CHAPTER 6

The leading particulars of this narration were all that Augustus

communicated to me while we remained near the box. It was not

until afterward that he entered fully into all the details. He

was apprehensive of being missed, and I was wild with impatience

to leave my detested place of confinement. We resolved to make

our way at once to the hole in the bulkhead, near which I was to

remain for the present, while he went through to reconnoiter. To

leave Tiger in the box was what neither of us could endure to

think of, yet, how to act otherwise was the question. He now

seemed to be perfectly quiet, and we could not even distinguish

the sound of his breathing upon applying our ears closely to the

box. I was convinced that he was dead, and determined to open the

door. We found him lying at full length, apparently in a deep

stupor, yet still alive. No time was to be lost, yet I could not

bring myself to abandon an animal who had now been twice

instrumental in saving my life, without some attempt at

preserving him. We therefore dragged him along with us as well as

we could, although with the greatest difficulty and fatigue;

Augustus, during part of the time, being forced to clamber over

the impediments in our way with the huge dog in his arms—a feat

to which the feebleness of my frame rendered me totally

inadequate. At length we succeeded in reaching the hole, when

Augustus got through, and Tiger was pushed in afterward. All was

found to be safe, and we did not fail to return sincere thanks to

God for our deliverance from the imminent danger we had escaped.

For the present, it was agreed that I should remain near the

opening, through which my companion could readily supply me with

a part of his daily provision, and where I could have the

advantages of breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure.

In explanation of some portions of this narrative, wherein I have

spoken of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear ambiguous

to some of my readers who may have seen a proper or regular

stowage, I must here state that the manner in which this most

important duty had been performed on board the Grampus was a most

shameful piece of neglect on the part of Captain Barnard, who was

by no means as careful or as experienced a seaman as the

hazardous nature of the service on which he was employed would

seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot be

accomplished in a careless manner, and many most disastrous

accidents, even within the limits of my own experience, have

arisen from neglect or ignorance in this particular. Coasting

vessels, in the frequent hurry and bustle attendant upon taking

in or discharging cargo, are the most liable to mishap from the

want of a proper attention to stowage. The great point is to

allow no possibility of the cargo or ballast shifting position

even in the most violent rollings of the vessel. With this end,

great attention must be paid, not only to the bulk taken in, but

to the nature of the bulk, and whether there be a full or only a

partial cargo. In most kinds of freight the stowage is

accomplished by means of a screw. Thus, in a load of tobacco or

flour, the whole is screwed so tightly into the hold of the

vessel that the barrels or hogsheads, upon discharging, are found

to be completely flattened, and take some time to regain their

original shape. This screwing, however, is resorted to

principally with a view of obtaining more room in the hold; for

in a full load of any such commodities as flour or tobacco, there

can be no danger of any shifting whatever, at least none from

which inconvenience can result. There have been instances,

indeed, where this method of screwing has resulted in the most

lamentable consequences, arising from a cause altogether distinct

from the danger attendant upon a shifting of cargo. A load of

cotton, for example, tightly screwed while in certain conditions,

has been known, through the expansion of its bulk, to rend a

vessel asunder at sea. There can be no doubt either that the same

result would ensue in the case of tobacco, while undergoing its

usual course of fermentation, were it not for the interstices

consequent upon the rotundity of the hogsheads.

It is when a partial cargo is received that danger is chiefly to

be apprehended from shifting, and that precautions should be

always taken to guard against such misfortune. Only those who

have encountered a violent gale of wind, or rather who have

experienced the rolling of a vessel in a sudden calm after the

gale, can form an idea of the tremendous force of the plunges,

and of the consequent terrible impetus given to all loose

articles in the vessel. It is then that the necessity of a

cautious stowage, when there is a partial cargo, becomes obvious.

When lying-to (especially with a small head sail), a vessel which

is not properly modelled in the bows is frequently thrown upon

her beam-ends; this occurring even every fifteen or twenty

minutes upon an average, yet without any serious consequences

resulting, provided there be a proper stowage. If this, however,

has not been strictly attended to, in the first of these heavy

lurches the whole of the cargo tumbles over to the side of the

vessel which lies upon the water, and, being thus prevented from

regaining her equilibrium, as she would otherwise necessarily do,

she is certain to fill in a few seconds and go down. It is not

too much to say that at least one-half of the instances in which

vessels have foundered in heavy gales at sea may be attributed to

a shifting of cargo or of ballast.

When a partial cargo of any kind is taken on board, the whole,

after being first stowed as compactly as may be, should be

covered with a layer of stout shifting-boards, extending

completely across the vessel. Upon these boards strong temporary

stanchions should be erected, reaching to the timbers above, and

thus securing every thing in its place. In cargoes consisting of

grain, or any similar matter, additional precautions are

requisite. A hold filled entirely with grain upon leaving port

will be found not more than three fourths full upon reaching its

destination—this, too, although the freight, when measured bushel

by bushel by the consignee, will overrun by a vast deal (on

account of the swelling of the grain) the quantity consigned.

