Crew, provisions, and outfit were all ready in January, 1860; the _Forward_ was approaching completion. Shandon never let a day pa.s.s without visiting Birkenhead.
On the morning of the 23d of January he was, as usual, on one of the double-ended ferry-boats which ply between the two sh.o.r.es of the Mersey; everything was enveloped in one of the ordinary fogs of that region, which compel the pilot to steer by compa.s.s, although the trip is one of but ten minutes.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "Everything was enveloped in one of the ordinary fogs of that region."]
However, the thickness of the fog could not prevent Shandon from noticing a short, rather stout man, with a refined, agreeable face and pleasant expression, who came towards him, seized both his hands, and pressed them with a warmth and familiarity which a Frenchman would have said was "very southern."
But if this stranger was not from the South, he had escaped it narrowly; he spoke and gesticulated freely; his thoughts seemed determined to find expression, even if they had to burst out. His eyes, small like the eyes of witty men, his large and mobile mouth, were safety-valves which enabled him to rid himself of too strong a pressure on his feelings; he talked; and he talked so much and joyously, that, it must be said, Shandon could not make out what he was saying.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Still the mate of the _Forward_ was not slow in recognizing this short man whom he had never seen; it flashed into his mind, and the moment that the other stopped to take breath, Shandon uttered these words,--
"Dr. Clawbonny?"
"The same, in person, Commander! For nearly a quarter of an hour I have been looking after you, asking for you of every one and everywhere. Imagine my impatience. Five minutes more and I should have lost my head! So this is you, officer Shandon? You really exist? You are not a myth? Your hand, your hand! Let me press it again in mine!
Yes, that is indeed the hand of Richard Shandon. Now, if there is a commander Richard, there is a brig _Forward_ which he commands; and if he commands it, it will sail; and if it sails, it will take Dr.
Clawbonny on board."
"Well, yes, Doctor, I am Richard Shandon, there is a brig _Forward_, and it will sail."
"There"s logic," answered the doctor, taking a long breath,--"there"s logic. So I am delighted, enchanted! For a long time I"ve been waiting for something of this sort to turn up, and I"ve been wanting to try a voyage of this sort. Now, with you--"
"Excuse me--" said Shandon.
"With you," continued Clawbonny, paying him no attention, "we are sure of going far without turning round."
"But--" began Shandon.
"For you have shown what stuff you are made of, and I know all you"ve done. Ah, you are a good sailor!"
"If you please--"
"No, I sha"n"t let your courage and skill be doubted for a moment, even by yourself. The captain who chose you for mate is a man who knew what he was about; I can tell you that."
"But that is not the question," said Shandon, impatiently.
"What is it, then? Don"t keep me anxious any longer."
"But you won"t let me say a word. Tell me, Doctor, if you please, how you came to join this expedition of the _Forward_?"
"By a letter, a capital letter; here it is,--the letter of a brave captain, very short, but very full."
With these words he handed Shandon a letter running as follows:--
INVERNESS, January 22, 1860.
_To_ DR. CLAWBONNY, _Liverpool_.
If Dr. Clawbonny wishes to sail on the _Forward_ for a long voyage, he can present himself to the mate, Richard Shandon, who has been advised concerning him.
K. Z., _Captain of the Forward_.
"The letter reached me this morning, and I"m now ready to go on board of the _Forward_."
"But," continued Shandon, "I suppose you know whither we are bound."
"Not the least idea in the world; but what difference does it make, provided I go somewhere? They say I"m a learned man; they are wrong; I don"t know anything, and if I have published some books which have had a good sale, I was wrong; it was very kind of the public to buy them!
I don"t know anything, I tell you, except that I am very ignorant. Now I have a chance offered me to complete, or, rather, to make over my knowledge of medicine, surgery, history, geography, botany, mineralogy, conchology, geodesy, chemistry, physics, mechanics, hydrography; well, I accept it, and I a.s.sure you, I didn"t have to be asked twice."
"Then," said Shandon in a tone of disappointment, "you don"t know where the _Forward_ is going."
"O, but I do, commander; it"s going where there is something to be learned, discovered; where one can instruct himself, make comparisons, see other customs, other countries, study the ways of other people; in a word, it"s going where I have never been."
"But more precisely?" cried Shandon.
"More precisely," answered the doctor, "I have understood that it was bound for the Northern Ocean. Well, good for the North!"
"At any rate," said Shandon, "you know the captain?"
"Not at all! But he"s a good fellow, you may depend on it."
The mate and the doctor stepped ash.o.r.e at Birkenhead; Shandon gave his companion all the information he had, and the mystery which lay about it all excited highly the doctor"s imagination. The sight of the _Forward_ enchanted him. From that time he was always with Shandon, and he came every morning to inspect the hull of the _Forward_.
In addition he was specially intrusted with the providing of the ship"s medicine-chest.
For Clawbonny was a physician, and a good one, although he had never practised much. At twenty-five he was an ordinary young doctor, at forty he was a learned man; being known throughout the whole city, he became a leading member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool. His moderate fortune allowed him to give some advice which was no less valuable for being without charge; loved as a thoroughly kind-hearted man must be, he did no harm to any one else nor to himself; quick and garrulous, if you please, but with his heart in his hand, and his hand in that of all the world.
When the news of his intended journey on board the _Forward_ became known in the city, all his friends endeavored to dissuade him, but they only made him cling more obstinately to his intention; and when the doctor had absolutely determined on anything, he was a skilful man who could make him change.
From that day the rumors, conjectures, and apprehensions steadily increased; but that did not interfere with the launching of the _Forward_ on the 5th of February, 1860. Two months later she was ready for sea.
On the 15th of March, as the captain"s letter had said, a Danish dog was sent by rail from Edinburgh to Liverpool, to the address of Richard Shandon. He seemed morose, timid, and almost wicked; his expression was very strange. The name of the _Forward_ was engraved on his collar.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
The commander gave him quarters on board, and sent a letter, with the news of his arrival, to Leghorn.
Hence, with the exception of the captain, the crew of the _Forward_ was complete. It was composed as follows:--
1. K. Z., captain; 2. Richard Shandon, first mate, in command; 3.
James Wall, second mate; 4. Dr. Clawbonny; 5. Johnson, boatswain; 6.
Simpson, harpooner; 7. Bell, carpenter; 8. Brunton, first engineer; 9.
Plover, second engineer; 10. Strong (negro), cook; 11. Foker, ice-master; 12. Wolston, gunner; 13. Bolton, sailor; 14. Garry, sailor; 15. Clifton, sailor; 16. Gripper, sailor; 17. Pen, sailor; 18.
Warren, stoker.