 | CHAPTER XV. The sea lions, or, The lost sealers |  |
15. CHAPTER XV.
A wilder roar; and men grow pale, and pray:
Ye fling its. waters round you, as a bird
Flings o'er his shivering plumes the fountain's spray.
See! to the breaking mast the sailor clings!
Ye scoop the ocean to its briny springs,
And take the mountain billows on your wings,
And pile the wreck of navies round the bay.”
Bryant's Winds.
No unnecessary delay was permitted to interfere with the
one great purpose of the sealers. The season was so short,
and the difficulties and dangers of entering among and of
quitting the ice were so very serious, that every soul belonging
to the schooner felt the importance of activity and
industry. The very day that succeeded the vessel's arrival,
not only was great progress made in the preliminary arrangements,
but a goodly number of fur-seals, of excellent
quality, were actually killed and secured. Two noble sea-elephants
were also lanced, animals that measured near
thirty feet in length, each of which yielded a very ample
return for the risk and trouble of taking it, in oil. The
skins of the fur-seals, however, were Roswell's principal
object; and glad enough was he to find the creature that
pays this tribute to the wants and luxuries of man, in numbers
sufficient to promise him a speedy return to the northward.
While the slaughter, and skinning, and curing, and
trying out were all in active operation, our young man paid
some attention to certain minor arrangements, which had
a direct bearing on the comforts of his people, as well as
the getting in of cargo.
An old store-house, of respectable size, had stood on the
deacon's wharf, while the schooner was fitting out, but it
had been taken to pieces, in order to make room for a
more eligible substitute. The materials of this building,
Roswell Gardiner had persuaded his owner to send on
part below and a part on deck, as a provision for the possible
wants of the people. As it was necessary to clear the
decks and break out the hold, all these materials, consisting
principally of the timbers of the frame, the siding, and a
quantity of planks and boards, were now floated ashore in
the cove, and hauled up on the rocks. Roswell took a leisure
moment to select a place for the site of his building,
which he intended to erect at once, in order to save the
time that would otherwise be lost in pulling between the
schooner and the shore.
It was not difficult to find the sort of spot that was desi
rable for the dwelling. That chosen by Gardiner was a
shelf of rock of sufficient extent, that lay perfectly exposed
to the north and north-east, or to the sunny side of the
island, while it was sheltered from the south and south-west
by masses of rock, that formed a complete protection
against the colder winds of the region. These walls of
stone, however, were not sufficiently near to permit any
snows they might collect to impend over the building, but
enough space was left between them and the house, to
admit of a capacious yard, in which might be placed any
articles that were necessary to the ordinary work, or to the
wants of the sealers.
Had it been advisable to set all hands at the business of
slaughtering, Roswell Gardiner certainly would not have
lost the time he did, in the erection of his house. But our
master was a judicious and wary commander at his calling.
The seals were now perfectly tame, and nothing was easier
than to kill them in scores. The great difficulty was in
removing the spoils across the rocks, as it was sometimes
necessary to do so for a distance of several miles. Means
were found, in the end, to use the boats on this service,
though even then, at midsummer, the northern shore of the
island was frequently so closely beset by the ice as completely
to block up the passage. This, too, occurred at
times when the larger bay was nearly free, and the cove,
which went by the name of the “Deacon's Bight,” among
the men, was entirely so. In order to prevent a premature
panic among the victims of this intended foray, then, Gardiner
allowed no one to go out to “kill” but the experienced
skinned or cut up at that particular time. In consequence
of this prudent caution, the work soon got into a regular
train; and it was early found that more was done in this
mode, than could have been effected by a less guarded assault
on the seals.
As for the materials of the building, they were hauled
up the rocks without much difficulty. The frame was of
some size, as is the case generally with most old constructions
in America; but being of pine, thoroughly seasoned,
the sills and plates were not so heavy but that they might
be readily enough handled by the non-sealing portion of the
crew. Robert Smith, the landsman, was a carpenter by
trade, and it fell to his lot to put together again the materials
of the old warehouse. Had there not been such a
mechanic among the crew, however, a dozen Americans
could, at any time, construct a house, the `rough and ready'
habits of the people usually teaching them, in a rude way,
a good deal of a great many other arts, besides this of the
carpenter. Mott had served a part of his time with a black-smith,
and he now set up his forge. When the frame was
ready, all hands assembled to assist in raising it; and, by
the end of the first week, the building was actually enclosed,
the labour amounting to no more than putting each portion
in its place, and securing it there, the saw being scarcely
used during the whole process. This building had two
apartments, one of which Gardiner appropriated to the uses
of a sitting-room, and the other to that of a dormitory.
