CHAPTER II.THE VOYAGE.
Trans-Atlanticvoyages in those days were not made with the same comfort nor by any means in the same time that are occupied now. The young men who have been coming to Canada in recent years board a ship in Liverpool on Friday and land at Montreal on Friday or Saturday. Nothing of the kind, however, was expected by the travellers on the Hudson’s Bay Company’s vessel. Even now we know how uncertain and even hazardous a voyage into the great northern inland sea—for in those days the most direct passage to the Company’s Western posts was by way of Hudson Bay—can be at certain seasons of the year. In those days, when the trip was made on a small sailing vessel, they started out with the anticipation of a voyage which might occupy six months, or even a year, and with this was the chance that the ship might be caught in the endless fields of ice which occupied the straits for so long a season and never reach its destination. The vessel was one of the Company’s regular ships, which was scheduled to make one trip each year and carry the annual mail, which arrived at the Westernheadquarters of the Company during the year. Her cargo was comprised of supplies for the various camps and trading-posts, and these materials were distributed from Fort Churchill and Port Nelson, on the Hudson Bay coast, to the inland stations which had been established from these bases. Ammunition, guns, traps, various kinds of food, heavy blankets and clothing constituted the greater part of the cargo, but along with these was carried a substantial supply of the trinkets which greatly pleased the Indians in those days and which were used for trading purposes. On their return journey the ships were loaded with furs which had been caught in the interior during the winter and forwarded to the Company’s stations, from which they had been in turn packed to the Hudson Bay ports.
In addition to the regular crew the ship’s company comprised a score or more picked young men from the Orkneys and other sections of northern Scotland. Favors were not very much known among these men of the sea, and usually the Company’s young men were left pretty much to themselves. The captain’s attention, however, had been specially drawn by the mother’s affectionate farewell to Robert and Will and, as might be expected, his heart had been warmed toward the youths. By reason of this, though it was not understood by the young men, they were given a favored spot for their sleepingquarters and were placed rather nearer amidships than usual. To anyone who crossed in the early days on one of these small sailing vessels it will be at once apparent how much comfort this, as compared with other locations, would mean to the two lads.
Do you remember how you felt the first night you were away from home when darkness set in? If so you will realize something of what the two lads of our story felt that night, and their feelings were intensified by the realization that they were on the mighty deep, this thought being impressed by the lapping of the water on the ship’s bows and the realization that the farewell of the afternoon was to be possibly the last one. It is under such conditions that temptation to forget one’s home principles easily finds a place, and the first test was to come at this time to Robert and William. As can be appreciated, the crew of the vessel were largely old salts, who had known only a hard-and-fast life, with all the temptations which come to seafaring men. Since the sleeping quarters of the young men adjoined those of the crew, the type of language which came to the ears of the Company’s young employees when the crew were preparing for sleep can be imagined. For a time the two listened and contained themselves as best they could, and finally Robert spoke. “This is not what we have been taught at home,” he said.“We will kneel together and say our prayers.” And in the midst of this company of rough, inconsiderate men, they offered up a prayer, simple, uncultured, and yet one which meant so much, to the God they had learned to love and trust. The other youths who accompanied them were silent. Most of them had been reared in good homes, but they did not exhibit the courage of Robert and William. While the heroic stand of the two lads—and just how heroic the act was will not be appreciated immediately by many of my readers—did not seem to have much effect on the crew, and some of them had kept on with their oaths and curses, reflecting on the lads themselves, one member, and a leader among the others, had been strongly impressed. As he noted the manly way in which the two lads knelt, adhering to their principles, in the middle of the rough, uncouth crew, in spite of himself his mind turned back to his youthful days, to the old home fireside where he had knelt with mother, father, sisters and brothers; and when he saw the two lads open the Bibles their mother had given them that afternoon he was reminded of the Bible his mother had presented to him forty or fifty years ago. He heard, also, his mother’s last words running in his ears and, as can be imagined, it was some time before he went to sleep. Sandy did not sleep well that night, either. Memories of home and of earlier days and betterthings persisted, and when he woke a kindlier feeling than usual possessed his heart. He appreciated more than he had done before what it had meant to the two lads to take the stand they had done then, and perhaps because of this, when the ship’s company was called to breakfast, Robert was placed at the head of the table. He was the youngest of the company and could scarcely see why he was given this honor. As could be expected, many of the men fell to immediately, but Robert, again remembering his home principles and feeling that his position gave him some authority, rose and lifting his hand in a commanding way, said: “Men, if you will bow your heads I will ask a blessing.” It might seem that this action would have been likely to stir up trouble, but perhaps by reason of Robert’s steady eye, his earnestness, and his commanding appearance, as well as by his manly act the night before, his wish was obeyed.
