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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15348-8.txt b/15348-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd7ba4b --- /dev/null +++ b/15348-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14713 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blown to Bits, by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Blown to Bits + or, The Lonely Man of Rakata + +Author: Robert Michael Ballantyne + +Release Date: March 13, 2005 [EBook #15348] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLOWN TO BITS *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Oltz, Suzanne Lybarger, Martin Pettit +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Blown to Bits or The Lonely Man of Rakata] + +[Illustration: CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN."--PAGE +112.--(_Frontispiece_.)] + + + + +BLOWN TO BITS + +OR + +THE LONELY MAN OF RAKATA. + +A Tale of the Malay Archipelago. + +BY R.M. BALLANTYNE, + +AUTHOR OF "BLUE LIGHTS, OR HOT WORK IN THE SOUDAN;" "THE FUGITIVES;" +"RED ROONEY;" "THE ROVER OF THE ANDES;" "THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST;" "THE +RED ERIC;" "FREAKS ON THE FELLS;" "THE YOUNG TRAWLER;" "DUSTY DIAMONDS;" +"THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER;" "POST HASTE;" "BLACK IVORY;" "THE IRON +HORSE;" "FIGHTING THE FLAMES;" "THE LIFEBOAT;" ETC. ETC. + +With Illustrations by the Author. + +_EIGHTH THOUSAND_. + +LONDON: + +JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET. + +1894. + +[_All rights reserved_.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The extremely violent nature of the volcanic eruption in Krakatoa in +1883, the peculiar beauty of those parts of the eastern seas where the +event occurred, the wide-spread influences of the accompanying +phenomena, and the tremendous devastation which resulted, have all +inspired me with a desire to bring the matter, in the garb of a tale, +before that portion of the juvenile world which accords me a hearing. + +For most of the facts connected with the eruption which have been +imported into my story, I have to acknowledge myself indebted to the +recently published important and exhaustive "Report" of the Krakatoa +Committee, appointed by the Royal Society to make a thorough +investigation of the whole matter in all its phases. + +I have also to acknowledge having obtained much interesting and useful +information from the following among other works:--_The Malay +Archipelago_, by A.R. Wallace; _A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern +Archipelago_, by H.O. Forbes; and Darwin's _Journal of Researches_ round +the world in H.M.S. "Beagle." + +R.M. BALLANTYNE. + +HARROW-ON-THE HILL, 1889. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + +CHAP. I.--THE PLAY COMMENCES, 1 + + II.--THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING, 9 + + III.--INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS, 19 + + IV.--NIGEL UNDERGOES SOME QUITE NEW AND INTERESTING + EXPERIENCES, 33 + + V.--CAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HIS SON, + WHO SURPRISES A NEGRO, AND SUDDENLY FORMS + AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE, 47 + + VI.--THE HERMIT OF RAKATA INTRODUCED, 58 + + VII.--WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND, 72 + + VIII.--PERBOEWATAN BECOMES MODERATELY VIOLENT, 89 + + IX.--DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEETING + UNDER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES, 99 + + X.--A CURIOUS SEA-GOING CRAFT--THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE + BEGUN, 111 + + XI.--CANOEING ON THE SEA--A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT-SURPRISE + AND SUDDEN FLIGHT, 123 + + XII.--WEATHERING A STORM IN THE OPEN SEA, 140 + + XIII.--FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A + LIFE-OR-DEATH PADDLE ENSUES, 153 + + XIV.--A NEW FRIEND FOUND--NEW DANGERS ENCOUNTERED + AND NEW HOPES DELAYED, 173 + + XV.--HUNTING THE GREAT MAN-MONKEY, 189 + + XVI.--BEGINS WITH A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND ENDS WITH + A HASTY FLIGHT, 204 + + XVII.--TELLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF THE PROFESSOR IN + THE SUMATRAN FORESTS, ALSO OF A CATASTROPHE + AVERTED, 217 + + XVIII.--A TRYING ORDEAL--DANGER THREATENS AND + FLIGHT AGAIN RESOLVED ON, 230 + + XIX.--A TERRIBLE MURDER AND A STRANGE REVELATION, 243 + + XX.--NIGEL MAKES A CONFIDANT OF MOSES--UNDERTAKES + A LONELY WATCH AND SEES SOMETHING WONDERFUL, 259 + + XXI.--IN WHICH THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF, 276 + + XXII.--A PYTHON DISCOVERED AND A GEYSER INTERVIEWED, 297 + + XXIII.--TELLS OF VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STRANGE + RETURN "HOME," 307 + + XXIV.--AN AWFUL NIGHT AND TERRIBLE MORNING, 324 + + XXV.--ADVENTURES OF THE "SUNSHINE" AND AN UNEXPECTED + REUNION, 343 + + XXVI.--A CLIMAX, 361 + + XXVII.--"BLOWN TO BITS," 371 + + XXVIII.--THE FATE OF THE "SUNSHINE," 377 + + XXIX.--TELLS CHIEFLY OF THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF + THIS ERUPTION ON THE WORLD AT LARGE, 385 + + XXX.--COMING EVENTS, ETC.--WONDERFUL CHANGES + AMONG THE ISLANDS, 401 + + XXXI.--ENDS WITH A STRUGGLE BETWEEN INCLINATION + AND DUTY, 414 + + XXXII.--THE LAST, 425 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + +VIGNETTE TITLE. + +"HE CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN."--PAGE 112, _Frontispiece_. + +ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS, _facing page_ 36 + +THEY DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC, 164 + +"DO YOU HEAR?" SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY, 187 + +BLOWN TO BITS 342 + + + + +BLOWN TO BITS + +A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PLAY COMMENCES. + + +Blown to bits; bits so inconceivably, so ineffably, so "microscopically" +small that--but let us not anticipate. + +About the darkest hour of a very dark night, in the year 1883, a large +brig lay becalmed on the Indian Ocean, not far from that region of the +Eastern world which is associated in some minds with spices, volcanoes, +coffee, and piratical junks, namely, the Malay Archipelago. + +Two men slowly paced the brig's quarter-deck for some time in silence, +as if the elemental quietude which prevailed above and below had +infected them. Both men were broad, and apparently strong. One of them +was tall; the other short. More than this the feeble light of the +binnacle-lamp failed to reveal. + +"Father," said the tall man to the short one, "I do like to hear the +gentle pattering of the reef points on the sails; it is so suggestive of +peace and rest. Doesn't it strike you so?" + +"Can't say it does, lad," replied the short man, in a voice which, +naturally mellow and hearty, had been rendered nautically harsh and +gruff by years of persistent roaring in the teeth of wind and weather. +"More suggestive to me of lost time and lee-way." + +The son laughed lightly, a pleasant, kindly, soft laugh, in keeping with +the scene and hour. + +"Why, father," he resumed after a brief pause, "you are so sternly +practical that you drive all the sentiment out of a fellow. I had almost +risen to the regions of poetry just now, under the pleasant influences +of nature." + +"Glad I got hold of 'ee, lad, before you rose," growled the captain of +the brig--for such the short man was. "When a young fellow like you gets +up into the clouds o' poetry, he's like a man in a balloon--scarce knows +how he got there; doesn't know very well how he's to get down, an' has +no more idea where he's goin' to, or what he's drivin' at, than the man +in the moon. Take my advice, lad, an' get out o' poetical regions as +fast as ye can. It don't suit a young fellow who has got to do duty as +first mate of his father's brig and push his way in the world as a +seaman. When I sent you to school an' made you a far better scholar than +myself, I had no notion they was goin' to teach you poetry." + +The captain delivered the last word with an emphasis which was meant to +convey the idea of profound but not ill-natured scorn. + +"Why, father," returned the young man, in a tone which plainly told of a +gleeful laugh within him, which was as yet restrained, "it was not +school that put poetry into me--if indeed there be any in me at all." + +"What was it, then?" + +"It was mother," returned the youth, promptly, "and surely you don't +object to poetry in _her_." + +"Object!" cried the captain, as though speaking in the teeth of a +Nor'wester. "Of course not. But then, Nigel, poetry in your mother _is_ +poetry, an' she can _do_ it, lad--screeds of it--equal to anything that +Dibdin, or, or,--that other fellow, you know, I forget his name--ever +put pen to--why, your mother is herself a poem! neatly made up, rounded +off at the corners, French-polished and all shipshape. Ha! you needn't +go an' shelter yourself under _her_ wings, wi' your inflated, up in the +clouds, reef-point-patterin', balloon-like nonsense." + +"Well, well, father, don't get so hot about it; I won't offend again. +Besides, I'm quite content to take a very low place so long as you give +mother her right position. We won't disagree about that, but I suspect +that we differ considerably about the other matter you mentioned." + +"What other matter?" demanded the sire. + +"My doing duty as first mate," answered the son. "It must be quite +evident to you by this time, I should think, that I am not cut out for a +sailor. After all your trouble, and my own efforts during this long +voyage round the Cape, I'm no better than an amateur. I told you that a +youth taken fresh from college, without any previous experience of the +sea except in boats, could not be licked into shape in so short a time. +It is absurd to call me first mate of the _Sunshine_. That is in reality +Mr. Moor's position--" + +"No, it isn't, Nigel, my son," interrupted the captain, firmly. "Mr. +Moor is _second_ mate. _I_ say so, an' if I, the skipper and owner o' +this brig, don't know it, I'd like to know who does! Now, look here, +lad. You've always had a bad habit of underratin' yourself an' +contradictin' your father. I'm an old salt, you know, an' I tell 'ee +that for the time you've bin at sea, an' the opportunities you've had, +you're a sort o' walkin' miracle. You're no more an ammytoor than I am, +and another voyage or two will make you quite fit to work your way all +over the ocean, an' finally to take command o' this here brig, an' let +your old father stay at home wi'--wi'--" + +"With the Poetess," suggested Nigel. + +"Just so--wi' the equal o' Dibdin, not to mention the other fellow. Now +it seems to me--. How's 'er head?" + +The captain suddenly changed the subject here. + +Nigel, who chanced to be standing next the binnacle, stooped to examine +the compass, and the flood of light from its lamp revealed a smooth but +manly and handsome face which seemed quite to harmonise with the cheery +voice that belonged to it. + +"Nor'-east-and-by-east," he said. + +"Are 'ee sure, lad?" + +"Your doubting me, father, does not correspond with your lately +expressed opinion of my seamanship; does it?" + +"Let me see," returned the captain, taking no notice of the remark, and +stooping to look at the compass with a critical eye. + +The flood of light, in this case, revealed a visage in which good-nature +had evidently struggled for years against the virulent opposition of +wind and weather, and had come off victorious, though not without +evidences of the conflict. At the same time it revealed features similar +to those of the son, though somewhat rugged and red, besides being +smothered in hair. + +"Vulcan must be concoctin' a new brew," he muttered, as he gazed +inquiringly over the bow, "or he's stirring up an old one." + +"What d' you mean, father?" + +"I mean that there's somethin' goin' on there-away--in the neighbourhood +o' Sunda Straits," answered the Captain, directing attention to that +point of the compass towards which the ship's head was turned. "Darkness +like this don't happen without a cause. I've had some experience o' them +seas before now, an' depend upon it that Vulcan is stirring up some o' +the fires that are always blazin' away, more or less, around the Straits +Settlements." + +"By which you mean, I suppose, that one of the numerous volcanoes in the +Malay Archipelago has become active," said Nigel; "but are we not some +five or six hundred miles to the sou'-west of Sunda? Surely the +influence of volcanic action could scarcely reach so far." + +"So far!" repeated the captain, with a sort of humph which was meant to +indicate mild contempt; "that shows how little you know, with all your +book-learnin', about volcanoes." + +"I don't profess to know much, father," retorted Nigel in a tone of +cheery defiance. + +"Why, boy," continued the other, resuming his perambulation of the deck, +"explosions have sometimes been heard for hundreds, ay _hundreds_, of +miles. I thought I heard one just now, but no doubt the unusual +darkness works up my imagination and makes me suspicious, for it's +wonderful what fools the imag--. Hallo! D'ee feel _that_?" + +He went smartly towards the binnacle-light, as he spoke, and, holding an +arm close to it, found that his sleeve was sprinkled with a thin coating +of fine dust. + +"Didn't I say so?" he exclaimed in some excitement, as he ran to the +cabin skylight and glanced earnestly at the barometer. That glance +caused him to shout a sudden order to take in all sail. At the same +moment a sigh of wind swept over the sleeping sea as if the storm-fiend +were expressing regret at having been so promptly discovered and met. + +Seamen are well used to sudden danger--especially in equatorial +seas--and to prompt, unquestioning action. Not many minutes elapsed +before the _Sunshine_ was under the smallest amount of sail she could +carry. Even before this had been well accomplished a stiff breeze was +tearing up the surface of the sea into wild foam, which a furious gale +soon raised into raging billows. + +The storm came from the Sunda Straits about which the captain and his +son had just been talking, and was so violent that they could do nothing +but scud before it under almost bare poles. All that night it raged. +Towards morning it increased to such a pitch that one of the back-stays +of the foremast gave way. The result was that the additional strain thus +thrown on the other stays was too much for them. They also parted, and +the fore-top-mast, snapping short off with a report like a cannon-shot, +went over the side, carrying the main-topgallant-mast and all its gear +along with it. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING. + + +It seemed as if the storm-fiend were satisfied with the mischief he had +accomplished, for immediately after the disaster just described, the +gale began to moderate, and when the sun rose it had been reduced to a +stiff but steady breeze. + +From the moment of the accident onward, the whole crew had been exerting +themselves to the utmost with axe and knife to cut and clear away the +wreck of the masts and repair damages. + +Not the least energetic among them was our amateur first mate, Nigel +Roy. When all had been made comparatively snug, he went aft to where his +father stood beside the steersman, with his legs nautically wide apart, +his sou'-wester pulled well down over his frowning brows, and his hands +in their native pockets. + +"This is a bad ending to a prosperous voyage," said the youth, sadly; +"but you don't seem to take it much to heart, father!" + +"How much or little I take it to heart you know nothin' whatever about, +my boy, seein' that I don't wear my heart on my coat-sleeve, nor yet on +the point of my nose, for the inspection of all and sundry. Besides, you +can't tell whether it's a bad or a good endin', for it has not ended yet +one way or another. Moreover, what appears bad is often found to be +good, an' what seems good is pretty often uncommon bad." + +"You are a walking dictionary of truisms, father! I suppose you mean to +take a philosophical view of the misfortune and make the best of it," +said Nigel, with what we may style one of his twinkling smiles, for on +nearly all occasions that young man's dark, brown eyes twinkled, in +spite of him, as vigorously as any "little star" that was ever told in +prose or song to do so--and much more expressively, too, because of the +eyebrows of which little stars appear to be destitute. + +"No, lad," retorted the captain; "I take a common-sense view--not a +philosophical one; an' when you've bin as long at sea as I have, you'll +call nothin' a misfortune until it's proved to be such. The only +misfortune I have at present is a son who cannot see things in the same +light as his father sees 'em." + +"Well, then, according to your own principle that is the reverse of a +misfortune, for if I saw everything in the same light that you do, +you'd have no pleasure in talking to me, you'd have no occasion to +reason me out of error, or convince me of truth. Take the subject of +poetry, now--" + +"Luff," said Captain Roy, sternly, to the man at the wheel. + +When the man at the wheel had gone through the nautical evolution +involved in "luff," the captain turned to his son and said abruptly-- + +"We'll run for the Cocos-Keelin' Islands, Nigel, an' refit." + +"Are the Keeling Islands far off?" + +"Lift up your head and look straight along the bridge of your nose, lad, +and you'll see them. They're an interesting group, are the Keelin' +Islands. Volcanic, they are, with a coral top-dressin', so to speak. Sit +down here an' I'll tell 'ee about 'em." + +Nigel shut up the telescope through which he had been examining the +thin, blue line on the horizon that indicated the islands in question, +and sat down on the cabin skylight beside his father. + +"They've got a romantic history too, though a short one, an' are set +like a gem on the bosom of the deep blue sea--" + +"Come, father, you're drifting out of your true course--that's +poetical!" + +"I know it, lad, but I'm only quotin' your mother. Well, you must know +that the Keelin' Islands--we call them Keelin' for short--were +uninhabited between fifty and sixty years ago, when a Scotsman named +Ross, thinking them well situated as a port of call for the repair and +provisioning of vessels on their way to Australia and China, set his +heart on them and quietly took possession in the name of England. Then +he went home to fetch his wife and family of six children, intendin' to +settle on the islands for good. Returning in 1827 with the family and +fourteen adventurers, twelve of whom were English, one a Portugee and +one a Javanee, he found to his disgust that an Englishman named Hare had +stepped in before him and taken possession. This Hare was a very bad +fellow; a rich man who wanted to live like a Rajah, with lots o' native +wives and retainers, an' be a sort of independent prince. Of course he +was on bad terms at once with Ross, who, finding that things were going +badly, felt that it would be unfair to hold his people to the agreement +which was made when he thought the whole group was his own, so he +offered to release them. They all, except two men and one woman, +accepted the release and went off in a gun-boat that chanced to touch +there at the time. For a good while Hare and his rival lived there--the +one tryin' to get the Dutch, the other to induce the English Government +to claim possession. Neither Dutch nor English would do so at first, but +the English did it at long-last--in 1878--and annexed the islands to the +Government of Ceylon. + +"Long before that date, however--before 1836--Hare left and went to +Singapore, where he died, leaving Ross in possession--the 'King of the +Cocos Islands' as he came to be called. In a few years--chiefly through +the energy of Ross's eldest son, to whom he soon gave up the management +of affairs--the Group became a prosperous settlement. Its ships traded +in cocoa-nuts (the chief produce of the islands) throughout all the +Straits Settlements, and boat-buildin' became one of their most +important industries. But there was one thing that prevented it from +bein' a very happy though prosperous place, an' that was the coolies who +had been hired in Java, for the only men that could be got there at +first were criminals who had served their time in the chain-gangs of +Batavia. As these men were fit for anything--from pitch-and-toss to +murder--and soon outnumbered the colonists, the place was kept in +constant alarm and watchfulness. For, as I dare say you know, the Malays +are sometimes liable to have the spirit of _amok_ on them, which leads +them to care for and fear nothin', and to go in for a fight-to-death, +from which we get our sayin'--_run amuck_. An' when a strong fellow is +goin' about loose in this state o' mind, it's about as bad as havin' a +tiger prowlin' in one's garden." + +"Well, sometimes two or three o' these coolies would mutiny and hide in +the woods o' one o' the smaller uninhabited islands. An' the colonists +would have no rest till they hunted them down. So, to keep matters +right, they had to be uncommon strict. It was made law that no one +should spend the night on any but what was called the Home Island +without permission. Every man was bound to report himself at the +guard-house at a fixed hour; every fire to be out at sunset, and every +boat was numbered and had to be in its place before that time. So they +went on till the year 1862, when a disaster befell them that made a +considerable change--at first for the worse, but for the better in the +long-run. Provin' the truth, my lad, of what I was--well, no--I was +goin' to draw a moral here, but I won't! + +"It was a cyclone that did the business. Cyclones have got a +free-an'-easy way of makin' a clean sweep of the work of years in a few +hours. This cyclone completely wrecked the homes of the Keelin' +Islanders, and Ross--that's the second Ross, the son of the first +one--sent home for _his_ son, who was then a student of engineering in +Glasgow, to come out and help him to put things to rights. Ross the +third obeyed the call, like a good son,--observe that, Nigel." + +"All right, father, fire away!" + +"Like a good son," repeated the captain, "an' he turned out to be a +first-rate man, which was lucky, for his poor father died soon after, +leavin' him to do the work alone. An' well able was the young engineer +to do it. He got rid o' the chain-gang men altogether, and hired none +but men o' the best character in their place. He cleared off the forests +and planted the ground with cocoa-nut palms. Got out steam mills, +circular saws, lathes, etc., and established a system of general +education with a younger brother as head-master--an' tail-master too, +for I believe there was only one. He also taught the men to work in +brass, iron, and wood, and his wife--a Cocos girl that he married after +comin' out--taught all the women and girls to sew, cook, and manage the +house. In short, everything went on in full swing of prosperity, till +the year 1876, when the island-born inhabitants were about 500, as +contented and happy as could be. + +"In January of that year another cyclone paid them a visit. The +barometer gave them warning, and, remembering the visit of fourteen +years before, they made ready to receive the new visitor. All the boats +were hauled up to places of safety, and every other preparation was +made. Down it came, on the afternoon o' the 28th--worse than they had +expected. Many of the storehouses and mills had been lately renewed or +built. They were all gutted and demolished. Everything movable was swept +away like bits of paper. Lanes, hundreds of yards in length, were +cleared among the palm trees by the whirling wind, which seemed to +perform a demon-dance of revelry among them. In some cases it snapped +trees off close to the ground. In others it seemed to swoop down from +above, lick up a patch of trees bodily and carry them clean away, +leaving the surrounding trees untouched. Sometimes it would select a +tree of thirty years growth, seize it, spin it round, and leave it a +permanent spiral screw. I was in these regions about the time, and had +the account from a native who had gone through it all and couldn't speak +of it except with glaring eyeballs and gasping breath. + +"About midnight of the 28th the gale was at its worst. Darkness that +could be felt between the flashes of lightning. Thunder that was nearly +drowned by the roaring of the wind an' the crashing of everything all +round. To save their lives the people had to fling themselves into +ditches and hollows of the ground. Mr. Ross and some of his people were +lying in the shelter of a wall near his house. There had been a schooner +lying not far off. When Mr. Ross raised his head cautiously above the +wall to have a look to wind'ard he saw the schooner comin' straight for +him on the top of a big wave. 'Hold on!' he shouted, fell flat down, +and laid hold o' the nearest bush. Next moment the wave burst right over +the wall, roared on up to the garden, 150 yards above highwater mark, +and swept his house clean away! By good fortune the wall stood the +shock, and the schooner stuck fast just before reachin' it, but so near +that the end of the jib-boom passed right over the place where the +household lay holdin' on for dear life and half drowned. It was a +tremendous night," concluded the captain, "an' nearly everything on the +islands was wrecked, but they've survived it, as you'll see. Though it's +seven years since that cyclone swep' over them, they're all right and +goin' ahead again, full swing, as if nothin' had happened." + +"And is Ross III. still king?" asked Nigel with much interest. + +"Ay--at least he was king a few years ago when I passed this way and had +occasion to land to replace a tops'l yard that had been carried away." + +"Then you won't arrive as a stranger?" + +"I should think not," returned the captain, getting up and gazing +steadily at the _atoll_ or group of islets enclosed within a coral ring +which they were gradually approaching. + +Night had descended, however, and the gale had decreased almost to a +calm, ere they steered through the narrow channel--or what we may call a +broken part of the ring--which led to the calm lagoon inside. Nigel Roy +leaned over the bow, watching with profound attention the numerous +phosphorescent fish and eel-like creatures which darted hither and +thither like streaks of silver from beneath their advancing keel. He had +enough of the naturalist in him to arouse in his mind keen interest in +the habits and action of the animal life around him, and these denizens +of the coral-groves were as new to him as their appearance was +unexpected. + +"You'll find 'em very kind and hospitable, lad," said the captain to his +son. + +"What, the fish?" + +"No, the inhabitants. Port--port--steady!" + +"Steady it is!" responded the man at the wheel. + +"Let go!" shouted the captain. + +A heavy plunge, followed by the rattling of chains and swinging round of +the brig, told that they had come to an anchor in the lagoon of the +Cocos-Keeling Islands. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS. + + +By the first blush of dawn Nigel Roy hastened on deck, eager to see the +place in regard to which his father's narrative had awakened in him +considerable interest. + +It not only surpassed but differed from all his preconceived ideas. The +brig floated on the bosom of a perfectly calm lake of several miles in +width, the bottom of which, with its bright sand and brilliant +coral-beds, could be distinctly seen through the pellucid water. This +lake was encompassed by a reef of coral which swelled here and there +into tree-clad islets, and against which the breakers of the Indian +Ocean were dashed into snowy foam in their vain but ceaseless efforts to +invade the calm serenity of the lagoon. Smaller islands, rich with +vegetation, were scattered here and there within the charmed circle, +through which several channels of various depths and sizes connected the +lagoon with the ocean. + +"We shall soon have the king himself off to welcome us," said Captain +Roy as he came on deck and gave a sailor-like glance all round the +horizon and then up at the sky from the mere force of habit. "Visitors +are not numerous here. A few scientific men have landed now and again; +Darwin the great naturalist among others in 1836, and Forbes in 1878. No +doubt they'll be very glad to welcome Nigel Roy in this year of grace +1883." + +"But I'm not a naturalist, father, more's the pity." + +"No matter, lad; you're an ammytoor first mate, an' pr'aps a poet may +count for somethin' here. They lead poetical lives and are fond o' +poetry." + +"Perhaps that accounts for the fondness you say they have for you, +father." + +"Just so, lad. See!--there's a boat puttin' off already: the king, no +doubt." + +He was right. Mr. Ross, the appointed governor, and "King of the Cocos +Islands," was soon on deck, heartily shaking hands with and welcoming +Captain Roy as an old friend. He carried him and his son off at once to +breakfast in his island-home; introduced Nigel to his family, and then +showed them round the settlement, assuring them at the same time that +all its resources were at their disposal for the repair of the +_Sunshine_. + +"Thank 'ee kindly," said the captain in reply, "but I'll only ask for a +stick to rig up a foretop-mast to carry us to Batavia, where we'll give +the old craft a regular overhaul--for it's just possible she may have +received some damage below the water-line, wi' bumpin' on the mast and +yards." + +The house of the "King" was a commodious, comfortable building in the +midst of a garden, in which there were roses in great profusion, as well +as fruit-trees and flowering shrubs. Each Keeling family possessed a +neat well-furnished plank cottage enclosed in a little garden, besides a +boat-house at the water-edge on the inner or lagoon side of the reef, +and numerous boats were lying about on the white sand. The islanders, +being almost born sailors, were naturally very skilful in everything +connected with the sea. There was about them a good deal of that kindly +innocence which one somehow expects to find associated with a mild +paternal government and a limited intercourse with the surrounding +world, and Nigel was powerfully attracted by them from the first. + +After an extensive ramble, during which Mr. Ross plied the captain with +eager questions as to the latest news from the busy centres of +civilisation--especially with reference to new inventions connected with +engineering--the island king left them to their own resources till +dinner-time, saying that he had duties to attend to connected with the +kingdom! + +"Now, boy," said the captain when their host had gone, "what'll 'ee do? +Take a boat and have a pull over the lagoon, or go with me to visit a +family I'm particularly fond of, an' who are uncommon fond o' _me!"_ + +"Visit the family, of course," said Nigel. "I can have a pull any day." + +"Come along then." + +He led the way to one of the neatest of the plank cottages, which stood +on the highest ridge of the island, so that from the front windows it +commanded a view of the great blue ocean with its breakers that fringed +the reef as with a ring of snow, while, on the opposite side, lay the +peaceful waters and islets of the lagoon. + +A shout of joyful surprise was uttered by several boys and girls at +sight of the captain, for during his former visit he had won their +hearts by telling them wild stories of the sea, one half of each story +being founded on fact and personal experience, the other half on a vivid +imagination! + +"We are rejoiced to see you," said the mother of the juveniles, a stout +woman of mixed nationality--that of Dutch apparently predominating. She +spoke English, however, remarkably well, as did many of the Cocos +people, though Malay is the language of most of them. + +The boys and girls soon hauled the captain down on a seat and began to +urge him to tell them stories, using a style of English that was by no +means equal to that of the mother. + +"Stop, stop, let me see sister Kathy first. I can't begin without her. +Where is she?" + +"Somewhere, I s'pose," said the eldest boy. + +"No doubt of that. Go--fetch her," returned the captain. + +At that moment a back-door opened, and a girl of about seventeen years +of age entered. She was pleasant-looking rather than pretty--tall, +graceful, and with magnificent black eyes. + +"Here she comes," cried the captain, rising and kissing her. "Why, +Kathy, how you've grown since I saw you last! Quite a woman, I declare!" + +Kathy was not too much of a woman, however, to join her brothers and +sisters in forcing the captain into a seat and demanding a story on the +spot. + +"Stop, stop!" cried the captain, grasping round their waists a small boy +and girl who had already clambered on his knees. "Let me inquire about +my old friends first--and let me introduce my son to you--you've taken +no notice of _him_ yet! That's not hospitable." + +All eyes were turned at once on Nigel, some boldly, others with a shy +inquiring look, as though to say, Can _you_ tell stories? + +"Come, now," said Nigel, advancing, "since you are all so fond of my +father, I must shake hands with you all round." + +The hearty way in which this was done at once put the children at their +ease. They admitted him, as it were, into their circle, and then turning +again to the captain continued their clamour for a story. + +"No, no--about old friends first. How--how's old mother Morris?" + +"Quite well," they shouted. "Fatterer than ever," added an urchin, who +in England would have been styled cheeky. + +"Yes," lisped a very little girl; "one of 'e doors in 'e house too small +for she." + +"Why, Gerchin, you've learned to speak English like the rest," said the +captain. + +"Yes, father make every one learn." + +"Well, now," continued the captain, "what about Black Sam?" + +"Gone to Batavia," chorused the children. + +"And--and--what's-'is-name?--the man wi' the nose--" + +A burst of laughter and, "We's _all_ got noses here!" was the reply. + +"Yes, but you know who I mean--the short man wi' the--" + +"Oh! with the turned _up_ nose. _I_ know," cried the cheeky boy; "you +means Johnson? He goed away nobody know whar'." + +"And little Nelly Drew, what of her?" + +A sudden silence fell on the group, and solemn eyes were turned on +sister Kathy, who was evidently expected to answer. + +"Not dead?" said the captain earnestly. + +"No, but very _very_ ill," replied the girl. + +"Dear Nelly have never git over the loss of her brother, who--" + +At this point they were interrupted by another group of the captain's +little admirers, who, having heard of his arrival, ran forward to give +him a noisy welcome. Before stories could be commenced, however, the +visitors were summoned to Mr. Ross's house to dinner, and then the +captain had got into such an eager talk with the king that evening was +upon them before they knew where they were, as Nigel expressed it, and +the stories had to be postponed until the following day. + +Of course beds were offered, and accepted by Captain Roy and Nigel. Just +before retiring to them, father and son went out to have a stroll on the +margin of the lagoon. + +"Ain't it a nice place, Nigel?" asked the former, whose kindly spirit +had been stirred up to quite a jovial pitch by the gushing welcome he +had received alike from old and young. + +"It's charming, father. Quite different from what you had led me to +expect." + +"My boy," returned the captain, with that solemn deliberation which he +was wont to assume when about to deliver a palpable truism. "W'en you've +come to live as long as me you'll find that everything turns out +different from what people have bin led to expect. Leastways that's _my_ +experience." + +"Well, in the meantime, till I have come to your time of life, I'll take +your word for that, and I do hope you intend to stay a long time here." + +"No, my son, I don't. Why do ye ask?" + +"Because I like the place and the people so much that I would like to +study it and them, and to sketch the scenery." + +"Business before pleasure, my lad," said the captain with a grave shake +of the head. "You know we've bin blown out of our course, and have no +business here at all. I'll only wait till the carpenter completes his +repairs, and then be off for Batavia. Duty first; everything else +afterwards." + +"But you being owner as well as commander, there is no one to insist on +duty being done," objected Nigel. + +"Pardon me," returned the captain, "there is a certain owner named +Captain David Roy, a very stern disciplinarian, who insists on the +commander o' this here brig performin' his duty to the letter. You may +depend upon it that if a man ain't true to himself he's not likely to be +true to any one else. But it's likely that we may be here for a couple +of days, so I release _you_ from duty that you may make the most o' your +time and enjoy yourself. By the way, it will save you wastin' time if +you ask that little girl, Kathy Holbein, to show you the best places to +sketch, for she's a born genius with her pencil and brush." + +"No, thank you, father," returned Nigel. "I want no little girl to +bother me while I'm sketching--even though she be a born genius--for I +think I possess genius enough my self to select the best points for +sketching, and to get along fairly well without help. At least I'll try +what I can do." + +"Please yourself, lad. Nevertheless, I think you wouldn't find poor +Kathy a bother; she's too modest for that--moreover, she could manage a +boat and pull a good oar when I was here last, and no doubt she has +improved since." + +"Nevertheless, I'd rather be alone," persisted Nigel. "But why do you +call her _poor_ Kathy? She seems to be quite as strong and as jolly as +the rest of her brothers and sisters." + +"Ah, poor thing, these are not her brothers and sisters," returned the +captain in a gentler tone. + +"Kathy is only an adopted child, and an orphan. Her name, Kathleen, is +not a Dutch one. She came to these islands in a somewhat curious way. +Sit down here and I'll tell 'ee the little I know about her." + +Father and son sat down on a mass of coral rock that had been washed up +on the beach during some heavy gale, and for a few minutes gazed in +silence on the beautiful lagoon, in which not only the islets, but the +brilliant moon and even the starry hosts were mirrored faithfully. + +"About thirteen years ago," said the captain, "two pirate junks in the +Sunda Straits attacked a British barque, and, after a fight, captured +her. Some o' the crew were killed in action, some were taken on board +the junks to be held to ransom I s'pose, and some, jumping into the sea +to escape if possible by swimming, were probably drowned, for they were +a considerable distance from land. It was one o' these fellows, however, +who took to the water that managed to land on the Java shore, more dead +than alive. He gave information about the affair, and was the cause of a +gun-boat, that was in these waters at the time, bein' sent off in chase +o' the pirate junks. + +"This man who swam ashore was a Lascar. He said that the chief o' the +pirates, who seemed to own both junks, was a big ferocious Malay with +only one eye--he might have added with no heart at all, if what he said +o' the scoundrel was true, for he behaved with horrible cruelty to the +crew o' the barque. After takin' all he wanted out of his prize he +scuttled her, and then divided the people that were saved alive between +the two junks. There were several passengers in the vessel; among them a +young man--a widower--with a little daughter, four year old or so. He +was bound for Calcutta. Being a very powerful man he fought like a lion +to beat the pirates off, but he was surrounded and at last knocked down +by a blow from behind. Then his arms were made fast and he was sent wi' +the rest into the biggest junk. + +"This poor fellow recovered his senses about the time the pirates were +dividin' the prisoners among them. He seemed dazed at first, so said the +Lascar, but as he must have bin in a considerable funk himself I suspect +his observations couldn't have bin very correct. Anyhow, he said he was +sittin' near the side o' the junk beside this poor man, whose name he +never knew, but who seemed to be an Englishman from his language, when a +wild scream was heard in the other junk. It was the little girl who had +caught sight of her father and began to understand that she was going to +be separated from him. At the sound o' her voice he started up, and, +looking round like a wild bull, caught sight o' the little one on the +deck o' the other junk, just as they were hoistin' sail to take +advantage of a breeze that had sprung up. + +"Whether it was that they had bound the man with a piece o' bad rope, or +that the strength o' Samson had been given to him, the Lascar could not +tell, but he saw the Englishman snap the rope as if it had bin a bit o' +pack-thread, and jump overboard. He swam for the junk where his little +girl was. If he had possessed the strength of a dozen Samsons it would +have availed him nothin', for the big sail had caught the breeze and got +way on her. At the same time the other junk lay over to the same breeze +and the two separated. At first the one-eyed pirate jumped up with an +oath and fired a pistol shot at the Englishman, but missed him. Then he +seemed to change his mind and shouted in bad English, with a diabolical +laugh--'Swim away; swim hard, p'raps you kitch 'im up!' Of course the +two junks were soon out of sight o' the poor swimmer--and that was the +end of _him,_ for, of course, he must have been drowned." + +"But what of the poor little girl?" asked Nigel, whose feelings were +easily touched by the sorrows of children, and who began to have a +suspicion of what was coming. + +"I'm just comin' to that. Well, the gun-boat that went to look for the +pirates sighted one o' the junks out in the Indian Ocean after a long +search and captured her, but not a single one o' the barque's crew was +to be found in her, and it was supposed they had been all murdered and +thrown overboard wi' shots tied to their feet to sink them. Enough o' +the cargo o' the British barque was found, however, to convict her, and +on a more careful search bein' made, the little girl was discovered, hid +away in the hold. Bein' only about four year old, the poor little thing +was too frightened to understand the questions put to her. All she could +say was that she wanted 'to go to father,' and that her name was Kathy, +probably short for Kathleen, but she could not tell." + +"Then that is the girl who is now here?" exclaimed Nigel. + +"The same, lad. The gun-boat ran in here, like as we did, to have some +slight repairs done, and Kathy was landed. She seemed to take at once to +motherly Mrs. Holbein, who offered to adopt her, and as the captain of +the gun-boat had no more notion than the man-in-the-moon who the child +belonged to, or what to do with her, he gladly handed her over, so here +she has been livin' ever since. Of course attempts have been made to +discover her friends, but without success, and now all hope has been +given up. The poor girl herself never speaks on the subject, but old +Holbein and his wife tell me she is sure that Kathy has never forgotten +her father. It may be so; anyhow, she has forgotten his name--if she +ever knew it." + +Next day Nigel made no objections to being guided to the most +picturesque spots among the coral isles by the interesting orphan girl. +If she had been older he might even have fallen in love with her, an +event which would have necessitated an awkward modification of the +ground-work of our tale. As it was, he pitied the poor child sincerely, +and not only--recognising her genius--asked her advice a good deal on +the subject of art, but--recognising also her extreme youth and +ignorance--volunteered a good deal of advice in exchange, quite in a +paternal way! + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +NIGEL UNDERGOES SOME QUITE NEW AND INTERESTING EXPERIENCES. + + +The arrangements made on the following day turned out to be quite in +accordance with the wishes and tastes of the various parties concerned. + +The ship's carpenter having been duly set to work on the repairs, and +being inspected in that serious piece of prosaic business by the second +mate, our captain was set free to charm the very souls of the juveniles +by wandering for miles along the coral strand inventing, narrating, +exaggerating to his heart's content. Pausing now and then to ask +questions irrelevant to the story in hand, like a wily actor, for the +purpose of intensifying the desire for more, he would mount a block of +coral, and thence, sometimes as from a throne, or platform, or pulpit, +impress some profound piece of wisdom, or some thrilling point, or some +exceedingly obvious moral on his followers open-mouthed and open-eyed. + +These were by no means idlers, steeped in the too common business of +having nothing to do. No, they had regularly sought and obtained a +holiday from work or school; for all the activities of social and +civilised life were going on full swing--fuller, indeed, than the +average swing--in that remote, scarcely known, and beautiful little gem +of the Indian Ocean. + +Meanwhile Nigel and Kathy, with sketch-books under their arms, went down +to where the clear waters of the lagoon rippled on the white sand, and, +launching a cockleshell of a boat, rowed out toward the islets. + +"Now, Kathy, you must let me pull," said Nigel, pushing out the sculls, +"for although the captain tells me you are very good at rowing, it would +never do for a man, you know, to sit lazily down and let himself be +rowed by a girl." + +"Very well," said Kathy, with a quiet and most contented smile, for she +had not yet reached the self-conscious age--at least, as ages go in the +Cocos-Keeling Islands! Besides, Kathy was gifted with that charming +disposition which never _objects_ to anything--anything, of course, that +does not involve principle! + +But it was soon found that, as the cockleshell had no rudder, and the +intricacies they had to wind among were numerous, frequent directions +and corrections were called for from the girl. + +"D' you know," said Nigel at last, "as I don't know where you want me +to go to, it may be as well, after all, that you should row!" + +"Very well," said Kathy, with another of her innocent smiles. "I thinked +it will be better so at first." + +Nigel could not help laughing at the way she said this as he handed her +the sculls. + +She soon proved herself to be a splendid boatwoman, and although her +delicate and shapely arms were as mere pipe-stems to the great brawny +limbs of her companion, yet she had a deft, mysterious way of handling +the sculls that sent the cockleshell faster over the lagoon than before. + +"Now, we go ashore here," said Kathy, turning the boat,--with a prompt +back-water of the left scull, and a vigorous pull of the right +one,--into a little cove just big enough to hold it. + +The keel went with such a plump on the sand, that Nigel, who sat on a +forward thwart with his back landward, reversed the natural order of +things by putting his back on the bottom of the boat and his heels in +the air. + +To this day it is an unsettled question whether this was done on purpose +by Kathy. Certain it is that _she_ did not tumble, but burst into a +hearty fit of laughter, while her large lustrous eyes half shut +themselves up and twinkled. + +"Why, you don't even apologise, you dreadful creature!" exclaimed +Nigel, joining in the laugh, as he picked himself up. + +"Why should I 'pologise?" asked the girl, in the somewhat broken English +acquired from her adopted family. "Why you not look out?" + +"Right, Kathy, right; I'll keep a sharp lookout next time. Meanwhile I +will return good for evil by offering my hand to help you a--hallo!" + +While he spoke the girl had sprung past him like a grasshopper, and +alighted on the sand like a butterfly. + +A few minutes later and this little jesting fit had vanished, and they +were both engaged with pencil and book, eagerly--for both were +enthusiastic--sketching one of the most enchanting scenes that can well +be imagined. We will not attempt the impossible. Description could not +convey it. We can only refer the reader's imagination to the one old, +hackneyed but expressive, word--fairyland! + +One peculiarly interesting point in the scene was, that on the opposite +side of the lagoon the captain could be seen holding forth to his +juvenile audience. + +[Illustration: ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS.--PAGE 36.] + +When a pretty long time had elapsed in absolute silence, each sketcher +being totally oblivious of the other, Nigel looked up with a long sigh, +and said:-- + +"Well, you _have_ chosen a most exquisite scene for me. The more I +work at it, the more I find to admire. May I look now at what you have +done?" + +"Oh yes, but I have done not much. I am slow," said the girl, as Nigel +rose and looked over her shoulder. + +"Why!--what--how beautiful!--but--but--what do you mean?" exclaimed the +youth. + +"I don't understand you," said the girl, looking up in surprise. + +"Why, Kathy, I had supposed you were drawing that magnificent landscape +all this time, and--and you've only been drawing a group of shells. +Splendidly done, I admit, but why----" + +He stopped at that moment, for her eyes suddenly filled with tears. + +"Forgive me, dear child," said Nigel, hurriedly; "I did not intend to +hurt your feelings. I was only surprised at your preference." + +"You have not hurt me," returned Kathy in a low voice, as she resumed +her work, "but what you say calls back to me--my father was very fond of +shells." + +She stopped, and Nigel, blaming himself for having inadvertently touched +some tender chord, hastened, somewhat clumsily, to change the subject. + +"You draw landscape also, I doubt not?" + +"Oh yes--plenty. If you come home to me to-night, I will show you some." + +"I shall be only too happy," returned the youth, sitting down again to +his sketch, "and perhaps I may be able to give you a hint or +two--especially in reference to perspective--for I've had regular +training, you know, Kathy, and I dare say you have not had that here." + +"Not what you will think much, perhaps, yet I have study a little in +school, and _very_ much from Nature." + +"Well, you have been under the best of masters," returned Nigel, "if you +have studied much from Nature. And who has been your other teacher?" + +"A brother of Mr. Ross. I think he must understand very much. He was an +engineer, and has explained to me the rules of perspective, and many +other things which were at first very hard to understand. But I do see +them now." + +"Perhaps then, Kathleen," said Nigel, in that drawling, absent tone in +which artists are apt to indulge when busy at work--"perhaps you may be +already too far advanced to require instruction from me." + +"Perhaps--but I think no, for you seems to understand a great deal. But +why you call me Kathleen just now?" + +"Because I suppose that is your real name--Kathy being the short for it. +Is it not so?" + +"Well, p'raps it is. I have hear mother Holbein say so once. I like +Kathleen best." + +"Then, may I call you Kathleen?" + +"If you like." + +At this point both artists had become so engrossed in their occupation +that they ceased to converse, and for a considerable time profound +silence reigned--at least on their part, though not as regarded others, +for every now and then the faint sound of laughter came floating over +the tranquil lagoon from that part of the coral strand where Captain Roy +was still tickling the fancies and expanding the imaginations and +harrowing or soothing the feelings of the Cocos-Keeling juveniles. + +Inferior animal life was also in ceaseless activity around the +sketchers, filling the air with those indescribably quiet noises which +are so suggestive of that general happiness which was originally in +terrestial paradise and is ultimately to be the lot of redeemed +creation. + +Snipe and curlews were wading with jaunty step and absorbed inquiring +gaze in the shallow pools. Hermit crabs of several species and sizes +were scuttling about searching for convenient shells in which to deposit +their naturally homeless and tender tails. Overhead there was a sort of +sea-rookery, the trees being tenanted by numerous gannets, frigate +birds, and terns--the first gazing with a stupid yet angry air; the +last--one beautiful little snow-white species in particular--hovering +only a few feet above the sketchers' heads, while their large black eyes +scanned the drawings with the owlish look of wisdom peculiar to +connoisseurs. Noddies also were there, and, on the ground, lizards and +spiders and innumerable ants engaged in all the varied activities +connected with their several domestic arrangements. + +Altogether it was a scene of bright peaceful felicity, which seemed to +permeate Nigel's frame right inward to the spinal marrow, and would have +kept him entranced there at his work for several hours longer if the +cravings of a healthy appetite had not warned him to desist. + +"Now, Kathleen," he said, rising and stretching himself as one is apt to +do after sitting long in a constrained position, "it seems to me about +time to--by the way, we've forgotten to bring something to eat!" + +His expression as he said this made his companion look up and laugh. + +"Plenty cocoa-nuts," she said, pointing with her pencil to the +overarching trees. + +"True, but I doubt my ability to climb these long straight stems; +besides, I have got only a small clasp-knife, which would be but a poor +weapon with which to attack the thick outer husk of the nuts." + +"But I have got a few without the husks in the boat," said the girl, +rising and running to the place where the cockleshell had been left. + +She returned immediately with several nuts divested of their thick outer +covering, and in the condition with which we are familiar in England. +Some of them were already broken, so that they had nothing to do but sit +down to lunch. + +"Here is one," said Kathy, handing a nut to Nigel, "that has got no meat +yet in it--only milk. Bore a hole in it and drink, but see you bore in +the right hole." + +"The right hole?" echoed the youth, "are some of them wrong ones?" + +"Oh yes, only one of the three will do. One of our crawbs knows that and +has claws that can bore through the husk and shell. We calls him +cocoa-nut crawb." + +"Indeed! That is strange; I never heard before of a crab that fed on +cocoa-nuts." + +"This one do. He is very big, and also climbs trees. It goes about most +at night. Perhaps you see one before you go away." + +The crab to which Kathy referred is indeed a somewhat eccentric +crustacean, besides being unusually large. It makes deep tunnels in the +ground larger than rabbit burrows, which it lines with cocoa-nut fibre. +One of its claws is developed into an organ of extraordinary power with +which it can break a cocoa-nut shell, and even, it is said, a man's +limb! It never takes all the husk off a cocoa-nut--that would be an +unnecessary trouble, but only enough off the end where the three eyelets +are, to enable it to get at the inside. Having pierced the proper eye +with one of its legs it rotates the nut round it until the hole is large +enough to admit the point of its great claw, with which it continues the +work. This remarkable creature also climbs the palm-trees, but not to +gather nuts; that is certain, for its habits have been closely watched +and it has been ascertained that it feeds only on fallen nuts. Possibly +it climbs for exercise, or to obtain a more extended view of its +charming habitat, or simply "for fun." Why not? + +All this and a great deal more was told to Nigel by Kathleen, who was a +bit of a naturalist in her tendencies--as they sat there under the +graceful fronds of the palm-trees admiring the exquisite view, eating +and drinking cocoa-nuts. + +"I suppose you have plenty of other kinds of food besides this?" said +Nigel. + +"Oh yes, plenty. Most of the fish in our lagoon be good for eating, and +so also the crawbs, and we have turtle too." + +"Indeed! How _do_ you catch the turtle? Another nut, please.--Thank +you." + +"The way we gets turtle is by the men diving for them and catching them +in the water. We has pigs too--plenty, and the wild birds are some very +nice."[1] + +When the artists had finished they proceeded to the shore, and to their +surprise and amusement found the cockleshell in possession of a +piratical urchin of about four years of age in a charmingly light state +of clothing. He was well known to Kathleen, and it turned out that, +having seen the cockle start at too great a distance to be hailed, and +having set his heart on joining in the excursion, he had watched their +movements, observed their landing on the islet--which was not far from +the main circlet of land--and, running round till he came opposite to +it, swam off and got into the boat. Being somewhat tired he had lain +down to rest and fallen sound asleep. + +On the way home this urchin's sole delight was to lean over the bow and +watch the fish and coral groves over which they skimmed. In this he was +imitated by Nigel who, ungallantly permitting his companion to row, also +leaned over the side and gazed down into the clear crystal depths with +unwearying delight. + +For the wonderful colours displayed in those depths must be seen to be +believed. Not only is the eye pleased with the ever-varying formations +of the coral bowers, but almost dazzled with the glittering fish--blue, +emerald, green, scarlet, orange, banded, spotted, and striped--that dart +hither and thither among the rich-toned sea-weed and the variegated +anemones which spread their tentacles upwards as if inviting the gazer +to come down! Among these, crabs could be seen crawling with undecided +motion, as if unable to make up their minds, while in out of the way +crevices clams of a gigantic size were gaping in deadly quietude ready +to close with a snap on any unfortunate creature that should give them +the slightest touch. + +Nigel was sharply awakened from his dream by a sudden splash. Looking up +he observed that the small boy was gone. With a bound he stood erect, +one foot on the gunwale and hands clasped ready to dive, when a glance +revealed the fact that Kathy was smiling broadly! + +"Don't jump!" she said. "He is only after a fish." + +Even while she spoke Nigel saw the brown little fellow shooting about +like a galvanised tadpole, with a small harpoon in his hand! + +Next moment he appeared on the surface shouting and spluttering, with a +splendid fish on the end of his harpoon! Both were hauled into the +boat, and very soon after they drew near to land. + +In the shallow water Nigel observed some remarkable creatures which +resembled hedgehogs, having jaws armed with formidable teeth to enable +them to feed, Kathy said, on coral insects. File-fishes also drew his +attention particularly. These were magnificently striped and coloured, +and apparently very fearless. + +"What convenient tails they have to lay hold of," remarked our hero, as +they slowly glided past one; "I believe I could catch it with my hand!" + +Stooping swiftly as he spoke, he dipped his arm into the water, and +actually did grasp the fish by its tail, but dropped it again +instantly--to the shrieking delight of the urchin and Kathy,--for the +tail was armed with a series of sharp spines which ran into his hand +like lancets. + +This was an appropriate conclusion to a day that would have been +otherwise too enjoyable. Poor Nigel's felicity was further diluted when +he met his father. + +"We'll have to sleep a-board to-night," said the captain, "for there's a +fair breeze outside which seems likely to hold, and the mast has been +temporarily rigged up, so we'll have to up anchor, and away by break of +day to-morrow." + +Nigel's heart sank. + +"To-morrow! father?" + +"Ay, to-morrow. Business first, pleasure afterwards." + +"Well, I suppose you are right, but it seems almost a shame to leave +such a heaven upon earth as this in such a hurry. Besides, is it not +unkind to such hospitable people to bolt off after you've got all that +you want out of them?" + +"Can't help that, lad-- + + "Dooty first, an' fun to follow, + That's what beats creation hollow." + +"Come father, don't say that you quote _that_ from mother!" + +"No more I do, my boy. It's my own--homemade. I put it together last +night when I couldn't sleep for your snorin'." + +"Don't tell fibs, father. You know I never snore. But--really--are we to +start at daylight?" + +"We are, if the wind holds. But you may stay as late as you choose on +shore to-night." + +Nigel availed himself of the opportunity to see as much of the place and +people as was possible in the limited time. Next morning the good though +damaged brig was running in the direction of Sunda Straits before a +stiff and steady breeze. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: We recommend those who desire more curious information on +the fauna and flora of the Keeling Islands to apply to Henry O. Forbes' +most interesting book, _A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern +Archipelago_.--(Sampson Low.)] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HIS SON, WHO SURPRISES A NEGRO, AND +SUDDENLY FORMS AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE. + + +Arrived in Batavia--the low-lying seaport and capital of the Dutch +island of Java--Captain Roy had his brig examined, and found that the +damage she had sustained was so serious that several months would +probably elapse before she would be again ready for sea. + +"Now, Nigel, my lad," said the old gentleman, on the morning after the +examination had been made, "come down below with me; I want to have a +confabulation with 'ee." + +"Why, father," said the youth, when seated at the small cabin table +opposite his rugged parent, "you seem to be in an unusually solemn frame +of mind this morning. Has anything happened?" + +"Nothin', boy--nothin'. Leastwise nothin' in particular. You know all +about the brig, an' what a deal o' repair she's got to undergo?" + +"Of course I do. You know I was present when you talked the matter over +with that fellow--what's-'is-name--that gave you his report." + +"Just so. Well now, Nigel, you don't suppose, do you, that I'm goin' to +keep you here for some months knockin' about with nothin' to do--eatin' +your grub in idleness?" + +"Certainly not," said the youth, regarding the stern countenance of his +parent with an amused look. "I have no intention of acting such an +ignoble part, and I'm surprised at you askin' the question, for you know +I am not lazy--at least not more so than average active men--and there +must be plenty of work for me to do in looking after the cargo, +superintending repairs, taking care of the ship and men. I wonder at +you, father. You must either have had a shock of dotage, or fallen into +a poetical vein. What is a first mate fit for if--" + +"Nigel," said Captain Roy, interrupting, "I'm the owner an' commander of +the _Sunshine_, besides bein' the paternal parent of an impertinent son, +and I claim to have the right to do as I please--therefore, hold your +tongue and listen to me." + +"All right, father," replied the young man, with a benignant grin; +"proceed, but don't be hard upon me; spare my feelings." + +"Well now, this is how the land lies," said the old seaman, resting his +elbows on the table and clasping his hands before him. "As Mr. Moor and +I, with the stooard and men, are quite sufficient to manage the affairs +o' the brig, and as we shall certainly be here for a considerable time +to come, I've made up my mind to give you a holiday. You're young, you +see, an' foolish, and your mind needs improvin'. In short, you want a +good deal o' the poetry knocked out o' you, for it's not like your +mother's poetry by any means, so you needn't flatter yourself--not built +on the same lines by a long way. Well--where was I?" + +"Only got the length of the holiday yet, father." + +"Only, indeed. You ungrateful dog! It's a considerable length to get, +that, isn't it? Well, I also intend to give you some money, to enable +you to move about in this curious archipelago--not much, but enough to +keep you from starvation if used with economy, so I recommend you to go +into the town, make general inquiries about everything and everywhere, +an' settle in your mind what you'll do, for I give you a rovin' +commission an' don't want to be bothered with you for some time to +come." + +"Are you in earnest, father?" asked Nigel, who had become more +interested while the captain unfolded his plan. + +"Never more in earnest in my life--except, p'raps, when I inquired over +twenty years ago whether you was a boy or a gurl." + +"Well, now, that _is_ good of you, father. Of course I need not say +that I am charmed at the prospect you open up to me. And--and when may I +start?" + +"At once. Up anchor and away to-night if you choose." + +"But--where?" + +"Anywhere--everywhere, Java, Sumatra, Borneo--all Malaysia before you +where to choose. Now be off, and think over it, for I've got too much to +do to waste time on you at present," said the captain, rising, "and, +stay--Nigel." + +"Well?" said the youth, looking back as he was about to leave the cabin. + +"Whatever you do, don't grow poetical about it. You know it is said +somewhere, that mischief is found for idle hands to do." + +"All right, father. I'll keep clear of poetry--leave all that sort o' +nonsense to _you_. I'll-- + + "I'll flee Temptation's siren voice, + Throw poesy to the crows, + And let my soul's ethereal fire + Gush out in sober prose." + +It need scarcely be said that our hero was not slow to take advantage of +the opportunity thus thrown in his way. He went off immediately through +the town, armed with the introduction of his father's well-known name, +and made inquiries of all sorts of people as to the nature, the +conditions, the facilities, and the prospects of travel in the Malay +Archipelago. In this quest he found himself sorely perplexed for the +very good reason that "all sorts" of people, having all sorts of ideas +and tastes, gave amazingly conflicting accounts of the region and its +attractions. + +Wearied at last with his researches, he sauntered towards afternoon in +the direction of the port, and began in a listless sort of way to watch +the movements of a man who was busily engaged with a boat, as if he were +making preparations to put to sea. + +Now, whatever philosophers may say to the contrary, we hold strongly to +the opinion that likings and dislikings among men and women and children +are the result of some profound occult cause which has nothing whatever +to do with experience. No doubt experience may afterwards come in to +modify or intensify the feelings, but it is not the originating cause. +If you say it is, how are we to account for love at first sight? Beauty +has nothing necessarily to do with it, for men fall in love at first +sight with what the world calls plain women--happily! Character is not +the cause, for love assails the human breast, ofttimes, before the loved +object has uttered a word, or perpetrated a smile, or even fulminated a +glance to indicate character. So, in like manner, affection may arise +between man and man. + +It was so on this occasion with Nigel Roy. As he stood abstractedly +gazing at the boatman he fell in love with him--at least he took a +powerful fancy to him, and this was all the more surprising that the man +was a negro,--a woolly-headed, flat-nosed, thick-lipped nigger! + +We would not for a moment have it supposed that it is unnatural to love +such a man. Quite the reverse. But when such a man is a perfect +stranger, has never uttered a word in one's presence, or vouchsafed so +much as a glance, and is gravely, stolidly engaged in the unsavoury work +of greasing some of the tackling of a boat, it does seem unaccountable +that he should be unwittingly capable of stirring up in another man's +bosom feelings of ardent goodwill, to put it mildly. + +After watching him for some time, Nigel under an almost involuntary +impulse shouted "Hullo!" + +"Hullo!" replied the negro, looking up with a somewhat stern frown and a +pout of his thick lips, as much as to say--"Who are _you_?" + +Nigel smiled, and made that suggestive motion with his forefinger which +signifies "Come here." + +The frown fled and the pout became a smile as the negro approached, +wiping his hands on a piece of cotton-waste. + +"What you want wi' _me_, sar?" he asked. + +"Well, upon my word," said Nigel, somewhat perplexed, "I can't very +well say. I suppose something must have been in my mind, but--anyhow, I +felt a desire to have a talk with you; that is, if you can spare the +time." + +The first part of this reply induced a slight recurrence of the frown +and pout, but at its conclusion the black brow cleared and the mouth +expanded to such a gum-and-teeth-exposing extent that Nigel fairly burst +into a laugh. + +"You's bery good, sar," said the man, "an' I's hab much pleasure to make +your acquaintance.--Der an't no grease on 'em now." + +The last remark had reference to the enormous black paw which he held +out. + +Nigel at once grasped it and shook it heartily. + +"I's bery fond ob a talk, sar," continued the negro, "so as you wants +one, heabe ahead." + +Thus encouraged, our hero began by remarking that he seemed to be +preparing for a trip. + +"Dat's zackly what I's a-doin', sar." + +"A long one?" + +"Well, dat depends on what you call short. Goin' to Sunda Straits, which +p'raps you know, sar, is nigh a hundred miles fro' here." + +"And what may you be going to do there?" asked Nigel. + +"Goin' home to Krakatoa." + +"Why, I thought that was an uninhabited island. I passed close to it on +my way here, and saw no sign of inhabitants." + +"Da's cause I was absint fro' home. An' massa he keeps indoors a good +deal." + +"And pray who is massa?" asked Nigel. + +"Sar," said the negro, drawing up his square sturdy frame with a look of +dignity; "fair-play is eberyt'ing wid me. You've ax me a heap o' +questions. Now's my--turn. Whar you comes fro'?" + +"From England," replied Nigel. + +"An' whar you go to?" + +"Well, you've posed me now, for I really don't know where I'm going to. +In fact that is the very thing I have been trying to find out all day, +so if you'll help me I'll be much obliged." + +Here Nigel explained his position and difficulties, and it was quite +obvious, judging from the glittering eyes and mobile mouth, that he +poured his tale into peculiarly sympathetic ears. When he had finished, +the negro stood for a considerable time gazing in meditative silence at +the sky. + +"Yes," he said at last, as if communing with himself, "I t'ink--I ain't +quite sure, but I t'ink--I may ventur'." + +"Whatever it is you are thinking about," remarked Nigel, "you may +venture to say anything you like to _me_." + +The negro, who, although comparatively short of stature, was herculean +in build, looked at the youth with an amused expression. + +"You're bery good, sar, but da's not what I's t'inkin' ob. I's t'inkin' +whedder I dar' ventur' to introdoce you to my massa. He's not fond o' +company, an' it might make 'im angry, but he came by a heaby loss lately +an' p'raps he may cond'send to receibe you. Anyhow you 'd be quite safe, +for he's sure to be civil to any friend ob mine." + +"Is he then so fierce?" asked Nigel, becoming interested as well as +amused. + +"Fierce! no, he's gentle as a lamb, but he's awrful when he's +roused--tigers, crokindiles, 'noceroses is nuffin' to him!" + +"Indeed! what's his name, and what does he do? How does he live?" + +The negro shook his head. "Da's more'n I dar tell till I ax his leave, +sar. I kin only say de peepil around calls 'im the hermit ob Rakata, +'cause he libs by his self (wid me, ob course, but _I_ counts for +nuffin), close under de ole volcano ob Krakatoa. Dey tink--some ob de +foolish peepil--dat he hab sold his-self to de dibil, but I knows +better. He's a good man, and you'd hab great fun if you stop wid him. +Now, what I's a-gwine to advise you is, come wid me an' see de hermit. +If he lets you stop, good. If not, I fetch you ober to de main +land--whar you please--an' you kin come back here or go whar you +choose. Its wort' your while to take your chance, anyhow." + +The negro said this with such an earnest look that Nigel made up his +mind on the spot to accept this curious invitation. + +"I'll go!" he exclaimed with sudden energy. "When do you start?" + +"To-morrer at daybreak, sar." + +"Well, I shall have to talk it over first with my father, but I'm sure +he won't object, so you may look out for me here at daybreak. Shall I +have to fetch any provisions with me for the voyage?" + +"No, nuffin'. Boat's crammed wi' grub. But you'd better bring a gun o' +some sort an' a 'volver, an' a big knife, an' a mortal big appetite, for +a man's no good widout dat." + +"I always carry that about with me," said the youth, "whatever else I +may leave behind; and I'll see to the other things.--By the way, what's +your name?" + +"Moses." + +"Is that all?" + +"Isn't dat enuff?" returned the negro with a look of dignity. + +"Quite; but I have the advantage of you there, Moses, for I have two +names--Nigel Roy." + +"Well, I don't see much use ob two, but which does you like to be +called by--Nadgel or Roy?" + +"Whichever you please, Moses; I'll answer to either. So now, good-bye +for the present, and look out for me to-morrow at daylight." + +"Good-bye, Massa Nadgel, till to-morrer." + +The negro waved his hand and, sauntering slowly back to his boat, +remarked in an undertone, "I lub dat young feller!" Saying which, he +resumed his greasing operations. + +Of course Captain Roy made no objection to his son's proposal, though he +freely gave his opinion that it was a wild-goose chase. + +"However, lad, please yourself and you'll please me," he added; "and +now, be particular to bear in mind that you've got to write to me every +time you get within hail of a post-office or a passing ship or steamer +that may chance to be comin' this way, and in each letter be sure to +tell me where you're goin' to next, so as I may send a letter there to +you in case I want you to return sudden or otherwise. We mustn't lose +touch, you see. You needn't write long screeds. I only want to know your +whereabouts from time to time. For the rest--you can spin it out in +yarns when you come back." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE HERMIT OF RAKATA INTRODUCED. + + +Nothing worthy of particular note occurred during the boat-voyage along +the northern shore of Java to Sunda Straits. A fair, steady breeze +wafted them westward, and, on the morning of the third day, they came in +sight of the comparatively small uninhabited island of Krakatoa. + +The boat in which they voyaged, although a little one, had a small +portion of the bow decked over, so that our hero and his sable friend +could find shelter from the night air when disposed to sleep and from +the fierce rays of the sun at noon. + +By the advice of his father, Nigel had changed his sailor costume for +the "shore-goin' toggery" in which he had landed on the Keeling Islands, +as being more suitable to his new character as a traveller, namely, a +white cloth cap with a peak in front and a curtain behind to protect his +neck, a light-grey tunic belted at the waist, and a pair of strong +canvas trousers. He had also purchased an old-fashioned +double-barrelled fowling-piece, muzzle-loading and with percussion +locks. + +"For you see, Nigel," the captain had said, "it's all very well to use +breech-loaders when you've got towns and railways and suchlike to supply +you wi' cartridges, but when you've got to cruise in out-o'-the-way +waters, there's nothin' like the old style. It's not difficult to carry +a few thousand percussion-caps an' a bullet-mould about wi' you wherever +you go. As to powder, why, you'll come across that 'most everywhere, an' +lead too; and, for the matter o' that, if your life depended on it you +could shove a handful of gravel or a pen-knife or tooth-pick into your +gun an' blaze away, but with a breech-loader, if you run out o' +cartridges, where are you?" + +So, as Nigel could not say where he was, the percussion-gun had been +purchased. + +The peak of Rakata--the highest in the island--a little over 2600 feet, +came in sight first; gradually the rest of the island rose out of the +horizon, and ere long the rich tropical verdure became distinguishable. + +Krakatoa--destined so soon to play a thrilling part in the world's +history; to change the aspect of the heavens everywhere; to attract the +wondering gaze of nearly all nations, and to devastate its immediate +neighbourhood--is of volcanic origin, and, at the time we write of +(1883) was beginning to awaken from a long, deep slumber of two hundred +years. Its last explosion occurred in the year 1680. Since that date it +had remained quiet. But now the tremendous subterranean forces which had +originally called it into being were beginning to reassert their +existence and their power. Vulcan was rousing himself again and +beginning once more to blow his bellows. So said some of the sailors who +were constantly going close past the island and through Sunda Straits, +which may be styled the narrows of the world's highway to the China +seas. + +Subterranean forces, however, are so constantly at work more or less +violently in those regions that people took little notice of these +indications in the comparatively small island of Krakatoa, which was +between five and six miles long by four broad. + +As we have said, it was uninhabited, and lying as it does between +Sumatra and Java, about sixteen miles from the former and over twenty +miles from the latter, it was occasionally visited by fishermen. The +hermit whom Nigel was about to visit might, in some sort, be counted an +inhabitant, for he had dwelt there many years, but he lived in a cave +which was difficult of access, and held communication with no one. How +he spent his time was a mystery, for although his negro servant went to +the neighbouring town of Anjer in Java for supplies, and sometimes to +Batavia, as we have seen, no piece of inanimate ebony from the forest +could have been less communicative than he. Indeed, our hero was the +first to unlock the door of his lips, with that key of mysterious +sympathy to which reference has already been made. Some of the bolder of +the young fishermen of the neighbouring coasts had several times made +futile efforts to find out where and how the hermit lived, but the few +who got a glimpse of him at a distance brought back such a report that a +kind of superstitious fear of him was generated which kept them at a +respectful distance. + +He was ten feet high, some romancers said, with shoulders four feet +broad, a chest like a sugar-hogshead, and a countenance resembling a +compound of orang-utan and tiger. + +Of course our hero knew nothing of these rumours, and as Moses declined +to give any information regarding his master beyond that already given, +he was left to the full play of his imagination. + +Moses was quite candid about it. He made no pretence to shroud things in +mystery. + +"You mus' know, Massa Nadgel," he said, as they slowly drew near to the +island, "I's 'fraid ob 'im dough I lub 'im." + +"But why do you love him, Moses?" + +"'Cause he sabe my life an' set me free." + +"Indeed? well, that is good reason. And why do you fear him?" + +"Da's what I don' know, massa," replied the negro with a puzzled look. + +"Is he harsh, then?" + +"No." + +"Passionate?" + +"No. Gentle as a lamb." + +"Strong?" + +"Yes--oh! mighty strong an' big." + +"Surely you're not afraid of his giving you a licking, Moses?" + +"Oh no," returned the negro, with a smile of expansive benignity; "I's +not 'fraid ob dat. I's bin a slabe once, got used to lickin's. Don't +care nuffin' at all for a lickin'!" + +"Then it must be that you're afraid of hurting his feelings, Moses, for +I know of no other kind of fear." + +"Pr'aps da's it!" said the negro with a bright look, "now I wouldn't +wonder if you's right, Massa Nadgel. It neber come into my head in dat +light before. I used to be t'ink, t'inkin' ob nights--when I's tired ob +countin' my fingers an' toes--But I couldn't make nuffin' ob it. _Now_ I +knows! It's 'fraid I am ob hurtin' his feelin's." + +In the excess of his satisfaction at the solution of this long-standing +puzzle, Moses threw back his head, shut his eyes, opened his enormous +mouth and chuckled. + +By the time he had reversed this process they were sufficiently near to +Krakatoa to distinguish all its features clearly, and the negro began to +point out to Nigel its various localities. There were three prominent +peaks on it, he said, named respectively, Perboewatan about 400 feet +high, at the northern end of the island; Danan, near the centre, 1500 +feet; and Rakata, at the southern end, over 2600 feet. It was high up on +the sides of the last cone that the residence of the hermit was +situated. + +"And you won't tell me your master's name?" said Nigel. + +Moses shook his woolly head. "No, sar, no. I's 'fraid ob him--he! he! +'fraid ob hurtin' his feelin's!" + +"Well, never mind; I'll find it out from himself soon. By the way, what +were you telling me about explosions yesterday when that little white +gull came to admire your pretty face, and took off our attention?" + +"Well, I dun know. Not got much to tell, only dar's bin rumblin' an' +grumblin's an' heavin's lately in de mountains as didn't use to be, an' +cracks like somet'in' bustin' down blow, an' massa he shook 'is head two +or free times an' look solemn. He don't often do dat--shook 'is head, I +mean--for he mostly always looks solemn." + +A few minutes later the boat, running through a narrow opening among +the rocks into a small circular harbour not more than fifty yards in +diameter, rested its keel gently on a little bed of pure yellow sand. +The shore there was so densely covered with bushes that the harbour +might easily have been passed without being observed. + +Jumping ashore, Moses made the painter fast to a tree. + +"What a quiet, cosy place!" said Nigel, as he sprang on the beach and +looked admiringly round. + +"Yes, an' not easy to find if you don't knows 'im. We will leabe de boat +here,--no danger ob bein' tooked away--an' den go up to de cave." + +"Is it far?" asked Nigel. + +"A good bit--near de top ob de mountain,"--answered the negro, who +looked at his companion somewhat uneasily. + +"Why, what's the matter, Moses?" + +"Nuffin'--oh! nuffin'--but--but when massa axes you who you is, an' what +you bin up to, an' whar your a-gwine to, an' what wages you want, jist +you answer 'im in a sorter permiscuous way, an' don't be too partikler." + +"Wages! man, what d' ye mean?" + +"Well, you'll 'scuse me, sar," returned the negro with an air of +profound humility, "but my massa lost a old sarvint--a nigger like +myself--only last munt', an' he wants to go on one ob his usual +expeditions jus' now, so he sends me to Batavia to git anoder man--'a +good one, you know,' says massa,--an' as you, sar, was good 'nuff to ax +me what you should do, an' you looked a pritty smart man, I----" + +"You scoundrel!" cried Nigel, interrupting him, "do you really mean to +tell me that you've brought me here as a hired servant?" + +"Well, not zackly," returned Moses, with solemn simplicity, "you needn't +ax no wages unless you like." + +"But what if I don't want to take service?" demanded our hero, with a +savage frown. + +"You kin go home agin," answered Moses, humbly. + +Nigel could contain himself no longer. As he observed the man's +deprecatory air, and thought of his own position, he burst into a fit of +hearty laughter, whereupon the negro recovered himself and smiled the +smile of the guiltless. + +"Come," said Nigel at last. "Lead on, you rascal! When I see your master +I shall know what to say." + +"All right, Massa Nadgel, but mind what you say, else I won't answer for +de consikences. Foller me an' look arter your feet, for de road is +roughish." + +The negro's last remark was unquestionably true, for the road--if a mere +footpath merits the name--was rugged in the extreme--here winding round +the base of steep cliffs, there traversing portions of luxuriant +forest, elsewhere skirting the margin of the sea. + +Moses walked at such a pace that Nigel, young and active though he was, +found it no easy matter to keep up with him. Pride, however, forbade him +to show the slightest sign of difficulty, and made him even converse now +and then in tones of simulated placidity. At last the path turned +abruptly towards the face of a precipice and seemed to terminate in a +small shallow cave. Any one following the path out of mere curiosity +would have naturally imagined that the cave was the termination of it; +and a very poor termination too, seeing that it was a rather +uninteresting cave, the whole of the interior of which could be seen at +a single glance from its mouth. + +But this cave served in reality as a blind. Climbing by one or two +projecting points, the negro, closely followed by Nigel, reached a +narrow ledge and walked along it a short distance. On coming to the end +of the ledge he jumped down into a mass of undergrowth, where the track +again became visible--winding among great masses of weatherworn lava. +Here the ascent became very steep, and Moses put on what sporting men +call a spurt, which took him far ahead of Nigel, despite the best +efforts of the latter to keep up. Still our hero scorned to run or call +out to his guide to wait, and thereby admit himself beaten. He pushed +steadily on, and managed to keep the active Moses in view. + +Presently the negro stepped upon a platform of rock high up on the +cliffs, where his form could be distinctly seen against the bright sky. +There Nigel observed that he was joined by a man whose tall commanding +figure seemed in such a position to be of gigantic proportions. + +The two stood engaged in earnest conversation while watching Nigel. The +latter immediately slackened his pace, in order at once to recover +breath and approach with a leisurely aspect. + +"The wild man of the island, I suppose," he thought as he drew near; but +on coming still nearer he saw that he must be mistaken, for the stranger +who advanced to meet him with gracious ease and self-possession was +obviously a gentleman, and dressed, not unlike himself, in a sort of +mixed travelling and shooting costume. + +"I must apologise, Mr. Roy, for the presumption of my man, in bringing +you here under something like false pretences," said the stranger, +holding out his hand, which Nigel shook heartily. "Moses, I find, has +failed to execute my commission, and has partially deceived you; but as +you are now here, the least I can do is to bid you welcome, and offer +you the hospitality of my roof." + +There was something so courteous and kindly in the tone and manner of +the stranger, and something so winning in his soft gentle tones, which +contrasted strangely with his grand towering figure and massive bearded +countenance, that Nigel felt drawn to him instantly. Indeed there was a +peculiar and mysterious something about him which quite fascinated our +hero as he looked up at him, for, bordering on six feet though Nigel +was, the stranger stood several inches above him. + +"You are very kind," said the visitor, "and I don't think that Moses can +fairly be charged with deceiving me, although he has been somewhat +unwise in his way of going about this business, for I had told him I +wanted to see something of these regions, and perhaps it may be to my +advantage to travel in your service--that is, if I can be of any use to +you; but the time at my disposal may be too limited." + +"How much time have you to spare?" asked the stranger. + +"Well, say perhaps three months." + +"That will do," returned his questioner, looking thoughtfully at the +ground. "We will talk of this hereafter." + +"But--excuse me," said Nigel, "your man spoke of you as a hermit--a sort +of--of--forgive me--a wild-man-of-the-island, if I may--" + +"No, I didn't, Massa Nadgel," said the negro, the edge of whose flat +contradiction was taken off by the extreme humility of his look. + +"Well," returned Nigel, with a laugh; "you at least gave me to +understand that other people said something of that sort." + +"Da's right, Massa Nadgel--kite right. You're k'rect _now_." + +"People have indeed got some strange ideas about me, I believe," +interposed the hermit, with a grave almost sad expression and tone. "But +come, let me introduce you to my hermitage and you shall judge for +yourself." + +So saying, this singular being turned and led the way further up the +rugged side of the peak of Rakata. + +After about five minutes' walk in silence, the trio reached a spot where +there was a clear view over the tree-tops, revealing the blue waters of +the strait, with the Java shores and mountains in the distance. + +Behind them there yawned, dark and mysterious, a mighty cavern, so black +and high that it might well suggest a portal leading to the regions +below, where Vulcan is supposed to stir those tremendous fires which +have moulded much of the configuration of the world, and which are ever +seething--an awful Inferno--under the thin crust of the globe on which +we stand. + +Curiously formed and large-leaved trees of the tropics, with their +pendent parasites, as well as rank grasses, sprouting from below and +hanging from above, partially concealed this cavern from Nigel when he +first turned towards it, but a few steps further on he could see it in +all its rugged grandeur. + +"My home," said the hermit, with a very slight smile and the air of a +prince, as he turned towards his visitor and waved his hand towards it. + +"A magnificent entrance at all events," said Nigel, returning the smile +with something of dubiety, for he was not quite sure that his host was +in earnest. + +"Follow me," said the hermit, leading the way down a narrow well-worn +path which seemed to lose itself in profound darkness. After being a few +minutes within the cavern, however, Nigel's eyes became accustomed to +the dim light, and he perceived that the roof rapidly lowered, while its +walls narrowed until they reached a spot which was not much wider than +an ordinary corridor. Here, however, it was so dark that it was barely +possible to see a small door in the right-hand wall before which they +halted. Lifting a latch the hermit threw the door wide open, and a glare +of dazzling light almost blinded the visitor. + +Passing through the entrance, Nigel followed his guide, and the negro +let the heavy door shut behind him with a clang that was depressingly +suggestive of a prison. + +"Again I bid you welcome to my home," said the hermit, turning round +and extending his hand, which Nigel mechanically took and pressed, but +without very well knowing what he did, for he was almost dumfounded by +what he saw, and for some minutes gazed in silence around him. + +And, truly, there was ground for surprise. The visitor found himself in +a small but immensely high and brilliantly lighted cavern or natural +chamber, the walls of which were adorned with drawings of scenery and +trees and specimens of plants, while on various shelves stood +innumerable stuffed birds, and shells, and other specimens of natural +history. + +A table and two chairs stood at one end of the cave, and, strangest of +all, a small but well-filled book-case ornamented the other end. + +"Arabian Nights!" thought Nigel. "I _must_ be dreaming." + +His wandering eyes travelled slowly round the cavern until they rested +at last on the door by which they had entered, beside which stood the +negro with a broad grin on his sable visage. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND. + + +The thing that perhaps surprised Nigel most in this strange cavern was +the blaze of light with which it was filled, for it came down direct +through a funnel-shaped hole in the high roof and bore a marvellous +resemblance to natural sunshine. He was well aware that unless the sun +were shining absolutely in the zenith, the laws of light forbade the +entrance of a _direct_ ray into such a place, yet there were the +positive rays, although the sun was not yet high in the heavens, +blinding him while he looked at them, and casting the shadows of himself +and his new friends on the floor. + +There was the faintest semblance of a smile on the hermit's face as he +quietly observed his visitor, and waited till he should recover +self-possession. As for Moses--words are wanting to describe the fields +of teeth and gum which he displayed, but no sound was suffered to escape +his magnificent lips, which closed like the slide of a dark lantern when +the temptation to give way to feeling became too strong. + +"My cave interests you," said the hermit at last. + +"It amazes me," returned our hero, recovering himself and looking +earnestly at his host, "for you seem not only to have all the +necessaries of life around you in your strange abode, but many of the +luxuries; among them the cheering presence of sunshine--though how you +manage to get it is beyond my powers of conception." + +"It is simple enough, as you shall see," returned the hermit. "You have +heard of the saying, no doubt, that 'all things are possible to +well-directed labour'?" + +"Yes, and that 'nothing can be achieved without it.'" + +"Well, I have proved that to some extent," continued the hermit. "You +see, by the various and miscellaneous implements on my shelves, that I +am given to dabbling a little in science, and thus have made my lonely +home as pleasant as such a home can be--but let us not talk of these +matters just now. You must be hungry. Have you had breakfast?" + +"No, we have not--unless, at least, you count a sea biscuit dipped in +salt water a breakfast. After all, that may well be the case, for +hermits are noted for the frugality of their fare." + +"I am not a genuine hermit," remarked his host gravely. "Men do indeed +call me the Hermit of Rakata, because I dwell alone here under the +shadow of this particular cone of Krakatoa, but I do not ape the austere +life of the conventional hermit, as you see, either in my domestic +arrangements or food. Come, your breakfast is ready. From my outlook I +saw your boat approaching some hours ago, and knew that it was mine, so +I made ready for your arrival, though I did not guess that Moses was +bringing me a guest instead of a servant!" + +So saying, he led the way through a short natural passage to an inner +cave, the entrance to which, like the outer one, was boarded. On opening +a small door, Nigel was again greeted as before with brilliant rays of +sunshine, and, in addition, with a gush of odours that were exceedingly +grateful to a hungry man. A low "Ho! ho!" behind him told that his black +companion was equally gratified. + +The inner cave or mess-room, as the host styled it, combined dining-room +and kitchen, for while in one corner stood a deal table with plates, +cups, etc., but no tablecloth, in another stood a small stove, heated by +an oil lamp, from which issued puffing and sputtering sounds, and the +savoury odours above referred to. + +Nigel now perceived that although his strange host necessarily spoke a +good deal while welcoming him and offering him the hospitalities of his +abode, he was by no means communicative. On the contrary, it was evident +that he was naturally reserved and reticent, and that although polite +and gentle in the extreme, there was a quiet grave dignity about him +which discouraged familiarity. It must not be supposed, however, that he +was in any degree morosely silent. He was simply quiet and +undemonstrative, said little except when asked questions, and spoke, +alike to Nigel and Moses, in the soft, low, kindly tones with which one +might address very young people. + +Going to the stove he took a coffee-pot therefrom and set it on the +table. At the same time, Moses, without requiring to be told, opened the +oven and brought forth fried fish, meat of some kind, and cakes of he +knew not what, but cared little, for their excellence was +unquestionable. + +During the meal that followed, Nigel ventured as far as politeness +permitted--indeed a little further, if truth must be told--to inquire +into the circumstances and motives of his entertainer in taking up his +abode in such a strange place, but he soon found that his eccentric +friend was not one who could be "pumped." Without a touch of rudeness, +and in the sweetest of voices, he simply assumed an absent manner and +changed the subject of discourse, when he did not choose to reply, by +drawing attention to some irrelevant matter, or by putting a counter +question which led away from the subject. Nigel also found that his host +never laughed and rarely smiled, though, when he did so the smile was so +slight as merely to indicate a general feeling of urbanity and goodwill, +and it was followed instantly by a look of gravity, if not sadness. +Altogether the guest was much perplexed about the host at first, and +somewhat constrained in consequence, but gradually he began to feel at +ease. Another discovery that he soon made was, that the hermit treated +Moses not as a servant, but as if he were in all respects an equal and a +comrade. + +After eating for some time in silence, and having tried to draw out his +host without success, Nigel changed his tactics and said-- + +"You were so kind as to speak of me as your guest, Mr.---- Mr.---- I beg +pardon, may I--" + +"My name is Van der Kemp," said the hermit quietly. + +"Well, Mr. Van der Kemp, I must tell you that I am quite willing to +accept the position for which Moses hired me--" + +"No, I didn't," contradicted the negro, flatly yet very gently, both in +tone and manner, for long residence with the hermit had apparently +imbued him with something of his spirit. + +"Well, then," said Nigel, "the position for which Moses _should have_ +hired some one else. ('K'rect _now_' whispered Moses.) Of course I do +not intend to ask for or accept wages, and also, of course, I accept the +position on the understanding that you think me fit for the service. May +I ask what that service is to be, and where you think of going to?" + +"The service," returned the hermit slowly and with his eyes fixed on the +floor as if pondering his reply, "is to accompany me as my attendant and +companion, to take notes as occasion may serve, and to paddle a canoe." + +At this reply our hero almost laughed, but was prevented from doing so +by his host asking abruptly if he understood canoeing. + +"Well, yes. At least I can manage what in England is known as the Rob +Roy canoe, having possessed one in my boyhood." + +"That will do," returned the hermit gravely. "Can you write shorthand?" + +"I can. A friend of mine, a reporter on one of the London dailies, once +gave me a few lessons, and, becoming fond of the subject, I followed it +up." + +"That is well; you did well. It is of immense advantage to a man, +whatever his position in life, that he should be able to write shorthand +with facility. Especially useful is it in commerce. I know that, having +had some experience of commercial life." + +At this point in the conversation Nigel was startled by what was to him +an absolutely new sensation, namely a shaking or trembling of the whole +cavern, accompanied by faint rumbling sounds as if in deeper caverns +below him. + +He glanced quickly at his host and at the negro, but to his surprise +these remarkable men seemed not to be aware of the shaking, although it +was severe enough to cause some of the furniture to rattle. Observing +his look of surprise, Moses remarked, with a benignant though capacious +smile, "Mountain's got de mulligrumps pritty bad jist now." + +"We are pretty well accustomed to that," said the host, observing that +Nigel turned to him for an explanation. "No doubt you are aware that +this region is celebrated for earthquakes and volcanoes, so much so that +the inhabitants pay little attention to them unless they become +unusually violent. This island of Krakatoa is itself the fragment of an +extinct volcano; but the term 'extinct' is scarcely applicable to +volcanoes, for it is well known that many which were for centuries +supposed to be extinct have awakened to sudden and violent +activity--'quiescent' might be a more appropriate term." + +"Yes," said Moses, ceasing to masticate for purposes of speech; "dem +'stinkt volcanoes hab got an okard habit ob unstinkin' dereselves +hereabouts when you don' 'spect it of 'em. Go on, massa. I ax yer +pard'n for 'truptin'." + +The hermit's peculiar good-natured little smile played for a moment on +his massive features, and then faded away as he continued-- + +"Perhaps you may have heard that this is the very heart of the district +that has long been recognised as the greatest focus of volcanic activity +on the globe?" + +"I have heard something of the sort," answered Nigel, "but I confess +that my knowledge is limited and my mind hazy on the subject." + +"I doubt it not," returned his friend, "for geographical and scientific +training in primary schools anywhere is not what it might be. The island +of Java, with an area about equal to that of England, contains no fewer +than forty-nine great volcanic mountains, some of which rise to 12,000 +feet above the sea-level. Many of these mountains are at the present +time active ('Yes, much _too_ active,' muttered the negro), and more +than half of them have been seen in eruption since Java was occupied by +Europeans. Hot springs, mud-volcanoes, and vapour-vents abound all over +the island, whilst earthquakes are by no means uncommon. There is a +distinct line in the chain of these mountains which seems to point to a +great fissure in the earth's crust, caused by the subterranean fires. +This tremendous crack or fissure crosses the Straits of Sunda, and in +consequence we find a number of these vents--as volcanic mountains may +be styled--in the Island of Sumatra, which you saw to the nor'ard as you +came along. But there is supposed to be another great crack in the +earth's crust--indicated by several volcanic mountains--which crosses +the other fissure almost at right angles, and at the exact point where +these two lines intersect _stands this island of Krakatoa_! + +"I emphasise the fact," continued the hermit after a pause, "first, +because, although this has been a quiescent volcano since the year 1680, +and people have come to regard it as extinct, there are indications now +which lead me to believe that its energy is reviving; and, second, +because this focus where fissures cross each other--this Krakatoa +Island--is in reality part of the crater of an older and much larger +volcanic mountain, which must have been literally blown away in +prehistoric times, and of which Krakatoa and the neighbouring islets of +Varlaten, Polish Hat, Lang Island, and the rest, are but the remnants of +the great crater ring. If these rumblings and minor earthquakes, which I +have noticed of late--and the latest of which you have just +experienced--are the precursors of another explosion, my home here may +be rendered untenable." + +"Hi!" exclaimed Moses, who had been listening with open mouth and eyes +to this discourse, which was obviously news to him, "I hope, massa, he +ain't a-gwine to 'splode to-day--anyhow, not till after breakfast!" + +"You must have studied the subject of volcanoes a good deal, I suppose, +from what you say," observed Nigel. + +"Naturally; living as I do almost on the top of one. My library, which I +will show you presently, contains many interesting works on the subject. +But come, if you have finished we will ascend the Peak of Rakata and I +will introduce you to my sunshine." + +He rose and led his guest back to the outer cavern, leaving Moses still +busy with knife and fork, apparently meditating on the pleasure of +breakfasting with the prospect of a possible and immediate explosion. + +In passing through the first chamber, Nigel observed, in a natural +recess, the library just referred to. He also noted that, besides +stuffed birds and other specimens and sea-shells, there were chisels, +saws, hammers, and other tools, besides something like a forge and +carpenter's bench in a side-chamber opening out of the large one, which +he had not at first seen--from all which he concluded that the hermit +was imbued with mechanical as well as scientific and literary tastes. + +At the further and darker end of the outer cave there was a staircase, +partly natural, and partly improved by art, which led upward into +profound darkness. + +"Let me take your hand here," said the hermit, looking down upon his +guest with his slight but winning smile; "it is a rough and dark +staircase. You will be apt to stumble." + +Nigel placed his hand in that of his host with perfect confidence, and +with a curious feeling--aroused, probably, by the action--of having +returned to the days of childhood. + +The stair was indeed rugged as well as winding, and so pitchy dark that +the youth could not have advanced at all without stumbling, unless his +host had held him all the way. At last a glimmer of light was seen in +the distance. It seemed to increase suddenly, and in a few moments the +two emerged from total darkness into dazzling sunshine. + +When Nigel looked round him he saw that they had gained a plateau, high +up on the very summit of the mountain, which appeared to be absolutely +inaccessible by any means save that by which they had reached it. + +"This is what I call my observatory," said the hermit, turning to his +guest. "We have passed right through the peak of Rakata, and reached its +northern side, which commands, as you see, a view of all the northern +part of the island. I come here often in the night to study the face of +the heavens, the moon, and stars, and meditate on their mysterious +Maker, whose ways are indeed wonderful and past finding out; but all +which must, in the nature of things, be _right_." + +As this was the first mention that the hermit had made of the Creator, +and the reference was one requiring more thought than Nigel had yet +bestowed on it, he made no rejoinder. + +"Have you studied astronomy, Mr. Roy?" + +"No--at least not more of it than was needful for navigation. But pray, +sir, do not call me Mr. Roy," said the youth, with a somewhat +embarrassed air. "If I am to be your assistant and familiar companion +for two or three months, I hope that you will agree to call me Nigel. +Your man has done so already without asking leave!" + +"I will, on one condition." + +"And that is--?" + +"That you also dispense with the 'Mr.' and 'sir,' and call me Van der +Kemp." + +"Agreed," said Nigel, "though it does not seem so appropriate in me as +in you, considering the difference of our years." + +"Look here," said the hermit, turning abruptly to a small wooden shed +which had hitherto escaped the youth's observation, so covered was it +with overhanging boughs and tropical creeping plants, "these are my +astronomical instruments." + +He pointed to a table in the hut on which stood several telescopes--and +microscopes as well--one of the former being a large instrument, +certainly not less than six feet long, with a diameter of apparently six +or eight inches. + +"Here, you see, I have the means of investigating the wonders of Nature +in her grandest as well as her minutest scales. And there," he added, +pointing to a couple of large reflecting mirrors in strong wooden +frames, erected on joints in such a way that they could be turned in any +direction,--"there you have the secret of my sunshine. One of these +mirrors catches the sunshine direct and reflects it on the other, which, +as you see, is so arranged that it transmits the rays down the natural +funnel or chimney into the cave. By means of chains connected with the +mechanism, and extending below, I can change the direction of the +mirrors as the sun changes its place in the sky, without requiring to +come up here." + +"Very ingenious!" said Nigel; "but how do you manage when the mountain +comes between you and the sun, as I see it cannot fail to do during some +part of the day?" + +"Simply enough," returned the hermit, pointing to a distant projecting +cliff or peak. "On yon summit I have fixed four mirrors similar to +these. When the sun can no longer be reflected from this pair, the first +of the distant mirrors takes it up and shoots a beam of light over here. +When the sun passes from that, the second mirror is arranged to catch +and transmit it, and so on to the fourth. After that I bid good-bye to +the sun, and light my lamp!" + +Nigel felt an almost irresistible tendency to smile at this, but the +grave simplicity of the man forbade such familiarity. + +"Look yonder," continued the hermit, sweeping one of his long arms +towards Sumatra, "in that direction runs the line of volcanic +disturbance--the fissure of which I have already spoken. Focus this +telescope to suit your sight. Now, do you see the little island away +there to the nor'-west?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, that is _Varlaten_. I mentioned it when at breakfast. Sweep your +glass round to the nor'ard, the little island there is _Polish Hat_, and +you see _Lang Island_ in the nor'-east. These, with Krakatoa, are merely +the higher parts still remaining above water of the ring or lip of the +ancient crater. This will give you some idea what an enormous mountain +the original of this old volcano must have been. This island-mountain is +estimated to have been twenty-five miles in circumference, and 10,000 to +12,000 feet high. It was blown into the air in 1680, and this island, +with the few islets I have pointed out, is all that remains of it! Now, +cast your eye down the centre of the island on which we stand; you see +several cones of various sizes. These are ancient vents, supposed to be +extinct--" + +"But one of them, the one furthest away," interrupted Nigel, steadying +his telescope on the branch of a tree, "seems to be anything but +extinct, for I see a thin column of white smoke or steam rising from +it." + +"That is just what I was going to point out. They call that Perboewatan. +It is the lowest peak on the island, about 400 feet high, and stands, I +should say, in the very centre of the ancient crater, where are the two +fissures I have mentioned. For two hundred years Perboewatan has not +smoked like that, and, slight though it is at present, I cannot help +thinking that it indicates an impending eruption, especially when I +consider that earthquakes have become more numerous of late years, and +there was one in 1880 which was so violent as to damage seriously the +lighthouse on Java's First Point." + +"Then you have resided here for some time?" said Nigel. + +"Yes, for many years," replied the hermit, in a low, sad tone. + +"But is it wise in you to stay if you think an explosion so likely? +Don't you needlessly run considerable risk?" + +"I do not fear to die." + +Nigel looked at his new friend in surprise, but there was not a shadow +of boastfulness or affectation either in his look or tone. + +"Besides," he continued, "the explosion may be but slight, and +Perboewatan is, as you see, about four miles off. People in the +neighbourhood of the straits and passing ships are so accustomed to +volcanic explosions on a more or less grand scale that they will never +notice this little cloud hanging over Krakatoa. Those who, like myself, +know the ancient history of the island, regard it in a more serious +light, but we may be wrong. Come, now, we will descend again and have a +ramble over part of the island. It will interest you. Not many men have +penetrated its luxuriant forests or know their secrets. I have wandered +through them in all directions, and can guide you. Indeed, Moses could +do that as well as I, for he has lived with me many years. Come." + +Returning to the cavern they found that the active negro had not only +finished his breakfast, but had washed the dishes and cleared up the +kitchen, so that he was quite ready to shoulder a wallet and a gun when +his master bade him prepare for a day in the forest. + +It is not, however, our intention to follow the trio thither. Matters +of greater interest, if not importance, claim our attention at present. +Let it suffice to say, therefore, that after a most delightful day, +spent in wandering amongst the luxuriant tropical vegetation with which +the island was densely covered, visiting one of the extinct craters, +bathing in one of the numerous hot springs, and collecting many objects +of interest to the hermit, in the shape of botanical and geological +specimens, they returned in the evening to their cavern-house not only +ready but eager for sustenance and repose. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PERBOEWATAN BECOMES MODERATELY VIOLENT. + + +The cave was enshrouded in almost total darkness when they entered it, +but this was quickly dispelled, to Nigel's no little surprise, by the +rays of a magnificent oil lamp, which Moses lighted and placed on the +table in the larger cave. A smaller one of the same kind already +illuminated the kitchen. + +Not much conversation was indulged in during the progress of the supper +that was soon spread upon the rude table. The three men, being +uncommonly hungry and powerfully robust, found in food a sufficient +occupation for their mouths for some time. + +After supper they became a little, but not much, more sociable, for, +although Nigel's active mind would gladly have found vent in +conversation, he experienced some difficulty in making headway against +the discouragement of Van der Kemp's very quiet disposition, and the +cavernous yawns with which Moses displayed at once his desire for +slumber and his magnificent dental arrangements. + +"We always retire early to rest after a day of this sort," said the +hermit at last, turning to his guest. "Do you feel disposed for bed?" + +"Indeed I do," said Nigel, with a half-suppressed yawn, that was +irresistibly dragged out of him by the sight of another earthquake on +the negro's face. + +"Come, then, I will show you your berth; we have no bedrooms here," said +the hermit, with a sort of deprecatory smile, as he led the way to the +darker end of the cavern, where he pointed to a little recess in which +there was a pile of something that smelt fresh and looked like heather, +spread on which there was a single blanket. + +"Sailors are said to be indifferent to sheets. You won't miss them, I +daresay?" + +"Not in the least," returned Nigel, with a laugh. "Good-night," he +added, shaking hands with his host and suppressing another yawn, for +Moses' face, even in the extreme distance, was irresistibly infectious! + +Our hero was indifferent not only to sheets, but also, in certain +circumstances, to the usual habiliments of night. Indeed, while +travelling in out-of-the-way regions he held it to be a duty to undress +but partially before turning in, so that he might be ready for +emergencies. + +On lying down he found his mattress, whatever it was, to be a springy, +luxurious bed, and was about to resign himself to slumber when he +observed that, from the position in which he lay, he could see the +cavern in all its extent. Opening his half-closed eyes, therefore, he +watched the proceedings of his host, and in doing so, as well as in +speculating on his strange character and surroundings, he became +somewhat wakeful. + +He saw that Van der Kemp, returning to the other end of the cave, sat +down beside the lamp, the blaze of which fell full on his fine calm +countenance. A motion of his head brought Moses to him, who sat down +beside him and entered into earnest conversation, to judge from his +gestures, for nothing could be heard where Nigel lay save the monotonous +murmur of their voices. The hermit did not move. Except for an +occasional inclination of the head he appeared to be a grand classic +statue, but it was otherwise with the negro. His position in front of +the lamp caused him to look if possible even blacker than ever, and the +blackness was so uniform that his entire profile became strongly +pronounced, thus rendering every motion distinct, and the varied pouting +of his huge lips remarkably obvious. The extended left hand, too, with +the frequent thrusting of the index finger of the other into the palm, +was suggestive of argument, and of much reasoning effort--if not power. + +After about half-an-hour of conversation, Moses arose, shook his master +by the hand, appeared to say "Good-night" very obviously, yawned, and +retired to the kitchen, whence, in five minutes or so, there issued +sounds which betokened felicitous repose. + +Meanwhile his master sat motionless for some time, gazing at the floor +as if in meditation. Then he rose, went to his book-case and took down a +large thick volume, which he proceeded to read. + +Nigel had by that time dropped into a drowsy condition, yet his interest +in the doings of his strange entertainer was so great that he struggled +hard to keep awake, and partially succeeded. + +"I wonder," he muttered, in sleepy tones, "if that's a f--fam--'ly Bible +he's reading--or--or--a vol'm o' the En--Encyclopida Brit--" + +He dropped off at this point, but, feeling that he had given way to some +sort of weakness, he struggled back again into wakefulness, and saw that +the hermit was bending over the large book with his massive brow resting +on the palms of both hands, and his fingers thrust into his iron-grey +hair. It was evident, however, that he was not reading the book at that +moment, for on its pages was lying what seemed to be a miniature or +photograph case, at which he gazed intently. Nigel roused himself to +consider this, and in doing so again dropped off--not yet soundly, +however, for curiosity induced one more violent struggle, and he became +aware of the fact that the hermit was on his knees with his face buried +in his hands. + +The youth's thoughts must have become inextricably confused at this +point, yet their general drift was indicated by the muttered words: +"I--I'm glad o' that--a good sign--an'--an' it's _not_ th' +Encyclop----." Here Morpheus finally conquered, and he sank into +dreamless repose. + +How long this condition lasted he could not tell, but he was awakened +violently by sensations and feelings of dread, which were entirely new +to him. The bed on which he rested seemed to heave under him, and his +ears were filled by sharp rattling sounds, something like--yet very +different from--the continuous roll of musketry. + +Starting up, he sprang into the large cavern where he found Van der Kemp +quietly tightening his belt and Moses hastily pulling on his boots. + +"Sometin's bu'sted an' no mistake!" exclaimed the latter. + +"An eruption from one of the cones," said the hermit. "I have been for a +long time expecting it. Come with us." + +He went swiftly up the staircase and passages which led to the +observatory as he spoke. + +The scene that met their eyes on reaching the ledge or plateau was +sublime in the extreme, as well as terrific. + +"As I thought," said Van der Kemp, in a low tone. "It is Perboewatan +that has broken out." + +"The cone from which I observed smoke rising?" asked Nigel. + +"The same. The one over the very centre of the old crater, showing that +we were wrong in supposing it to be extinct: it was only slumbering. It +is in what vulcanologists term moderate eruption now, and, perhaps, may +prove a safety-valve which will prevent a more violent explosion." + +That the cone of Perboewatan was indeed in a state of considerable +activity, worthy of a stronger term than "moderate," was very obvious. +Although at a distance, as we have said, of four miles, the glare of its +fires on the three figures perched near the top of Rakata was very +intense, while explosion after explosion sent molten lava and red-hot +rocks, pumice, and dust, high into the thickening air--clouds of smoke +and steam being vomited forth at the same time. The wind, of which there +was very little, blew it all away from the position occupied by the +three observers. + +"What if the wind were to change and blow it all this way?" asked Nigel, +with very pardonable feelings of discomfort. + +"We could return to the cavern," said the hermit. + +"But what if Rakata itself should become active?" + +It was evident from the very solemn expression on the negro's face that +he awaited the reply to Nigel's question with some anxiety. + +"Rakata," answered the hermit thoughtfully, "although the highest cone, +is the one most distant from the great centre of activity. It is +therefore not likely that the volcanic energy will seek a vent here +while there are other cones between us and Perboewatan. But we shall +soon see whether the one vent is likely to suffice. There is undoubtedly +no diminution in the explosions at present." + +There certainly was not, for the voice of the speaker was almost drowned +by the horrible din caused, apparently, by the hurtling of innumerable +fragments of rock and stones in the air, while a succession of fiery +flashes, each followed by a loud explosion, lit up the dome-shaped mass +of vapour that was mounting upwards and spreading over the sky. Vivid +flashes of lightning were also seen playing around the vapour-column. At +the same time, there began a fall of fine white dust, resembling snow, +which soon covered the foliage and the ground of all the lower part of +the island. The sea around was also ere long covered with masses of +pumice, which, being very light, floated away into the Indian ocean, and +these were afterwards encountered in large quantities by various vessels +passing through Sunda Straits. + +The Scientific Committee, which ultimately wrote on the details of this +eruption in Krakatoa, mention this first outburst as being a phase of +moderate activity, similar to that which is said to have been exhibited +for some months during the years 1680 and 1681, and they added that "the +outburst was one of considerable violence, especially at its +commencement," that falls of dust were noticed at the distance of three +hundred miles, and that "the commander of the German war-vessel +_Elizabeth_ estimated the height of the dust-column issuing from the +volcano at 11 kilometres (36,000 feet or about 7 miles)."[2] + +To our hero, however, and to Moses, the outburst seemed anything but +"moderate," and that night as they two sat together in the cave after +supper, listening with awe-struck faces to the cannonading and wild +musketry going on as it seemed under their very feet, the negro solemnly +imparted to Nigel in a low whisper that he thought "de end ob de wurld +hab come at last!" + +Returning at that moment from his observatory, to which he had ascended +for a few minutes to view the scene through one of his glasses, Van der +Kemp relieved their anxieties somewhat by remarking, in his quiet +manner, that there was a distinct diminution in the violence of the +explosions, and that, from his knowledge and experience of other +volcanoes in Java, Sumatra, and elsewhere, he thought it probable they +had seen the worst of it at that time, and that none of the other cones +would be likely to break out. + +"I'm glad to hear you say so," observed Nigel, "for although the sight +is extremely magnificent and very interesting, both from a scientific +and artistic point of view, I cannot help thinking that we should be +safer away from this island at present--at least while the volcano is +active." + +The hermit smiled almost pitifully. "I do not apprehend danger," he +said, "at least nothing unusual. But it happens that my business +requires me to leave in the course of a few days at any rate, so, +whether the eruption becomes fiercer or feebler, it will not matter to +us. I have preparations to make, however, and I have no doubt you won't +object to remain till all is ready for a start?" + +"Oh, as to that," returned the youth, slightly hurt by the implied doubt +as to his courage, "if _you_ are willing to risk going off the earth +like a skyrocket, I am quite ready to take my chance of following you!" + +"An' Moses am de man," said the negro, smiting his broad chest with his +fist, "what's ready to serve as a rocket-stick to bof, an' go up along +wid you!" + +The hermit made the nearest approach to a laugh which Nigel had yet +seen, as he left the cave to undertake some of the preparations above +referred to. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 2: See _The Eruption of Krakatoa and Subsequent Phenomena_, p. +11. (Trübner and Co., London.)] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEETING UNDER PECULIAR +CIRCUMSTANCES. + + +There is unquestionably a class of men--especially Englishmen--who are +deeply imbued with the idea that the Universe in general, and our world +in particular, has been created with a view to afford them what they +call fun. + +"It would be great fun," said an English commercial man to a friend who +sat beside him, "to go and have a look at this eruption. They say it is +Krakatoa which has broken out after a sleep of two centuries, and as it +has been bursting away now for nearly a week, it is likely to hold on +for some time longer. What would you say to charter a steamer and have a +grand excursion to the volcano?" + +The friend said he thought it would indeed be "capital fun!" + +We have never been able to ascertain who these Englishmen were, but they +must have been men of influence, or able to move men of influence, for +they at once set to work and organised an excursion. + +The place where this excursion was organised was Batavia. Although that +city was situated in Java, nearly a hundred miles distant from Krakatoa, +the inhabitants had not only heard distinctly the explosions of the +volcano, but had felt some quakings of the earth and much rattling of +doors and windows, besides a sprinkling of ashes, which indicated that +the eruption, even in that eruptive region, was of unusual violence. +They little imagined to what mighty throes the solid rocks of Krakatoa +were yet to be subjected before those volcanic fires could find a vent. +Meanwhile, as we have said, there was enough of the unusual in it to +warrant our merchants in their anticipation of a considerable amount of +fun. + +A steamer was got ready; a number of sightseeing enthusiasts were +collected, and they set forth on the morning of the 26th of May. Among +these excursionists was our friend Captain David Roy--not that _he_ was +addicted to running about in search of "fun," but, being unavoidably +thrown idle at the time, and having a poetical turn of mind--derived +from his wife--he thought he could not do better than take a run to the +volcano and see how his son was getting along. + +The party reached the scene of the eruption on the morning of the 27th, +having witnessed during the night several tolerably strong explosions, +which were accompanied by earthquake shocks. It was found that Krakatoa +and all the adjoining islands were covered with a fine white dust, like +snow, and that the trees on the northern part of the former island and +Varlaten had been to a great extent deprived of their leaves and +branches by falling pumice, while those on Lang Island and Polish Hat, +as well as those on the Peak of Rakata, had to a great extent +escaped--no doubt owing to the prevailing direction of the wind. + +It was soon seen that Perboewatan on Krakatoa was the cone in active +eruption, and the steamer made for its neighbourhood, landing her party +within a short distance of its base. Explosions were occurring at +intervals of from five to ten minutes. Each explosion being accompanied +by an uncovering of the molten lava in the vent, the overhanging +steam-cloud was lighted up with a grand glow for a few seconds. Some of +the party, who seemed to be authorities on such matters, estimated that +the vapour-column rose to a height of nearly 10,000 feet, and that +fragments of pumice were shot upwards to a height of 600 feet. + +"That's a sign that the violence of the eruption is diminished," +remarked the young merchant, who was in search of fun, as he prepared to +wade ankle-deep in the loose pumice up the slopes of the cone. + +"Diminished!" repeated our captain, who had fraternised much with this +merchant during their short voyage. "If that's what you call +diminishin', I shouldn't like to be here when it's increasin'." + +"Pooh!" exclaimed the merchant, "that's nothing. I've seen, at other +volcanoes, pieces of pumice blown up so high that they've been caught by +the upper currents of the atmosphere and carried away in an opposite +direction to the wind that was blowing below at the time. Ay, I believe +that dust is sometimes blown _miles_ up into the air." + +As Captain Roy thought that the merchant was drawing the long bow he +made no reply, but changed the subject by asking what was the height of +Perboewatan. + +"Three hundred feet or thereabouts," replied his friend. + +"I hope my son will have the sense to clear out of the island if things +look like gittin' worse," muttered the captain, as an unusually violent +explosion shook the whole side of the cone. + +"No fear of him," returned the merchant. "If he is visiting the hermit +of Rakata, as you tell me, he'll be safe enough. Although something of a +dare-devil, the hermit knows how to take care of himself. I'm afraid, +however, that you'll not find it so easy to 'look up' your son as you +seem to think. Just glance round at these almost impenetrable forests. +You don't know what part of the island he may be in just now; and you +might as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay as look for him +there. He is probably at the other end of Krakatoa--four or five miles +off--on the South side of Rakata, where the hermit's cave is supposed to +be, for no one seems to be quite sure as to its whereabouts. Besides, +you'll have to stick by the excursionists if you wish to return to +Batavia." + +Captain Roy paused for a moment to recover breath, and looking down upon +the dense tropical forest that stretched between him and the Peak of +Rakata, he shook his head, and admitted that the merchant was right. +Turning round he addressed himself once more to the ascent of the cone, +on the sides of which the whole excursion party now straggled and +struggled, remarking, as he panted along, that hill-climbing among ashes +and cinders didn't "come easy to a sea-farin' man." + +Now, nothing was more natural than that Van der Kemp and his guest +should be smitten with the same sort of desire which had brought these +excursionists from Batavia. The only thing that we do not pretend to +account for is the strange coincidence that they should have been so +smitten, and had so arranged their plans, that they arrived at +Perboewatan almost at the same time with the excursionists--only about +half an hour before them! + +Their preliminary walk, however, through the tangled, almost +impassable, forest had been very slow and toilsome, and having been +involved in its shadow from daybreak, they were, of course, quite +unaware of the approach of the steamer or the landing of the excursion +party. + +"If the volcano seems quieting down," said Nigel to his host, "shall you +start to-morrow?" + +"Yes; by daybreak. Even if the eruption does _not_ quiet down I must set +out, for my business presses." + +Nigel felt much inclined to ask what his business was, but there was a +quiet something in the air of the hermit, when he did not choose to be +questioned, which effectually silenced curiosity. Falling behind a +little, till the negro came up with him, Nigel tried to obtain +information from him, for he felt that he had a sort of right to know at +least something about the expedition in which he was about to act a +part. + +"Do you know, Moses, what business your master is going about?" he +asked, in a low voice. + +"No more nor de man ob de moon, Massa Nadgel," said Moses, with an air +at once so truthful and so solemn that the young man gave it up with a +laugh of resignation. + +On arriving at Perboewatan, and ascending its sides, they at last became +aware of the approach of the excursion steamer. + +"Strange," muttered the hermit, "vessels don't often touch here." + +"Perhaps they have run short of water," suggested Nigel. + +"Even if they had it would not be worth their while to stop here for +that," returned the hermit, resuming the ascent of the cone after an +intervening clump of trees had shut out the steamer from view. + +It was with feelings of profound interest and considerable excitement +that our hero stood for the first time on the top of a volcanic cone and +gazed down into its glowing vent. + +The crater might be described as a huge basin of 3000 feet in diameter. +From the rim of this basin on which the visitors stood the sides sloped +so gradually inward that the flat floor at the bottom was not more than +half that diameter. This floor--which was about 150 feet below the upper +edge--was covered with a black crust, and in the centre of it was the +tremendous cavity--between one and two hundred feet in diameter--from +which issued the great steam-cloud. The cloud was mixed with quantities +of pumice and fragments of what appeared to be black glass. The roar of +this huge vent was deafening and stupendous. If the reader will reflect +on the wonderful hubbub that can be created even by a kitchen kettle +when superheated, and on the exasperating shrieks of a steamboat's +safety-valve in action, or the bellowing of a fog-horn, he may form some +idea of the extent of his incapacity to conceive the thunderous roar of +Krakatoa when it began to boil over. + +When to this awful sound there were added the intermittent explosions, +the horrid crackling of millions of rock-masses meeting in the air, and +the bubbling up of molten lava--verily it did not require the +imagination of a Dante to see in all this the very vomiting of Gehenna! + +So amazed and well-nigh stunned was Nigel at the sights and sounds that +he neither heard nor saw the arrival of the excursionists, until the +equally awe-stricken Moses touched him on the elbow and drew his +attention to several men who suddenly appeared on the crater-brim not +fifty yards off, but who, like themselves, were too much absorbed with +the volcano itself to observe the other visitors. Probably they took +them for some of their own party who had reached the summit before them. + +Nigel was yet looking at these visitors in some surprise, when an +elderly nautical man suddenly stood not twenty yards off gazing in +open-mouthed amazement, past our hero's very nose, at the volcanic +fires. + +"Hallo, Father!" shouted the one. + +"Zounds! Nigel!" exclaimed the other. + +Both men glared and were speechless for several seconds. Then Nigel +rushed at the captain, and the captain met him half-way, and they shook +hands with such hearty goodwill as to arrest in his operations for a few +moments a photographer who was hastily setting up his camera! + +Yes, science has done much to reveal the marvellous and arouse exalted +thoughts in the human mind, but it has also done something to crush +enthusiasts and shock the romantic. Veracity constrains us to state that +there he was, with his tripod, and his eager haste, and his hideous +black cloth, preparing to "take" Perboewatan on a "dry plate"! And he +"took" it too! And you may see it, if you will, as a marvellous +frontispiece to the volume by the "Krakatoa Committee"--a work which is +apparently as exhaustive of the subject of Krakatoa as was the great +explosion itself of those internal fires which will probably keep that +volcano quiet for the next two hundred years. + +But this was not the Great Eruption of Krakatoa--only a rehearsal, as it +were. + +"What brought you here, my son?" asked the captain, on recovering +speech. + +"My legs, father." + +"Don't be insolent, boy." + +"It's not insolence, father. It's only poetical licence, meant to assure +you that I did not come by 'bus or rail though you did by steamer! But +let me introduce you to my friend, Mr.----" + +He stopped short on looking round, for Van der Kemp was not there. + +"He goed away wheneber he saw de peepil comin' up de hill," said Moses, +who had watched the meeting of father and son with huge delight. "But +you kin interdooce _me_ instead," he added, with a crater-like smile. + +"True, true," exclaimed Nigel, laughing. "This is Moses, father, my +host's servant, and my very good friend, and a remarkably free-and-easy +friend, as you see. He will guide us back to the cave, since Van der +Kemp seems to have left us." + +"Who's Van der Kemp?" asked the captain. + +"The hermit of Rakata, father--that's his name. His father was a +Dutchman and his mother an English or Irish woman--I forget which. He's +a splendid fellow; quite different from what one would expect; no more +like a hermit than a hermit-crab, except that he lives in a cave under +the Peak of Rakata, at the other end of the island. But you must come +with us and pay him a visit. He will be delighted to see you." + +"What! steer through a green sea of leaves like that?" said the captain, +stretching his arm towards the vast forest that lay stretched out below +them, "and on my legs, too, that have been used all their lives to a +ship's deck? No, my son. I will content myself with this lucky meetin'. +But, I say, Nigel, lad," continued the old man, somewhat more seriously, +"what if the Peak o' Ra--Ra, what's-'is-name, should take to spoutin' +like this one, an' you, as you say, livin' under it?" + +"Ha! das 'zackly what _I_ say," interposed Moses. "Das what I oftin says +to massa, but he nebber answers. He only smile. Massa's not always so +purlite as he might be!" + +"There is no fear," said Nigel, "not at present, anyhow, for Van der +Kemp says that the force of this eruption is diminishing--" + +"It don't look much like it," muttered the captain, as the volcano at +that moment gave vent to a burst which seemed like a sarcastic laugh at +the hermit's opinion, and sent the more timid of the excursionists +sprawling down the cinder-slope in great alarm. + +"There's reason in what you say, father," said Nigel, when the +diminution of noise rendered speech more easy; "and after all, as we +start off on our travels to-morrow, your visit could not have been a +long one." + +"Where do you go first?" asked the captain. + +"Not sure. Do _you_ know, Moses?" + +"No; no more 'n de man ob de moon. P'r'aps Borneo. He go dar sometimes." + +At this point another roar from the volcano, and a shout from the +leader of the excursionists to return on board, broke up the conference. + +"Well, lad, I'm glad I've seen you. Don't forget to write your +whereabouts. They say there's a lot o' wild places as well as wild men +and beasts among them islands, so keep your weather-eye open an' your +powder dry. Good-bye, Nigel. Take care of him, Moses, and keep him out +o' mischief if ye can--which is more than ever I could. Good-bye, my +boy." + +"Good-bye, father." + +They shook hands vigorously. In another minute the old seaman was +sailing down the cinder-cone at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, +while his son, setting off under the guidance of Moses towards a +different point of the compass, was soon pushing his way through the +tangled forest in the direction of the hermit's cave. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A CURIOUS SEA-GOING CRAFT--THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE BEGUN. + + +It was early next morning when Van der Kemp and his man left their +couches and descended to the shore, leaving their visitor enjoying the +benefit of that profound slumber which bids defiance to turmoil and +noise, however stupendous, and which seems to be the peculiar privilege +of healthy infants and youthful seamen. + +Perboewatan had subsided considerably towards morning, and had taken to +that internal rumbling, which in the feline species indicates mitigated +indignation. The hermit had therefore come to the conclusion that the +outburst was over, and went with Moses to make arrangements for setting +forth on his expedition after breakfast. + +They had scarcely left the cave when Nigel awoke. Feeling indisposed for +further repose, he got up and went out in that vague state of mind which +is usually defined as "having a look at the weather." Whether or not he +gathered much information from the look we cannot tell, but, taking up +his short gun, which stood handy at the entrance of the cave, he +sauntered down the path which his host had followed a short time before. +Arrived at the shore, he observed that a branch path diverged to the +left, and appeared to run in the direction of a high precipice. He +turned into it, and after proceeding through the bushes for a short way +he came quite unexpectedly on a cavern, the mouth of which resembled, +but was much higher and wider than that which led to the hermit's home. + +Just as he approached it there issued from its gloomy depths a strange +rumbling sound which induced him to stop and cock his gun. A curious +feeling of serio-comic awe crept over him as the idea of a fiery dragon +leaped into his mind! At the same time, the fancy that the immense abyss +of darkness might be one of the volcanic vents diminished the comic and +increased the serious feeling. Ere long the sound assumed the definite +tone of footsteps, and the dragon fancy seemed about to become a reality +when he beheld a long narrow thing of uncertain form emerging from the +darkness. + +"It must be coming out tail-foremost!" he muttered, with a short laugh +at his semi-credulity. + +Another instant and the hermit emerged into the blazing sunshine, and +stood pictured against the intense darkness like a being of +supernatural radiance, with the end of a long narrow canoe on his +shoulder. + +As Nigel passed round a bush to reach him he perceived the dark form of +Moses emerging from the depths and supporting the body of the canoe. + +"I see you are active and an early riser," said the hermit, with a nod +of approval on seeing our hero. + +"I almost took you for a Krakatoa monster!" said Nigel, as they came out +in front of the cavern and laid the canoe on the ground. "Why, you've +got here one of the craft which we in England call a Rob Roy canoe!" + +"It is fashioned on the same pattern," said the hermit, "but with one or +two alterations of my own devising, and an improvement--as I +think--founded on what I have myself seen, when travelling with the +Eskimos of Greenland." + +Van der Kemp here pointed out that the canoe was not only somewhat +broader than the kind used in England, but was considerably longer, and +with three openings or manholes in the deck, so that it was capable of +holding three persons. Also, that there was a large rounded mass of wood +fixed in front of the three manholes. + +"These saddles, as I call them," said the hermit, "have been suggested +to me by the Eskimos, who, instead of wearying their arms by supporting +the double-bladed paddle continuously, rest it on the saddle and let it +slide about thereon while being used. Thus they are able to carry a much +longer and heavier paddle than that used in the Rob Roy canoe, the +weight of which, as it rests on the saddle, is not felt. Moreover it +does not require nearly so much dip to put it in the water. I have heard +of a sort of upright with a universal joint being applied to the English +canoe, but it seems to me a much more clumsy and much less effective, +because rigid, contrivance than the Eskimo saddle. Inside, under the +deck, as I will show you by and by, I have lighter and shorter paddles +for use when in narrow rivers, but I prefer the long heavy paddle when +traversing great stretches of ocean." + +"You don't mean to say you ever go to sea in an eggshell like that!" +exclaimed Nigel in surprise. + +"Indeed we do," returned the hermit, "and we are fitted out for longish +voyages and rough weather. Besides, it is not so much of an eggshell as +you suppose. I made it myself, and took care that it should be fit for +the work required of it. The wood of which it is made, although light, +is very tough, and it is lined with a skin of strong canvas which is +fixed to the planks with tar. This makes the craft watertight as well as +strong. The ribs also are very light and close together, and every sixth +rib is larger and stronger than the others and made of tougher wood. +All these ribs are bound together by longitudinal pieces, or laths, of +very tough wood, yet so thin that the whole machine is elastic without +being weak. Besides this, there are two strong oiled-canvas partitions, +which divide the canoe into three water-tight compartments, any two of +which will float it if the third should get filled." + +"Is this then the craft in which you intend to voyage?" asked Nigel. + +"It is. We shall start in an hour or two. I keep it in this cave because +it is near the landing-place. But come, you will understand things +better when you see us making our arrangements. Of course you understand +how to manage sails of every kind?" + +"If I did not it would ill become me to call myself a sailor," returned +our hero. + +"That is well, because you will sit in the middle, from which position +the sail is partly managed. I usually sit in the bow to have free range +for the use of my gun, if need be, and Moses steers." + +Van der Kemp proceeded down the track as he said this, having, with the +negro, again lifted the canoe on his shoulder. + +A few minutes' walk brought them to the beach at the spot where Nigel +had originally landed. Here a quantity of cargo lay on the rocks ready +to be placed in the canoe. There were several small bags of pemmican, +which Van der Kemp had learned to make while travelling on the prairies +of North America among the Red Indians,--for this singular being seemed +to have visited most parts of the habitable globe during his not yet +very long life. There were five small casks of fresh water, two or three +canisters of gunpowder, a small box of tea and another of sugar, besides +several bags of biscuits. There were also other bags and boxes which did +not by their appearance reveal their contents, and all the articles were +of a shape and size which seemed most suitable for passing through the +manholes, and being conveniently distributed and stowed in the three +compartments of the canoe. There was not very much of anything, however, +so that when the canoe was laden and ready for its voyage, the hermit +and his man were still able to raise and carry it on their shoulders +without the assistance of Nigel. + +There was one passenger whom we have not yet mentioned, namely, a small +monkey which dwelt in the cave with the canoe, and which, although +perfectly free to come and go when he pleased, seldom left the cave +except for food, but seemed to have constituted himself the guardian of +the little craft. + +Spinkie, as Moses had named him, was an intensely affectionate creature, +with a countenance of pathetic melancholy which utterly belied his +character, for mischief and fun were the dominating qualities of that +monkey. He was seated on a water-cask when Nigel first caught sight of +him, holding the end of his long tail in one hand, and apparently wiping +his nose with it. + +"Is that what he is doing?" asked Nigel of the negro. + +"Oh no, Massa Nadgel," said Moses. "Spinkie nebber ketch cold an' hab no +need ob a pocket-hangkitcher. He only tickles his nose wid 'is tail. But +he's bery fond ob doin' dat." + +Being extremely fond of monkeys, Nigel went forward to fondle him, and +Spinkie being equally fond of fondling, resigned himself placidly--after +one interrogative gaze of wide-eyed suspicion--into the stranger's +hands. A lifelong friendship was cemented then and there. + +After stowing the cargo the party returned to the upper cavern, leaving +the monkey to guard the canoe. + +"An' he's a good defender ob it," said Moses, "for if man or beast +happen to come near it when Spinkie's in charge, dat monkey sets up a +skriekin' fit to cause a 'splosion ob Perboewatan!" + +Breakfast over, the hermit put his cave in order for a pretty long +absence, and they again descended to the shore, each man carrying his +bed on his shoulder. Each bed, however, was light and simple. It +consisted merely of one blanket wrapped up in an oil-cloth sheet. +Besides, an old-fashioned powder-flask and shot belt. Van der Kemp and +Nigel had slung a bullet-pouch on their shoulders, and carried small +hatchets and hunting-knives in their belts. Moses was similarly armed, +with this difference, that his _couteau de chasse_ bore stronger +resemblance to an ancient Roman sword than a knife, and his axe was of +larger size than the hatchets of his companions. + +Launching the canoe, the hermit and his man held it fast at either end +while Nigel was directed to take his place in the central of the three +openings or manholes. He did so and found himself seated on a flat board +on the bottom of the canoe, which was so shallow that the deck scarcely +rose as high as his waist. + +Round the manhole there was a ledge of thin wood, about three inches +high, to which a circular apron of oiled canvas was attached. + +"Yes, you'd better understand that thing before we start," said Van der +Kemp, observing that Nigel was examining the contrivance with some +curiosity. "It's an apron to tie round you in bad weather to keep the +water out. In fine weather it is rolled as you see it now round the +ledge. Undo the buckle before and behind and you will see how it is to +be used." + +Acting as directed, Nigel unbuckled the roll and found that he was +surrounded by a sort of petticoat of oil-skin which could be drawn up +and buckled round his chest. In this position it could be kept by a loop +attached to a button, or a wooden pin, thrust through the coat. + +"You see," explained the hermit, "the waves may wash all over our deck +and round our bodies without being able to get into the canoe while we +have these things on--there are similar protections round the other +holes." + +"I understand," said Nigel. "But how if water gets in through a leak +below?" + +"Do you see that brass thing in front of you?" returned the hermit. +"That is a pump which is capable of keeping under a pretty extensive +leak. The handle unships, so as to be out of the way when not wanted. I +keep it here, under the deck in front of me, along with mast and sails +and a good many other things." + +As he spoke he raised a plank of the deck in front of the foremost hole, +and disclosed a sort of narrow box about six feet long by six inches +broad. The plank was hinged at one end and fastened with a hook at the +other so as to form a lid to the box. The hole thus disclosed was not an +opening into the interior of the canoe, but was a veritable watertight +box just under the deck, so that even if it were to get filled with +water not a drop could enter the canoe itself. But the plank-lid was so +beautifully fitted, besides shutting tightly down on indiarubber, that +the chance of leakage through that source was very remote. Although very +narrow, this box was deep, and contained a variety of useful implements; +among them a slender mast and tiny sail, which could be rendered still +smaller by means of reef points. All these things were fitted into their +respective places with so keen an eye to economy of space that the +arrangement cannot be better described than by the familiar +phrase--_multum, in parvo._ + +"We don't use the sails much; we depend chiefly on this," said the +hermit, as he seated himself in the front hole and laid the long, heavy, +double-bladed paddle on the saddle in front of him. Moses uses a single +blade, partly because it is handier for steering and partly because he +has been accustomed to it in his own land. You are at liberty to use +which you prefer." + +"Thanks, I will follow the lead of Moses, for I also have been +accustomed to the single blade and prefer it--at least while I am one of +three. If alone, I should prefer the double blade." + +"Now, Moses, are you ready?" asked the hermit. + +"All ready, massa." + +"Get in then and shove off. Come along, Spinkie." + +The monkey, which all this time had been seated on a rock looking on +with an expression of inconsolable sorrow, at once accepted the +invitation, and with a lively bound alighted on the deck close to the +little mast, which had been set up just in front of Nigel, and to which +it held on when the motions of the canoe became unsteady. + +"You need not give yourself any concern about Spinkie," said the hermit, +as they glided over the still water of the little cove in which the +canoe and boat were harboured. "He is quite able to take care of +himself." + +Bounding the entrance to the cove and shooting out into the ocean under +the influence of Van der Kemp's powerful strokes, they were soon clear +of the land, and proceeded eastward at a rate which seemed unaccountable +to our hero, for he had not sufficiently realised the fact that in +addition to the unusual physical strength of Van der Kemp as well as +that of Moses, to say nothing of his own, the beautiful fish-like +adaptation of the canoe to the water, the great length and leverage of +the bow paddle, and the weight of themselves as well as the cargo, gave +this canoe considerable advantage over other craft of the kind. + +About a quarter of an hour later the sun arose in cloudless splendour on +a perfectly tranquil sea, lighted up the shores of Java, glinted over +the mountains of Sumatra, and flooded, as with a golden haze, the +forests of Krakatoa--emulating the volcanic fires in gilding the volumes +of smoke that could be seen rolling amid fitful mutterings from +Perboewatan, until the hermit's home sank from view in the western +horizon. