Test Bank for Systems Analysis and Design, 7th Edition, Alan Dennis
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- 5. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 1 Test Bank for Systems Analysis and Design, 7th Edition, Alan Dennis Full download chapter at: https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for- systems-analysis-and-design-7th-edition-alan-dennis/ Multiple Choice 1. The outcome of the analysis phase is the: a) Feasibility analysis document b) System proposal document c) System specification document d) System request document e) Business process document Ans: b Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 2. The outcome of the planning phase is the: a) Test plan b) System proposal document c) System specification document d) System request document e) Business process document Ans: d Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 3. The outcome of the design phase is the: a) Feasibility analysis document b) System proposal document c) System specification document d) System request document e) Business process document Ans: c Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy
- 6. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 2 4. Another outcome of the planning phase is the: a) Feasibility analysis document b) Project plan c) System specification document d) System proposal document e) Business process document Ans: b Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 5. Which is NOT true for systems analysts? a) They create value for an organization b) They enable the organization to perform work better c) They do things and challenge the current way that an organization works d) They play a key role in information systems development projects e) They are the project sponsors for system proposals Ans: e Response: See Introduction Difficulty: medium 6. Which is NOT an attribute of a systems analyst? a) Understanding what to change b) Knowing how to change it c) Convincing others of the need to change d) Serving as a change agent e) Selecting which projects to approve Ans: e Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy 7. Which of the following project roles would identify how technology can improve business processes? a) Systems analyst b) Business analyst c) Infrastructure analyst d) Change management analyst e) Requirements analyst
- 7. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 3 Ans: a Response: See The System Analyst Difficulty: easy 8. Which of the following project roles would insure that the system conforms to information systems standards? a) Systems analyst b) Business analyst c) Infrastructure analyst d) Change management analyst e) Project manager Ans: a Response: See The System Analyst Difficulty: easy 9. Which of the following project roles would focus on stakeholder requirements? a) Systems analyst b) Business analyst c) Infrastructure analyst d) Change management analyst e) Requirements analyst Ans: e Response: See The System Analyst Difficulty: easy 10. Which of the following project roles would serve as a primary point of contact for a project? a) Systems analyst b) Business analyst c) Infrastructure analyst d) Change management analyst e) Project sponsor Ans: e Response: See Project Identification and Initiation Difficulty: easy 11. Which of the following project roles would analyze the key business aspects of the system? a) Systems analyst b) Business analyst c) Infrastructure analyst
- 8. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 4 d) Change management analyst e) Project manager Ans: b Response: See The System Analyst Difficulty: easy 12. Michaela is a systems analyst who is determining business requirements. What would most likely be the SDLC phase for her? a) Planning b) Analysis c) Design d) Implementation e) Business requirements are not developed by systems analysts, but by business analysts Ans: b Response: See Figure 1-3: The Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 13. Chang is working on “How will this system work.” What SDLC phase is he in? a) Planning b) Analysis c) Design d) Implementation e) Transition Ans: c Response: See Figure 1-3: The Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: medium 14. Joan’s project is to take a fairly straight-forward manual process and make it an electronic process. This will make the processing more efficient. Which of the following requirements analysis strategies is she using? a) Business process automation b) Business process improvement c) Business process internalization d) Business process reengineering e) Business process renovation Ans: a Response: See Business Process Automation
- 9. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 5 Difficulty: easy 15. Wayne is a senior director of finance. His company only recently came under Sarbanes- Oxley regulations and is the project sponsor to become compliant. He realizes that examining the as-is system may not be much help as the regulations are so radical that a major analysis and design project must be completed to make the company compliant. He is leaning towards: ______________ a) Business process automation b) Business process improvement c) Business process internalization d) Business process reengineering e) Business process renovation Ans: d Response: See Business Process Reengineering Difficulty: medium 16. Moderate changes to existing processes falls under the _________ analysis. a) Business process automation (BPA) b) Business process improvement (BPI) c) Business process reengineering (BPR) d) Business process blue-skying (BPB) e) Business process efficiency (BPE) Ans: b Response: See Business Process Improvement Difficulty: easy 17. Alice is calculating whether a system will lower costs or increase revenues. What SDLC phase is she in? a) Planning b) Analysis c) Design d) Implementation e) Evaluation Ans: a Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle Difficulty: medium 18. Which was NOT given as a method for determining business requirements? a) Benchmarking b) Interviewing c) Observation
- 10. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 6 d) Document analysis e) Questionnaires and surveys Ans: a Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle Difficulty: medium 19. Which would normally NOT be a reason for a project? a) When a business need has been identified b) A consultant has suggested a new customer relationship management system c) An open source platform has just come on the market d) An existing system just isn’t working properly and the workaround is tedious e) To support a new business initiative Ans: c Response: See Project Identification and Initiation Difficulty: medium 20. Which phase is generally the longest and most expensive part of the development process? a) Planning b) Analysis c) Design d) Implementation e) Feasibility Ans: d Response: See Implementation Difficulty: easy 21. Because the cost can be immense, _________ is one of the most critical steps in implementation. a) Documentation b) Coding c) Testing d) Developing a conversion strategy e) Training Ans: c Response: See Implementation Difficulty: medium 22. PCM Incorporated will need to purchase new servers for a system. This would be a:
- 11. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 7 a) Development cost b) Operating cost c) Ongoing cost d) Intangible cost e) Intangible benefit Ans: a Response: See Feasibility Analysis Difficulty: easy 23. Linda is a clerk in the accounting department. She was interviewed by David and is excited about the proposed system that will utilize electronic funds transfer. This would be an example of ______. a) Tangible benefit b) Cash flow c) Break-even analysis d) Intangible benefit e) Return on investment Ans: d Response: See Feasibility Analysis Difficulty: medium 24. Ramya is preparing an economic feasibility study. She has a calculation where she takes total benefits minus total costs and divides that answer by the total costs. She is calculating: a) Cash flow b) Return on investment c) Break-even point d) Net present value e) Internal rate of return Ans: b Response: See Economic Feasibility Difficulty: medium 25. Ramona is preparing an economic feasibility study. She is calculating the payback period. She is calculating: a) Cash flow b) Return on investment c) Break-even point d) Net present value e) Internal rate of return Ans: c
- 12. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 8 Response: See Economic Feasibility Difficulty: medium 26. Robert is doing an economic analysis using today’s dollar values. He is doing: a) Cash flow analysis b) Return on investment analysis c) Break-even point analysis d) Net present value analysis e) Internal rate of return analysis Ans: d Response: See Economic Feasibility Difficulty: medium 27. TJ has prepared a spreadsheet where the total benefits are $182,000; the total cumulative costs are $120,000. The ROI would be: a) $62,000 b) About 34% c) About 51.7% d) About 65.3% e) Less than 20% Ans: c Response: See Economic Feasibility Difficulty: hard 28. Which of the following project roles would probably make a presentation about the objectives of a proposed project and its benefits to executives who will benefit directly from the project? a) Requirements analyst b) Systems analyst c) Project manager d) Champion e) Chief Information Officer (CIO) Ans: d Response: See Organizational Feasibility Difficulty: medium 29. Which is an activity the users probably will NOT do on a project? a) Make decisions that influence the project
- 13. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 9 b) Budget funds for the project c) Perform hands-on activities for the project d) Be assigned specific tasks to perform (with clear deadlines) e) Have some official roles on the project team Ans: b Response: See Organizational Feasibility Difficulty: hard 30. The type of skill that is common to systems analysts to deal fairly and honestly with other project team members is: a) Technical b) Business c) Analytical d) Interpersonal e) Ethical Ans: e Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy 31. The type of skill that is common to systems analysts to understand how IT can be applied to business situations and to ensure that the IT delivers real business value is: a) Technical b) Business c) Analytical d) Interpersonal e) Ethical Ans: b Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy 32. Rocky is dealing one-on-one with users and business managers (including some that have little experience with technology). He is demonstrating what system analyst skill? a) Technical b) Business c) Analytical d) Interpersonal e) Ethical Ans: d Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy
- 14. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 10 33. Becky is a systems analyst for Laswell Consulting. She is attending a three-day intensive workshop on developing applications in php. What systems analyst skill is she working on? a) Technical b) Business c) Analytical d) Interpersonal e) Ethical Ans: a Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy 34. Jack is going over financial numbers for a proposed project. Which of the following system analyst skills is he exhibiting currently? a) Technical b) Business c) Analytical d) Interpersonal e) Management Ans: c Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy 35. Amy is planning on talking with a clerk and a manager in the accounts payable area, a manager in the procurement department, and two vendors. She is probably doing: a) Observation b) Interviews c) JAD d) Documentation analysis e) Organizational Feasibility Ans: b Response: See Analysis Difficulty: easy 36. Kallie is creating use cases, data flow diagrams, and entity relationship diagrams. In what phase of the SDLC would she do this? a) Planning b) Analysis c) Design d) Construction e) Implementation
- 15. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 11 Ans: c Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: medium Chapter 1 Questions – True / False 37. The primary goal of a system is to create value for the organization. Ans: True Response: See Introduction Difficulty: easy 38. Systems analysis and design projects are highly effective, with less than 3% of all projects cancelled or abandoned. Ans: False Response: See Introduction Difficulty: easy 39. Systems that are cancelled or abandoned are frequently due to a lack of clarity about how the system should support an organization’s goals and improve processes.. Ans: True Response: See Introduction Difficulty: easy 40. The key person in the SDLC is the systems analyst who analyzed the business situation, identifies opportunities for improvements and design an information system to implement the improvements. Ans: True Response: See Introduction Difficulty: easy
- 16. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 12 41. Systems analysts are generally experts in business, finance, and application development. Ans: False Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: medium 42. When compared to a business analyst, the systems analyst will identify how the system will provide business value. Ans: False Response: See Project Identification and Initiation Difficulty: medium 43. The business analyst role focuses on the business issues surrounding the system. Ans: False Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy 44. When compared to a systems analyst, the business analyst will probably have more responsibility for determining business value. Ans: True Response: See Project Identification and Initiation Difficulty: easy 45. Because of the need to be focused on providing information about the business value of a system, a systems analyst will probably have much training or experience in programming or application development. Ans: False Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy 46. The requirements analyst role includes complete and accurate determination of what the system requirements consist of for all stakeholders. Ans: True Response: See The Systems Analyst Difficulty: easy
- 17. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 13 47. The SDLC generally can be broken into four phases: planning, analysis, design and implementation. Ans: True Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle Difficulty: easy 48. In SDLC, analysis is generally divided into three steps: understanding the as-is system; developing a cost-benefit analysis; and understanding the technical feasibility. Ans: False Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle Difficulty: easy 49. Anne has asked users and managers to identify problems with the as-is system and to describe how to solve them in the to-be system. She is probably in the analysis phase of SDLC. Ans. True Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle Difficulty: easy 50. Determining business requirements is generally done in the planning phase of the SDLC. Ans: False Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy Difficulty: easy 51. The primary output of the planning phase is the system request. Ans: True Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 52. The primary output of the analysis phase is the system proposal.