Ordinarily, ocean travellers expect to rest and enjoy themselves. The Hudson’s Bay Company, however, provided no such easy means of entertainment for their apprentices, and a distinct programme of instruction and work to be done on the ship had been laid out for them. To provide for this, along with the captain and the other ship’s officers, a man who had seen many years in the Company’s service was included, whose duties were to take charge of the young men on their voyage and make themfamiliar with the services they would be called on to render in the new field. Thus on the first morning, immediately after breakfast, this instructional work was begun. At first the small things were taken up, and each of the young men was put at a different task. The making of harness for dogs, for instance, was given to one, the repairing of snowshoes to another, the filling of cartridges, cleaning of guns, the handling of traps was taken up by other young men. Some of them were given instruction in the difficult art of doing up a pack and how to carry that pack properly. Others were given hints as to proper cooking in the wilds. Then others were instructed as to how to meet emergencies and as to how energy, resourcefulness and courage could be utilized under the varying conditions of the new service. It was necessary also that each one should have at least some understanding of the Indian dialect. Sketches were shown of the different Indian tribes, bringing out their characteristics so that these should be familiar when they were met with in the forest solitudes. Interesting as this work was, it required not only close but incessant application. However, the young men had been well selected. They were the type of youths who said, “We can, We will!” They were told plainly and bluntly that no weakling could live in the forest solitude, and that it was their duty to be prepared for emergencies of all kinds. Asthe voyage progressed they were given further instruction in woodcraft and trapping of animals, and how to meet and dispose of the larger animals, such as the grizzly, the silver tip, the mountain lion, the wolf, and others which they would meet in the wilderness.
With the practical side of this instruction came a romance side. At times the Company’s officer very kindly accompanied his instruction with stories of his experiences in the regions unknown to the young men. While he was strict with them, he was patient, and naturally the most of them grew very fond of him. They saw through his stories that in the new life there was to be conflict among ever-changing conditions and that with this adventure came victory—victory not only in things which pertained to the Company’s welfare, but also which extended to the making of their own characters. The lads longed to try their fortune where nature was supreme, where the feet of white men had seldom if ever trod, where the conflict of nature was unceasing.
At first, outside of the learning of these new duties, the voyage passed uneventfully. Half of the anticipated time of passage had gone by. The winds had largely been favorable. It is true that rough seas had been encountered, but these had been expected, and bore with them the usual quota of trial in seasickness, which after a time lost its effect.All on board were well, and as the announcement was made that more than half the distance had been covered and that Hudson Bay might be reached in two or three months, an atmosphere of cheerfulness was everywhere evident.
But with the passage of time had come somewhat changed conditions, particularly among members of the crew. After a little time Sandy was influenced to hunt up his Bible, deep among the worn-out clothing in his seaman’s chest, and when he brought it forth to the light it was seen that the blue ribbon which had been tied around the precious book by his own mother, forty-five years before, still retained its place. The Bible had not been opened. The mother’s message inside had not been read. Tenderly and with tears in his eyes in spite of the hardness which had come with his years of rough living, Sandy loosened the knot and opened the book. Inside he found a one-pound note, with the message, “Sandy, my boy, take this. It is all I have. As you go through life do not forget that you should always do God’s will and help others. If you can only help boys to be men, Sandy, I will be proud of you.” The note was signed “Your affectionate, loving mother.”