Rough bunks were constructed, and the mattresses of the
men were all brought ashore, and put in the house. It was
intended that everybody should sleep in the building, as it
would save a great deal of going to and fro, as well as a
great deal of time. The cargo was to be collected on a
shelf of rock, that lay about twenty feet below that on which
the building stood; by following which, it was possible to
turn the highest point of the pass, that which formed the
southern protection of the building, and come out on the
side of the cove at another shelf, that was not more than
fifty feet above the level of the vessel's decks. Down this
last declivity, Roswell proposed to lower his casks by means
of a projecting derrick, the rock being sufficiently precipitous
furnished him with the necessary means. Thus was every
preparation made with judgement and foresight.
In this manner did the first ten days pass, every man and
boy being as busy as bees. To own the truth, no attention
was paid to the Sabbath, which would seem to have been
left behind them by the people, among the descendants of
those Puritans who were so rigid in their observance of
that festival. At the end of the time just mentioned, a
great deal had been done. The house, such as it was, was
completed. To be sure, it was nothing but an old store-house
re-vamped, but it was found to be of infinite service,
and greatly did all hands felicitate themselves at having
brought its materials along with them. Even those who
had most complained of the labour of getting the timbers
on board, had the most often cursed them for being in the
way, during the passage, and had continued the loudest to
deride the idea of `sealers turning carpenters,' were shortly
willing to allow that the possession of this dwelling was of
the greatest value to them, and that, so far from the extra
work's causing them to fall behind in their main operations,
the comfort they found, in having a home like this to go to,
after a long day's toil, refreshed them to a degree which enabled
every man to return to his labour, with a zeal and an
energy that might otherwise have been wanting. Although
it was in the warmest season of the year, and the nights
could scarcely be called nights at all, yet the sun never got
very low without leaving a chilliness in the air that would
have rendered sleeping without a cover and a protection
from the winds, not only excessively uncomfortable, but
somewhat dangerous. Indeed, it was often found necessary
to light a fire in the old ware-house. This was done by
means of a capacious box-stove, that was almost as old as
the building itself, and which had also been brought along
as an article of great necessity in that climate. Fuel could
not be wanting, as long as the `scraps' from the try-works
abounded, and there were many more of these than were
needed to `try out' the sea-elephant oil. The schooner,
however, had a very ample supply of wood to burn, that
being an article which abounded on Shelter Island, and
which the deacon had consented to lay in, in some abundance.
temperament of the old man, by persuading him that a
sealer could not work to any advantage, unless he had the
means of occasionally warming himself. The miserly propensities
of the deacon were not so engrossing that he did
not comprehend the wisdom of making sufficient outlay to
secure the execution of his main object; and among other
things of this nature, the schooner had sailed with a very
large supply of wood, as has just been stated. Wood and
onions, indeed, were more abundant in her than any other
stores.
The arrangements described were completed by the end
of the first fortnight, during which period the business of
sealing was also carried on with great industry and success.
So very tame were the victims, and so totally unconscious
of the danger they incurred from the presence of man, that
the crew moved round among them, seemingly but very
little observed, and not at all molested. The utmost care
was taken to give no unnecessary alarm; and when an animal
was lanced, it was done in such a quiet way as to produce
as little commotion as possible. By the end of the
time named, however, the sealing had got so advanced as
to require the aid of all hands in securing the spoils. To
work, then, everybody went, with a hearty good-will; and
the shelf of rock just below the house was soon well garnished
with casks and skins. Had the labour been limited
to the mere killing, and skinning, and curing, and barreling
of oil, it would have been comparatively quite light;
but the necessity of transporting the fruits of all this skill
and luck considerable distances, in some cases several
miles, and this over broken rocks, formed the great obstacle
to immediate success. It was the opinion of Roswell
Gardiner, that he could have filled his schooner in a month,
were it possible to place her directly alongside of the rocks
frequented by the seals, and prevent all this toil in transporting.
This, however, was impossible, the waves and the
ice rendering it certain destruction to lay a craft anywhere
along the northern shore of the island. The boats might
be, and occasionally they were used, bringing loads of skin
and oil round the cape, quite into the cove. These little
cargoes were immediately transferred to the hold of the
her purposely to receive the oil, which was emptied into
them by means of a hose. By the end of the third week,
this ground-tier was filled, and the craft became stiff, and
was in good ballast trim, although the spare water was now
entirely pumped out of her.