- 18. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 14 Ans: True Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 53. The normal sequence of SDLC phase outputs (from beginning to end) would be: system request; system proposal; system specifications; and installed system. Ans: True Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 54. The question ‘Can we build it’ is asked in the design phase. Ans: False Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle Difficulty: easy 55. Interviewing is generally done in the analysis phase of the SDLC. Ans: True Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 56. Juan is creating use cases. He is working in the design phase of the SDLC. Ans: False Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy 57. The planning phase of the SDLC will have two steps: project initiation and requirements determination. Ans: False Response: See Planning Difficulty: easy 58. The three feasibility analyses in the text were: organizational feasibility, technical feasibility, and economic feasibility. Ans: True Response: See Planning Difficulty: easy
- 19. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 15 59. Developing navigation methods, database, and file specifications and what architecture to use would occur in the design phase of the SDLC. Ans: True Response: See Design Difficulty: easy 60. A support plan for the system is established in the implementation phase of the SDLC. Ans: True Response: See Implementation Difficulty: easy 61. The project sponsor should have an idea of the business value to be gained from the system. Ans: True Response: See Project Identification and Initiation Difficulty: easy 62. The document that describes the business reasons for building a system and the value that the system is expected to provide is called the “System Proposal.” Ans: False Response: See System Request Difficulty: easy 63. A system request will generally have these items: project sponsor; business need; business requirements; business value; special issues or constraints. Ans: True Response: See System Request Difficulty: medium 64. The three factors in the text for a feasibility analysis are: technical feasibility; organizational feasibility and economic feasibility. Ans: True Response: See Feasibility Analysis Difficulty: easy
- 20. Exploring the Variety of Random Documents with Different Content
- 21. Nothing now was left to the boys but to watch with eager eyes the scene around—to search over the waste of waters with the hope of seeing some sail, or perhaps some sign of land. And to this they devoted themselves. It was indeed a cheerless task, and one, too, which gave them but little hope. Hours passed, yet no sail appeared. Dinner time came, and the dinner was spread; yet the boys showed but little appetite. They had been in far worse circumstances than this, yet still this was sufficiently unpleasant to destroy all relish for Solomon’s cookery, even if the banquet had been composed of greater dainties than salt pork and sea biscuit. Thus the guests at that banquet were not at all appreciative; and they sat there in the schooner’s hold, not to eat, but merely to pass the time, which hung so heavy on their hands. Yet even thus their impatience did not allow them to spend much time at the dinner, for they soon retreated, and took up their stations on deck once more, to stare around, to scan the horizon, and to peer into empty space. Hours passed. On that afternoon, the wind gradually went down, and there seemed a prospect of calmer weather. Captain Corbet began to talk of mending the sail, and hoisting it again; and at length, calling upon Wade, he and his mate proceeded with needles and sail twine to patch up as before. Into this occupation these two plunged, but the boys still stood on the lookout. At length, Bart directed Bruce’s attention to something which appeared on the margin of the sea, far away on the horizon. “Bruce,” said he, “don’t you see something out there that looks like the mast of a vessel?” Bruce looked eagerly in the direction where Bart was pointing, and the others, who had heard the remark, did the same.
- 23. A II. A strange and startling Sight.—A Mast in Midocean.—Land.—A Land of Terror.—A Panic.—The worst Place in all the World.—Tom drives away the Panic.—Drifting.—The Anchor dropped.—The Dawn of Day.—The low Land on the Horizon.—Preparing to go ashore.— The Confidences of the unfortunate Solomon. S they all stood looking in the direction where Bart was pointing,— “I see it,” said Bruce. “It’s certainly the mast, and the mast of a ship, for there is the yard and the rigging; but there’s only one mast.” “It’s a sloop,” said Phil. “No,” said Tom; “it’s a square-rigged vessel of some sort.” “Sure an it ain’t got no more ’n one mast,” said Pat; “an be the same token, there’s no hull at all at all. Be the powers, but it would be a quare thing intirely if it was to turrun out to be another wather- logged ship. An if it is, it’s meself that’ll not set fut aboord of her; not me, so it isn’t.” “There’s something,” said Bruce, “that may be a hull. I can see it sometimes quite plain. Now look, boys, carefully, all of you, as we rise on the top of a wave.” All this time Arthur had been examining the object through the spy-glass. As Bruce said this, he handed the glass to him. “It’s not a ship,” said he, “nor a vessel of any kind. It’s land.” “Land!” cried all the boys.
