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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
This is done by hooking the lower block of a powerful purchase in a portion of the substance, and then cutting a strip of
convenient size, and heaving on the fall at the windlass.
The strip is cut by implements called spades, and the blubber is
torn from the carcass by the strain, after the sides of the «blanket-piece», as the strip is termed, are separated from the other
portions of the animal by the cutting process. The «blanketpieces» are often raised as high as the lower mast-heads, or
as far as the purchase will admit of its being carried, when
a transverse cut is made, and the whole of the fragment is
lowered on deck. This «blanket-piece» is then cut into pieces
and put into the try-works, a large boiler erected on deck, in
order to be «tryed-out», when the oil is cooled, and «started»
below into casks. In this instance, the oil was taken on board
the Abraham as fast as it was «tryed-out» on board the Henlopen, the weather admitting of the transfer.
But that single whale was far from being the only fruits of
Betts’ discovery. The honest old Delaware seaman took two
more whales himself. Socrates making fast, and he killing the creatures. The boats of the Henlopen also took two
more, and that of the Abraham, one. Betts in the Martha, and
the governor in the Mermaid towed four of these whales into
the southern channel, and into what now got the name of
the Whaling Bight. This was the spot where Betts had tryed
out the fi rst fi sh taken, and it proved to be every way suitable
for its business. The Bight formed a perfectly safe harbour,
and there was not only a sandy shoal on which the whales
could be fl oated and kept from sinking, a misfortune that
sometimes occurs, but it had a natural quay quite near, where
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
the Rancocus, herself, could lie. There was fresh water in
abundance, and an island of suffi cient size to hold the largest whaling establishment that ever existed. This island was
incontinently named Blubber Island. The greatest disadvantage was the total absence of soil, and consequently of
all sorts of herbage; but its surface was as smooth as that of
an artifi cial quay, admitting of the rolling of casks with perfect ease. The governor no sooner ascertained the facilities of
the place, which was far enough from the ordinary passage to
and from the Peak to remove the nuisances, than he determined to make it his whaling haven.
The Abraham was sent across to Rancocus Island for
a load of lumber, and extensive sheds were erected, in time to
receive the Henlopen, when she came in with a thousand
barrels of oil on board, and towing in three whales that she
had actually taken in the passage between Cape South and
the Peak. By that time, the Rancocus had been moved, being
stiff enough to be brought from the Reef to Blubber Island,
under some of her lower sails. This moving of vessels among
the islands of the group was a very easy matter, so long as they
were not to be carried to windward; and, a further acquaintance with the channels, had let the mariners into the secret of
turning up, against the trades and within the islands, by keeping in such reaches as enabled them to go as near the wind
as was necessary, while they were not compelled to go nearer
than a craft could lie.
Such was the commencement of a trade that was destined to be of the last importance to our colonists. The oil that
was brought in, from this fi rst cruise, a cruise that lasted less
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
than two months, and including that taken by all the boats,
amounted to two thousand barrels, quite fi lling the lower
hold of the Rancocus, and furnishing her with more than
half of a full cargo. At the prices which then ruled in the markets of Europe and America, three thousand fi ve hundred barrels of spermaceti, with a due proportion of head matter, was
known to be worth near an hundred thousand dollars; and
might be set down as large a return for labour, as men could
obtain under the most advantageous circumstances.
CHAPTER XXV
«The forest reels beneath the stroke
Of sturdy woodman’s axe;
The earth receives the white man’s yoke,
And pays her willing tax
Of fruits, and fl owers, and golden harvest fi elds,
And all that nature to blithe labour yields».
Paulding.
Notwithstanding the great success which attended the beginning of the whaling, it was six months before the Rancocus
was loaded, and ready to sail for Hamburgh with her cargo.
This time the ship went east, at once, instead of sailing to
the westward, as she had previously done – taking with her
a crew composed partly of colonists and partly of Kannakas.
Six boys, however, went in the ship, the children of reputable
settlers; all of whom the governor intended should be offi cers,
hereafter, on board of colony vessels. To prevent diffi culties
on the score of national character, on leaving America the last
time, Saunders had cleared for the islands of the Pacifi c and
a market; meaning to cover his vessel, let her go where she
might, by the latter reservation. This question of nationality
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
offered a good deal of embarrassment in the long run, and
the council foresaw future embarrassments as connected with
the subject; but, every one of the colonists being of American
birth, and America being then neutral, and all the Americanbuilt vessels having American papers, it was thought most prudent to let things take their natural course, under the existing
arrangement, until something occurred to render a more decided policy advisable.