All this time the weather was very fair for so high a latitude,
and every way propitious. The twenty-third day after
the schooner got in, Roswell was standing on a spur of the
hill, at no great distance from the house, overlooking the
long reach of rocky coast over which the `sea-elephants,'
and `lions,' and `dogs,' and `bears,' were waddling in as
much seeming security as the hour when he first saw them.
The sun was just rising, and the seals were clambering up
out of the water to enjoy its warm rays, as they placed
themselves in positions favourable to such a purpose.
“That is a pleasant sight to a true sealer, Captain Gar'ner,”
observed Stimson, who as usual had kept near his
officer, “and one that I can say I never before saw equalled.
I've been in this business now some five-and-twenty years,
and never before have I met with so safe a harbour for a
craft, and so large herds that have not been stirred up and
got to be skeary.”
“We have certainly been very fortunate thus far, Stephen,
and I am now in hopes we may fill up and be off in
good season to get clear of the ice,” returned Roswell.
“Our luck has been surprising, all things considered.”
“You call it luck, Captain Gar'ner; but, in my creed,
there is a truer and a better word for it, sir.”
“Ay, I know well enough what you mean, Stephen;
though I cannot fancy that Providence cares much whether
we shall take a hundred seals to-day, or none at all.”
“Such is not my idee, sir; and I'm not ashamed to own
it. In my humble way of thinking, Captain Gar'ner, the
finger of Divine Providence is in all that comes to pass; if
not straight ahead like, as a body would receive a fall, still,
by sartain laws that bring about everything that is to happen,
just as it does happen. I believe now, sir, that Providence
does not intend we shall take any seals at all to-day,
sir”
“Why not, Stimson? It is the very finest day we have
had since we have been on the island!”
“That's true enough; and it is this glorious sunny day,
glorious and sunny for sich a high latitude, that makes me
feel and think that this day was not intended for work.
You probably forget it is the Sabbath, Captain Gar'ner.”
“Sure enough; I had forgotten that, Stephen; but we
sealers seldom lie by for such a reason.”
“So much the worse for us sealers, then, sir. This is
my seventeenth v'y'ge into these seas, sir, and I will say
that more of them have been made with officers and crews
that did not keep the Sabbath, than with officers and crews
that did. Still, I have obsarved one thing, sir, that the
man who takes his rest one day in seven, and freshens his
mind, as it might be, with thinking of other matters than
his every-day consarns, comes to his task with so much
better will, when he does set about it, as to turn off greater
profit than if he worked night and day, Sundays and all.”
Roswell Gardiner had no great reverence for the Christian
Sabbath, and this more because it was so called, than
for any sufficient reason in itself. Pride of reason rendered
him jealous of everything like a concession to the faith of
those who believed in the Son of God; and he was very
apt to dissent from all admission that had even the most
remote bearing on its truth. Still, as a kind-hearted commander,
as well as a judicious reasoner on the economy of
his fellow-creatures, he fully felt the policy of granting relaxation
to labour. Nor was he indisposed to believe in the
care of a Divine Providence, or in its justice, though less
believing in this respect than the illiterate but earnest-minded
seaman who stood at his side. He knew very well
that “all work, and no play, makes Jack a dull boy;” and
he understood well enough that it was good for man, at
stated seasons, to raise his mind from the cares and business
of this world, to muse on those of the world that is to
come. Though inclined to Deism, Roswell worshipped in
his heart the creator of all he saw and understood, as well
as much that he could neither scan nor comprehend.
“This is not the seaman's usual way of thinking,” returned
our hero, after regarding his companion for a moment,
Sabbath in blue-water.”
“Too little, sir; much too little. Depend on 't, Captain
Gar'ner, God is on the face of the waters as well as on the
hill-tops. His Spirit is everywhere; and it must grieve it
to see human beings, that have been created in his image,
so bent on gain as to set apart no time even for rest; much
less for his worship and praise!”
“I am not certain you are wrong, Stimson, and I feel
much more sure that you are right as a political economist
than in your religion. There should be seasons of rest and
reflection — yet I greatly dislike losing a day as fine as
this.”
“ `The better the day, the better the deed,' sir. No time
is lost to him who stops in his work to think a little of his
God. Our crew is used to having a Sabbath; and though
we work on lays, there is not a hand aboard us, Captain
Gar'ner, who would not be glad to hear the word pass
among 'em which should say this is the Lord's Day, and
you've to knock off from your labour.”
