Part 6

The night was dark as the grave. There was no moon, and no stars. One immense cloud hung over the broad surface of the ocean, like a mighty pall, and the constant gusts of wind that hurried with their melancholy voices through the sails of the ship, might be supposed to be the lament of nature at the funeral of the world. The waters swept up to the vessel, like waves of boiling pitch. The air was burthened with an impenetrable gloom. An intense blackness enveloped the whole untrackable length of way over which the ship had passed. Looking back from the vessel all was like the prospect of the dead. Looking upward, it seemed as if the eyes of heaven had been put out, and that a deep and awful blindness had blasted the vision of the universe. Save at a considerable distance ahead, all was a chaos of darkness--a visible nothingness--an infinite void; but when the eye looked in that direction, flames appeared to shoot out of the pitchy sea, licking the darkness, and writhing, darting, twisting through the smoke like serpents in the agonies of death. As the light became stronger, part of the hull and rigging of a ship could be discerned, and hurrying to and fro, minute forms, readily discovered to be human figures, became visible. Now a shower of blazing sparks rushed as from a volcano, up, up, high into the gloomy cloud, piercing its black depths with their lurid beams, and immediately the flame seemed dulled; a moment after, they burst out again, with a fiercer fury, and with a doubled volume; fragments of burning timber were hurled into the air with a giant's strength; flames red, blue, and yellow, and vapours of every conceivable colour from white to black, rose and fell, and mingled and separated, like an army of many nations fighting for mastery; and now that the whole extent of the vessel was evidently one mass of resistless fire, its fierce rays were reflected over the vast surface of the surrounding ocean, making visible dark figures, that looked like despairing men struggling in the drowning waves, and scorching rafters hissing and smoking around them. Presently when the glare of light was at the strongest, and the ship was seen blazing to the water's edge, a sudden movement was observed, the fire sunk into the wave beneath it,--a tall column of thick grey smoke rose in its place, and in a moment all was again swallowed up in deep, utter, and boundless darkness.

It appeared as if the contemplation of this spectacle had hitherto kept every one on board the Albatross from any consideration for the sufferers; but a suggestion having been made, immediately each person seemed to exceed the other in anxiety to render them assistance.

"Burn a blue light at the mast head!" exclaimed the captain.

"Ay, ay, Sir," responded Hearty.

"Set up every stitch of canvass she'll bear," continued the captain.

"Ay, ay, Sir," repeated the other.

"Put her machine to the fullest speed!"

"Ay, ay, Sir!" was again the ready exclamation.

"And bear right down upon the spot where the flames were last seen."

"Ay, ay, Sir."

In a moment the deck, the sails, and rigging were enveloped in a bright blue flame, that gave the vessel and its crew the appearance of the ship of death freighted with spectres; and the Albatross was rushing through the waves with the velocity of lightning.

"There seems great danger, while going at such extraordinary speed, of passing over the people who may have escaped from the burning vessel, don't you see," remarked Dr. Tourniquet.

"Never fear," replied the captain. "If they can't keep a sharp look out it's their own fault; and if they don't hail us when they see us, they can't blame us for the consequences."

"Ship, ahoy! Starboard your helm!" cried a voice; and immediately a shriek of piercing agony arose from under the ship's bows as the swift vessel passed right over a large boat crammed full of men.

"Ease her! Stop her!" exclaimed a dozen voices at once, as soon as the accident was discovered.

"There! I told you how 't would be, don't you see," said the doctor.

"Out with the galley and pick 'em up!" shouted Captain Compass, surlily; and the men hastened to obey the command.

"Take two or three blue lights with you, and stow them in the stern sheets," he continued.

"Gently with her," cried Hearty, as he and some of his messmates lowered the boat into the sea, and the first who leapt into her was Oriel Porphyry.

"Now, boys, pull away!" exclaimed the young merchant, as he laid hold of an oar, "and you shall be rewarded for every man you save."

The sailors, however, wanted no such stimulus. They exerted themselves bravely, and were quickly in the midst of between twenty or thirty swimmers, struggling in the waves and shouting for assistance. The light in the boat not only showed to the drowning men the near approach of the aid they required, but directed its crew to the places where they could be of most service.

"Help! help!" screamed one, with the water gurgling in his throat.

"Save me, or I sink!" cried another, nearly exhausted by his struggles.

"Here! here! here!" shouted a dozen voices in different directions. Among the most active in the rescue was Oriel Porphyry, who was so fortunate as to save many who were on the very point of sinking; and being well seconded, with great difficulty and at considerable risk they succeeded in hauling into their boat fifteen, many of whom were more dead than alive; but the rest they saw engulphed in the waters before they could reach them.

"Hollo!" exclaimed Hearty, in a tone of wonder and disappointment, as the crew were about to return. "Where's the ship?"