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +CANOEING ON THE SEA--A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT-SURPRISE AND SUDDEN FLIGHT. + + +At first the voyagers paddled over the glassy sea in almost total +silence. + +Nigel was occupied with his own busy thoughts; speculating on the +probable end and object of their voyage, and on the character, the +mysterious life, and unknown history of the man who sat in front of him +wielding so powerfully the great double-bladed paddle. Van der Kemp +himself was, as we have said, naturally quiet and silent, save when +roused by a subject that interested him. As for Moses, although quite +ready at any moment to indulge in friendly intercourse, he seldom +initiated a conversation, and Spinkie, grasping the mast and leaning +against it with his head down, seemed to be either asleep or brooding +over his sorrows. Only a few words were uttered now and then when Nigel +asked the name of a point or peak which rose in the distance on either +hand. It seemed as if the quiescence of sea and air had fallen like a +soft mantle on the party and subdued them into an unusually sluggish +frame of mind. + +They passed through the Sunda Straits between Sumatra and Java--not more +at the narrowest part than about thirteen miles wide--and, in course of +time, found themselves in the great island-studded archipelago beyond. + +About noon they all seemed to wake up from their lethargic state. Van +der Kemp laid down his paddle, and, looking round, asked Nigel if he +felt tired. + +"Not in the least," he replied, "but I feel uncommonly hungry, and I +have just been wondering how you manage to feed when at sea in so small +a craft." + +"Ho! ho!" laughed Moses, in guttural tones, "you soon see dat--I 'spose +it time for me to get out de grub, massa?" + +"Yes, Moses--let's have it." + +The negro at once laid down his steering paddle and lifted a small +square hatch or lid in the deck which was rendered watertight by the +same means as the lid in front already described. From the depths thus +revealed he extracted a bird of some sort that had been shot and baked +the day before. Tearing off a leg he retained it and handed the +remainder to Nigel. + +"Help you'self, Massa Nadgel, an' pass 'im forid." + +Without helping himself he passed it on to Van der Kemp, who drew his +knife, sliced off a wing with a mass of breast, and returned the rest. + +"Always help yourself _before_ passing the food in future," said the +hermit; "we don't stand on ceremony here." + +Nigel at once fell in with their custom, tore off the remaining +drumstick and began. + +"Biskit," said Moses, with his mouth full, "an' look out for Spinkie." + +He handed forward a deep tray of the sailor's familiar food, but Nigel +was too slow to profit by the warning given, for Spinkie darted both +hands into the tray and had stuffed his mouth and cheeks full almost +before a man could wink! The negro would have laughed aloud, but the +danger of choking was too great; he therefore laughed internally--an +operation which could not be fully understood unless seen. "'Splosions +of Perboewatan," may suggest the thing. + +Sorrow, grief--whatever it was that habitually afflicted that +monkey--disappeared for the time being, while it devoted itself heart +and soul to dinner. + +Feelings of a somewhat similar kind animated Nigel as he sat leaning +back with his mouth full, a biscuit in one hand, and a drumstick in the +other, and his eyes resting dreamily on the horizon of the still +tranquil sea, while the bright sun blazed upon his already bronzed face. + +To many men the fierce glare of the equatorial sun might have proved +trying, but Nigel belonged to the salamander type of humanity and +enjoyed the great heat. Van der Kemp seemed to be similarly moulded, and +as for Moses, he was in his native element--so was Spinkie. + +Strange as it may seem, sea-birds appeared to divine what was going on, +for several specimens came circling round the canoe with great +outstretched and all but motionless wings, and with solemn sidelong +glances of hope which Van der Kemp evidently could not resist, for he +flung them scraps of his allowance from time to time. + +"If you have plenty of provisions on board, I should like to do that +too," said Nigel. + +"Do it," returned the hermit. "We have plenty of food for some days, and +our guns can at any time replenish the store. I like to feed these +creatures," he added, "they give themselves over so thoroughly to the +enjoyment of the moment, and _seem_ to be grateful. Whether they are so +or not, of course, is matter of dispute. Cynics will tell us that they +only come to us and fawn upon us because of the memory of past favours +and the hope of more to come. I don't agree with them." + +"Neither do I," said Nigel, warmly. "Any man who has ever had to do +with dogs knows full well that gratitude is a strong element of their +nature. And it seems to me that the speaking eyes of Spinkie, to whom I +have just given a bit of biscuit, tell of a similar spirit." + +As he spoke, Nigel was conveying another piece of biscuit to his own +mouth, when a small brown hand flashed before him, and the morsel, in +the twinkling of an eye, was transferred to the monkey's already swollen +cheek--whereat Moses again became suddenly "'splosive" and red, as well +as black in the face, for his capacious mouth was inordinately full as +usual. + +Clear water, from one of the casks, and poured into a tin mug, washed +down their cold collation, and then, refreshed and reinvigorated, the +trio resumed their paddles, which were not again laid down till the sun +was descending towards the western horizon. By that time they were not +far from a small wooded islet near the coast of Java, on which Van der +Kemp resolved to spend the night. + +During the day they had passed at some distance many boats and _praus_ +and other native vessels, the crews of which ceased to row for a few +moments, and gazed with curiosity at the strange craft which glided +along so swiftly, and seemed to them little more than a long plank on +the water, but these took no further notice of our voyagers. They also +passed several ships--part of that constant stream of vessels which pass +westward through those straits laden with the valuable teas and rich +silks of China and Japan. In some cases a cheer of recognition, as being +an exceptional style of craft, was accorded them, to which the hermit +replied with a wave of the hand--Moses and Nigel with an answering +cheer. + +There is something very pleasant in the rest which follows a day of hard +and healthful toil. Our Maker has so ordained it as well as stated it, +for is it not written, "The sleep of the labouring man is sweet"? and +our travellers experienced the truth of the statement that night in very +romantic circumstances. + +The small rocky islet, not more than a few hundred yards in diameter, +which they now approached had several sheltered sandy bays on its shore, +which were convenient for landing. The centre was clothed with +palm-trees and underwood, so that fuel could be procured, and +cocoa-nuts. + +"Sometimes," said the hermit, while he stooped to arrange the fire, +after the canoe and cargo had been carried to their camping-place at the +edge of the bushes,--"sometimes it is necessary to keep concealed while +travelling in these regions, and I carry a little spirit-lamp which +enables me to heat a cup of tea or coffee without making a dangerous +blaze; but here there is little risk in kindling a fire." + +"I should not have thought there was any risk at all in these peaceful +times," said Nigel, as he unstrapped his blanket and spread it on the +ground under an overhanging bush. + +"There are no peaceful times among pirates," returned the hermit; "and +some of the traders in this archipelago are little better than pirates." + +"Where I puts your bed, massa?" asked Moses, turning his huge eyes on +his master. + +"There--under the bush, beside Nigel." + +"An' where would _you_ like to sleep, Massa Spinkie?" added the negro, +with a low obeisance to the monkey, which sat on the top of what seemed +to be its favourite seat--a watercask. + +Spinkie treated the question with calm contempt, turned his head +languidly to one side, and scratched himself. + +"Unpurliteness is your k'racter from skin to marrow, you son of a +insolent mother!" said Moses, shaking his fist, whereat Spinkie, +promptly making an O of his mouth, looked fierce. + +The sagacious creature remained where he was till after supper, which +consisted of another roast fowl--hot this time--and ship's-biscuit +washed down with coffee. Of course Spinkie's portion consisted only of +the biscuit with a few scraps of cocoa-nut. Having received it he +quietly retired to his native wilds, with the intention of sleeping +there, according to custom, till morning; but his repose was destined to +be broken, as we shall see. + +After supper, the hermit, stretching himself on his blanket, filled an +enormous meerschaum, and began to smoke. The negro, rolling up a little +tobacco in tissue paper, sat down, tailor-wise, and followed his +master's example, while our hero--who did not smoke--lay between them, +and gazed contemplatively over the fire at the calm dark sea beyond, +enjoying the aroma of his coffee. + +"From what you have told me of your former trading expeditions," said +Nigel, looking at his friend, "you must have seen a good deal of this +archipelago before you took--excuse me--to the hermit life." + +"Ay--a good deal." + +"Have you ever travelled in the interior of the larger islands?" asked +Nigel, in the hope of drawing from him some account of his experiences +with wild beasts or wild men--he did not care which, so long as they +were wild! + +"Yes, in all of them," returned the hermit, curtly, for he was not fond +of talking about himself. + +"I suppose the larger islands are densely wooded?" continued Nigel +interrogatively. + +"They are, very." + +"But the wood is not of much value, I fancy, in the way of trade," +pursued our hero, adopting another line of attack which proved +successful, for Van der Kemp turned his eyes on him with a look of +surprise that almost forced him to laugh. + +"Not of much value in the way of trade!" he repeated--"forgive me, if I +express surprise that you seem to know so little about us--but, after +all, the world is large, and one cannot become deeply versed in +everything." + +Having uttered this truism, the hermit resumed his meerschaum and +continued to gaze thoughtfully at the embers of the fire. He remained so +long silent that Nigel began to despair, but thought he would try him +once again on the same lines. + +"I suppose," he said in a careless way, "that none of the islands are +big enough to contain many of the larger wild animals." + +"My friend," returned Van der Kemp, with a smile of urbanity, as he +refilled his pipe, "it is evident that you do not know much about our +archipelago. Borneo, to the woods and wild animals of which I hope ere +long to introduce you, is so large that if you were to put your British +islands, including Ireland, down on it they would be engulphed and +surrounded by a sea of forests. New Guinea is, perhaps, larger than +Borneo. Sumatra is only a little smaller. France is not so large as +some of our islands. Java, Luzon, and Celebes are each about equal in +size to Ireland. Eighteen more islands are, on the average, as large as +Jamaica, more than a hundred are as large as the Isle of Wight, and the +smaller isles and islets are innumerable. In short, our archipelago is +comparable with any of the primary divisions of the globe, being full +4000 miles in length from east to west and about 1,300 in breadth from +north to south, and would in extent more than cover the whole of +Europe." + +It was evident to Nigel that he had at length succeeded in opening the +floodgates. The hermit paused for a few moments and puffed at the +meerschaum, while Moses glared at his master with absorbed interest, and +pulled at the cigarette with such oblivious vigour that he drew it into +his mouth at last, spat it out, and prepared another. Nigel sat quite +silent and waited for more. + +"As to trade," continued Van der Kemp, resuming his discourse in a lower +tone, "why, of gold--the great representative of wealth--we export from +Sumatra alone over 26,000 ounces annually, and among other gold regions +we have a Mount Ophir in the Malay Peninsula from which there is a +considerable annual export." + +Continuing his discourse, Van der Kemp told a great deal more about the +products of these prolific islands with considerable enthusiasm--as one +who somewhat resented the underrating of his native land. + +"Were you born in this region, Van der Kemp?" asked Nigel, during a +brief pause. + +"I was--in Java. My father, as my name tells, was of Dutch descent. My +mother was Irish. Both are dead." + +He stopped. The fire that had been aroused seemed to die down, and he +continued to smoke with the sad absent look which was peculiar to him. + +"And what about large game?" asked Nigel, anxious to stir up his +friend's enthusiasm again, but the hermit had sunk back into his usual +condition of gentle dreaminess, and made no answer till the question had +been repeated. + +"Pardon me," he said, "I was dreaming of the days that are gone. Ah! +Nigel; you are yet too young to understand the feelings of the old--the +sad memories of happy years that can never return: of voices that are +hushed for ever. No one can _know_ till he has _felt_!" + +"But you are not old," said Nigel, wishing to turn the hermit's mind +from a subject on which it seemed to dwell too constantly. + +"Not in years," he returned; "but old, _very_ old in experience, +and--stay, what was it that you were asking about? Ah, the big game. +Well, we have plenty of that in some of the larger of the islands; we +have the elephant, the rhinoceros, the tiger, the puma, that great +man-monkey the orang-utan, or, as it is called here, the mias, besides +wild pigs, deer, and innumerable smaller animals and birds--" + +The hermit stopped abruptly and sat motionless, with his head bent on +one side, like one who listens intently. Such an action is always +infectious. Nigel and the negro also listened, but heard nothing. + +By that time the fire had died down, and, not being required for warmth, +had not been replenished. The faint light of the coming moon, which, +however, was not yet above the horizon, only seemed to render darkness +visible, so that the figure of Moses was quite lost in the shadow of the +bush behind him, though the whites of his solemn eyes appeared like two +glow-worms. + +"Do you hear anything?" asked Nigel in a low tone. + +"Oars," answered the hermit. + +"I hear 'im, massa," whispered the negro, "but das not +su'prisin'--plenty boats about." + +"This boat approaches the island, and I can tell by the sound that it is +a large _prau_. If it touches here it will be for the purpose of +spending the night, and Malay boatmen are not always agreeable +neighbours. However, it is not likely they will ramble far from where +they land, so we may escape observation if we keep quiet." + +As he spoke he emptied the remains of the coffee on the dying fire and +effectually put it out. + +Meanwhile the sound of oars had become quite distinct, and, as had been +anticipated, the crew ran their boat into one of the sandy bays and +leaped ashore with a good deal of shouting and noise. Fortunately they +had landed on the opposite side of the islet, and as the bush on it was +very dense there was not much probability of any one crossing over. Our +voyagers therefore lay close, resolving to be off in the morning before +the unwelcome visitors were stirring. + +As the three lay there wrapped in their blankets and gazing +contemplatively at the now risen moon, voices were heard as if of men +approaching. It was soon found that two of the strangers had sauntered +round by the beach and were slowly drawing near the encampment. + +Nigel observed that the hermit had raised himself on one elbow and +seemed to be again listening intently. + +The two men halted on reaching the top of the ridges of rock which +formed one side of the little bay, and their voices became audible +though too far distant to admit of words being distinguishable. At the +same time their forms were clearly defined against the sky. + +Nigel glanced at Van der Kemp and was startled by the change that had +come over him. The moonbeams, which had by that time risen above some +intervening shrubs, shone full on him and showed that his usually quiet +gentle countenance was deadly pale and transformed by a frown of almost +tiger-like ferocity. So strange and unaccountable did this seem to our +hero that he lay quite still, as if spell-bound. Nor did his companions +move until the strangers, having finished their talk, turned to retrace +their steps and finally disappeared. + +Then Van der Kemp rose with a sigh of relief. The negro and Nigel also +sprang up. + +"What's wrong, massa?" asked Moses, in much anxiety. + +"Nothing, nothing," said the hermit hurriedly. "I must cross over to see +these fellows." + +"All right, massa. I go wid you." + +"No, I go alone." + +"Not widout arms?" exclaimed the negro, laying his hand on his master's +shoulder. + +"Yes, without arms!" As he spoke he drew the long knife that usually +hung at his girdle and flung it down. "Now attend, both of you," he +added, with sudden and almost threatening earnestness. + +"Do not on any account follow me. I am quite able to take care of +myself." + +Next moment he glided into the bushes and was gone. + +"Can you guess what is the matter with him?" asked Nigel, turning to his +companion with a perplexed look. + +"Not more nor de man ob de moon. I nebber saw'd 'im like dat before. I +t'ink he's go mad! I tell you what--I'll foller him wid a rifle an' +knife and two revolvers." + +"You'll do nothing of the sort," said Nigel, laying hold of the negro's +wrist with a grip of iron; "when a man like Van der Kemp gives an order +it's the duty of inferior men like you and me strictly to obey." + +"Well--p'raps you're right, Nadgel," returned Moses calmly. "If you +wasn't, I'd knock you into de middle ob nixt week for takin' a grip o' +me like dat." + +"You'll wish yourself into the middle of next fortnight if you disobey +orders," returned our hero, tightening the grip. + +Moses threw back his head, opened his cavern, and laughed silently; at +the same time he twisted his arm free with a sudden wrench. + +"You's awrful strong, Nadgel, but you don't quite come up to niggers! +Howse'ber, you's right. I'll obey orders; neberdeless I'll get ready +for action." + +So saying, the negro extracted from the canoe several revolvers, two of +which he handed to Nigel, two he thrust into his own belt, and two he +laid handy for "massa" when he should return. + +"Now, if you're smart at arit'metic, you'll see dat six time six am +t'irty-six, and two double guns das forty--forty dead men's more 'n +enuff--besides de knives." + +Moses had barely finished these deadly preparations when Van der Kemp +returned as quietly as he had gone. His face was still fierce and +haggard, and his manner hurried though quite decided. + +"I have seen him," he said, in a low voice. + +"Seen who?" asked Nigel. + +"Him whom I had hoped and prayed never more to see. My enemy! Come, +quick, we must leave at once, and without attracting their notice." + +He gave his comrades no time to put further questions, but laid hold of +one end of the canoe; Moses took the other end and it was launched in a +few seconds, while Nigel carried down such part of the lading as had +been taken out. Five minutes sufficed to put all on board, and that +space of time was also sufficient to enable Spinkie to observe from his +retreat in the bushes that a departure was about to take place; he +therefore made for the shore with all speed and bounded to his +accustomed place beside the mast. + +Taking their places they pushed off so softly that they might well have +been taken for phantoms. A cloud conveniently hid the moon at the time. +Each man plied his paddle with noiseless but powerful stroke, and long +before the cloud uncovered the face of the Queen of Night they were +shooting far away over the tranquil sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WEATHERING A STORM IN THE OPEN SEA. + + +In profound silence they continued to paddle until there was no chance +of their being seen by the party on the islet. Then Van der Kemp rested +his paddle in front of him and looked slowly round the horizon and up at +the sky as if studying the weather. + +Nigel longed to ask him more about the men they had seen, and of this +"enemy" whom he had mentioned, but there was that in the hermit's grave +look which forbade questioning, and indeed Nigel now knew from +experience that it would be useless to press him to speak on any subject +in regard to which he chose to be reticent. + +"I don't like the look of the sky," he said at last. "We are going to +have a squall, I fear." + +"Had we not better run for the nearest land?" said Nigel, who, although +not yet experienced in the signs of the weather in those equatorial +regions, had quite enough of knowledge to perceive that bad weather of +some sort was probably approaching. + +"The nearest island is a good way off," returned the hermit, "and we +might miss it in the dark, for daylight won't help us yet awhile. No, we +will continue our course and accept what God sends." + +This remark seemed to our hero to savour of unreasoning contempt of +danger, for the facing of a tropical squall in such an eggshell appeared +to him the height of folly. He ventured to reply, therefore, in a tone +of remonstrance-- + +"God sends us the capacity to appreciate danger, Van der Kemp, and the +power to take precautions." + +"He does, Nigel--therefore I intend to use both the capacity and the +power." + +There was a tone of finality in this speech which effectually sealed +Nigel's lips, and, in truth, his ever-increasing trust in the wisdom, +power, and resource of his friend indisposed him to further remark. + +The night had by this time become intensely dark, for a bank of black +cloud had crept slowly over the sky and blotted out the moon. This cloud +extended itself slowly, obliterating, ere long, most of the stars also, +so that it was scarcely possible to distinguish any object more than a +yard or two in advance of them. The dead calm, however, continued +unbroken, and the few of heaven's lights which still glimmered through +the obscurity above were clearly reflected in the great black mirror +below. Only the faint gleam of Krakatoa's threatening fires was visible +on the horizon, while the occasional boom of its artillery sounded in +their ears. + +It was impossible for any inexperienced man, however courageous, to +avoid feelings of awe, almost amounting to dread, in the circumstances, +and Nigel--as he tried to penetrate the darkness around him and glanced +at the narrow craft in which he sat and over the sides of which he could +dip both hands at once into the sea--might be excused for wishing, with +all his heart, that he were safely on shore, or on the deck of his +father's brig. His feelings were by no means relieved when Van der Kemp +said, in a low soliloquising tone-- + +"The steamers will constitute our chief danger to-night. They come on +with such a rush that it is not easy to make out how they are steering, +so as to get out of their way in time." + +"But should we not hear them coming a long way off?" asked Nigel. + +"Ay. It is not during a calm like this that we run risk, but when the +gale begins to blow we cannot hear, and shall not, perhaps, see very +well." + +As he spoke the hermit lifted the covering of the forehatch and took out +a small sail which he asked Nigel to pass aft to the negro. + +"Close-reef it, Moses; we shall make use of the wind as long as +possible. After that we will lay-to." + +"All right, massa," said the negro, in the same cheerful free-and-easy +tone in which he was wont to express his willingness to obey orders +whether trifling or important. "Don' forgit Spinkie, massa." + +"You may be sure I won't do that," replied the hermit. "Come along, +monkey!" + +Evidently Van der Kemp had trained his dumb companion as thoroughly to +prompt obedience as his black follower, for the little creature +instantly bounded from its place by the mast on to the shoulder of its +master, who bade it go into the place from which he had just extracted +the sail. Nigel could not see this--not only because of the darkness, +but because of the intervention of the hermit's bulky person, but he +understood what had taken place by the remark--"That's a good little +fellow. Keep your head down, now, while I shut you in!" + +From the same place Van der Kemp had drawn a small triangular foresail, +which he proceeded to attach to the bow of the canoe--running its point +out by means of tackle laid along the deck--while Moses was busy reefing +the mainsail. + +From the same repository were extracted three waterproof coats, which, +when put on by the canoe-men, the tails thrust below-deck, and the +aprons drawn over them and belted round their waists, protected their +persons almost completely from water. + +"Now, Nigel," said the hermit, "unship the mast, reeve the halyard of +this foresail through the top and then re-ship it. Moses will give you +the mainsail when ready, and you can hook the halyards on to it. The +thing is too simple to require explanation to a sailor. I attend to the +foresail and Moses manages the mainsheet, but you have to mind the +halyards of both, which, as you would see if it were light enough, run +down alongside the mast. All I ask you to remember is to be smart in +obeying orders, for squalls are sometimes very sudden here--but I doubt +not that such a caution is needless." + +"I'll do my best," said Nigel. + +By this time a slight puff of air had ruffled the sea, thereby +intensifying, if possible, the blackness which already prevailed. The +tiny sails caught the puff, causing the canoe to lean slightly over, and +glide with a rippling sound through the water, while Moses steered by +means of his paddle. + +"You have put Spinkie down below, I think," said Nigel, who had been +struck more than once with the hermit's extreme tenderness and care of +the little creature. + +"Yes, to prevent it from being washed overboard. I nearly lost the poor +little thing once or twice, and now when we are likely to be caught in +bad weather I put him below." + +"Is he not apt to be suffocated?" asked Nigel. "With everything made so +tight to prevent water getting into the canoe, you necessarily prevent +air entering also." + +"I see you have a mechanical turn of mind," returned the hermit. "You +are right. Yet in so large a canoe the air would last a considerable +time to satisfy a monkey. Nevertheless, I have made provision for that. +There is a short tube alongside the mast, and fixed to it, which runs a +little below the deck and rises a foot above it so as to be well above +the wash of most waves, and in the deck near the stern there is a small +hole with a cap fitted so as to turn the water but admit the air. Thus +free circulation of air is established below deck." + +Suddenly a hissing sound was heard to windward. + +"Look out, Moses," said Van der Kemp. "There it comes. Let go the sheet. +Keep good hold of your paddle, Nigel." + +The warning was by no means unnecessary, for as the canoe's head was +turned to meet the blast, a hissing sheet of white water swept right +over the tiny craft, completely submerging it, insomuch that the three +men appeared to be sitting more than waist-deep in the water. + +"Lower the mainsail!" shouted the hermit, for the noise of wind and sea +had become deafening. + +Nigel obeyed and held on to the flapping sheet. The hermit had at the +same moment let go the foresail, the flapping of which he controlled by +a rope-tackle arranged for the purpose. He then grasped his single-blade +paddle and aided Moses in keeping her head to wind and sea. For a few +minutes this was all that could be done. Then the first violence of the +squall passed off, allowing the deck of the little craft to appear above +the tormented water. Soon the waves began to rise. + +The mere keeping of the canoe's head to wind required all the attention +of both master and man, while Nigel sat waiting for orders and looking +on with mingled feelings of surprise and curiosity. Of course they were +all three wet to the skin, for the water had got up their sleeves and +down their necks; but, being warm, that mattered little, and the oiled +aprons before mentioned, being securely fastened round their waists, +effectually prevented any of it from getting below save the little that +passed through the thickness of their own garments. + +No word was spoken for at least a quarter of an hour, during which time, +although they rose buoyantly on the water, the waves washed continually +over the low-lying deck. As this deck was flush with the gunwale, or +rather, had no gunwale at all, the water ran off it as it does off a +whale's back. + +Then there came a momentary lull. + +"Now, Moses--'bout ship!" shouted Van der Kemp. "Stand by, Nigel!" + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +Although the canoe was long--and therefore unfitted to turn quickly--the +powerful strokes of the two paddles in what may be called +counteracting-harmony brought the little craft right round with her +stern to the waves. + +"Hoist away, Nigel! We must run right before it now." + +Up went the mainsail, the tiny foresail bulged out at the same moment, +and away they went like the driving foam, appearing almost to leap from +wave to wave. All sense of danger was now overwhelmed in Nigel's mind by +that feeling of excitement and wild delight which accompanies some kinds +of rapid motion. This was, if possible, intensified by the crashing +thunder which now burst forth and the vivid lightning which began to +play, revealing from time to time the tumultuous turmoil as if in +clearest moonlight, only to plunge it again in still blacker night. + +By degrees the gale increased in fury, and it soon became evident that +neither sails nor cordage could long withstand the strain to which they +were subjected. + +"A'most too much, massa," said the negro in a suggestive shout. + +"Right, Moses," returned his master. "I was just thinking we must risk +it." + +"Risk what? I wonder," thought Nigel. + +He had not long to wait for an answer to his thought. + +"Down wi' the mainsail," was quickly followed by the lowering of the +foresail until not more than a mere corner was shown, merely to keep the +canoe end-on to the seas. Soon even this was lowered, and Van der Kemp +used his double-blade paddle to keep them in position, at the same time +telling Nigel to unship the mast. + +"And plug the hole with that," he added, handing him a bit of wood which +exactly fitted the hole in the deck. + +Watching for another lull in the blast, the hermit at last gave the +order, and round they came as before, head to wind, but not quite so +easily, and Nigel felt that they had narrowly escaped overturning in the +operation. + +"Keep her so, Moses. You can help with your paddle, Nigel, while I get +ready our anchor." + +"Anchor!" exclaimed our hero in amazement--obeying orders, however, at +the same moment. + +The hermit either did not hear the exclamation or did not care to +notice it. He quickly collected the mast and sails, with a couple of +boat-hooks and all the paddles excepting two single ones. These he bound +together by means of the sheets and halyards, attached the whole to a +hawser,--one end of which passed through an iron ring at the bow--and +tossed it into the sea--paying out the hawser rapidly at the same time +so as to put a few yards between them and their floating anchor--if it +may be so called--in the lee of which they prepared to ride out the +gale. + +It was well that they had taken the precaution to put on their +waterproofs before the gale began, because, while turned head to wind +every breaking wave swept right over their heads, and even now while +under the lee of the floating anchor they were for some time almost +continually overwhelmed by thick spray. Being, however, set free from +the necessity of keeping their tiny craft in position, they all bowed +their heads on the deck, sheltered their faces in their hands and +awaited the end! + +Whilst in this attitude--so like to that of prayer--Nigel almost +naturally thought of Him who holds the water in the hollow of His hand, +and lifted his soul to God; for, amid the roaring of the gale, the +flashes of lightning, the appalling thunder, the feeling that he was in +reality all but under the waves and the knowledge that the proverbial +plank between him and death was of the very thinnest description, a +sensation of helplessness and of dependence on the Almighty, such as he +had never before experienced, crept over him. What the thoughts of the +hermit were he could not tell, for that strange man seldom spoke about +himself; but Moses was not so reticent, for he afterwards remarked that +he had often been caught by gales while in the canoe, and had been +attached for hours to their floating anchor, but that "dat was out ob +sight de wust bust ob wedder dey'd had since dey come to lib at +Krakatoa, an' he had bery nigh giben up in despair!" + +The use of the floating breakwater was to meet the full force of the +seas and break them just before they reached the canoe. In spite of this +some of them were so tremendous that, broken though they were, the +swirling foam completely buried the craft for a second or two, but the +sharp bow cut its way through, and the water poured off the deck and off +the stooping figures like rain from a duck's back. Of course a good deal +got in at their necks, sleeves, and other small openings, and wet them +considerably, but that, as Moses remarked, "was not'ing to speak ob." + +Thus they lay tossing in the midst of the raging foam for several hours. +Now and then each would raise his head a little to see that the rope +held fast, but was glad to lower it again. They hardly knew when day +broke. It was so slow in coming, and so gloomy and dark when it did +come, that the glare of the lightning-flash seemed more cheerful. + +It may be easily believed that there was no conversation during those +hours of elemental strife, though the thoughts of each were busy enough. +At last the thunder ceased, or, rather, retired as if in growling +defiance of the world which it had failed to destroy. Then the sky began +to lighten a little, and although the wind did not materially abate in +force it became more steady and equal. Before noon, however, it had +subsided so much that Moses suggested the propriety of continuing the +voyage. To this Van der Kemp agreed, and the floating anchor was hauled +in; the large paddle was resumed by the hermit, and the dangerous +process of turning the canoe was successfully accomplished. + +When the mast was again set up and the close-reefed main and foresails +were hoisted, the light craft bounded away once more before the wind +like a fleck of foam. Then a gleam of sunshine forced its way through +the driving clouds, and painted a spot of emerald green on the heaving +sea. Soon after that Van der Kemp opened the lid, or hatch, of the +forehold, and Spinkie, jumping out with alacrity, took possession of his +usual seat beside the mast, to which he clung with affectionate +tenacity. Gradually the wind went down. Reef after reef of the two sails +was shaken out, and for several hours thereafter our travellers sped +merrily on, plunging into the troughs and cutting through the crests of +the stormy sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A LIFE-OR-DEATH PADDLE ENSUES. + + +In physics, as in morals, a storm is frequently the precursor of a dead +calm. + +Much to the monkey's joy, to say nothing of the men, the sun erelong +asserted its equatorial power, and, clearing away the clouds, allowed +the celestial blue to smile on the turmoil below. The first result of +that smile was that the wind retired to its secret chambers, leaving the +ships of men to flap their idle sails. Then the ocean ceased to fume, +though its agitated bosom still continued for some time to heave. +Gradually the swell went down and soon the unruffled surface reflected a +dimpling smile to the sky. + +When this happy stage had been reached our voyagers lowered and stowed +the canoe-sails, and continued to advance under paddles. + +"We get along wonderfully fast, Van der Kemp," said Nigel, while resting +after a pretty long spell; "but it seems to me, nevertheless, that we +shall take a considerable time to reach Borneo at this rate, seeing +that it must be over two hundred miles away, and if we have much bad +weather or contrary wind, we shan't be able to reach it for weeks--if at +all." + +"I have been thrown somewhat out of my reckoning," returned the hermit, +"by having to fly from the party on the islet, where I meant to remain +till a steamer, owned by a friend of mine, should pass and pick us up, +canoe and all. The steamer is a short-voyage craft, and usually so +punctual that I can count on it to a day. But it may have passed us in +the gale. If so, I shall take advantage of the first vessel that will +agree to lend us a hand." + +"How!--Do you get them to tow you?" + +"Nay, that were impossible. A jerk from the tow-rope of a steamer at +full speed would tear us asunder. Have you observed these two strong +ropes running all round our gunwale, and the bridles across with +ring-bolts in them?" + +"I have, and did not ask their use, as I thought they were merely meant +to strengthen the canoe." + +"So they are," continued the hermit, "but they have other uses +besides--" + +"Massa," cried Moses, at this point. "You'll 'scuse me for 'truptin' +you, but it's my opinion dat Spinkie's sufferin' jus' now from a empty +stummik!" + +The hermit smiled and Nigel laughed. Laying down his paddle the former +said-- + +"I understand, Moses. That speech means that you are suffering from the +same complaint. Well--get out the biscuit." + +"Jus' de way oh de wurld," muttered the negro with a bland smile. "If a +poor man obsarves an' feels for de sorrows ob anoder, he allers gits +credit for t'inkin' ob hisself. Neber mind, I's used to it!" + +Evidently the unjust insinuation did not weigh heavily on the negro's +spirit, for he soon began to eat with the appetite of a healthy +alligator. + +While he was thus engaged, he chanced to raise his eyes towards the +south-western horizon, and there saw something which caused him to +splutter, for his mouth was too full to speak, but his speaking eyes and +pointing finger caused his companions to turn their faces quickly to the +quarter indicated. + +"A steamer!" exclaimed the hermit and Nigel in the same breath. + +The vessel in question was coming straight towards them, and a very +short time enabled Van der Kemp to recognise with satisfaction the +steamer owned by his friend. + +"Look here, run that to the mast-head," said Van der Kemp, handing a red +flag to Nigel. "We lie so low in the water that they might pass quite +close without observing us if we showed no signal." + +An immediate though slight change in the course of the steamer showed +that the signal had been seen. Hereupon the hermit and Moses performed +an operation on the canoe which still further aroused Nigel's surprise +and curiosity. He resolved to ask no questions, however, but to await +the issue of events. + +From the marvellous hold of the canoe, which seemed to be a magazine for +the supply of every human need, Moses drew a short but strong rope or +cable, with a ring in the middle of it, and a hook at each end. He +passed one end along to his master who hooked it to the bridle-rope at +the bow before referred to. The other end was hooked to the bridle in +the stern, so that the ring in the centre came close to Nigel's elbow. + +This arrangement had barely been completed when the steamer was within +hail, but no hail was given, for the captain knew what was expected of +him. He reduced speed as the vessel approached the canoe, and finally +came almost to a stop as he ranged alongside. + +"What cheer, Van der Kemp? D'ye want a lift to-day?" shouted the +skipper, looking over the side. + +A nod and a wave of the hand was the hermit's reply. + +"Heave a rope, boys--bow and stern--and lower away the tackle," was the +skipper's order. + +A coil was flung to Van der Kemp, who deftly caught it and held on +tight. Another was flung to Moses, who also caught it and held +on--slack. At the same moment, Nigel saw a large block with a hook +attached descending towards his head. + +"Catch it, Nigel, and hook it to the ring at your elbow," said the +hermit. + +Our hero obeyed, still in surprise, though a glimmer of what was to +follow began to dawn. + +"Haul away!" shouted the skipper, and next moment the canoe was swinging +in the air, kept in position by the lines in the hands of Van der Kemp +and Moses. At the same time another order was given, and the steamer +went ahead full speed. + +It was all so suddenly done, and seemed such a reckless proceeding, that +Nigel found himself on the steamer's deck, with the canoe reposing +beside him, before he had recovered from his surprise sufficiently to +acknowledge in suitable terms the welcome greeting of the hospitable +skipper. + +"You see, Nigel," said Van der Kemp that night, as the two friends paced +the deck together after supper, "I have other means, besides paddles and +sails, of getting quickly about in the Java seas. Many of the traders +and skippers here know me, and give me a lift in this way when I require +it." + +"Very kind of them, and very convenient," returned Nigel. He felt +inclined to add: "But why all this moving about?" for it was quite +evident that trade was not the hermit's object, but the question, as +usual, died on his lips, and he somewhat suddenly changed the subject. + +"D'ye know, Van der Kemp, that I feel as if I must have seen you +somewhere or other before now, for your features seem strangely familiar +to me. Have you ever been in England?" + +"Never. As I have told you, I was born in Java, and was educated in +Hongkong at an English School. But a fancy of this sort is not very +uncommon. I myself once met a perfect stranger who bore so strong a +resemblance to an old friend, that I spoke to him as such, and only +found out from his voice that I was mistaken." + +The captain of the steamer came on deck at that moment and cut short the +conversation. + +"Are you engaged, Van der Kemp?" he asked. + +"No--I am at your service." + +"Come below then, I want to have a talk with you." + +Thus left alone, and overhearing a loud burst of laughter at the fore +part of the steamer, Nigel went forward to see what was going on. He +found a group of sailors round his comrade Moses, apparently engaged in +good-natured "chaff." + +"Come, now, blackey," said one; "be a good fellow for once in your life +an' tell us what makes your master live on a desert island like Robinson +Crusoe, an' go about the ocean in a canoe." + +"Look 'ere now, whitey," returned Moses, "what you take me for?" + +"A nigger, of course." + +"Ob course, an' you're right for once, which is sitch an unusual t'ing +dat I 'dvise you go an' ax de cappen to make a note ob it in de log. I's +a nigger, an' a nigger's so much more 'cute dan a white man dat you +shouldn't ought to expect him to blab his massa's secrets." + +"Right you are, Moses. Come, then, if you won't reweal secrets, give us +a song." + +"Couldn't t'ink ob such a t'ing," said the negro, with a solemn, +remonstrant shake of the head. + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause I neber sing a song widout a moral, an' I don't like to hurt +your feelin's by singin' a moral dat would be sure to waken up _some_ o' +your consciences." + +"Never mind that, darkey. Our consciences are pretty tough. Heave +ahead." + +"But dere's a chorus," said Moses, looking round doubtfully. + +"What o' that? We'll do our best with it--if it ain't too difficult." + +"Oh, it's not diffikilt, but if de lazy fellers among you sings de +chorus dey'll be singin' lies, an' I don't 'zackly like to help men to +tell lies. Howseber, here goes. It begins wid de chorus so's you may +know it afore you has to sing it." + +So saying, Moses struck two fingers on the capstan after the manner of a +tuning-fork, and, holding them gravely to his ear as if to get the right +pitch, began in a really fine manly voice to chant the following +ditty:-- + +"GO TO WORK." + + Oh when de sun am shinin' bright, and eberyt'ing am fair, + Clap on de steam an' go to work, an' take your proper share. + De wurld hab got to go ahead, an' dem what's young and strong + Mus' do deir best, wid all de rest, to roll de wurld along. + + De lazy man does all he can to stop its whirlin' round. + If he was king he'd loaf an' sing--and guzzle, I'll be bound, + He always shirk de hardest work, an' t'ink he's awful clebbar, + But boder his head to earn his bread, Oh! no, he'll nebber, nebber. + _Chorus_--Oh when de sun, etc. + + De selfish man would rader dan put out his hand to work, + Let women toil, an' sweat and moil--as wicked as de Turk. + De cream ob eberyt'ing he wants, let oders hab de skim; + In fact de wurld and all it holds was only made for him. + _Chorus_--Oh when de sun, etc. + + So keep de ball a-rollin', boys, an' each one do his best + To make de wurld a happy one--for dat's how man is blest. + Do unto oders all around de t'ing what's good and true, + An' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to you. + _Chorus_--Oh when de sun, etc. + +The sailors, who were evidently much pleased, took up the chorus +moderately at the second verse, came out strong at the third, and sang +with such genuine fervour at the last that it was quite evident, as +Moses remarked, there was not a lazy man amongst them--at least, if they +all sang conscientiously! + +The weather improved every hour, and after a fine run of about +twenty-four hours over that part of the Malay Sea, our three voyagers +were lowered over the steamer's side in their canoe when within sight of +the great island of Borneo. + +"I'm sorry," said the captain at parting, "that our courses diverge +here, for I would gladly have had your company a little longer. +Good-bye. I hope we'll come across you some other time when I'm in these +parts." + +"Thanks--thanks, my friend,'" replied Van der Kemp, with a warm grip of +the hand, and a touch of pathos in his tones. "I trust that we shall +meet again. You have done me good service by shortening my voyage +considerably.--Farewell." + +"I say, Moses," shouted one of the seamen, as he looked down on the tiny +canoe while they were pushing off. + +"Hallo?" + +"Keep your heart up, for--we'll try to 'do to oders all around de t'ing +what's good an' true!'" + +"Das de way, boy--'an' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to +you!'" + +He yelled rather than sang this at the top of his tuneful voice, and +waved his hand as the sharp craft shot away over the sea. + +Fortunately the sea was calm, for it was growing dark when they reached +the shores of Borneo and entered the mouth of a small stream, up which +they proceeded to paddle. The banks of the stream were clothed with +mangrove trees. We have said the banks, but in truth the mouth of that +river had no distinguishable banks at all, for it is the nature of the +mangrove to grow in the water--using its roots as legs with which, as it +were, to wade away from shore. When darkness fell suddenly on the +landscape, as it is prone to do in tropical regions, the gnarled roots +of those mangroves assumed the appearance of twining snakes in Nigel's +eyes. Possessing a strongly imaginative mind he could with difficulty +resist the belief that he saw them moving slimily about in the black +water, and, in the dim mysterious light, tree stems and other objects +assumed the appearance of hideous living forms, so that he was enabled +to indulge the uncomfortable fancy that they were traversing some +terrestrial Styx into one of Dante's regions of horror. + +In some respects this was not altogether a fancy, for they were +unwittingly drawing near to a band of human beings whose purposes, if +fully carried out, would render the earth little better than a hell to +many of their countrymen. + +It is pretty well known that there is a class of men in Borneo called +Head Hunters. These men hold the extraordinary and gruesome opinion that +a youth has not attained to respectable manhood until he has taken the +life of some human being. + +There are two distinct classes of Dyaks--those who inhabit the hills and +those who dwell on the sea-coast. It is the latter who recruit the ranks +of the pirates of those eastern seas, and it was to the camp of a band +of such villains that our adventurers were, as already said, unwittingly +drawing near. + +They came upon them at a bend of the dark river beyond which point the +mangroves gave place to other trees--but what sort of trees they were it +was scarcely light enough to make out very distinctly, except in the +case of the particular tree in front of which the Dyaks were encamped, +the roots of which were strongly illuminated by their camp fire. We say +_roots_ advisedly, for this singular and gigantic tree started its +branches from a complexity of aërial roots which themselves formed a +pyramid some sixty feet high, before the branches proper of the tree +began. + +If our voyagers had used oars the sharp ears of the pirates would have +instantly detected them. As it was, the softly moving paddles and the +sharp cutwater of the canoe made no noise whatever. The instant that Van +der Kemp, from his position in the bow, observed the camp, he dipped his +paddle deep, and noiselessly backed water. There was no need to give any +signal to his servant. Such a thorough understanding existed between +them that the mere action of the hermit was sufficient to induce the +negro to support him by a similar movement on the opposite side, and the +canoe glided as quickly backward as it had previously advanced. When +under the deep shadow of the bank Moses thrust the canoe close in, and +his master, laying hold of the bushes, held fast and made a sign to him +to land and reconnoitre. + +Creeping forward to an opening in the bushes close at hand, Moses peeped +through. Then he turned and made facial signals of a kind so complicated +that he could not be understood, as nothing was visible save the +flashing of his teeth and eyes. Van der Kemp therefore recalled him by a +sign, and, stepping ashore, whispered Nigel to land. + +[Illustration: DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC.--PAGE 164.] + +Another minute and the three travellers stood on the bank with their +heads close together. + +"Wait here for me," said the hermit, in the lowest possible whisper. "I +will go and see who they are." + +"Strange," said Nigel, when he was gone; "strange that in so short a +time your master should twice have to stalk strangers in this way. +History repeats itself, they say. It appears to do so rather fast in +these regions! Does he not run a very great risk of being discovered?" + +"Not de smallest," replied the negro, with as much emphasis as was +possible in a whisper. "Massa hab ride wid de Vaquieros ob Ameriky an' +hunt wid de Injuns on de Rockies. No more fear ob deir ketchin' him dan +ob ketchin' a streak o' lightnin'. He come back bery soon wid all de +news." + +Moses was a true prophet. Within half-an-hour Van der Kemp returned as +noiselessly as he had gone. He did not keep them long in uncertainty. + +"I have heard enough," he whispered, "to assure me that a plot, of which +I had already heard a rumour, has nearly been laid. We fell in with the +chief plotters on the islet the other night; the band here is in +connection with them and awaits their arrival before carrying out their +dark designs. There is nothing very mysterious about it. One tribe +plotting to attack another--that is all; but as a friend of mine dwells +just now with the tribe to be secretly attacked, it behoves me to do +what I can to save him. I am perplexed, however. It would seem sometimes +as if we were left in perplexity for wise purposes which are beyond our +knowledge." + +"Perhaps to test our willingness to _do right_," suggested Nigel. + +"I know not," returned the hermit, as if musing, but never raising his +voice above the softest whisper. "My difficulty lies here; I _must_ go +forward to save the life of my friend. I must _not_ leave you at the +mouth of a mangrove river to die or be captured by pirates, and yet I +have no right to ask you to risk your life on my account!" + +"You may dismiss your perplexities then," said Nigel, promptly, "for I +decline to be left to die here or to be caught by pirates, and I am +particularly anxious to assist you in rescuing your friend. Besides, am +I not your hired servant?" + +"The risk we run is only at the beginning," said Van der Kemp. "If we +succeed in passing the Dyaks unseen all will be well. If they see us, +they will give chase, and our lives, under God, will depend on the +strength of our arms, for I am known to them and have thwarted their +plans before now. If they catch us, death will be our certain doom. Are +you prepared?" + +"Ready!" whispered Nigel. + +Without another word the hermit took his place in the bow of the canoe. +Moses stepped into the stern, and our hero sat down in the middle. + +Before pushing off, the hermit drew a revolver and a cutlass from his +store-room in the bow and handed them to Nigel, who thrust the first +into his belt and fastened the other to the deck by means of a strap +fixed there on purpose to prevent its being rolled or swept off. This +contrivance, as well as all the other appliances in the canoe, had +previously been pointed out and explained to him. The hermit and negro +having armed themselves in similar way, let go the bushes which held +them close to the bank and floated out into the stream. They let the +canoe drift down a short way so as to be well concealed by the bend in +the river and a mass of bushes. Then they slowly paddled over to the +opposite side and commenced to creep up as close to the bank as +possible, under the deep shadow of overhanging trees, and so noiselessly +that they appeared in the darkness like a passing phantom. + +But the sharp eyes of the pirates were too much accustomed to phantoms +of every kind to be easily deceived. Just as the canoe was about to pass +beyond the line of their vision a stir was heard in their camp. Then a +stern challenge rolled across the river and awoke the slumbering echoes +of the forest--perchance to the surprise and scaring away of some +prowling beast of prey. + +"No need for concealment now," said Van der Kemp, quietly; "we must +paddle for life. If you have occasion to use your weapons, Nigel, take +no life needlessly. Moses knows my mind on this point and needs no +warning. Any fool can take away life. Only God can give it." + +"I will be careful," replied Nigel, as he dipped his paddle with all the +muscular power at his command. His comrades did the same, and the canoe +shot up the river like an arrow. + +A yell from the Dyaks, and the noise of jumping into and pushing off +their boats told that there was no time to lose. + +"They are strong men, and plenty of them to relieve each other," said +the hermit, who now spoke in his ordinary tones, "so they have some +chance of overhauling us in the smooth water; but a few miles further up +there is a rapid which will stop them and will only check us. If we can +reach it we shall be safe." + +While he was speaking every muscle in his broad back and arms was +strained to the uttermost; so also were the muscles of his companions, +and the canoe seemed to advance by a series of rapid leaps and bounds. +Yet the sound of the pursuers' oars seemed to increase, and soon the +proverb "it is the pace that kills" received illustration, for the speed +of the canoe began to decrease a little--very little at first--while the +pursuers, with fresh hands at the oars, gradually overhauled the +fugitives. + +"Put on a spurt!" said the hermit, setting the example. + +The pirates heard the words and understood either them or the action +that followed, for they also "put on a spurt," and encouraged each other +with a cheer. + +Moses heard the cheer, and at the same time heard the sound of the rapid +to which they were by that time drawing near. He glanced over his +shoulder and could make out the dim form of the leading boat, with a +tall figure standing up in the bow, not thirty yards behind. + +"Shall we manage it, Moses?" asked Van der Kemp, in that calm steady +voice which seemed to be unchangeable either by anxiety or peril. + +"No, massa. Unpossable--widout _dis_!" + +The negro drew the revolver from his belt, slewed round, took rapid aim +and fired. + +The tall figure in the bow of the boat fell back with a crash and a +hideous yell. Great shouting and confusion followed, and the boat +dropped behind. A few minutes later and the canoe was leaping over the +surges of a shallow rapid. They dashed from eddy to eddy, taking +advantage of every stone that formed a tail of backwater below it, and +gradually worked the light craft upward in a way that the hermit and his +man had learned in the nor'-western rivers of America. + +"We are not safe yet," said the former, resting and wiping his brow as +they floated for a few seconds in a calm basin at the head of the +rapid. + +"Surely they cannot take a boat up such a place as that!" + +"Nay, but they can follow up the banks on foot. However, we will soon +baffle them, for the river winds like a serpent just above this, and by +carrying our canoe across one, two, or three spits of land we will gain +a distance in an hour or so that would cost them nearly a day to ascend +in boats. They know that, and will certainly give up the chase. I think +they have given it up already, but it is well to make sure." + +"I wonder why they did not fire at us," remarked Nigel. + +"Probably because they felt sure of catching us," returned the hermit, +"and when they recovered from the confusion that Moses threw them into +we were lost to them in darkness, besides being pretty well beyond +range. I hope, Moses, that you aimed low." + +"Yes, massa--but it's sca'cely fair when life an' def am in de balance +to expect me to hit 'im on de legs on a dark night. Legs is a bad +targit. Bullet's apt to pass between 'em. Howseber, dat feller won't hop +much for some time to come!" + +A couple of hours later, having carried the canoe and baggage across the +spits of land above referred to, and thus put at least half-a-day's +journey between themselves and their foes, they came to a halt for the +night. + +"It won't be easy to find a suitable place to camp on," remarked Nigel, +glancing at the bank, where the bushes grew so thick that they overhung +the water, brushing the faces of our travellers and rendering the +darkness so intense that they had literally to feel their way as they +glided along. + +"We will encamp where we are," returned the hermit. "I'll make fast to a +bush and you may get out the victuals, Moses." + +"Das de bery best word you've said dis day, massa," remarked the negro +with a profound sigh. "I's pritty well tired now, an' de bery t'ought ob +grub comforts me!" + +"Do you mean that we shall sleep in the canoe?" asked Nigel. + +"Ay, why not?" returned the hermit, who could be heard, though not seen, +busying himself with the contents of the fore locker. "You'll find the +canoe a pretty fair bed. You have only to slip down and pull your head +and shoulders through the manhole and go to sleep. You won't want +blankets in this weather, and, see--there is a pillow for you and +another for Moses." + +"I cannot _see_, but I can feel," said Nigel, with a soft laugh, as he +passed the pillow aft. + +"T'ank ee, Nadgel," said Moses; "here--feel behind you an' you'll find +grub for yourself an' some to pass forid to massa. Mind when you slip +down for go to sleep dat you don't dig your heels into massa's skull. +Dere's no bulkhead to purtect it." + +"I'll be careful," said Nigel, beginning his invisible supper with keen +appetite. "But how about _my_ skull, Moses? Is there a bulkhead between +it and _your_ heels?" + +"No, but you don't need to mind, for I allers sleeps doubled up, wid my +knees agin my chin. It makes de arms an' legs feel more sociable like." + +With this remark Moses ceased to encourage conversation--his mouth being +otherwise engaged. + +Thereafter they slipped down into their respective places, laid their +heads on their pillows and fell instantly into sound repose, while the +dark waters flowed sluggishly past, and the only sound that disturbed +the universal stillness was the occasional cry of some creature of the +night or the flap of an alligator's tail. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A NEW FRIEND FOUND--NEW DANGERS ENCOUNTERED AND HEW HOPES DELAYED. + + +When grey dawn began to dispel the gloom of night, Nigel Roy awoke with +an uncomfortable sensation of having been buried alive. Stretching +himself as was his wont he inadvertently touched the head of Van der +Kemp, an exclamation from whom aroused Moses, who, uncoiling himself, +awoke Spinkie. It was usually the privilege of that affectionate +creature to nestle in the negro's bosom. + +With the alacrity peculiar to his race, Spinkie sprang through the +manhole and sat down in his particular place to superintend, perhaps to +admire, the work of his human friends, whose dishevelled heads emerged +simultaneously from their respective burrows. + +Dawn is a period of the day when the spirit of man is calmly reflective. +Speech seemed distasteful that morning, and as each knew what had to be +done, it was needless. The silently conducted operations of the men +appeared to arouse fellow-feeling in the monkey, for its careworn +countenance became more and more expressive as it gazed earnestly and +alternately into the faces of its comrades. To all appearance it seemed +about to speak--but it didn't. + +Pushing out from the shore they paddled swiftly up stream, and soon put +such a distance between them and their late pursuers that all risk of +being overtaken was at an end. + +All day they advanced inland without rest, save at the breakfast hour, +and again at mid-day to dine. Towards evening they observed that the +country through which they were passing had changed much in character +and aspect. The low and swampy region had given place to hillocks and +undulating ground, all covered with the beautiful virgin forest with its +palms and creepers and noble fruit-trees and rich vegetation, +conspicuous among which magnificent ferns of many kinds covered the +steep banks of the stream. + +On rounding a point of the river the travellers came suddenly upon an +interesting group, in the midst of a most beautiful woodland scene. +Under the trees on a flat spot by the river-bank were seated round a +fire a man and a boy and a monkey. The monkey was a tame orang-utan, +youthful but large. The boy was a Dyak in light cotton drawers, with the +upper part of his body naked, brass rings on his arms, heavy ornaments +in his ears, and a bright kerchief worn as a turban on his head. The man +was a sort of nondescript in a semi-European shooting garb, with a +wide-brimmed sombrero on his head, black hair, a deeply tanned face, a +snub nose, huge beard and moustache, and immense blue spectacles. + +Something not unlike a cheer burst from the usually undemonstrative Van +der Kemp on coming in sight of the party, and he waved his hand as if in +recognition. The nondescript replied by starting to his feet, throwing +up both arms and giving vent to an absolute roar of joy. + +"He seems to know you," remarked Nigel, as they made for a +landing-place. + +"Yes. He is the friend I have come to rescue," replied the hermit in a +tone of quiet satisfaction. "He is a naturalist and lives with the Rajah +against whom the pirates are plotting." + +"He don't look z'if he needs much rescuin'," remarked Moses with a +chuckle, as they drew to land. + +The man looked in truth as if he were well able to take care of himself +in most circumstances, being of colossal bulk although somewhat short of +limb. + +"Ah! mein frond! mine brodder!" he exclaimed, in fairly idiomatic +English, but with a broken pronunciation that was a mixture of Dutch, +American, and Malay. His language therefore, like himself, was +nondescript. In fact he was an American-born Dutchman, who had been +transported early in life to the Straits Settlements, had received most +of his education in Hongkong, was an old school-fellow of Van der Kemp, +became an enthusiastic naturalist, and, being possessed of independent +means, spent most of his time in wandering about the various islands of +the archipelago, making extensive collections of animal and vegetable +specimens, which he distributed with liberal hand to whatever museums at +home or abroad seemed most to need or desire them. Owing to his tastes +and habits he had been dubbed Professor by his friends. + +"Ach! Van der Kemp," he exclaimed, while his coal-black eyes glittered +as they shook hands, "_vat_ a booterfly I saw to-day! It beat all +creation! The vay it flew--oh! But, excuse me--v'ere did you come from, +and vy do you come? An' who is your frond?" + +He turned to Nigel as he spoke, and doffed his sombrero with a gracious +bow. + +"An Englishman--Nigel Roy--who has joined me for a few months," said the +hermit. "Let me introduce you, Nigel, to my good friend, Professor +Verkimier." + +Nigel held out his hand and gave the naturalist's a shake so hearty, +that a true friendship was begun on the spot--a friendship which was +rapidly strengthened when the professor discovered that the English +youth had a strong leaning towards his own favourite studies. + +"Ve vill hont an' shot togezzer, mine frond," he said, on making this +discovery, "ant I vill show you v'ere de best booterflies are to be +fount--Oh! sooch a von as I saw to---- but, excuse me, Van der Kemp. Vy +you come here joost now?" + +"To save _you_" said the hermit, with a scintillation of his +half-pitiful smile. + +"To safe _me_!" exclaimed Verkimier, with a look of surprise which was +greatly intensified by the rotundity of the blue spectacles. "Vell, I +don't feel to vant safing joost at present." + +"It is not that danger threatens _you_ so much as your friend the +Rajah," returned the hermit. "But if he falls, all under his protection +fall along with him. I happen to have heard of a conspiracy against him, +on so large a scale that certain destruction would follow if he were +taken by surprise, so I have come on in advance of the conspirators to +warn him in time. You know I have received much kindness from the Rajah, +so I could do no less than warn him of impending danger, and then the +fact that you were with him made me doubly anxious to reach you in +time." + +While the hermit was saying this, the naturalist removed his blue +glasses, and slowly wiped them with a corner of his coat-tails. +Replacing them, he gazed intently into the grave countenance of his +friend till he had finished speaking. + +"Are zee raskils near?" he asked, sternly. + +"No. We have come on many days ahead of them. But we found a party at +the river's mouth awaiting their arrival." + +"Ant zey cannot arrife, you say, for several veeks?" + +"Probably not--even though they had fair and steady winds." + +A sigh of satisfaction broke through the naturalist's moustache on +hearing this. + +"Zen I vill--_ve_ vill, you and I, Mister Roy,--go after ze booterflies +to-morrow!" + +"But we must push on," remonstrated Van der Kemp, "for preparations to +resist an attack cannot be commenced too soon." + +"_You_ may push on, mine frond; go ahead if you vill, but I vill not +leave zee booterflies. You know veil zat I vill die--if need be--for zee +Rajah. Ve must all die vonce, at least, and I should like to die--if I +must die--in a goot cause. What cause better zan frondship? But you say +joost now zere is no dancher. Vell, I vill go ant see zee booterflies +to-morrow. After zat, I will go ant die--if it must be--vith zee Rajah." + +"I heartily applaud your sentiment," said Nigel, with a laugh, as he +helped himself to some of the food which the Dyak youth and Moses had +prepared, "and if Van der Kemp will give me leave of absence I will +gladly keep you company." + +"Zank you. Pass round zee victuals. My appetite is strong. It alvays vas +more or less strong. Vat say you, Van der Kemp?" + +"I have no objection. Moses and I can easily take the canoe up the +river. There are no rapids, and it is not far to the Rajah's village; so +you are welcome to go, Nigel." + +"Das de most 'straord'nary craze I eber know'd men inflicted wid!" said +Moses that night, as he sat smoking his pipe beside the Dyak boy. "It +passes my compr'ension what fun dey find runnin' like child'n arter +butterflies, an' beetles, an' sitch like varmint. My massa am de wisest +man on eart', yet _he_ go a little wild dat way too--sometimes!" + +Moses looked at the Dyak boy with a puzzled expression, but as the Dyak +boy did not understand English, he looked intently at the fire, and said +nothing. + +Next morning Nigel entered the forest under the guidance of Verkimier +and the Dyak youth, and the orang-utan, which followed like a dog, and +sometimes even took hold of its master's arm and walked with him as if +it had been a very small human being. It was a new experience to Nigel +to walk in the sombre shade beneath the tangled arches of the +wilderness. In some respects it differed entirely from his expectations, +and in others it surpassed them. The gloom was deeper than he had +pictured it, but the shade was not displeasing in a land so close to the +equator. Then the trees were much taller than he had been led to +suppose, and the creeping plants more numerous, while, to his surprise, +the wild-flowers were comparatively few and small. But the scarcity of +these was somewhat compensated by the rich and brilliant colouring of +the foliage. + +The abundance and variety of the ferns also struck the youth +particularly. + +"Ah! zey are magnificent!" exclaimed Verkimier with enthusiasm. "Look at +zat tree-fern. You have not'ing like zat in England--eh! I have found +nearly von hoondred specimens of ferns. Zen, look at zee fruit-trees. Ve +have here, you see, zee Lansat, Mangosteen, Rambutan, Jack, Jambon, +Blimbing ant many ozers--but zee queen of fruits is zee Durian. Have you +tasted zee Durian?" + +"No, not yet." + +"Ha! a new sensation is before you! Stay, you vill eat von by ant by. +Look, zat is a Durian tree before you." + +He pointed as he spoke to a large and lofty tree, which Mr. A.R. +Wallace, the celebrated naturalist and traveller, describes as +resembling an elm in general character but with a more smooth and scaly +bark. The fruit is round, or slightly oval, about the size of a man's +head, of a green colour, and covered all over with short spines which +are very strong and so sharp that it is difficult to lift the fruit from +the ground. Only the experienced and expert can cut the tough outer +rind. There are five faint lines extending from the base to the apex of +the fruit, through which it may be divided with a heavy knife and a +strong hand, so as to get to the delicious creamy pulp inside. + +There is something paradoxical in the descriptions of this fruit by +various writers, but all agree that it is inexpressibly good! Says +one--writing of the sixteenth century--"It is of such an excellent taste +that it surpasses in flavour all the other fruits of the world." Another +writes: "This fruit is of a hot and humid nature. To those not used to +it, it seems at first to smell like rotten onions! but immediately they +have tasted it they prefer it to all other food." Wallace himself says +of it: "When brought into the house, the smell is so offensive that some +persons can never bear to taste it. This was my own case in Malacca, but +in Borneo I found a ripe fruit on the ground, and, eating it out of +doors, I at once became a confirmed Durian-eater!" + +This was exactly the experience of Nigel Roy that day, and the way in +which the fruit came to him was also an experience, but of a very +different sort. It happened just as they were looking about for a +suitable spot on which to rest and eat their mid-day meal. Verkimier was +in front with the orang-utan reaching up to his arm and hobbling +affectionately by his side--for there was a strong mutual affection +between them. The Dyak youth brought up the rear, with a sort of +game-bag on his shoulders. + +Suddenly Nigel felt something graze his arm, and heard a heavy thud at +his side. It was a ripe Durian which had fallen from an immense height +and missed him by a hairbreadth. + +"Zank Got, you have escaped!" exclaimed the professor, looking back with +a solemn countenance. + +"I have indeed escaped what might have been a severe blow," said Nigel, +stooping to examine the fruit, apparently forgetful that more might +follow. + +"Come--come avay. My boy vill bring it. Men are sometimes killed by zis +fruit. Here now ve vill dine." + +They sat down on a bank which was canopied by ferns. While the boy was +arranging their meal, Verkimier drew a heavy hunting-knife from his belt +and applying it with an unusually strong hand to the Durian laid it +open. Nigel did not at all relish the smell, but he was not fastidious +or apt to be prejudiced. He tasted--and, like Mr. Wallace, "became a +confirmed Durian eater" from that day. + +"Ve draw near to zee region vere ve shall find zee booterflies," said +the naturalist, during a pause in their luncheon. + +"I hope we shall be successful," said Nigel, helping himself to some +more of what may be styled Durian cream. "To judge from the weight and +hardness of this fruit, I should think a blow on one's head from it +would be fatal." + +"Sometimes, not alvays. I suppose zat Dyak skulls are strong. But zee +wound is terrible, for zee spikes tear zee flesh dreadfully. Zee Dyak +chief, Rajah, vith whom I dwell joost now, was floored once by one, and +he expected to die--but he did not. He is alife ant vell, as you shall +see." + +As he spoke a large butterfly fluttered across the scene of their +festivities. With all the energy of his enthusiastic spirit and strong +muscular frame the naturalist leaped up, overturned his dinner, rushed +after the coveted _specimen_, tripped over a root, and measured his +length on the ground. + +"Zat comes of too much horry!" he remarked, as he picked up his glasses, +and returned, humbly, to continue his dinner. "Mine frond, learn a +lesson from a foolish man!" + +"I shall learn two lessons," said Nigel, laughing--"first, to avoid +your too eager haste, and, second, to copy if I can your admirable +enthusiasm." + +"You are very goot. Some more cheekin' if you please. Zanks. Ve most +make haste viz our meal ant go to vork." + +The grandeur and novelty of the scenery through which they passed when +they did go to work was a source of constant delight and surprise to our +hero, whose inherent tendency to take note of and admire the wonderful +works of God was increased by the unflagging enthusiasm and interesting +running commentary of his companion, whose flow of language and eager +sympathy formed a striking contrast to the profound silence and gravity +of the Dyak youth, as well as to the pathetic and affectionate +selfishness of the man-monkey. + +It must not, however, be supposed that the young orang-utan was unworthy +of his victuals, for, besides being an amusing and harmless companion, +he had been trained to use his natural capacity for climbing trees in +the service of his master. Thus he ascended the tall Durian trees, when +ordered, and sent down some of the fruit in a few minutes--an operation +which his human companions could not have accomplished without tedious +delay and the construction of an ingenious ladder having slender bamboos +for one of its sides, and the tree to be ascended for its other side, +with splinters of bamboo driven into it by way of rounds. + +"Zat is zee pitcher-plant," said Verkimier, as Nigel stopped suddenly +before a plant which he had often read of but never seen. He was told by +his friend that pitcher-plants were very numerous in that region; that +every mountain-top abounded with them; that they would be found trailing +along the ground and climbing over shrubs and stunted trees, with their +elegant pitchers hanging in every direction. Some of these, he said, +were long and slender, others broad and short. The plant at which they +were looking was a broad green one, variously tinted and mottled with +red, and was large enough to hold two quarts of water. + +Resuming the march Nigel observed that the group of orchids was +abundant, but a large proportion of the species had small inconspicuous +flowers. Some, however, had large clusters of yellow flowers which had a +very ornamental effect on the sombre forest. But, although the +exceptions were striking, he found that in Borneo, as elsewhere, flowers +were scarcer than he had expected in an equatorial forest. There were, +however, more than enough of striking and surprising things to engage +the attention of our hero, and arouse his interest. + +One tree they came to which rendered him for some moments absolutely +speechless! to the intense delight of the professor, who marched his +new-found sympathiser from one object of interest to another with the +secret intention of surprising him, and when he had got him to the point +of open-mouthed amazement he was wont to turn his spectacles full on his +face, like the mouths of a blue binocular, in order to witness and enjoy +his emotions! + +Nigel found this out at last and was rather embarrassed in consequence. + +"Zat," exclaimed the naturalist, after gazing at his friend for some +time in silence, "zat is a tree vitch planted itself in mid-air and zen +sent its roots down to zee ground and its branches up to zee sky!" + +"It looks as if it had," returned Nigel; "I have seen a tree of the same +kind near the coast. How came it to grow in this way?" + +"I know not. It is zought zat zey spring from a seed dropped by a bird +into zee fork of anozer tree. Zee seed grows, sends his roots down ant +his branches up. Ven his roots reach zee ground he lays hold, ant, ven +strong enough, kills his support--zus returning efil for good, like a +zankless dependent. Ah! zere is much resemblance between plants and +animals! Com', ve must feed here," said the professor, resting his gun +against one of the roots, "I had expected to find zee booterflies +sooner. It cannot be helped. Let us make zis our banqueting-hall. Ve +vill have a Durian to refresh us, ant here is a bandy tree which seems +to have ripe vones on it.--Go," he added, turning to the orang-utan, +"and send down von or two." + +The creature looked helplessly incapable, pitifully unwilling, +scratching its side the while. Evidently it was a lazy monkey. + +"Do you hear?" said Verkimier, sternly. + +The orang moved uneasily, but still declined to go. + +Turning sharply on it, the professor bent down, placed a hand on each of +his knees and stared through the blue goggles into the animal's face. + +This was more than it could stand. With a very bad grace it hobbled off +to the Durian tree, ascended it with a sort of lazy, lumbering facility, +and hurled down some of the fruit without warning those below to look +out. + +"My little frond is obstinate sometimes," remarked the naturalist, +picking up the fruit, "but ven I bring my glasses to bear on him he +alvays gives in. I never found zem fail. Come now; eat, an' ve vill go +to vork again. Ve must certainly find zee booterflies somevere before +night." + +[Illustration: "DO YOU HEAR?" SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY.--PAGE 187.] + +But Verkimier was wrong. It was his destiny not to find the butterflies +that night, or in that region at all, for he and his companion had not +quite finished their meal when a Dyak youth came running up to them +saying that he had been sent by the Rajah to order their immediate +return to the village. + +"Alas! ve most go. It is dancherous to disobey zee Rajah--ant I am +sorry--very sorry--zat I cannot show you zee booterflies to-day. No +matter.--Go" (to the Dyak youth), "tell your chief ve vill come. Better +lock zee next time!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +HUNTING THE GREAT MAN-MONKEY. + + +Although Professor Verkimier had promised to return at once, he was +compelled to encamp in the forest, being overtaken by night before he +could reach the river and procure a boat. + +Next morning they started at daybreak. The country over which they +passed had again changed its character and become more hilly. On the +summits of many of the hills Dyak villages could be seen, and rice +fields were met with as they went along. Several gullies and rivulets +were crossed by means of native bamboo bridges, and the professor +explained as he went along the immense value of the bamboo to the +natives. With it they make their suspension bridges, build their houses, +and procure narrow planking for their floors. If they want broader +planks they split a large bamboo on one side and flatten it out to a +plank of about eighteen inches wide. Portions of hollow bamboo serve as +receptacles for milk or water. If a precipice stops a path, the Dyaks +will not hesitate to construct a bamboo path along the face of it, using +branches of trees wherever convenient from which to hang the path, and +every crevice or notch in the rocks to receive the ends of the bamboos +by which it is supported. + +Honey-bees in Borneo hang their combs, to be out of danger no doubt, +under the branches of the Tappan, which towers above all the other trees +of the forest. But the Dyaks love honey and value wax as an article of +trade; they therefore erect their ingenious bamboo ladder--which can be +prolonged to any height on the smooth branchless stem of the Tappan--and +storm the stronghold of the bees with much profit to themselves, for +bees'-wax will purchase from the traders the brass wire, rings, +gold-edged kerchiefs and various ornaments with which they decorate +themselves. When travelling, the Dyaks use bamboos as cooking vessels in +which to boil rice and other vegetables; as jars in which to preserve +honey, sugar, etc., or salted fish and fruit. Split bamboos form +aqueducts by which water is conveyed to the houses. A small neatly +carved piece of bamboo serves as a case in which are carried the +materials used in the disgusting practice of betel-nut chewing--which +seems to be equivalent to the western tobacco-chewing. If a pipe is +wanted the Dyak will in a wonderfully short space of time make a huge +hubble-bubble out of bamboos of different sizes, and if his long-bladed +knife requires a sheath the same gigantic grass supplies one almost +ready-made. But the uses to which this reed may be applied are almost +endless, and the great outstanding advantage of it is that it needs no +other tools than an axe and a knife to work it. + +At about mid-day the river was reached, and they found a native boat, or +prau, which had been sent down to convey them to the Rajah's village. +Here Nigel was received with the hospitality due to a friend of Van der +Kemp, who, somehow--probably by unselfish readiness, as well as ability, +to oblige--had contrived to make devoted friends in whatever part of the +Malay Archipelago he travelled. + +Afterwards, in a conversation with Nigel, the professor, referring to +those qualities of the hermit which endeared him to men everywhere, +said, with a burst of enthusiasm, which almost outdid himself-- + +"You cannot oonderstant Van der Kemp. No man can oonderstant him. He is +goot, right down to zee marrow--kind, amiable, oonselfish, obliging, +nevair seems to zink of himself at all, ant, abof all zings, is capable. +Vat he vill do, he can do--vat he can do he vill do. But he is sad--very +sad." + +"I have observed that, of course," said Nigel. "Do you know what makes +him so sad?" + +The professor shook his head. + +"No, I do not know. Nobody knows. I have tried to find out, but he vill +not speak." + +The Orang-Kaya, or rich man, as this hill chief was styled, had provided +lodgings for his visitors in the "head-house." This was a large circular +building erected on poles. There is such a house in nearly all Dyak +villages. It serves as a trading-place, a strangers' room, a +sleeping-room for unmarried youths, and a general council-chamber. Here +Nigel found the hermit and Moses enjoying a good meal when he arrived, +to which he and the professor sat down after paying their respects to +the chief. + +"The Orang-Kaya hopes that we will stay with him some time and help to +defend the village," said Van der Kemp, when they were all seated. + +"Of course you have agreed?" said Nigel. + +"Yes; I came for that purpose." + +"We's allers ready to fight in a good cause," remarked Moses, just +before filling his mouth with rice. + +"Or to die in it!" added Verkimier, engulfing the breast of a chicken at +a bite. "But as zee pirates are not expected for some days, ve may as +veil go after zee mias--zat is what zee natifs call zee orang-utan. It +is a better word, being short." + +Moses glanced at the professor out of the corners of his black eyes and +seemed greatly tickled by his enthusiastic devotion to business. + +"I am also," continued the professor, "extremely anxious to go at zee +booterflies before--" + +"You die," suggested Nigel, venturing on a pleasantry, whereat Moses +opened his mouth in a soundless laugh, but, observing the professor's +goggles levelled at him, he transformed the laugh into an astounding +sneeze, and immediately gazed with pouting innocence and interest at his +plate. + +"Do you alvays sneeze like zat?" asked Verkimier. + +"Not allers," answered the negro simply, "sometimes I gibs way a good +deal wuss. Depends on de inside ob my nose an' de state ob de wedder." + +What the professor would have replied we cannot say, for just then a +Dyak youth rushed in to say that an unusually large and gorgeous +butterfly had been seen just outside the village! + +No application of fire to gunpowder could have produced a more immediate +effect. The professor's rice was scattered on the floor, and himself was +outside the head-house before his comrades knew exactly what was the +matter. + +"He's always like that," said the hermit, with a slight twinkle in his +eyes. "Nothing discourages--nothing subdues him. Twice I pulled him out +of deadly danger into which he had run in his eager pursuit of +specimens. And he has returned the favour to me, for he rescued me once +when a mias had got me down and would certainly have killed me, for my +gun was empty at the moment, and I had dropped my knife." + +"Is, then, the orang-utan so powerful and savage?" + +"Truly, yes, when wounded and driven to bay," returned the hermit. "You +must not judge of the creature by the baby that Verkimier has tamed. A +full-grown male is quite as large as a man, though very small in the +legs in proportion, so that it does not stand high. It is also very much +stronger than the most powerful man. You would be quite helpless in its +grip, I assure you." + +"I hope, with the professor," returned Nigel, "that we may have a hunt +after them, either before or after the arrival of the pirates. I know he +is very anxious to secure a good specimen for some museum in which he is +interested--I forget which." + +As he spoke, the youth who had brought information about the butterfly +returned and said a few words to Moses in his native tongue. + +"What does he say?" asked Nigel. + +"Dat Massa Verkimier is in full chase, an' it's my opinion dat when he +comes back he'll be wet all ober, and hab his shins and elbows barked." + +"Why d'you think so?" + +"'Cause dat's de way he goed on when we was huntin' wid him last year. +He nebber larns fro' 'sperience." + +"That's a very fine-looking young fellow," remarked Nigel, referring to +the Dyak youth who had just returned, and who, with a number of other +natives, was watching the visitors with profound interest while they +ate. + +As the young man referred to was a good sample of the youth of his +tribe, we shall describe him. Though not tall, he was well and strongly +proportioned, and his skin was of a reddish-brown colour. Like all his +comrades, he wore little clothing. A gay handkerchief with a gold lace +border encircled his head, from beneath which flowed a heavy mass of +straight, jet-black hair. Large crescent-shaped ornaments hung from his +ears. His face was handsome and the expression pleasing, though the +mouth was large and the lips rather thick. Numerous brass rings +encircled his arms above and below the elbows. His only other piece of +costume was a waist-cloth of blue cotton, which hung down before and +behind. It ended in three bands of red, blue, and white. There were also +rows of brass rings on his legs, and armlets of white shells. At his +side he wore a long slender knife and a little pouch containing the +materials for betel-chewing. + +"Yes, and he is as good as he looks," said the hermit. "His name is +Gurulam, and all the people of his tribe have benefited by the presence +in Borneo of that celebrated Englishman Sir James Brooke,--Rajah Brooke +as he was called,--who did so much to civilise the Dyaks of Borneo and +to ameliorate their condition." + +The prophecy of Moses about the professor was fulfilled. Just as it was +growing dark that genial scientist returned, drenched to the skin and +covered with mud, having tumbled into a ditch. His knuckles also were +skinned, his knees and shins damaged, and his face scratched, but he was +perfectly happy in consequence of having secured a really splendid +specimen of a "bootterfly" as big as his hand; the scientific name of +which, for very sufficient reasons, we will not attempt to inflict on +our readers, and the description of which may be shortly stated by the +single word--gorgeous! + +Being fond of Verkimier, and knowing his desire to obtain a full-grown +orang-utan, Gurulam went off early next morning to search for one. +Half-a-dozen of his comrades accompanied him armed only with native +spears, for their object was not to hunt the animal, but to discover one +if possible, and let the professor know so that he might go after it +with his rifle, for they knew that he was a keen sportsman as well as a +man of science. + +They did not, indeed, find what they sought for, but they were told by +natives with whom they fell in that a number of the animals had been +seen among the tree-tops not more than a day's march into the forest. +They hurried home therefore with this information, and that +day--accompanied by the Dyak youths, Nigel, the hermit, and +Moses--Verkimier started off in search of the mias; intending to camp +out or to take advantage of a native hut if they should chance to be +near one when night overtook them. + +Descending the hill region, they soon came to more level ground, where +there was a good deal of swamp, through which they passed on Dyak roads. +These roads consisted simply of tree-trunks laid end to end, along which +the natives, being barefooted, walk with ease and certainty, but our +booted hunters were obliged to proceed along them with extreme caution. +The only one who came to misfortune was, as usual, the professor; and in +the usual way! It occurred at the second of these tree-roads. + +"Look, look at that remarkable insect!" exclaimed Nigel, eagerly, in the +innocence of his heart. The professor was in front of him; he obediently +looked, saw the insect, made an eager step towards it, and next moment +was flat on the swamp, while the woods rang with his companions' +laughter. The remarkable insect, whatever it was, vanished from the +scene, and the professor was dragged, smiling though confused, out of +the bog. These things affected him little. His soul was large and rose +superior to such trifles. + +The virgin forest into which they penetrated was of vast extent; +spreading over plain, mountain, and morass in every direction for +hundreds of miles, for we must remind the reader that the island of +Borneo is considerably larger than all the British islands put together, +while its inhabitants are comparatively few. Verkimier had been +absolutely revelling in this forest for several months--ranging its +glades, penetrating its thickets, bathing (inadvertently) in its +quagmires, and maiming himself generally, with unwearied energy and +unextinguishable enthusiasm; shooting, skinning, stuffing, preserving, +and boiling the bones of all its inhabitants--except the human--to the +great advantage of science and the immense interest and astonishment of +the natives. Yet with all his energy and perseverance the professor had +failed, up to that time, to obtain a large specimen of a male +orang-utan, though he had succeeded in shooting several small specimens +and females, besides catching the young one which he had tamed. + +It was therefore with much excitement that he learned from a party of +bees'-wax hunters, on the second morning of their expedition, that a +large male mias had been seen that very day. Towards the afternoon they +found the spot that had been described to them, and a careful +examination began. + +"You see," said Verkimier, in a low voice, to Nigel, as he went a step +in advance peering up into the trees, with rifle at the "ready" and +bending a little as if by that means he better avoided the chance of +being seen. "You see, I came to Borneo for zee express purpose of +obtaining zee great man-monkey and vatching his habits.--Hush! Do I not +hear somet'ing?" + +"Nothing but your own voice, I think," said Nigel, with a twinkle in his +eye. + +"Vell--hush! Keep kviet, all of you." + +As the whole party marched in single file after the professor, and were +at the moment absolutely silent, this order induced the display of a +good many teeth. + +Just then the man of science was seen to put his rifle quickly to the +shoulder; the arches of the forest rang with a loud report; various +horrified creatures were seen and heard to scamper away, and next moment +a middle-sized orang-utan came crashing through the branches of a tall +tree and fell dead with a heavy thud on the ground. + +The professor's rifle was a breechloader. He therefore lost no time in +re-charging, and hurried forward as if he saw other game, while the rest +of the party--except Van der Kemp, Nigel, and Gurulam--fell behind to +look at and pick up the fallen animal. + +"Look out!" whispered Nigel, pointing to a bit of brown hair that he saw +among the leaves high overhead. + +"Vere? I cannot see him," whispered the naturalist, whose eyes blazed +enough almost to melt his blue glasses. "Do _you_ fire, Mr. Roy?" + +"My gun is charged only with small-shot, for birds. It is useless for +such game," said Nigel. + +"Ach! I see!" + +Up went the rifle and again the echoes were startled and the animal +kingdom astounded, especially that portion at which the professor had +fired, for there was immediately a tremendous commotion among the leaves +overhead, and another orang of the largest size was seen to cross an +open space and disappear among the thick foliage. Evidently the creature +had been hit, but not severely, for it travelled among the tree-tops at +the rate of full five miles an hour, obliging the hunters to run at a +rapid pace over the rough ground in order to keep up with it. In its +passage from tree to tree the animal showed caution and foresight, +selecting only those branches that interlaced with other boughs, so that +it made uninterrupted progress, and also had a knack of always keeping +masses of thick foliage underneath it so that for some time no +opportunity was found of firing another shot. At last, however, it came +to one of those Dyak roads of which we have made mention, so that it +could not easily swing from one tree to another, and the stoppage of +rustling among the leaves told that the creature had halted. For some +time they gazed up among the branches without seeing anything, but at +last, in a place where the leaves seemed to have been thrust aside near +the top of one of the highest trees, a great red hairy body was seen, +and a huge black face gazed fiercely down at the hunters. + +Verkimier fired instantly, the branches closed, and the monster moved +off in another direction. In desperate anxiety Nigel fired both barrels +of his shot-gun. He might as well have fired at the moon. Gurulam was +armed only with a spear, and Van der Kemp, who was not much of a +sportsman, carried a similar weapon. The rest of the party were still +out of sight in rear looking after the dead mias. + +It was astonishing how little noise was made by so large an animal as it +moved along. More than once the hunters had to halt and listen intently +for the rustling of the leaves before they could make sure of being on +the right track. + +At last they caught sight of him again on the top of a very high tree, +and the professor got two more shots, but without bringing him down. +Then he was seen, quite exposed for a moment, walking in a stooping +posture along the large limb of a tree, but the hunter was loading at +the time and lost the chance. Finally he got on to a tree whose top was +covered with a dense mass of creepers which completely hid him from +view. Then he halted and the sound of snapping branches was heard. + +"You've not much chance of him now," remarked the hermit, as they all +stood in a group gazing up into the tree-top. "I have often seen the +mias act thus when severely wounded. He is making a nest to lie down and +die in." + +"Zen ve must shoot again," said the professor, moving round the tree and +looking out for a sign of the animal. At last he seemed to have found +what he wanted, for raising his rifle he took a steady aim and fired. + +A considerable commotion of leaves and fall of broken branches followed. +Then the huge red body of the mias appeared falling through, but it was +not dead, for it caught hold of branches as it fell and hung on as long +as it could; then it came crashing down, and alighted on its face with +an awful thud. + +After firing the last shot Verkimier had not reloaded, being too intent +on watching the dying struggles of the creature, and when it fell with +such violence he concluded that it was dead. For the same reason Nigel +had neglected to reload after firing. Thus it happened that when the +enormous brute suddenly rose and made for a tree with the evident +intention of climbing it, no one was prepared to stop it except the Dyak +youth Gurulam. He chanced to be standing between the mias and the tree. + +Boldly he levelled his spear and made a thrust that would probably have +killed the beast, if it had not caught the point of the spear and turned +it aside. Then with its left paw it caught the youth by the neck, seized +his thigh with one of its hind paws, and fixed its teeth in his right +shoulder. + +Never was man rendered more suddenly and completely helpless, and death +would have been his sure portion before the hunters had reloaded if Van +der Kemp had not leaped forward, and, thrusting his spear completely +through the animal's body, killed it on the spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +BEGINS WITH A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND ENDS WITH A HASTY FLIGHT. + + +The hunt, we need scarcely say, was abruptly terminated, and immediate +preparations were made for conveying the wounded man and the two orangs +to the Dyak village. This was quickly arranged, for the convenient +bamboo afforded ready-made poles wherewith to form a litter on which to +carry them. + +The huge creature which had given them so much trouble, and so nearly +cost them one human life, was found to be indeed of the largest size. It +was not tall but very broad and large. The exact measurements, taken by +the professor, who never travelled without his tape measure, were as +follows:-- + +Height from heel to top of head, 4 feet 2 inches. + +Outstretched arms across chest, 7 " 8 " + +Width of face, 1 foot 2 " + +Girth of arm, 1 " 3 " + +Girth of wrist, 8 " + +The muscular power of such a creature is of course immense, as Nigel and +the professor had a rare chance of seeing that very evening--of which, +more presently. + +On careful examination by Nigel, who possessed some knowledge of +surgery, it was found that none of Gurulam's bones had been broken, and +that although severely lacerated about the shoulders and right thigh, no +very serious injury had been done--thanks to the promptitude and vigour +of the hermit's spear-thrust. The poor youth, however, was utterly +helpless for the time being, and had to be carried home. + +That afternoon the party reached a village in a remote part of the +forest where they resolved to halt for the night, as no other +resting-place could be reached before dark. + +While a supper of rice and fowl was being cooked by Moses, Van der Kemp +attended to the wounded man, and Nigel accompanied the professor along +the banks of the stream on which the village stood. Having merely gone +out for a stroll they carried no weapons except walking-sticks, +intending to go only a short distance. Interesting talk, however, on the +character and habits of various animals, made them forget time until the +diminution of daylight warned them to turn. They were about to do so +when they observed, seated in an open place near the stream, the largest +orang they had yet seen. It was feeding on succulent shoots by the +water-side: a fact which surprised the professor, for his inquiries and +experience had hitherto taught him that orangs never eat such food +except when starving. The fat and vigorous condition in which this +animal was forbade the idea of starvation. Besides, it had brought a +Durian fruit to the banks of the stream and thrown it down, so that +either taste or eccentricity must have induced it to prefer the shoots. +Perhaps its digestion was out of order and it required a tonic. + +Anyhow, it continued to devour a good many young shoots while our +travellers were peeping at it in mute surprise through the bushes. That +they had approached so near without being observed was due to the fact +that a brawling rapid flowed just there, and the mias was on the other +side of the stream. By mutual consent the men crouched to watch its +proceedings. They were not a little concerned, however, when the brute +seized an overhanging bough, and, with what we may style sluggish +agility, swung itself clumsily but lightly to their side of the stream. +It picked up the Durian which lay there and began to devour it. Biting +off some of the strong spikes with which that charming fruit is covered, +it made a small hole in it, and then with its powerful fingers tore off +the thick rind and began to enjoy a feast. + +Now, with monkeys, no less than with men, there is many a slip 'twixt +the cup and the lip, for the mias had just begun its meal, or, rather, +its dessert, when a crocodile, which the professor had not observed and +Nigel had mistaken for a log, suddenly opened its jaws and seized the +big monkey's leg. The scene that ensued baffles description! Grasping +the crocodile with its other three hands by nose, throat, and eyes, the +mias almost performed the American operation of gouging--digging its +powerful thumbs and fingers into every crevice and tearing open its +assailant's jaws. The crocodile, taken apparently by surprise, went into +dire convulsions, and making for deep water, plunged his foe therein +over head and ears. Nothing daunted, the mias regained his footing, +hauled his victim on to a mudbank, and, jumping on his back began to +tear and pommel him. There was nothing of the prize-fighter in the mias. +He never clenched his fist--never hit straight from the shoulder, but +the buffeting and slapping which he gave resounded all over the place. +At last he caught hold of a fold of his opponent's throat, which he +began to tear open with fingers and teeth. Wrenching himself free with a +supreme effort the crocodile shot into the stream and disappeared with a +sounding splash of its tail, while the mias waded lamely to the shore +with an expression of sulky indignation on its great black face. + +Slowly the creature betook itself to the shelter of the forest, and we +need scarcely add that the excited observers of the combat made no +attempt to hinder its retreat. + +It is said that the python is the only other creature that dares to +attack the orang-utan, and that when it does so victory usually declares +for the man-monkey, which bites and tears it to death. + +The people of the village in which the hunters rested that night were +evidently not accustomed to white men--perhaps had never seen them +before--for they crowded round them while at supper and gazed in silent +wonder as if they were watching a group of white-faced baboons feeding! +They were, however, very hospitable, and placed before their visitors +abundance of their best food without expecting anything in return. Brass +rings were the great ornament in this village--as they are, indeed, +among the Dyaks generally. Many of the women had their arms completely +covered with them, as well as their legs from the ankle to the knee. +Their petticoats were fastened to a coil of rattan, stained red, round +their bodies. They also wore coils of brass wire, girdles of small +silver coins, and sometimes broad belts of brass ring-armour. + +It was break of dawn next morning when our hunters started, bearing +their wounded comrade and the dead orangs with them. + +Arrived at the village they found the people in great excitement +preparing for defence, as news had been brought to the effect that the +pirates had landed at the mouth of the river, joined the disaffected +band which awaited them, and that an attack might be expected without +delay, for they were under command of the celebrated Malay pirate +Baderoon. + +Nigel observed that the countenance of his friend Van der Kemp underwent +a peculiar change on hearing this man's name mentioned. There was a +combination of anxiety, which was unnatural to him, and of resolution, +which was one of his chief characteristics. + +"Is Baderoon the enemy whom you saw on the islet on our first night +out?" asked Nigel, during a ramble with the hermit that evening. + +"Yes, and I fear to meet him," replied his friend in a low voice. + +Nigel was surprised. The impression made on his mind since their +intercourse was that Van der Kemp was incapable of the sensation of +fear. + +"Is he so very bitter against you?" asked Nigel. + +"Very," was the curt reply. + +"Have you reason to think he would take your life if he could?" + +"I am sure he would. As I told you before, I have thwarted his plans +more than once. When he hears that it is I who have warned the +Orang-Kaya against him he will pursue me to the death--and--and I _must +not_ meet him." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Nigel, with renewed surprise. + +But the hermit took no note of the exclamation. Anxiety had given place +to a frown, and his eyes were fixed on the ground. It seemed to Nigel so +evident that he did not wish to pursue the subject, that he slightly +changed it. + +"I suppose," he said, "that there is no fear of the Dyaks of the village +being unable to beat off the pirates now that they have been warned?" + +"None whatever. Indeed, this is so well known to Baderoon that I think +he will abandon the attempt. But he will not abandon his designs on me. +However, we must wait and see how God will order events." + +Next morning spies returned to the village with the information that the +pirates had taken their departure from the mouth of the river. + +"Do you think this is an attempt to deceive us?" asked the chief, +turning to Van der Kemp, when he heard the news. + +"I think not. And even should it be so, and they should return, you are +ready and well able to meet them." + +"Yes, ready--and _well_ able to meet them," replied the Orang-Kaya, +drawing himself up proudly. + +"Did they _all_ go in one direction?" asked Van der Kemp of the youths +who had brought the news. + +"Yes, all went in a body to the north--except one boat which rowed +southward." + +"Hm! I thought so. My friends, listen to me. This is no pretence. They +do not mean to attack you now you are on your guard; but that boat which +went south contains Baderoon, and I feel certain that he means to hang +about here till he gets the chance of killing me." + +"That is well," returned the chief, calmly. "My young men will hunt till +they find where he is. Then they will bring us the information and Van +der Kemp will go out with a band and slay his enemy." + +"No, my friend," said the hermit, firmly; "that shall not be. I must get +out of his way, and in order to do so will leave you at once, for there +will be no further need for my services here." + +The chief looked at his friend in surprise. "Well," he said, "you have a +good judgment, and understand your own affairs. But you have already +rendered me good service, and I will help you to fly--though such is not +the habit of the Dyaks! There is a trader's vessel to start for Sumatra +by the first light of day. Will my friend go by that?" + +"I am grateful," answered the hermit, "but I need no help--save some +provisions, for I have my little canoe, which will suffice." + +As this colloquy was conducted in the native tongue it was +unintelligible to Nigel, but after the interview with the chief the +hermit explained matters to him, and bade Moses get ready for a start +several hours before dawn. + +"You see we must do the first part of our trip in the dark, for Baderoon +has a keen eye and ear. Then we will land and sleep all day where the +sharpest eye will fail to find us--and, luckily, pirates have been +denied the power of scenting out their foes. When night comes we will +start again and get out of sight of land before the next dawn." + +"Mine frond," said the professor, turning his moon-like goggles full on +the hermit. "I vill go viz you." + +"I should be only too happy to have your company," returned the hermit, +"but my canoe cannot by any contrivance be made to hold more than +three." + +"Zat is no matter to me," rejoined Verkimier; "you forget zee trader's +boat. I vill go in zat to Sumatra. Ve vill find out zee port he is going +to, ant you vill meet me zere. Vait for me if I have not arrived--or I +vill vait for you. I have longed to visit Sumatra, ant vat better fronds +could I go viz zan yourselfs?" + +"But, my good friend," returned the hermit, "my movements may not +exactly suit yours. Here they are,--you can judge for yourself. First I +will, God permitting, cross over to Sumatra in my canoe." + +"But it is t'ree hoondert miles across, if not more!" + +"No matter--there are plenty of islands on the way. Besides, some +passing vessel will give me a lift, no doubt. Then I will coast along to +one of the eastern ports, where I know there is a steamboat loading up +about this time. The captain is an old friend of mine. He brought me and +my companions the greater part of the way here. If I find him I will ask +him to carry my canoe on his return voyage through Sunda Straits, and +leave it with another friend of mine at Telok Betong on the south coast +of Sumatra--not far, as you know, from my home in Krakatoa. Then I will +proceed overland to the same place, so that my friend Nigel Roy may see +a little of the country." + +"Ant vat if you do _not_ find your frond zee captain of zee steamer?" + +"Why, then I shall have to adopt some other plan. It is the uncertainty +of my movements that makes me think you should not depend on them." + +"Zat is not'ing to me, Van der Kemp; you joost go as you say. I vill +follow ant take my chance. I am use' to ooncertainties ant +difficoolties. Zey can not influence me." + +After a good deal of consideration this plan was agreed to. The +professor spent part of the night in giving directions about the +preserving of his specimens, which he meant to leave at the village in +charge of a man whom he had trained to assist him, while Van der Kemp +with his companions lay down to snatch a little sleep before setting out +on their voyage, or, as the Dyak chief persisted in calling it, their +flight! + +When Nigel had slept about five minutes--as he thought--he was awakened +by Moses. + +"Don't make a noise, Massa Nadgel! Dere may be spies in de camp for all +we knows, so we mus' git off like mice. Canoe's ready an' massa waitin'; +we gib you to de last momint." + +In a few minutes our hero was sleepily following the negro through the +woods to the spot where the canoe was in waiting. + +The night was very dark. This was in their favour,--at least as regarded +discovery. + +"But how shall we ever see to make our way down stream?" asked Nigel of +the hermit in a whisper on reaching the place of embarkation. + +"The current will guide us. Besides, I have studied the river with a +view to this flight. Be careful in getting in. Now, Moses, are you +ready?" + +"All right, massa." + +"Shove off, then." + +There was something so eerie in the subdued tones, and stealthy +motions, and profound darkness, that Nigel could not help feeling as if +they were proceeding to commit some black and criminal deed! + +Floating with the current, with as little noise as possible, and having +many a narrow escape of running against points of land and sandbanks, +they flew swiftly towards the sea, so that dawn found them among the mud +flats and the mangrove swamps. Here they found a spot where mangrove +roots and bushes formed an impenetrable screen, behind which they spent +the day, chiefly in sleep, and in absolute security. + +When darkness set in they again put forth, and cautiously clearing the +river's mouth, were soon far out on the open sea, which was fortunately +calm at the time, the slight air that blew being in their favour. + +"We are safe from pursuit now," said Van der Kemp in a tone of +satisfaction, as they paused for a breathing spell. + +"O massa!" exclaimed Moses at that moment, in a voice of consternation; +"we's forgotten Spinkie!" + +"So we have!" returned the hermit in a voice of regret so profound that +Nigel could scarce restrain a laugh in spite of his sympathy. + +But Spinkie had not forgotten himself. Observing probably, that these +night expeditions were a change in his master's habits, he had kept an +unusually watchful eye on the canoe, so that when it was put in the +water, he had jumped on board unseen in the darkness, and had retired to +the place where he usually slept under hatches when the canoe travelled +at night. + +Awakened from refreshing sleep at the sound of his name, Spinkie emerged +suddenly from the stern-manhole, right under the negro's nose, and with +a sleepy "oo, oo!" gazed up into his face. + +"Ho! Dare you is, you mis'rible hyperkrite!" exclaimed Moses, kissing +the animal in the depth of his satisfaction. "He's here, massa, all +right. Now, you go to bed agin, you small bundle ob hair." + +The creature retired obediently to its place, and laying its little +cheek on one of its small hands, committed itself to repose. + +Van der Kemp was wrong when he said they were safe. A pirate scout had +seen the canoe depart. Being alone and distant from the rendezvous of +his commander, some time elapsed before the news could be conveyed to +him. When Baderoon was at length informed and had sailed out to sea in +pursuit, returning daylight showed him that his intended victim had +escaped. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TELLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF THE PROFESSOR IN THE SUMATRAN FORESTS, ALSO +OF A CATASTROPHE AVERTED. + + +Fortunately the weather continued fine at first, and the light wind +fair, so that the canoe skimmed swiftly over the wide sea that separates +Borneo from Sumatra. Sometimes our travellers proceeded at night when +the distance between islets compelled them to do so. At other times they +landed on one of these isles when opportunity offered to rest and +replenish the water-casks. + +We will not follow them step by step in this voyage, which occupied more +than a week, and during which they encountered without damage several +squalls in which a small open boat could not have lived. Beaching at +last the great island of Sumatra--which, like its neighbour Borneo, is +larger in extent than the British Islands--they coasted along +southwards, without further delay than was absolutely necessary for rest +and refreshment, until they reached a port where they found the steamer +of which they were in search just about to start on its return voyage. +Van der Kemp committed his little craft to the care of the captain, who, +after vainly advising his friend to take a free passage with him to the +Straits of Sunda, promised to leave the canoe in passing at Telok +Betong. We may add that Spinkie was most unwillingly obliged to +accompany the canoe. + +"Now, we must remain here till our friend Verkimier arrives," said the +hermit, turning to Nigel after they had watched the steamer out of +sight. + +"I suppose we must," said Nigel, who did not at all relish the +delay--"of course we must," he added with decision. + +"I sees no 'ob course' about it, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who +never refrained from offering his opinion from motives of humility, or +of respect for his employer. "My 'dvice is to go on an' let de purfesser +foller." + +"But I promised to wait for him," said the hermit, with one of his +kindly, half-humorous glances, "and you know I _never_ break my +promises." + +"Das true, massa, but you di'n't promise to wait for him for eber an' +eber!" + +"Not quite; but of course I meant that I would wait a reasonable time." + +The negro appeared to meditate for some moments on the extent of a +"reasonable" time, for his huge eyes became huger as he gazed +frowningly at the ground. Then he spoke. + +"A 'reasonable' time, massa, is such an oncertain time--wariable, so to +speak, accordin' to the mind that t'inks upon it! Hows'eber, if you's +_promised,_ ob coorse dat's an end ob it; for w'en a man promises, he's +bound to stick to it." + +Such devotion to principle was appropriately rewarded the very next day +by the arrival of the trading prau in which the professor had embarked. + +"We did not expect you nearly so soon," said Nigel, as they heartily +shook hands. + +"It vas because zee vind freshen soon after ve set sail--ant, zen, ve +made a straight line for zis port, w'ereas you possibly crossed over, +ant zen push down zee coast." + +"Exactly so, and that accounts for your overtaking us," said the hermit. +"Is that the lad Baso I see down there with the crew of the prau?" + +"It is. You must have some strainch power of attracting frondship, Van +der Kemp, for zee poor yout' is so fond of you zat he beg ant entreat me +to take him, ant he says he vill go on vit zee traders if you refuse to +let him follow you." + +"Well, he may come. Indeed, we shall be the better for his services, for +I had intended to hire a man here to help to carry our things. Much of +our journeying, you see, must be done on foot." + +Baso, to his great joy, thus became one of the party. + +We pass over the next few days, which were spent in arranging and +packing their provisions, etc., in such a way that each member of the +party should carry on his shoulders a load proportioned to his strength. +In this arrangement the professor, much against his will, was compelled +to accept the lightest load in consideration of his liability to dart +off in pursuit of creeping things and "bootterflies" at a moment's +notice. The least damageable articles were also assigned to him in +consideration of his tendency at all times to tumble into bogs and +stumble over fallen trees, and lose himself, and otherwise get into +difficulties. + +We also pass over part of the journey from the coast, and plunge with +our travellers at once into the interior of Sumatra. + +One evening towards sunset they reached the brow of an eminence which, +being rocky, was free from much wood, and permitted of a wide view of +the surrounding country. It was covered densely with virgin forest, and +they ascended the eminence in order that the hermit, who had been there +before, might discover a forest road which led to a village some miles +off, where they intended to put up for the night. Having ascertained his +exact position, Van der Kemp led his followers down to this footpath, +which led through the dense forest. + +The trees by which they were surrounded were varied and +magnificent--some of them rising clear up seventy and eighty feet +without a branch, many of them had superb leafy crowns, under any one of +which hundreds of men might have found shelter. Others had trunks and +limbs warped and intertwined with a wild entanglement of huge creepers, +which hung in festoons and loops as if doing their best to strangle +their supports, themselves being also encumbered, or adorned, with ferns +and orchids, and delicate twining epiphytes. A forest of smaller trees +grew beneath this shade, and still lower down were thorny shrubs, +rattan-palms, broad-leaved bushes, and a mass of tropical herbage which +would have been absolutely impenetrable but for the native road or +footpath along which they travelled. + +"A most suitable abode for tigers, I should think," remarked Nigel to +the hermit, who walked in front of him--for they marched in single file. +"Are there any in these parts?" + +"Ay, plenty. Indeed, it is because I don't like sleeping in their +company that I am so anxious to reach a village." + +"Are zey dangerows?" asked the professor, who followed close on Nigel. + +"Well, they are not safe!" replied the hermit. "I had an adventure with +one on this very road only two years ago." + +"Indeed! vat vas it?" asked the professor, whose appetite for anecdote +was insatiable. "Do tell us about it." + +"With pleasure. It was on a pitch-dark night that it occurred. I had +occasion to go to a neighbouring village at a considerable distance, and +borrowed a horse from a friend----" + +"Anozer frond!" exclaimed the professor; "vy, Van der Kemp, zee country +seems to be svarming vid your fronds." + +"I have travelled much in it and made many friends," returned the +hermit. "The horse that I borrowed turned out to be a very poor one, and +went lame soon after I set out. Business kept me longer than I expected, +and it was getting dark before I started to return. Erelong the darkness +became so intense that I could scarcely see beyond the horse's head, and +could not distinguish the path. I therefore let the animal find his own +way--knowing that he would be sure to do so, for he was going home. As +we jogged along, I felt the horse tremble. Then he snorted and came to a +dead stop, with his feet planted firmly on the ground. I was quite +unarmed, but arms would have been useless in the circumstances. +Suddenly, and fortunately, the horse reared, and next moment a huge dark +object shot close past my face--so close that its fur brushed my +cheek--as it went with a heavy thud into the jungle on the other side. +I knew that it was a tiger and felt that my life, humanly speaking, was +due to the rearing of the poor horse." + +"Are ve near to zee spote?" asked the professor, glancing from side to +side in some anxiety. + +"Not far from it!" replied the hermit, "but there is not much fear of +such an attack in broad daylight and with so large a party." + +"Ve are not a very large party," returned the professor. "I do not zink +I would fear much to face a tiger vid my goot rifle, but I do not relish +his choomping on me unavares. Push on, please." + +They pushed on and reached the village a little before nightfall. + +Hospitality is a characteristic of the natives of Sumatra. The +travellers were received with open arms, so to speak, and escorted to +the public building which corresponds in some measure to our western +town-halls. It was a huge building composed largely of bamboo +wooden-planks and wicker-work, with a high thatched roof, and it stood, +like all the other houses, on posts formed of great tree-stems which +rose eight or ten feet from the ground. + +"You have frunds here too, I zink," said Verkimier to the hermit, as +they ascended the ladder leading to the door of the hall. + +"Well, yes--I believe I have two or three." + +There could be no doubt upon that point, unless the natives were +consummate hypocrites, for they welcomed Van der Kemp and his party with +effusive voice, look and gesture, and immediately spread before them +part of a splendid supper which had just been prepared; for they had +chanced to arrive on a festive occasion. + +"I do believe," said Nigel in some surprise, "that they are lighting up +the place with petroleum lamps!" + +"Ay, and you will observe that they are lighting the lamps with Congreve +matches--at least with matches of the same sort, supplied by the Dutch +and Chinese. Many of their old customs have passed away (among others +that of procuring fire by friction), and now we have the appliances of +western civilisation to replace them." + +"No doubt steam is zee cause of zee change," remarked the professor. + +"That," said Nigel, "has a good deal to do with most things--from the +singing of a tea-kettle to the explosion of a volcano; though, +doubtless, the commercial spirit which is now so strong among men is the +proximate cause." + +"Surely dese people mus' be reech," said the professor, looking round +him with interest. + +"They are rich enough--and well off in every respect, save that they +don't know very well how to make use of their riches. As you see, much +of their wealth is lavished on their women in the shape of ornaments, +most of which are of solid gold and silver." + +There could be little doubt about that, for, besides the ornaments +proper, such as the bracelets and rings with which the arms of the young +women were covered, and earrings, etc.,--all of solid gold and +native-made--there were necklaces and collars composed of Spanish and +American dollars and British half-crowns and other coins. In short, +these Sumatran young girls carried much of the wealth of their parents +on their persons, and were entitled to wear it until they should be +relegated to the ranks of the married--the supposed-to-be unfrivolous, +and the evidently unadorned! + +As this was a region full of birds, beasts, and insects of many kinds, +it was resolved, for the professor's benefit, that a few days should be +spent in it. Accordingly, the village chief set apart a newly-built +house for the visitors' accommodation, and a youth named Grogo was +appointed to wait on them and act as guide when they wished to traverse +any part of the surrounding forest. + +The house was on the outskirts of the village, a matter of satisfaction +to the professor, as it enabled him at once to plunge into his beloved +work unobserved by the youngsters. It also afforded him a better +opportunity of collecting moths, etc., by the simple method of opening +his window at night. A mat or wicker-work screen divided the hut into +two apartments, one of which was entirely given over to the naturalist +and his _matériel_. + +"I vil begin at vonce," said the eager man, on taking possession. + +And he kept his word by placing his lamp on a table in a conspicuous +position, so that it could be well seen from the outside. Then he threw +his window wide open, as a general invitation to the insect world to +enter! + +Moths, flying beetles, and other creatures were not slow to accept the +invitation. They entered by twos, fours, sixes--at last by scores, +insomuch that the room became uninhabitable except by the man himself, +and his comrades soon retired to their own compartment, leaving him to +carry on his work alone. + +"You enjoy this sort of thing?" said Nigel, as he was about to retire. + +"Enchoy it? yes--it is 'paradise regained'!" He pinned a giant moth at +the moment and gazed triumphant through his blue glasses. + +"'Paradise lost' to the moth, anyhow," said Nigel with a nod, as he bade +him good-night, and carefully closed the wicker door to check the +incursions of uncaptured specimens. Being rather tired with the day's +journey, he lay down on a mat beside the hermit, who was already sound +asleep. + +But our hero found that sleep was not easily attainable so close to an +inexhaustible enthusiast, whose every step produced a rattling of the +bamboo floor, and whose unwearied energy enabled him to hunt during the +greater part of the night. + +At length slumber descended on Nigel's spirit, and he lay for some time +in peaceful oblivion, when a rattling crash awoke him. Sitting up he +listened, and came to the conclusion that the professor had upset some +piece of furniture, for he could hear him distinctly moving about in a +stealthy manner, as if on tip-toe, giving vent to a grumble of +dissatisfaction every now and then. + +"What _can_ he be up to now, I wonder?" murmured the disturbed youth, +sleepily. + +The hermit, who slept through all noises with infantine simplicity, made +no answer, but a peculiar snort from the negro, who lay not far off on +his other side, told that he was struggling with a laugh. + +"Hallo, Moses! are you awake?" asked Nigel, in a low voice. + +"Ho yes, Massa Nadgel. I's bin wakin' a good while, larfin fit to bu'st +my sides. De purfesser's been agoin' on like a mad renoceros for more 'n +an hour. He's arter suthin, which he can't ketch. Listen! You hear 'im +goin' round an' round on his tip-toes. Dere goes anoder chair. I only +hope he won't smash de lamp an' set de house a-fire." + +"Veil, veil; I've missed him zee tence time. Nevair mind. Have at you +vonce more, you aggravating leetle zing!" + +Thus the unsuccessful man relieved his feelings, in a growling tone, as +he continued to move about on tip-toe, rattling the bamboo flooring in +spite of his careful efforts to move quietly. + +"Why, Verkimier, what are you after?" cried Nigel at last, loud enough +to be heard through the partition. + +"Ah! I am sorry to vake you," he replied, without, however, suspending +his hunt. "I have tried my best to make no noice, but zee bamboo floor +is--hah! I have 'im at last!" + +"What is it?" asked Nigel, becoming interested. + +"Von leetle bat. He come in vis a moss----" + +"A what?" + +"A moss--a big, beautiful moss." + +"Oh! a moth--well?" + +"Vell, I shut zee window, capture zee moss, ant zen I hunt zee bat vith +my bootterfly-net for an hour, but have only captured him zis moment. +Ant he is--sooch a--sooch a splendid specimen of a _very_ rar' species, +zee _Coelops frizii_--gootness! Zere goes zee lamp!" + +The crash that followed told too eloquently of the catastrophe, and +broke the slumbers even of the hermit. The whole party sprang up, and +entered the naturalist's room with a light, for the danger from fire +was great. Fortunately the lamp had been extinguished in its fall, so +that, beyond an overpowering smell of petroleum and the destruction of a +good many specimens, no serious results ensued. + +After securing the _Coelops frithii_, removing the shattered glass, +wiping up the oil, and putting chairs and tables on their legs, the +professor was urged to go to bed,--advice which, in his excitement, he +refused to take until it was suggested that, if he did not, he would be +totally unfit for exploring the forest next day. + +"Vy, it is next day already!" he exclaimed, consulting his watch. + +"Just so. Now _do_ turn in." + +"I vill." + +And he did. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A TRYING ORDEAL--DANGER THREATENS AND FLIGHT AGAIN RESOLVED ON. + + +When the early birds are singing, and the early mists are scattering, +and the early sun is rising to gladden, as with the smile of God, all +things with life in earth and sea and sky--then it is that early-rising +man goes forth to reap the blessings which his lazy fellow-man fails to +appreciate or enjoy. + +Among the early risers that morning was our friend Moses. Gifted with an +inquiring mind, the negro had proceeded to gratify his propensities by +making inquiries of a general nature, and thus had acquired, among other +things, the particular information that the river on the banks of which +the village stood was full of fish. Now, Moses was an ardent angler. + +"I lub fishing," he said one day to Nigel when in a confidential mood; +"I can't tell you how much I lub it. Seems to me dat der's nuffin' like +it for proggin' a man!" + +When Nigel demanded an explanation of what proggin' meant, Moses said +he wasn't quite sure. He could "understand t'ings easy enough though he +couldn't allers 'splain 'em." On the whole he thought that prog had a +compound meaning--it was a combination of poke and pull "wid a flavour +ob ticklin' about it," and was rather pleasant. + +"You see," he continued, "when a leetle fish plays wid your hook, it +progs your intellec' an' tickles up your fancy a leetle. When he grabs +you, dat progs your hopes a good deal. When a big fish do de same, dat +progs you deeper. An' when a real walloper almost pulls you into de +ribber, dat progs your heart up into your t'roat, where it stick till +you land him." + +With surroundings and capacities such as we have attempted to describe, +it is no wonder that Moses sat down on the river-bank and enjoyed +himself, in company with a little Malay boy, who lent him his bamboo rod +and volunteered to show him the pools. + +But there were no particular pools in that river It was a succession of +pools, and fish swarmed in all of them. There were at least fifteen +different species which nothing short of an ichthyologist could +enumerate correctly. The line used by Moses was a single fibre of bark +almost as strong as gut; the hook was a white tinned weapon like a small +anchor, supplied by traders, and meant originally for service in the +deep sea. The bait was nothing in particular, but as the fish were not +particular that was of no consequence. The reader will not be surprised, +then, when we state that in an hour or so Moses had had his heart +progged considerably and had filled a large bag with superb fish, with +which he returned, perspiring, beaming, and triumphant to breakfast. + +After breakfast the whole party went forth for what Verkimier styled +"zee business of zee day," armed with guns, spears, botanical boxes, +bags, wallets, and butterfly nets. + +In the immediate neighbourhood of the village large clearings in the +forest were planted as coffee gardens, each separated from the other for +the purpose of isolation, for it seems that coffee, like the potato, is +subject to disease. Being covered with scarlet flowers these gardens had +a fine effect on the landscape when seen from the heights behind the +village. Passing through the coffee grounds the party was soon in the +tangled thickets of underwood through which many narrow paths had been +cut. + +We do not intend to drag our readers through bog and brake during the +whole of this day's expedition; suffice it to say that the collection of +specimens made, of all kinds, far surpassed the professor's most +sanguine expectations, and, as for the others, those who could more or +less intelligently sympathise did so, while those who could not were +content with the reflected joy of the man of science. + +At luncheon--which they partook of on the river-bank, under a +magnificently umbrageous tree--plans for the afternoon were fixed. + +"We have kept together long enough, I think," said Van der Kemp. "Those +of us who have guns must shoot something to contribute to the national +feast on our return." + +"Vell, let us divide," assented the amiable naturalist. Indeed he was so +happy that he would have assented to anything--except giving up the +hunt. "Von party can go von vay, anoder can go anoder vay. I vill +continue mine business. Zee place is more of a paradise zan zee last. Ve +must remain two or tree veeks." + +The hermit glanced at Nigel. + +"I fear it is impossible for me to do so," said the latter. "I am +pledged to return to Batavia within a specified time, and from the +nature of the country I perceive it will take all the time at my +disposal to reach that place so as to redeem my pledge." + +"Ha! Zat is a peety. Vell, nevair mind. Let us enchoy to-day. Com', ve +must not vaste more of it in zee mere gratification of our animal +natures." + +Acting on this broad hint they all rose and scattered in different +groups--the professor going off ahead of his party in his eager haste, +armed only with a butterfly net. + +Now, as the party of natives,--including Baso, who carried the +professor's biggest box, and Grogo, who bore his gun,--did not overtake +their leader, they concluded that he must have joined one of the other +parties, and, as it was impossible to ascertain which of them, they +calmly went hunting on their own account! Thus it came to pass that the +man of science was soon lost in the depths of that primeval forest! But +little cared the enthusiast for that--or, rather, little did he realise +it. With perspiration streaming from every pore--except where the pores +were stopped by mud--he dashed after "bootterflies" with the wisdom of +Solomon and the eagerness of a school-boy, and not until the shades of +evening began to descend did his true position flash upon him. Then, +with all the vigour of a powerful intellect and an enlightened mind, he +took it in at a glance--and came to a sudden halt. + +"Vat _shall_ I do?" he asked. + +Not even an echo answered, and the animal kingdom was indifferent. + +"Lat me see. I have been vandering avay all dis time. Now, I have +not'ing to do but right-about-face and vander back." + +Could reasoning be clearer or more conclusive? He acted on it at once, +but, after wandering back a long time, he did not arrive at any place +or object that he had recognised on the outward journey. + +Meanwhile, as had been appointed, the rest of the party met a short time +before dark at the rendezvous where they had lunched. + +"Where is the professor, Baso?" asked Van der Kemp as he came up. + +Baso did not know, and looked at Grogo, who also professed ignorance, +but both said they thought the professor had gone with Nigel. + +"I thought he was with _you_," said the latter, looking anxiously at the +hermit. + +"He's goed an' lost hisself!" cried Moses with a look of concern. + +Van der Kemp was a man of action. "Not a moment to lose," he said, and +organised the band into several smaller parties, each led by a native +familiar with the jungle. + +"Let this be our meeting-place," he said, as they were on the point of +starting off together; "and let those of us who have fire-arms discharge +them occasionally." + +Meanwhile, the professor was walking at full speed in what he supposed +to be--and in truth was--"back." + +He was not alone, however. In the jungle close beside him a tiger +prowled along with the stealthy, lithe, sneaking activity of a cat. By +that time it was not absolutely dark, but the forest had assumed a very +sombre appearance. Suddenly the tiger made a tremendous bound on to the +track right in front of the man. Whether it had miscalculated the +position of its intended victim or not we cannot say, but it crouched +for another spring. The professor, almost instinctively, crouched also, +and, being a brave man, stared the animal straight in the face without +winking! and so the two crouched there, absolutely motionless and with a +fixed glare, such as we have often seen in a couple of tom-cats who were +mutually afraid to attack each other. + +What the tiger thought at that critical and crucial moment we cannot +tell, but the professor's thoughts were swift, varied, +tremendous--almost sublime, and once or twice even ridiculous! + +"Vat shall I do? Deaf stares me in zee face! No veapons! only a net, ant +he is _not_ a bootterfly! Science, adieu! Home of my chilthood, +farevell! My moder--Hah! zee fusees!" + +Such were a few of the thoughts that burned but found no utterance. The +last thought however led to action. Verkimier, foolish man! was a +smoker. He carried fusees. Slowly, with no more apparent motion than the +hour-hand on the face of a watch, he let his hand glide into his +coat-pocket and took out the box of fusees. The tiger seemed uneasy, but +the bold man never for one instant ceased to glare, and no disturbed +expression or hasty movement gave the tiger the slightest excuse for a +spring. Bringing the box up by painfully slow degrees in front of his +nose the man opened it, took out a fusee, struck it, and revealed the +blue binoculars! + +The effect on the tiger was instantaneous and astounding. With a +demi-volt or backward somersault it hurled itself into the jungle whence +it had come with a terrific roar of alarm, and its tail--undoubtedly +though not evidently--between its legs! + +Heaving a deep, long-drawn sigh, the professor stood up and wiped his +forehead. Then he listened intently. + +"A shote, if mine ears deceive me not!" he said, and listened again. + +He was right. Another shot, much nearer, was heard, and he replied with +a shout to which joy as much as strength of lung gave fervour. Hurrying +along the track--not without occasional side-glances at the jungle--the +hero was soon again in the midst of his friends; and it was not until +his eyes refused to remain open any longer that he ceased to entertain +an admiring circle that night with the details of his face-to-face +meeting with a tiger. + +But Verkimier's anticipations in regard to that paradise were not to be +realised. The evil passions of a wicked man, with whom he had personally +nothing whatever to do, interfered with his plans. In the middle of the +night a native Malay youth named Babu arrived at the village and +demanded an interview with the chief. That worthy, after the interview, +conducted the youth to the hut where his visitors lived, and, rousing +Van der Kemp without disturbing the others, bade him listen to what the +young man had to say. An expression of great anxiety overspread the +hermit's usually placid countenance while Babu was speaking. + +"It is fate!" he murmured, as if communing with himself--then, after a +pause--"no, there is no such thing as fate. It is, it must be, the will +of God. Go, young man, mention this to no one. I thank you for the +kindness which made you take so long a journey for my sake." + +"It is not kindness, it is love that makes me serve you," returned the +lad earnestly. "Every one loves you, Van der Kemp, because that curse of +mankind, _revenge_, has no place in your breast." + +"Strange! how little man does know or guess the secret thoughts of his +fellow!" said the hermit with one of his pitiful smiles. "_Revenge_ no +place in me!--but I thank you, boy, for the kind thought as well as the +effort to save me. My life is not worth much to any one. It will not +matter, I think, if my enemy should succeed. Go now, Babu, and God be +with you!" + +"He will surely succeed if you do not leave this place at once," +rejoined the youth, in a tone of decision. "Baderoon is furious at all +times. He is worse than ever just now, because you have thwarted his +plans--so it is said--very often. If he knew that _I_ am now thwarting +them also, he would hunt me to death. I will not leave you till you are +safe beyond his reach." + +The hermit looked at the lad with kindly surprise. + +"How comes it," he said, "that you are so much interested in me? I +remember seeing you two years ago, but have no recollection of having +done you any service." + +"Do you not remember that my mother was ill when you spent a night in +our hut, and my little sister was dying? You nursed her, and tried your +best to save her, and when you could not save her, and she died, you +wept as if the child had been your own. I do not forget that, Van der +Kemp. Sympathy is of more value than service." + +"Strangely mistaken again!" murmured the hermit. "Who can know the +workings of the human mind! Self was mixed with my +feelings--profoundly--yet my sympathy with you and your mother was +sincere." + +"We never doubted that," returned Babu with a touch of surprise in his +tone. + +"Well now, what do you propose to do, as you refuse to leave me?" asked +the hermit with some curiosity. + +"I will go on with you to the next village. It is a large one. The chief +man there is my uncle, who will aid me, I know, in any way I wish. I +will tell him what I know and have heard of the pirate's intention, of +which I have proof. He will order Baderoon to be arrested on suspicion +when he arrives. Then we will detain him till you are beyond his reach. +That is not unjust." + +"True--and I am glad to know by your last words that you are sensitive +about the justice of what you propose to do. Indifference to pure and +simple justice is the great curse of mankind. It is not indeed the root, +but it is the fruit of our sins. The suspicion that detains Baderoon is +more than justified, for I could bring many witnesses to prove that he +has vowed to take my life, and I _know_ him to be a murderer." + +At breakfast-time Van der Kemp announced to his friends his intention of +quitting the village at once, and gave an account of his interview with +the Malay lad during the night. This, of course, reconciled them to +immediate departure,--though, in truth, the professor was the only one +who required to be reconciled. + +"It is _very_ misfortunate," he remarked with a sigh, which had +difficulty in escaping through a huge mass of fish and rice. "You see +zee vonderful variety of ornizological specimens I could find here, ant +zee herbareum, not to mention zee magnificent _Amblypodia eumolpus_ ant +ozer bootterflies--ach!-a leetle mor' feesh if you please. Zanks. My +frond, it is a great sacrifice, but I vill go avay viz you, for I could +not joostify myself if I forzook you, ant I cannot ask you to remain +vile your life is in dancher." + +"I appreciate your sentiments and sacrifice thoroughly," said the +hermit. + +"So does I," said Moses, helping himself to coffee; "but ob course if I +didn't it would be all de same. Pass de venison, Massa Nadgel, an' don't +look as if you was goin' to gib in a'ready. It spoils my appetite." + +"You will have opportunities," continued Van der Kemp, addressing the +professor, "to gather a good many specimens as we go along. Besides, if +you will consent to honour my cave in Krakatoa with a visit, I promise +you a hearty welcome and an interesting field of research. You have no +idea what a variety of species in all the branches of natural history my +little island contains." + +Hereupon the hermit proceeded to enter into details of the flora, fauna, +and geology of his island-home, and to expatiate in such glowing +language on its arboreal and herbal wealth and beauty, that the +professor became quite reconciled to immediate departure. + +"But how," he asked, "am I to get zere ven ve reach zee sea-coast? for +your canoe holds only t'ree, as you have told me." + +"There are plenty of boats to be had. Besides, I can send over my own +boat for you to the mainland. The distance is not great." + +"Goot. Zat vill do. I am happay now." + +"So," remarked Nigel as he went off with Moses to pack up, "his +'paradise regained' is rather speedily to be changed into paradise +forsaken! 'Off wi' the old love and on wi' the new.' 'The expulsive +power of a new affection!'" + +"Das true, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who entertained profound +admiration for anything that sounded like proverbial philosophy. "De +purfesser am an affectionit creeter. 'Pears to me dat he lubs de whole +creation. He kills an' tenderly stuffs 'most eberyt'ing he kin lay hands +on. If he could only lay hold ob Baderoon an' stuff an' stick him in a +moozeum, he'd do good service to my massa an' also to de whole ob +mankind." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A TERRIBLE MURDER AND A STRANGE REVELATION. + + +After letting the chief of the village know that the news just received +rendered it necessary that they should proceed at once to the next +town--but carefully refraining from going into particulars lest Baderoon +should by any means be led to suspect their intentions--the party +started off about daybreak under the guidance of the Malay youth Babu. + +Anxious as he was that no evil should befall his friend, Nigel could not +help wondering that a man of such a calm spirit, and such unquestionable +courage, should be so anxious to escape from this pirate. + +"I can't understand it at all," he said to Moses, as they walked through +the forest together a little in rear of the party. + +"No more kin I, Massa Nadgel," answered the negro, with one of those +shakes of the head and glares of solemn perplexity with which he was +wont to regard matters that were too deep for him. + +"Surely Van der Kemp is well able to take care of himself against any +single foe." + +"Das true, Massa Nadgel,--'gainst any half-dozen foes as well." + +"Fear, therefore, cannot be the cause." + +The negro received this with a quiet chuckle. + +"No," said he. "Massa nebber knowed fear, but ob dis you may be bery +sure, massa's _allers_ got good reasons for what he does. One t'ing's +sartin, I neber saw him do nuffin for fear, nor revenge, nor anger, no, +nor yet for fun; allers for lub--and," added Moses, after a moment's +thought, "sometimes for money, when we goes on a tradin' 'spidition--but +he don't make much account ob dat." + +"Well, perhaps the mystery may be cleared up in time," said Nigel, as +they closed up with the rest of the party, who had halted for a short +rest and some refreshment. + +This last consisted largely of fruit, which was abundant everywhere, and +a little rice with water from sparkling springs to wash it down. + +In the afternoon they reached the town--a large one, with a sort of +market-place in the centre, which at the time of their arrival was +crowded with people. Strangers, especially Europeans, were not often +seen in that region, so that Van der Kemp and his friends at once +attracted a considerable number of followers. Among these was one man +who followed them about very unobtrusively, usually hanging well in +rear of the knot of followers whose curiosity was stronger than their +sense of propriety. This man wore a broad sun-hat and had a bandage +round his head pulled well over one eye, as if he had recently met with +an accident or been wounded. He was unarmed, with the exception of the +kriss, or long knife, which every man in that region carries. + +This was no other than Baderoon himself, who had outwitted his enemies, +had somehow discovered at least part of their plans, and had hurried on +in advance of them to the town, where, disguising himself as described, +he awaited their arrival. + +Babu conducted his friends to the presence of his kinsman the chief man +of the town, and, having told his story, received a promise that the +pirate should be taken up when he arrived and put in prison. Meanwhile +he appointed to the party a house in which to spend the night. + +Baderoon boldly accompanied the crowd that followed them, saw the house, +glanced between the heads of curious natives who watched the travellers +while eating their supper, and noted the exact spot on the floor of the +building where Van der Kemp threw down his mat and blanket, thus taking +possession of his intended couch! He did not, however, see that the +hermit afterwards shifted his position a little, and that Babu, +desiring to be near his friend, lay down on the vacated spot. + +In the darkest hour of the night, when even the owls and bats had sought +repose, the pirate captain stole out of the brake in which he had +concealed himself, and, kriss in hand, glided under the house in which +his enemy lay. + +Native houses, as we have elsewhere explained, are usually built on +posts, so that there is an open space under the floors, which is +available as a store or lumber-room. It is also unfortunately available +for evil purposes. The bamboo flooring is not laid so closely but that +sounds inside may be heard distinctly by any one listening below. Voices +were heard by the pirate as he approached, which arrested his steps. +They were those of Van der Kemp and Nigel engaged in conversation. +Baderoon knew that as long as his enemy was awake and conversing he +might probably be sitting up and not in a position suitable to his fell +purpose. He crouched therefore among some lumber like a tiger abiding +its time. + +"Why are you so anxious not to meet this man?" asked Nigel, who was +resolved, if possible without giving offence, to be at the bottom of the +mystery. + +For some moments the hermit was silent, then in a constrained voice he +said slowly-- + +"Because revenge burns fiercely in my breast. I have striven to crush +it, but cannot. I fear to meet him lest I kill him." + +"Has he, then, done you such foul wrong?" + +"Ay, he has cruelly--fiendishly--done the worst he could. He robbed me +of my only child--but I may not talk of it. The unholy desire for +vengeance burns more fiercely when I talk. 'Vengeance is mine, saith the +Lord.' My constant prayer is that I may not meet him. Good-night." + +As the hermit thus put an abrupt end to the conversation he lay down and +drew his blanket over him. Nigel followed his example, wondering at what +he had heard, and in a few minutes their steady regular breathing told +that they were both asleep. Then Baderoon advanced and counted the +bamboo planks from the side towards the centre of the house. When +looking between the heads of the people he had counted the same planks +above. Standing under one he looked up, listened intently for a few +seconds, and drew his kriss. The place was almost pitch dark, yet the +blade caught a faint gleam from without, which it reflected on the +pirate's face as he thrust the long keen weapon swiftly, yet +deliberately, between the bamboos. + +A shriek, that filled those who heard it with a thrill of horror, rang +out on the silent night. At the same moment a gush of warm blood poured +over the murderer's face before he could leap aside. Instant uproar and +confusion burst out in the neighbourhood, and spread like wildfire until +the whole town was aroused. When a light was procured and the people +crowded into the hut where the strangers lay, Van der Kemp was found on +his knees holding the hand of poor Babu, who was at his last gasp. A +faint smile, that yet seemed to have something of gladness in it, +flitted across his pale face as he raised himself, grasped the hermit's +hand and pressed it to his lips. Then the fearful drain of blood took +effect and he fell back--dead. + +One great convulsive sob burst from the hermit as he leaped up, drew his +knife, and, with a fierce glare in his blue eyes, rushed out of the +room. + +Vengeance would indeed have been wreaked on Baderoon at that moment if +the hermit had caught him, but, as might have been expected, the +murderer was nowhere to be found. He was hid in the impenetrable jungle, +which it was useless to enter in the darkness of night. When daybreak +enabled the townspeople to undertake an organised search, no trace of +him could be discovered. + +Flight, personal safety, formed no part of the pirate's plan. The guilty +man had reached that state of depravity which, especially among the +natives of that region, borders close on insanity. While the inhabitants +of the village were hunting far a-field for him, Baderoon lay concealed +among some lumber in rear of a hut awaiting his opportunity. It was not +very long of coming. + +Towards afternoon the various searching parties began to return, and all +assembled in the market-place, where the chief man, with the hermit and +his party, were assembled discussing the situation. + +"I will not now proceed until we have buried poor Babu," said Van der +Kemp. "Besides, Baderoon will be sure to return. I will meet him now." + +"I do not agree viz you, mine frond," said the professor. "Zee man is +not a fool zough he is a villain. He knows vat avaits him if he comes." + +"He will not come openly," returned the hermit, "but he will not now +rest till he has killed me." + +Even as he spoke a loud shouting, mingled with shrieks and yells, was +heard at the other end of the main street. The sounds of uproar appeared +to approach, and soon a crowd of people was seen rushing towards the +market-place, uttering cries of fear in which the word "a-mok" was +heard. At the sound of that word numbers of people--specially women and +children--turned and fled from the scene, but many of the men stood +their ground, and all of them drew their krisses. Among the latter of +course were the white men and their native companions. + +We have already referred to that strange madness, to which the Malays +seem to be peculiarly liable, during the paroxysms of which those +affected by it rush in blind fury among their fellows, slaying right and +left. From the terrified appearance of some of the approaching crowd and +the maniac shouts in rear, it was evident that a man thus possessed of +the spirit of amok was venting his fury on them. + +Another minute and he drew near, brandishing a kriss that dripped with +the gore of those whom he had already stabbed. Catching sight of the +white men he made straight for them. He was possessed of only one eye, +but that one seemed to concentrate and flash forth the fire of a dozen +eyes, while his dishevelled hair and blood-stained face and person gave +him an appalling aspect. + +"It is Baderoon!" said Van der Kemp in a subdued but stern tone. + +Nigel, who stood next to him, glanced at the hermit. His face was deadly +pale; his eyes gleamed with a strange, almost unearthly light, and his +lips were firmly compressed. With a sudden nervous motion, unlike his +usually calm demeanour, he drew his long knife, and to Nigel's surprise +cast it away from him. At that moment a woman who came in the madman's +way was stabbed by him to the heart and rent the air with her dying +shriek as she fell. No one could have saved her, the act was so quickly +done. Van der Kemp would have leaped to her rescue, but it was too late; +besides, there was no need to do so now, for the maniac, recognising +his enemy, rushed at him with a shout that sounded like a triumphant +yell. Seeing this, and that his friend stood unarmed, as well as +unmoved, regarding Baderoon with a fixed gaze, Nigel stepped a pace in +advance to protect him, but Van der Kemp seized his arm and thrust him +violently aside. Next moment the pirate was upon him with uplifted +knife, but the hermit caught his wrist, and with a heave worthy of +Samson hurled him to the ground, where he lay for a moment quite +stunned. + +Before he could recover, the natives, who had up to this moment held +back, sprang upon the fallen man with revengeful yells, and a dozen +knives were about to be buried in his breast when the hermit sprang +forward to protect his enemy from their fury. But the man whose wife had +been the last victim came up at the moment, and led an irresistible rush +which bore back the hermit as well as his comrades, who had crowded +round him, and in another minute the maniac was almost hacked to pieces. + +"I did not kill him--thank God!" muttered Van der Kemp as he left the +market-place, where the relatives of those who had been murdered were +wailing over their dead. + +After this event even the professor was anxious to leave the place, so +that early next morning the party resumed their journey, intending to +make a short stay at the next village. Failing to reach it that night, +however, they were compelled to encamp in the woods. Fortunately they +came upon a hill which, although not very high, was sufficiently so, +with the aid of watch-fires, to protect them from tigers. From the +summit, which rose just above the tree-tops, they had a magnificent view +of the forest. Many of the trees were crowned with flowers among which +the setting sun shone for a brief space with glorious effulgence. + +Van der Kemp and Nigel stood together apart from the others, +contemplating the wonderful scene. + +"What must be the dwelling-place of the Creator Himself when his +footstool is so grand?" said the hermit in a low voice. + +"That is beyond mortal ken," said Nigel. + +"True--true. