Chapter 7 Chapter VII
During the next few days, June 13, 14 and 15, the barometer fell slowly and continued without recovery, indicating a tendency for the weather to change, either to rain, or wind, or It was a storm.The breeze strengthened noticeably as it passed from the southwest.For the Phantasm, it was a headwind; she had to fend off a fairly large wave coming her way.The sails were therefore tucked into the hood and could only be driven with propellers, but only with moderate pressure so as not to break.
Godfrey weathered the jolts up and down, and not even for a moment lost his cheerfulness.It was evident that the honest lad loved the sea.
But Tatley, he didn't love the sea, and the sea didn't love him either.It can be seen that the unfortunate professor of appearance has lost his appearance, and the dance professor can't help dancing in violation of all artistic laws.
The shaking went up to the bottom ribs of the steamer, and he could not lie down in his cabin.
"Air! Air!" he sighed.
So he no longer leaves the deck.Shaking from side to side, he slid from one side of the ship to the other.With a jerk, he was thrown forward, only to be thrown backward again almost immediately.He's leaning on the railing, he's grabbing the cable, he's doing poses that are absolutely forbidden by modern choreography principles!what!How nice it would be to be able to soar through the air in a balloon motion and dodge the undulations of this moving floor!A dancer among his predecessors once said that if he agreed to withdraw his feet from the stage, it was only so as not to disgrace his fellows.He, Tutley, would have preferred never to set his feet back on this deck that pitched back and forth as if to drag him into an abyss.
What on earth had rich William W. Codrup thought of sending him here?
"Will this bad weather last?" he asked Captain Decourt twenty times a day.
"Well! The barometer makes people worry!" The captain replied invariably, frowning.
"Are we going to be there soon?"
"Soon, Mr. Tutley! .
"But people call this the Pacific Ocean!" repeated the unfortunate man, between the bumps and heaves.
And we shall say that Professor Tutley not only suffered from seasickness, but saw these foam-covered waves rising as high as the Phantasm's bulwarks, and heard the valves lifted by the violent impact and let the steam flow Out of the exhaust pipe, it was terribly frightening to feel the ship bobbing and bobbing like a cork on the crest of this wave.
"No! It's impossible not to capsize!" he repeated, staring dully at his lips.
"Calm down, Tatley," replied Godfrey. "Boats are made to float, hell! There's a reason for that!"
"I tell you no!"
And, driven by this thought, the professor put on his lifebelt.Day and night he wore it tightly around his chest, and it would not cost him gold to take it off.Whenever the sea gave him a moment's relief, he filled it up again with a deep breath.Indeed, he always felt that it was under-inflated!
We beg forgiveness for Tatley's horror.He was not used to the sea, whose indulgences can cause a certain fright, and, as you know, the traveler had never ventured even unwittingly up to that day on the calm waters of San Francisco Bay.He would therefore be forgiven for being uncomfortable in a wind-tossed boat and frightened by the pounding of the waves.
Besides, the weather was getting worse, and was threatening the Phantasm with an approaching wind, and if she had been able to see the shore, the signal would have given her notice.
Although, during the day, the ship could only advance at a very small speed with terrible swaying, so as not to damage the machinery, the propellers continued to float or sink because of the extreme roughness of the water.As a result, the propeller is either thumping horribly in deep water, or frantically knocking on the float line, which can compromise the reliability of the system.The sound was like a dull explosion under the stern of the "Dream", and the pistons were rushing at a speed that the mechanic could not control.
Godfrey, however, made an inadvertent observation, which at first he could not figure out why: namely, that at night, the rolling of the ship was far weaker than during the day.Should he therefore conclude that the waning of the wind was a temporary lull after the sun had set?
This phenomenon was particularly evident on the night of June 21-22, and he wanted to find out what was going on.That day, to be exact, the weather was particularly bad, and the wind picked up and blew so wildly for hours that it seemed impossible to calm the sea during the night.
So, about midnight, Godfrey got up and went on deck, fully clothed.
The watch crew is watching ahead.Captain Decourt stood on the bridge.
The fierce wind certainly has not abated.However, the waves that should have rushed to the bow of the "Dream" were greatly reduced.
But, looking up to the top of the chimney, Godfrey saw that the thick black smoke was not going from front to back, but from back to front, in the same direction as the ship.
"Has the wind changed?" he thought.
And, thankful for the situation, he climbed onto the bridge; then, approached the captain.
"Captain," he said.
The former, in his hood and long waterproof coat, had not heard him coming, and, at first, could not conceal his displeasure at seeing him beside him.
"It's you, Mr. Godfrey, you... come to the bridge?"
"It's me, Captain, I've come to ask..."
"Ask what?" Captain Decourt replied angrily.