The influence of the two lads had been made apparent in other ways. Sandy now said his prayers at nights, and a few of the crew followed his example. Some of the men held aloof, but there wasno more carousing at bedtime. Men who had not learned to bow the knee to their heavenly Father in each others’ presence at least had learned to respect those who did.
No member of the crew dared to speak badly of Robert and Will in Sandy’s presence. They knew it would mean a fight to a finish. The two lads had no truer friend on board than Sandy. The members of the crew well understood this, and for this reason, if not for their own sake, were always respectful to the two young men; and in addition to this they admired them for their pluck and courage. They realized that almost any lad could fall in and drift with the crowd, but that it required backbone and unusual courage to stand alone for what was right when they were surrounded by men such as made up the ship’s crew.
For many years Sandy had been associated with men of a lower type, and he consequently understood that they as well as himself respected the young man who, possessing backbone and nerve, fought at all times for the principles he believed to be right. These men were rough and uncouth and had forgotten a good deal of their early training, but at heart they still had considerable of inherent goodness. In consequence, they learned to love Robert and Will because the lads played the game of life fairly and squarely and under well-definedand well-recognized rules. The young men carried the matter of right straight into the enemy’s camp and had won the first round of the game, as we have seen, the first night they were on board the ship. As a baseball writer would put it, “Robert had put the first ball straight over home plate and had registered a strike.” Following this he kept on with his good pitching. Sandy, in his turn, played the game also like a man and tried to instil the same spirit into his friends of the crew.
As days passed it was noticed that the air became more chill. The thermometer showed a much lower temperature. To the seamen this was indicative of a peril which did not evidence itself to the young men who were making their first voyage. What this was will perhaps be guessed when it is known that the lookouts were doubled and that the captain and mate spent considerably more of their time on the bridge. Then one day, just as the sun was setting, the lookout sang out:
“Berg two points to sta’board, sir.”
And in a few minutes the golden glow of the sinking ball of fire could be seen reflected on the peak of a huge iceberg a little to the right. As can be imagined, the young men revelled in this unusual sight, and when the vessel passed within a mile of the berg it gave the appearance of a frozen mountain of diamonds. After some inquiries Robert and Willlearned the reason for the care on the part of the ship’s officers. It appeared to them that the danger was over so soon as the berg was passed, but when they were told that the danger was not so great from the visible ice mountains as from those which lay closer to the sea and which were not so much in evidence, they understood the situation better.
Other dangers added their quota to the excitement. Heretofore exceedingly good weather had been enjoyed on the voyage, but now it seemed that the gods of the storm had settled their efforts on the destruction of the little craft. For several days a hurricane of wind, snow and sleet prevailed. Sails were blown to bits. Ice fields were numerous, thus causing a great deal of anxiety to the officers and crew. Attempts were made to escape the larger bergs, but, time after time, in spite of all efforts, it did appear that some of these numerous ice mountains would carry the ship downwards into the deep. When lulls in the gale appeared the ship was hove to and new sails were bent on to take the place of those destroyed. Every man on board was doing his full duty and with a determination to keep the good ship afloat.