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived it. +Yet, methinks, the glory of the terrestrial was meant to raise our souls +to the contemplation of the celestial." + +"And yet how signally it has failed in the case of Baderoon," returned +Nigel, with a furtive glance at the hermit, whose countenance had quite +recovered its look of quiet simple dignity. "Would it be presumptuous if +I were to ask why it is that this pirate had such bitter enmity against +you?" + +"It is no secret," answered the hermit, in a sad tone. "The truth is, I +had discovered some of his nefarious plans, and more than once have been +the means of preventing his intended deeds of violence--as in the case +of the Dyaks whom we have so lately visited. Besides, the man had done +me irreparable injury, and it is one of the curious facts of human +experience that sometimes those who injure us hate us because they have +done so." + +"May I venture to ask for a fuller account of the injury he did you?" +said Nigel with some hesitancy. + +For some moments the hermit did not answer. He was evidently struggling +with some suppressed feeling. Turning a look full upon his young friend, +he at length spoke in a low sad voice-- + +"I have never mentioned my grief to mortal man since that day when it +pleased God to draw a cloud of thickest darkness over my life. But, +Nigel, there is that in you which encourages confidence. I confess that +more than once I have been tempted to tell you of my grief--for human +hearts crave intelligent sympathy. My faithful servant and friend Moses +is, no doubt, intensely sympathetic, but--but--well, I cannot +understand, still less can I explain, why I shrink from making a +confidant of him. Certainly it is not because of his colour, for I hold +that the _souls_ of men are colourless! + +"I need not trouble you with the story of my early life," continued the +hermit. "I lost my dear wife a year after our marriage, and was left +with a little girl whose lovely face became more and more like that of +her mother every day she lived. My soul was wrapped up in the child. +After three years I went with her as a passenger to Batavia. On the way +we were attacked by a couple of pirate junks. Baderoon was the pirate +captain. He killed many of our men, took some of us prisoners, sank the +vessel, seized my child, and was about to separate us, putting my child +into one junk while I was retained, bound, in the other." + +He paused, and gazed over the glowing tree-tops into the golden horizon, +with a longing, wistful look. At the same time something like an +electric shock passed through Nigel's frame, for was not this narrative +strangely similar in its main features to that which his own father had +told him on the Keeling Islands about beautiful little Kathleen Holbein +and her father? He was on the point of seizing the hermit by the hand +and telling him what he knew, when the thought occurred that attacks by +pirates were common enough in those seas, that other fathers might have +lost daughters in this way, and that, perhaps, his suspicion might be +wrong. It would be a terrible thing, he thought, to raise hope in his +poor friend's breast unless he were pretty sure of the hope being well +founded. He would wait and hear more. He had just come to this +conclusion, and managed to subdue the feelings which had been aroused, +when Van der Kemp turned to him again, and continued his narrative-- + +"I know not how it was, unless the Lord gave me strength for a purpose +as he gave it to Samson of old, but when I recovered from the stinging +blow I had received, and saw the junk hoist her sails and heard my child +scream, I felt the strength of a lion come over me; I burst the bonds +that held me and leaped into the sea, intending to swim to her. But it +was otherwise ordained. A breeze which had sprung up freshened, and the +junk soon left me far behind. As for the other junk, I never saw it +again, for I never looked back or thought of it--only, as I left it, I +heard a mocking laugh from the one-eyed villain, who, I afterwards found +out, owned and commanded both junks." + +Nigel had no doubt now, but the agitation of his feelings still kept him +silent. + +"Need I say," continued the hermit, "that revenge burned fiercely in my +breast from that day forward? If I had met the man soon after that, I +should certainly have slain him. But God mercifully forbade it. Since +then He has opened my eyes to see the Crucified One who prayed for His +enemies. And up till now I have prayed most earnestly that Baderoon and +I might _not_ meet. My prayer has not been answered in the way I +wished, but a _better_ answer has been granted, for the sin of revenge +was overcome within me before we met." + +Van der Kemp paused again. + +"Go on," said Nigel, eagerly. "How did you escape?" + +"Escape! Where was I--Oh! I remember," said the hermit, awaking as if +out of a dream "Well, I swam after the junk until it was out of sight, +and then I swam on in silent despair until so completely exhausted that +I felt consciousness leaving me. Then I knew that the end must be near +and I felt almost glad; but when I began to sink, the natural desire to +prolong life revived, and I struggled on. Just as my strength began a +second time to fail, I struck against something. It was a dead cocoa-nut +tree. I laid hold of it and clung to it all that night. Next morning I +was picked up by some fishermen who were going to Telok Betong by the +outer passage round Sebesi Island, and were willing to land me there. +But as my business connections had been chiefly with the town of Anjer, +I begged of them to land me on the island of Krakatoa. This they did, +and it has been my home ever since. I have been there many years." + +"Have you never seen or heard of your daughter since?" asked Nigel +eagerly, and with deep sympathy. + +"Never--I have travelled far and near, all over the archipelago; into +the interior of the islands, great and small, but have failed to find +her. I have long since felt that she must be dead--for--for she could +not live with the monsters who stole her away." + +A certain contraction of the mouth, as he said this, and a gleam of the +eyes, suggested to Nigel that revenge was not yet dead within the +hermit's breast, although it had been overcome. + +"What was her name?" asked Nigel, willing to gain time to think how he +ought to act, and being afraid of the effect that the sudden +communication of the news might have on his friend. + +"Winnie--darling Winnie--after her mother," said the hermit with deep +pathos in his tone. + +A feeling of disappointment came over our hero. Winnie bore not the most +distant resemblance to Kathleen! + +"Did you ever, during your search," asked Nigel slowly, "visit the +Cocos-Keeling Islands?" + +"Never. They are too far from where the attack on us was made." + +"And you never heard of a gun-boat having captured a pirate junk +and----" + +"Why do you ask, and why pause?" said the hermit, looking at his friend +in some surprise. + +Nigel felt that he had almost gone too far. + +"Well, you know--" he replied in some confusion, "you--you are right +when you expect me to sympathise with your great sorrow, which I do most +profoundly, and--and--in short, I would give anything to be able to +suggest hope to you, my friend. Men should _never_ give way to despair." + +"Thank you. It is kindly meant," returned the hermit, looking at the +youth with his sad smile. "But it is vain. Hope is dead now." + +They were interrupted at this point by the announcement that supper was +ready. At the same time the sun sank, like the hermit's hope, and +disappeared beyond the dark forest. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +NIGEL MAKES A CONFIDANT OF MOSES--UNDERTAKES A LONELY WATCH AND SEES +SOMETHING WONDERFUL. + + +It was not much supper that Nigel Roy ate that night. The excitement +resulting from his supposed discovery reduced his appetite seriously, +and the intense desire to open a safety-valve in the way of confidential +talk with some one induced a nervously absent disposition which at last +attracted attention. + +"You vant a goot dose of kvinine," remarked Verkimier, when, having +satiated himself, he found time to think of others--not that the +professor was selfish by any means, only he was addicted to +concentration of mind on all work in hand, inclusive of feeding. + +The hermit paid no attention to anything that was said. His recent +conversation had given vent to a flood of memories and feelings that had +been pent up for many years. + +After supper Nigel resolved to make a confidant of Moses. The negro's +fidelity to and love for his master would ensure his sympathy at least, +if not wise counsel. + +"Moses," he said, when the professor had raised himself to the seventh +heaven by means of tobacco fumes, "come with me. I want to have a talk." + +"Das what I's allers wantin', Massa Nadgel; talkin's my strong point if +I hab a strong point at all." + +They went together to the edge of a cliff on the hill-top, whence they +could see an almost illimitable stretch of tropical wilderness bathed in +a glorious flood of moonlight, and sat down. + +On a neighbouring cliff, which was crowned with a mass of grasses and +shrubs, a small monkey also sat down, on a fallen branch, and watched +them with pathetic interest, tempered, it would seem, by cutaneous +irritation. + +"Moses, I am sorely in need of advice," said Nigel, turning suddenly to +his companion with ill-suppressed excitement. + +"Well, Massa Nadgel, you _does_ look like it, but I'm sorry I ain't a +doctor. Pra'ps de purfesser would help you better nor me." + +"You misunderstand me. Can you keep a secret, Moses?" + +"I kin try--if--if he's not too diffikilt to keep." + +"Well, then; listen." + +The negro opened his eyes and his mouth as if these were the chief +orifices for the entrance of sound, and advanced an ear. The distant +monkey, observing, apparently, that some unusual communication was about +to be made, also stretched out its little head, cocked an ear, and +suspended its other operations. + +Then, in low earnest tones, Nigel told Moses of his belief that Van der +Kemp's daughter might yet be alive and well, and detailed the recent +conversation he had had with his master. + +"Now, Moses; what d' ye think of all that?" + +Profundity unfathomable sat on the negro's sable brow as he replied, +"Massa Nadgel, I don't bery well know _what_ to t'ink." + +"But remember, Moses, before we go further, that I tell you all this in +strict confidence; not a word of it must pass your lips." + +The awful solemnity with which Nigel sought to impress this on his +companion was absolutely trifling compared with the expression of that +companion's countenance, as, with a long-drawn argumentative and +remonstrative _Oh!_ he replied:--"Massa--Nadgel. Does you really t'ink I +would say or do any mortal t'ing w'atsumiver as would injure _my_ +massa?" + +"I'm _sure_, you would not," returned Nigel, quickly. "Forgive me, +Moses, I merely meant that you would have to be very cautious--very +careful--that you do not let a word slip--by accident, you know. I +believe you'd sooner die than do an intentional injury to Van der Kemp. +If I thought you capable of _that_, I think I would relieve my feelings +by giving you a good thrashing." + +The listening monkey cocked its ear a little higher at this, and Moses, +who had at first raised his flat nose indignantly in the air, gradually +lowered it, while a benignant smile supplanted indignation. + +"You're right dere, Massa Nadgel. I'd die a t'ousand times sooner dan +injure massa. As to your last obserwation, it rouses two idees in my +mind. First, I wonder how you'd manidge to gib me a t'rashin', an' +second, I wonder if your own moder would rikognise you arter you'd tried +it." + +At this the monkey turned its other ear as if to make quite sure that it +heard aright. Nigel laughed shortly. + +"But seriously, Moses," he continued; "what do you think I should do? +Should I reveal my suspicions to Van der Kemp?" + +"Cer'nly not!" answered the negro with prompt decision. "What! wake up +all his old hopes to hab 'em all dashed to bits p'raps when you find dat +you's wrong!" + +"But I feel absolutely certain that I'm _not_ wrong!" returned Nigel, +excitedly. "Consider--there is, first, the one-eyed pirate; second, +there is--" + +"'Scuse me, Massa Nadgel, dere's no occasion to go all ober it again. +I'll tell you what you do." + +"Well?" exclaimed Nigel, anxiously, while his companion frowned savagely +under the force of the thoughts that surged through his brain. + +"Here's what you'll do," said Moses. + +"Well?" (impatiently, as the negro paused.) + +"We're on our way home to Krakatoa." + +"Yes--well?" + +"One ob our men leabes us to-morrer--goes to 'is home on de coast. Kitch +one ob de steamers dat's allers due about dis time." + +"Well, what of that?" + +"What ob dat! why, you'll write a letter to your fadder. It'll go by de +steamer to Batavia. He gits it long before we gits home, so dere's +plenty time for 'im to take haction." + +"But what good will writing to my father do?" asked Nigel in a somewhat +disappointed tone. "_He_ can't help us." + +"Ho yes, he can," said Moses with a self-satisfied nod. "See here, I'll +tell you what to write. You begin, 'Dear fadder--or Dearest fadder--I's +not quite sure ob de strengt' ob your affection. P'raps de safest +way--." + +"Oh! get on, Moses. Never mind that." + +"Ho! it's all bery well for you to say dat, but de ole gen'leman'll mind +it. Hows'ever, put it as you t'ink best--'Dear fadder, victual your +ship; up anchor; hois' de sails, an' steer for de Cocos-Keelin' Islands. +Go ashore; git hold ob de young 'ooman called Kat'leen Hobbleben--'" + +"Holbein, Moses." + +"What! is she Moses too?" + +"No, no! get on, man." + +"Well, 'Dearest fadder, git a hold ob her, whateber her name is, an' +carry her off body and soul, an' whateber else b'longs to her. Take her +to de town ob Anjer an' wait dere for furder orders.' Ob course for de +windin' up o' de letter you must appeal agin to de state ob your +affections, for, as--" + +"Not a bad idea," exclaimed Nigel. "Why, Moses, you're a genius! Of +course I'll have to explain a little more fully." + +"'Splain what you please," said Moses. "My business is to gib you de +bones ob de letter; yours--bein' a scholar--is to clove it wid flesh." + +"I'll do it, Moses, at once." + +"I should like," rejoined Moses, with a tooth-and-gum-disclosing smile, +"to see your fadder when he gits dat letter!" + +The picture conjured up by his vivid imagination caused the negro to +give way to an explosive laugh that sent the eavesdropping monkey like a +brown thunderbolt into the recesses of its native jungle, while Nigel +went off to write and despatch the important letter. + +Next day the party arrived at another village, where, the report of +their approach having preceded them, they were received with much +ceremony--all the more that the professor's power with the rifle had +been made known, and that the neighbourhood was infested by tigers. + +There can be little doubt that at this part of the journey the +travellers must have been dogged all the way by tigers, and it was +matter for surprise that so small a party should not have been molested. +Possibly the reason was that these huge members of the feline race were +afraid of white faces, being unaccustomed to them, or, perchance, the +appearance and vigorous stride of even a few stalwart and fearless men +had intimidated them. Whatever the cause, the party reached the village +without seeing a single tiger, though their footprints were observed in +many places. + +The wild scenery became more and more beautiful as this village was +neared. + +Although flowers as a rule were small and inconspicuous in many parts of +the great forest through which they passed, the rich pink and scarlet of +many of the opening leaves, and the autumn-tinted foliage which lasts +through all seasons of the year, fully made up for the want of them--at +least as regards colour, while the whole vegetation was intermingled in +a rich confusion that defies description. + +The professor went into perplexed raptures, his mind being distracted by +the exuberant wealth of subjects which were presented to it all at the +same time. + +"Look zere!" he cried, at one turning in the path which opened up a new +vista of exquisite beauty--"look at zat!" + +"Ay, it is a Siamang ape--next in size to the orang-utan," said Van der +Kemp, who stood at his friend's elbow. + +The animal in question was a fine full-grown specimen, with long +jet-black glancing hair. Its height might probably have been a few +inches over three feet, and the stretch of its arms over rather than +under five feet, but at the great height at which it was seen--not less +than eighty feet--it looked much like an ordinary monkey. It was hanging +in the most easy nonchalant way by one hand from the branch of a tree, +utterly indifferent to the fact that to drop was to die! + +The instant the Siamang observed the travellers it set up a loud barking +howl which made the woods resound, but it did not alter its position or +seem to be alarmed in any degree. + +"Vat a 'straordinary noise!" remarked the professor. + +"It is indeed," returned the hermit, "and it has an extraordinary +appliance for producing it. There is a large bag under its throat +extending to its lips and cheeks which it can fill with air by means of +a valve in the windpipe. By expelling this air in sudden bursts it makes +the varied sounds you hear." + +"Mos' vonderful! A sort of natural air-gun! I vill shoot it," said the +professor, raising his deadly rifle, and there is no doubt that the poor +Siamang would have dropped in another moment if Van der Kemp had not +quietly and gravely touched his friend's elbow just as the explosion +took place. + +"Hah! you tooched me!" exclaimed the disappointed naturalist, looking +fiercely round, while the amazed ape sent forth a bursting crack of its +air-gun as it swung itself into the tree-top and made off. + +"Yes, I touched you, and if you _will_ shoot when I am so close to you, +you cannot wonder at it--especially when you intend to take life +uselessly. The time now at the disposal of my friend Nigel Roy will not +permit of our delaying long enough to kill and preserve large specimens. +To say truth, my friend, we must press on now, as fast as we can, for we +have a very long way to go." + +Verkimier was not quite pleased with this explanation, but there was a +sort of indescribable power about the hermit, when he was resolved to +have his way, that those whom he led found it impossible to resist. + +On arriving at the village they were agreeably surprised to find a grand +banquet, consisting chiefly of fruit, with fowl, rice, and Indian corn, +spread out for them in the Balai or public hall, where also their +sleeping quarters were appointed. An event had recently occurred, +however, which somewhat damped the pleasure of their reception. A young +man had been killed by a tiger. The brute had leaped upon him while he +and a party of lads were traversing a narrow path through the jungle, +and had killed him with one blow of its paw. The other youths +courageously rushed at the beast with their spears and axes, and, +driving it off, carried the body of their comrade away. + +"We have just buried the young man," said the chief of the village, "and +have set a trap for the tiger, for he will be sure to visit the grave." + +"My friends would like to see this trap," said the hermit, who, of +course, acted the part of interpreter wherever they went, being well +acquainted with most of the languages and dialects of the archipelago. + +"There will yet be daylight after you have finished eating," said the +chief. + +Although anxious to go at once to see this trap, they felt the +propriety of doing justice to what had been provided for them, and sat +down to their meal, for which, to say truth, they were quite ready. + +Then they went with a large band of armed natives to see this curious +tiger-trap, the bait of which was the grave of a human being! + +The grave was close to the outskirts of the village, and, on one side, +the jungle came up to within a few yards of it. The spot was surrounded +by a strong and high bamboo fence, except at one point where a narrow +but very conspicuous opening had been left. Here a sharp spear was so +arranged beside the opening that it could be shot across it at a point +corresponding with the height of a tiger's heart from the ground--as +well, at least, as that point could be estimated by men who were pretty +familiar with tigers. The motive power to propel this spear was derived +from a green bamboo, so strong that it required several powerful men to +bend it in the form of a bow. A species of trigger was arranged to let +the bent bow fly, and a piece of fine cord passed from this across the +opening about breast-high for a tiger. The intention was that the +animal, in entering the enclosure, should become its own +executioner--should commit unintentional suicide, if we may so put it. + +"I have an ambition to shoot a tiger," said Nigel to Van der Kemp that +evening. "Do you think the people would object to my getting up into a +tree with my rifle and watching beside the grave part of the night?" + +"I am sure that they would not. But your watch will probably be in vain, +for tigers are uncommonly sagacious creatures and seem to me to have +exceptional powers for scenting danger." + +"No matter, I will try." + +Accordingly, a little before dark that evening our hero borrowed the +professor's double-barrelled rifle, being more suitable for large game +than his own gun, and sauntered with Moses down to the grave where he +ensconced himself in the branches of a large tree about thirty feet from +the ground. The form of the tree was such, that among its forks Nigel +could form a sort of nest in which he could sit, in full view of the +poor youth's grave, without the risk of falling to the ground even if he +should chance to drop asleep. + +"Good-night, massa Nadgel," said Moses as he turned to leave his +companion to his solitary vigil. "See you not go to sleep." + +"No fear of _that_!" said Nigel. + +"An' whateber you do, don't miss." + +"I'll do my best--Good-night." + +While there was yet a little daylight, our hunter looked well about him; +took note of the exact position of the fence, the entrance to the +enclosure, and the grave; judged the various distances of objects, and +arranged the sights of the rifle, which was already loaded with a brace +of hardened balls. Then he looked up through the tree-tops and wished +for darkness. + +It came sooner than he expected. Night always descends more suddenly in +tropical than in temperate regions. The sun had barely dipped below the +horizon when night seemed to descend like a pall over the jungle, and an +indescribable sensation of eerieness crept over Nigel's spirit. Objects +became very indistinct, and he fancied that he saw something moving on +the newly-made grave. With a startled feeling he grasped his weapon, +supposing that the tiger must have entered the enclosure with cat-like +stealth. On second thoughts, however, he discarded the idea, for the +entrance was between him and the grave, and still seemed quite visible. +Do what he would, however, the thought of ghosts insisted on intruding +upon him! He did not believe in ghosts--oh no!--had always scouted the +idea of their existence. Why, therefore, did he feel uncomfortable? He +could not tell. It must simply be the excitement natural to such a very +new and peculiar situation. He would think of something else. He would +devote his mind to the contemplation of tigers! In a short time the moon +would rise, he knew--then he would be able to see better. + +While he was in this very uncomfortable state of mind, with the jungle +wrapped in profound silence as well as gloom, there broke on the night +air a wail so indescribable that the very marrow in Nigel's bones seemed +to shrivel up. It ceased, but again broke forth louder than before, +increasing in length and strength, until his ears seemed to tingle with +the sound, and then it died away to a sigh of unutterable woe. + +"I have always," muttered Nigel, "believed myself to be a man of +ordinary courage, but _now_--I shall write myself a coward, if not an +ass!" + +He attempted to laugh at this pleasantry, but the laugh was hollow and +seemed to freeze in his gullet as the wail broke forth again, ten times +more hideous than at first. After a time the wail became more +continuous, and the watcher began to get used to it. Then a happy +thought flashed into his mind--this was, perhaps, some sort of mourning +for the dead! He was right. The duty of the father of the poor youth who +had been killed was, for several days after the funeral, to sit alone in +his house and chant from sunset till daybreak a death-dirge, or, as it +is called, the _Tjerita bari_. It was not till next day that this was +told to him, but meanwhile the surmise afforded him instantaneous +relief. + +As if nature sympathised with his feelings, the moon arose at the same +time and dispelled the thick darkness, though it was not till much +later that, sailing across a clear sky, she poured her bright beams +through the tree-tops and finally rested on the dead man's grave. + +By that time Nigel had quite recovered his equanimity, and mentally +blotted out the writing of "coward" and "ass" which he had written +against himself. But another trouble now assailed him. He became sleepy! +Half-a-dozen times at least within half-an-hour he started wide awake +under the impression that he was falling off the tree. + +"This will never do," he exclaimed, rising to his feet, resting his +rifle in a position of safety, and then stretching himself to his utmost +extent so that he became thoroughly awake. After this "rouser," as he +called it, he sat down again, and almost immediately fell fast asleep. + +How long he sat in this condition it is impossible to say, but he opened +his eyes at length with an indescribable sensation that _something_ +required attention, and the first thing they rested on (for daylight was +dawning) was an enormous tiger not forty yards away from him, gliding +like a shadow and with cat-like stealth towards the opening of the +enclosure. The sight was so sudden and so unexpected that, for the +moment, he was paralysed. Perhaps he thought it was a dream. Before he +could recover presence of mind to seize his rifle, the breast of the +animal had touched the fatal line; the trigger was drawn; the stout +bamboo straightened with a booming sound, and the spear--or, rather, the +giant arrow--was shot straight through the tiger's side! + +Then occurred a scene which might well have induced Nigel to imagine +that he dreamt, for the transfixed creature bounded into the enclosure +with a terrific roar that rang fearfully through the arches of the +hitherto silent forest. Rushing across the grave, it sprang with one +tremendous bound right over the high fence, carrying the spear along +with it into the jungle beyond. + +By that time Nigel was himself again, with rifle in hand, but too late +to fire. The moment he heard the thud of the tiger's descent, he slid +down the tree, and, forgetful or regardless of danger, went crashing +into the jungle, while the yells and shouts of hundreds of aroused +natives suggested the peopling of the region with an army of fiends. + +But our hero had not to go far. In his haste he almost tumbled over the +tiger. It was lying stone dead on the spot where it had fallen! + +A few minutes more and the natives came pouring round him, wild with +excitement and joy. Soon he was joined by his own comrades. + +"Well, you've managed to shoot him, I see," said Van der Kemp as he +joined the group. + +"Alas! no. I have not fired a shot," said Nigel, with a half +disappointed look. + +"You's got de better ob him anyhow," remarked Moses as he pushed to the +front. + +"The spear got the better of him, Moses." + +"Veil now, zat is a splendid animal. Lat me see," said the professor, +pulling out his tape-measure. + +It was with difficulty that the man of science made and noted his +measurements, for the people were pressing eagerly round the carcase to +gratify their revenge by running their spears into the still warm body. +They dipped the points in the blood and passed their krisses broadside +over the creature that they might absorb the courage and boldness which +were supposed to emanate from it! Then they skinned it, and pieces of +the heart and brain were eaten raw by some of those whose relatives had +been killed by tigers. Finally the skull was hacked to pieces for the +purpose of distributing the teeth, which are used by the natives as +charms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +IN WHICH THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF. + + +Leaving this village immediately after the slaying of the tiger, the +party continued to journey almost by forced marches, for not only was +Nigel Roy very anxious to keep tryst with his father, and to settle the +question of Kathleen's identity by bringing father and daughter +together, but Van der Kemp himself, strange to say, was filled with +intense and unaccountable anxiety to get back to his island home. + +"I don't know how it is," he said to Nigel as they walked side by side +through the forest, followed by Moses and the professor, who had become +very friendly on the strength of a certain amount of vacant curiosity +displayed by the former in regard to scientific matters--"I don't know +how it is, but I feel an unusually strong desire to get back to my cave. +I have often been absent from home for long periods at a time, but have +never before experienced these strange longings. I say strange, because +there is no such thing as an effect without a cause." + +"May not the cause be presentiment?" suggested Nigel, who, knowing what +a tremendous possibility for the hermit lay in the future, felt a little +inclined to be superstitious. It did not occur to him just then that an +equally, if not more, tremendous possibility lay in the future for +himself--touching his recent discovery or suspicion! + +"I do not believe in presentiments," returned the hermit. "They are +probably the result of indigestion or a disordered intellect, from +neither of which complaints do I suffer--at least not consciously!" + +"But you have never before left home in such peculiar circumstances," +said Nigel. "Have you not told me that this is the first time for about +two hundred years that Krakatoa has broken out in active eruption?" + +"True, but that cannot be to me the cause of longings or anxieties, for +I have seen many a long-dormant crater become active without any +important result either to me or to any one else." + +"Stop, stop!" cried Professor Verkimier in a hoarse whisper at that +moment; "look! look at zee monkeys!" + +Monkeys are very abundant in Sumatra, but the nest of them which the +travellers discovered at that time, and which had called forth the +professor's admiration, was enough--as Moses said--to make a "renocerus +laugh." The trees around absolutely swarmed with monkeys; those of a +slender form and with very long tails being most numerous. They were +engaged in some sort of game, swinging by arms, legs, and tails from +branches, holding on to or chasing each other, and taking the most +astonishing leaps in circumstances where a slip would have no doubt +resulted in broken limbs or in death. + +"Stand still! Oh! _do_ stand still--like you vas petrivied," said the +professor in a low voice of entreaty. + +Being quite willing to humour him, the whole party stood immovable, like +statues, and thus avoided attracting the attention of the monkeys, who +continued their game. It seemed to be a sort of "follow my leader," for +one big strong fellow led off with a bound from one branch to another +which evidently tried the nerves of his more timid and less agile +companions. They all succeeded, however, from the largest even to the +smallest--which last was a very tiny creature with a pink face, a sad +expression, and a corkscrew tail. + +For a time they bounded actively among the branches, now high now low, +till suddenly the big leader took a tremendous leap, as if for the +express purpose of baffling or testing his companions. It was immensely +amusing to see the degrees of trepidation with which the others +followed. The last two seemed quite unable to make up their minds to +the leap, until the others seemed about to disappear, when one of them +took heart and bounded wildly across. Thus little pink-face with the +corkscrew tail was left alone! Twice did that little monkey make a +desperate resolution to jump, and twice did its little heart fail as it +measured the distance between the branches and glanced at the abyss +below. Its companions seemed to entertain a feeling of pity for it. +Numbers of them came back, as if to watch the jump and encourage the +little one. A third time it made an abortive effort to spring, and +looked round pitifully, whereupon Moses gave vent to an uncontrollable +snort of suppressed laughter. + +"Vat you mean by zat?" growled the professor angrily. + +The growl and snort together revealed the intruders, and all the +monkeys, except pink-face, crowding the trees above the spot where they +stood, gazed down upon them with expressions in which unparalleled +indignation and inconceivable surprise struggled for the mastery. + +Then, with a wild shriek, the whole troop fled into the forest. + +This was too much for poor, half-petrified pink-face with the twisted +tail. Seeing that its comrades were gone in earnest, it became +desperate, flung itself frantically into the air with an agonising +squeak, missed its mark, went crashing through the slender branches and +fell to the ground. + +Fortunately these branches broke its fall so that it arose unhurt, +bounded into a bush, still squeaking with alarm, and made after its +friends. + +"Why did you not shoot it, professor?" asked Nigel, laughing as much at +Verkimier's grave expression as at the little monkey's behaviour. + +"Vy did I not shot it?" echoed the professor. "I vould as soon shot a +baby. Zee pluck of zat leetle creature is admirable. It vould be a +horrible shame to take his life. No! I do love to see ploock vezer in +man or beast! He could not shoomp zat. He _knew_ he could not shoomp it, +but he _tried_ to shoomp it. He vould not be beat, an' I vould not kill +him--zough I vant 'im very mooch for a specimen." + +It seemed as if the professor was to be specially rewarded for his +generous self-denial on this occasion, for while he was yet speaking, a +soft "hush!" from Van der Kemp caused the whole party to halt in dead +silence and look at the hermit inquiringly. + +"You are in luck, professor," he murmured, in a soft, low voice--very +different from that hissing whisper which so many people seem to imagine +is an inaudible utterance. "I see a splendid Argus pheasant over there +making himself agreeable to his wife!" + +"Vare? oh! vare?" exclaimed the enthusiast with blazing eyes, for +although he had already seen and procured specimens of this most +beautiful creature, he had not yet seen it engage in the strange +love-dance--if we may so call it--which is peculiar to the bird. + +"You'll never get near enough to see it if you hiss like a serpent," +said the hermit. "Get out your binoculars, follow me, and hold your +tongue, all of you--that will be the safest plan. Tread lightly." + +It was a sight to behold the professor crouching almost double in order +to render himself less conspicuous, with his hat pushed back, and the +blue glasses giving him the appearance of a great-eyed seal. He carried +his butterfly-net in one hand, and the unfailing rifle in the other. + +Fortunately the hermit's sharp and practised eye had enabled him to +distinguish the birds in the distance before their advance had alarmed +them, so that they were able to reach a mound topped with low bushes +over which they could easily watch the birds. + +"Zat is very koorious an' most interesting," murmured the professor +after a short silence. + +He was right. There were two Argus pheasants, a male and female--the +male alone being decorated superbly. The Argus belongs to the same +family as the peacock, but is not so gaudy in colouring, and therefore, +perhaps, somewhat more pleasing. Its tail is formed chiefly by an +enormous elongation of the two tail quills, and of the secondary wing +feathers, no two of which are exactly the same, and the closer they are +examined the greater is seen to be the extreme beauty of their markings, +and the rich varied harmony of their colouring. + +When a male Argus wishes to show off his magnificence to his spouse--or +when she asks him to show it off, we know not which--he makes a circle +in the forest some ten or twelve feet in diameter, which he clears of +every leaf, twig, and branch. On the margin of this circus there is +invariably a projecting branch, or overarching root a few feet above the +ground, on which the female takes her place to watch the exhibition. +This consists of the male strutting about, pluming his feathers, and +generally displaying his gorgeous beauty. + +"Vat ineffable vanity!" exclaimed the professor, after gazing for some +time in silence. + +His own folly in thus speaking was instantly proved by the two birds +bringing the exhibition to an abrupt close and hastily taking wing. + +Not long after seeing this they came to a small but deep and rapid +river, which for a time checked their progress, for there was no ford, +and the porters who carried Verkimier's packages seemed to know nothing +about a bridge, either natural or artificial. After wandering for an +hour or so along its banks, however, they found a giant tree which had +fallen across the stream and formed a natural bridge. + +On the other side of the stream the ground was more rugged and the +forest so dense that they had to walk in a sort of twilight--only a +glimpse of blue sky being visible here and there through the tree-tops. +In some places, however, there occurred bright little openings which +swarmed with species of metallic tiger-beetles and sand-bees, and where +sulphur, swallow-tailed, and other butterflies sported their brief life +away over the damp ground by the water's edge. + +The native forest path which they followed was little better than a +tunnel cut through a grove of low rattan-palms, the delicate but +exceedingly tough tendrils of which hung down in all directions. These +were fringed with sharp hooks which caught their clothing and tore it, +or held on unrelentingly, so that the only way of escape was to step +quietly back and unhook themselves. This of itself would have rendered +their progress slow as well as painful, but other things tended to +increase the delay. At one place they came to a tree about seven feet in +diameter which lay across the path and had to be scrambled over, and +this was done with great difficulty. At another, a gigantic +mud-bath--the wallowing hole of a herd of elephants--obstructed the +way, and a yell from one of the porters told that in attempting to cross +it he had fallen in up to the waist. A comrade in trying to pull him out +also fell in and sank up to the armpits. But they got over it--as +resolute men always do--somehow! + +"Zis is horrible!" exclaimed the professor, panting from his exertions, +and making a wild plunge with his insect-net at some living creature. +"Hah! zee brute! I have 'im." + +The man of science was flat on his stomach as he spoke, with arm +outstretched and the net pressed close to the ground, while a smile of +triumph beamed through the mud and scratches on his face. + +"What have you got?" asked Nigel, doing his best to restrain a laugh. + +"A splendid _Ornit'optera_ a day-flying moss'," said Verkimier as he +cautiously rose, "vich mimics zee _Trepsichrois mulciber_. Ant zis very +morning I caught von _Leptocircus virescens_, vich derives protection +from mimicking zee habits ant appearance of a dragon-fly." + +"What rubbish dat purfesser do talk!" remarked Moses in an undertone to +the hermit as they moved on again. + +"Not such rubbish as it sounds to you, Moses. These are the scientific +names of the creatures, and you know as well as he does that many +creatures think they find it advantageous to pretend to be what they +are not. Man himself is not quite free from this characteristic. Indeed, +you have a little of it yourself," said the hermit with one of his +twinkling glances. "When you are almost terrified of your wits don't you +pretend that there's nothing the matter with you?" + +"Nebber, massa, nebber!" answered the negro with remonstrative gravity. +"When I's nigh out ob my wits, so's my innards feels like nuffin' but +warmish water, I gits whitey-grey in de chops, so I's told, an' blue in +de lips, an' I _pretends_ nuffin'--I don't care _who_ sees it!" + +The track for some distance beyond this point became worse and worse. +Then the nature of the ground changed somewhat--became more hilly, and +the path, if such it could be styled, more rugged in some places, more +swampy in others, while, to add to their discomfort, rain began to fall, +and night set in dark and dismal without any sign of the village of +which they were in search. By that time the porters who carried +Verkimier's boxes seemed so tired that the hermit thought it advisable +to encamp, but the ground was so wet and the leeches were so numerous +that they begged him to go on, assuring him that the village could not +be far distant. In another half-hour the darkness became intense, so +that a man could scarcely see his fellow even when within two paces of +him. Ominous mutterings and rumblings like distant thunder also were +heard, which appeared to indicate an approaching storm. In these +circumstances encamping became unavoidable, and the order was given to +make a huge fire to scare away the tigers, which were known to be +numerous, and the elephants whose fresh tracks had been crossed and +followed during the greater part of the day. The track of a rhinoceros +and a tapir had also been seen, but no danger was to be anticipated from +those creatures. + +"Shall we have a stormy night, think you?" asked Nigel, as he assisted +in striking a light. + +"It may be so," replied the hermit, flinging down one after another of +his wet matches, which failed to kindle. "What we hear may be distant +thunder, but I doubt it. The sounds seem to me more like the mutterings +of a volcano. Some new crater may have burst forth in the Sumatran +ranges. This thick darkness inclines me to think so--especially after +the new activity of volcanic action we have seen so recently at +Krakatoa. Let me try your matches, Nigel, perhaps they have +escaped--mine are useless." + +But Nigel's matches were as wet as those of the hermit. So were those of +the professor. Luckily Moses carried the old-fashioned flint and steel, +with which, and a small piece of tinder, a spark was at last kindled, +but as they were about to apply it to a handful of dry bamboo scrapings, +an extra spirt of rain extinguished it. For an hour and more they made +ineffectual attempts to strike a light. Even the cessation of the rain +was of no avail. + +"Vat must ve do _now_?" asked the professor in tones that suggested a +wo-begone countenance, though there was no light by which to distinguish +it. + +"Grin and bear it," said Nigel, in a voice suggestive of a slight +expansion of the mouth--though no one could see it. + +"Dere's nuffin' else left to do," said Moses, in a tone which betrayed +such a very wide expansion that Nigel laughed outright. + +"Hah! you may laugh, my yoong frond, hot if zee tigers find us out or +zee elephants trample on us, your laughter vill be turned to veeping. +Vat is zat? Is not zat vonderful?" + +The question and exclamation were prompted by the sudden appearance of +faint mysterious lights among the bushes. That the professor viewed them +as unfriendly lights was clear from the click of his rifle-locks which +followed. + +"It is only phosphoric light," explained Van der Kemp. "I have often +seen it thus in electric states of the atmosphere. It will probably +increase--meanwhile we must seat ourselves on our boxes and do the best +we can till daylight. Are you there, boys?" + +This question, addressed to the bearers in their native tongue, was not +answered, and it was found, on a _feeling_ examination, that, in spite +of leeches, tigers, elephants, and the whole animal creation, the +exhausted porters had flung themselves on the wet ground and gone to +sleep while their leaders were discussing the situation. + +Dismal though the condition of the party was, the appearances in the +forest soon changed the professor's woe into eager delight, for the +phosphorescence became more and more pronounced, until every tree-stem +blinked with a palish green light, and it trickled like moonlight over +the ground, bringing out thick dumpy mushrooms like domes of light. +Glowing caterpillars and centipedes crawled about, leaving a trail of +light behind them, and fireflies darting to and fro peopled the air and +gave additional animation to the scene. + +In the midst of the darkness, thus made singularly visible, the white +travellers sat dozing and nodding on their luggage, while the cries of +metallic-toned horned frogs and other nocturnal sounds peculiar to that +weird forest formed their appropriate lullaby. + +But Moses neither dozed nor nodded. With a pertinacity peculiarly his +own he continued to play a running accompaniment to the lullaby with his +flint and steel, until his perseverance was rewarded with a spark which +caught on a dry portion of the tinder and continued to burn. By that +time the phosphoric lights had faded, and his spark was the only one +which gleamed through intense darkness. + +How he cherished that spark! He wrapped it in swaddling clothes of dry +bamboo scrapings with as much care as if it had been the essence of his +life. He blew upon it tenderly as though to fan its delicate brow with +the soft zephyrs of a father's affection. Again he blew more vigorously, +and his enormous pouting lips came dimly into view. Another blow and his +flat nose and fat cheeks emerged from darkness. Still another--with +growing confidence--and his huge eyes were revealed glowing with hope. +At last the handful of combustible burst into a flame, and was thrust +into a prepared nest of twigs. This, communicating with a heap of logs, +kindled a sudden blaze which scattered darkness out of being, and +converted thirty yards of the primeval forest into a chamber of glorious +light, round which the human beings crowded with joy enhanced by the +unexpectedness of the event, and before which the wild things of the +wilderness fled away. + +When daylight came at last, they found that the village for which they +had been searching was only two miles beyond the spot where they had +encamped. + +Here, being thoroughly exhausted, it was resolved that they should spend +that day and night, and, we need scarcely add, they spent a considerable +portion of both in sleep--at least such parts of both as were not +devoted to food. And here the professor distinguished himself in a way +that raised him greatly in the estimation of his companions and caused +the natives of the place to regard him as something of a demi-god. Of +course we do not vouch for the truth of the details of the incident, for +no one save himself was there to see, and although we entertained the +utmost regard for himself, we were not sufficiently acquainted with his +moral character to answer for his strict truthfulness. As to the main +event, there was no denying that. The thing happened thus:-- + +Towards the afternoon of that same day the travellers began to wake up, +stretch themselves, and think about supper. In the course of +conversation it transpired that a tiger had been prowling about the +village for some days, and had hitherto successfully eluded all attempts +to trap or spear it. They had tethered a goat several times near a small +pond and watched the spot from safe positions among the trees, with +spears, bows and arrows, and blow-pipes ready, but when they watched, +the tiger did not come, and when they failed to watch, the tiger did +come and carried off the goat. Thus they had been baffled. + +"Mine frond," said the professor to the hermit on hearing this. "I vill +shot zat tiger! I am resolved. Vill you ask zee chief to show me zee +place ant zen tell his people, on pain of def, not to go near it all +night, for if zey do I vill certainly shot zem--by accident of course!" + +The hermit did as he was bid, but advised his sanguine friend against +exposing himself recklessly. The chief willingly fell in with his +wishes. + +"Won't you tell us what you intend to do, professor?" asked Nigel, "and +let us help you." + +"No, I vill do it all by mineself--or die! I vill vant a shofel or a +spade of some sort." + +The chief provided the required implement, conducted his visitor a +little before sunset to the spot, just outside the village, and left him +there armed with his rifle, a revolver, and a long knife or kriss, +besides the spade. + +When alone, the bold man put off his glasses, made a careful inspection +of the ground, came to a conclusion--founded on scientific data no +doubt--as to the probable spot whence the tiger would issue from the +jungle when about to seize the goat, and, just opposite that spot, on +the face of a slope about ten yards from the goat, he dug a hole deep +enough to contain his own person. The soil was sandy easy to dig, and +quite dry. It was growing dusk when the professor crept into this +rifle-pit, drew his weapons and the spade in after him, and closed the +mouth of the pit with moist earth, leaving only a very small eye-hole +through which he could see the goat standing innocently by the brink of +the pool. + +"Now," said he, as he lay resting on his elbows with the rifle laid +ready to hand and the revolver beside it; "now, I know not vezer you can +smell or not, but I have buried mineself in eart', vich is a +non-conductor of smell. Ve shall see!" + +It soon became very dark, for there was no moon, yet not so dark but +that the form of the goat could be seen distinctly reflected in the +pond. Naturally the professor's mind reverted to the occasion when Nigel +had watched in the branches of a tree for another tiger. The conditions +were different, and so, he thought, was the man! + +"Mine yoong frond," he said mentally, "is brav', oondoubtedly, but his +nerves have not been braced by experience like mine. It is vell, for +zere is more dancher here zan in a tree. It matters not. I am resolf to +shot zat tigre--or die!" + +In this resolute and heroic frame of mind he commenced his vigil. + +It is curious to note how frequently the calculations of men fail +them--even those of scientific men! The tiger came indeed to the spot, +but he came in precisely the opposite direction from that which the +watcher expected, so that while Verkimier was staring over the goat's +head at an opening in the jungle beyond the pond, the tiger was +advancing stealthily and slowly through the bushes exactly behind the +hole in which he lay. + +Suddenly the professor became aware of _something_! He saw nothing +consciously, he heard nothing, but there stole over him, somehow, the +feeling of a dread presence! + +Was he asleep? Was it nightmare? No, it was night-tiger! He knew it, +somehow; he _felt_ it--but he could not see it. + +To face death is easy enough--according to some people--but to face +nothing at all is at all times trying. Verkimier felt it to be so at +that moment. But he was a true hero and conquered himself. + +"Come now," he said mentally, "don't be an ass! Don't lose your shance +by voomanly fears. Keep kviet." + +Another moment and there was a very slight sound right over his head. He +glanced upwards--as far as the little hole would permit--and there, not +a foot from him, was a tawny yellow throat! with a tremendous paw moving +slowly forward--so slowly that it might have suggested the imperceptible +movement of the hour-hand of a watch, or of a glacier. There was indeed +motion, but it was not perceptible. + +The professor's perceptions were quick. He did not require to think. He +knew that to use the rifle at such close quarters was absolutely +impossible. He knew that the slightest motion would betray him. He could +see that as yet he was undiscovered, for the animal's nose was straight +for the goat, and he concluded that either his having buried himself was +a safeguard against being smelt, or that the tiger had a cold in its +head. He thought for one moment of bursting up with a yell that would +scare the monster out of his seven senses--if he had seven--but +dismissed the thought as cowardly, for it would be sacrificing success +to safety. He knew not what to do, and the cold perspiration consequent +upon indecision at a supreme moment broke out all over him. Suddenly he +thought of the revolver! + +Like lightning he seized it, pointed it straight up and fired. The +bullet--a large army revolver one--entered the throat of the animal, +pierced the root of the tongue, crashed through the palate obliquely, +and entered the brain. The tiger threw one indescribable somersault and +fell--fell so promptly that it blocked the mouth of the pit, all the +covering earth of which had been blown away by the shot, and Verkimier +could feel the hairy side of the creature, and hear the beating of its +heart as it gasped its life away. But in his cramped position he could +not push it aside. Well aware of the tenacity of life in tigers, he +thought that if the creature revived it would certainly grasp him even +in its dying agonies, for the weight of its body and its struggles were +already crushing in the upper part of the hole. + +To put an end to its sufferings and his own danger, he pointed the +revolver at its side and again fired. The crash in the confined hole was +tremendous--so awful that the professor thought the weapon must have +burst. The struggles of the, tiger became more violent than ever, and +its weight more oppressive as the earth crumbled away. Again the cold +perspiration broke out all over the man, and he became unconscious. + +It must not be supposed that the professor's friends were unwatchful. +Although they had promised not to disturb him in his operations, they +had held themselves in readiness with rifle, revolver, and spear, and +the instant the first shot was heard, they ran down to the scene of +action. Before reaching it the second shot quickened their pace as they +ran down to the pond--a number of natives yelling and waving torches at +their heels. + +"Here he is," cried Moses, who was first on the scene, "dead as mutton!" + +"What! the professor?" cried Nigel in alarm. + +"No; de tiger." + +"Where's Verkimier?" asked the hermit as he came up. + +"I dun know, massa," said Moses, looking round him vacantly. + +"Search well, men, and be quick, he may have been injured," cried Van +der Kemp, seizing a torch and setting the example. + +"Let me out!" came at that moment from what appeared to be the bowels of +the earth, causing every one to stand aghast gazing in wonder around and +on each other. + +"Zounds! vy don't you let me _out_?" shouted the voice again. + +There was an indication of a tendency to flight on the part of the +natives, but Nigel's asking "Where _are_ you?" had the effect of +inducing them to delay for the answer. + +"Here--oonder zee tigre! Kveek, I am suffocat!" + +Instantly Van der Kemp seized the animal by the 'tail, and, Avith a +force worthy of Hercules, heaved it aside as if it had been a dead cat, +revealing the man of science underneath--alive and well, but +dishevelled, scratched, and soiled--also, as deaf as a door-post! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +A PYTHON DISCOVERED AND A GEYSER INTERVIEWED. + + +"It never rains but it pours" is a well-known proverb which finds, +frequent illustration in the experience of almost every one. At all +events Verkimier had reason to believe in the truth of it at that time, +for adventures came down on him, as it were, in a sort of deluge, more +or less astounding, insomuch that his enthusiastic spirit, bathing, if +we may say so, in an ocean of scientific delight, pronounced Sumatra to +be the very paradise of the student of nature. + +We have not room in this volume to follow him in the details of his +wonderful experiences, but we must mention one adventure which he had on +the very day after the tiger-incident, because it very nearly had the +effect of separating him from his travelling companions. + +Being deaf, as we have said--owing to the explosion of his revolver in +the hole--but not necessarily dumb, the professor, after one or two +futile attempts to hear and converse, deemed it wise to go to bed and +spend the few conscious minutes that might precede sleep in watching Van +der Kemp, who kindly undertook to skin his tiger for him. Soon the +self-satisfied man fell into a sweet infantine slumber, and dreamed of +tigers, in which state he gave vent to sundry grunts, gasps, and +half-suppressed cries, to the immense delight of Moses, who sat watching +him, indulging in a running commentary suggestive of the recent event, +and giving utterance now and then to a few imitative growls by way of +enhancing the effect of the dreams! + +"Look! look! Massa Nadgel, he's twitchin' all ober. De tiger's comin' to +him now." + +"Looks like it, Moses." + +"Yes--an', see, he grip de 'volver--no, too soon, or de tiger's goed +away, for he's stopped twichin'--dare; de tiger comes agin!" + +A gasp and clenching of the right hand seemed to warrant this +assumption. Then a yell rang through the hut; Moses displayed all, and +more than all his teeth, and the professor, springing up on one elbow, +glared fearfully. + +"I'n't it awrful?" inquired Moses in a low tone. + +The professor awoke mentally, recognised the situation, smiled an +imbecile smile, and sank back again on his pillow with a sigh of relief. + +After that, when the skinning of the tiger was completed, the dreams +appeared to leave him, and all his comrades joined him in the land of +Nod. He was first to awake when daylight entered their hut the following +morning, and, feeling in a fresh, quiescent state of mind after the +excitement of the preceding night, he lay on his back, his eyes fixed +contentedly on the grand tiger-skin which hung on the opposite wall. + +By degrees his eyes grew wearied of that object, and he allowed them to +travel languidly upwards and along the roof until they rested on the +spot directly over his head, where they became fixed, and, at the same +time, opened out to a glare, compared to which all his previous glaring +was as nothing--for there, in the thatch, looking down upon him, was the +angular head of a huge python. The snake was rolled up in a tight coil, +and had evidently spent the night within a yard of the professor's head! +Being unable to make out what sort of snake it was, and fearing that it +might be a poisonous one, he crept quietly from his couch, keeping his +eyes fixed on the reptile as he did so. One result of this mode of +action was that he did not see where he was going, and inadvertently +thrust one finger into Moses' right eye, and another into his open +mouth. The negro naturally shut his mouth with a snap, while the +professor opened his with a roar, and in another moment every man was +on his feet blinking inquiringly. + +"Look! zee snake!" cried the professor, when Moses released him. + +"We must get him out of that," remarked Van der Kemp, as he quietly made +a noose with a piece of rattan, and fastened it to the end of a long +pole. With the latter he poked the creature up, and, when it had +uncoiled sufficiently, he slipped the noose deftly over its head. + +"Clear out, friends," he said, looking round. + +All obeyed with uncommon promptitude except the professor, who valiantly +stood his ground. Van der Kemp pulled the python violently down to the +floor, where it commenced a tremendous scuffle among the chairs and +posts. The hermit kept its head off with the pole, and sought to catch +its tail, but failed twice. Seeing this the professor caught the tail as +it whipped against his legs, and springing down the steps so violently +that he snapped the cord by which the hermit held it, and drew the +creature straight out--a thick monster full twelve feet long, and +capable of swallowing a dog or a child. + +"Out of zee way!" shouted the professor, making a wild effort to swing +the python against a tree, but the tail slipped from his grasp, the +professor fell, and the snake went crashing against a log, under which +it took refuge. + +Nigel, who was nearest to it, sprang forward, fortunately caught its +tail, and, swinging it and himself round with such force that it could +not coil up at all, dashed it against a tree. Before it could recover +from the shock, Moses had caught up a hatchet and cut its head off with +one blow. The tail wriggled for a few seconds, and the head gaped once +or twice, as if in mild surprise at so sudden a finale. + +"Zat is strainch--very strainch," slowly remarked the professor, as, +still seated on the ground, he solemnly noted these facts. + +"Not so _very_ strange, after all," said Van der Kemp; "I've seen the +head of many a bigger snake cut off at one blow." + +"Mine frond, you mistake me. It is zee vorking of physical law in zee +spiritual vorld zat perplexes me. Moses has cut zee brute in +two--physical fact, substance can be divided. Zee two parts are still +alife, zerfore, zee life--zee spirit--has also been divided!" + +"It is indeed very strange," said Nigel, with a laugh. "Stranger still +that you may cut a worm into several parts, and the life remains in +each, but, strangest of all, that you should sit on the ground, +professor, instead of rising up, while you philosophise. You are not +hurt, I hope--are you?" + +"I razer zink I am," returned the philosopher with a faint smile; "mine +onkle, I zink, is spraint." + +This was indeed true, and it seemed as if the poor man's wanderings +were to be, for a time at least, brought to an abrupt close. Fortunately +it was found that a pony could be procured at that village, and, as they +had entered the borders of the mountainous regions, and the roads were +more open and passable than heretofore, it was resolved that the +professor should ride until his ankle recovered. + +We must now pass over a considerable portion of time and space, and +convey the reader, by a forced march, to the crater of an active +volcano. By that time Verkimier's ankle had recovered and the pony had +been dismissed. The heavy luggage, with the porters, had been left in +the low grounds, for the mountain they had scaled was over 10,000 feet +above the sea-level. Only one native from the plain below accompanied +them as guide, and three of their porters whose inquiring minds tempted +them to make the ascent. + +At about 10,000 feet the party reached what the natives called the dempo +or edge of the volcano, whence they looked down into the sawah or +ancient crater, which was a level space composed of brown soil +surrounded by cliffs, and lying like the bottom of a cup 200 feet below +them. It had a sulphurous odour, and was dotted here and there with +clumps of heath and rhododendrons. In the centre of this was a cone +which formed the true--or modern--crater. On scrambling up to the lip +of the cone and looking down some 300 feet of precipitous rock they +beheld what seemed to be a pure white lake set in a central basin of 200 +feet in diameter. The surface of this lakelet smoked, and although it +reflected every passing cloud as if it were a mirror, it was in reality +a basin of hot mud, the surface of which was about thirty feet below its +rim. + +"You will soon see a change come over it," said the hermit, as the party +gazed in silent admiration at the weird scene. + +He had scarcely spoken, when the middle of the lake became intensely +black and scored with dark streaks. This, though not quite obvious at +first from the point where they stood, was caused by the slow formation +of a great chasm in the centre of the seething lake of mud. The lake was +sinking into its own throat. The blackness increased. Then a dull sullen +roar was heard, and next moment the entire lake upheaved, not violently, +but in a slow, majestic manner some hundreds of feet into the air, +whence it fell back into its basin with an awful roar which reverberated +and echoed from the rocky walls of the caldron like the singing of an +angry sea. An immense volume of steam--the motive power which had blown +up the lake--was at the same time liberated and dissipated in the air. + +The wave-circles died away on the margin of the lake, and the placid, +cloud-reflecting surface was restored until the geyser had gathered +fresh force for another upheaval. + +"Amazing!" exclaimed Nigel, who had gazed with feelings of awe at this +curious exhibition of the tremendous internal forces with which the +Creator has endowed the earth. + +"Vonderful!" exclaimed the professor, whose astonishment was such, that +his eyebrows rose high above the rim of his huge blue binoculars. + +Moses, to whom such an exhibition of the powers of nature was familiar, +was, we are sorry to say, not much impressed, if impressed at all! +Indeed he scarcely noticed it, but watched, with intense teeth-and-gum +disclosing satisfaction, the faces of two of the native porters who had +never seen anything of the kind before, and whose terrified expressions +suggested the probability of a precipitate flight when their trembling +limbs became fit to resume duty. + +"Will it come again soon?" asked Nigel, turning to Van der Kemp. + +"Every fifteen or twenty minutes it goes through that process all day +and every day," replied the hermit. + +"But, if I may joodge from zee stones ant scoriae around," said the +professor, "zee volcano is not alvays so peaceful as it is joost now." + +"You are right. About once in every three years, and sometimes oftener, +the crops of coffee, bananas, rice, etc., in this region are quite +destroyed by sulphur-rain, which covers everything for miles around the +crater." + +"Hah! it vould be too hote a place zis for us, if zat vas to happin +joost now," remarked Verkimier with a smile. + +"It cannot be far off the time now, I should think," said Yan der Kemp. + +All this talk Moses translated, and embellished, to the native porters +with the solemn sincerity of a true and thorough-paced hypocrite. He had +scarcely finished, and was watching with immense delight the changeful +aspect of their whitey-green faces, when another volcanic fit came on, +and the deep-toned roar of the coming explosion was heard. It was so +awesome that the countenance even of Van der Kemp became graver than +usual. As for the two native porters, they gazed and trembled. Nigel and +the professor also gazed with lively expectation. Moses--we grieve to +record it--hugged himself internally, and gloated over the two porters. + +Another moment and there came a mighty roar. Up went the mud-lake +hundreds of feet into the air; out came the steam with the sound of a +thousand trombones, and away went the two porters, head ever heels, down +the outer slope of the cone and across the sawah as if the spirit of +evil were after them. + +There was no cause, however, for alarm. The mud-lake, falling back into +its native cup, resumed its placid aspect and awaited its next upheaval +with as much tranquillity as if it had never known disturbance in the +past, and were indifferent about the future. + +That evening our travellers encamped in close proximity to the crater, +supped on fowls roasted in an open crevice whence issued steam and +sulphurous smells, and slept with the geyser's intermittent roar +sounding in their ears and re-echoing in their dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +TELLS OF VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STRANGE RETURN "HOME." + + +This tremendous introduction to volcanic fires was but the prelude to a +period of eruptive action which has not been paralleled in the world's +history. + +For a short time after this, indeed, the genial nature of the weather +tended to banish from the minds of our travellers all thoughts of +violence either in terrestrial or human affairs, and as the professor +devoted himself chiefly to the comparatively mild occupation of catching +and transfixing butterflies and beetles during the march southward, +there seemed to be nothing in the wide universe above or below save +peace and tranquillity--except, perhaps, in the minds of beetles and +butterflies! + +Throughout all this period, nevertheless, there were ominous growlings, +grumblings, and tremors--faint but frequent--which indicated a +condition of mother earth that could not have been called easy. + +"Some of the volcanoes of Java must be at work, I think," said Nigel +one night, as the party sat in a small isolated wood-cutter's hut +discussing a supper of rice and fowls with his friends, which they were +washing down with home-grown coffee. + +"It may be so," said Van der Kemp in a dubious tone; "but the sounds, +though faint, seem to me a good deal nearer. I can't help thinking that +the craters which have so recently opened up in Krakatoa are still +active, and that it may be necessary for me to shift my quarters, for my +cave is little more, I suspect, than the throat of an ancient volcano." + +"Hah! say you so, mine frond? Zen I vould advise you to make no delay," +said the professor, critically examining a well-picked drumstick. "You +see, it is not pleasant to be blown up eizer by the terrestrial +eruptions of zee vorld or zee celestial explosions of your vife.--A +leetle more rice, Moses if you please. Zanks." + +"Now, mine fronds," he continued, after having disposed of a supper +which it might have taxed a volcano's throat to swallow, "it is viz +great sorrow zat I must part from you here." + +"Part! Why?" asked the hermit in surprise. + +"Vy, because I find zis contrie is heaven upon eart'. Zat is, of course, +only in a scientific point of view. Zee voods are svarming, zee air is +teeming, ant zee vaters are vallo'ing vit life. I cannot tear myself +avay. But ve shall meet again--at Telok Betong, or Krakatoa, or Anjer, +or Batavia." + +It was found that the man of science was also a man of decision. Nothing +would persuade him to go a step further. The wood-cutter's hut suited +him, so did the wood-cutter himself, and so, as he said, did the region +around him. With much regret, therefore, and an earnest invitation from +the hermit to visit his cave, and range the almost unexplored woods of +his island, the travellers parted from him; and our three adventurers, +dismissing all attendants and hiring three ponies, continued their +journey to the southern shores of Sumatra. + +As they advanced it soon became evident that the scene of volcanic +activity was not so far distant as the island of Java, for the air was +frequently darkened by the falling of volcanic dust which covered the +land with a greyish powder. As, however, at least sixteen volcanoes have +been registered in the island of Sumatra, and there are probably many +others, it was impossible to decide where the scene of eruption was that +caused those signs. + +One afternoon the travellers witnessed a catastrophe which induced them +to forego all idea of spending more time in examining the country. They +had arrived at a village where they found a traveller who appeared to be +going about without any special object in view. He spoke English, but +with a foreign accent. Nigel naturally felt a desire to become sociable +with him, but he was very taciturn and evidently wished to avoid +intercourse with chance acquaintances. Hearing that there were curious +hot-water and mud springs not far off, the stranger expressed a desire +to visit them. Nigel also felt anxious to see them, and as one guide was +sufficient for the party the stranger joined the party and they went +together. + +The spot they were led to was evidently a mere crust of earth covering +fierce subterranean fires. In the centre of it a small pond of mud was +boiling and bubbling furiously, and round this, on the indurated clay, +were smaller wells and craters full of boiling mud. The ground near them +was obviously unsafe, for it bent under pressure like thin ice, and at +some of the cracks and fissures the sulphurous vapour was so hot that +the hand could not be held to it without being scalded. + +Nigel and the stranger walked close behind the native guide, both, +apparently, being anxious to get as near as possible to the central +pond. But the guide stopped suddenly, and, looking back, said to Van der +Kemp that it was not safe to approach nearer. + +Nigel at once stopped, and, looking at the stranger, was struck by the +wild, incomprehensible expression of his face as he continued to +advance. + +"Stop! stop, sir!" cried the hermit on observing this, but the man paid +no attention to the warning. + +Another instant and the crust on which he stood gave way and he sank +into a horrible gulf from which issued a gust of sulphurous vapour and +steam. The horror which almost overwhelmed Nigel did not prevent him +bounding forward to the rescue. Well was it for him at that time that a +cooler head than his own was near. The strong hand of the hermit seized +his collar on the instant, and he was dragged backward out of danger, +while an appalling shriek from the stranger as he disappeared told that +the attempt to succour him would have been too late. + +A terrible event of this kind has usually the effect of totally +changing, at least for a time, the feelings of those who witness it, so +as to almost incapacitate them from appreciating ordinary events or +things. For some days after witnessing the sudden and awful fate of this +unknown man, Nigel travelled as if in a dream, taking little notice of, +or interest in, anything, and replying to questions in mere +monosyllables. His companions seemed to be similarly affected, for they +spoke very little. Even the volatile spirit of Moses appeared to be +subdued, and it was not till they had reached nearly the end of their +journey that their usual flow of spirits returned. + +Arriving one night at a village not very far from the southern shores +of Sumatra they learned that the hermit's presentiments were justified, +and that the volcano which was causing so much disturbance in the +islands of the archipelago was, indeed, the long extinct one of +Krakatoa. + +"I've heard a good deal about it from one of the chief men here," said +the hermit as he returned to his friends that night about supper-time. +"He tells me that it has been more or less in moderate eruption ever +since we left the island, but adds that nobody takes much notice of it, +as they don't expect it to increase much in violence. I don't agree with +them in that," he added gravely. + +"Why not?" asked Nigel. + +"Partly because of the length of time that has elapsed since its last +eruption in 1680; partly from the fact that that eruption--judging from +appearances--must have been a very tremendous one, and partly because my +knowledge of volcanic action leads me to expect it; but I could not +easily explain the reason for my conclusions on the latter point. I have +just been to the brow of a ridge not far off whence I have seen the glow +in the sky of the Krakatoa fires. They do not, however, appear to be +very fierce at the present moment." + +As he spoke there was felt by the travellers a blow, as if of an +explosion under the house in which they sat. It was a strong vertical +bump which nearly tossed them all off their chairs. Van der Kemp and his +man, after an exclamation or two, continued supper like men who were +used to such interruptions, merely remarking that it was an earthquake. +But Nigel, to whom it was not quite so familiar, stood up for a few +seconds with a look of anxious uncertainty, as if undecided as to the +path of duty and prudence in the circumstances. Moses relieved him. + +"Sot down, Massa Nadgel," said that sable worthy, as he stuffed his +mouth full of rice; "it's easier to sot dan to stand w'en its +eart'quakin'." + +Nigel sat down with a tendency to laugh, for at that moment he chanced +to glance at the rafters above, where he saw a small anxious-faced +monkey gazing down at him. + +He was commenting on this creature when another prolonged shock of +earthquake came. It was not a bump like the previous one, but a severe +vibration which only served to shake the men in their chairs, but it +shook the small monkey off the rafter, and the miserable little thing +fell with a shriek and a flop into the rice-dish! + +"Git out o' dat--you scoundril!" exclaimed Moses, but the order was +needless, for the monkey bounced out of it like indiarubber and sought +to hide its confusion in the thatch, while Moses helped himself to some +more of the rice, which, he said; was none the worse for being +monkeyfied! + +At last our travellers found themselves in the town of Telok Betong, +where, being within forty-five miles of Krakatoa, the hermit could both +see and hear that his island-home was in violent agitation; tremendous +explosions occurring frequently, while dense masses of smoke were +ascending from its craters. + +"I'm happy to find," said the hermit, soon after their arrival in the +town, "that the peak of Rakata, on the southern part of the island where +my cave lies, is still quiet and has shown no sign of breaking out. And +now I shall go and see after my canoe." + +"Do you think it safe to venture to visit your cave?" asked Nigel. + +"Well, not absolutely safe," returned the hermit with a peculiar smile, +"but, of course, if you think it unwise to run the risk of--" + +"I asked a simple question, Van der Kemp, without any thought of +myself," interrupted the youth, as he flushed deeply. + +"Forgive me, Nigel," returned the hermit quickly and gravely, "it is but +my duty to point out that we cannot go there without running _some_ +risk." + +"And it is _my_ duty to point out," retorted his hurt friend, "that when +any man, worthy of the name, agrees to follow another, he agrees to +accept all risks." + +To this the hermit vouchsafed no further reply than a slight smile and +nod of intelligence. Thereafter he went off alone to inquire about his +canoe, which, it will be remembered, his friend, the captain of the +steamer, had promised to leave for him at this place. + +Telok Betong, which was one of the severest sufferers by the eruption of +1883, is a small town at the head of Lampong Bay, opposite to the island +of Krakatoa, from which it is between forty and fifty miles distant. It +is built on a narrow strip of land at the base of a steep mountain, but +little above the sea, and is the chief town of the Lampong Residency, +which forms the most southerly province of Sumatra. At the time we write +of, the only European residents of the place were connected with +Government. The rest of the population was composed of a heterogeneous +mass of natives mingled with a number of Chinese, a few Arabs, and a +large fluctuating population of traders from Borneo, Celebes, New +Guinea, Siam, and the other innumerable isles of the archipelago. These +were more or less connected with praus laden with the rich and varied +merchandise of the eastern seas. As each man in the town had been +permitted to build his house according to his own fancy, picturesque +irregularity was the agreeable result. It may be added that, as each +man spoke his own language in his own tones, Babel and noise were the +consequence. + +In a small hut by the waterside the hermit found the friend--a Malay--to +whom his canoe had been consigned, and, in a long low shed close by, he +found the canoe itself with the faithful Spinkie in charge. + +"Don't go near the canoe till you've made friends with the monkey," said +the Malay in his own tongue, as he was about to put the key in the door. + +"Why not?" asked the hermit. + +"Because it is the savagest brute I ever came across," said the man. "It +won't let a soul come near the canoe. I would have killed it long ago if +the captain of the steamer had not told me you wished it to be taken +great care of. There, look out! The vixen is not tied up." + +He flung open the shed-door and revealed Spinkie seated in his old +place, much deteriorated in appearance and scowling malevolently. + +The instant the poor creature heard its master's voice and saw his +form--for his features must have been invisible against the strong +light--the scowl vanished from its little visage. With a shriek of joy +it sprang like an acrobat from a spring-board and plunged into the +hermit's bosom--to the alarm of the Malay, who thought this was a +furious attack. We need not say that Van der Kemp received his faithful +little servant kindly, and it was quite touching to observe the monkey's +intense affection for him. It could not indeed wag its tail like a dog, +but it put its arms round its master's neck with a wondrously human air, +and rubbed its little head in his beard and whiskers, drawing itself +back now and then, putting its black paws on his cheeks, turning his +face round to the light and opening its round eyes wide--as well as its +round little mouth--as if to make sure of his identity--then plunging +into the whiskers again, and sometimes, when unable to contain its joy, +finding a safety-valve in a little shriek. + +When the meeting and greeting were over, Van der Kemp explained that he +would require his canoe by daybreak the following morning, ordered a few +provisions to be got ready, and turned to leave. + +"You must get down, Spinkie, and watch the canoe for one night more," +said the hermit, quietly. + +But Spinkie did not seem to perceive the necessity, for he clung closer +to his master with a remonstrative croak. + +"Get down, Spinkie," said the hermit firmly, "and watch the canoe." + +The poor beast had apparently learned that Medo-Persic law was not more +unchangeable than Van der Kemp's commands! At all events it crept down +his arm and leg, waddled slowly over the floor of the shed with bent +back and wrinkled brow, like a man of ninety, and took up its old +position on the deck, the very personification of superannuated woe. + +The hermit patted its head gently, however, thus relieving its feelings, +and probably introducing hope into its little heart before leaving. Then +he returned to his friends and bade them prepare for immediate +departure. + +It was the night of the 24th of August, and as the eruptions of the +volcano appeared to be getting more and more violent, Van der Kemp's +anxiety to reach his cave became visibly greater. + +"I have been told," said the hermit to Nigel, as they went down with +Moses to the place where the canoe had been left, "the history of +Krakatoa since we left. A friend informs me that a short time after our +departure the eruptions subsided a little, and the people here had +ceased to pay much attention to them, but about the middle of June the +volcanic activity became more violent, and on the 19th, in particular, +it was observed that the vapour column and the force of the explosions +were decidedly on the increase." + +"At Katimbang, from which place the island can be seen, it was noticed +that a second column of vapour was ascending from the centre of the +island, and that the appearance of Perboewatan had entirely changed, +its conspicuous summit having apparently been blown away. In July there +were some explosions of exceptional violence, and I have now no doubt +that it was these we heard in the interior of this island when we were +travelling hither, quite lately. On the 11th of this month, I believe, +the island was visited in a boat by a government officer, but he did not +land, owing to the heavy masses of vapour and dust driven about by the +wind, which also prevented him from making a careful examination, but he +could see that the forests of nearly the whole island have been +destroyed--only a few trunks of blighted trees being left standing above +the thick covering of pumice and dust. He reported that the dust near +the shore was found to be twenty inches thick." + +"If so," said Nigel, "I fear that the island will be no longer fit to +inhabit." + +"I know not," returned the hermit sadly, in a musing tone. "The officer +reported that there is no sign of eruption at Rakata, so that my house +is yet safe, for no showers of pumice, however deep, can injure the +cave." + +Nigel was on the point of asking his friend why he was so anxious to +revisit the island at such a time, but, recollecting his recent tiff on +that subject, refrained. Afterwards, however, when Van der Kemp was +settling accounts with the Malay, he put the question to Moses. + +"I can't help wondering," he said, "that Van der Kemp should be so +anxious to get back to his cave just now. If he were going in a big boat +to save some of his goods and chattels I could understand it, but the +canoe, you know, could carry little more than her ordinary lading." + +"Well, Massa Nadgel," said Moses, "it's my opinion dat he wants to go +back 'cause he's got an uncommon affekshnit heart." + +"How? Surely you don't mean that his love of the mere place is so strong +that--" + +"No, no, Massa Nadgel--'s not dat. But he was awrful fond ob his wife +an' darter, an' I know he's got a photogruff ob 'em bof togidder, an' I +t'ink he'd sooner lose his head dan lose dat, for I've seed him look at +'em for hours, an' kiss 'em sometimes w'en he t'ought I was asleep." + +The return of the hermit here abruptly stopped the conversation. The +canoe was carried down and put into the water, watched with profound +interest by hundreds of natives and traders, who were all more or less +acquainted with the hermit of Rakata. + +It was still daylight when they paddled out into Lampong Bay, but the +volumes of dust which rose from Krakatoa--although nearly fifty miles +off--did much to produce an unusually early twilight. + +"Goin' to be bery dark, massa," remarked Moses as they glided past the +shipping. "Shall I light de lamp?" + +"Do, Moses, but we shan't need it, for as we get nearer home the +volcanic fires will light us on our way." + +"De volcanic dust is a-goin' to powder us on our way too, massa. Keep +your hands out o' the way, Spinkie," said the negro as he fixed a small +oil-lamp to the mast, and resumed his paddle. + +"After we get out a bit the wind will help us," said the hermit. + +"Yes, massa, if he don't blow too strong," returned Moses, as a squall +came rushing down the mountains and swept over the bay, ruffling its now +dark waters into foaming wavelets. + +Altogether, what with the increasing darkness and the hissing squall, +and the night-voyage before them, and the fires of Krakatoa which were +now clearly visible on the horizon, Nigel Boy felt a more eerie +sensation in his breast than he ever remembered to have experienced in +all his previous life, but he scorned to admit the fact--even to +himself, and said, mentally, that it was rather romantic than otherwise! + +Just then there burst upon their ears the yell of a steam-whistle, and a +few moments later a steamer bore straight down on them, astern. + +"Steamer ahoy!" shouted Van der Kemp. "Will ye throw us a rope?" + +"Ay! ay!--ease 'er!--stop 'er! where are 'ee bound for?" demanded an +unmistakably English voice. + +"Krakatoa!" replied the hermit. "Where are you?" + +"Anjer, on the Java coast. Do 'ee want to be smothered, roasted, and +blown up?" asked the captain, looking down on the canoe as it ranged +alongside the dark hull. + +"No, we want to get home." + +"Home! Well, you're queer fellows in a queer eggshell for such waters. +Every man to his taste. Look out for the rope!" + +"All right, cappen," cried Moses as he caught the coil. + +Next moment the steamer went ahead, and the canoe ploughed over the +Sunda Straits at the rate of thirteen miles an hour, with her sharp prow +high out of the water, and the stern correspondingly low. The voyage, +which would have otherwise cost our three travellers a long laborious +night and part of next day, was by this means so greatly shortened that +when daybreak arrived they were not more than thirteen miles to the east +of Krakatoa. Nearer than this the steamboat could not take them without +going out of her course, but as Van der Kemp and Nigel gratefully +acknowledged, it was quite near enough. + +"Well, I should just think it was rather too near!" said the captain +with a grin. + +And, truly, he was justified in making the remark, for the explosions +from the volcano had by that time become not only very frequent, but +tremendously loud, while the dense cloud which hung above it and spread +far and wide over the sky covered the sea with a kind of twilight that +struggled successfully against the full advent of day. Lightning too was +playing among the rolling black masses of smoke, and the roaring +explosions every now and then seemed to shake the very heavens. + +Casting off the tow-rope, they turned the bow of their canoe to the +island. As a stiffish breeze was blowing, they set the sails, +close-reefed, and steered for the southern shore at that part which lay +under the shadow of Rakata. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +AN AWFUL NIGHT AND TERRIBLE MORNING. + + +It was a matter of some satisfaction to find on drawing near to the +shore that the peak of Rakata was still intact, and that, although most +other parts of the island which could be seen were blighted by fire and +covered deeply with pumice dust, much of the forest in the immediate +neighbourhood of the cave was still undestroyed though considerably +damaged. + +"D'you think our old harbour will be available, Moses?" asked Van der +Kemp as they came close to the first headland. + +"Pr'aps. Bes' go an' see," was the negro's practical reply. + +"Evidently Rakata is not yet active," said Nigel, looking up at the grey +dust-covered crags as the canoe glided swiftly through the dark water. + +"That is more than can be said for the other craters," returned the +hermit. "It seems to me that not only all the old ones are at work, but +a number of new ones must have been opened." + +The constant roaring and explosions that filled their ears and the rain +of fine ashes bore testimony to the truth of this, though the solid and +towering mass of Rakata rose between them and the part of Krakatoa which +was in eruption, preventing their seeing anything that was passing +except the dense masses of smoke, steam, and dust which rose many miles +into the heavens, obstructing the light of day, but forming cloud-masses +from which the lurid flames of the volcano were reflected downward. + +On reaching the little bay or harbour it was found much as they had left +it, save that the rocks and bushes around were thickly covered with +dust, and their boat was gone. + +"Strange! at such a time one would scarcely have expected thieves to +come here," said the hermit, looking slowly round. + +"No t'ief bin here, massa," said Moses, looking over the side of the +canoe. "I see de boat!" + +He pointed downwards as he spoke, and on looking over the side they saw +the wreck of the boat at the bottom, in about ten feet of water, and +crushed beneath a ponderous mass of lava, which must have been ejected +from the volcano and afterwards descended upon the boat. + +The destruction of the boat rendered it impossible to remove any of the +property of the hermit, and Nigel now saw, from his indifference, that +this could not have been the cause of his friend's anxiety and +determination to reach his island home in spite of the danger that such +a course entailed. That there was considerable danger soon became very +obvious, for, having passed to some extent at this point beyond the +shelter of the cliffs of Rakata, and come partly into view of the other +parts of the island, the real extent of the volcanic violence burst upon +Nigel and Moses as a new revelation. The awful sublimity of the scene at +first almost paralysed them, and they failed to note that not only did a +constant rain of pumice dust fall upon them, but that there was also a +pretty regular dropping of small stones into the water around them. +Their attention was sharply aroused to this fact by the fall of a lump +of semi-molten rock, about the size of a cannon shot, a short distance +off, which was immediately followed by not less than a cubic yard of +lava which fell close to the canoe and deluged them with spray. + +"We must go," said the hermit quietly. "No need to expose ourselves +here, though the watching of the tremendous forces that our Creator has +at command does possess a wonderful kind of fascination. It seems to me +the more we see of His power as exerted on our little earth, the more do +we realise the paltriness of our conception of the stupendous Might that +upholds the Universe." + +While he was speaking, Van der Kemp guided the canoe into its little +haven, and in a few minutes he and Moses had carried it into the shelter +of the cave out of which Nigel had first seen it emerge. Then the lading +was carried up, after which they turned into the track which led to the +hermit's home. + +The whole operation may be said to have been performed under fire, for +small masses of rock kept pattering continually on the dust-covered +ground around them, causing cloudlets, like smoke, to spring up wherever +they struck. Nigel and Moses could not resist glancing upward now and +then as they moved quickly to and fro, and they experienced a shrinking +sensation when a stone fell very near them, but each scorned to exhibit +the smallest trace of anxiety, or to suggest that the sooner they got +from under fire the better! As for Van der Kemp, he moved about +deliberately as if there was nothing unusual going on, and with an +absent look on his grave face as though the outbursts of smoke, and +fire, and lava, which turned the face of day into lurid night, and +caused the cliffs to reverberate with unwonted thunders, had no effect +whatever on his mind. + +A short walk, however, along the track, which was more than ankle-deep +in dust, brought them under the sheltering sides of Rakata, up which +they soon scrambled to the mouth of their cave. Here all was found as +they had left it, save that the entrance was knee-deep in pumice dust. + +And now a new and very strange sensation was felt by each of them, for +the loud reports and crackling sounds which had assailed their ears +outside were reduced by the thick walls of the cave to a continuous dull +groan, as it were, like the soft but thunderous bass notes of a +stupendous organ. To these sounds were added others which seemed to be +peculiar to the cave itself. They appeared to rise from crevices in the +floor, and were no doubt due to the action of those pent-up subterranean +fires which were imprisoned directly, though it may be very far down, +under their feet. Every now and then there came a sudden increase of the +united sounds as if the "swell" of the great organ had been opened, and +such out-gushing was always accompanied with more or less of +indescribable shocks followed by prolonged tremors of the entire +mountain. + +If the three friends had been outside to observe what was taking place, +they would have seen that these symptoms were simultaneous with +occasional and extremely violent outbursts from the crater of +Perboewatan and his compeers. Indeed they guessed as much, and two of +them at least were not a little thankful that, awesome as their position +was, they had the thick mountain between them and the fiery showers +outside. + +Of all this the hermit took no notice, but, hastening into the inner +cavern, opened a small box, and took therefrom a bundle of papers and a +little object which, at a first glance, Nigel supposed to be a book, but +which turned out to be a photograph case. These the hermit put carefully +into the breastpocket of his coat and then turned to his companions with +a sigh as if of relief. + +"I think there is no danger of anything occurring at this part of the +island," he remarked, looking round the cave, "for there is no sign of +smoke and no sulphurous smell issuing from any of the crevices in walls +or floor. This, I think, shows that there is no direct communication +with Rakata and the active volcano--at least not at present." + +"Do you then think there is a possibility of an outbreak at some future +period?" asked Nigel. + +"Who can tell? People here, who don't study the nature of volcanoes +much, though surrounded by them, will expect things ere long to resume +their normal condition. I can never forget the fact that the greater +part of Krakatoa stands, as you know, exactly above the spot where the +two great lines of volcanic action cross, and right over the mouth of +the immense crater to which Perboewatan and all the other craters serve +as mere chimneys or safety-valves. We cannot tell whether a great +eruption similar to that of 1680 may not be in store for us. The only +reason that I can see for the quiescence of this peak of Rakata is, as I +said to you once before, that it stands not so much above the old crater +as above and on the safe side of its lip." + +"I t'ink, massa, if I may ventur' to speak," said Moses, "dat de sooner +we git off his lip de better lest we tumble into his mout'." + +"You may be right, Moses, and I have no objection to quit," returned the +hermit, "now that I have secured the photograph and papers. At the same +time I fear the rain of stones and lava is growing worse. It might be +safer to stay till there is a lull in the violence of the eruption, and +then make a dash for it. What say you, Nigel?" + +"I say that you know best, Van der Kemp. I'm ready to abide by your +decision, whatever it be." + +"Well, then, we will go out and have a look at the state of matters." + +The view from the entrance was not calculated to tempt them to forsake +the shelter of the cave, however uncertain that might be. The latest +explosions had enshrouded the island in such a cloud of smoke and dust, +that nothing whatever was visible beyond a few yards in front, and even +that space was only seen by the faint rays of the lamp issuing from the +outer cave. This lamp-light was sufficient, however, to show that within +the semicircle of a few yards there was a continuous rain of grey ashes +and dust mingled with occasional stones of various sizes--some larger +than a man's fist. + +"To go out in that would be simply to court death," said Nigel, whose +voice was almost drowned by the noise of the explosions and fall of +material. + +As it was manifest that nothing could be done at the moment except to +wait patiently, they returned to the cave, where they lighted the +oil-stove, and Moses--who had taken the precaution to carry up some +provisions in a bag from the canoe--proceeded to prepare a meal. + +"Stummicks must be attended to," he murmured to himself as he moved +about the cave-kitchen and shook his head gravely. "Collapses in dat +region is wuss, a long way, dan 'splosion of the eart'!" + +Meanwhile, Nigel and the hermit went to examine the passage leading to +the observatory. The eruption had evidently done nothing to it, for, +having passed upwards without difficulty, they finally emerged upon the +narrow ledge. + +The scene that burst upon their astonished gaze here was awful in the +extreme. It will be remembered that while the hermit's cave was on the +southern side of Krakatoa, facing Java, the stair and passage leading to +the observatory completely penetrated the peak of Rakata, so that when +standing on the ledge they faced northward and were thus in full view of +all the craters between them and Perboewatan. These were in full blast +at the time, and, being so near, the heat, as well as the dust, molten +lava, and other missiles, instantly drove them back under the protection +of the passage from which they had emerged. + +Here they found a small aperture which appeared to have been recently +formed--probably by a blow from a mass of falling rock--through which +they were able to obtain a glimpse of the pandemonium that lay seething +below them. They could not see much, however, owing to the smoke which +filled the air. The noise of the almost continuous explosions was so +loud, that it was impossible to converse save by placing the mouth to +the ear and shouting. Fortunately soon after their ascent the wind +shifted and blew smoke, fire, and dust away to the northward, enabling +them to get out on the ledge, where for a time they remained in +comparative safety. + +"Look! look at your mirrors!" exclaimed Nigel suddenly, as his wandering +gaze happened to turn to the hermit's sun-guides. + +And he might well exclaim, for not only was the glass of these ingenious +machines shivered and melted, but their iron frameworks were twisted up +into fantastic shapes. + +"Lightning has been at work here," said Van der Kemp. + +It did not at the moment occur to either of them that the position on +which they stood was peculiarly liable to attack by the subtle and +dangerous fluid which was darting and zig-zagging everywhere among the +rolling clouds of smoke and steam. + +A louder report than usual here drew their attention again to the +tremendous scene that was going on in front of them. The extreme summit +of Perboewatan had been blown into a thousand fragments, which were +hurtling upwards and crackling loudly as the smaller masses were +impelled against each other in their skyward progress. This crackling +has been described by those who heard it from neighbouring shores as a +"strange rustling sound." To our hermit and his friend, who were, so to +speak, in the very midst of it, the sound rather resembled the +continuous musketry of a battle-field, while the louder explosions might +be compared to the booming of artillery, though they necessarily lose by +the comparison, for no invention of man ever produced sounds equal to +those which thundered at that time from the womb of Krakatoa. + +Immediately after this, a fountain of molten lava at white heat welled +up in the great throat that had been so violently widened, and, +overflowing the edges of the crater, rolled down its sides in fiery +rivers. All the other craters in the island became active at the same +moment and a number of new ones burst forth. Indeed it seemed to those +who watched them that if these had not opened up to give vent to the +suppressed forces the whole island must have been blown away. As it was, +the sudden generation of so much excessive heat set fire to what +remained of trees and everything combustible, so that the island +appeared to be one vast seething conflagration, and darkness was for a +time banished by a red glare that seemed to Nigel far more intense than +that of noonday. + +It is indeed the partiality (if we may say so) of conflagration-light +which gives to it the character of impressive power with which we are +all so familiar--the intense lights being here cut sharply off by +equally intense shadows, and then grading into dull reds and duller +greys. The sun, on the other hand, bathes everything in its genial glow +so completely that all nature is permeated with it, and there are no +intense contrasts, no absolutely black and striking shadows, except in +caverns and holes, to form startling contrasts. + +"These safety-valves," said the hermit, referring to the new craters, +"have, under God, been the means of saving us from destruction." + +"It would seem so," said Nigel, who was too overwhelmed by the sight to +say much. + +Even as he spoke the scene changed as if by magic, for from the cone of +Perboewatan there issued a spout of liquid fire, followed by a roar so +tremendous that the awe-struck men shrank within themselves, feeling as +though that time had really come when the earth is to melt with fervent +heat! The entire lake of glowing lava was shot into the air, and lost in +the clouds above, while mingled smoke and steam went bellowing after it, +and dust fell so thickly that it seemed as if sufficient to extinguish +the raging fires. Whether it did so or not is uncertain. It may have +been that the new pall of black vapour only obscured them. At all +events, after the outburst the darkness of night fell suddenly on all +around. + +Just then the wind again changed, and the whole mass of vapour, smoke, +and ashes came sweeping like the very besom of destruction towards the +giddy ledge on which the observers stood. Nigel was so entranced that it +is probable he might have been caught in the horrible tempest and lost +had not his cooler companion grasped his arm and dragged him violently +into the passage--where they were safe, though half suffocated by the +heat and sulphurous vapours that followed them. + +At the same time the thunderous roaring became so loud that conversation +was impossible. Van der Kemp therefore took his friend's hand and led +him down to the cave, where the sounds were so greatly subdued as to +seem almost a calm by contrast. + +"We are no doubt in great danger," said the hermit, gravely, as he sat +down in the outer cave, "but there is no possibility of taking action +to-night. Here we are, whether wisely or unwisely, and here we must +remain--at least till there is a lull in the eruption. 'God is our +refuge.' He ought to be so at _all_ times, but there are occasions when +this great, and, I would add, glorious fact is pressed upon our +understandings with unusual power. Such a time is this. Come--we will +see what His word says to us just now." + +To Nigel's surprise, and, he afterwards confessed, to his comfort and +satisfaction, the hermit called the negro from his work, and, taking +down the large Bible from its shelf, read part of the 46th Psalm, "God +is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore +will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains +be carried into the midst of the sea." + +He stopped reading at the verse where it is written, "Be still, and know +that I am God." + +Then, going down on his knees,--without even the familiar formula, "Let +us pray"--he uttered a brief but earnest prayer for guidance and +deliverance "in the name of Jesus." + +Rising, he quietly put the Bible away, and, with the calmness of a +thoroughly practical man, who looks upon religion and ordinary matters +as parts of one grand whole, ordered Moses to serve the supper. + +Thus they spent part of that memorable night of 26th August 1883 in +earnest social intercourse, conversing chiefly and naturally about the +character, causes, and philosophy of volcanoes, while Perboewatan and +his brethren played a rumbling, illustrative accompaniment to their +discourse. The situation was a peculiar one. Even the negro was alive to +that fact. + +"Ain't it koorious," he remarked solemnly in a moment of confidence +after swallowing the last bite of his supper. "Ain't it koorious, Massa +Nadgel, dat we're a sottin' here comf'rably enjoyin' our wittles ober de +mout' ob a v'licano as is quite fit to blow us all to bits an' hois' us +into de bery middle ob next week--if not farder?" + +"It is strange indeed, Moses," said Nigel, who however added no +commentary, feeling indisposed to pursue the subject. + +Seeing this, Moses turned to his master. + +"Massa," he said. "You don' want nuffin' more to-night, I s'pose?" + +"No, Moses, nothing." + +"An' is you _quite_ easy in your mind?" + +"Quite," replied the hermit with his peculiar little smile. + +"Den it would be wuss dan stoopid for me to be _on_easy, so I'll bid ye +bof good-night, an' turn in." + +In this truly trustful as well as philosophical state of mind, the negro +retired to his familiar couch in the inner cave, and went to sleep. + +Nigel and the hermit sat up for some time longer. + +"Van der Kemp," said the former, after a pause, "I--I trust you won't +think me actuated by impertinent curiosity if I venture to ask you about +--the--photograph that I think you----" + +"My young friend!" interrupted the hermit, taking the case in question +from his breast pocket; "I should rather apologise to you for having +appeared to make any mystery of it--and yet," he added, pausing as he +was about to open the case, "I have not shown it to a living soul since +the day that--Well, well,--why should I hesitate? It is all I have +left of my dead wife and child." + +He placed the case in the hands of Nigel, who almost sprang from his +seat with excitement as he beheld the countenance of a little child of +apparently three or four years of age, who so exactly resembled Kathy +Holbein--allowing of course for the difference of age--that he had now +no doubt whatever as to her being the hermit's lost daughter. He was on +the point of uttering her name, when uncertainty as to the effect the +sudden disclosure might have upon the father checked him. + +"You seem surprised, my friend," said Van der Kemp gently. + +"Most beautiful!" said Nigel, gazing intently at the portrait. "That +dear child's face seems so familiar to me that I could almost fancy I +had seen it." + +He looked earnestly into his friend's face as he spoke, but the hermit +was quite unmoved, and there was not a shadow of change in the sad low +tone of his voice as he said-- + +"Yes, she was indeed beautiful, like her mother. As to your fancy about +having seen it--mankind is formed in groups and types. We see many faces +that resemble others." + +The absent look that was so common to the solitary man here overspread +his massive features, and Nigel felt crushed, as it were, back into +himself. Thus, without having disclosed his belief, he retired to rest +in a very anxious state of mind, while the hermit watched. + +"Don't take off your clothes," he said. "If the sounds outside lead me +to think things are quieting down, I will rouse you and we shall start +at once." + +It was very early on the morning of the 27th when Van der Kemp roused +our hero. + +"Are things quieter?" asked Nigel as he rose. + +"Yes, a little, but not much--nevertheless we must venture to leave." + +"Is it daylight yet?" + +"No. There will be no daylight to-day!" with which prophecy the hermit +left him and went to rouse Moses. + +"Massa," said the faithful negro. "Isn't you a goin' to take nuffin' wid +you? None ob de books or t'ings?" + +"No--nothing except the old Bible. All the rest I leave behind. The +canoe could not carry much. Besides, we may have little time. Get ready; +quick! and follow me." + +Moses required no spur. The three men left the cave together. It was so +intensely dark that the road could not be distinguished, but the hermit +and his man were so familiar with it that they could have followed it +blindfold. + +On reaching the cave at the harbour, some light was obtained from the +fitful outbursts of the volcano, which enabled them to launch the canoe +and push off in safety. Then, without saying a word to each other, they +coasted along the shore of the island, and, finally, leaving its dangers +behind, them, made for the island of Java--poor Spinkie sitting in his +accustomed place and looking uncommonly subdued! + +Scarcely had they pushed off into Sunda Straits when the volcano burst +out afresh. They had happily seized on the only quiet hour that the day +offered, and had succeeded, by the aid of the sails, in getting several +miles from the island without receiving serious injury, although showers +of stones and masses of rock of all sizes were falling into the sea +around them. + +Van der Kemp was so far right in his prophecy that there would be no +daylight that day. By that time there should have been light, as it was +nearly seven o'clock on the memorable morning of the 27th of August. But +now, although the travellers were some miles distant from Krakatoa, the +gloom was so impervious that Nigel, from his place in the centre of the +canoe, could not see the form of poor Spinkie--which sat clinging to the +mast only two feet in front of him--save when a blaze from Perboewatan +or one of the other craters lighted up island and ocean with a vivid +glare. + +At this time the sea began to run very high and the wind increased to a +gale, so that the sails of the canoe, small though they were, had to be +reduced. + +"Lower the foresail, Nigel," shouted the hermit. "I will close-reef it. +Do you the same to the mainsail." + +"Ay, ay, sir," was the prompt reply. + +Moses and Nigel kept the little craft straight to the wind while the +foresail was being reefed, Van der Kemp and the former performing the +same duty while Nigel reefed the mainsail. + +Suddenly there came a brief but total cessation of the gale, though not +of the tumultuous heaving of the waters. During that short interval +there burst upon the world a crash and a roar so tremendous that for a +few moments the voyagers were almost stunned! + +It is no figure of speech to say that the _world_ heard the crash. +Hundreds, ay, thousands of miles did the sound of that mighty upheaval +pass over land and sea to startle, more or less, the nations of the +earth. + +The effect of a stupendous shock on the nervous system is curiously +various in different individuals. The three men who were so near to the +volcano at that moment involuntarily looked round and saw by the lurid +blaze that an enormous mass of Krakatoa, rent from top to bottom, was +falling headlong into the sea; while the entire heavens were alive with +flame, lightning, steam, smoke, and the upward-shooting fragments of the +hideous wreck! + +The hermit calmly rested his paddle on the deck and gazed around in +silent wonder. Nigel, not less smitten with awe, held his paddle with an +iron grasp, every muscle quivering with tension in readiness for instant +action when the need for action should appear. Moses, on the other hand, +turning round from the sight with glaring eyes, resumed paddling with +unreasoning ferocity, and gave vent at once to his feelings and his +opinion in the sharp exclamation--"Blown to bits!" + +[Illustration: BLOWN TO BITS--PAGE 342.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ADVENTURES OF THE "SUNSHINE" AND AN UNEXPECTED REUNION. + + +We must request the reader to turn back now for a brief period to a very +different scene. + +A considerable time before the tremendous catastrophe described in the +last chapter--which we claim to have recorded without the slightest +exaggeration, inasmuch as exaggeration were impossible--Captain David +Roy, of the good brig _Sunshine_, received the letter which his son +wrote to him while in the jungles of Sumatra. + +The captain was seated in the back office of a Batavian merchant at the +time, smoking a long clay pipe--on the principle, no doubt, that +moderate poisoning is conducive to moderate health! + +As he perused the letter, the captain's eyes slowly opened; so did his +mouth, and the clay pipe, falling to the floor, was reduced to little +pieces. But the captain evidently cared nothing for that. He gave forth +a prolonged whistle, got up, smote upon his thigh, and exclaimed with +deep-toned emphasis-- + +"The _rascal_!" + +Then he sat down again and re-perused the letter, with a variety of +expression on his face that might have recalled the typical April day, +minus the tears. + +"The rascal!" he repeated, as he finished the second reading of the +letter and thrust it into his pocket. "I knew there was somethin' i' the +wind wi' that little girl! The memory o' my own young days when I +boarded and captured the poetess is strong upon me yet. I saw it in the +rascal's eye the very first time they met--an' he thinks I'm as blind as +a bat, I'll be bound, with his poetical reef-point-pattering sharpness. +But it's a strange discovery he has made and must be looked into. The +young dog! He gives me orders as if he were the owner." + +Jumping up, Captain Roy hurried out into the street. In passing the +outer office he left a message with one of the clerks for his friend the +merchant. + +"Tell him," he said, "that I'll attend to that little business about the +bill when I come back. I'm going to sail for the Keeling Islands this +afternoon." + +"The Keeling Islands?" exclaimed the clerk in surprise. + +"Yes--I've got business to do there. I'll be back, all bein' well, in a +week--more or less." + +The clerk's eyebrows remained in a raised position for a few moments, +until he remembered that Captain Roy, being owner of his ship and +cargo, was entitled to do what he pleased with his own and himself. Then +they descended, and he went on with his work, amusing himself with the +thought that the most curious beings in the world were seafaring men. + +"Mr. Moor," said the captain somewhat excitedly, as he reached the deck +of his vessel, "are all the men aboard?" + +"All except Jim Sloper, sir." + +"Then send and hunt up Jim Sloper at once, for we sail this afternoon +for the Keeling Islands." + +"Very well, sir." + +Mr. Moor was a phlegmatic man; a self-contained and a reticent man. If +Captain Roy had told him to get ready to sail to the moon that +afternoon, he would probably have said "Very well, sir," in the same +tone and with the same expression. + +"May I ask, sir, what sort of cargo you expect there?" said Mr. Moor; +for to his practical mind some re-arrangement of the cargo already on +board might be necessary for the reception of that to be picked up at +Keeling. + +"The cargo we'll take on board will be a girl," said the captain. + +"A what, sir?". + +"A girl." + +"Very well, sir." + +This ended the business part of the conversation. Thereafter they went +into details so highly nautical that we shrink from recording them. An +amateur detective, in the form of a shipmate, having captured Jim +Sloper, the _Sunshine_ finally cleared out of the port of Batavia that +evening, shortly before its namesake took his departure from that part +of the southern hemisphere. + +Favouring gales carried the brig swiftly through Sunda Straits and out +into the Indian Ocean. Two days and a half brought her to the desired +haven. On the way, Captain Roy took note of the condition of Krakatoa, +which at that time was quietly working up its subterranean forces with a +view to the final catastrophe; opening a safety-valve now and then to +prevent, as it were, premature explosion. + +"My son's friend, the hermit of Rakata," said the captain to his second +mate, "will find his cave too hot to hold him, I think, when he +returns." + +"Looks like it, sir," said Mr. Moor, glancing up at the vast clouds +which were at that time spreading like a black pall over the re-awakened +volcano. "Do you expect 'em back soon, sir?" + +"Yes--time's about up now. I shouldn't wonder if they reach Batavia +before us." + +Arrived at the Keeling Islands, Captain Roy was received, as usual, with +acclamations of joy, but he found that he was by no means as well +fitted to act the part of a diplomatist as he was to sail a ship. It +was, in truth, a somewhat delicate mission on which his son had sent +him, for he could not assert definitely that the hermit actually was +Kathleen Holbein's father, and her self-constituted parents did not +relish the idea of letting slip, on a mere chance, one whom they loved +as a daughter. + +"Why not bring this man who claims to be her father _here_?" asked the +perplexed Holbein. + +"Because--because, p'raps he won't come," answered the puzzled mariner, +who did not like to say that he was simply and strictly obeying his +son's orders. "Besides," he continued, "the man does not claim to be +anything at all. So far as I understand it, my boy has not spoken to him +on the subject, for fear, I suppose, of raisin' hopes that ain't to be +realised." + +"He is right in that," said Mrs. Holbein, "and we must be just as +careful not to raise false hopes in dear little Kathy. As your son says, +it may be a mistake after all. We must not open our lips to her about +it." + +"Right you are, madam," returned the captain. "Mum's the word; and we've +only got to say she's goin' to visit one of your old friends in +Anjer--which'll be quite true, you know, for the landlady o' the chief +hotel there is a great friend o' yours, and we'll take Kathy to her +straight. Besides, the trip will do her health a power o' good, though +I'm free to confess it don't need no good to be done to it, bein' A.1 at +the present time. Now, just you agree to give the girl a holiday, an' +I'll pledge myself to bring her back safe and sound--with her father, if +he's _him_; without him if he isn't." + +With such persuasive words Captain Roy at length overcame the Holbein +objections. With the girl herself he had less difficulty, his chief +anxiety being, as he himself said, "to give her reasons for wishin' her +to go without tellin' lies." + +"Wouldn't you like a trip in my brig to Anjer, my dear girl?" He had +almost said daughter, but thought it best not to be too precipitate. + +"Oh! I should like it _so_ much," said Kathleen, clasping her little +hands and raising her large eyes to the captain's face. + +"_Dear_ child!" said the captain to himself. Then aloud, "Well, I'll +take you." + +"But I--I fear that father and mother would not like me to go--perhaps." + +"No fear o' them, my girl," returned the captain, putting his huge rough +hand on her pretty little head as if in an act of solemn appropriation, +for, unlike too many fathers, this exemplary man considered only the +sweetness, goodness, and personal worth of the girl, caring not a straw +for other matters, and being strongly of opinion that a man should +marry young if he possess the spirit of a man or the means to support a +wife. As he was particularly fond of Kathleen, and felt quite sure that +his son had deeper reasons than he chose to express for his course of +action, he entertained a strong hope, not to say conviction, that she +would also become fond of Nigel, and that all things would thus work +together for a smooth course to this case of true love. + +It will be seen from all this that Captain David Roy was a sanguine man. +Whether his hopes were well grounded or not remains to be seen. + +Meanwhile, having, as Mr. Moor said, shipped the cargo, the _Sunshine_ +set sail once more for Sunda Straits in a measure of outward gloom that +formed a powerful contrast to the sunny hopes within her commander's +bosom, for Krakatoa was at that time progressing rapidly towards the +consummation of its designs, as partly described in the last chapter. + +Short though that voyage was, it embraced a period of action so +thrilling that ever afterwards it seemed a large slice of life's little +day to those who went through it. + +We have said that the culminating incidents of the drama began on the +night of the 26th. Before that time, however, the cloud-pall was fast +spreading over land and sea, and the rain of pumice and ashes had begun +to descend. + +The wind being contrary, it was several days before the brig reached +the immediate neighbourhood of Krakatoa, and by that time the volcano +had begun to enter upon the stage which is styled by vulcanologists +"paroxysmal," the explosions being extremely violent as well as +frequent. + +"It is very awful," said Kathleen in a low voice, as she clasped the +captain's arm and leaned her slight figure on it. "I have often heard +the thunder of distant volcanoes, but never been so near as to hear such +terrible sounds." + +"Don't be frightened, my ducky," said the captain in a soothing tone, +for he felt from the appearance of things that there was indeed some +ground for alarm. "Volcanoes always look worse when you're near them." + +"I not frightened," she replied. "Only I got strange, solemn feelings. +Besides, no danger can come till God allows." + +"That's right, lass. Mrs. Holbein has been a true mother if she taught +you that." + +"No, she did not taught me that. My father taught me that." + +"What! Old Holbein?" + +"No--my father, who is dead," she said in a low voice. + +"Oh! I see. My poor child, I should have understood you. Forgive me." + +As the captain spoke, a tremendous outburst on Krakatoa turned their +minds to other subjects. They were by that time drawing near to the +island, and the thunders of the eruption seemed to shake not only the +heavens but even the great ocean itself. Though the hour was not much +past noon the darkness soon became so dense that it was difficult to +perceive objects a few yards distant, and, as pieces of stone the size +of walnuts, or even larger, began to fall on the deck, the captain sent +Kathleen below. + +"There's no saying where or when a big stone may fall, my girl," he +said, "and it's not the habit of Englishmen to let women come under +fire, so you'll be safer below. Besides, you'll be able to see something +of what's goin' on out o' the cabin windows." + +With the obedience that was natural to her, Kathleen went down at once, +and the captain made everything as snug as possible, battening down the +hatches and shortening sail so as to be ready for whatever might befall. + +"I don't like the look o' things, Mr. Moor," said the captain when the +second mate came on deck to take his watch. + +"No more do I, sir," answered Mr. Moor calmly. + +The aspect of things was indeed very changeable. Sometimes, as we have +said, all nature seemed to be steeped in thick darkness, at other times +the fires of the volcano blazed upward, spreading a red glare on the +rolling clouds and over the heaving sea. Lightning also played its part +as well as thunder, but the latter was scarcely distinguishable from the +volcano's roar. Three days before Sunday the 26th of August, Captain +Roy--as well as the crews of several other vessels that were in Sunda +Straits at the time--had observed a marked though gradual increase in +the violence of the eruption. On that day, as we read in the _Report of +the Krakatoa Committee of the Royal Society_, about 1 P.M. the +detonations caused by the explosive action attained such violence as to +be heard at Batavia, about 100 English miles away. At 2 P.M. of the same +day, Captain Thompson of the _Medea_, when about 76 miles E.N.E. of the +island, saw a black mass rising like clouds of smoke to a height which +has been estimated at no less than 17 miles! And the detonations were at +that time taking place at intervals of ten minutes. But, terrible though +these explosions must have been, they were but as the whisperings of the +volcano. An hour later they had increased so much as to be heard at +Bandong and other places 150 miles away, and at 5 P.M. they had become +so tremendous as to be heard over the whole island of Java, the eastern +portion of which is about 650 miles from Krakatoa. + +And the sounds thus heard were not merely like distant thunder. In +Batavia--although, as we have said, 100 miles off--they were so violent +during the whole of that terrible Sunday night as to prevent the people +from sleeping. They were compared to the "discharge of artillery close +at hand," and caused a rattling of doors, windows, pictures, and +chandeliers. + +Captain Watson of the _Charles Bal_, who chanced to be only 10 miles +south of the volcano, also compared the sounds to discharges of +artillery, but this only shows the feebleness of ordinary language in +attempting to describe such extraordinary sounds, for if they were +comparable to close artillery at Batavia, the same comparison is +inappropriate at only ten miles' distance. He also mentions the +crackling noise, probably due to the impact of fragments in the +atmosphere, which were noticed by the hermit and Nigel while standing +stunned and almost stupefied on the giddy ledge of Rakata that same +Sunday. + +About five in the evening of that day, the brig _Sunshine_ drew still +nearer to the island, but the commotion at the time became so intense, +and the intermittent darkness so profound, that Captain Roy was afraid +to continue the voyage and shortened sail. Not only was there a heavy +rolling sea, but the water was seething, as if about to boil. + +"Heave the lead, Mr. Moor," said the captain, who stood beside the +wheel. + +"Yes, sir," answered the imperturbable second mate, who thereupon gave +the necessary order, and when the depth was ascertained, the report was +"Ten fathoms, sand, with a 'ot bottom." + +"A hot bottom! what do you mean?" + +"The lead's 'ot, sir," replied the sailor. + +This was true, as the captain found when he applied his hand to it. + +"I do believe the world's going on fire," he muttered; "but it's a +comfort to know that it can't very well blaze up as long as the sea +lasts!" + +Just then a rain of pumice in large pieces, and quite warm, began to +fall upon the deck. As most people know, pumice is extremely light, so +that no absolute injury was done to any one, though such rain was +excessively trying. Soon, however, a change took place. The dense +vapours and dust-clouds which had rendered it so excessively dark were +entirely lighted up from time to time by fierce flashes of lightning +which rent as well as painted them in all directions. At one time this +great mass of clouds presented the appearance of an immense pine-tree +with the stem and branches formed of volcanic lightning. + +Captain Roy, fearing that these tremendous sights and sounds would +terrify the poor girl in the cabin, was about to look in and reassure +her, when the words "Oh! how splendid!" came through the slightly +opened door. He peeped in and saw Kathleen on her knees on the stern +locker, with her hands clasped, gazing out of one of the stern windows. + +"Hm! she's all right," he muttered, softly reclosing the door and +returning on deck. "If she thinks it's splendid, she don't need no +comfortin'! It's quite clear that she don't know what danger means--and +why should she? Humph! there go some more splendid sights for her," he +added, as what appeared to be chains of fire ascended from the volcano +to the sky. + +Just then a soft rain began to fall. It was warm, and, on examination at +the binnacle lamp, turned out to be mud. Slight at first, it soon poured +down in such quantities that in ten minutes it lay six inches thick on +the deck, and the crew had to set to work with shovels to heave it +overboard. At this time there was seen a continual roll of balls of +white fire down the sides of the peak of Rakata, caused, doubtless, by +the ejection of white-hot fragments of lava. Then showers of masses like +iron cinders fell on the brig, and from that time onward till four +o'clock of the morning of the 27th, explosions of indescribable grandeur +continually took place, as if the mountains were in a continuous roar of +terrestrial agony--the sky being at one moment of inky blackness, the +next in a blaze of light, while hot, choking, and sulphurous smells +almost stifled the voyagers. + +At this point the captain again became anxious about Kathleen and went +below. He found her in the same place and attitude--still fascinated! + +"My child," he said, taking her hand, "you must lie down and rest." + +"Oh! no. Do let me stay up," she begged, entreatingly. + +"But you must be tired--sleepy." + +"Sleepy! who could sleep with such wonders going on around? Pray _don't_ +tell me to go to bed!" + +It was evident that poor Kathy had the duty of obedience to authority +still strong upon her. Perhaps the memory of the Holbein nursery had not +yet been wiped out. + +"Well, well," said the captain with a pathetic smile, "you are as +safe--comfortable, I mean--here as in your berth or anywhere else." + +As there was a lull in the violence of the eruption just then, the +captain left Kathleen in the cabin and went on deck. It was not known at +that time what caused this lull, but as it preceded the first of the +four grand explosions which effectually eviscerated--emptied--the +ancient crater of Krakatoa, we will give, briefly, the explanation of it +as conjectured by the men of science. + +Lying as it did so close to the sea-level, the Krakatoa volcano, having +blown away all its cones, and vents, and safety-valves--from Perboewatan +southward, except the peak of Rakata--let the sea rush in upon its +infernal fires. This result, ordinary people think, produced a gush of +steam which caused the grand terminal explosions. Vulcanologists think +otherwise, and with reason--which is more than can be said of ordinary +people, who little know the power of the forces at work below the crust +of our earth! The steam thus produced, although on so stupendous a +scale, was free to expand and therefore went upwards, no doubt in a +sufficiently effective gust and cloud. But nothing worthy of being named +a blow-up was there. + +The effect of the in-rushing water was to cool the upper surface of the +boiling lava and convert it into a thick hard solid crust at the mouth +of the great vent. In this condition the volcano resembled a boiler with +all points of egress closed and the safety-valve shut down! Oceans of +molten lava creating expansive gases below; no outlet possible +underneath, and the neck of the bottle corked with tons of solid rock! +One of two things must happen in such circumstances: the cork must go or +the bottle must burst! Both events happened on that terrible night. All +night long the corks were going, and at last--Krakatoa burst! + +In the hurly-burly of confusion, smoke, and noise, no eye could note +the precise moment when the island was shattered, but there were on the +morning of the 27th four supreme explosions, which rang loud and high +above the horrible average din. These occurred--according to the careful +investigations made, at the instance of the Dutch Indian Government, by +the eminent geologist, Mr. R.D.M. Verbeek--at the hours of 5.30, 6.44, +10.2, and 10.52 in the morning. Of these the third, about 10, was by far +the worst for violence and for the wide-spread devastation which it +produced. + +At each of these explosions a tremendous sea-wave was created by the +volcano, which swept like a watery ring from Krakatoa as a centre to the +surrounding shores. It was at the second of these explosions--that of +6.44--that the fall of the mighty cliff took place which was seen by the +hermit and his friends as they fled from the island, and, on the crest +of the resulting wave, were carried along they scarce knew whither. + +As the previous wave--that of 5.30--had given the brig a tremendous +heave upwards, the captain, on hearing the second, ran down below for a +moment to tell Kathleen there would soon be another wave, but that she +need fear no danger. + +"The brig is deep and has a good hold o' the water," he said, "so the +wave is sure to slip under her without damage. I wish I could hope it +would do as little damage when it reaches the shore." + +As he spoke a strange and violent crash was heard overhead, quite +different from volcanic explosions, like the falling of some heavy body +on the deck. + +"One o' the yards down!" muttered the captain as he ran to the cabin +door. "Hallo, what's that, Mr. Moor?" + +"Canoe just come aboard, sir." + +"A canoe?" + +"Yes, sir. Crew, three men and a monkey. All insensible--hallo!" + +The "hallo!" with which the second mate finished his remark was so +unlike his wonted tone, and so full of genuine surprise, that the +captain ran forward with unusual haste, and found a canoe smashed to +pieces against the foremast, and the mate held a lantern close to the +face of one of the men while the crew were examining the others. + +A single glance told the captain that the mud-bespattered figure that +lay before him as if dead was none other than his own son! The great +wave had caught the frail craft on its crest, and, sweeping it along +with lightning speed for a short distance, had hurled it on the deck of +the _Sunshine_ with such violence as to completely stun the whole crew. +Even Spinkie lay in a melancholy little heap in the lee scuppers. + +You think this a far-fetched coincidence, good reader! Well, all we can +say is that we could tell you of another--a double--coincidence, which +was far more extraordinary than this one, but as it has nothing to do +with our tale we refrain from inflicting it on you. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +A CLIMAX. + + +Three of those who had tumbled thus unceremoniously on the deck of the +_Sunshine_ were soon sufficiently recovered to sit up and look around in +dazed astonishment--namely Nigel, Moses, and the monkey--but the hermit +still lay prone where he had been cast, with a pretty severe wound on +his head, from which blood was flowing freely. + +"Nigel, my boy!" + +"Father!" exclaimed the youth. "Where am I? What has happened?" + +"Don't excite yourself, lad," said the mariner, stooping and whispering +into his son's ear. "We've got _her_ aboard!" + +No treatment could have been more effectual in bringing Nigel to his +senses than this whisper. + +"Is--is--Van der Kemp safe?" he asked anxiously. + +"All right--only stunned, I think. That's him they're just goin' to +carry below. Put 'im in my bunk, Mr. Moor." + +"Ay ay, sir." + +Nigel sprang up. "Stay, father," he said in a low voice. "_She_ must not +see him for the first time like this." + +"All right, boy. I understand. You leave that to me. My bunk has bin +shifted for'id--more amidships--an' Kathy's well aft. They shan't be let +run foul of each other. You go an' rest on the main hatch till we get +him down. Why, here's a nigger! Where did you pick him--oh! I remember. +You're the man we met, I suppose, wi' the hermit on Krakatoa that day o' +the excursion from Batavia." + +"Yes, das me. But we'll meet on Krakatoa no more, for dat place am blown +to bits." + +"I'm pretty well convinced o' that by this time, my man. Not hurt much, +I hope?" + +"No, sar--not more 'n I can stan'. But I's 'fraid dat poor Spinkie's +a'most used up--hallo! what you gwine to do with massa?" demanded the +negro, whose wandering faculties had only in part returned. + +"He's gone below. All right. Now, you go and lie down beside my son on +the hatch. I'll see to Van der Kemp." + +But Captain David Roy's intentions, like those of many men of greater +note, were frustrated by the hermit himself, who recovered consciousness +just as the four men who carried him reached the foot of the +companion-ladder close to the cabin door. Owing to the deeper than +midnight darkness that prevailed a lamp was burning in the cabin--dimly, +as if, infected by the universal chaos, it were unwilling to enlighten +the surrounding gloom. + +On recovering consciousness Van der Kemp was, not unnaturally, under the +impression that he had fallen into the hands of foes. With one effectual +convulsion of his powerful limbs he scattered his bearers right and +left, and turning--like all honest men--to the light, he sprang into the +cabin, wrenched a chair from its fastenings, and, facing round, stood at +bay. + +Kathleen, seeing this blood-stained giant in such violent action, +naturally fled to her cabin and shut the door. + +As no worse enemy than Captain Roy presented himself at the cabin door, +unarmed, and with an anxious look on his rugged face, the hermit set +down the chair, and feeling giddy sank down on it with a groan. + +"I fear you are badly hurt, sir. Let me tie a handkerchief round your +wounded head," said the captain soothingly. + +"Thanks, thanks. Your voice is not unfamiliar to me," returned the +hermit with a sigh, as he submitted to the operation. "I thought I had +fallen somehow into the hands of pirates. Surely an accident must have +happened. How did I get here? Where are my comrades--Nigel and the +negro?" + +"My son Nigel is all right, sir, and so is your man Moses. Make your +mind easy--an' pray don't speak while I'm working at you. I'll explain +it all in good time. Stay, I'll be with you in a moment." + +The captain--fearing that Kathleen might come out from curiosity to see +what was going on, and remembering his son's injunction--went to the +girl's berth with the intention of ordering her to keep close until he +should give her leave to come out. Opening the door softly and looking +in, he was startled, almost horrified, to see Kathleen standing +motionless like a statue, with both hands pressed tightly over her +heart. The colour had fled from her beautiful face; her long hair was +flung back; her large lustrous eyes were wide open and her lips slightly +parted, as if her whole being had been concentrated in eager expectancy. + +"What's wrong, my girl?" asked the captain anxiously. "You've no cause +for fear. I just looked in to--." + +"That voice!" exclaimed Kathleen, with something of awe in her +tones--"Oh! I've heard it _so_ often in my dreams." + +"Hush! sh! my girl," said the captain in a low tone, looking anxiously +round at the wounded man. But his precautions were unavailing,--Van der +Kemp had also heard a voice which he thought had long been silent in +death. The girl's expression was almost repeated in his face. Before the +well-meaning mariner could decide what to do, Kathleen brushed lightly +past him, and stood in the cabin gazing as if spell-bound at the hermit. + +"Winnie!" he whispered, as if scarcely daring to utter the name. + +"Father!" + +She extended both hands towards him as she spoke. Then, with a piercing +shriek, she staggered backward, and would have fallen had not the +captain caught her and let her gently down. + +Van der Kemp vaulted the table, fell on his knees beside her, and, +raising her light form, clasped her to his heart, just as Nigel and +Moses, alarmed by the scream, sprang into the cabin. + +"Come, come; away wi' you--you stoopid grampusses!" cried the captain, +pushing the intruders out of the cabin, following them, and closing the +door behind him. "This is no place for bunglers like you an' me. We +might have known that natur' would have her way, an' didn't need no help +from the like o' us. Let's on deck. There's enough work there to look +after that's better suited to us." + +Truly there was enough--and more than enough--to claim the most +anxious attention of all who were on board of the _Sunshine_ that +morning, for hot mud was still falling in showers on the deck, and the +thunders of the great volcano were still shaking heaven, earth, and sea. + +To clear the decks and sails of mud occupied every one for some time so +earnestly that they failed to notice at first that the hermit had come +on deck, found a shovel, and was working away like the rest of them. The +frequent and prolonged blazes of intense light that ever and anon +banished the darkness showed that on his face there sat an expression of +calm, settled, triumphant joy, which was strangely mingled with a look +of quiet humility. + +"I thank God for this," said Nigel, going forward when he observed him +and grasping his hand. + +"You knew it?" exclaimed the hermit in surprise. + +"Yes. I knew it--indeed, helped to bring you together, but did not dare +to tell you till I was quite sure. I had hoped to have you meet in very +different circumstances." + +"'It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,'" returned the +hermit reverently. "God bless you, Nigel. If you have even aimed at +bringing this about, I owe you _more_ than my life." + +"You must have lost a good deal of blood, Van der Kemp. Are you much +hurt?" asked Nigel, as he observed the bandage round his friend's head. + +"Somewhat. Not much, I hope--but joy, as well as blood, gives strength, +Nigel." + +A report from a man who had just been ordered to take soundings induced +the captain at this time to lay-to. + +"It seems to me," he said to Nigel and the hermit who stood close beside +him, "that we are getting too near shore. But in cases o' this kind the +bottom o' the sea itself can't be depended on." + +"What part of the shore are we near, d' you think, father?" + +"Stand by to let go the anchor!" roared the captain, instead of +answering the question. + +"Ay, ay, sir," replied the second mate, whose cool, sing-song, +business-like tone at such a moment actually tended to inspire a measure +of confidence in those around him. + +Another moment, and the rattling chain caused a tremor through the +vessel, which ceased when the anchor touched bottom, and they rode head +to wind. Coruscations of bluish light seemed to play about the masts, +and balls of electric fire tipped the yards, throwing for a short time a +ghastly sheen over the ship and crew, for the profound darkness had +again settled down, owing, no doubt, to another choking of the Krakatoa +vent. + +Before the light referred to went out, Moses was struck violently on +the chest by something soft, which caused him to stagger. + +It was Spinkie! In the midst of the unusual horrors that surrounded him, +while clinging to the unfamiliar mizzen shrouds on which in desperation +the poor monkey had found a temporary refuge, the electric fire showed +him the dark figure of his old familiar friend standing not far off. +With a shriek of not quite hopeless despair, and an inconceivable bound, +Spinkie launched himself into space. His early training in the forest +stood him in good stead at that crisis! As already said he hit the mark +fairly, and clung to Moses with a tenacity that was born of mingled love +and desperation. Finding that nothing short of cruelty would unfix his +little friend, Moses stuffed him inside the breast of his cotton shirt. +In this haven of rest the monkey heaved a sigh of profound contentment, +folded his hands on his bosom, and meekly went to sleep. + +Two of the excessively violent paroxysms of the volcano, above referred +to, had by that time taken place, but the third, and worst--that which +occurred about 10 A.M.--was yet in store for them, though they knew it +not, and a lull in the roar, accompanied by thicker darkness than ever, +was its precursor. There was not, however, any lull in the violence of +the wind. + +"I don't like these lulls," said Captain Roy to the hermit, as they +stood close to the binnacle, in the feeble light of its lamp. "What is +that striking against our sides, Mr. Moor?" + +"Looks like floating pumice, sir," answered the second mate, "and I +think I see palm-trees amongst it." + +"Ay, I thought so, we must be close to land," said the captain. "We +can't be far from Anjer, and I fear the big waves that have already +passed us have done some damage. Lower a lantern over the side,--no, +fetch an empty tar-barrel and let's have a flare. That will enable us to +see things better." + +While the barrel was being fastened to a spar so as to be thrust well +out beyond the side of the brig, Van der Kemp descended the companion +and opened the cabin door. + +"Come up now, Winnie, darling." + +"Yes, father," was the reply, as the poor girl, who had been anxiously +awaiting the summons, glided out and clasped her father's arm with both +hands. "Are things quieting down?" + +"They are, a little. It may be temporary, but--Our Father directs it +all." + +"True, father. I'm _so_ glad of that!" + +"Mind the step, we shall have more light on deck. There is a friend +there who has just told me he met you on the Cocos-Keeling Island, Nigel +Roy;--you start, Winnie?" + +"Y--yes, father. I am _so_ surprised, for it is _his_ father who sails +this ship! And I cannot imagine how he or you came on board." + +"Well, I was going to say that I believe it is partly through Nigel that +you and I have been brought together, but there is mystery about it that +I don't yet understand; much has to be explained, and this assuredly is +not the time or place. Here, Nigel, is your old Keeling friend." + +"Ay--friend! humph!" said old Roy softly to himself. + +"My _dear_--child!" said young Roy, paternally, to the girl as he +grasped her hand. "I cannot tell you how thankful I am that this has +been brought about, and--and that _I_ have had some little hand in it." + +"There's more than pumice floating about in the sea, sir," said Mr. +Moor, coming aft at the moment and speaking to the captain in a low +tone. "You'd better send the young lady below--or get some one to take +up her attention just now." + +"Here, Nigel. Sit down under the lee of the companion, an' tell Kathy +how this all came about," said the captain, promptly, as if issuing +nautical orders. "I want you here, Van der Kemp." + +So saying, the captain, followed by the hermit, went with the second +mate to the place where the flaming tar-barrel was casting a lurid glare +upon the troubled sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +"BLOWN TO BITS." + + +The sight that met their eyes was well calculated to shock and sadden +men of much less tender feeling than Van der Kemp and Captain Roy. + +The water had assumed an appearance of inky blackness, and large masses +of pumice were floating past, among which were numerous dead bodies of +men, women, and children, intermingled with riven trees, fences, and +other wreckage from the land, showing that the two great waves which had +already passed under the vessel had caused terrible devastation on some +parts of the shore. To add to the horror of the scene large sea-snakes +were seen swimming wildly about, as if seeking to escape from the novel +dangers that surrounded them. + +The sailors looked on in awe-stricken silence for some time. + +"P'raps some of 'em may be alive yet!" whispered one. "Couldn't we lower +a boat?" + +"Impossible in such a sea," said the captain, who overheard the remark. +"Besides, no life could exist there." + +"Captain Roy," said Van der Kemp earnestly, "let me advise you to get +your foresail ready to hoist at a moment's notice, and let them stand by +to cut the cable." + +"Why so? There seems no need at present for such strong measures." + +"You don't understand volcanoes as I do," returned the hermit. "This +lull will only last until the imprisoned fires overcome the block in the +crater, and the longer it lasts the worse will be the explosion. From my +knowledge of the coast I feel sure that we are close to the town of +Anjer. If another wave like the last comes while we are here, it will +not slip under your brig like the last one. It will tear her from her +anchor and hurl us all to destruction. You have but one chance; that is, +to cut the cable and run in on the top of it--a poor chance at the best, +but if God wills, we shall escape." + +"If we are indeed as near shore as you think," said the captain, "I know +what you say must be true, for in shoal water such a wave will surely +carry all before it. But are you certain there will be another +explosion?" + +"No man can be sure of that. If the last explosion emptied the crater +there will be no more. If it did not, another explosion is certain. All +I advise is that you should be ready for whatever is coming, and ready +to take your only chance." + +"Right you are, sir. Send men to be ready to cut the cable, Mr. Moor. +And stand by the topsail halyards." + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +During the anxious minutes that followed, the hermit rejoined Winnie and +Nigel on the quarter-deck, and conversed with the latter in a low voice, +while he drew the former to his side with his strong arm. Captain Roy +himself grasped the wheel and the men stood at their various stations +ready for action. + +"Let no man act without orders, whatever happens," said the captain in a +deep powerful voice which was heard over the whole ship, for the lull +that we have mentioned extended in some degree to the gale as well as to +the volcano. Every one felt that some catastrophe was pending. + +"Winnie, darling," said the hermit tenderly, as he bent down to see the +sweet face that had been restored to him. "I greatly fear that there is +sure to be another explosion, and it may be His will that we shall +perish, but comfort yourself with the certainty that no hair of your +dear head can fall without His permission--and in any event He will not +fail us." + +"I know it, father. I have no fear--at least, only a little!" + +"Nigel," said the hermit, "stick close to us if you can. It may be +that, if anything should befall me, your strong arm may succour Winnie; +mine has lost somewhat of its vigour," he whispered. + +"Trust me--nothing but death shall sunder us," said the anxious youth in +a burst of enthusiasm. + +It seemed as if death were indeed to be the immediate portion of all on +board the _Sunshine_, for a few minutes later there came a crash, +followed by a spout of smoke, fire, steam, and molten lava, compared to +which all that had gone before seemed insignificant! + +The crash was indescribable! As we have said elsewhere, the sound of it +was heard many hundreds of miles from the seat of the volcano, and its +effects were seen and felt right round the world. + +The numerous vents which had previously been noticed on Krakatoa must at +that moment have been blown into one, and the original crater of the old +volcano--said to have been about six miles in diameter--must have +resumed its destructive work. All the eye-witnesses who were near the +spot at the time, and sufficiently calm to take note of the terrific +events of that morning, are agreed as to the splendour of the electrical +phenomena displayed during this paroxysmal outburst. One who, at the +time, was forty miles distant speaks of the great vapour-cloud looking +"like an immense wall or blood-red curtain with edges of all shades of +yellow, and bursts of forked lightning at times rushing like large +serpents through the air." Another says that "Krakatoa appeared to be +alight with flickering flames rising behind a dense black cloud." A +third recorded that "the lightning struck the mainmast conductor five or +six times," and that "the mud-rain which covered the decks was +phosphorescent, while the rigging presented the appearance of St. Elmo's +fire." + +It may be remarked here, in passing, that giant steam-jets rushing +through the orifices of the earth's crust constitute an enormous +hydro-electric engine; and the friction of ejected materials striking +against each other in ascending and descending also generates +electricity, which accounts to some extent for the electrical condition +of the atmosphere. + +In these final and stupendous outbursts the volcano was expending its +remaining force in breaking up and ejecting the solid lava which +constituted its framework, and not in merely vomiting forth the +lava-froth, or pumice, which had characterised the earlier stages of the +eruption. In point of fact--as was afterwards clearly ascertained by +careful soundings and estimates, taking the average height of the +missing portion at 700 feet above water, and the depth at 300 feet below +it--two-thirds of the island were blown entirely off the face of the +earth. The mass had covered an area of nearly six miles, and is +estimated as being equal to 1-1/8 cubic miles of solid matter which, as +Moses expressed it, was blown to bits! + +If this had been all, it would have been enough to claim the attention +and excite the wonder of the intelligent world--but this was not nearly +all, as we shall see, for saddest of all the incidents connected with +the eruption is the fact that upwards of thirty-six thousand human +beings lost their lives. The manner in which that terrible loss occurred +shall be shown by the future adventures of the _Sunshine_. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE FATE OF THE "SUNSHINE." + + +Stunned at first, for a few minutes, by the extreme violence of the +explosion, no one on board the _Sunshine_ spoke, though each man stood +at his post ready to act. + +"Strange," said the captain at last. "There seems to be no big wave this +time." + +"That only shows that we are not as near the island as we thought. But +it won't be long of----See! There it comes," said the hermit. "Now, +Winnie, cling to my arm and put your trust in God." + +Nigel, who had secured a life-buoy, moved close to the girl's side, and +looking anxiously out ahead saw a faint line of foam in the thick +darkness which had succeeded the explosion. Already the distant roar of +the billow was heard, proving that it had begun to break. + +"The wind comes with it," said Van der Kemp. + +"Stand by!" cried the captain, gazing intently over the side. Next +moment came the sharp order to hoist the foretopsail and jib, soon +followed by "Cut the cable!" + +There was breeze enough to swing the vessel quickly round. In a few +seconds her stern was presented to the coming wave, and her bow cleft +the water as she rushed upon what every one now knew was her doom. + +To escape the great wave was no part of the captain's plan. To have +reached the shore before the wave would have been fatal to all. Their +only hope lay in the possibility of riding in on the top of it, and the +great danger was that they should be unable to rise to it stern first +when it came up, or that they should turn broadside on and be rolled +over. + +They had not long to wait. The size of the wave, before it came near +enough to be seen, was indicated by its solemn, deep-toned, +ever-increasing roar. The captain stood at the wheel himself, guiding +the brig and glancing back from time to time uneasily. + +Suddenly the volcano gave vent to its fourth and final explosion. It was +not so violent as its predecessors had been, though more so than any +that had occurred on the day before, and the light of it showed them the +full terrors of their situation, for it revealed the mountains of +Java--apparently quite close in front, though in reality at a +considerable distance--with a line of breakers beating white on the +shore. But astern of them was the most appalling sight, for there, +rushing on with awful speed and a sort of hissing roar, came the +monstrous wave, emerging, as it were, out of thick darkness, like a +mighty wall of water with a foaming white crest, not much +less--according to an average of the most reliable estimates--than 100 +feet high. + +Well might the seamen blanch, for never before in all their varied +experience had they seen the like of that. + +On it came with the unwavering force of Fate. To the eye of Captain Roy +it appeared that up its huge towering side no vessel made by mortal man +could climb. But the captain had too often stared death in the face to +be unmanned by the prospect now. Steadily he steered the vessel straight +on, and in a quiet voice said-- + +"Lay hold of something firm--every man!" + +The warning was well timed. In the amazement, if not fear, caused by the +unwonted sight, some had neglected the needful precaution. + +As the billow came on, the bubbling, leaping, and seething of its crest +was apparent both to eye and ear. Then the roar became tremendous. + +"Darling Winnie," said Nigel at that moment. "I will die for you or with +you!" + +The poor girl heard, but no sign of appreciation moved her pale face as +she gazed up at the approaching chaos of waters. + +Next moment the brig seemed to stand on its bows. Van der Kemp had +placed his daughter against the mast, and, throwing his long arms round +both, held on. Nigel, close to them, had grasped a handful of ropes, and +every one else was holding on for life. Another moment and the brig rose +as if it were being tossed up to the heavens. Immediately thereafter it +resumed its natural position in a perfect wilderness of foam. They were +on the summit of the great wave, which was so large that its crest +seemed like a broad, rounded mass of tumbling snow with blackness before +and behind, while the roar of the tumult was deafening. The brig rushed +onward at a speed which she had never before equalled even in the +fiercest gale--tossed hither and thither by the leaping foam, yet always +kept going straight onward by the expert steering of her captain. + +"Come aft--all of you!" he shouted, when it was evident that the vessel +was being borne surely forward on the wave's crest. "The masts will go +for certain when we strike." + +The danger of being entangled in the falling spars and cordage was so +obvious that every one except the hermit and Nigel obeyed. + +"Here, Nigel," gasped the former. "I--I've--lost blood--faint!----" + +Our hero at once saw that Van der Kemp, fainting from previous loss of +blood, coupled with exertion, was unable to do anything but hold on. +Indeed, he failed even in that, and would have fallen to the deck had +Nigel not caught him by the arm. + +"Can you run aft, Winnie?" said Nigel anxiously. + +"Yes!" said the girl, at once understanding the situation and darting to +the wheel, of which and of Captain Roy she laid firm hold, while Nigel +lifted the hermit in his arms and staggered to the same spot. Winnie +knelt beside him immediately, and, forgetting for the moment all the +horrors around her, busied herself in replacing the bandage which had +been loosened from his head. + +"Oh! Mr. Roy, save him!