He’d heard the sermons enough to know that every single passenger on this ship, including her, had plans to move west.
Once the ship made shore, she would be gone. Forever.
Chapter 34
April 9, 1854
47 days at sea
Despite his best effortsto sleep, Will endured a fitful night after he left the captain’s quarters. Near dawn, he finally decided he had to find some way to communicate with Ann.
He struck a match, lit a candle, and pulled his writing supplies from his personal trunk. It wasn’t a long missive, but it would have to do for the time being. He didn’t dare trust it not getting intercepted in Ann’s sleeping quarters by one of the other passengers, but there was one person he could trust.
Every morning before dawn, the doctor had a habit of taking a turn around the deck. Will had always assumed it was for the doctor’s personal sanity, but today, it would be to Will’s benefit as well. Sure as ever, as soon as Will came above deck in the faint morning light, Dr. Rowley was taking his usual walk. Will wasted no time approaching the man, and he was happy to deliver the missive.
At noon, the captain summoned the senior crew members to his office, and though he said nothing of Will’s disobedience, the captain seemed even more haggard than the night before.
“Gentlemen, I have not the time or energy to mince words. We are low on provisions, and unless something is done, we will run out before we make shore. I fear we have another two weeks at least, maybe more, and provisions will not last that long.”
Ignoring the annoyed sigh of Crenshaw to his left, Will spoke in an effort to keep morale up. “What would you have us do, Captain?”
“As if he’d want your help—” Crenshaw muttered.
“We need to make contact with another ship,” the captain said, cutting off Crenshaw in a way Will thought was intentional. It really was remarkable how much the captain still seemed to care about Will, and he was gratefulfor it. The captain continued, “And once we board it, we need to beg them for food.”
Mr. Wilson spoke next. “We are getting nearer the islands of the West Indies, so there will likely be more ships near our course.”
“We can hope, at least,” said the captain.
“And what shall we do, sir,” said Jack, “if we don’t see a ship?”
“You better be sayin’ your best prayers, Mr. Flynn, for wemustflag someone down.”
“And the food we have now?” asked Mr. Wilson, warily.
Captain Fairfield sighed. “We have already stopped giving out full portions, but I fear taking too extreme of measures and scaring the passengers. So let’s keep on our current schedule for a few more days before we cut rations to one biscuit a day.”
Crenshaw grunted again, but the others nodded.
“Gentlemen,” the captain said, “you are dismissed. Now, please keep up the morale as much as possible.”
Again the group assented with the exception of Crenshaw who muttered something under his breath, and everyone began exiting. Will was the last to leave the room, and he put one hand on the captain’s shoulder, wishing he could give some of his youth to the old sea dog. “It will work out, Captain.”
The captain glanced down gravely, and Will went on his way.
Fatigue engulfed him as he took his place for his next watch, but he pushed aside the exhaustion. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination or the actual circumstance, but it felt like every one of the seamen was looking at him differently. The men talking about him last night circled in his memory. Will wasn’t even sure if the sailors would listen to him today. And though Crenshaw would be a fool if he told any particulars of Will’s moment with Ann, it would be all too easy to bring up suspicions in other ways.
He’d come to one conclusion though. It was time to prove himself to the crew. He didn’t know how yet, but he would do it. He hoped his note would be enough for Ann. Hopefully in her compassionate way, she’d accept his need to improve this situation. He wanted to talk with her again in person, but that would have to wait.
He wished Jack were on deck so he could talk about how to keep up morale, but the boatswain was nowhere to be seen.
As he usually did at the beginning of his watch, Will pulled open his spyglass and scanned the horizon for anything unusual. As he turned a full 360degrees, he said a little prayer that they’d spot another ship, but no telltale white columns of sails billowed above the horizon. He brought his spyglass back when his eye caught on something else.
There, behind the ship and coming up swiftly, was something dark. He peered harder and realized it was several dark fins rising and falling in the water and moving fast. From the way they surfaced and disappeared, it seemed like a pod of dolphins.
Magnificent creatures! They were spinning and diving, and Will thought he could watch them all afternoon. Then another thought seized him, and he knew he needed to act immediately.
“Prepare the rowboat!” he yelled, as he headed to the stairs down from the poop deck.