This result is occasioned by settling during the voyage, and is

the more perceptible in proportion to the roughness of the

weather experienced. If grain loosely thrown in a vessel, then,

is ever so well secured by shifting-boards and stanchions, it

will be liable to shift in a long passage so greatly as to bring

about the most distressing calamities. To prevent these, every

method should be employed before leaving port to settle the cargo

as much as possible; and for this there are many contrivances,

among which may be mentioned the driving of wedges into the

grain. Even after all this is done, and unusual pains taken to

secure the shifting-boards, no seaman who knows what he is about

will feel altogether secure in a gale of any violence with a

cargo of grain on board, and, least of all, with a partial cargo.

Yet there are hundreds of our coasting vessels, and, it is

likely, many more from the ports of Europe, which sail daily with

partial cargoes, even of the most dangerous species, and without

any precaution whatever. The wonder is that no more accidents

occur than do actually happen. A lamentable instance of this

heedlessness occurred to my knowledge in the case of Captain Joel

Rice of the schooner Firefly, which sailed from Richmond,

Virginia, to Madeira, with a cargo of corn, in the year 1825. The

captain had gone many voyages without serious accident, although

he was in the habit of paying no attention whatever to his

stowage, more than to secure it in the ordinary manner. He had

never before sailed with a cargo of grain, and on this occasion

had the corn thrown on board loosely, when it did not much more

than half fill the vessel. For the first portion of the voyage he

met with nothing more than light breezes; but when within a day’s

sail of Madeira there came on a strong gale from the N. N. E.

which forced him to lie-to. He brought the schooner to the wind

under a double-reefed foresail alone, when she rode as well as

any vessel could be expected to do, and shipped not a drop of

water. Toward night the gale somewhat abated, and she rolled with

more unsteadiness than before, but still did very well, until a

heavy lurch threw her upon her beam-ends to starboard. The corn

was then heard to shift bodily, the force of the movement

bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel went down like a

shot. This happened within hail of a small sloop from Madeira,

which picked up one of the crew (the only person saved), and

which rode out the gale in perfect security, as indeed a jolly

boat might have done under proper management.

The stowage on board the Grampus was most clumsily done, if

stowage that could be called which was little better than a

promiscuous huddling together of oil-casks {*1} and ship

furniture. I have already spoken of the condition of articles in

the hold. On the orlop deck there was space enough for my body

(as I have stated) between the oil-casks and the upper deck; a

space was left open around the main hatchway; and several other

large spaces were left in the stowage. Near the hole cut through

the bulkhead by Augustus there was room enough for an entire

cask, and in this space I found myself comfortably situated for

the present.

By the time my friend had got safely into the berth, and

readjusted his handcuffs and the rope, it was broad daylight. We

had made a narrow escape indeed; for scarcely had he arranged all

matters, when the mate came below, with Dirk Peters and the cook.

They talked for some time about the vessel from the Cape Verds,

and seemed to be excessively anxious for her appearance. At

length the cook came to the berth in which Augustus was lying,

and seated himself in it near the head. I could see and hear

every thing from my hiding-place, for the piece cut out had not

been put back, and I was in momentary expectation that the negro

would fall against the pea-jacket, which was hung up to conceal

the aperture, in which case all would have been discovered, and

our lives would, no doubt, have been instantly sacrificed. Our

good fortune prevailed, however; and although he frequently

touched it as the vessel rolled, he never pressed against it

sufficiently to bring about a discovery. The bottom of the jacket

had been carefully fastened to the bulkhead, so that the hole

might not be seen by its swinging to one side. All this time

Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and appeared to have

recovered in some measure his faculties, for I could see him

occasionally open his eyes and draw a long breath.

After a few minutes the mate and cook went above, leaving Dirk

Peters behind, who, as soon as they were gone, came and sat

himself down in the place just occupied by the mate. He began to

talk very sociably with Augustus, and we could now see that the

greater part of his apparent intoxication, while the two others

were with him, was a feint. He answered all my companion’s

questions with perfect freedom; told him that he had no doubt of

his father’s having been picked up, as there were no less than

five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he was cut

adrift; and used other language of a consolatory nature, which

occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure. Indeed, I began to

entertain hopes, that through the instrumentality of Peters we

might be finally enabled to regain possession of the brig, and

this idea I mentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an

opportunity. He thought the matter possible, but urged the

necessity of the greatest caution in making the attempt, as the

conduct of the hybrid appeared to be instigated by the most

arbitrary caprice alone; and, indeed, it was difficult to say if

he was at any moment of sound mind. Peters went upon deck in

about an hour, and did not return again until noon, when he

brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk beef and pudding. Of

this, when we were left alone, I partook heartily, without

returning through the hole. No one else came down into the

forecastle during the day, and at night, I got into Augustus’

berth, where I slept soundly and sweetly until nearly daybreak,

when he awakened me upon hearing a stir upon deck, and I regained

my hiding-place as quickly as possible. When the day was fully

broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his strength almost

entirely, and gave no indications of hydrophobia, drinking a

little water that was offered him with great apparent eagerness.

During the day he regained all his former vigour and appetite.

His strange conduct had been brought on, no doubt, by the

deleterious quality of the air of the hold, and had no connexion

with canine madness. I could not sufficiently rejoice that I had

persisted in bringing him with me from the box. This day was the

thirtieth of June, and the thirteenth since the Grampus made sail

from Nantucket.

