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Файл:The Crater; or, Vulcan’s Peak A Tale of the Pacific
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
was very slight, and by getting two of the anchors to the catheads, the vessel was canted suffi ciently to admit, of her passing. Then came cheers for success, and the cry of «walk away
with her!» That same day the Rancocus was hauled alongside of the Reef, made fast, and secured just as she would have
been at her own wharf, in Philadelphia.
Now the caulkers began their part of the job. When caulked
and scraped, she was painted, her rigging was overhauled and
got into its places, the masts and yards were sent aloft, and all
the sails were overhauled. A tier of casks, fi lled with fresh water, was put into her lower hold for ballast, and all the stores
necessary for the voyage were sent on board her. Among other
things overhauled were the provisions. Most of the beef and
pork was condemned, and no small part of the bread; still,
enough remained to take the ship’s company to a civilized
port. So reluctant was the governor to come to the decision
concerning the crew, that he even bent sails before a council
was again convened. But there was no longer any good excuse
for delay. Betts had long been back, and brought the report
that the sandal-wood was being hauled to the coast in great
quantities, both factions working with right good will. In another month the ship might be loaded and sail for America.
To the astonishment of every one, Bridget appeared in
the council, and announced her determination to remain
behind, while her husband carried the ship to her owners.
She saw and felt, the nature of his duty, and could consent to
his performing it to the letter. Mark was quite taken by surprise by this heroic and conscientious act in his young wife,
and he had a great struggle with himself on the subject of leav-
391
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
ing her behind him. Heaton, however, was so very prudent,
and the present relations with their neighbours – neighbours
four hundred miles distant – were so amicable, the whole
matter was so serious, and the duty so obvious, that he fi nally
acquiesced, without suffering his doubts to be seen.
The next thing was to select a crew. The three men who
had declined becoming citizens of the colony, Johnson, Edwards, and Bright, all able seamen, went as a matter of course.
Betts would have to go in the character of mate, though Bigelow might have got along in that capacity. Betts knew nothing of navigation, while Bigelow might fi nd his way into port
on a pinch. On the other hand, Betts was a prime seaman –
a perfect long-cue, in fact – whereas the most that could be
said of Bigelow, in this respect, was that he was a stout, willing fellow, and was much better than a raw hand. The governor named Betts as his fi rst, and Bigelow as his second offi cer.
Brown remained behind, having charge of the navy in the governor’s absence. He had a private interview with Mark, however, in which he earnestly requested that the governor would
have the goodness «to pick out for him the sort of gal that he
thought would make a fellow a good and virtuous wife, and
bring her out with him, in whatever way he might return».
Mark made as fair promises as the circumstances of the case
would allow, and Brown was satisfi ed.
It was thought prudent to have eight white men on board
the ship, Mark intending to borrow as many more of Ooroony’s
people, to help pull and haul. With such a crew, he thought he
might get along very well. Wattles chose to remain with his
friend Brown; but Dickinson and Harris, though ready and
392
THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
willing to return, wished to sail in the ship. Like Brown, they
wanted wives, but chose to select them for themselves. On this
subject Wattles said nothing. We may add here, that Unus and
Juno were united before the ship sailed. They took up land on
the Peak, where Unus erected for himself a very neat cabin.
Bridget set the young couple up, giving the furniture, a pig,
some fowls, and other necessaries.
At length the day for sailing arrived. Previously to departing, Mark had carried the ship through the channel, and she
was anchored in a very good and safe roadstead, outside of
everything. The leave-taking took place on board her. Bridget
wept long in her husband’s arms, but fi nally got so far the command of herself, as to assume an air of encouraging fi rmness
among the other women. By this time, it was every way so obvious Mark’s presence would be indispensable in America, that
his absence was regarded as a necessity beyond control. Still it
was hard to part for a year, nor was the last embrace entirely
free from anguish. Friend Martha Betts took leave of Friend
Robert with a great appearance of calmness, though she felt
the separation keenly. A quiet, warm-hearted woman, she had
made her husband very happy; and Bob was quite sensible of
her worth. But to him the sea was a home, and he regarded
a voyage round the world much as a countryman would look
upon a trip to market. He saw his wife always in the vista created by his imagination, but she was at the end of the voyage.