On the eighth day of the storm, when its fury seemed to be increasing a shout was suddenly heard, even above the roar of the sea: “Man overboard!” came from half a dozen throats. Looking quicklyover the side, Robert noted a man in the grip of the cold, angry sea, and a moment later identified him as his friend Sandy, whom a huge wave had carried some distance from the vessel. Robert’s early training and native courage at once came to the fore. Waiting only to throw off his coat and boots, he leaped from the deck into the foaming sea and started with strong strokes for the drowning man. Fortunate it was that Robert had practised the art of swimming from boyhood and that over and over he had swam through the mountainous waves which at times surrounded his island home. Many and many a time, for the pure love of it, he and his brothers had made their way through the howling surf of the rocky coast and had gloried in thus defeating the strength of nature. All this stood him in good stead now. While Sandy was able to keep afloat, he was a much older man, and in the maelstrom which surrounded him it was impossible for him to make headway. All on board watched the struggle of the young hero. Some suggested that a boat should be launched, but the captain knew that this was impossible. A boat would not have lived a minute in such a sea. The captain followed the best plan he knew, however, and ordered the lowering of the main sails, so that the ship’s way was checked until only steerage-way remained. As the vessel tossed it was difficult to follow the two imperilled men. Now andthen their heads could be seen above the storm-lashed sea. It was evident that Robert was making headway and that Sandy had seen Robert and was doing his best to reach his rescuer, though he disappeared and rose again at intervals. Then a huge wave picked him up and carried him speedily toward the goal he was striving for.
“HE LEAPED FROM THE DECK INTO THE FOAMING SEA.”
As Sandy struggled his mind was not idle. A thousand and one thoughts ran through his mind. He wanted to live at that moment more than he had ever done before. He wanted to visit once more the home of his boyhood days, to take back the little Bible to his dear old mother, to kneel at her side and thank her for the Book that had helped to win him back to his God. He wanted, too, to thank the young man who had brought him back to a realization of his position and who, he knew now, was braving unusual peril for his sake. Sandy wanted to do something worth while in whatever remained to him of life. He prayed during these moments of agony, during this time of suspense between life and death. His heart cried out to God and, as is always the case, he was heard. As his power and strength seemed to be waning, and when he was about ready to give up, a strong arm grasped him in a vicelike grip. Robert had caught him under the arms and was swimming with his heavy burden toward the ship. When it was seen that the rescuer’s goal had been reached a cheerwent up heartily from those on board. This, in turn, was drowned by the roaring and hissing of the waves. Robert was now making a supreme effort. Again and again he disappeared with his burden, and again and again mighty waves seemed to be trying to wrench his charge from his grasp. He realized that the life of his friend depended on him, and set himself to additional effort.
In the meantime Will had been watching the scene with a readiness second only to his brother. He, like Robert, had played and fought with the waves that dashed on the Orkney shores, and he, too, had gained from these struggles a courage which was only waiting to be tried. In the moments of waiting until it seemed his efforts would be necessary he also had removed his outer clothing and stood among the old tars of the crew ready to give himself when the time came. As was only natural, swimmers there were in numbers among these rough men, but not another was ready to tackle the job that the lads were ready to meet. Will watched his brother as closely as the drenching seas permitted, and when it seemed that his strength was failing he, without hesitation, plunged headlong into the sea and struck out with lengthy strokes which were the admiration of the crew. He knew Robert’s powers better than any of the others, but he realized that even a giant’s endurance could not last in such conditions, and heplanned to relieve his brother of the burden which he knew must be so overwhelming to him. After a few moments he reached the side of the two struggling men and with some difficulty persuaded Robert to relinquish his hold on Sandy and finally, after continued struggling through the waves, which seemed reluctant to give up their prey, they reached the ship and were helped aboard.
At first it appeared surprising that while the two lads seemed to regain their usual strength immediately and were able to walk to their sleeping quarters, Sandy was almost altogether overcome, and it was necessary that efforts to revive him should be made. To those who thought about it, however, it showed that the victory won by the two lads proved at once that they had led clean lives and were possessed of the kind of courage which through all the history of the world has overcome the greatest obstacles. The first act of the brothers when they returned to the sleeping quarters was to get down on their knees and thank their Heavenly Father for the strength He had given them to save the life of a friend.
After another day the storm seemed to wreak its fury. The sun shone once more and prospects seemed much more favorable. How the lads were greeted after their heroic experience can well be appreciated. They had made a warm place in the hearts of the crew before, but now they had provedthemselves heroes, and while not much of the feeling was expressed in words, they felt the goodwill of both captain and crew in a good many ways. In a few days, too, Sandy was about again quite as well as ever. Words would fail to tell his appreciation of what his friends had done for him.
