfoundland dog seized him and nearly worried him to death. The dog not only bit him severely, but so thoroughly frightened him that he crouched in a corner, not daring to stir until the carpenter discovered him there the next morning and released him.
Being at the mercy of the crew on the voyage to Bremer Haven, he was compelled to steal provisions and liquor for them, and was caught in the act by the Captain who struck him on the side of the head with such force that it sent him reeling, and he was subsequently beaten by the crew for his lack of success. During the nine days' voyage he had no bed to sleep on or cover himself with, and he was about as comfortless as when he shared the bed of the dog.
He reached home nine months after first embarking, about half clad and without a cent to show for the time he had been absent.
His parents, however, gave him a hearty welcome, and were horrified at learning of his narrow escapes and severe treatment.
[CHAPTER II.]
EMBARKS AS ORDINARY SEAMAN—CAPTAIN'S PREMONITION AND SAILORS' FEAR—AMAZONE WRECKED—DYING SAILOR'S VISION—GREWSOME SEAT—A TYPHOON—SHIP SEIZED BY FRENCH—TRAVEL IN RUSSIA—FINDS A WIFE—CONVERTED TO "MORMONISM."
In April, 1867, he found employment as an ordinary seaman on a German mail boat, sailing between Bremer Haven and New York, his compensation being $6.00 per month. He fared so much better on that vessel that he quite enjoyed his berth, but was ambitious to learn more of seamanship than he could on the steamer, and after one year's service quit that and joined the Hamburg barque "Amazone," bound for Cardiff to load up with coal for Hong Kong, China. As the vessel was leaving the Geestemunde dock, her owner stood on the quay side, and, as the last rope was cast off, he placed his hand on the ship's side and said, "Good by Amazone; I will never see you again!"
Ernest heard the remark, and repeated it to two of his comrades. Sailors are notoriously superstitious, and the effect was that they felt sure the vessel was not going to reach her destination. They laid their plans to desert the ship at Cardiff, and would have succeeded if some one had not overheard their talk, and reported to an officer. They had each two suits of clothes on, prepared to make their escape, when they were apprehended by a policeman and compelled to return. Ernest plead with the captain to let him go, saying he could keep all his belongings and wages due if he would only grant him his liberty, but didn't dare tell why he wanted to escape. The captain however, refused, saying he had never had a man desert him, and he wouldn't allow him to.
With the exception of alternate head winds and calms, which greatly retarded the vessel, nothing serious occurred until the Cape of Good Hope was rounded, when heavy storms and high seas were encountered. The bulwarks were swept away, the main batch burst in, and six casks of fresh water were swept overboard. Ernest and a companion were standing at the steering wheel when the second mate warned them to hold on, as a heavy sea was about to break over the ship. They both gripped the wheel with all their strength, but, as the wave passed over, Ernest saw, to his horror, his companion go with it; then, marvelous to relate, as the ship bent down under the weight of the second huge wave, the sailor grasped a mizzen chain and clung on, and shouted until others of the crew came to his relief and hauled him back to safety.