As soon as the Rancocus got off, the Henlopen went out
again, to cruise about two hundred leagues to windward;
while the inshore fi shery was carried on by Betts, in the Martha, with great spirit and most extraordinary success. So alive
did the people get to be to the profi t and sport of this sort of
business, that boats were constructed, and crews formed all
over the colony, there being often as many as a dozen different parties out, taking whales near the coasts. The furor
existed on the Peak, as well as in the low lands, and Bridget
and Anne could not but marvel that men would quit the delicious coolness, the beautiful groves, and all the fruits and
bountiful products of that most delightful plain, to go out on
the ocean, in narrow quarters, and under a hot sun, to risk
their lives in chase of the whale! This did the colonists, nevertheless, until the governor himself began to feel the necessity of striking a whale, if he would maintain his proper place in
the public opinion.
As respects the governor, and the other high functionaries of the colony, some indulgence was entertained; it being
the popular notion that men who lived so much within doors,
and whose hands got to be so soft, were not exactly the sort of
495
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
persons who would be most useful at the oar. Heaton, and
the merchants, Pennock, and the two younger Woolstons,
with the clergyman, were easily excused in the popular mind;
but the governor was known to be a prime seaman, and a silent expectation appeared to prevail, that some day he would
be seen in the bow of a boat, lancing a whale. Before the fi rst
season was over, this expectation was fully realized; Governor Woolston heading no less than four of what were called
the colony boats, or boats that belonged to the state, and fi shed
as much for honour as profi t, taking a fi ne whale on each occasion. These exploits of the governor’s capped the climax, in
the way of giving a tone to the public mind, on the subject of
taking whales. No man could any longer doubt of its being
honourable, as well as useful, and even the boys petitioned to
be allowed to go out. The Kannakas, more or less of whom were
employed in each vessel, rose greatly in the public estimation,
and no young man could expect to escape animadversion, unless he had been present at least once at the taking of a whale.
Those who had struck or lanced a fi sh were now held in a proportionate degree of repute. It was, in fact, in this group that
the custom originally obtained, which prohibited a young man
from standing at the head of the dance who had not struck his
fi sh; and not at Nantucket, as has been erroneously supposed.
In a community where such a spirit was awakened, it is not
surprising that great success attended the fi sheries. The Henlopen did well, bringing in eight hundred barrels; but she
found six hundred more in waiting for her, that had been
taken by the in-shore fi shermen; some using the Abraham,
some the Martha, some the Anne, and others again nothing
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
but the boats, in which they pursued their game. In the latter
cases, however, when a fi sh was taken, one of the larger vessels was usually employed to take the creature into the Bight.
In this way was the oil obtained, which went to make up a cargo for the Henlopen. The governor had his doubts about sending this brig on so distant a voyage, the vessel being so slow;
but there was no choice, since she must go, or the cargo must
remain a long time where it was. The brig was accordingly
fi lled up, taking in seventeen hundred barrels; and she sailed
for Hamburgh, under the command of a young man named
Thomas. Walker remained behind, preferring to superintend
the whaling affairs at home.
So high did the fever run, by this time, that it was determined to build a couple of vessels, each to measure about
a hundred and eighty tons, with the sole object of using
them to take the whale. Six months after laying their keels,
these little brigs were launched; and lucky it was that the governor had ordered copper for a ship to be brought out, since
it now came handy for using on these two craft. But, the whaling business had not been suffered to lag while the Jonas and
the Dragon were on the stocks; the Anne, and the Martha, and
the single boats, being out near half the time. Five hundred
barrels were taken in this way; and Betts, in particular, had
made so much money, or, what was the same thing, had got so
much oil, that he came one morning to his friend the governor,
when the following interesting dialogue took place between
them, in the audience-chamber of the Colony House. It may as
well be said here, that the accommodations for the chief magistrate had been materially enlarged, and that he now dwelt in
497
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
a suite of apartments that would have been deemed respectable even in Philadelphia. Bridget had a taste for furniture,
and the wood of Rancocus Island admitted of many articles
being made that were really beautiful, and which might have
adorned a palace. Fine mats had been brought from China,
such as are, and long have been, in common use in America;
neat and quaint chairs and settees had also been in the governor’s invoices, to say nothing of large quantities of fi ne and
massive earthenware. In a word, the governor was getting to
be rich, and like all wealthy men, he had a disposition to possess, in a proportionate degree, the comforts and elegancies of
civilized life. But to come to our dialogue –
«Walk in, Captain Betts – walk in, sir, and do me the favour to take a chair», said the governor, motioning to his old
friend to be seated. «You are always welcome, here; for I do not
forget old times, I can assure you, my friend».