- 24. “Yes,” said Arthur. All were silent. Bruce took a look through the glass, and then passed it to Bart, who, after looking through it, passed it on to the others. “It’s a fact,” said Bruce. “It’s land; and that’s a flag-staff.” “It’s very low land,” said Arthur. “It’s a mere sand-bank,” said Bruce. “A sand-bank,” said Bart, “with a flag-staff in the middle of the ocean! It’s queer.” “Yes,” said Bruce; “and remember this, too, that this sand-bank in the ocean, with this flagstaff, is probably not very far away from the coast of Nova Scotia. Now, put this and that together, boys, and where do you think we are?” At this question they all looked at one another in silence, and for a time no answer was made. “Well,” said Tom, at length, “I’ll tell you what it is, boys. I believe that another prophecy of Captain Ferguson’s is turning out true. He prophesied that we’d be thrown upon Anticosti, and so we were. He prophesied that we’d be thrown on another place, and this is that place. You all know what I mean. I mean Sable Island.” The boys made no remark. This thought had been in the minds of all of them. It was a thought that brought the deepest anxiety and gloom. For, bad as Anticosti was, there was one worse place; and that place was the very sand-bank before them—Sable Island! The boys had all along been hoping for deliverance, either in the shape of some passing vessel or some sign of land. But this land, which they had approached unwittingly, seemed to be surrounded by a terror far worse than anything that was connected with their present situation. For Sable Island—that treacherous sand-bank in
- 25. the midst of the sea—had always been known to all of them as the dread of seamen, the trap of ships, and the graveyard of shipwrecked sailors. The solitary flag-staff rose there out of the low island, as though to warn them away, like a signal of danger; and yet it was impossible for them to move away. Without sails, and without a compass, they were helpless; and there seemed now no prospect, except to go ashore there and meet their doom. Tom was the first to rouse himself. “Captain,” said he, “here’s Sable Island. Come and take a good look at it, for we’re going ashore.” Captain Corbet had been so intent upon his work of patching the old sail, that he had heard and seen nothing of this excitement among the boys. These words of Tom came, therefore, suddenly and abruptly, and filled him with a terror equal to theirs. He started as though he had been shot. His needle dropped from his hands. For a few moments he sat staring at Tom; and then he rose slowly to his feet, and going over to where the boys stood, he looked out over the waters to where their eyes were directed. He stood staring for a long time in perfect silence. “Sable Island!” he at length said, in a low voice. “Wal, boys,—I didn’t ever think—I’d ever live—to see—this here day. I’ve ben a tryin all my life, boys, to keep clar of this here island; but fate’s stronger than the hand of man,—an here we air!” “O, see here now,” said Tom. “Come, now, captain, this here sort of thing won’t do at all, you know. There can’t be any very great danger. The wind’s gone down, you know. The sea’s ever so much smoother than it was, and it’s going to be smoother still. All sorts of vessels visit this island. The Nova Scotia government send supplies here regularly; and so I don’t see what danger there is. For my part, I think we’d all better go ashore. The more I think of it, the more convinced I am that we’ll be better off ashore on Sable Island than we are drifting about on board of the Antelope. And so I say, Hurrah, boys, for Sable Island! Let’s go ashore, and get a decent sail for this vessel, and some supplies.”
- 26. These words cheered the boys amazingly. A reaction at once took place. Tom was right. The sea was calm enough here to admit of a landing anywhere: and in the face of this fact thoughts of danger were not to be entertained. Yet the panic which had been inspired by the very name of Sable Island may easily be explained; and, in circumstances like these, it was quite justifiable. For of all places in the world, Sable Island is, perhaps, most dreaded by seamen. It is a low sand-bank, about twenty miles long and one mile wide. This much is above water. But besides what is visible to the eye, there is much more invisible, treacherous, beneath the sea, extending all around it. Sable Island is, in fact, the crest of a vast sand-bank or shoal, which rises out of the ocean depths, about a hundred miles southeast of the coast of Nova Scotia, in the very track of the vast commerce between England and America. Though the island itself is not more than twenty miles long, the shoal extends much farther; and it has been calculated that, for a distance of fifty miles, there is danger to the ship which ventures too near. Moreover, this shoal runs in a curved line, and may be said to enclose in a segment of a dangerous circle all vessels sailing north of it, or between it and the main land. Approach to it in a storm is always dangerous; and with certain winds it is positive destruction; wherefore ships always give it a wide berth. Many are the vessels which are known to have been lost there; but many more, by far, are supposed to have perished on the outlying shoals, without leaving a vestige behind to tell of their fate. Now, however, there was nothing like a storm. The wind, that had prevailed all day, was gone; and it only needed Tom’s cheery words to drive away from all of them the terror that for a time had taken possession of their souls. They therefore roused themselves from the silence and the gloom into which they had fallen, and began to talk over the probabilities of a landing. Each one brought forth all that he knew about Sable Island, and added it to the common stock of knowledge, until at length a very favorable idea of the place was formed. Bart knew that there was a regular overseer, or governor, or
- 27. superintendent of the island, placed there by the Nova Scotia government. Bruce knew that a vessel was sent there four times a year to convey supplies, and to take away any shipwrecked people who might be there. Arthur knew that there were huts, built for the purposes of refuge, in different parts of the island. Tom was sure that a landing could be made in ordinary weather, without much trouble; and Phil was eloquent on the subject of the ponies which live and thrive on the island, constituting a peculiar breed, well known in Nova Scotia, where a batch of Sable Island ponies are brought every year, sold at auction, and dispersed through the country. The result of this interchange of ideas was, that the boys at length began to look upon Sable Island as rather a desirable place, and to feel impatient for the time to come when they might drift near enough to make a landing. But this was a thing for which they had to wait. The Antelope was certainly drifting; yet her progress was slow, and there was no way of hastening it. For hour after hour they watched the flag-staff, and the low line of land away on the horizon, without finding themselves near enough to think of going ashore. By the shifting and changing position of the flag-staff, they knew that they were drifting past it; and yet there was no way by which they could prevent this. In the first moments of their panic, the possibility of drifting clear of Sable Island would have seemed most welcome to all of them; but now that they had formed the plan of landing there, such a prospect seemed not at all desirable; and the slow drift of the schooner, while it baffled their hopes, filled them all with impatience. In this way the hours of the day passed away. It was about three o’clock in the afternoon when they first saw Sable Island. The hours went by, and sunset came; still they were not near enough. Night was impending, yet the weather was too calm to allow of uneasiness, and they could only hope that on the following day they might be able to make the landing which they all desired so earnestly.