Two weeks more of changeable weather was experienced, with wind enough to keep the ship well on her course, and then, all in a moment as it seemed, on one bright day endless fields of ice loomed up ahead. The captain, with glass in hand, stood on the bridge looking for an opening to the east, and after sailing along the apparently impenetrable barrier for several hours a narrow sheet of open water was finally encountered. The ship’s course was set for the open space, but when the spot which had formerly been clear was reached disappointment was manifest, for there was no open channel in evidence, but only grinding, crushing, pushing ice. They had come to the edge of the northern ice fields which, opening and closing at intervals, made it perilous for any ship built as they were at that time to attempt a passage. Nowadays a Canadian Government ice-crusher would have forced a way without difficulty over the ice-pack. Then, with a vessel built for ocean travelling and with little experience in ice, this was not possible.The captain, though, had had years of experience in Hudson Bay conditions and had sailed in the northern waters in the sealing and whaling trade years before. He knew that the ship must be kept clear of the dangerous field or it would be in constant peril of being crushed or pinched by the mass of ice which, pushed by the millions of tons of ice and the forces of wind and wave and tide behind, moved together with titanic force. So he was contented to follow a course in the open sea for a week in order to avoid these difficulties.
Following a southern course, at the end of several days the end of the ice field was reached and blue water was in evidence ahead. Suddenly a sight of much interest appeared to the young men when a whale was seen blowing off the port bow. The next morning, which was Sunday, brought joy to the hearts of all and an appreciation that the end of the voyage was approaching, with the lookout’s announcement that land was sighted. Some surprise was caused again when Sandy suggested a special service of thanksgiving. For weeks he had been doing his best to bring his friends of the crew to a realization of the responsibilities of life. In the sleeping quarters, when the men were off duty, he had talked to them as never before, and many who had sailed with him for years were impressed withthe fervor of his prayers and could not help but be convinced of the staunch stand he had taken to serve his Maker as best he knew.
There was reason for rejoicing. The sight of land confirmed the result of the captain’s observations, and when it was known that after a week or ten days of clear sailing they would reach the end of the voyage, feelings of thankfulness and cheer were much in evidence. Smaller icebergs and less extensive ice fields were now encountered, and here the youthful employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company saw for the first time polar bears with their cubs, walrus, seal, and other animals of the kind which made their home in Hudson Bay waters.
Anyone who has occasion to cross the Atlantic now knows, or finds out before the passage is complete, that it is the custom to organize a ship’s concert. Even at this early date the custom had been established, and now that the end of the passage appeared to be in sight such entertainment was arranged for. In this everyone took part.
“FOR THE FIRST TIME SAW POLAR BEARS.”
The arrival of the vessel meant a good deal to other than those on board, a fact which was not thoroughly appreciated during the passage by the young men who were travelling to the new land for the first time. On the voyage of this one vessel the Company’s employees in the far Canadian West depended almost wholly for their supplies and fora great deal of their food. With the centre of the Company’s interests at Fort Churchill, the officers and employees of the concern naturally gathered at that point, and recently food there had been running somewhat low. As can be expected also, there were many who were looking forward with great expectations to letters from their loved ones at home. The Factor and those in charge knew, if the vessel had had an ordinary voyage, what time she might be expected, and as the anticipated date approached a sharp lookout was kept each day for signs of the white sails. Several days passed unavailingly, but finally patience was rewarded and a cheer went up from the employees of the Company gathered at the Fort as the ship came in sight. For the last few days, also, the inhabitants of the Fort had been added to by numbers of Indians who from year to year came to see the Company’s vessel arrive. It was the great event of the year for the people of that land. Many of the Indians had trapped faithfully for the Company during the winter; the result of their work had been placed to their credit in the Company’s books, and in return for this they were anxious to secure useful articles which were comprised in the ship’s cargo. When the vessel drew into the dock there was a shout of rejoicing and, as can be imagined, it was a varied crowd of humanity which pressed toward her. The Indians, however,as they had been taught from year to year, kept a respectful distance, and the Factor was the first man to grasp the hand of the captain when the men reached shore. After the captain and officers, the first to land were the score or more youths who had been so carefully selected to further the Company’s trade. One of the features most looked for in the vessel’s arrival was the mail which she brought. In these days, when letters and newspapers are delivered to us three or four times a day we cannot appreciate what it meant to these men, shut off in the wilderness, to receive news from home which came only once a year. And it was not all rejoicing which followed the opening of the mail pouches. For some men their quota of letters brought sadness. A mother or a father, sister or a brother, or possibly a child, had passed away since they had received news the year before. As these sorrowful items were made known moist cheeks were seen even among these weathered and grizzled heroes who had accepted the call of the wilderness in the vast region where white men were practically unknown outside the employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
“THE FACTOR WAS THE FIRST MAN TO GRASPTHE HAND OF THE CAPTAIN.”
