<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <br/><span class="cheaderfont">THE ‘DISTANT SHORE.’</span></SPAN></h2>
<p>The <em>Distant Shore</em> made a quick voyage towards
Australia, and her captain felt sure of beating the<span class="pagenum">[56]</span>
sailing record by two or three days. Captain Manton
had taken a great liking to Edgar Foster, who spent
many a pleasant hour in his cabin with him. On
this voyage Captain Manton was accompanied by
his wife and child, a bright little girl about three
years of age. The child was very fond of Edgar,
and he played with the little one on deck for hours
at a stretch.</p>
<p>‘I never remember a more favourable voyage,’
said the captain to Edgar one morning; ‘we ought
to be in Sydney harbour in the course of two or
three days. Looks as though we are going to finish
with a squall,’ he added, pointing to the restless
clouds overhead.</p>
<p>‘I am quite anxious to weather a storm before
we get to our journey’s end,’ said Edgar, smiling,
‘or I shall fancy I have not been to sea.’</p>
<p>‘Your wish is likely to be gratified,’ he said; ‘but
the <em>Distant Shore</em> is a good ship, and it will be an
uncommon bad storm she cannot sail through safely.’</p>
<p>‘With a good ship and a clever captain we have
not much to fear,’ said Edgar. ‘Here’s little Eva
coming for her morning romp. I should have been
quite lonely on board without her.’</p>
<p>Edgar held out his arms, and the child ran into
them. He lifted her above his head, where she
laughed with delight, and looked at her father with
merry eyes.</p>
<p>‘Pass her on to me,’ said Captain Manton; and
Edgar tossed her into her father’s arms.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[57]</span></p>
<p>‘Back again,’ she cried, and she was tossed to
Edgar again.</p>
<p>The captain watched them for a few moments as
they played on the deck, and then cast an anxious
look at the sky. He knew they were in for a storm,
probably a bad one.</p>
<p>During the night Edgar heard the vessel creak
and groan, and her timbers strain in a most unusual
manner. The sailors were hard at work on deck,
and he knew the storm must have burst upon them.
He turned over in his berth, and felt thankful the
<em>Distant Shore</em> was such a safe vessel, and her captain
a trustworthy seaman.</p>
<p>Edgar had some difficulty in reaching the deck
next morning. Not a single passenger was in the
saloon as he staggered through, holding on first to
one thing, and then another.</p>
<p>‘You had better keep below, sir,’ said one of the
stewards; ‘you’ll stand a good chance of being blown
overboard if you venture on deck. We are finishing
up with a real bad storm.’</p>
<p>‘That’s just what I want to see,’ said Edgar.</p>
<p>‘You can’t get out that way,’ said the man; ‘the
hatches are down. Come this way, and I will show
you how to get on deck.’</p>
<p>Edgar followed the man to the fore-part of the
ship, and was well knocked about during the
journey.</p>
<p>‘Go up there, and you’ll be able to see what it’s
like before you go on deck,’ said the steward.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[58]</span></p>
<p>‘Just as well to look before I leap, I suppose,’
said Edgar.</p>
<p>‘I don’t think you’ll want to leap on deck when
you have had a look out,’ was the reply.</p>
<p>Edgar climbed up the steep steps, holding on with
all his might. When he reached the top he saw
there was a thick glass with bars across it. He could
see well enough through the glass, and the sight
almost took away his breath.</p>
<p>A huge wave towered high above the ship, and
Edgar thought if it came over the deck the vessel
must surely go down. The <em>Distant Shore</em> gave a
mad plunge, and he nearly lost his foothold. The
ship seemed to dive down into the depths of the
sea, and then, coming up again, shook herself all
over. On second thoughts Edgar decided to remain
where he was, or rather down below in the saloon.
