5. CHAPTER V.
SEATS SECURED AND PORTMANTEAUS PACKED.
But thoughts of sextants and quadrants were the least of
our cares.
Right from under the very arches of the eyebrows of
thirty men—captain, mates, and crew—a boat was to be
abstracted; they knowing nothing of the event, until all
knowledge would prove unavailing.
Hark ye:
At sea, the boats of a South Sea-man (generally four in
number, spare ones omitted,) are suspended by tackles, hooked
above, to curved timbers called “davits,” vertically fixed to
the ship's sides.
Now, no fair one with golden locks is more assiduously
waited upon, or more delicately handled by her tire-women,
than the slender whale-boat by her crew. And out of its
element, it seems fragile enough to justify the utmost solicitude.
For truly, like a fine lady, the fine whale-boat is most
delicate when idle, though little coy at a pinch.
Besides the “davits,” the following supports are provided.
Two small cranes are swung under the keel, on which the
latter rests, preventing the settling of the boat's middle,
while hanging suspended by the bow and stern. A broad,
braided, hempen band, usually worked in a tasteful pattern,
is also passed round both gunwales; and secured to the ship's
bulwarks, firmly lashes the craft to its place. Being elevated
above the ship's rail, the boats are in plain sight from all
parts of the deck.
Now, one of these boats was to be made way with. No
facile matter, truly. Harder than for any dashing young
Janizary to run off with a sultana from the Grand Turk's
seraglio. Still, the thing could be done, for, by Jove, it had
been.
What say you to slyly loosing every thing by day; and
when night comes, cast off the band and swing in the cranes?
But how lower the tackles, even in the darkest night, without
a creaking more fearful than the death rattle? Easily
avoided. Anoint the ropes, and they will travel deftly
through the subtle windings of the blocks.
But though I had heard of this plan being pursued, there
was a degree of risk in it, after all, which I was far from
fancying. Another plan was hit upon; still bolder; and
hence more safe. What it was, in the right place will be
seen.
In selecting my craft for this good voyage, I would fain
have traversed the deck, and eyed the boats like a cornet
choosing his steed from out a goodly stud. But this was
denied me. And the “bow boat” was, perforce, singled out,
as the most remote from the quarter-deck, that region of
sharp eyes and relentless purposes.
Then, our larder was to be thought of; also, an abundant
supply of water; concerning which last I determined to take
good heed. There were but two to be taken care of; but I
resolved to lay in sufficient store of both meat and drink for
four; at the same time that the supplemental twain thus
provided for were but imaginary. And if it came to the
last dead pinch, of which we had no fear, however, I was
food for no man but Jarl.
Little time was lost in catering for our mess. Biscuit and
salt beef were our sole resource; and, thanks to the generosity
of the Arcturion's owners, our ship's company had a plentiful
supply. Casks of both, with heads knocked out, were at
the service of all. In bags which we made for the purpose,
a sufficiency of the biscuit was readily stored away, and
secreted in a corner of easy access. The salt beef was more
difficult to obtain; but, little by little, we managed to smuggle
out of the cask enough to answer our purpose.
As for water, most luckily a day or two previous several
“breakers” of it had been hoisted from below for the present
use of the ship's company.
These “breakers” are casks, long and slender, but very
strong. Of various diameters, they are made on purpose to
stow into spaces intervening between the immense butts in a
ship's hold.
The largest we could find was selected, first carefully
examining it to detect any leak. On some pretense or
other, we then rolled them all over to that side of the vessel
where our boat was suspended, the selected breaker being
placed in their middle.
Our compendious wardrobes were snugly packed into bundles
and laid aside for the present. And at last, by due
caution, we had every thing arranged preliminary to the final
start. Let me say, though, perhaps to the credit of Jarl,
that whenever the most strategy was necessary, he seemed
ill at ease, and for the most part left the matter to me. It
was well that he did; for as it was, by his untimely straightforwardness,
he once or twice came near spoiling every thing.
Indeed, on one occasion he was so unseasonably blunt, that
curiously enough, I had almost suspected him of taking that
odd sort of interest in one's welfare, which leads a philanthropist,
all other methods failing, to frustrate a project
deemed bad, by pretending clumsily to favor it. But no
inuendoes; Jarl was a Viking, frank as his fathers; though
not so much of a bucanier.
