THE CLUB-HAULING OF THE DIOMEDE

[Salty Dog]

THE CLUB-HAULING OF THE DIOMEDE

From "Peter Simple," BY CAPTAIN FREDERICK MARRYAT

We continued our cruise along the coast, until we had run down into the Bay
of Arcason, where we captured two or three vessels, and obliged many more to
run on shore. And here we had an instance showing how very important it is that
the captain of a man-of-war should be a good sailor, and have his ship in such
discipline as to be strictly obeyed by his ship's company. I heard the officers
unanimously assert, after the danger was over, that nothing but the presence of
mind which was shown by Captain Savage could have saved the ship and her
crew.

We had chased a convoy of vessels to the bottom of the bay: the wind was
very fresh when we hauled off, after running them on shore; and the surf on the
beach even at that time was so great, that they were certain to go to pieces before
they could be got afloat again. We were obliged to double-reef the topsails as
soon as we hauled to the wind, and the weather looked very threatening. In an
hour afterwards, the whole sky was covered with one black cloud, which sank so
low as nearly to touch our mast-heads, and a tremendous sea, which appeared to
have risen up almost by magic, rolled in upon us, setting the vessel on a dead lee
shore. As the night closed in, it blew a dreadful gale, and the ship was nearly
buried with the press of canvas which she was obliged to carry: for had we searoom,
we should have been lying-to under storm staysails; but we were forced to
carry on at all risks, that we might claw off shore.

[Salty Dog]

The sea broke over us as we
lay in the trough, deluging us with water from the forecastle, aft, to the
binnacles; and very often as the ship descended with a plunge, it was with such
force that I really thought she would divide in half with the violence of the
shock. Double breechings were rove on the guns, and they were further secured
with tackles; and strong cleats nailed behind the trunnions; for we heeled over so
much when we lurched, that the guns were wholly supported by the breechings
and tackles, and had one of them broken loose it must have burst right through
the lee side of the ship, and she must have foundered.

The captain, first
lieutenant, and most of the officers, remained on deck during the whole of the
night; and really, what with the howling of the wind, the violence of the rain, the
washing of the water about the decks, the working of the chain-pumps, and the
creaking and groaning of the timbers, I thought that we must inevitably have
been lost; and I said my prayers at least a dozen times during the night, for I felt
it impossible to go to bed.

I had often wished, out of curiosity, that I might be in
a gale of wind; but I little thought it was to have been a scene of this description,
or anything half so dreadful. What made it more appalling was, that we were on
a lee shore, and the consultations of the captain and officers, and the eagerness
with which they looked out for daylight, told us that we had other dangers to
encounter besides the storm. At last the morning broke, and the look-out man
upon the gangway called out, "Land on the lee beam!" I perceived the master
dash his feet against the hammock-rails, as if with vexation, and walk away
without saying a word, looking very grave.

[Salty Dog]

"Up there, Mr. Wilson," said the captain to the second lieutenant, "and see
how far the land trends forward, and whether you can distinguish the point." The
second lieutenant went up the main-rigging, and pointed with his hand to about
two points before the beam.

"Do you see two hillocks, inland?"

"Yes, sir," replied the second lieutenant.

"Then it is so," observed the captain to the master, "and if we weather it we
shall have more sea-room. Keep her full, and let her go through the water; do
you hear, quartermaster?"

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Thus, and no nearer, my man. Ease her with a spoke or two when she sends;
but be careful, or she'll take the wheel out of your hands."

It really was a very awful sight. When the ship was in the trough of the sea,
you could distinguish nothing but a waste of tumultuous water; but when she
was borne up on the summit of the enormous waves, you then looked down, as it
were, upon a low, sandy coast, close to you, and covered with foam and
breakers. "She behaves nobly," observed the captain, stepping aft to the binnacle,
and looking at the compass; "if the wind does not baffle us, we shall weather."
The captain had scarcely time to make the observation, when the sails shivered
and flapped like thunder. "Up with the helm; what are you about,
quartermaster?"

[Salty Dog]

"The wind has headed us, sir," replied the quartermaster, coolly.

The captain and master remained at the binnacle watching the compass; and
when the sails were again full, she had broken off two points, and the point of
land was only a little on the lee-bow.

"We must wear her round, Mr. Falcon. Hands, wear ship—ready, oh, ready."

"She has come up again," cried the master, who was at the binnacle.
"Hold fast there a minute. How's her head now?"

"N.N.E., as she was before she broke off, sir."

"Pipe belay," said the captain. "Falcon," continued he, "if she breaks off again
we may have no room to wear; indeed, there is so little room now, that I must
run the risk. Which cable was ranged last night—the best bower?"

"Yes, sir."

"Jump down, then, and see it double-bitted and stoppered at thirty fathoms.

See it well done—our lives may depend upon it."

[Salty Dog]

The ship continued to hold her course good; and we were within half a mile
of the point, and fully expected to weather it, when again the wet and heavy sails
flapped in the wind, and the ship broke off two points as before. The officers and
seamen were aghast, for the ship's head was right on to the breakers. "Luff now,
all you can, quartermaster," cried the captain. "Send the men aft directly.