"Has the wind direction not changed?"
"No, Mr. Godfrey, no, and, unfortunately, I fear it will turn into a storm!"
"But we're downwind now!"
"Tailwind... indeed... Tailwind!..." the captain argued, visibly annoyed at the discovery, "but there's nothing I can do about it!"
"What do you mean?"
"I want to say that in order not to affect the safety of this boat, I have to turn the bow and avoid this kind of weather!"
"It would delay us most regrettably!" said Godfrey.
"A great pity, indeed," replied Captain Decourt, "but in daylight, when the seas are a little calmer, I shall seize the opportunity to proceed westward. I therefore advise you, Mr. Godfrey, to return to your Go to the cabin. Trust me! Try to sleep while we run with the sea! You'll get less jolting!"
With a gesture of assent, Godfrey cast a last apprehensive glance at the low clouds that were galloping so fast; Interrupted sleep.
This voyage westward by day and eastward by night continued for another forty-eight hours; but the barometers showed a certain tendency to rise, and the fluctuations decreased; and it was estimated that this bad weather would end with the wind turning northward.
Indeed, this situation has arisen.
So, on June 25th, near eight o'clock in the morning, when Godfrey came on deck, the north-easterly wind had cleared the clouds thoroughly, and the sun was playing through the rigging and writing their warm strokes all over the ship. All protrusions.
The dark green sea, lit by the bright sun, was now shining in a huge fan-shaped surface.The wind was no longer dancing wildly, it frothed lightly on the top of the waves, and the low sails had let go.
To be more precise, what was even raised by the sea was not real waves, but just some long water waves, shaking the ship slightly.
Indeed, the water and the sea were the same thing to Professor Tutley, and he was sick when he was "rippled" and sick when "the wind was rough."He therefore remained half lying on the deck with his mouth half open, like a dazed carp leaping to the surface.
The first mate standing on the poop held up the binoculars and looked northeast.
Godfrey approached him.
"Well, sir," he said to him cheerfully, "it's a little better today than yesterday!"
"Yes, Mr. Godfrey," replied the mate, "we are in peace."
"And the 'Dream' is on the right course!"
"not yet!"
"Not yet! Why!"
"Because the ship was apparently thrown to the northeast during the latest storm, we had to take the exact bearing of the ship. But the sun is so good, the horizon is clear. At noon, by measuring the altitude, we will get the correct observation report , and the captain will direct the course."
"Where's the captain?" Godfrey asked.
"He disembarked."
"Get off the boat?"
"Yes! . . . Our watchman thought he caught a glimpse of some rocks, and to the east, in the whitish part of the sea, there were some rocks that were not at all recorded on the ship's chart. The motorboat was armed accordingly, and the captain went to inspect it. , the bosun and three sailors followed."
"How long have you been there?"
"About an hour and a half!"
"Ah!" said Godfrey, "I'm sorry I wasn't told. I would have liked to go with him."
"You were sleeping, Mr. Godfrey," replied the mate, "and the captain will not wake you."
"I'm sorry for that, but tell me, which direction did the launch go?"
"Towards that," replied the mate, "from the starboard derrick all the way . . . to the northeast."
"Can't you see it with a telescope?"
"No, it's too far away."
"But it won't delay coming back?"
"There will be no delay," replied the mate, "for the captain will take the position himself, and for this work must be back on board before noon!"
Having received this answer, Godfrey had his sea glasses fitted for him, and went and sat on the solid stern of the boat, from which he intended to observe the launch.As for Captain Decourt's visit, it did not surprise him.Indeed, it was only natural that the Phantasm should not venture into a sea marked with rocks.
Two hours passed. Before 10:30, a faint puff of smoke, like a thin stroke, began to appear clearly on the horizon.
This was obviously the launch, and returned to the ship after inspection.
Godfrey was happy to follow it with his telescopic vision.He saw it grow sharper in fuller lines, growing larger over the sea, drawing smoke more distinctly, mingled with the wreaths of vapor rising against the clear background of the horizon.It was a fine boat, very fast, and, as she was propelling at full speed, it was soon visible to the naked eye: near eleven o'clock, the boat was visible in front of her, pushed up by the bow. The white "flour" and behind it the expanding frothy trail like a comet's tail.
At 11:15, Captain Decourt approached and jumped onto the deck of the "Dream".
"So, what's the news, Captain?" asked Godfrey, coming up and taking his hand.
"Ah! How do you do, Mr. Godfrey?"
"Those rocks?..."
"Pure appearance!" replied Captain Decourt. "We find nothing suspicious. Our people may be mistaken, and I am surprised, as far as I am."
"And set sail?" Godfrey said.