--save him!" cried the poor child, appealing in +an agony to Nigel, for she felt instinctively that when the crash came +her father would be utterly helpless even to save himself. + +Nigel had barely time to answer when a wild shout from the crew caused +him to start up and look round. A flare from the volcano had cast a red +light over the bewildering scene, and revealed the fact that the brig +was no longer above the ocean's bed, but was passing in its wild career +right through, or rather _over_, the demolished town of Anjer. A few of +the houses that had been left standing by the previous waves were being +swept--hurled--away by this one, but the mass of rolling, rushing, +spouting water was so deep, that the vessel had as yet struck nothing +save the tops of some palm-trees which bent their heads like straws +before the flood. + +Even in the midst of the amazement, alarm, and anxiety caused by the +situation, Nigel could not help wondering that in this final and +complete destruction of the town no sign of struggling human beings +should be visible. He forgot at the moment, what was terribly proved +afterwards, that the first waves had swallowed up men, women, and +children by hundreds, and that the few who survived had fled to the +hills, leaving nothing for the larger wave to do but complete the work +of devastation on inanimate objects. Ere the situation had been well +realised the volcanic fires went down again, and left the world, for +over a hundred surrounding miles, in opaque darkness. Only the humble +flicker of the binnacle light, like a trusty sentinel on duty, continued +to shed its feeble rays on a few feet of the deck, and showed that the +compass at least was still faithful to the pole! + +Then another volcanic outburst revealed the fact that the wave which +carried them was thundering on in the direction of a considerable cliff +or precipice--not indeed quite straight towards it, but sufficiently so +to render escape doubtful. + +At the same time a swarm of terror-stricken people were seen flying +towards this cliff and clambering up its steep sides. They were probably +some of the more courageous of the inhabitants who had summoned courage +to return to their homes after the passage of the second wave. Their +shrieks and cries could be heard above even the roaring of the water and +the detonations of the volcano. + +"God spare us!" exclaimed poor Winnie, whose trembling form was now +partially supported by Nigel. + +As she spoke darkness again obscured everything, and they could do +naught but listen to the terrible sounds--and pray. + +On--on went the _Sunshine_, in the midst of wreck and ruin, on this +strange voyage over land and water, until a check was felt. It was not a +crash as had been anticipated, and as might have naturally been +expected, neither was it an abrupt stoppage. There was first a hissing, +scraping sound against the vessel's sides, then a steady checking--we +might almost say a hindrance to progress--not violent, yet so very +decided that the rigging could not bear the strain. One and another of +the back-stays parted, the foretopsail burst with a cannon-like report, +after which a terrible rending sound, followed by an indescribable +crash, told that both masts had gone by the board. + +Then all was comparatively still--comparatively we say, for water still +hissed and leaped beneath them like a rushing river, though it no longer +roared, and the wind blew in unfamiliar strains and laden with unwonted +odours. + +At that moment another outburst of Krakatoa revealed the fact that the +great wave had borne the brig inland for upwards of a mile, and left her +imbedded in a thick grove of cocoa-nut palms! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +TELLS CHIEFLY OF THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF THIS ERUPTION ON THE WOULD AT +LARGE. + + +The great explosions of that morning had done more damage and had +achieved results more astounding than lies in the power of language +adequately to describe, or of history to parallel. + +Let us take a glance at this subject in passing. + +An inhabitant of Anjer--owner of a hotel, a ship-chandler's store, two +houses, and a dozen boats--went down to the beach about six on the +morning of that fateful 27th of August. He had naturally been impressed +by the night of the 26th, though, accustomed as he was to volcanic +eruptions, he felt no apprehensions as to the safety of the town. He +went to look to the moorings of his boats, leaving his family of seven +behind him. While engaged in this work he observed a wave of immense +size approaching. He leaped into one of his boats, which was caught up +by the wave and swept inland, carrying its owner there in safety. But +this was the wave that sealed the doom of the town and most of its +inhabitants, including the hotel-keeper's family and all that he +possessed. + +This is one only out of thousands of cases of bereavement and +destruction. + +A lighthouse-keeper was seated in his solitary watch-tower, speculating, +doubtless, on the probable continuance of such a violent outbreak, while +his family and mates--accustomed to sleep in the midst of elemental +war--were resting peacefully in the rooms below, when one of the mighty +waves suddenly appeared, thundered past, and swept the lighthouse with +all its inhabitants away. + +This shows but one of the many disasters to lighthouses in Sunda +Straits. + +A Dutch man-of-war--the _Berouw_--was lying at anchor in Lampong Bay, +fifty miles from Krakatoa. The great wave came, tore it from its +anchorage, and carried it--like the vessel of our friend David +Roy--nearly two miles inland! + +Masses of coral of immense size and weight were carried four miles +inland by the same wave. The river at Anjer was choked up; the conduit +which used to carry water into the place was destroyed, and the town +itself was laid in ruins. + +But these are only a few of the incidents of the great catastrophe. Who +can conceive, much less tell of, those terrible details of sudden death +and disaster to thousands of human beings, resulting from an eruption +which destroyed towns like Telok Betong, Anjer, Tyringin, etc., besides +numerous villages and hamlets on the shores of Java and Sumatra, and +caused the destruction of more than 36,000 souls? + +But it is to results of a very different kind, and on a much more +extended scale, that we must turn if we would properly estimate the +magnitude, the wide-spreading and far-reaching influences, and the +extraordinary character, of the Krakatoa outburst of 1883. + +In the first place, it is a fact, testified to by some of the best-known +men of science, that the shock of the explosion extended _appreciably_ +right round the world, and seventeen miles (some say even higher!) up +into the heavens. + +Mr. Verbeek, in his treatise on this subject, estimates that a cubic +mile of Krakatoa was propelled in the form of the finest dust into the +higher regions of the atmosphere--probably about thirty miles! The dust +thus sent into the sky was of "ultra-microscopic fineness," and it +travelled round and round the world in a westerly direction, producing +those extraordinary sunsets and gorgeous effects and afterglows which +became visible in the British Isles in the month of November following +the eruption; and the mighty waves which caused such destruction in the +vicinity of Sunda Straits travelled--not once, but at least--six times +round the globe, as was proved by trustworthy and independent +observations of tide-gauges and barometers made and recorded at the same +time in nearly all lands--including our own. + +Other volcanoes, it is said by those who have a right to speak in regard +to such matters, have ejected more "stuff," but not one has equalled +Krakatoa in the intensity of its explosions, the appalling results of +the sea-waves, the wonderful effects in the sky, and the almost +miraculous nature of the sounds. + +Seated on a log under a palm-tree in Batavia, on that momentous morning +of the 27th, was a sailor who had been left behind sick by Captain Roy +when he went on his rather Quixotic trip to the Keeling Islands. He was +a somewhat delicate son of the sea. Want of self-restraint was his +complaint--leading to a surfeit of fruit and other things, which +terminated in a severe fit of indigestion and indisposition to life in +general. He was smoking--that being a sovereign and infallible cure for +indigestion and all other ills that flesh is heir to, as every one +knows! + +"I say, old man," he inquired, with that cheerful tone and air which +usually accompanies incapacity for food. "Do it always rain ashes here?" + +The old man whom he addressed was a veteran Malay seaman. + +"No," replied the Malay, "sometimes it rain mud--hot mud." + +"Do it? Oh! well--anything for variety, I s'pose," returned the sailor, +with a growl which had reference to internal disarrangements. + +"Is it often as dark as this in the daytime, an' is the sun usually +green?" he asked carelessly, more for the sake of distracting the mind +from other matters than for the desire of knowledge. + +"Sometime it's more darker," replied the old man. "I've seed it so dark +that you couldn't see how awful dark it was." + +As he spoke, a sound that has been described by ear-witnesses as +"deafening" smote upon their tympanums, the log on which they sat +quivered, the earth seemed to tremble, and several dishes in a +neighbouring hut were thrown down and broken. + +"I say, old man, suthin' busted there," remarked the sailor, taking the +pipe from his mouth and quietly ramming its contents down with the end +of his blunt forefinger. + +The Malay looked grave. + +"The gasometer?" suggested the sailor. + +"No, that _never_ busts." + +"A noo mountain come into action, p'raps, an' blow'd its top off?" + +"Shouldn't wonder if that's it--close at hand too. We's used to that +here. But them's bigger cracks than or'nar'." + +The old Malay was right as to the cause, but wrong as to distance. +Instead of being a volcano "close at hand," it was Krakatoa eviscerating +itself a hundred miles off, and the sound of its last grand effort +"extended over 50 degrees = about 3000 miles." + +On that day all the gas lights were extinguished in Batavia, and the +pictures rattled on the walls as though from the action of an +earthquake. But there was no earthquake. It was the air-wave from +Krakatoa, and the noise produced by the air-waves that followed was +described as "deafening." + +The effect of the sounds of the explosions on the Straits Settlements +generally was not only striking, but to some extent amusing. At Carimon, +in Java--355 miles distant from Krakatoa--it was supposed that a vessel +in distress was firing guns, and several native boats were sent off to +render assistance, but no distressed vessel was to be found! At Acheen, +in Sumatra--1073 miles distant--they supposed that a fort was being +attacked and the troops were turned out under arms. At Singapore--522 +miles off--they fancied that the detonations came from a vessel in +distress and two steamers were despatched to search for it. And here the +effect on the telephone, extending to Ishore, was remarkable. On raising +the tubes a perfect roar as of a waterfall was heard. By shouting at +the top of his voice, the clerk at one end could make the clerk at the +other end hear, but he could not render a word intelligible. At +Perak--770 miles off--the sounds were thought to be distant salvos of +artillery, and Commander Hon. F. Vereker, R.N., of H.M.S. _Magpie_, when +1227 miles distant (in lat. 5° 52' N. long. 118° 22' E.), states that +the detonations of Krakatoa were distinctly heard by those on board his +ship, and by the inhabitants of the coast as far as Banguey Island, on +August 27th. He adds that they resembled distant heavy cannonading. In a +letter from St. Lucia Bay--1116 miles distant--it was stated that the +eruption was plainly heard all over Borneo. A government steamer was +sent out from the Island of Timor--1351 miles off--to ascertain the +cause of the disturbance! In South Australia also, at places 2250 miles +away, explosions were heard on the 26th and 27th which "awakened" +people, and were thought worthy of being recorded and reported. From +Tavoy, in Burmah--1478 miles away--the report came--"All day on August +27th unusual sounds were heard, resembling the boom of guns. Thinking +there might be a wreck or a ship in distress, the Tavoy Superintendent +sent out the police launch, but they 'could see nothing.'" And so on, +far and near, similar records were made, the most distant spot where the +sounds were reported to have been heard being Rodriguez, in the +Pacific, nearly 3000 miles distant! + +One peculiar feature of the records is that some ships in the immediate +neighbourhood of Krakatoa did not experience the shock in proportionate +severity. Probably this was owing to their being so near that a great +part of the concussion and sound flew over them--somewhat in the same +way that the pieces of a bomb-shell fly over men who, being too near to +escape by running, escape by flinging themselves flat on the ground. + +Each air-wave which conveyed these sounds, commencing at Krakatoa as a +centre, spread out in an ever-increasing circle till it reached a +distance of 180° from its origin and encircled the earth at its widest +part, after which it continued to advance in a contracting form until it +reached the antipodes of the volcano; whence it was reflected or +reproduced and travelled back again to Krakatoa. Here it was turned +right-about-face and again despatched on its long journey. In this way +it oscillated backward and forward not fewer than six times before +traces of it were lost. We say "traces," because these remarkable facts +were ascertained, tracked, and corroborated by independent barometric +observation in all parts of the earth. + +For instance, the passage of the great air-wave from Krakatoa to its +antipodes, and from its antipodes back to Krakatoa, was registered six +times by the automatic barometer at Greenwich. The instrument at Kew +Observatory confirmed the records of Greenwich, and so did the +barometers of other places in the kingdom. Everywhere in Europe also +this fact was corroborated, and in some places even a seventh +oscillation was recorded. The Greenwich record shows that the air-waves +took about thirty-six hours to travel from pole to pole, thus proving +that they travelled at about the rate of ordinary sound-waves, which, +roughly speaking, travel at the rate of between six and seven hundred +miles an hour. + +The height of the sea-waves that devastated the neighbouring shores, +being variously estimated at from 50 to 135 feet, is sufficiently +accounted for by the intervention of islands and headlands, etc., which, +of course, tended to diminish the force, height, and volume of waves in +varying degrees. + +These, like the air-waves, were also registered--by self-acting +tide-gauges and by personal observation--all over the world, and the +observations _coincided as to date with the great eruptions of the 26th +and 27th of August_. The influence of the sea-waves was observed and +noted in the Java sea--which is shallow and where there are innumerable +obstructions--as far as 450 miles, but to the west they swept over the +deep waters of the Indian Ocean on to Cape Horn, and even, it is said, +to the English Channel. + +The unusual disturbance of ocean in various places was sufficiently +striking. At Galle, in Ceylon, where the usual rise and fall of the tide +is 2 feet, the master-attendant reports that on the afternoon of the +27th four remarkable waves were noticed in the port. The last of these +was preceded by an unusual recession of the sea to such an extent that +small boats at their anchorage were left aground--a thing that had never +been seen before. The period of recession was only one-and-a-half +minutes; then the water paused, as it were, for a brief space, and, +beginning to rise, reached the level of the highest high-water mark in +less than two minutes, thus marking a difference of 8 feet 10 inches +instead of the ordinary 2 feet. + +At one place there was an ebb and flood tide, of unusual extent, within +half-an-hour. At another, a belt of land, including a burying-ground, +was washed away, so that according to the observer "it appeared as if +the dead had sought shelter with the living in a neighbouring cocoa-nut +garden!" Elsewhere the tides were seen to advance and recede ten or +twelve times--in one case even twenty times--on the 27th. + +At Trincomalee the sea receded three times and returned with singular +force, at one period leaving part of the shore suddenly bare, with fish +struggling in the mud. The utilitarian tendency of mankind was at once +made manifest by some fishermen who, seizing the opportunity, dashed +into the struggling mass and began to reap the accidental harvest, +when--alas for the poor fishermen!--the sea rushed in again and drove +them all away. + +In the Mauritius, however, the fishers were more fortunate, for when +their beach was exposed in a similar manner, they succeeded in capturing +a good many fish before the water returned. + +Even sharks were disturbed in their sinister and slimy habits of life by +this outburst of Krakatoa--and no wonder, when it is recorded that in +some places "the sea looked like water boiling heavily in a pot," and +that "the boats which were afloat were swinging in all directions." At +one place several of these monsters were flung out of their native home +into pools, where they were left struggling till their enemy man +terminated their career. + +Everywhere those great waves produced phenomena which were so striking +as to attract the attention of all classes of people, to ensure record +in most parts of the world, and to call for the earnest investigation of +the scientific men of many lands--and the conclusion to which such men +have almost universally come is, that the strange vagaries of the sea +all over the earth, the mysterious sounds heard in so many widely +distant places, and the wonderful effects in the skies of every quarter +of the globe, were all due to the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in +1883. + +With reference to these last--the sky-effects-a few words may not be out +of place here. + +The superfine "ultra-microscopic" dust, which was blown by the volcano +in quantities so enormous to such unusual heights, was, after dropping +its heavier particles back to earth, caught by the breezes which always +blow in the higher regions from east to west, and carried by them for +many months round and round the world. The dust was thickly and not +widely spread at first, but as time went on it gradually extended itself +on either side, becoming visible to more and more of earth's +inhabitants, and at the same time becoming necessarily less dense. + +Through this medium the sun's rays had to penetrate. In so far as the +dust-particles were opaque they would obscure these rays; where they +were transparent or polished they would refract and reflect them. That +the material of which those dust-particles was composed was very various +has been ascertained, proved, and recorded by the Krakatoa Committee. +The attempt to expound this matter would probably overtax the endurance +of the average reader, yet it may interest all to know that this +dust-cloud travelled westward within the tropics at the rate of about +double the speed of an express train--say 120 miles an hour; crossed the +Indian Ocean and Africa in three days, the Atlantic in two, America in +two, and, in short, put a girdle round the world in thirteen days. +Moreover, the cloud of dust was so big that it took two or three days to +pass any given point. During its second circumnavigation it was +considerably spread and thinned, and the third time still more so, +having expanded enough to include Europe and the greater part of North +America. It had thinned away altogether and disappeared in the spring of +1884. + +Who has not seen--at least read or heard of--the gorgeous skies of the +autumn of 1883? Not only in Britain, but in all parts of the world, +these same skies were seen, admired, and commented on as marvellous. And +so they were. One of the chief peculiarities about them, besides their +splendour, was the fact that they consisted chiefly of +"afterglows"--that is, an increase of light and splendour _after_ the +setting of the sun, when, in an ordinary state of things, the grey +shadows of evening would have descended on the world. Greenish-blue +suns; pink clouds; bright yellow, orange, and crimson afterglows; +gorgeous, magnificent, blood-red skies--the commentators seemed unable +to find language adequately to describe them. Listen to a German +observer's remarks on the subject:-- + +"The display of November 29th was the grandest and most manifold. I +give a description as exactly; as possible, for its overwhelming +magnificence still presents itself to me as if it had been yesterday. +When the sun had set about a quarter of an hour, there was not much +afterglow, but I had observed a remarkably yellow bow in the south, +about 10° above the horizon. In about ten minutes more this arc rose +pretty quickly, extended itself all over the east and up to and beyond +the zenith. The sailors declared, 'Sir, that is the Northern Lights.' I +thought I had never seen Northern Lights in greater splendour. After +five minutes more the-light had faded, though not vanished, in the east +and south, and the finest purple-red rose up in the south-west; one +could imagine one's-self in Fairyland." + +All this, and a great deal more, was caused by the dust of Krakatoa! + +"But how--how--why?" exclaims an impatient and puzzled reader. + +"Ay--there's the rub." Rubbing, by the way, may have had something to do +with it. At all events we are safe to say that whatever there was of +electricity in the matter resulted from friction. + +Here is what the men of science say--as far as we can gather and +condense. + +The fine dust blown out of Krakatoa was found, under the microscope, to +consist of excessively thin, transparent plates or irregular specks of +pumice--which inconceivably minute fragments were caused by enormous +steam pressure in the interior and the sudden expansion of the masses +blown out into the atmosphere. Of this glassy dust, that which was blown +into the regions beyond the clouds must have been much finer even than +that which was examined. These glass fragments were said by Dr. Flügel +to contain either innumerable air-bubbles or minute needle-like +crystals, or both. Small though these vesicles were when ejected from +the volcano, they would become still smaller by bursting when they +suddenly reached a much lower pressure of atmosphere at a great height. +Some of them, however, owing to tenacity of material and other causes, +might have failed to burst and would remain floating in the upper air as +perfect microscopic glass balloons. Thus the dust was a mass of +particles of every conceivable shape, and so fine that no watches, +boxes, or instruments were tight enough to exclude from their interior +even that portion of the dust which was heavy enough to remain on earth! + +Now, to the unscientific reader it is useless to say more than that the +innumerable and varied positions of these glassy particles, some +transparent, others semi-transparent or opaque, reflecting the sun's +rays in different directions, with a complex modification of colour and +effect resulting from the blueness of the sky, the condition of the +atmosphere, and many other causes--all combined to produce the +remarkable appearances of light and colour which aroused the admiration +and wonder of the world in 1883. + +The more one thinks of these things, and the deeper one dives into the +mysteries of nature, the more profoundly is one impressed at once with a +humbling sense of the limited amount of one's knowledge, and an +awe-inspiring appreciation of the illimitable fields suggested by that +comprehensive expression: "THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +COMING EVENTS, ETC.--WONDERFUL CHANGES AMONG THE ISLANDS. + + +Some days after the wreck of the _Sunshine_, as described in a previous +chapter, Captain Roy and his son stood on the coast of Java not far from +the ruins of Anjer. A vessel was anchored in the offing, and a little +boat lay on the shore. + +All sign of elemental strife had passed, though a cloud of smoke hanging +over the remains of Krakatoa told that the terrible giant below was not +dead but only sleeping--to awake, perchance, after a nap of another 200 +years. + +"Well, father," said our hero with a modest look, "it may be, as you +suggest, that Winnie Van der Kemp does not care for me more than for a +fathom of salt water----" + +"I did not say salt water, lad, I said bilge--a fathom o' _bilge_ +water," interrupted the captain, who, although secretly rejoiced at the +fact of his son having fallen over head and ears in love with the pretty +little Cocos-Keeling islander, deemed it his duty, nevertheless, as a +sternly upright parent, to, make quite sure that the love was mutual as +well as deep before giving his consent to anything like courtship. + +"It matters not; salt or bilge water makes little difference," returned +the son with a smile. "But all I can say is that I care for Winnie so +much that her love is to me of as much importance as sunshine to the +world--and we have had some experience lately of what the want of _that_ +means." + +"Nonsense, Nigel," returned the captain severely. "You're workin' +yourself into them up-in-the-clouds, reef-point-patterin' regions +again--which, by the way, should be pretty well choked wi' Krakatoa dust +by this time. Come down out o' that if ye want to hold or'nary +intercourse wi' your old father. She's far too young yet, my boy. You +must just do as many a young fellow has done before you, attend to your +dooties and forget her." + +"Forget her!" returned the youth, with that amused, quiet expression +which wise men sometimes assume when listening to foolish suggestions. +"I could almost as easily forget my mother!" + +"A very proper sentiment, Nigel, very--especially the 'almost' part of +it." + +"Besides," continued the son, "she is not so _very_ young--and that +difficulty remedies itself every hour. Moreover, I too am young. I can +wait." + +"The selfishness of youth is only equalled by its presumption," said +the captain. "How d'ee know _she_ will wait?" + +"I don't know, father, but I hope she will--I--I--_think_ she will." + +"Nigel," said the captain, in a tone and with a look that were meant to +imply intense solemnity, "have you ever spoken to her about love?" + +"No, father." + +"Has she ever spoken to _you_?" + +"No--at least--not with her lips." + +"Come, boy, you're humbuggin' your old father. Her tongue couldn't well +do it without the lips lendin' a hand." + +"Well then--with neither," returned the son. "She spoke with her +eyes--not intentionally, of course, for the eyes, unlike the lips, +refuse to be under control." + +"Hm! I see--reef-point-patterin' poetics again! An' what did she say +with her eyes?" + +"Really, father, you press me too hard; it is difficult to translate +eye-language, but if you'll only let memory have free play and revert to +that time, nigh quarter of a century ago, when you first met with a +certain _real_ poetess, perhaps--" + +"Ah! you dog! you have me there. But how dare you, sir, venture to think +of marryin' on nothin'?" + +"I don't think of doing so. Am I not a first mate with a handsome +salary?" + +"No, lad, you're not. You're nothin' better than a seaman out o' work, +with your late ship wrecked in a cocoa-nut grove!" + +"That's true," returned Nigel with a laugh. "But is not the cargo of the +said ship safe in Batavia? Has not its owner a good bank account in +England? Won't another ship be wanted, and another first mate, and would +the owner dare to pass over his own son, who is such a competent +seaman--according to your own showing? Come, father, I turn the tables +on you and ask you to aid rather than resist me in this matter." + +"Well, I will, my boy, I will," said the captain heartily, as he laid +his hand on his son's shoulder. "But, seriously, you must haul off this +little craft and clap a stopper on your tongue--ay, and on your eyes +too--till three points are considered an' made quite clear. First, you +must find out whether the hermit would be agreeable. Second, you must +look the matter straight in the face and make quite sure that you mean +it. For better or for worse. No undoin' _that_ knot, Nigel, once it's +fairly tied! And, third, you must make quite sure that Winnie is sure of +her own mind, an' that--that--" + +"We're all sure all round, father. Quite right. I agree with you. 'All +fair an' aboveboard' should be the sailing orders of every man in such +matters, especially of every seaman. But, will you explain how I am to +make sure of Winnie's state of mind without asking her about it?" + +"Well, I don't exactly see my way," replied the captain slowly. "What +d'ee say to my soundin' her on the subject?" + +"Couldn't think of it! You may be first-rate at deep-sea soundings, +father, but you couldn't sound the depths of a young girl's heart. I +must reserve that for myself, however long it may be delayed." + +"So be it, lad. The only embargo that I lay upon you is--haul off, and +mind you don't let your figurehead go by the board. Meanwhile, here +comes the boat. Now, Nigel, none o' your courtin' till everything is +settled and the wind fair--dead aft my lad, and blowin' stiff. You and +the hermit are goin' off to Krakatoa to-day, I suppose?" + +"Yes. I am just now waiting for him and Moses," returned Nigel. + +"Is Winnie going?" + +"Don't know. I hope so." + +"Humph! Well, if we have a fair wind I shall soon be in Batavia," said +the captain, descending to business matters, "and I expect without +trouble to dispose of the cargo that we landed there, as well as that +part o' the return cargo which I had bought before I left for +Keeling--at a loss, no doubt, but that don't matter much. Then I'll come +back here by the first craft that offers--arter which----. Ay!--Ay! +shove her in here. Plenty o' water." + +The last remark was made to the seaman who steered the boat sent from +the vessel in the offing. + +A short time thereafter Captain Roy was sailing away for Batavia, while +his son, with Van der Kemp, Moses, Winnie, and Spinkie, was making for +Krakatoa in a native boat. + +The hermit, in spite of his injuries, had recovered his wonted +appearance, if not his wonted vigour. Winnie seemed to have suddenly +developed into a mature woman under her recent experiences, though she +had lost none of her girlish grace and attractiveness. As for +Moses--time and tide seemed to have no effect whatever on his ebony +frame, and still less, if possible, on his indomitable spirit. + +"Now you keep still," he said in solemn tones and with warning looks to +Spinkie. "If you keep fidgitin' about you'll capsize de boat. You hear?" + +Spinkie veiled his real affection for the negro under a look of supreme +indifference, while Winnie went off into a sudden giggle at the idea of +such a small creature capsizing the boat. + +Mindful of his father's warning, Nigel did his best to "haul off" and to +prevent his "figurehead" from going "by the board." But he found it +uncommonly hard work, for Winnie looked so innocent, so pretty, so +unconscious, so sympathetic with everybody and everything, so very +young, yet so wondrously wise and womanly, that he felt an irresistible +desire to prostrate himself at her feet in abject slavery. + +"Dear little thing," said Winnie, putting her hand on Spinkie's little +head and smoothing him down from eyes to tail. + +Spinkie looked as if half inclined to withdraw his allegiance from Moses +and bestow it on Winnie, but evidently changed his mind after a moment's +reflection. + +"O that I were a monkey!" thought Nigel, paraphrasing Shakespeare, "that +I might----" but it is not fair to our hero to reveal him in his +weaker moments! + +There was something exasperating, too, in being obliged, owing to the +size of the boat, to sit so close to Winnie without having a right to +touch her hand! Who has not experienced this, and felt himself to be a +very hero of self-denial in the circumstances? + +"Mos' awrful hot!" remarked Moses, wiping his forehead with the sleeve +of his shirt. + +"_You_ hot!" said Nigel in surprise. "I thought nothing on earth could +be too hot for you." + +"Dat's your ignerance," returned Moses calmly. "Us niggers, you see, +ought to suffer more fro' heat dan you whites." + +"How so?" + +"Why, don't your flossiphers say dat black am better dan white for +'tractin' heat, an' ain't our skins black? I wish we'd bin' born white +as chalk. I say, Massa Nadgel, seems to me dat dere's not much left ob +Krakatoa." + +They had approached near enough to the island by that time to perceive +that wonderful changes had indeed taken place, and Van der Kemp, who had +been for some time silently absorbed in contemplation, at last turned to +his daughter and said-- + +"I had feared at first, Winnie, that my old home had been blown entirely +away, but I see now that the Peak of Rakata still stands, so perhaps I +may yet show you the cave in which I have spent so many years." + +"But why did you go to live in such a strange place, dear father?" asked +the girl, laying her hand lovingly on the hermit's arm. + +Van der Kemp did not reply at once. He gazed in his child's face with an +increase of that absent air and far-away look which Nigel, ever since he +met him, had observed as one of his characteristics. At this time an +anxious thought crossed him,--that perhaps the blows which his friend +had received on his head when he was thrown on the deck of the +_Sunshine_ might have injured his brain. + +"It is not easy to answer your question, dear one," he said after a +time, laying his strong hand on the girl's head, and smoothing her +luxuriant hair which hung in the untrammelled freedom of nature over her +shoulders. "I have felt sometimes, during the last few days, as if I +were awaking out of a long long dream, or recovering from a severe +illness in which delirium had played a prominent part. Even now, though +I see and touch you, I sometimes tremble lest I should really awake and +find that it is all a dream. I have so often--so _very_ often--dreamed +something like it in years gone by, but never so vividly as now! I +cannot doubt--it is sin to doubt--that my prayers have been at last +answered. God is good and wise. He knows what is best and does not fail +in bringing the best to pass. Yet I have doubted Him--again and again." + +Van der Kemp paused here and drew his hand across his brow as if to +clear away sad memories of the past, while Winnie drew closer to him and +looked up tenderly in his face. + +"When your mother died, dear one," he resumed, "it seemed to me as if +the sun had left the heavens, and when _you_ were snatched from me, it +was as though my soul had fled and nought but animal life remained. I +lived as if in a terrible dream. I cannot recall exactly what I did or +where I went for a long long time. I know I wandered through the +archipelago looking for you, because I did not believe at first that you +were dead. It was at this time I took up my abode in the cave of Rakata, +and fell in with my good faithful friend Moses--" + +"Your sarvint, massa," interrupted the negro humbly. "I's proud to be +call your frind, but I's only your sarvint, massa." + +"Truly you have been my faithful servant, Moses," said Van der Kemp, +"but not the less have you been my trusted friend. He nursed me through +a long and severe illness, Winnie. How long, I am not quite sure. After +a time I nearly lost hope. Then there came a very dark period, when I +was forced to believe that you must be dead. Yet, strange to say, even +during this dark time I did not cease to pray and to wander about in +search of you. I suppose it was the force of habit, for hope seemed to +have died. Then, at last, Nigel found you. God used him as His +instrument. And now, praise to His name, we are reunited--for ever!" + +"Darling father!" were the only words that Winnie could utter as she +laid her head on the hermit's shoulder and wept for joy. + +Two ideas, which had not occurred to him before, struck Nigel with great +force at that moment. The one was that whatever or wherever his future +household should be established, if Winnie was to be its chief ornament, +her father must of necessity become a member of it. The other idea was +that he was destined to possess a negro servant with a consequent and +unavoidable monkey attendant! How strange the links of which the chain +of human destiny is formed, and how wonderful the powers of thought by +which that chain is occasionally forecast! How to convey all these +possessions to England and get them comfortably settled there was a +problem which he did not care to tackle just then. + +"See, Winnie," said Van der Kemp, pointing with interest to a mark on +the side of Rakata, "yonder is the mouth of my cave. I never saw it so +clearly before because of the trees and bushes, but everything seems now +to have been burnt up." + +"Das so, massa, an' what hasn't bin bu'nt up has bin blow'd up!" +remarked the negro. + +"Looks very like it, Moses, unless that is a haze which enshrouds the +rest of the island," rejoined the other, shading his eyes with his +hands. + +It was no haze, however; for they found, on drawing nearer, that the +greater part of Krakatoa had, as we have already said, actually +disappeared from the face of the earth. + +When the boat finally rounded the point which hid the northern part of +the island from view, a sight was presented which it is not often given +to human eyes to look upon. The whole mountain named the Peak of Rakata +(2623 feet high) had been split from top to bottom, and about one-half +of it, with all that part of the island lying to the northward, had been +blown away, leaving a wall or almost sheer precipice which presented a +grand section of the volcano. + +Pushing their boat into a creek at the base of this precipice, the party +landed and tried to reach a position from which a commanding view might +be obtained. This was not an easy matter, for there was not a spot for a +foot to rest on which was not covered deeply with pumice-dust and ashes. +By dint of perseverance, however, they gained a ledge whence the +surrounding district could be observed, and then it was clearly seen how +wide-spread and stupendous the effects of the explosion had been. + +Where the greater part of the richly wooded island had formerly +flourished, the ocean now rippled in the sunshine, and of the smaller +islands around it _Lang_ Island had been considerably increased in bulk +as well as in height. _Verlaten_ Island had been enlarged to more than +three times its former size and also much increased in height. The +island named _Polish Hat_ had disappeared altogether, and two entirely +new islets--afterwards named _Steers_ and _Calmeyer_ Islands--had +arisen to the northward. + +"Now, friends," said Van der Kemp, after they had noted and commented on +the vast and wonderful changes that had taken place, "we will pull round +to our cave and see what has happened there." + +Descending to the boat they rowed round the southern shores of Rakata +until they reached the little harbour where the boat and canoe had +formerly been kept. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +ENDS WITH A STRUGGLE BETWEEN INCLINATION AND DUTY. + + +"De cave's blowed away too!" was the first remark of Moses as they rowed +into the little port. + +A shock of disappointment was experienced by Winnie, for she fancied +that the negro had referred to her father's old home, but he only meant +the lower cave in which the canoe had formerly been kept. She was soon +relieved as to this point, however, but, when a landing was effected, +difficulties that seemed to her almost insurmountable presented +themselves, for the ground was covered knee-deep with pumice-dust, and +the road to the upper cave was blocked by rugged masses of lava and +ashes, all heaped up in indescribable confusion. + +On careful investigation, however, it was found that after passing a +certain point the footpath was almost unencumbered by volcanic débris. +This was owing to the protection afforded to it by the cone of Rakata, +and the almost overhanging nature of some of the cliffs on that side of +the mountain; still the track was bad enough, and in places so rugged, +that Winnie, vigorous and agile though she was, found it both difficult +and fatiguing to advance. Seeing this, her father proposed to carry her, +but she laughingly declined the proposal. + +Whereupon Nigel offered to lend her a hand over the rougher places, but +this she also declined. + +Then Moses, stepping forward, asserted his rights. + +"It's _my_ business," he said, "to carry t'ings w'en dey's got to be +carried. M'r'over, as I's bin obleeged to leabe Spinkie in charge ob de +boat, I feels okard widout somet'ing to carry, an' you ain't much +heavier dan Spinkie, Miss Winnie--so, come along." + +He stooped with the intention of grasping Winnie as if she were a little +child, but with a light laugh the girl sprang away and left Moses +behind. + +"'S'my opinion," said Moses, looking after her with a grin, "dat if de +purfesser was here he 'd net her in mistook for a bufferfly. Dar!--she's +down!" he shouted, springing forward, but Nigel was before him. + +Winnie had tripped and fallen. + +"Are you hurt, dear--child?" asked Nigel, raising her gently. + +"Oh no! only a little shaken," answered Winnie, with a little laugh that +was half hysterical. "I am strong enough to go on presently." + +"Nay, my child, you _must_ suffer yourself to be carried at this part," +said Van der Kemp. "Take her up, Nigel, you are stronger than I am +_now_. I would not have asked you to do it before my accident!" + +Our hero did not need a second bidding. Grasping Winnie in his strong +arms he raised her as if she had been a feather, and strode away at a +pace so rapid that he soon left Van der Kemp and Moses far behind. + +"Put me down, now," said Winnie, after a little while, in a low voice. +"I'm quite recovered now and can walk." + +"Nay, Winnie, you are mistaken. The path is very rough yet, and the dust +gets deeper as we ascend. _Do_ give me the pleasure of helping you a +little longer." + +Whatever Winnie may have felt or thought she said nothing, and Nigel, +taking silence for consent, bore her swiftly onward and upward,--with an +"Excelsior" spirit that would have thrown the Alpine youth with the +banner and the strange device considerably into the shade,--until he +placed her at the yawning black mouth of the hermit's cave. + +But what a change was there! The trees and flowering shrubs and ferns +were all gone, lava, pumice, and ashes lay thick on everything around, +and only a few blackened and twisted stumps of the larger trees +remained to tell that an umbrageous forest had once flourished there. +The whole scene might be fittingly described in the two words--grey +desolation. + +"That is the entrance to your father's old home," said Nigel, as he set +his fair burden down and pointed to the entrance. + +"What a dreadful place!" said Winnie, peering into the black depths of +the cavern. + +"It was not dreadful when I first saw it, Winnie, with rich verdure +everywhere; and inside you will find it surprisingly comfortable. But we +must not enter until your father arrives to do the honours of the place +himself." + +They had not to wait long. First Moses arrived, and, shrewdly suspecting +from the appearance of the young couple that they were engaged in +conversation that would not brook interruption, or, perhaps, judging +from what might be his own wishes in similar circumstances, he turned +his back suddenly on them, and, stooping down, addressed himself to an +imaginary creature of the animal kingdom. + +"What a bootiful bufferfly you is, to be sure! up on sitch a place too, +wid nuffin' to eat 'cept Krakatoa dust. I wonder what your moder would +say if she know'd you was here. You should be ashamed ob yourself!" + +"Hallo! Moses, what are you talking to over there?" + +"Nuffin', Massa Nadgel. I was on'y habin' a brief conv'sation wid a +member ob de insect wurld in commemoration ob de purfesser. Leastwise, +if it warn't a insect it must hab bin suffm' else. Won't you go in, Miss +Winnie?" + +"No, I'd rather wait for father," returned the girl, looking a little +flushed, for some strange and totally unfamiliar ideas had recently +floated into her brain and caused some incomprehensible flutterings of +the heart to which hitherto she had been a stranger. + +Mindful of his father's injunctions, however, Nigel had been +particularly careful to avoid increasing these flutterings. + +In a few minutes the hermit came up. "Ah! Winnie," he said, "there has +been dire devastation here. Perhaps inside things may look better. Come, +take my hand and don't be afraid. The floor is level and your eyes will +soon get accustomed to the dim light." + +"I's afeared, massa," remarked Moses, as they entered the cavern, "dat +your sun-lights won't be wu'th much now." + +"You are right, lad. Go on before us and light the lamps if they are not +broken." + +It was found, as they had expected, that, the only light which +penetrated the cavern was that which entered by the cave's mouth, which +of course was very feeble. + +Presently, to Winnie's surprise, Moses was seen issuing from the kitchen +with a petroleum lamp in one hand, the brilliant light of which not only +glittered on his expressive black visage but sent a ruddy glare all over +the cavern. + +Van der Kemp seemed to watch his daughter intently as she gazed in a +bewildered way around. There was a puzzled look as well as mere surprise +in her pretty face. + +"Father," she said earnestly, "you have spoken more than once of living +as if in a dream. Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that I +experience something of that sort now. Strange though this place seems, +I have an unaccountable feeling that it is not absolutely new to +me--that I have seen it before." + +"I do not wonder, dear one," he replied, "for the drawings that surround +this chamber were the handiwork of your dear mother, and they decorated +the walls of your own nursery when you were a little child at your +mother's knee. For over ten long years they have surrounded me and kept +your faces fresh in my memory--though, truth to tell, it needed no such +reminders to do that. Come, let us examine them." + +It was pleasant to see the earnest face of Winnie as she +half-recognised and strove to recall the memories of early childhood in +that singular cavern. It was also a sight worth seeing--the countenance +of Nigel, as well as that of the hermit, while they watched and admired +her eager, puzzled play of feature, and it was the most amazing sight of +all to see the all but superhuman joy of Moses as he held the lamp and +listened to facts regarding the past of his beloved master which were +quite new to him--for the hermit spoke as openly about his past domestic +affairs as if he and Winnie had been quite alone. + +"He either forgets that we are present, or counts us as part of his +family," thought Nigel with a feeling of satisfaction. + +"What a dear comoonicative man!" thought Moses, with unconcealed +pleasure. + +"Come now, let us ascend to the observatory," said the hermit, when all +the things in the library had been examined. "There has been damage done +there, I know; besides, there is a locket there which belonged to your +mother. I left it by mistake one day when I went up to arrange the +mirrors, and in the hurry of leaving forgot to return for it. Indeed, +one of my main objects in re-visiting my old home was to fetch that +locket away. It contains a lock of hair and one of those miniatures +which men used to paint before photography drove such work off the +field." + +Winnie was nothing loth to follow, for she had reached a romantic period +of life, and it seemed to her that to be led through mysterious caves +and dark galleries in the very heart of a still active volcano by her +own father--the hermit of Rakata--was the very embodiment of romance +itself. + +But a disappointment awaited them, for they had not proceeded halfway +through the dark passage when it was found that a large mass of rock had +fallen from the roof and almost blocked it up. + +"There is a space big enough for us to creep through at the right-hand +corner above, I think," said Nigel, taking the lantern from Moses and +examining the spot. + +"Jump up, Moses, and try it," said the hermit. "If your bulky shoulders +get through, we can all manage it." + +The negro was about to obey the order when Nigel let the lantern fall +and the shock extinguished it. + +"Oh! Massa Nadgel; das a pritty business!" + +"Never mind," said Van der Kemp. "I've got matches, I think, in my--no, +I haven't. Have you, Moses?" + +"No, massa, I forgit to remember him." + +"No matter, run back--you know the road well enough to follow it in the +dark. We will wait here till you return. Be smart, now!" + +Moses started off at once and for some moments the sound of clattering +along the passage was heard. + +"I will try to clamber through in the dark. Look after Winnie, +Nigel--and don't leave the spot where you stand, dear one, for there are +cracks and holes about that might sprain your little ankles." + +"Very well, father." + +"All right. I've got through, Nigel; I'll feel my way on for a little +bit. Remain where you are." + +"Winnie," said Nigel when they were alone, "doesn't it feel awesome and +strange to be standing here in such intense darkness?" + +"It does--I don't quite like it." + +"Whereabouts are you?" said Nigel. + +He carefully stretched out his hand to feel, as he spoke, and laid a +finger on her brow. + +"Oh! take care of my eyes!" exclaimed Winnie with a little laugh. + +"_I_ wish you would turn your eyes towards me for I'm convinced they +would give some light--? to _me_ at least. Here, do let me hold your +hand It will make you feel more confident." + +To one who is at all familiar with the human frame, the way from the +brow to the hand is comparatively simple. Nigel soon possessed himself +of the coveted article. Like other things of great value the possession +turned the poor youth's head! He forgot his father's warnings for the +moment, forgot the hermit and Moses and Spinkie, and the thick +darkness--forgot almost everything in the light of that touch! + +"Winnie!" he exclaimed in a tone that quite alarmed her; "I--I--" He +hesitated. The solemn embargo of his father recurred to him. + +"What is it! Is there danger?" exclaimed the poor girl, clasping his +hand tighter and drawing nearer to him. + +This was too much! Nigel felt himself to be contemptible. He was taking +unfair advantage of her. + +"Winnie," he began again, in a voice of forced calmness, "there is no +danger whatever. I'm an ass--a dolt--that's all! The fact is, I made my +father a sort of half promise that I would not ask your opinion on a +certain subject until--until I found out exactly what you thought about +it. Now the thing is ridiculous--impossible--for how can I know your +opinion on any subject until I have asked you?" + +"Quite true," returned Winnie simply, "so you better ask me." + +"Ha! _ha_!" laughed Nigel, in a sort of desperate amusement, "I--I--Yes, +I _will_ ask you, Winnie! But first I must explain----" + +"Hallo! Nigel!" came at that moment from the other side of the +obstruction, "are you there--all right?" + +"Yes, yes--I'm here--_not_ all right exactly, but I'll be all right +_some day_, you may depend upon that!" shouted the youth, in a tone of +indignant exasperation. + +"What said you?" asked Van der Kemp, putting his head through the hole. + +"Hi! I's a-comin', look out, dar!" hallooed Moses in the opposite +direction. + +"Just so," said Nigel, resuming his quiet tone and demeanour, "we'll be +all right when the light comes. Here, give us your hand, Van der Kemp." + +The hermit accepted the proffered aid and leaped down amongst his +friends just as Moses arrived with the lantern. + +"It's of no use going further," he said. "The passage is completely +blocked up--so we must go round to where the mountain has been split off +and try to clamber up. There will be daylight enough yet if we are +quick. Come." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE LAST. + + +Descending to the boat they rowed round to the face of the great cliff +which had been so suddenly laid bare when the Peak of Rakata was cleft +from its summit to its foundations in the sea. It was a wonderful +sight--a magnificent section, affording a marvellous view of the +internal mechanism of a volcano. + +But there was no time to spend in contemplation of this extraordinary +sight, for evening approached and the hermit's purpose had to be +accomplished. + +High up near the top of the mighty cliff could be seen a small hole in +the rock, which was all that remained of the observatory. + +"It will be impossible, I fear, to reach that spot," said Nigel; "there +does not appear to be foothold for a goat." + +"I will reach it," said the hermit in a low voice, as he scanned the +precipice carefully. + +"So will I," said the negro. + +"No, Moses, I go alone. You will remain in the boat and watch. If I +fall, you can pick me up." + +"Pick you up!" echoed Moses. "If you tumbles a t'ousand feet into de +water how much t'ink you will be lef to pick up?" + +It was useless to attempt to dissuade Van der Kemp. Being well aware of +this, they all held their peace while he landed on a spur of the riven +cliff. + +The first part of the ascent was easy enough, the ground having been +irregularly broken, so that the climber disappeared behind masses of +rock at times, while he kept as much as possible to the western edge of +the mountain where the cleavage had occurred; but as he ascended he was +forced to come out upon narrow ledges that had been left here and there +on the face of the cliff, where he seemed, to those who were watching +far below, like a mere black spot on the face of a gigantic wall. Still +upward he went, slowly but steadily, till he reached a spot nearly level +with the observatory. Here he had to go out on the sheer precipice, +where his footholds were invisible from below. + +Winnie sat in the boat with blanched face and tightly clasped hands, +panting with anxiety as she gazed upwards. + +"It looks much more dangerous from here than it is in reality," said +Nigel to her in a reassuring tone. + +"Das true, Massa Nadgel, das bery true," interposed Moses, endeavouring +to comfort himself as well as the others by the intense earnestness of +his manner. "De only danger, Miss Winnie, lies in your fadder losin' his +head at sitch a t'riffic height, an' dar's no fear at all ob dat, for +Massa neber loses his head--pooh! you might as well talk ob him losin' +his heart. Look! look! he git close to de hole now--he put his +foot--yes--next step--dar! he've done it!" + +With the perspiration of anxiety streaming down his face the negro +relieved his feelings by a wild prolonged cheer. Nigel obtained the same +relief by means of a deep long-drawn sigh, but Winnie did not move; she +seemed to realise her father's danger better than her companions, and +remembered that the descent would be much more difficult than the +ascent. They were not kept long in suspense. In a few minutes the hermit +reappeared and began to retrace his steps--slowly but steadily--and the +watchers breathed more freely. + +Moses was right; there was in reality little danger in the climb, for +the ledges which appeared to them like mere threads, and the footholds +that were almost invisible, were in reality from a foot to three feet +wide. The only danger lay in the hermit's head being unable to stand the +trial, but, as Moses had remarked, there was no fear of that. + +The watchers were therefore beginning to feel somewhat relieved from +the tension of their anxiety, when a huge mass of rock was seen to slip +from the face of the cliff and descend with the thunderous roar of an +avalanche. The incident gave those in the boat a shock, for the landslip +occurred not far from the spot which Van der Kemp had reached, but as he +still stood there in apparent safety there seemed no cause for alarm +till it was observed that the climber remained quite still for a long +time and, seemed to have no intention of moving. + +"God help him!" cried Nigel in sudden alarm, "the ledge has been carried +away and he cannot advance! Stay by the boat, Moses, I will run to help +him!" + +"No, Massa Nadgel," returned the negro, "I go to die wid 'im. Boat kin +look arter itself." + +He sprang on shore as he spoke, and dashed up the mountain-side like a +hunted hare. + +Our hero looked at Winnie for an instant in hesitation. + +"Go!" said the poor girl. "You know I can manage a boat--quick!" + +Another moment and Nigel was following in the track of the negro. They +gained the broken ledge together, and then found that the space between +the point which they had reached and the spot on which the hermit stood +was a smooth face of perpendicular rock--an absolutely impassable gulf! + +Van der Kemp was standing with his back flat against the precipice and +his feet resting on a little piece of projecting rock not more than +three inches wide. This was all that lay between him and the hideous +depth below, for Nigel found on carefully drawing nearer that the +avalanche had been more extensive than was apparent from below, and that +the ledge beyond the hermit had been also carried away--thus cutting +off his retreat as well as his advance. + +"I can make no effort to help myself," said Van der Kemp in a low but +calm voice, when our hero's foot rested on the last projecting point +that he could gain, and found that with the utmost reach of his arm he +could not get within six inches of his friend's outstretched hand. +Besides, Nigel himself stood on so narrow a ledge, and against so steep +a cliff, that he could not have acted with his wonted power even if the +hand could have been grasped. Moses stood immediately behind Nigel, +where the ledge was broader and where a shallow recess in the rock +enabled him to stand with comparative ease. The poor fellow seemed to +realise the situation more fully than his companion, for despair was +written on every feature of his expressive face. + +"What is to be done?" said Nigel, looking back. + +"De boat-rope," suggested the negro. + +"Useless," said Van der Kemp, in a voice as calm and steady as if he +were in perfect safety, though the unusual pallor of his grave +countenance showed that he was fully alive to the terrible situation. "I +am resting on little more than my heels, and the strain is almost too +much for me even now. I could not hold on till you went to the boat and +returned. No, it seems to be God's will--and," added he humbly, "His +will be done." + +"O God, send us help!" cried Nigel in an agony of feeling that he could +not master. + +"If I had better foothold I might spring towards you and catch hold of +you," said the hermit, "but I cannot spring off my heels. Besides, I +doubt if you could bear my weight." + +"Try, try!" cried Nigel, eagerly extending his hand. "Don't fear for my +strength--I've got plenty of it, thank God! and see, I have my right arm +wedged into a crevice so firmly that nothing could haul it out." + +But Van der Kemp shook his head. "I cannot even make the attempt," he +said. "The slightest move would plunge me down. Dear boy! I know that +you and your father and Moses will care for my Winnie, and--" + +"Massa!" gasped Moses, who while the hermit was speaking had been +working his body with mysterious and violent energy; "massa! couldn't +you _fall_ dis way, an' Nadgel could kitch your hand, an' I's got my +leg shoved into a hole as nuffin' 'll haul it out ob. Dere's a holler +place here. If Nadgel swings you into dat, an' I only once grab you by +de hair--you're safe!" + +"It might be done--tried at least," said the hermit, looking anxiously +at his young friend. + +"Try it!" cried Nigel, "I won't fail you." + +It is not possible for any except those who have gone through a somewhat +similar ordeal to understand fully the test of cool courage which Van +der Kemp had to undergo on that occasion. + +Shutting his eyes for a moment in silent prayer, he deliberately worked +with his shoulders upon the cliff against which he leaned until he felt +himself to be on the point of falling towards his friend, and the two +outstretched hands almost touched. + +"Now, are you ready?" he asked. + +"Ready," replied Nigel, while Moses wound both his powerful arms round +his comrade's waist and held on. + +Another moment and the hands clasped, Nigel uttered an irrepressible +shout as the hermit swung off, and, coming round with great violence to +the spot where the negro had fixed himself, just succeeded in catching +the edge of the cliff with his free hand. + +"Let go, Nigel," he shouted;--"safe!" + +The poor youth was only too glad to obey, for the tremendous pull had +wrenched his arm out of the crevice in which he had fixed it, and for a +moment he swayed helplessly over the awful abyss. + +"Don't let me go, Moses!" he yelled, as he made a frantic but futile +effort to regain his hold,--for he felt that the negro had loosened one +of his arms though the other was still round him like a hoop of iron. + +"No fear, Nadgel," said Moses, "I's got you tight--only don' wriggle. +Now, massa, up you come." + +Moses had grasped his master's hair with a grip: that well-nigh scalped +him, and he held on until the hermit had got a secure hold of the ledge +with both hands. Then he let the hair go, for he knew that to an athlete +like his master the raising himself by his arms on to the ledge would be +the Work of a few seconds. Van der Kemp was thus able to assist in +rescuing Nigel from his position of danger. + +But the expressions of heartfelt thankfulness for this deliverance which +naturally broke from them were abruptly checked when it was found that +Moses could by no means extract his leg out of the hole into which he +had thrust it, and that he was suffering great pain. + +After some time, and a good deal of violent wrenching, during which our +sable hero mingled a few groans in strange fashion with his +congratulations, he was got free, and then it was found that the strain +had been too much for even his powerful bones and sinews, for the leg +was broken. + +"My poor fellow!" murmured Van der Kemp, as he went down on his knees to +examine the limb. + +"Don' care a buttin for dat, massa. You're safe, an' Nadgel's safe--an' +it only cost a broken leg! Pooh! das nuffin'!" said Moses, unable to +repress a few tears in the excess of his joy and pain! + +With considerable difficulty they carried the poor negro down to the +boat, where they found Winnie, as might be supposed, in a half-fainting +condition from the strain of prolonged anxiety and terror to which she +had been subjected; but the necessity of attending to the case of the +injured Moses was an antidote which speedily restored her. + +Do you think, good reader, that Nigel and Winnie had much difficulty in +coming to an understanding after that, or that the hermit was disposed +to throw any obstacles in the way of true love? If you do, let us assure +you that you are mistaken. Surely this is information enough for any +intelligent reader. + +Still, it may be interesting to add, difficulties did not all at once +disappear. The perplexities that had already assailed Nigel more than +once assailed him again--perplexities about a negro man-servant, and a +household monkey, and a hermit father-in-law, and a small income--to +say nothing of a disconsolate mother-poetess in England and a father +roving on the high seas! How to overcome these difficulties gave him +much thought and trouble; but they were overcome at last. That which +seemed impossible to man proved to be child's-play in the hands of +woman. Winnie solved the difficulty by suggesting that they should all +return to the Cocos-Keeling Islands and dwell together there for +evermore! + + * * * * * + +Let us drop in on them, good reader, at a later period, have a look at +them, and bid them all good-bye. + +On a green knoll by the margin of the lagoon stands a beautiful cottage +with a garden around it, and a pleasure-boat resting on the white coral +sand in front. From the windows of that cottage there is a most +magnificent view of the lagoon with its numerous islets and its +picturesque palm-trees. Within that cottage dwell Nigel and Winnie, and +a brown-eyed, brown-haired, fair-skinned baby girl who is "the most +extraordinary angel that ever was born." It has a nurse of its own, but +is chiefly waited on and attended to by an antique poetess, who dwells +in another cottage, a stone's-cast off, on the same green knoll. There +she inspires an ancient mariner with poetical sentiments--not your +up-in-the-clouds, reef-point-pattering nonsense, observe; but the real +genuine article, superior to "that other fellow's," you know--when not +actively engaged with _the_ baby. + +The first cottage is named Rakata, in honour of our hermit, who is one +of its inhabitants. The second is named Krakatoa by its eccentric owner, +Captain Roy. + +It must not be imagined, however, that our friends have settled down +there to spend their lives in idleness. By no means. This probably would +not be permitted by the "King of the Cocos Islands" even if they wished +to do so. But they do not wish that. There is no such condition as +idleness in the lives of good men and women. + +Nigel has taken to general superintendence of the flourishing community +in the midst of which he has cast his lot. He may be almost regarded as +the prime minister of the islands, in addition to which he has started +an extensive boat-building business and a considerable trade in +cocoa-nuts, etc., with the numerous islands of the Java Sea; also a +saw-mill, and a forge, and a Sunday-school--in which last the pretty, +humble-minded Winnie lends most efficient aid. Indeed it is said that +she is the chief manager as well as the life and soul of that business, +though Nigel gets all the credit. + +Captain Roy sometimes sails his son's vessels, and sometimes looks +after the secular education of the Sunday-school children--the said +education being conducted on the principle of unlimited story-telling +with illimitable play of fancy. But his occupations are +irregular--undertaken by fits and starts, and never to be counted on. +His evenings he usually devotes to poetry and pipes--for the captain is +obstinate, and sticks--like most of us--to his failings as well as his +fancies. + +There is a certain eccentric individual with an enthusiastic temperament +and blue binoculars who pays frequent and prolonged visits to the +Keeling Islands. It need scarcely be said that his name is Verkimier. +There is no accounting for the tastes of human beings. Notwithstanding +all his escapes and experiences, that indomitable man of science still +ranges, like a mad philosopher, far and wide over the archipelago in +pursuit of "booterflies ant ozer specimens of zee insect vorld." It is +observed, however, even by the most obtuse among his friends, that +whereas in former times the professor's nights were centrifugal they +have now become centripetal--the Keeling Islands being the great centre +towards which he flies. Verkimier is, and probably will always be, a +subject of wonder and of profound speculation to the youthful +inhabitants of the islands. They don't understand him and he does not +understand them. If they were insects he would take deep and +intelligent interest in them. As they are merely human beings, he +regards them with that peculiar kind of interest with which men regard +the unknown and unknowable. He is by no means indifferent to them. He is +too kindly for that. He studies them deeply, though hopelessly, and when +he enters the Sunday-school with his binoculars--which he often does, to +listen--a degree of awe settles down on the little ones which it is +impossible to evoke by the most solemn appeals to their spiritual +natures. + +Nigel and Winnie have a gardener, and that gardener is black--as black +as the Ace of Spades or the King of Ashantee. He dwells in a corner of +the Rakata Cottage, but is addicted to spending much of his spare time +in the Krakatoa one. He is as strong and powerful as ever, but limps +slightly on his right leg--his "game" leg, as he styles it. He is, of +course, an _immense_ favourite with the young people--not less than with +the old. He has been known to say, with a solemnity that might tickle +the humorous and horrify the timid, that he wouldn't "hab dat game leg +made straight agin! no, not for a hundred t'ousand pounds. 'Cause why? +--it was an eber-present visible reminder dat once upon a time he had de +libes ob massa and Nadgel in his arms ahangin' on to his game leg, an' +dat, t'rough Gracious Goodness, he sabe dem bof!" + +Ha! You may smile at Moses if you will, but he can return the smile +with kindly interest, for he is actuated by that grand principle which +will sooner or later transform even the scoffers of earth, and which is +embodied in the words--"Love is the fulfilling of the law." + +Even the lower animals testify to this fact when the dog licks the hand +that smites it and accords instant forgiveness on the slightest +encouragement. Does not Spinkie prove it also, when, issuing at call, +from its own pagoda in the sunniest corner of the Rakata garden, it +forsakes cocoa-nuts, sugar-cane, fruits, and other delights, to lay its +little head in joyful consecration on the black bosom of its benignant +friend? + +And what of Moses' opinion of the new home? It may be shortly expressed +in his own words-"It's heaben upon eart', an' de most happiest time as +eber occurred to me was dat time when Sunda Straits went into cumbusti'n +an' Krakatoa was Blown to Bits." + +THE END + +Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty, _at the +Edinburgh University Press_. + + * * * * * + + + + ++ADVERTISEMENTS+ + + + + + +BY MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE. + +With Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. each. + + * * * * * + +'The fathers, mothers, guardians, uncles, and aunts who wish to find an +acceptable birthday present for a healthy-minded boy of normal tastes, +cannot possibly go wrong if they buy a book with Mr. Ballantyne's name +on the title-page.'--_Academy_. + + * * * * * + ++The Hot Swamp+: A Romance of Old Albion. + ++The Buffalo Runners+: A Tale of the Red River Plains. + ++Charlie to the Rescue+: A Tale of the Sea and the Rockies. + ++Blown to Bits+; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata: A Tale of the Malay +Archipelago. + ++Blue Lights+; or, Hot Work in the Soudan. 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BALLANTYNE'S BOOKS--continued. + +THE GOLDEN DREAM: A Tale of the Diggings. + +DEEP DOWN: A Tale of the Cornish Mines. + +FIGHTING THE FLAMES: A Tale of the London Fire-Brigade. + +SHIFTING WINDS: A Tough Yarn. + +THE LIGHTHOUSE; or, The Story of a Great Fight between Man and the Sea. + +THE LIFEBOAT: A Tale of our Coast Heroes. + +GASCOYNE, THE SANDALWOOD TRADER. + +THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST: A Tale of the Rocky Mountains. + +THE RED ERIC; or, The Whaler's Last Cruise. + +FREAKS ON THE FELLS: and Why I did not become a Sailor? + + * * * * * + ++With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each.+ + +HUNTED AND HARRIED. + +A COXSWAIN'S BRIDE; or, The Rising Tide. And other Tales. + +THE GARRET AND THE GARDEN; or, Low Life High Up: and + +JEFF BENSON; or, The Young Coastguardsman. + +THE CREW OF THE WATER-WAGTAIL. + +THE MIDDY AND THE MOORS. + +LIFE IN THE RED BRIGADE. A Fiery Tale. + +THE PRAIRIE CHIEF. A Tale. + +THE ISLAND QUEEN; or, Dethroned by Fire and Water. + +THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE. + +TWICE BOUGHT: A Tale of the Oregon Gold Fields. + +MY DOGGIE AND I. + +THE RED MAN'S REVENGE. + +PHILOSOPHER JACK: A Tale of the Southern Seas. + +SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE. + +BATTLES WITH THE SEA; or, Heroes of the Lifeboat and the Rocket. Crown +8vo. 2s. 6d. + +THE KITTEN PILGRIMS; or, Great Battles and Grand Victories. Crown 8vo. +2s. + ++Price 3s. 6d. each.+ + +TALES OF ADVENTURE BY FLOOD, FIELD, AND MOUNTAIN. + +TALES OF ADVENTURE; or, Wild Work in Strange Places. + +TALES OF ADVENTURE ON THE COAST. + + + + ++MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE'S + +MISCELLANY of ENTERTAINING and + +INSTRUCTIVE TALES+. + ++With Illustrations. 1s. each+. + +_Also in a Handsome Cloth Case, Price 20s_. + + +The "Athenæum" says:--"There is no more practical way of communicating +elementary information than that which has been adopted in this series. +When we see contained in 124 small pages (as in _Fast in the Ice_) such +information as a man of fair education should possess about icebergs, +northern lights, Esquimaux, musk-oxen, bears, walruses, &c., together +with all the ordinary incidents of an Arctic voyage woven into a clear +connected narrative, we must admit that a good work has been done, and +that the author deserves the gratitude of those for whom the books are +especially designed, and also of young people of all classes." + +I. + +FIGHTING THE WHALES; or, Doings and Dangers on a Fishing Cruise. + +II. + +AWAY IN THE WILDERNESS; or, Life among the Red Indians and Fur Traders +of North America. + +III. + +FAST IN THE ICE; or, Adventures In the Polar Regions. + +IV. + +CHASING THE SUN; or, Rambles in Norway. + +V. + +SUNK AT SEA; or, The Adventures of Wandering Will in the Pacific. + +VI. + +LOST IN THE FOREST; or, Wandering Will's Adventures in South America. + + + + +MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE'S MISCELLANY--continued. + +VII. + +OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS; or, Wandering Will in the Land of the Red +Skin. + +VIII. + +SAVED BY THE LIFEBOAT; or, A Tale of Wreck and Rescue on the Coast. + +IX. + +THE CANNIBAL ISLANDS; or, Captain Cook's Adventures in the South Seas. + +X. HUNTING THE LIONS; or, The Land of the Negro. + +XI. DIGGING FOR GOLD; or, Adventures in California. + +XII. + +UP IN THE CLOUDS; or, Balloon Voyages. + +XIII. + +THE BATTLE AND THE BREEZE; or, The Fights and Fancies of a British Tar. + +XIV. + +THE PIONEERS: A Tale of the Western Wilderness. + +XV. THE STORY OF THE ROCK. + +XVI. + +WRECKED, BUT NOT RUINED. + +XVII. + +THE THOROGOOD FAMILY. + +XVIII. + +THE LIVELY POLL: A Tale of the North Sea. + + + + ++By AGNES GIBERNE+. + + +"Tales that bear Miss Giberne's name are 'the best of the best.' No +writer excels her in this department of literature."--_Fireside News_. + +"That the story is Miss Giberne's guarantees refinement and Christian +principle."--_Churchman_. + + * * * * * + +THE ANDERSONS. Illustrated. Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + + +THE DALRYMPLES. With Illustrations. Third Edition. Crown +8vo. 3s. 6d. + +With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. + + +"LEAST SAID, SOONEST MENDED." 3s. 6d. + +"A simple tale, well told."--_Guardian_. + +"To say that it is by Miss Giberne is at once to recommend the story +highly to girls."--_Quiver_. + +"A well written and most interesting tale."--_Glasgow Herald_. + +"A well written story. The moral is conveyed in a most interesting way, +and as a mere tale it will well repay perusal."--_Church Review_. + + +NUMBER THREE WINIFRED PLACE. 3s. 6d. + +"A delightful story, and, we need hardly add--being Miss Giberne's--is +full of the highest and most profitable religious teaching."--_Record_. + +"A well constructed, thoroughly healthy tale."--_Aberdeen Free Press_. + +"Miss Giberne's book is for gentler readers. It appeals very delicately +to their softer sympathies, and introduces them to one young girl at +least who may serve as a model or ideal to them. It is written in a +pleasing sympathetic style."--_Scotsman_. + +"The plot of the story is as ingenious as the treatment is effective, +and it is told with great skill."--_Yorkshire Post_. + + +READY, AYE READY! 2s. 6d. + +"A thoroughly good and deeply interesting story."--_Newcastle +Chronicle_. + +"A charming story, which displays all this well-known writer's knowledge +of girls and their habits of mind."--_Scotsman_. + + +MISS CON; or, All Those Girls. 5s. + +"Constance Conway is a charming heroine. Her diary is an admirable +collection of character sketches."_--Athenæum_. + + + + +AGNES GIBERNE'S WORKS--continued + +ENID'S SILVER BOND. 5s. + +"Enid's nature is essentially heroic.... The other characters are +cleverly sketched."--_Times_. + +FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS. 2s. + +"Youthful readers have reason to thank Miss Giberne for having written +this capital story."--_John Bull_. + +ST. AUSTIN'S LODGE; or, Mr. Berkeley and his Nieces. 5s. + +"A very good example of the author's well-known style. It is carefully +written, and is in all respects a conscientious +performance."--_Academy_. + +BERYL AND PEARL. 5s. + +"Characterised by unflagging vivacity and great dramatic +power."-_Christian Leader_. + +"One of Miss Giberne's most delightful tales."--_Record_. + +DECIMA'S PROMISE. 3s. 6d. + +"One of the best and soundest books we have seen."--_Public Opinion_. + +"The result of a disaster, Decima's distress, and the behaviour of the +parents, are touchingly told, and the whole case of conscience is +admirably, managed."--_Guardian_. + +DAISY OF OLD MEADOW. 2s. + +"There are few boys or girls to whom this story will not prove +interesting reading."--_Court Circular_. + +KATHLEEN. 5s. + +"Worthy of high praise, thoroughly good and very interesting."--_Church +Bells_. + +"A fascinating tale."--_Record_. + +OLD UMBRELLAS; or, Clarrie and her Mother. 2s. + +"The book is bright and lively, and will be read with pleasure and +profit."--_Christian_. + +MILES MURCHISON. Illustrated. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + + + + +By Dr. MACAULAY. + +STRANGE YET TRUE. With many Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s. + + * * * * * + +By S.M.S. CLARKE (Mrs. Pereira). + +BARON AND SQUIRE. A Story of the Thirty Years' War. From the German of +N. NOELDECHEN. With Sixteen Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s. + +THE DUKE'S PAGE; or, "In the Days of Luther." A Story for Boys. From the +German. Sixteen Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s. + +"A spirited and attractive narrative."--_Literary Churchman_. + +"A capital story for boys."--_Guardian_. + +"This is one of the most fascinating historical tales we have ever +read."--_British Weekly_. + +"Throughout incident succeeds incident, and the interest never flags +until the end is reached."--_Public Opinion_. + +"A very good story.... Of sterling value."--_Spectator_. + +THE TRIVIAL ROUND; or, Chapters of Village Life. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"A book that will interest and refresh dwellers in cities with this +glimpse of a life in many respects different from their +own."--_Academy_. + +"These scenes from village life will be a source of pleasure to very +many readers. The story is ably worked out and pleasantly told."--_John +Bull_. + + * * * * * + +By Rev. J. REID HOWATT. + +THE CHILDREN'S PEW. Extra crown 8vo. 6s. + +THE CHILDREN'S PULPIT. A Year's Sermons and Parables for the Young. +Extra crown 8vo. 6s. + +"The subjects are well selected; the style is always simple and +forcible; and the lessons which the preacher desires to impress upon the +mind are such as every youthful reader may appreciate. The sermons have +another merit--that of brevity."--_Scotsman_. + +"Simple, suggestive, and singularly happy in illustration and +treatment."--_Word and Work_. ^ + +THE CHILDREN'S ANGEL. A Volume of Sermons to Children. Crown 8vo. 2s. +6d. + +"Fifty-three brief addresses to children. Direct, as such things should +be; clear, as they must always be; and interesting, as, if any good is +to be done, they are bound to be--they contain a collection of truths +which children ought to be taught, and the teacher is always bright and +clear, which is saying a great deal."--_Church Bells_. + +"These sermonettes are eminently practical, while their homely style and +freedom from cant are delightful."--_Christian Commonwealth_. + + + + +By Lady KENNETT-BARRINGTON. + +BIBLE HISTORY FOR CHILDREN. With a Short History of Christianity after +the Days of the Apostles. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + +"This book is eminently adapted for children's capabilities, and has the +great advantage of keeping as nearly as possible to Bible language. It +is an excellent little book."--_Christian Commonwealth_. + +"A little work that will commend itself to all who have to do with the +religious training of the young."--_Church Bells_. + +"The work is well and carefully done, the main current of the Bible +story being rendered with point and brevity in the very spirit of the +Scriptures."--_School Board Chronicle_. + + +By WILLIAM CHARLES METCALFE. + +STEADY YOUR HELM; or, Stowed Away. With Six Illustrations. Extra crown +8vo. 5s. + +ABOVEBOARD. A Tale of Adventure on the Sea. With Six Illustrations. +Extra crown 8vo. 5s. + +"This is a delightfully exciting tale of the adventures of two sailor +lads, with icebergs, pirates, and similar horrors of the sea. Its chief +defect is that it leaves off too soon, even at the end of more than 300 +pages."--_Pall Mall Gazette._ + +"This story of a cruise is about as full of adventures as it can well +be. There is plenty of 'go' in the narrative, and the incidents succeed +each other with a very plausible probability."--_Spectator_. + +"It is a long time since we have read anything racier, breezier, more +healthful and invigorating than Mr. Metcalfe's fine sea +story."--_Methodist Recorder._ + +FRANK WEATHERALL; or, Life in the Merchant Marine. A Sea Story for +Youth. Illustrated. Small crown 8vo. 2s. + + +By Mrs. SAXBY. + +TOM AND HIS CROWS. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +VIKING BOYS. With Four Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"Wholesome and manly in tone, the book is thoroughly fresh and natural." +--_Morning Post_. + +"We prophesy that the tale of the Viking boys and their wild deeds will +become as popular as 'The Lads of Lunda,' and all the other stories with +which Mrs. Saxby has delighted us."--_Athenæum_. + +THE LADS OF LUNDA. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"A perfect book for boys--generous, wholesome, manly in tone, and withal +thoroughly young, fresh, and natural. We recommend the book heartily, +not only to all boys, but to everybody who knows and likes brave +boys."-_Guardian_. + +"A capital book. The tales are full of fun and pathos."--_Athenæum_. + +THE YARL'S YACHT. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"'The Yarl's Yacht' is even superior in interest to its +predecessor."-_Standard_. + +"Mrs. Saxby knows young people as few know them, and they will in return +thoroughly appreciate her. As long as she writes such genuine, +refreshing, happy family stories for them, they certainly will be most +fortunate."--_Spectator_. + +"'The Yarl's Yacht' is a delightful sequel to the 'Lads of +Lunda.'"--_Times_. + +THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY and the Rev. BIOT +EDMONSTON. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"We would fain linger long over the scenes which this excellent volume +brings up before us. The authors have put together a very refreshing set +of memories."--_Saturday Review_. + + * * * * * + +By EVA TRAVERS EVERED POOLE. LOTTA'S LIFE MISTAKE. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 1s. + +GOLDEN LINKS IN A LIFE CHAIN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"GOOD-NIGHT" THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD; or, Evening Readings for the Young. +Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + + * * * * * + +By BARLEY DALE. + +A TALE OF OUGHTS AND CROSSES; or, Mr. Holland's Conquest. With +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +SPOILT GUY. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. "A pretty tale, and +contains excellent religious teaching."--_Church, Sunday-School +Magazine._ + +CISSY'S TROUBLES. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + +"A very charming story."--_Yorkshire Post_. + +"The book will be a favourite with young people, especially with our +girls."--_Family Churchman_. + +LITTLE BRICKS. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. "The story +is fascinating from the interest which is excited and maintained It is +written with power and insight."--_Courant_. + + + + +By ELLEN L. DAVIS. + +HIGH AND LOWLY: A Story of Hearts and Homes. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo. 1s. 6d. + +YOKED TOGETHER: A Tale of Three Sisters. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +2s. + +"A quiet domestic story of deep interest-, with several striking +situations, described with considerable power."--_Leeds Mercury_. + +A BOY'S WILL. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + +"The book is full of life and character, and would be a fitting gift +alike to the Sunday-school teacher and the scholar."--_British +Messenger_. + + +By the Rev. GEORGE EVERARD, M.A. + +YOUR SUNDAYS: Fifty-Two Short Readings. Especially intended for +Schoolboys. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"YOUR INNINGS:" A Book for Schoolboys. Sixth Thousand. Crown 8vo. 1s. +6d. + +EDIE'S LETTER; or, Talks with the Little Folks. 4to. 2s. 6d. + + +By Miss HAVERGAL. + +STREAMLETS OF SONG FOR THE YOUNG. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +MORNING BELLS. Being Waking Thoughts for the Little Ones. Royal 32mo, +9d.; paper cover, 6d. + +LITTLE PILLOWS. Being Good Night Thoughts for the Little Ones. 32mo, +9d.; paper cover, 6d. + +MORNING STARS; or, Names of Christ for His Little Ones. 32mo. 9d. + +THE FOUR HAPPY DAYS. 16mo. 1s. + +BEN BRIGHTBOOTS, and Other True Stories. Crown 8vo. 1s. + +BRUEY. A Little Worker for Christ. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.; paper cover, 1s. + + +MEMORIALS OF LITTLE NONY. A Biography of Nony Heywood, who was the First +Collector for the Bruey Branch of the Irish Society. By her Mother. With +Preface by Miss HAVERGAL, and a Portrait. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + + + + +By the Rev. J.B. MACDUFF, D.D. + +PARABLES OF THE LAKE; or, The Seven Stories of Jesus by the Lake of +Galilee. A Sunday Book for Young Readers. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. + +THE STORY OF A SHELL. A Romance of the Sea: with some Sea Teachings. A +Book for Boys and Girls. With Coloured Frontispiece and Other +Illustrations. Small 4to. 6s. Cheaper Edition, paper cover, 1s.; limp +cloth, 2s. + +THE STORY OF BETHLEHEM. A Book for Children. With Illustrations by +THOMAS. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +HOSANNAS OF THE CHILDREN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. + +THE WOODCUTTER OF LEBANON. A Story Illustrative of a Jewish Institution. +16mo. 2s. + +TALES OF THE WARRIOR JUDGES. Fcap. 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +THE CITIES OF REFUGE; or, The Name of Jesus. A Sunday Book for the +Young. 16mo. 1s. 6d. + +FERGUS MORTON. A Tale of a Scottish Boy. 18mo. 9d. + +THE EXILES OF LUCERNA; or, The Sufferings of the Waldenses during the +Persecution of 1686. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL. Being a Life of the Apostle designed for +Youth. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. + +BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN; or, Christ the Light of the World. A Life of Our +Lord for the Young. With Illustrations by A. ROWAN. Post 4to. 3s. 6d.; +in paper cover, 1s.; limp cloth, 2s. + +WILLOWS BY THE WATERCOURSES; or, God's Promises to the Young. 64mo. 6d.; +paper cover, 3d. + + + + +By Rev. J. JACKSON WRAY. + +OLD CRUSTY'S NIECE. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +WILL IT LIFT? A Story of a London Fog. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. + +JACK HORNER THE SECOND. With Illustrations. Cr. 8vo. 2s; + +SIMON HOLMES, THE CARPENTER IF ASPENDALE. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. + +THE SECRET OF THE MERE; or, Under the Surface. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +GARTON ROWLEY; or, Leaves from the Log of a Master Mariner. With +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +HONEST JOHN STALLIBRASS. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +THE CHRONICLES OF CAPSTAN CABIN. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +MATTHEW MELLOWDEW. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +NESTLETON MAGNA. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +PETER PENGELLY. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + +PAUL MEGGITT'S DELUSION. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +A MAN EVERY INCH OF HIM. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +_THE "KNAPSACK" SERIES_. + +With Frontispiece. Small crown 8vo. 1s. each. + +1. THE MAN WITH THE KNAPSACK; or, The Miller o Burnham Lee. + +2. WIDOW WINPENNY'S WATCHWORD. + +3. PRIMROSE GARTH. + +4. "A SONG O' SIXPENCE" FOR THE BAIRNS. + +5. GEOFFREY HALLAM; or, The Clerk of the Parish. + + + + +By Mrs. BARBOUR. + +THE WAY HOME, AND HOW THE CHILDREN REACHED IT BY A RAILWAY ACCIDENT. +With Illustrations. Eighteenth Thousand. 16mo. 1s. 6d. limp; 2s. 6d. +boards. + +THE IRISH ORPHAN IN A SCOTTISH HOME. A Sequel to "The Way Home." 16mo. +1s. limp; 2s. 6d. boards. + +THE CHILD OF THE KINGDOM. Twenty-second Thousand. With Illustrations. +16mo. 1s. limp; 2s. 6d. boards. + +THE SOUL-GATHERER. Seventeenth Thousand. 16mo. 1s. limp; cloth gilt, 2s. +6d. + + * * * * * + +By Mrs. HAYCRAFT. + +SUNWOOD GLORY; or, Through the Refiner's Fire. With Four Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + + * * * * * + +By ESMÉ STUART. + +A BRAVE FIGHT, AND OTHER STOKIES. With Four Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +2s. 6d. + + * * * * * + +By EDITH RALPH. + +STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE BIBLE. Part I. A Scripture History for Little +Children. With a Preface by CUNNINGHAM GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D., and Twelve +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +Part II. From Death of Joshua to end of the Old Testament. A Scripture +History for Little Children. Revised and recommended by CUNNINGHAM +GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D. Twelve Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + + + + +MRS. LESTER'S GIRLS AND THEIR SERVICE. By the Author of "Miss Marston's +Girls and their Confirmation." With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"A good book for young servants, or for reading at a sewing-class +attended by young women. Its tone and teaching are all we could +wish."--_Record_.. + +"Its evident truthfulness and fidelity to nature make us think that it +is founded upon much experience of young girls in the working class. To +such it would, no doubt, be exceedingly interesting."--_Literary +Churchman_. + +MISS MARSTON'S GIRLS AND THEIR CONFIRMATION. With Frontispiece. Crown +8vo. 1s. + + * * * * * + +By the Rev. DAVID MacEWAN, D.D. + +THIS YEAR. Anniversary Addresses for the Young. Second Edition. Square +16mo. 1s. + +By the Rev. JAMES WELLS, M.A. + +BIBLE OBJECT-LESSONS. Addresses to Children. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo. 3s. 6d. + +BIBLE ECHOES: Addresses to the Young. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +THE PARABLES OF JESUS. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. + +BIBLE CHILDREN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +BIBLE IMAGES. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"Mr. Wells has in these volumes been content to restrict himself to an +endeavour to win and instruct the young. He has done this with admirable +skill, with great transparency of meaning, vividness of treatment and +nicety of discrimination, combined with a befitting freedom and an +impressive earnestness."--_Literary World_. + +"Mr. Wells contrives by a studied plainness of diction, by the +simplicity and directness of his style, by his evident earnestness and +kindliness, and a wealth of illustrative anecdotes, to minimise the +difficulties which children have to encounter in grasping new and +especially abstract ideas."--_Scotsman_. + + + + +By Lady DUNBOYNE. + +BREAKING OF THE CLOUDS. Crown 8vo. Illustrated. 2s. + +CHARITY. A Tale. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. + +HER LIFE'S WORK. A Tale. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"The story, which is pleasantly and touchingly told, is thoroughly +suitable for a gift-book for girls of the upper classes."--_Guardian_. + + * * * * * + +By the Rev. J.H. WILSON. + +THE KING'S MESSAGE. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. Small +crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"The union of solid teaching and fervent appeal with a cheerful outlook +on life we have seldom, if ever, seen more happily exemplified. Dr. +Wilson's book is as winsome as it is wise, thoroughly human in its +spirit and robust in its tone and teaching."--_Christian Leader_. + +"No better book than this very thoughtful, clearly and beautifully +written and tastefully illustrated volume, could be put into the hands +of the young."--_Aberdeen Free Press_. + + +THE GOSPEL AND ITS FRUITS. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"Exceedingly plain, practical, and pointed, full of striking and +ingenious illustrations."--_Aberdeen Journal_. + + +OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN: The Lord's Prayer Familiarly Explained and +Illustrated for the Young. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"Dr. Wilson graduated long since as a prophet of God who has a voice for +the young. His explanation of the Lord's Prayer has made him a dear +friend to many a parent as well as child."--_Presbyterian Churchman_. + +"Dr. Wilson's addresses are admirable specimens of what productions of +the kind should be, pithy, pointed, and practical, and abounding in +anecdotes and illustrations."--_Congregational Review_. + + + + +By L.T. MEADE. + +A LONDON BABY: The Story of King Roy. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. + +"Very touching and sad, though the end is happy."--_Athenæum_. + +THE CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE. With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo, 2s.; +gilt edges, 2s. 6d. + +"Displays vivid conception of character, and clear, graphic description. +The story is full of incident and adventure."--_Literary Churchman_. + + * * * * * + +By Mrs. WINSCOM. + +DEAR OLD ENGLAND. A Description of our Fatherland. Dedicated to all +English Children. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"English children will find much that is well worth knowing, and well +told, in this copiously illustrated volume."--_Christian World_. + + * * * * * + +By the Rev. W.W. TULLOCH, B.D. + +THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF THE EMPEROR WILLIAM. Told for Boys and Girls +all over the World. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt +edges, 3s. 6d. + +REVISED BY THE QUEEN. + +THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF THE PRINCE CONSORT. Told for Boys and Girls. +Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt edges, 3s. 6d. + +THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA. Told for Boys and Girls all +over the World. With Two Portraits. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt edges, +3s. 6d. + + + + +THE "CHIMES" SERIES. + +_Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 3s. 6d. each._ +By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +1. SILVER CHIMES; or, Olive. +2. DAPHNE'S DECISION; or, Which Shall it Be. +3. CASSANDRA'S CASKET. +4. POPPIES AND PANSIES. +5. REX AND REGINA; or, The Song of the River. +6. STORIES OF THE CATHEDRAL CITIES OF ENGLAND. +7. DEWDROPS AND DIAMONDS. +8. HEATHER AND HAREBELL. +9. THE ROSES OF RINGWOOD. A Story for Children. +10. IN THE PURPLE. + +THE "LAUREL" SERIES. + +_Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 2s. 6d. each_. + +1. TOM AND HIS CROWS. By Mrs. SAXBY, Author of "Viking Boys," &c. + +2. WATCH AND WATCH. By W.C. METCALFE, Author of "Frank Weatherall." + +3. WINNING HIS LAURELS; or, The Boys of St. Raglan's. By F.M. HOLMES. + +4. THAT AGGRAVATING SCHOOLGIRL. By GRACE STEBBING. + +5. WHAT A MAN SOWETH. By GRACE STEBBING. + +6. DULCIBEL'S DAY DREAMS; or, The Grand, Sweet Song. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +7. THE LADS OF LUNDA. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY. + +8. THE YARL'S YACHT. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY. + +9. A NEW EXODUS; or, The Exiles of the Zillerthal. A Story of the +Protestants of the Tyrol. By CATHERINE RAY. + +10. GRACE MURRAY. A Story. By ELLA STONE. + +11. MR. ORDE'S GRANDCHILDREN. By CECILIA SELBY LOWNDES. + +12. WHERE THE DEW FALLS IN LONDON. By SARAH DOUDNEY. + + + + +THE "SUNSHINE" SERIES. + +_Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 2s. each_. + +1. THE BREAKING OF THE CLOUDS. By Lady DUNBOYNE, Author of "Charity," +&c. &c. + +2. THROUGH SHADOW TO SUNSHINE. By Mrs. HORNIBROOK. + +3. A SUMMER IN THE LIFE OF TWO LITTLE CHILDREN. By Mrs. HOWARD. + +4. OLIVER'S OLD PICTURES; or, The Magic Circle. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +5. RUBY AND PEARL; or, The Children at Castle Aylmer. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +6. LADY TEMPLE'S GRANDCHILDREN. By Miss EVERETT GREEN. + +7. A LONDON BABY: The Story of King Roy. By L.T. MEADE. + +8. HIDDEN HOMES; or, The Children's Discoveries. By M.A. PAULL RIPLEY. + +9. AN UNWILLING WITNESS. By Miss LYSTER. + +10. OUR NEIGHBOUR, WIDOW YATES. By GRACE STEBBING. + +11. BIBLE PLANTS AND ANIMALS. Containing Illustrations of over 1000 +Passages of Scripture from the Works of Travellers and other Sources. By +ALFRED E. KNIGHT. + + * * * * * + +THE "MARBECK" SERIES. + +_Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 1s. 6d. each_ + +1. THE STORY OF JOHN MARBECK: A Windsor Organist of 300 Years Ago. By +Mrs. MARSHALL. + +2. MY GRANDMOTHER'S PICTURES. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +3. THE OLD VIOLIN; or, Charity Hope's Own Story. By EDITH C. KENYON. + +4. A BOY'S WILL. By ELLEN L. DAVIS. + +5. SPOILT GUY. By DARLEY DALE. + +6. HIGH AND LOWLY: A Tale of Hearts and Homes. By ELLEN L. DAVIS. + +7. PETER PENGELLY. By Rev. JACKSON WRAY. + +8. NELLIE GRAHAM; or, The Story of a Commonplace Woman. By ELLA STONE. + + + + +THE "SWEETBRIAR" SERIES. + +_A New Series of Volumes. With Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. +each._ + +WORK, WAIT, WIN. By RUTH LAMB. + +THE ANDERSONS. By Miss GIBERNE, Author of "The Dalrymples," &c. + +SWEETBRIAR; or, Doings in Priorsthorpe Magna. By AGNES GIBERNE. + +COULYING CASTLE; or, A Knight of the Olden Days. By AGNES GIBERNE. + +AIMÉE: A Tale of the Days of James the Second. By AGNES GIBERNE. + +LILLA THORNE'S VOYAGE; or, "That Far Remembrancer." By GRACE STEBBING. + + * * * * * + +THE "ROUNDABOUT" SERIES. + +_Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each._ + +THE RIGHT ROAD. A Manual for Parents and Teachers. By J. KRAMER. + +THROUGH BIBLE LANDS. Notes of Travel in Egypt, the Desert, and +Palestine. Profusely Illustrated. By PHILIP SCHAFF, D.D., and an Essay +on Egyptology and the Bible, by EDOUARD NAVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + + +BIBLE HISTORY FOR THE YOUNG. + ++"THE WORD" SERIES.+ + +By SUSAN and ANNA WARNER, Authors of "The Wide, Wide World," "Queechy," +&c. + +_With Illustrations, Plain and Coloured. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each_. + + +The aim of this Series of Volumes is so to set forth the Bible incidents +and course of history, with its train of actors, as to see them in the +circumstances and colouring, the light and shade, of their actual +existence. + +The volumes embody, as far as possible, all the known facts, natural, +social, and historical, which are required for the illustration and +elucidation of the Bible narrative. + +1. WALKS FROM EDEN: The Scripture Story from the Creation to the Death +of Abraham. + +2. THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: The Scripture Story from the Birth of Isaac to +the Death of Jacob. + +3. THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH: The Scripture Story from the Death of Solomon +to the Captivity. + +4. THE BROKEN WALLS OF JERUSALEM AND THE REBUILDING OF THEM. In +continuation of "The House of Israel" and "The Kingdom of Judah," and +completing the work. + +5. THE STAR OUT OF JACOB: The Scripture Story Illustrating the Earlier +Portion of the Gospel Narrative. + +"These five books form a most comprehensive and attractive commentary on +the Scriptures suited to the requirements of the young. More real +knowledge in true child language, and within the understanding of +children, it has never been our privilege to meet with before. We are +disposed to envy those young friends who are fortunate enough to number +them among their literary possessions, for although pre-eminently +children's books, they are yet well able to impart instruction to +children of a larger growth."--_Rock_. + +"There is a pleasant freshness and reality conveyed to the old, +well-worn stories, which will make children understand the details of +Eastern life and the manners and customs of the old pastoral times. 'The +Word' Series will be a charming gift to young people."--_Athenæum_. + +"We doubt whether any one has ever told 'the old, old story' more +attractively, for children at least, than the author of 'The Wide, Wide +World.' Whatever fame she may have won by her works of fiction will be +greatly increased by her success in writing these marvellous +stories."--_Christian World_. + + + + +THE GOLDEN LADDER SERIES. + + +_With Illustrations. Handsomely bound in cloth, gilt edges. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. each_. + +"Children welcome with glee the volumes comprised in Nisbet's 'Golden +Ladder Series,' for they are full of interest, even though they are +stories with a moral, which is always a high-toned one."--_Liverpool +Courier_. + +"'The Golden Ladder Series' of story-books, so much appreciated for +their excellence. They can be all safely recommended to the notice of +teachers as being especially suitable as rewards, while no school +library can be said to be complete without a selection from +them."--_Schoolmaster_. + +1. THE GOLDEN LADDER: Stories Illustrative of the Beatitudes. By SUSAN +and ANNA B. WARNER. + +2. THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD. By SUSAN WARNER. + +3. QUEECHY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +4. MELBOURNE HOUSE. By SUSAN WARNER. + +5. DAISY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +6. DAISY IN THE FIELD. By SUSAN WARNER. + +7. THE OLD HELMET. By SUSAN WARNER. + +8. NETTIE'S MISSION: Stories Illustrative of the Lord's Prayer. By JULIA +MATHEWS. + +9. GLEN LUNA; or, Dollars and Cents. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +10. DRAYTON HALL. Stories Illustrative of the Beatitudes. By JULIA +MATHEWS. + +11. WITHIN AND WITHOUT: A New England Story. + +12. VINEGAR HILL STORIES: Illustrative of the Parable of the Sower. By +ANNA B. WARNER. + +13. LITTLE SUNBEAMS. By JOANNA MATHEWS. + +14. WHAT SHE COULD AND OPPORTUNITIES. By SUSAN WARNER. + +15. TRADING AND THE HOUSE IN TOWN. + +16. DARE TO DO RIGHT. By JULIA MATHEWS. + + + + +THE GOLDEN LADDER SERIES-continued. + +17. HOLDEN WITH THE CORDS. By the Author of "Within and Without." + +18. GIVING HONOUR: Containing "The Little Camp on Eagle Hill" and +"Willow Brook." By SUSAN WARNER. + +19. GIVING SERVICE: Containing "Sceptres and Crowns" and "The Flag of +Truce." By SUSAN WARNER. + +20. GIVING TRUST: Containing "Bread and Oranges" and "The Rapids of +Niagara." By SUSAN WARNER. + +*** _The Tales in the last three Volumes are Illustrative of the_ LORD'S +PRAYER. + +21. WYCH HAZEL. A Tale. By SUSAN and ANNA WARNER. + +22. THE GOLD OF CHICKAREE. A Sequel to "Wych Hazel." By SUSAN and ANNA +B. WARNER. + +23. DIANA. By SUSAN WARNER. + +24. MY DESIRE. By SUSAN WARNER. + +25. THE END OF A COIL. By SUSAN WARNER. + +26. THE LETTER OF CREDIT. By SUSAN WARNER. + +27. NOBODY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +28. STEPHEN, M.D. By SUSAN WARNER. + +29. A RED WALLFLOWER. By SUSAN WARNER. + +30. DAISY PLAINS. By SUSAN WARNER. + +31. CROSS CORNERS. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +32. MISTRESS MATCHETT'S MISTAKE. By EMMA MARSHALL. + +33. YOURS AND MINE. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +34. ONE LITTLE VEIN OF DROSS. By Mrs. RUTH LAMB. + +35. OAK BEND; or, Patience and her Schooling. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +36. A CANDLE IN THE SEA; or, Winter at Seal's Head. A Book about +Lighthouses. By Rev. E.A. RAND. + + + + +THE "GOLDEN SILENCE" SERIES OF TALES. + +_With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. Attractively bound in cloth. 1s. +6d. each_. + +GOLDEN SILENCE; or, Annals of the Birkett Family of Crawford-under-Wold. +By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +THE STORY OF OUR ENGLISH BIBLE AND WHAT IT COST. By Mrs. BAYLY. + +STEPPING HEAVENWARD. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +WHAT KATY DID. By SUSAN COOLIDGE. + +MORAG: A Tale of Highland Life. By Mrs. MILNE RAE, Author of +"Rinaultrie," "Geordy's Tryst," &c. + +AUNT JANE'S HERO; or, Sorrow and Sunshine. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +MAGGIE AND BESSIE, AND THEIR WAY TO DO GOOD. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE AT SCHOOL. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE AND HER FRIENDS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE IN THE MOUNTAINS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE AT THE SEASIDE. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE ON HER TRAVELS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +THE THREE LITTLE SPADES. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +WHEN I WAS YOUNG. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +THE HOME AT GREYLOCK. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +MICHAEL'S TREASURES; or, Choice Silver. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +CISSY'S TROUBLES. By DARLEY DALE. + +LITTLE BRICKS. By DARLEY DALE. + +EFFIE'S FRIENDS; or, Chronicles of the Woods and Shore. + +MATTHEW FROST, CARRIER; or, Little Snowdrop's Mission. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +MY LADY BOUNTIFUL. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +A TALE OF TWO OLD SONGS. By Lady DUNBOYNE. + +ESTHER'S JOURNAL. A Tale of Swiss Pension Life. By a RESIDENT. + +THREE PATHS IN LIFE. A Tale for Girls. + +STELLAFONT ABBEY; or, "Nothing New." By EMMA MARSHALL. + +A SUNBEAM'S INFLUENCE; or, Eight Years After. By Lady DUNBOYNE. + +SUSY'S SACRIFICE. + +KENNETH FORBES. + +THE CHILDREN OF BLACKBERRY HOLLOW. + +THE SAFE COMPASS, AND HOW IT POINTS. By Rev. R. NEWTON, D.D. + +ME. RUTHERFORD'S CHILDREN. + +THERESA'S JOURNAL. + +GRAN. By E.A.B.D. + +PAT'S INHERITANCE. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +IN THE MIST. A Tale. By Ross PORTER. + +THE OTHER HOUSE. A Tale. By MARY R. HIGHAM. + +NATURE'S GENTLEMAN. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +THE BRIDE'S HOME. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +MILES MURCHISON. By Miss GIBERNE. + +HOUSE IN TOWN. By the Author of "The Wide, Wide World." + +TRADING. By the Author of "The Wide, Wide World." Sequel to above. + + * * * * * + +_Bound in Paper Covers. 1s._ + +AUNT JANE'S HERO. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +STEPPING HEAVENWARD. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +WHAT KATIE DID. By SUSAN COOLIDGE. + +MORAG. A Tale of Highland Life. By Mrs. MILNE RAB. + + + + +"DOLLY'S CHARGE" SERIES. + +_With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. 1s. each._. + +1. DOLLY'S CHARGE. By Miss MARSHALL. + +2. THE LITTLE PEAT-CUTTERS; or, The Song of Love. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +3. PRIMROSE; or, The Bells of Old Effingham. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +4. THE BOY GUARDIAN. By C.E. BOWEN. + +5. GENTLEMAN JIM. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +6. OUR LADDIE. By Miss L.J. TOMLINSON. + +7. VIOLET IN THE SHADE. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +8. LIGHT ON THE LILY. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +9. A ROSE WITHOUT A THORN. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +10. ALICE'S PUPIL. By Miss M'CLINTOCK. + +11. HEATHERCLIFFE; or, It's no Concern of Mine. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +12. ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY PASCOE. By G. NORWAY. + +13. MISS BROWN'S BASKET. By Mrs. HENRY CHARLES. + +14. LOTTA'S LIFE MISTAKE. By Mrs. EVERED POOLE. + +15. THE PRINCESSES OF PENRUTH. By MARY H. DEBENHAM. + +16. SEE FOR YOURSELF. By GRACE STEBBING. + +17. SUNDAY OCCUPATIONS FOR CHILDREN. BY Mrs. BARCLAY. + +18. PARSON'S GREEN. By G. NORWAY. + +19. HELEN; or, Temper and its Consequences. + +20. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY; or, The Disobedient Son. + +21. CHINA AND ITS PEOPLE. By A MISSIONARY'S WIFE. + +22. FRANK GORDON, by F.R. GOULDING; and LITTLE JACK, by ANNA WARNER. + +23. TO-DAY AND YESTERDAY. A Story of Summer and Winter Holidays. By Mrs. +MARSHALL. + +24. BOTH SIDES. By JESSIE W. SMITH. + +25. STEPHEN GILMORE'S DREAM; or, Coals of Fire. By JESSIE W. SMITH. + +26. JUDITH THE STRANGER. By the Hon. GERTRUDE BOSCAWEN. + +27. THE GATE IN PARK LANE. By the Hon. GERTRUDE BOSCAWEN. + +28. SIMPLE LESSONS FROM NATURE. By the Hon. M.C. LEIGH. + +29. THE SPOILT TWINS. By EMILY DIBDIN. + +30. BEN BRIGHTBOOTS, and Other True Stories. HAVERGAL. + +31. SAM'S MISSION. By BEATRICE MARSHALL, Author of "Dolly's Charge," &c. + +32. KATIE: A Daughter of the King. + + + + +NISBET'S JUVENILE LIBRARY. + +_With Illustrations. 16mo. 1s. 6d. each_. + + +"Capital books, well printed, tastefully bound, and containing a good +deal of letterpress. We do not know a cheaper series at the +price."--_Sunday School Chronicle_. + +LILIES OF THE VALLEY. + +HERBERT PERCY. + +PASSING CLOUDS. + +WARFARE AND WORK. + +EVELYN GREY. + +THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING. + +SOWING IN TEARS AND REAPING IN JOY. + +SILVER SANDS. + +THE KNOTS TOM GILLIES TIED AND UNTIED. + + * * * * * + +THE SELECT SERIES OF BOOKS SUITABLE FOR PRESENTS AND PRIZES. + +_With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each_. + +THE MOUNTAINS OF THE BIBLE: Their Scenes and their Lessons. By the Rev. +JOHN MACFARLANE, LL.D. + +LIFE: A Series of Illustrations of the Divine Wisdom in the Forms, +Structures, and Instincts of Animals. By P.H. GOSSE, F.R.S. + +LAND AND SEA. By P.H. GOSSE, F.R.S. + +THE ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. By P.H. Gosse, F.R.S. Two Vols. + +TALES FROM ALSACE; or, Scenes and Portraits from Life in the Days of the +Reformation. + +BYEWAYS IN PALESTINE. By JAMES FINN, M.R.A.S. + + + + +THE "PILGRIM" SERIES. + +POPULAR EDITIONS OF STANDARD BOOKS. + +_Small Crown 8vo, numerous Illustrations, 2s. each; with gilt edges, 2s. +6d. each_. + + * * * * * + +1. BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. + +2. BUNYAN'S HOLY WAR. + +3. FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. + +4. THE THRONE OF DAVID: From the Consecration of the Shepherd of +Bethlehem to the Rebellion of Prince Absalom. By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, +LL.D. + +5. THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID; or, Three Years in the Holy City. +By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, LL.D. + +6. THE PILLAR OF FIRE; or, Israel in Bondage. By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, +LL.D. + +7. BEN-HUR; or, The Days of the Messiah. By LEW WALLACE. + +8. THE LAMPLIGHTER. By M. CUMINS. + +9. UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. By Mrs. H. STOWE. + +10. ROBINSON CRUSOE. + +11. MY DESIRE. By SUSAN WARNER. + +12. NOBODY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +13. THE FAIRCHILD FAMILY. By Mrs. SHERWOOD. + +14. THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. + +15. DERRY. A Tale of the Revolution. By CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. + +16. ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. By P.H. GOSSE. + +17. GREAT MEN: A Series of Lectures. By the late Rev. FREDERIC MYERS, +M.A. + +18. TOO LATE FOR THE TIDE-MILL. By Rev. E.A. RAND. + +19. LITTLE WOMEN. By L.M. ALCOTT. + +20. DRAYTON HALL. By JULIA MATHEWS. + + + + +THE "PILGRIM" SERIES-continued. + +21. THE END OF A COIL. By SUSAN WARNER. + +22. GLEN LUNA. By ANNA WARNER. + +23. DIANA. By SUSAN WARNER. + +24. STEPHEN, M.D. By SUSAN WARNER. + +25. MELBOURNE HOUSE. By SUSAN WARNER. + +26. BIBLE WARNINGS. By Rev. Dr. NEWTON. + +27. THE PHYSICIAN'S DAUGHTER. + +28. THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD. By SUSAN WARNER. + +29. DAISY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +30. DAISY IN THE FIELD. By SUSAN WARNER. + +31. NOR'ARD OF THE DOGGER. By E.J. MATHER. + +32. A DREAM OF THE NORTH SEA. By J. RUNCIMAN. + +33. SCRIPTURE ANIMALS. By Rev. Dr. NEWTON. + +34. QUEECHY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +35. DARE TO DO RIGHT. By JULIA MATHEWS. + +36. NETTIE'S MISSION. By JULIA MATHEWS. + +37. WANDERING HOMES AND THEIR INFLUENCES. + +38. FRANK WEATHERALL. By W.C. METCALFE, Author of "Above Board," &c. + +39. SHORT LIVES OF MEN WITH A MISSION: Charles Kingsley, Lord Lawrence, +Henry M. Stanley. With Portraits. + +40. EXPELLED. By the Author of "Dorrincourt." + +41. YOKED TOGETHER. By ELLEN DAVIS. + +42. BESSIE HARRINGTON'S VENTURE. By JULIA MATHEWS. + +43. OPENING OF A CHESTNUT BURR. By E.P. ROE. + +44. ST. ELMO. By A.J.E. WILSON. + +45. THE CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE. By L.T. MEAD. + +46. ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. Second Series. By P.H. GOSSE. + +LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET, W. + + + + +SELECT LIST OF BOOKS +DEVOTIONAL AND PRACTICAL +PUBLISHED BY +JAMES NISBET & CO. + + * * * * * + ++THE CHRISTIAN UNDER REVIEW+. + +A SERIES OF WORKS ON PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIFE Small crown 8vo. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S INFLUENCE. By the Ven. WILLIAM MACDONALD SINCLAIR, D.D., +Archdeacon of London. 2s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S START. By the Very Rev. the DEAN OF NORWICH. 1s. + +THE MORAL CULTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN. By the Rev. JAMES MCCANN, D.D. 1s. + +THE PATHWAY OF VICTORY. By the Rev. ROBERT B. GIRDLESTONE, M.A., Hon. +Canon of Christ Church, and late Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S RECREATIONS. By the Rev. HENRY SUTTON, M.A., Vicar of +Holy Trinity, Bordesley. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S PROGRESS. By the Ven. G.R. WYNNE, D.D., Archdeacon of +Aghadoe. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. By the Very Rev. the DEAN +OF NORWICH. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S AIMS. By the Rev. ALFRED PEARSON, M.A., Incumbent of St. +Margaret's Church, Brighton. 1s. + +THE INTELLECTUAL CULTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN. By the Rev. JAMES MCCANN, +D.D. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S PRIVILEGES. By the Rev. W.J. DEANE, M.A. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S INHERITANCE. By the Rev. C.A. GOODHART, M.A., Incumbent +of St. Barnabas', Highfield, Sheffield. 1s. + +"Simple and forcible as these books are in their teaching, and brief in +extent, they deserve the attention of those who direct the religious +teaching of the young."--_Scotsman_. + +"We dipped into these pages alike with pleasure and profit. The writers, +each on his own theme, seem steadfastly to keep in view scriptural +teaching, sound doctrine, and the trials and temptations which beset the +daily life and walk of the believer."--_Word and Work_. + +"How completely they cover the field of Christian needs is sufficiently +indicated by their titles. They are well fitted to stimulate the piety +and clear the views of those holding the doctrines of the Church of +England."-_Liverpool Mercury._ + + + + +By H. BONAR, D.D. + +GOD'S WAY OF PEACE. A Book for the Anxious. 16mo, 1s. 6d. Cheap Edition, +paper cover, 6d.; cloth, 9d. Large Type Edition, crown 8vo, 2s. + +GOD'S WAY OF HOLINESS. 16mo, 1s. 6d. Cheap Edition, paper cover, 6d.; +cloth, 9d. Large Type Edition, crown 8vo, 2s. + + +By MATTHEW HENRY. + +EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS; + +With Practical Remarks and Observations--In Nine Volumes. Imp. 8vo, £2, +2s. _Net._ In Six Volumes. Medium 8vo, £1, 11s. 6d. _Net_. + + +By LADY CATHARINE LONG. + +HEAVENLY THOUGHTS FOR MORNING AND EVENING HOURS. Selections in Prose and +Verse, with Passages from Scripture. With a Short Introduction, 16mo., +Cloth, 2s. 6d.; silk, 4s. 6d, each. + + +By HARRIET E. COLVILE. + +THE WAY SHE TROD. A STUDY. Just Published. Small crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. + +"'The Way She Trod' is a study of the development of religious sentiment +and belief in a girl's character."--_Scotsman._ + +"She is Triplice, which, being interpreted, means threefold.... Her +life-history, under these various phases, is ingeniously set +forth."--_Glasgow Herald._ + +"An admirably written book for young women, who will be attracted by the +interesting story, telling how Triplice was led by a way she knew not' +until she finds rest and joy in God."--_The Christian_. + +"A good book for distribution among girls of the upper +classes."--_Record_. + +FLOWER VOICES. With Illustrations. Demy 16mo, 1s. + +"A dainty little booklet, giving many sweet and useful lessons from the +flowers."--_The News_. + +"A choice little book, in which flowers are made to typify men and +women, and to whisper important lessons regarding life and +duty."-_Christian_. + +"Short stories, which will both please and profit. There is life and +point about them, and their association with flowers is by no means +strained. We place this little book in the first class as to the quality +of the writing."-_Sword and Trowel_. + +WAFTED SEEDS. With Illustrations. Demy 16mo, 1s. + + + + +By Miss MARSH. + +THE RIFT IN THE CLOUDS. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +CROSSING THE RIVER. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +SHINING LIGHT. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. A True Story. Crown 8vo, 1s. + + +By Rev. J. REID HOWATT. + +THE CHILDREN'S PEW. Sermons to Children. + +AFTER HOURS; or, The Religion of Our Leisure Time. With Appendix on How +to Form a Library for Twenty Shillings. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +THE CHILDREN'S PULPIT. A Year's Sermons and Parables for the Young. +Second Edition. Extra crown 8vo, 6s. + +"It will be heartily welcomed. The subjects are well selected; the style +is always simple and forcible, and the lessons which the preacher +desires to impress upon the mind are such as every youthful reader may +appreciate. The sermons have another merit--that of brevity. A child may +read them with a good deal of pleasure, and, it need hardly be said, +with much profit."--_Scotsman_. + +"The sermonettes are simple, suggestive, and singularly happy in +illustration and treatment."--_Word and Work_. + +"All these fifty-three sermons and parables are worth reading, and would +seem admirable either as models for addresses to children, or for +reading in the home circle."--_Church Bells_. + +"Full of nature and of life, and flashing with happy illustrations. +"_--Christian World._ + +THE CHILDREN'S ANGEL. Being a Volume of Sermons to Children. Crown 8vo, +2s. 6d. + +"Brief, fresh, and often original in thought. A preacher to children +will find many suggestions and ideas in these discourses."--_Literary +Churchman_. + +"Fifty-three brief addresses to children. Direct, as such things should +be; clear, as they must always be; and interesting, as, if any good is +to be done, they are bound to be--they contain a collection of truths +which children ought to be taught, and the teacher is always bright and +clear, which is saying a great deal."--_Church Bells_. + +"One of the most beautiful and helpful books we know of for ministers +and others who are called upon to address the young."--_Methodist New +Connexion Magazine._ + + +By Miss NUGENT. + +THE PRINCE IN THE MIDST. Jesus our Centre. 16mo, 1s. + + +By SAMUEL GILLESPIE PROUT. + +NEVER SAY DIE: A Talk with Old Friends. 16mo. 9d.; paper cover, 6d. + + + + +By the Rev. JAMES WELLS, M.A. + +BIBLE OBJECT LESSONS. Addresses to Children. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo, 3s. 6d. + +BIBLE ECHOES. Addresses to the Young. Small crown. 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +THE PARABLES OF JESUS. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo, 5s. + +BIBLE CHILDREN. Studies for the Young. With illustrations. Small crown +8vo, 3s. 6d. + +BIBLE IMAGES. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + + +By the Rev. J.H. WILSON, D.D. + +THE KING'S MESSAGE. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. Small +crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +THE GOSPEL AND ITS FRUITS. A Book for the Young With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN: The Lord's Prayer Familiarly Explained and +Illustrated for the Young. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. + + +By EDITH RALPH. + +STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE BIBLE. PART I +FROM THE CREATION TO THE DEATH OF JOSHUA. A Scripture History for Little +Children. With a Preface by CUNNINGHAM GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D., and Twelve +Illustrations. Crown. 8vo, 2s. 6d. + +FROM THE PREFACE. + +"Miss Edith Ralph, in this little book, shows herself exceptionally +skilful in her delicate task.... The tone and spirit of her pages seem +to me admirably suited to her subject--simple, tender, gentle, wise, and +full of sweet Christian love, they point the little ones invitingly to +heaven, and lead the way.... Nor is the careful and well-informed +intelligence wanting which is needed to make the first steps in Bible +knowledge a preparation for safe and healthy progress in it hereafter." + +Part II. FROM DEATH OF JOSHUA TO END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. A Scripture +History for Little Children. Revised and recommended by CUNNINGHAM +GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D. Twelve Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. + +"No sweeter, wiser, or more Christian story of the Scriptures could be +given to a little child or read to it."--_Christian Commonwealth._ "Just +the thing for Sunday afternoon,"--_Word and Work_. + + + + +By FREDERICK A. ATKINS, + +Editor of "The Young Man," and Hon. Sec. of the National Anti-Gambling +League. + +MORAL MUSCLE: AND How TO USE IT. A Brotherly Chat with Young Men. With +an Introduction by Rev. THAIN DAVIDSON, D.D. Now ready. Small crown 8vo, +1s. + +Dr. CLIFFORD writes:--"It is full of life, throbs with energy, is rich +in stimulus, and bright with hope." + +_The Methodist Times_ says:--"An excellent book for young men--manly, +honest, straightforward, and full of Christian earnestness." + +FIRST BATTLES, AND HOW TO FIGHT THEM. + +Just Published. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +"An excellent book for young men. The addresses are vigorous and to the +point. The work would certainly help to develop in a thoughtful reader a +truer manliness than generally prevails among our young men."--_Irish +Ecclesiastical Gazette_. + +"Another of Mr. Atkins' capital little books for young men."--_British +Weekly._ + + +HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE. By Dr. CLIFFORD, M.A.; Professor ELMSLIE, D.D.; +R.F. HORTON, M.A.; Rev. F.B. MEYEE, B.A.; Rev. C.H. WALLER, M.A.; Rev. +H.C.G. MOULE, M.A.; Rev. C.A. BERRY; Rev. W.J. DAWSON. Third Edition. +Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +"In this little book we have the choicest counsels of men who are +themselves successful students of the Word. We very earnestly commend +this volume. All those who desire to know how to study the Scriptures +with the utmost profit should secure it at once."--_Christian Advocate_. + +"Young Bible students will find some very valuable hints in this little +volume."--_Nonconformist_. + +"The whole of these essays are well worthy of perusal, and are as +instructive as they are interesting-."--_Manchester Courier_. + +"In this small book are comprised eight practical and, we may say, +delightful essays from well-known divines and authors,"--_Schoolmaster_. + + +THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS: "WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?" By SAMUEL +WAINWRIGHT, D.D., Incumbent of St. Stephen's, Clapham Park. Crown 8vo, +cloth, 7s. 6d. + + + + +By Rev. THEODORE CUYLER, D.D. + +STIRRING THE EAGLE'S NEST, AND OTHER PRACTICAL DISCOURSES. Just +Published. Extra Crown 8vo, 6s. + +"A volume of earnest and able sermons, full of life and +vigour."--_Literary Churchman._ + +"In this volume Dr. Cuyler is at his best.... His sermons are full of +practical teaching, and cannot fail to profit the reader."--_Rock_. "Dr. +Cuyler has given us here some of his best work."--_Church Bells_. + +"This is a volume of short practical sermons, characterised by the +simplicity and directness which we expect from Dr. Cuyler."--_Christian +Leader_. + +"The discourses are vigorous expositions of simple texts."--_Scotsman_ + +HOW TO BE A PASTOR. Recently Published. Crown 8vo, 2s. + +"It is full of strong, cheery, sensible, hard-working Christianity. It +ought to have a very large circulation."--_British Weekly_. + +"Twelve chapters well worthy of the study of pastors, and calculated to +stimulate all who have at heart the cause of Christ."--_Christian_. + +"In this handy little volume Dr. Cuyler gives wise guidance, couched in +graphic and telling style."--_Methodist Recorder_. + +"We lay down this book, brimful of wholesome advice, with the earnest +wish that some of our wealthy laymen would place a copy of it in the +hands of each of our ministers."--_Christian Advocate_. + + +By the Rev. ALFRED PEARSON, M.A., + +INCUMBENT OF ST. MARGARET'S CHURCH, BRIGHTON. + +CHRISTUS MAGISTER: SOME TEACHINGS FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Just +Published. Crown 8vo, 5s. + +_The Bishop of Bedford_ says:--"Old truths are felicitously expressed +and beautifully illustrated. There is much that is original and +suggestive in exposition." + +_The Dean of Winchester_ says:--"A delightful volume: the chapter on +'Non-Resistance' pleases me especially." + +THE CHRISTIAN'S AIMS. Small Crown 8vo, 1s. + +"Under Mr. Pearson's guidance the aims of life are considered with +reference to God, to ourselves, and to our fellows. Self-denial, as +required of every Christian, is sensibly considered in the chapter on +Cross-bearing. "--_Guardian_. + +"Many Christians would derive benefit from reading the chapters 'On +Glorifying God,' 'On Self-Mastery,' 'On Self-Fulfilment,' 'On +Cross-Bearing' and 'On Tone.'"--_English Churchman_. + + + + +By the Rev. ANDREW MURRAY. + +Small crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. each. + +THE NEW LIFE. Words of God for Disciples of Christ. + +"This book stands out among many of its kind as distinguished by a new +impulse and freshness of thought."--_Scotsman_. + +ABIDE IN CHRIST. Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Fellowship with the Son +of God. Sixty-third Thousand. + +"The varied aspects of this practical truth are treated with much +freshness, power, and unction. It cannot fail to stimulate, to cheer, +and to qualify for higher service."--Mr. SPURGEON in _The Sword and +Trowel_. + +LIKE CHRIST. Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Conformity to the Son of +God. A Sequel to "Abide in Christ." Twenty-eighth Thousand. + +"The author has written with such loving unction and spiritual insight +that his pages may be read with comfort and edification by +all."--_Literary Churchman_. + +WITH CHRIST IN THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER. Twenty-fifth Thousand. + +"A volume of rare excellence, and one which is much needed."--_Christian +News._ + +HOLY IN CHRIST. Thoughts on the Calling of God's Children to be Holy as +He is Holy. Tenth Thousand. + +"This is one of the best books we have seen upon a subject which is +happily attracting much attention nowadays. There is so much spurious +sentimentalism abroad that we are glad to meet with a book in which this +sacred theme--holiness--is dealt with so robustly and +scripturally."--_Methodist N.C. Magazine._ + +THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. Thoughts on the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit in +the Believer and the Church. Eighth Thousand. + +"Mr. Murray's new work, like his former ones, will serve for the +edification of those who are able to appreciate spirituality of thought, +and inclined to give the attention needful to digest and profit by +meditations presented in a manner more solid than lively."--_Record_. + +Small Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +THE CHILDREN FOR CHRIST. Thoughts for Christian Parents on the +Consecration of the Home Life. Tenth Thousand. + +"There is a tone of fervour and devotion pervading the book that +contrasts pleasantly with the trivially inane tone some writers think +fit to adopt in writing for and about children. 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The treatment is suited only to +an intelligent, if not educated, Christian. To such it is calculated to +give an intellectual, as well as spiritual, perception of the things +which accompany salvation."--_Rock_. + + +By the Rev. GEORGE MATHESON, D.D. + +MOMENTS ON THE MOUNT. A Series of Devotional + +Meditations. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +"This little volume is not one to be read through at a sitting, and then +laid aside. Rather each meditation is to be pondered over, and enjoyed +singly and separately, and to be dwelt upon until it becomes a permanent +possession. Their suggestions can hardly fail to stimulate to Biblical +and theological research."--_Scotsman_. + +VOICES OF THE SPIRIT. Small crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +"A choice little volume of devotional meditations. It is not only devout +in spirit and tender in tone, but marked by freshness of thought, which +volumes of this kind too often lack."--_Methodist Recorder_. + +WISDOM'S HOUSE AND "HER SEVEN PILLARS." + +By Lady BEAUJOLOIS DENT. Small crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. + +"An excellent little work, sound in doctrine, and thoroughly practical +in its application to the reader's conscience."_--Record._ + + + + ++By Mrs. A. RUSSELL SIMPSON.+ + +FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIP. With Illustrations. + +Demy 16mo, 1s. + +"Twelve beautifully written chapters on friendship. Very suitable to +give to young people on life's threshold. 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Small crown +8vo, 2s. + +THE PRECIOUS PROMISES; or, Light from Beyond. +By the Rev. CUNNINGHAM GEIKIE, D.D. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. + +Lectures on Ecclesiastical History delivered in Norwich Cathedral. + +_The following have already appeared_:-- + +ST. IGNATIUS AND ST. POLYCARP. By F.W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., Archdeacon +of Westminster, Chaplain to the Queen and to the House of Commons. + +THE APOLOGY OF ARISTIDES. By the Rev. J. ARMITAGE ROBINSON, B.D., Fellow +and Assistant Tutor of Christ's College, Cambridge. + +THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUSTIN MARTYR. By the Rev. FREDERICK MEYRICK, +M.A., Rector of Blickling, Norfolk; Non-residentiary Canon of Lincoln. + +THE LIFE AND TIMES OF IRENÆUS. By the Rev. Prebendary STANLEY LEATHES, +D.D. + +Other Lectures will be delivered by the following:--The Right Rev. the +LORD BISHOP OF RIPON, and the Rev. G.A. SCHNEIDER, M.A., Vice-Principal +of Ridley Hall, Cambridge. + + +By the Rev. G.S. 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Extra crown 8vo, 5s. + +MEMORIES OF OLIVET. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +MEMORIES OF PATMOS; or, Some of the Great Words and Visions of the +Apocalypse, With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +CAST THY BURDEN ON THE LORD. A Scripture Text-Book. 32mo, 1s.; paper +cover, 6d. + +STRENGTH FOR THE DAY. A Daily Book in the Words of Scripture for Morning +and Evening. With an Introduction. 16mo, 1s. 6d. + +VOICES OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND SHADOWS OF THE GREAT ROCK. Square 16mo, +1s. 6d. + +THE GATES OF PRAYER. A Book of Private Devotion for Morning and Evening. +16mo, 1s. 6d. + +THE MORNING AND NIGHT WATCHES AND FAITHFUL PROMISER. In one Vol. 16mo, +2s. + +FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL. Being a Life of the Apostle Designed for Youth. +With Illustrations, Crown 8vo, 5s. + + + + ++By the Rev. Prof. LEWIS F. STEARNS+, + +Author of "Evidence of Christian Experience." + +PRESENT DAY THEOLOGY. Extra crown 8vo, 10s. 6d. + + ++By the Rev. HENRY WAGE, D.D.+, + +Principal of King's College, London. + +THE AUTHORITY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE, and other Sermons. Extra crown 8vo, 7s. +6d. + + ++By the late Rev. AUBREY L. MOORE, M.A.+ + +A VOLUME OF SERMONS. + + * * * * * + +AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE REV. DONALD FRASER, D.D., and a Selection from +his Sermons. With a Preface by J. OSWALD DYKES, D.D. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +SUNRISE GLEAMS. A Series of Daily Readings for a Month. By Lady HOPE. +16mo, 1s. + +SUNSET RAYS. A Companion Volume to "Sunrise Gleams." By Lady HOPE. 16mo, +1s. + +DAILY EVENING REST; or, Thoughts of Peace about the Master. By AGNES +GIBERNE. 16mo, 2s. 6d. + +THE VOICE OF JESUS DAY BY DAY. With Original Hymns. By F.M. MACRAE. And +an Introduction by HUGH MACMILLAN, D.D. Small crown 8vo, 2s. + +ABBA, FATHER. Helps to Prayer and Meditation. By the Rev. C.G. +BASKERVILLE, M.A. Crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. + + + + +LIST OF BOOKS OF FAMILY PRAYERS. + + +By the Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP OF RIPON. + +CHURCHMAN'S BOOK OF FAMILY PRAYERS. +Printed in Red and Black. Cloth plain, pott 4to, 3s. 6d. Cloth gilt, +burnished red edges, 5s. + + +By the Rev. GORDON CALTHROP, M.A. + +FAMILY PRAYERS FOR FOUR WEEKS. Imperial 16mo, 2s. 6d. + + +By the Rev. J. OSWALD DYKES, D.D. + +DAILY PRAYERS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD FOR A MONTH. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + + +By the Rev. GEORGE EVERARD, M.A., + +Vicar of Christ Church, Dover. + +BEFORE HIS FOOTSTOOL. Family Prayers for one Month. With Prayers for +Special Occasions, and Introduction. Ninth Thousand. Crown 8vo, 3s. + + +By the Rev. C.E. KENNAWAY, M.A. + +FAMILY PRAYERS FOR THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS FOR A FORTNIGHT; to which +are added, Prayers on Special Occasions. 16mo, 1s. 6d. + + +By the Rev. J.R. MACDUFF, D.D. + +MORNING FAMILY PRAYERS. A Volume of Family Worship for each Morning of +the Year. Founded on Selected Passages of Scripture from the Old and New +Testaments. Small 4to. 6s. 6d. + +*** This volume is on a plan and arrangement of its own, in order to +secure, as much as may be, variety and comprehension. + +FAMILY PRAYERS. Small crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + + +By M.L.M. DAWSON. + +FAMILY PRAYERS FOR A MONTH. Demy 8vo, 1s. 6d. + +DAILY PRAYERS FOR BUSY HOMES. 16mo, 6d. + + +LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET, W. + + + + ++WORKS BY R.M. BALLANTYNE+. + + * * * * * + +"In his tales of the sea, of the forest and the flames, and in all that +he writes, there is a fidelity to nature and a knowledge of many paths +of life which are not surpassed by any author in his special field of +literature."--_Morning Post_. + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each_. + +NEW VOLUME. + ++THE BUFFALO RUNNERS+. + +A TALE OF THE RED RIVER PLAINS. + + ++CHARLIE TO THE RESCUE+. + +A TALE or THE SEA AND THE ROCKIES. + +"In 'Charlie to the Rescue' Mr. Ballantyne supplies his constituency +--which is now a large and well-satisfied one--with a sufficiency of +battles, sieges, and escapes; the troubles of ranchmen, whose lives are +threatened both by white and by black scoundrels, are admirably +reproduced. It is a capital story."--_Spectator_. + + ++BLOWN TO BITS+; + +Or, THE LONELY MAN OF RAKATA. A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. + +"A capital story, written in the author's old style, and full of life +and action from beginning to end."--_Standard_. + +"The book abounds in matter of exceptional interest, and should find its +way into the hands of all young people who would properly estimate the +wide-spreading and far-reaching influences and the extraordinary +character of the Krakatoa outburst."--_Manchester Courier_. + + ++BLUE LIGHTS+; + +Or, HOT WORK IN THE SOUDAN. A TALE OF SOLDIER LIFE IN SEVERAL OF ITS +PHASES. + +"An exciting story, full of excellent moral lessons."--_School Board +Chronicle_. + +"We heartily recommend 'Blue Lights'."--_Guardian_. + +"The soldier's career is graphically depicted, and the story is every +way a good one."--_Literary Churchman_. + + + + +_Works by R.M. Ballantyne-continued. + +With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each_. + +THE FUGITIVES; + +Or, THE TYRANT QUEEN OF MADAGASCAR. + +"There is plenty of adventure in the shape of imprisonment and combats +with men and animals, and a negro and a sailor between them supply a +comic element of the best quality. Everything considered, this is one of +the best stories even Mr. Ballantyne has published."--_Academy_. + +RED ROONEY; + +Or, THE LAST OF THE CREW. + +THE ROVER OF THE ANDES. + +A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN SOUTH AMERICA. + +"We commend it to boys fond of adventure and of natural phenomena; a +very fascinating book."--_British Quarterly Review._ + +"An admirable boy's story."--_Scotsman_. + +THE YOUNG TRAWLER. + +A STORY OF LIFE AND DEATH AND RESCUE IN THE NORTH SEA. + +"Few men have laboured so steadfastly in their generation to provide +sound wholesome fare for 'our boys' as Mr. Ballantyne, and the 'Young +Trawler' is worthy of his reputation. It is not a whit less spirited +than his former tales, and conveys a large amount of useful information +on a highly important subject."--_Academy_. + +DUSTY DIAMONDS, CUT AND POLISHED. + +A TALE OF CITY-ARAB LIFE. + + + + +_With Illustrations, Crown 8vo. 5s. each_. + + ++THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER+; + +Or, THE ELECTRICAL ADVENTURES OF A TELEGRAPH CABLE-LAYER. + +"There is not a dull page in it."--_Scotsman_. +"The interest never flags."--_Academy_. + + ++THE GIANT OF THE NORTH+; + +Or, POKINGS ROUND THE POLE. + +"Of variety of perilous adventures and peril, ingeniously surmounted, +there is no lack."--_Daily News_. + + ++THE LONELY ISLAND+; + +Or, THE REFUGE OF THE MUTINEERS. + +"Mr. Ballantyne weaves the romantic episode of the mutiny of the +'Bounty' into a most effective narrative."--_Graphic_. + + ++POST HASTE+. + +A TALE OF HER MAJESTY'S MAILS. + +"The book should find a place in every boy's library; it is full of +interest."--_Leeds Mercury_. + + ++IN THE TRACK OF THE TROOPS+. + +A TALE OF MODERN WAR. + +"Mr. Ballantyne has blended with the incidents of war on the Danube a +story of personal adventure spiritedly told."--_Daily News_. + + ++THE SETTLER AND THE SAVAGE+. + +A TALE OF PEACE AND WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. + +"A capital story of South African life. Mr. Ballantyne, through the +medium of a thoroughly manly and healthy tale of sport and war, frolic +and danger, full of stirring yet not exaggerated scenes, presents a +sketch of a very important period of the early history of our colony at +the Cape of Good Hope."--_Times_. + + + + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each_. + + ++UNDER THE WAVES+; + +Or, DIVING IN DEEP WATERS. + +"Mr. Ballantyne enlarges the already gigantic debt due to him by the +young, by his 'Under the Waves,' a story meant to illustrate the +practice and peril of diving in deep water, which it does in not only an +interesting, but often in amusing manner."--_Times_. + + ++RIVERS OF ICE+. + +A TALE ILLUSTRATIVE OF ALPINE ADVENTURE AND GLACIER ACTION. + +"A tale brimful of interest and stirring adventure."--_Glasgow Herald_. + + ++THE PIRATE CITY+. + +AN ALGERINE TALE. + +"The story is told with Mr. Ballantyne's usual felicity, and, as it is +plentifully sprinkled with horrors, no doubt it will be greatly enjoyed +by some boys."--_Athenæum_. + + ++BLACK IVORY+. + +A TALE OF ADVENTURE AMONG THE SLAVERS OF EAST AFRICA. + +"A captivating story. We heartily recommend it."--_Record_. + +"Boys will find the book about as delightful a story of adventure as any +of them could possibly desire."--_Scotsman_. + + ++THE NORSEMEN IN THE WEST+; + +Or, AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS. + +"This thoroughly delightful book is an adaptation of the Saga of +Iceland, and also of Mr. Laing's 'Heimskingla; or Chronicles of the +Kings of Norway,' supplemented by Mr. Ballantyne's own experience and +adventures in the wilderness of America. These ingredients are put +together with the skill and spirit of an accomplished story-teller; and +the result is a book that cannot possibly be laid down till the very +last word of the last line has been read."--_Athenæum_. + + ++THE IRON HORSE+; + +Or, LIFE ON THE LINE. A RAILWAY TALE. + +"A captivating book for boys."--_Guardian_. + + + + ++ERLING THE BOLD+. + +A TALE OF THE NORSE SEA KINGS. + + +"A capital tale of the Norse Sea Kings."--_Times_. + +"The story is interesting and full of moving incidents by flood and +field, and it will therefore scarcely fail to be popular among +lads."--_Scotsman_. + +"The story is clearly designed, and abounds with elements of romantic +interest; and the Author's illustrations are scarcely less vigorous than +his text."--_Athenæum_. + + ++FIGHTING THE FLAMES+. + +A TALE OF THE LONDON FIRE BRIGADE. + + +"Many a schoolboy will find keen enjoyment in the perusal of 'Fighting +the Flames,' and assure his little sisters with suitable emphasis that +Mr. Ballantyne is 'a stunning good story-teller.'"--_Athenæum_. + + ++DEEP DOWN+. + +A TALE OF THE CORNISH MINES. + + +"Mr. Ballantyne's book will not fail to delight boys, for it is full of +deeds of daring and of 'hairbreadth escapes.'"--_Scotsman_. + +"By reading Mr. Ballantyne's admirable story a very large amount of +knowledge concerning Cornish mines may be acquired; whilst from the fact +of the information being given in the form of a connected narrative, it +is not likely very soon to be forgotten.... A book well worthy of being +extensively read."--_Mining Journal._ + + ++THE FLOATING LIGHT OF THE GOODWIN SANDS+. + +"The tale will be especially interesting to adventure-loving +boys."--_Record_. + + + ++SHIFTING WINDS+. + +A TOUGH YARN. + + +"A hearty, vigorous, bracing story, fresh with the pure breezes, and +sparkling with the bright waters of the everlasting seas.'"--_Athenæum_. + + + + ++THE LIGHTHOUSE+. + +BEING THE STORY OF A GREAT FIGHT BETWEEN MAN AND THE SEA. + + +_Extract Letter from the Secretary of Northern Lighthouses_. + +" ... They (the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses) have been so much +pleased with the way in which you have combined the fiction of a tale +with the popular but correct account of the building of the Bell Rock +Lighthouse, that they think it would be an interesting work to transmit +to their Lightkeepers, and I have therefore to request that you will +direct your publishers to transmit me--copies. (Signed) ALEXR. +CUNNINGHAM." + +"Thoroughly at home in subjects of adventure, the Author has made this, +like all his stories for boys, smart in style, thrilling in interest, +and abounding in incidents of every kind."--_Quiver_. + + + + ++THE LIFEBOAT+. + +A TALE OF OUR COAST HEROES. + + +"ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION. + +"DEAR SIR,--I am directed by the Committee to request your acceptance of +the accompanying Photograph of a Lifeboat proceeding off to a wreck, as +a small permanent acknowledgment of the important service you have +rendered to the Lifeboat cause by your very interesting work entitled +'The Lifeboat: a Tale of our Coast Heroes." I remain, yours faithfully, + +(Signed) "RICHARD LEWIS, _Secretary_." + + + + ++THE GOLDEN DREAM+. + +A TALE OF THE DIGGINGS. + + ++THE RED ERIC+; + +Or, THE WHALER'S LAST CRUISE. + + ++GASCOYNE, THE SANDALWOOD TRADER+. + +A TALE OF THE PACIFIC. + + +"Full of cleverly and impressively drawn pictures of life and character +in the Pacific."--_Caledonian Mercury_. + + ++FREAKS ON THE FELLS,+ + +AND + ++WHY I DID NOT BECOME A SAILOR.+ + + * * * * * + + ++THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST.+ + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d._ + + ++BATTLES WITH THE SEA;+ + +Or, HEROES OF THE LIFEBOAT AND THE ROCKET. + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s._ + + ++THE KITTEN PILGRIMS;+ + +Or, GREAT BATTLES AND GRAND VICTORIES. + + +"We have copied the title-page of this amusing and instructive quarto +for little folks. Nothing further is necessary. Mr. Ballantyne stands at +the head of all our children's story-tellers _facile +princeps_."--_Churchman_. + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each_. + +NEW VOLUME. + ++A COXSWAIN'S BRIDE+; Or, THE RISING TIDE: And other Tales. + ++THE GARRET AND THE GARDEN+; Or, Low LIFE HIGH UP: And +JEFF BENSON+; +Or, THE YOUNG COASTGUARDSMAN. + ++THE CREW OF THE WATER-WAGTAIL+. +A STORY OF NEWFOUNDLAND. + ++THE MIDDY AND THE MOORS+. +AN ALGERINE TALE. + ++THE PRAIRIE CHIEF+. + ++LIFE IN THE RED BRIGADE+. + +A FIERY TALE. AND FORT DESOLATION; or, SOLITUDE IN THE WILDERNESS. + + ++THE ISLAND QUEEN+; + +Or, DETHRONED BY FIRE AND WATER. A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. + + ++TWICE BOUGHT+. + +A TALE OF THE OREGON GOLD FIELDS. + + ++THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE+. + + ++PHILOSOPHER JACK+. + +A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN SEAS. + + ++THE RED MAN'S REVENGE+. + + ++MY DOGGIE AND I+. + + ++SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE+. + +LETTERS TO PERIWINKLE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. A RECORD OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE +AND ADVENTURE. + + * * * * * + +_Crown 8vo. Price 3s. 6d. each_. + + ++TALES OF ADVENTURE BY FLOOD, FIELD, AND MOUNTAIN+. + + ++TALES OF ADVENTURE+; + +Or, WILD WORK IN STRANGE PLACES. + + ++TALES OF ADVENTURE ON THE COAST+. + + * * * * * + +LONDON: JAMES NISBET & Co., 21 BERNERS STREET, W. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Blown to Bits, by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLOWN TO BITS *** + +***** This file should be named 15348-8.txt or 15348-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/3/4/15348/ + +Produced by Michael Oltz, Suzanne Lybarger, Martin Pettit +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Ballantyne,. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .solid {border-style: solid} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .center {text-align: center;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .left {text-align: left;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem div {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem div.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem div.i8 {display: block; margin-left: 8em;} + + + ul li { padding-top: .5em ; } + ul ul ul, ul li ul li { padding: 0; } + ul { list-style: none; } + ul, ul ul ul li { display: inline; } + .subitem { display: block; padding-left: 2em; } + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blown to Bits, by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Blown to Bits + or, The Lonely Man of Rakata + +Author: Robert Michael Ballantyne + +Release Date: March 13, 2005 [EBook #15348] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLOWN TO BITS *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Oltz, Suzanne Lybarger, Martin Pettit +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="center"><a name="illus001.png" id="illus001.png" /><img src="images/illus001.png" width='502' height='699' alt="Blown to Bits or The Lonely Man of Rakata" /></p> + +<p class="center"><a name="illus002.jpg" id="illus002.jpg" /><img src="images/illus002.jpg" width='463' height='700' alt="CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN."" /></p> + +<h3>"CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN."</h3> + +<hr /> +<h1>BLOWN TO BITS</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h2>THE LONELY MAN OF RAKATA.</h2> + +<h3>A Tale of the Malay Archipelago.</h3> + +<h2>BY R.M. BALLANTYNE,</h2> + +<p class='center'>AUTHOR OF "BLUE LIGHTS, OR HOT WORK IN THE SOUDAN;" "THE FUGITIVES;" +"RED ROONEY;" "THE ROVER OF THE ANDES;" "THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST;" "THE +RED ERIC;" "FREAKS ON THE FELLS;" "THE YOUNG TRAWLER;" "DUSTY DIAMONDS;" +"THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER;" "POST HASTE;" "BLACK IVORY;" "THE IRON +HORSE;" "FIGHTING THE FLAMES;" "THE LIFEBOAT;" ETC. ETC.</p> + +<p class='center'>With Illustrations by the Author.</p> + +<p class='center'><i>EIGHTH THOUSAND</i>.</p> + +<h3>LONDON:</h3> + +<h3>JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET.</h3> + +<h3>1894.</h3> + +<hr /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>The extremely violent nature of the volcanic eruption in Krakatoa in +1883, the peculiar beauty of those parts of the eastern seas where the +event occurred, the wide-spread influences of the accompanying +phenomena, and the tremendous devastation which resulted, have all +inspired me with a desire to bring the matter, in the garb of a tale, +before that portion of the juvenile world which accords me a hearing.</p> + +<p>For most of the facts connected with the eruption which have been +imported into my story, I have to acknowledge myself indebted to the +recently published important and exhaustive "Report" of the Krakatoa +Committee, appointed by the Royal Society to make a thorough +investigation of the whole matter in all its phases.</p> + +<p>I have also to acknowledge having obtained much interesting and useful +information from the following among other works:—<i>The Malay +Archipelago</i>, by A.R. Wallace; <i>A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern +Archipelago</i>, by H.O. Forbes; and Darwin's <i>Journal of Researches</i> round +the world in H.M.S. "Beagle."</p> + +<p>R.M. BALLANTYNE.</p> + +<p>HARROW-ON-THE HILL, 1889.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a>—THE PLAY COMMENCES</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_II'>CHAPTER II.</a>—THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_III'>CHAPTER III.</a>—INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_IV'>CHAPTER IV.</a>—NIGEL UNDERGOES SOME QUITE NEW AND INTERESTING EXPERIENCES</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_V'>CHAPTER V.</a>—CAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HIS SON, WHO SURPRISES A NEGRO, AND SUDDENLY FORMS AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_VI'>CHAPTER VI.</a>—THE HERMIT OF RAKATA INTRODUCED</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_VII'>CHAPTER VII.</a>—WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'>CHAPTER VIII.</a>—PERBOEWATAN BECOMES MODERATELY VIOLENT</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_IX'>CHAPTER IX.</a>—DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEETING UNDER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_X'>CHAPTER X.</a>—A CURIOUS SEA-GOING CRAFT—THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE BEGUN</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XI'>CHAPTER XI.</a>—CANOEING ON THE SEA—A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT-SURPRISE AND SUDDEN FLIGHT</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XII'>CHAPTER XII.</a>—WEATHERING A STORM IN THE OPEN SEA</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'>CHAPTER XIII.</a>—FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A LIFE-OR-DEATH PADDLE ENSUES</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV'>CHAPTER XIV.</a>—A NEW FRIEND FOUND—NEW DANGERS ENCOUNTERED AND NEW HOPES DELAYED</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XV'>CHAPTER XV.</a>—HUNTING THE GREAT MAN-MONKEY</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI'>CHAPTER XVI.</a>—BEGINS WITH A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND ENDS WITH A HASTY FLIGHT</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XVII'>CHAPTER XVII.</a>—TELLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF THE PROFESSOR IN THE SUMATRAN FORESTS, ALSO OF A CATASTROPHE AVERTED</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XVIII'>CHAPTER XVIII.</a>—A TRYING ORDEAL—DANGER THREATENS AND FLIGHT AGAIN RESOLVED ON</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XIX'>CHAPTER XIX.</a>—A TERRIBLE MURDER AND A STRANGE REVELATION</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XX'>CHAPTER XX.</a>—NIGEL MAKES A CONFIDANT OF MOSES—UNDERTAKES A LONELY WATCH AND SEES SOMETHING WONDERFUL</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXI'>CHAPTER XXI.</a>—IN WHICH THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXII'>CHAPTER XXII.</a>—A PYTHON DISCOVERED AND A GEYSER INTERVIEWED</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIII'>CHAPTER XXIII.</a>—TELLS OF VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STRANGE RETURN "HOME,"</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIV'>CHAPTER XXIV.</a>—AN AWFUL NIGHT AND TERRIBLE MORNING</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXV'>CHAPTER XXV.</a>—ADVENTURES OF THE "SUNSHINE" AND AN UNEXPECTED REUNION</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVI'>CHAPTER XXVI.</a>—A CLIMAX</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVII'>CHAPTER XXVII.</a>—"BLOWN TO BITS,"</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVIII'>CHAPTER XXVIII.</a>—THE FATE OF THE "SUNSHINE,"</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIX'>CHAPTER XXIX.</a>—TELLS CHIEFLY OF THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF THIS ERUPTION ON THE WORLD AT LARGE</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXX'>CHAPTER XXX.</a>—WONDERFUL CHANGES</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXXI'>CHAPTER XXXI.</a>—ENDS WITH A STRUGGLE BETWEEN INCLINATION AND DUTY</li> +<li><a href='#CHAPTER_XXXII'>CHAPTER XXXII.</a>—THE LAST</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<ul> +<li><a href='#illus001.png'>VIGNETTE TITLE</a></li> +<li><a href='#illus002.jpg'>"HE CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN"</a></li> +<li><a href='#illus046.jpg'>ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS</a></li> +<li><a href='#illus175.jpg'>THEY DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC</a></li> +<li><a href='#illus199.jpg'>"DO YOU HEAR?" SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY</a></li> +<li><a href='#illus355.jpg'>BLOWN TO BITS</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> +<h2>BLOWN TO BITS</h2> + +<h3>A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO.</h3> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I" />CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE PLAY COMMENCES.</h3> + +<p>Blown to bits; bits so inconceivably, so ineffably, so "microscopically" +small that—but let us not anticipate.</p> + +<p>About the darkest hour of a very dark night, in the year 1883, a large +brig lay becalmed on the Indian Ocean, not far from that region of the +Eastern world which is associated in some minds with spices, volcanoes, +coffee, and piratical junks, namely, the Malay Archipelago.</p> + +<p>Two men slowly paced the brig's quarter-deck for some time in silence, +as if the elemental quietude which prevailed above and below had +infected them. Both men were broad, and apparently strong. One of them +was tall; the other short. More than this the feeble light of the +binnacle-lamp failed to reveal.</p> + +<p>"Father," said the tall man to the short one, "I do like to hear the +gentle pattering of the reef points on the sails; it is so suggestive of +peace and rest. Doesn't it strike you so?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say it does, lad," replied the short man, in a voice which, +naturally mellow and hearty, had been rendered nautically harsh and +gruff by years of persistent roaring in the teeth of wind and weather. +"More suggestive to me of lost time and lee-way."</p> + +<p>The son laughed lightly, a pleasant, kindly, soft laugh, in keeping with +the scene and hour.</p> + +<p>"Why, father," he resumed after a brief pause, "you are so sternly +practical that you drive all the sentiment out of a fellow. I had almost +risen to the regions of poetry just now, under the pleasant influences +of nature."</p> + +<p>"Glad I got hold of 'ee, lad, before you rose," growled the captain of +the brig—for such the short man was. "When a young fellow like you gets +up into the clouds o' poetry, he's like a man in a balloon—scarce knows +how he got there; doesn't know very well how he's to get down, an' has +no more idea where he's goin' to, or what he's drivin' at, than the man +in the moon. Take my advice, lad, an' get out o' poetical regions as +fast as ye can. It don't suit a young fellow who has got to do duty as +first mate of his father's brig and push his way in the world as a +seaman. When I sent you to school an' made you a far better scholar than +myself, I had no notion they was goin' to teach you poetry."</p> + +<p>The captain delivered the last word with an emphasis which was meant to +convey the idea of profound but not ill-natured scorn.</p> + +<p>"Why, father," returned the young man, in a tone which plainly told of a +gleeful laugh within him, which was as yet restrained, "it was not +school that put poetry into me—if indeed there be any in me at all."</p> + +<p>"What was it, then?"</p> + +<p>"It was mother," returned the youth, promptly, "and surely you don't +object to poetry in <i>her</i>."</p> + +<p>"Object!" cried the captain, as though speaking in the teeth of a +Nor'wester. "Of course not. But then, Nigel, poetry in your mother <i>is</i> +poetry, an' she can <i>do</i> it, lad—screeds of it—equal to anything that +Dibdin, or, or,—that other fellow, you know, I forget his name—ever +put pen to—why, your mother is herself a poem! neatly made up, rounded +off at the corners, French-polished and all shipshape. Ha! you needn't +go an' shelter yourself under <i>her</i> wings, wi' your inflated, up in the +clouds, reef-point-patterin', balloon-like nonsense."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, father, don't get so hot about it; I won't offend again. +Besides, I'm quite content to take a very low place so long as you give +mother her right position. We won't disagree about that, but I suspect +that we differ considerably about the other matter you mentioned."</p> + +<p>"What other matter?" demanded the sire.</p> + +<p>"My doing duty as first mate," answered the son. "It must be quite +evident to you by this time, I should think, that I am not cut out for a +sailor. After all your trouble, and my own efforts during this long +voyage round the Cape, I'm no better than an amateur. I told you that a +youth taken fresh from college, without any previous experience of the +sea except in boats, could not be licked into shape in so short a time. +It is absurd to call me first mate of the <i>Sunshine</i>. That is in reality +Mr. Moor's position—"</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't, Nigel, my son," interrupted the captain, firmly. "Mr. +Moor is <i>second</i> mate. <i>I</i> say so, an' if I, the skipper and owner o' +this brig, don't know it, I'd like to know who does! Now, look here, +lad. You've always had a bad habit of underratin' yourself an' +contradictin' your father. I'm an old salt, you know, an' I tell 'ee +that for the time you've bin at sea, an' the opportunities you've had, +you're a sort o' walkin' miracle. You're no more an ammytoor than I am, +and another voyage or two will make you quite fit to work your way all +over the ocean, an' finally to take command o' this here brig, an' let +your old father stay at home wi'—wi'—"</p> + +<p>"With the Poetess," suggested Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Just so—wi' the equal o' Dibdin, not to mention the other fellow. Now +it seems to me—. How's 'er head?"