- 28. Passing the night in the vicinity of such a place as Sable Island is what few would choose for any amount of money. On this occasion, most fortunately, the weather was calm. The wind had died away to a gentle breeze, and the water was quite smooth. The only motion experienced by those on board the Antelope was that long rise and fall which is always felt out at sea, owing to the never-ending undulation of the ocean waters. The boys went below and slept. Captain Corbet, however, remained on deck, and kept his lonely vigil far into the night. The first mention of Sable Island had produced upon him a profound effect. His first words exhibited something like a panic terror, which might have communicated itself to the boys, had it not been for Tom’s cheery exhortation. From that first terror the captain had managed to extricate himself; yet still there remained, deep within his soul, the gloomiest anticipations. The night was not particularly dark. The sky was dotted with innumerable stars; yet so low was the island, and so destitute of any conspicuous landmark, that it passed out of view with the early twilight; nor was the eagle eye of the watchful Corbet able to detect any sign of the vanished land. At length he determined to guard against the danger of any further drifting, and accordingly proceeded to let fall the anchor. It was about two hours after midnight when this was done, and the rattle of the chains awaked the sleepers below, and announced that at last their long wanderings were arrested. On the following morning they were all on deck with the dawn of day, and looking out eagerly upon the waters. The sight which met their eyes was one which could have given nothing like pleasure to any others; yet to them it was indeed pleasant, so far as it went. They saw rising out of the sea a low, sandy shore, which extended as far as the eye could reach. About opposite them rose a flag-staff, which they supposed to be the one that they had seen on the previous evening, though there was a difference of a most important character between what they saw then and now. For here they saw buildings which looked like comfortable residences, perhaps the
- 29. abode of the keeper of the island. Except this house and its belongings, nothing else was visible along that sandy shore. The Antelope had come to anchor in good time, and the shore was not quite two miles away from this place. Still, so shallow were the waters, and so treacherous the sea bottom, that it was not at all advisable to attempt to approach nearer. If they wished to land, they would have to do so in the boat. The boat floated astern, all ready, being no other than that one which they had saved from the ship Petrel. Into this they prepared to go. For this voyage all the boys volunteered, and Captain Corbet also. Wade was to be left aboard with Solomon. Bart noticed that the venerable African was looking at the island with a pensive gaze, and thought that he saw disappointment in his face. “Would you like to come ashore, too, Solomon?” he asked, kindly. Solomon shook his head. “Darsn’t,” said he. “Darsn’t, no how.” “Pooh, nonsense! Why not? Come along,” said Bart, who thought that this was some of Solomon’s superstitious fancies which were now affecting him. “Darsn’t,” said Solomon, again. “Couldn’t ebber leave it agin. An don you go an try to ’suade dis yer ole man, Mas’r Bart, if you don want to lose him. Tell you what—dat ar island’s too safe; an ef I foun myself dar, I wouldn’t ebber leave it.” “Safe? What from?” asked Bart. Solomon looked all around with the glance of one who fears pursuit and capture by some mysterious enemy. “De ole complaint,” said he at last, with a groan. “What, rheumatism?” asked Bart, innocently.
- 30. “No, sah,” said Solomon. “It’s Broom-atiz—an acute Broomatiz too —what I notches from de ole woman whenebber she finds a broomstick handy. It generally attacks me over de back and shoulders. An what’s wuss, dar ain’t a medicine, or a liniment, or a wash, or a poultice, dat does a mite ob good. De only cure is for me to go an hunt up some desert island in de middle ob de ocean, an habit it for do ress ob my days; an so, ef I was to go shore dar, I might hide, an nebber come back. Too great ’tractium; couldn’t resist it. Safe dar forebbermo from dat ar ole woman; safe an free; no more knocks an bruises; no more terror. O, Mas’r Bart, p’raps, after all, dis here ole man better go asho dar, an hab peace.” “Nonsense, Solomon,” said Bart, who was astonished at learning the real cause of Solomon’s strange fancy for Sable Island. “Nonsense. Don’t get that notion into your head. Your wife ’ll never find you. You come to Grand Pré, and Dr. Porter will protect you.” “Dat ar place is de berry place whar I kin nebber be safe. She’s dar now, a waitin, an a watch-in, an a waitin for me. I know it. I feel it in my ole bones. Dey allers aches when I think ob her. Ebery mile we go brings me nearer to her broom-handle; an de longer I stay away, de wuss I’m goin to cotch it. So, p’raps, Mas’r Bart, I’d better go asho on Sable Island.” The idea seemed to have taken full possession of Solomon’s mind, and to such an extent, that Bart found all efforts to banish it utterly useless. He therefore gave it up, and concluded, under the circumstances, that it was better for Solomon to remain on board. The boat was now ready. The boys and Captain Corbet were calling for Bart to hurry up. Bart got on board, and they pulled away. It was a long pull; but the water was smooth, and they made good progress. At length the boat touched the shore, and they all leaped out upon the sand.
