Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules Verne
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his right hand on the halyards, raised the upper corner of the lateen-sail to the end of the mast.
The halyard was fastened to the steel belt of the suit, and the sheet was held in the hand; while the breeze, swelling the four jibs, bore away the little flotilla of aquatic voyagers with the waters rippling around them.
Ten minutes later each was managing the apparatus with perfect safety and ease, and sailing close to the other. One would have taken them for enormous sea-gulls flitting lightly over the water with outspread wings.
Their navigation was greatly aided by the state of the sea, in which there was no surf or tide or waves to disturb the quiet swell.
Two or three times the awkward Soun, forgetting Fry-Craig’s advice, tried to turn his head, and swallowed a few mouthfuls of the bitter liquid; but he soon relieved himself of them. This did not trouble him, however, so much as the dread of meeting a band of ferocious sharks. They tried to make him understand that he ran less risk in a horizontal than in a vertical position. Indeed, the position of a shark’s mouth obliges it to turn round to snatch its prey; and this movement is not easy when it wishes to seize an object which is floating horizontally. Besides, it is said, that, if these voracious animals attack inert bodies, they are less likely to attack those in motion. Soun, therefore, was told to keep perpetually moving; and we leave the reader to judge whether he did so.
The voyagers sailed about an hour in this fashion. It was not necessary for them to go faster or slower: if they went slower, they would not get away from the junk fast enough; if they went faster, they would be fatigued as much by the tension of their little sail as by the disturbed motion of the waves.
Craig-Fry then gave orders to halt. The sheets were slackened, and the flotilla stopped.
“Five minutes’ rest, if you please, sir,” said Craig, addressing Kin-Fo.
“Certainly.”
All sat upright, with the exception of Soun, who wished to remain lying “for the sake of prudence,” and kept constantly kicking about.
“Another glass of brandy?” called Fry.
“With pleasure,” said Kin-Fo.
A few swallows of the refreshing liquor was all that was needed; for hunger did not yet torment them. They dined an hour before leaving the junk, and could wait till the next morning; and they needed nothing to warm them, for the wadding of air between their bodies and the water saved them from being chilled. The normal temperature of their bodies had not diminished one degree since their departure.
Was the “Sam-Yep” still in sight?
Craig and Fry turned around to see; Fry taking a night-glass from his bag, and looking searchingly along the eastern horizon.
There was nothing to be seen; not even one of those almost invisible shadows cast by boats on the dark background of the sky. The night was dark, with a slight mist; and hardly a star was to be seen, while the planets were clouded in the firmament. But, most probably, the moon, which would soon show her half-disk above the horizon, would clear the fog.
“The junk is far behind,” said Fry.
“The rogues are still sleeping,” answered Craig, “and will not profit by the breeze.”
“Are you ready?” asked Kin-Fo, tightening his sheet, and again throwing his sail to the wind.
His companions did the same, and all renewed their first course with a stronger breeze.
They sailed westward; and, consequently, the moon, rising in the east, could not shine directly in their faces, but cast its first rays on the opposite shore. In that place, if they watched the horizon, perhaps a sharp outline, luminous in the moonlight, would appear, instead of a circle, clearly defined by sky and sea. The aquatic voyagers would not be mistaken, for it would be the shore of the Celestial Empire; and, wherever they might approach, there would be no risk. Its coast was clear, and its surf was light; and it would be a safe place for a landing. When once on dry land, they could make their final plans.
At nearly quarter of twelve white streaks were faintly defined in the mist at the zenith, as the moon’s quarter rose from the water’s edge.
Neither Kin-Fo nor his companions turned round. The breeze, which was freshening and dispersing the vapor in mid-heaven, carried them on with considerable speed; and they felt that a larger space was clearing around them.
At the same time the constellations became more distinct, the wind blew away the fog, and there was an agitation of the water at the heads of the voyagers. The moon, paling from copper-red to silver-white, soon lighted the whole sky.
Suddenly a good round American oath escaped from Craig’s mouth.
“The junk!” he cried.
All stopped.
“Down with the sails!” said Fry.
In a moment the four jibs were reefed, and the sticks taken from their sockets.
Kin-Fo and his companions, resuming a vertical position, looked behind them.
There stood the “Sam-Yep,” with all sails flying, less than a mile away,—a dark outline against the bright horizon.
It was really the junk! She had set sail, and was now profiting by the breeze. Capt. Yin, no doubt, had discovered Kin-Fo’s disappearance without understanding how he succeeded in escaping. He was in league with his accomplices in the hold, and, taking the risk, set out in pursuit; and in less than a quarter of an hour he would have Kin-Fo, Soun, Craig, and Fry in his power.
But had they been seen in the brightness the moon cast around them on the water? Perhaps not.
“Lower your heads,” said Craig, who clung to this hope.
They understood him, and, letting out the air through the tubes of their rubber suits, sank beneath the water till only their heads were visible.
There was nothing to do but wait in perfect silence.
The junk was approaching very swiftly, its tall sails casting two broad shadows over the water.
Five minutes later the “Sam-Yep” was only half a mile off. Above the railing the sailors were seen moving to and fro, and the captain was aft at the helm.
Was he sailing in pursuit of the fugitives, or only following the wind? They could not tell.
Suddenly shouts and cries were heard, and a mass of men appeared on deck. The noise increased.
Evidently there was a combat between the make-believe corpses escaped from the hold and the crew.
But what was the cause? Were not all these rogues, sailors, and pirates in league with each other?
Kin-Fo and his companions could distinctly hear horrible oaths on one side, and cries of grief and despair on the other, which ceased in a few moments.
Then a violent commotion of the waters alongside the junk showed that bodies were being cast into the sea.
No! Capt. Yin and his crew were not the accomplices of the bandits under Lao-Shen. On the contrary, those poor men had been surprised and massacred. The rogues who had concealed themselves on board—no doubt with the aid of the freighters at Takou—had no other design than to take possession of the junk in behalf of the “Tai-ping,” and certainly could not have known that Kin-Fo was on board.
Now, if he were seen, and should be captured, neither he, Fry, Craig, nor Soun could expect mercy from these wretches.
The junk came nearer and nearer, and finally reached them; but, by unexpected good fortune, the shadow from her sails fell on them.
They dived for a moment; and, when they again appeared on the surface, the junk had passed without seeing them, and was scudding along with a foaming wake.
A corpse floated behind,