“As I believe you understand the people, Stephen, and
we have had a busy time of it since we got in, I'll take you
at your word, and give the order. Go and tell Mr. Hazard
there'll be no duty carried on to-day beyond what is indispensable.
It is Sunday, and we'll make it a day of rest.”
Truth compels us to say that Roswell was quite as much
influenced in giving this order, by recollecting the pleasure
it would give Mary, as by any higher consideration.
Glad enough was Stimson to hear this order, and away
he hastened to find the mate, that it might be at once communicated
to the men. Although this well-disposed seaman
a little overrated the motives of a portion of the crew at
least, he was right enough as to the manner in which they
would receive the new regulation. Rest and relaxation
had become, in a measure, necessary to them; and leisure
was also needed to enable the people to clean themselves;
the business in which they had been engaged being one
that accumulates oily substances, and requiring occasional
purifications of the body in order to preserve the health.
The scurvy, that great curse of long voyages, is as much
owing to neglect of cleanliness as to diet.
No sooner was it known that this day was to be treated
as the Sabbath, than soap, razors, scissors, and all the usual
appliances of the sailor's toilet, were drawn out of bags and
chests, and paraded about on the rocks. An hour passed
in scrubbing, shaving, cutting hair, holding garments up
to the light to look for holes and ascertain their condition,
and rummaging among “properties,” as the player would
term the different wardrobes that were thus brought into
view. The mates came out of the mêlée `shaven and shorn,'
as well as neatly attired; and there was not a man on the
island who did not look like a different being from what he
had appeared an hour before, in consequence of this pause
in the regular business of sealing, and the promised holiday.
A strict order was given that no one should go among
the seals, as it was feared that some indiscretion or other
might have a tendency to create an alarm. In all other
respects the island was placed at the disposal of the men,
if anything could be made of such a lone spot, a speck on
the surface of the antarctic seas, and nearly encircled by
mountains of floating ice.
As for Roswell himself, after reading a chapter or two
in Mary Pratt's bible, he determined to make another effort
to ascend to the summit of the sterile rocks which capped
the pile that rose vertically in the centre of the island. The
day was nearly all before him; and, summoning Stimson
as a companion, for he had taken a great fancy to this man,
away he went, young, active, and full of buoyancy. Almost
at the same instant, Hazard, the chief mate, pulled out of
the cove in one of the whale-boats, manned by volunteers
and provided with sails, with an intention to cross the Great
Bay, and get a nearer view of the volcanic hill, out of which
smoke was constantly pouring, and occasionally flames.
The second mate and one or two of the hands remained
near the house, to keep a look-out on the vessel and other
property.
The season had now advanced to the first day of January,
a month that in the southern hemisphere corresponds with
our own July. As Roswell picked his way among the broken
rocks that covered the ascent to what might be termed the
table-land of the island, if indeed any portion of so ragged
a bit of this earth could properly be so named, his thoughts
of his getting a cargo before it would be absolutely
necessary to go to the northward. On the whole, he fancied
his chances good; and such he found to be Stimson's
opinion, when this experienced sealer was questioned on
the subject.
“We've begun right in all respects but one, Captain
Gar'ner,” said Stephen, as he closed his remarks on the
subject; “and even in that matter in which we made a
small mistake at the outset, we are improving, and I hope
will come out right in the end. I said a small mistake, but
in this I'm wrong, as it was a great mistake.”
“And what was it, Stephen? Make no bones of telling
me of any blunder I may have committed, according to
your views of duty. You are so much older than myself,
that I'll stand it.”
“Why, sir, it's not in seamanship, or in sealing; if it
was, I'd hold my tongue; but it's in not keeping the Lord's
Day from the hour when we lifted our anchor in that bay
that bears the name of your family, Captain Gar'ner; and
which ought to be, and I make no doubt is, dear to you on
that account, if for no other reason. I rather think, from
what they tell me, that the old Lord Gar'ner of all had
much preaching of the word, and much praying to the Lord
in the old times, when he lived there.”
“There never was any Lord Gardiner among us,” returned
Roswell, modestly, “though it was a fashion among
the east-enders to give that title to the owner of the island.
My ancestor who first got the place was Lyon Gardiner, an
engineer in the service of the colony of Connecticut.”