MacTavish, the Factor, looked the lads over carefully, wondering what kind of material the Company’s officer had chosen for him. He was a man not given to smiles, and through long association with the Indians and the half-civilized peopleof the wilds he had come to cultivate a stern and hard mien which did not by any means represent his true feelings. However, when the stalwart lads from the Orkneys, with Robert in the lead, marched past, each with his strong box containing all his earthly goods on his shoulder, a smile was seen to break through the sternness of his face. Never had the Company landed better looking lads at Fort Churchill, and MacTavish felt that if the young men measured up to their appearance he would be exceedingly well satisfied. The interest manifested in this smile was deepened when the captain, who had been talking to him, pointed out Robert and Will as they passed and told him of the heroic episode on the voyage. Around the Factor and the captain were also grouped some of the Company’s older trappers, who had been in conflict with the frozen wilds for many a year. They too saw in the newcomers the makings of men who were to do things, men who would meet obstacles and who would overcome them.
For more reasons than one the coming of the ship was a season of rejoicing to the Company’s employees. This first day the crew had been given leave on shore, which was long needed after their cramping experiences on shipboard, and had been allowed to stretch their legs and enjoy themselves as they saw fit. The evening, too, brought its enjoyment, for a banquet had been spread in which a partof the ship’s cargo had a large place. Naturally the Company’s officers resident at the Fort, with their subordinates, were interested in food from the Old Land brought over by the vessel, and in their turn the members of the crew were very well satisfied to dine on brook trout, venison, bear steak, and other dishes prepared from the food available in the wilds.
While the banquet was in progress an incident occurred which the young men long remembered. As became their new station, Robert and William, with their companions from the Old Land, had been seated with the Company’s officers. At an unexpected moment their friend Sandy, who had been with the crew, was seen edging his way, first through the red men with their squaws on the outside of the gathering and then through the Company’s employees, until he approached his young friends. It had suddenly occurred to Sandy that this would probably be the last opportunity he would have to exchange a kindly word with his rescuers, and before he was through, even if he had not felt so before, Robert felt well repaid for any effort he had made in the old sailor’s behalf during the night of the storm at sea.
The following morning the scene around the vessel was one of great energy and apparent confusion. All hands were busy removing the ship’s cargo, which was transferred to a large warehouse at the Fort.For the crew this would have been an enormous task, but since the horde of Indians who had gathered from the hundreds of miles around the Fort for this event of the year found the work somewhat of a novelty, only two days were occupied. Then began the work of loading the vessel with its return cargo. Furs, tied carefully in great bundles, were stored away in the holds, and after the holds were full huge piles, which, in their rolled-up state, resembled cord-wood, were securely fastened by lashing to the deck. This was the great outlet for the Company’s product, and annually tens of thousands of the finest skins were shipped to its sorting and distributing house in London. Two days more sufficed for this part of the work and finally, while those on shore waved a hearty farewell, the ship started on its return journey. Not the least important part of its cargo were letters from Robert and Will to the loved ones at home, giving vivid descriptions of the voyage which had been the means of landing them in their new home.