</p> + +<p>The captain suddenly changed the subject here.</p> + +<p>Nigel, who chanced to be standing next the binnacle, stooped to examine +the compass, and the flood of light from its lamp revealed a smooth but +manly and handsome face which seemed quite to harmonise with the cheery +voice that belonged to it.</p> + +<p>"Nor'-east-and-by-east," he said.</p> + +<p>"Are 'ee sure, lad?"</p> + +<p>"Your doubting me, father, does not correspond with your lately +expressed opinion of my seamanship; does it?"</p> + +<p>"Let me see," returned the captain, taking no notice of the remark, and +stooping to look at the compass with a critical eye.</p> + +<p>The flood of light, in this case, revealed a visage in which good-nature +had evidently struggled for years against the virulent opposition of +wind and weather, and had come off victorious, though not without +evidences of the conflict. At the same time it revealed features similar +to those of the son, though somewhat rugged and red, besides being +smothered in hair.</p> + +<p>"Vulcan must be concoctin' a new brew," he muttered, as he gazed +inquiringly over the bow, "or he's stirring up an old one."</p> + +<p>"What d' you mean, father?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that there's somethin' goin' on there-away—in the neighbourhood +o' Sunda Straits," answered the Captain, directing attention to that +point of the compass towards which the ship's head was turned. "Darkness +like this don't happen without a cause. I've had some experience o' them +seas before now, an' depend upon it that Vulcan is stirring up some o' +the fires that are always blazin' away, more or less, around the Straits +Settlements."</p> + +<p>"By which you mean, I suppose, that one of the numerous volcanoes in the +Malay Archipelago has become active," said Nigel; "but are we not some +five or six hundred miles to the sou'-west of Sunda? Surely the +influence of volcanic action could scarcely reach so far."</p> + +<p>"So far!" repeated the captain, with a sort of humph which was meant to +indicate mild contempt; "that shows how little you know, with all your +book-learnin', about volcanoes."</p> + +<p>"I don't profess to know much, father," retorted Nigel in a tone of +cheery defiance.</p> + +<p>"Why, boy," continued the other, resuming his perambulation of the deck, +"explosions have sometimes been heard for hundreds, ay <i>hundreds</i>, of +miles. I thought I heard one just now, but no doubt the unusual +darkness works up my imagination and makes me suspicious, for it's +wonderful what fools the imag—. Hallo! D'ee feel <i>that</i>?"</p> + +<p>He went smartly towards the binnacle-light, as he spoke, and, holding an +arm close to it, found that his sleeve was sprinkled with a thin coating +of fine dust.</p> + +<p>"Didn't I say so?" he exclaimed in some excitement, as he ran to the +cabin skylight and glanced earnestly at the barometer. That glance +caused him to shout a sudden order to take in all sail. At the same +moment a sigh of wind swept over the sleeping sea as if the storm-fiend +were expressing regret at having been so promptly discovered and met.</p> + +<p>Seamen are well used to sudden danger—especially in equatorial +seas—and to prompt, unquestioning action. Not many minutes elapsed +before the <i>Sunshine</i> was under the smallest amount of sail she could +carry. Even before this had been well accomplished a stiff breeze was +tearing up the surface of the sea into wild foam, which a furious gale +soon raised into raging billows.</p> + +<p>The storm came from the Sunda Straits about which the captain and his +son had just been talking, and was so violent that they could do nothing +but scud before it under almost bare poles. All that night it raged. +Towards morning it increased to such a pitch that one of the back-stays +of the foremast gave way. The result was that the additional strain thus +thrown on the other stays was too much for them. They also parted, and +the fore-top-mast, snapping short off with a report like a cannon-shot, +went over the side, carrying the main-topgallant-mast and all its gear +along with it.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_II' id='CHAPTER_II' />CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING.</h3> + + +<p>It seemed as if the storm-fiend were satisfied with the mischief he had +accomplished, for immediately after the disaster just described, the +gale began to moderate, and when the sun rose it had been reduced to a +stiff but steady breeze.</p> + +<p>From the moment of the accident onward, the whole crew had been exerting +themselves to the utmost with axe and knife to cut and clear away the +wreck of the masts and repair damages.</p> + +<p>Not the least energetic among them was our amateur first mate, Nigel +Roy. When all had been made comparatively snug, he went aft to where his +father stood beside the steersman, with his legs nautically wide apart, +his sou'-wester pulled well down over his frowning brows, and his hands +in their native pockets.</p> + +<p>"This is a bad ending to a prosperous voyage," said the youth, sadly; +"but you don't seem to take it much to heart, father!"</p> + +<p>"How much or little I take it to heart you know nothin' whatever about, +my boy, seein' that I don't wear my heart on my coat-sleeve, nor yet on +the point of my nose, for the inspection of all and sundry. Besides, you +can't tell whether it's a bad or a good endin', for it has not ended yet +one way or another. Moreover, what appears bad is often found to be +good, an' what seems good is pretty often uncommon bad."</p> + +<p>"You are a walking dictionary of truisms, father! I suppose you mean to +take a philosophical view of the misfortune and make the best of it," +said Nigel, with what we may style one of his twinkling smiles, for on +nearly all occasions that young man's dark, brown eyes twinkled, in +spite of him, as vigorously as any "little star" that was ever told in +prose or song to do so—and much more expressively, too, because of the +eyebrows of which little stars appear to be destitute.</p> + +<p>"No, lad," retorted the captain; "I take a common-sense view—not a +philosophical one; an' when you've bin as long at sea as I have, you'll +call nothin' a misfortune until it's proved to be such. The only +misfortune I have at present is a son who cannot see things in the same +light as his father sees 'em."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, according to your own principle that is the reverse of a +misfortune, for if I saw everything in the same light that you do, +you'd have no pleasure in talking to me, you'd have no occasion to +reason me out of error, or convince me of truth. Take the subject of +poetry, now—"</p> + +<p>"Luff," said Captain Roy, sternly, to the man at the wheel.</p> + +<p>When the man at the wheel had gone through the nautical evolution +involved in "luff," the captain turned to his son and said abruptly—</p> + +<p>"We'll run for the Cocos-Keelin' Islands, Nigel, an' refit."</p> + +<p>"Are the Keeling Islands far off?"</p> + +<p>"Lift up your head and look straight along the bridge of your nose, lad, +and you'll see them. They're an interesting group, are the Keelin' +Islands. Volcanic, they are, with a coral top-dressin', so to speak. Sit +down here an' I'll tell 'ee about 'em."</p> + +<p>Nigel shut up the telescope through which he had been examining the +thin, blue line on the horizon that indicated the islands in question, +and sat down on the cabin skylight beside his father.</p> + +<p>"They've got a romantic history too, though a short one, an' are set +like a gem on the bosom of the deep blue sea—"</p> + +<p>"Come, father, you're drifting out of your true course—that's +poetical!"</p> + +<p>"I know it, lad, but I'm only quotin' your mother. Well, you must know +that the Keelin' Islands—we call them Keelin' for short—were +uninhabited between fifty and sixty years ago, when a Scotsman named +Ross, thinking them well situated as a port of call for the repair and +provisioning of vessels on their way to Australia and China, set his +heart on them and quietly took possession in the name of England. Then +he went home to fetch his wife and family of six children, intendin' to +settle on the islands for good. Returning in 1827 with the family and +fourteen adventurers, twelve of whom were English, one a Portugee and +one a Javanee, he found to his disgust that an Englishman named Hare had +stepped in before him and taken possession. This Hare was a very bad +fellow; a rich man who wanted to live like a Rajah, with lots o' native +wives and retainers, an' be a sort of independent prince. Of course he +was on bad terms at once with Ross, who, finding that things were going +badly, felt that it would be unfair to hold his people to the agreement +which was made when he thought the whole group was his own, so he +offered to release them. They all, except two men and one woman, +accepted the release and went off in a gun-boat that chanced to touch +there at the time. For a good while Hare and his rival lived there—the +one tryin' to get the Dutch, the other to induce the English Government +to claim possession. Neither Dutch nor English would do so at first, but +the English did it at long-last—in 1878—and annexed the islands to the +Government of Ceylon.</p> + +<p>"Long before that date, however—before 1836—Hare left and went to +Singapore, where he died, leaving Ross in possession—the 'King of the +Cocos Islands' as he came to be called. In a few years—chiefly through +the energy of Ross's eldest son, to whom he soon gave up the management +of affairs—the Group became a prosperous settlement. Its ships traded +in cocoa-nuts (the chief produce of the islands) throughout all the +Straits Settlements, and boat-buildin' became one of their most +important industries. But there was one thing that prevented it from +bein' a very happy though prosperous place, an' that was the coolies who +had been hired in Java, for the only men that could be got there at +first were criminals who had served their time in the chain-gangs of +Batavia. As these men were fit for anything—from pitch-and-toss to +murder—and soon outnumbered the colonists, the place was kept in +constant alarm and watchfulness. For, as I dare say you know, the Malays +are sometimes liable to have the spirit of <i>amok</i> on them, which leads +them to care for and fear nothin', and to go in for a fight-to-death, +from which we get our sayin'—<i>run amuck</i>. An' when a strong fellow is +goin' about loose in this state o' mind, it's about as bad as havin' a +tiger prowlin' in one's garden."</p> + +<p>"Well, sometimes two or three o' these coolies would mutiny and hide in +the woods o' one o' the smaller uninhabited islands. An' the colonists +would have no rest till they hunted them down. So, to keep matters +right, they had to be uncommon strict. It was made law that no one +should spend the night on any but what was called the Home Island +without permission. Every man was bound to report himself at the +guard-house at a fixed hour; every fire to be out at sunset, and every +boat was numbered and had to be in its place before that time. So they +went on till the year 1862, when a disaster befell them that made a +considerable change—at first for the worse, but for the better in the +long-run. Provin' the truth, my lad, of what I was—well, no—I was +goin' to draw a moral here, but I won't!</p> + +<p>"It was a cyclone that did the business. Cyclones have got a +free-an'-easy way of makin' a clean sweep of the work of years in a few +hours. This cyclone completely wrecked the homes of the Keelin' +Islanders, and Ross—that's the second Ross, the son of the first +one—sent home for <i>his</i> son, who was then a student of engineering in +Glasgow, to come out and help him to put things to rights. Ross the +third obeyed the call, like a good son,—observe that, Nigel."</p> + +<p>"All right, father, fire away!"</p> + +<p>"Like a good son," repeated the captain, "an' he turned out to be a +first-rate man, which was lucky, for his poor father died soon after, +leavin' him to do the work alone. An' well able was the young engineer +to do it. He got rid o' the chain-gang men altogether, and hired none +but men o' the best character in their place. He cleared off the forests +and planted the ground with cocoa-nut palms. Got out steam mills, +circular saws, lathes, etc., and established a system of general +education with a younger brother as head-master—an' tail-master too, +for I believe there was only one. He also taught the men to work in +brass, iron, and wood, and his wife—a Cocos girl that he married after +comin' out—taught all the women and girls to sew, cook, and manage the +house. In short, everything went on in full swing of prosperity, till +the year 1876, when the island-born inhabitants were about 500, as +contented and happy as could be.</p> + +<p>"In January of that year another cyclone paid them a visit. The +barometer gave them warning, and, remembering the visit of fourteen +years before, they made ready to receive the new visitor. All the boats +were hauled up to places of safety, and every other preparation was +made. Down it came, on the afternoon o' the 28th—worse than they had +expected. Many of the storehouses and mills had been lately renewed or +built. They were all gutted and demolished. Everything movable was swept +away like bits of paper. Lanes, hundreds of yards in length, were +cleared among the palm trees by the whirling wind, which seemed to +perform a demon-dance of revelry among them. In some cases it snapped +trees off close to the ground. In others it seemed to swoop down from +above, lick up a patch of trees bodily and carry them clean away, +leaving the surrounding trees untouched. Sometimes it would select a +tree of thirty years growth, seize it, spin it round, and leave it a +permanent spiral screw. I was in these regions about the time, and had +the account from a native who had gone through it all and couldn't speak +of it except with glaring eyeballs and gasping breath.</p> + +<p>"About midnight of the 28th the gale was at its worst. Darkness that +could be felt between the flashes of lightning. Thunder that was nearly +drowned by the roaring of the wind an' the crashing of everything all +round. To save their lives the people had to fling themselves into +ditches and hollows of the ground. Mr. Ross and some of his people were +lying in the shelter of a wall near his house. There had been a schooner +lying not far off. When Mr. Ross raised his head cautiously above the +wall to have a look to wind'ard he saw the schooner comin' straight for +him on the top of a big wave. 'Hold on!' he shouted, fell flat down, +and laid hold o' the nearest bush. Next moment the wave burst right over +the wall, roared on up to the garden, 150 yards above highwater mark, +and swept his house clean away! By good fortune the wall stood the +shock, and the schooner stuck fast just before reachin' it, but so near +that the end of the jib-boom passed right over the place where the +household lay holdin' on for dear life and half drowned. It was a +tremendous night," concluded the captain, "an' nearly everything on the +islands was wrecked, but they've survived it, as you'll see. Though it's +seven years since that cyclone swep' over them, they're all right and +goin' ahead again, full swing, as if nothin' had happened."</p> + +<p>"And is Ross III. still king?" asked Nigel with much interest.</p> + +<p>"Ay—at least he was king a few years ago when I passed this way and had +occasion to land to replace a tops'l yard that had been carried away."</p> + +<p>"Then you won't arrive as a stranger?"</p> + +<p>"I should think not," returned the captain, getting up and gazing +steadily at the <i>atoll</i> or group of islets enclosed within a coral ring +which they were gradually approaching.</p> + +<p>Night had descended, however, and the gale had decreased almost to a +calm, ere they steered through the narrow channel—or what we may call a +broken part of the ring—which led to the calm lagoon inside. Nigel Roy +leaned over the bow, watching with profound attention the numerous +phosphorescent fish and eel-like creatures which darted hither and +thither like streaks of silver from beneath their advancing keel. He had +enough of the naturalist in him to arouse in his mind keen interest in +the habits and action of the animal life around him, and these denizens +of the coral-groves were as new to him as their appearance was +unexpected.</p> + +<p>"You'll find 'em very kind and hospitable, lad," said the captain to his +son.</p> + +<p>"What, the fish?"</p> + +<p>"No, the inhabitants. Port—port—steady!"</p> + +<p>"Steady it is!" responded the man at the wheel.</p> + +<p>"Let go!" shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>A heavy plunge, followed by the rattling of chains and swinging round of +the brig, told that they had come to an anchor in the lagoon of the +Cocos-Keeling Islands.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_III' id='CHAPTER_III' />CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS.</h3> + + +<p>By the first blush of dawn Nigel Roy hastened on deck, eager to see the +place in regard to which his father's narrative had awakened in him +considerable interest.</p> + +<p>It not only surpassed but differed from all his preconceived ideas. The +brig floated on the bosom of a perfectly calm lake of several miles in +width, the bottom of which, with its bright sand and brilliant +coral-beds, could be distinctly seen through the pellucid water. This +lake was encompassed by a reef of coral which swelled here and there +into tree-clad islets, and against which the breakers of the Indian +Ocean were dashed into snowy foam in their vain but ceaseless efforts to +invade the calm serenity of the lagoon. Smaller islands, rich with +vegetation, were scattered here and there within the charmed circle, +through which several channels of various depths and sizes connected the +lagoon with the ocean.</p> + +<p>"We shall soon have the king himself off to welcome us," said Captain +Roy as he came on deck and gave a sailor-like glance all round the +horizon and then up at the sky from the mere force of habit. "Visitors +are not numerous here. A few scientific men have landed now and again; +Darwin the great naturalist among others in 1836, and Forbes in 1878. No +doubt they'll be very glad to welcome Nigel Roy in this year of grace +1883."</p> + +<p>"But I'm not a naturalist, father, more's the pity."</p> + +<p>"No matter, lad; you're an ammytoor first mate, an' pr'aps a poet may +count for somethin' here. They lead poetical lives and are fond o' +poetry."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that accounts for the fondness you say they have for you, +father."</p> + +<p>"Just so, lad. See!—there's a boat puttin' off already: the king, no +doubt."</p> + +<p>He was right. Mr. Ross, the appointed governor, and "King of the Cocos +Islands," was soon on deck, heartily shaking hands with and welcoming +Captain Roy as an old friend. He carried him and his son off at once to +breakfast in his island-home; introduced Nigel to his family, and then +showed them round the settlement, assuring them at the same time that +all its resources were at their disposal for the repair of the +<i>Sunshine</i>.</p> + +<p>"Thank 'ee kindly," said the captain in reply, "but I'll only ask for a +stick to rig up a foretop-mast to carry us to Batavia, where we'll give +the old craft a regular overhaul—for it's just possible she may have +received some damage below the water-line, wi' bumpin' on the mast and +yards."</p> + +<p>The house of the "King" was a commodious, comfortable building in the +midst of a garden, in which there were roses in great profusion, as well +as fruit-trees and flowering shrubs. Each Keeling family possessed a +neat well-furnished plank cottage enclosed in a little garden, besides a +boat-house at the water-edge on the inner or lagoon side of the reef, +and numerous boats were lying about on the white sand. The islanders, +being almost born sailors, were naturally very skilful in everything +connected with the sea. There was about them a good deal of that kindly +innocence which one somehow expects to find associated with a mild +paternal government and a limited intercourse with the surrounding +world, and Nigel was powerfully attracted by them from the first.</p> + +<p>After an extensive ramble, during which Mr. Ross plied the captain with +eager questions as to the latest news from the busy centres of +civilisation—especially with reference to new inventions connected with +engineering—the island king left them to their own resources till +dinner-time, saying that he had duties to attend to connected with the +kingdom!</p> + +<p>"Now, boy," said the captain when their host had gone, "what'll 'ee do? +Take a boat and have a pull over the lagoon, or go with me to visit a +family I'm particularly fond of, an' who are uncommon fond o' <i>me!"</i></p> + +<p>"Visit the family, of course," said Nigel. "I can have a pull any day."</p> + +<p>"Come along then."</p> + +<p>He led the way to one of the neatest of the plank cottages, which stood +on the highest ridge of the island, so that from the front windows it +commanded a view of the great blue ocean with its breakers that fringed +the reef as with a ring of snow, while, on the opposite side, lay the +peaceful waters and islets of the lagoon.</p> + +<p>A shout of joyful surprise was uttered by several boys and girls at +sight of the captain, for during his former visit he had won their +hearts by telling them wild stories of the sea, one half of each story +being founded on fact and personal experience, the other half on a vivid +imagination!</p> + +<p>"We are rejoiced to see you," said the mother of the juveniles, a stout +woman of mixed nationality—that of Dutch apparently predominating. She +spoke English, however, remarkably well, as did many of the Cocos +people, though Malay is the language of most of them.</p> + +<p>The boys and girls soon hauled the captain down on a seat and began to +urge him to tell them stories, using a style of English that was by no +means equal to that of the mother.</p> + +<p>"Stop, stop, let me see sister Kathy first. I can't begin without her. +Where is she?"</p> + +<p>"Somewhere, I s'pose," said the eldest boy.</p> + +<p>"No doubt of that. Go—fetch her," returned the captain.</p> + +<p>At that moment a back-door opened, and a girl of about seventeen years +of age entered. She was pleasant-looking rather than pretty—tall, +graceful, and with magnificent black eyes.</p> + +<p>"Here she comes," cried the captain, rising and kissing her. "Why, +Kathy, how you've grown since I saw you last! Quite a woman, I declare!"</p> + +<p>Kathy was not too much of a woman, however, to join her brothers and +sisters in forcing the captain into a seat and demanding a story on the +spot.</p> + +<p>"Stop, stop!" cried the captain, grasping round their waists a small boy +and girl who had already clambered on his knees. "Let me inquire about +my old friends first—and let me introduce my son to you—you've taken +no notice of <i>him</i> yet! That's not hospitable."</p> + +<p>All eyes were turned at once on Nigel, some boldly, others with a shy +inquiring look, as though to say, Can <i>you</i> tell stories?</p> + +<p>"Come, now," said Nigel, advancing, "since you are all so fond of my +father, I must shake hands with you all round."</p> + +<p>The hearty way in which this was done at once put the children at their +ease. They admitted him, as it were, into their circle, and then turning +again to the captain continued their clamour for a story.</p> + +<p>"No, no—about old friends first. How—how's old mother Morris?"</p> + +<p>"Quite well," they shouted. "Fatterer than ever," added an urchin, who +in England would have been styled cheeky.</p> + +<p>"Yes," lisped a very little girl; "one of 'e doors in 'e house too small +for she."</p> + +<p>"Why, Gerchin, you've learned to speak English like the rest," said the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, father make every one learn."</p> + +<p>"Well, now," continued the captain, "what about Black Sam?"</p> + +<p>"Gone to Batavia," chorused the children.</p> + +<p>"And—and—what's-'is-name?—the man wi' the nose—"</p> + +<p>A burst of laughter and, "We's <i>all</i> got noses here!" was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you know who I mean—the short man wi' the—"</p> + +<p>"Oh! with the turned <i>up</i> nose. <i>I</i> know," cried the cheeky boy; "you +means Johnson? He goed away nobody know whar'."</p> + +<p>"And little Nelly Drew, what of her?"</p> + +<p>A sudden silence fell on the group, and solemn eyes were turned on +sister Kathy, who was evidently expected to answer.</p> + +<p>"Not dead?" said the captain earnestly.</p> + +<p>"No, but very <i>very</i> ill," replied the girl.</p> + +<p>"Dear Nelly have never git over the loss of her brother, who—"</p> + +<p>At this point they were interrupted by another group of the captain's +little admirers, who, having heard of his arrival, ran forward to give +him a noisy welcome. Before stories could be commenced, however, the +visitors were summoned to Mr. Ross's house to dinner, and then the +captain had got into such an eager talk with the king that evening was +upon them before they knew where they were, as Nigel expressed it, and +the stories had to be postponed until the following day.</p> + +<p>Of course beds were offered, and accepted by Captain Roy and Nigel. Just +before retiring to them, father and son went out to have a stroll on the +margin of the lagoon.</p> + +<p>"Ain't it a nice place, Nigel?" asked the former, whose kindly spirit +had been stirred up to quite a jovial pitch by the gushing welcome he +had received alike from old and young.</p> + +<p>"It's charming, father. Quite different from what you had led me to +expect."</p> + +<p>"My boy," returned the captain, with that solemn deliberation which he +was wont to assume when about to deliver a palpable truism. "W'en you've +come to live as long as me you'll find that everything turns out +different from what people have bin led to expect. Leastways that's <i>my</i> +experience."</p> + +<p>"Well, in the meantime, till I have come to your time of life, I'll take +your word for that, and I do hope you intend to stay a long time here."</p> + +<p>"No, my son, I don't. Why do ye ask?"</p> + +<p>"Because I like the place and the people so much that I would like to +study it and them, and to sketch the scenery."</p> + +<p>"Business before pleasure, my lad," said the captain with a grave shake +of the head. "You know we've bin blown out of our course, and have no +business here at all. I'll only wait till the carpenter completes his +repairs, and then be off for Batavia. Duty first; everything else +afterwards."</p> + +<p>"But you being owner as well as commander, there is no one to insist on +duty being done," objected Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," returned the captain, "there is a certain owner named +Captain David Roy, a very stern disciplinarian, who insists on the +commander o' this here brig performin' his duty to the letter. You may +depend upon it that if a man ain't true to himself he's not likely to be +true to any one else. But it's likely that we may be here for a couple +of days, so I release <i>you</i> from duty that you may make the most o' your +time and enjoy yourself. By the way, it will save you wastin' time if +you ask that little girl, Kathy Holbein, to show you the best places to +sketch, for she's a born genius with her pencil and brush."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, father," returned Nigel. "I want no little girl to +bother me while I'm sketching—even though she be a born genius—for I +think I possess genius enough my self to select the best points for +sketching, and to get along fairly well without help. At least I'll try +what I can do."</p> + +<p>"Please yourself, lad. Nevertheless, I think you wouldn't find poor +Kathy a bother; she's too modest for that—moreover, she could manage a +boat and pull a good oar when I was here last, and no doubt she has +improved since."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, I'd rather be alone," persisted Nigel. "But why do you +call her <i>poor</i> Kathy? She seems to be quite as strong and as jolly as +the rest of her brothers and sisters."</p> + +<p>"Ah, poor thing, these are not her brothers and sisters," returned the +captain in a gentler tone.</p> + +<p>"Kathy is only an adopted child, and an orphan. Her name, Kathleen, is +not a Dutch one. She came to these islands in a somewhat curious way. +Sit down here and I'll tell 'ee the little I know about her."</p> + +<p>Father and son sat down on a mass of coral rock that had been washed up +on the beach during some heavy gale, and for a few minutes gazed in +silence on the beautiful lagoon, in which not only the islets, but the +brilliant moon and even the starry hosts were mirrored faithfully.</p> + +<p>"About thirteen years ago," said the captain, "two pirate junks in the +Sunda Straits attacked a British barque, and, after a fight, captured +her. Some o' the crew were killed in action, some were taken on board +the junks to be held to ransom I s'pose, and some, jumping into the sea +to escape if possible by swimming, were probably drowned, for they were +a considerable distance from land. It was one o' these fellows, however, +who took to the water that managed to land on the Java shore, more dead +than alive. He gave information about the affair, and was the cause of a +gun-boat, that was in these waters at the time, bein' sent off in chase +o' the pirate junks.</p> + +<p>"This man who swam ashore was a Lascar. He said that the chief o' the +pirates, who seemed to own both junks, was a big ferocious Malay with +only one eye—he might have added with no heart at all, if what he said +o' the scoundrel was true, for he behaved with horrible cruelty to the +crew o' the barque. After takin' all he wanted out of his prize he +scuttled her, and then divided the people that were saved alive between +the two junks. There were several passengers in the vessel; among them a +young man—a widower—with a little daughter, four year old or so. He +was bound for Calcutta. Being a very powerful man he fought like a lion +to beat the pirates off, but he was surrounded and at last knocked down +by a blow from behind. Then his arms were made fast and he was sent wi' +the rest into the biggest junk.</p> + +<p>"This poor fellow recovered his senses about the time the pirates were +dividin' the prisoners among them. He seemed dazed at first, so said the +Lascar, but as he must have bin in a considerable funk himself I suspect +his observations couldn't have bin very correct. Anyhow, he said he was +sittin' near the side o' the junk beside this poor man, whose name he +never knew, but who seemed to be an Englishman from his language, when a +wild scream was heard in the other junk. It was the little girl who had +caught sight of her father and began to understand that she was going to +be separated from him. At the sound o' her voice he started up, and, +looking round like a wild bull, caught sight o' the little one on the +deck o' the other junk, just as they were hoistin' sail to take +advantage of a breeze that had sprung up.</p> + +<p>"Whether it was that they had bound the man with a piece o' bad rope, or +that the strength o' Samson had been given to him, the Lascar could not +tell, but he saw the Englishman snap the rope as if it had bin a bit o' +pack-thread, and jump overboard. He swam for the junk where his little +girl was. If he had possessed the strength of a dozen Samsons it would +have availed him nothin', for the big sail had caught the breeze and got +way on her. At the same time the other junk lay over to the same breeze +and the two separated. At first the one-eyed pirate jumped up with an +oath and fired a pistol shot at the Englishman, but missed him. Then he +seemed to change his mind and shouted in bad English, with a diabolical +laugh—'Swim away; swim hard, p'raps you kitch 'im up!' Of course the +two junks were soon out of sight o' the poor swimmer—and that was the +end of <i>him,</i> for, of course, he must have been drowned."</p> + +<p>"But what of the poor little girl?" asked Nigel, whose feelings were +easily touched by the sorrows of children, and who began to have a +suspicion of what was coming.</p> + +<p>"I'm just comin' to that. Well, the gun-boat that went to look for the +pirates sighted one o' the junks out in the Indian Ocean after a long +search and captured her, but not a single one o' the barque's crew was +to be found in her, and it was supposed they had been all murdered and +thrown overboard wi' shots tied to their feet to sink them. Enough o' +the cargo o' the British barque was found, however, to convict her, and +on a more careful search bein' made, the little girl was discovered, hid +away in the hold. Bein' only about four year old, the poor little thing +was too frightened to understand the questions put to her. All she could +say was that she wanted 'to go to father,' and that her name was Kathy, +probably short for Kathleen, but she could not tell."</p> + +<p>"Then that is the girl who is now here?" exclaimed Nigel.</p> + +<p>"The same, lad. The gun-boat ran in here, like as we did, to have some +slight repairs done, and Kathy was landed. She seemed to take at once to +motherly Mrs. Holbein, who offered to adopt her, and as the captain of +the gun-boat had no more notion than the man-in-the-moon who the child +belonged to, or what to do with her, he gladly handed her over, so here +she has been livin' ever since. Of course attempts have been made to +discover her friends, but without success, and now all hope has been +given up. The poor girl herself never speaks on the subject, but old +Holbein and his wife tell me she is sure that Kathy has never forgotten +her father. It may be so; anyhow, she has forgotten his name—if she +ever knew it."</p> + +<p>Next day Nigel made no objections to being guided to the most +picturesque spots among the coral isles by the interesting orphan girl. +If she had been older he might even have fallen in love with her, an +event which would have necessitated an awkward modification of the +ground-work of our tale. As it was, he pitied the poor child sincerely, +and not only—recognising her genius—asked her advice a good deal on +the subject of art, but—recognising also her extreme youth and +ignorance—volunteered a good deal of advice in exchange, quite in a +paternal way!</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_IV' id='CHAPTER_IV' />CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>NIGEL UNDERGOES SOME QUITE NEW AND INTERESTING EXPERIENCES.</h3> + + +<p>The arrangements made on the following day turned out to be quite in +accordance with the wishes and tastes of the various parties concerned.</p> + +<p>The ship's carpenter having been duly set to work on the repairs, and +being inspected in that serious piece of prosaic business by the second +mate, our captain was set free to charm the very souls of the juveniles +by wandering for miles along the coral strand inventing, narrating, +exaggerating to his heart's content. Pausing now and then to ask +questions irrelevant to the story in hand, like a wily actor, for the +purpose of intensifying the desire for more, he would mount a block of +coral, and thence, sometimes as from a throne, or platform, or pulpit, +impress some profound piece of wisdom, or some thrilling point, or some +exceedingly obvious moral on his followers open-mouthed and open-eyed.</p> + +<p>These were by no means idlers, steeped in the too common business of +having nothing to do. No, they had regularly sought and obtained a +holiday from work or school; for all the activities of social and +civilised life were going on full swing—fuller, indeed, than the +average swing—in that remote, scarcely known, and beautiful little gem +of the Indian Ocean.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Nigel and Kathy, with sketch-books under their arms, went down +to where the clear waters of the lagoon rippled on the white sand, and, +launching a cockleshell of a boat, rowed out toward the islets.</p> + +<p>"Now, Kathy, you must let me pull," said Nigel, pushing out the sculls, +"for although the captain tells me you are very good at rowing, it would +never do for a man, you know, to sit lazily down and let himself be +rowed by a girl."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Kathy, with a quiet and most contented smile, for she +had not yet reached the self-conscious age—at least, as ages go in the +Cocos-Keeling Islands! Besides, Kathy was gifted with that charming +disposition which never <i>objects</i> to anything—anything, of course, that +does not involve principle!</p> + +<p>But it was soon found that, as the cockleshell had no rudder, and the +intricacies they had to wind among were numerous, frequent directions +and corrections were called for from the girl.</p> + +<p>"D' you know," said Nigel at last, "as I don't know where you want me +to go to, it may be as well, after all, that you should row!"</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Kathy, with another of her innocent smiles. "I thinked +it will be better so at first."</p> + +<p>Nigel could not help laughing at the way she said this as he handed her +the sculls.</p> + +<p>She soon proved herself to be a splendid boatwoman, and although her +delicate and shapely arms were as mere pipe-stems to the great brawny +limbs of her companion, yet she had a deft, mysterious way of handling +the sculls that sent the cockleshell faster over the lagoon than before.</p> + +<p>"Now, we go ashore here," said Kathy, turning the boat,—with a prompt +back-water of the left scull, and a vigorous pull of the right +one,—into a little cove just big enough to hold it.</p> + +<p>The keel went with such a plump on the sand, that Nigel, who sat on a +forward thwart with his back landward, reversed the natural order of +things by putting his back on the bottom of the boat and his heels in +the air.</p> + +<p>To this day it is an unsettled question whether this was done on purpose +by Kathy. Certain it is that <i>she</i> did not tumble, but burst into a +hearty fit of laughter, while her large lustrous eyes half shut +themselves up and twinkled.</p> + +<p>"Why, you don't even apologise, you dreadful creature!" exclaimed +Nigel, joining in the laugh, as he picked himself up.</p> + +<p>"Why should I 'pologise?" asked the girl, in the somewhat broken English +acquired from her adopted family. "Why you not look out?"</p> + +<p>"Right, Kathy, right; I'll keep a sharp lookout next time. Meanwhile I +will return good for evil by offering my hand to help you a—hallo!"</p> + +<p>While he spoke the girl had sprung past him like a grasshopper, and +alighted on the sand like a butterfly.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later and this little jesting fit had vanished, and they +were both engaged with pencil and book, eagerly—for both were +enthusiastic—sketching one of the most enchanting scenes that can well +be imagined. We will not attempt the impossible. Description could not +convey it. We can only refer the reader's imagination to the one old, +hackneyed but expressive, word—fairyland!</p> + +<p>One peculiarly interesting point in the scene was, that on the opposite +side of the lagoon the captain could be seen holding forth to his +juvenile audience.</p> + +<p class="center"><a name="illus046.jpg" id="illus046.jpg" /><img src="images/illus046.jpg" width='464' height='700' alt="ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS" /></p> + +<h3>ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS</h3> + +<p>When a pretty long time had elapsed in absolute silence, each sketcher +being totally oblivious of the other, Nigel looked up with a long sigh, +and said:—</p> + +<p>"Well, you <i>have</i> chosen a most exquisite scene for me. The more I +work at it, the more I find to admire. May I look now at what you have +done?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, but I have done not much. I am slow," said the girl, as Nigel +rose and looked over her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Why!—what—how beautiful!—but—but—what do you mean?" exclaimed the +youth.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," said the girl, looking up in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, Kathy, I had supposed you were drawing that magnificent landscape +all this time, and—and you've only been drawing a group of shells. +Splendidly done, I admit, but why——"</p> + +<p>He stopped at that moment, for her eyes suddenly filled with tears.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, dear child," said Nigel, hurriedly; "I did not intend to +hurt your feelings. I was only surprised at your preference."</p> + +<p>"You have not hurt me," returned Kathy in a low voice, as she resumed +her work, "but what you say calls back to me—my father was very fond of +shells."</p> + +<p>She stopped, and Nigel, blaming himself for having inadvertently touched +some tender chord, hastened, somewhat clumsily, to change the subject.</p> + +<p>"You draw landscape also, I doubt not?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes—plenty. If you come home to me to-night, I will show you some."</p> + +<p>"I shall be only too happy," returned the youth, sitting down again to +his sketch, "and perhaps I may be able to give you a hint or +two—especially in reference to perspective—for I've had regular +training, you know, Kathy, and I dare say you have not had that here."</p> + +<p>"Not what you will think much, perhaps, yet I have study a little in +school, and <i>very</i> much from Nature."</p> + +<p>"Well, you have been under the best of masters," returned Nigel, "if you +have studied much from Nature. And who has been your other teacher?"</p> + +<p>"A brother of Mr. Ross. I think he must understand very much. He was an +engineer, and has explained to me the rules of perspective, and many +other things which were at first very hard to understand. But I do see +them now."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps then, Kathleen," said Nigel, in that drawling, absent tone in +which artists are apt to indulge when busy at work—"perhaps you may be +already too far advanced to require instruction from me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps—but I think no, for you seems to understand a great deal. But +why you call me Kathleen just now?"</p> + +<p>"Because I suppose that is your real name—Kathy being the short for it. +Is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"Well, p'raps it is. I have hear mother Holbein say so once. I like +Kathleen best."</p> + +<p>"Then, may I call you Kathleen?"</p> + +<p>"If you like."</p> + +<p>At this point both artists had become so engrossed in their occupation +that they ceased to converse, and for a considerable time profound +silence reigned—at least on their part, though not as regarded others, +for every now and then the faint sound of laughter came floating over +the tranquil lagoon from that part of the coral strand where Captain Roy +was still tickling the fancies and expanding the imaginations and +harrowing or soothing the feelings of the Cocos-Keeling juveniles.</p> + +<p>Inferior animal life was also in ceaseless activity around the +sketchers, filling the air with those indescribably quiet noises which +are so suggestive of that general happiness which was originally in +terrestial paradise and is ultimately to be the lot of redeemed +creation.</p> + +<p>Snipe and curlews were wading with jaunty step and absorbed inquiring +gaze in the shallow pools. Hermit crabs of several species and sizes +were scuttling about searching for convenient shells in which to deposit +their naturally homeless and tender tails. Overhead there was a sort of +sea-rookery, the trees being tenanted by numerous gannets, frigate +birds, and terns—the first gazing with a stupid yet angry air; the +last—one beautiful little snow-white species in particular—hovering +only a few feet above the sketchers' heads, while their large black eyes +scanned the drawings with the owlish look of wisdom peculiar to +connoisseurs. Noddies also were there, and, on the ground, lizards and +spiders and innumerable ants engaged in all the varied activities +connected with their several domestic arrangements.</p> + +<p>Altogether it was a scene of bright peaceful felicity, which seemed to +permeate Nigel's frame right inward to the spinal marrow, and would have +kept him entranced there at his work for several hours longer if the +cravings of a healthy appetite had not warned him to desist.</p> + +<p>"Now, Kathleen," he said, rising and stretching himself as one is apt to +do after sitting long in a constrained position, "it seems to me about +time to—by the way, we've forgotten to bring something to eat!"</p> + +<p>His expression as he said this made his companion look up and laugh.</p> + +<p>"Plenty cocoa-nuts," she said, pointing with her pencil to the +overarching trees.</p> + +<p>"True, but I doubt my ability to climb these long straight stems; +besides, I have got only a small clasp-knife, which would be but a poor +weapon with which to attack the thick outer husk of the nuts."</p> + +<p>"But I have got a few without the husks in the boat," said the girl, +rising and running to the place where the cockleshell had been left.</p> + +<p>She returned immediately with several nuts divested of their thick outer +covering, and in the condition with which we are familiar in England. +Some of them were already broken, so that they had nothing to do but sit +down to lunch.</p> + +<p>"Here is one," said Kathy, handing a nut to Nigel, "that has got no meat +yet in it—only milk. Bore a hole in it and drink, but see you bore in +the right hole."</p> + +<p>"The right hole?" echoed the youth, "are some of them wrong ones?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, only one of the three will do. One of our crawbs knows that and +has claws that can bore through the husk and shell. We calls him +cocoa-nut crawb."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! That is strange; I never heard before of a crab that fed on +cocoa-nuts."</p> + +<p>"This one do. He is very big, and also climbs trees. It goes about most +at night. Perhaps you see one before you go away."</p> + +<p>The crab to which Kathy referred is indeed a somewhat eccentric +crustacean, besides being unusually large. It makes deep tunnels in the +ground larger than rabbit burrows, which it lines with cocoa-nut fibre. +One of its claws is developed into an organ of extraordinary power with +which it can break a cocoa-nut shell, and even, it is said, a man's +limb! It never takes all the husk off a cocoa-nut—that would be an +unnecessary trouble, but only enough off the end where the three eyelets +are, to enable it to get at the inside. Having pierced the proper eye +with one of its legs it rotates the nut round it until the hole is large +enough to admit the point of its great claw, with which it continues the +work. This remarkable creature also climbs the palm-trees, but not to +gather nuts; that is certain, for its habits have been closely watched +and it has been ascertained that it feeds only on fallen nuts. Possibly +it climbs for exercise, or to obtain a more extended view of its +charming habitat, or simply "for fun." Why not?</p> + +<p>All this and a great deal more was told to Nigel by Kathleen, who was a +bit of a naturalist in her tendencies—as they sat there under the +graceful fronds of the palm-trees admiring the exquisite view, eating +and drinking cocoa-nuts.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have plenty of other kinds of food besides this?" said +Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, plenty. Most of the fish in our lagoon be good for eating, and +so also the crawbs, and we have turtle too."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! How <i>do</i> you catch the turtle? Another nut, please.—Thank +you."</p> + +<p>"The way we gets turtle is by the men diving for them and catching them +in the water. We has pigs too—plenty, and the wild birds are some very +nice."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>When the artists had finished they proceeded to the shore, and to their +surprise and amusement found the cockleshell in possession of a +piratical urchin of about four years of age in a charmingly light state +of clothing. He was well known to Kathleen, and it turned out that, +having seen the cockle start at too great a distance to be hailed, and +having set his heart on joining in the excursion, he had watched their +movements, observed their landing on the islet—which was not far from +the main circlet of land—and, running round till he came opposite to +it, swam off and got into the boat. Being somewhat tired he had lain +down to rest and fallen sound asleep.</p> + +<p>On the way home this urchin's sole delight was to lean over the bow and +watch the fish and coral groves over which they skimmed. In this he was +imitated by Nigel who, ungallantly permitting his companion to row, also +leaned over the side and gazed down into the clear crystal depths with +unwearying delight.</p> + +<p>For the wonderful colours displayed in those depths must be seen to be +believed. Not only is the eye pleased with the ever-varying formations +of the coral bowers, but almost dazzled with the glittering fish—blue, +emerald, green, scarlet, orange, banded, spotted, and striped—that dart +hither and thither among the rich-toned sea-weed and the variegated +anemones which spread their tentacles upwards as if inviting the gazer +to come down! Among these, crabs could be seen crawling with undecided +motion, as if unable to make up their minds, while in out of the way +crevices clams of a gigantic size were gaping in deadly quietude ready +to close with a snap on any unfortunate creature that should give them +the slightest touch.</p> + +<p>Nigel was sharply awakened from his dream by a sudden splash. Looking up +he observed that the small boy was gone. With a bound he stood erect, +one foot on the gunwale and hands clasped ready to dive, when a glance +revealed the fact that Kathy was smiling broadly!</p> + +<p>"Don't jump!" she said. "He is only after a fish."</p> + +<p>Even while she spoke Nigel saw the brown little fellow shooting about +like a galvanised tadpole, with a small harpoon in his hand!</p> + +<p>Next moment he appeared on the surface shouting and spluttering, with a +splendid fish on the end of his harpoon! Both were hauled into the +boat, and very soon after they drew near to land.</p> + +<p>In the shallow water Nigel observed some remarkable creatures which +resembled hedgehogs, having jaws armed with formidable teeth to enable +them to feed, Kathy said, on coral insects. File-fishes also drew his +attention particularly. These were magnificently striped and coloured, +and apparently very fearless.</p> + +<p>"What convenient tails they have to lay hold of," remarked our hero, as +they slowly glided past one; "I believe I could catch it with my hand!"</p> + +<p>Stooping swiftly as he spoke, he dipped his arm into the water, and +actually did grasp the fish by its tail, but dropped it again +instantly—to the shrieking delight of the urchin and Kathy,—for the +tail was armed with a series of sharp spines which ran into his hand +like lancets.</p> + +<p>This was an appropriate conclusion to a day that would have been +otherwise too enjoyable. Poor Nigel's felicity was further diluted when +he met his father.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to sleep a-board to-night," said the captain, "for there's a +fair breeze outside which seems likely to hold, and the mast has been +temporarily rigged up, so we'll have to up anchor, and away by break of +day to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Nigel's heart sank.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow! father?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, to-morrow. Business first, pleasure afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose you are right, but it seems almost a shame to leave +such a heaven upon earth as this in such a hurry. Besides, is it not +unkind to such hospitable people to bolt off after you've got all that +you want out of them?"</p> + +<p>"Can't help that, lad—</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<div>"Dooty first, an' fun to follow,</div> +<div>That's what beats creation hollow."</div> +</div></div> + +<p>"Come father, don't say that you quote <i>that</i> from mother!"</p> + +<p>"No more I do, my boy. It's my own—homemade. I put it together last +night when I couldn't sleep for your snorin'."</p> + +<p>"Don't tell fibs, father. You know I never snore. But—really—are we to +start at daylight?"</p> + +<p>"We are, if the wind holds. But you may stay as late as you choose on +shore to-night."</p> + +<p>Nigel availed himself of the opportunity to see as much of the place and +people as was possible in the limited time. Next morning the good though +damaged brig was running in the direction of Sunda Straits before a +stiff and steady breeze.</p> + +<div class='footnotes'><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name='Footnote_1_1' id='Footnote_1_1'></a><a href='#FNanchor_1_1'><span class='label'>[1]</span></a> We recommend those who desire more curious information on +the fauna and flora of the Keeling Islands to apply to Henry O. Forbes' +most interesting book, <i>A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern +Archipelago</i>.—(Sampson Low.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_V' id='CHAPTER_V' />CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HIS SON, WHO SURPRISES A NEGRO, AND +SUDDENLY FORMS AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE.</h3> + + +<p>Arrived in Batavia—the low-lying seaport and capital of the Dutch +island of Java—Captain Roy had his brig examined, and found that the +damage she had sustained was so serious that several months would +probably elapse before she would be again ready for sea.</p> + +<p>"Now, Nigel, my lad," said the old gentleman, on the morning after the +examination had been made, "come down below with me; I want to have a +confabulation with 'ee."</p> + +<p>"Why, father," said the youth, when seated at the small cabin table +opposite his rugged parent, "you seem to be in an unusually solemn frame +of mind this morning. Has anything happened?"</p> + +<p>"Nothin', boy—nothin'. Leastwise nothin' in particular. You know all +about the brig, an' what a deal o' repair she's got to undergo?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I do. You know I was present when you talked the matter over +with that fellow—what's-'is-name—that gave you his report."</p> + +<p>"Just so. Well now, Nigel, you don't suppose, do you, that I'm goin' to +keep you here for some months knockin' about with nothin' to do—eatin' +your grub in idleness?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," said the youth, regarding the stern countenance of his +parent with an amused look. "I have no intention of acting such an +ignoble part, and I'm surprised at you askin' the question, for you know +I am not lazy—at least not more so than average active men—and there +must be plenty of work for me to do in looking after the cargo, +superintending repairs, taking care of the ship and men. I wonder at +you, father. You must either have had a shock of dotage, or fallen into +a poetical vein. What is a first mate fit for if—"</p> + +<p>"Nigel," said Captain Roy, interrupting, "I'm the owner an' commander of +the <i>Sunshine</i>, besides bein' the paternal parent of an impertinent son, +and I claim to have the right to do as I please—therefore, hold your +tongue and listen to me."</p> + +<p>"All right, father," replied the young man, with a benignant grin; +"proceed, but don't be hard upon me; spare my feelings."</p> + +<p>"Well now, this is how the land lies," said the old seaman, resting his +elbows on the table and clasping his hands before him. "As Mr. Moor and +I, with the stooard and men, are quite sufficient to manage the affairs +o' the brig, and as we shall certainly be here for a considerable time +to come, I've made up my mind to give you a holiday. You're young, you +see, an' foolish, and your mind needs improvin'. In short, you want a +good deal o' the poetry knocked out o' you, for it's not like your +mother's poetry by any means, so you needn't flatter yourself—not built +on the same lines by a long way. Well—where was I?"</p> + +<p>"Only got the length of the holiday yet, father."</p> + +<p>"Only, indeed. You ungrateful dog! It's a considerable length to get, +that, isn't it? Well, I also intend to give you some money, to enable +you to move about in this curious archipelago—not much, but enough to +keep you from starvation if used with economy, so I recommend you to go +into the town, make general inquiries about everything and everywhere, +an' settle in your mind what you'll do, for I give you a rovin' +commission an' don't want to be bothered with you for some time to +come."</p> + +<p>"Are you in earnest, father?" asked Nigel, who had become more +interested while the captain unfolded his plan.</p> + +<p>"Never more in earnest in my life—except, p'raps, when I inquired over +twenty years ago whether you was a boy or a gurl."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, that <i>is</i> good of you, father. Of course I need not say +that I am charmed at the prospect you open up to me. And—and when may I +start?"</p> + +<p>"At once. Up anchor and away to-night if you choose."</p> + +<p>"But—where?"</p> + +<p>"Anywhere—everywhere, Java, Sumatra, Borneo—all Malaysia before you +where to choose. Now be off, and think over it, for I've got too much to +do to waste time on you at present," said the captain, rising, "and, +stay—Nigel."</p> + +<p>"Well?" said the youth, looking back as he was about to leave the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Whatever you do, don't grow poetical about it. You know it is said +somewhere, that mischief is found for idle hands to do."</p> + +<p>"All right, father. I'll keep clear of poetry—leave all that sort o' +nonsense to <i>you</i>. I'll—</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<div>"I'll flee Temptation's siren voice,</div> +<div class='i2'>Throw poesy to the crows,</div> +<div>And let my soul's ethereal fire</div> +<div class='i2'>Gush out in sober prose."</div> +</div></div> + +<p>It need scarcely be said that our hero was not slow to take advantage of +the opportunity thus thrown in his way. He went off immediately through +the town, armed with the introduction of his father's well-known name, +and made inquiries of all sorts of people as to the nature, the +conditions, the facilities, and the prospects of travel in the Malay +Archipelago. In this quest he found himself sorely perplexed for the +very good reason that "all sorts" of people, having all sorts of ideas +and tastes, gave amazingly conflicting accounts of the region and its +attractions.</p> + +<p>Wearied at last with his researches, he sauntered towards afternoon in +the direction of the port, and began in a listless sort of way to watch +the movements of a man who was busily engaged with a boat, as if he were +making preparations to put to sea.</p> + +<p>Now, whatever philosophers may say to the contrary, we hold strongly to +the opinion that likings and dislikings among men and women and children +are the result of some profound occult cause which has nothing whatever +to do with experience. No doubt experience may afterwards come in to +modify or intensify the feelings, but it is not the originating cause. +If you say it is, how are we to account for love at first sight? Beauty +has nothing necessarily to do with it, for men fall in love at first +sight with what the world calls plain women—happily! Character is not +the cause, for love assails the human breast, ofttimes, before the loved +object has uttered a word, or perpetrated a smile, or even fulminated a +glance to indicate character. So, in like manner, affection may arise +between man and man.</p> + +<p>It was so on this occasion with Nigel Roy. As he stood abstractedly +gazing at the boatman he fell in love with him—at least he took a +powerful fancy to him, and this was all the more surprising that the man +was a negro,—a woolly-headed, flat-nosed, thick-lipped nigger!</p> + +<p>We would not for a moment have it supposed that it is unnatural to love +such a man. Quite the reverse. But when such a man is a perfect +stranger, has never uttered a word in one's presence, or vouchsafed so +much as a glance, and is gravely, stolidly engaged in the unsavoury work +of greasing some of the tackling of a boat, it does seem unaccountable +that he should be unwittingly capable of stirring up in another man's +bosom feelings of ardent goodwill, to put it mildly.</p> + +<p>After watching him for some time, Nigel under an almost involuntary +impulse shouted "Hullo!"</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" replied the negro, looking up with a somewhat stern frown and a +pout of his thick lips, as much as to say—"Who are <i>you</i>?"</p> + +<p>Nigel smiled, and made that suggestive motion with his forefinger which +signifies "Come here."</p> + +<p>The frown fled and the pout became a smile as the negro approached, +wiping his hands on a piece of cotton-waste.</p> + +<p>"What you want wi' <i>me</i>, sar?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, upon my word," said Nigel, somewhat perplexed, "I can't very +well say. I suppose something must have been in my mind, but—anyhow, I +felt a desire to have a talk with you; that is, if you can spare the +time."</p> + +<p>The first part of this reply induced a slight recurrence of the frown +and pout, but at its conclusion the black brow cleared and the mouth +expanded to such a gum-and-teeth-exposing extent that Nigel fairly burst +into a laugh.</p> + +<p>"You's bery good, sar," said the man, "an' I's hab much pleasure to make +your acquaintance.—Der an't no grease on 'em now."</p> + +<p>The last remark had reference to the enormous black paw which he held +out.</p> + +<p>Nigel at once grasped it and shook it heartily.</p> + +<p>"I's bery fond ob a talk, sar," continued the negro, "so as you wants +one, heabe ahead."</p> + +<p>Thus encouraged, our hero began by remarking that he seemed to be +preparing for a trip.</p> + +<p>"Dat's zackly what I's a-doin', sar."</p> + +<p>"A long one?"</p> + +<p>"Well, dat depends on what you call short. Goin' to Sunda Straits, which +p'raps you know, sar, is nigh a hundred miles fro' here."</p> + +<p>"And what may you be going to do there?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Goin' home to Krakatoa."</p> + +<p>"Why, I thought that was an uninhabited island. I passed close to it on +my way here, and saw no sign of inhabitants."</p> + +<p>"Da's cause I was absint fro' home. An' massa he keeps indoors a good +deal."</p> + +<p>"And pray who is massa?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Sar," said the negro, drawing up his square sturdy frame with a look of +dignity; "fair-play is eberyt'ing wid me. You've ax me a heap o' +questions. Now's my—turn. Whar you comes fro'?"</p> + +<p>"From England," replied Nigel.</p> + +<p>"An' whar you go to?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you've posed me now, for I really don't know where I'm going to. +In fact that is the very thing I have been trying to find out all day, +so if you'll help me I'll be much obliged."</p> + +<p>Here Nigel explained his position and difficulties, and it was quite +obvious, judging from the glittering eyes and mobile mouth, that he +poured his tale into peculiarly sympathetic ears. When he had finished, +the negro stood for a considerable time gazing in meditative silence at +the sky.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said at last, as if communing with himself, "I t'ink—I ain't +quite sure, but I t'ink—I may ventur'."</p> + +<p>"Whatever it is you are thinking about," remarked Nigel, "you may +venture to say anything you like to <i>me</i>."</p> + +<p>The negro, who, although comparatively short of stature, was herculean +in build, looked at the youth with an amused expression.</p> + +<p>"You're bery good, sar, but da's not what I's t'inkin' ob. I's t'inkin' +whedder I dar' ventur' to introdoce you to my massa. He's not fond o' +company, an' it might make 'im angry, but he came by a heaby loss lately +an' p'raps he may cond'send to receibe you. Anyhow you 'd be quite safe, +for he's sure to be civil to any friend ob mine."</p> + +<p>"Is he then so fierce?" asked Nigel, becoming interested as well as +amused.</p> + +<p>"Fierce! no, he's gentle as a lamb, but he's awrful when he's +roused—tigers, crokindiles, 'noceroses is nuffin' to him!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed! what's his name, and what does he do? How does he live?"</p> + +<p>The negro shook his head. "Da's more'n I dar tell till I ax his leave, +sar. I kin only say de peepil around calls 'im the hermit ob Rakata, +'cause he libs by his self (wid me, ob course, but <i>I</i> counts for +nuffin), close under de ole volcano ob Krakatoa. Dey tink—some ob de +foolish peepil—dat he hab sold his-self to de dibil, but I knows +better. He's a good man, and you'd hab great fun if you stop wid him. +Now, what I's a-gwine to advise you is, come wid me an' see de hermit. +If he lets you stop, good. If not, I fetch you ober to de main +land—whar you please—an' you kin come back here or go whar you +choose. Its wort' your while to take your chance, anyhow."</p> + +<p>The negro said this with such an earnest look that Nigel made up his +mind on the spot to accept this curious invitation.</p> + +<p>"I'll go!" he exclaimed with sudden energy. "When do you start?"</p> + +<p>"To-morrer at daybreak, sar."</p> + +<p>"Well, I shall have to talk it over first with my father, but I'm sure +he won't object, so you may look out for me here at daybreak. Shall I +have to fetch any provisions with me for the voyage?"</p> + +<p>"No, nuffin'. Boat's crammed wi' grub. But you'd better bring a gun o' +some sort an' a 'volver, an' a big knife, an' a mortal big appetite, for +a man's no good widout dat."</p> + +<p>"I always carry that about with me," said the youth, "whatever else I +may leave behind; and I'll see to the other things.—By the way, what's +your name?"</p> + +<p>"Moses."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?"</p> + +<p>"Isn't dat enuff?" returned the negro with a look of dignity.</p> + +<p>"Quite; but I have the advantage of you there, Moses, for I have two +names—Nigel Roy."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't see much use ob two, but which does you like to be +called by—Nadgel or Roy?"</p> + +<p>"Whichever you please, Moses; I'll answer to either. So now, good-bye +for the present, and look out for me to-morrow at daylight."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Massa Nadgel, till to-morrer."</p> + +<p>The negro waved his hand and, sauntering slowly back to his boat, +remarked in an undertone, "I lub dat young feller!" Saying which, he +resumed his greasing operations.</p> + +<p>Of course Captain Roy made no objection to his son's proposal, though he +freely gave his opinion that it was a wild-goose chase.</p> + +<p>"However, lad, please yourself and you'll please me," he added; "and +now, be particular to bear in mind that you've got to write to me every +time you get within hail of a post-office or a passing ship or steamer +that may chance to be comin' this way, and in each letter be sure to +tell me where you're goin' to next, so as I may send a letter there to +you in case I want you to return sudden or otherwise. We mustn't lose +touch, you see. You needn't write long screeds. I only want to know your +whereabouts from time to time. For the rest—you can spin it out in +yarns when you come back."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_VI' id='CHAPTER_VI' />CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE HERMIT OF RAKATA INTRODUCED.</h3> + + +<p>Nothing worthy of particular note occurred during the boat-voyage along +the northern shore of Java to Sunda Straits. A fair, steady breeze +wafted them westward, and, on the morning of the third day, they came in +sight of the comparatively small uninhabited island of Krakatoa.</p> + +<p>The boat in which they voyaged, although a little one, had a small +portion of the bow decked over, so that our hero and his sable friend +could find shelter from the night air when disposed to sleep and from +the fierce rays of the sun at noon.</p> + +<p>By the advice of his father, Nigel had changed his sailor costume for +the "shore-goin' toggery" in which he had landed on the Keeling Islands, +as being more suitable to his new character as a traveller, namely, a +white cloth cap with a peak in front and a curtain behind to protect his +neck, a light-grey tunic belted at the waist, and a pair of strong +canvas trousers. He had also purchased an old-fashioned +double-barrelled fowling-piece, muzzle-loading and with percussion +locks.</p> + +<p>"For you see, Nigel," the captain had said, "it's all very well to use +breech-loaders when you've got towns and railways and suchlike to supply +you wi' cartridges, but when you've got to cruise in out-o'-the-way +waters, there's nothin' like the old style. It's not difficult to carry +a few thousand percussion-caps an' a bullet-mould about wi' you wherever +you go. As to powder, why, you'll come across that 'most everywhere, an' +lead too; and, for the matter o' that, if your life depended on it you +could shove a handful of gravel or a pen-knife or tooth-pick into your +gun an' blaze away, but with a breech-loader, if you run out o' +cartridges, where are you?"</p> + +<p>So, as Nigel could not say where he was, the percussion-gun had been +purchased.</p> + +<p>The peak of Rakata—the highest in the island—a little over 2600 feet, +came in sight first; gradually the rest of the island rose out of the +horizon, and ere long the rich tropical verdure became distinguishable.</p> + +<p>Krakatoa—destined so soon to play a thrilling part in the world's +history; to change the aspect of the heavens everywhere; to attract the +wondering gaze of nearly all nations, and to devastate its immediate +neighbourhood—is of volcanic origin, and, at the time we write of +(1883) was beginning to awaken from a long, deep slumber of two hundred +years. Its last explosion occurred in the year 1680. Since that date it +had remained quiet. But now the tremendous subterranean forces which had +originally called it into being were beginning to reassert their +existence and their power. Vulcan was rousing himself again and +beginning once more to blow his bellows. So said some of the sailors who +were constantly going close past the island and through Sunda Straits, +which may be styled the narrows of the world's highway to the China +seas.</p> + +<p>Subterranean forces, however, are so constantly at work more or less +violently in those regions that people took little notice of these +indications in the comparatively small island of Krakatoa, which was +between five and six miles long by four broad.</p> + +<p>As we have said, it was uninhabited, and lying as it does between +Sumatra and Java, about sixteen miles from the former and over twenty +miles from the latter, it was occasionally visited by fishermen. The +hermit whom Nigel was about to visit might, in some sort, be counted an +inhabitant, for he had dwelt there many years, but he lived in a cave +which was difficult of access, and held communication with no one. How +he spent his time was a mystery, for although his negro servant went to +the neighbouring town of Anjer in Java for supplies, and sometimes to +Batavia, as we have seen, no piece of inanimate ebony from the forest +could have been less communicative than he. Indeed, our hero was the +first to unlock the door of his lips, with that key of mysterious +sympathy to which reference has already been made. Some of the bolder of +the young fishermen of the neighbouring coasts had several times made +futile efforts to find out where and how the hermit lived, but the few +who got a glimpse of him at a distance brought back such a report that a +kind of superstitious fear of him was generated which kept them at a +respectful distance.</p> + +<p>He was ten feet high, some romancers said, with shoulders four feet +broad, a chest like a sugar-hogshead, and a countenance resembling a +compound of orang-utan and tiger.</p> + +<p>Of course our hero knew nothing of these rumours, and as Moses declined +to give any information regarding his master beyond that already given, +he was left to the full play of his imagination.</p> + +<p>Moses was quite candid about it. He made no pretence to shroud things in +mystery.</p> + +<p>"You mus' know, Massa Nadgel," he said, as they slowly drew near to the +island, "I's 'fraid ob 'im dough I lub 'im."</p> + +<p>"But why do you love him, Moses?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause he sabe my life an' set me free."</p> + +<p>"Indeed? well, that is good reason. And why do you fear him?"</p> + +<p>"Da's what I don' know, massa," replied the negro with a puzzled look.</p> + +<p>"Is he harsh, then?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Passionate?"</p> + +<p>"No. Gentle as a lamb."</p> + +<p>"Strong?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—oh! mighty strong an' big."</p> + +<p>"Surely you're not afraid of his giving you a licking, Moses?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no," returned the negro, with a smile of expansive benignity; "I's +not 'fraid ob dat. I's bin a slabe once, got used to lickin's. Don't +care nuffin' at all for a lickin'!"</p> + +<p>"Then it must be that you're afraid of hurting his feelings, Moses, for +I know of no other kind of fear."</p> + +<p>"Pr'aps da's it!" said the negro with a bright look, "now I wouldn't +wonder if you's right, Massa Nadgel. It neber come into my head in dat +light before. I used to be t'ink, t'inkin' ob nights—when I's tired ob +countin' my fingers an' toes—But I couldn't make nuffin' ob it. <i>Now</i> I +knows! It's 'fraid I am ob hurtin' his feelin's."</p> + +<p>In the excess of his satisfaction at the solution of this long-standing +puzzle, Moses threw back his head, shut his eyes, opened his enormous +mouth and chuckled.</p> + +<p>By the time he had reversed this process they were sufficiently near to +Krakatoa to distinguish all its features clearly, and the negro began to +point out to Nigel its various localities. There were three prominent +peaks on it, he said, named respectively, Perboewatan about 400 feet +high, at the northern end of the island; Danan, near the centre, 1500 +feet; and Rakata, at the southern end, over 2600 feet. It was high up on +the sides of the last cone that the residence of the hermit was +situated.</p> + +<p>"And you won't tell me your master's name?" said Nigel.</p> + +<p>Moses shook his woolly head. "No, sar, no. I's 'fraid ob him—he! he! +'fraid ob hurtin' his feelin's!"</p> + +<p>"Well, never mind; I'll find it out from himself soon. By the way, what +were you telling me about explosions yesterday when that little white +gull came to admire your pretty face, and took off our attention?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I dun know. Not got much to tell, only dar's bin rumblin' an' +grumblin's an' heavin's lately in de mountains as didn't use to be, an' +cracks like somet'in' bustin' down blow, an' massa he shook 'is head two +or free times an' look solemn. He don't often do dat—shook 'is head, I +mean—for he mostly always looks solemn."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the boat, running through a narrow opening among +the rocks into a small circular harbour not more than fifty yards in +diameter, rested its keel gently on a little bed of pure yellow sand. +The shore there was so densely covered with bushes that the harbour +might easily have been passed without being observed.</p> + +<p>Jumping ashore, Moses made the painter fast to a tree.</p> + +<p>"What a quiet, cosy place!" said Nigel, as he sprang on the beach and +looked admiringly round.</p> + +<p>"Yes, an' not easy to find if you don't knows 'im. We will leabe de boat +here,—no danger ob bein' tooked away—an' den go up to de cave."</p> + +<p>"Is it far?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"A good bit—near de top ob de mountain,"—answered the negro, who +looked at his companion somewhat uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Why, what's the matter, Moses?"</p> + +<p>"Nuffin'—oh! nuffin'—but—but when massa axes you who you is, an' what +you bin up to, an' whar your a-gwine to, an' what wages you want, jist +you answer 'im in a sorter permiscuous way, an' don't be too partikler."</p> + +<p>"Wages! man, what d' ye mean?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll 'scuse me, sar," returned the negro with an air of +profound humility, "but my massa lost a old sarvint—a nigger like +myself—only last munt', an' he wants to go on one ob his usual +expeditions jus' now, so he sends me to Batavia to git anoder man—'a +good one, you know,' says massa,—an' as you, sar, was good 'nuff to ax +me what you should do, an' you looked a pritty smart man, I——"</p> + +<p>"You scoundrel!" cried Nigel, interrupting him, "do you really mean to +tell me that you've brought me here as a hired servant?"</p> + +<p>"Well, not zackly," returned Moses, with solemn simplicity, "you needn't +ax no wages unless you like."</p> + +<p>"But what if I don't want to take service?" demanded our hero, with a +savage frown.</p> + +<p>"You kin go home agin," answered Moses, humbly.</p> + +<p>Nigel could contain himself no longer. As he observed the man's +deprecatory air, and thought of his own position, he burst into a fit of +hearty laughter, whereupon the negro recovered himself and smiled the +smile of the guiltless.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Nigel at last. "Lead on, you rascal! When I see your master +I shall know what to say."</p> + +<p>"All right, Massa Nadgel, but mind what you say, else I won't answer for +de consikences. Foller me an' look arter your feet, for de road is +roughish."</p> + +<p>The negro's last remark was unquestionably true, for the road—if a mere +footpath merits the name—was rugged in the extreme—here winding round +the base of steep cliffs, there traversing portions of luxuriant +forest, elsewhere skirting the margin of the sea.</p> + +<p>Moses walked at such a pace that Nigel, young and active though he was, +found it no easy matter to keep up with him. Pride, however, forbade him +to show the slightest sign of difficulty, and made him even converse now +and then in tones of simulated placidity. At last the path turned +abruptly towards the face of a precipice and seemed to terminate in a +small shallow cave. Any one following the path out of mere curiosity +would have naturally imagined that the cave was the termination of it; +and a very poor termination too, seeing that it was a rather +uninteresting cave, the whole of the interior of which could be seen at +a single glance from its mouth.</p> + +<p>But this cave served in reality as a blind. Climbing by one or two +projecting points, the negro, closely followed by Nigel, reached a +narrow ledge and walked along it a short distance. On coming to the end +of the ledge he jumped down into a mass of undergrowth, where the track +again became visible—winding among great masses of weatherworn lava. +Here the ascent became very steep, and Moses put on what sporting men +call a spurt, which took him far ahead of Nigel, despite the best +efforts of the latter to keep up. Still our hero scorned to run or call +out to his guide to wait, and thereby admit himself beaten. He pushed +steadily on, and managed to keep the active Moses in view.</p> + +<p>Presently the negro stepped upon a platform of rock high up on the +cliffs, where his form could be distinctly seen against the bright sky. +There Nigel observed that he was joined by a man whose tall commanding +figure seemed in such a position to be of gigantic proportions.</p> + +<p>The two stood engaged in earnest conversation while watching Nigel. The +latter immediately slackened his pace, in order at once to recover +breath and approach with a leisurely aspect.</p> + +<p>"The wild man of the island, I suppose," he thought as he drew near; but +on coming still nearer he saw that he must be mistaken, for the stranger +who advanced to meet him with gracious ease and self-possession was +obviously a gentleman, and dressed, not unlike himself, in a sort of +mixed travelling and shooting costume.</p> + +<p>"I must apologise, Mr. Roy, for the presumption of my man, in bringing +you here under something like false pretences," said the stranger, +holding out his hand, which Nigel shook heartily. "Moses, I find, has +failed to execute my commission, and has partially deceived you; but as +you are now here, the least I can do is to bid you welcome, and offer +you the hospitality of my roof."</p> + +<p>There was something so courteous and kindly in the tone and manner of +the stranger, and something so winning in his soft gentle tones, which +contrasted strangely with his grand towering figure and massive bearded +countenance, that Nigel felt drawn to him instantly. Indeed there was a +peculiar and mysterious something about him which quite fascinated our +hero as he looked up at him, for, bordering on six feet though Nigel +was, the stranger stood several inches above him.</p> + +<p>"You are very kind," said the visitor, "and I don't think that Moses can +fairly be charged with deceiving me, although he has been somewhat +unwise in his way of going about this business, for I had told him I +wanted to see something of these regions, and perhaps it may be to my +advantage to travel in your service—that is, if I can be of any use to +you; but the time at my disposal may be too limited."</p> + +<p>"How much time have you to spare?" asked the stranger.</p> + +<p>"Well, say perhaps three months."</p> + +<p>"That will do," returned his questioner, looking thoughtfully at the +ground. "We will talk of this hereafter."</p> + +<p>"But—excuse me," said Nigel, "your man spoke of you as a hermit—a sort +of—of—forgive me—a wild-man-of-the-island, if I may—"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't, Massa Nadgel," said the negro, the edge of whose flat +contradiction was taken off by the extreme humility of his look.</p> + +<p>"Well," returned Nigel, with a laugh; "you at least gave me to +understand that other people said something of that sort."</p> + +<p>"Da's right, Massa Nadgel—kite right. You're k'rect <i>now</i>."</p> + +<p>"People have indeed got some strange ideas about me, I believe," +interposed the hermit, with a grave almost sad expression and tone. "But +come, let me introduce you to my hermitage and you shall judge for +yourself."</p> + +<p>So saying, this singular being turned and led the way further up the +rugged side of the peak of Rakata.</p> + +<p>After about five minutes' walk in silence, the trio reached a spot where +there was a clear view over the tree-tops, revealing the blue waters of +the strait, with the Java shores and mountains in the distance.</p> + +<p>Behind them there yawned, dark and mysterious, a mighty cavern, so black +and high that it might well suggest a portal leading to the regions +below, where Vulcan is supposed to stir those tremendous fires which +have moulded much of the configuration of the world, and which are ever +seething—an awful Inferno—under the thin crust of the globe on which +we stand.</p> + +<p>Curiously formed and large-leaved trees of the tropics, with their +pendent parasites, as well as rank grasses, sprouting from below and +hanging from above, partially concealed this cavern from Nigel when he +first turned towards it, but a few steps further on he could see it in +all its rugged grandeur.</p> + +<p>"My home," said the hermit, with a very slight smile and the air of a +prince, as he turned towards his visitor and waved his hand towards it.</p> + +<p>"A magnificent entrance at all events," said Nigel, returning the smile +with something of dubiety, for he was not quite sure that his host was +in earnest.</p> + +<p>"Follow me," said the hermit, leading the way down a narrow well-worn +path which seemed to lose itself in profound darkness. After being a few +minutes within the cavern, however, Nigel's eyes became accustomed to +the dim light, and he perceived that the roof rapidly lowered, while its +walls narrowed until they reached a spot which was not much wider than +an ordinary corridor. Here, however, it was so dark that it was barely +possible to see a small door in the right-hand wall before which they +halted. Lifting a latch the hermit threw the door wide open, and a glare +of dazzling light almost blinded the visitor.</p> + +<p>Passing through the entrance, Nigel followed his guide, and the negro +let the heavy door shut behind him with a clang that was depressingly +suggestive of a prison.</p> + +<p>"Again I bid you welcome to my home," said the hermit, turning round +and extending his hand, which Nigel mechanically took and pressed, but +without very well knowing what he did, for he was almost dumfounded by +what he saw, and for some minutes gazed in silence around him.</p> + +<p>And, truly, there was ground for surprise. The visitor found himself in +a small but immensely high and brilliantly lighted cavern or natural +chamber, the walls of which were adorned with drawings of scenery and +trees and specimens of plants, while on various shelves stood +innumerable stuffed birds, and shells, and other specimens of natural +history.</p> + +<p>A table and two chairs stood at one end of the cave, and, strangest of +all, a small but well-filled book-case ornamented the other end.</p> + +<p>"Arabian Nights!" thought Nigel. "I <i>must</i> be dreaming."</p> + +<p>His wandering eyes travelled slowly round the cavern until they rested +at last on the door by which they had entered, beside which stood the +negro with a broad grin on his sable visage.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_VII' id='CHAPTER_VII' />CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND.</h3> + + +<p>The thing that perhaps surprised Nigel most in this strange cavern was +the blaze of light with which it was filled, for it came down direct +through a funnel-shaped hole in the high roof and bore a marvellous +resemblance to natural sunshine. He was well aware that unless the sun +were shining absolutely in the zenith, the laws of light forbade the +entrance of a <i>direct</i> ray into such a place, yet there were the +positive rays, although the sun was not yet high in the heavens, +blinding him while he looked at them, and casting the shadows of himself +and his new friends on the floor.</p> + +<p>There was the faintest semblance of a smile on the hermit's face as he +quietly observed his visitor, and waited till he should recover +self-possession. As for Moses—words are wanting to describe the fields +of teeth and gum which he displayed, but no sound was suffered to escape +his magnificent lips, which closed like the slide of a dark lantern when +the temptation to give way to feeling became too strong.</p> + +<p>"My cave interests you," said the hermit at last.</p> + +<p>"It amazes me," returned our hero, recovering himself and looking +earnestly at his host, "for you seem not only to have all the +necessaries of life around you in your strange abode, but many of the +luxuries; among them the cheering presence of sunshine—though how you +manage to get it is beyond my powers of conception."</p> + +<p>"It is simple enough, as you shall see," returned the hermit. "You have +heard of the saying, no doubt, that 'all things are possible to +well-directed labour'?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and that 'nothing can be achieved without it.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, I have proved that to some extent," continued the hermit. "You +see, by the various and miscellaneous implements on my shelves, that I +am given to dabbling a little in science, and thus have made my lonely +home as pleasant as such a home can be—but let us not talk of these +matters just now. You must be hungry. Have you had breakfast?"</p> + +<p>"No, we have not—unless, at least, you count a sea biscuit dipped in +salt water a breakfast. After all, that may well be the case, for +hermits are noted for the frugality of their fare."</p> + +<p>"I am not a genuine hermit," remarked his host gravely. "Men do indeed +call me the Hermit of Rakata, because I dwell alone here under the +shadow of this particular cone of Krakatoa, but I do not ape the austere +life of the conventional hermit, as you see, either in my domestic +arrangements or food. Come, your breakfast is ready. From my outlook I +saw your boat approaching some hours ago, and knew that it was mine, so +I made ready for your arrival, though I did not guess that Moses was +bringing me a guest instead of a servant!"</p> + +<p>So saying, he led the way through a short natural passage to an inner +cave, the entrance to which, like the outer one, was boarded. On opening +a small door, Nigel was again greeted as before with brilliant rays of +sunshine, and, in addition, with a gush of odours that were exceedingly +grateful to a hungry man. A low "Ho! ho!" behind him told that his black +companion was equally gratified.</p> + +<p>The inner cave or mess-room, as the host styled it, combined dining-room +and kitchen, for while in one corner stood a deal table with plates, +cups, etc., but no tablecloth, in another stood a small stove, heated by +an oil lamp, from which issued puffing and sputtering sounds, and the +savoury odours above referred to.</p> + +<p>Nigel now perceived that although his strange host necessarily spoke a +good deal while welcoming him and offering him the hospitalities of his +abode, he was by no means communicative. On the contrary, it was evident +that he was naturally reserved and reticent, and that although polite +and gentle in the extreme, there was a quiet grave dignity about him +which discouraged familiarity. It must not be supposed, however, that he +was in any degree morosely silent. He was simply quiet and +undemonstrative, said little except when asked questions, and spoke, +alike to Nigel and Moses, in the soft, low, kindly tones with which one +might address very young people.</p> + +<p>Going to the stove he took a coffee-pot therefrom and set it on the +table. At the same time, Moses, without requiring to be told, opened the +oven and brought forth fried fish, meat of some kind, and cakes of he +knew not what, but cared little, for their excellence was +unquestionable.</p> + +<p>During the meal that followed, Nigel ventured as far as politeness +permitted—indeed a little further, if truth must be told—to inquire +into the circumstances and motives of his entertainer in taking up his +abode in such a strange place, but he soon found that his eccentric +friend was not one who could be "pumped." Without a touch of rudeness, +and in the sweetest of voices, he simply assumed an absent manner and +changed the subject of discourse, when he did not choose to reply, by +drawing attention to some irrelevant matter, or by putting a counter +question which led away from the subject. Nigel also found that his host +never laughed and rarely smiled, though, when he did so the smile was so +slight as merely to indicate a general feeling of urbanity and goodwill, +and it was followed instantly by a look of gravity, if not sadness. +Altogether the guest was much perplexed about the host at first, and +somewhat constrained in consequence, but gradually he began to feel at +ease. Another discovery that he soon made was, that the hermit treated +Moses not as a servant, but as if he were in all respects an equal and a +comrade.</p> + +<p>After eating for some time in silence, and having tried to draw out his +host without success, Nigel changed his tactics and said—</p> + +<p>"You were so kind as to speak of me as your guest, Mr.—— Mr.—— I beg +pardon, may I—"</p> + +<p>"My name is Van der Kemp," said the hermit quietly.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Van der Kemp, I must tell you that I am quite willing to +accept the position for which Moses hired me—"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't," contradicted the negro, flatly yet very gently, both in +tone and manner, for long residence with the hermit had apparently +imbued him with something of his spirit.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said Nigel, "the position for which Moses <i>should have</i> +hired some one else. ('K'rect <i>now</i>' whispered Moses.) Of course I do +not intend to ask for or accept wages, and also, of course, I accept the +position on the understanding that you think me fit for the service. May +I ask what that service is to be, and where you think of going to?"</p> + +<p>"The service," returned the hermit slowly and with his eyes fixed on the +floor as if pondering his reply, "is to accompany me as my attendant and +companion, to take notes as occasion may serve, and to paddle a canoe."</p> + +<p>At this reply our hero almost laughed, but was prevented from doing so +by his host asking abruptly if he understood canoeing.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes. At least I can manage what in England is known as the Rob +Roy canoe, having possessed one in my boyhood."</p> + +<p>"That will do," returned the hermit gravely. "Can you write shorthand?"</p> + +<p>"I can. A friend of mine, a reporter on one of the London dailies, once +gave me a few lessons, and, becoming fond of the subject, I followed it +up."</p> + +<p>"That is well; you did well. It is of immense advantage to a man, +whatever his position in life, that he should be able to write shorthand +with facility. Especially useful is it in commerce. I know that, having +had some experience of commercial life."</p> + +<p>At this point in the conversation Nigel was startled by what was to him +an absolutely new sensation, namely a shaking or trembling of the whole +cavern, accompanied by faint rumbling sounds as if in deeper caverns +below him.</p> + +<p>He glanced quickly at his host and at the negro, but to his surprise +these remarkable men seemed not to be aware of the shaking, although it +was severe enough to cause some of the furniture to rattle. Observing +his look of surprise, Moses remarked, with a benignant though capacious +smile, "Mountain's got de mulligrumps pritty bad jist now."</p> + +<p>"We are pretty well accustomed to that," said the host, observing that +Nigel turned to him for an explanation. "No doubt you are aware that +this region is celebrated for earthquakes and volcanoes, so much so that +the inhabitants pay little attention to them unless they become +unusually violent. This island of Krakatoa is itself the fragment of an +extinct volcano; but the term 'extinct' is scarcely applicable to +volcanoes, for it is well known that many which were for centuries +supposed to be extinct have awakened to sudden and violent +activity—'quiescent' might be a more appropriate term."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Moses, ceasing to masticate for purposes of speech; "dem +'stinkt volcanoes hab got an okard habit ob unstinkin' dereselves +hereabouts when you don' 'spect it of 'em. Go on, massa. I ax yer +pard'n for 'truptin'."</p> + +<p>The hermit's peculiar good-natured little smile played for a moment on +his massive features, and then faded away as he continued—</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you may have heard that this is the very heart of the district +that has long been recognised as the greatest focus of volcanic activity +on the globe?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard something of the sort," answered Nigel, "but I confess +that my knowledge is limited and my mind hazy on the subject."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it not," returned his friend, "for geographical and scientific +training in primary schools anywhere is not what it might be. The island +of Java, with an area about equal to that of England, contains no fewer +than forty-nine great volcanic mountains, some of which rise to 12,000 +feet above the sea-level. Many of these mountains are at the present +time active ('Yes, much <i>too</i> active,' muttered the negro), and more +than half of them have been seen in eruption since Java was occupied by +Europeans. Hot springs, mud-volcanoes, and vapour-vents abound all over +the island, whilst earthquakes are by no means uncommon. There is a +distinct line in the chain of these mountains which seems to point to a +great fissure in the earth's crust, caused by the subterranean fires. +This tremendous crack or fissure crosses the Straits of Sunda, and in +consequence we find a number of these vents—as volcanic mountains may +be styled—in the Island of Sumatra, which you saw to the nor'ard as you +came along. But there is supposed to be another great crack in the +earth's crust—indicated by several volcanic mountains—which crosses +the other fissure almost at right angles, and at the exact point where +these two lines intersect <i>stands this island of Krakatoa</i>!</p> + +<p>"I emphasise the fact," continued the hermit after a pause, "first, +because, although this has been a quiescent volcano since the year 1680, +and people have come to regard it as extinct, there are indications now +which lead me to believe that its energy is reviving; and, second, +because this focus where fissures cross each other—this Krakatoa +Island—is in reality part of the crater of an older and much larger +volcanic mountain, which must have been literally blown away in +prehistoric times, and of which Krakatoa and the neighbouring islets of +Varlaten, Polish Hat, Lang Island, and the rest, are but the remnants of +the great crater ring. If these rumblings and minor earthquakes, which I +have noticed of late—and the latest of which you have just +experienced—are the precursors of another explosion, my home here may +be rendered untenable."</p> + +<p>"Hi!" exclaimed Moses, who had been listening with open mouth and eyes +to this discourse, which was obviously news to him, "I hope, massa, he +ain't a-gwine to 'splode to-day—anyhow, not till after breakfast!"</p> + +<p>"You must have studied the subject of volcanoes a good deal, I suppose, +from what you say," observed Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Naturally; living as I do almost on the top of one. My library, which I +will show you presently, contains many interesting works on the subject. +But come, if you have finished we will ascend the Peak of Rakata and I +will introduce you to my sunshine."</p> + +<p>He rose and led his guest back to the outer cavern, leaving Moses still +busy with knife and fork, apparently meditating on the pleasure of +breakfasting with the prospect of a possible and immediate explosion.</p> + +<p>In passing through the first chamber, Nigel observed, in a natural +recess, the library just referred to. He also noted that, besides +stuffed birds and other specimens and sea-shells, there were chisels, +saws, hammers, and other tools, besides something like a forge and +carpenter's bench in a side-chamber opening out of the large one, which +he had not at first seen—from all which he concluded that the hermit +was imbued with mechanical as well as scientific and literary tastes.</p> + +<p>At the further and darker end of the outer cave there was a staircase, +partly natural, and partly improved by art, which led upward into +profound darkness.</p> + +<p>"Let me take your hand here," said the hermit, looking down upon his +guest with his slight but winning smile; "it is a rough and dark +staircase. You will be apt to stumble."</p> + +<p>Nigel placed his hand in that of his host with perfect confidence, and +with a curious feeling—aroused, probably, by the action—of having +returned to the days of childhood.</p> + +<p>The stair was indeed rugged as well as winding, and so pitchy dark that +the youth could not have advanced at all without stumbling, unless his +host had held him all the way. At last a glimmer of light was seen in +the distance. It seemed to increase suddenly, and in a few moments the +two emerged from total darkness into dazzling sunshine.</p> + +<p>When Nigel looked round him he saw that they had gained a plateau, high +up on the very summit of the mountain, which appeared to be absolutely +inaccessible by any means save that by which they had reached it.</p> + +<p>"This is what I call my observatory," said the hermit, turning to his +guest. "We have passed right through the peak of Rakata, and reached its +northern side, which commands, as you see, a view of all the northern +part of the island. I come here often in the night to study the face of +the heavens, the moon, and stars, and meditate on their mysterious +Maker, whose ways are indeed wonderful and past finding out; but all +which must, in the nature of things, be <i>right</i>."</p> + +<p>As this was the first mention that the hermit had made of the Creator, +and the reference was one requiring more thought than Nigel had yet +bestowed on it, he made no rejoinder.</p> + +<p>"Have you studied astronomy, Mr. Roy?"</p> + +<p>"No—at least not more of it than was needful for navigation. But pray, +sir, do not call me Mr. Roy," said the youth, with a somewhat +embarrassed air. "If I am to be your assistant and familiar companion +for two or three months, I hope that you will agree to call me Nigel. +Your man has done so already without asking leave!"</p> + +<p>"I will, on one condition."</p> + +<p>"And that is—?"</p> + +<p>"That you also dispense with the 'Mr.' and 'sir,' and call me Van der +Kemp."</p> + +<p>"Agreed," said Nigel, "though it does not seem so appropriate in me as +in you, considering the difference of our years."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said the hermit, turning abruptly to a small wooden shed +which had hitherto escaped the youth's observation, so covered was it +with overhanging boughs and tropical creeping plants, "these are my +astronomical instruments."</p> + +<p>He pointed to a table in the hut on which stood several telescopes—and +microscopes as well—one of the former being a large instrument, +certainly not less than six feet long, with a diameter of apparently six +or eight inches.</p> + +<p>"Here, you see, I have the means of investigating the wonders of Nature +in her grandest as well as her minutest scales. And there," he added, +pointing to a couple of large reflecting mirrors in strong wooden +frames, erected on joints in such a way that they could be turned in any +direction,—"there you have the secret of my sunshine. One of these +mirrors catches the sunshine direct and reflects it on the other, which, +as you see, is so arranged that it transmits the rays down the natural +funnel or chimney into the cave. By means of chains connected with the +mechanism, and extending below, I can change the direction of the +mirrors as the sun changes its place in the sky, without requiring to +come up here."</p> + +<p>"Very ingenious!" said Nigel; "but how do you manage when the mountain +comes between you and the sun, as I see it cannot fail to do during some +part of the day?"</p> + +<p>"Simply enough," returned the hermit, pointing to a distant projecting +cliff or peak. "On yon summit I have fixed four mirrors similar to +these. When the sun can no longer be reflected from this pair, the first +of the distant mirrors takes it up and shoots a beam of light over here. +When the sun passes from that, the second mirror is arranged to catch +and transmit it, and so on to the fourth. After that I bid good-bye to +the sun, and light my lamp!"</p> + +<p>Nigel felt an almost irresistible tendency to smile at this, but the +grave simplicity of the man forbade such familiarity.</p> + +<p>"Look yonder," continued the hermit, sweeping one of his long arms +towards Sumatra, "in that direction runs the line of volcanic +disturbance—the fissure of which I have already spoken. Focus this +telescope to suit your sight. Now, do you see the little island away +there to the nor'-west?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is <i>Varlaten</i>. I mentioned it when at breakfast. Sweep your +glass round to the nor'ard, the little island there is <i>Polish Hat</i>, and +you see <i>Lang Island</i> in the nor'-east. These, with Krakatoa, are merely +the higher parts still remaining above water of the ring or lip of the +ancient crater. This will give you some idea what an enormous mountain +the original of this old volcano must have been. This island-mountain is +estimated to have been twenty-five miles in circumference, and 10,000 to +12,000 feet high. It was blown into the air in 1680, and this island, +with the few islets I have pointed out, is all that remains of it! Now, +cast your eye down the centre of the island on which we stand; you see +several cones of various sizes. These are ancient vents, supposed to be +extinct—"</p> + +<p>"But one of them, the one furthest away," interrupted Nigel, steadying +his telescope on the branch of a tree, "seems to be anything but +extinct, for I see a thin column of white smoke or steam rising from +it."</p> + +<p>"That is just what I was going to point out. They call that Perboewatan. +It is the lowest peak on the island, about 400 feet high, and stands, I +should say, in the very centre of the ancient crater, where are the two +fissures I have mentioned. For two hundred years Perboewatan has not +smoked like that, and, slight though it is at present, I cannot help +thinking that it indicates an impending eruption, especially when I +consider that earthquakes have become more numerous of late years, and +there was one in 1880 which was so violent as to damage seriously the +lighthouse on Java's First Point."</p> + +<p>"Then you have resided here for some time?" said Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, for many years," replied the hermit, in a low, sad tone.</p> + +<p>"But is it wise in you to stay if you think an explosion so likely? +Don't you needlessly run considerable risk?"</p> + +<p>"I do not fear to die."</p> + +<p>Nigel looked at his new friend in surprise, but there was not a shadow +of boastfulness or affectation either in his look or tone.</p> + +<p>"Besides," he continued, "the explosion may be but slight, and +Perboewatan is, as you see, about four miles off. People in the +neighbourhood of the straits and passing ships are so accustomed to +volcanic explosions on a more or less grand scale that they will never +notice this little cloud hanging over Krakatoa. Those who, like myself, +know the ancient history of the island, regard it in a more serious +light, but we may be wrong. Come, now, we will descend again and have a +ramble over part of the island. It will interest you. Not many men have +penetrated its luxuriant forests or know their secrets. I have wandered +through them in all directions, and can guide you. Indeed, Moses could +do that as well as I, for he has lived with me many years. Come."</p> + +<p>Returning to the cavern they found that the active negro had not only +finished his breakfast, but had washed the dishes and cleared up the +kitchen, so that he was quite ready to shoulder a wallet and a gun when +his master bade him prepare for a day in the forest.</p> + +<p>It is not, however, our intention to follow the trio thither. Matters +of greater interest, if not importance, claim our attention at present. +Let it suffice to say, therefore, that after a most delightful day, +spent in wandering amongst the luxuriant tropical vegetation with which +the island was densely covered, visiting one of the extinct craters, +bathing in one of the numerous hot springs, and collecting many objects +of interest to the hermit, in the shape of botanical and geological +specimens, they returned in the evening to their cavern-house not only +ready but eager for sustenance and repose.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_VIII' id='CHAPTER_VIII' />CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>PERBOEWATAN BECOMES MODERATELY VIOLENT.</h3> + + +<p>The cave was enshrouded in almost total darkness when they entered it, +but this was quickly dispelled, to Nigel's no little surprise, by the +rays of a magnificent oil lamp, which Moses lighted and placed on the +table in the larger cave. A smaller one of the same kind already +illuminated the kitchen.</p> + +<p>Not much conversation was indulged in during the progress of the supper +that was soon spread upon the rude table. The three men, being +uncommonly hungry and powerfully robust, found in food a sufficient +occupation for their mouths for some time.</p> + +<p>After supper they became a little, but not much, more sociable, for, +although Nigel's active mind would gladly have found vent in +conversation, he experienced some difficulty in making headway against +the discouragement of Van der Kemp's very quiet disposition, and the +cavernous yawns with which Moses displayed at once his desire for +slumber and his magnificent dental arrangements.</p> + +<p>"We always retire early to rest after a day of this sort," said the +hermit at last, turning to his guest. "Do you feel disposed for bed?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do," said Nigel, with a half-suppressed yawn, that was +irresistibly dragged out of him by the sight of another earthquake on +the negro's face.</p> + +<p>"Come, then, I will show you your berth; we have no bedrooms here," said +the hermit, with a sort of deprecatory smile, as he led the way to the +darker end of the cavern, where he pointed to a little recess in which +there was a pile of something that smelt fresh and looked like heather, +spread on which there was a single blanket.</p> + +<p>"Sailors are said to be indifferent to sheets. You won't miss them, I +daresay?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least," returned Nigel, with a laugh. "Good-night," he +added, shaking hands with his host and suppressing another yawn, for +Moses' face, even in the extreme distance, was irresistibly infectious!</p> + +<p>Our hero was indifferent not only to sheets, but also, in certain +circumstances, to the usual habiliments of night. Indeed, while +travelling in out-of-the-way regions he held it to be a duty to undress +but partially before turning in, so that he might be ready for +emergencies.</p> + +<p>On lying down he found his mattress, whatever it was, to be a springy, +luxurious bed, and was about to resign himself to slumber when he +observed that, from the position in which he lay, he could see the +cavern in all its extent. Opening his half-closed eyes, therefore, he +watched the proceedings of his host, and in doing so, as well as in +speculating on his strange character and surroundings, he became +somewhat wakeful.</p> + +<p>He saw that Van der Kemp, returning to the other end of the cave, sat +down beside the lamp, the blaze of which fell full on his fine calm +countenance. A motion of his head brought Moses to him, who sat down +beside him and entered into earnest conversation, to judge from his +gestures, for nothing could be heard where Nigel lay save the monotonous +murmur of their voices. The hermit did not move. Except for an +occasional inclination of the head he appeared to be a grand classic +statue, but it was otherwise with the negro. His position in front of +the lamp caused him to look if possible even blacker than ever, and the +blackness was so uniform that his entire profile became strongly +pronounced, thus rendering every motion distinct, and the varied pouting +of his huge lips remarkably obvious. The extended left hand, too, with +the frequent thrusting of the index finger of the other into the palm, +was suggestive of argument, and of much reasoning effort—if not power.</p> + +<p>After about half-an-hour of conversation, Moses arose, shook his master +by the hand, appeared to say "Good-night" very obviously, yawned, and +retired to the kitchen, whence, in five minutes or so, there issued +sounds which betokened felicitous repose.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile his master sat motionless for some time, gazing at the floor +as if in meditation. Then he rose, went to his book-case and took down a +large thick volume, which he proceeded to read.</p> + +<p>Nigel had by that time dropped into a drowsy condition, yet his interest +in the doings of his strange entertainer was so great that he struggled +hard to keep awake, and partially succeeded.</p> + +<p>"I wonder," he muttered, in sleepy tones, "if that's a f—fam—'ly Bible +he's reading—or—or—a vol'm o' the En—Encyclopida Brit—"</p> + +<p>He dropped off at this point, but, feeling that he had given way to some +sort of weakness, he struggled back again into wakefulness, and saw that +the hermit was bending over the large book with his massive brow resting +on the palms of both hands, and his fingers thrust into his iron-grey +hair. It was evident, however, that he was not reading the book at that +moment, for on its pages was lying what seemed to be a miniature or +photograph case, at which he gazed intently. Nigel roused himself to +consider this, and in doing so again dropped off—not yet soundly, +however, for curiosity induced one more violent struggle, and he became +aware of the fact that the hermit was on his knees with his face buried +in his hands.</p> + +<p>The youth's thoughts must have become inextricably confused at this +point, yet their general drift was indicated by the muttered words: +"I—I'm glad o' that—a good sign—an'—an' it's <i>not</i> th' +Encyclop——." Here Morpheus finally conquered, and he sank into +dreamless repose.</p> + +<p>How long this condition lasted he could not tell, but he was awakened +violently by sensations and feelings of dread, which were entirely new +to him. The bed on which he rested seemed to heave under him, and his +ears were filled by sharp rattling sounds, something like—yet very +different from—the continuous roll of musketry.</p> + +<p>Starting up, he sprang into the large cavern where he found Van der Kemp +quietly tightening his belt and Moses hastily pulling on his boots.</p> + +<p>"Sometin's bu'sted an' no mistake!" exclaimed the latter.</p> + +<p>"An eruption from one of the cones," said the hermit. "I have been for a +long time expecting it. Come with us."</p> + +<p>He went swiftly up the staircase and passages which led to the +observatory as he spoke.</p> + +<p>The scene that met their eyes on reaching the ledge or plateau was +sublime in the extreme, as well as terrific.</p> + +<p>"As I thought," said Van der Kemp, in a low tone. "It is Perboewatan +that has broken out."</p> + +<p>"The cone from which I observed smoke rising?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"The same. The one over the very centre of the old crater, showing that +we were wrong in supposing it to be extinct: it was only slumbering. It +is in what vulcanologists term moderate eruption now, and, perhaps, may +prove a safety-valve which will prevent a more violent explosion."</p> + +<p>That the cone of Perboewatan was indeed in a state of considerable +activity, worthy of a stronger term than "moderate," was very obvious. +Although at a distance, as we have said, of four miles, the glare of its +fires on the three figures perched near the top of Rakata was very +intense, while explosion after explosion sent molten lava and red-hot +rocks, pumice, and dust, high into the thickening air—clouds of smoke +and steam being vomited forth at the same time. The wind, of which there +was very little, blew it all away from the position occupied by the +three observers.</p> + +<p>"What if the wind were to change and blow it all this way?" asked Nigel, +with very pardonable feelings of discomfort.</p> + +<p>"We could return to the cavern," said the hermit.</p> + +<p>"But what if Rakata itself should become active?"</p> + +<p>It was evident from the very solemn expression on the negro's face that +he awaited the reply to Nigel's question with some anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Rakata," answered the hermit thoughtfully, "although the highest cone, +is the one most distant from the great centre of activity. It is +therefore not likely that the volcanic energy will seek a vent here +while there are other cones between us and Perboewatan. But we shall +soon see whether the one vent is likely to suffice. There is undoubtedly +no diminution in the explosions at present."</p> + +<p>There certainly was not, for the voice of the speaker was almost drowned +by the horrible din caused, apparently, by the hurtling of innumerable +fragments of rock and stones in the air, while a succession of fiery +flashes, each followed by a loud explosion, lit up the dome-shaped mass +of vapour that was mounting upwards and spreading over the sky. Vivid +flashes of lightning were also seen playing around the vapour-column. At +the same time, there began a fall of fine white dust, resembling snow, +which soon covered the foliage and the ground of all the lower part of +the island. The sea around was also ere long covered with masses of +pumice, which, being very light, floated away into the Indian ocean, and +these were afterwards encountered in large quantities by various vessels +passing through Sunda Straits.</p> + +<p>The Scientific Committee, which ultimately wrote on the details of this +eruption in Krakatoa, mention this first outburst as being a phase of +moderate activity, similar to that which is said to have been exhibited +for some months during the years 1680 and 1681, and they added that "the +outburst was one of considerable violence, especially at its +commencement," that falls of dust were noticed at the distance of three +hundred miles, and that "the commander of the German war-vessel +<i>Elizabeth</i> estimated the height of the dust-column issuing from the +volcano at 11 kilometres (36,000 feet or about 7 miles)."<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>To our hero, however, and to Moses, the outburst seemed anything but +"moderate," and that night as they two sat together in the cave after +supper, listening with awe-struck faces to the cannonading and wild +musketry going on as it seemed under their very feet, the negro solemnly +imparted to Nigel in a low whisper that he thought "de end ob de wurld +hab come at last!"</p> + +<p>Returning at that moment from his observatory, to which he had ascended +for a few minutes to view the scene through one of his glasses, Van der +Kemp relieved their anxieties somewhat by remarking, in his quiet +manner, that there was a distinct diminution in the violence of the +explosions, and that, from his knowledge and experience of other +volcanoes in Java, Sumatra, and elsewhere, he thought it probable they +had seen the worst of it at that time, and that none of the other cones +would be likely to break out.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear you say so," observed Nigel, "for although the sight +is extremely magnificent and very interesting, both from a scientific +and artistic point of view, I cannot help thinking that we should be +safer away from this island at present—at least while the volcano is +active."</p> + +<p>The hermit smiled almost pitifully. "I do not apprehend danger," he +said, "at least nothing unusual. But it happens that my business +requires me to leave in the course of a few days at any rate, so, +whether the eruption becomes fiercer or feebler, it will not matter to +us. I have preparations to make, however, and I have no doubt you won't +object to remain till all is ready for a start?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, as to that," returned the youth, slightly hurt by the implied doubt +as to his courage, "if <i>you</i> are willing to risk going off the earth +like a skyrocket, I am quite ready to take my chance of following you!"</p> + +<p>"An' Moses am de man," said the negro, smiting his broad chest with his +fist, "what's ready to serve as a rocket-stick to bof, an' go up along +wid you!"</p> + +<p>The hermit made the nearest approach to a laugh which Nigel had yet +seen, as he left the cave to undertake some of the preparations above +referred to.</p> + +<div class='footnotes'><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name='Footnote_2_2' id='Footnote_2_2'></a><a href='#FNanchor_2_2'><span class='label'>[2]</span></a> See <i>The Eruption of Krakatoa and Subsequent Phenomena</i>, p. +11. (Trübner and Co., London.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_IX' id='CHAPTER_IX' />CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEETING UNDER PECULIAR +CIRCUMSTANCES.</h3> + + +<p>There is unquestionably a class of men—especially Englishmen—who are +deeply imbued with the idea that the Universe in general, and our world +in particular, has been created with a view to afford them what they +call fun.</p> + +<p>"It would be great fun," said an English commercial man to a friend who +sat beside him, "to go and have a look at this eruption. They say it is +Krakatoa which has broken out after a sleep of two centuries, and as it +has been bursting away now for nearly a week, it is likely to hold on +for some time longer. What would you say to charter a steamer and have a +grand excursion to the volcano?"</p> + +<p>The friend said he thought it would indeed be "capital fun!"</p> + +<p>We have never been able to ascertain who these Englishmen were, but they +must have been men of influence, or able to move men of influence, for +they at once set to work and organised an excursion.</p> + +<p>The place where this excursion was organised was Batavia. Although that +city was situated in Java, nearly a hundred miles distant from Krakatoa, +the inhabitants had not only heard distinctly the explosions of the +volcano, but had felt some quakings of the earth and much rattling of +doors and windows, besides a sprinkling of ashes, which indicated that +the eruption, even in that eruptive region, was of unusual violence. +They little imagined to what mighty throes the solid rocks of Krakatoa +were yet to be subjected before those volcanic fires could find a vent. +Meanwhile, as we have said, there was enough of the unusual in it to +warrant our merchants in their anticipation of a considerable amount of +fun.</p> + +<p>A steamer was got ready; a number of sightseeing enthusiasts were +collected, and they set forth on the morning of the 26th of May. Among +these excursionists was our friend Captain David Roy—not that <i>he</i> was +addicted to running about in search of "fun," but, being unavoidably +thrown idle at the time, and having a poetical turn of mind—derived +from his wife—he thought he could not do better than take a run to the +volcano and see how his son was getting along.</p> + +<p>The party reached the scene of the eruption on the morning of the 27th, +having witnessed during the night several tolerably strong explosions, +which were accompanied by earthquake shocks. It was found that Krakatoa +and all the adjoining islands were covered with a fine white dust, like +snow, and that the trees on the northern part of the former island and +Varlaten had been to a great extent deprived of their leaves and +branches by falling pumice, while those on Lang Island and Polish Hat, +as well as those on the Peak of Rakata, had to a great extent +escaped—no doubt owing to the prevailing direction of the wind.</p> + +<p>It was soon seen that Perboewatan on Krakatoa was the cone in active +eruption, and the steamer made for its neighbourhood, landing her party +within a short distance of its base. Explosions were occurring at +intervals of from five to ten minutes. Each explosion being accompanied +by an uncovering of the molten lava in the vent, the overhanging +steam-cloud was lighted up with a grand glow for a few seconds. Some of +the party, who seemed to be authorities on such matters, estimated that +the vapour-column rose to a height of nearly 10,000 feet, and that +fragments of pumice were shot upwards to a height of 600 feet.</p> + +<p>"That's a sign that the violence of the eruption is diminished," +remarked the young merchant, who was in search of fun, as he prepared to +wade ankle-deep in the loose pumice up the slopes of the cone.</p> + +<p>"Diminished!" repeated our captain, who had fraternised much with this +merchant during their short voyage. "If that's what you call +diminishin', I shouldn't like to be here when it's increasin'."</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" exclaimed the merchant, "that's nothing. I've seen, at other +volcanoes, pieces of pumice blown up so high that they've been caught by +the upper currents of the atmosphere and carried away in an opposite +direction to the wind that was blowing below at the time. Ay, I believe +that dust is sometimes blown <i>miles</i> up into the air."</p> + +<p>As Captain Roy thought that the merchant was drawing the long bow he +made no reply, but changed the subject by asking what was the height of +Perboewatan.</p> + +<p>"Three hundred feet or thereabouts," replied his friend.</p> + +<p>"I hope my son will have the sense to clear out of the island if things +look like gittin' worse," muttered the captain, as an unusually violent +explosion shook the whole side of the cone.</p> + +<p>"No fear of him," returned the merchant. "If he is visiting the hermit +of Rakata, as you tell me, he'll be safe enough. Although something of a +dare-devil, the hermit knows how to take care of himself. I'm afraid, +however, that you'll not find it so easy to 'look up' your son as you +seem to think. Just glance round at these almost impenetrable forests. +You don't know what part of the island he may be in just now; and you +might as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay as look for him +there. He is probably at the other end of Krakatoa—four or five miles +off—on the South side of Rakata, where the hermit's cave is supposed to +be, for no one seems to be quite sure as to its whereabouts. Besides, +you'll have to stick by the excursionists if you wish to return to +Batavia."</p> + +<p>Captain Roy paused for a moment to recover breath, and looking down upon +the dense tropical forest that stretched between him and the Peak of +Rakata, he shook his head, and admitted that the merchant was right. +Turning round he addressed himself once more to the ascent of the cone, +on the sides of which the whole excursion party now straggled and +struggled, remarking, as he panted along, that hill-climbing among ashes +and cinders didn't "come easy to a sea-farin' man."</p> + +<p>Now, nothing was more natural than that Van der Kemp and his guest +should be smitten with the same sort of desire which had brought these +excursionists from Batavia. The only thing that we do not pretend to +account for is the strange coincidence that they should have been so +smitten, and had so arranged their plans, that they arrived at +Perboewatan almost at the same time with the excursionists—only about +half an hour before them!</p> + +<p>Their preliminary walk, however, through the tangled, almost +impassable, forest had been very slow and toilsome, and having been +involved in its shadow from daybreak, they were, of course, quite +unaware of the approach of the steamer or the landing of the excursion +party.</p> + +<p>"If the volcano seems quieting down," said Nigel to his host, "shall you +start to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; by daybreak. Even if the eruption does <i>not</i> quiet down I must set +out, for my business presses."</p> + +<p>Nigel felt much inclined to ask what his business was, but there was a +quiet something in the air of the hermit, when he did not choose to be +questioned, which effectually silenced curiosity. Falling behind a +little, till the negro came up with him, Nigel tried to obtain +information from him, for he felt that he had a sort of right to know at +least something about the expedition in which he was about to act a +part.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Moses, what business your master is going about?" he +asked, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"No more nor de man ob de moon, Massa Nadgel," said Moses, with an air +at once so truthful and so solemn that the young man gave it up with a +laugh of resignation.</p> + +<p>On arriving at Perboewatan, and ascending its sides, they at last became +aware of the approach of the excursion steamer.</p> + +<p>"Strange," muttered the hermit, "vessels don't often touch here."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they have run short of water," suggested Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Even if they had it would not be worth their while to stop here for +that," returned the hermit, resuming the ascent of the cone after an +intervening clump of trees had shut out the steamer from view.</p> + +<p>It was with feelings of profound interest and considerable excitement +that our hero stood for the first time on the top of a volcanic cone and +gazed down into its glowing vent.</p> + +<p>The crater might be described as a huge basin of 3000 feet in diameter. +From the rim of this basin on which the visitors stood the sides sloped +so gradually inward that the flat floor at the bottom was not more than +half that diameter. This floor—which was about 150 feet below the upper +edge—was covered with a black crust, and in the centre of it was the +tremendous cavity—between one and two hundred feet in diameter—from +which issued the great steam-cloud. The cloud was mixed with quantities +of pumice and fragments of what appeared to be black glass. The roar of +this huge vent was deafening and stupendous. If the reader will reflect +on the wonderful hubbub that can be created even by a kitchen kettle +when superheated, and on the exasperating shrieks of a steamboat's +safety-valve in action, or the bellowing of a fog-horn, he may form some +idea of the extent of his incapacity to conceive the thunderous roar of +Krakatoa when it began to boil over.</p> + +<p>When to this awful sound there were added the intermittent explosions, +the horrid crackling of millions of rock-masses meeting in the air, and +the bubbling up of molten lava—verily it did not require the +imagination of a Dante to see in all this the very vomiting of Gehenna!</p> + +<p>So amazed and well-nigh stunned was Nigel at the sights and sounds that +he neither heard nor saw the arrival of the excursionists, until the +equally awe-stricken Moses touched him on the elbow and drew his +attention to several men who suddenly appeared on the crater-brim not +fifty yards off, but who, like themselves, were too much absorbed with +the volcano itself to observe the other visitors. Probably they took +them for some of their own party who had reached the summit before them.</p> + +<p>Nigel was yet looking at these visitors in some surprise, when an +elderly nautical man suddenly stood not twenty yards off gazing in +open-mouthed amazement, past our hero's very nose, at the volcanic +fires.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, Father!" shouted the one.</p> + +<p>"Zounds! Nigel!" exclaimed the other.</p> + +<p>Both men glared and were speechless for several seconds. Then Nigel +rushed at the captain, and the captain met him half-way, and they shook +hands with such hearty goodwill as to arrest in his operations for a few +moments a photographer who was hastily setting up his camera!</p> + +<p>Yes, science has done much to reveal the marvellous and arouse exalted +thoughts in the human mind, but it has also done something to crush +enthusiasts and shock the romantic. Veracity constrains us to state that +there he was, with his tripod, and his eager haste, and his hideous +black cloth, preparing to "take" Perboewatan on a "dry plate"! And he +"took" it too! And you may see it, if you will, as a marvellous +frontispiece to the volume by the "Krakatoa Committee"—a work which is +apparently as exhaustive of the subject of Krakatoa as was the great +explosion itself of those internal fires which will probably keep that +volcano quiet for the next two hundred years.</p> + +<p>But this was not the Great Eruption of Krakatoa—only a rehearsal, as it +were.</p> + +<p>"What brought you here, my son?" asked the captain, on recovering +speech.</p> + +<p>"My legs, father."</p> + +<p>"Don't be insolent, boy."</p> + +<p>"It's not insolence, father. It's only poetical licence, meant to assure +you that I did not come by 'bus or rail though you did by steamer! But +let me introduce you to my friend, Mr.——"</p> + +<p>He stopped short on looking round, for Van der Kemp was not there.</p> + +<p>"He goed away wheneber he saw de peepil comin' up de hill," said Moses, +who had watched the meeting of father and son with huge delight. "But +you kin interdooce <i>me</i> instead," he added, with a crater-like smile.</p> + +<p>"True, true," exclaimed Nigel, laughing. "This is Moses, father, my +host's servant, and my very good friend, and a remarkably free-and-easy +friend, as you see. He will guide us back to the cave, since Van der +Kemp seems to have left us."</p> + +<p>"Who's Van der Kemp?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"The hermit of Rakata, father—that's his name. His father was a +Dutchman and his mother an English or Irish woman—I forget which. He's +a splendid fellow; quite different from what one would expect; no more +like a hermit than a hermit-crab, except that he lives in a cave under +the Peak of Rakata, at the other end of the island. But you must come +with us and pay him a visit. He will be delighted to see you."</p> + +<p>"What! steer through a green sea of leaves like that?" said the captain, +stretching his arm towards the vast forest that lay stretched out below +them, "and on my legs, too, that have been used all their lives to a +ship's deck? No, my son. I will content myself with this lucky meetin'. +But, I say, Nigel, lad," continued the old man, somewhat more seriously, +"what if the Peak o' Ra—Ra, what's-'is-name, should take to spoutin' +like this one, an' you, as you say, livin' under it?"</p> + +<p>"Ha! das 'zackly what <i>I</i> say," interposed Moses. "Das what I oftin says +to massa, but he nebber answers. He only smile. Massa's not always so +purlite as he might be!"</p> + +<p>"There is no fear," said Nigel, "not at present, anyhow, for Van der +Kemp says that the force of this eruption is diminishing—"</p> + +<p>"It don't look much like it," muttered the captain, as the volcano at +that moment gave vent to a burst which seemed like a sarcastic laugh at +the hermit's opinion, and sent the more timid of the excursionists +sprawling down the cinder-slope in great alarm.</p> + +<p>"There's reason in what you say, father," said Nigel, when the +diminution of noise rendered speech more easy; "and after all, as we +start off on our travels to-morrow, your visit could not have been a +long one."</p> + +<p>"Where do you go first?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Not sure. Do <i>you</i> know, Moses?"</p> + +<p>"No; no more 'n de man ob de moon. P'r'aps Borneo. He go dar sometimes."</p> + +<p>At this point another roar from the volcano, and a shout from the +leader of the excursionists to return on board, broke up the conference.</p> + +<p>"Well, lad, I'm glad I've seen you. Don't forget to write your +whereabouts. They say there's a lot o' wild places as well as wild men +and beasts among them islands, so keep your weather-eye open an' your +powder dry. Good-bye, Nigel. Take care of him, Moses, and keep him out +o' mischief if ye can—which is more than ever I could. Good-bye, my +boy."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, father."</p> + +<p>They shook hands vigorously. In another minute the old seaman was +sailing down the cinder-cone at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, +while his son, setting off under the guidance of Moses towards a +different point of the compass, was soon pushing his way through the +tangled forest in the direction of the hermit's cave.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_X' id='CHAPTER_X' />CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>A CURIOUS SEA-GOING CRAFT—THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE BEGUN.</h3> + + +<p>It was early next morning when Van der Kemp and his man left their +couches and descended to the shore, leaving their visitor enjoying the +benefit of that profound slumber which bids defiance to turmoil and +noise, however stupendous, and which seems to be the peculiar privilege +of healthy infants and youthful seamen.</p> + +<p>Perboewatan had subsided considerably towards morning, and had taken to +that internal rumbling, which in the feline species indicates mitigated +indignation. The hermit had therefore come to the conclusion that the +outburst was over, and went with Moses to make arrangements for setting +forth on his expedition after breakfast.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely left the cave when Nigel awoke. Feeling indisposed for +further repose, he got up and went out in that vague state of mind which +is usually defined as "having a look at the weather." Whether or not he +gathered much information from the look we cannot tell, but, taking up +his short gun, which stood handy at the entrance of the cave, he +sauntered down the path which his host had followed a short time before. +Arrived at the shore, he observed that a branch path diverged to the +left, and appeared to run in the direction of a high precipice. He +turned into it, and after proceeding through the bushes for a short way +he came quite unexpectedly on a cavern, the mouth of which resembled, +but was much higher and wider than that which led to the hermit's home.</p> + +<p>Just as he approached it there issued from its gloomy depths a strange +rumbling sound which induced him to stop and cock his gun. A curious +feeling of serio-comic awe crept over him as the idea of a fiery dragon +leaped into his mind! At the same time, the fancy that the immense abyss +of darkness might be one of the volcanic vents diminished the comic and +increased the serious feeling. Ere long the sound assumed the definite +tone of footsteps, and the dragon fancy seemed about to become a reality +when he beheld a long narrow thing of uncertain form emerging from the +darkness.</p> + +<p>"It must be coming out tail-foremost!" he muttered, with a short laugh +at his semi-credulity.</p> + +<p>Another instant and the hermit emerged into the blazing sunshine, and +stood pictured against the intense darkness like a being of +supernatural radiance, with the end of a long narrow canoe on his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>As Nigel passed round a bush to reach him he perceived the dark form of +Moses emerging from the depths and supporting the body of the canoe.</p> + +<p>"I see you are active and an early riser," said the hermit, with a nod +of approval on seeing our hero.</p> + +<p>"I almost took you for a Krakatoa monster!" said Nigel, as they came out +in front of the cavern and laid the canoe on the ground. "Why, you've +got here one of the craft which we in England call a Rob Roy canoe!"</p> + +<p>"It is fashioned on the same pattern," said the hermit, "but with one or +two alterations of my own devising, and an improvement—as I +think—founded on what I have myself seen, when travelling with the +Eskimos of Greenland."</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp here pointed out that the canoe was not only somewhat +broader than the kind used in England, but was considerably longer, and +with three openings or manholes in the deck, so that it was capable of +holding three persons. Also, that there was a large rounded mass of wood +fixed in front of the three manholes.</p> + +<p>"These saddles, as I call them," said the hermit, "have been suggested +to me by the Eskimos, who, instead of wearying their arms by supporting +the double-bladed paddle continuously, rest it on the saddle and let it +slide about thereon while being used. Thus they are able to carry a much +longer and heavier paddle than that used in the Rob Roy canoe, the +weight of which, as it rests on the saddle, is not felt. Moreover it +does not require nearly so much dip to put it in the water. I have heard +of a sort of upright with a universal joint being applied to the English +canoe, but it seems to me a much more clumsy and much less effective, +because rigid, contrivance than the Eskimo saddle. Inside, under the +deck, as I will show you by and by, I have lighter and shorter paddles +for use when in narrow rivers, but I prefer the long heavy paddle when +traversing great stretches of ocean."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say you ever go to sea in an eggshell like that!" +exclaimed Nigel in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Indeed we do," returned the hermit, "and we are fitted out for longish +voyages and rough weather. Besides, it is not so much of an eggshell as +you suppose. I made it myself, and took care that it should be fit for +the work required of it. The wood of which it is made, although light, +is very tough, and it is lined with a skin of strong canvas which is +fixed to the planks with tar. This makes the craft watertight as well as +strong. The ribs also are very light and close together, and every sixth +rib is larger and stronger than the others and made of tougher wood. +All these ribs are bound together by longitudinal pieces, or laths, of +very tough wood, yet so thin that the whole machine is elastic without +being weak. Besides this, there are two strong oiled-canvas partitions, +which divide the canoe into three water-tight compartments, any two of +which will float it if the third should get filled."</p> + +<p>"Is this then the craft in which you intend to voyage?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"It is. We shall start in an hour or two. I keep it in this cave because +it is near the landing-place. But come, you will understand things +better when you see us making our arrangements. Of course you understand +how to manage sails of every kind?"</p> + +<p>"If I did not it would ill become me to call myself a sailor," returned +our hero.</p> + +<p>"That is well, because you will sit in the middle, from which position +the sail is partly managed. I usually sit in the bow to have free range +for the use of my gun, if need be, and Moses steers."</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp proceeded down the track as he said this, having, with the +negro, again lifted the canoe on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>A few minutes' walk brought them to the beach at the spot where Nigel +had originally landed. Here a quantity of cargo lay on the rocks ready +to be placed in the canoe. There were several small bags of pemmican, +which Van der Kemp had learned to make while travelling on the prairies +of North America among the Red Indians,—for this singular being seemed +to have visited most parts of the habitable globe during his not yet +very long life. There were five small casks of fresh water, two or three +canisters of gunpowder, a small box of tea and another of sugar, besides +several bags of biscuits. There were also other bags and boxes which did +not by their appearance reveal their contents, and all the articles were +of a shape and size which seemed most suitable for passing through the +manholes, and being conveniently distributed and stowed in the three +compartments of the canoe. There was not very much of anything, however, +so that when the canoe was laden and ready for its voyage, the hermit +and his man were still able to raise and carry it on their shoulders +without the assistance of Nigel.</p> + +<p>There was one passenger whom we have not yet mentioned, namely, a small +monkey which dwelt in the cave with the canoe, and which, although +perfectly free to come and go when he pleased, seldom left the cave +except for food, but seemed to have constituted himself the guardian of +the little craft.</p> + +<p>Spinkie, as Moses had named him, was an intensely affectionate creature, +with a countenance of pathetic melancholy which utterly belied his +character, for mischief and fun were the dominating qualities of that +monkey. He was seated on a water-cask when Nigel first caught sight of +him, holding the end of his long tail in one hand, and apparently wiping +his nose with it.</p> + +<p>"Is that what he is doing?" asked Nigel of the negro.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, Massa Nadgel," said Moses. "Spinkie nebber ketch cold an' hab no +need ob a pocket-hangkitcher. He only tickles his nose wid 'is tail. But +he's bery fond ob doin' dat."</p> + +<p>Being extremely fond of monkeys, Nigel went forward to fondle him, and +Spinkie being equally fond of fondling, resigned himself placidly—after +one interrogative gaze of wide-eyed suspicion—into the stranger's +hands. A lifelong friendship was cemented then and there.</p> + +<p>After stowing the cargo the party returned to the upper cavern, leaving +the monkey to guard the canoe.</p> + +<p>"An' he's a good defender ob it," said Moses, "for if man or beast +happen to come near it when Spinkie's in charge, dat monkey sets up a +skriekin' fit to cause a 'splosion ob Perboewatan!"</p> + +<p>Breakfast over, the hermit put his cave in order for a pretty long +absence, and they again descended to the shore, each man carrying his +bed on his shoulder. Each bed, however, was light and simple. It +consisted merely of one blanket wrapped up in an oil-cloth sheet. +Besides, an old-fashioned powder-flask and shot belt. Van der Kemp and +Nigel had slung a bullet-pouch on their shoulders, and carried small +hatchets and hunting-knives in their belts. Moses was similarly armed, +with this difference, that his <i>couteau de chasse</i> bore stronger +resemblance to an ancient Roman sword than a knife, and his axe was of +larger size than the hatchets of his companions.</p> + +<p>Launching the canoe, the hermit and his man held it fast at either end +while Nigel was directed to take his place in the central of the three +openings or manholes. He did so and found himself seated on a flat board +on the bottom of the canoe, which was so shallow that the deck scarcely +rose as high as his waist.</p> + +<p>Round the manhole there was a ledge of thin wood, about three inches +high, to which a circular apron of oiled canvas was attached.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you'd better understand that thing before we start," said Van der +Kemp, observing that Nigel was examining the contrivance with some +curiosity. "It's an apron to tie round you in bad weather to keep the +water out. In fine weather it is rolled as you see it now round the +ledge. Undo the buckle before and behind and you will see how it is to +be used."</p> + +<p>Acting as directed, Nigel unbuckled the roll and found that he was +surrounded by a sort of petticoat of oil-skin which could be drawn up +and buckled round his chest. In this position it could be kept by a loop +attached to a button, or a wooden pin, thrust through the coat.</p> + +<p>"You see," explained the hermit, "the waves may wash all over our deck +and round our bodies without being able to get into the canoe while we +have these things on—there are similar protections round the other +holes."</p> + +<p>"I understand," said Nigel. "But how if water gets in through a leak +below?"</p> + +<p>"Do you see that brass thing in front of you?" returned the hermit. +"That is a pump which is capable of keeping under a pretty extensive +leak. The handle unships, so as to be out of the way when not wanted. I +keep it here, under the deck in front of me, along with mast and sails +and a good many other things."</p> + +<p>As he spoke he raised a plank of the deck in front of the foremost hole, +and disclosed a sort of narrow box about six feet long by six inches +broad. The plank was hinged at one end and fastened with a hook at the +other so as to form a lid to the box. The hole thus disclosed was not an +opening into the interior of the canoe, but was a veritable watertight +box just under the deck, so that even if it were to get filled with +water not a drop could enter the canoe itself. But the plank-lid was so +beautifully fitted, besides shutting tightly down on indiarubber, that +the chance of leakage through that source was very remote. Although very +narrow, this box was deep, and contained a variety of useful implements; +among them a slender mast and tiny sail, which could be rendered still +smaller by means of reef points. All these things were fitted into their +respective places with so keen an eye to economy of space that the +arrangement cannot be better described than by the familiar +phrase—<i>multum, in parvo.</i></p> + +<p>"We don't use the sails much; we depend chiefly on this," said the +hermit, as he seated himself in the front hole and laid the long, heavy, +double-bladed paddle on the saddle in front of him. Moses uses a single +blade, partly because it is handier for steering and partly because he +has been accustomed to it in his own land. You are at liberty to use +which you prefer."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, I will follow the lead of Moses, for I also have been +accustomed to the single blade and prefer it—at least while I am one of +three. If alone, I should prefer the double blade."</p> + +<p>"Now, Moses, are you ready?" asked the hermit.</p> + +<p>"All ready, massa."</p> + +<p>"Get in then and shove off. Come along, Spinkie."</p> + +<p>The monkey, which all this time had been seated on a rock looking on +with an expression of inconsolable sorrow, at once accepted the +invitation, and with a lively bound alighted on the deck close to the +little mast, which had been set up just in front of Nigel, and to which +it held on when the motions of the canoe became unsteady.</p> + +<p>"You need not give yourself any concern about Spinkie," said the hermit, +as they glided over the still water of the little cove in which the +canoe and boat were harboured. "He is quite able to take care of +himself."</p> + +<p>Bounding the entrance to the cove and shooting out into the ocean under +the influence of Van der Kemp's powerful strokes, they were soon clear +of the land, and proceeded eastward at a rate which seemed unaccountable +to our hero, for he had not sufficiently realised the fact that in +addition to the unusual physical strength of Van der Kemp as well as +that of Moses, to say nothing of his own, the beautiful fish-like +adaptation of the canoe to the water, the great length and leverage of +the bow paddle, and the weight of themselves as well as the cargo, gave +this canoe considerable advantage over other craft of the kind.</p> + +<p>About a quarter of an hour later the sun arose in cloudless splendour on +a perfectly tranquil sea, lighted up the shores of Java, glinted over +the mountains of Sumatra, and flooded, as with a golden haze, the +forests of Krakatoa—emulating the volcanic fires in gilding the volumes +of smoke that could be seen rolling amid fitful mutterings from +Perboewatan, until the hermit's home sank from view in the western +horizon.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XI' id='CHAPTER_XI' />CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>CANOEING ON THE SEA—A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT-SURPRISE AND SUDDEN FLIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>At first the voyagers paddled over the glassy sea in almost total +silence.</p> + +<p>Nigel was occupied with his own busy thoughts; speculating on the +probable end and object of their voyage, and on the character, the +mysterious life, and unknown history of the man who sat in front of him +wielding so powerfully the great double-bladed paddle. Van der Kemp +himself was, as we have said, naturally quiet and silent, save when +roused by a subject that interested him. As for Moses, although quite +ready at any moment to indulge in friendly intercourse, he seldom +initiated a conversation, and Spinkie, grasping the mast and leaning +against it with his head down, seemed to be either asleep or brooding +over his sorrows. Only a few words were uttered now and then when Nigel +asked the name of a point or peak which rose in the distance on either +hand. It seemed as if the quiescence of sea and air had fallen like a +soft mantle on the party and subdued them into an unusually sluggish +frame of mind.</p> + +<p>They passed through the Sunda Straits between Sumatra and Java—not more +at the narrowest part than about thirteen miles wide—and, in course of +time, found themselves in the great island-studded archipelago beyond.</p> + +<p>About noon they all seemed to wake up from their lethargic state. Van +der Kemp laid down his paddle, and, looking round, asked Nigel if he +felt tired.</p> + +<p>"Not in the least," he replied, "but I feel uncommonly hungry, and I +have just been wondering how you manage to feed when at sea in so small +a craft."</p> + +<p>"Ho! ho!" laughed Moses, in guttural tones, "you soon see dat—I 'spose +it time for me to get out de grub, massa?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Moses—let's have it."</p> + +<p>The negro at once laid down his steering paddle and lifted a small +square hatch or lid in the deck which was rendered watertight by the +same means as the lid in front already described. From the depths thus +revealed he extracted a bird of some sort that had been shot and baked +the day before. Tearing off a leg he retained it and handed the +remainder to Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Help you'self, Massa Nadgel, an' pass 'im forid."</p> + +<p>Without helping himself he passed it on to Van der Kemp, who drew his +knife, sliced off a wing with a mass of breast, and returned the rest.</p> + +<p>"Always help yourself <i>before</i> passing the food in future," said the +hermit; "we don't stand on ceremony here."</p> + +<p>Nigel at once fell in with their custom, tore off the remaining +drumstick and began.</p> + +<p>"Biskit," said Moses, with his mouth full, "an' look out for Spinkie."</p> + +<p>He handed forward a deep tray of the sailor's familiar food, but Nigel +was too slow to profit by the warning given, for Spinkie darted both +hands into the tray and had stuffed his mouth and cheeks full almost +before a man could wink! The negro would have laughed aloud, but the +danger of choking was too great; he therefore laughed internally—an +operation which could not be fully understood unless seen. "'Splosions +of Perboewatan," may suggest the thing.</p> + +<p>Sorrow, grief—whatever it was that habitually afflicted that +monkey—disappeared for the time being, while it devoted itself heart +and soul to dinner.</p> + +<p>Feelings of a somewhat similar kind animated Nigel as he sat leaning +back with his mouth full, a biscuit in one hand, and a drumstick in the +other, and his eyes resting dreamily on the horizon of the still +tranquil sea, while the bright sun blazed upon his already bronzed face.</p> + +<p>To many men the fierce glare of the equatorial sun might have proved +trying, but Nigel belonged to the salamander type of humanity and +enjoyed the great heat. Van der Kemp seemed to be similarly moulded, and +as for Moses, he was in his native element—so was Spinkie.</p> + +<p>Strange as it may seem, sea-birds appeared to divine what was going on, +for several specimens came circling round the canoe with great +outstretched and all but motionless wings, and with solemn sidelong +glances of hope which Van der Kemp evidently could not resist, for he +flung them scraps of his allowance from time to time.</p> + +<p>"If you have plenty of provisions on board, I should like to do that +too," said Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Do it," returned the hermit. "We have plenty of food for some days, and +our guns can at any time replenish the store. I like to feed these +creatures," he added, "they give themselves over so thoroughly to the +enjoyment of the moment, and <i>seem</i> to be grateful. Whether they are so +or not, of course, is matter of dispute. Cynics will tell us that they +only come to us and fawn upon us because of the memory of past favours +and the hope of more to come. I don't agree with them."</p> + +<p>"Neither do I," said Nigel, warmly. "Any man who has ever had to do +with dogs knows full well that gratitude is a strong element of their +nature. And it seems to me that the speaking eyes of Spinkie, to whom I +have just given a bit of biscuit, tell of a similar spirit."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Nigel was conveying another piece of biscuit to his own +mouth, when a small brown hand flashed before him, and the morsel, in +the twinkling of an eye, was transferred to the monkey's already swollen +cheek—whereat Moses again became suddenly "'splosive" and red, as well +as black in the face, for his capacious mouth was inordinately full as +usual.</p> + +<p>Clear water, from one of the casks, and poured into a tin mug, washed +down their cold collation, and then, refreshed and reinvigorated, the +trio resumed their paddles, which were not again laid down till the sun +was descending towards the western horizon. By that time they were not +far from a small wooded islet near the coast of Java, on which Van der +Kemp resolved to spend the night.</p> + +<p>During the day they had passed at some distance many boats and <i>praus</i> +and other native vessels, the crews of which ceased to row for a few +moments, and gazed with curiosity at the strange craft which glided +along so swiftly, and seemed to them little more than a long plank on +the water, but these took no further notice of our voyagers. They also +passed several ships—part of that constant stream of vessels which pass +westward through those straits laden with the valuable teas and rich +silks of China and Japan. In some cases a cheer of recognition, as being +an exceptional style of craft, was accorded them, to which the hermit +replied with a wave of the hand—Moses and Nigel with an answering +cheer.