Captain Manton entered a few minutes after Edgar
succeeded in finding his way back.</p>
<p>‘Well, my lad, you’ve got a storm at last,’ said
the captain; ‘I hope you are satisfied. My wife and
Eva are in their cabin, and I don’t think they are
quite so pleased as you are about the weather. It will
get worse before it mends.’</p>
<p>‘Worse?’ said Edgar. ‘Why, it’s blowing a regular
hurricane, and the sea is running as high as the
ship.’</p>
<p>‘How did you find that out?’ said Captain
Manton. ‘I gave orders no one was to be allowed
on deck.’</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[59]</span></p>
<p>Edgar explained, and the captain was satisfied.</p>
<p>‘So you did not like the look of things?’ he asked.</p>
<p>‘No,’ said Edgar. ‘I think I am safer here,
although I confess I feel a little queer.’</p>
<p>Captain Manton smiled as he replied:</p>
<p>‘Sea-sickness will soon cure you of a longing for
storms. I’d advise you to turn in before you have
to be carried to your berth.’</p>
<p>‘Oh, it’s not so bad as that,’ said Edgar. ‘It will
pass off.’</p>
<p>‘No doubt,’ said the captain with a meaning smile.</p>
<p>All that day the storm raged, and the <em>Distant
Shore</em> battled with it. As night came on, Captain
Manton became anxious. He knew they were nearing
the coast of New South Wales, and the wind
was driving them straight in that direction. He tried
in vain to alter the ship’s course, but he could not
keep out to sea; some uncontrollable current appeared
to drive the vessel along. As the night wore on
there were no signs of the storm abating; in fact, the
gale was worse than ever.</p>
<p>A terrible crash made everyone on board quake.
A huge sea dashed over the ship, sweeping her deck
well-nigh clear. The boats were smashed to atoms;
two sailors were washed overboard, and Captain
Manton was dashed against his cabin and almost
stunned. Before the <em>Distant Shore</em> could right herself
another merciless sea swept over her, and at the
same moment the rudder chain snapped, and the
vessel swung helplessly round.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[60]</span></p>
<p>Captain Manton at once realized the danger they
were in. By the fitful light of the moon he saw the
terrible havoc the waves had made on deck. Then
he saw something that made his heart quail; it was
the flashing of the light from South Head lighthouse.
Well might a brave man tremble at the thought of
being dashed to pieces on those great rocks. His
ship was no longer under control, and he could do
nothing to save her from being driven to destruction.
Had the steering gear held firm he might have tried
to dash through the Heads into the harbour. That
would have been a mere chance; but even this,
small as it was, had gone. Despair seized upon him,
and held him in chains; but he burst the bonds at
the thought of the lives of those on board. They
were still some distance from the Heads; the light
flashed out many miles to sea. He must prepare
them as quietly as possible to await their fate.</p>
<p>Leaving the mate in charge of the vessel, he went
below. He made for Edgar’s cabin and entered
without knocking.</p>
<p>Edgar was wide awake and dressed, and he knew
there must be something wrong when he saw the
captain.</p>
<p>‘What is it?’ said Edgar. ‘Any danger?’ and he
tumbled out of his berth.</p>
<p>‘You are a brave lad,’ said Captain Manton, ‘and
I have come to you first. There is no time to lose.
We are in deadly peril. I have no control over the
ship, and we are being blown straight for the rocks.’</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[61]</span></p>
<p>‘What can I do?’ said Edgar.</p>
<p>He was pale, but perfectly calm.</p>
<p>‘Very little,’ said Captain Manton; ‘but you can
set a good example. A panic will only make matters
worse. If the passengers are kept under control, it
may be possible to save some of them. Will you
call them up in the saloon cabin? Tell them to dress,
and try and calm them. I will tell my wife and take
her and Eva up with me. You will find them in my
cabin. If it comes to the worst, do what you can
for them. I must stick to the ship. I’ll save her if
I can, but I see no chance at present. Good-bye!’</p>
<p>He held out his hand and Edgar gripped it hard.