At the appointed hour, the Rancocus sailed, Brown and
Wattles going down with her in the Neshamony as far as Betto’s group, in order to bring back the latest intelligence of her
proceedings. The governor now got Ooroony to assemble his
393
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
priests and chiefs, and to pronounce a taboo on all intercourse
with the whites for one year. At the end of that time, he promised to return, and to bring with him presents that should render every one glad to welcome him back. Even Waally was included in these arrangements; and when Mark fi nally sailed, it
was with a strong hope that in virtue of the taboo, of Ooroony’s
power, and of his rival’s sagacity, he might rely on the colony’s
meeting with no molestation during his absence. The reader
will see that the Peak and Reef would be in a very defenceless
condition, were it not for the schooner. By means of that vessel,
under the management of Brown, assisted by Wattles, Socrates
and Unus, it is true, a fl eet of canoes might be beaten off; but
any accident to the Abraham would be very likely to prove
fatal to the colony, in the event of an invasion. Instructions
were given to Heaton to keep the schooner moving about, and
particularly to make a trip as often as once in two months, to
Ooroony’s country, in order to look after the state of things
there. The pretence was to be trade – beads, hatchets, and old
iron being taken each time, in exchange for sandal-wood; but
the principal object was to keep an eye on the movements,
and to get an insight into the policy, of the savages.
After taking in a very considerable quantity of sandal-wood,
and procuring eight active assistants from Ooroony the Rancocus got under way for Canton. By the Neshamony, which
saw her into the offi ng, letters were sent back to the Reef,
when the governor squared away for his port. At the end of
fi fty days, the ship reached Canton, where speedy and excellent sale was made of her cargo. So very lucrative did Mark
make this transaction, that, fi nding himself with assets after
394
THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
fi lling up with teas, he thought himself justifi ed in changing
his course of proceeding. A small American brig, which was
not deemed fi t to double the capes, and to come-on a stormy
coast, was on sale. She could run several years in a sea as mild
as the Pacifi c, and Mark purchased her for a song. He put as
many useful things on board her as he could fi nd, including
several cows, &c. Dry English cows were not diffi cult to fi nd,
the ships from Europe often bringing out the animals, and
turning them off when useless. Mark was enabled to purchase
six, which, rightly enough, he thought would prove a great acquisition to the colony. A plentiful supply of iron was also provided, as was ammunition, arms, and guns. The whole outlay,
including the cost of the vessel, was less than seven thousand
dollars; which sum Mark knew he should receive in Philadelphia, on account of the personal property of Bridget, and with
which he had made up his mind to replace the proceeds of
the sandal-wood, thus used, did those interested exact it. As for
the vessel, she sailed like a witch, was coppered and copperfastened, but was both old and weak. She had quarters, having been used once as a privateer, and mounted ten sixes. Her
burthen was two hundred tons, and her name the Mermaid.
The papers were all American, and in perfect rule.
The governor might not have made this purchase, had it
not been for the circumstance that he met an old acquaintance in Canton, who had got married in Calcutta to a pretty
and very well-mannered English girl – a step that lost him his
berth, however/on board a Philadelphia ship. Saunders was
two or three years Mark’s senior, and of an excellent disposition and diameter. When he heard the history of the colony,
395
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
he professed a desire to join it, engaging to pick up a crew of
Americans, who were in his own situation, or had no work on
their hands, and to take the brig to the Reef. «This arrangement
was made and carried out; the Mermaid sailing for the crater» the day before the Rancocus left for Philadelphia, having Bigelow on board as pilot and fi rst offi cer; while Woolston
shipped an offi cer to supply his place. The two vessels met in
the China seas, and passed a week in company, when each
steered her course; the governor quite happy in thinking that
he had made this provision for the good of his people. The arrival of the Mermaid would be an eventful day in the colony,
on every account; and, the instructions of Saunders forbidding
his quitting the islands until the end of the year, her presence
would be a great additional means of security.
It is unnecessary for us to dwell on the passage of the Rancocus. In due time she entered the capes of the Delaware, surprising all interested with her appearance. Friend Abraham
White was dead, and the fi rm dissolved. But the property
had all been transferred, to the insurers by the payment of
the amount underwritten, and Mark made his report at the offi ce. The teas were sold to great advantage, and the whole matter was taken fairly into consideration. After deducting the sum
paid the fi rm, principal and interest, the insurance company
resolved to give the ship, and the balance of the proceeds of
the sale, to Captain Woolston, as a reward for his integrity
and prudence. Mark had concealed nothing, but stated what
he had done in reference to the Mermaid, and told his whole
story with great simplicity, and with perfect truth. The result
was, that the young man got, in addition to the ship, which was
396
THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
legally conveyed to him, some eleven thousand dollars in hard
money. Thus was honesty shown to be the best policy!