</p> + +<p>There is something very pleasant in the rest which follows a day of hard +and healthful toil. Our Maker has so ordained it as well as stated it, +for is it not written, "The sleep of the labouring man is sweet"? and +our travellers experienced the truth of the statement that night in very +romantic circumstances.</p> + +<p>The small rocky islet, not more than a few hundred yards in diameter, +which they now approached had several sheltered sandy bays on its shore, +which were convenient for landing. The centre was clothed with +palm-trees and underwood, so that fuel could be procured, and +cocoa-nuts.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes," said the hermit, while he stooped to arrange the fire, +after the canoe and cargo had been carried to their camping-place at the +edge of the bushes,—"sometimes it is necessary to keep concealed while +travelling in these regions, and I carry a little spirit-lamp which +enables me to heat a cup of tea or coffee without making a dangerous +blaze; but here there is little risk in kindling a fire."</p> + +<p>"I should not have thought there was any risk at all in these peaceful +times," said Nigel, as he unstrapped his blanket and spread it on the +ground under an overhanging bush.</p> + +<p>"There are no peaceful times among pirates," returned the hermit; "and +some of the traders in this archipelago are little better than pirates."</p> + +<p>"Where I puts your bed, massa?" asked Moses, turning his huge eyes on +his master.</p> + +<p>"There—under the bush, beside Nigel."</p> + +<p>"An' where would <i>you</i> like to sleep, Massa Spinkie?" added the negro, +with a low obeisance to the monkey, which sat on the top of what seemed +to be its favourite seat—a watercask.</p> + +<p>Spinkie treated the question with calm contempt, turned his head +languidly to one side, and scratched himself.</p> + +<p>"Unpurliteness is your k'racter from skin to marrow, you son of a +insolent mother!" said Moses, shaking his fist, whereat Spinkie, +promptly making an O of his mouth, looked fierce.</p> + +<p>The sagacious creature remained where he was till after supper, which +consisted of another roast fowl—hot this time—and ship's-biscuit +washed down with coffee. Of course Spinkie's portion consisted only of +the biscuit with a few scraps of cocoa-nut. Having received it he +quietly retired to his native wilds, with the intention of sleeping +there, according to custom, till morning; but his repose was destined to +be broken, as we shall see.</p> + +<p>After supper, the hermit, stretching himself on his blanket, filled an +enormous meerschaum, and began to smoke. The negro, rolling up a little +tobacco in tissue paper, sat down, tailor-wise, and followed his +master's example, while our hero—who did not smoke—lay between them, +and gazed contemplatively over the fire at the calm dark sea beyond, +enjoying the aroma of his coffee.</p> + +<p>"From what you have told me of your former trading expeditions," said +Nigel, looking at his friend, "you must have seen a good deal of this +archipelago before you took—excuse me—to the hermit life."</p> + +<p>"Ay—a good deal."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever travelled in the interior of the larger islands?" asked +Nigel, in the hope of drawing from him some account of his experiences +with wild beasts or wild men—he did not care which, so long as they +were wild!</p> + +<p>"Yes, in all of them," returned the hermit, curtly, for he was not fond +of talking about himself.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the larger islands are densely wooded?" continued Nigel +interrogatively.</p> + +<p>"They are, very."</p> + +<p>"But the wood is not of much value, I fancy, in the way of trade," +pursued our hero, adopting another line of attack which proved +successful, for Van der Kemp turned his eyes on him with a look of +surprise that almost forced him to laugh.</p> + +<p>"Not of much value in the way of trade!" he repeated—"forgive me, if I +express surprise that you seem to know so little about us—but, after +all, the world is large, and one cannot become deeply versed in +everything."</p> + +<p>Having uttered this truism, the hermit resumed his meerschaum and +continued to gaze thoughtfully at the embers of the fire. He remained so +long silent that Nigel began to despair, but thought he would try him +once again on the same lines.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," he said in a careless way, "that none of the islands are +big enough to contain many of the larger wild animals."</p> + +<p>"My friend," returned Van der Kemp, with a smile of urbanity, as he +refilled his pipe, "it is evident that you do not know much about our +archipelago. Borneo, to the woods and wild animals of which I hope ere +long to introduce you, is so large that if you were to put your British +islands, including Ireland, down on it they would be engulphed and +surrounded by a sea of forests. New Guinea is, perhaps, larger than +Borneo. Sumatra is only a little smaller. France is not so large as +some of our islands. Java, Luzon, and Celebes are each about equal in +size to Ireland. Eighteen more islands are, on the average, as large as +Jamaica, more than a hundred are as large as the Isle of Wight, and the +smaller isles and islets are innumerable. In short, our archipelago is +comparable with any of the primary divisions of the globe, being full +4000 miles in length from east to west and about 1,300 in breadth from +north to south, and would in extent more than cover the whole of +Europe."</p> + +<p>It was evident to Nigel that he had at length succeeded in opening the +floodgates. The hermit paused for a few moments and puffed at the +meerschaum, while Moses glared at his master with absorbed interest, and +pulled at the cigarette with such oblivious vigour that he drew it into +his mouth at last, spat it out, and prepared another. Nigel sat quite +silent and waited for more.</p> + +<p>"As to trade," continued Van der Kemp, resuming his discourse in a lower +tone, "why, of gold—the great representative of wealth—we export from +Sumatra alone over 26,000 ounces annually, and among other gold regions +we have a Mount Ophir in the Malay Peninsula from which there is a +considerable annual export."</p> + +<p>Continuing his discourse, Van der Kemp told a great deal more about the +products of these prolific islands with considerable enthusiasm—as one +who somewhat resented the underrating of his native land.</p> + +<p>"Were you born in this region, Van der Kemp?" asked Nigel, during a +brief pause.</p> + +<p>"I was—in Java. My father, as my name tells, was of Dutch descent. My +mother was Irish. Both are dead."</p> + +<p>He stopped. The fire that had been aroused seemed to die down, and he +continued to smoke with the sad absent look which was peculiar to him.</p> + +<p>"And what about large game?" asked Nigel, anxious to stir up his +friend's enthusiasm again, but the hermit had sunk back into his usual +condition of gentle dreaminess, and made no answer till the question had +been repeated.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," he said, "I was dreaming of the days that are gone. Ah! +Nigel; you are yet too young to understand the feelings of the old—the +sad memories of happy years that can never return: of voices that are +hushed for ever. No one can <i>know</i> till he has <i>felt</i>!"</p> + +<p>"But you are not old," said Nigel, wishing to turn the hermit's mind +from a subject on which it seemed to dwell too constantly.</p> + +<p>"Not in years," he returned; "but old, <i>very</i> old in experience, +and—stay, what was it that you were asking about? Ah, the big game. +Well, we have plenty of that in some of the larger of the islands; we +have the elephant, the rhinoceros, the tiger, the puma, that great +man-monkey the orang-utan, or, as it is called here, the mias, besides +wild pigs, deer, and innumerable smaller animals and birds—"</p> + +<p>The hermit stopped abruptly and sat motionless, with his head bent on +one side, like one who listens intently. Such an action is always +infectious. Nigel and the negro also listened, but heard nothing.</p> + +<p>By that time the fire had died down, and, not being required for warmth, +had not been replenished. The faint light of the coming moon, which, +however, was not yet above the horizon, only seemed to render darkness +visible, so that the figure of Moses was quite lost in the shadow of the +bush behind him, though the whites of his solemn eyes appeared like two +glow-worms.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear anything?" asked Nigel in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"Oars," answered the hermit.</p> + +<p>"I hear 'im, massa," whispered the negro, "but das not +su'prisin'—plenty boats about."</p> + +<p>"This boat approaches the island, and I can tell by the sound that it is +a large <i>prau</i>. If it touches here it will be for the purpose of +spending the night, and Malay boatmen are not always agreeable +neighbours. However, it is not likely they will ramble far from where +they land, so we may escape observation if we keep quiet."</p> + +<p>As he spoke he emptied the remains of the coffee on the dying fire and +effectually put it out.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the sound of oars had become quite distinct, and, as had been +anticipated, the crew ran their boat into one of the sandy bays and +leaped ashore with a good deal of shouting and noise. Fortunately they +had landed on the opposite side of the islet, and as the bush on it was +very dense there was not much probability of any one crossing over. Our +voyagers therefore lay close, resolving to be off in the morning before +the unwelcome visitors were stirring.</p> + +<p>As the three lay there wrapped in their blankets and gazing +contemplatively at the now risen moon, voices were heard as if of men +approaching. It was soon found that two of the strangers had sauntered +round by the beach and were slowly drawing near the encampment.</p> + +<p>Nigel observed that the hermit had raised himself on one elbow and +seemed to be again listening intently.</p> + +<p>The two men halted on reaching the top of the ridges of rock which +formed one side of the little bay, and their voices became audible +though too far distant to admit of words being distinguishable. At the +same time their forms were clearly defined against the sky.</p> + +<p>Nigel glanced at Van der Kemp and was startled by the change that had +come over him. The moonbeams, which had by that time risen above some +intervening shrubs, shone full on him and showed that his usually quiet +gentle countenance was deadly pale and transformed by a frown of almost +tiger-like ferocity. So strange and unaccountable did this seem to our +hero that he lay quite still, as if spell-bound. Nor did his companions +move until the strangers, having finished their talk, turned to retrace +their steps and finally disappeared.</p> + +<p>Then Van der Kemp rose with a sigh of relief. The negro and Nigel also +sprang up.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong, massa?" asked Moses, in much anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, nothing," said the hermit hurriedly. "I must cross over to see +these fellows."</p> + +<p>"All right, massa. I go wid you."</p> + +<p>"No, I go alone."</p> + +<p>"Not widout arms?" exclaimed the negro, laying his hand on his master's +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Yes, without arms!" As he spoke he drew the long knife that usually +hung at his girdle and flung it down. "Now attend, both of you," he +added, with sudden and almost threatening earnestness.</p> + +<p>"Do not on any account follow me. I am quite able to take care of +myself."</p> + +<p>Next moment he glided into the bushes and was gone.</p> + +<p>"Can you guess what is the matter with him?" asked Nigel, turning to his +companion with a perplexed look.</p> + +<p>"Not more nor de man ob de moon. I nebber saw'd 'im like dat before. I +t'ink he's go mad! I tell you what—I'll foller him wid a rifle an' +knife and two revolvers."</p> + +<p>"You'll do nothing of the sort," said Nigel, laying hold of the negro's +wrist with a grip of iron; "when a man like Van der Kemp gives an order +it's the duty of inferior men like you and me strictly to obey."</p> + +<p>"Well—p'raps you're right, Nadgel," returned Moses calmly. "If you +wasn't, I'd knock you into de middle ob nixt week for takin' a grip o' +me like dat."</p> + +<p>"You'll wish yourself into the middle of next fortnight if you disobey +orders," returned our hero, tightening the grip.</p> + +<p>Moses threw back his head, opened his cavern, and laughed silently; at +the same time he twisted his arm free with a sudden wrench.</p> + +<p>"You's awrful strong, Nadgel, but you don't quite come up to niggers! +Howse'ber, you's right. I'll obey orders; neberdeless I'll get ready +for action."</p> + +<p>So saying, the negro extracted from the canoe several revolvers, two of +which he handed to Nigel, two he thrust into his own belt, and two he +laid handy for "massa" when he should return.</p> + +<p>"Now, if you're smart at arit'metic, you'll see dat six time six am +t'irty-six, and two double guns das forty—forty dead men's more 'n +enuff—besides de knives."</p> + +<p>Moses had barely finished these deadly preparations when Van der Kemp +returned as quietly as he had gone. His face was still fierce and +haggard, and his manner hurried though quite decided.</p> + +<p>"I have seen him," he said, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Seen who?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Him whom I had hoped and prayed never more to see. My enemy! Come, +quick, we must leave at once, and without attracting their notice."</p> + +<p>He gave his comrades no time to put further questions, but laid hold of +one end of the canoe; Moses took the other end and it was launched in a +few seconds, while Nigel carried down such part of the lading as had +been taken out. Five minutes sufficed to put all on board, and that +space of time was also sufficient to enable Spinkie to observe from his +retreat in the bushes that a departure was about to take place; he +therefore made for the shore with all speed and bounded to his +accustomed place beside the mast.</p> + +<p>Taking their places they pushed off so softly that they might well have +been taken for phantoms. A cloud conveniently hid the moon at the time. +Each man plied his paddle with noiseless but powerful stroke, and long +before the cloud uncovered the face of the Queen of Night they were +shooting far away over the tranquil sea.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XII' id='CHAPTER_XII' />CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>WEATHERING A STORM IN THE OPEN SEA.</h3> + + +<p>In profound silence they continued to paddle until there was no chance +of their being seen by the party on the islet. Then Van der Kemp rested +his paddle in front of him and looked slowly round the horizon and up at +the sky as if studying the weather.</p> + +<p>Nigel longed to ask him more about the men they had seen, and of this +"enemy" whom he had mentioned, but there was that in the hermit's grave +look which forbade questioning, and indeed Nigel now knew from +experience that it would be useless to press him to speak on any subject +in regard to which he chose to be reticent.</p> + +<p>"I don't like the look of the sky," he said at last. "We are going to +have a squall, I fear."</p> + +<p>"Had we not better run for the nearest land?" said Nigel, who, although +not yet experienced in the signs of the weather in those equatorial +regions, had quite enough of knowledge to perceive that bad weather of +some sort was probably approaching.</p> + +<p>"The nearest island is a good way off," returned the hermit, "and we +might miss it in the dark, for daylight won't help us yet awhile. No, we +will continue our course and accept what God sends."</p> + +<p>This remark seemed to our hero to savour of unreasoning contempt of +danger, for the facing of a tropical squall in such an eggshell appeared +to him the height of folly. He ventured to reply, therefore, in a tone +of remonstrance—</p> + +<p>"God sends us the capacity to appreciate danger, Van der Kemp, and the +power to take precautions."</p> + +<p>"He does, Nigel—therefore I intend to use both the capacity and the +power."</p> + +<p>There was a tone of finality in this speech which effectually sealed +Nigel's lips, and, in truth, his ever-increasing trust in the wisdom, +power, and resource of his friend indisposed him to further remark.</p> + +<p>The night had by this time become intensely dark, for a bank of black +cloud had crept slowly over the sky and blotted out the moon. This cloud +extended itself slowly, obliterating, ere long, most of the stars also, +so that it was scarcely possible to distinguish any object more than a +yard or two in advance of them. The dead calm, however, continued +unbroken, and the few of heaven's lights which still glimmered through +the obscurity above were clearly reflected in the great black mirror +below. Only the faint gleam of Krakatoa's threatening fires was visible +on the horizon, while the occasional boom of its artillery sounded in +their ears.</p> + +<p>It was impossible for any inexperienced man, however courageous, to +avoid feelings of awe, almost amounting to dread, in the circumstances, +and Nigel—as he tried to penetrate the darkness around him and glanced +at the narrow craft in which he sat and over the sides of which he could +dip both hands at once into the sea—might be excused for wishing, with +all his heart, that he were safely on shore, or on the deck of his +father's brig. His feelings were by no means relieved when Van der Kemp +said, in a low soliloquising tone—</p> + +<p>"The steamers will constitute our chief danger to-night. They come on +with such a rush that it is not easy to make out how they are steering, +so as to get out of their way in time."</p> + +<p>"But should we not hear them coming a long way off?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Ay. It is not during a calm like this that we run risk, but when the +gale begins to blow we cannot hear, and shall not, perhaps, see very +well."</p> + +<p>As he spoke the hermit lifted the covering of the forehatch and took out +a small sail which he asked Nigel to pass aft to the negro.</p> + +<p>"Close-reef it, Moses; we shall make use of the wind as long as +possible. After that we will lay-to."</p> + +<p>"All right, massa," said the negro, in the same cheerful free-and-easy +tone in which he was wont to express his willingness to obey orders +whether trifling or important. "Don' forgit Spinkie, massa."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure I won't do that," replied the hermit. "Come along, +monkey!"</p> + +<p>Evidently Van der Kemp had trained his dumb companion as thoroughly to +prompt obedience as his black follower, for the little creature +instantly bounded from its place by the mast on to the shoulder of its +master, who bade it go into the place from which he had just extracted +the sail. Nigel could not see this—not only because of the darkness, +but because of the intervention of the hermit's bulky person, but he +understood what had taken place by the remark—"That's a good little +fellow. Keep your head down, now, while I shut you in!"</p> + +<p>From the same place Van der Kemp had drawn a small triangular foresail, +which he proceeded to attach to the bow of the canoe—running its point +out by means of tackle laid along the deck—while Moses was busy reefing +the mainsail.</p> + +<p>From the same repository were extracted three waterproof coats, which, +when put on by the canoe-men, the tails thrust below-deck, and the +aprons drawn over them and belted round their waists, protected their +persons almost completely from water.</p> + +<p>"Now, Nigel," said the hermit, "unship the mast, reeve the halyard of +this foresail through the top and then re-ship it. Moses will give you +the mainsail when ready, and you can hook the halyards on to it. The +thing is too simple to require explanation to a sailor. I attend to the +foresail and Moses manages the mainsheet, but you have to mind the +halyards of both, which, as you would see if it were light enough, run +down alongside the mast. All I ask you to remember is to be smart in +obeying orders, for squalls are sometimes very sudden here—but I doubt +not that such a caution is needless."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best," said Nigel.</p> + +<p>By this time a slight puff of air had ruffled the sea, thereby +intensifying, if possible, the blackness which already prevailed. The +tiny sails caught the puff, causing the canoe to lean slightly over, and +glide with a rippling sound through the water, while Moses steered by +means of his paddle.</p> + +<p>"You have put Spinkie down below, I think," said Nigel, who had been +struck more than once with the hermit's extreme tenderness and care of +the little creature.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to prevent it from being washed overboard. I nearly lost the poor +little thing once or twice, and now when we are likely to be caught in +bad weather I put him below."</p> + +<p>"Is he not apt to be suffocated?" asked Nigel. "With everything made so +tight to prevent water getting into the canoe, you necessarily prevent +air entering also."</p> + +<p>"I see you have a mechanical turn of mind," returned the hermit. "You +are right. Yet in so large a canoe the air would last a considerable +time to satisfy a monkey. Nevertheless, I have made provision for that. +There is a short tube alongside the mast, and fixed to it, which runs a +little below the deck and rises a foot above it so as to be well above +the wash of most waves, and in the deck near the stern there is a small +hole with a cap fitted so as to turn the water but admit the air. Thus +free circulation of air is established below deck."</p> + +<p>Suddenly a hissing sound was heard to windward.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Moses," said Van der Kemp. "There it comes. Let go the sheet. +Keep good hold of your paddle, Nigel."</p> + +<p>The warning was by no means unnecessary, for as the canoe's head was +turned to meet the blast, a hissing sheet of white water swept right +over the tiny craft, completely submerging it, insomuch that the three +men appeared to be sitting more than waist-deep in the water.</p> + +<p>"Lower the mainsail!" shouted the hermit, for the noise of wind and sea +had become deafening.</p> + +<p>Nigel obeyed and held on to the flapping sheet. The hermit had at the +same moment let go the foresail, the flapping of which he controlled by +a rope-tackle arranged for the purpose. He then grasped his single-blade +paddle and aided Moses in keeping her head to wind and sea. For a few +minutes this was all that could be done. Then the first violence of the +squall passed off, allowing the deck of the little craft to appear above +the tormented water. Soon the waves began to rise.</p> + +<p>The mere keeping of the canoe's head to wind required all the attention +of both master and man, while Nigel sat waiting for orders and looking +on with mingled feelings of surprise and curiosity. Of course they were +all three wet to the skin, for the water had got up their sleeves and +down their necks; but, being warm, that mattered little, and the oiled +aprons before mentioned, being securely fastened round their waists, +effectually prevented any of it from getting below save the little that +passed through the thickness of their own garments.</p> + +<p>No word was spoken for at least a quarter of an hour, during which time, +although they rose buoyantly on the water, the waves washed continually +over the low-lying deck. As this deck was flush with the gunwale, or +rather, had no gunwale at all, the water ran off it as it does off a +whale's back.</p> + +<p>Then there came a momentary lull.</p> + +<p>"Now, Moses—'bout ship!" shouted Van der Kemp. "Stand by, Nigel!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir."</p> + +<p>Although the canoe was long—and therefore unfitted to turn quickly—the +powerful strokes of the two paddles in what may be called +counteracting-harmony brought the little craft right round with her +stern to the waves.</p> + +<p>"Hoist away, Nigel! We must run right before it now."</p> + +<p>Up went the mainsail, the tiny foresail bulged out at the same moment, +and away they went like the driving foam, appearing almost to leap from +wave to wave. All sense of danger was now overwhelmed in Nigel's mind by +that feeling of excitement and wild delight which accompanies some kinds +of rapid motion. This was, if possible, intensified by the crashing +thunder which now burst forth and the vivid lightning which began to +play, revealing from time to time the tumultuous turmoil as if in +clearest moonlight, only to plunge it again in still blacker night.</p> + +<p>By degrees the gale increased in fury, and it soon became evident that +neither sails nor cordage could long withstand the strain to which they +were subjected.</p> + +<p>"A'most too much, massa," said the negro in a suggestive shout.</p> + +<p>"Right, Moses," returned his master. "I was just thinking we must risk +it."</p> + +<p>"Risk what? I wonder," thought Nigel.</p> + +<p>He had not long to wait for an answer to his thought.</p> + +<p>"Down wi' the mainsail," was quickly followed by the lowering of the +foresail until not more than a mere corner was shown, merely to keep the +canoe end-on to the seas. Soon even this was lowered, and Van der Kemp +used his double-blade paddle to keep them in position, at the same time +telling Nigel to unship the mast.</p> + +<p>"And plug the hole with that," he added, handing him a bit of wood which +exactly fitted the hole in the deck.</p> + +<p>Watching for another lull in the blast, the hermit at last gave the +order, and round they came as before, head to wind, but not quite so +easily, and Nigel felt that they had narrowly escaped overturning in the +operation.</p> + +<p>"Keep her so, Moses. You can help with your paddle, Nigel, while I get +ready our anchor."</p> + +<p>"Anchor!" exclaimed our hero in amazement—obeying orders, however, at +the same moment.</p> + +<p>The hermit either did not hear the exclamation or did not care to +notice it. He quickly collected the mast and sails, with a couple of +boat-hooks and all the paddles excepting two single ones. These he bound +together by means of the sheets and halyards, attached the whole to a +hawser,—one end of which passed through an iron ring at the bow—and +tossed it into the sea—paying out the hawser rapidly at the same time +so as to put a few yards between them and their floating anchor—if it +may be so called—in the lee of which they prepared to ride out the +gale.</p> + +<p>It was well that they had taken the precaution to put on their +waterproofs before the gale began, because, while turned head to wind +every breaking wave swept right over their heads, and even now while +under the lee of the floating anchor they were for some time almost +continually overwhelmed by thick spray. Being, however, set free from +the necessity of keeping their tiny craft in position, they all bowed +their heads on the deck, sheltered their faces in their hands and +awaited the end!</p> + +<p>Whilst in this attitude—so like to that of prayer—Nigel almost +naturally thought of Him who holds the water in the hollow of His hand, +and lifted his soul to God; for, amid the roaring of the gale, the +flashes of lightning, the appalling thunder, the feeling that he was in +reality all but under the waves and the knowledge that the proverbial +plank between him and death was of the very thinnest description, a +sensation of helplessness and of dependence on the Almighty, such as he +had never before experienced, crept over him. What the thoughts of the +hermit were he could not tell, for that strange man seldom spoke about +himself; but Moses was not so reticent, for he afterwards remarked that +he had often been caught by gales while in the canoe, and had been +attached for hours to their floating anchor, but that "dat was out ob +sight de wust bust ob wedder dey'd had since dey come to lib at +Krakatoa, an' he had bery nigh giben up in despair!"</p> + +<p>The use of the floating breakwater was to meet the full force of the +seas and break them just before they reached the canoe. In spite of this +some of them were so tremendous that, broken though they were, the +swirling foam completely buried the craft for a second or two, but the +sharp bow cut its way through, and the water poured off the deck and off +the stooping figures like rain from a duck's back. Of course a good deal +got in at their necks, sleeves, and other small openings, and wet them +considerably, but that, as Moses remarked, "was not'ing to speak ob."</p> + +<p>Thus they lay tossing in the midst of the raging foam for several hours. +Now and then each would raise his head a little to see that the rope +held fast, but was glad to lower it again. They hardly knew when day +broke. It was so slow in coming, and so gloomy and dark when it did +come, that the glare of the lightning-flash seemed more cheerful.</p> + +<p>It may be easily believed that there was no conversation during those +hours of elemental strife, though the thoughts of each were busy enough. +At last the thunder ceased, or, rather, retired as if in growling +defiance of the world which it had failed to destroy. Then the sky began +to lighten a little, and although the wind did not materially abate in +force it became more steady and equal. Before noon, however, it had +subsided so much that Moses suggested the propriety of continuing the +voyage. To this Van der Kemp agreed, and the floating anchor was hauled +in; the large paddle was resumed by the hermit, and the dangerous +process of turning the canoe was successfully accomplished.</p> + +<p>When the mast was again set up and the close-reefed main and foresails +were hoisted, the light craft bounded away once more before the wind +like a fleck of foam. Then a gleam of sunshine forced its way through +the driving clouds, and painted a spot of emerald green on the heaving +sea. Soon after that Van der Kemp opened the lid, or hatch, of the +forehold, and Spinkie, jumping out with alacrity, took possession of his +usual seat beside the mast, to which he clung with affectionate +tenacity. Gradually the wind went down. Reef after reef of the two sails +was shaken out, and for several hours thereafter our travellers sped +merrily on, plunging into the troughs and cutting through the crests of +the stormy sea.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XIII' id='CHAPTER_XIII' />CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A LIFE-OR-DEATH PADDLE ENSUES.</h3> + + +<p>In physics, as in morals, a storm is frequently the precursor of a dead +calm.</p> + +<p>Much to the monkey's joy, to say nothing of the men, the sun erelong +asserted its equatorial power, and, clearing away the clouds, allowed +the celestial blue to smile on the turmoil below. The first result of +that smile was that the wind retired to its secret chambers, leaving the +ships of men to flap their idle sails. Then the ocean ceased to fume, +though its agitated bosom still continued for some time to heave. +Gradually the swell went down and soon the unruffled surface reflected a +dimpling smile to the sky.</p> + +<p>When this happy stage had been reached our voyagers lowered and stowed +the canoe-sails, and continued to advance under paddles.</p> + +<p>"We get along wonderfully fast, Van der Kemp," said Nigel, while resting +after a pretty long spell; "but it seems to me, nevertheless, that we +shall take a considerable time to reach Borneo at this rate, seeing +that it must be over two hundred miles away, and if we have much bad +weather or contrary wind, we shan't be able to reach it for weeks—if at +all."</p> + +<p>"I have been thrown somewhat out of my reckoning," returned the hermit, +"by having to fly from the party on the islet, where I meant to remain +till a steamer, owned by a friend of mine, should pass and pick us up, +canoe and all. The steamer is a short-voyage craft, and usually so +punctual that I can count on it to a day. But it may have passed us in +the gale. If so, I shall take advantage of the first vessel that will +agree to lend us a hand."</p> + +<p>"How!—Do you get them to tow you?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, that were impossible. A jerk from the tow-rope of a steamer at +full speed would tear us asunder. Have you observed these two strong +ropes running all round our gunwale, and the bridles across with +ring-bolts in them?"</p> + +<p>"I have, and did not ask their use, as I thought they were merely meant +to strengthen the canoe."</p> + +<p>"So they are," continued the hermit, "but they have other uses +besides—"</p> + +<p>"Massa," cried Moses, at this point. "You'll 'scuse me for 'truptin' +you, but it's my opinion dat Spinkie's sufferin' jus' now from a empty +stummik!"</p> + +<p>The hermit smiled and Nigel laughed. Laying down his paddle the former +said—</p> + +<p>"I understand, Moses. That speech means that you are suffering from the +same complaint. Well—get out the biscuit."</p> + +<p>"Jus' de way oh de wurld," muttered the negro with a bland smile. "If a +poor man obsarves an' feels for de sorrows ob anoder, he allers gits +credit for t'inkin' ob hisself. Neber mind, I's used to it!"</p> + +<p>Evidently the unjust insinuation did not weigh heavily on the negro's +spirit, for he soon began to eat with the appetite of a healthy +alligator.</p> + +<p>While he was thus engaged, he chanced to raise his eyes towards the +south-western horizon, and there saw something which caused him to +splutter, for his mouth was too full to speak, but his speaking eyes and +pointing finger caused his companions to turn their faces quickly to the +quarter indicated.</p> + +<p>"A steamer!" exclaimed the hermit and Nigel in the same breath.</p> + +<p>The vessel in question was coming straight towards them, and a very +short time enabled Van der Kemp to recognise with satisfaction the +steamer owned by his friend.</p> + +<p>"Look here, run that to the mast-head," said Van der Kemp, handing a red +flag to Nigel. "We lie so low in the water that they might pass quite +close without observing us if we showed no signal."</p> + +<p>An immediate though slight change in the course of the steamer showed +that the signal had been seen. Hereupon the hermit and Moses performed +an operation on the canoe which still further aroused Nigel's surprise +and curiosity. He resolved to ask no questions, however, but to await +the issue of events.</p> + +<p>From the marvellous hold of the canoe, which seemed to be a magazine for +the supply of every human need, Moses drew a short but strong rope or +cable, with a ring in the middle of it, and a hook at each end. He +passed one end along to his master who hooked it to the bridle-rope at +the bow before referred to. The other end was hooked to the bridle in +the stern, so that the ring in the centre came close to Nigel's elbow.</p> + +<p>This arrangement had barely been completed when the steamer was within +hail, but no hail was given, for the captain knew what was expected of +him. He reduced speed as the vessel approached the canoe, and finally +came almost to a stop as he ranged alongside.</p> + +<p>"What cheer, Van der Kemp? D'ye want a lift to-day?" shouted the +skipper, looking over the side.</p> + +<p>A nod and a wave of the hand was the hermit's reply.</p> + +<p>"Heave a rope, boys—bow and stern—and lower away the tackle," was the +skipper's order.</p> + +<p>A coil was flung to Van der Kemp, who deftly caught it and held on +tight. Another was flung to Moses, who also caught it and held +on—slack. At the same moment, Nigel saw a large block with a hook +attached descending towards his head.</p> + +<p>"Catch it, Nigel, and hook it to the ring at your elbow," said the +hermit.</p> + +<p>Our hero obeyed, still in surprise, though a glimmer of what was to +follow began to dawn.</p> + +<p>"Haul away!" shouted the skipper, and next moment the canoe was swinging +in the air, kept in position by the lines in the hands of Van der Kemp +and Moses. At the same time another order was given, and the steamer +went ahead full speed.</p> + +<p>It was all so suddenly done, and seemed such a reckless proceeding, that +Nigel found himself on the steamer's deck, with the canoe reposing +beside him, before he had recovered from his surprise sufficiently to +acknowledge in suitable terms the welcome greeting of the hospitable +skipper.</p> + +<p>"You see, Nigel," said Van der Kemp that night, as the two friends paced +the deck together after supper, "I have other means, besides paddles and +sails, of getting quickly about in the Java seas. Many of the traders +and skippers here know me, and give me a lift in this way when I require +it."</p> + +<p>"Very kind of them, and very convenient," returned Nigel. He felt +inclined to add: "But why all this moving about?" for it was quite +evident that trade was not the hermit's object, but the question, as +usual, died on his lips, and he somewhat suddenly changed the subject.</p> + +<p>"D'ye know, Van der Kemp, that I feel as if I must have seen you +somewhere or other before now, for your features seem strangely familiar +to me. Have you ever been in England?"</p> + +<p>"Never. As I have told you, I was born in Java, and was educated in +Hongkong at an English School. But a fancy of this sort is not very +uncommon. I myself once met a perfect stranger who bore so strong a +resemblance to an old friend, that I spoke to him as such, and only +found out from his voice that I was mistaken."</p> + +<p>The captain of the steamer came on deck at that moment and cut short the +conversation.</p> + +<p>"Are you engaged, Van der Kemp?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No—I am at your service."</p> + +<p>"Come below then, I want to have a talk with you."</p> + +<p>Thus left alone, and overhearing a loud burst of laughter at the fore +part of the steamer, Nigel went forward to see what was going on. He +found a group of sailors round his comrade Moses, apparently engaged in +good-natured "chaff."</p> + +<p>"Come, now, blackey," said one; "be a good fellow for once in your life +an' tell us what makes your master live on a desert island like Robinson +Crusoe, an' go about the ocean in a canoe."</p> + +<p>"Look 'ere now, whitey," returned Moses, "what you take me for?"</p> + +<p>"A nigger, of course."</p> + +<p>"Ob course, an' you're right for once, which is sitch an unusual t'ing +dat I 'dvise you go an' ax de cappen to make a note ob it in de log. I's +a nigger, an' a nigger's so much more 'cute dan a white man dat you +shouldn't ought to expect him to blab his massa's secrets."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, Moses. Come, then, if you won't reweal secrets, give us +a song."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't t'ink ob such a t'ing," said the negro, with a solemn, +remonstrant shake of the head.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I neber sing a song widout a moral, an' I don't like to hurt +your feelin's by singin' a moral dat would be sure to waken up <i>some</i> o' +your consciences."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that, darkey. Our consciences are pretty tough. Heave +ahead."</p> + +<p>"But dere's a chorus," said Moses, looking round doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"What o' that? We'll do our best with it—if it ain't too difficult."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's not diffikilt, but if de lazy fellers among you sings de +chorus dey'll be singin' lies, an' I don't 'zackly like to help men to +tell lies. Howseber, here goes. It begins wid de chorus so's you may +know it afore you has to sing it."</p> + +<p>So saying, Moses struck two fingers on the capstan after the manner of a +tuning-fork, and, holding them gravely to his ear as if to get the right +pitch, began in a really fine manly voice to chant the following +ditty:—</p> + +<p class='center'>"GO TO WORK."</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<div class='i2'>Oh when de sun am shinin' bright, and eberyt'ing am fair,</div> +<div class='i2'>Clap on de steam an' go to work, an' take your proper share.</div> +<div class='i2'>De wurld hab got to go ahead, an' dem what's young and strong</div> +<div class='i2'>Mus' do deir best, wid all de rest, to roll de wurld along.</div> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<div>De lazy man does all he can to stop its whirlin' round.</div> +<div>If he was king he'd loaf an' sing—and guzzle, I'll be bound,</div> +<div>He always shirk de hardest work, an' t'ink he's awful clebbar,</div> +<div>But boder his head to earn his bread, Oh! no, he'll nebber, nebber.</div> +<div class='i8'><i>Chorus</i>—Oh when de sun, etc.</div> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<div>De selfish man would rader dan put out his hand to work,</div> +<div>Let women toil, an' sweat and moil—as wicked as de Turk.</div> +<div>De cream ob eberyt'ing he wants, let oders hab de skim;</div> +<div>In fact de wurld and all it holds was only made for him.</div> +<div class='i8'><i>Chorus</i>—Oh when de sun, etc.</div> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<div>So keep de ball a-rollin', boys, an' each one do his best</div> +<div>To make de wurld a happy one—for dat's how man is blest.</div> +<div>Do unto oders all around de t'ing what's good and true,</div> +<div>An' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to you.</div> +<div class='i8'><i>Chorus</i>—Oh when de sun, etc.</div> +</div></div> + +<p>The sailors, who were evidently much pleased, took up the chorus +moderately at the second verse, came out strong at the third, and sang +with such genuine fervour at the last that it was quite evident, as +Moses remarked, there was not a lazy man amongst them—at least, if they +all sang conscientiously!</p> + +<p>The weather improved every hour, and after a fine run of about +twenty-four hours over that part of the Malay Sea, our three voyagers +were lowered over the steamer's side in their canoe when within sight of +the great island of Borneo.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," said the captain at parting, "that our courses diverge +here, for I would gladly have had your company a little longer. +Good-bye. I hope we'll come across you some other time when I'm in these +parts."</p> + +<p>"Thanks—thanks, my friend,'" replied Van der Kemp, with a warm grip of +the hand, and a touch of pathos in his tones. "I trust that we shall +meet again. You have done me good service by shortening my voyage +considerably.—Farewell."</p> + +<p>"I say, Moses," shouted one of the seamen, as he looked down on the tiny +canoe while they were pushing off.</p> + +<p>"Hallo?"</p> + +<p>"Keep your heart up, for—we'll try to 'do to oders all around de t'ing +what's good an' true!'"</p> + +<p>"Das de way, boy—'an' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to +you!'"</p> + +<p>He yelled rather than sang this at the top of his tuneful voice, and +waved his hand as the sharp craft shot away over the sea.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the sea was calm, for it was growing dark when they reached +the shores of Borneo and entered the mouth of a small stream, up which +they proceeded to paddle. The banks of the stream were clothed with +mangrove trees. We have said the banks, but in truth the mouth of that +river had no distinguishable banks at all, for it is the nature of the +mangrove to grow in the water—using its roots as legs with which, as it +were, to wade away from shore. When darkness fell suddenly on the +landscape, as it is prone to do in tropical regions, the gnarled roots +of those mangroves assumed the appearance of twining snakes in Nigel's +eyes. Possessing a strongly imaginative mind he could with difficulty +resist the belief that he saw them moving slimily about in the black +water, and, in the dim mysterious light, tree stems and other objects +assumed the appearance of hideous living forms, so that he was enabled +to indulge the uncomfortable fancy that they were traversing some +terrestrial Styx into one of Dante's regions of horror.</p> + +<p>In some respects this was not altogether a fancy, for they were +unwittingly drawing near to a band of human beings whose purposes, if +fully carried out, would render the earth little better than a hell to +many of their countrymen.</p> + +<p>It is pretty well known that there is a class of men in Borneo called +Head Hunters. These men hold the extraordinary and gruesome opinion that +a youth has not attained to respectable manhood until he has taken the +life of some human being.</p> + +<p>There are two distinct classes of Dyaks—those who inhabit the hills and +those who dwell on the sea-coast. It is the latter who recruit the ranks +of the pirates of those eastern seas, and it was to the camp of a band +of such villains that our adventurers were, as already said, unwittingly +drawing near.</p> + +<p>They came upon them at a bend of the dark river beyond which point the +mangroves gave place to other trees—but what sort of trees they were it +was scarcely light enough to make out very distinctly, except in the +case of the particular tree in front of which the Dyaks were encamped, +the roots of which were strongly illuminated by their camp fire. We say +<i>roots</i> advisedly, for this singular and gigantic tree started its +branches from a complexity of aërial roots which themselves formed a +pyramid some sixty feet high, before the branches proper of the tree +began.</p> + +<p>If our voyagers had used oars the sharp ears of the pirates would have +instantly detected them. As it was, the softly moving paddles and the +sharp cutwater of the canoe made no noise whatever. The instant that Van +der Kemp, from his position in the bow, observed the camp, he dipped his +paddle deep, and noiselessly backed water. There was no need to give any +signal to his servant. Such a thorough understanding existed between +them that the mere action of the hermit was sufficient to induce the +negro to support him by a similar movement on the opposite side, and the +canoe glided as quickly backward as it had previously advanced. When +under the deep shadow of the bank Moses thrust the canoe close in, and +his master, laying hold of the bushes, held fast and made a sign to him +to land and reconnoitre.</p> + +<p>Creeping forward to an opening in the bushes close at hand, Moses peeped +through. Then he turned and made facial signals of a kind so complicated +that he could not be understood, as nothing was visible save the +flashing of his teeth and eyes. Van der Kemp therefore recalled him by a +sign, and, stepping ashore, whispered Nigel to land.</p> + +<p class="center"><a name="illus175.jpg" id="illus175.jpg" /><img src="images/illus175.jpg" width='460' height='700' alt="THEY DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC" /></p> + +<h3>THEY DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC</h3> + +<p>Another minute and the three travellers stood on the bank with their +heads close together.</p> + +<p>"Wait here for me," said the hermit, in the lowest possible whisper. "I +will go and see who they are."</p> + +<p>"Strange," said Nigel, when he was gone; "strange that in so short a +time your master should twice have to stalk strangers in this way. +History repeats itself, they say. It appears to do so rather fast in +these regions! Does he not run a very great risk of being discovered?"</p> + +<p>"Not de smallest," replied the negro, with as much emphasis as was +possible in a whisper. "Massa hab ride wid de Vaquieros ob Ameriky an' +hunt wid de Injuns on de Rockies. No more fear ob deir ketchin' him dan +ob ketchin' a streak o' lightnin'. He come back bery soon wid all de +news."</p> + +<p>Moses was a true prophet. Within half-an-hour Van der Kemp returned as +noiselessly as he had gone. He did not keep them long in uncertainty.</p> + +<p>"I have heard enough," he whispered, "to assure me that a plot, of which +I had already heard a rumour, has nearly been laid. We fell in with the +chief plotters on the islet the other night; the band here is in +connection with them and awaits their arrival before carrying out their +dark designs. There is nothing very mysterious about it. One tribe +plotting to attack another—that is all; but as a friend of mine dwells +just now with the tribe to be secretly attacked, it behoves me to do +what I can to save him. I am perplexed, however. It would seem sometimes +as if we were left in perplexity for wise purposes which are beyond our +knowledge."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps to test our willingness to <i>do right</i>," suggested Nigel.</p> + +<p>"I know not," returned the hermit, as if musing, but never raising his +voice above the softest whisper. "My difficulty lies here; I <i>must</i> go +forward to save the life of my friend. I must <i>not</i> leave you at the +mouth of a mangrove river to die or be captured by pirates, and yet I +have no right to ask you to risk your life on my account!"</p> + +<p>"You may dismiss your perplexities then," said Nigel, promptly, "for I +decline to be left to die here or to be caught by pirates, and I am +particularly anxious to assist you in rescuing your friend. Besides, am +I not your hired servant?"</p> + +<p>"The risk we run is only at the beginning," said Van der Kemp. "If we +succeed in passing the Dyaks unseen all will be well. If they see us, +they will give chase, and our lives, under God, will depend on the +strength of our arms, for I am known to them and have thwarted their +plans before now. If they catch us, death will be our certain doom. Are +you prepared?"</p> + +<p>"Ready!" whispered Nigel.</p> + +<p>Without another word the hermit took his place in the bow of the canoe. +Moses stepped into the stern, and our hero sat down in the middle.</p> + +<p>Before pushing off, the hermit drew a revolver and a cutlass from his +store-room in the bow and handed them to Nigel, who thrust the first +into his belt and fastened the other to the deck by means of a strap +fixed there on purpose to prevent its being rolled or swept off. This +contrivance, as well as all the other appliances in the canoe, had +previously been pointed out and explained to him. The hermit and negro +having armed themselves in similar way, let go the bushes which held +them close to the bank and floated out into the stream. They let the +canoe drift down a short way so as to be well concealed by the bend in +the river and a mass of bushes. Then they slowly paddled over to the +opposite side and commenced to creep up as close to the bank as +possible, under the deep shadow of overhanging trees, and so noiselessly +that they appeared in the darkness like a passing phantom.</p> + +<p>But the sharp eyes of the pirates were too much accustomed to phantoms +of every kind to be easily deceived. Just as the canoe was about to pass +beyond the line of their vision a stir was heard in their camp. Then a +stern challenge rolled across the river and awoke the slumbering echoes +of the forest—perchance to the surprise and scaring away of some +prowling beast of prey.</p> + +<p>"No need for concealment now," said Van der Kemp, quietly; "we must +paddle for life. If you have occasion to use your weapons, Nigel, take +no life needlessly. Moses knows my mind on this point and needs no +warning. Any fool can take away life. Only God can give it."</p> + +<p>"I will be careful," replied Nigel, as he dipped his paddle with all the +muscular power at his command. His comrades did the same, and the canoe +shot up the river like an arrow.</p> + +<p>A yell from the Dyaks, and the noise of jumping into and pushing off +their boats told that there was no time to lose.</p> + +<p>"They are strong men, and plenty of them to relieve each other," said +the hermit, who now spoke in his ordinary tones, "so they have some +chance of overhauling us in the smooth water; but a few miles further up +there is a rapid which will stop them and will only check us. If we can +reach it we shall be safe."</p> + +<p>While he was speaking every muscle in his broad back and arms was +strained to the uttermost; so also were the muscles of his companions, +and the canoe seemed to advance by a series of rapid leaps and bounds. +Yet the sound of the pursuers' oars seemed to increase, and soon the +proverb "it is the pace that kills" received illustration, for the speed +of the canoe began to decrease a little—very little at first—while the +pursuers, with fresh hands at the oars, gradually overhauled the +fugitives.</p> + +<p>"Put on a spurt!" said the hermit, setting the example.</p> + +<p>The pirates heard the words and understood either them or the action +that followed, for they also "put on a spurt," and encouraged each other +with a cheer.</p> + +<p>Moses heard the cheer, and at the same time heard the sound of the rapid +to which they were by that time drawing near. He glanced over his +shoulder and could make out the dim form of the leading boat, with a +tall figure standing up in the bow, not thirty yards behind.</p> + +<p>"Shall we manage it, Moses?" asked Van der Kemp, in that calm steady +voice which seemed to be unchangeable either by anxiety or peril.</p> + +<p>"No, massa. Unpossable—widout <i>dis</i>!"</p> + +<p>The negro drew the revolver from his belt, slewed round, took rapid aim +and fired.</p> + +<p>The tall figure in the bow of the boat fell back with a crash and a +hideous yell. Great shouting and confusion followed, and the boat +dropped behind. A few minutes later and the canoe was leaping over the +surges of a shallow rapid. They dashed from eddy to eddy, taking +advantage of every stone that formed a tail of backwater below it, and +gradually worked the light craft upward in a way that the hermit and his +man had learned in the nor'-western rivers of America.</p> + +<p>"We are not safe yet," said the former, resting and wiping his brow as +they floated for a few seconds in a calm basin at the head of the +rapid.</p> + +<p>"Surely they cannot take a boat up such a place as that!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, but they can follow up the banks on foot. However, we will soon +baffle them, for the river winds like a serpent just above this, and by +carrying our canoe across one, two, or three spits of land we will gain +a distance in an hour or so that would cost them nearly a day to ascend +in boats. They know that, and will certainly give up the chase. I think +they have given it up already, but it is well to make sure."</p> + +<p>"I wonder why they did not fire at us," remarked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Probably because they felt sure of catching us," returned the hermit, +"and when they recovered from the confusion that Moses threw them into +we were lost to them in darkness, besides being pretty well beyond +range. I hope, Moses, that you aimed low."</p> + +<p>"Yes, massa—but it's sca'cely fair when life an' def am in de balance +to expect me to hit 'im on de legs on a dark night. Legs is a bad +targit. Bullet's apt to pass between 'em. Howseber, dat feller won't hop +much for some time to come!"</p> + +<p>A couple of hours later, having carried the canoe and baggage across the +spits of land above referred to, and thus put at least half-a-day's +journey between themselves and their foes, they came to a halt for the +night.</p> + +<p>"It won't be easy to find a suitable place to camp on," remarked Nigel, +glancing at the bank, where the bushes grew so thick that they overhung +the water, brushing the faces of our travellers and rendering the +darkness so intense that they had literally to feel their way as they +glided along.</p> + +<p>"We will encamp where we are," returned the hermit. "I'll make fast to a +bush and you may get out the victuals, Moses."</p> + +<p>"Das de bery best word you've said dis day, massa," remarked the negro +with a profound sigh. "I's pritty well tired now, an' de bery t'ought ob +grub comforts me!"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that we shall sleep in the canoe?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Ay, why not?" returned the hermit, who could be heard, though not seen, +busying himself with the contents of the fore locker. "You'll find the +canoe a pretty fair bed. You have only to slip down and pull your head +and shoulders through the manhole and go to sleep. You won't want +blankets in this weather, and, see—there is a pillow for you and +another for Moses."</p> + +<p>"I cannot <i>see</i>, but I can feel," said Nigel, with a soft laugh, as he +passed the pillow aft.</p> + +<p>"T'ank ee, Nadgel," said Moses; "here—feel behind you an' you'll find +grub for yourself an' some to pass forid to massa. Mind when you slip +down for go to sleep dat you don't dig your heels into massa's skull. +Dere's no bulkhead to purtect it."</p> + +<p>"I'll be careful," said Nigel, beginning his invisible supper with keen +appetite. "But how about <i>my</i> skull, Moses? Is there a bulkhead between +it and <i>your</i> heels?"</p> + +<p>"No, but you don't need to mind, for I allers sleeps doubled up, wid my +knees agin my chin. It makes de arms an' legs feel more sociable like."</p> + +<p>With this remark Moses ceased to encourage conversation—his mouth being +otherwise engaged.</p> + +<p>Thereafter they slipped down into their respective places, laid their +heads on their pillows and fell instantly into sound repose, while the +dark waters flowed sluggishly past, and the only sound that disturbed +the universal stillness was the occasional cry of some creature of the +night or the flap of an alligator's tail.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XIV' id='CHAPTER_XIV' />CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>A NEW FRIEND FOUND—NEW DANGERS ENCOUNTERED AND HEW HOPES DELAYED.</h3> + + +<p>When grey dawn began to dispel the gloom of night, Nigel Roy awoke with +an uncomfortable sensation of having been buried alive. Stretching +himself as was his wont he inadvertently touched the head of Van der +Kemp, an exclamation from whom aroused Moses, who, uncoiling himself, +awoke Spinkie. It was usually the privilege of that affectionate +creature to nestle in the negro's bosom.</p> + +<p>With the alacrity peculiar to his race, Spinkie sprang through the +manhole and sat down in his particular place to superintend, perhaps to +admire, the work of his human friends, whose dishevelled heads emerged +simultaneously from their respective burrows.</p> + +<p>Dawn is a period of the day when the spirit of man is calmly reflective. +Speech seemed distasteful that morning, and as each knew what had to be +done, it was needless. The silently conducted operations of the men +appeared to arouse fellow-feeling in the monkey, for its careworn +countenance became more and more expressive as it gazed earnestly and +alternately into the faces of its comrades. To all appearance it seemed +about to speak—but it didn't.</p> + +<p>Pushing out from the shore they paddled swiftly up stream, and soon put +such a distance between them and their late pursuers that all risk of +being overtaken was at an end.</p> + +<p>All day they advanced inland without rest, save at the breakfast hour, +and again at mid-day to dine. Towards evening they observed that the +country through which they were passing had changed much in character +and aspect. The low and swampy region had given place to hillocks and +undulating ground, all covered with the beautiful virgin forest with its +palms and creepers and noble fruit-trees and rich vegetation, +conspicuous among which magnificent ferns of many kinds covered the +steep banks of the stream.</p> + +<p>On rounding a point of the river the travellers came suddenly upon an +interesting group, in the midst of a most beautiful woodland scene. +Under the trees on a flat spot by the river-bank were seated round a +fire a man and a boy and a monkey. The monkey was a tame orang-utan, +youthful but large. The boy was a Dyak in light cotton drawers, with the +upper part of his body naked, brass rings on his arms, heavy ornaments +in his ears, and a bright kerchief worn as a turban on his head. The man +was a sort of nondescript in a semi-European shooting garb, with a +wide-brimmed sombrero on his head, black hair, a deeply tanned face, a +snub nose, huge beard and moustache, and immense blue spectacles.</p> + +<p>Something not unlike a cheer burst from the usually undemonstrative Van +der Kemp on coming in sight of the party, and he waved his hand as if in +recognition. The nondescript replied by starting to his feet, throwing +up both arms and giving vent to an absolute roar of joy.</p> + +<p>"He seems to know you," remarked Nigel, as they made for a +landing-place.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He is the friend I have come to rescue," replied the hermit in a +tone of quiet satisfaction. "He is a naturalist and lives with the Rajah +against whom the pirates are plotting."</p> + +<p>"He don't look z'if he needs much rescuin'," remarked Moses with a +chuckle, as they drew to land.</p> + +<p>The man looked in truth as if he were well able to take care of himself +in most circumstances, being of colossal bulk although somewhat short of +limb.</p> + +<p>"Ah! mein frond! mine brodder!" he exclaimed, in fairly idiomatic +English, but with a broken pronunciation that was a mixture of Dutch, +American, and Malay. His language therefore, like himself, was +nondescript. In fact he was an American-born Dutchman, who had been +transported early in life to the Straits Settlements, had received most +of his education in Hongkong, was an old school-fellow of Van der Kemp, +became an enthusiastic naturalist, and, being possessed of independent +means, spent most of his time in wandering about the various islands of +the archipelago, making extensive collections of animal and vegetable +specimens, which he distributed with liberal hand to whatever museums at +home or abroad seemed most to need or desire them. Owing to his tastes +and habits he had been dubbed Professor by his friends.</p> + +<p>"Ach! Van der Kemp," he exclaimed, while his coal-black eyes glittered +as they shook hands, "<i>vat</i> a booterfly I saw to-day! It beat all +creation! The vay it flew—oh! But, excuse me—v'ere did you come from, +and vy do you come? An' who is your frond?"</p> + +<p>He turned to Nigel as he spoke, and doffed his sombrero with a gracious +bow.</p> + +<p>"An Englishman—Nigel Roy—who has joined me for a few months," said the +hermit. "Let me introduce you, Nigel, to my good friend, Professor +Verkimier."</p> + +<p>Nigel held out his hand and gave the naturalist's a shake so hearty, +that a true friendship was begun on the spot—a friendship which was +rapidly strengthened when the professor discovered that the English +youth had a strong leaning towards his own favourite studies.</p> + +<p>"Ve vill hont an' shot togezzer, mine frond," he said, on making this +discovery, "ant I vill show you v'ere de best booterflies are to be +fount—Oh! sooch a von as I saw to—— but, excuse me, Van der Kemp. Vy +you come here joost now?"</p> + +<p>"To save <i>you</i>" said the hermit, with a scintillation of his +half-pitiful smile.</p> + +<p>"To safe <i>me</i>!" exclaimed Verkimier, with a look of surprise which was +greatly intensified by the rotundity of the blue spectacles. "Vell, I +don't feel to vant safing joost at present."</p> + +<p>"It is not that danger threatens <i>you</i> so much as your friend the +Rajah," returned the hermit. "But if he falls, all under his protection +fall along with him. I happen to have heard of a conspiracy against him, +on so large a scale that certain destruction would follow if he were +taken by surprise, so I have come on in advance of the conspirators to +warn him in time. You know I have received much kindness from the Rajah, +so I could do no less than warn him of impending danger, and then the +fact that you were with him made me doubly anxious to reach you in +time."</p> + +<p>While the hermit was saying this, the naturalist removed his blue +glasses, and slowly wiped them with a corner of his coat-tails. +Replacing them, he gazed intently into the grave countenance of his +friend till he had finished speaking.</p> + +<p>"Are zee raskils near?" he asked, sternly.</p> + +<p>"No. We have come on many days ahead of them. But we found a party at +the river's mouth awaiting their arrival."</p> + +<p>"Ant zey cannot arrife, you say, for several veeks?"</p> + +<p>"Probably not—even though they had fair and steady winds."</p> + +<p>A sigh of satisfaction broke through the naturalist's moustache on +hearing this.</p> + +<p>"Zen I vill—<i>ve</i> vill, you and I, Mister Roy,—go after ze booterflies +to-morrow!"</p> + +<p>"But we must push on," remonstrated Van der Kemp, "for preparations to +resist an attack cannot be commenced too soon."</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> may push on, mine frond; go ahead if you vill, but I vill not +leave zee booterflies. You know veil zat I vill die—if need be—for zee +Rajah. Ve must all die vonce, at least, and I should like to die—if I +must die—in a goot cause. What cause better zan frondship? But you say +joost now zere is no dancher. Vell, I vill go ant see zee booterflies +to-morrow. After zat, I will go ant die—if it must be—vith zee Rajah."</p> + +<p>"I heartily applaud your sentiment," said Nigel, with a laugh, as he +helped himself to some of the food which the Dyak youth and Moses had +prepared, "and if Van der Kemp will give me leave of absence I will +gladly keep you company."</p> + +<p>"Zank you. Pass round zee victuals. My appetite is strong. It alvays vas +more or less strong. Vat say you, Van der Kemp?"</p> + +<p>"I have no objection. Moses and I can easily take the canoe up the +river. There are no rapids, and it is not far to the Rajah's village; so +you are welcome to go, Nigel."</p> + +<p>"Das de most 'straord'nary craze I eber know'd men inflicted wid!" said +Moses that night, as he sat smoking his pipe beside the Dyak boy. "It +passes my compr'ension what fun dey find runnin' like child'n arter +butterflies, an' beetles, an' sitch like varmint. My massa am de wisest +man on eart', yet <i>he</i> go a little wild dat way too—sometimes!"</p> + +<p>Moses looked at the Dyak boy with a puzzled expression, but as the Dyak +boy did not understand English, he looked intently at the fire, and said +nothing.</p> + +<p>Next morning Nigel entered the forest under the guidance of Verkimier +and the Dyak youth, and the orang-utan, which followed like a dog, and +sometimes even took hold of its master's arm and walked with him as if +it had been a very small human being. It was a new experience to Nigel +to walk in the sombre shade beneath the tangled arches of the +wilderness. In some respects it differed entirely from his expectations, +and in others it surpassed them. The gloom was deeper than he had +pictured it, but the shade was not displeasing in a land so close to the +equator. Then the trees were much taller than he had been led to +suppose, and the creeping plants more numerous, while, to his surprise, +the wild-flowers were comparatively few and small. But the scarcity of +these was somewhat compensated by the rich and brilliant colouring of +the foliage.</p> + +<p>The abundance and variety of the ferns also struck the youth +particularly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! zey are magnificent!" exclaimed Verkimier with enthusiasm. "Look at +zat tree-fern. You have not'ing like zat in England—eh! I have found +nearly von hoondred specimens of ferns. Zen, look at zee fruit-trees. Ve +have here, you see, zee Lansat, Mangosteen, Rambutan, Jack, Jambon, +Blimbing ant many ozers—but zee queen of fruits is zee Durian. Have you +tasted zee Durian?"</p> + +<p>"No, not yet."</p> + +<p>"Ha! a new sensation is before you! Stay, you vill eat von by ant by. +Look, zat is a Durian tree before you."</p> + +<p>He pointed as he spoke to a large and lofty tree, which Mr. A.R. +Wallace, the celebrated naturalist and traveller, describes as +resembling an elm in general character but with a more smooth and scaly +bark. The fruit is round, or slightly oval, about the size of a man's +head, of a green colour, and covered all over with short spines which +are very strong and so sharp that it is difficult to lift the fruit from +the ground. Only the experienced and expert can cut the tough outer +rind. There are five faint lines extending from the base to the apex of +the fruit, through which it may be divided with a heavy knife and a +strong hand, so as to get to the delicious creamy pulp inside.</p> + +<p>There is something paradoxical in the descriptions of this fruit by +various writers, but all agree that it is inexpressibly good! Says +one—writing of the sixteenth century—"It is of such an excellent taste +that it surpasses in flavour all the other fruits of the world." Another +writes: "This fruit is of a hot and humid nature. To those not used to +it, it seems at first to smell like rotten onions! but immediately they +have tasted it they prefer it to all other food." Wallace himself says +of it: "When brought into the house, the smell is so offensive that some +persons can never bear to taste it. This was my own case in Malacca, but +in Borneo I found a ripe fruit on the ground, and, eating it out of +doors, I at once became a confirmed Durian-eater!"</p> + +<p>This was exactly the experience of Nigel Roy that day, and the way in +which the fruit came to him was also an experience, but of a very +different sort. It happened just as they were looking about for a +suitable spot on which to rest and eat their mid-day meal. Verkimier was +in front with the orang-utan reaching up to his arm and hobbling +affectionately by his side—for there was a strong mutual affection +between them. The Dyak youth brought up the rear, with a sort of +game-bag on his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Nigel felt something graze his arm, and heard a heavy thud at +his side. It was a ripe Durian which had fallen from an immense height +and missed him by a hairbreadth.</p> + +<p>"Zank Got, you have escaped!" exclaimed the professor, looking back with +a solemn countenance.</p> + +<p>"I have indeed escaped what might have been a severe blow," said Nigel, +stooping to examine the fruit, apparently forgetful that more might +follow.</p> + +<p>"Come—come avay. My boy vill bring it. Men are sometimes killed by zis +fruit. Here now ve vill dine."</p> + +<p>They sat down on a bank which was canopied by ferns. While the boy was +arranging their meal, Verkimier drew a heavy hunting-knife from his belt +and applying it with an unusually strong hand to the Durian laid it +open. Nigel did not at all relish the smell, but he was not fastidious +or apt to be prejudiced. He tasted—and, like Mr. Wallace, "became a +confirmed Durian eater" from that day.</p> + +<p>"Ve draw near to zee region vere ve shall find zee booterflies," said +the naturalist, during a pause in their luncheon.</p> + +<p>"I hope we shall be successful," said Nigel, helping himself to some +more of what may be styled Durian cream. "To judge from the weight and +hardness of this fruit, I should think a blow on one's head from it +would be fatal."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes, not alvays. I suppose zat Dyak skulls are strong. But zee +wound is terrible, for zee spikes tear zee flesh dreadfully. Zee Dyak +chief, Rajah, vith whom I dwell joost now, was floored once by one, and +he expected to die—but he did not. He is alife ant vell, as you shall +see."</p> + +<p>As he spoke a large butterfly fluttered across the scene of their +festivities. With all the energy of his enthusiastic spirit and strong +muscular frame the naturalist leaped up, overturned his dinner, rushed +after the coveted <i>specimen</i>, tripped over a root, and measured his +length on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Zat comes of too much horry!" he remarked, as he picked up his glasses, +and returned, humbly, to continue his dinner. "Mine frond, learn a +lesson from a foolish man!"</p> + +<p>"I shall learn two lessons," said Nigel, laughing—"first, to avoid +your too eager haste, and, second, to copy if I can your admirable +enthusiasm."</p> + +<p>"You are very goot. Some more cheekin' if you please. Zanks. Ve most +make haste viz our meal ant go to vork."</p> + +<p>The grandeur and novelty of the scenery through which they passed when +they did go to work was a source of constant delight and surprise to our +hero, whose inherent tendency to take note of and admire the wonderful +works of God was increased by the unflagging enthusiasm and interesting +running commentary of his companion, whose flow of language and eager +sympathy formed a striking contrast to the profound silence and gravity +of the Dyak youth, as well as to the pathetic and affectionate +selfishness of the man-monkey.</p> + +<p>It must not, however, be supposed that the young orang-utan was unworthy +of his victuals, for, besides being an amusing and harmless companion, +he had been trained to use his natural capacity for climbing trees in +the service of his master. Thus he ascended the tall Durian trees, when +ordered, and sent down some of the fruit in a few minutes—an operation +which his human companions could not have accomplished without tedious +delay and the construction of an ingenious ladder having slender bamboos +for one of its sides, and the tree to be ascended for its other side, +with splinters of bamboo driven into it by way of rounds.</p> + +<p>"Zat is zee pitcher-plant," said Verkimier, as Nigel stopped suddenly +before a plant which he had often read of but never seen. He was told by +his friend that pitcher-plants were very numerous in that region; that +every mountain-top abounded with them; that they would be found trailing +along the ground and climbing over shrubs and stunted trees, with their +elegant pitchers hanging in every direction. Some of these, he said, +were long and slender, others broad and short. The plant at which they +were looking was a broad green one, variously tinted and mottled with +red, and was large enough to hold two quarts of water.</p> + +<p>Resuming the march Nigel observed that the group of orchids was +abundant, but a large proportion of the species had small inconspicuous +flowers. Some, however, had large clusters of yellow flowers which had a +very ornamental effect on the sombre forest. But, although the +exceptions were striking, he found that in Borneo, as elsewhere, flowers +were scarcer than he had expected in an equatorial forest. There were, +however, more than enough of striking and surprising things to engage +the attention of our hero, and arouse his interest.</p> + +<p>One tree they came to which rendered him for some moments absolutely +speechless! to the intense delight of the professor, who marched his +new-found sympathiser from one object of interest to another with the +secret intention of surprising him, and when he had got him to the point +of open-mouthed amazement he was wont to turn his spectacles full on his +face, like the mouths of a blue binocular, in order to witness and enjoy +his emotions!</p> + +<p>Nigel found this out at last and was rather embarrassed in consequence.</p> + +<p>"Zat," exclaimed the naturalist, after gazing at his friend for some +time in silence, "zat is a tree vitch planted itself in mid-air and zen +sent its roots down to zee ground and its branches up to zee sky!"</p> + +<p>"It looks as if it had," returned Nigel; "I have seen a tree of the same +kind near the coast. How came it to grow in this way?"</p> + +<p>"I know not. It is zought zat zey spring from a seed dropped by a bird +into zee fork of anozer tree. Zee seed grows, sends his roots down ant +his branches up. Ven his roots reach zee ground he lays hold, ant, ven +strong enough, kills his support—zus returning efil for good, like a +zankless dependent. Ah! zere is much resemblance between plants and +animals! Com', ve must feed here," said the professor, resting his gun +against one of the roots, "I had expected to find zee booterflies +sooner. It cannot be helped. Let us make zis our banqueting-hall. Ve +vill have a Durian to refresh us, ant here is a bandy tree which seems +to have ripe vones on it.—Go," he added, turning to the orang-utan, +"and send down von or two."</p> + +<p>The creature looked helplessly incapable, pitifully unwilling, +scratching its side the while. Evidently it was a lazy monkey.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear?" said Verkimier, sternly.</p> + +<p>The orang moved uneasily, but still declined to go.</p> + +<p>Turning sharply on it, the professor bent down, placed a hand on each of +his knees and stared through the blue goggles into the animal's face.</p> + +<p>This was more than it could stand. With a very bad grace it hobbled off +to the Durian tree, ascended it with a sort of lazy, lumbering facility, +and hurled down some of the fruit without warning those below to look +out.</p> + +<p>"My little frond is obstinate sometimes," remarked the naturalist, +picking up the fruit, "but ven I bring my glasses to bear on him he +alvays gives in. I never found zem fail. Come now; eat, an' ve vill go +to vork again. Ve must certainly find zee booterflies somevere before +night."</p> + +<p class="center"><a name="illus199.jpg" id="illus199.jpg" /><img src="images/illus199.jpg" width='466' height='700' alt="DO YOU HEAR? SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY" /></p> + +<h3>"DO YOU HEAR?" SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY</h3> + +<p>But Verkimier was wrong. It was his destiny not to find the butterflies +that night, or in that region at all, for he and his companion had not +quite finished their meal when a Dyak youth came running up to them +saying that he had been sent by the Rajah to order their immediate +return to the village.</p> + +<p>"Alas! ve most go. It is dancherous to disobey zee Rajah—ant I am +sorry—very sorry—zat I cannot show you zee booterflies to-day. No +matter.—Go" (to the Dyak youth), "tell your chief ve vill come. Better +lock zee next time!"</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XV' id='CHAPTER_XV' />CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>HUNTING THE GREAT MAN-MONKEY.</h3> + + +<p>Although Professor Verkimier had promised to return at once, he was +compelled to encamp in the forest, being overtaken by night before he +could reach the river and procure a boat.</p> + +<p>Next morning they started at daybreak. The country over which they +passed had again changed its character and become more hilly. On the +summits of many of the hills Dyak villages could be seen, and rice +fields were met with as they went along. Several gullies and rivulets +were crossed by means of native bamboo bridges, and the professor +explained as he went along the immense value of the bamboo to the +natives. With it they make their suspension bridges, build their houses, +and procure narrow planking for their floors. If they want broader +planks they split a large bamboo on one side and flatten it out to a +plank of about eighteen inches wide. Portions of hollow bamboo serve as +receptacles for milk or water. If a precipice stops a path, the Dyaks +will not hesitate to construct a bamboo path along the face of it, using +branches of trees wherever convenient from which to hang the path, and +every crevice or notch in the rocks to receive the ends of the bamboos +by which it is supported.</p> + +<p>Honey-bees in Borneo hang their combs, to be out of danger no doubt, +under the branches of the Tappan, which towers above all the other trees +of the forest. But the Dyaks love honey and value wax as an article of +trade; they therefore erect their ingenious bamboo ladder—which can be +prolonged to any height on the smooth branchless stem of the Tappan—and +storm the stronghold of the bees with much profit to themselves, for +bees'-wax will purchase from the traders the brass wire, rings, +gold-edged kerchiefs and various ornaments with which they decorate +themselves. When travelling, the Dyaks use bamboos as cooking vessels in +which to boil rice and other vegetables; as jars in which to preserve +honey, sugar, etc., or salted fish and fruit. Split bamboos form +aqueducts by which water is conveyed to the houses. A small neatly +carved piece of bamboo serves as a case in which are carried the +materials used in the disgusting practice of betel-nut chewing—which +seems to be equivalent to the western tobacco-chewing. If a pipe is +wanted the Dyak will in a wonderfully short space of time make a huge +hubble-bubble out of bamboos of different sizes, and if his long-bladed +knife requires a sheath the same gigantic grass supplies one almost +ready-made. But the uses to which this reed may be applied are almost +endless, and the great outstanding advantage of it is that it needs no +other tools than an axe and a knife to work it.</p> + +<p>At about mid-day the river was reached, and they found a native boat, or +prau, which had been sent down to convey them to the Rajah's village. +Here Nigel was received with the hospitality due to a friend of Van der +Kemp, who, somehow—probably by unselfish readiness, as well as ability, +to oblige—had contrived to make devoted friends in whatever part of the +Malay Archipelago he travelled.</p> + +<p>Afterwards, in a conversation with Nigel, the professor, referring to +those qualities of the hermit which endeared him to men everywhere, +said, with a burst of enthusiasm, which almost outdid himself—</p> + +<p>"You cannot oonderstant Van der Kemp. No man can oonderstant him. He is +goot, right down to zee marrow—kind, amiable, oonselfish, obliging, +nevair seems to zink of himself at all, ant, abof all zings, is capable. +Vat he vill do, he can do—vat he can do he vill do. But he is sad—very +sad."</p> + +<p>"I have observed that, of course," said Nigel. "Do you know what makes +him so sad?"</p> + +<p>The professor shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No, I do not know. Nobody knows. I have tried to find out, but he vill +not speak."</p> + +<p>The Orang-Kaya, or rich man, as this hill chief was styled, had provided +lodgings for his visitors in the "head-house." This was a large circular +building erected on poles. There is such a house in nearly all Dyak +villages. It serves as a trading-place, a strangers' room, a +sleeping-room for unmarried youths, and a general council-chamber. Here +Nigel found the hermit and Moses enjoying a good meal when he arrived, +to which he and the professor sat down after paying their respects to +the chief.</p> + +<p>"The Orang-Kaya hopes that we will stay with him some time and help to +defend the village," said Van der Kemp, when they were all seated.</p> + +<p>"Of course you have agreed?" said Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I came for that purpose."</p> + +<p>"We's allers ready to fight in a good cause," remarked Moses, just +before filling his mouth with rice.</p> + +<p>"Or to die in it!" added Verkimier, engulfing the breast of a chicken at +a bite. "But as zee pirates are not expected for some days, ve may as +veil go after zee mias—zat is what zee natifs call zee orang-utan. It +is a better word, being short."</p> + +<p>Moses glanced at the professor out of the corners of his black eyes and +seemed greatly tickled by his enthusiastic devotion to business.</p> + +<p>"I am also," continued the professor, "extremely anxious to go at zee +booterflies before—"</p> + +<p>"You die," suggested Nigel, venturing on a pleasantry, whereat Moses +opened his mouth in a soundless laugh, but, observing the professor's +goggles levelled at him, he transformed the laugh into an astounding +sneeze, and immediately gazed with pouting innocence and interest at his +plate.</p> + +<p>"Do you alvays sneeze like zat?" asked Verkimier.</p> + +<p>"Not allers," answered the negro simply, "sometimes I gibs way a good +deal wuss. Depends on de inside ob my nose an' de state ob de wedder."</p> + +<p>What the professor would have replied we cannot say, for just then a +Dyak youth rushed in to say that an unusually large and gorgeous +butterfly had been seen just outside the village!</p> + +<p>No application of fire to gunpowder could have produced a more immediate +effect. The professor's rice was scattered on the floor, and himself was +outside the head-house before his comrades knew exactly what was the +matter.</p> + +<p>"He's always like that," said the hermit, with a slight twinkle in his +eyes. "Nothing discourages—nothing subdues him. Twice I pulled him out +of deadly danger into which he had run in his eager pursuit of +specimens. And he has returned the favour to me, for he rescued me once +when a mias had got me down and would certainly have killed me, for my +gun was empty at the moment, and I had dropped my knife."</p> + +<p>"Is, then, the orang-utan so powerful and savage?"</p> + +<p>"Truly, yes, when wounded and driven to bay," returned the hermit. "You +must not judge of the creature by the baby that Verkimier has tamed. A +full-grown male is quite as large as a man, though very small in the +legs in proportion, so that it does not stand high. It is also very much +stronger than the most powerful man. You would be quite helpless in its +grip, I assure you."</p> + +<p>"I hope, with the professor," returned Nigel, "that we may have a hunt +after them, either before or after the arrival of the pirates. I know he +is very anxious to secure a good specimen for some museum in which he is +interested—I forget which."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, the youth who had brought information about the butterfly +returned and said a few words to Moses in his native tongue.</p> + +<p>"What does he say?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Dat Massa Verkimier is in full chase, an' it's my opinion dat when he +comes back he'll be wet all ober, and hab his shins and elbows barked."</p> + +<p>"Why d'you think so?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause dat's de way he goed on when we was huntin' wid him last year. +He nebber larns fro' 'sperience."</p> + +<p>"That's a very fine-looking young fellow," remarked Nigel, referring to +the Dyak youth who had just returned, and who, with a number of other +natives, was watching the visitors with profound interest while they +ate.</p> + +<p>As the young man referred to was a good sample of the youth of his +tribe, we shall describe him. Though not tall, he was well and strongly +proportioned, and his skin was of a reddish-brown colour. Like all his +comrades, he wore little clothing. A gay handkerchief with a gold lace +border encircled his head, from beneath which flowed a heavy mass of +straight, jet-black hair. Large crescent-shaped ornaments hung from his +ears. His face was handsome and the expression pleasing, though the +mouth was large and the lips rather thick. Numerous brass rings +encircled his arms above and below the elbows. His only other piece of +costume was a waist-cloth of blue cotton, which hung down before and +behind. It ended in three bands of red, blue, and white. There were also +rows of brass rings on his legs, and armlets of white shells. At his +side he wore a long slender knife and a little pouch containing the +materials for betel-chewing.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and he is as good as he looks," said the hermit. "His name is +Gurulam, and all the people of his tribe have benefited by the presence +in Borneo of that celebrated Englishman Sir James Brooke,—Rajah Brooke +as he was called,—who did so much to civilise the Dyaks of Borneo and +to ameliorate their condition."</p> + +<p>The prophecy of Moses about the professor was fulfilled. Just as it was +growing dark that genial scientist returned, drenched to the skin and +covered with mud, having tumbled into a ditch. His knuckles also were +skinned, his knees and shins damaged, and his face scratched, but he was +perfectly happy in consequence of having secured a really splendid +specimen of a "bootterfly" as big as his hand; the scientific name of +which, for very sufficient reasons, we will not attempt to inflict on +our readers, and the description of which may be shortly stated by the +single word—gorgeous!</p> + +<p>Being fond of Verkimier, and knowing his desire to obtain a full-grown +orang-utan, Gurulam went off early next morning to search for one. +Half-a-dozen of his comrades accompanied him armed only with native +spears, for their object was not to hunt the animal, but to discover one +if possible, and let the professor know so that he might go after it +with his rifle, for they knew that he was a keen sportsman as well as a +man of science.</p> + +<p>They did not, indeed, find what they sought for, but they were told by +natives with whom they fell in that a number of the animals had been +seen among the tree-tops not more than a day's march into the forest. +They hurried home therefore with this information, and that +day—accompanied by the Dyak youths, Nigel, the hermit, and +Moses—Verkimier started off in search of the mias; intending to camp +out or to take advantage of a native hut if they should chance to be +near one when night overtook them.</p> + +<p>Descending the hill region, they soon came to more level ground, where +there was a good deal of swamp, through which they passed on Dyak roads. +These roads consisted simply of tree-trunks laid end to end, along which +the natives, being barefooted, walk with ease and certainty, but our +booted hunters were obliged to proceed along them with extreme caution. +The only one who came to misfortune was, as usual, the professor; and in +the usual way! It occurred at the second of these tree-roads.</p> + +<p>"Look, look at that remarkable insect!" exclaimed Nigel, eagerly, in the +innocence of his heart. The professor was in front of him; he obediently +looked, saw the insect, made an eager step towards it, and next moment +was flat on the swamp, while the woods rang with his companions' +laughter. The remarkable insect, whatever it was, vanished from the +scene, and the professor was dragged, smiling though confused, out of +the bog. These things affected him little. His soul was large and rose +superior to such trifles.</p> + +<p>The virgin forest into which they penetrated was of vast extent; +spreading over plain, mountain, and morass in every direction for +hundreds of miles, for we must remind the reader that the island of +Borneo is considerably larger than all the British islands put together, +while its inhabitants are comparatively few. Verkimier had been +absolutely revelling in this forest for several months—ranging its +glades, penetrating its thickets, bathing (inadvertently) in its +quagmires, and maiming himself generally, with unwearied energy and +unextinguishable enthusiasm; shooting, skinning, stuffing, preserving, +and boiling the bones of all its inhabitants—except the human—to the +great advantage of science and the immense interest and astonishment of +the natives. Yet with all his energy and perseverance the professor had +failed, up to that time, to obtain a large specimen of a male +orang-utan, though he had succeeded in shooting several small specimens +and females, besides catching the young one which he had tamed.</p> + +<p>It was therefore with much excitement that he learned from a party of +bees'-wax hunters, on the second morning of their expedition, that a +large male mias had been seen that very day. Towards the afternoon they +found the spot that had been described to them, and a careful +examination began.</p> + +<p>"You see," said Verkimier, in a low voice, to Nigel, as he went a step +in advance peering up into the trees, with rifle at the "ready" and +bending a little as if by that means he better avoided the chance of +being seen. "You see, I came to Borneo for zee express purpose of +obtaining zee great man-monkey and vatching his habits.—Hush! Do I not +hear somet'ing?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing but your own voice, I think," said Nigel, with a twinkle in his +eye.</p> + +<p>"Vell—hush! Keep kviet, all of you."</p> + +<p>As the whole party marched in single file after the professor, and were +at the moment absolutely silent, this order induced the display of a +good many teeth.</p> + +<p>Just then the man of science was seen to put his rifle quickly to the +shoulder; the arches of the forest rang with a loud report; various +horrified creatures were seen and heard to scamper away, and next moment +a middle-sized orang-utan came crashing through the branches of a tall +tree and fell dead with a heavy thud on the ground.</p> + +<p>The professor's rifle was a breechloader. He therefore lost no time in +re-charging, and hurried forward as if he saw other game, while the rest +of the party—except Van der Kemp, Nigel, and Gurulam—fell behind to +look at and pick up the fallen animal.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" whispered Nigel, pointing to a bit of brown hair that he saw +among the leaves high overhead.</p> + +<p>"Vere? I cannot see him," whispered the naturalist, whose eyes blazed +enough almost to melt his blue glasses. "Do <i>you</i> fire, Mr. Roy?"</p> + +<p>"My gun is charged only with small-shot, for birds. It is useless for +such game," said Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Ach! I see!"</p> + +<p>Up went the rifle and again the echoes were startled and the animal +kingdom astounded, especially that portion at which the professor had +fired, for there was immediately a tremendous commotion among the leaves +overhead, and another orang of the largest size was seen to cross an +open space and disappear among the thick foliage. Evidently the creature +had been hit, but not severely, for it travelled among the tree-tops at +the rate of full five miles an hour, obliging the hunters to run at a +rapid pace over the rough ground in order to keep up with it. In its +passage from tree to tree the animal showed caution and foresight, +selecting only those branches that interlaced with other boughs, so that +it made uninterrupted progress, and also had a knack of always keeping +masses of thick foliage underneath it so that for some time no +opportunity was found of firing another shot. At last, however, it came +to one of those Dyak roads of which we have made mention, so that it +could not easily swing from one tree to another, and the stoppage of +rustling among the leaves told that the creature had halted. For some +time they gazed up among the branches without seeing anything, but at +last, in a place where the leaves seemed to have been thrust aside near +the top of one of the highest trees, a great red hairy body was seen, +and a huge black face gazed fiercely down at the hunters.</p> + +<p>Verkimier fired instantly, the branches closed, and the monster moved +off in another direction. In desperate anxiety Nigel fired both barrels +of his shot-gun. He might as well have fired at the moon. Gurulam was +armed only with a spear, and Van der Kemp, who was not much of a +sportsman, carried a similar weapon. The rest of the party were still +out of sight in rear looking after the dead mias.</p> + +<p>It was astonishing how little noise was made by so large an animal as it +moved along. More than once the hunters had to halt and listen intently +for the rustling of the leaves before they could make sure of being on +the right track.</p> + +<p>At last they caught sight of him again on the top of a very high tree, +and the professor got two more shots, but without bringing him down. +Then he was seen, quite exposed for a moment, walking in a stooping +posture along the large limb of a tree, but the hunter was loading at +the time and lost the chance. Finally he got on to a tree whose top was +covered with a dense mass of creepers which completely hid him from +view. Then he halted and the sound of snapping branches was heard.</p> + +<p>"You've not much chance of him now," remarked the hermit, as they all +stood in a group gazing up into the tree-top. "I have often seen the +mias act thus when severely wounded. He is making a nest to lie down and +die in."</p> + +<p>"Zen ve must shoot again," said the professor, moving round the tree and +looking out for a sign of the animal. At last he seemed to have found +what he wanted, for raising his rifle he took a steady aim and fired.</p> + +<p>A considerable commotion of leaves and fall of broken branches followed. +Then the huge red body of the mias appeared falling through, but it was +not dead, for it caught hold of branches as it fell and hung on as long +as it could; then it came crashing down, and alighted on its face with +an awful thud.</p> + +<p>After firing the last shot Verkimier had not reloaded, being too intent +on watching the dying struggles of the creature, and when it fell with +such violence he concluded that it was dead. For the same reason Nigel +had neglected to reload after firing. Thus it happened that when the +enormous brute suddenly rose and made for a tree with the evident +intention of climbing it, no one was prepared to stop it except the Dyak +youth Gurulam. He chanced to be standing between the mias and the tree.</p> + +<p>Boldly he levelled his spear and made a thrust that would probably have +killed the beast, if it had not caught the point of the spear and turned +it aside. Then with its left paw it caught the youth by the neck, seized +his thigh with one of its hind paws, and fixed its teeth in his right +shoulder.</p> + +<p>Never was man rendered more suddenly and completely helpless, and death +would have been his sure portion before the hunters had reloaded if Van +der Kemp had not leaped forward, and, thrusting his spear completely +through the animal's body, killed it on the spot.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XVI' id='CHAPTER_XVI' />CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>BEGINS WITH A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND ENDS WITH A HASTY FLIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>The hunt, we need scarcely say, was abruptly terminated, and immediate +preparations were made for conveying the wounded man and the two orangs +to the Dyak village. This was quickly arranged, for the convenient +bamboo afforded ready-made poles wherewith to form a litter on which to +carry them.</p> + +<p>The huge creature which had given them so much trouble, and so nearly +cost them one human life, was found to be indeed of the largest size. It +was not tall but very broad and large. The exact measurements, taken by +the professor, who never travelled without his tape measure, were as +follows:—</p> + +<table summary='Measurements of creature'> + <tr> + <td> + Height from heel to top of head + </td> + <td> + 4 feet 2 inches. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Outstretched arms across chest + </td> + <td> + 7 feet 8 inches. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Width of face + </td> + <td> + 1 foot 2 inches + </td> + </tr> <tr> + <td> + Girth of arm + </td> + <td> + 1 foot 3 inches + </td> + </tr> <tr> + <td> + Girth of wrist + </td> + <td align='right'> + 8 inches + </td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>The muscular power of such a creature is of course immense, as Nigel and +the professor had a rare chance of seeing that very evening—of which, +more presently.</p> + +<p>On careful examination by Nigel, who possessed some knowledge of +surgery, it was found that none of Gurulam's bones had been broken, and +that although severely lacerated about the shoulders and right thigh, no +very serious injury had been done—thanks to the promptitude and vigour +of the hermit's spear-thrust. The poor youth, however, was utterly +helpless for the time being, and had to be carried home.</p> + +<p>That afternoon the party reached a village in a remote part of the +forest where they resolved to halt for the night, as no other +resting-place could be reached before dark.</p> + +<p>While a supper of rice and fowl was being cooked by Moses, Van der Kemp +attended to the wounded man, and Nigel accompanied the professor along +the banks of the stream on which the village stood. Having merely gone +out for a stroll they carried no weapons except walking-sticks, +intending to go only a short distance. Interesting talk, however, on the +character and habits of various animals, made them forget time until the +diminution of daylight warned them to turn. They were about to do so +when they observed, seated in an open place near the stream, the largest +orang they had yet seen. It was feeding on succulent shoots by the +water-side: a fact which surprised the professor, for his inquiries and +experience had hitherto taught him that orangs never eat such food +except when starving. The fat and vigorous condition in which this +animal was forbade the idea of starvation. Besides, it had brought a +Durian fruit to the banks of the stream and thrown it down, so that +either taste or eccentricity must have induced it to prefer the shoots. +Perhaps its digestion was out of order and it required a tonic.</p> + +<p>Anyhow, it continued to devour a good many young shoots while our +travellers were peeping at it in mute surprise through the bushes. That +they had approached so near without being observed was due to the fact +that a brawling rapid flowed just there, and the mias was on the other +side of the stream. By mutual consent the men crouched to watch its +proceedings. They were not a little concerned, however, when the brute +seized an overhanging bough, and, with what we may style sluggish +agility, swung itself clumsily but lightly to their side of the stream. +It picked up the Durian which lay there and began to devour it. Biting +off some of the strong spikes with which that charming fruit is covered, +it made a small hole in it, and then with its powerful fingers tore off +the thick rind and began to enjoy a feast.</p> + +<p>Now, with monkeys, no less than with men, there is many a slip 'twixt +the cup and the lip, for the mias had just begun its meal, or, rather, +its dessert, when a crocodile, which the professor had not observed and +Nigel had mistaken for a log, suddenly opened its jaws and seized the +big monkey's leg. The scene that ensued baffles description! Grasping +the crocodile with its other three hands by nose, throat, and eyes, the +mias almost performed the American operation of gouging—digging its +powerful thumbs and fingers into every crevice and tearing open its +assailant's jaws. The crocodile, taken apparently by surprise, went into +dire convulsions, and making for deep water, plunged his foe therein +over head and ears. Nothing daunted, the mias regained his footing, +hauled his victim on to a mudbank, and, jumping on his back began to +tear and pommel him. There was nothing of the prize-fighter in the mias. +He never clenched his fist—never hit straight from the shoulder, but +the buffeting and slapping which he gave resounded all over the place. +At last he caught hold of a fold of his opponent's throat, which he +began to tear open with fingers and teeth. Wrenching himself free with a +supreme effort the crocodile shot into the stream and disappeared with a +sounding splash of its tail, while the mias waded lamely to the shore +with an expression of sulky indignation on its great black face.</p> + +<p>Slowly the creature betook itself to the shelter of the forest, and we +need scarcely add that the excited observers of the combat made no +attempt to hinder its retreat.</p> + +<p>It is said that the python is the only other creature that dares to +attack the orang-utan, and that when it does so victory usually declares +for the man-monkey, which bites and tears it to death.</p> + +<p>The people of the village in which the hunters rested that night were +evidently not accustomed to white men—perhaps had never seen them +before—for they crowded round them while at supper and gazed in silent +wonder as if they were watching a group of white-faced baboons feeding! +They were, however, very hospitable, and placed before their visitors +abundance of their best food without expecting anything in return. Brass +rings were the great ornament in this village—as they are, indeed, +among the Dyaks generally. Many of the women had their arms completely +covered with them, as well as their legs from the ankle to the knee. +Their petticoats were fastened to a coil of rattan, stained red, round +their bodies. They also wore coils of brass wire, girdles of small +silver coins, and sometimes broad belts of brass ring-armour.</p> + +<p>It was break of dawn next morning when our hunters started, bearing +their wounded comrade and the dead orangs with them.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the village they found the people in great excitement +preparing for defence, as news had been brought to the effect that the +pirates had landed at the mouth of the river, joined the disaffected +band which awaited them, and that an attack might be expected without +delay, for they were under command of the celebrated Malay pirate +Baderoon.</p> + +<p>Nigel observed that the countenance of his friend Van der Kemp underwent +a peculiar change on hearing this man's name mentioned. There was a +combination of anxiety, which was unnatural to him, and of resolution, +which was one of his chief characteristics.</p> + +<p>"Is Baderoon the enemy whom you saw on the islet on our first night +out?" asked Nigel, during a ramble with the hermit that evening.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I fear to meet him," replied his friend in a low voice.</p> + +<p>Nigel was surprised. The impression made on his mind since their +intercourse was that Van der Kemp was incapable of the sensation of +fear.</p> + +<p>"Is he so very bitter against you?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Very," was the curt reply.</p> + +<p>"Have you reason to think he would take your life if he could?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure he would. As I told you before, I have thwarted his plans +more than once. When he hears that it is I who have warned the +Orang-Kaya against him he will pursue me to the death—and—and I <i>must +not</i> meet him."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" exclaimed Nigel, with renewed surprise.</p> + +<p>But the hermit took no note of the exclamation. Anxiety had given place +to a frown, and his eyes were fixed on the ground. It seemed to Nigel so +evident that he did not wish to pursue the subject, that he slightly +changed it.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," he said, "that there is no fear of the Dyaks of the village +being unable to beat off the pirates now that they have been warned?"</p> + +<p>"None whatever. Indeed, this is so well known to Baderoon that I think +he will abandon the attempt. But he will not abandon his designs on me. +However, we must wait and see how God will order events."</p> + +<p>Next morning spies returned to the village with the information that the +pirates had taken their departure from the mouth of the river.</p> + +<p>"Do you think this is an attempt to deceive us?" asked the chief, +turning to Van der Kemp, when he heard the news.</p> + +<p>"I think not. And even should it be so, and they should return, you are +ready and well able to meet them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ready—and <i>well</i> able to meet them," replied the Orang-Kaya, +drawing himself up proudly.</p> + +<p>"Did they <i>all</i> go in one direction?" asked Van der Kemp of the youths +who had brought the news.</p> + +<p>"Yes, all went in a body to the north—except one boat which rowed +southward."</p> + +<p>"Hm! I thought so. My friends, listen to me. This is no pretence. They +do not mean to attack you now you are on your guard; but that boat which +went south contains Baderoon, and I feel certain that he means to hang +about here till he gets the chance of killing me."</p> + +<p>"That is well," returned the chief, calmly. "My young men will hunt till +they find where he is. Then they will bring us the information and Van +der Kemp will go out with a band and slay his enemy."</p> + +<p>"No, my friend," said the hermit, firmly; "that shall not be. I must get +out of his way, and in order to do so will leave you at once, for there +will be no further need for my services here."</p> + +<p>The chief looked at his friend in surprise. "Well," he said, "you have a +good judgment, and understand your own affairs. But you have already +rendered me good service, and I will help you to fly—though such is not +the habit of the Dyaks! There is a trader's vessel to start for Sumatra +by the first light of day. Will my friend go by that?"</p> + +<p>"I am grateful," answered the hermit, "but I need no help—save some +provisions, for I have my little canoe, which will suffice."</p> + +<p>As this colloquy was conducted in the native tongue it was +unintelligible to Nigel, but after the interview with the chief the +hermit explained matters to him, and bade Moses get ready for a start +several hours before dawn.</p> + +<p>"You see we must do the first part of our trip in the dark, for Baderoon +has a keen eye and ear. Then we will land and sleep all day where the +sharpest eye will fail to find us—and, luckily, pirates have been +denied the power of scenting out their foes. When night comes we will +start again and get out of sight of land before the next dawn."</p> + +<p>"Mine frond," said the professor, turning his moon-like goggles full on +the hermit. "I vill go viz you."</p> + +<p>"I should be only too happy to have your company," returned the hermit, +"but my canoe cannot by any contrivance be made to hold more than +three."</p> + +<p>"Zat is no matter to me," rejoined Verkimier; "you forget zee trader's +boat. I vill go in zat to Sumatra. Ve vill find out zee port he is going +to, ant you vill meet me zere. Vait for me if I have not arrived—or I +vill vait for you. I have longed to visit Sumatra, ant vat better fronds +could I go viz zan yourselfs?"</p> + +<p>"But, my good friend," returned the hermit, "my movements may not +exactly suit yours. Here they are,—you can judge for yourself. First I +will, God permitting, cross over to Sumatra in my canoe."</p> + +<p>"But it is t'ree hoondert miles across, if not more!"</p> + +<p>"No matter—there are plenty of islands on the way. Besides, some +passing vessel will give me a lift, no doubt. Then I will coast along to +one of the eastern ports, where I know there is a steamboat loading up +about this time. The captain is an old friend of mine. He brought me and +my companions the greater part of the way here. If I find him I will ask +him to carry my canoe on his return voyage through Sunda Straits, and +leave it with another friend of mine at Telok Betong on the south coast +of Sumatra—not far, as you know, from my home in Krakatoa. Then I will +proceed overland to the same place, so that my friend Nigel Roy may see +a little of the country."</p> + +<p>"Ant vat if you do <i>not</i> find your frond zee captain of zee steamer?"</p> + +<p>"Why, then I shall have to adopt some other plan. It is the uncertainty +of my movements that makes me think you should not depend on them."</p> + +<p>"Zat is not'ing to me, Van der Kemp; you joost go as you say. I vill +follow ant take my chance. I am use' to ooncertainties ant +difficoolties. Zey can not influence me."</p> + +<p>After a good deal of consideration this plan was agreed to. The +professor spent part of the night in giving directions about the +preserving of his specimens, which he meant to leave at the village in +charge of a man whom he had trained to assist him, while Van der Kemp +with his companions lay down to snatch a little sleep before setting out +on their voyage, or, as the Dyak chief persisted in calling it, their +flight!</p> + +<p>When Nigel had slept about five minutes—as he thought—he was awakened +by Moses.</p> + +<p>"Don't make a noise, Massa Nadgel! Dere may be spies in de camp for all +we knows, so we mus' git off like mice. Canoe's ready an' massa waitin'; +we gib you to de last momint."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes our hero was sleepily following the negro through the +woods to the spot where the canoe was in waiting.</p> + +<p>The night was very dark. This was in their favour,—at least as regarded +discovery.</p> + +<p>"But how shall we ever see to make our way down stream?" asked Nigel of +the hermit in a whisper on reaching the place of embarkation.</p> + +<p>"The current will guide us. Besides, I have studied the river with a +view to this flight. Be careful in getting in. Now, Moses, are you +ready?"</p> + +<p>"All right, massa."</p> + +<p>"Shove off, then."</p> + +<p>There was something so eerie in the subdued tones, and stealthy +motions, and profound darkness, that Nigel could not help feeling as if +they were proceeding to commit some black and criminal deed!</p> + +<p>Floating with the current, with as little noise as possible, and having +many a narrow escape of running against points of land and sandbanks, +they flew swiftly towards the sea, so that dawn found them among the mud +flats and the mangrove swamps. Here they found a spot where mangrove +roots and bushes formed an impenetrable screen, behind which they spent +the day, chiefly in sleep, and in absolute security.</p> + +<p>When darkness set in they again put forth, and cautiously clearing the +river's mouth, were soon far out on the open sea, which was fortunately +calm at the time, the slight air that blew being in their favour.</p> + +<p>"We are safe from pursuit now," said Van der Kemp in a tone of +satisfaction, as they paused for a breathing spell.</p> + +<p>"O massa!" exclaimed Moses at that moment, in a voice of consternation; +"we's forgotten Spinkie!"</p> + +<p>"So we have!" returned the hermit in a voice of regret so profound that +Nigel could scarce restrain a laugh in spite of his sympathy.</p> + +<p>But Spinkie had not forgotten himself. Observing probably, that these +night expeditions were a change in his master's habits, he had kept an +unusually watchful eye on the canoe, so that when it was put in the +water, he had jumped on board unseen in the darkness, and had retired to +the place where he usually slept under hatches when the canoe travelled +at night.</p> + +<p>Awakened from refreshing sleep at the sound of his name, Spinkie emerged +suddenly from the stern-manhole, right under the negro's nose, and with +a sleepy "oo, oo!" gazed up into his face.</p> + +<p>"Ho! Dare you is, you mis'rible hyperkrite!" exclaimed Moses, kissing +the animal in the depth of his satisfaction. "He's here, massa, all +right. Now, you go to bed agin, you small bundle ob hair."</p> + +<p>The creature retired obediently to its place, and laying its little +cheek on one of its small hands, committed itself to repose.</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp was wrong when he said they were safe. A pirate scout had +seen the canoe depart. Being alone and distant from the rendezvous of +his commander, some time elapsed before the news could be conveyed to +him. When Baderoon was at length informed and had sailed out to sea in +pursuit, returning daylight showed him that his intended victim had +escaped.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XVII' id='CHAPTER_XVII' />CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>TELLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF THE PROFESSOR IN THE SUMATRAN FORESTS, ALSO +OF A CATASTROPHE AVERTED.</h3> + + +<p>Fortunately the weather continued fine at first, and the light wind +fair, so that the canoe skimmed swiftly over the wide sea that separates +Borneo from Sumatra. Sometimes our travellers proceeded at night when +the distance between islets compelled them to do so. At other times they +landed on one of these isles when opportunity offered to rest and +replenish the water-casks.</p> + +<p>We will not follow them step by step in this voyage, which occupied more +than a week, and during which they encountered without damage several +squalls in which a small open boat could not have lived. Beaching at +last the great island of Sumatra—which, like its neighbour Borneo, is +larger in extent than the British Islands—they coasted along +southwards, without further delay than was absolutely necessary for rest +and refreshment, until they reached a port where they found the steamer +of which they were in search just about to start on its return voyage. +Van der Kemp committed his little craft to the care of the captain, who, +after vainly advising his friend to take a free passage with him to the +Straits of Sunda, promised to leave the canoe in passing at Telok +Betong. We may add that Spinkie was most unwillingly obliged to +accompany the canoe.</p> + +<p>"Now, we must remain here till our friend Verkimier arrives," said the +hermit, turning to Nigel after they had watched the steamer out of +sight.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we must," said Nigel, who did not at all relish the +delay—"of course we must," he added with decision.</p> + +<p>"I sees no 'ob course' about it, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who +never refrained from offering his opinion from motives of humility, or +of respect for his employer. "My 'dvice is to go on an' let de purfesser +foller."</p> + +<p>"But I promised to wait for him," said the hermit, with one of his +kindly, half-humorous glances, "and you know I <i>never</i> break my +promises."</p> + +<p>"Das true, massa, but you di'n't promise to wait for him for eber an' +eber!"</p> + +<p>"Not quite; but of course I meant that I would wait a reasonable time."</p> + +<p>The negro appeared to meditate for some moments on the extent of a +"reasonable" time, for his huge eyes became huger as he gazed +frowningly at the ground. Then he spoke.</p> + +<p>"A 'reasonable' time, massa, is such an oncertain time—wariable, so to +speak, accordin' to the mind that t'inks upon it! Hows'eber, if you's +<i>promised,</i> ob coorse dat's an end ob it; for w'en a man promises, he's +bound to stick to it."</p> + +<p>Such devotion to principle was appropriately rewarded the very next day +by the arrival of the trading prau in which the professor had embarked.</p> + +<p>"We did not expect you nearly so soon," said Nigel, as they heartily +shook hands.</p> + +<p>"It vas because zee vind freshen soon after ve set sail—ant, zen, ve +made a straight line for zis port, w'ereas you possibly crossed over, +ant zen push down zee coast."</p> + +<p>"Exactly so, and that accounts for your overtaking us," said the hermit. +"Is that the lad Baso I see down there with the crew of the prau?"</p> + +<p>"It is. You must have some strainch power of attracting frondship, Van +der Kemp, for zee poor yout' is so fond of you zat he beg ant entreat me +to take him, ant he says he vill go on vit zee traders if you refuse to +let him follow you."</p> + +<p>"Well, he may come. Indeed, we shall be the better for his services, for +I had intended to hire a man here to help to carry our things. Much of +our journeying, you see, must be done on foot."</p> + +<p>Baso, to his great joy, thus became one of the party.</p> + +<p>We pass over the next few days, which were spent in arranging and +packing their provisions, etc., in such a way that each member of the +party should carry on his shoulders a load proportioned to his strength. +In this arrangement the professor, much against his will, was compelled +to accept the lightest load in consideration of his liability to dart +off in pursuit of creeping things and "bootterflies" at a moment's +notice. The least damageable articles were also assigned to him in +consideration of his tendency at all times to tumble into bogs and +stumble over fallen trees, and lose himself, and otherwise get into +difficulties.</p> + +<p>We also pass over part of the journey from the coast, and plunge with +our travellers at once into the interior of Sumatra.</p> + +<p>One evening towards sunset they reached the brow of an eminence which, +being rocky, was free from much wood, and permitted of a wide view of +the surrounding country. It was covered densely with virgin forest, and +they ascended the eminence in order that the hermit, who had been there +before, might discover a forest road which led to a village some miles +off, where they intended to put up for the night. Having ascertained his +exact position, Van der Kemp led his followers down to this footpath, +which led through the dense forest.</p> + +<p>The trees by which they were surrounded were varied and +magnificent—some of them rising clear up seventy and eighty feet +without a branch, many of them had superb leafy crowns, under any one of +which hundreds of men might have found shelter. Others had trunks and +limbs warped and intertwined with a wild entanglement of huge creepers, +which hung in festoons and loops as if doing their best to strangle +their supports, themselves being also encumbered, or adorned, with ferns +and orchids, and delicate twining epiphytes. A forest of smaller trees +grew beneath this shade, and still lower down were thorny shrubs, +rattan-palms, broad-leaved bushes, and a mass of tropical herbage which +would have been absolutely impenetrable but for the native road or +footpath along which they travelled.</p> + +<p>"A most suitable abode for tigers, I should think," remarked Nigel to +the hermit, who walked in front of him—for they marched in single file. +"Are there any in these parts?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, plenty. Indeed, it is because I don't like sleeping in their +company that I am so anxious to reach a village."</p> + +<p>"Are zey dangerows?" asked the professor, who followed close on Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Well, they are not safe!" replied the hermit. "I had an adventure with +one on this very road only two years ago."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! vat vas it?" asked the professor, whose appetite for anecdote +was insatiable. "Do tell us about it."</p> + +<p>"With pleasure. It was on a pitch-dark night that it occurred. I had +occasion to go to a neighbouring village at a considerable distance, and +borrowed a horse from a friend——"</p> + +<p>"Anozer frond!" exclaimed the professor; "vy, Van der Kemp, zee country +seems to be svarming vid your fronds."</p> + +<p>"I have travelled much in it and made many friends," returned the +hermit. "The horse that I borrowed turned out to be a very poor one, and +went lame soon after I set out. Business kept me longer than I expected, +and it was getting dark before I started to return. Erelong the darkness +became so intense that I could scarcely see beyond the horse's head, and +could not distinguish the path. I therefore let the animal find his own +way—knowing that he would be sure to do so, for he was going home. As +we jogged along, I felt the horse tremble. Then he snorted and came to a +dead stop, with his feet planted firmly on the ground. I was quite +unarmed, but arms would have been useless in the circumstances. +Suddenly, and fortunately, the horse reared, and next moment a huge dark +object shot close past my face—so close that its fur brushed my +cheek—as it went with a heavy thud into the jungle on the other side. +I knew that it was a tiger and felt that my life, humanly speaking, was +due to the rearing of the poor horse."</p> + +<p>"Are ve near to zee spote?" asked the professor, glancing from side to +side in some anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Not far from it!" replied the hermit, "but there is not much fear of +such an attack in broad daylight and with so large a party."</p> + +<p>"Ve are not a very large party," returned the professor. "I do not zink +I would fear much to face a tiger vid my goot rifle, but I do not relish +his choomping on me unavares. Push on, please."</p> + +<p>They pushed on and reached the village a little before nightfall.</p> + +<p>Hospitality is a characteristic of the natives of Sumatra. The +travellers were received with open arms, so to speak, and escorted to +the public building which corresponds in some measure to our western +town-halls. It was a huge building composed largely of bamboo +wooden-planks and wicker-work, with a high thatched roof, and it stood, +like all the other houses, on posts formed of great tree-stems which +rose eight or ten feet from the ground.</p> + +<p>"You have frunds here too, I zink," said Verkimier to the hermit, as +they ascended the ladder leading to the door of the hall.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes—I believe I have two or three."</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt upon that point, unless the natives were +consummate hypocrites, for they welcomed Van der Kemp and his party with +effusive voice, look and gesture, and immediately spread before them +part of a splendid supper which had just been prepared; for they had +chanced to arrive on a festive occasion.</p> + +<p>"I do believe," said Nigel in some surprise, "that they are lighting up +the place with petroleum lamps!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, and you will observe that they are lighting the lamps with Congreve +matches—at least with matches of the same sort, supplied by the Dutch +and Chinese. Many of their old customs have passed away (among others +that of procuring fire by friction), and now we have the appliances of +western civilisation to replace them."</p> + +<p>"No doubt steam is zee cause of zee change," remarked the professor.</p> + +<p>"That," said Nigel, "has a good deal to do with most things—from the +singing of a tea-kettle to the explosion of a volcano; though, +doubtless, the commercial spirit which is now so strong among men is the +proximate cause."</p> + +<p>"Surely dese people mus' be reech," said the professor, looking round +him with interest.</p> + +<p>"They are rich enough—and well off in every respect, save that they +don't know very well how to make use of their riches. As you see, much +of their wealth is lavished on their women in the shape of ornaments, +most of which are of solid gold and silver."</p> + +<p>There could be little doubt about that, for, besides the ornaments +proper, such as the bracelets and rings with which the arms of the young +women were covered, and earrings, etc.,—all of solid gold and +native-made—there were necklaces and collars composed of Spanish and +American dollars and British half-crowns and other coins. In short, +these Sumatran young girls carried much of the wealth of their parents +on their persons, and were entitled to wear it until they should be +relegated to the ranks of the married—the supposed-to-be unfrivolous, +and the evidently unadorned!</p> + +<p>As this was a region full of birds, beasts, and insects of many kinds, +it was resolved, for the professor's benefit, that a few days should be +spent in it. Accordingly, the village chief set apart a newly-built +house for the visitors' accommodation, and a youth named Grogo was +appointed to wait on them and act as guide when they wished to traverse +any part of the surrounding forest.</p> + +<p>The house was on the outskirts of the village, a matter of satisfaction +to the professor, as it enabled him at once to plunge into his beloved +work unobserved by the youngsters. It also afforded him a better +opportunity of collecting moths, etc., by the simple method of opening +his window at night. A mat or wicker-work screen divided the hut into +two apartments, one of which was entirely given over to the naturalist +and his <i>matériel</i>.</p> + +<p>"I vil begin at vonce," said the eager man, on taking possession.</p> + +<p>And he kept his word by placing his lamp on a table in a conspicuous +position, so that it could be well seen from the outside. Then he threw +his window wide open, as a general invitation to the insect world to +enter!</p> + +<p>Moths, flying beetles, and other creatures were not slow to accept the +invitation. They entered by twos, fours, sixes—at last by scores, +insomuch that the room became uninhabitable except by the man himself, +and his comrades soon retired to their own compartment, leaving him to +carry on his work alone.</p> + +<p>"You enjoy this sort of thing?" said Nigel, as he was about to retire.</p> + +<p>"Enchoy it? yes—it is 'paradise regained'!" He pinned a giant moth at +the moment and gazed triumphant through his blue glasses.</p> + +<p>"'Paradise lost' to the moth, anyhow," said Nigel with a nod, as he bade +him good-night, and carefully closed the wicker door to check the +incursions of uncaptured specimens. Being rather tired with the day's +journey, he lay down on a mat beside the hermit, who was already sound +asleep.</p> + +<p>But our hero found that sleep was not easily attainable so close to an +inexhaustible enthusiast, whose every step produced a rattling of the +bamboo floor, and whose unwearied energy enabled him to hunt during the +greater part of the night.</p> + +<p>At length slumber descended on Nigel's spirit, and he lay for some time +in peaceful oblivion, when a rattling crash awoke him. Sitting up he +listened, and came to the conclusion that the professor had upset some +piece of furniture, for he could hear him distinctly moving about in a +stealthy manner, as if on tip-toe, giving vent to a grumble of +dissatisfaction every now and then.</p> + +<p>"What <i>can</i> he be up to now, I wonder?" murmured the disturbed youth, +sleepily.</p> + +<p>The hermit, who slept through all noises with infantine simplicity, made +no answer, but a peculiar snort from the negro, who lay not far off on +his other side, told that he was struggling with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, Moses! are you awake?" asked Nigel, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Ho yes, Massa Nadgel. I's bin wakin' a good while, larfin fit to bu'st +my sides. De purfesser's been agoin' on like a mad renoceros for more 'n +an hour. He's arter suthin, which he can't ketch. Listen! You hear 'im +goin' round an' round on his tip-toes. Dere goes anoder chair. I only +hope he won't smash de lamp an' set de house a-fire."</p> + +<p>"Veil, veil; I've missed him zee tence time. Nevair mind. Have at you +vonce more, you aggravating leetle zing!"</p> + +<p>Thus the unsuccessful man relieved his feelings, in a growling tone, as +he continued to move about on tip-toe, rattling the bamboo flooring in +spite of his careful efforts to move quietly.</p> + +<p>"Why, Verkimier, what are you after?" cried Nigel at last, loud enough +to be heard through the partition.</p> + +<p>"Ah! I am sorry to vake you," he replied, without, however, suspending +his hunt. "I have tried my best to make no noice, but zee bamboo floor +is—hah! I have 'im at last!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Nigel, becoming interested.</p> + +<p>"Von leetle bat. He come in vis a moss——"</p> + +<p>"A what?"</p> + +<p>"A moss—a big, beautiful moss."</p> + +<p>"Oh! a moth—well?"</p> + +<p>"Vell, I shut zee window, capture zee moss, ant zen I hunt zee bat vith +my bootterfly-net for an hour, but have only captured him zis moment. +Ant he is—sooch a—sooch a splendid specimen of a <i>very</i> rar' species, +zee <i>Coelops frizii</i>—gootness! Zere goes zee lamp!"</p> + +<p>The crash that followed told too eloquently of the catastrophe, and +broke the slumbers even of the hermit. The whole party sprang up, and +entered the naturalist's room with a light, for the danger from fire +was great. Fortunately the lamp had been extinguished in its fall, so +that, beyond an overpowering smell of petroleum and the destruction of a +good many specimens, no serious results ensued.</p> + +<p>After securing the <i>Coelops frithii</i>, removing the shattered glass, +wiping up the oil, and putting chairs and tables on their legs, the +professor was urged to go to bed,—advice which, in his excitement, he +refused to take until it was suggested that, if he did not, he would be +totally unfit for exploring the forest next day.</p> + +<p>"Vy, it is next day already!" he exclaimed, consulting his watch.</p> + +<p>"Just so. Now <i>do</i> turn in."</p> + +<p>"I vill."</p> + +<p>And he did.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XVIII' id='CHAPTER_XVIII' />CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A TRYING ORDEAL—DANGER THREATENS AND FLIGHT AGAIN RESOLVED ON.</h3> + + +<p>When the early birds are singing, and the early mists are scattering, +and the early sun is rising to gladden, as with the smile of God, all +things with life in earth and sea and sky—then it is that early-rising +man goes forth to reap the blessings which his lazy fellow-man fails to +appreciate or enjoy.</p> + +<p>Among the early risers that morning was our friend Moses. Gifted with an +inquiring mind, the negro had proceeded to gratify his propensities by +making inquiries of a general nature, and thus had acquired, among other +things, the particular information that the river on the banks of which +the village stood was full of fish. Now, Moses was an ardent angler.</p> + +<p>"I lub fishing," he said one day to Nigel when in a confidential mood; +"I can't tell you how much I lub it. Seems to me dat der's nuffin' like +it for proggin' a man!"</p> + +<p>When Nigel demanded an explanation of what proggin' meant, Moses said +he wasn't quite sure. He could "understand t'ings easy enough though he +couldn't allers 'splain 'em." On the whole he thought that prog had a +compound meaning—it was a combination of poke and pull "wid a flavour +ob ticklin' about it," and was rather pleasant.</p> + +<p>"You see," he continued, "when a leetle fish plays wid your hook, it +progs your intellec' an' tickles up your fancy a leetle. When he grabs +you, dat progs your hopes a good deal. When a big fish do de same, dat +progs you deeper. An' when a real walloper almost pulls you into de +ribber, dat progs your heart up into your t'roat, where it stick till +you land him."</p> + +<p>With surroundings and capacities such as we have attempted to describe, +it is no wonder that Moses sat down on the river-bank and enjoyed +himself, in company with a little Malay boy, who lent him his bamboo rod +and volunteered to show him the pools.</p> + +<p>But there were no particular pools in that river It was a succession of +pools, and fish swarmed in all of them. There were at least fifteen +different species which nothing short of an ichthyologist could +enumerate correctly. The line used by Moses was a single fibre of bark +almost as strong as gut; the hook was a white tinned weapon like a small +anchor, supplied by traders, and meant originally for service in the +deep sea. The bait was nothing in particular, but as the fish were not +particular that was of no consequence. The reader will not be surprised, +then, when we state that in an hour or so Moses had had his heart +progged considerably and had filled a large bag with superb fish, with +which he returned, perspiring, beaming, and triumphant to breakfast.</p> + +<p>After breakfast the whole party went forth for what Verkimier styled +"zee business of zee day," armed with guns, spears, botanical boxes, +bags, wallets, and butterfly nets.</p> + +<p>In the immediate neighbourhood of the village large clearings in the +forest were planted as coffee gardens, each separated from the other for +the purpose of isolation, for it seems that coffee, like the potato, is +subject to disease. Being covered with scarlet flowers these gardens had +a fine effect on the landscape when seen from the heights behind the +village. Passing through the coffee grounds the party was soon in the +tangled thickets of underwood through which many narrow paths had been +cut.</p> + +<p>We do not intend to drag our readers through bog and brake during the +whole of this day's expedition; suffice it to say that the collection of +specimens made, of all kinds, far surpassed the professor's most +sanguine expectations, and, as for the others, those who could more or +less intelligently sympathise did so, while those who could not were +content with the reflected joy of the man of science.</p> + +<p>At luncheon—which they partook of on the river-bank, under a +magnificently umbrageous tree—plans for the afternoon were fixed.</p> + +<p>"We have kept together long enough, I think," said Van der Kemp. "Those +of us who have guns must shoot something to contribute to the national +feast on our return."</p> + +<p>"Vell, let us divide," assented the amiable naturalist. Indeed he was so +happy that he would have assented to anything—except giving up the +hunt. "Von party can go von vay, anoder can go anoder vay. I vill +continue mine business. Zee place is more of a paradise zan zee last. Ve +must remain two or tree veeks."</p> + +<p>The hermit glanced at Nigel.</p> + +<p>"I fear it is impossible for me to do so," said the latter. "I am +pledged to return to Batavia within a specified time, and from the +nature of the country I perceive it will take all the time at my +disposal to reach that place so as to redeem my pledge."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Zat is a peety. Vell, nevair mind. Let us enchoy to-day. Com', ve +must not vaste more of it in zee mere gratification of our animal +natures."</p> + +<p>Acting on this broad hint they all rose and scattered in different +groups—the professor going off ahead of his party in his eager haste, +armed only with a butterfly net.</p> + +<p>Now, as the party of natives,—including Baso, who carried the +professor's biggest box, and Grogo, who bore his gun,—did not overtake +their leader, they concluded that he must have joined one of the other +parties, and, as it was impossible to ascertain which of them, they +calmly went hunting on their own account! Thus it came to pass that the +man of science was soon lost in the depths of that primeval forest! But +little cared the enthusiast for that—or, rather, little did he realise +it. With perspiration streaming from every pore—except where the pores +were stopped by mud—he dashed after "bootterflies" with the wisdom of +Solomon and the eagerness of a school-boy, and not until the shades of +evening began to descend did his true position flash upon him. Then, +with all the vigour of a powerful intellect and an enlightened mind, he +took it in at a glance—and came to a sudden halt.</p> + +<p>"Vat <i>shall</i> I do?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Not even an echo answered, and the animal kingdom was indifferent.</p> + +<p>"Lat me see. I have been vandering avay all dis time. Now, I have +not'ing to do but right-about-face and vander back."</p> + +<p>Could reasoning be clearer or more conclusive? He acted on it at once, +but, after wandering back a long time, he did not arrive at any place +or object that he had recognised on the outward journey.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, as had been appointed, the rest of the party met a short time +before dark at the rendezvous where they had lunched.</p> + +<p>"Where is the professor, Baso?" asked Van der Kemp as he came up.</p> + +<p>Baso did not know, and looked at Grogo, who also professed ignorance, +but both said they thought the professor had gone with Nigel.</p> + +<p>"I thought he was with <i>you</i>," said the latter, looking anxiously at the +hermit.</p> + +<p>"He's goed an' lost hisself!" cried Moses with a look of concern.</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp was a man of action. "Not a moment to lose," he said, and +organised the band into several smaller parties, each led by a native +familiar with the jungle.</p> + +<p>"Let this be our meeting-place," he said, as they were on the point of +starting off together; "and let those of us who have fire-arms discharge +them occasionally."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the professor was walking at full speed in what he supposed +to be—and in truth was—"back."</p> + +<p>He was not alone, however. In the jungle close beside him a tiger +prowled along with the stealthy, lithe, sneaking activity of a cat. By +that time it was not absolutely dark, but the forest had assumed a very +sombre appearance. Suddenly the tiger made a tremendous bound on to the +track right in front of the man. Whether it had miscalculated the +position of its intended victim or not we cannot say, but it crouched +for another spring. The professor, almost instinctively, crouched also, +and, being a brave man, stared the animal straight in the face without +winking! and so the two crouched there, absolutely motionless and with a +fixed glare, such as we have often seen in a couple of tom-cats who were +mutually afraid to attack each other.</p> + +<p>What the tiger thought at that critical and crucial moment we cannot +tell, but the professor's thoughts were swift, varied, +tremendous—almost sublime, and once or twice even ridiculous!</p> + +<p>"Vat shall I do? Deaf stares me in zee face! No veapons! only a net, ant +he is <i>not</i> a bootterfly! Science, adieu! Home of my chilthood, +farevell! My moder—Hah! zee fusees!"</p> + +<p>Such were a few of the thoughts that burned but found no utterance. The +last thought however led to action. Verkimier, foolish man! was a +smoker. He carried fusees. Slowly, with no more apparent motion than the +hour-hand on the face of a watch, he let his hand glide into his +coat-pocket and took out the box of fusees. The tiger seemed uneasy, but +the bold man never for one instant ceased to glare, and no disturbed +expression or hasty movement gave the tiger the slightest excuse for a +spring. Bringing the box up by painfully slow degrees in front of his +nose the man opened it, took out a fusee, struck it, and revealed the +blue binoculars!</p> + +<p>The effect on the tiger was instantaneous and astounding. With a +demi-volt or backward somersault it hurled itself into the jungle whence +it had come with a terrific roar of alarm, and its tail—undoubtedly +though not evidently—between its legs!</p> + +<p>Heaving a deep, long-drawn sigh, the professor stood up and wiped his +forehead. Then he listened intently.</p> + +<p>"A shote, if mine ears deceive me not!" he said, and listened again.</p> + +<p>He was right. Another shot, much nearer, was heard, and he replied with +a shout to which joy as much as strength of lung gave fervour. Hurrying +along the track—not without occasional side-glances at the jungle—the +hero was soon again in the midst of his friends; and it was not until +his eyes refused to remain open any longer that he ceased to entertain +an admiring circle that night with the details of his face-to-face +meeting with a tiger.</p> + +<p>But Verkimier's anticipations in regard to that paradise were not to be +realised. The evil passions of a wicked man, with whom he had personally +nothing whatever to do, interfered with his plans. In the middle of the +night a native Malay youth named Babu arrived at the village and +demanded an interview with the chief. That worthy, after the interview, +conducted the youth to the hut where his visitors lived, and, rousing +Van der Kemp without disturbing the others, bade him listen to what the +young man had to say. An expression of great anxiety overspread the +hermit's usually placid countenance while Babu was speaking.</p> + +<p>"It is fate!" he murmured, as if communing with himself—then, after a +pause—"no, there is no such thing as fate. It is, it must be, the will +of God. Go, young man, mention this to no one. I thank you for the +kindness which made you take so long a journey for my sake."</p> + +<p>"It is not kindness, it is love that makes me serve you," returned the +lad earnestly. "Every one loves you, Van der Kemp, because that curse of +mankind, <i>revenge</i>, has no place in your breast."</p> + +<p>"Strange! how little man does know or guess the secret thoughts of his +fellow!" said the hermit with one of his pitiful smiles. "<i>Revenge</i> no +place in me!—but I thank you, boy, for the kind thought as well as the +effort to save me. My life is not worth much to any one. It will not +matter, I think, if my enemy should succeed. Go now, Babu, and God be +with you!"</p> + +<p>"He will surely succeed if you do not leave this place at once," +rejoined the youth, in a tone of decision. "Baderoon is furious at all +times. He is worse than ever just now, because you have thwarted his +plans—so it is said—very often. If he knew that <i>I</i> am now thwarting +them also, he would hunt me to death. I will not leave you till you are +safe beyond his reach."</p> + +<p>The hermit looked at the lad with kindly surprise.</p> + +<p>"How comes it," he said, "that you are so much interested in me? I +remember seeing you two years ago, but have no recollection of having +done you any service."</p> + +<p>"Do you not remember that my mother was ill when you spent a night in +our hut, and my little sister was dying? You nursed her, and tried your +best to save her, and when you could not save her, and she died, you +wept as if the child had been your own. I do not forget that, Van der +Kemp. Sympathy is of more value than service."</p> + +<p>"Strangely mistaken again!" murmured the hermit. "Who can know the +workings of the human mind! Self was mixed with my +feelings—profoundly—yet my sympathy with you and your mother was +sincere."</p> + +<p>"We never doubted that," returned Babu with a touch of surprise in his +tone.</p> + +<p>"Well now, what do you propose to do, as you refuse to leave me?" asked +the hermit with some curiosity.</p> + +<p>"I will go on with you to the next village. It is a large one. The chief +man there is my uncle, who will aid me, I know, in any way I wish. I +will tell him what I know and have heard of the pirate's intention, of +which I have proof. He will order Baderoon to be arrested on suspicion +when he arrives. Then we will detain him till you are beyond his reach. +That is not unjust."</p> + +<p>"True—and I am glad to know by your last words that you are sensitive +about the justice of what you propose to do. Indifference to pure and +simple justice is the great curse of mankind. It is not indeed the root, +but it is the fruit of our sins. The suspicion that detains Baderoon is +more than justified, for I could bring many witnesses to prove that he +has vowed to take my life, and I <i>know</i> him to be a murderer."</p> + +<p>At breakfast-time Van der Kemp announced to his friends his intention of +quitting the village at once, and gave an account of his interview with +the Malay lad during the night. This, of course, reconciled them to +immediate departure,—though, in truth, the professor was the only one +who required to be reconciled.</p> + +<p>"It is <i>very</i> misfortunate," he remarked with a sigh, which had +difficulty in escaping through a huge mass of fish and rice. "You see +zee vonderful variety of ornizological specimens I could find here, ant +zee herbareum, not to mention zee magnificent <i>Amblypodia eumolpus</i> ant +ozer bootterflies—ach!-a leetle mor' feesh if you please. Zanks. My +frond, it is a great sacrifice, but I vill go avay viz you, for I could +not joostify myself if I forzook you, ant I cannot ask you to remain +vile your life is in dancher."</p> + +<p>"I appreciate your sentiments and sacrifice thoroughly," said the +hermit.</p> + +<p>"So does I," said Moses, helping himself to coffee; "but ob course if I +didn't it would be all de same. Pass de venison, Massa Nadgel, an' don't +look as if you was goin' to gib in a'ready. It spoils my appetite."</p> + +<p>"You will have opportunities," continued Van der Kemp, addressing the +professor, "to gather a good many specimens as we go along. Besides, if +you will consent to honour my cave in Krakatoa with a visit, I promise +you a hearty welcome and an interesting field of research. You have no +idea what a variety of species in all the branches of natural history my +little island contains."</p> + +<p>Hereupon the hermit proceeded to enter into details of the flora, fauna, +and geology of his island-home, and to expatiate in such glowing +language on its arboreal and herbal wealth and beauty, that the +professor became quite reconciled to immediate departure.</p> + +<p>"But how," he asked, "am I to get zere ven ve reach zee sea-coast? for +your canoe holds only t'ree, as you have told me."</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of boats to be had. Besides, I can send over my own +boat for you to the mainland. The distance is not great."</p> + +<p>"Goot. Zat vill do. I am happay now."</p> + +<p>"So," remarked Nigel as he went off with Moses to pack up, "his +'paradise regained' is rather speedily to be changed into paradise +forsaken! 'Off wi' the old love and on wi' the new.' 'The expulsive +power of a new affection!'"</p> + +<p>"Das true, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who entertained profound +admiration for anything that sounded like proverbial philosophy. "De +purfesser am an affectionit creeter. 'Pears to me dat he lubs de whole +creation. He kills an' tenderly stuffs 'most eberyt'ing he kin lay hands +on. If he could only lay hold ob Baderoon an' stuff an' stick him in a +moozeum, he'd do good service to my massa an' also to de whole ob +mankind."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XIX' id='CHAPTER_XIX' />CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>A TERRIBLE MURDER AND A STRANGE REVELATION.</h3> + + +<p>After letting the chief of the village know that the news just received +rendered it necessary that they should proceed at once to the next +town—but carefully refraining from going into particulars lest Baderoon +should by any means be led to suspect their intentions—the party +started off about daybreak under the guidance of the Malay youth Babu.</p> + +<p>Anxious as he was that no evil should befall his friend, Nigel could not +help wondering that a man of such a calm spirit, and such unquestionable +courage, should be so anxious to escape from this pirate.</p> + +<p>"I can't understand it at all," he said to Moses, as they walked through +the forest together a little in rear of the party.</p> + +<p>"No more kin I, Massa Nadgel," answered the negro, with one of those +shakes of the head and glares of solemn perplexity with which he was +wont to regard matters that were too deep for him.</p> + +<p>"Surely Van der Kemp is well able to take care of himself against any +single foe."</p> + +<p>"Das true, Massa Nadgel,—'gainst any half-dozen foes as well."</p> + +<p>"Fear, therefore, cannot be the cause."</p> + +<p>The negro received this with a quiet chuckle.</p> + +<p>"No," said he. "Massa nebber knowed fear, but ob dis you may be bery +sure, massa's <i>allers</i> got good reasons for what he does. One t'ing's +sartin, I neber saw him do nuffin for fear, nor revenge, nor anger, no, +nor yet for fun; allers for lub—and," added Moses, after a moment's +thought, "sometimes for money, when we goes on a tradin' 'spidition—but +he don't make much account ob dat."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps the mystery may be cleared up in time," said Nigel, as +they closed up with the rest of the party, who had halted for a short +rest and some refreshment.</p> + +<p>This last consisted largely of fruit, which was abundant everywhere, and +a little rice with water from sparkling springs to wash it down.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon they reached the town—a large one, with a sort of +market-place in the centre, which at the time of their arrival was +crowded with people. Strangers, especially Europeans, were not often +seen in that region, so that Van der Kemp and his friends at once +attracted a considerable number of followers. Among these was one man +who followed them about very unobtrusively, usually hanging well in +rear of the knot of followers whose curiosity was stronger than their +sense of propriety. This man wore a broad sun-hat and had a bandage +round his head pulled well over one eye, as if he had recently met with +an accident or been wounded. He was unarmed, with the exception of the +kriss, or long knife, which every man in that region carries.</p> + +<p>This was no other than Baderoon himself, who had outwitted his enemies, +had somehow discovered at least part of their plans, and had hurried on +in advance of them to the town, where, disguising himself as described, +he awaited their arrival.</p> + +<p>Babu conducted his friends to the presence of his kinsman the chief man +of the town, and, having told his story, received a promise that the +pirate should be taken up when he arrived and put in prison. Meanwhile +he appointed to the party a house in which to spend the night.</p> + +<p>Baderoon boldly accompanied the crowd that followed them, saw the house, +glanced between the heads of curious natives who watched the travellers +while eating their supper, and noted the exact spot on the floor of the +building where Van der Kemp threw down his mat and blanket, thus taking +possession of his intended couch! He did not, however, see that the +hermit afterwards shifted his position a little, and that Babu, +desiring to be near his friend, lay down on the vacated spot.</p> + +<p>In the darkest hour of the night, when even the owls and bats had sought +repose, the pirate captain stole out of the brake in which he had +concealed himself, and, kriss in hand, glided under the house in which +his enemy lay.</p> + +<p>Native houses, as we have elsewhere explained, are usually built on +posts, so that there is an open space under the floors, which is +available as a store or lumber-room. It is also unfortunately available +for evil purposes. The bamboo flooring is not laid so closely but that +sounds inside may be heard distinctly by any one listening below. Voices +were heard by the pirate as he approached, which arrested his steps. +They were those of Van der Kemp and Nigel engaged in conversation. +Baderoon knew that as long as his enemy was awake and conversing he +might probably be sitting up and not in a position suitable to his fell +purpose. He crouched therefore among some lumber like a tiger abiding +its time.</p> + +<p>"Why are you so anxious not to meet this man?" asked Nigel, who was +resolved, if possible without giving offence, to be at the bottom of the +mystery.</p> + +<p>For some moments the hermit was silent, then in a constrained voice he +said slowly—</p> + +<p>"Because revenge burns fiercely in my breast. I have striven to crush +it, but cannot. I fear to meet him lest I kill him."</p> + +<p>"Has he, then, done you such foul wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, he has cruelly—fiendishly—done the worst he could. He robbed me +of my only child—but I may not talk of it. The unholy desire for +vengeance burns more fiercely when I talk. 'Vengeance is mine, saith the +Lord.' My constant prayer is that I may not meet him. Good-night."</p> + +<p>As the hermit thus put an abrupt end to the conversation he lay down and +drew his blanket over him. Nigel followed his example, wondering at what +he had heard, and in a few minutes their steady regular breathing told +that they were both asleep. Then Baderoon advanced and counted the +bamboo planks from the side towards the centre of the house. When +looking between the heads of the people he had counted the same planks +above. Standing under one he looked up, listened intently for a few +seconds, and drew his kriss. The place was almost pitch dark, yet the +blade caught a faint gleam from without, which it reflected on the +pirate's face as he thrust the long keen weapon swiftly, yet +deliberately, between the bamboos.</p> + +<p>A shriek, that filled those who heard it with a thrill of horror, rang +out on the silent night. At the same moment a gush of warm blood poured +over the murderer's face before he could leap aside. Instant uproar and +confusion burst out in the neighbourhood, and spread like wildfire until +the whole town was aroused. When a light was procured and the people +crowded into the hut where the strangers lay, Van der Kemp was found on +his knees holding the hand of poor Babu, who was at his last gasp. A +faint smile, that yet seemed to have something of gladness in it, +flitted across his pale face as he raised himself, grasped the hermit's +hand and pressed it to his lips. Then the fearful drain of blood took +effect and he fell back—dead.</p> + +<p>One great convulsive sob burst from the hermit as he leaped up, drew his +knife, and, with a fierce glare in his blue eyes, rushed out of the +room.</p> + +<p>Vengeance would indeed have been wreaked on Baderoon at that moment if +the hermit had caught him, but, as might have been expected, the +murderer was nowhere to be found. He was hid in the impenetrable jungle, +which it was useless to enter in the darkness of night. When daybreak +enabled the townspeople to undertake an organised search, no trace of +him could be discovered.</p> + +<p>Flight, personal safety, formed no part of the pirate's plan. The guilty +man had reached that state of depravity which, especially among the +natives of that region, borders close on insanity. While the inhabitants +of the village were hunting far a-field for him, Baderoon lay concealed +among some lumber in rear of a hut awaiting his opportunity. It was not +very long of coming.</p> + +<p>Towards afternoon the various searching parties began to return, and all +assembled in the market-place, where the chief man, with the hermit and +his party, were assembled discussing the situation.</p> + +<p>"I will not now proceed until we have buried poor Babu," said Van der +Kemp. "Besides, Baderoon will be sure to return. I will meet him now."</p> + +<p>"I do not agree viz you, mine frond," said the professor. "Zee man is +not a fool zough he is a villain. He knows vat avaits him if he comes."</p> + +<p>"He will not come openly," returned the hermit, "but he will not now +rest till he has killed me."</p> + +<p>Even as he spoke a loud shouting, mingled with shrieks and yells, was +heard at the other end of the main street. The sounds of uproar appeared +to approach, and soon a crowd of people was seen rushing towards the +market-place, uttering cries of fear in which the word "a-mok" was +heard. At the sound of that word numbers of people—specially women and +children—turned and fled from the scene, but many of the men stood +their ground, and all of them drew their krisses. Among the latter of +course were the white men and their native companions.