«Thankee, governor; thankee, with all my heart. I do fi nd
everything changed, now-a-days, if the truth must be said, but
yourself. To me, you be always, Mr. Mark, and Mr. Woolston,
and we seem to sail along in company, much as we did the time
you fi rst went out a foremast-lad, and I teached you the difference between a fl at-knot and a granny».
«No, no, Bob, everything is not so much changed as you
pretend – I am not changed, in the fi rst place».
«I confess it – you be the same, governor, blow high,
or blow low».
«Then Martha is not changed, or nothing worth mentioning. A little more matronly, perhaps, and not quite as much of
a girl as when you fi rst made her acquaintance; but Martha,
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THE CRATER; OR, VULCAN’S PEAK: A TALE OF THE PACIFIC
nevertheless. And, as for her heart, I’ll answer for it, that is just
the colour it was at sixteen».
«Why, yes, governor; ‘tis much as you say. Marthy is now
the mother of four children, and that confarms a woman’s
appearance, depend on’t. But, Marthy is Marthy; and, for that
matter, Miss Bridget is Miss Bridget, as much as one pea is like
another. Madam Woolston does full credit to the climate, governor, and looks more like eighteen than ever».
«My wife enjoys excellent health, Betts; and grateful am
I to God that it is so. But I think all our women have a fresh
and sea-air sort of look, a cheerful freshness about them, that
I ascribe to the salt and the sea-breezes. Then we have mountain air, in addition, on the Peak».
«Ay, ay, sir – I dare say you’ve got it right, as you do most
matters. Well, governor, I don’t know which counts up the fastest in the colony, children or whales?»
«Both fl ourish», answered Mark, smiling, «as our reports
show. Mr. Secretary tells me that there were, on the fi rst of
the last month, three hundred and eighteen children in
the colony under the age of ten years; of whom no less than
one hundred and ninety-seven are born here – pure Craterinos, including your children and mine, Betts».
«It’s a fi ne beginning, governor – a most capital start; and,
though the young ‘uns can’t do much at taking a whale, or securing the ile, just now, they’ll come on in their turns, and be
useful when we’re in dock as hulks sir».
«Talking of oil, you must be getting rich, Captain
Betts. I hear you got in another hundred-barrel gentleman
last week!»
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
«Times is altered with me, governor; and times is altered
with you, too, sir, since you and I rafted loam and sea-weed, to
raise a few cucumbers, and squashes, and melons. Then, we
should have been as happy as princes to have had a good roof
over our heads».
«I trust we are both thankful, where thanks are due, for all
this, Betts?»
«Why, yes, sir, I endivour so to be; though men is desperate
apt to believe they desarve all they get but the ill luck. I and
Marthy try to think of what is all in all to us, and I believe Marthy does make out pretty well, in that partic’lar, accordin’ to
Friends’ ways; though I am often jammed in religion, and all
for want of taking to it early as I sometimes think, sir».
«There is no doubt, Betts, that men grow in Christian character, as well as in evil; and the most natural growth, in all
things, is that of the young. A great deal is to be undone and
unlearned, if we put off the important hour to a late period in
life».
«Well, as to unl’arnin’, I suppose a fellow that had as little edication as myself will have an easy time of it», answered
Betts, with perfect simplicity and good faith; «for most of my
schoolin’ was drowned in salt water by the time I was twelve».
«I am glad of one thing», put in the governor, half in
a congratulating way, and half inquiringly; «and that is, that
the Rev. Mr. Hornblower takes so well with the people. Everybody appears to be satisfi ed with his ministrations; and
I do not see that any one is the worse for them, although he is
an Episcopalian».
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