CHAPTER XIII

FROM HONG KONG TO SAN FRANCISCO

With a fine, fair wind, a smooth sea, a clear outlook, and every opportunity for making a good offing before nightfall, the 'Alert' left her anchorage near Victoria. And thus began the most remarkable voyage of her career, and one which was soon to become the most adventurous experienced by any member of her crew.

By those on shore no apparent notice of the departure was taken. Some of the emigrants, however, burned a few 'joss-sticks,' and ignited several 'crackers,' to propitiate the malignant spirits of the deep.

Out in the open sea a strong breeze was sweeping across a wide expanse of sparkling water, the late typhoon having cleared the atmosphere in splendid manner. The sun shone brilliantly, the coast-line of China soon disappeared, and as quickly as the studding-sail gear could be rove and rigged out the canvas was set.

Captain Thorne and all hands were in high spirits at having obtained so favourable a start for the venture. Indeed, everyone capable of forming an accurate estimate of the run to California believed that a record passage would be almost certain to follow, and that the Chinamen would be landed without the slightest mishap to anyone.

Still keeping the same fair wind the 'Alert' sped across the China Sea, and passed safely through the Bashee Channel, that lies between the large island of Formosa and the Philippine Islands. She had now cleared all dangers of the land, and swept into the blue depths of the North Pacific.

The weather continued beautifully fine. All that while not a yard or boom brace was touched, and the wind-curved sails never stirred. The barque seemed to revel in the glorious sunlight, and 'reeled off' daily runs that astonished Captain Thorne.

'It's grand, Master Jack,' Readyman exclaimed. 'I thought she did a tidy bit of scooting through Torres Strait. This bout fairly knocks the bottom out of that. I hope she'll keep on as she's going, right up to the Golden Gates.'

'You mean the entrance to San Francisco Bay?'

'Ay, ay, my son. The pigtails keep very quiet, and the interpreter chap seems a decent sort--for a heathen.'

'He can speak tolerable English,' Jack said; 'but no one can learn what he really is.'

'Just their way, lad. You can never find out anything about them. They'll smile and flourish their flippers, and in the end swindle you with some trick kept up their sleeves. All the same, sonny, I suppose we mustn't condemn this lot before getting good cause. Keep your weather eye lifting all the time, lad, and directly anything seems to go amiss with those chaps, tell the skipper.'

Day after day, the barque still sped away on a true course, and as she got well out into deep blue water the sunrises and sunsets became of such indescribable magnificence that even the stolid Chinamen were compelled to notice them.

In the early mornings, long before sunrise, small cloud-balls of the purest white ranged themselves all along the western horizon, each apparently separated by a few inches of the loveliest blue, the azure zenith remaining unsullied by the slightest trace of gathering vapour, and in dazzling splendour the huge golden disc suddenly leaped over the eastern sea-rim.

The sunsets, however, were always the most attractive spectacles. Through a haze of gauze-like evaporation, gorgeous combinations of pale blues, delicate emeralds, pinks, vermilions, and ruddy golds, ocean and firmament became indistinguishable. The entire world seemed enveloped in such a flood of tinted light as neither brush nor pen could hope to portray. The barque and its canvas seemed aflame, while the surging foam beneath the bow decorated itself in tiny rainbows.

Never, surely, had men enjoyed such wonderful sailing, and still the 'Alert' raced along in grand style, until, after a fine run of sixteen days, she had almost reached mid-ocean. The wind gradually died away, and with canvas chafing badly against masts and rigging, she lay wholly becalmed on a sea unruffled by the faintest cat's-paw.

Of course, everyone believed that such a delay to an otherwise splendid run would only be of short duration, and at first no notice was taken of the incident.

'We'll get a fine breeze directly,' Readyman observed. 'Should it not come, I'm afraid our chance of record-breaking is gone. Anyhow, the Chinamen have been very quiet, and that is the chief thing this voyage.'

'We had nearly three weeks of it coming out,' Jack replied. 'I thought I should never get rid of the prickly heat.'

Two weeks of windless inactivity, with the barque sullenly turning her head toward every point of the horizon, were followed by another of similar experience, and limbs ached under the constant bracing of yards to catch the slightest breath of elusive airs. Still there was no relief, nor the least prospect of immediate alteration of the trying weather. As food and water had only been shipped for a stated period, and such delay was not contemplated at that season of the year, some talk of a reduction of rations was mooted fore and aft.