My
lads, there is no time for words—I am going to club-haul the ship, for there is no
room to wear. The only chance you have of safety is to be cool, watch my eye,
and execute my orders with precision. Away to your stations for tacking ship.
Hands by the best bower anchor. Mr. Wilson, attend below with the carpenter
and his mates, ready to cut away the cable at the moment that I give the order.
Silence there, fore and aft. Quartermaster, keep her full again for stays. Mind
you ease the helm down when I tell you." About a minute passed before the
captain gave any further orders. The ship had closed-to within a quarter-mile of
the beach, and the waves curled and topped around us, bearing us down upon the
shore, which presented one continued surface of foam, extending to within half a
cable's length of our position. The captain waved his hand in silence to the
quartermaster at the wheel, and the helm was put down. The ship turned slowly
to the wind, pitching and chopping as the sails were spilling. When she had lost
her way, the captain gave the order, "Let go the anchor. We will haul all at once,
Mr. Falcon," said the captain. Not a word was spoken; the men went to the fore
brace, which had not been manned; most of them knew, although I did not, that
if the ship's head did not go round the other way, we should be on shore, and
among the breakers, in half a minute.

I thought at the time that the captain had
said that he would haul all the yards at once, there appeared to be doubt or
dissent on the countenance of Mr. Falcon; and I was afterwards told that he had
not agreed with the captain; but he was too good an officer, and knew that there
was no time for discussion, to make any remark: and the event proved that the
captain was right.

[Salty Dog]

At last the ship was head to wind, and the captain gave the
signal. The yards flew round with such a creaking noise, that I thought the masts
had gone over the side, and the next moment the wind had caught the sails; and
the ship, which for a moment or two had been on an even keel, careened over to
her gunwale with its force. The captain, who stood upon the weather hammockrails,
holding by the main-rigging, ordered the helm a-midships, looked full at
the sails, and then at the cable, which grew broad upon the weather-bow, and
held the ship from nearing the shore.

At last he cried, "Cut away the cable!" A
few strokes of the axes were heard, and then the cable flew out of the hawse-hole
in a blaze of fire, from the violence of the friction, and disappeared under a huge
wave, which struck us on the chesstree, and deluged us with water fore and aft.
But we were now on the other tack, and the ship regained her way, and we had
evidently increased our distance from the land.

[Salty Dog]

"My lads," said the captain to the ship's company, "you have behaved well,
and I thank you; but I must tell you honestly that we have more difficulties to get
through. We have to weather a point of the bay on this tack. Mr. Falcon, splice
the main-brace, and call the watch. How's her head, quartermaster?"

"S.W. by S. Southerly, sir."

"Very well; let her go through the water;" and the captain, beckoning to the
master to follow him, went down into the cabin. As our immediate danger was
over, I went down into the berth to see if I could get anything for breakfast,
where I found O'Brien and two or three more.

"By the powers, it was as nate a thing as ever I saw done," observed O'Brien:
"the slightest mistake as to time or management, and at this moment the flatfish
would have been dubbing at our ugly carcasses. Peter, you're not fond of flatfish,
are you, my boy? We may thank Heaven and the captain, I can tell you that, my
lads; but now, where's the chart, Robinson? Hand me down the parallel rules and
compasses, Peter; they are in the corner of the shelf. Here we are now, a devilish
sight too near this infernal point. Who knows how her head is?"

"I do, O'Brien: I heard the quartermaster tell the captain S.W. by S.
Southerly."

[Salty Dog]

"Let me see," continued O'Brien, "variation 2 1/4—leeway—rather too large
an allowance of that, I'm afraid; but, however, we'll give her 2 1/2 points; the
Diomede would blush to make any more, under any circumstances. Here—the
compass—now, we'll see;" and O'Brien advanced the parallel rule from the
compass to the spot where the ship was placed on the chart. "Bother! you see, it's
as much as she'll do to weather the other point now, on this tack, and that's what
the captain meant when he told us we had more difficulty. I could have taken my
Bible oath that we were clear of everything, if the wind held."

"See what the distance is, O'Brien," said Robinson. It was measured, and
proved to be thirteen miles. "Only thirteen miles; and if we do weather, we shall
do very well, for the bay is deep beyond. It's a rocky point, you see, just by way
of variety. Well, my lads, I've a piece of comfort for you, anyhow. It's not long
that you'll be kept in suspense, for by one o'clock this day you'll either be
congratulating each other upon your good luck, or you'll be past praying for.
Come, put up the chart, for I hate to look at melancholy prospects; and, steward,
see what you can find in the way of comfort." Some bread and cheese, with the
remains of yesterday's boiled pork, were put on the table, with a bottle of rum,
procured at the time they "spliced the main brace," but we were all too anxious
to eat much, and one by one returned on deck to see how the weather was, and if
the wind at all favored us.

[Salty Dog]

On deck the superior officers were in conversation
with the captain, who expressed the same fear that O'Brien had in our berth. The
men, who knew what they had to expect, were assembled in knots, looking very
grave, but at the same time not wanting in confidence.