On the second of July the mate came below drunk as usual, and in

an excessively good-humor. He came to Augustus’s berth, and,

giving him a slap on the back, asked him if he thought he could

behave himself if he let him loose, and whether he would promise

not to be going into the cabin again. To this, of course, my

friend answered in the affirmative, when the ruffian set him at

liberty, after making him drink from a flask of rum which he drew

from his coat-pocket. Both now went on deck, and I did not see

Augustus for about three hours. He then came below with the good

news that he had obtained permission to go about the brig as he

pleased anywhere forward of the mainmast, and that he had been

ordered to sleep, as usual, in the forecastle. He brought me,

too, a good dinner, and a plentiful supply of water. The brig was

still cruising for the vessel from the Cape Verds, and a sail was

now in sight, which was thought to be the one in question. As the

events of the ensuing eight days were of little importance, and

had no direct bearing upon the main incidents of my narrative, I

will here throw them into the form of a journal, as I do not wish

to omit them altogether.

July 3. Augustus furnished me with three blankets, with which I

contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding-place. No one came

below, except my companion, during the day. Tiger took his

station in the berth just by the aperture, and slept heavily, as

if not yet entirely recovered from the effects of his sickness.

Toward night a flaw of wind struck the brig before sail could be

taken in, and very nearly capsized her. The puff died away

immediately, however, and no damage was done beyond the splitting

of the foretopsail. Dirk Peters treated Augustus all this day

with great kindness and entered into a long conversation with him

respecting the Pacific Ocean, and the islands he had visited in

that region. He asked him whether he would not like to go with

the mutineers on a kind of exploring and pleasure voyage in those

quarters, and said that the men were gradually coming over to the

mate’s views. To this Augustus thought it best to reply that he

would be glad to go on such an adventure, since nothing better

could be done, and that any thing was preferable to a piratical

life.

July 4th. The vessel in sight proved to be a small brig from

Liverpool, and was allowed to pass unmolested. Augustus spent

most of his time on deck, with a view of obtaining all the

information in his power respecting the intentions of the

mutineers. They had frequent and violent quarrels among

themselves, in one of which a harpooner, Jim Bonner, was thrown

overboard. The party of the mate was gaining ground. Jim Bonner

belonged to the cook’s gang, of which Peters was a partisan.

July 5th. About daybreak there came on a stiff breeze from the

west, which at noon freshened into a gale, so that the brig could

carry nothing more than her trysail and foresail. In taking in

the foretopsail, Simms, one of the common hands, and belonging

also to the cook’s gang, fell overboard, being very much in

liquor, and was drowned—no attempt being made to save him. The

whole number of persons on board was now thirteen, to wit: Dirk

Peters; Seymour, the black cook; Jones, Greely, Hartman Rogers

and William Allen, all of the cook’s party; the mate, whose name

I never learned; Absalom Hicks, Wilson, John Hunty Richard

Parker, of the mate’s party;—besides Augustus and myself.

July 6th. The gale lasted all this day, blowing in heavy squalls,

accompanied with rain. The brig took in a good deal of water

through her seams, and one of the pumps was kept continually

going, Augustus being forced to take his turn. Just at twilight a

large ship passed close by us, without having been discovered

until within hail. The ship was supposed to be the one for which

the mutineers were on the lookout. The mate hailed her, but the

reply was drowned in the roaring of the gale. At eleven, a sea

was shipped amidships, which tore away a great portion of the

larboard bulwarks, and did some other slight damage. Toward

morning the weather moderated, and at sunrise there was very

little wind.

July 7th. There was a heavy swell running all this day, during

which the brig, being light, rolled excessively, and many

articles broke loose in the hold, as I could hear distinctly from

my hiding-place. I suffered a great deal from sea-sickness.

Peters had a long conversation this day with Augustus, and told

him that two of his gang, Greely and Allen, had gone over to the

mate, and were resolved to turn pirates. He put several questions

to Augustus which he did not then exactly understand. During a

part of this evening the leak gained upon the vessel; and little

could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned by the brig's

straining, and taking in the water through her seams. A sail was

thrummed, and got under the bows, which aided us in some measure,

so that we began to gain upon the leak.

July 8th. A light breeze sprang up at sunrise from the eastward,

when the mate headed the brig to the southwest, with the

intention of making some of the West India islands in pursuance

of his piratical designs. No opposition was made by Peters or the

cook—at least none in the hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking

the vessel from the Cape Verds was abandoned. The leak was now

easily kept under by one pump going every three quarters of an

hour. The sail was drawn from beneath the bows. Spoke two small

schooners during the day.

July 9th. Fine weather. All hands employed in repairing bulwarks.

Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus, and spoke

more plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing should

induce him to come into the mate’s views, and even hinted his

intention of taking the brig out of his hands. He asked my friend

if he could depend upon his aid in such case, to which Augustus

said, “Yes,” without hesitation. Peters then said he would sound

the others of his party upon the subject, and went away. During

the remainder of the day Augustus had no opportunity of speaking

with him privately.