The Survivors of the Chancellor: Chapter 28

Chapter 28

CHAPTER XXVIII.

DECEMBER 6th CONTINUED.--The "Chancellor" no longer maintained
her equilibrium; we felt that she was gradually going down, and
her hull was probably breaking up.  The main-top was already only
ten feet above the water, whilst the bowsprit, with the exception
of the extreme end, that rose obliquely from the waves, was
entirely covered.

The "Chancellor's" last day, we felt, had come.

Fortunately the raft was all but finished, and unless Curtis
preferred to wait till morning we should be able to embark in the
evening.

The raft is a very solid structure.  The spars that form the
framework are crossed one above another and lashed together with
stout ropes, so that the whole pile rises a couple of feet above
the water.  The upper platform is constructed from the planks
that were broken from the ship's sides by the violence of the
waves, and which had not drifted away.  The afternoon has been
employed in charging the raft with such provisions, sails, tools,
and instruments as we have been able to save.

And how can I attempt to give any idea of the feelings with
which, one and all, we now contemplated the fate before us?  For
my own part I was possessed rather by a benumbed indifference
than by any sense of genuine resignation.  M. Letourneur was
entirely absorbed in his son, who, in his turn, thought only of
his father; at the same time exhibiting a calm Christian
fortitude, which was shown by no one else of the party except
Miss Herbey, who faced her danger with the same brave composure.
Incredible as it may seem, Falsten remained the same as ever,
occupying himself with writing down figures and memoranda in his
pocket-book.  Mrs. Kear, in spite of all that Miss Herbey could
do for her, was evidently dying.

With regard to the sailors, two or three of them were calm
enough, but the rest had well-nigh lost their wits.  Some of the
more ill-disposed amongst them seemed inclined to run into
excesses; and their conduct, under the bad influence of Owen and
Jynxtrop, made it doubtful whether they would submit to control
when once we were limited to the narrow dimensions of the raft.
Lieutenant Walter, although his courage never failed him, was
worn out with bodily fatigue, and obliged to give up all active
labour; but Curtis and the boatswain were resolute, energetic and
firm as ever.  To borrow an expression from the language of
metallurgic art, they were men "at the highest degree of
hardness."

At five o'clock one of our companions in misfortune was released
from her sufferings.  Mrs. Kear, after a most distressing
illness, through which her young companion tended her with the
most devoted care, has breathed her last.  A few deep sighs and
all was over, and I doubt whether the sufferer was ever conscious
of the peril of, her situation.

The night passed on without further incident.  Towards morning I
touched the dead woman's hand, and it was cold and stiff.  The
corpse could not remain any longer on the main-top, and after
Miss Herbey and I had carefully wrapped the garments about it,
with a few short prayers the body of the first victim of our
miseries was committed to the deep.

As the sea closed over the body I heard one of the men in the
shrouds say,--

"There goes a carcase that we shall be sorry we have thrown
away!"

I looked round sharply.  It was Owen who had spoken, But horrible
as were his words, the conviction was forced upon my mind that
the day could not be far distant when we must want for food.

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