They knew that they
could trust to the captain, as far as skill or courage could avail them; and sailors
are too sanguine to despair, even at the last moment. As for myself, I felt such
admiration for the captain, after what I had witnessed that morning, that,
whenever the idea came over me, that in all probability I should be lost in a few
hours, I could not help acknowledging how much more serious it was that such a
man should be lost to his country. I do not intend to say that it consoled me, but
it certainly made me still more regret the chances with which we were
threatened.

[Salty Dog]

Before twelve o'clock the rocky point which we so much dreaded was in
sight, broad on the lee bow; and if the low sandy coast appeared terrible, how
much more did this, even at a distance. The captain eyed it for some minutes in
silence, as if in calculation.

"Mr. Falcon," said he, at last, "we must put the mainsail on her."

"She never can bear it, sir."

"She must bear it," was the reply. "Send the men aft to the mainsheet.
See that
careful men attend the bunt-lines."

The mainsail was set, and the effect of it upon the ship was tremendous.

She
careened over so that her lee channels were under the water; and when pressed
by a sea, the lee side of the quarter-deck and gangway were afloat. She now
reminded me of a goaded and fiery horse, mad with the stimulus applied; not
rising as before, but forcing herself through whole seas, and dividing the waves,
which poured in one continual torrent from the forecastle down upon the decks
below.

[Salty Dog]

Four men were secured to the wheel—the sailors were obliged to cling to
prevent being washed away—the ropes were thrown in confusion to leeward—
the shot rolled out of the lockers, and every eye was fixed aloft, watching the
masts, which were expected every moment to go over the side. A heavy sea
struck us on the broadside, and it was some moments before the ship appeared to
recover herself; she reeled, trembled, and stopped her way, as if it had stupefied
her.

The first lieutenant looked at the captain, as if to say, "This will not do." "It
is our only chance," answered the captain to the appeal. That the ship went faster
through the water, and held a better wind, was certain; but just before we arrived
at the point the gale increased in force. "If anything starts we are lost, sir,"
observed the first lieutenant again.

[Salty Dog]

"I am perfectly well aware of it," replied the captain, in a calm tone; "but, as I
said before, and as you must now be aware, it is our only chance. The
consequence of any carelessness or neglect in the fitting and securing of the
rigging will be felt now; and this danger, if we escape it, ought to remind us how
much we have to answer for if we neglect our duty. The lives of a whole ship's
company may be sacrificed by the neglect or incompetence of an officer when in
harbor. I will pay you the compliment, Falcon, to say, that I feel convinced that
the masts of the ship are as secure as knowledge and attention can make them."

[Salty Dog]

The first lieutenant thanked the captain for his good opinion, and hoped that
it would not be the last compliment which he paid him.

"I hope not, too; but a few minutes will decide the point."

The ship was now within two cables' lengths of the rocky point; some few of
the men I observed to clasp their hands, but most of them were silently taking off
their jackets, and kicking off their shoes, that they might not lose a chance of
escape provided the ship struck.

"'Twill be touch and go, indeed, Falcon," observed the captain (for I had
clung to the belaying pins, close to them for the last half-hour that the mainsail
had been set). "Come aft, you and I must take the helm. We shall want nerve
there, and only there, now."

The captain and first lieutenant went aft, and took the fore-spokes of the
wheel, and O'Brien, at a sign made by the captain, laid hold of the spokes behind
him. An old quartermaster kept his station at the fourth. The roaring of the seas
on the rocks, with the howling of the wind, were dreadful; but the sight was
more dreadful than the noise. For a few minutes I shut my eyes, but anxiety
forced me to open them again. As near as I could judge, we were not twenty
yards from the rocks, at the time that the ship passed abreast of them. We were in
the midst of the foam, which boiled around us; and as the ship was driven nearer
to them, and careened with the wave, I thought that our main yard-arm would
have touched the rock; and at this moment a gust of wind came on, which laid
the ship on her beam-ends, and checked her progress through the water, while
the accumulating noise was deafening.

[Salty Dog]

A few moments more the ship dragged
on, another wave dashed over her and spent itself upon the rocks, while the spray
was dashed back from them, and returned upon the decks. The main rock was
within ten yards of the counter, when another gust of wind laid us on our beamends,
the foresail and mainsail split, and were blown clean out of the bolt-ropes
—the ship righted, trembling fore and aft. I looked astern:—the rocks were to
windward on our quarter, and we were safe. I thought at the time that the ship,
relieved of her courses, and again lifting over the waves, was not a bad
similitude of the relief felt by us all at that moment; and, like her, we trembled as
we panted with the sudden reaction, and felt the removal of the intense anxiety
which oppressed our breasts.

[Salty Dog]

The captain resigned the helm, and walked aft to look at the point, which was
now broad on the weather-quarter. In a minute or two, he desired Mr. Falcon to
get new sails up and bend them, and then went below to his cabin. I am sure it
was to thank God for our deliverance: I did most fervently, not only then, but
when I went to my hammock at night. We were now comparatively safe—in a
few hours completely so; for, strange to say, immediately after we had weathered
the rocks, the gale abated, and before morning we had a reef out of the topsails.