“Well, whether he was a lion or a lamb, I'll answer for
it the Lord was not forgotten on that island, Captain Gar'ner,
and he shouldn't be on this. No man ever lost anything
in this world, or in that which is to come a'ter it, by
remembering once in seven days to call on his Creator to
help him on in his path. I've heard it said, sir, that you're
a little partic'lar like in your idees of religion, and that you
do not altogether-hold to the doctrines that are preached
up and down the land.”
Roswell felt his cheeks warm at this remark, and he
thought of Mary, and of her meek reliance on that Saviour
of his reason also, he doubted about, as being the Son of
God. The picture thus presented to his mind had its pleasant
and its unpleasant features. Strange as it may seem,
it is certain that the young man would have loved, would
have respected Mary less than he now did, could he imagine
that she entertained the same notions on this very subject
as those he entertained himself! Few men relish infidelity
in a woman, whose proper sphere would seem to be in believing
and in worshipping, and not in cavilling, or in splitting
straws on matters of faith. Perhaps it is that we are
apt to associate laxity of morals with laxity of belief, and
have a general distaste for releasing the other sex from any,
even the smallest of the restraints that the dogmas of the
church impose; but we hold it to be without dispute that,
with very few exceptions, every man would prefer that the
woman in whom he feels an interest should err on the side
of bigotry rather than on that of what is called liberalism
in points of religious belief. Thus it is with most of us,
and thus was it with Roswell Gardiner. He could not
wonder at Mary's rigid notions, considering her education;
and, on the whole, he rather liked her the better for them,
at the very moment that he felt they might endanger his
own happiness. If women thoroughly understood how much
of their real power and influence with men arises from their
seeming dependence, there would be very little tolerance
in their own circles for those among them who are for proclaiming
their independence and their right to equality in
all things.
While our young mariner and his companion were working
their way up to the table-land, which lay fully three
hundred feet above the level of the sea, there was little
opportunity for further discourse, so rough was the way,
and so difficult the ascent. At the summit, however, there
was a short pause, ere the two undertook the mountain
proper, and they came to a halt to take a look at the aspect
of things around them. There was the boat, a mere white
speck on the water, flying away with a fresh northerly
breeze towards the volcano, while the smoke from the latter
made a conspicuous and not very distant land-mark. Nearer
at home, all appeared unusually plain for a region in which
them, and the schooner, just then, struck the imagination
of her commander as a fearfully small craft to come so far
from home and to penetrate so deep among the mazes of
the ice. It was that ice, itself, however, that attracted
most of Roswell's attention. Far as the eye could reach,
north, south, east and west, the ocean was brilliant and
chill with the vast floating masses. The effect on the air
was always perceptible in that region, `killing the summer,'
as the sealers expressed it; but it seemed to be doubly so
at the elevation to which the two adventurers had attained.
Still, the panorama was magnificent. The only part of the
ocean that did not seem to be alive with ice-bergs, if one
may use such an expression, was the space within the group,
and that was as clear as an estuary in a mild climate. It
really appeared as if nature had tabooed that privileged
spot, in order that the communication between the different
islands should remain open. Of course, the presence of so
many obstacles to the billows without, and indeed even to
the rake of the winds, produced smooth water within, the
slow, breath-like heaving and setting of the ceaseless ground-swell,
being the only perceptible motion to the water inside.
“'T is a very remarkable view, Stephen,” said Roswell
Gardiner, “but there will be one much finer, if we can
work our way up that cone of a mountain, and stand on its
naked cap. I wish I had brought an old ensign and a
small spar along, to set up the gridiron, in honour of the
States. We're beginning to put out our feelers, old Stimson,
and shall have 'em on far better bits of territory than
this, before the earth has gone round in its track another
hundred years.”
“Well, to my notion, Captain Gar'ner,” answered the
seaman, following his officer towards the base of the cone,
“Uncle Sam has got more land now than he knows what
to do with. If a body could discover a bit of ocean, or a
largish sort of a sea, there might be some use in 't. Whales
are getting to be skeary, and are mostly driven off their old
grounds; and as for the seals, you must bury yourself, craft
and all, up to the truck in ice, to get a smile from one of
their good-lookin' count'nances, as I always say.”
“I'm afraid, Stephen, it is all over with the discovery
of more seas. Even the moon, they now say, is altogether
without water, having not so much as a lake or a large pond
to take a duck in.”
“Without water, sir!” exclaimed Stimson, quite aghast.
“If 'tis so, sir, it must be right, since the same hand that
made the moon made this 'arth, and all it contains. But
what can they do for seafaring folks in the moon, if what
you tell me, Captain Gar'ner, is the truth?”
