A Voyage in the Sunbeam | Page 4

at the moment when an unusually big
wave overtook us, he unfortunately allowed the vessel to broach-to a
little. In a second the sea came pouring over the stern, above Allnutt's
head. The boy was nearly washed overboard, but he managed to catch

hold of the rail, and, with great presence of mind, stuck his knees into
the bulwarks. Kindred, our boatswain, seeing his danger, rushed
forward to save him, but was knocked down by the return wave, from
which he emerged gasping. The coil of rope, on which Captain Lecky
and Mabelle were seated, was completely floated by the sea.
Providentially, however, he had taken a double turn round his wrist
with a reefing point, and, throwing his other arm round Mabelle, held
on like grim death; otherwise nothing could have saved them. She was
perfectly self-possessed, and only said quietly, 'Hold on, Captain Lecky,
hold on!' to which he replied, 'All right.' I asked her afterwards if she
thought she was going overboard, and she answered, 'I did not think at
all, mamma, but felt sure we were gone.' Captain Lecky, being
accustomed to very large ships, had not in the least realised how near
we were to the water in our little vessel, and was proportionately taken
by surprise. All the rest of the party were drenched, with the exception
of Muriel, whom Captain Brown held high above the water in his arms,
and who lost no time in remarking, in the midst of the general
confusion, 'I'm not at all wet, I'm not.' Happily, the children don't know
what fear is. The maids, however, were very frightened, as some of the
sea had got down into the nursery, and the skylights had to be screwed
down. Our studding-sail boom, too, broke with a loud crack when the
ship broached-to, and the jaws of the fore-boom gave way.
Soon after this adventure we all went to bed, full of thankfulness that it
had ended as well as it did; but, alas, not, so far as I was concerned, to
rest in peace. In about two hours I was awakened by a tremendous
weight of water suddenly descending upon me and flooding the bed. I
immediately sprang out, only to find myself in another pool on the
floor. It was pitch dark, and I could not think what had happened; so I
rushed on deck, and found that, the weather having moderated a little,
some kind sailor, knowing my love of fresh air, had opened the skylight
rather too soon; and one of the angry waves had popped on board,
deluging the cabin.
I got a light, and proceeded to mop up, as best I could, and then
endeavoured to find a dry place to sleep in. This, however, was no easy
task, for my own bed was drenched, and every other berth occupied.

The deck, too, was ankle-deep in water, as I found when I tried to get
across to the deck-house sofa. At last I lay down on the floor, wrapped
up in my ulster, and wedged between the foot stanchion of our swing
bed and the wardrobe athwart-ship; so that as the yacht rolled heavily,
my feet were often higher than my head. Consequently, what sleep I
snatched turned into nightmare, of which the fixed idea was a broken
head from the three hundredweight of lead at the bottom of our bed,
swinging wildly from side to side and up and down, as the vessel rolled
and pitched, suggesting all manner of accidents. When morning came
at last, the weather cleared a good deal, though the breeze continued.
All hands were soon busily employed in repairing damages; and very
picturesque the deck and rigging of the 'Sunbeam' looked, with the
various groups of men, occupied upon the ropes, spars, and sails.
Towards evening the wind fell light, and we had to get up steam. The
night was the first really warm one we had enjoyed, and the stars shone
out brightly. The sea, which had been of a lovely blue colour during the
day, showed a slight phosphorescence after dark.
Thursday, July 13th.--When I went on deck, at half-past six, I found a
grey, steamy, calm morning, promising a very hot day, without wind.
About 10.30 a.m., the cry of 'Sail on the port beam!' caused general
excitement, and in a few minutes every telescope and glass in the ship
had been brought to bear upon the object which attracted our attention,
and which was soon pronounced to be a wreck. Orders were given to
starboard the helm, and to steer direct for the vessel; and many were the
conjectures hazarded, and the questions asked of the fortunate holders
of glasses. 'What is she?' 'Is there any one on board?' 'Where does she
come from?' 'Can you