</p> + +<p>We have already referred to that strange madness, to which the Malays +seem to be peculiarly liable, during the paroxysms of which those +affected by it rush in blind fury among their fellows, slaying right and +left. From the terrified appearance of some of the approaching crowd and +the maniac shouts in rear, it was evident that a man thus possessed of +the spirit of amok was venting his fury on them.</p> + +<p>Another minute and he drew near, brandishing a kriss that dripped with +the gore of those whom he had already stabbed. Catching sight of the +white men he made straight for them. He was possessed of only one eye, +but that one seemed to concentrate and flash forth the fire of a dozen +eyes, while his dishevelled hair and blood-stained face and person gave +him an appalling aspect.</p> + +<p>"It is Baderoon!" said Van der Kemp in a subdued but stern tone.</p> + +<p>Nigel, who stood next to him, glanced at the hermit. His face was deadly +pale; his eyes gleamed with a strange, almost unearthly light, and his +lips were firmly compressed. With a sudden nervous motion, unlike his +usually calm demeanour, he drew his long knife, and to Nigel's surprise +cast it away from him. At that moment a woman who came in the madman's +way was stabbed by him to the heart and rent the air with her dying +shriek as she fell. No one could have saved her, the act was so quickly +done. Van der Kemp would have leaped to her rescue, but it was too late; +besides, there was no need to do so now, for the maniac, recognising +his enemy, rushed at him with a shout that sounded like a triumphant +yell. Seeing this, and that his friend stood unarmed, as well as +unmoved, regarding Baderoon with a fixed gaze, Nigel stepped a pace in +advance to protect him, but Van der Kemp seized his arm and thrust him +violently aside. Next moment the pirate was upon him with uplifted +knife, but the hermit caught his wrist, and with a heave worthy of +Samson hurled him to the ground, where he lay for a moment quite +stunned.</p> + +<p>Before he could recover, the natives, who had up to this moment held +back, sprang upon the fallen man with revengeful yells, and a dozen +knives were about to be buried in his breast when the hermit sprang +forward to protect his enemy from their fury. But the man whose wife had +been the last victim came up at the moment, and led an irresistible rush +which bore back the hermit as well as his comrades, who had crowded +round him, and in another minute the maniac was almost hacked to pieces.</p> + +<p>"I did not kill him—thank God!" muttered Van der Kemp as he left the +market-place, where the relatives of those who had been murdered were +wailing over their dead.</p> + +<p>After this event even the professor was anxious to leave the place, so +that early next morning the party resumed their journey, intending to +make a short stay at the next village. Failing to reach it that night, +however, they were compelled to encamp in the woods. Fortunately they +came upon a hill which, although not very high, was sufficiently so, +with the aid of watch-fires, to protect them from tigers. From the +summit, which rose just above the tree-tops, they had a magnificent view +of the forest. Many of the trees were crowned with flowers among which +the setting sun shone for a brief space with glorious effulgence.</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp and Nigel stood together apart from the others, +contemplating the wonderful scene.</p> + +<p>"What must be the dwelling-place of the Creator Himself when his +footstool is so grand?" said the hermit in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"That is beyond mortal ken," said Nigel.</p> + +<p>"True—true. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived it. +Yet, methinks, the glory of the terrestrial was meant to raise our souls +to the contemplation of the celestial."</p> + +<p>"And yet how signally it has failed in the case of Baderoon," returned +Nigel, with a furtive glance at the hermit, whose countenance had quite +recovered its look of quiet simple dignity. "Would it be presumptuous if +I were to ask why it is that this pirate had such bitter enmity against +you?"</p> + +<p>"It is no secret," answered the hermit, in a sad tone. "The truth is, I +had discovered some of his nefarious plans, and more than once have been +the means of preventing his intended deeds of violence—as in the case +of the Dyaks whom we have so lately visited. Besides, the man had done +me irreparable injury, and it is one of the curious facts of human +experience that sometimes those who injure us hate us because they have +done so."</p> + +<p>"May I venture to ask for a fuller account of the injury he did you?" +said Nigel with some hesitancy.</p> + +<p>For some moments the hermit did not answer. He was evidently struggling +with some suppressed feeling. Turning a look full upon his young friend, +he at length spoke in a low sad voice—</p> + +<p>"I have never mentioned my grief to mortal man since that day when it +pleased God to draw a cloud of thickest darkness over my life. But, +Nigel, there is that in you which encourages confidence. I confess that +more than once I have been tempted to tell you of my grief—for human +hearts crave intelligent sympathy. My faithful servant and friend Moses +is, no doubt, intensely sympathetic, but—but—well, I cannot +understand, still less can I explain, why I shrink from making a +confidant of him. Certainly it is not because of his colour, for I hold +that the <i>souls</i> of men are colourless!</p> + +<p>"I need not trouble you with the story of my early life," continued the +hermit. "I lost my dear wife a year after our marriage, and was left +with a little girl whose lovely face became more and more like that of +her mother every day she lived. My soul was wrapped up in the child. +After three years I went with her as a passenger to Batavia. On the way +we were attacked by a couple of pirate junks. Baderoon was the pirate +captain. He killed many of our men, took some of us prisoners, sank the +vessel, seized my child, and was about to separate us, putting my child +into one junk while I was retained, bound, in the other."</p> + +<p>He paused, and gazed over the glowing tree-tops into the golden horizon, +with a longing, wistful look. At the same time something like an +electric shock passed through Nigel's frame, for was not this narrative +strangely similar in its main features to that which his own father had +told him on the Keeling Islands about beautiful little Kathleen Holbein +and her father? He was on the point of seizing the hermit by the hand +and telling him what he knew, when the thought occurred that attacks by +pirates were common enough in those seas, that other fathers might have +lost daughters in this way, and that, perhaps, his suspicion might be +wrong. It would be a terrible thing, he thought, to raise hope in his +poor friend's breast unless he were pretty sure of the hope being well +founded. He would wait and hear more. He had just come to this +conclusion, and managed to subdue the feelings which had been aroused, +when Van der Kemp turned to him again, and continued his narrative—</p> + +<p>"I know not how it was, unless the Lord gave me strength for a purpose +as he gave it to Samson of old, but when I recovered from the stinging +blow I had received, and saw the junk hoist her sails and heard my child +scream, I felt the strength of a lion come over me; I burst the bonds +that held me and leaped into the sea, intending to swim to her. But it +was otherwise ordained. A breeze which had sprung up freshened, and the +junk soon left me far behind. As for the other junk, I never saw it +again, for I never looked back or thought of it—only, as I left it, I +heard a mocking laugh from the one-eyed villain, who, I afterwards found +out, owned and commanded both junks."</p> + +<p>Nigel had no doubt now, but the agitation of his feelings still kept him +silent.</p> + +<p>"Need I say," continued the hermit, "that revenge burned fiercely in my +breast from that day forward? If I had met the man soon after that, I +should certainly have slain him. But God mercifully forbade it. Since +then He has opened my eyes to see the Crucified One who prayed for His +enemies. And up till now I have prayed most earnestly that Baderoon and +I might <i>not</i> meet. My prayer has not been answered in the way I +wished, but a <i>better</i> answer has been granted, for the sin of revenge +was overcome within me before we met."</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp paused again.</p> + +<p>"Go on," said Nigel, eagerly. "How did you escape?"</p> + +<p>"Escape! Where was I—Oh! I remember," said the hermit, awaking as if +out of a dream "Well, I swam after the junk until it was out of sight, +and then I swam on in silent despair until so completely exhausted that +I felt consciousness leaving me. Then I knew that the end must be near +and I felt almost glad; but when I began to sink, the natural desire to +prolong life revived, and I struggled on. Just as my strength began a +second time to fail, I struck against something. It was a dead cocoa-nut +tree. I laid hold of it and clung to it all that night. Next morning I +was picked up by some fishermen who were going to Telok Betong by the +outer passage round Sebesi Island, and were willing to land me there. +But as my business connections had been chiefly with the town of Anjer, +I begged of them to land me on the island of Krakatoa. This they did, +and it has been my home ever since. I have been there many years."</p> + +<p>"Have you never seen or heard of your daughter since?" asked Nigel +eagerly, and with deep sympathy.</p> + +<p>"Never—I have travelled far and near, all over the archipelago; into +the interior of the islands, great and small, but have failed to find +her. I have long since felt that she must be dead—for—for she could +not live with the monsters who stole her away."</p> + +<p>A certain contraction of the mouth, as he said this, and a gleam of the +eyes, suggested to Nigel that revenge was not yet dead within the +hermit's breast, although it had been overcome.</p> + +<p>"What was her name?" asked Nigel, willing to gain time to think how he +ought to act, and being afraid of the effect that the sudden +communication of the news might have on his friend.</p> + +<p>"Winnie—darling Winnie—after her mother," said the hermit with deep +pathos in his tone.</p> + +<p>A feeling of disappointment came over our hero. Winnie bore not the most +distant resemblance to Kathleen!</p> + +<p>"Did you ever, during your search," asked Nigel slowly, "visit the +Cocos-Keeling Islands?"</p> + +<p>"Never. They are too far from where the attack on us was made."</p> + +<p>"And you never heard of a gun-boat having captured a pirate junk +and——"</p> + +<p>"Why do you ask, and why pause?" said the hermit, looking at his friend +in some surprise.</p> + +<p>Nigel felt that he had almost gone too far.</p> + +<p>"Well, you know—" he replied in some confusion, "you—you are right +when you expect me to sympathise with your great sorrow, which I do most +profoundly, and—and—in short, I would give anything to be able to +suggest hope to you, my friend. Men should <i>never</i> give way to despair."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. It is kindly meant," returned the hermit, looking at the +youth with his sad smile. "But it is vain. Hope is dead now."</p> + +<p>They were interrupted at this point by the announcement that supper was +ready. At the same time the sun sank, like the hermit's hope, and +disappeared beyond the dark forest.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XX' id='CHAPTER_XX' />CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>NIGEL MAKES A CONFIDANT OF MOSES—UNDERTAKES A LONELY WATCH AND SEES +SOMETHING WONDERFUL.</h3> + + +<p>It was not much supper that Nigel Roy ate that night. The excitement +resulting from his supposed discovery reduced his appetite seriously, +and the intense desire to open a safety-valve in the way of confidential +talk with some one induced a nervously absent disposition which at last +attracted attention.</p> + +<p>"You vant a goot dose of kvinine," remarked Verkimier, when, having +satiated himself, he found time to think of others—not that the +professor was selfish by any means, only he was addicted to +concentration of mind on all work in hand, inclusive of feeding.</p> + +<p>The hermit paid no attention to anything that was said. His recent +conversation had given vent to a flood of memories and feelings that had +been pent up for many years.</p> + +<p>After supper Nigel resolved to make a confidant of Moses. The negro's +fidelity to and love for his master would ensure his sympathy at least, +if not wise counsel.</p> + +<p>"Moses," he said, when the professor had raised himself to the seventh +heaven by means of tobacco fumes, "come with me. I want to have a talk."</p> + +<p>"Das what I's allers wantin', Massa Nadgel; talkin's my strong point if +I hab a strong point at all."</p> + +<p>They went together to the edge of a cliff on the hill-top, whence they +could see an almost illimitable stretch of tropical wilderness bathed in +a glorious flood of moonlight, and sat down.</p> + +<p>On a neighbouring cliff, which was crowned with a mass of grasses and +shrubs, a small monkey also sat down, on a fallen branch, and watched +them with pathetic interest, tempered, it would seem, by cutaneous +irritation.</p> + +<p>"Moses, I am sorely in need of advice," said Nigel, turning suddenly to +his companion with ill-suppressed excitement.</p> + +<p>"Well, Massa Nadgel, you <i>does</i> look like it, but I'm sorry I ain't a +doctor. Pra'ps de purfesser would help you better nor me."</p> + +<p>"You misunderstand me. Can you keep a secret, Moses?"</p> + +<p>"I kin try—if—if he's not too diffikilt to keep."</p> + +<p>"Well, then; listen."</p> + +<p>The negro opened his eyes and his mouth as if these were the chief +orifices for the entrance of sound, and advanced an ear. The distant +monkey, observing, apparently, that some unusual communication was about +to be made, also stretched out its little head, cocked an ear, and +suspended its other operations.</p> + +<p>Then, in low earnest tones, Nigel told Moses of his belief that Van der +Kemp's daughter might yet be alive and well, and detailed the recent +conversation he had had with his master.</p> + +<p>"Now, Moses; what d' ye think of all that?"</p> + +<p>Profundity unfathomable sat on the negro's sable brow as he replied, +"Massa Nadgel, I don't bery well know <i>what</i> to t'ink."</p> + +<p>"But remember, Moses, before we go further, that I tell you all this in +strict confidence; not a word of it must pass your lips."</p> + +<p>The awful solemnity with which Nigel sought to impress this on his +companion was absolutely trifling compared with the expression of that +companion's countenance, as, with a long-drawn argumentative and +remonstrative <i>Oh!</i> he replied:—"Massa—Nadgel. Does you really t'ink I +would say or do any mortal t'ing w'atsumiver as would injure <i>my</i> +massa?"</p> + +<p>"I'm <i>sure</i>, you would not," returned Nigel, quickly. "Forgive me, +Moses, I merely meant that you would have to be very cautious—very +careful—that you do not let a word slip—by accident, you know. I +believe you'd sooner die than do an intentional injury to Van der Kemp. +If I thought you capable of <i>that</i>, I think I would relieve my feelings +by giving you a good thrashing."</p> + +<p>The listening monkey cocked its ear a little higher at this, and Moses, +who had at first raised his flat nose indignantly in the air, gradually +lowered it, while a benignant smile supplanted indignation.</p> + +<p>"You're right dere, Massa Nadgel. I'd die a t'ousand times sooner dan +injure massa. As to your last obserwation, it rouses two idees in my +mind. First, I wonder how you'd manidge to gib me a t'rashin', an' +second, I wonder if your own moder would rikognise you arter you'd tried +it."</p> + +<p>At this the monkey turned its other ear as if to make quite sure that it +heard aright. Nigel laughed shortly.</p> + +<p>"But seriously, Moses," he continued; "what do you think I should do? +Should I reveal my suspicions to Van der Kemp?"</p> + +<p>"Cer'nly not!" answered the negro with prompt decision. "What! wake up +all his old hopes to hab 'em all dashed to bits p'raps when you find dat +you's wrong!"</p> + +<p>"But I feel absolutely certain that I'm <i>not</i> wrong!" returned Nigel, +excitedly. "Consider—there is, first, the one-eyed pirate; second, +there is—"</p> + +<p>"'Scuse me, Massa Nadgel, dere's no occasion to go all ober it again. +I'll tell you what you do."</p> + +<p>"Well?" exclaimed Nigel, anxiously, while his companion frowned savagely +under the force of the thoughts that surged through his brain.</p> + +<p>"Here's what you'll do," said Moses.</p> + +<p>"Well?" (impatiently, as the negro paused.)</p> + +<p>"We're on our way home to Krakatoa."</p> + +<p>"Yes—well?"</p> + +<p>"One ob our men leabes us to-morrer—goes to 'is home on de coast. Kitch +one ob de steamers dat's allers due about dis time."</p> + +<p>"Well, what of that?"</p> + +<p>"What ob dat! why, you'll write a letter to your fadder. It'll go by de +steamer to Batavia. He gits it long before we gits home, so dere's +plenty time for 'im to take haction."</p> + +<p>"But what good will writing to my father do?" asked Nigel in a somewhat +disappointed tone. "<i>He</i> can't help us."</p> + +<p>"Ho yes, he can," said Moses with a self-satisfied nod. "See here, I'll +tell you what to write. You begin, 'Dear fadder—or Dearest fadder—I's +not quite sure ob de strengt' ob your affection. P'raps de safest +way—."</p> + +<p>"Oh! get on, Moses. Never mind that."</p> + +<p>"Ho! it's all bery well for you to say dat, but de ole gen'leman'll mind +it. Hows'ever, put it as you t'ink best—'Dear fadder, victual your +ship; up anchor; hois' de sails, an' steer for de Cocos-Keelin' Islands. +Go ashore; git hold ob de young 'ooman called Kat'leen Hobbleben—'"</p> + +<p>"Holbein, Moses."</p> + +<p>"What! is she Moses too?"</p> + +<p>"No, no! get on, man."</p> + +<p>"Well, 'Dearest fadder, git a hold ob her, whateber her name is, an' +carry her off body and soul, an' whateber else b'longs to her. Take her +to de town ob Anjer an' wait dere for furder orders.' Ob course for de +windin' up o' de letter you must appeal agin to de state ob your +affections, for, as—"</p> + +<p>"Not a bad idea," exclaimed Nigel. "Why, Moses, you're a genius! Of +course I'll have to explain a little more fully."</p> + +<p>"'Splain what you please," said Moses. "My business is to gib you de +bones ob de letter; yours—bein' a scholar—is to clove it wid flesh."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it, Moses, at once."</p> + +<p>"I should like," rejoined Moses, with a tooth-and-gum-disclosing smile, +"to see your fadder when he gits dat letter!"</p> + +<p>The picture conjured up by his vivid imagination caused the negro to +give way to an explosive laugh that sent the eavesdropping monkey like a +brown thunderbolt into the recesses of its native jungle, while Nigel +went off to write and despatch the important letter.</p> + +<p>Next day the party arrived at another village, where, the report of +their approach having preceded them, they were received with much +ceremony—all the more that the professor's power with the rifle had +been made known, and that the neighbourhood was infested by tigers.</p> + +<p>There can be little doubt that at this part of the journey the +travellers must have been dogged all the way by tigers, and it was +matter for surprise that so small a party should not have been molested. +Possibly the reason was that these huge members of the feline race were +afraid of white faces, being unaccustomed to them, or, perchance, the +appearance and vigorous stride of even a few stalwart and fearless men +had intimidated them. Whatever the cause, the party reached the village +without seeing a single tiger, though their footprints were observed in +many places.</p> + +<p>The wild scenery became more and more beautiful as this village was +neared.</p> + +<p>Although flowers as a rule were small and inconspicuous in many parts of +the great forest through which they passed, the rich pink and scarlet of +many of the opening leaves, and the autumn-tinted foliage which lasts +through all seasons of the year, fully made up for the want of them—at +least as regards colour, while the whole vegetation was intermingled in +a rich confusion that defies description.</p> + +<p>The professor went into perplexed raptures, his mind being distracted by +the exuberant wealth of subjects which were presented to it all at the +same time.</p> + +<p>"Look zere!" he cried, at one turning in the path which opened up a new +vista of exquisite beauty—"look at zat!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, it is a Siamang ape—next in size to the orang-utan," said Van der +Kemp, who stood at his friend's elbow.</p> + +<p>The animal in question was a fine full-grown specimen, with long +jet-black glancing hair. Its height might probably have been a few +inches over three feet, and the stretch of its arms over rather than +under five feet, but at the great height at which it was seen—not less +than eighty feet—it looked much like an ordinary monkey. It was hanging +in the most easy nonchalant way by one hand from the branch of a tree, +utterly indifferent to the fact that to drop was to die!</p> + +<p>The instant the Siamang observed the travellers it set up a loud barking +howl which made the woods resound, but it did not alter its position or +seem to be alarmed in any degree.</p> + +<p>"Vat a 'straordinary noise!" remarked the professor.</p> + +<p>"It is indeed," returned the hermit, "and it has an extraordinary +appliance for producing it. There is a large bag under its throat +extending to its lips and cheeks which it can fill with air by means of +a valve in the windpipe. By expelling this air in sudden bursts it makes +the varied sounds you hear."</p> + +<p>"Mos' vonderful! A sort of natural air-gun! I vill shoot it," said the +professor, raising his deadly rifle, and there is no doubt that the poor +Siamang would have dropped in another moment if Van der Kemp had not +quietly and gravely touched his friend's elbow just as the explosion +took place.</p> + +<p>"Hah! you tooched me!" exclaimed the disappointed naturalist, looking +fiercely round, while the amazed ape sent forth a bursting crack of its +air-gun as it swung itself into the tree-top and made off.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I touched you, and if you <i>will</i> shoot when I am so close to you, +you cannot wonder at it—especially when you intend to take life +uselessly. The time now at the disposal of my friend Nigel Roy will not +permit of our delaying long enough to kill and preserve large specimens. +To say truth, my friend, we must press on now, as fast as we can, for we +have a very long way to go."</p> + +<p>Verkimier was not quite pleased with this explanation, but there was a +sort of indescribable power about the hermit, when he was resolved to +have his way, that those whom he led found it impossible to resist.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the village they were agreeably surprised to find a grand +banquet, consisting chiefly of fruit, with fowl, rice, and Indian corn, +spread out for them in the Balai or public hall, where also their +sleeping quarters were appointed. An event had recently occurred, +however, which somewhat damped the pleasure of their reception. A young +man had been killed by a tiger. The brute had leaped upon him while he +and a party of lads were traversing a narrow path through the jungle, +and had killed him with one blow of its paw. The other youths +courageously rushed at the beast with their spears and axes, and, +driving it off, carried the body of their comrade away.</p> + +<p>"We have just buried the young man," said the chief of the village, "and +have set a trap for the tiger, for he will be sure to visit the grave."</p> + +<p>"My friends would like to see this trap," said the hermit, who, of +course, acted the part of interpreter wherever they went, being well +acquainted with most of the languages and dialects of the archipelago.</p> + +<p>"There will yet be daylight after you have finished eating," said the +chief.</p> + +<p>Although anxious to go at once to see this trap, they felt the +propriety of doing justice to what had been provided for them, and sat +down to their meal, for which, to say truth, they were quite ready.</p> + +<p>Then they went with a large band of armed natives to see this curious +tiger-trap, the bait of which was the grave of a human being!</p> + +<p>The grave was close to the outskirts of the village, and, on one side, +the jungle came up to within a few yards of it. The spot was surrounded +by a strong and high bamboo fence, except at one point where a narrow +but very conspicuous opening had been left. Here a sharp spear was so +arranged beside the opening that it could be shot across it at a point +corresponding with the height of a tiger's heart from the ground—as +well, at least, as that point could be estimated by men who were pretty +familiar with tigers. The motive power to propel this spear was derived +from a green bamboo, so strong that it required several powerful men to +bend it in the form of a bow. A species of trigger was arranged to let +the bent bow fly, and a piece of fine cord passed from this across the +opening about breast-high for a tiger. The intention was that the +animal, in entering the enclosure, should become its own +executioner—should commit unintentional suicide, if we may so put it.</p> + +<p>"I have an ambition to shoot a tiger," said Nigel to Van der Kemp that +evening. "Do you think the people would object to my getting up into a +tree with my rifle and watching beside the grave part of the night?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure that they would not. But your watch will probably be in vain, +for tigers are uncommonly sagacious creatures and seem to me to have +exceptional powers for scenting danger."</p> + +<p>"No matter, I will try."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, a little before dark that evening our hero borrowed the +professor's double-barrelled rifle, being more suitable for large game +than his own gun, and sauntered with Moses down to the grave where he +ensconced himself in the branches of a large tree about thirty feet from +the ground. The form of the tree was such, that among its forks Nigel +could form a sort of nest in which he could sit, in full view of the +poor youth's grave, without the risk of falling to the ground even if he +should chance to drop asleep.</p> + +<p>"Good-night, massa Nadgel," said Moses as he turned to leave his +companion to his solitary vigil. "See you not go to sleep."</p> + +<p>"No fear of <i>that</i>!" said Nigel.</p> + +<p>"An' whateber you do, don't miss."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best—Good-night."</p> + +<p>While there was yet a little daylight, our hunter looked well about him; +took note of the exact position of the fence, the entrance to the +enclosure, and the grave; judged the various distances of objects, and +arranged the sights of the rifle, which was already loaded with a brace +of hardened balls. Then he looked up through the tree-tops and wished +for darkness.</p> + +<p>It came sooner than he expected. Night always descends more suddenly in +tropical than in temperate regions. The sun had barely dipped below the +horizon when night seemed to descend like a pall over the jungle, and an +indescribable sensation of eerieness crept over Nigel's spirit. Objects +became very indistinct, and he fancied that he saw something moving on +the newly-made grave. With a startled feeling he grasped his weapon, +supposing that the tiger must have entered the enclosure with cat-like +stealth. On second thoughts, however, he discarded the idea, for the +entrance was between him and the grave, and still seemed quite visible. +Do what he would, however, the thought of ghosts insisted on intruding +upon him! He did not believe in ghosts—oh no!—had always scouted the +idea of their existence. Why, therefore, did he feel uncomfortable? He +could not tell. It must simply be the excitement natural to such a very +new and peculiar situation. He would think of something else. He would +devote his mind to the contemplation of tigers! In a short time the moon +would rise, he knew—then he would be able to see better.</p> + +<p>While he was in this very uncomfortable state of mind, with the jungle +wrapped in profound silence as well as gloom, there broke on the night +air a wail so indescribable that the very marrow in Nigel's bones seemed +to shrivel up. It ceased, but again broke forth louder than before, +increasing in length and strength, until his ears seemed to tingle with +the sound, and then it died away to a sigh of unutterable woe.</p> + +<p>"I have always," muttered Nigel, "believed myself to be a man of +ordinary courage, but <i>now</i>—I shall write myself a coward, if not an +ass!"</p> + +<p>He attempted to laugh at this pleasantry, but the laugh was hollow and +seemed to freeze in his gullet as the wail broke forth again, ten times +more hideous than at first. After a time the wail became more +continuous, and the watcher began to get used to it. Then a happy +thought flashed into his mind—this was, perhaps, some sort of mourning +for the dead! He was right. The duty of the father of the poor youth who +had been killed was, for several days after the funeral, to sit alone in +his house and chant from sunset till daybreak a death-dirge, or, as it +is called, the <i>Tjerita bari</i>. It was not till next day that this was +told to him, but meanwhile the surmise afforded him instantaneous +relief.</p> + +<p>As if nature sympathised with his feelings, the moon arose at the same +time and dispelled the thick darkness, though it was not till much +later that, sailing across a clear sky, she poured her bright beams +through the tree-tops and finally rested on the dead man's grave.</p> + +<p>By that time Nigel had quite recovered his equanimity, and mentally +blotted out the writing of "coward" and "ass" which he had written +against himself. But another trouble now assailed him. He became sleepy! +Half-a-dozen times at least within half-an-hour he started wide awake +under the impression that he was falling off the tree.</p> + +<p>"This will never do," he exclaimed, rising to his feet, resting his +rifle in a position of safety, and then stretching himself to his utmost +extent so that he became thoroughly awake. After this "rouser," as he +called it, he sat down again, and almost immediately fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>How long he sat in this condition it is impossible to say, but he opened +his eyes at length with an indescribable sensation that <i>something</i> +required attention, and the first thing they rested on (for daylight was +dawning) was an enormous tiger not forty yards away from him, gliding +like a shadow and with cat-like stealth towards the opening of the +enclosure. The sight was so sudden and so unexpected that, for the +moment, he was paralysed. Perhaps he thought it was a dream. Before he +could recover presence of mind to seize his rifle, the breast of the +animal had touched the fatal line; the trigger was drawn; the stout +bamboo straightened with a booming sound, and the spear—or, rather, the +giant arrow—was shot straight through the tiger's side!</p> + +<p>Then occurred a scene which might well have induced Nigel to imagine +that he dreamt, for the transfixed creature bounded into the enclosure +with a terrific roar that rang fearfully through the arches of the +hitherto silent forest. Rushing across the grave, it sprang with one +tremendous bound right over the high fence, carrying the spear along +with it into the jungle beyond.</p> + +<p>By that time Nigel was himself again, with rifle in hand, but too late +to fire. The moment he heard the thud of the tiger's descent, he slid +down the tree, and, forgetful or regardless of danger, went crashing +into the jungle, while the yells and shouts of hundreds of aroused +natives suggested the peopling of the region with an army of fiends.</p> + +<p>But our hero had not to go far. In his haste he almost tumbled over the +tiger. It was lying stone dead on the spot where it had fallen!</p> + +<p>A few minutes more and the natives came pouring round him, wild with +excitement and joy. Soon he was joined by his own comrades.</p> + +<p>"Well, you've managed to shoot him, I see," said Van der Kemp as he +joined the group.</p> + +<p>"Alas! no. I have not fired a shot," said Nigel, with a half +disappointed look.</p> + +<p>"You's got de better ob him anyhow," remarked Moses as he pushed to the +front.</p> + +<p>"The spear got the better of him, Moses."</p> + +<p>"Veil now, zat is a splendid animal. Lat me see," said the professor, +pulling out his tape-measure.</p> + +<p>It was with difficulty that the man of science made and noted his +measurements, for the people were pressing eagerly round the carcase to +gratify their revenge by running their spears into the still warm body. +They dipped the points in the blood and passed their krisses broadside +over the creature that they might absorb the courage and boldness which +were supposed to emanate from it! Then they skinned it, and pieces of +the heart and brain were eaten raw by some of those whose relatives had +been killed by tigers. Finally the skull was hacked to pieces for the +purpose of distributing the teeth, which are used by the natives as +charms.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXI' id='CHAPTER_XXI' />CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF.</h3> + + +<p>Leaving this village immediately after the slaying of the tiger, the +party continued to journey almost by forced marches, for not only was +Nigel Roy very anxious to keep tryst with his father, and to settle the +question of Kathleen's identity by bringing father and daughter +together, but Van der Kemp himself, strange to say, was filled with +intense and unaccountable anxiety to get back to his island home.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how it is," he said to Nigel as they walked side by side +through the forest, followed by Moses and the professor, who had become +very friendly on the strength of a certain amount of vacant curiosity +displayed by the former in regard to scientific matters—"I don't know +how it is, but I feel an unusually strong desire to get back to my cave. +I have often been absent from home for long periods at a time, but have +never before experienced these strange longings. I say strange, because +there is no such thing as an effect without a cause."</p> + +<p>"May not the cause be presentiment?" suggested Nigel, who, knowing what +a tremendous possibility for the hermit lay in the future, felt a little +inclined to be superstitious. It did not occur to him just then that an +equally, if not more, tremendous possibility lay in the future for +himself—touching his recent discovery or suspicion!</p> + +<p>"I do not believe in presentiments," returned the hermit. "They are +probably the result of indigestion or a disordered intellect, from +neither of which complaints do I suffer—at least not consciously!"</p> + +<p>"But you have never before left home in such peculiar circumstances," +said Nigel. "Have you not told me that this is the first time for about +two hundred years that Krakatoa has broken out in active eruption?"</p> + +<p>"True, but that cannot be to me the cause of longings or anxieties, for +I have seen many a long-dormant crater become active without any +important result either to me or to any one else."</p> + +<p>"Stop, stop!" cried Professor Verkimier in a hoarse whisper at that +moment; "look! look at zee monkeys!"</p> + +<p>Monkeys are very abundant in Sumatra, but the nest of them which the +travellers discovered at that time, and which had called forth the +professor's admiration, was enough—as Moses said—to make a "renocerus +laugh." The trees around absolutely swarmed with monkeys; those of a +slender form and with very long tails being most numerous. They were +engaged in some sort of game, swinging by arms, legs, and tails from +branches, holding on to or chasing each other, and taking the most +astonishing leaps in circumstances where a slip would have no doubt +resulted in broken limbs or in death.</p> + +<p>"Stand still! Oh! <i>do</i> stand still—like you vas petrivied," said the +professor in a low voice of entreaty.</p> + +<p>Being quite willing to humour him, the whole party stood immovable, like +statues, and thus avoided attracting the attention of the monkeys, who +continued their game. It seemed to be a sort of "follow my leader," for +one big strong fellow led off with a bound from one branch to another +which evidently tried the nerves of his more timid and less agile +companions. They all succeeded, however, from the largest even to the +smallest—which last was a very tiny creature with a pink face, a sad +expression, and a corkscrew tail.</p> + +<p>For a time they bounded actively among the branches, now high now low, +till suddenly the big leader took a tremendous leap, as if for the +express purpose of baffling or testing his companions. It was immensely +amusing to see the degrees of trepidation with which the others +followed. The last two seemed quite unable to make up their minds to +the leap, until the others seemed about to disappear, when one of them +took heart and bounded wildly across. Thus little pink-face with the +corkscrew tail was left alone! Twice did that little monkey make a +desperate resolution to jump, and twice did its little heart fail as it +measured the distance between the branches and glanced at the abyss +below. Its companions seemed to entertain a feeling of pity for it. +Numbers of them came back, as if to watch the jump and encourage the +little one. A third time it made an abortive effort to spring, and +looked round pitifully, whereupon Moses gave vent to an uncontrollable +snort of suppressed laughter.</p> + +<p>"Vat you mean by zat?" growled the professor angrily.</p> + +<p>The growl and snort together revealed the intruders, and all the +monkeys, except pink-face, crowding the trees above the spot where they +stood, gazed down upon them with expressions in which unparalleled +indignation and inconceivable surprise struggled for the mastery.</p> + +<p>Then, with a wild shriek, the whole troop fled into the forest.</p> + +<p>This was too much for poor, half-petrified pink-face with the twisted +tail. Seeing that its comrades were gone in earnest, it became +desperate, flung itself frantically into the air with an agonising +squeak, missed its mark, went crashing through the slender branches and +fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>Fortunately these branches broke its fall so that it arose unhurt, +bounded into a bush, still squeaking with alarm, and made after its +friends.</p> + +<p>"Why did you not shoot it, professor?" asked Nigel, laughing as much at +Verkimier's grave expression as at the little monkey's behaviour.</p> + +<p>"Vy did I not shot it?" echoed the professor. "I vould as soon shot a +baby. Zee pluck of zat leetle creature is admirable. It vould be a +horrible shame to take his life. No! I do love to see ploock vezer in +man or beast! He could not shoomp zat. He <i>knew</i> he could not shoomp it, +but he <i>tried</i> to shoomp it. He vould not be beat, an' I vould not kill +him—zough I vant 'im very mooch for a specimen."</p> + +<p>It seemed as if the professor was to be specially rewarded for his +generous self-denial on this occasion, for while he was yet speaking, a +soft "hush!" from Van der Kemp caused the whole party to halt in dead +silence and look at the hermit inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"You are in luck, professor," he murmured, in a soft, low voice—very +different from that hissing whisper which so many people seem to imagine +is an inaudible utterance. "I see a splendid Argus pheasant over there +making himself agreeable to his wife!"</p> + +<p>"Vare? oh! vare?" exclaimed the enthusiast with blazing eyes, for +although he had already seen and procured specimens of this most +beautiful creature, he had not yet seen it engage in the strange +love-dance—if we may so call it—which is peculiar to the bird.</p> + +<p>"You'll never get near enough to see it if you hiss like a serpent," +said the hermit. "Get out your binoculars, follow me, and hold your +tongue, all of you—that will be the safest plan. Tread lightly."</p> + +<p>It was a sight to behold the professor crouching almost double in order +to render himself less conspicuous, with his hat pushed back, and the +blue glasses giving him the appearance of a great-eyed seal. He carried +his butterfly-net in one hand, and the unfailing rifle in the other.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the hermit's sharp and practised eye had enabled him to +distinguish the birds in the distance before their advance had alarmed +them, so that they were able to reach a mound topped with low bushes +over which they could easily watch the birds.</p> + +<p>"Zat is very koorious an' most interesting," murmured the professor +after a short silence.</p> + +<p>He was right. There were two Argus pheasants, a male and female—the +male alone being decorated superbly. The Argus belongs to the same +family as the peacock, but is not so gaudy in colouring, and therefore, +perhaps, somewhat more pleasing. Its tail is formed chiefly by an +enormous elongation of the two tail quills, and of the secondary wing +feathers, no two of which are exactly the same, and the closer they are +examined the greater is seen to be the extreme beauty of their markings, +and the rich varied harmony of their colouring.</p> + +<p>When a male Argus wishes to show off his magnificence to his spouse—or +when she asks him to show it off, we know not which—he makes a circle +in the forest some ten or twelve feet in diameter, which he clears of +every leaf, twig, and branch. On the margin of this circus there is +invariably a projecting branch, or overarching root a few feet above the +ground, on which the female takes her place to watch the exhibition. +This consists of the male strutting about, pluming his feathers, and +generally displaying his gorgeous beauty.</p> + +<p>"Vat ineffable vanity!" exclaimed the professor, after gazing for some +time in silence.</p> + +<p>His own folly in thus speaking was instantly proved by the two birds +bringing the exhibition to an abrupt close and hastily taking wing.</p> + +<p>Not long after seeing this they came to a small but deep and rapid +river, which for a time checked their progress, for there was no ford, +and the porters who carried Verkimier's packages seemed to know nothing +about a bridge, either natural or artificial. After wandering for an +hour or so along its banks, however, they found a giant tree which had +fallen across the stream and formed a natural bridge.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the stream the ground was more rugged and the +forest so dense that they had to walk in a sort of twilight—only a +glimpse of blue sky being visible here and there through the tree-tops. +In some places, however, there occurred bright little openings which +swarmed with species of metallic tiger-beetles and sand-bees, and where +sulphur, swallow-tailed, and other butterflies sported their brief life +away over the damp ground by the water's edge.</p> + +<p>The native forest path which they followed was little better than a +tunnel cut through a grove of low rattan-palms, the delicate but +exceedingly tough tendrils of which hung down in all directions. These +were fringed with sharp hooks which caught their clothing and tore it, +or held on unrelentingly, so that the only way of escape was to step +quietly back and unhook themselves. This of itself would have rendered +their progress slow as well as painful, but other things tended to +increase the delay. At one place they came to a tree about seven feet in +diameter which lay across the path and had to be scrambled over, and +this was done with great difficulty. At another, a gigantic +mud-bath—the wallowing hole of a herd of elephants—obstructed the +way, and a yell from one of the porters told that in attempting to cross +it he had fallen in up to the waist. A comrade in trying to pull him out +also fell in and sank up to the armpits. But they got over it—as +resolute men always do—somehow!</p> + +<p>"Zis is horrible!" exclaimed the professor, panting from his exertions, +and making a wild plunge with his insect-net at some living creature. +"Hah! zee brute! I have 'im."</p> + +<p>The man of science was flat on his stomach as he spoke, with arm +outstretched and the net pressed close to the ground, while a smile of +triumph beamed through the mud and scratches on his face.</p> + +<p>"What have you got?" asked Nigel, doing his best to restrain a laugh.</p> + +<p>"A splendid <i>Ornit'optera</i> a day-flying moss'," said Verkimier as he +cautiously rose, "vich mimics zee <i>Trepsichrois mulciber</i>. Ant zis very +morning I caught von <i>Leptocircus virescens</i>, vich derives protection +from mimicking zee habits ant appearance of a dragon-fly."</p> + +<p>"What rubbish dat purfesser do talk!" remarked Moses in an undertone to +the hermit as they moved on again.</p> + +<p>"Not such rubbish as it sounds to you, Moses. These are the scientific +names of the creatures, and you know as well as he does that many +creatures think they find it advantageous to pretend to be what they +are not. Man himself is not quite free from this characteristic. Indeed, +you have a little of it yourself," said the hermit with one of his +twinkling glances. "When you are almost terrified of your wits don't you +pretend that there's nothing the matter with you?"</p> + +<p>"Nebber, massa, nebber!" answered the negro with remonstrative gravity. +"When I's nigh out ob my wits, so's my innards feels like nuffin' but +warmish water, I gits whitey-grey in de chops, so I's told, an' blue in +de lips, an' I <i>pretends</i> nuffin'—I don't care <i>who</i> sees it!"</p> + +<p>The track for some distance beyond this point became worse and worse. +Then the nature of the ground changed somewhat—became more hilly, and +the path, if such it could be styled, more rugged in some places, more +swampy in others, while, to add to their discomfort, rain began to fall, +and night set in dark and dismal without any sign of the village of +which they were in search. By that time the porters who carried +Verkimier's boxes seemed so tired that the hermit thought it advisable +to encamp, but the ground was so wet and the leeches were so numerous +that they begged him to go on, assuring him that the village could not +be far distant. In another half-hour the darkness became intense, so +that a man could scarcely see his fellow even when within two paces of +him. Ominous mutterings and rumblings like distant thunder also were +heard, which appeared to indicate an approaching storm. In these +circumstances encamping became unavoidable, and the order was given to +make a huge fire to scare away the tigers, which were known to be +numerous, and the elephants whose fresh tracks had been crossed and +followed during the greater part of the day. The track of a rhinoceros +and a tapir had also been seen, but no danger was to be anticipated from +those creatures.</p> + +<p>"Shall we have a stormy night, think you?" asked Nigel, as he assisted +in striking a light.</p> + +<p>"It may be so," replied the hermit, flinging down one after another of +his wet matches, which failed to kindle. "What we hear may be distant +thunder, but I doubt it. The sounds seem to me more like the mutterings +of a volcano. Some new crater may have burst forth in the Sumatran +ranges. This thick darkness inclines me to think so—especially after +the new activity of volcanic action we have seen so recently at +Krakatoa. Let me try your matches, Nigel, perhaps they have +escaped—mine are useless."</p> + +<p>But Nigel's matches were as wet as those of the hermit. So were those of +the professor. Luckily Moses carried the old-fashioned flint and steel, +with which, and a small piece of tinder, a spark was at last kindled, +but as they were about to apply it to a handful of dry bamboo scrapings, +an extra spirt of rain extinguished it. For an hour and more they made +ineffectual attempts to strike a light. Even the cessation of the rain +was of no avail.</p> + +<p>"Vat must ve do <i>now</i>?" asked the professor in tones that suggested a +wo-begone countenance, though there was no light by which to distinguish +it.</p> + +<p>"Grin and bear it," said Nigel, in a voice suggestive of a slight +expansion of the mouth—though no one could see it.</p> + +<p>"Dere's nuffin' else left to do," said Moses, in a tone which betrayed +such a very wide expansion that Nigel laughed outright.</p> + +<p>"Hah! you may laugh, my yoong frond, hot if zee tigers find us out or +zee elephants trample on us, your laughter vill be turned to veeping. +Vat is zat? Is not zat vonderful?"</p> + +<p>The question and exclamation were prompted by the sudden appearance of +faint mysterious lights among the bushes. That the professor viewed them +as unfriendly lights was clear from the click of his rifle-locks which +followed.</p> + +<p>"It is only phosphoric light," explained Van der Kemp. "I have often +seen it thus in electric states of the atmosphere. It will probably +increase—meanwhile we must seat ourselves on our boxes and do the best +we can till daylight. Are you there, boys?"</p> + +<p>This question, addressed to the bearers in their native tongue, was not +answered, and it was found, on a <i>feeling</i> examination, that, in spite +of leeches, tigers, elephants, and the whole animal creation, the +exhausted porters had flung themselves on the wet ground and gone to +sleep while their leaders were discussing the situation.</p> + +<p>Dismal though the condition of the party was, the appearances in the +forest soon changed the professor's woe into eager delight, for the +phosphorescence became more and more pronounced, until every tree-stem +blinked with a palish green light, and it trickled like moonlight over +the ground, bringing out thick dumpy mushrooms like domes of light. +Glowing caterpillars and centipedes crawled about, leaving a trail of +light behind them, and fireflies darting to and fro peopled the air and +gave additional animation to the scene.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the darkness, thus made singularly visible, the white +travellers sat dozing and nodding on their luggage, while the cries of +metallic-toned horned frogs and other nocturnal sounds peculiar to that +weird forest formed their appropriate lullaby.</p> + +<p>But Moses neither dozed nor nodded. With a pertinacity peculiarly his +own he continued to play a running accompaniment to the lullaby with his +flint and steel, until his perseverance was rewarded with a spark which +caught on a dry portion of the tinder and continued to burn. By that +time the phosphoric lights had faded, and his spark was the only one +which gleamed through intense darkness.</p> + +<p>How he cherished that spark! He wrapped it in swaddling clothes of dry +bamboo scrapings with as much care as if it had been the essence of his +life. He blew upon it tenderly as though to fan its delicate brow with +the soft zephyrs of a father's affection. Again he blew more vigorously, +and his enormous pouting lips came dimly into view. Another blow and his +flat nose and fat cheeks emerged from darkness. Still another—with +growing confidence—and his huge eyes were revealed glowing with hope. +At last the handful of combustible burst into a flame, and was thrust +into a prepared nest of twigs. This, communicating with a heap of logs, +kindled a sudden blaze which scattered darkness out of being, and +converted thirty yards of the primeval forest into a chamber of glorious +light, round which the human beings crowded with joy enhanced by the +unexpectedness of the event, and before which the wild things of the +wilderness fled away.</p> + +<p>When daylight came at last, they found that the village for which they +had been searching was only two miles beyond the spot where they had +encamped.</p> + +<p>Here, being thoroughly exhausted, it was resolved that they should spend +that day and night, and, we need scarcely add, they spent a considerable +portion of both in sleep—at least such parts of both as were not +devoted to food. And here the professor distinguished himself in a way +that raised him greatly in the estimation of his companions and caused +the natives of the place to regard him as something of a demi-god. Of +course we do not vouch for the truth of the details of the incident, for +no one save himself was there to see, and although we entertained the +utmost regard for himself, we were not sufficiently acquainted with his +moral character to answer for his strict truthfulness. As to the main +event, there was no denying that. The thing happened thus:—</p> + +<p>Towards the afternoon of that same day the travellers began to wake up, +stretch themselves, and think about supper. In the course of +conversation it transpired that a tiger had been prowling about the +village for some days, and had hitherto successfully eluded all attempts +to trap or spear it. They had tethered a goat several times near a small +pond and watched the spot from safe positions among the trees, with +spears, bows and arrows, and blow-pipes ready, but when they watched, +the tiger did not come, and when they failed to watch, the tiger did +come and carried off the goat. Thus they had been baffled.</p> + +<p>"Mine frond," said the professor to the hermit on hearing this. "I vill +shot zat tiger! I am resolved. Vill you ask zee chief to show me zee +place ant zen tell his people, on pain of def, not to go near it all +night, for if zey do I vill certainly shot zem—by accident of course!"</p> + +<p>The hermit did as he was bid, but advised his sanguine friend against +exposing himself recklessly. The chief willingly fell in with his +wishes.</p> + +<p>"Won't you tell us what you intend to do, professor?" asked Nigel, "and +let us help you."</p> + +<p>"No, I vill do it all by mineself—or die! I vill vant a shofel or a +spade of some sort."</p> + +<p>The chief provided the required implement, conducted his visitor a +little before sunset to the spot, just outside the village, and left him +there armed with his rifle, a revolver, and a long knife or kriss, +besides the spade.</p> + +<p>When alone, the bold man put off his glasses, made a careful inspection +of the ground, came to a conclusion—founded on scientific data no +doubt—as to the probable spot whence the tiger would issue from the +jungle when about to seize the goat, and, just opposite that spot, on +the face of a slope about ten yards from the goat, he dug a hole deep +enough to contain his own person. The soil was sandy easy to dig, and +quite dry. It was growing dusk when the professor crept into this +rifle-pit, drew his weapons and the spade in after him, and closed the +mouth of the pit with moist earth, leaving only a very small eye-hole +through which he could see the goat standing innocently by the brink of +the pool.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, as he lay resting on his elbows with the rifle laid +ready to hand and the revolver beside it; "now, I know not vezer you can +smell or not, but I have buried mineself in eart', vich is a +non-conductor of smell. Ve shall see!"</p> + +<p>It soon became very dark, for there was no moon, yet not so dark but +that the form of the goat could be seen distinctly reflected in the +pond. Naturally the professor's mind reverted to the occasion when Nigel +had watched in the branches of a tree for another tiger. The conditions +were different, and so, he thought, was the man!</p> + +<p>"Mine yoong frond," he said mentally, "is brav', oondoubtedly, but his +nerves have not been braced by experience like mine. It is vell, for +zere is more dancher here zan in a tree. It matters not. I am resolf to +shot zat tigre—or die!"</p> + +<p>In this resolute and heroic frame of mind he commenced his vigil.</p> + +<p>It is curious to note how frequently the calculations of men fail +them—even those of scientific men! The tiger came indeed to the spot, +but he came in precisely the opposite direction from that which the +watcher expected, so that while Verkimier was staring over the goat's +head at an opening in the jungle beyond the pond, the tiger was +advancing stealthily and slowly through the bushes exactly behind the +hole in which he lay.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the professor became aware of <i>something</i>! He saw nothing +consciously, he heard nothing, but there stole over him, somehow, the +feeling of a dread presence!</p> + +<p>Was he asleep? Was it nightmare? No, it was night-tiger! He knew it, +somehow; he <i>felt</i> it—but he could not see it.</p> + +<p>To face death is easy enough—according to some people—but to face +nothing at all is at all times trying. Verkimier felt it to be so at +that moment. But he was a true hero and conquered himself.</p> + +<p>"Come now," he said mentally, "don't be an ass! Don't lose your shance +by voomanly fears. Keep kviet."</p> + +<p>Another moment and there was a very slight sound right over his head. He +glanced upwards—as far as the little hole would permit—and there, not +a foot from him, was a tawny yellow throat! with a tremendous paw moving +slowly forward—so slowly that it might have suggested the imperceptible +movement of the hour-hand of a watch, or of a glacier. There was indeed +motion, but it was not perceptible.</p> + +<p>The professor's perceptions were quick. He did not require to think. He +knew that to use the rifle at such close quarters was absolutely +impossible. He knew that the slightest motion would betray him. He could +see that as yet he was undiscovered, for the animal's nose was straight +for the goat, and he concluded that either his having buried himself was +a safeguard against being smelt, or that the tiger had a cold in its +head. He thought for one moment of bursting up with a yell that would +scare the monster out of his seven senses—if he had seven—but +dismissed the thought as cowardly, for it would be sacrificing success +to safety. He knew not what to do, and the cold perspiration consequent +upon indecision at a supreme moment broke out all over him. Suddenly he +thought of the revolver!</p> + +<p>Like lightning he seized it, pointed it straight up and fired. The +bullet—a large army revolver one—entered the throat of the animal, +pierced the root of the tongue, crashed through the palate obliquely, +and entered the brain. The tiger threw one indescribable somersault and +fell—fell so promptly that it blocked the mouth of the pit, all the +covering earth of which had been blown away by the shot, and Verkimier +could feel the hairy side of the creature, and hear the beating of its +heart as it gasped its life away. But in his cramped position he could +not push it aside. Well aware of the tenacity of life in tigers, he +thought that if the creature revived it would certainly grasp him even +in its dying agonies, for the weight of its body and its struggles were +already crushing in the upper part of the hole.</p> + +<p>To put an end to its sufferings and his own danger, he pointed the +revolver at its side and again fired. The crash in the confined hole was +tremendous—so awful that the professor thought the weapon must have +burst. The struggles of the, tiger became more violent than ever, and +its weight more oppressive as the earth crumbled away. Again the cold +perspiration broke out all over the man, and he became unconscious.</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed that the professor's friends were unwatchful. +Although they had promised not to disturb him in his operations, they +had held themselves in readiness with rifle, revolver, and spear, and +the instant the first shot was heard, they ran down to the scene of +action. Before reaching it the second shot quickened their pace as they +ran down to the pond—a number of natives yelling and waving torches at +their heels.</p> + +<p>"Here he is," cried Moses, who was first on the scene, "dead as mutton!"</p> + +<p>"What! the professor?" cried Nigel in alarm.</p> + +<p>"No; de tiger."</p> + +<p>"Where's Verkimier?" asked the hermit as he came up.</p> + +<p>"I dun know, massa," said Moses, looking round him vacantly.</p> + +<p>"Search well, men, and be quick, he may have been injured," cried Van +der Kemp, seizing a torch and setting the example.</p> + +<p>"Let me out!" came at that moment from what appeared to be the bowels of +the earth, causing every one to stand aghast gazing in wonder around and +on each other.</p> + +<p>"Zounds! vy don't you let me <i>out</i>?" shouted the voice again.</p> + +<p>There was an indication of a tendency to flight on the part of the +natives, but Nigel's asking "Where <i>are</i> you?" had the effect of +inducing them to delay for the answer.</p> + +<p>"Here—oonder zee tigre! Kveek, I am suffocat!"</p> + +<p>Instantly Van der Kemp seized the animal by the 'tail, and, Avith a +force worthy of Hercules, heaved it aside as if it had been a dead cat, +revealing the man of science underneath—alive and well, but +dishevelled, scratched, and soiled—also, as deaf as a door-post!</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXII' id='CHAPTER_XXII' />CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>A PYTHON DISCOVERED AND A GEYSER INTERVIEWED.</h3> + + +<p>"It never rains but it pours" is a well-known proverb which finds, +frequent illustration in the experience of almost every one. At all +events Verkimier had reason to believe in the truth of it at that time, +for adventures came down on him, as it were, in a sort of deluge, more +or less astounding, insomuch that his enthusiastic spirit, bathing, if +we may say so, in an ocean of scientific delight, pronounced Sumatra to +be the very paradise of the student of nature.</p> + +<p>We have not room in this volume to follow him in the details of his +wonderful experiences, but we must mention one adventure which he had on +the very day after the tiger-incident, because it very nearly had the +effect of separating him from his travelling companions.</p> + +<p>Being deaf, as we have said—owing to the explosion of his revolver in +the hole—but not necessarily dumb, the professor, after one or two +futile attempts to hear and converse, deemed it wise to go to bed and +spend the few conscious minutes that might precede sleep in watching Van +der Kemp, who kindly undertook to skin his tiger for him. Soon the +self-satisfied man fell into a sweet infantine slumber, and dreamed of +tigers, in which state he gave vent to sundry grunts, gasps, and +half-suppressed cries, to the immense delight of Moses, who sat watching +him, indulging in a running commentary suggestive of the recent event, +and giving utterance now and then to a few imitative growls by way of +enhancing the effect of the dreams!</p> + +<p>"Look! look! Massa Nadgel, he's twitchin' all ober. De tiger's comin' to +him now."</p> + +<p>"Looks like it, Moses."</p> + +<p>"Yes—an', see, he grip de 'volver—no, too soon, or de tiger's goed +away, for he's stopped twichin'—dare; de tiger comes agin!"</p> + +<p>A gasp and clenching of the right hand seemed to warrant this +assumption. Then a yell rang through the hut; Moses displayed all, and +more than all his teeth, and the professor, springing up on one elbow, +glared fearfully.</p> + +<p>"I'n't it awrful?" inquired Moses in a low tone.</p> + +<p>The professor awoke mentally, recognised the situation, smiled an +imbecile smile, and sank back again on his pillow with a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>After that, when the skinning of the tiger was completed, the dreams +appeared to leave him, and all his comrades joined him in the land of +Nod. He was first to awake when daylight entered their hut the following +morning, and, feeling in a fresh, quiescent state of mind after the +excitement of the preceding night, he lay on his back, his eyes fixed +contentedly on the grand tiger-skin which hung on the opposite wall.</p> + +<p>By degrees his eyes grew wearied of that object, and he allowed them to +travel languidly upwards and along the roof until they rested on the +spot directly over his head, where they became fixed, and, at the same +time, opened out to a glare, compared to which all his previous glaring +was as nothing—for there, in the thatch, looking down upon him, was the +angular head of a huge python. The snake was rolled up in a tight coil, +and had evidently spent the night within a yard of the professor's head! +Being unable to make out what sort of snake it was, and fearing that it +might be a poisonous one, he crept quietly from his couch, keeping his +eyes fixed on the reptile as he did so. One result of this mode of +action was that he did not see where he was going, and inadvertently +thrust one finger into Moses' right eye, and another into his open +mouth. The negro naturally shut his mouth with a snap, while the +professor opened his with a roar, and in another moment every man was +on his feet blinking inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Look! zee snake!" cried the professor, when Moses released him.</p> + +<p>"We must get him out of that," remarked Van der Kemp, as he quietly made +a noose with a piece of rattan, and fastened it to the end of a long +pole. With the latter he poked the creature up, and, when it had +uncoiled sufficiently, he slipped the noose deftly over its head.</p> + +<p>"Clear out, friends," he said, looking round.</p> + +<p>All obeyed with uncommon promptitude except the professor, who valiantly +stood his ground. Van der Kemp pulled the python violently down to the +floor, where it commenced a tremendous scuffle among the chairs and +posts. The hermit kept its head off with the pole, and sought to catch +its tail, but failed twice. Seeing this the professor caught the tail as +it whipped against his legs, and springing down the steps so violently +that he snapped the cord by which the hermit held it, and drew the +creature straight out—a thick monster full twelve feet long, and +capable of swallowing a dog or a child.</p> + +<p>"Out of zee way!" shouted the professor, making a wild effort to swing +the python against a tree, but the tail slipped from his grasp, the +professor fell, and the snake went crashing against a log, under which +it took refuge.</p> + +<p>Nigel, who was nearest to it, sprang forward, fortunately caught its +tail, and, swinging it and himself round with such force that it could +not coil up at all, dashed it against a tree. Before it could recover +from the shock, Moses had caught up a hatchet and cut its head off with +one blow. The tail wriggled for a few seconds, and the head gaped once +or twice, as if in mild surprise at so sudden a finale.</p> + +<p>"Zat is strainch—very strainch," slowly remarked the professor, as, +still seated on the ground, he solemnly noted these facts.</p> + +<p>"Not so <i>very</i> strange, after all," said Van der Kemp; "I've seen the +head of many a bigger snake cut off at one blow."</p> + +<p>"Mine frond, you mistake me. It is zee vorking of physical law in zee +spiritual vorld zat perplexes me. Moses has cut zee brute in +two—physical fact, substance can be divided. Zee two parts are still +alife, zerfore, zee life—zee spirit—has also been divided!"</p> + +<p>"It is indeed very strange," said Nigel, with a laugh. "Stranger still +that you may cut a worm into several parts, and the life remains in +each, but, strangest of all, that you should sit on the ground, +professor, instead of rising up, while you philosophise. You are not +hurt, I hope—are you?"</p> + +<p>"I razer zink I am," returned the philosopher with a faint smile; "mine +onkle, I zink, is spraint."</p> + +<p>This was indeed true, and it seemed as if the poor man's wanderings +were to be, for a time at least, brought to an abrupt close. Fortunately +it was found that a pony could be procured at that village, and, as they +had entered the borders of the mountainous regions, and the roads were +more open and passable than heretofore, it was resolved that the +professor should ride until his ankle recovered.</p> + +<p>We must now pass over a considerable portion of time and space, and +convey the reader, by a forced march, to the crater of an active +volcano. By that time Verkimier's ankle had recovered and the pony had +been dismissed. The heavy luggage, with the porters, had been left in +the low grounds, for the mountain they had scaled was over 10,000 feet +above the sea-level. Only one native from the plain below accompanied +them as guide, and three of their porters whose inquiring minds tempted +them to make the ascent.</p> + +<p>At about 10,000 feet the party reached what the natives called the dempo +or edge of the volcano, whence they looked down into the sawah or +ancient crater, which was a level space composed of brown soil +surrounded by cliffs, and lying like the bottom of a cup 200 feet below +them. It had a sulphurous odour, and was dotted here and there with +clumps of heath and rhododendrons. In the centre of this was a cone +which formed the true—or modern—crater. On scrambling up to the lip +of the cone and looking down some 300 feet of precipitous rock they +beheld what seemed to be a pure white lake set in a central basin of 200 +feet in diameter. The surface of this lakelet smoked, and although it +reflected every passing cloud as if it were a mirror, it was in reality +a basin of hot mud, the surface of which was about thirty feet below its +rim.</p> + +<p>"You will soon see a change come over it," said the hermit, as the party +gazed in silent admiration at the weird scene.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely spoken, when the middle of the lake became intensely +black and scored with dark streaks. This, though not quite obvious at +first from the point where they stood, was caused by the slow formation +of a great chasm in the centre of the seething lake of mud. The lake was +sinking into its own throat. The blackness increased. Then a dull sullen +roar was heard, and next moment the entire lake upheaved, not violently, +but in a slow, majestic manner some hundreds of feet into the air, +whence it fell back into its basin with an awful roar which reverberated +and echoed from the rocky walls of the caldron like the singing of an +angry sea. An immense volume of steam—the motive power which had blown +up the lake—was at the same time liberated and dissipated in the air.</p> + +<p>The wave-circles died away on the margin of the lake, and the placid, +cloud-reflecting surface was restored until the geyser had gathered +fresh force for another upheaval.</p> + +<p>"Amazing!" exclaimed Nigel, who had gazed with feelings of awe at this +curious exhibition of the tremendous internal forces with which the +Creator has endowed the earth.</p> + +<p>"Vonderful!" exclaimed the professor, whose astonishment was such, that +his eyebrows rose high above the rim of his huge blue binoculars.</p> + +<p>Moses, to whom such an exhibition of the powers of nature was familiar, +was, we are sorry to say, not much impressed, if impressed at all! +Indeed he scarcely noticed it, but watched, with intense teeth-and-gum +disclosing satisfaction, the faces of two of the native porters who had +never seen anything of the kind before, and whose terrified expressions +suggested the probability of a precipitate flight when their trembling +limbs became fit to resume duty.</p> + +<p>"Will it come again soon?" asked Nigel, turning to Van der Kemp.</p> + +<p>"Every fifteen or twenty minutes it goes through that process all day +and every day," replied the hermit.</p> + +<p>"But, if I may joodge from zee stones ant scoriae around," said the +professor, "zee volcano is not alvays so peaceful as it is joost now."</p> + +<p>"You are right. About once in every three years, and sometimes oftener, +the crops of coffee, bananas, rice, etc., in this region are quite +destroyed by sulphur-rain, which covers everything for miles around the +crater."</p> + +<p>"Hah! it vould be too hote a place zis for us, if zat vas to happin +joost now," remarked Verkimier with a smile.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be far off the time now, I should think," said Yan der Kemp.</p> + +<p>All this talk Moses translated, and embellished, to the native porters +with the solemn sincerity of a true and thorough-paced hypocrite. He had +scarcely finished, and was watching with immense delight the changeful +aspect of their whitey-green faces, when another volcanic fit came on, +and the deep-toned roar of the coming explosion was heard. It was so +awesome that the countenance even of Van der Kemp became graver than +usual. As for the two native porters, they gazed and trembled. Nigel and +the professor also gazed with lively expectation. Moses—we grieve to +record it—hugged himself internally, and gloated over the two porters.</p> + +<p>Another moment and there came a mighty roar. Up went the mud-lake +hundreds of feet into the air; out came the steam with the sound of a +thousand trombones, and away went the two porters, head ever heels, down +the outer slope of the cone and across the sawah as if the spirit of +evil were after them.</p> + +<p>There was no cause, however, for alarm. The mud-lake, falling back into +its native cup, resumed its placid aspect and awaited its next upheaval +with as much tranquillity as if it had never known disturbance in the +past, and were indifferent about the future.</p> + +<p>That evening our travellers encamped in close proximity to the crater, +supped on fowls roasted in an open crevice whence issued steam and +sulphurous smells, and slept with the geyser's intermittent roar +sounding in their ears and re-echoing in their dreams.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXIII' id='CHAPTER_XXIII' />CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>TELLS OF VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STRANGE RETURN "HOME."</h3> + + +<p>This tremendous introduction to volcanic fires was but the prelude to a +period of eruptive action which has not been paralleled in the world's +history.</p> + +<p>For a short time after this, indeed, the genial nature of the weather +tended to banish from the minds of our travellers all thoughts of +violence either in terrestrial or human affairs, and as the professor +devoted himself chiefly to the comparatively mild occupation of catching +and transfixing butterflies and beetles during the march southward, +there seemed to be nothing in the wide universe above or below save +peace and tranquillity—except, perhaps, in the minds of beetles and +butterflies!</p> + +<p>Throughout all this period, nevertheless, there were ominous growlings, +grumblings, and tremors—faint but frequent—which indicated a +condition of mother earth that could not have been called easy.</p> + +<p>"Some of the volcanoes of Java must be at work, I think," said Nigel +one night, as the party sat in a small isolated wood-cutter's hut +discussing a supper of rice and fowls with his friends, which they were +washing down with home-grown coffee.</p> + +<p>"It may be so," said Van der Kemp in a dubious tone; "but the sounds, +though faint, seem to me a good deal nearer. I can't help thinking that +the craters which have so recently opened up in Krakatoa are still +active, and that it may be necessary for me to shift my quarters, for my +cave is little more, I suspect, than the throat of an ancient volcano."</p> + +<p>"Hah! say you so, mine frond? Zen I vould advise you to make no delay," +said the professor, critically examining a well-picked drumstick. "You +see, it is not pleasant to be blown up eizer by the terrestrial +eruptions of zee vorld or zee celestial explosions of your vife.—A +leetle more rice, Moses if you please. Zanks."</p> + +<p>"Now, mine fronds," he continued, after having disposed of a supper +which it might have taxed a volcano's throat to swallow, "it is viz +great sorrow zat I must part from you here."</p> + +<p>"Part! Why?" asked the hermit in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Vy, because I find zis contrie is heaven upon eart'. Zat is, of course, +only in a scientific point of view. Zee voods are svarming, zee air is +teeming, ant zee vaters are vallo'ing vit life. I cannot tear myself +avay. But ve shall meet again—at Telok Betong, or Krakatoa, or Anjer, +or Batavia."</p> + +<p>It was found that the man of science was also a man of decision. Nothing +would persuade him to go a step further. The wood-cutter's hut suited +him, so did the wood-cutter himself, and so, as he said, did the region +around him. With much regret, therefore, and an earnest invitation from +the hermit to visit his cave, and range the almost unexplored woods of +his island, the travellers parted from him; and our three adventurers, +dismissing all attendants and hiring three ponies, continued their +journey to the southern shores of Sumatra.</p> + +<p>As they advanced it soon became evident that the scene of volcanic +activity was not so far distant as the island of Java, for the air was +frequently darkened by the falling of volcanic dust which covered the +land with a greyish powder. As, however, at least sixteen volcanoes have +been registered in the island of Sumatra, and there are probably many +others, it was impossible to decide where the scene of eruption was that +caused those signs.</p> + +<p>One afternoon the travellers witnessed a catastrophe which induced them +to forego all idea of spending more time in examining the country. They +had arrived at a village where they found a traveller who appeared to be +going about without any special object in view. He spoke English, but +with a foreign accent. Nigel naturally felt a desire to become sociable +with him, but he was very taciturn and evidently wished to avoid +intercourse with chance acquaintances. Hearing that there were curious +hot-water and mud springs not far off, the stranger expressed a desire +to visit them. Nigel also felt anxious to see them, and as one guide was +sufficient for the party the stranger joined the party and they went +together.</p> + +<p>The spot they were led to was evidently a mere crust of earth covering +fierce subterranean fires. In the centre of it a small pond of mud was +boiling and bubbling furiously, and round this, on the indurated clay, +were smaller wells and craters full of boiling mud. The ground near them +was obviously unsafe, for it bent under pressure like thin ice, and at +some of the cracks and fissures the sulphurous vapour was so hot that +the hand could not be held to it without being scalded.</p> + +<p>Nigel and the stranger walked close behind the native guide, both, +apparently, being anxious to get as near as possible to the central +pond. But the guide stopped suddenly, and, looking back, said to Van der +Kemp that it was not safe to approach nearer.</p> + +<p>Nigel at once stopped, and, looking at the stranger, was struck by the +wild, incomprehensible expression of his face as he continued to +advance.</p> + +<p>"Stop! stop, sir!" cried the hermit on observing this, but the man paid +no attention to the warning.</p> + +<p>Another instant and the crust on which he stood gave way and he sank +into a horrible gulf from which issued a gust of sulphurous vapour and +steam. The horror which almost overwhelmed Nigel did not prevent him +bounding forward to the rescue. Well was it for him at that time that a +cooler head than his own was near. The strong hand of the hermit seized +his collar on the instant, and he was dragged backward out of danger, +while an appalling shriek from the stranger as he disappeared told that +the attempt to succour him would have been too late.</p> + +<p>A terrible event of this kind has usually the effect of totally +changing, at least for a time, the feelings of those who witness it, so +as to almost incapacitate them from appreciating ordinary events or +things. For some days after witnessing the sudden and awful fate of this +unknown man, Nigel travelled as if in a dream, taking little notice of, +or interest in, anything, and replying to questions in mere +monosyllables. His companions seemed to be similarly affected, for they +spoke very little. Even the volatile spirit of Moses appeared to be +subdued, and it was not till they had reached nearly the end of their +journey that their usual flow of spirits returned.</p> + +<p>Arriving one night at a village not very far from the southern shores +of Sumatra they learned that the hermit's presentiments were justified, +and that the volcano which was causing so much disturbance in the +islands of the archipelago was, indeed, the long extinct one of +Krakatoa.</p> + +<p>"I've heard a good deal about it from one of the chief men here," said +the hermit as he returned to his friends that night about supper-time. +"He tells me that it has been more or less in moderate eruption ever +since we left the island, but adds that nobody takes much notice of it, +as they don't expect it to increase much in violence. I don't agree with +them in that," he added gravely.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Partly because of the length of time that has elapsed since its last +eruption in 1680; partly from the fact that that eruption—judging from +appearances—must have been a very tremendous one, and partly because my +knowledge of volcanic action leads me to expect it; but I could not +easily explain the reason for my conclusions on the latter point. I have +just been to the brow of a ridge not far off whence I have seen the glow +in the sky of the Krakatoa fires. They do not, however, appear to be +very fierce at the present moment."</p> + +<p>As he spoke there was felt by the travellers a blow, as if of an +explosion under the house in which they sat. It was a strong vertical +bump which nearly tossed them all off their chairs. Van der Kemp and his +man, after an exclamation or two, continued supper like men who were +used to such interruptions, merely remarking that it was an earthquake. +But Nigel, to whom it was not quite so familiar, stood up for a few +seconds with a look of anxious uncertainty, as if undecided as to the +path of duty and prudence in the circumstances. Moses relieved him.</p> + +<p>"Sot down, Massa Nadgel," said that sable worthy, as he stuffed his +mouth full of rice; "it's easier to sot dan to stand w'en its +eart'quakin'."</p> + +<p>Nigel sat down with a tendency to laugh, for at that moment he chanced +to glance at the rafters above, where he saw a small anxious-faced +monkey gazing down at him.</p> + +<p>He was commenting on this creature when another prolonged shock of +earthquake came. It was not a bump like the previous one, but a severe +vibration which only served to shake the men in their chairs, but it +shook the small monkey off the rafter, and the miserable little thing +fell with a shriek and a flop into the rice-dish!</p> + +<p>"Git out o' dat—you scoundril!" exclaimed Moses, but the order was +needless, for the monkey bounced out of it like indiarubber and sought +to hide its confusion in the thatch, while Moses helped himself to some +more of the rice, which, he said; was none the worse for being +monkeyfied!</p> + +<p>At last our travellers found themselves in the town of Telok Betong, +where, being within forty-five miles of Krakatoa, the hermit could both +see and hear that his island-home was in violent agitation; tremendous +explosions occurring frequently, while dense masses of smoke were +ascending from its craters.</p> + +<p>"I'm happy to find," said the hermit, soon after their arrival in the +town, "that the peak of Rakata, on the southern part of the island where +my cave lies, is still quiet and has shown no sign of breaking out. And +now I shall go and see after my canoe."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it safe to venture to visit your cave?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Well, not absolutely safe," returned the hermit with a peculiar smile, +"but, of course, if you think it unwise to run the risk of—"</p> + +<p>"I asked a simple question, Van der Kemp, without any thought of +myself," interrupted the youth, as he flushed deeply.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, Nigel," returned the hermit quickly and gravely, "it is but +my duty to point out that we cannot go there without running <i>some</i> +risk."</p> + +<p>"And it is <i>my</i> duty to point out," retorted his hurt friend, "that when +any man, worthy of the name, agrees to follow another, he agrees to +accept all risks."</p> + +<p>To this the hermit vouchsafed no further reply than a slight smile and +nod of intelligence. Thereafter he went off alone to inquire about his +canoe, which, it will be remembered, his friend, the captain of the +steamer, had promised to leave for him at this place.</p> + +<p>Telok Betong, which was one of the severest sufferers by the eruption of +1883, is a small town at the head of Lampong Bay, opposite to the island +of Krakatoa, from which it is between forty and fifty miles distant. It +is built on a narrow strip of land at the base of a steep mountain, but +little above the sea, and is the chief town of the Lampong Residency, +which forms the most southerly province of Sumatra. At the time we write +of, the only European residents of the place were connected with +Government. The rest of the population was composed of a heterogeneous +mass of natives mingled with a number of Chinese, a few Arabs, and a +large fluctuating population of traders from Borneo, Celebes, New +Guinea, Siam, and the other innumerable isles of the archipelago. These +were more or less connected with praus laden with the rich and varied +merchandise of the eastern seas. As each man in the town had been +permitted to build his house according to his own fancy, picturesque +irregularity was the agreeable result. It may be added that, as each +man spoke his own language in his own tones, Babel and noise were the +consequence.</p> + +<p>In a small hut by the waterside the hermit found the friend—a Malay—to +whom his canoe had been consigned, and, in a long low shed close by, he +found the canoe itself with the faithful Spinkie in charge.</p> + +<p>"Don't go near the canoe till you've made friends with the monkey," said +the Malay in his own tongue, as he was about to put the key in the door.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked the hermit.</p> + +<p>"Because it is the savagest brute I ever came across," said the man. "It +won't let a soul come near the canoe. I would have killed it long ago if +the captain of the steamer had not told me you wished it to be taken +great care of. There, look out! The vixen is not tied up."</p> + +<p>He flung open the shed-door and revealed Spinkie seated in his old +place, much deteriorated in appearance and scowling malevolently.</p> + +<p>The instant the poor creature heard its master's voice and saw his +form—for his features must have been invisible against the strong +light—the scowl vanished from its little visage. With a shriek of joy +it sprang like an acrobat from a spring-board and plunged into the +hermit's bosom—to the alarm of the Malay, who thought this was a +furious attack. We need not say that Van der Kemp received his faithful +little servant kindly, and it was quite touching to observe the monkey's +intense affection for him. It could not indeed wag its tail like a dog, +but it put its arms round its master's neck with a wondrously human air, +and rubbed its little head in his beard and whiskers, drawing itself +back now and then, putting its black paws on his cheeks, turning his +face round to the light and opening its round eyes wide—as well as its +round little mouth—as if to make sure of his identity—then plunging +into the whiskers again, and sometimes, when unable to contain its joy, +finding a safety-valve in a little shriek.</p> + +<p>When the meeting and greeting were over, Van der Kemp explained that he +would require his canoe by daybreak the following morning, ordered a few +provisions to be got ready, and turned to leave.</p> + +<p>"You must get down, Spinkie, and watch the canoe for one night more," +said the hermit, quietly.</p> + +<p>But Spinkie did not seem to perceive the necessity, for he clung closer +to his master with a remonstrative croak.</p> + +<p>"Get down, Spinkie," said the hermit firmly, "and watch the canoe."</p> + +<p>The poor beast had apparently learned that Medo-Persic law was not more +unchangeable than Van der Kemp's commands! At all events it crept down +his arm and leg, waddled slowly over the floor of the shed with bent +back and wrinkled brow, like a man of ninety, and took up its old +position on the deck, the very personification of superannuated woe.</p> + +<p>The hermit patted its head gently, however, thus relieving its feelings, +and probably introducing hope into its little heart before leaving. Then +he returned to his friends and bade them prepare for immediate +departure.</p> + +<p>It was the night of the 24th of August, and as the eruptions of the +volcano appeared to be getting more and more violent, Van der Kemp's +anxiety to reach his cave became visibly greater.</p> + +<p>"I have been told," said the hermit to Nigel, as they went down with +Moses to the place where the canoe had been left, "the history of +Krakatoa since we left. A friend informs me that a short time after our +departure the eruptions subsided a little, and the people here had +ceased to pay much attention to them, but about the middle of June the +volcanic activity became more violent, and on the 19th, in particular, +it was observed that the vapour column and the force of the explosions +were decidedly on the increase."</p> + +<p>"At Katimbang, from which place the island can be seen, it was noticed +that a second column of vapour was ascending from the centre of the +island, and that the appearance of Perboewatan had entirely changed, +its conspicuous summit having apparently been blown away. In July there +were some explosions of exceptional violence, and I have now no doubt +that it was these we heard in the interior of this island when we were +travelling hither, quite lately. On the 11th of this month, I believe, +the island was visited in a boat by a government officer, but he did not +land, owing to the heavy masses of vapour and dust driven about by the +wind, which also prevented him from making a careful examination, but he +could see that the forests of nearly the whole island have been +destroyed—only a few trunks of blighted trees being left standing above +the thick covering of pumice and dust. He reported that the dust near +the shore was found to be twenty inches thick."</p> + +<p>"If so," said Nigel, "I fear that the island will be no longer fit to +inhabit."</p> + +<p>"I know not," returned the hermit sadly, in a musing tone. "The officer +reported that there is no sign of eruption at Rakata, so that my house +is yet safe, for no showers of pumice, however deep, can injure the +cave."</p> + +<p>Nigel was on the point of asking his friend why he was so anxious to +revisit the island at such a time, but, recollecting his recent tiff on +that subject, refrained. Afterwards, however, when Van der Kemp was +settling accounts with the Malay, he put the question to Moses.</p> + +<p>"I can't help wondering," he said, "that Van der Kemp should be so +anxious to get back to his cave just now. If he were going in a big boat +to save some of his goods and chattels I could understand it, but the +canoe, you know, could carry little more than her ordinary lading."</p> + +<p>"Well, Massa Nadgel," said Moses, "it's my opinion dat he wants to go +back 'cause he's got an uncommon affekshnit heart."</p> + +<p>"How? Surely you don't mean that his love of the mere place is so strong +that—"</p> + +<p>"No, no, Massa Nadgel—'s not dat. But he was awrful fond ob his wife +an' darter, an' I know he's got a photogruff ob 'em bof togidder, an' I +t'ink he'd sooner lose his head dan lose dat, for I've seed him look at +'em for hours, an' kiss 'em sometimes w'en he t'ought I was asleep."</p> + +<p>The return of the hermit here abruptly stopped the conversation. The +canoe was carried down and put into the water, watched with profound +interest by hundreds of natives and traders, who were all more or less +acquainted with the hermit of Rakata.</p> + +<p>It was still daylight when they paddled out into Lampong Bay, but the +volumes of dust which rose from Krakatoa—although nearly fifty miles +off—did much to produce an unusually early twilight.</p> + +<p>"Goin' to be bery dark, massa," remarked Moses as they glided past the +shipping. "Shall I light de lamp?"</p> + +<p>"Do, Moses, but we shan't need it, for as we get nearer home the +volcanic fires will light us on our way."</p> + +<p>"De volcanic dust is a-goin' to powder us on our way too, massa. Keep +your hands out o' the way, Spinkie," said the negro as he fixed a small +oil-lamp to the mast, and resumed his paddle.</p> + +<p>"After we get out a bit the wind will help us," said the hermit.</p> + +<p>"Yes, massa, if he don't blow too strong," returned Moses, as a squall +came rushing down the mountains and swept over the bay, ruffling its now +dark waters into foaming wavelets.</p> + +<p>Altogether, what with the increasing darkness and the hissing squall, +and the night-voyage before them, and the fires of Krakatoa which were +now clearly visible on the horizon, Nigel Boy felt a more eerie +sensation in his breast than he ever remembered to have experienced in +all his previous life, but he scorned to admit the fact—even to +himself, and said, mentally, that it was rather romantic than otherwise!</p> + +<p>Just then there burst upon their ears the yell of a steam-whistle, and a +few moments later a steamer bore straight down on them, astern.</p> + +<p>"Steamer ahoy!" shouted Van der Kemp. "Will ye throw us a rope?"</p> + +<p>"Ay! ay!—ease 'er!—stop 'er! where are 'ee bound for?" demanded an +unmistakably English voice.</p> + +<p>"Krakatoa!" replied the hermit. "Where are you?"</p> + +<p>"Anjer, on the Java coast. Do 'ee want to be smothered, roasted, and +blown up?" asked the captain, looking down on the canoe as it ranged +alongside the dark hull.</p> + +<p>"No, we want to get home."</p> + +<p>"Home! Well, you're queer fellows in a queer eggshell for such waters. +Every man to his taste. Look out for the rope!"</p> + +<p>"All right, cappen," cried Moses as he caught the coil.</p> + +<p>Next moment the steamer went ahead, and the canoe ploughed over the +Sunda Straits at the rate of thirteen miles an hour, with her sharp prow +high out of the water, and the stern correspondingly low. The voyage, +which would have otherwise cost our three travellers a long laborious +night and part of next day, was by this means so greatly shortened that +when daybreak arrived they were not more than thirteen miles to the east +of Krakatoa. Nearer than this the steamboat could not take them without +going out of her course, but as Van der Kemp and Nigel gratefully +acknowledged, it was quite near enough.</p> + +<p>"Well, I should just think it was rather too near!" said the captain +with a grin.</p> + +<p>And, truly, he was justified in making the remark, for the explosions +from the volcano had by that time become not only very frequent, but +tremendously loud, while the dense cloud which hung above it and spread +far and wide over the sky covered the sea with a kind of twilight that +struggled successfully against the full advent of day. Lightning too was +playing among the rolling black masses of smoke, and the roaring +explosions every now and then seemed to shake the very heavens.</p> + +<p>Casting off the tow-rope, they turned the bow of their canoe to the +island. As a stiffish breeze was blowing, they set the sails, +close-reefed, and steered for the southern shore at that part which lay +under the shadow of Rakata.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXIV' id='CHAPTER_XXIV' />CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>AN AWFUL NIGHT AND TERRIBLE MORNING.</h3> + + +<p>It was a matter of some satisfaction to find on drawing near to the +shore that the peak of Rakata was still intact, and that, although most +other parts of the island which could be seen were blighted by fire and +covered deeply with pumice dust, much of the forest in the immediate +neighbourhood of the cave was still undestroyed though considerably +damaged.</p> + +<p>"D'you think our old harbour will be available, Moses?" asked Van der +Kemp as they came close to the first headland.</p> + +<p>"Pr'aps. Bes' go an' see," was the negro's practical reply.</p> + +<p>"Evidently Rakata is not yet active," said Nigel, looking up at the grey +dust-covered crags as the canoe glided swiftly through the dark water.</p> + +<p>"That is more than can be said for the other craters," returned the +hermit. "It seems to me that not only all the old ones are at work, but +a number of new ones must have been opened."</p> + +<p>The constant roaring and explosions that filled their ears and the rain +of fine ashes bore testimony to the truth of this, though the solid and +towering mass of Rakata rose between them and the part of Krakatoa which +was in eruption, preventing their seeing anything that was passing +except the dense masses of smoke, steam, and dust which rose many miles +into the heavens, obstructing the light of day, but forming cloud-masses +from which the lurid flames of the volcano were reflected downward.</p> + +<p>On reaching the little bay or harbour it was found much as they had left +it, save that the rocks and bushes around were thickly covered with +dust, and their boat was gone.</p> + +<p>"Strange! at such a time one would scarcely have expected thieves to +come here," said the hermit, looking slowly round.</p> + +<p>"No t'ief bin here, massa," said Moses, looking over the side of the +canoe. "I see de boat!"</p> + +<p>He pointed downwards as he spoke, and on looking over the side they saw +the wreck of the boat at the bottom, in about ten feet of water, and +crushed beneath a ponderous mass of lava, which must have been ejected +from the volcano and afterwards descended upon the boat.</p> + +<p>The destruction of the boat rendered it impossible to remove any of the +property of the hermit, and Nigel now saw, from his indifference, that +this could not have been the cause of his friend's anxiety and +determination to reach his island home in spite of the danger that such +a course entailed. That there was considerable danger soon became very +obvious, for, having passed to some extent at this point beyond the +shelter of the cliffs of Rakata, and come partly into view of the other +parts of the island, the real extent of the volcanic violence burst upon +Nigel and Moses as a new revelation. The awful sublimity of the scene at +first almost paralysed them, and they failed to note that not only did a +constant rain of pumice dust fall upon them, but that there was also a +pretty regular dropping of small stones into the water around them. +Their attention was sharply aroused to this fact by the fall of a lump +of semi-molten rock, about the size of a cannon shot, a short distance +off, which was immediately followed by not less than a cubic yard of +lava which fell close to the canoe and deluged them with spray.</p> + +<p>"We must go," said the hermit quietly. "No need to expose ourselves +here, though the watching of the tremendous forces that our Creator has +at command does possess a wonderful kind of fascination. It seems to me +the more we see of His power as exerted on our little earth, the more do +we realise the paltriness of our conception of the stupendous Might that +upholds the Universe."</p> + +<p>While he was speaking, Van der Kemp guided the canoe into its little +haven, and in a few minutes he and Moses had carried it into the shelter +of the cave out of which Nigel had first seen it emerge. Then the lading +was carried up, after which they turned into the track which led to the +hermit's home.</p> + +<p>The whole operation may be said to have been performed under fire, for +small masses of rock kept pattering continually on the dust-covered +ground around them, causing cloudlets, like smoke, to spring up wherever +they struck. Nigel and Moses could not resist glancing upward now and +then as they moved quickly to and fro, and they experienced a shrinking +sensation when a stone fell very near them, but each scorned to exhibit +the smallest trace of anxiety, or to suggest that the sooner they got +from under fire the better! As for Van der Kemp, he moved about +deliberately as if there was nothing unusual going on, and with an +absent look on his grave face as though the outbursts of smoke, and +fire, and lava, which turned the face of day into lurid night, and +caused the cliffs to reverberate with unwonted thunders, had no effect +whatever on his mind.</p> + +<p>A short walk, however, along the track, which was more than ankle-deep +in dust, brought them under the sheltering sides of Rakata, up which +they soon scrambled to the mouth of their cave. Here all was found as +they had left it, save that the entrance was knee-deep in pumice dust.</p> + +<p>And now a new and very strange sensation was felt by each of them, for +the loud reports and crackling sounds which had assailed their ears +outside were reduced by the thick walls of the cave to a continuous dull +groan, as it were, like the soft but thunderous bass notes of a +stupendous organ. To these sounds were added others which seemed to be +peculiar to the cave itself. They appeared to rise from crevices in the +floor, and were no doubt due to the action of those pent-up subterranean +fires which were imprisoned directly, though it may be very far down, +under their feet. Every now and then there came a sudden increase of the +united sounds as if the "swell" of the great organ had been opened, and +such out-gushing was always accompanied with more or less of +indescribable shocks followed by prolonged tremors of the entire +mountain.</p> + +<p>If the three friends had been outside to observe what was taking place, +they would have seen that these symptoms were simultaneous with +occasional and extremely violent outbursts from the crater of +Perboewatan and his compeers. Indeed they guessed as much, and two of +them at least were not a little thankful that, awesome as their position +was, they had the thick mountain between them and the fiery showers +outside.</p> + +<p>Of all this the hermit took no notice, but, hastening into the inner +cavern, opened a small box, and took therefrom a bundle of papers and a +little object which, at a first glance, Nigel supposed to be a book, but +which turned out to be a photograph case. These the hermit put carefully +into the breastpocket of his coat and then turned to his companions with +a sigh as if of relief.</p> + +<p>"I think there is no danger of anything occurring at this part of the +island," he remarked, looking round the cave, "for there is no sign of +smoke and no sulphurous smell issuing from any of the crevices in walls +or floor. This, I think, shows that there is no direct communication +with Rakata and the active volcano—at least not at present."</p> + +<p>"Do you then think there is a possibility of an outbreak at some future +period?" asked Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Who can tell? People here, who don't study the nature of volcanoes +much, though surrounded by them, will expect things ere long to resume +their normal condition. I can never forget the fact that the greater +part of Krakatoa stands, as you know, exactly above the spot where the +two great lines of volcanic action cross, and right over the mouth of +the immense crater to which Perboewatan and all the other craters serve +as mere chimneys or safety-valves. We cannot tell whether a great +eruption similar to that of 1680 may not be in store for us. The only +reason that I can see for the quiescence of this peak of Rakata is, as I +said to you once before, that it stands not so much above the old crater +as above and on the safe side of its lip."</p> + +<p>"I t'ink, massa, if I may ventur' to speak," said Moses, "dat de sooner +we git off his lip de better lest we tumble into his mout'."</p> + +<p>"You may be right, Moses, and I have no objection to quit," returned the +hermit, "now that I have secured the photograph and papers. At the same +time I fear the rain of stones and lava is growing worse. It might be +safer to stay till there is a lull in the violence of the eruption, and +then make a dash for it. What say you, Nigel?"</p> + +<p>"I say that you know best, Van der Kemp. I'm ready to abide by your +decision, whatever it be."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, we will go out and have a look at the state of matters."</p> + +<p>The view from the entrance was not calculated to tempt them to forsake +the shelter of the cave, however uncertain that might be. The latest +explosions had enshrouded the island in such a cloud of smoke and dust, +that nothing whatever was visible beyond a few yards in front, and even +that space was only seen by the faint rays of the lamp issuing from the +outer cave. This lamp-light was sufficient, however, to show that within +the semicircle of a few yards there was a continuous rain of grey ashes +and dust mingled with occasional stones of various sizes—some larger +than a man's fist.</p> + +<p>"To go out in that would be simply to court death," said Nigel, whose +voice was almost drowned by the noise of the explosions and fall of +material.</p> + +<p>As it was manifest that nothing could be done at the moment except to +wait patiently, they returned to the cave, where they lighted the +oil-stove, and Moses—who had taken the precaution to carry up some +provisions in a bag from the canoe—proceeded to prepare a meal.</p> + +<p>"Stummicks must be attended to," he murmured to himself as he moved +about the cave-kitchen and shook his head gravely. "Collapses in dat +region is wuss, a long way, dan 'splosion of the eart'!"</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Nigel and the hermit went to examine the passage leading to +the observatory. The eruption had evidently done nothing to it, for, +having passed upwards without difficulty, they finally emerged upon the +narrow ledge.</p> + +<p>The scene that burst upon their astonished gaze here was awful in the +extreme. It will be remembered that while the hermit's cave was on the +southern side of Krakatoa, facing Java, the stair and passage leading to +the observatory completely penetrated the peak of Rakata, so that when +standing on the ledge they faced northward and were thus in full view of +all the craters between them and Perboewatan. These were in full blast +at the time, and, being so near, the heat, as well as the dust, molten +lava, and other missiles, instantly drove them back under the protection +of the passage from which they had emerged.</p> + +<p>Here they found a small aperture which appeared to have been recently +formed—probably by a blow from a mass of falling rock—through which +they were able to obtain a glimpse of the pandemonium that lay seething +below them. They could not see much, however, owing to the smoke which +filled the air. The noise of the almost continuous explosions was so +loud, that it was impossible to converse save by placing the mouth to +the ear and shouting. Fortunately soon after their ascent the wind +shifted and blew smoke, fire, and dust away to the northward, enabling +them to get out on the ledge, where for a time they remained in +comparative safety.</p> + +<p>"Look! look at your mirrors!" exclaimed Nigel suddenly, as his wandering +gaze happened to turn to the hermit's sun-guides.</p> + +<p>And he might well exclaim, for not only was the glass of these ingenious +machines shivered and melted, but their iron frameworks were twisted up +into fantastic shapes.</p> + +<p>"Lightning has been at work here," said Van der Kemp.</p> + +<p>It did not at the moment occur to either of them that the position on +which they stood was peculiarly liable to attack by the subtle and +dangerous fluid which was darting and zig-zagging everywhere among the +rolling clouds of smoke and steam.</p> + +<p>A louder report than usual here drew their attention again to the +tremendous scene that was going on in front of them. The extreme summit +of Perboewatan had been blown into a thousand fragments, which were +hurtling upwards and crackling loudly as the smaller masses were +impelled against each other in their skyward progress. This crackling +has been described by those who heard it from neighbouring shores as a +"strange rustling sound." To our hermit and his friend, who were, so to +speak, in the very midst of it, the sound rather resembled the +continuous musketry of a battle-field, while the louder explosions might +be compared to the booming of artillery, though they necessarily lose by +the comparison, for no invention of man ever produced sounds equal to +those which thundered at that time from the womb of Krakatoa.</p> + +<p>Immediately after this, a fountain of molten lava at white heat welled +up in the great throat that had been so violently widened, and, +overflowing the edges of the crater, rolled down its sides in fiery +rivers. All the other craters in the island became active at the same +moment and a number of new ones burst forth. Indeed it seemed to those +who watched them that if these had not opened up to give vent to the +suppressed forces the whole island must have been blown away. As it was, +the sudden generation of so much excessive heat set fire to what +remained of trees and everything combustible, so that the island +appeared to be one vast seething conflagration, and darkness was for a +time banished by a red glare that seemed to Nigel far more intense than +that of noonday.</p> + +<p>It is indeed the partiality (if we may say so) of conflagration-light +which gives to it the character of impressive power with which we are +all so familiar—the intense lights being here cut sharply off by +equally intense shadows, and then grading into dull reds and duller +greys. The sun, on the other hand, bathes everything in its genial glow +so completely that all nature is permeated with it, and there are no +intense contrasts, no absolutely black and striking shadows, except in +caverns and holes, to form startling contrasts.</p> + +<p>"These safety-valves," said the hermit, referring to the new craters, +"have, under God, been the means of saving us from destruction."</p> + +<p>"It would seem so," said Nigel, who was too overwhelmed by the sight to +say much.</p> + +<p>Even as he spoke the scene changed as if by magic, for from the cone of +Perboewatan there issued a spout of liquid fire, followed by a roar so +tremendous that the awe-struck men shrank within themselves, feeling as +though that time had really come when the earth is to melt with fervent +heat! The entire lake of glowing lava was shot into the air, and lost in +the clouds above, while mingled smoke and steam went bellowing after it, +and dust fell so thickly that it seemed as if sufficient to extinguish +the raging fires. Whether it did so or not is uncertain. It may have +been that the new pall of black vapour only obscured them. At all +events, after the outburst the darkness of night fell suddenly on all +around.</p> + +<p>Just then the wind again changed, and the whole mass of vapour, smoke, +and ashes came sweeping like the very besom of destruction towards the +giddy ledge on which the observers stood. Nigel was so entranced that it +is probable he might have been caught in the horrible tempest and lost +had not his cooler companion grasped his arm and dragged him violently +into the passage—where they were safe, though half suffocated by the +heat and sulphurous vapours that followed them.</p> + +<p>At the same time the thunderous roaring became so loud that conversation +was impossible. Van der Kemp therefore took his friend's hand and led +him down to the cave, where the sounds were so greatly subdued as to +seem almost a calm by contrast.</p> + +<p>"We are no doubt in great danger," said the hermit, gravely, as he sat +down in the outer cave, "but there is no possibility of taking action +to-night. Here we are, whether wisely or unwisely, and here we must +remain—at least till there is a lull in the eruption. 'God is our +refuge.' He ought to be so at <i>all</i> times, but there are occasions when +this great, and, I would add, glorious fact is pressed upon our +understandings with unusual power. Such a time is this. Come—we will +see what His word says to us just now."</p> + +<p>To Nigel's surprise, and, he afterwards confessed, to his comfort and +satisfaction, the hermit called the negro from his work, and, taking +down the large Bible from its shelf, read part of the 46th Psalm, "God +is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore +will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains +be carried into the midst of the sea."</p> + +<p>He stopped reading at the verse where it is written, "Be still, and know +that I am God."</p> + +<p>Then, going down on his knees,—without even the familiar formula, "Let +us pray"—he uttered a brief but earnest prayer for guidance and +deliverance "in the name of Jesus."</p> + +<p>Rising, he quietly put the Bible away, and, with the calmness of a +thoroughly practical man, who looks upon religion and ordinary matters +as parts of one grand whole, ordered Moses to serve the supper.</p> + +<p>Thus they spent part of that memorable night of 26th August 1883 in +earnest social intercourse, conversing chiefly and naturally about the +character, causes, and philosophy of volcanoes, while Perboewatan and +his brethren played a rumbling, illustrative accompaniment to their +discourse. The situation was a peculiar one. Even the negro was alive to +that fact.</p> + +<p>"Ain't it koorious," he remarked solemnly in a moment of confidence +after swallowing the last bite of his supper. "Ain't it koorious, Massa +Nadgel, dat we're a sottin' here comf'rably enjoyin' our wittles ober de +mout' ob a v'licano as is quite fit to blow us all to bits an' hois' us +into de bery middle ob next week—if not farder?"</p> + +<p>"It is strange indeed, Moses," said Nigel, who however added no +commentary, feeling indisposed to pursue the subject.</p> + +<p>Seeing this, Moses turned to his master.</p> + +<p>"Massa," he said. "You don' want nuffin' more to-night, I s'pose?"</p> + +<p>"No, Moses, nothing."</p> + +<p>"An' is you <i>quite</i> easy in your mind?"</p> + +<p>"Quite," replied the hermit with his peculiar little smile.</p> + +<p>"Den it would be wuss dan stoopid for me to be <i>on</i>easy, so I'll bid ye +bof good-night, an' turn in."</p> + +<p>In this truly trustful as well as philosophical state of mind, the negro +retired to his familiar couch in the inner cave, and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Nigel and the hermit sat up for some time longer.</p> + +<p>"Van der Kemp," said the former, after a pause, "I—I trust you won't +think me actuated by impertinent curiosity if I venture to ask you about +—the—photograph that I think you——"</p> + +<p>"My young friend!" interrupted the hermit, taking the case in question +from his breast pocket; "I should rather apologise to you for having +appeared to make any mystery of it—and yet," he added, pausing as he +was about to open the case, "I have not shown it to a living soul since +the day that—Well, well,—why should I hesitate? It is all I have +left of my dead wife and child."</p> + +<p>He placed the case in the hands of Nigel, who almost sprang from his +seat with excitement as he beheld the countenance of a little child of +apparently three or four years of age, who so exactly resembled Kathy +Holbein—allowing of course for the difference of age—that he had now +no doubt whatever as to her being the hermit's lost daughter. He was on +the point of uttering her name, when uncertainty as to the effect the +sudden disclosure might have upon the father checked him.</p> + +<p>"You seem surprised, my friend," said Van der Kemp gently.</p> + +<p>"Most beautiful!" said Nigel, gazing intently at the portrait. "That +dear child's face seems so familiar to me that I could almost fancy I +had seen it."</p> + +<p>He looked earnestly into his friend's face as he spoke, but the hermit +was quite unmoved, and there was not a shadow of change in the sad low +tone of his voice as he said—</p> + +<p>"Yes, she was indeed beautiful, like her mother. As to your fancy about +having seen it—mankind is formed in groups and types. We see many faces +that resemble others."</p> + +<p>The absent look that was so common to the solitary man here overspread +his massive features, and Nigel felt crushed, as it were, back into +himself. Thus, without having disclosed his belief, he retired to rest +in a very anxious state of mind, while the hermit watched.</p> + +<p>"Don't take off your clothes," he said. "If the sounds outside lead me +to think things are quieting down, I will rouse you and we shall start +at once."</p> + +<p>It was very early on the morning of the 27th when Van der Kemp roused +our hero.</p> + +<p>"Are things quieter?" asked Nigel as he rose.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a little, but not much—nevertheless we must venture to leave."</p> + +<p>"Is it daylight yet?"</p> + +<p>"No. There will be no daylight to-day!" with which prophecy the hermit +left him and went to rouse Moses.</p> + +<p>"Massa," said the faithful negro. "Isn't you a goin' to take nuffin' wid +you? None ob de books or t'ings?"</p> + +<p>"No—nothing except the old Bible. All the rest I leave behind. The +canoe could not carry much. Besides, we may have little time. Get ready; +quick! and follow me."</p> + +<p>Moses required no spur. The three men left the cave together. It was so +intensely dark that the road could not be distinguished, but the hermit +and his man were so familiar with it that they could have followed it +blindfold.</p> + +<p>On reaching the cave at the harbour, some light was obtained from the +fitful outbursts of the volcano, which enabled them to launch the canoe +and push off in safety. Then, without saying a word to each other, they +coasted along the shore of the island, and, finally, leaving its dangers +behind, them, made for the island of Java—poor Spinkie sitting in his +accustomed place and looking uncommonly subdued!</p> + +<p>Scarcely had they pushed off into Sunda Straits when the volcano burst +out afresh. They had happily seized on the only quiet hour that the day +offered, and had succeeded, by the aid of the sails, in getting several +miles from the island without receiving serious injury, although showers +of stones and masses of rock of all sizes were falling into the sea +around them.</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp was so far right in his prophecy that there would be no +daylight that day. By that time there should have been light, as it was +nearly seven o'clock on the memorable morning of the 27th of August. But +now, although the travellers were some miles distant from Krakatoa, the +gloom was so impervious that Nigel, from his place in the centre of the +canoe, could not see the form of poor Spinkie—which sat clinging to the +mast only two feet in front of him—save when a blaze from Perboewatan +or one of the other craters lighted up island and ocean with a vivid +glare.</p> + +<p>At this time the sea began to run very high and the wind increased to a +gale, so that the sails of the canoe, small though they were, had to be +reduced.</p> + +<p>"Lower the foresail, Nigel," shouted the hermit. "I will close-reef it. +Do you the same to the mainsail."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," was the prompt reply.</p> + +<p>Moses and Nigel kept the little craft straight to the wind while the +foresail was being reefed, Van der Kemp and the former performing the +same duty while Nigel reefed the mainsail.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there came a brief but total cessation of the gale, though not +of the tumultuous heaving of the waters. During that short interval +there burst upon the world a crash and a roar so tremendous that for a +few moments the voyagers were almost stunned!</p> + +<p>It is no figure of speech to say that the <i>world</i> heard the crash. +Hundreds, ay, thousands of miles did the sound of that mighty upheaval +pass over land and sea to startle, more or less, the nations of the +earth.</p> + +<p>The effect of a stupendous shock on the nervous system is curiously +various in different individuals. The three men who were so near to the +volcano at that moment involuntarily looked round and saw by the lurid +blaze that an enormous mass of Krakatoa, rent from top to bottom, was +falling headlong into the sea; while the entire heavens were alive with +flame, lightning, steam, smoke, and the upward-shooting fragments of the +hideous wreck!</p> + +<p>The hermit calmly rested his paddle on the deck and gazed around in +silent wonder. Nigel, not less smitten with awe, held his paddle with an +iron grasp, every muscle quivering with tension in readiness for instant +action when the need for action should appear. Moses, on the other hand, +turning round from the sight with glaring eyes, resumed paddling with +unreasoning ferocity, and gave vent at once to his feelings and his +opinion in the sharp exclamation—"Blown to bits!"</p> + +<p class="center"><a name="illus355.jpg" id="illus355.jpg" /><img src="images/illus355.jpg" width='457' height='701' alt="BLOWN TO BITS" /></p> + +<h3>BLOWN TO BITS</h3> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXV' id='CHAPTER_XXV' />CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>ADVENTURES OF THE "SUNSHINE" AND AN UNEXPECTED REUNION.</h3> + + +<p>We must request the reader to turn back now for a brief period to a very +different scene.</p> + +<p>A considerable time before the tremendous catastrophe described in the +last chapter—which we claim to have recorded without the slightest +exaggeration, inasmuch as exaggeration were impossible—Captain David +Roy, of the good brig <i>Sunshine</i>, received the letter which his son +wrote to him while in the jungles of Sumatra.</p> + +<p>The captain was seated in the back office of a Batavian merchant at the +time, smoking a long clay pipe—on the principle, no doubt, that +moderate poisoning is conducive to moderate health!</p> + +<p>As he perused the letter, the captain's eyes slowly opened; so did his +mouth, and the clay pipe, falling to the floor, was reduced to little +pieces. But the captain evidently cared nothing for that. He gave forth +a prolonged whistle, got up, smote upon his thigh, and exclaimed with +deep-toned emphasis—</p> + +<p>"The <i>rascal</i>!"</p> + +<p>Then he sat down again and re-perused the letter, with a variety of +expression on his face that might have recalled the typical April day, +minus the tears.</p> + +<p>"The rascal!" he repeated, as he finished the second reading of the +letter and thrust it into his pocket. "I knew there was somethin' i' the +wind wi' that little girl! The memory o' my own young days when I +boarded and captured the poetess is strong upon me yet. I saw it in the +rascal's eye the very first time they met—an' he thinks I'm as blind as +a bat, I'll be bound, with his poetical reef-point-pattering sharpness. +But it's a strange discovery he has made and must be looked into. The +young dog! He gives me orders as if he were the owner."</p> + +<p>Jumping up, Captain Roy hurried out into the street. In passing the +outer office he left a message with one of the clerks for his friend the +merchant.</p> + +<p>"Tell him," he said, "that I'll attend to that little business about the +bill when I come back. I'm going to sail for the Keeling Islands this +afternoon."</p> + +<p>"The Keeling Islands?" exclaimed the clerk in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes—I've got business to do there. I'll be back, all bein' well, in a +week—more or less."</p> + +<p>The clerk's eyebrows remained in a raised position for a few moments, +until he remembered that Captain Roy, being owner of his ship and +cargo, was entitled to do what he pleased with his own and himself. Then +they descended, and he went on with his work, amusing himself with the +thought that the most curious beings in the world were seafaring men.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Moor," said the captain somewhat excitedly, as he reached the deck +of his vessel, "are all the men aboard?"</p> + +<p>"All except Jim Sloper, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then send and hunt up Jim Sloper at once, for we sail this afternoon +for the Keeling Islands."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir."</p> + +<p>Mr. Moor was a phlegmatic man; a self-contained and a reticent man. If +Captain Roy had told him to get ready to sail to the moon that +afternoon, he would probably have said "Very well, sir," in the same +tone and with the same expression.</p> + +<p>"May I ask, sir, what sort of cargo you expect there?" said Mr. Moor; +for to his practical mind some re-arrangement of the cargo already on +board might be necessary for the reception of that to be picked up at +Keeling.</p> + +<p>"The cargo we'll take on board will be a girl," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"A what, sir?".</p> + +<p>"A girl."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir."</p> + +<p>This ended the business part of the conversation. Thereafter they went +into details so highly nautical that we shrink from recording them. An +amateur detective, in the form of a shipmate, having captured Jim +Sloper, the <i>Sunshine</i> finally cleared out of the port of Batavia that +evening, shortly before its namesake took his departure from that part +of the southern hemisphere.</p> + +<p>Favouring gales carried the brig swiftly through Sunda Straits and out +into the Indian Ocean. Two days and a half brought her to the desired +haven. On the way, Captain Roy took note of the condition of Krakatoa, +which at that time was quietly working up its subterranean forces with a +view to the final catastrophe; opening a safety-valve now and then to +prevent, as it were, premature explosion.</p> + +<p>"My son's friend, the hermit of Rakata," said the captain to his second +mate, "will find his cave too hot to hold him, I think, when he +returns."</p> + +<p>"Looks like it, sir," said Mr. Moor, glancing up at the vast clouds +which were at that time spreading like a black pall over the re-awakened +volcano. "Do you expect 'em back soon, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—time's about up now. I shouldn't wonder if they reach Batavia +before us."</p> + +<p>Arrived at the Keeling Islands, Captain Roy was received, as usual, with +acclamations of joy, but he found that he was by no means as well +fitted to act the part of a diplomatist as he was to sail a ship. It +was, in truth, a somewhat delicate mission on which his son had sent +him, for he could not assert definitely that the hermit actually was +Kathleen Holbein's father, and her self-constituted parents did not +relish the idea of letting slip, on a mere chance, one whom they loved +as a daughter.</p> + +<p>"Why not bring this man who claims to be her father <i>here</i>?" asked the +perplexed Holbein.</p> + +<p>"Because—because, p'raps he won't come," answered the puzzled mariner, +who did not like to say that he was simply and strictly obeying his +son's orders. "Besides," he continued, "the man does not claim to be +anything at all. So far as I understand it, my boy has not spoken to him +on the subject, for fear, I suppose, of raisin' hopes that ain't to be +realised."</p> + +<p>"He is right in that," said Mrs. Holbein, "and we must be just as +careful not to raise false hopes in dear little Kathy. As your son says, +it may be a mistake after all. We must not open our lips to her about +it."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, madam," returned the captain. "Mum's the word; and we've +only got to say she's goin' to visit one of your old friends in +Anjer—which'll be quite true, you know, for the landlady o' the chief +hotel there is a great friend o' yours, and we'll take Kathy to her +straight. Besides, the trip will do her health a power o' good, though +I'm free to confess it don't need no good to be done to it, bein' A.1 at +the present time. Now, just you agree to give the girl a holiday, an' +I'll pledge myself to bring her back safe and sound—with her father, if +he's <i>him</i>; without him if he isn't."</p> + +<p>With such persuasive words Captain Roy at length overcame the Holbein +objections. With the girl herself he had less difficulty, his chief +anxiety being, as he himself said, "to give her reasons for wishin' her +to go without tellin' lies."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you like a trip in my brig to Anjer, my dear girl?" He had +almost said daughter, but thought it best not to be too precipitate.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I should like it <i>so</i> much," said Kathleen, clasping her little +hands and raising her large eyes to the captain's face.</p> + +<p>"<i>Dear</i> child!" said the captain to himself. Then aloud, "Well, I'll +take you."</p> + +<p>"But I—I fear that father and mother would not like me to go—perhaps."</p> + +<p>"No fear o' them, my girl," returned the captain, putting his huge rough +hand on her pretty little head as if in an act of solemn appropriation, +for, unlike too many fathers, this exemplary man considered only the +sweetness, goodness, and personal worth of the girl, caring not a straw +for other matters, and being strongly of opinion that a man should +marry young if he possess the spirit of a man or the means to support a +wife. As he was particularly fond of Kathleen, and felt quite sure that +his son had deeper reasons than he chose to express for his course of +action, he entertained a strong hope, not to say conviction, that she +would also become fond of Nigel, and that all things would thus work +together for a smooth course to this case of true love.</p> + +<p>It will be seen from all this that Captain David Roy was a sanguine man. +Whether his hopes were well grounded or not remains to be seen.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, having, as Mr. Moor said, shipped the cargo, the <i>Sunshine</i> +set sail once more for Sunda Straits in a measure of outward gloom that +formed a powerful contrast to the sunny hopes within her commander's +bosom, for Krakatoa was at that time progressing rapidly towards the +consummation of its designs, as partly described in the last chapter.</p> + +<p>Short though that voyage was, it embraced a period of action so +thrilling that ever afterwards it seemed a large slice of life's little +day to those who went through it.</p> + +<p>We have said that the culminating incidents of the drama began on the +night of the 26th. Before that time, however, the cloud-pall was fast +spreading over land and sea, and the rain of pumice and ashes had begun +to descend.</p> + +<p>The wind being contrary, it was several days before the brig reached +the immediate neighbourhood of Krakatoa, and by that time the volcano +had begun to enter upon the stage which is styled by vulcanologists +"paroxysmal," the explosions being extremely violent as well as +frequent.</p> + +<p>"It is very awful," said Kathleen in a low voice, as she clasped the +captain's arm and leaned her slight figure on it. "I have often heard +the thunder of distant volcanoes, but never been so near as to hear such +terrible sounds."</p> + +<p>"Don't be frightened, my ducky," said the captain in a soothing tone, +for he felt from the appearance of things that there was indeed some +ground for alarm. "Volcanoes always look worse when you're near them."</p> + +<p>"I not frightened," she replied. "Only I got strange, solemn feelings. +Besides, no danger can come till God allows."</p> + +<p>"That's right, lass. Mrs. Holbein has been a true mother if she taught +you that."</p> + +<p>"No, she did not taught me that. My father taught me that."</p> + +<p>"What! Old Holbein?"</p> + +<p>"No—my father, who is dead," she said in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I see. My poor child, I should have understood you. Forgive me."</p> + +<p>As the captain spoke, a tremendous outburst on Krakatoa turned their +minds to other subjects. They were by that time drawing near to the +island, and the thunders of the eruption seemed to shake not only the +heavens but even the great ocean itself. Though the hour was not much +past noon the darkness soon became so dense that it was difficult to +perceive objects a few yards distant, and, as pieces of stone the size +of walnuts, or even larger, began to fall on the deck, the captain sent +Kathleen below.</p> + +<p>"There's no saying where or when a big stone may fall, my girl," he +said, "and it's not the habit of Englishmen to let women come under +fire, so you'll be safer below. Besides, you'll be able to see something +of what's goin' on out o' the cabin windows."</p> + +<p>With the obedience that was natural to her, Kathleen went down at once, +and the captain made everything as snug as possible, battening down the +hatches and shortening sail so as to be ready for whatever might befall.</p> + +<p>"I don't like the look o' things, Mr. Moor," said the captain when the +second mate came on deck to take his watch.</p> + +<p>"No more do I, sir," answered Mr. Moor calmly.</p> + +<p>The aspect of things was indeed very changeable. Sometimes, as we have +said, all nature seemed to be steeped in thick darkness, at other times +the fires of the volcano blazed upward, spreading a red glare on the +rolling clouds and over the heaving sea. Lightning also played its part +as well as thunder, but the latter was scarcely distinguishable from the +volcano's roar. Three days before Sunday the 26th of August, Captain +Roy—as well as the crews of several other vessels that were in Sunda +Straits at the time—had observed a marked though gradual increase in +the violence of the eruption. On that day, as we read in the <i>Report of +the Krakatoa Committee of the Royal Society</i>, about 1 P.M. the +detonations caused by the explosive action attained such violence as to +be heard at Batavia, about 100 English miles away. At 2 P.M. of the same +day, Captain Thompson of the <i>Medea</i>, when about 76 miles E.N.E. of the +island, saw a black mass rising like clouds of smoke to a height which +has been estimated at no less than 17 miles! And the detonations were at +that time taking place at intervals of ten minutes. But, terrible though +these explosions must have been, they were but as the whisperings of the +volcano. An hour later they had increased so much as to be heard at +Bandong and other places 150 miles away, and at 5 P.M. they had become +so tremendous as to be heard over the whole island of Java, the eastern +portion of which is about 650 miles from Krakatoa.</p> + +<p>And the sounds thus heard were not merely like distant thunder. In +Batavia—although, as we have said, 100 miles off—they were so violent +during the whole of that terrible Sunday night as to prevent the people +from sleeping. They were compared to the "discharge of artillery close +at hand," and caused a rattling of doors, windows, pictures, and +chandeliers.</p> + +<p>Captain Watson of the <i>Charles Bal</i>, who chanced to be only 10 miles +south of the volcano, also compared the sounds to discharges of +artillery, but this only shows the feebleness of ordinary language in +attempting to describe such extraordinary sounds, for if they were +comparable to close artillery at Batavia, the same comparison is +inappropriate at only ten miles' distance. He also mentions the +crackling noise, probably due to the impact of fragments in the +atmosphere, which were noticed by the hermit and Nigel while standing +stunned and almost stupefied on the giddy ledge of Rakata that same +Sunday.</p> + +<p>About five in the evening of that day, the brig <i>Sunshine</i> drew still +nearer to the island, but the commotion at the time became so intense, +and the intermittent darkness so profound, that Captain Roy was afraid +to continue the voyage and shortened sail. Not only was there a heavy +rolling sea, but the water was seething, as if about to boil.</p> + +<p>"Heave the lead, Mr. Moor," said the captain, who stood beside the +wheel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered the imperturbable second mate, who thereupon gave +the necessary order, and when the depth was ascertained, the report was +"Ten fathoms, sand, with a 'ot bottom."</p> + +<p>"A hot bottom! what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"The lead's 'ot, sir," replied the sailor.</p> + +<p>This was true, as the captain found when he applied his hand to it.</p> + +<p>"I do believe the world's going on fire," he muttered; "but it's a +comfort to know that it can't very well blaze up as long as the sea +lasts!"</p> + +<p>Just then a rain of pumice in large pieces, and quite warm, began to +fall upon the deck. As most people know, pumice is extremely light, so +that no absolute injury was done to any one, though such rain was +excessively trying. Soon, however, a change took place. The dense +vapours and dust-clouds which had rendered it so excessively dark were +entirely lighted up from time to time by fierce flashes of lightning +which rent as well as painted them in all directions. At one time this +great mass of clouds presented the appearance of an immense pine-tree +with the stem and branches formed of volcanic lightning.</p> + +<p>Captain Roy, fearing that these tremendous sights and sounds would +terrify the poor girl in the cabin, was about to look in and reassure +her, when the words "Oh! how splendid!" came through the slightly +opened door. He peeped in and saw Kathleen on her knees on the stern +locker, with her hands clasped, gazing out of one of the stern windows.</p> + +<p>"Hm! she's all right," he muttered, softly reclosing the door and +returning on deck. "If she thinks it's splendid, she don't need no +comfortin'! It's quite clear that she don't know what danger means—and +why should she? Humph! there go some more splendid sights for her," he +added, as what appeared to be chains of fire ascended from the volcano +to the sky.</p> + +<p>Just then a soft rain began to fall. It was warm, and, on examination at +the binnacle lamp, turned out to be mud. Slight at first, it soon poured +down in such quantities that in ten minutes it lay six inches thick on +the deck, and the crew had to set to work with shovels to heave it +overboard. At this time there was seen a continual roll of balls of +white fire down the sides of the peak of Rakata, caused, doubtless, by +the ejection of white-hot fragments of lava. Then showers of masses like +iron cinders fell on the brig, and from that time onward till four +o'clock of the morning of the 27th, explosions of indescribable grandeur +continually took place, as if the mountains were in a continuous roar of +terrestrial agony—the sky being at one moment of inky blackness, the +next in a blaze of light, while hot, choking, and sulphurous smells +almost stifled the voyagers.</p> + +<p>At this point the captain again became anxious about Kathleen and went +below. He found her in the same place and attitude—still fascinated!</p> + +<p>"My child," he said, taking her hand, "you must lie down and rest."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no. Do let me stay up," she begged, entreatingly.</p> + +<p>"But you must be tired—sleepy."</p> + +<p>"Sleepy! who could sleep with such wonders going on around? Pray <i>don't</i> +tell me to go to bed!"</p> + +<p>It was evident that poor Kathy had the duty of obedience to authority +still strong upon her. Perhaps the memory of the Holbein nursery had not +yet been wiped out.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said the captain with a pathetic smile, "you are as +safe—comfortable, I mean—here as in your berth or anywhere else."</p> + +<p>As there was a lull in the violence of the eruption just then, the +captain left Kathleen in the cabin and went on deck. It was not known at +that time what caused this lull, but as it preceded the first of the +four grand explosions which effectually eviscerated—emptied—the +ancient crater of Krakatoa, we will give, briefly, the explanation of it +as conjectured by the men of science.</p> + +<p>Lying as it did so close to the sea-level, the Krakatoa volcano, having +blown away all its cones, and vents, and safety-valves—from Perboewatan +southward, except the peak of Rakata—let the sea rush in upon its +infernal fires. This result, ordinary people think, produced a gush of +steam which caused the grand terminal explosions. Vulcanologists think +otherwise, and with reason—which is more than can be said of ordinary +people, who little know the power of the forces at work below the crust +of our earth! The steam thus produced, although on so stupendous a +scale, was free to expand and therefore went upwards, no doubt in a +sufficiently effective gust and cloud. But nothing worthy of being named +a blow-up was there.</p> + +<p>The effect of the in-rushing water was to cool the upper surface of the +boiling lava and convert it into a thick hard solid crust at the mouth +of the great vent. In this condition the volcano resembled a boiler with +all points of egress closed and the safety-valve shut down! Oceans of +molten lava creating expansive gases below; no outlet possible +underneath, and the neck of the bottle corked with tons of solid rock! +One of two things must happen in such circumstances: the cork must go or +the bottle must burst! Both events happened on that terrible night. All +night long the corks were going, and at last—Krakatoa burst!</p> + +<p>In the hurly-burly of confusion, smoke, and noise, no eye could note +the precise moment when the island was shattered, but there were on the +morning of the 27th four supreme explosions, which rang loud and high +above the horrible average din. These occurred—according to the careful +investigations made, at the instance of the Dutch Indian Government, by +the eminent geologist, Mr. R.D.M. Verbeek—at the hours of 5.30, 6.44, +10.2, and 10.52 in the morning. Of these the third, about 10, was by far +the worst for violence and for the wide-spread devastation which it +produced.</p> + +<p>At each of these explosions a tremendous sea-wave was created by the +volcano, which swept like a watery ring from Krakatoa as a centre to the +surrounding shores. It was at the second of these explosions—that of +6.44—that the fall of the mighty cliff took place which was seen by the +hermit and his friends as they fled from the island, and, on the crest +of the resulting wave, were carried along they scarce knew whither.</p> + +<p>As the previous wave—that of 5.30—had given the brig a tremendous +heave upwards, the captain, on hearing the second, ran down below for a +moment to tell Kathleen there would soon be another wave, but that she +need fear no danger.</p> + +<p>"The brig is deep and has a good hold o' the water," he said, "so the +wave is sure to slip under her without damage. I wish I could hope it +would do as little damage when it reaches the shore."</p> + +<p>As he spoke a strange and violent crash was heard overhead, quite +different from volcanic explosions, like the falling of some heavy body +on the deck.</p> + +<p>"One o' the yards down!" muttered the captain as he ran to the cabin +door. "Hallo, what's that, Mr. Moor?"</p> + +<p>"Canoe just come aboard, sir."</p> + +<p>"A canoe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Crew, three men and a monkey. All insensible—hallo!"</p> + +<p>The "hallo!" with which the second mate finished his remark was so +unlike his wonted tone, and so full of genuine surprise, that the +captain ran forward with unusual haste, and found a canoe smashed to +pieces against the foremast, and the mate held a lantern close to the +face of one of the men while the crew were examining the others.</p> + +<p>A single glance told the captain that the mud-bespattered figure that +lay before him as if dead was none other than his own son! The great +wave had caught the frail craft on its crest, and, sweeping it along +with lightning speed for a short distance, had hurled it on the deck of +the <i>Sunshine</i> with such violence as to completely stun the whole crew. +Even Spinkie lay in a melancholy little heap in the lee scuppers.</p> + +<p>You think this a far-fetched coincidence, good reader! Well, all we can +say is that we could tell you of another—a double—coincidence, which +was far more extraordinary than this one, but as it has nothing to do +with our tale we refrain from inflicting it on you.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXVI' id='CHAPTER_XXVI' />CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>A CLIMAX.</h3> + + +<p>Three of those who had tumbled thus unceremoniously on the deck of the +<i>Sunshine</i> were soon sufficiently recovered to sit up and look around in +dazed astonishment—namely Nigel, Moses, and the monkey—but the hermit +still lay prone where he had been cast, with a pretty severe wound on +his head, from which blood was flowing freely.</p> + +<p>"Nigel, my boy!"</p> + +<p>"Father!" exclaimed the youth. "Where am I? What has happened?"</p> + +<p>"Don't excite yourself, lad," said the mariner, stooping and whispering +into his son's ear. "We've got <i>her</i> aboard!"</p> + +<p>No treatment could have been more effectual in bringing Nigel to his +senses than this whisper.</p> + +<p>"Is—is—Van der Kemp safe?" he asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"All right—only stunned, I think. That's him they're just goin' to +carry below. Put 'im in my bunk, Mr. Moor."</p> + +<p>"Ay ay, sir."</p> + +<p>Nigel sprang up. "Stay, father," he said in a low voice. "<i>She</i> must not +see him for the first time like this."</p> + +<p>"All right, boy. I understand. You leave that to me. My bunk has bin +shifted for'id—more amidships—an' Kathy's well aft. They shan't be let +run foul of each other. You go an' rest on the main hatch till we get +him down. Why, here's a nigger! Where did you pick him—oh! I remember. +You're the man we met, I suppose, wi' the hermit on Krakatoa that day o' +the excursion from Batavia."</p> + +<p>"Yes, das me. But we'll meet on Krakatoa no more, for dat place am blown +to bits."</p> + +<p>"I'm pretty well convinced o' that by this time, my man. Not hurt much, +I hope?"</p> + +<p>"No, sar—not more 'n I can stan'. But I's 'fraid dat poor Spinkie's +a'most used up—hallo! what you gwine to do with massa?" demanded the +negro, whose wandering faculties had only in part returned.</p> + +<p>"He's gone below. All right. Now, you go and lie down beside my son on +the hatch. I'll see to Van der Kemp."</p> + +<p>But Captain David Roy's intentions, like those of many men of greater +note, were frustrated by the hermit himself, who recovered consciousness +just as the four men who carried him reached the foot of the +companion-ladder close to the cabin door. Owing to the deeper than +midnight darkness that prevailed a lamp was burning in the cabin—dimly, +as if, infected by the universal chaos, it were unwilling to enlighten +the surrounding gloom.</p> + +<p>On recovering consciousness Van der Kemp was, not unnaturally, under the +impression that he had fallen into the hands of foes. With one effectual +convulsion of his powerful limbs he scattered his bearers right and +left, and turning—like all honest men—to the light, he sprang into the +cabin, wrenched a chair from its fastenings, and, facing round, stood at +bay.</p> + +<p>Kathleen, seeing this blood-stained giant in such violent action, +naturally fled to her cabin and shut the door.</p> + +<p>As no worse enemy than Captain Roy presented himself at the cabin door, +unarmed, and with an anxious look on his rugged face, the hermit set +down the chair, and feeling giddy sank down on it with a groan.</p> + +<p>"I fear you are badly hurt, sir. Let me tie a handkerchief round your +wounded head," said the captain soothingly.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, thanks. Your voice is not unfamiliar to me," returned the +hermit with a sigh, as he submitted to the operation. "I thought I had +fallen somehow into the hands of pirates. Surely an accident must have +happened. How did I get here? Where are my comrades—Nigel and the +negro?"</p> + +<p>"My son Nigel is all right, sir, and so is your man Moses. Make your +mind easy—an' pray don't speak while I'm working at you. I'll explain +it all in good time. Stay, I'll be with you in a moment."</p> + +<p>The captain—fearing that Kathleen might come out from curiosity to see +what was going on, and remembering his son's injunction—went to the +girl's berth with the intention of ordering her to keep close until he +should give her leave to come out. Opening the door softly and looking +in, he was startled, almost horrified, to see Kathleen standing +motionless like a statue, with both hands pressed tightly over her +heart. The colour had fled from her beautiful face; her long hair was +flung back; her large lustrous eyes were wide open and her lips slightly +parted, as if her whole being had been concentrated in eager expectancy.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong, my girl?" asked the captain anxiously. "You've no cause +for fear. I just looked in to—."</p> + +<p>"That voice!" exclaimed Kathleen, with something of awe in her +tones—"Oh! I've heard it <i>so</i> often in my dreams."</p> + +<p>"Hush! sh! my girl," said the captain in a low tone, looking anxiously +round at the wounded man. But his precautions were unavailing,—Van der +Kemp had also heard a voice which he thought had long been silent in +death. The girl's expression was almost repeated in his face. Before the +well-meaning mariner could decide what to do, Kathleen brushed lightly +past him, and stood in the cabin gazing as if spell-bound at the hermit.</p> + +<p>"Winnie!" he whispered, as if scarcely daring to utter the name.</p> + +<p>"Father!"</p> + +<p>She extended both hands towards him as she spoke. Then, with a piercing +shriek, she staggered backward, and would have fallen had not the +captain caught her and let her gently down.</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp vaulted the table, fell on his knees beside her, and, +raising her light form, clasped her to his heart, just as Nigel and +Moses, alarmed by the scream, sprang into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Come, come; away wi' you—you stoopid grampusses!" cried the captain, +pushing the intruders out of the cabin, following them, and closing the +door behind him. "This is no place for bunglers like you an' me. We +might have known that natur' would have her way, an' didn't need no help +from the like o' us. Let's on deck. There's enough work there to look +after that's better suited to us."</p> + +<p>Truly there was enough—and more than enough—to claim the most +anxious attention of all who were on board of the <i>Sunshine</i> that +morning, for hot mud was still falling in showers on the deck, and the +thunders of the great volcano were still shaking heaven, earth, and sea.</p> + +<p>To clear the decks and sails of mud occupied every one for some time so +earnestly that they failed to notice at first that the hermit had come +on deck, found a shovel, and was working away like the rest of them. The +frequent and prolonged blazes of intense light that ever and anon +banished the darkness showed that on his face there sat an expression of +calm, settled, triumphant joy, which was strangely mingled with a look +of quiet humility.</p> + +<p>"I thank God for this," said Nigel, going forward when he observed him +and grasping his hand.</p> + +<p>"You knew it?" exclaimed the hermit in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I knew it—indeed, helped to bring you together, but did not dare +to tell you till I was quite sure. I had hoped to have you meet in very +different circumstances."</p> + +<p>"'It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,'" returned the +hermit reverently. "God bless you, Nigel. If you have even aimed at +bringing this about, I owe you <i>more</i> than my life."</p> + +<p>"You must have lost a good deal of blood, Van der Kemp. Are you much +hurt?" asked Nigel, as he observed the bandage round his friend's head.</p> + +<p>"Somewhat. Not much, I hope—but joy, as well as blood, gives strength, +Nigel."</p> + +<p>A report from a man who had just been ordered to take soundings induced +the captain at this time to lay-to.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," he said to Nigel and the hermit who stood close beside +him, "that we are getting too near shore. But in cases o' this kind the +bottom o' the sea itself can't be depended on."</p> + +<p>"What part of the shore are we near, d' you think, father?"</p> + +<p>"Stand by to let go the anchor!" roared the captain, instead of +answering the question.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," replied the second mate, whose cool, sing-song, +business-like tone at such a moment actually tended to inspire a measure +of confidence in those around him.</p> + +<p>Another moment, and the rattling chain caused a tremor through the +vessel, which ceased when the anchor touched bottom, and they rode head +to wind. Coruscations of bluish light seemed to play about the masts, +and balls of electric fire tipped the yards, throwing for a short time a +ghastly sheen over the ship and crew, for the profound darkness had +again settled down, owing, no doubt, to another choking of the Krakatoa +vent.</p> + +<p>Before the light referred to went out, Moses was struck violently on +the chest by something soft, which caused him to stagger.</p> + +<p>It was Spinkie! In the midst of the unusual horrors that surrounded him, +while clinging to the unfamiliar mizzen shrouds on which in desperation +the poor monkey had found a temporary refuge, the electric fire showed +him the dark figure of his old familiar friend standing not far off. +With a shriek of not quite hopeless despair, and an inconceivable bound, +Spinkie launched himself into space. His early training in the forest +stood him in good stead at that crisis! As already said he hit the mark +fairly, and clung to Moses with a tenacity that was born of mingled love +and desperation. Finding that nothing short of cruelty would unfix his +little friend, Moses stuffed him inside the breast of his cotton shirt. +In this haven of rest the monkey heaved a sigh of profound contentment, +folded his hands on his bosom, and meekly went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Two of the excessively violent paroxysms of the volcano, above referred +to, had by that time taken place, but the third, and worst—that which +occurred about 10 A.M.—was yet in store for them, though they knew it +not, and a lull in the roar, accompanied by thicker darkness than ever, +was its precursor. There was not, however, any lull in the violence of +the wind.</p> + +<p>"I don't like these lulls," said Captain Roy to the hermit, as they +stood close to the binnacle, in the feeble light of its lamp. "What is +that striking against our sides, Mr. Moor?"</p> + +<p>"Looks like floating pumice, sir," answered the second mate, "and I +think I see palm-trees amongst it."</p> + +<p>"Ay, I thought so, we must be close to land," said the captain. "We +can't be far from Anjer, and I fear the big waves that have already +passed us have done some damage. Lower a lantern over the side,—no, +fetch an empty tar-barrel and let's have a flare. That will enable us to +see things better."</p> + +<p>While the barrel was being fastened to a spar so as to be thrust well +out beyond the side of the brig, Van der Kemp descended the companion +and opened the cabin door.</p> + +<p>"Come up now, Winnie, darling."</p> + +<p>"Yes, father," was the reply, as the poor girl, who had been anxiously +awaiting the summons, glided out and clasped her father's arm with both +hands. "Are things quieting down?"</p> + +<p>"They are, a little. It may be temporary, but—Our Father directs it +all."</p> + +<p>"True, father. I'm <i>so</i> glad of that!"</p> + +<p>"Mind the step, we shall have more light on deck. There is a friend +there who has just told me he met you on the Cocos-Keeling Island, Nigel +Roy;—you start, Winnie?"</p> + +<p>"Y—yes, father. I am <i>so</i> surprised, for it is <i>his</i> father who sails +this ship! And I cannot imagine how he or you came on board."</p> + +<p>"Well, I was going to say that I believe it is partly through Nigel that +you and I have been brought together, but there is mystery about it that +I don't yet understand; much has to be explained, and this assuredly is +not the time or place. Here, Nigel, is your old Keeling friend."</p> + +<p>"Ay—friend! humph!" said old Roy softly to himself.</p> + +<p>"My <i>dear</i>—child!" said young Roy, paternally, to the girl as he +grasped her hand. "I cannot tell you how thankful I am that this has +been brought about, and—and that <i>I</i> have had some little hand in it."</p> + +<p>"There's more than pumice floating about in the sea, sir," said Mr. +Moor, coming aft at the moment and speaking to the captain in a low +tone. "You'd better send the young lady below—or get some one to take +up her attention just now."</p> + +<p>"Here, Nigel. Sit down under the lee of the companion, an' tell Kathy +how this all came about," said the captain, promptly, as if issuing +nautical orders. "I want you here, Van der Kemp."</p> + +<p>So saying, the captain, followed by the hermit, went with the second +mate to the place where the flaming tar-barrel was casting a lurid glare +upon the troubled sea.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXVII' id='CHAPTER_XXVII' />CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>"BLOWN TO BITS."