- 32. W III. Landing.—A friendly Reception, and a bounteous Repast.—Sable Island.—The strange Soil.—The sandy Ridge.—The Lake.—The long Walk.—A wonderful Sight.—The ancient Ship.—The Governor’s Story. —A tremendous Storm and its Effects.—A great Surprise.— Examination and Exhumation.—Disappointment.—Theories.—The Governor rides a Hobby-horse. HEN they stepped ashore upon Sable Island they found themselves in the presence of the whole of the population. This population amounted to about eleven souls; namely, the governor, or keeper, or guardian, or regent, or whatever else he may be called, of the island, six of the members of his family of various ages, and four able-bodied men. The governor was a bluff, broad-shouldered, red-faced, bearded personage, with a bright gray eye and a cheery smile. He had a reefing-jacket and “sou’-wester” hat; while his four satellites were dressed, two in reefers, and two in Guernsey jackets. The intercourse of the Sable Islanders with the outside world was very infrequent, and usually very exciting, so that on the present occasion they had turned out in force to greet their extraordinary visitors. Not far off was a substantial and comfortable-looking house, that seemed well adapted to withstand the Atlantic storms, and shelter its inmates from the severity of the weather. A few small out-houses adjoined it, and in the distance, where the ground rose a little higher than usual, was the signal-staff already mentioned. Whatever doubts the visitors might have had about the reception which they would meet with were dispelled at once and utterly by the first words of the potentate, whom I will call the “Governor.” Without any remark as to the suddenness of their appearance, and
- 33. without any question about their errand, he at once shook hands with them all round, and invited them to the house to breakfast, which, he informed them, was all ready, and waiting for them. A long and dreary voyage and monotonous sea life made a meal on shore seem attractive beyond expression to all of them, and the kind invitation was most thankfully accepted. Whereupon the governor led the way to the house above-mentioned, and ushered his visitors into a large but low room, where a long table was spread, and lay invitingly before their eyes. Here they seated themselves, and partook of the governor’s Sable Island hospitality, in the shape of fragrant coffee, and hot rolls, and baked potatoes, and corned beef and tongue, with other articles too numerous to mention; all of which served to efface from the minds of the guests the memory of late hardships, and to diffuse among them a general feeling of peace and calm, of cheerfulness and content. In the course of this repast the visitors made known to the governor their whole story, and that story was heard by him with an astonishment which he did not attempt to conceal. The fact that they should have been drifting blindly about without finding any place of refuge, and that they had finally been forced to seek for help from him in this place, of all others, was so overwhelming, that at first he seemed unable to believe it; and even after he had been compelled to yield his faith, his reason remained unsatisfied. The thing was true, yet unintelligible, and to his mind simply preposterous. Yet there was the fact, and here were the factors, that went to constitute that fact. The governor was dumfounded. Captain Corbet was clearly beyond him. At length, like a wise man, he gave up the attempt to fathom what was inscrutable, and devoted himself rather to the practical duties of hospitality. He promised to let Captain Corbet have what he wanted, and also he offered to do the honors of Sable Island, and show the boys all that was worth seeing. The governor was thus not only hospitable, but also very communicative. He told them all about Sable Island, and gave them
- 34. much information, in addition to what they had already learned about this singular place. The little colony was placed here for the purpose of giving aid and comfort to any who might be unfortunate enough to be shipwrecked here. Full supplies of all sorts of stores and provisions were placed on the island under his care. In addition to the buildings at this place there were two other houses of refuge, farther away towards the east, and also two other signal-staffs. In the other houses of refuge no one lived, but supplies of food and fuel were laid up there for the benefit of those who might need them. There was no lighthouse, because it was believed that a light might have a tendency to mislead, and because all seamen sought to keep as far away as possible from the island. Sable Island, in fact, is nothing more than the ridge of a vast sand-bank, which rises from the ocean depths, and at this place emerges for a few feet above its surface. The sandy ridge is over twenty miles in length, and is curved in its form. The shallows at either extremity also follow this curved line, so that the whole extent of this place of danger, including the shoals as well as the island, is not much less than fifty miles. Its concave side is towards the north- west, and ships on that side in stormy weather are in great peril whenever they come within twenty miles of the place. As a consequence, many wrecks occur, some of which are known, while more are never heard of, and can only be conjectured. Caught, so to speak, between the long-extended arms of this treacherous sand- bank, they are swept helplessly to destruction among the waters that rage over these far-reaching shoals. Once every three months a vessel comes here from Nova Scotia to bring supplies and to take off any who may have been cast ashore. The landing is often difficult, and sometimes impossible, so that the vessel has to keep away for a long time before daring to venture near.