They looked firmly into each other’s eyes. They
were not afraid of facing death. Edgar seemed to
have grown older, and Captain Manton saw the look
of determination on his face and thought to himself:</p>
<p>‘This lad will not fail me. He will give his life to
save those I love.’</p>
<p>‘Good-bye,’ said Edgar, and without another word
he went to rouse his fellow-passengers.</p>
<p>So well did he accomplish his difficult task that,
although the peril they were in was understood, there
was no panic. Happily there were very few women
and children on board, and the men behaved well.</p>
<p>It was an awful sight, Edgar thought: the saloon
filled with people hastening to their death, awaiting
the summons from the captain, ‘All hands on deck,’
which meant they were to sell their lives as dearly as
possible. The very suddenness of the danger appeared<span class="pagenum">[62]</span>
to have taken all sense of fear away. Not
a word was spoken; the sobbing of children, and the
half-smothered, heart-rending groan of some poor
mother, could alone be heard.</p>
<p>A great rush of wind, followed by a loud shout,
aroused them:</p>
<p>‘All hands on deck!’</p>
<p>Edgar led the way, and then stood by while the
women and children were helped up the stairs. The
men followed. Edgar was the last to leave the
saloon. Once on deck he saw what their danger
was, and from whence it came. The lighthouse stood
high up on the rocks, flashing across the sea, and they
were so near now that the rays lighted up the faces
of those in deadly peril on the doomed ship. Edgar
forced his way towards the captain’s cabin, and found
Mrs. Manton and Eva crouching down, overcome with
fear. He spoke a few words of encouragement, and
little Eva looked up into his face with wistful eyes.</p>
<p>Then Edgar looked round the ship as the light
flashed on it again. He saw pale, blanched faces all
round him, men clinging in desperation to ropes
and bars, and women holding their children fast,
themselves held by strong men’s disengaged arms.
It was an awful sight, but Edgar felt no fear for himself
as he looked at it. He thought of the grand
voyage they had gone through, and how near they
were to their destination. The good ship was struggling
on, and after going these thousands of miles
was to be dashed to pieces at the very entrance to<span class="pagenum">[63]</span>
the harbour of safety. His mind wandered to those
at home, and he seemed to see his father and sister
sitting in the dear old room at Elm Lodge, as on
that last night in the home he loved so well. Their
voices seemed to ring in his ears, giving him hope
and encouragement. He smiled faintly as he
imagined he could hear his father say:</p>
<p>‘You’re in a tight fix, my lad, but never despair;
be brave and fight to the end.’</p>
<p>A loud cry of despair echoed through the night.
It was wafted to the watchers on the rocks, who
stood there helpless, unable to lend a hand to save
the men and women going to sure destruction.
Again it rose above the roar of the sea, and Edgar
shuddered as he heard it.</p>
<p>Well might the doomed ones cry aloud. To the
right of them, not many yards away, yawned a large
opening between the gigantic rocky Heads. Through
that opening lay safety and rest, and yet no power
on earth could drive the <em>Distant Shore</em> through it.
Facing them was another gap, but there was no
opening there; the solid rock rose straight out of the
sea. On came the <em>Distant Shore</em> through the boiling,
seething mass of waters.</p>
<p>Captain Manton stood at his post. Once he cast
his eyes in the direction of his cabin, and a satisfied
smile played over his face as he saw Edgar there.</p>
<p>‘My life for theirs, O God!’ he cried.</p>
<p>He was not a man given to many prayers, but he
believed his cry would be heard.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[64]</span></p>
<p>Edgar looked ahead. He saw the vessel heaved
high upon the waves; he saw the merciless rock in
front. There was not a moment to spare. He
rushed into the cabin.</p>
<p>‘Give me Eva,’ he said. ‘You will have a better
chance alone.’</p>
<p>The mother pressed her child to her heart and
smothered her with kisses.</p>
<p>Edgar snatched the child away and sprang out of
the cabin. At the same moment there was a terrific
crash, a rending and splitting of timbers, cries and
groans, shrieks for help, and strange, unearthly
sounds.</p>
<p>Edgar, with the child firmly clasped in his arms,
was hurled against the side of the vessel. He felt it
give way, and as he glanced round he saw the ship
shattered into a thousand pieces, and great timbers
hurled high into the air. Then he felt the water
rush over him, he was lifted off his feet and flung
into the furious waves, with little Eva still clasped
firm in his arms.</p>
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