It is scarcely necessary to say that his success made Mark
Woolston a great man, in a small way. Not only was he received with open arms by all of his own blood; but Dr. Yardley
now relented, and took him by the hand. A faithful account
was rendered of his stewardship; and Mark received as much
ready money, on account of his wife, as placed somewhat more
than twenty thousand dollars at his disposal. With this money
he set to work, without losing a day, to make arrangements to
return to Bridget and the crater; for he always deemed that
his proper abode, in preference to the Peak. In this feeling, his
charming wife coincided; both probably encouraging a secret
interest in the former, in consequence of the solitary hours
that had been passed there by the young husband, while his
anxious partner was far away.
CHAPTER XX
«There is no gloom on earth, for God above
Chastens in love;
Transmuting sorrows into golden joy
Free from alloy.
His dearest attribute is still to bless,
And man’s most welcome hymn is grateful cheerfulness».
Moral Alchemy.
The mode of proceeding now required great caution on
the part of Mark Woolston. His mind was fully made up not to
desert his islands, although this might easily be done, by fi tting out the ship for another voyage, fi lling her with sandalwood, and bringing off all who chose to abandon the place.
But Woolston had become infatuated with the climate, which
had all the witchery of a low latitude without any of its lassitude. The sea-breezes kept the frame invigorated, and the air
reasonably cool, even at the Reef; while, on the Peak, there
was scarcely ever a day, in the warmest months, when one
could not labour at noon. In this respect the climate did not
vary essentially from that of Pennsylvania, the difference existing in the fact that there was no winter in his new coun-
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
try. Nothing takes such a hold on men as a delicious climate.
They may not be sensible of all its excellencies while in its
enjoyment, but the want of it is immediately felt, and has
an infl uence on all their pleasures. Even the scenery-hunter
submits to this witchery of climate, which casts a charm over
the secondary beauties of nature, as a sweet and placid temper renders the face of woman more lovely than the colour of
a skin, or the brilliancy of fi ne eyes. The Alps and the Apennines furnish a standing proof of the truth of this fact. As respects grandeur, a startling magnifi cence, and all that at fi rst
takes the reason, as well as the tastes, by surprise, the fi rst are
vastly in advance of the last; yet, no man of feeling or sentiment, probably ever dwelt a twelve-month amid each, without becoming more attached to the last. We wonder at Switzerland, while we get to love Italy. The difference is entirely
owing to climate; for, did the Alps rise in a lower latitude, they
would be absolutely peerless.
But Mark Woolston had no thought of abandoning
the crater and the Peak. Nor did he desire to people them at
random, creating a population by any means, incorporating
moral diseases in his body politic by the measures taken to
bring it into existence. On the contrary, it was his wish, rather, to procure just as much force as might be necessary to security, so divided in pursuits and qualities as to conduce to
comfort and civilization, and then to trust to the natural increase for the growth that might be desirable in the end. Such
a policy evidently required caution and prudence. The reader
will perceive that governor Woolston was not infl uenced by
399
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
the spirit of trade that is now so active, preferring happiness to
wealth, and morals to power.
Among Woolston’s acquaintances, there was a young
man of about his own age, of the name of Pennock, who struck
him as a person admirably suited for his purposes. This Pennock had married very young, and was already the father of
three children. He began to feel the pressure of society, for he
was poor. He was an excellent farmer, accustomed to toil, while
he was also well educated, having been intended for one of
the professions. To Pennock Mark told his story, exhibited his
proofs, and laid bare his whole policy, under a pledge of secresy, offering at the same time to receive his friend, his wife,
children, and two unmarried sisters, into the colony. After taking time to refl ect and to consult, Pennock accepted the offer
as frankly as it had been made. From this time John Pennock
relieved the governor, in a great measure, of the duly of selecting the remaining emigrants, taking that offi ce on himself.
This allowed Mark to attend to his purchases, and to getting
the ship ready for sea. Two of his own brothers, however, expressed a wish to join the new community, and Charles and
Abraham Woolston were received in the colony lists. Half-adozen more were admitted, by means of direct application to
the governor himself, though the accessions were principally
obtained through the negotiations and measures of Pennock.
All was done with great secrecy, it being Mark’s anxious desire,
on many accounts, not to attract public attention to his colony.
The reasons were numerous and suffi cient for this wish to
remain unknown. In the fi rst place, the policy of retaining
the monopoly of a trade that must be enormously profi table,
was too obvious to need any arguments to support it. So long
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