- 35. The governor informed them that life here, on the whole, was not unpleasant, but that in winter there were times when it was impossible to venture forth out of the house. The cold was never excessive, for the surrounding waters made the temperature milder than that of the adjacent main land; but the storms were terrific, and sometimes the sea seemed to make a clean sweep over the island, and all the air was filled with clouds of driving spray. After such storms as these it was always their practice to explore the island in search of shipwrecks. Sometimes they found human beings, who had been cast ashore, huddled for shelter behind hillocks, or in the other houses of refuge and brought them back; but more frequently the only result of their search was the sight of some fragments of a lost ship which the furious waves had washed ashore; or, worse still, the lifeless bodies of those who had perished amid the raging waters. These last were always conveyed to the burial-ground of the island, where they were committed to the grave with solemn ceremony, the governor reading over them the burial service of the church. This information and much more was communicated at breakfast; and after the repast was over, the governor proceeded to fulfil his promise by taking the boys out to show them Sable Island. It did not appear as though there could be much to see. On leaving the house there spread away a sandy waste, whereon grew some coarse grass. This grass grew not close enough to form anything like turf, yet in sufficient abundance to afford pasturage to herds of wild ponies which belong to the island. These ponies were put here many years ago, and in successive generations have become developed into a wonderfully intelligent and hardy little animal, ugly, woolly, yet strong, and capable of feeding on anything. They endure the severity of the winter season here without any shelter whatever; and when snow is on the ground they get at the grass underneath with the same ready instinct that is exhibited by the buffaloes on the western prairies.
- 36. After walking some distance, they reached the crest of the sand ridge, and from this place they saw a long, narrow sheet of water. This they were informed was a lake, which took up half of the length of the island, being more than ten miles in length; the formation of the island being what may be called a long, irregular oval, enclosing this sheet of water. The eastern half of the island is, however, a solid, continuous sand-bank, and the lake lies rather towards its western end. It is the eastern end which is most affected by storms. Here the herbage is scanter, and the hillocks more frequent; here, too, the sand shifts and changes with every storm. The governor informed them that after every very great storm, important changes might be seen in this direction, and mentioned that one of a very interesting nature had occurred a few months previously in a tremendous equinoctial gale, which had been by far the wildest that had taken place since his residence on the island. This he promised to show them, and led the way to the place where the object to which he referred might be seen. They walked about four miles, and at length reached a pond which was about in the middle of the island, and at an equal distance from either side. Here a black object arose, which the boys at first took for some sort of a rock. As they drew nearer, it looked more like a hut; but finally, on coming close, they saw, to their utter amazement, that it was nothing else than the hull of a ship. That ship had a most singular form. The timbers had been greatly broken, and the decks had vanished long ago; but the outlines were visible by the broken beams, and it seemed to have been about five or six hundred tons burden. But what most impressed them was the quaint and singular appearance of the stern. This part had been less injured than the rest. It rose to a height of over sixteen feet, and much more was still buried in the sand. The uppermost portion was battered and broken; but beneath this there was a second deck and a third. Between this second deck and the third was what might once have been a cabin, and the broken port-holes astern, that once
- 37. gave light, were still plainly visible. The great height of the stern and its division into successive stories, reminded the boys of the pictures which they had seen of the ships of three centuries back, and filled their minds with intense excitement. “This ship,” said the governor, “was uncovered by the great gale of last March. Until that time it had been completely covered by the sand, which formed around it the biggest hillock on the island. I never had any idea that inside of that hillock there was anything of this sort. I attributed the formation of the hillock to the accidental concurrence of the winds which had gathered the sand up here. You would scarcely believe how large it was. Why, for hundreds of yards all around here that hill extended, and it was over thirty feet higher than where we now are. “Well, a few days after the great gale, I came out in this direction, and noticed, to my amazement, that the hill was gone! That didn’t surprise me much, for I had known other such changes to take place in every storm, though I had never known any on such an extensive scale. But when I came nearer, and saw this old hull, you may depend upon it I was astonished enough. Here it was,—all laid bare, all the sand blown away just as you see it now, except the cabin there, which I proceeded to clear out as soon as I could. “Now, the first glance showed me that this old hull must be at least a couple of hundred years old; and I took it for one of the old French or English ships that had been wrecked here in the early days of American colonization. I accounted for its position so far inland in the easiest manner in the world. The fact is, this whole island is all the time shifting and changing. I don’t believe it is in the least like what it used to be. When this ship got here, I believe this was a shoal where she drove ashore in some tremendous gale, and was soon covered up with sand. Gradually the sand gathered about her more and more, and the island changed its shape, and the shoal rose above the water, till at last this place became the middle of the island. Two or three hundred years from this, I dare say there’ll be
