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Updated: June 15, 2025
Scoones, completely beside himself, was hurrying off the deck, apparently for the purpose, from the words he let drop, of getting his pistols, when a long thin line of hissing foam was seen rushing across the ocean. "Down, my lads, down, quick," cried the mate. The boys rapidly descended from the mizen-yard. Then the voice of the hurricane was heard, and a fierce wind struck the ship.
If we go by his calculations, the chances are that we shall run her bows on some rock or other." "I sincerely hope that the captain will not fall ill," said Owen. "If he does, I am afraid that Mr Scoones will not acknowledge that he himself is ever out in his calculations." Unhappily the captain's fever returned, and he became utterly unable to leave his berth.
The weather had been tolerably fine since the first gale, but signs of a change now appeared. Mr Scoones, however, declared that the wind would not be down upon them for some hours to come, and kept all the canvas standing as before. Suddenly the wind dropped, and the sails flapped loudly against the masts. It was Mr Grey's watch; he had just relieved the third mate.
His remark produced a laugh, even among those who appeared the worst. In a short time they got better. The night as it approached threatened to be stormy, and some of the party expressed a wish that they were safe back again on the sand-bank. "Suppose such another gale as we had before were to drive the water over it, where should we be?" asked Mr Scoones.
For the rest, on the appointed Monday he presented himself at Garrick Street, and began his course of tuition under the general direction of the wise Mr. Scoones, "cramming" as it was called.
The raft, still incomplete, remained on deck. What had become of the boat they could not tell, but shouts were heard amid the roaring of the sea, which came either from her, or from some of the men who had gained the other part of the wreck. No one having seen Mr Scoones, it was supposed that he had shared the fate of the other officers. Never had a night appeared so long to Owen.
Mr Scoones, partly with the canvas which had served for a tent, and partly with cotton cloth, had fitted a suit of sails. At length all was ready; the boat was launched, and appeared to be tolerably seaworthy. Her cargo was piled up on the beach. The men had to wade up to their middles to carry it on board.
For upwards of four days the calm continued. Provisions were served out regularly, but Mr Scoones, believing that they would reach Batavia in ten days or so, had not put the people on an allowance of water; the consequence was that they drank away at the water casks without stint, as they had done at the spirit kegs. One of the casks was soon emptied.
Owen proposed that each man should recount his adventures, tell a story, or sing a song. His proposal was adopted; it served to beguile the time, and prevented the men from thinking of the dangers which might be in store for them. Mr Scoones did not interfere. He sat silent and gloomy, as usual.
"You are a passenger, and we do not expect you to fight, so do as you please," he answered. Mr Scoones immediately dived below. The doctor, who had been arranging the various instruments and dressings which he expected would be required, received Mr Scoones coldly. "You have not thought of bringing the two boys and the seaman saved with you. They might like to escape the risk of being shot."
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