"Yes, we shall sail again; but before that, I must take my bearings."
"Would you like to order the boat to be taken on board?" asked the mate.
"No," replied the captain, "it may still be used, and tow it behind!"
The captain's order was carried out, and the boat, which continued to maintain pressure, came to line up behind the "Dream".
Three quarters of an hour later, Captain Decourt, with a sextant in his hand, measured the altitude of the sun, and having determined the bearing, he designated the course.
Having done this, and with a last glance at the horizon, he called for the mate, and took him into his cabin, where they talked at length.
It was very sunny during the day. The "Dream" was able to go fast without the shaking of having to draw in the sails.The wind was weak, and, at the speed given by the machine, it was impossible to have enough force to fill the sails.
Godfrey was very happy, and what could be more gratifying, more invigorating to the mind, more satisfying to the soul, than sailing the fair seas and basking in the fair sunshine?These favorable circumstances, however, hardly made Professor Tutley any happier.Although the state of the sea no longer disturbed him directly, his body felt no reaction.He tried to eat, but had neither interest nor appetite.Godfrey tried to make him take off the lifebelt around his chest, but he would not.Wouldn't this combination of iron and wood, called a sea ship, be in danger of splitting at any time?
Night fell.The thick steam remained undisturbed and did not descend to the level of the sea, and the night would be far darker than the fine weather of the day foretells.
Anyway, no need to be afraid of any reefs, Captain Decourt has just noted their exact location on his chart, but collisions with other ships are always possible, so have to worry about them on foggy nights at this point.
Accordingly, shortly after the sun had set, the side lights were carefully lit; the white navigation lights were hoisted on top of the foremast, and the bearing lights, green on the right and red on the left, were on the top of the mast. The side stays glowed.If the "Dream" was hit by another ship, at least it wasn't her fault - it was just a consolation.A shipwreck, even if it complies with the regulations, will still sink if it encounters it.If anyone on board had thought of this, it was Professor Tutley.
During this period, the noble man who has been tossing and tossing back and forth went back to his cabin, and Godfrey also returned to his cabin: only, one of them firmly believed that he could have a good night's sleep, and the other hoped that he could have a good night's sleep. Get a good night's sleep, as the Phantasm sails the long waves with little to no shaking.
After entrusting the duty to the first mate, Captain Decourt also returned to the bottom of the poop to rest for a few hours, and everything was in a normal state.Steamers can sail with complete confidence, for the fog does not seem to thicken.
Twenty minutes later, Godfrey fell asleep, and Tatley, sleeping in all his clothes, his insomnia, according to his habits, flowed only from long breaths.
Suddenly—it may have been one o'clock in the morning—Godfrey was awakened by a terrible shout.
He jumped down from the sling, and quickly put on trousers, a sailor's dungaree, and sailor's boots.
Almost at that moment those terrible cries rang out on the deck.
"We're sinking! We're sinking!"
In an instant, Godfrey rushed out of the cabin and went straight to the lounge.There he bumped into a clumsy-looking object which he did not recognize, which might have been Professor Tutley.
All the crew went on deck and rushed to the center under the orders of the first mate and the captain.
"Break into the boat?" Godfrey asked.
"I don't know...I don't know...the damn fog..." replied the mate, "but we're sinking!"
"Are we sinking? . . . " replied Godfrey.
Indeed, the Phantasm had no doubt hit a rock, was visibly broken through, the water was almost on deck, and the fires in the depths of the boiler-room must have been drowned.
"Jump into the sea! Jump into the sea! Mr. Godfrey," cried the captain, "there is no time to lose! The ship is going to sink! It will sweep you into the whirlpool! . . . "
"Where's Tatley?"
"He's in my charge! . . . We're halfway from a coast! . . . "
"But what do you do?..."
"My duty requires me to be the last on board, so I shall!" said the captain, "but run away! . . . run away!"
Godfrey was still hesitant to jump into the sea, but the water had already reached the inner wall of the "Dream".
Knowing that Godfrey knew water well, Captain Decourt grabbed him by the shoulders and helped him jump from the boat quickly.
What a danger!If it wasn't pitch black, one could definitely see an abyss sinking where the "Dream" was.
But Godfrey, with a few breaststrokes in the middle of the still water, quickly left the funnel that sucked in like the eddy of a maelstrom.
All this happened in less than a minute.
After a while, in a desperate call, the navigation lights on the ship went out one by one.
There is nothing to doubt: the "Dream" has sunk to the bottom of the sea!
As for Godfrey, he scrambled to a tall rock out of the surf.He called in vain in the darkness, heard no voice answering him, he did not know whether he was on a solitary rock or on the top of a reef, perhaps only the catastrophe could tell, and there he waited for the day 's arrival
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