The Emerald Key

CHAPTER 10





After a hearty breakfast of ham and eggs, Jamie, Beth, and Colin were led down the cobblestone streets by Monsignor Baillargeon to the Port of Quebec. Three ocean-going sailing ships and two steamships were moored to the largest quay. Even at this early hour, wooden crates and pallets of timber were being loaded by crane onto two of the sailing ships, preparing them for their return voyage to Europe. The bishop led them to the smaller of the two steamships. It actually looked more like a schooner than a steamship with its long, low hull and typical two-mast sailing rig. A huge single paddlewheel was attached to its side and a black smokestack rose up between the two masts. A young man about Jamie’s age was busy securing the hatches when the bishop called up to him.

“Young man, is Captain Nadeau aboard?”

The young man stood up and waved to the priest. “He’s in the wheelhouse preparing to depart, Monsignor. I will go and fetch him for you.”

“Merci beaucoup.”

He turned to the children and smiled. “Captain Nadeau is a personal friend of mine. We went to school together.”

A grey-haired man with a patch over one eye appeared on deck and strode to the railing.

“Maurice! What are you doing down here on the docks? Do you need passage to Montreal?”

“Yes, but not for myself. It’s my young friends who would greatly appreciate such an offer.”

“Irish orphans?” he asked suspiciously. “I’ve already lost my engineer to typhoid. I can’t afford to lose anyone else.”

“They are all healthy. You have my word. They are trying to track down a lost brother who has recently arrived in Montreal. It’s important that they find him quickly. The church has the desire to do what it can in order to help them in their search. Can you give them passage, Benoit?”

“Well, since the church supports their important quest,” sighed Nadeau to his friend, “who am I to stand in the way? You have permission to come aboard, children, but you’ll be put to work. This isn’t a pleasure boat!”

“Fair enough,” agreed Jamie.

The monsignor waved. “Thank you, Benoit. Chess, next time you are in town?”

“I’ll give you white to give you a fair chance!”

Monsignor Baillargeon laughed then turned to Jamie and the children. “God bless you and your search.”

“And you, Monsignor,” replied Jamie. “You are an inspiration for what you are trying to accomplish with all of the orphans.”

They waved one last time to each other before Captain Nadeau broke up the final salutation and welcomed them aboard. He directed Jamie and Beth to the bow, where they were put to work pulling in the lines from the dock. The cook took Colin by the hand and led him into the galley where he would stay out of trouble. The ship’s large paddle began to churn and the craft slipped away from the dock. As the ship adjusted its course upriver, the captain yelled over to the two newcomers.

“Do not think that just because you’re friends with the monsignor you’re travelling first class on my ship!” he shouted, his English heavily accented. “Girl, what is your name?”

“Beth, sir.”

“Beth, go to the galley and help the cook prepare lunch.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Beth disappeared through the cabin door. The captain pointed his finger at Jamie.

“And you, do you have any mechanical sense in that head of yours?”

“Some, Captain. I have helped repair a steam locomotive.”

“That’s good enough for me. With Henri ill in Montreal, we’re short men in the engine room. Go down below and try not to blow up my ship.”

Jamie smiled. “Yes, Captain.”

As Jamie made his way to the stern of the ship, he glanced to his right to get a better look at the massive paddlewheel. The monstrous paddlewheel was bolted firmly to the side and the entire ship leaned slightly to port due to its massive weight. He found an open hatch and slid down the ladder into the engine room. The engine room was dark, hot, and noisy. A huge iron boiler powered a single giant piston that pushed the rod that turned the paddlewheel. The young crew member he had first seen on the dock was now manning the iron gate to the boiler; feeding the giant machine’s monstrous appetite with giant shovelfuls of coal.

“Can I give you a hand?” shouted Jamie.

The man wiped his brow and looked at the newcomer.

“Sure,” he said, throwing over the shovel, which Jamie caught in midair. “Another ten throws of coal should do it.”

The young man took a pull on a waterskin as Jamie finished stoking the glowing boiler. Jamie slammed the iron door shut with his foot, then looked up at the huge chugging piston.

“Not much different from a steam locomotive,” Jamie said thoughtfully. “Instead of the steam pushing a piston that’s attached to the drive wheel of a train, it pushes that … teeter-totter thing up there.”

The man laughed. “That ‘teeter-totter thing’ is called a walking beam. My name’s Theodore Carbonneau.”

He stuck out a greasy hand. Jamie shook it. “Jamie Galway.”

“You’ve worked steam locomotives?” asked Theodore, impressed.

“I helped out from time to time,” replied Jamie, “just like I’m doing here.”

“They’re talking about building a steam railway from Quebec to Montreal and then all the way down to Portland, Maine,” noted Theodore. “When they complete that line, the railways are going to put all of our ships out of business.”

Jamie tapped the boiler with the shovel. “So with a working paddlewheel, why are there still masts on this ship?”

“It doesn’t make sense for us to use the steam engine when we’re going down current and with the wind. The sails are just as fast as using this old engine and we save the cost of fuel.”

Jamie was surprised. “Really? What is the top speed of your ship?”

Theodore laughed. “Six knots on a good day. See this dial above the boiler? If the pressure inside the boiler goes higher than the red line, we might get another knot or two out of her, but there’s a very good chance that we’d also blow the boiler to bits. You and I would then be instantly steamed to medium-well and put on the cook’s menu.”

Jamie laughed. “I don’t have enough meat on me to feed a child, let alone the ship’s crew. I want to help make this journey a quick one. The faster we get to Montreal, the faster I’ll find my brother and go home.”

Theodore raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Go back to where? Ireland?”

Jamie nodded. “Ireland.”

“I’ve seen hundreds come to Canada from Ireland, but you’re the first I’ve heard that wants to go back.”

“I’ve got a love for fourth class ocean crossings,” said Jamie, dryly. “I just can’t get enough of them.”

Theodore gave him a look of disbelief then laughed.

“Welcome to the crew, Jamie Galway. Grab that shovel and let’s get back to work.”