Not a vestige of the Albatross was visible, and nothing was seen before or around them but impenetrable darkness.

"May I be food for fishes, if this arn't a pleasant look out," observed Climberkin.

"Surely they'll burn a light," said Oriel Porphyry.

"I've my misgivings on that 'ere head," muttered Hearty.

"But how can we get back to the ship without?" inquired the merchant's son.

"There'd be no difficulty about that, Sir," here remarked Boggle, "if we knowed her whereabouts; but a man as is blind can't see, and nobody can point out a thing in the dark if they has no notion where it is."

"You're a conjuror," replied Oriel.

"No, not _quite_ so clever as that, Sir," rejoined the man. "But I likes to have a notion o' things in general, as every man as is a man, and thinks like a man, should."

"Well, I wish, among your notions of things in general, you could find one that will lead us to the ship," said master Porphyry. "I don't like the idea of these poor fellows in their wet jackets passing the night here, nor have I any great desire for remaining here myself."

"That's not the worst we've got to expect, Sir," said Hearty; "for if the ship holds on her course, when we can see our way in the mornin', she'll be far enough out o' sight, and here we shall be--nearly thirty on us--crammed together in a open boat out at sea, where there's no land within more nor five hundred miles on us; without never a compass, or a bit o' biscuit, or a drop o' water."

"Surely, Captain Compass has forgotten we cannot find our way back without seeing the vessel," said Oriel Porphyry, now beginning to feel some anxiety for the fate of himself and his associates. "But we cannot be much above a hundred yards from the ship. Shout as loud as you can, and that will put them in mind of our existence."

"Ahoy!--Ahoy!--Ahoy!--Hoy!--Hoy! Oy!" Every one who was able shouted as loud as he could, and then waited in perfect silence for a reply.

"Yeho!--Yeho!--Yeho! Yho!--Ho!--O!" was replied by voices at a short distance.

"That's some on 'em," exclaimed Hearty, steering the boat towards the place from whence the sounds came.

"Hulloo! Hulloo! Ulloo! Loo! Oo!" was heard in another direction.

"Well if this arn't a most considerable cruel puzzlement, I'll be transmogrified," observed Boggle. The men again rested on their oars, some with perplexity, others with superstitious fear.

"There's the Albatross!" cried they, joyfully, all at once, as a blue flame was seen to rise in the midst of the darkness, and disclose the well-known figure of their beautiful vessel, at rather more than a hundred yards from them.

"Pull away, mates!" shouted Hearty; and the oarsmen, straining every muscle, soon brought their boat alongside the ship.

CHAP. V.

PERILS OF EMIGRATION.

"Cheer up, my dolphins!" loudly exclaimed Climberkin to the men rescued from drowning, whom he and his shipmates were endeavouring to make as comfortable as possible after their fashion. "Cheer up, and wet your gills with this--precious sight better stuff nor salt water, of which sort o' liquidation I've a notion you were obligated last night to drink more than was agreeable. Give us your fin, my flying fish!" he continued, as in the most cordial manner he shook the hand of a fine looking young man who sat near him. "A fellow don't deserve to be called a naval if he ar'nt a got no 'miseration for another fellow in misfortune. So here's to 'ee--and may you never have such tipple _above_ your gills, and all'ays keep the salt water _under_ your foot."

"None on us 'a heard the 'ticulars o' this here deplorable 'flagration," said Hearty, "and if it arn't too unpleasant to 'municate, I should like to hear the whole circumbendibus."

"Perhaps none of my comrades, now present, are so well acquainted with the circumstances of that unhappy affair as myself," remarked the young man just alluded to; "and if you will allow me, I will not only relate to you all concerning it that has come within my observation, but combine the information with a narrative of my own life that possibly may render it more interesting."

Consent having been readily and unanimously given, the stranger proceeded to fulfil the intention he had communicated.

"I am a native of Malthusia, an extensive province far into the interior of Australia, where my family, for many generations, had owned a small estate; but as the difficulty of living in any state approaching comfort, in a densely populated country, where consumption exceeds supply, and the price of labour is reduced to limits within which life can scarcely be supported, in consequence of the constant pressure of competition, produced by the supply greatly exceeding the demand, became so great, it was considered amongst us whether it would not be the most advantageous thing that could be done under the circumstances, to leave a land where we could not exist with the same respectability in which our fathers had lived, and seek our fortunes in a new country, where the means of subsistence were more easily procured, and the results of labour more profitable to the industrious. The idea was debated long and frequently before it was resolved upon. Children of the soil, whose most pleasurable associations were connected with the land on which we had been born, it could not be expected that we could easily tear asunder the loving ties that connected us to our ancient home. My father was getting into the vale of life, but possessed much of the strength of man in his vigour; and myself and five other brothers were strong and active, ingenious, laborious, and persevering. We were considered the very persons for whom emigration would be most advantageous.