“They must do without them. I fancy oil and skins are
not very much in demand among the moonites, Stephen.
What's that, off here to the eastward, eh? East-and-by-north-half-east,
or so?”
“I see what you mean, sir. It does look wonderfully
like a sail, and a sail pretty well surrounded by ice, too!”
There was no mistake in the matter. The white canvass
of a vessel was plainly visible, over a vast breadth of field-ice,
a little to the northward of the island that lay directly
opposite the cove. Although the sails of this stranger were
spread, it was plain enough he was closely beset, if not
actually jammed. From the first instant he saw the strange
craft, Roswell had not a doubt of her character. He felt
convinced it was his late consort, the Sea Lion of the Vineyard,
which had found her way to the group by means of
some hints that had fallen into Daggett's hands, if not by a
positive nautical instinct. So great had been his own success,
however, and so certain did he now feel of filling up
in due season, that he cared much less for this invasion
on his privacy than he would have done a fortnight earlier.
On the contrary, it might be a good thing to have a consort
in the event of any accident occurring to his own vessel.
From the moment, then, that Gardiner felt certain of the
character of the strange sail, his policy was settled in his
own mind. It was to receive his old acquaintance with
good will, and to help fill him up too, as soon as he had
secured his own cargo, in order that they might sail for
home in company. By his aid and advice, the other schooner
might save a week in time at that most important season
of the year; and by the experience and exertions of his
people, a whole month in filling up might readily be
gained.
All thoughts of climbing the peak were at once abandoned;
and, in fifteen minutes after the sail was seen,
Roswell and Stephen both came panting down to the
house; so much easier is it to descend in this world than
to mount. A swivel was instantly loaded and fired as a
signal; and, in half an hour, a boat was manned and ready.
Roswell took command himself, leaving his second mate
to look after the schooner. Stimson went with his captain,
and in less than one hour after he had first seen the strange
sail, our hero was actually pulling out of the cove, with a
view to go to her assistance. Roswell Gardiner was as
good-hearted a fellow as ever lived. He had a sufficient
regard for his own interests, as well as for those of others
entrusted to his care; but, these main points looked after,
he would cheerfully have worked a month to relieve the
Vineyard-men from the peril that so plainly beset them.
Setting his sails the instant the boat was clear of the rocks,
away he went, then, as fast as ash and canvass could carry
him, which was at a rate but little short of eight knots in
the hour.
As he was thus flying towards his object, our young
mariner formed a theory in his own mind, touching the
drift of the ice in the adjacent seas. It was simply this.
He had sounded in entering the great bay, and had ascertained
that comparatively shallow water existed between
the south-eastern extremity of Sealer's Land and the nearest
island opposite. It was deep enough to admit the largest
vessel that ever floated, and a great deal more than this;
but it was not deep enough to permit an ice-berg to pass.
The tides, too, ran in races among the islands, which prevented
the accumulation of ice at the southern entrance,
while the outer currents seemed to set everything past the
group to allow of the floating mountains to collect to the
eastward, where they appeared to be thronged. It was on
the western verge of this wilderness of ice-bergs and ice-fields
that the strange sail had been seen working her way
towards the group, which must be plainly in view from her
decks, as her distance from the nearest of the islands certainly
did not exceed two leagues.
It required more than two hours for the whale-boat of
Roswell to cross the bay, and reach the margin of that vast
open space only by encountering the stable rocks of the
first of the group. Every eye was now turned in quest of
an opening, by means of which it might be possible to get
further to the eastward. One, at length, was discovered,
and into it Gardiner dashed, ordering his boat's crew to
stretch themselves out at their oars, though every man with
him thought they were plunging into possible destruction.
On the boat went, however, now sheering to starboard,
now to port, to avoid projecting spurs of ice, until she had
ploughed her way through a fearfully narrow, and a deviating
passage, that sometimes barely permitted them to
go through, until a spot was reached where the two fields
which formed this strait actually came in close crushing
contact with each other. Roswell took a look before and
behind him, saw that his boat was safe owing to the formation
of the two outlines of the respective fields, when he
sprang upon the ice itself, bidding the boat-steerer to wait
for him. A shout broke out of the lips of the young captain
the instant he was erect on the ice. There lay the schooner,
the Martha's Vineyard craft, within half a mile of him, in
plain sight, and in as plain jeopardy. She was jammed,
with every prospect, as Roswell thought, of being crushed,
ere she could get free from the danger.
| CHAPTER XV. The sea lions, or, The lost sealers | |