Against such a procedure the hands, of course, made no complaint, but when the matter had been explained to the interpreter, and by him to the Chinamen down below, they expressed strong opposition, and much impatience at the length of the voyage.

Captain Thorne promptly took the matter in hand, collected all his men abaft the stockade, and then directing the interpreter to call some of the emigrants on deck he demanded a full explanation of their grievances.

'You no gib mensh allee same food plomised at Hong Kong,' the burly spokesman replied. 'We no get 'nough rice. You allee same cheatee Chinaman. We no takee less rice, an' wanshee cook it dun b'low.'

'You will be no worse off than my own men,' the skipper said. 'Should this calm run into a month or six weeks, you'll run a fair chance of having nothing at all. I only wish to be on the safe side. Savvee?'

'You cookee no boil rice allee same China. We wanshee do it allee same plopper.'

'There is not room for you in the galley,' the old man explained. 'You cannot cook in the 'tween deck. When a breeze comes, you shall have plenty of rice.'

To that the spokesman made no reply, and what with the persuasion of the interpreter and the friendly demeanour of the captain the murmurers returned below, and the incident closed.

'They told me,' the interpreter said, 'that on coming here they did not expect to be longer than one week at sea, and had no idea that San Francisco was much farther than Shanghai.'

'I would take the precaution of securing the large gratings on all the hatches,' Mr. Sennit said. 'With them on, we could keep better watch against sudden surprise, and only allow a few men on deck at one time.'

'Well, I've been thinking of something of that sort myself,' the skipper replied; 'but just at present I think we had better let matters stand as they are. The fellows might make some disturbance about them. At the same time, Sennit, don't send any of our men aloft. They must remain handy for a call, and let them see that all the rifles in the forecastle are ready.'

Throughout that day the distressing calm continued, the barometer standing so high and steady that no immediate change could be anticipated, and on the following morning orders to reduce all rations fore and aft were issued.

The cook was also enjoined to be particularly careful of the way in which the rice for the emigrants was served, since from certain samples of that article shown by the interpreter, it was evident that the man had not been as careful in that direction as could have been desired.

However, the Chinamen made no disturbance, and, so far as outward appearance went, they seemed disposed to fall in with the new arrangements. All hands went about deck softly whistling for a breeze to end their troubles. But the outlook still remained of the same hopeless appearance. The sea, like a silvered mirror, flung back in dazzling brilliancy the powerful rays of an unclouded sun, and with endless groan of seams and timbers; the barque rolled on the windless waste of waters. The situation was fast becoming more and more serious. The 'Alert' had been caught in a tropical entanglement from which she could neither advance nor retire.

Then suddenly the long spell of anxiety was brought to a close, but in such an unexpected and startling manner as to almost overwhelm both vessel and crew.

At four o'clock one afternoon, Mr. Statten and his men took over control of the deck. About half an hour later, one of the hands directed attention toward a peculiar appearance just gathering far away on the port beam.

'There might be some wind in it, sir,' he said.

Immediately afterwards everyone perceived that it was a pillar-like cloud, apparently revolving at terrific speed on its own axis, and also moving down on the barque at incredible velocity. That it would assuredly strike her no one doubted, and intense excitement immediately prevailed.

Mr. Statten sang out to let fly all studding-sail, royal, and topgallant halyards. Even the topsails were lowered, and everything likely to ease the strain on the masts was done.

Captain Thorne, alarmed by the sudden commotion, rushed on deck, and, seizing the wheel, helped to place it hard up. But without wind the barque would not answer her helm.

A moment later there was a sensible movement of the atmosphere. It seemed as though the vessel were being sucked toward the hideous black pillar, then not more than a cable's length away. There was an awful roar of wind, and the impenetrable darkness became appalling.

The 'Alert' was caught by the terrible whirlwind, and she seemed to be lifted several feet from the water. A wild jumble of sea and foam rose up over and swept the decks fore and aft. She lay down almost on her starboard beam-ends. Everyone hung fast to belaying-pins or other means of safety, and in that deafening uproar no voice, or the least sound of what was taking place, could be heard.