"But, besides the natural disinclination to leave the scene of every pleasure I had known, I had a still stronger repugnance, which I found it impossible to remove. May I claim your indulgence, while I speak of one who made my native earth and sky a paradise of delights. She, of whom I speak, Optima, the fair, the kind, the good, by the sweetness of her disposition and the excellence of her behaviour, created in me that perfect sympathy, which greater personal attractions and a less amount of moral advantages, would have failed to have produced in a nature like mine. From having lived in each other's society from childhood, and our fortunes and prospects being as nearly as possible alike, we had mutually indulged in the same fond hopes of an undivided existence, and in our quiet walks by the hill side, and by the margin of the soft flowing stream, and in the long delightful rests we took beneath the shadow of the friendly trees, our little ambition was pictured in rosy colours, and the landscape of our future seemed to glow with sunshine, gladness, and beauty. At this time, having suddenly been made an orphan, Optima became dependent upon an old querulous aunt, who having saved a little property in the course of a long life, which she designed for her niece, was desirous that she should marry some one of still more ample means; and opposed our union with all the despotism she could exercise: but we managed to meet as usual, though not quite so frequently. Notwithstanding the efforts made to keep us asunder, and although in consequence of the gratitude she felt towards her relative for the protection she had received, she would not listen to my wishes for an immediate union, for the purpose of joining the intended emigrants, she bade me hope for better times, and assured me, with all the fervour of her guileless spirit, that her affection must endure with her existence.

"Preparations were now made for the departure of my family for their destination to a flourishing colony on the European continent, but I finding it impossible to quit the scene that held all that was dear to me, resolved to remain in Australia, supporting myself by the application of an unceasing industry, till in company with my adored Optima, I could join them in their new home. My brothers did not seem to approve of my resolution, and endeavoured to induce me to change it; but my father, who had more knowledge of human nature, understood my motives, and left me to follow my own inclinations. I busied myself in assisting in their arrangements, but I found my feelings far more active than my endeavours. I strived to shut out from my mind all idea of the loneliness in which I must live after the departure of my family, and sought to banish the fear I sometimes experienced, that as then the difficulty of seeing Optima would be increased, some unfortunate accident would render our union impossible. Our interviews now became exceedingly painful, my entreaties grew more urgent, my dread of the consequences of her refusal more intense; but she only answered me with tears; and at last, as the time drew near for quitting Malthusia, our hearts became too full for utterance, and our congratulations at meeting, and sorrows at parting, were alike silent.

"'Ardent!' said she to me on one occasion, after we had sat together a long time without daring to speak, 'you must not think me unkind by thus seeming to oppose your happiness. I do a violence to my own feelings, indeed I do, Ardent, whenever I refuse your solicitations.'--Her sobs for some time prevented her proceeding; at last she continued;--'But I should be selfish, were I to allow myself to do as you would have me, and act with a regardlessness of your interests, for which I should never be able to forgive myself. My aunt, it is evident to all who see her, is rapidly approaching her dissolution. She has been kind to me. I wish not her last moments to be rendered miserable, by what in me would appear to her ingratitude, and I am most anxious for your sake, dear Ardent, that she should not, through any imprudence of mine, annul those intentions in my favour she has so frequently expressed. Her property is but small, but it will enable us to join your family, and with industry and economy may produce for us a greater degree of comfort than without it we can hope to obtain. Wait, Ardent; the time is not propitious now; but if we are not impatient of our happiness, we shall soon be as happy as we can desire.'

"I pressed her more closely to my breast--I blessed her in my heart, but my voice seemed to have lost all power of expressing my emotions; no longer I made use of entreaties. I was grateful, and resigned. The day came on which the emigrants were to leave the seat of all their past enjoyments. My brothers appeared careless of quitting the land of their fathers. They were hard working, hard thinking men, who valued nothing except for its utility, and looked upon the affection with which memory regards the scenes of its pleasures, as romantic nonsense, only fit to delight children. But my father could not so readily get rid of the impressions he had cherished from his infancy; with him the departure from his home seemed a banishment from his happiness. He visited the lands his forefathers had owned, but which had long passed from their descendants. He walked in the fields he had ploughed and drilled and harrowed since he was a boy, and he looked upon the trees he had planted, and the buildings he had raised, as if he was taking a last farewell of a company of ancient friends. As he approached the cemetery in which lay the bones of his ancestors, his manly form seemed to lose half its strength--his ruddy cheek grew pale--his step became feeble, his eye dim, and his heart faint; and as he bared his head that the cool breeze might fan the thin white hairs that played about his forehead, he was obliged to lean against a monument to support his sinking form. Here rested in peace the wife of his bosom and the mother of his children; and he felt as if he was about to desert her remains to be trampled on by strangers. He thought of where _his_ grave would be, and in the agony of his heart lamented that two who had never been divided in life should in death be placed so far apart.