- 38. miles of land away off there to the north, all along, and this’ll be considered the South Shore.” “But didn’t you find anything aboard of her?” asked Bart, in eager curiosity. “Well, that was the very first thing I thought of. This old-fashioned ship reminded me of the Spanish galleons that used to take cargoes of gold and silver across the water, and I was full of the idea that there might be some immense treasure still on board. The sand had preserved the wood from decay, and gold was still more likely to be preserved. So I hurried back at once, and got a shovel, and came here alone. I cleared out the whole cabin there that day, and to my deep disappointment, I found not one single thing. I found it, in fact, just as you see it now—completely cleaned out by the waves. Everything had gone, except the timbers and some of the deck work. Doors had been torn off, and the whole front of the quarterdeck had been forced away. There were no movables of any kind, nothing, in fact, except those beams and planks, that had been strong enough to resist the fury of the waves. “I went back that day in deep disappointment, and gave up all hope of finding anything. On the following day I called all hands together, and we all came here to examine the hull. We worked for about a week, and dug out most of the sand,—it’s all back again, though, you see,—and in other places we thrust in poles to see if anything was there. We found nothing, however; no gold or silver, no precious stones; nothing, in fact, but a rusty, demoralized, and depraved old cannon, that looked as though it had been cast for the Spanish Armada. The old piece is over there in the house, preserved as a curiosity.” “And so you didn’t get anything?” said Bruce, in a tone of disappointment. “Not a thing, except the cannon,” said the governor; “and I leave you to imagine my disappointment. I was at first sure of making my
- 39. fortune, retiring from the island at once, and going home to live on my wealth. But I’m afraid I shall have to postpone that for a long time.” “Do you suppose there ever was any treasure on board of her?” asked Arthur. “Well, yes. I not only suppose so, but I almost feel certain that at one time there was a good deal of gold and silver aboard of this very ship. I’ve examined her, and studied her very attentively. Look at her now for yourselves. Notice how high that stern is. I don’t think those high sterns were used later than the days of Queen Elizabeth. It was in just such ships as this that the Spaniards brought their gold and silver across the water. In fact, boys, I believe that this is neither more nor less than a Spanish galleon. Believe? in fact I know it. For on that old gun that I spoke of, there is a cast that’s precisely the same that you see on the old Spanish dollars—the arms of Spain. “Now I’ll tell you what the idea is that I’ve formed about this ship. You know that in the days of Elizabeth the Spanish Main swarmed with buccaneers, who seized the treasure ships whenever they could. Among these, English sailors were the worst. You know that well enough. Well, my idea is, that some of these buccaneers seized this very galleon, plundered her of everything, and let her go. I don’t think that a Spanish ship would have been likely to be driven up here from the West Indies, or to drift here. I think it most likely that she was seized and brought here.” “But perhaps,” said Bart, “the buccaneers were lost in her.” “It’s possible, certainly,” said the governor, “but I don’t quite think it. I think, if there had been any gold left, some of it would have been left hereabouts in the hull. No. I think it most likely that she has been plundered by the buccaneers, who then let her go,—for a big, clumsy ship, like this, was no good for their purposes. They may have let the Spanish sailors go in her,—not unlikely; and if so, the poor wretches left their bones in these sands.”
- 40. “But what would buccaneers come here for?” asked Bart,—“so far to the north. I thought they all lived around the Spanish Main.” “Ah,” said the governor, “that brings up the very point that proves my whole theory.”
- 41. IV. The Buccaneers.—The Traditions of Mahone Bay.—The Spanish Galleon.—The buried Treasure of the Buccaneers.—The Plunder of the Spanish Main.—The lost Ship.—The Arms of the royal House of Spain.—Convincing Proof.—Further Wanderings.—Undisciplined Ponies.—A last Farewell.—The Antelope departs.—The Plan of the Boys.—Corbet grieves, but yields.—Out of the Reach of Danger. |[YOU must be aware, in the first place,” said the governor, “that over the whole Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia there are traditions of the buccaneers. There is one place, however, where these traditions seem to have a centre, and that is Mahone Bay. The people there have handed these traditions on from father to son ever since the country was settled; and the belief at this time, is as strong as ever, if not stronger. The only change that they have made is in the name. They do not speak of the buccaneers but of one certain man, whose name all over America seems to have lent itself to every tradition that the past has handed down about pirates and piracy. This is Captain Kidd. So at Mahone Bay the traditions all refer to him. “Now I don’t believe that these traditions originated in nothing, but that they grew out of actual facts. The buccaneers, when they infested the Spanish Main, needed some place in which to store their plunder. They wanted a place which was at once safe from pursuit, and so remote that the Spaniards would never think of following them. Well, this they could gain by sailing far enough to the north, and Nova Scotia naturally seemed the best stopping-place; first, because it seemed to them like the last point of the coast of the main land, and secondly, because it was convenient for a run over to Europe. Besides, Nova Scotia afforded a greater number of first-rate harbors than could be found in any part, not only of America, but of
- 42. the world. It was therefore out of the way of pursuit and discovery, and the best place that they could wish to have. “Well, now, among all the harbors that line the coast of Nova Scotia, there isn’t any that can be compared to Mahone Bay for the purposes of the buccaneers. Once in it, and discovery or capture is next to impossible. The bay is spacious and deep, without shoals or currents, and, above all, dotted with three hundred and sixty-five islands of every sort and size. Among these a hiding-place could be found, that for safety and seclusion could not be equalled anywhere else. And what are the facts? Why, the tradition of the country ever since asserts that this very bay was a chosen haunt of pirates in the old piratical days. “And what’s more,” continued the governor, “this tradition isn’t vague and general, but it’s direct and specific. It points to some one place there,—one of those islands in particular that is distinguished from all the other islands. I don’t know the name of it; I don’t know that I ever heard it; but I do know that there is such an island,—one of those three hundred and sixty-five, that is pointed out and well known as the place frequented by the buccaneers. Everybody says, that on this island they lived, and that in this island, deep down,— under the level of the sea, in fact,—the buccaneers buried the plunder of the Spanish Main. “Of course, as I said, they don’t speak of the buccaneers, but of Captain Kidd. They call it Kidd’s treasure. But it’s all the same. The fact remains whatever changes mere names may undergo. Now, mind you, I don’t say that there’s any treasure there now,—it may have been all dug up by the very men who buried it, or by others who knew about it. It’s a long time since it was buried, and Mahone Bay had no settlements for generations. At the same time it’s quite probable that it may be there still; and I, for my part, shouldn’t be a bit surprised to hear at any time that some lucky fellow has got hold of it all.” “I suppose you never went to Mahone Bay yourself,” said Bart.
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