Then, as swiftly as it had come, the dreadful cloud swept away eastward, and the partially dismantled vessel lay rocking on a momentarily agitated sea. From start to finish the whole incident did not occupy above two minutes, yet in that brief period the 'Alert' had become almost a wreck. The foremast, with the jib-boom and all attached, was gone. Every shroud and particle of running gear about that part of the vessel had been cut as if with an axe, and quarter of a mile off the wreckage lay on the water.

'Are all our men safe, Statten?' were the first words uttered by the skipper.

'I think so, sir,' the mate replied.

But from the adjacent wreckage three men, who had been carried away on it, sang out lustily for assistance. They were soon on board again, little the worse of their extraordinary adventure.

A careful examination of the vessel followed. She was not making any water, and beyond the loss of the mast, which had been screwed clean off level with the deck, and the jib-boom, no other damage was observed.

The more the affair was considered, the more mysterious did it appear, since not even a rope-yarn about the mainmast or farther aft had been carried away.

'It struck her obliquely, and so saved the after sticks,' Captain Thorne said. 'A water-spout would have sunk her.'

'Before I could grip anything,' one of the rescued men exclaimed, 'I was lifted off my feet. On looking upward, the yards and canvas, the latter mostly in rags, were whizzing round and round at forty knots an hour. I thought I would have smothered. Anyhow, the whirligig suddenly dropped me with the gear. There was a tremendous splash. Then I saw my two mates. The next moment I thought I'd drown, but Billy Holland dragged me on top of the lower mast. 'Twas the closest shave I ever had.'

That was how the first of a coming breeze caught the vessel. She immediately sheered alongside the floating spars, and with right goodwill all hands set to work getting them on board. Tackles were rove off and a derrick rigged.

'Bear a hand, now, Sennit,' the old man sang out 'The glass is dropping for wind, and we may have plenty of it soon.'

Assisted by the interpreter, he got some of the emigrants to help. Others, however, were not so disposed, and the hands jeered them. Before nightfall all the wreckage had been secured on deck, and the barque proceeded on her voyage.

The light wind of the evening steadily strengthened throughout the night, and the crew never ceased their labour of repairing damages. One of the chief causes of delay lay in the fact that the 'cap' of the bowsprit, or the piece of wood through which the jib-boom should pass, had been broken off; but by the ingenuity of the carpenter that mishap was speedily rectified. The lower mast had also been badly snapped off, but that, too, was set straight by a tongue and 'step' which were made on it, the stump still remaining in its place.

In the refitting Jack Clewlin had his share, and gained such experience of that duty that Readyman himself could not hope to impart by mere verbal tuition.

All the lower and other rigging had to be shortened and then set up taut. The upper masts, however, had received no injury, and with their yards were soon sent aloft. The damaged sails were replaced by others, and within a week scarcely a trace of the late accident remained.

All hands were once more in high spirits, and as the breeze still held strong and fair, great hopes of soon reaching San Francisco cheered every mind. A full daily ration of food was served out fore and aft. But the brightest anticipations of a speedy termination of the voyage were doomed to bitter disappointment. Within a few days the wind again failed. The Chinamen, believing that the food supply would be reduced, immediately hastened on deck, and loudly upbraiding the captain for bringing them all into such a position, stubbornly expressed their determination to return to Hong Kong.

Captain Thorne, who was accompanied by the interpreter, faced them manfully, and endeavoured to point out how he himself, and all his crew, were greatly distressed by the unexpected delays. At the same time he gave orders for the watch on deck to assemble behind the stockade.

'Tell them,' he observed to the interpreter, 'that we cannot return to China. There is no cause for anxiety.'

'You no allee same one face,' the leader of the emigrants sang out. 'One day you talkee ploper, nex' day you cheatee Chinaman, we allee same starve. Cookee man him no good. We cookee chop-chop allee same China dom b'low. Savvee?'

'And set my ship on fire, eh?' the old man sharply replied.

'No, no, me no fool. S'pose you go Hong Kong we likee plenty.'

At that point of the argument the interpreter endeavoured to make matters still clearer to his countrymen; but, in spite of all explanation and good temper, the men could not be induced to return below.

Then suddenly the real meaning of the disturbance was made plain. A horrible screaming, and piteous cries for assistance, came aft from the forecastle, where some of the mutineers were evidently murdering the watch below.

Mr. Sennit shouted on his men to come aft, but to that order there was no reply. He then attempted to open one of the stockade gates, and with assistance rescue the surprised hands, but Captain Thorne peremptorily refused to allow such a step to be taken.