"I witnessed the sale of the land and stock; I assisted in packing up the moveables; I was present when the neighbours came to bid farewell, and to express their honest regrets; and after having beheld my family turn their backs upon the habitation of their race, I hastened to Optima, with the design of enjoying her sweet presence for the last time, until I had parted with my father and my brothers at the nearest sea-port. I came to the house of her relative and found it closed. Having with some difficulty gained admittance, Optima rushed into my arms, and wept upon my breast. It was not till a considerable time had elapsed, that I ascertained what was the cause of her grief. Her aunt had died the night previous.

"After a lapse of a few weeks Optima became mine. On the day of our marriage she placed a packet in my hands, and speaking in a voice broken with emotion, she said:--

"'I have a favour to ask you, and I know on such a day as this you cannot deny me. Take this, dear Ardent, and make whatever use of it you think proper. Your heart is yearning to join your relatives; be assured that wherever you wish to go I desire to follow. I cannot be happy but where your happiness may be best secured. I am indifferent to country and to kindred,--I can acknowledge no relative but a husband, and can know of no country except that in which I find his home. Whenever your preparations are made, dear Ardent, I am ready.'

"I kissed off the tears that were trembling on her eyelids, and in brief but eloquent language expressed the love with which my heart was overflowing. The packet contained a sum of money amply sufficient for our purposes. Having by letter previously apprised my family of these circumstances, they delayed their departure; and after providing every thing that was necessary for the wants of agricultural emigrants, we all set sail from the populous seaport Kangarootown, in a magnificent ship fitted up in the most splendid manner, and carrying more than three hundred passengers."

"'No!' exclaimed half a dozen anxious listeners, starting up with horror and surprise.

"'Tis true!" replied the young man, in a voice scarcely audible.

"The Lord ha' mercy on their miserable souls!" said Hearty.

"We had not been many days out at sea," continued the narrator, "and were busily and cheerfully employed in forming plans for the future, when one evening, as soon as we had all retired to our berths, the gas with which the interior of the ship was lighted, through some carelessness had been suffered to escape, and it having caught fire, the first alarm the passengers received was from finding themselves surrounded by flames. There were but two or three boats belonging to the vessel, to which there was immediately a general rush. Without waiting to secure any of my property, I instantly hurried on deck with Optima, and was so fortunate as to secure her and myself a place in the largest boat. I shouted to my father and my brothers to join us, but as soon as we were full the rope was cut, and we pulled from the burning ship with all the strength of desperate men. As the flames rose up into the rigging we could see hundreds running backwards and forwards, bewildered and stupified by fear. One after another jumped into the remaining boats, into which they crowded so rapidly that their own weight at once sunk them to the bottom. Others in their frenzy leapt into the sea--the rest retreated from the flames as they advanced, shrieking their own knell, till the fire beginning to scorch their flesh they fell over into the waves, or letting go their grasp of the ropes up which they had climbed, sunk yelling with agony into the midst of the raging fire. I saw nothing of my brothers. I imagine they perished in the smaller boats. But while observing the destruction of the ship, I beheld, high up the tallest mast, the figure of an old man--his white hair scorched upon his brows--his blood-shot eyes bursting from their sockets--his trembling limbs clinging to the rigging, screaming for mercy and for help. I knew the form--the voice pierced my brain. I would have leapt into the sea with the wild but fruitless hope of hastening to his rescue, but I was forcibly held to my seat; and Optima, who had not changed her position since I placed her in the boat, with her face upon my breast and her arms round my neck, clung to me trembling with terror. In a moment afterwards the flaming vessel disappeared.

"We could scarcely congratulate ourselves upon our safety, for although we had escaped being burnt to death, there seemed but little hope of our being saved from drowning, or from starvation. There were thirty of us closely packed together, not one of whom knew exactly how far we were from land; few were clothed, and none had either provisions or water. My feelings were of the most agonising description. I had seen my family perish before my eyes without having the ability to render them the slightest assistance--all their property and mine--all that the loving kindness of Optima had enabled me to procure for our future wants, were swallowed up in the devouring fire, and now I was left with her upon the boundless ocean enjoying no other hope than that we should perish together. Bitter as my reflections were, they grew almost insupportable when I considered with what a dreadful fate the devotion of her I loved would be rewarded. But she whose goodness had been thus cruelly turned to evil seemed to think of nothing, and care for nothing, but for him to whom she clung. At this instant when we were giving ourselves up to despair, a light blazing from your ship proclaimed to us the joyful intelligence that assistance was at hand. Then what a change came upon us. The murmurs of complaint were turned to the loud shouts of gladness; and so completely did we enter into the spirit of the moment, that none noticed the rapid approach of the ship coming to our relief, till she was just upon us.

"We are saved, dearest!" I whispered.