That action probably saved the lives of those behind the barrier. The Chinamen made a rush at the galley, where the cook had already secured himself, and with loaded revolver sold his life as dearly as he could. The gallant interpreter, ignoring all danger, begged the captain to pass him through one of the gates, and that being done he strove to pacify the infuriated mob.

The appeal failed. The galley was surrounded and torn down, the brave cook was killed, but not before six assailants had been shot down, and his body was thrown overboard. The affair passed so rapidly that there was scarcely time for consideration. The moment the cook had disappeared the Chinamen suddenly turned on their interpreter, and served him in similar manner.

Those abaft the stockade felt assured that their unfortunate comrades in the forecastle had all been killed, and that opinion was strengthened by the fact that no more cries were heard. The fore part of the 'Alert' was, therefore, in possession of the mutineers.

Just as the mob made their first attack on the stockade one of the watch below was suddenly seen to climb hand over hand up the fore stay, and on reaching the top he swung himself to the main topmast head, from whence he speedily joined his companions.

'All the others in the fo'c's'le are dead, sir!' he gasped. 'I was asleep overhead, and hid in the bow till the cut-throats cleared out.'

'How did they get to the fo'c's'le?' the skipper inquired.

'Knocked out the fore hatch grating, sir,' the man replied. 'They've seized all the rifles and ammunition pouches hanging on the bunk sides.'

As fast as Mr. Statten, Jack Clewlin, and the steward could pass on deck rifles, old muskets, revolvers, and ammunition, their friends armed themselves, and, under the direction of Captain Thorne, took up positions to repel attack.

Several of the Chinamen were now seen brandishing the weapons stolen from the forecastle, and not a few also carried revolvers, which must have been concealed in the small boxes brought on board at Hong Kong.

The mutineers, apparently confident of success, flung themselves on the stockade, and with terrible yells endeavoured to tear it down. The barrier, however, was so strongly constructed that no impression was made on it, and that seemed to inflame the mob to further effort.

Meanwhile, the captain used every means to quell the disturbance without bloodshed, and with upraised arms endeavoured to address the leader of the Chinamen. The effort proved partly successful. Some of the emigrants seemed inclined to hear him, and for a few minutes both sides stood looking at each other, one hundred and thirty desperadoes menacing a small group of white men, consisting of Captain Thorne and his two officers, the carpenter, the steward, with five hands, including Readyman and Jack Clewlin.

'Fight no good,' the skipper sang out. 'S'pose you allee same go down below, me no shoot. You no savvee how to fire gun. My men savvee plenty. When wind come you get plenty chop-chop.'

'No, no!' the big Chinaman exclaimed. 'You no speak allee same one face. To-mollow you say half chop-chop. Me takee ship, an' go allee same China. Savvee? Me chop you head off now. Me plenty gun, an' shoot foreign devil.'

'S'pose you fire, me kill you,' the old man replied. 'Give me your guns, and I takee you allee same San Francisco.'

'Me no go dere. Plenty chop-chop when you dead. Savvee?'

'You scoundrel, I'll have the lot of you tried at San Francisco!' Captain Thorne cried.

'Let us give the ruffians a volley, and have done with it!' Mr. Sennit exclaimed, furious at the loss of his men. 'That fellow is trying to bluff you.'

'Very likely,' the old man returned; 'but I'm not to be caught that way. I feel our loss as keenly as anyone, but want to show later on that every possible means of quelling the outbreak was taken before a shot was fired.'

'You are right, sir,' the mate said.

A final appeal to surrender and return below was howled down by the mob.

With fearful cries they flung themselves on the stockade. Captain Thorne, in the hope of easing the pressure on it, ordered some of his men to thrust between the bars the long spears captured from the savages in Torres Strait, and although Mr. Sennit strongly advised the immediate adoption of sterner measures, the old man would not allow a shot to be fired.

'Let them do that first,' he said.

The mutineers, apparently infuriated by the delay, tugged and wrenched at the iron bars till everything shook again, but as nothing gave way they began to discharge their weapons.

Only one of the sailors, a man named Clark, was slightly wounded in the shoulder. He was advised to retire to the cabin, yet, despite such persuasion, the brave fellow refused to leave his post, and tying a cloth about the injury went on with his duty as though nothing had happened. And there he remained throughout the whole of the desperate encounter which followed the firing of the first bullets at those abaft the stockade.