</h3> + + +<p>The sight that met their eyes was well calculated to shock and sadden +men of much less tender feeling than Van der Kemp and Captain Roy.</p> + +<p>The water had assumed an appearance of inky blackness, and large masses +of pumice were floating past, among which were numerous dead bodies of +men, women, and children, intermingled with riven trees, fences, and +other wreckage from the land, showing that the two great waves which had +already passed under the vessel had caused terrible devastation on some +parts of the shore. To add to the horror of the scene large sea-snakes +were seen swimming wildly about, as if seeking to escape from the novel +dangers that surrounded them.</p> + +<p>The sailors looked on in awe-stricken silence for some time.</p> + +<p>"P'raps some of 'em may be alive yet!" whispered one. "Couldn't we lower +a boat?"</p> + +<p>"Impossible in such a sea," said the captain, who overheard the remark. +"Besides, no life could exist there."</p> + +<p>"Captain Roy," said Van der Kemp earnestly, "let me advise you to get +your foresail ready to hoist at a moment's notice, and let them stand by +to cut the cable."</p> + +<p>"Why so? There seems no need at present for such strong measures."</p> + +<p>"You don't understand volcanoes as I do," returned the hermit. "This +lull will only last until the imprisoned fires overcome the block in the +crater, and the longer it lasts the worse will be the explosion. From my +knowledge of the coast I feel sure that we are close to the town of +Anjer. If another wave like the last comes while we are here, it will +not slip under your brig like the last one. It will tear her from her +anchor and hurl us all to destruction. You have but one chance; that is, +to cut the cable and run in on the top of it—a poor chance at the best, +but if God wills, we shall escape."</p> + +<p>"If we are indeed as near shore as you think," said the captain, "I know +what you say must be true, for in shoal water such a wave will surely +carry all before it. But are you certain there will be another +explosion?"</p> + +<p>"No man can be sure of that. If the last explosion emptied the crater +there will be no more. If it did not, another explosion is certain. All +I advise is that you should be ready for whatever is coming, and ready +to take your only chance."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, sir. Send men to be ready to cut the cable, Mr. Moor. +And stand by the topsail halyards."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir."</p> + +<p>During the anxious minutes that followed, the hermit rejoined Winnie and +Nigel on the quarter-deck, and conversed with the latter in a low voice, +while he drew the former to his side with his strong arm. Captain Roy +himself grasped the wheel and the men stood at their various stations +ready for action.</p> + +<p>"Let no man act without orders, whatever happens," said the captain in a +deep powerful voice which was heard over the whole ship, for the lull +that we have mentioned extended in some degree to the gale as well as to +the volcano. Every one felt that some catastrophe was pending.</p> + +<p>"Winnie, darling," said the hermit tenderly, as he bent down to see the +sweet face that had been restored to him. "I greatly fear that there is +sure to be another explosion, and it may be His will that we shall +perish, but comfort yourself with the certainty that no hair of your +dear head can fall without His permission—and in any event He will not +fail us."</p> + +<p>"I know it, father. I have no fear—at least, only a little!"</p> + +<p>"Nigel," said the hermit, "stick close to us if you can. It may be +that, if anything should befall me, your strong arm may succour Winnie; +mine has lost somewhat of its vigour," he whispered.</p> + +<p>"Trust me—nothing but death shall sunder us," said the anxious youth in +a burst of enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if death were indeed to be the immediate portion of all on +board the <i>Sunshine</i>, for a few minutes later there came a crash, +followed by a spout of smoke, fire, steam, and molten lava, compared to +which all that had gone before seemed insignificant!</p> + +<p>The crash was indescribable! As we have said elsewhere, the sound of it +was heard many hundreds of miles from the seat of the volcano, and its +effects were seen and felt right round the world.</p> + +<p>The numerous vents which had previously been noticed on Krakatoa must at +that moment have been blown into one, and the original crater of the old +volcano—said to have been about six miles in diameter—must have +resumed its destructive work. All the eye-witnesses who were near the +spot at the time, and sufficiently calm to take note of the terrific +events of that morning, are agreed as to the splendour of the electrical +phenomena displayed during this paroxysmal outburst. One who, at the +time, was forty miles distant speaks of the great vapour-cloud looking +"like an immense wall or blood-red curtain with edges of all shades of +yellow, and bursts of forked lightning at times rushing like large +serpents through the air." Another says that "Krakatoa appeared to be +alight with flickering flames rising behind a dense black cloud." A +third recorded that "the lightning struck the mainmast conductor five or +six times," and that "the mud-rain which covered the decks was +phosphorescent, while the rigging presented the appearance of St. Elmo's +fire."</p> + +<p>It may be remarked here, in passing, that giant steam-jets rushing +through the orifices of the earth's crust constitute an enormous +hydro-electric engine; and the friction of ejected materials striking +against each other in ascending and descending also generates +electricity, which accounts to some extent for the electrical condition +of the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>In these final and stupendous outbursts the volcano was expending its +remaining force in breaking up and ejecting the solid lava which +constituted its framework, and not in merely vomiting forth the +lava-froth, or pumice, which had characterised the earlier stages of the +eruption. In point of fact—as was afterwards clearly ascertained by +careful soundings and estimates, taking the average height of the +missing portion at 700 feet above water, and the depth at 300 feet below +it—two-thirds of the island were blown entirely off the face of the +earth. The mass had covered an area of nearly six miles, and is +estimated as being equal to 1⅛ cubic miles of solid matter which, as +Moses expressed it, was blown to bits!</p> + +<p>If this had been all, it would have been enough to claim the attention +and excite the wonder of the intelligent world—but this was not nearly +all, as we shall see, for saddest of all the incidents connected with +the eruption is the fact that upwards of thirty-six thousand human +beings lost their lives. The manner in which that terrible loss occurred +shall be shown by the future adventures of the <i>Sunshine</i>.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXVIII' id='CHAPTER_XXVIII' />CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FATE OF THE "SUNSHINE."</h3> + + +<p>Stunned at first, for a few minutes, by the extreme violence of the +explosion, no one on board the <i>Sunshine</i> spoke, though each man stood +at his post ready to act.</p> + +<p>"Strange," said the captain at last. "There seems to be no big wave this +time."</p> + +<p>"That only shows that we are not as near the island as we thought. But +it won't be long of——See! There it comes," said the hermit. "Now, +Winnie, cling to my arm and put your trust in God."</p> + +<p>Nigel, who had secured a life-buoy, moved close to the girl's side, and +looking anxiously out ahead saw a faint line of foam in the thick +darkness which had succeeded the explosion. Already the distant roar of +the billow was heard, proving that it had begun to break.</p> + +<p>"The wind comes with it," said Van der Kemp.</p> + +<p>"Stand by!" cried the captain, gazing intently over the side. Next +moment came the sharp order to hoist the foretopsail and jib, soon +followed by "Cut the cable!"</p> + +<p>There was breeze enough to swing the vessel quickly round. In a few +seconds her stern was presented to the coming wave, and her bow cleft +the water as she rushed upon what every one now knew was her doom.</p> + +<p>To escape the great wave was no part of the captain's plan. To have +reached the shore before the wave would have been fatal to all. Their +only hope lay in the possibility of riding in on the top of it, and the +great danger was that they should be unable to rise to it stern first +when it came up, or that they should turn broadside on and be rolled +over.</p> + +<p>They had not long to wait. The size of the wave, before it came near +enough to be seen, was indicated by its solemn, deep-toned, +ever-increasing roar. The captain stood at the wheel himself, guiding +the brig and glancing back from time to time uneasily.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the volcano gave vent to its fourth and final explosion. It was +not so violent as its predecessors had been, though more so than any +that had occurred on the day before, and the light of it showed them the +full terrors of their situation, for it revealed the mountains of +Java—apparently quite close in front, though in reality at a +considerable distance—with a line of breakers beating white on the +shore. But astern of them was the most appalling sight, for there, +rushing on with awful speed and a sort of hissing roar, came the +monstrous wave, emerging, as it were, out of thick darkness, like a +mighty wall of water with a foaming white crest, not much +less—according to an average of the most reliable estimates—than 100 +feet high.</p> + +<p>Well might the seamen blanch, for never before in all their varied +experience had they seen the like of that.</p> + +<p>On it came with the unwavering force of Fate. To the eye of Captain Roy +it appeared that up its huge towering side no vessel made by mortal man +could climb. But the captain had too often stared death in the face to +be unmanned by the prospect now. Steadily he steered the vessel straight +on, and in a quiet voice said—</p> + +<p>"Lay hold of something firm—every man!"</p> + +<p>The warning was well timed. In the amazement, if not fear, caused by the +unwonted sight, some had neglected the needful precaution.</p> + +<p>As the billow came on, the bubbling, leaping, and seething of its crest +was apparent both to eye and ear. Then the roar became tremendous.</p> + +<p>"Darling Winnie," said Nigel at that moment. "I will die for you or with +you!"</p> + +<p>The poor girl heard, but no sign of appreciation moved her pale face as +she gazed up at the approaching chaos of waters.</p> + +<p>Next moment the brig seemed to stand on its bows. Van der Kemp had +placed his daughter against the mast, and, throwing his long arms round +both, held on. Nigel, close to them, had grasped a handful of ropes, and +every one else was holding on for life. Another moment and the brig rose +as if it were being tossed up to the heavens. Immediately thereafter it +resumed its natural position in a perfect wilderness of foam. They were +on the summit of the great wave, which was so large that its crest +seemed like a broad, rounded mass of tumbling snow with blackness before +and behind, while the roar of the tumult was deafening. The brig rushed +onward at a speed which she had never before equalled even in the +fiercest gale—tossed hither and thither by the leaping foam, yet always +kept going straight onward by the expert steering of her captain.</p> + +<p>"Come aft—all of you!" he shouted, when it was evident that the vessel +was being borne surely forward on the wave's crest. "The masts will go +for certain when we strike."</p> + +<p>The danger of being entangled in the falling spars and cordage was so +obvious that every one except the hermit and Nigel obeyed.</p> + +<p>"Here, Nigel," gasped the former. "I—I've—lost blood—faint!——"</p> + +<p>Our hero at once saw that Van der Kemp, fainting from previous loss of +blood, coupled with exertion, was unable to do anything but hold on. +Indeed, he failed even in that, and would have fallen to the deck had +Nigel not caught him by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Can you run aft, Winnie?" said Nigel anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" said the girl, at once understanding the situation and darting to +the wheel, of which and of Captain Roy she laid firm hold, while Nigel +lifted the hermit in his arms and staggered to the same spot. Winnie +knelt beside him immediately, and, forgetting for the moment all the +horrors around her, busied herself in replacing the bandage which had +been loosened from his head.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mr. Roy, save him!—save him!" cried the poor child, appealing in +an agony to Nigel, for she felt instinctively that when the crash came +her father would be utterly helpless even to save himself.</p> + +<p>Nigel had barely time to answer when a wild shout from the crew caused +him to start up and look round. A flare from the volcano had cast a red +light over the bewildering scene, and revealed the fact that the brig +was no longer above the ocean's bed, but was passing in its wild career +right through, or rather <i>over</i>, the demolished town of Anjer. A few of +the houses that had been left standing by the previous waves were being +swept—hurled—away by this one, but the mass of rolling, rushing, +spouting water was so deep, that the vessel had as yet struck nothing +save the tops of some palm-trees which bent their heads like straws +before the flood.</p> + +<p>Even in the midst of the amazement, alarm, and anxiety caused by the +situation, Nigel could not help wondering that in this final and +complete destruction of the town no sign of struggling human beings +should be visible. He forgot at the moment, what was terribly proved +afterwards, that the first waves had swallowed up men, women, and +children by hundreds, and that the few who survived had fled to the +hills, leaving nothing for the larger wave to do but complete the work +of devastation on inanimate objects. Ere the situation had been well +realised the volcanic fires went down again, and left the world, for +over a hundred surrounding miles, in opaque darkness. Only the humble +flicker of the binnacle light, like a trusty sentinel on duty, continued +to shed its feeble rays on a few feet of the deck, and showed that the +compass at least was still faithful to the pole!</p> + +<p>Then another volcanic outburst revealed the fact that the wave which +carried them was thundering on in the direction of a considerable cliff +or precipice—not indeed quite straight towards it, but sufficiently so +to render escape doubtful.</p> + +<p>At the same time a swarm of terror-stricken people were seen flying +towards this cliff and clambering up its steep sides. They were probably +some of the more courageous of the inhabitants who had summoned courage +to return to their homes after the passage of the second wave. Their +shrieks and cries could be heard above even the roaring of the water and +the detonations of the volcano.</p> + +<p>"God spare us!" exclaimed poor Winnie, whose trembling form was now +partially supported by Nigel.</p> + +<p>As she spoke darkness again obscured everything, and they could do +naught but listen to the terrible sounds—and pray.</p> + +<p>On—on went the <i>Sunshine</i>, in the midst of wreck and ruin, on this +strange voyage over land and water, until a check was felt. It was not a +crash as had been anticipated, and as might have naturally been +expected, neither was it an abrupt stoppage. There was first a hissing, +scraping sound against the vessel's sides, then a steady checking—we +might almost say a hindrance to progress—not violent, yet so very +decided that the rigging could not bear the strain. One and another of +the back-stays parted, the foretopsail burst with a cannon-like report, +after which a terrible rending sound, followed by an indescribable +crash, told that both masts had gone by the board.</p> + +<p>Then all was comparatively still—comparatively we say, for water still +hissed and leaped beneath them like a rushing river, though it no longer +roared, and the wind blew in unfamiliar strains and laden with unwonted +odours.</p> + +<p>At that moment another outburst of Krakatoa revealed the fact that the +great wave had borne the brig inland for upwards of a mile, and left her +imbedded in a thick grove of cocoa-nut palms!</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXIX' id='CHAPTER_XXIX' />CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>TELLS CHIEFLY OF THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF THIS ERUPTION ON THE WOULD AT LARGE.</h3> + + +<p>The great explosions of that morning had done more damage and had +achieved results more astounding than lies in the power of language +adequately to describe, or of history to parallel.</p> + +<p>Let us take a glance at this subject in passing.</p> + +<p>An inhabitant of Anjer—owner of a hotel, a ship-chandler's store, two +houses, and a dozen boats—went down to the beach about six on the +morning of that fateful 27th of August. He had naturally been impressed +by the night of the 26th, though, accustomed as he was to volcanic +eruptions, he felt no apprehensions as to the safety of the town. He +went to look to the moorings of his boats, leaving his family of seven +behind him. While engaged in this work he observed a wave of immense +size approaching. He leaped into one of his boats, which was caught up +by the wave and swept inland, carrying its owner there in safety. But +this was the wave that sealed the doom of the town and most of its +inhabitants, including the hotel-keeper's family and all that he +possessed.</p> + +<p>This is one only out of thousands of cases of bereavement and +destruction.</p> + +<p>A lighthouse-keeper was seated in his solitary watch-tower, speculating, +doubtless, on the probable continuance of such a violent outbreak, while +his family and mates—accustomed to sleep in the midst of elemental +war—were resting peacefully in the rooms below, when one of the mighty +waves suddenly appeared, thundered past, and swept the lighthouse with +all its inhabitants away.</p> + +<p>This shows but one of the many disasters to lighthouses in Sunda +Straits.</p> + +<p>A Dutch man-of-war—the <i>Berouw</i>—was lying at anchor in Lampong Bay, +fifty miles from Krakatoa. The great wave came, tore it from its +anchorage, and carried it—like the vessel of our friend David +Roy—nearly two miles inland!</p> + +<p>Masses of coral of immense size and weight were carried four miles +inland by the same wave. The river at Anjer was choked up; the conduit +which used to carry water into the place was destroyed, and the town +itself was laid in ruins.</p> + +<p>But these are only a few of the incidents of the great catastrophe. Who +can conceive, much less tell of, those terrible details of sudden death +and disaster to thousands of human beings, resulting from an eruption +which destroyed towns like Telok Betong, Anjer, Tyringin, etc., besides +numerous villages and hamlets on the shores of Java and Sumatra, and +caused the destruction of more than 36,000 souls?</p> + +<p>But it is to results of a very different kind, and on a much more +extended scale, that we must turn if we would properly estimate the +magnitude, the wide-spreading and far-reaching influences, and the +extraordinary character, of the Krakatoa outburst of 1883.</p> + +<p>In the first place, it is a fact, testified to by some of the best-known +men of science, that the shock of the explosion extended <i>appreciably</i> +right round the world, and seventeen miles (some say even higher!) up +into the heavens.</p> + +<p>Mr. Verbeek, in his treatise on this subject, estimates that a cubic +mile of Krakatoa was propelled in the form of the finest dust into the +higher regions of the atmosphere—probably about thirty miles! The dust +thus sent into the sky was of "ultra-microscopic fineness," and it +travelled round and round the world in a westerly direction, producing +those extraordinary sunsets and gorgeous effects and afterglows which +became visible in the British Isles in the month of November following +the eruption; and the mighty waves which caused such destruction in the +vicinity of Sunda Straits travelled—not once, but at least—six times +round the globe, as was proved by trustworthy and independent +observations of tide-gauges and barometers made and recorded at the same +time in nearly all lands—including our own.</p> + +<p>Other volcanoes, it is said by those who have a right to speak in regard +to such matters, have ejected more "stuff," but not one has equalled +Krakatoa in the intensity of its explosions, the appalling results of +the sea-waves, the wonderful effects in the sky, and the almost +miraculous nature of the sounds.</p> + +<p>Seated on a log under a palm-tree in Batavia, on that momentous morning +of the 27th, was a sailor who had been left behind sick by Captain Roy +when he went on his rather Quixotic trip to the Keeling Islands. He was +a somewhat delicate son of the sea. Want of self-restraint was his +complaint—leading to a surfeit of fruit and other things, which +terminated in a severe fit of indigestion and indisposition to life in +general. He was smoking—that being a sovereign and infallible cure for +indigestion and all other ills that flesh is heir to, as every one +knows!</p> + +<p>"I say, old man," he inquired, with that cheerful tone and air which +usually accompanies incapacity for food. "Do it always rain ashes here?"</p> + +<p>The old man whom he addressed was a veteran Malay seaman.</p> + +<p>"No," replied the Malay, "sometimes it rain mud—hot mud."</p> + +<p>"Do it? Oh! well—anything for variety, I s'pose," returned the sailor, +with a growl which had reference to internal disarrangements.</p> + +<p>"Is it often as dark as this in the daytime, an' is the sun usually +green?" he asked carelessly, more for the sake of distracting the mind +from other matters than for the desire of knowledge.</p> + +<p>"Sometime it's more darker," replied the old man. "I've seed it so dark +that you couldn't see how awful dark it was."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a sound that has been described by ear-witnesses as +"deafening" smote upon their tympanums, the log on which they sat +quivered, the earth seemed to tremble, and several dishes in a +neighbouring hut were thrown down and broken.</p> + +<p>"I say, old man, suthin' busted there," remarked the sailor, taking the +pipe from his mouth and quietly ramming its contents down with the end +of his blunt forefinger.</p> + +<p>The Malay looked grave.</p> + +<p>"The gasometer?" suggested the sailor.</p> + +<p>"No, that <i>never</i> busts."</p> + +<p>"A noo mountain come into action, p'raps, an' blow'd its top off?"</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't wonder if that's it—close at hand too. We's used to that +here. But them's bigger cracks than or'nar'."</p> + +<p>The old Malay was right as to the cause, but wrong as to distance. +Instead of being a volcano "close at hand," it was Krakatoa eviscerating +itself a hundred miles off, and the sound of its last grand effort +"extended over 50 degrees = about 3000 miles."</p> + +<p>On that day all the gas lights were extinguished in Batavia, and the +pictures rattled on the walls as though from the action of an +earthquake. But there was no earthquake. It was the air-wave from +Krakatoa, and the noise produced by the air-waves that followed was +described as "deafening."</p> + +<p>The effect of the sounds of the explosions on the Straits Settlements +generally was not only striking, but to some extent amusing. At Carimon, +in Java—355 miles distant from Krakatoa—it was supposed that a vessel +in distress was firing guns, and several native boats were sent off to +render assistance, but no distressed vessel was to be found! At Acheen, +in Sumatra—1073 miles distant—they supposed that a fort was being +attacked and the troops were turned out under arms. At Singapore—522 +miles off—they fancied that the detonations came from a vessel in +distress and two steamers were despatched to search for it. And here the +effect on the telephone, extending to Ishore, was remarkable. On raising +the tubes a perfect roar as of a waterfall was heard. By shouting at +the top of his voice, the clerk at one end could make the clerk at the +other end hear, but he could not render a word intelligible. At +Perak—770 miles off—the sounds were thought to be distant salvos of +artillery, and Commander Hon. F. Vereker, R.N., of H.M.S. <i>Magpie</i>, when +1227 miles distant (in lat. 5° 52' N. long. 118° 22' E.), states that +the detonations of Krakatoa were distinctly heard by those on board his +ship, and by the inhabitants of the coast as far as Banguey Island, on +August 27th. He adds that they resembled distant heavy cannonading. In a +letter from St. Lucia Bay—1116 miles distant—it was stated that the +eruption was plainly heard all over Borneo. A government steamer was +sent out from the Island of Timor—1351 miles off—to ascertain the +cause of the disturbance! In South Australia also, at places 2250 miles +away, explosions were heard on the 26th and 27th which "awakened" +people, and were thought worthy of being recorded and reported. From +Tavoy, in Burmah—1478 miles away—the report came—"All day on August +27th unusual sounds were heard, resembling the boom of guns. Thinking +there might be a wreck or a ship in distress, the Tavoy Superintendent +sent out the police launch, but they 'could see nothing.'" And so on, +far and near, similar records were made, the most distant spot where the +sounds were reported to have been heard being Rodriguez, in the +Pacific, nearly 3000 miles distant!</p> + +<p>One peculiar feature of the records is that some ships in the immediate +neighbourhood of Krakatoa did not experience the shock in proportionate +severity. Probably this was owing to their being so near that a great +part of the concussion and sound flew over them—somewhat in the same +way that the pieces of a bomb-shell fly over men who, being too near to +escape by running, escape by flinging themselves flat on the ground.</p> + +<p>Each air-wave which conveyed these sounds, commencing at Krakatoa as a +centre, spread out in an ever-increasing circle till it reached a +distance of 180° from its origin and encircled the earth at its widest +part, after which it continued to advance in a contracting form until it +reached the antipodes of the volcano; whence it was reflected or +reproduced and travelled back again to Krakatoa. Here it was turned +right-about-face and again despatched on its long journey. In this way +it oscillated backward and forward not fewer than six times before +traces of it were lost. We say "traces," because these remarkable facts +were ascertained, tracked, and corroborated by independent barometric +observation in all parts of the earth.</p> + +<p>For instance, the passage of the great air-wave from Krakatoa to its +antipodes, and from its antipodes back to Krakatoa, was registered six +times by the automatic barometer at Greenwich. The instrument at Kew +Observatory confirmed the records of Greenwich, and so did the +barometers of other places in the kingdom. Everywhere in Europe also +this fact was corroborated, and in some places even a seventh +oscillation was recorded. The Greenwich record shows that the air-waves +took about thirty-six hours to travel from pole to pole, thus proving +that they travelled at about the rate of ordinary sound-waves, which, +roughly speaking, travel at the rate of between six and seven hundred +miles an hour.</p> + +<p>The height of the sea-waves that devastated the neighbouring shores, +being variously estimated at from 50 to 135 feet, is sufficiently +accounted for by the intervention of islands and headlands, etc., which, +of course, tended to diminish the force, height, and volume of waves in +varying degrees.</p> + +<p>These, like the air-waves, were also registered—by self-acting +tide-gauges and by personal observation—all over the world, and the +observations <i>coincided as to date with the great eruptions of the 26th +and 27th of August</i>. The influence of the sea-waves was observed and +noted in the Java sea—which is shallow and where there are innumerable +obstructions—as far as 450 miles, but to the west they swept over the +deep waters of the Indian Ocean on to Cape Horn, and even, it is said, +to the English Channel.</p> + +<p>The unusual disturbance of ocean in various places was sufficiently +striking. At Galle, in Ceylon, where the usual rise and fall of the tide +is 2 feet, the master-attendant reports that on the afternoon of the +27th four remarkable waves were noticed in the port. The last of these +was preceded by an unusual recession of the sea to such an extent that +small boats at their anchorage were left aground—a thing that had never +been seen before. The period of recession was only one-and-a-half +minutes; then the water paused, as it were, for a brief space, and, +beginning to rise, reached the level of the highest high-water mark in +less than two minutes, thus marking a difference of 8 feet 10 inches +instead of the ordinary 2 feet.</p> + +<p>At one place there was an ebb and flood tide, of unusual extent, within +half-an-hour. At another, a belt of land, including a burying-ground, +was washed away, so that according to the observer "it appeared as if +the dead had sought shelter with the living in a neighbouring cocoa-nut +garden!" Elsewhere the tides were seen to advance and recede ten or +twelve times—in one case even twenty times—on the 27th.</p> + +<p>At Trincomalee the sea receded three times and returned with singular +force, at one period leaving part of the shore suddenly bare, with fish +struggling in the mud. The utilitarian tendency of mankind was at once +made manifest by some fishermen who, seizing the opportunity, dashed +into the struggling mass and began to reap the accidental harvest, +when—alas for the poor fishermen!—the sea rushed in again and drove +them all away.</p> + +<p>In the Mauritius, however, the fishers were more fortunate, for when +their beach was exposed in a similar manner, they succeeded in capturing +a good many fish before the water returned.</p> + +<p>Even sharks were disturbed in their sinister and slimy habits of life by +this outburst of Krakatoa—and no wonder, when it is recorded that in +some places "the sea looked like water boiling heavily in a pot," and +that "the boats which were afloat were swinging in all directions." At +one place several of these monsters were flung out of their native home +into pools, where they were left struggling till their enemy man +terminated their career.</p> + +<p>Everywhere those great waves produced phenomena which were so striking +as to attract the attention of all classes of people, to ensure record +in most parts of the world, and to call for the earnest investigation of +the scientific men of many lands—and the conclusion to which such men +have almost universally come is, that the strange vagaries of the sea +all over the earth, the mysterious sounds heard in so many widely +distant places, and the wonderful effects in the skies of every quarter +of the globe, were all due to the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in +1883.</p> + +<p>With reference to these last—the sky-effects-a few words may not be out +of place here.</p> + +<p>The superfine "ultra-microscopic" dust, which was blown by the volcano +in quantities so enormous to such unusual heights, was, after dropping +its heavier particles back to earth, caught by the breezes which always +blow in the higher regions from east to west, and carried by them for +many months round and round the world. The dust was thickly and not +widely spread at first, but as time went on it gradually extended itself +on either side, becoming visible to more and more of earth's +inhabitants, and at the same time becoming necessarily less dense.</p> + +<p>Through this medium the sun's rays had to penetrate. In so far as the +dust-particles were opaque they would obscure these rays; where they +were transparent or polished they would refract and reflect them. That +the material of which those dust-particles was composed was very various +has been ascertained, proved, and recorded by the Krakatoa Committee. +The attempt to expound this matter would probably overtax the endurance +of the average reader, yet it may interest all to know that this +dust-cloud travelled westward within the tropics at the rate of about +double the speed of an express train—say 120 miles an hour; crossed the +Indian Ocean and Africa in three days, the Atlantic in two, America in +two, and, in short, put a girdle round the world in thirteen days. +Moreover, the cloud of dust was so big that it took two or three days to +pass any given point. During its second circumnavigation it was +considerably spread and thinned, and the third time still more so, +having expanded enough to include Europe and the greater part of North +America. It had thinned away altogether and disappeared in the spring of +1884.</p> + +<p>Who has not seen—at least read or heard of—the gorgeous skies of the +autumn of 1883? Not only in Britain, but in all parts of the world, +these same skies were seen, admired, and commented on as marvellous. And +so they were. One of the chief peculiarities about them, besides their +splendour, was the fact that they consisted chiefly of +"afterglows"—that is, an increase of light and splendour <i>after</i> the +setting of the sun, when, in an ordinary state of things, the grey +shadows of evening would have descended on the world. Greenish-blue +suns; pink clouds; bright yellow, orange, and crimson afterglows; +gorgeous, magnificent, blood-red skies—the commentators seemed unable +to find language adequately to describe them. Listen to a German +observer's remarks on the subject:—</p> + +<p>"The display of November 29th was the grandest and most manifold. I +give a description as exactly; as possible, for its overwhelming +magnificence still presents itself to me as if it had been yesterday. +When the sun had set about a quarter of an hour, there was not much +afterglow, but I had observed a remarkably yellow bow in the south, +about 10° above the horizon. In about ten minutes more this arc rose +pretty quickly, extended itself all over the east and up to and beyond +the zenith. The sailors declared, 'Sir, that is the Northern Lights.' I +thought I had never seen Northern Lights in greater splendour. After +five minutes more the-light had faded, though not vanished, in the east +and south, and the finest purple-red rose up in the south-west; one +could imagine one's-self in Fairyland."</p> + +<p>All this, and a great deal more, was caused by the dust of Krakatoa!</p> + +<p>"But how—how—why?" exclaims an impatient and puzzled reader.</p> + +<p>"Ay—there's the rub." Rubbing, by the way, may have had something to do +with it. At all events we are safe to say that whatever there was of +electricity in the matter resulted from friction.</p> + +<p>Here is what the men of science say—as far as we can gather and +condense.</p> + +<p>The fine dust blown out of Krakatoa was found, under the microscope, to +consist of excessively thin, transparent plates or irregular specks of +pumice—which inconceivably minute fragments were caused by enormous +steam pressure in the interior and the sudden expansion of the masses +blown out into the atmosphere. Of this glassy dust, that which was blown +into the regions beyond the clouds must have been much finer even than +that which was examined. These glass fragments were said by Dr. Flügel +to contain either innumerable air-bubbles or minute needle-like +crystals, or both. Small though these vesicles were when ejected from +the volcano, they would become still smaller by bursting when they +suddenly reached a much lower pressure of atmosphere at a great height. +Some of them, however, owing to tenacity of material and other causes, +might have failed to burst and would remain floating in the upper air as +perfect microscopic glass balloons. Thus the dust was a mass of +particles of every conceivable shape, and so fine that no watches, +boxes, or instruments were tight enough to exclude from their interior +even that portion of the dust which was heavy enough to remain on earth!</p> + +<p>Now, to the unscientific reader it is useless to say more than that the +innumerable and varied positions of these glassy particles, some +transparent, others semi-transparent or opaque, reflecting the sun's +rays in different directions, with a complex modification of colour and +effect resulting from the blueness of the sky, the condition of the +atmosphere, and many other causes—all combined to produce the +remarkable appearances of light and colour which aroused the admiration +and wonder of the world in 1883.</p> + +<p>The more one thinks of these things, and the deeper one dives into the +mysteries of nature, the more profoundly is one impressed at once with a +humbling sense of the limited amount of one's knowledge, and an +awe-inspiring appreciation of the illimitable fields suggested by that +comprehensive expression: "THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXX' id='CHAPTER_XXX' />CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>COMING EVENTS, ETC.—WONDERFUL CHANGES AMONG THE ISLANDS.</h3> + + +<p>Some days after the wreck of the <i>Sunshine</i>, as described in a previous +chapter, Captain Roy and his son stood on the coast of Java not far from +the ruins of Anjer. A vessel was anchored in the offing, and a little +boat lay on the shore.</p> + +<p>All sign of elemental strife had passed, though a cloud of smoke hanging +over the remains of Krakatoa told that the terrible giant below was not +dead but only sleeping—to awake, perchance, after a nap of another 200 +years.</p> + +<p>"Well, father," said our hero with a modest look, "it may be, as you +suggest, that Winnie Van der Kemp does not care for me more than for a +fathom of salt water——"</p> + +<p>"I did not say salt water, lad, I said bilge—a fathom o' <i>bilge</i> +water," interrupted the captain, who, although secretly rejoiced at the +fact of his son having fallen over head and ears in love with the pretty +little Cocos-Keeling islander, deemed it his duty, nevertheless, as a +sternly upright parent, to, make quite sure that the love was mutual as +well as deep before giving his consent to anything like courtship.</p> + +<p>"It matters not; salt or bilge water makes little difference," returned +the son with a smile. "But all I can say is that I care for Winnie so +much that her love is to me of as much importance as sunshine to the +world—and we have had some experience lately of what the want of <i>that</i> +means."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Nigel," returned the captain severely. "You're workin' +yourself into them up-in-the-clouds, reef-point-patterin' regions +again—which, by the way, should be pretty well choked wi' Krakatoa dust +by this time. Come down out o' that if ye want to hold or'nary +intercourse wi' your old father. She's far too young yet, my boy. You +must just do as many a young fellow has done before you, attend to your +dooties and forget her."</p> + +<p>"Forget her!" returned the youth, with that amused, quiet expression +which wise men sometimes assume when listening to foolish suggestions. +"I could almost as easily forget my mother!"</p> + +<p>"A very proper sentiment, Nigel, very—especially the 'almost' part of +it."</p> + +<p>"Besides," continued the son, "she is not so <i>very</i> young—and that +difficulty remedies itself every hour. Moreover, I too am young. I can +wait."</p> + +<p>"The selfishness of youth is only equalled by its presumption," said +the captain. "How d'ee know <i>she</i> will wait?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, father, but I hope she will—I—I—<i>think</i> she will."</p> + +<p>"Nigel," said the captain, in a tone and with a look that were meant to +imply intense solemnity, "have you ever spoken to her about love?"</p> + +<p>"No, father."</p> + +<p>"Has she ever spoken to <i>you</i>?"</p> + +<p>"No—at least—not with her lips."</p> + +<p>"Come, boy, you're humbuggin' your old father. Her tongue couldn't well +do it without the lips lendin' a hand."</p> + +<p>"Well then—with neither," returned the son. "She spoke with her +eyes—not intentionally, of course, for the eyes, unlike the lips, +refuse to be under control."</p> + +<p>"Hm! I see—reef-point-patterin' poetics again! An' what did she say +with her eyes?"</p> + +<p>"Really, father, you press me too hard; it is difficult to translate +eye-language, but if you'll only let memory have free play and revert to +that time, nigh quarter of a century ago, when you first met with a +certain <i>real</i> poetess, perhaps—"</p> + +<p>"Ah! you dog! you have me there. But how dare you, sir, venture to think +of marryin' on nothin'?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think of doing so. Am I not a first mate with a handsome +salary?"</p> + +<p>"No, lad, you're not. You're nothin' better than a seaman out o' work, +with your late ship wrecked in a cocoa-nut grove!"</p> + +<p>"That's true," returned Nigel with a laugh. "But is not the cargo of the +said ship safe in Batavia? Has not its owner a good bank account in +England? Won't another ship be wanted, and another first mate, and would +the owner dare to pass over his own son, who is such a competent +seaman—according to your own showing? Come, father, I turn the tables +on you and ask you to aid rather than resist me in this matter."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will, my boy, I will," said the captain heartily, as he laid +his hand on his son's shoulder. "But, seriously, you must haul off this +little craft and clap a stopper on your tongue—ay, and on your eyes +too—till three points are considered an' made quite clear. First, you +must find out whether the hermit would be agreeable. Second, you must +look the matter straight in the face and make quite sure that you mean +it. For better or for worse. No undoin' <i>that</i> knot, Nigel, once it's +fairly tied! And, third, you must make quite sure that Winnie is sure of +her own mind, an' that—that—"</p> + +<p>"We're all sure all round, father. Quite right. I agree with you. 'All +fair an' aboveboard' should be the sailing orders of every man in such +matters, especially of every seaman. But, will you explain how I am to +make sure of Winnie's state of mind without asking her about it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't exactly see my way," replied the captain slowly. "What +d'ee say to my soundin' her on the subject?"</p> + +<p>"Couldn't think of it! You may be first-rate at deep-sea soundings, +father, but you couldn't sound the depths of a young girl's heart. I +must reserve that for myself, however long it may be delayed."</p> + +<p>"So be it, lad. The only embargo that I lay upon you is—haul off, and +mind you don't let your figurehead go by the board. Meanwhile, here +comes the boat. Now, Nigel, none o' your courtin' till everything is +settled and the wind fair—dead aft my lad, and blowin' stiff. You and +the hermit are goin' off to Krakatoa to-day, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I am just now waiting for him and Moses," returned Nigel.</p> + +<p>"Is Winnie going?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know. I hope so."</p> + +<p>"Humph! Well, if we have a fair wind I shall soon be in Batavia," said +the captain, descending to business matters, "and I expect without +trouble to dispose of the cargo that we landed there, as well as that +part o' the return cargo which I had bought before I left for +Keeling—at a loss, no doubt, but that don't matter much. Then I'll come +back here by the first craft that offers—arter which——. Ay!—Ay! +shove her in here. Plenty o' water."</p> + +<p>The last remark was made to the seaman who steered the boat sent from +the vessel in the offing.</p> + +<p>A short time thereafter Captain Roy was sailing away for Batavia, while +his son, with Van der Kemp, Moses, Winnie, and Spinkie, was making for +Krakatoa in a native boat.</p> + +<p>The hermit, in spite of his injuries, had recovered his wonted +appearance, if not his wonted vigour. Winnie seemed to have suddenly +developed into a mature woman under her recent experiences, though she +had lost none of her girlish grace and attractiveness. As for +Moses—time and tide seemed to have no effect whatever on his ebony +frame, and still less, if possible, on his indomitable spirit.</p> + +<p>"Now you keep still," he said in solemn tones and with warning looks to +Spinkie. "If you keep fidgitin' about you'll capsize de boat. You hear?"</p> + +<p>Spinkie veiled his real affection for the negro under a look of supreme +indifference, while Winnie went off into a sudden giggle at the idea of +such a small creature capsizing the boat.</p> + +<p>Mindful of his father's warning, Nigel did his best to "haul off" and to +prevent his "figurehead" from going "by the board." But he found it +uncommonly hard work, for Winnie looked so innocent, so pretty, so +unconscious, so sympathetic with everybody and everything, so very +young, yet so wondrously wise and womanly, that he felt an irresistible +desire to prostrate himself at her feet in abject slavery.</p> + +<p>"Dear little thing," said Winnie, putting her hand on Spinkie's little +head and smoothing him down from eyes to tail.</p> + +<p>Spinkie looked as if half inclined to withdraw his allegiance from Moses +and bestow it on Winnie, but evidently changed his mind after a moment's +reflection.</p> + +<p>"O that I were a monkey!" thought Nigel, paraphrasing Shakespeare, "that +I might——" but it is not fair to our hero to reveal him in his +weaker moments!</p> + +<p>There was something exasperating, too, in being obliged, owing to the +size of the boat, to sit so close to Winnie without having a right to +touch her hand! Who has not experienced this, and felt himself to be a +very hero of self-denial in the circumstances?</p> + +<p>"Mos' awrful hot!" remarked Moses, wiping his forehead with the sleeve +of his shirt.</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> hot!" said Nigel in surprise. "I thought nothing on earth could +be too hot for you."</p> + +<p>"Dat's your ignerance," returned Moses calmly. "Us niggers, you see, +ought to suffer more fro' heat dan you whites."</p> + +<p>"How so?"</p> + +<p>"Why, don't your flossiphers say dat black am better dan white for +'tractin' heat, an' ain't our skins black? I wish we'd bin' born white +as chalk. I say, Massa Nadgel, seems to me dat dere's not much left ob +Krakatoa."</p> + +<p>They had approached near enough to the island by that time to perceive +that wonderful changes had indeed taken place, and Van der Kemp, who had +been for some time silently absorbed in contemplation, at last turned to +his daughter and said—</p> + +<p>"I had feared at first, Winnie, that my old home had been blown entirely +away, but I see now that the Peak of Rakata still stands, so perhaps I +may yet show you the cave in which I have spent so many years."</p> + +<p>"But why did you go to live in such a strange place, dear father?" asked +the girl, laying her hand lovingly on the hermit's arm.</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp did not reply at once. He gazed in his child's face with an +increase of that absent air and far-away look which Nigel, ever since he +met him, had observed as one of his characteristics. At this time an +anxious thought crossed him,—that perhaps the blows which his friend +had received on his head when he was thrown on the deck of the +<i>Sunshine</i> might have injured his brain.</p> + +<p>"It is not easy to answer your question, dear one," he said after a +time, laying his strong hand on the girl's head, and smoothing her +luxuriant hair which hung in the untrammelled freedom of nature over her +shoulders. "I have felt sometimes, during the last few days, as if I +were awaking out of a long long dream, or recovering from a severe +illness in which delirium had played a prominent part. Even now, though +I see and touch you, I sometimes tremble lest I should really awake and +find that it is all a dream. I have so often—so <i>very</i> often—dreamed +something like it in years gone by, but never so vividly as now! I +cannot doubt—it is sin to doubt—that my prayers have been at last +answered. God is good and wise. He knows what is best and does not fail +in bringing the best to pass. Yet I have doubted Him—again and again."</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp paused here and drew his hand across his brow as if to +clear away sad memories of the past, while Winnie drew closer to him and +looked up tenderly in his face.</p> + +<p>"When your mother died, dear one," he resumed, "it seemed to me as if +the sun had left the heavens, and when <i>you</i> were snatched from me, it +was as though my soul had fled and nought but animal life remained. I +lived as if in a terrible dream. I cannot recall exactly what I did or +where I went for a long long time. I know I wandered through the +archipelago looking for you, because I did not believe at first that you +were dead. It was at this time I took up my abode in the cave of Rakata, +and fell in with my good faithful friend Moses—"</p> + +<p>"Your sarvint, massa," interrupted the negro humbly. "I's proud to be +call your frind, but I's only your sarvint, massa."</p> + +<p>"Truly you have been my faithful servant, Moses," said Van der Kemp, +"but not the less have you been my trusted friend. He nursed me through +a long and severe illness, Winnie. How long, I am not quite sure. After +a time I nearly lost hope. Then there came a very dark period, when I +was forced to believe that you must be dead. Yet, strange to say, even +during this dark time I did not cease to pray and to wander about in +search of you. I suppose it was the force of habit, for hope seemed to +have died. Then, at last, Nigel found you. God used him as His +instrument. And now, praise to His name, we are reunited—for ever!"</p> + +<p>"Darling father!" were the only words that Winnie could utter as she +laid her head on the hermit's shoulder and wept for joy.</p> + +<p>Two ideas, which had not occurred to him before, struck Nigel with great +force at that moment. The one was that whatever or wherever his future +household should be established, if Winnie was to be its chief ornament, +her father must of necessity become a member of it. The other idea was +that he was destined to possess a negro servant with a consequent and +unavoidable monkey attendant! How strange the links of which the chain +of human destiny is formed, and how wonderful the powers of thought by +which that chain is occasionally forecast! How to convey all these +possessions to England and get them comfortably settled there was a +problem which he did not care to tackle just then.</p> + +<p>"See, Winnie," said Van der Kemp, pointing with interest to a mark on +the side of Rakata, "yonder is the mouth of my cave. I never saw it so +clearly before because of the trees and bushes, but everything seems now +to have been burnt up."</p> + +<p>"Das so, massa, an' what hasn't bin bu'nt up has bin blow'd up!" +remarked the negro.</p> + +<p>"Looks very like it, Moses, unless that is a haze which enshrouds the +rest of the island," rejoined the other, shading his eyes with his +hands.</p> + +<p>It was no haze, however; for they found, on drawing nearer, that the +greater part of Krakatoa had, as we have already said, actually +disappeared from the face of the earth.</p> + +<p>When the boat finally rounded the point which hid the northern part of +the island from view, a sight was presented which it is not often given +to human eyes to look upon. The whole mountain named the Peak of Rakata +(2623 feet high) had been split from top to bottom, and about one-half +of it, with all that part of the island lying to the northward, had been +blown away, leaving a wall or almost sheer precipice which presented a +grand section of the volcano.</p> + +<p>Pushing their boat into a creek at the base of this precipice, the party +landed and tried to reach a position from which a commanding view might +be obtained. This was not an easy matter, for there was not a spot for a +foot to rest on which was not covered deeply with pumice-dust and ashes. +By dint of perseverance, however, they gained a ledge whence the +surrounding district could be observed, and then it was clearly seen how +wide-spread and stupendous the effects of the explosion had been.</p> + +<p>Where the greater part of the richly wooded island had formerly +flourished, the ocean now rippled in the sunshine, and of the smaller +islands around it <i>Lang</i> Island had been considerably increased in bulk +as well as in height. <i>Verlaten</i> Island had been enlarged to more than +three times its former size and also much increased in height. The +island named <i>Polish Hat</i> had disappeared altogether, and two entirely +new islets—afterwards named <i>Steers</i> and <i>Calmeyer</i> Islands—had +arisen to the northward.</p> + +<p>"Now, friends," said Van der Kemp, after they had noted and commented on +the vast and wonderful changes that had taken place, "we will pull round +to our cave and see what has happened there."</p> + +<p>Descending to the boat they rowed round the southern shores of Rakata +until they reached the little harbour where the boat and canoe had +formerly been kept.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXXI' id='CHAPTER_XXXI' />CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>ENDS WITH A STRUGGLE BETWEEN INCLINATION AND DUTY.</h3> + + +<p>"De cave's blowed away too!" was the first remark of Moses as they rowed +into the little port.</p> + +<p>A shock of disappointment was experienced by Winnie, for she fancied +that the negro had referred to her father's old home, but he only meant +the lower cave in which the canoe had formerly been kept. She was soon +relieved as to this point, however, but, when a landing was effected, +difficulties that seemed to her almost insurmountable presented +themselves, for the ground was covered knee-deep with pumice-dust, and +the road to the upper cave was blocked by rugged masses of lava and +ashes, all heaped up in indescribable confusion.</p> + +<p>On careful investigation, however, it was found that after passing a +certain point the footpath was almost unencumbered by volcanic débris. +This was owing to the protection afforded to it by the cone of Rakata, +and the almost overhanging nature of some of the cliffs on that side of +the mountain; still the track was bad enough, and in places so rugged, +that Winnie, vigorous and agile though she was, found it both difficult +and fatiguing to advance. Seeing this, her father proposed to carry her, +but she laughingly declined the proposal.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Nigel offered to lend her a hand over the rougher places, but +this she also declined.</p> + +<p>Then Moses, stepping forward, asserted his rights.</p> + +<p>"It's <i>my</i> business," he said, "to carry t'ings w'en dey's got to be +carried. M'r'over, as I's bin obleeged to leabe Spinkie in charge ob de +boat, I feels okard widout somet'ing to carry, an' you ain't much +heavier dan Spinkie, Miss Winnie—so, come along."</p> + +<p>He stooped with the intention of grasping Winnie as if she were a little +child, but with a light laugh the girl sprang away and left Moses +behind.</p> + +<p>"'S'my opinion," said Moses, looking after her with a grin, "dat if de +purfesser was here he 'd net her in mistook for a bufferfly. Dar!—she's +down!" he shouted, springing forward, but Nigel was before him.</p> + +<p>Winnie had tripped and fallen.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, dear—child?" asked Nigel, raising her gently.</p> + +<p>"Oh no! only a little shaken," answered Winnie, with a little laugh that +was half hysterical. "I am strong enough to go on presently."</p> + +<p>"Nay, my child, you <i>must</i> suffer yourself to be carried at this part," +said Van der Kemp. "Take her up, Nigel, you are stronger than I am +<i>now</i>. I would not have asked you to do it before my accident!"</p> + +<p>Our hero did not need a second bidding. Grasping Winnie in his strong +arms he raised her as if she had been a feather, and strode away at a +pace so rapid that he soon left Van der Kemp and Moses far behind.</p> + +<p>"Put me down, now," said Winnie, after a little while, in a low voice. +"I'm quite recovered now and can walk."</p> + +<p>"Nay, Winnie, you are mistaken. The path is very rough yet, and the dust +gets deeper as we ascend. <i>Do</i> give me the pleasure of helping you a +little longer."</p> + +<p>Whatever Winnie may have felt or thought she said nothing, and Nigel, +taking silence for consent, bore her swiftly onward and upward,—with an +"Excelsior" spirit that would have thrown the Alpine youth with the +banner and the strange device considerably into the shade,—until he +placed her at the yawning black mouth of the hermit's cave.</p> + +<p>But what a change was there! The trees and flowering shrubs and ferns +were all gone, lava, pumice, and ashes lay thick on everything around, +and only a few blackened and twisted stumps of the larger trees +remained to tell that an umbrageous forest had once flourished there. +The whole scene might be fittingly described in the two words—grey +desolation.</p> + +<p>"That is the entrance to your father's old home," said Nigel, as he set +his fair burden down and pointed to the entrance.</p> + +<p>"What a dreadful place!" said Winnie, peering into the black depths of +the cavern.</p> + +<p>"It was not dreadful when I first saw it, Winnie, with rich verdure +everywhere; and inside you will find it surprisingly comfortable. But we +must not enter until your father arrives to do the honours of the place +himself."</p> + +<p>They had not to wait long. First Moses arrived, and, shrewdly suspecting +from the appearance of the young couple that they were engaged in +conversation that would not brook interruption, or, perhaps, judging +from what might be his own wishes in similar circumstances, he turned +his back suddenly on them, and, stooping down, addressed himself to an +imaginary creature of the animal kingdom.</p> + +<p>"What a bootiful bufferfly you is, to be sure! up on sitch a place too, +wid nuffin' to eat 'cept Krakatoa dust. I wonder what your moder would +say if she know'd you was here. You should be ashamed ob yourself!"</p> + +<p>"Hallo! Moses, what are you talking to over there?"</p> + +<p>"Nuffin', Massa Nadgel. I was on'y habin' a brief conv'sation wid a +member ob de insect wurld in commemoration ob de purfesser. Leastwise, +if it warn't a insect it must hab bin suffm' else. Won't you go in, Miss +Winnie?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'd rather wait for father," returned the girl, looking a little +flushed, for some strange and totally unfamiliar ideas had recently +floated into her brain and caused some incomprehensible flutterings of +the heart to which hitherto she had been a stranger.</p> + +<p>Mindful of his father's injunctions, however, Nigel had been +particularly careful to avoid increasing these flutterings.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the hermit came up. "Ah! Winnie," he said, "there has +been dire devastation here. Perhaps inside things may look better. Come, +take my hand and don't be afraid. The floor is level and your eyes will +soon get accustomed to the dim light."</p> + +<p>"I's afeared, massa," remarked Moses, as they entered the cavern, "dat +your sun-lights won't be wu'th much now."</p> + +<p>"You are right, lad. Go on before us and light the lamps if they are not +broken."</p> + +<p>It was found, as they had expected, that, the only light which +penetrated the cavern was that which entered by the cave's mouth, which +of course was very feeble.</p> + +<p>Presently, to Winnie's surprise, Moses was seen issuing from the kitchen +with a petroleum lamp in one hand, the brilliant light of which not only +glittered on his expressive black visage but sent a ruddy glare all over +the cavern.</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp seemed to watch his daughter intently as she gazed in a +bewildered way around. There was a puzzled look as well as mere surprise +in her pretty face.</p> + +<p>"Father," she said earnestly, "you have spoken more than once of living +as if in a dream. Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that I +experience something of that sort now. Strange though this place seems, +I have an unaccountable feeling that it is not absolutely new to +me—that I have seen it before."</p> + +<p>"I do not wonder, dear one," he replied, "for the drawings that surround +this chamber were the handiwork of your dear mother, and they decorated +the walls of your own nursery when you were a little child at your +mother's knee. For over ten long years they have surrounded me and kept +your faces fresh in my memory—though, truth to tell, it needed no such +reminders to do that. Come, let us examine them."</p> + +<p>It was pleasant to see the earnest face of Winnie as she +half-recognised and strove to recall the memories of early childhood in +that singular cavern. It was also a sight worth seeing—the countenance +of Nigel, as well as that of the hermit, while they watched and admired +her eager, puzzled play of feature, and it was the most amazing sight of +all to see the all but superhuman joy of Moses as he held the lamp and +listened to facts regarding the past of his beloved master which were +quite new to him—for the hermit spoke as openly about his past domestic +affairs as if he and Winnie had been quite alone.</p> + +<p>"He either forgets that we are present, or counts us as part of his +family," thought Nigel with a feeling of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"What a dear comoonicative man!" thought Moses, with unconcealed +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Come now, let us ascend to the observatory," said the hermit, when all +the things in the library had been examined. "There has been damage done +there, I know; besides, there is a locket there which belonged to your +mother. I left it by mistake one day when I went up to arrange the +mirrors, and in the hurry of leaving forgot to return for it. Indeed, +one of my main objects in re-visiting my old home was to fetch that +locket away. It contains a lock of hair and one of those miniatures +which men used to paint before photography drove such work off the +field."</p> + +<p>Winnie was nothing loth to follow, for she had reached a romantic period +of life, and it seemed to her that to be led through mysterious caves +and dark galleries in the very heart of a still active volcano by her +own father—the hermit of Rakata—was the very embodiment of romance +itself.</p> + +<p>But a disappointment awaited them, for they had not proceeded halfway +through the dark passage when it was found that a large mass of rock had +fallen from the roof and almost blocked it up.</p> + +<p>"There is a space big enough for us to creep through at the right-hand +corner above, I think," said Nigel, taking the lantern from Moses and +examining the spot.</p> + +<p>"Jump up, Moses, and try it," said the hermit. "If your bulky shoulders +get through, we can all manage it."</p> + +<p>The negro was about to obey the order when Nigel let the lantern fall +and the shock extinguished it.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Massa Nadgel; das a pritty business!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Van der Kemp. "I've got matches, I think, in my—no, +I haven't. Have you, Moses?"</p> + +<p>"No, massa, I forgit to remember him."</p> + +<p>"No matter, run back—you know the road well enough to follow it in the +dark. We will wait here till you return. Be smart, now!"</p> + +<p>Moses started off at once and for some moments the sound of clattering +along the passage was heard.</p> + +<p>"I will try to clamber through in the dark. Look after Winnie, +Nigel—and don't leave the spot where you stand, dear one, for there are +cracks and holes about that might sprain your little ankles."</p> + +<p>"Very well, father."</p> + +<p>"All right. I've got through, Nigel; I'll feel my way on for a little +bit. Remain where you are."</p> + +<p>"Winnie," said Nigel when they were alone, "doesn't it feel awesome and +strange to be standing here in such intense darkness?"</p> + +<p>"It does—I don't quite like it."</p> + +<p>"Whereabouts are you?" said Nigel.</p> + +<p>He carefully stretched out his hand to feel, as he spoke, and laid a +finger on her brow.</p> + +<p>"Oh! take care of my eyes!" exclaimed Winnie with a little laugh.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> wish you would turn your eyes towards me for I'm convinced they +would give some light—? to <i>me</i> at least. Here, do let me hold your +hand It will make you feel more confident."</p> + +<p>To one who is at all familiar with the human frame, the way from the +brow to the hand is comparatively simple. Nigel soon possessed himself +of the coveted article. Like other things of great value the possession +turned the poor youth's head! He forgot his father's warnings for the +moment, forgot the hermit and Moses and Spinkie, and the thick +darkness—forgot almost everything in the light of that touch!</p> + +<p>"Winnie!" he exclaimed in a tone that quite alarmed her; "I—I—" He +hesitated. The solemn embargo of his father recurred to him.</p> + +<p>"What is it! Is there danger?" exclaimed the poor girl, clasping his +hand tighter and drawing nearer to him.</p> + +<p>This was too much! Nigel felt himself to be contemptible. He was taking +unfair advantage of her.</p> + +<p>"Winnie," he began again, in a voice of forced calmness, "there is no +danger whatever. I'm an ass—a dolt—that's all! The fact is, I made my +father a sort of half promise that I would not ask your opinion on a +certain subject until—until I found out exactly what you thought about +it. Now the thing is ridiculous—impossible—for how can I know your +opinion on any subject until I have asked you?"</p> + +<p>"Quite true," returned Winnie simply, "so you better ask me."</p> + +<p>"Ha! <i>ha</i>!" laughed Nigel, in a sort of desperate amusement, "I—I—Yes, +I <i>will</i> ask you, Winnie! But first I must explain——"</p> + +<p>"Hallo! Nigel!" came at that moment from the other side of the +obstruction, "are you there—all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes—I'm here—<i>not</i> all right exactly, but I'll be all right +<i>some day</i>, you may depend upon that!" shouted the youth, in a tone of +indignant exasperation.</p> + +<p>"What said you?" asked Van der Kemp, putting his head through the hole.</p> + +<p>"Hi! I's a-comin', look out, dar!" hallooed Moses in the opposite +direction.</p> + +<p>"Just so," said Nigel, resuming his quiet tone and demeanour, "we'll be +all right when the light comes. Here, give us your hand, Van der Kemp."</p> + +<p>The hermit accepted the proffered aid and leaped down amongst his +friends just as Moses arrived with the lantern.</p> + +<p>"It's of no use going further," he said. "The passage is completely +blocked up—so we must go round to where the mountain has been split off +and try to clamber up. There will be daylight enough yet if we are +quick. Come."</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name='CHAPTER_XXXII' id='CHAPTER_XXXII' />CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE LAST.</h3> + + +<p>Descending to the boat they rowed round to the face of the great cliff +which had been so suddenly laid bare when the Peak of Rakata was cleft +from its summit to its foundations in the sea. It was a wonderful +sight—a magnificent section, affording a marvellous view of the +internal mechanism of a volcano.</p> + +<p>But there was no time to spend in contemplation of this extraordinary +sight, for evening approached and the hermit's purpose had to be +accomplished.</p> + +<p>High up near the top of the mighty cliff could be seen a small hole in +the rock, which was all that remained of the observatory.</p> + +<p>"It will be impossible, I fear, to reach that spot," said Nigel; "there +does not appear to be foothold for a goat."</p> + +<p>"I will reach it," said the hermit in a low voice, as he scanned the +precipice carefully.</p> + +<p>"So will I," said the negro.</p> + +<p>"No, Moses, I go alone. You will remain in the boat and watch. If I +fall, you can pick me up."</p> + +<p>"Pick you up!" echoed Moses. "If you tumbles a t'ousand feet into de +water how much t'ink you will be lef to pick up?"</p> + +<p>It was useless to attempt to dissuade Van der Kemp. Being well aware of +this, they all held their peace while he landed on a spur of the riven +cliff.</p> + +<p>The first part of the ascent was easy enough, the ground having been +irregularly broken, so that the climber disappeared behind masses of +rock at times, while he kept as much as possible to the western edge of +the mountain where the cleavage had occurred; but as he ascended he was +forced to come out upon narrow ledges that had been left here and there +on the face of the cliff, where he seemed, to those who were watching +far below, like a mere black spot on the face of a gigantic wall. Still +upward he went, slowly but steadily, till he reached a spot nearly level +with the observatory. Here he had to go out on the sheer precipice, +where his footholds were invisible from below.</p> + +<p>Winnie sat in the boat with blanched face and tightly clasped hands, +panting with anxiety as she gazed upwards.</p> + +<p>"It looks much more dangerous from here than it is in reality," said +Nigel to her in a reassuring tone.</p> + +<p>"Das true, Massa Nadgel, das bery true," interposed Moses, endeavouring +to comfort himself as well as the others by the intense earnestness of +his manner. "De only danger, Miss Winnie, lies in your fadder losin' his +head at sitch a t'riffic height, an' dar's no fear at all ob dat, for +Massa neber loses his head—pooh! you might as well talk ob him losin' +his heart. Look! look! he git close to de hole now—he put his +foot—yes—next step—dar! he've done it!"</p> + +<p>With the perspiration of anxiety streaming down his face the negro +relieved his feelings by a wild prolonged cheer. Nigel obtained the same +relief by means of a deep long-drawn sigh, but Winnie did not move; she +seemed to realise her father's danger better than her companions, and +remembered that the descent would be much more difficult than the +ascent. They were not kept long in suspense. In a few minutes the hermit +reappeared and began to retrace his steps—slowly but steadily—and the +watchers breathed more freely.</p> + +<p>Moses was right; there was in reality little danger in the climb, for +the ledges which appeared to them like mere threads, and the footholds +that were almost invisible, were in reality from a foot to three feet +wide. The only danger lay in the hermit's head being unable to stand the +trial, but, as Moses had remarked, there was no fear of that.</p> + +<p>The watchers were therefore beginning to feel somewhat relieved from +the tension of their anxiety, when a huge mass of rock was seen to slip +from the face of the cliff and descend with the thunderous roar of an +avalanche. The incident gave those in the boat a shock, for the landslip +occurred not far from the spot which Van der Kemp had reached, but as he +still stood there in apparent safety there seemed no cause for alarm +till it was observed that the climber remained quite still for a long +time and, seemed to have no intention of moving.</p> + +<p>"God help him!" cried Nigel in sudden alarm, "the ledge has been carried +away and he cannot advance! Stay by the boat, Moses, I will run to help +him!"</p> + +<p>"No, Massa Nadgel," returned the negro, "I go to die wid 'im. Boat kin +look arter itself."</p> + +<p>He sprang on shore as he spoke, and dashed up the mountain-side like a +hunted hare.</p> + +<p>Our hero looked at Winnie for an instant in hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Go!" said the poor girl. "You know I can manage a boat—quick!"</p> + +<p>Another moment and Nigel was following in the track of the negro. They +gained the broken ledge together, and then found that the space between +the point which they had reached and the spot on which the hermit stood +was a smooth face of perpendicular rock—an absolutely impassable gulf!</p> + +<p>Van der Kemp was standing with his back flat against the precipice and +his feet resting on a little piece of projecting rock not more than +three inches wide. This was all that lay between him and the hideous +depth below, for Nigel found on carefully drawing nearer that the +avalanche had been more extensive than was apparent from below, and that +the ledge beyond the hermit had been also carried away—thus cutting +off his retreat as well as his advance.</p> + +<p>"I can make no effort to help myself," said Van der Kemp in a low but +calm voice, when our hero's foot rested on the last projecting point +that he could gain, and found that with the utmost reach of his arm he +could not get within six inches of his friend's outstretched hand. +Besides, Nigel himself stood on so narrow a ledge, and against so steep +a cliff, that he could not have acted with his wonted power even if the +hand could have been grasped. Moses stood immediately behind Nigel, +where the ledge was broader and where a shallow recess in the rock +enabled him to stand with comparative ease. The poor fellow seemed to +realise the situation more fully than his companion, for despair was +written on every feature of his expressive face.</p> + +<p>"What is to be done?" said Nigel, looking back.</p> + +<p>"De boat-rope," suggested the negro.</p> + +<p>"Useless," said Van der Kemp, in a voice as calm and steady as if he +were in perfect safety, though the unusual pallor of his grave +countenance showed that he was fully alive to the terrible situation. "I +am resting on little more than my heels, and the strain is almost too +much for me even now. I could not hold on till you went to the boat and +returned. No, it seems to be God's will—and," added he humbly, "His +will be done."</p> + +<p>"O God, send us help!" cried Nigel in an agony of feeling that he could +not master.</p> + +<p>"If I had better foothold I might spring towards you and catch hold of +you," said the hermit, "but I cannot spring off my heels. Besides, I +doubt if you could bear my weight."</p> + +<p>"Try, try!" cried Nigel, eagerly extending his hand. "Don't fear for my +strength—I've got plenty of it, thank God! and see, I have my right arm +wedged into a crevice so firmly that nothing could haul it out."</p> + +<p>But Van der Kemp shook his head. "I cannot even make the attempt," he +said. "The slightest move would plunge me down. Dear boy! I know that +you and your father and Moses will care for my Winnie, and—"</p> + +<p>"Massa!" gasped Moses, who while the hermit was speaking had been +working his body with mysterious and violent energy; "massa! couldn't +you <i>fall</i> dis way, an' Nadgel could kitch your hand, an' I's got my +leg shoved into a hole as nuffin' 'll haul it out ob. Dere's a holler +place here. If Nadgel swings you into dat, an' I only once grab you by +de hair—you're safe!"</p> + +<p>"It might be done—tried at least," said the hermit, looking anxiously +at his young friend.</p> + +<p>"Try it!" cried Nigel, "I won't fail you."</p> + +<p>It is not possible for any except those who have gone through a somewhat +similar ordeal to understand fully the test of cool courage which Van +der Kemp had to undergo on that occasion.</p> + +<p>Shutting his eyes for a moment in silent prayer, he deliberately worked +with his shoulders upon the cliff against which he leaned until he felt +himself to be on the point of falling towards his friend, and the two +outstretched hands almost touched.</p> + +<p>"Now, are you ready?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Ready," replied Nigel, while Moses wound both his powerful arms round +his comrade's waist and held on.</p> + +<p>Another moment and the hands clasped, Nigel uttered an irrepressible +shout as the hermit swung off, and, coming round with great violence to +the spot where the negro had fixed himself, just succeeded in catching +the edge of the cliff with his free hand.</p> + +<p>"Let go, Nigel," he shouted;—"safe!"</p> + +<p>The poor youth was only too glad to obey, for the tremendous pull had +wrenched his arm out of the crevice in which he had fixed it, and for a +moment he swayed helplessly over the awful abyss.</p> + +<p>"Don't let me go, Moses!" he yelled, as he made a frantic but futile +effort to regain his hold,—for he felt that the negro had loosened one +of his arms though the other was still round him like a hoop of iron.</p> + +<p>"No fear, Nadgel," said Moses, "I's got you tight—only don' wriggle. +Now, massa, up you come."</p> + +<p>Moses had grasped his master's hair with a grip: that well-nigh scalped +him, and he held on until the hermit had got a secure hold of the ledge +with both hands. Then he let the hair go, for he knew that to an athlete +like his master the raising himself by his arms on to the ledge would be +the Work of a few seconds. Van der Kemp was thus able to assist in +rescuing Nigel from his position of danger.</p> + +<p>But the expressions of heartfelt thankfulness for this deliverance which +naturally broke from them were abruptly checked when it was found that +Moses could by no means extract his leg out of the hole into which he +had thrust it, and that he was suffering great pain.</p> + +<p>After some time, and a good deal of violent wrenching, during which our +sable hero mingled a few groans in strange fashion with his +congratulations, he was got free, and then it was found that the strain +had been too much for even his powerful bones and sinews, for the leg +was broken.</p> + +<p>"My poor fellow!" murmured Van der Kemp, as he went down on his knees to +examine the limb.</p> + +<p>"Don' care a buttin for dat, massa. You're safe, an' Nadgel's safe—an' +it only cost a broken leg! Pooh! das nuffin'!" said Moses, unable to +repress a few tears in the excess of his joy and pain!</p> + +<p>With considerable difficulty they carried the poor negro down to the +boat, where they found Winnie, as might be supposed, in a half-fainting +condition from the strain of prolonged anxiety and terror to which she +had been subjected; but the necessity of attending to the case of the +injured Moses was an antidote which speedily restored her.</p> + +<p>Do you think, good reader, that Nigel and Winnie had much difficulty in +coming to an understanding after that, or that the hermit was disposed +to throw any obstacles in the way of true love? If you do, let us assure +you that you are mistaken. Surely this is information enough for any +intelligent reader.</p> + +<p>Still, it may be interesting to add, difficulties did not all at once +disappear. The perplexities that had already assailed Nigel more than +once assailed him again—perplexities about a negro man-servant, and a +household monkey, and a hermit father-in-law, and a small income—to +say nothing of a disconsolate mother-poetess in England and a father +roving on the high seas! How to overcome these difficulties gave him +much thought and trouble; but they were overcome at last. That which +seemed impossible to man proved to be child's-play in the hands of +woman. Winnie solved the difficulty by suggesting that they should all +return to the Cocos-Keeling Islands and dwell together there for +evermore!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Let us drop in on them, good reader, at a later period, have a look at +them, and bid them all good-bye.</p> + +<p>On a green knoll by the margin of the lagoon stands a beautiful cottage +with a garden around it, and a pleasure-boat resting on the white coral +sand in front. From the windows of that cottage there is a most +magnificent view of the lagoon with its numerous islets and its +picturesque palm-trees. Within that cottage dwell Nigel and Winnie, and +a brown-eyed, brown-haired, fair-skinned baby girl who is "the most +extraordinary angel that ever was born." It has a nurse of its own, but +is chiefly waited on and attended to by an antique poetess, who dwells +in another cottage, a stone's-cast off, on the same green knoll. There +she inspires an ancient mariner with poetical sentiments—not your +up-in-the-clouds, reef-point-pattering nonsense, observe; but the real +genuine article, superior to "that other fellow's," you know—when not +actively engaged with <i>the</i> baby.</p> + +<p>The first cottage is named Rakata, in honour of our hermit, who is one +of its inhabitants. The second is named Krakatoa by its eccentric owner, +Captain Roy.</p> + +<p>It must not be imagined, however, that our friends have settled down +there to spend their lives in idleness. By no means. This probably would +not be permitted by the "King of the Cocos Islands" even if they wished +to do so. But they do not wish that. There is no such condition as +idleness in the lives of good men and women.</p> + +<p>Nigel has taken to general superintendence of the flourishing community +in the midst of which he has cast his lot. He may be almost regarded as +the prime minister of the islands, in addition to which he has started +an extensive boat-building business and a considerable trade in +cocoa-nuts, etc., with the numerous islands of the Java Sea; also a +saw-mill, and a forge, and a Sunday-school—in which last the pretty, +humble-minded Winnie lends most efficient aid. Indeed it is said that +she is the chief manager as well as the life and soul of that business, +though Nigel gets all the credit.</p> + +<p>Captain Roy sometimes sails his son's vessels, and sometimes looks +after the secular education of the Sunday-school children—the said +education being conducted on the principle of unlimited story-telling +with illimitable play of fancy. But his occupations are +irregular—undertaken by fits and starts, and never to be counted on. +His evenings he usually devotes to poetry and pipes—for the captain is +obstinate, and sticks—like most of us—to his failings as well as his +fancies.</p> + +<p>There is a certain eccentric individual with an enthusiastic temperament +and blue binoculars who pays frequent and prolonged visits to the +Keeling Islands. It need scarcely be said that his name is Verkimier. +There is no accounting for the tastes of human beings. Notwithstanding +all his escapes and experiences, that indomitable man of science still +ranges, like a mad philosopher, far and wide over the archipelago in +pursuit of "booterflies ant ozer specimens of zee insect vorld." It is +observed, however, even by the most obtuse among his friends, that +whereas in former times the professor's nights were centrifugal they +have now become centripetal—the Keeling Islands being the great centre +towards which he flies. Verkimier is, and probably will always be, a +subject of wonder and of profound speculation to the youthful +inhabitants of the islands. They don't understand him and he does not +understand them. If they were insects he would take deep and +intelligent interest in them. As they are merely human beings, he +regards them with that peculiar kind of interest with which men regard +the unknown and unknowable. He is by no means indifferent to them. He is +too kindly for that. He studies them deeply, though hopelessly, and when +he enters the Sunday-school with his binoculars—which he often does, to +listen—a degree of awe settles down on the little ones which it is +impossible to evoke by the most solemn appeals to their spiritual +natures.</p> + +<p>Nigel and Winnie have a gardener, and that gardener is black—as black +as the Ace of Spades or the King of Ashantee. He dwells in a corner of +the Rakata Cottage, but is addicted to spending much of his spare time +in the Krakatoa one. He is as strong and powerful as ever, but limps +slightly on his right leg—his "game" leg, as he styles it. He is, of +course, an <i>immense</i> favourite with the young people—not less than with +the old. He has been known to say, with a solemnity that might tickle +the humorous and horrify the timid, that he wouldn't "hab dat game leg +made straight agin! no, not for a hundred t'ousand pounds. 'Cause why? +—it was an eber-present visible reminder dat once upon a time he had de +libes ob massa and Nadgel in his arms ahangin' on to his game leg, an' +dat, t'rough Gracious Goodness, he sabe dem bof!"</p> + +<p>Ha! You may smile at Moses if you will, but he can return the smile +with kindly interest, for he is actuated by that grand principle which +will sooner or later transform even the scoffers of earth, and which is +embodied in the words—"Love is the fulfilling of the law."</p> + +<p>Even the lower animals testify to this fact when the dog licks the hand +that smites it and accords instant forgiveness on the slightest +encouragement. Does not Spinkie prove it also, when, issuing at call, +from its own pagoda in the sunniest corner of the Rakata garden, it +forsakes cocoa-nuts, sugar-cane, fruits, and other delights, to lay its +little head in joyful consecration on the black bosom of its benignant +friend?</p> + +<p>And what of Moses' opinion of the new home? It may be shortly expressed +in his own words-"It's heaben upon eart', an' de most happiest time as +eber occurred to me was dat time when Sunda Straits went into cumbusti'n +an' Krakatoa was Blown to Bits."</p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + +<p class='center'>Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty,</p> +<p class='center'><i>at the Edinburgh University Press</i>.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3><i>ADVERTISEMENTS</i></h3> +<hr /> +<h3>BY MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE.</h3> + +<p class='center'>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. each.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class='center'>'The fathers, mothers, guardians, uncles, and aunts who wish to find an +acceptable birthday present for a healthy-minded boy of normal tastes, +cannot possibly go wrong if they buy a book with Mr. Ballantyne's name +on the title-page.'—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><b>The Hot Swamp</b>: A Romance of Old Albion.</p> + +<p><b>The Buffalo Runners</b>: A Tale of the Red River Plains.</p> + +<p><b>Charlie to the Rescue</b>: A Tale of the Sea and the Rockies.</p> + +<p><b>Blown to Bits</b>; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata: A Tale of the Malay +Archipelago.</p> + +<p><b>Blue Lights</b>; or, Hot Work in the Soudan. A Tale of Soldier Life.</p> + +<p><b>The Fugitives</b>; or, The Tyrant Queen of Madagascar.</p> + +<p><b>Red Rooney</b>; or, The Last of the Crew.</p> + +<p><b>The Rover of the Andes</b>: A Tale of Adventure in South America.</p> + +<p><b>The Young Trawler</b>: A Story of Life, Death, and Rescue in the North +Sea.</p> + +<p><b>Dusty Diamonds, Cut and Polished</b>: A Tale of City Arab Life.</p> + +<p><b>The Battery and the Boiler</b>; or, Adventures of a Telegraph-Cable Layer.</p> + +<p><b>The Giant of the North</b>; or, Pokings Round the Pole.</p> + +<p><b>The Lonely Island</b>; or, The Refuge of the Mutineers.</p> + +<p><b>Post Haste</b>: A Tale of Her Majesty's Mails.</p> + +<p><b>In the Track of the Troops</b>: A Tale of Modern War.</p> + +<p><b>The Settler and the Savage</b>: A Tale of Peace and War in South Africa.</p> + +<p><b>Under the Waves</b>; or, Diving in Deep Waters.</p> + +<p><b>The Lifeboat</b>: A Tale of our Coast Heroes.</p> + +<p><b>The Golden Dream</b>: A Tale of the Diggings.</p> + +<p><b>The Red Eric</b>; or, The Whaler's Last Cruise.</p> + +<p><b>Freaks on the Fells</b>, and <b>Why I</b> did not Become a Sailor.</p> + +<p><b>The Wild Man of the West</b>.</p> + +<p><b>Gascoyne, the Sandalwood</b> Trader: A Tale of the Pacific.</p> + +<p><b>Rivers of Ice</b>: A Tale Illustrative of Alpine Adventure and Glacier +Action.</p> + +<p><b>The Pirate City</b>: An Algerine Tale.</p> + +<p><b>Black Ivory</b>: A Tale of Adventure among the Slavers of East Africa.</p> + +<p><b>The Norsemen in the West</b>; or, America before Columbus.</p> + +<p><b>The Iron Horse</b>; or, Life on the Line. A Railway Tale.</p> + +<p><b>Erling the Bold</b>: A Tale of the Norse Sea Kings.</p> + +<p><b>Fighting the Flames</b>: A Tale of the London Fire Brigade.</p> + +<p><b>Deep Down</b>: A Tale of the Cornish Mines.</p> + +<p><b>The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands</b>.</p> + +<p><b>Shifting Winds</b>: A Tough Yarn.</p> + +<p><b>The Lighthouse</b>: Being the Story of a Great Fight between Man and the +Sea.</p> + +<p><b>The Big Otter</b>: A Tale of the Far Nor'West.</p> + +<p class='center'>Extra Crown 8vo, 5s.</p> + +<p><b>The Walrus Hunters</b>: A Romance of the Realms of Ice.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>BY MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE.</h3> + +<p class='center'>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each.</p> + +<p class='center'>HUNTED AND HARRIED.</p> + +<p class='center'>A COXSWAIN'S BRIDE;</p> +<p class='center'>Or, THE RISING TIDE. AND OTHER TALES.</p> + +<p class='center'>THE GARRET AND THE GARDEN;<br /> +Or, LOW LIFE HIGH UP. 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Small 4to.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>Price Two Shillings and Sixpence each.</b></p> + +<p class='center'>DULCIBEL'S DAY-DREAMS; OR, THE GRAND, SWEET SONG. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo.<br /> +PICTURES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER. With Appropriate Stories for +Children. Medium 4to.<br /> +THE LIFE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. 12 +Illustrations. Medium 4to.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>Mrs. MARSHALL'S WORKS—continued.</h3> + +<p class='center'><b>Price Two Shillings each.</b></p> + +<p class='center'>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo.</p> + +<p class='center'>OLIVER'S OLD PICTURES; OR, THE MAGIC CIRCLE.<br /> +RUBY AND PEARL; OR, THE CHILDREN AT CASTLE AYLMER. A Story for Little +Girls.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>Price One Shilling and Sixpence each.</b></p> + +<p class='center'>With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo.</p> + +<p class='center'>NATURE'S GENTLEMAN.<br /> +THE BRIDE'S HOME.<br /> +MY LADY BOUNTIFUL.<br /> +STELLAFONT ABBEY; OR, NOTHING NEW.<br /> +GOLDEN SILENCE.<br /> +WHEN I WAS YOUNG.<br /> +MATTHEW FROST, CARRIER; OR, LITTLE SNOWDROP'S MISSION.<br /> +MICHAEL'S TREASURES; OR, CHOICE SILVER.<br /> +MY GRANDMOTHER'S PICTURES.<br /> +MARJORY; OR, THE GIFT OF PEACE.<br /> +GRACE BUXTON; OR, THE LIGHT OF HOME.<br /> +THREE LITTLE BROTHERS.<br /> +THREE LITTLE SISTERS.<br /> +THE BIRTH OF A CENTURY; OR, EIGHTY YEARS AGO.<br /> +THE STORY OF JOHN MARBECK: A Windsor Organist of 300 Years Ago. His Work +and His Reward.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>Price One Shilling each.</b></p> + +<p class='center'>HEATHERCLIFFE; OR, IT'S NO CONCERN OF MINE.<br /> +DAISY BRIGHT.<br /> +THE LITTLE PEAT-CUTTERS; OR, THE SONG OF LOVE.<br /> +PRIMROSE; OR, THE BELLS OF OLD EFFINGHAM.<br /> +TO-DAY AND YESTERDAY:<br /> +A STORY OF SUMMER AND WINTER HOLIDAYS.<br /> +BETWEEN THE CLIFFS; OR, HAL FORESTER'S ANCHOR.<br /> +A VIOLET IN THE SHADE.<br /> +LIGHT ON THE LILY; OR, A FLOWER'S MESSAGE.<br /> +A ROSE WITHOUT A THORN.<br /> +A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK.</p> + + +<hr /> +<h3>By R.M. BALLANTYNE.</h3> +<p class='center'><b>With Illustrations. Extra Crown 8vo. 5s.</b></p> + +<p class='center'>"The fathers, mothers, guardians, uncles, and aunts who wish to find an +acceptable present for a healthy-minded boy cannot possibly go wrong if +they buy a book with Mr. Ballantyne's name on the +title-page."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p class='center'>THE WALRUS HUNTERS: A Tale of Esquimaux Land.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>Crown 8vo. With Illustrations. 3s. 6d. each.</b></p> + +<p class='center'>THE HOT SWAMP: A Romance of Old Albion.<br /> +THE BUFFALO RUNNERS: A Tale of the Red River Plains.<br /> +CHARLIE TO THE RESCUE! A Tale of the Sea and the Rockies.<br /> +BLOWN TO BITS; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata. A Tale of the Malay Archipelago.<br /> +BLUE LIGHTS; or, Hot Work in the Soudan.<br /> +THE FUGITIVES; or, The Tyrant Queen of Madagascar.<br /> +RED ROONEY; or, The Last of the Crew.<br /> +THE ROVER OF THE ANDES: A Tale of Adventure in South America.<br /> +THE YOUNG TRAWLER: A Story of Life and Death and Rescue in the North Sea.<br /> +DUSTY DIAMONDS, CUT AND POLISHED: A Tale of Arab City Life.<br /> +THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER; or, Adventures in the Laying of Submarine Electric Cables.<br /> +THE GIANT OF THE NORTH; or, Pokings Round the Pole.<br /> +THE LONELY ISLAND; or, The Refuge of the Mutineers.<br /> +POST HASTE: A Tale of Her Majesty's Mails.<br /> +IN THE TRACK OF THE TROOPS: A Tale of Modern War.<br /> +THE SETTLER AND THE SAVAGE: A Tale of Peace and War in South Africa.<br /> +UNDER THE WAVES; or, Diving in Deep Waters.<br /> +RIVERS OF ICE: A Tale Illustrative of Alpine Adventure and Glacier Action.<br /> +THE PIRATE CITY: An Algerine Tale.<br /> +BLACK IVORY: A Tale of Adventure among the Slavers of East Africa.<br /> +THE NORSEMEN IN THE WEST; or, America before Columbus.<br /> +THE IRON HORSE; or, Life on the Line.<br /> +THE FLOATING LIGHT OF THE GOODWIN SANDS.<br /> +ERLING THE BOLD: A Tale of the Norse Sea-Kings.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>Mr. R.M. BALLANTYNE'S BOOKS—continued.</h3> + +<p class='center'>THE GOLDEN DREAM: A Tale of the Diggings.<br /> +DEEP DOWN: A Tale of the Cornish Mines.<br /> +FIGHTING THE FLAMES: A Tale of the London Fire-Brigade.<br /> +SHIFTING WINDS: A Tough Yarn.<br /> +THE LIGHTHOUSE; or, The Story of a Great Fight between Man and the Sea.<br /> +THE LIFEBOAT: A Tale of our Coast Heroes.<br /> +GASCOYNE, THE SANDALWOOD TRADER.<br /> +THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST: A Tale of the Rocky Mountains.<br /> +THE RED ERIC; or, The Whaler's Last Cruise.<br /> +FREAKS ON THE FELLS: and Why I did not become a Sailor?</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class='center'><b>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each.</b></p> + +<p class='center'>HUNTED AND HARRIED.<br /> +A COXSWAIN'S BRIDE; or, The Rising Tide. And other Tales.<br /> +THE GARRET AND THE GARDEN; or, Low Life High Up: and<br /> +JEFF BENSON; or, The Young Coastguardsman.<br /> +THE CREW OF THE WATER-WAGTAIL.<br /> +THE MIDDY AND THE MOORS.<br /> +LIFE IN THE RED BRIGADE. A Fiery Tale.<br /> +THE PRAIRIE CHIEF. A Tale.<br /> +THE ISLAND QUEEN; or, Dethroned by Fire and Water.<br /> +THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE.<br /> +TWICE BOUGHT: A Tale of the Oregon Gold Fields.<br /> +MY DOGGIE AND I.<br /> +THE RED MAN'S REVENGE.<br /> +PHILOSOPHER JACK: A Tale of the Southern Seas.<br /> +SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE.<br /> +BATTLES WITH THE SEA; or, Heroes of the Lifeboat and the Rocket. Crown +8vo. 2s. 6d<br /> +THE KITTEN PILGRIMS; or, Great Battles and Grand Victories. Crown 8vo. +2s.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>Price 3s. 6d. each.</b></p> + +<p class='center'>TALES OF ADVENTURE BY FLOOD, FIELD, AND MOUNTAIN.<br /> +TALES OF ADVENTURE; or, Wild Work in Strange Places.<br /> +TALES OF ADVENTURE ON THE COAST.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE'S</h3> + +<h3>MISCELLANY of ENTERTAINING and INSTRUCTIVE TALES</h3> + +<p class='center'><b>With Illustrations. 1s. each</b>.</p> + +<p class='center'><i>Also in a Handsome Cloth Case, Price 20s</i>.</p> + + +<p class='center'>The "Athenæum" says:—"There is no more practical way of communicating +elementary information than that which has been adopted in this series. +When we see contained in 124 small pages (as in <i>Fast in the Ice</i>) such +information as a man of fair education should possess about icebergs, +northern lights, Esquimaux, musk-oxen, bears, walruses, &c., together +with all the ordinary incidents of an Arctic voyage woven into a clear +connected narrative, we must admit that a good work has been done, and +that the author deserves the gratitude of those for whom the books are +especially designed, and also of young people of all classes."</p> + +<p class='center'>I.</p> + +<p>FIGHTING THE WHALES; or, Doings and Dangers on a Fishing Cruise.</p> + +<p class='center'>II.</p> + +<p>AWAY IN THE WILDERNESS; or, Life among the Red Indians and Fur Traders +of North America.</p> + +<p class='center'>III.</p> + +<p>FAST IN THE ICE; or, Adventures In the Polar Regions.</p> + +<p class='center'>IV.</p> + +<p>CHASING THE SUN; or, Rambles in Norway.</p> + +<p class='center'>V.</p> + +<p>SUNK AT SEA; or, The Adventures of Wandering Will in the Pacific.</p> + +<p class='center'>VI.</p> + +<p>LOST IN THE FOREST; or, Wandering Will's Adventures in South America.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE'S MISCELLANY—continued.</h3> + +<p class='center'>VII.</p> + +<p>OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS; or, Wandering Will in the Land of the Red +Skin.</p> + +<p class='center'>VIII.</p> + +<p>SAVED BY THE LIFEBOAT; or, A Tale of Wreck and Rescue on the Coast.</p> + +<p class='center'>IX.</p> + +<p>THE CANNIBAL ISLANDS; or, Captain Cook's Adventures in the South Seas.</p> + +<p class='center'>X.</p> + +<p>HUNTING THE LIONS; or, The Land of the Negro.</p> + +<p class='center'>XI.</p> + +<p>DIGGING FOR GOLD; or, Adventures in California.</p> + +<p class='center'>XII.</p> + +<p>UP IN THE CLOUDS; or, Balloon Voyages.</p> + +<p class='center'>XIII.</p> + +<p>THE BATTLE AND THE BREEZE; or, The Fights and Fancies of a British Tar.</p> + +<p class='center'>XIV.</p> + +<p>THE PIONEERS: A Tale of the Western Wilderness.</p> + +<p class='center'>XV.</p> + +<p>THE STORY OF THE ROCK.</p> + +<p class='center'>XVI.</p> + +<p>WRECKED, BUT NOT RUINED.</p> + +<p class='center'>XVII.</p> + +<p>THE THOROGOOD FAMILY.</p> + +<p class='center'>XVIII.</p> + +<p>THE LIVELY POLL: A Tale of the North Sea.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By AGNES GIBERNE.</h3> + + +<p class='center'>"Tales that bear Miss Giberne's name are 'the best of the best.' No +writer excels her in this department of literature."—<i>Fireside News</i>.</p> + +<p class='center'>"That the story is Miss Giberne's guarantees refinement and Christian +principle."—<i>Churchman</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>THE ANDERSONS. Illustrated. Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + + +<p>THE DALRYMPLES. With Illustrations. Third Edition. Crown +8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo.</p> + + +<p>"LEAST SAID, SOONEST MENDED." 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"A simple tale, well told."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"To say that it is by Miss Giberne is at once to recommend the story +highly to girls."—<i>Quiver</i>.</p> + +<p>"A well written and most interesting tale."—<i>Glasgow Herald</i>.</p> + +<p>"A well written story. The moral is conveyed in a most interesting way, +and as a mere tale it will well repay perusal."—<i>Church Review</i>.</p> + + +<p>NUMBER THREE WINIFRED PLACE. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"A delightful story, and, we need hardly add—being Miss Giberne's—is +full of the highest and most profitable religious teaching."—<i>Record</i>.</p> + +<p>"A well constructed, thoroughly healthy tale."—<i>Aberdeen Free Press</i>.</p> + +<p>"Miss Giberne's book is for gentler readers. It appeals very delicately +to their softer sympathies, and introduces them to one young girl at +least who may serve as a model or ideal to them. It is written in a +pleasing sympathetic style."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p>"The plot of the story is as ingenious as the treatment is effective, +and it is told with great skill."—<i>Yorkshire Post</i>.</p> + + +<p>READY, AYE READY! 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"A thoroughly good and deeply interesting story."—<i>Newcastle +Chronicle</i>.</p> + +<p>"A charming story, which displays all this well-known writer's knowledge +of girls and their habits of mind."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + + +<p>MISS CON; or, All Those Girls. 5s.</p> + +<p>"Constance Conway is a charming heroine. Her diary is an admirable +collection of character sketches."<i>—Athenæum</i>.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>AGNES GIBERNE'S WORKS—continued</h3> + +<p>ENID'S SILVER BOND. 5s.</p> + +<p>"Enid's nature is essentially heroic.... The other characters are +cleverly sketched."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p>FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS. 2s.</p> + +<p>"Youthful readers have reason to thank Miss Giberne for having written +this capital story."—<i>John Bull</i>.</p> + +<p>ST. AUSTIN'S LODGE; or, Mr. Berkeley and his Nieces. 5s.</p> + +<p>"A very good example of the author's well-known style. It is carefully +written, and is in all respects a conscientious +performance."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p>BERYL AND PEARL. 5s.</p> + +<p>"Characterised by unflagging vivacity and great dramatic +power."-<i>Christian Leader</i>.</p> + +<p>"One of Miss Giberne's most delightful tales."—<i>Record</i>.</p> + +<p>DECIMA'S PROMISE. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"One of the best and soundest books we have seen."—<i>Public Opinion</i>.</p> + +<p>"The result of a disaster, Decima's distress, and the behaviour of the +parents, are touchingly told, and the whole case of conscience is +admirably, managed."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>DAISY OF OLD MEADOW. 2s.</p> + +<p>"There are few boys or girls to whom this story will not prove +interesting reading."—<i>Court Circular</i>.</p> + +<p>KATHLEEN. 5s.</p> + +<p>"Worthy of high praise, thoroughly good and very interesting."—<i>Church +Bells</i>.</p> + +<p>"A fascinating tale."—<i>Record</i>.</p> + +<p>OLD UMBRELLAS; or, Clarrie and her Mother. 2s.</p> + +<p>"The book is bright and lively, and will be read with pleasure and +profit."—<i>Christian</i>.</p> + +<p>MILES MURCHISON. Illustrated. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By Dr. MACAULAY.</h3> + +<p>STRANGE YET TRUE. With many Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By S.M.S. CLARKE (Mrs. Pereira).</h3> + +<p>BARON AND SQUIRE. A Story of the Thirty Years' War. From the German of +N. NOELDECHEN. With Sixteen Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s.</p> + +<p>THE DUKE'S PAGE; or, "In the Days of Luther." A Story for Boys. From the +German. Sixteen Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s.</p> + +<p>"A spirited and attractive narrative."—<i>Literary Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p>"A capital story for boys."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"This is one of the most fascinating historical tales we have ever +read."—<i>British Weekly</i>.</p> + +<p>"Throughout incident succeeds incident, and the interest never flags +until the end is reached."—<i>Public Opinion</i>.</p> + +<p>"A very good story.... Of sterling value."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>THE TRIVIAL ROUND; or, Chapters of Village Life. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"A book that will interest and refresh dwellers in cities with this +glimpse of a life in many respects different from their +own."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p>"These scenes from village life will be a source of pleasure to very +many readers. The story is ably worked out and pleasantly told."—<i>John +Bull</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By Rev. J. REID HOWATT.</h3> + +<p>THE CHILDREN'S PEW. Extra crown 8vo. 6s.</p> + +<p>THE CHILDREN'S PULPIT. A Year's Sermons and Parables for the Young. +Extra crown 8vo. 6s.</p> + +<p>"The subjects are well selected; the style is always simple and +forcible; and the lessons which the preacher desires to impress upon the +mind are such as every youthful reader may appreciate. The sermons have +another merit—that of brevity."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p>"Simple, suggestive, and singularly happy in illustration and +treatment."—<i>Word and Work</i>. ^</p> + +<p>THE CHILDREN'S ANGEL. A Volume of Sermons to Children. Crown 8vo. 2s. +6d.</p> + +<p>"Fifty-three brief addresses to children. Direct, as such things should +be; clear, as they must always be; and interesting, as, if any good is +to be done, they are bound to be—they contain a collection of truths +which children ought to be taught, and the teacher is always bright and +clear, which is saying a great deal."—<i>Church Bells</i>.</p> + +<p>"These sermonettes are eminently practical, while their homely style and +freedom from cant are delightful."—<i>Christian Commonwealth</i>.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By Lady KENNETT-BARRINGTON.</h3> + +<p>BIBLE HISTORY FOR CHILDREN. With a Short History of Christianity after +the Days of the Apostles. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"This book is eminently adapted for children's capabilities, and has the +great advantage of keeping as nearly as possible to Bible language. It +is an excellent little book."—<i>Christian Commonwealth</i>.</p> + +<p>"A little work that will commend itself to all who have to do with the +religious training of the young."—<i>Church Bells</i>.</p> + +<p>"The work is well and carefully done, the main current of the Bible +story being rendered with point and brevity in the very spirit of the +Scriptures."—<i>School Board Chronicle</i>.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By WILLIAM CHARLES METCALFE.</h3> + +<p>STEADY YOUR HELM; or, Stowed Away. With Six Illustrations. Extra crown +8vo. 5s.</p> + +<p>ABOVEBOARD. A Tale of Adventure on the Sea. With Six Illustrations. +Extra crown 8vo. 5s.</p> + +<p>"This is a delightfully exciting tale of the adventures of two sailor +lads, with icebergs, pirates, and similar horrors of the sea. Its chief +defect is that it leaves off too soon, even at the end of more than 300 +pages."—<i>Pall Mall Gazette.</i></p> + +<p>"This story of a cruise is about as full of adventures as it can well +be. There is plenty of 'go' in the narrative, and the incidents succeed +each other with a very plausible probability."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"It is a long time since we have read anything racier, breezier, more +healthful and invigorating than Mr. Metcalfe's fine sea +story."—<i>Methodist Recorder.</i></p> + +<p>FRANK WEATHERALL; or, Life in the Merchant Marine. A Sea Story for +Youth. Illustrated. Small crown 8vo. 2s.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By Mrs. SAXBY.</h3> + +<p>TOM AND HIS CROWS. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>VIKING BOYS. With Four Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"Wholesome and manly in tone, the book is thoroughly fresh and natural." +—<i>Morning Post</i>.</p> + +<p>"We prophesy that the tale of the Viking boys and their wild deeds will +become as popular as 'The Lads of Lunda,' and all the other stories with +which Mrs. Saxby has delighted us."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>THE LADS OF LUNDA. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"A perfect book for boys—generous, wholesome, manly in tone, and withal +thoroughly young, fresh, and natural. We recommend the book heartily, +not only to all boys, but to everybody who knows and likes brave +boys."-<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"A capital book. The tales are full of fun and pathos."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>THE YARL'S YACHT. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"'The Yarl's Yacht' is even superior in interest to its +predecessor."-<i>Standard</i>.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Saxby knows young people as few know them, and they will in return +thoroughly appreciate her. As long as she writes such genuine, +refreshing, happy family stories for them, they certainly will be most +fortunate."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p>"'The Yarl's Yacht' is a delightful sequel to the 'Lads of +Lunda.'"—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p>THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY and the Rev. BIOT +EDMONSTON. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"We would fain linger long over the scenes which this excellent volume +brings up before us. The authors have put together a very refreshing set +of memories."—<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By EVA TRAVERS EVERED POOLE.</h3> + +<p>LOTTA'S LIFE MISTAKE. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s.</p> + +<p>GOLDEN LINKS IN A LIFE CHAIN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"GOOD-NIGHT" THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD; or, Evening Readings for the Young. +Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By BARLEY DALE.</h3> + +<p>A TALE OF OUGHTS AND CROSSES; or, Mr. Holland's Conquest. With +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>SPOILT GUY. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. "A pretty tale, and +contains excellent religious teaching."—<i>Church, Sunday-School +Magazine.</i></p> + +<p>CISSY'S TROUBLES. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"A very charming story."—<i>Yorkshire Post</i>.</p> + +<p>"The book will be a favourite with young people, especially with our +girls."—<i>Family Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p>LITTLE BRICKS. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. "The story +is fascinating from the interest which is excited and maintained It is +written with power and insight."—<i>Courant</i>.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By ELLEN L. DAVIS.</h3> + +<p>HIGH AND LOWLY: A Story of Hearts and Homes. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo. 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>YOKED TOGETHER: A Tale of Three Sisters. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +2s.</p> + +<p>"A quiet domestic story of deep interest-, with several striking +situations, described with considerable power."—<i>Leeds Mercury</i>.</p> + +<p>A BOY'S WILL. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"The book is full of life and character, and would be a fitting gift +alike to the Sunday-school teacher and the scholar."—<i>British +Messenger</i>.</p> + + +<h3>By the Rev. GEORGE EVERARD, M.A.</h3> + +<p>YOUR SUNDAYS: Fifty-Two Short Readings. Especially intended for +Schoolboys. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"YOUR INNINGS:" A Book for Schoolboys. Sixth Thousand. Crown 8vo. 1s. +6d.</p> + +<p>EDIE'S LETTER; or, Talks with the Little Folks. 4to. 2s. 6d.</p> + + +<h3>By Miss HAVERGAL.</h3> + +<p>STREAMLETS OF SONG FOR THE YOUNG. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>MORNING BELLS. Being Waking Thoughts for the Little Ones. Royal 32mo, +9d.; paper cover, 6d.</p> + +<p>LITTLE PILLOWS. Being Good Night Thoughts for the Little Ones. 32mo, +9d.; paper cover, 6d.</p> + +<p>MORNING STARS; or, Names of Christ for His Little Ones. 32mo. 9d.</p> + +<p>THE FOUR HAPPY DAYS. 16mo. 1s.</p> + +<p>BEN BRIGHTBOOTS, and Other True Stories. Crown 8vo. 1s.</p> + +<p>BRUEY. A Little Worker for Christ. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.; paper cover, 1s.</p> + + +<p>MEMORIALS OF LITTLE NONY. A Biography of Nony Heywood, who was the First +Collector for the Bruey Branch of the Irish Society. By her Mother. With +Preface by Miss HAVERGAL, and a Portrait. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By the Rev. J.B. MACDUFF, D.D.</h3> + +<p>PARABLES OF THE LAKE; or, The Seven Stories of Jesus by the Lake of +Galilee. A Sunday Book for Young Readers. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE STORY OF A SHELL. A Romance of the Sea: with some Sea Teachings. A +Book for Boys and Girls. With Coloured Frontispiece and Other +Illustrations. Small 4to. 6s. Cheaper Edition, paper cover, 1s.; limp +cloth, 2s.</p> + +<p>THE STORY OF BETHLEHEM. A Book for Children. With Illustrations by +THOMAS. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>HOSANNAS OF THE CHILDREN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s.</p> + +<p>THE WOODCUTTER OF LEBANON. A Story Illustrative of a Jewish Institution. +16mo. 2s.</p> + +<p>TALES OF THE WARRIOR JUDGES. Fcap. 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE CITIES OF REFUGE; or, The Name of Jesus. A Sunday Book for the +Young. 16mo. 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>FERGUS MORTON. A Tale of a Scottish Boy. 18mo. 9d.</p> + +<p>THE EXILES OF LUCERNA; or, The Sufferings of the Waldenses during the +Persecution of 1686. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL. Being a Life of the Apostle designed for +Youth. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s.</p> + +<p>BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN; or, Christ the Light of the World. A Life of Our +Lord for the Young. With Illustrations by A. ROWAN. Post 4to. 3s. 6d.; +in paper cover, 1s.; limp cloth, 2s.</p> + +<p>WILLOWS BY THE WATERCOURSES; or, God's Promises to the Young. 64mo. 6d.; +paper cover, 3d.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By Rev. J. JACKSON WRAY.</h3> + +<p>OLD CRUSTY'S NIECE. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>WILL IT LIFT? A Story of a London Fog. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>JACK HORNER THE SECOND. With Illustrations. Cr. 8vo. 2s;</p> + +<p>SIMON HOLMES, THE CARPENTER IF ASPENDALE. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE SECRET OF THE MERE; or, Under the Surface. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>GARTON ROWLEY; or, Leaves from the Log of a Master Mariner. With +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>HONEST JOHN STALLIBRASS. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE CHRONICLES OF CAPSTAN CABIN. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>MATTHEW MELLOWDEW. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>NESTLETON MAGNA. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>PETER PENGELLY. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>PAUL MEGGITT'S DELUSION. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>A MAN EVERY INCH OF HIM. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<h3><i>THE "KNAPSACK" SERIES</i>.</h3> + +<p class='center'>With Frontispiece. Small crown 8vo. 1s. each.</p> + +<p>1. THE MAN WITH THE KNAPSACK; or, The Miller o Burnham Lee.</p> + +<p>2. WIDOW WINPENNY'S WATCHWORD.</p> + +<p>3. PRIMROSE GARTH.</p> + +<p>4. "A SONG O' SIXPENCE" FOR THE BAIRNS.</p> + +<p>5. GEOFFREY HALLAM; or, The Clerk of the Parish.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By Mrs. BARBOUR.</h3> + +<p>THE WAY HOME, AND HOW THE CHILDREN REACHED IT BY A RAILWAY ACCIDENT. +With Illustrations. Eighteenth Thousand. 16mo. 1s. 6d. limp; 2s. 6d. +boards.</p> + +<p>THE IRISH ORPHAN IN A SCOTTISH HOME. A Sequel to "The Way Home." 16mo. +1s. limp; 2s. 6d. boards.</p> + +<p>THE CHILD OF THE KINGDOM. Twenty-second Thousand. With Illustrations. +16mo. 1s. limp; 2s. 6d. boards.</p> + +<p>THE SOUL-GATHERER. Seventeenth Thousand. 16mo. 1s. limp; cloth gilt, 2s. +6d.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By Mrs. HAYCRAFT.</h3> + +<p>SUNWOOD GLORY; or, Through the Refiner's Fire. With Four Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By ESMÉ STUART.</h3> + +<p>A BRAVE FIGHT, AND OTHER STOKIES. With Four Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +2s. 6d.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By EDITH RALPH.</h3> + +<p>STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE BIBLE. Part I. A Scripture History for Little +Children. With a Preface by CUNNINGHAM GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D., and Twelve +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>Part II. From Death of Joshua to end of the Old Testament. A Scripture +History for Little Children. Revised and recommended by CUNNINGHAM +GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D. Twelve Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p>MRS. LESTER'S GIRLS AND THEIR SERVICE. By the Author of "Miss Marston's +Girls and their Confirmation." With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"A good book for young servants, or for reading at a sewing-class +attended by young women. Its tone and teaching are all we could +wish."—<i>Record</i>..</p> + +<p>"Its evident truthfulness and fidelity to nature make us think that it +is founded upon much experience of young girls in the working class. To +such it would, no doubt, be exceedingly interesting."—<i>Literary +Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p>MISS MARSTON'S GIRLS AND THEIR CONFIRMATION. With Frontispiece. Crown +8vo. 1s.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By the Rev. DAVID MacEWAN, D.D.</h3> + +<p>THIS YEAR. Anniversary Addresses for the Young. Second Edition. Square +16mo. 1s.</p> + +<h3>By the Rev. JAMES WELLS, M.A.</h3> + +<p>BIBLE OBJECT-LESSONS. Addresses to Children. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>BIBLE ECHOES: Addresses to the Young. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE PARABLES OF JESUS. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s.</p> + +<p>BIBLE CHILDREN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>BIBLE IMAGES. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wells has in these volumes been content to restrict himself to an +endeavour to win and instruct the young. He has done this with admirable +skill, with great transparency of meaning, vividness of treatment and +nicety of discrimination, combined with a befitting freedom and an +impressive earnestness."—<i>Literary World</i>.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wells contrives by a studied plainness of diction, by the +simplicity and directness of his style, by his evident earnestness and +kindliness, and a wealth of illustrative anecdotes, to minimise the +difficulties which children have to encounter in grasping new and +especially abstract ideas."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By Lady DUNBOYNE.</h3> + +<p>BREAKING OF THE CLOUDS. Crown 8vo. Illustrated. 2s.</p> + +<p>CHARITY. A Tale. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s.</p> + +<p>HER LIFE'S WORK. A Tale. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"The story, which is pleasantly and touchingly told, is thoroughly +suitable for a gift-book for girls of the upper classes."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By the Rev. J.H. WILSON.</h3> + +<p>THE KING'S MESSAGE. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. Small +crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"The union of solid teaching and fervent appeal with a cheerful outlook +on life we have seldom, if ever, seen more happily exemplified. Dr. +Wilson's book is as winsome as it is wise, thoroughly human in its +spirit and robust in its tone and teaching."—<i>Christian Leader</i>.</p> + +<p>"No better book than this very thoughtful, clearly and beautifully +written and tastefully illustrated volume, could be put into the hands +of the young."—<i>Aberdeen Free Press</i>.</p> + + +<p>THE GOSPEL AND ITS FRUITS. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"Exceedingly plain, practical, and pointed, full of striking and +ingenious illustrations."—<i>Aberdeen Journal</i>.</p> + + +<p>OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN: The Lord's Prayer Familiarly Explained and +Illustrated for the Young. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Wilson graduated long since as a prophet of God who has a voice for +the young. His explanation of the Lord's Prayer has made him a dear +friend to many a parent as well as child."—<i>Presbyterian Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Wilson's addresses are admirable specimens of what productions of +the kind should be, pithy, pointed, and practical, and abounding in +anecdotes and illustrations."—<i>Congregational Review</i>.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>By L.T. MEADE.</h3> + +<p>A LONDON BABY: The Story of King Roy. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s.</p> + +<p>"Very touching and sad, though the end is happy."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>THE CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE. With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo, 2s.; +gilt edges, 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"Displays vivid conception of character, and clear, graphic description. +The story is full of incident and adventure."—<i>Literary Churchman</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By Mrs. WINSCOM.</h3> + +<p>DEAR OLD ENGLAND. A Description of our Fatherland. Dedicated to all +English Children. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"English children will find much that is well worth knowing, and well +told, in this copiously illustrated volume."—<i>Christian World</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>By the Rev. W.W. TULLOCH, B.D.</h3> + +<p>THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF THE EMPEROR WILLIAM. Told for Boys and Girls +all over the World. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt +edges, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<h3>REVISED BY THE QUEEN.</h3> + +<p>THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF THE PRINCE CONSORT. Told for Boys and Girls. +Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt edges, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA. Told for Boys and Girls all +over the World. With Two Portraits. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt edges, +3s. 6d.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>THE "CHIMES" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 3s. 6d. each.</i></p> +<p class='center'>By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>1. SILVER CHIMES; or, Olive.<br /> +2. DAPHNE'S DECISION; or, Which Shall it Be.<br /> +3. CASSANDRA'S CASKET.<br /> +4. POPPIES AND PANSIES.<br /> +5. REX AND REGINA; or, The Song of the River.<br /> +6. STORIES OF THE CATHEDRAL CITIES OF ENGLAND.<br /> +7. DEWDROPS AND DIAMONDS.<br /> +8. HEATHER AND HAREBELL.<br /> +9. THE ROSES OF RINGWOOD. A Story for Children.<br /> +10. IN THE PURPLE.</p> + +<h3>THE "LAUREL" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 2s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + +<p>1. TOM AND HIS CROWS. By Mrs. SAXBY, Author of "Viking Boys," &c.<br /> +2. WATCH AND WATCH. By W.C. METCALFE, Author of "Frank Weatherall."<br /> +3. WINNING HIS LAURELS; or, The Boys of St. Raglan's. By F.M. HOLMES.<br /> +4. THAT AGGRAVATING SCHOOLGIRL. By GRACE STEBBING.<br /> +5. WHAT A MAN SOWETH. By GRACE STEBBING.<br /> +6. DULCIBEL'S DAY DREAMS; or, The Grand, Sweet Song. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +7. THE LADS OF LUNDA. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY.<br /> +8. THE YARL'S YACHT. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY.<br /> +9. A NEW EXODUS; or, The Exiles of the Zillerthal. A Story of the +Protestants of the Tyrol. By CATHERINE RAY.<br /> +10. GRACE MURRAY. A Story. By ELLA STONE.<br /> +11. MR. ORDE'S GRANDCHILDREN. By CECILIA SELBY LOWNDES.<br /> +12. WHERE THE DEW FALLS IN LONDON. By SARAH DOUDNEY.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>THE "SUNSHINE" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 2s. each</i>.</p> + +<p>1. THE BREAKING OF THE CLOUDS. By Lady DUNBOYNE, Author of "Charity," +&c. &c.<br /> +2. THROUGH SHADOW TO SUNSHINE. By Mrs. HORNIBROOK.<br /> +3. A SUMMER IN THE LIFE OF TWO LITTLE CHILDREN. By Mrs. HOWARD.<br /> +4. OLIVER'S OLD PICTURES; or, The Magic Circle. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +5. RUBY AND PEARL; or, The Children at Castle Aylmer. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +6. LADY TEMPLE'S GRANDCHILDREN. By Miss EVERETT GREEN.<br /> +7. A LONDON BABY: The Story of King Roy. By L.T. MEADE.<br /> +8. HIDDEN HOMES; or, The Children's Discoveries. By M.A. PAULL RIPLEY.<br /> +9. AN UNWILLING WITNESS. By Miss LYSTER.<br /> +10. OUR NEIGHBOUR, WIDOW YATES. By GRACE STEBBING.<br /> +11. BIBLE PLANTS AND ANIMALS. Containing Illustrations of over 1000 +Passages of Scripture from the Works of Travellers and other Sources. By +ALFRED E. KNIGHT.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>THE "MARBECK" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 1s. 6d. each</i></p> + +<p>1. THE STORY OF JOHN MARBECK: A Windsor Organist of 300 Years Ago. By +Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +2. MY GRANDMOTHER'S PICTURES. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +3. THE OLD VIOLIN; or, Charity Hope's Own Story. By EDITH C. KENYON.<br /> +4. A BOY'S WILL. By ELLEN L. DAVIS.<br /> +5. SPOILT GUY. By DARLEY DALE.<br /> +6. HIGH AND LOWLY: A Tale of Hearts and Homes. By ELLEN L. DAVIS.<br /> +7. PETER PENGELLY. By Rev. JACKSON WRAY.<br /> +8. NELLIE GRAHAM; or, The Story of a Commonplace Woman. By ELLA STONE.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>THE "SWEETBRIAR" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>A New Series of Volumes. With Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. +each.</i></p> + +<p>WORK, WAIT, WIN. By RUTH LAMB.</p> + +<p>THE ANDERSONS. By Miss GIBERNE, Author of "The Dalrymples," &c.</p> + +<p>SWEETBRIAR; or, Doings in Priorsthorpe Magna. By AGNES GIBERNE.</p> + +<p>COULYING CASTLE; or, A Knight of the Olden Days. By AGNES GIBERNE.</p> + +<p>AIMÉE: A Tale of the Days of James the Second. By AGNES GIBERNE.</p> + +<p>LILLA THORNE'S VOYAGE; or, "That Far Remembrancer." By GRACE STEBBING.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>THE "ROUNDABOUT" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each.</i></p> + +<p>THE RIGHT ROAD. A Manual for Parents and Teachers. By J. KRAMER.</p> + +<p>THROUGH BIBLE LANDS. Notes of Travel in Egypt, the Desert, and +Palestine. Profusely Illustrated. By PHILIP SCHAFF, D.D., and an Essay +on Egyptology and the Bible, by EDOUARD NAVILLE.</p> + + +<hr /> +<h2>BIBLE HISTORY FOR THE YOUNG.</h2> + +<h3>"THE WORD" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'>By SUSAN and ANNA WARNER, Authors of "The Wide, Wide World," "Queechy," +&c.</p> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations, Plain and Coloured. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + + +<p>The aim of this Series of Volumes is so to set forth the Bible incidents +and course of history, with its train of actors, as to see them in the +circumstances and colouring, the light and shade, of their actual +existence.</p> + +<p>The volumes embody, as far as possible, all the known facts, natural, +social, and historical, which are required for the illustration and +elucidation of the Bible narrative.</p> + +<p>1. WALKS FROM EDEN: The Scripture Story from the Creation to the Death +of Abraham.<br /> +2. THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: The Scripture Story from the Birth of Isaac to +the Death of Jacob.<br /> +3. THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH: The Scripture Story from the Death of Solomon +to the Captivity.<br /> +4. THE BROKEN WALLS OF JERUSALEM AND THE REBUILDING OF THEM. In +continuation of "The House of Israel" and "The Kingdom of Judah," and +completing the work.<br /> +5. THE STAR OUT OF JACOB: The Scripture Story Illustrating the Earlier +Portion of the Gospel Narrative.</p> + +<p>"These five books form a most comprehensive and attractive commentary on +the Scriptures suited to the requirements of the young. More real +knowledge in true child language, and within the understanding of +children, it has never been our privilege to meet with before. We are +disposed to envy those young friends who are fortunate enough to number +them among their literary possessions, for although pre-eminently +children's books, they are yet well able to impart instruction to +children of a larger growth."—<i>Rock</i>.</p> + +<p>"There is a pleasant freshness and reality conveyed to the old, +well-worn stories, which will make children understand the details of +Eastern life and the manners and customs of the old pastoral times. 'The +Word' Series will be a charming gift to young people."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p>"We doubt whether any one has ever told 'the old, old story' more +attractively, for children at least, than the author of 'The Wide, Wide +World.' Whatever fame she may have won by her works of fiction will be +greatly increased by her success in writing these marvellous +stories."—<i>Christian World</i>.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h3>THE GOLDEN LADDER SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations. Handsomely bound in cloth, gilt edges. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + +<p>"Children welcome with glee the volumes comprised in Nisbet's 'Golden +Ladder Series,' for they are full of interest, even though they are +stories with a moral, which is always a high-toned one."—<i>Liverpool +Courier</i>.</p> + +<p>"'The Golden Ladder Series' of story-books, so much appreciated for +their excellence. They can be all safely recommended to the notice of +teachers as being especially suitable as rewards, while no school +library can be said to be complete without a selection from +them."—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p>1. THE GOLDEN LADDER: Stories Illustrative of the Beatitudes. By SUSAN +and ANNA B. WARNER.<br /> +2. THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +3. QUEECHY. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +4. MELBOURNE HOUSE. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +5. DAISY. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +6. DAISY IN THE FIELD. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +7. THE OLD HELMET. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +8. NETTIE'S MISSION: Stories Illustrative of the Lord's Prayer. By JULIA +MATHEWS.<br /> +9. GLEN LUNA; or, Dollars and Cents. By ANNA B. WARNER.<br /> +10. DRAYTON HALL. Stories Illustrative of the Beatitudes. By JULIA +MATHEWS.<br /> +11. WITHIN AND WITHOUT: A New England Story.<br /> +12. VINEGAR HILL STORIES: Illustrative of the Parable of the Sower. By +ANNA B. WARNER.<br /> +13. LITTLE SUNBEAMS. By JOANNA MATHEWS.<br /> +14. WHAT SHE COULD AND OPPORTUNITIES. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +15. TRADING AND THE HOUSE IN TOWN.<br /> +16. DARE TO DO RIGHT. By JULIA MATHEWS.<br /> +17. HOLDEN WITH THE CORDS. By the Author of "Within and Without."<br /> +18. GIVING HONOUR: Containing "The Little Camp on Eagle Hill" and +"Willow Brook." By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +19. GIVING SERVICE: Containing "Sceptres and Crowns" and "The Flag of +Truce." By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +20. GIVING TRUST: Containing "Bread and Oranges" and "The Rapids of +Niagara." By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +*** <i>The Tales in the last three Volumes are Illustrative of the</i> LORD'S +PRAYER.<br /> +21. WYCH HAZEL. A Tale. By SUSAN and ANNA WARNER.<br /> +22. THE GOLD OF CHICKAREE. A Sequel to "Wych Hazel." By SUSAN and ANNA +B. WARNER.<br /> +23. DIANA. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +24. MY DESIRE. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +25. THE END OF A COIL. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +26. THE LETTER OF CREDIT. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +27. NOBODY. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +28. STEPHEN, M.D. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +29. A RED WALLFLOWER. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +30. DAISY PLAINS. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +31. CROSS CORNERS. By ANNA B. WARNER.<br /> +32. MISTRESS MATCHETT'S MISTAKE. By EMMA MARSHALL.<br /> +33. YOURS AND MINE. By ANNA B. WARNER.<br /> +34. ONE LITTLE VEIN OF DROSS. By Mrs. RUTH LAMB.<br /> +35. OAK BEND; or, Patience and her Schooling. By ANNA B. WARNER.<br /> +36. A CANDLE IN THE SEA; or, Winter at Seal's Head. A Book about +Lighthouses. By Rev. E.A. RAND.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>THE "GOLDEN SILENCE" SERIES OF TALES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations.</i></p> + +<p class='center'><i>Small Crown 8vo. Attractively bound in cloth. 1s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + +<p>GOLDEN SILENCE; or, Annals of the Birkett Family of Crawford-under-Wold. +By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>THE STORY OF OUR ENGLISH BIBLE AND WHAT IT COST. By Mrs. BAYLY.</p> + +<p>STEPPING HEAVENWARD. By Mrs. PRENTISS.</p> + +<p>WHAT KATY DID. By SUSAN COOLIDGE.</p> + +<p>MORAG: A Tale of Highland Life. By Mrs. MILNE RAE, Author of +"Rinaultrie," "Geordy's Tryst," &c.</p> + +<p>AUNT JANE'S HERO; or, Sorrow and Sunshine. By Mrs. PRENTISS.</p> + +<p>MAGGIE AND BESSIE, AND THEIR WAY TO DO GOOD. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS.</p> + +<p>BESSIE AT SCHOOL. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS.</p> + +<p>BESSIE AND HER FRIENDS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS.</p> + +<p>BESSIE IN THE MOUNTAINS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS.</p> + +<p>BESSIE AT THE SEASIDE. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS.</p> + +<p>BESSIE ON HER TRAVELS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS.</p> + +<p>THE THREE LITTLE SPADES. By ANNA B. WARNER.</p> + +<p>WHEN I WAS YOUNG. By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>THE HOME AT GREYLOCK. By Mrs. PRENTISS.</p> + +<p>MICHAEL'S TREASURES; or, Choice Silver. By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>CISSY'S TROUBLES. By DARLEY DALE.</p> + +<p>LITTLE BRICKS. By DARLEY DALE.</p> + +<p>EFFIE'S FRIENDS; or, Chronicles of the Woods and Shore.</p> + +<p>MATTHEW FROST, CARRIER; or, Little Snowdrop's Mission. By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>MY LADY BOUNTIFUL. By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF TWO OLD SONGS. By Lady DUNBOYNE.</p> + +<p>ESTHER'S JOURNAL. A Tale of Swiss Pension Life. By a RESIDENT.</p> + +<p>THREE PATHS IN LIFE. A Tale for Girls.</p> + +<p>STELLAFONT ABBEY; or, "Nothing New." By EMMA MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>A SUNBEAM'S INFLUENCE; or, Eight Years After. By Lady DUNBOYNE.</p> + +<p>SUSY'S SACRIFICE.</p> + +<p>KENNETH FORBES.</p> + +<p>THE CHILDREN OF BLACKBERRY HOLLOW.</p> + +<p>THE SAFE COMPASS, AND HOW IT POINTS. By Rev. R. NEWTON, D.D.</p> + +<p>ME. RUTHERFORD'S CHILDREN.</p> + +<p>THERESA'S JOURNAL.</p> + +<p>GRAN. By E.A.B.D.</p> + +<p>PAT'S INHERITANCE. By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>IN THE MIST. A Tale. By Ross PORTER.</p> + +<p>THE OTHER HOUSE. A Tale. By MARY R. HIGHAM.</p> + +<p>NATURE'S GENTLEMAN. By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>THE BRIDE'S HOME. By Mrs. MARSHALL.</p> + +<p>MILES MURCHISON. By Miss GIBERNE.</p> + +<p>HOUSE IN TOWN. By the Author of "The Wide, Wide World."</p> + +<p>TRADING. By the Author of "The Wide, Wide World." Sequel to above.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class='center'><i>Bound in Paper Covers. 1s.</i></p> + +<p>AUNT JANE'S HERO. By Mrs. PRENTISS.</p> + +<p>STEPPING HEAVENWARD. By Mrs. PRENTISS.</p> + +<p>WHAT KATIE DID. By SUSAN COOLIDGE.</p> + +<p>MORAG. A Tale of Highland Life. By Mrs. MILNE RAB.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>"DOLLY'S CHARGE" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. 1s. each.</i>.</p> + +<p>1. DOLLY'S CHARGE. By Miss MARSHALL.<br /> +2. THE LITTLE PEAT-CUTTERS; or, The Song of Love. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +3. PRIMROSE; or, The Bells of Old Effingham. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +4. THE BOY GUARDIAN. By C.E. BOWEN.<br /> +5. GENTLEMAN JIM. By Mrs. PRENTISS.<br /> +6. OUR LADDIE. By Miss L.J. TOMLINSON.<br /> +7. VIOLET IN THE SHADE. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +8. LIGHT ON THE LILY. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +9. A ROSE WITHOUT A THORN. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +10. ALICE'S PUPIL. By Miss M'CLINTOCK.<br /> +11. HEATHERCLIFFE; or, It's no Concern of Mine. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +12. ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY PASCOE. By G. NORWAY.<br /> +13. MISS BROWN'S BASKET. By Mrs. HENRY CHARLES.<br /> +14. LOTTA'S LIFE MISTAKE. By Mrs. EVERED POOLE.<br /> +15. THE PRINCESSES OF PENRUTH. By MARY H. DEBENHAM.<br /> +16. SEE FOR YOURSELF. By GRACE STEBBING.<br /> +17. SUNDAY OCCUPATIONS FOR CHILDREN. BY Mrs. BARCLAY.<br /> +18. PARSON'S GREEN. By G. NORWAY.<br /> +19. HELEN; or, Temper and its Consequences.<br /> +20. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY; or, The Disobedient Son.<br /> +21. CHINA AND ITS PEOPLE. By A MISSIONARY'S WIFE.<br /> +22. FRANK GORDON, by F.R. GOULDING; and LITTLE JACK, by ANNA WARNER.<br /> +23. TO-DAY AND YESTERDAY. A Story of Summer and Winter Holidays. By Mrs. MARSHALL.<br /> +24. BOTH SIDES. By JESSIE W. SMITH.<br /> +25. STEPHEN GILMORE'S DREAM; or, Coals of Fire. By JESSIE W. SMITH.<br /> +26. JUDITH THE STRANGER. By the Hon. GERTRUDE BOSCAWEN.<br /> +27. THE GATE IN PARK LANE. By the Hon. GERTRUDE BOSCAWEN.<br /> +28. SIMPLE LESSONS FROM NATURE. By the Hon. M.C. LEIGH.<br /> +29. THE SPOILT TWINS. By EMILY DIBDIN.<br /> +30. BEN BRIGHTBOOTS, and Other True Stories. HAVERGAL.<br /> +31. SAM'S MISSION. By BEATRICE MARSHALL, Author of "Dolly's Charge," &c.<br /> +32. KATIE: A Daughter of the King.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>NISBET'S JUVENILE LIBRARY.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations. 16mo. 1s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + +<p>"Capital books, well printed, tastefully bound, and containing a good +deal of letterpress. We do not know a cheaper series at the +price."—<i>Sunday School Chronicle</i>.</p> + +<p>LILIES OF THE VALLEY.</p> + +<p>HERBERT PERCY.</p> + +<p>PASSING CLOUDS.</p> + +<p>WARFARE AND WORK.</p> + +<p>EVELYN GREY.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING.</p> + +<p>SOWING IN TEARS AND REAPING IN JOY.</p> + +<p>SILVER SANDS.</p> + +<p>THE KNOTS TOM GILLIES TIED AND UNTIED.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>THE SELECT SERIES OF BOOKS SUITABLE FOR PRESENTS AND PRIZES.</h3> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + +<p>THE MOUNTAINS OF THE BIBLE: Their Scenes and their Lessons. By the Rev. +JOHN MACFARLANE, LL.D.</p> + +<p>LIFE: A Series of Illustrations of the Divine Wisdom in the Forms, +Structures, and Instincts of Animals. By P.H. GOSSE, F.R.S.</p> + +<p>LAND AND SEA. By P.H. GOSSE, F.R.S.</p> + +<p>THE ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. By P.H. Gosse, F.R.S. Two Vols.</p> + +<p>TALES FROM ALSACE; or, Scenes and Portraits from Life in the Days of the +Reformation.</p> + +<p>BYEWAYS IN PALESTINE. By JAMES FINN, M.R.A.S.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>THE "PILGRIM" SERIES.</h3> + +<p class='center'>POPULAR EDITIONS OF STANDARD BOOKS.</p> + +<p class='center'><i>Small Crown 8vo, numerous Illustrations, 2s. each; with gilt edges, 2s. +6d. each</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>1. BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.<br /> +2. BUNYAN'S HOLY WAR.<br /> +3. FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS.<br /> +4. THE THRONE OF DAVID: From the Consecration of the Shepherd of +Bethlehem to the Rebellion of Prince Absalom. By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, +LL.D.<br /> +5. THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID; or, Three Years in the Holy City. +By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, LL.D.<br /> +6. THE PILLAR OF FIRE; or, Israel in Bondage. By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, LL.D.<br /> +7. BEN-HUR; or, The Days of the Messiah. By LEW WALLACE.<br /> +8. THE LAMPLIGHTER. By M. CUMINS.<br /> +9. UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. By Mrs. H. STOWE.<br /> +10. ROBINSON CRUSOE.<br /> +11. MY DESIRE. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +12. NOBODY. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +13. THE FAIRCHILD FAMILY. By Mrs. SHERWOOD.<br /> +14. THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON.<br /> +15. DERRY. A Tale of the Revolution. By CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH.<br /> +16. ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. By P.H. GOSSE.<br /> +17. GREAT MEN: A Series of Lectures. By the late Rev. FREDERIC MYERS, M.A.<br /> +18. TOO LATE FOR THE TIDE-MILL. By Rev. E.A. RAND.<br /> +19. LITTLE WOMEN. By L.M. ALCOTT.<br /> +20. DRAYTON HALL. By JULIA MATHEWS.<br /> +21. THE END OF A COIL. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +22. GLEN LUNA. By ANNA WARNER.<br /> +23. DIANA. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +24. STEPHEN, M.D. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +25. MELBOURNE HOUSE. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +26. BIBLE WARNINGS. By Rev. Dr. NEWTON.<br /> +27. THE PHYSICIAN'S DAUGHTER.<br /> +28. THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +29. DAISY. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +30. DAISY IN THE FIELD. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +31. NOR'ARD OF THE DOGGER. By E.J. MATHER.<br /> +32. A DREAM OF THE NORTH SEA. By J. RUNCIMAN.<br /> +33. SCRIPTURE ANIMALS. By Rev. Dr. NEWTON.<br /> +34. QUEECHY. By SUSAN WARNER.<br /> +35. DARE TO DO RIGHT. By JULIA MATHEWS.<br /> +36. NETTIE'S MISSION. By JULIA MATHEWS.<br /> +37. WANDERING HOMES AND THEIR INFLUENCES.<br /> +38. FRANK WEATHERALL. By W.C. METCALFE, Author of "Above Board," &c.<br /> +39. SHORT LIVES OF MEN WITH A MISSION: Charles Kingsley, Lord Lawrence, +Henry M. Stanley. With Portraits.<br /> +40. EXPELLED. By the Author of "Dorrincourt."<br /> +41. YOKED TOGETHER. By ELLEN DAVIS.<br /> +42. BESSIE HARRINGTON'S VENTURE. By JULIA MATHEWS.<br /> +43. OPENING OF A CHESTNUT BURR. By E.P. ROE.<br /> +44. ST. ELMO. By A.J.E. WILSON.<br /> +45. THE CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE. By L.T. MEAD.<br /> +46. ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. Second Series. By P.H. GOSSE.<br /> +LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET, W.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>SELECT LIST OF BOOKS</h3> +<h2>DEVOTIONAL AND PRACTICAL</h2> +<h3>PUBLISHED BY JAMES NISBET & CO.</h3> + +<hr /> + +<h3>THE CHRISTIAN UNDER REVIEW.</h3> + +<p class='center'>A SERIES OF WORKS ON PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIFE Small crown 8vo.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S INFLUENCE. By the Ven. WILLIAM MACDONALD SINCLAIR, D.D., +Archdeacon of London. 2s.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S START. By the Very Rev. the DEAN OF NORWICH. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE MORAL CULTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN. By the Rev. JAMES MCCANN, D.D. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE PATHWAY OF VICTORY. By the Rev. ROBERT B. GIRDLESTONE, M.A., Hon. +Canon of Christ Church, and late Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S RECREATIONS. By the Rev. HENRY SUTTON, M.A., Vicar of +Holy Trinity, Bordesley. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S PROGRESS. By the Ven. G.R. WYNNE, D.D., Archdeacon of +Aghadoe. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. By the Very Rev. the DEAN +OF NORWICH. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S AIMS. By the Rev. ALFRED PEARSON, M.A., Incumbent of St. +Margaret's Church, Brighton. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE INTELLECTUAL CULTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN. By the Rev. JAMES MCCANN, +D.D. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S PRIVILEGES. By the Rev. W.J. DEANE, M.A. 1s.</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S INHERITANCE. By the Rev. C.A. GOODHART, M.A., Incumbent +of St. Barnabas', Highfield, Sheffield. 1s.</p> + +<p>"Simple and forcible as these books are in their teaching, and brief in +extent, they deserve the attention of those who direct the religious +teaching of the young."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p>"We dipped into these pages alike with pleasure and profit. The writers, +each on his own theme, seem steadfastly to keep in view scriptural +teaching, sound doctrine, and the trials and temptations which beset the +daily life and walk of the believer."—<i>Word and Work</i>.</p> + +<p>"How completely they cover the field of Christian needs is sufficiently +indicated by their titles. They are well fitted to stimulate the piety +and clear the views of those holding the doctrines of the Church of +England."-<i>Liverpool Mercury.</i></p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By H. BONAR, D.D.</h3> + +<p>GOD'S WAY OF PEACE. A Book for the Anxious. 16mo, 1s. 6d. Cheap Edition, +paper cover, 6d.; cloth, 9d. Large Type Edition, crown 8vo, 2s.</p> + +<p>GOD'S WAY OF HOLINESS. 16mo, 1s. 6d. Cheap Edition, paper cover, 6d.; +cloth, 9d. Large Type Edition, crown 8vo, 2s.</p> + + +<h3>By MATTHEW HENRY.</h3> + +<p>EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS;</p> + +<p>With Practical Remarks and Observations—In Nine Volumes. Imp. 8vo, £2, +2s. <i>Net.</i> In Six Volumes. Medium 8vo, £1, 11s. 6d. <i>Net</i>.</p> + + +<h3>By LADY CATHARINE LONG.</h3> + +<p>HEAVENLY THOUGHTS FOR MORNING AND EVENING HOURS. Selections in Prose and +Verse, with Passages from Scripture. With a Short Introduction, 16mo., +Cloth, 2s. 6d.; silk, 4s. 6d, each.</p> + + +<h3>By HARRIET E. COLVILE.</h3> + +<p>THE WAY SHE TROD. A STUDY. Just Published. Small crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"'The Way She Trod' is a study of the development of religious sentiment +and belief in a girl's character."—<i>Scotsman.</i></p> + +<p>"She is Triplice, which, being interpreted, means threefold.... Her +life-history, under these various phases, is ingeniously set +forth."—<i>Glasgow Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"An admirably written book for young women, who will be attracted by the +interesting story, telling how Triplice was led by a way she knew not' +until she finds rest and joy in God."—<i>The Christian</i>.</p> + +<p>"A good book for distribution among girls of the upper +classes."—<i>Record</i>.</p> + +<p>FLOWER VOICES. With Illustrations. Demy 16mo, 1s.</p> + +<p>"A dainty little booklet, giving many sweet and useful lessons from the +flowers."—<i>The News</i>.</p> + +<p>"A choice little book, in which flowers are made to typify men and +women, and to whisper important lessons regarding life and +duty."-<i>Christian</i>.</p> + +<p>"Short stories, which will both please and profit. There is life and +point about them, and their association with flowers is by no means +strained. We place this little book in the first class as to the quality +of the writing."-<i>Sword and Trowel</i>.</p> + +<p>WAFTED SEEDS. With Illustrations. Demy 16mo, 1s.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By Miss MARSH.</h3> + +<p>THE RIFT IN THE CLOUDS. Small crown 8vo, 1s.</p> + +<p>CROSSING THE RIVER. Small crown 8vo, 1s.</p> + +<p>SHINING LIGHT. Small crown 8vo, 1s.</p> + +<p>WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. A True Story. Crown 8vo, 1s.</p> + + +<h3>By Rev. J. REID HOWATT.</h3> + +<p>THE CHILDREN'S PEW. Sermons to Children.</p> + +<p>AFTER HOURS; or, The Religion of Our Leisure Time. With Appendix on How +to Form a Library for Twenty Shillings. Small crown 8vo, 1s.</p> + +<p>THE CHILDREN'S PULPIT. A Year's Sermons and Parables for the Young. +Second Edition. Extra crown 8vo, 6s.</p> + +<p>"It will be heartily welcomed. The subjects are well selected; the style +is always simple and forcible, and the lessons which the preacher +desires to impress upon the mind are such as every youthful reader may +appreciate. The sermons have another merit—that of brevity. A child may +read them with a good deal of pleasure, and, it need hardly be said, +with much profit."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p>"The sermonettes are simple, suggestive, and singularly happy in +illustration and treatment."—<i>Word and Work</i>.</p> + +<p>"All these fifty-three sermons and parables are worth reading, and would +seem admirable either as models for addresses to children, or for +reading in the home circle."—<i>Church Bells</i>.</p> + +<p>"Full of nature and of life, and flashing with happy illustrations. +"<i>—Christian World.</i></p> + +<p>THE CHILDREN'S ANGEL. Being a Volume of Sermons to Children. Crown 8vo, +2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"Brief, fresh, and often original in thought. A preacher to children +will find many suggestions and ideas in these discourses."—<i>Literary +Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p>"Fifty-three brief addresses to children. Direct, as such things should +be; clear, as they must always be; and interesting, as, if any good is +to be done, they are bound to be—they contain a collection of truths +which children ought to be taught, and the teacher is always bright and +clear, which is saying a great deal."—<i>Church Bells</i>.</p> + +<p>"One of the most beautiful and helpful books we know of for ministers +and others who are called upon to address the young."—<i>Methodist New +Connexion Magazine.</i></p> + + +<h3>By Miss NUGENT.</h3> + +<p>THE PRINCE IN THE MIDST. Jesus our Centre. 16mo, 1s.</p> + +<p>By SAMUEL GILLESPIE PROUT.</p> + +<p>NEVER SAY DIE: A Talk with Old Friends. 16mo. 9d.; paper cover, 6d.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By the Rev. JAMES WELLS, M.A.</h3> + +<p>BIBLE OBJECT LESSONS. Addresses to Children. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>BIBLE ECHOES. Addresses to the Young. Small crown. 8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE PARABLES OF JESUS. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo, 5s.</p> + +<p>BIBLE CHILDREN. Studies for the Young. With illustrations. Small crown +8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>BIBLE IMAGES. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.</p> + + +<h3>By the Rev. J.H. WILSON, D.D.</h3> + +<p>THE KING'S MESSAGE. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. Small +crown 8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE GOSPEL AND ITS FRUITS. A Book for the Young With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN: The Lord's Prayer Familiarly Explained and +Illustrated for the Young. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.</p> + +<h3>By EDITH RALPH.</h3> + +<p>STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE BIBLE. PART I +FROM THE CREATION TO THE DEATH OF JOSHUA. A Scripture History for Little +Children. With a Preface by CUNNINGHAM GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D., and Twelve +Illustrations. Crown. 8vo, 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p class='center'>FROM THE PREFACE.</p> + +<p>"Miss Edith Ralph, in this little book, shows herself exceptionally +skilful in her delicate task.... The tone and spirit of her pages seem +to me admirably suited to her subject—simple, tender, gentle, wise, and +full of sweet Christian love, they point the little ones invitingly to +heaven, and lead the way.... Nor is the careful and well-informed +intelligence wanting which is needed to make the first steps in Bible +knowledge a preparation for safe and healthy progress in it hereafter."</p> + +<p>Part II. FROM DEATH OF JOSHUA TO END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. A Scripture +History for Little Children. Revised and recommended by CUNNINGHAM +GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D. Twelve Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"No sweeter, wiser, or more Christian story of the Scriptures could be +given to a little child or read to it."—<i>Christian Commonwealth.</i> "Just +the thing for Sunday afternoon,"—<i>Word and Work</i>.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By FREDERICK A. ATKINS,</h3> + +<p class='center'>Editor of "The Young Man," and Hon. Sec. of the National Anti-Gambling League.</p> + +<p>MORAL MUSCLE: AND How TO USE IT. A Brotherly Chat with Young Men. With +an Introduction by Rev. THAIN DAVIDSON, D.D. Now ready. Small crown 8vo, +1s.</p> + +<p>Dr. CLIFFORD writes:—"It is full of life, throbs with energy, is rich +in stimulus, and bright with hope."</p> + +<p><i>The Methodist Times</i> says:—"An excellent book for young men—manly, +honest, straightforward, and full of Christian earnestness."</p> + +<p>FIRST BATTLES, AND HOW TO FIGHT THEM.</p> + +<p>Just Published. Small crown 8vo, 1s.</p> + +<p>"An excellent book for young men. The addresses are vigorous and to the +point. The work would certainly help to develop in a thoughtful reader a +truer manliness than generally prevails among our young men."—<i>Irish +Ecclesiastical Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p>"Another of Mr. Atkins' capital little books for young men."—<i>British +Weekly.</i></p> + + +<p>HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE. By Dr. CLIFFORD, M.A.; Professor ELMSLIE, D.D.; +R.F. HORTON, M.A.; Rev. F.B. MEYEE, B.A.; Rev. C.H. WALLER, M.A.; Rev. +H.C.G. MOULE, M.A.; Rev. C.A. BERRY; Rev. W.J. DAWSON. Third Edition. +Small crown 8vo, 1s.</p> + +<p>"In this little book we have the choicest counsels of men who are +themselves successful students of the Word. We very earnestly commend +this volume. All those who desire to know how to study the Scriptures +with the utmost profit should secure it at once."—<i>Christian Advocate</i>.</p> + +<p>"Young Bible students will find some very valuable hints in this little +volume."—<i>Nonconformist</i>.</p> + +<p>"The whole of these essays are well worthy of perusal, and are as +instructive as they are interesting-."—<i>Manchester Courier</i>.</p> + +<p>"In this small book are comprised eight practical and, we may say, +delightful essays from well-known divines and authors,"—<i>Schoolmaster</i>.</p> + +<p>THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS: "WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?" By SAMUEL +WAINWRIGHT, D.D., Incumbent of St. Stephen's, Clapham Park. Crown 8vo, +cloth, 7s. 6d.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By Rev. THEODORE CUYLER, D.D.</h3> + +<p>STIRRING THE EAGLE'S NEST, AND OTHER PRACTICAL DISCOURSES. Just +Published. Extra Crown 8vo, 6s.</p> + +<p>"A volume of earnest and able sermons, full of life and +vigour."—<i>Literary Churchman.</i></p> + +<p>"In this volume Dr. Cuyler is at his best.... His sermons are full of +practical teaching, and cannot fail to profit the reader."—<i>Rock</i>. "Dr. +Cuyler has given us here some of his best work."—<i>Church Bells</i>.</p> + +<p>"This is a volume of short practical sermons, characterised by the +simplicity and directness which we expect from Dr. Cuyler."—<i>Christian +Leader</i>.</p> + +<p>"The discourses are vigorous expositions of simple texts."—<i>Scotsman</i></p> + +<p>HOW TO BE A PASTOR. Recently Published. Crown 8vo, 2s.</p> + +<p>"It is full of strong, cheery, sensible, hard-working Christianity. It +ought to have a very large circulation."—<i>British Weekly</i>.</p> + +<p>"Twelve chapters well worthy of the study of pastors, and calculated to +stimulate all who have at heart the cause of Christ."—<i>Christian</i>.</p> + +<p>"In this handy little volume Dr. Cuyler gives wise guidance, couched in +graphic and telling style."—<i>Methodist Recorder</i>.</p> + +<p>"We lay down this book, brimful of wholesome advice, with the earnest +wish that some of our wealthy laymen would place a copy of it in the +hands of each of our ministers."—<i>Christian Advocate</i>.</p> + + +<h3>By the Rev. ALFRED PEARSON, M.A.,</h3> + +<p class='center'>INCUMBENT OF ST. MARGARET'S CHURCH, BRIGHTON.</p> + +<p>CHRISTUS MAGISTER: SOME TEACHINGS FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Just +Published. Crown 8vo, 5s.</p> + +<p><i>The Bishop of Bedford</i> says:—"Old truths are felicitously expressed +and beautifully illustrated. There is much that is original and +suggestive in exposition."</p> + +<p><i>The Dean of Winchester</i> says:—"A delightful volume: the chapter on +'Non-Resistance' pleases me especially."</p> + +<p>THE CHRISTIAN'S AIMS. Small Crown 8vo, 1s.</p> + +<p>"Under Mr. Pearson's guidance the aims of life are considered with +reference to God, to ourselves, and to our fellows. Self-denial, as +required of every Christian, is sensibly considered in the chapter on +Cross-bearing. "—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"Many Christians would derive benefit from reading the chapters 'On +Glorifying God,' 'On Self-Mastery,' 'On Self-Fulfilment,' 'On +Cross-Bearing' and 'On Tone.'"—<i>English Churchman</i>.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By the Rev. ANDREW MURRAY.</h3> + +<p class='center'>Small crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. each.</p> + +<p>THE NEW LIFE. Words of God for Disciples of Christ.</p> + +<p>"This book stands out among many of its kind as distinguished by a new +impulse and freshness of thought."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p>ABIDE IN CHRIST. Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Fellowship with the Son +of God. Sixty-third Thousand.</p> + +<p>"The varied aspects of this practical truth are treated with much +freshness, power, and unction. It cannot fail to stimulate, to cheer, +and to qualify for higher service."—Mr. SPURGEON in <i>The Sword and +Trowel</i>.</p> + +<p>LIKE CHRIST. Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Conformity to the Son of +God. A Sequel to "Abide in Christ." Twenty-eighth Thousand.</p> + +<p>"The author has written with such loving unction and spiritual insight +that his pages may be read with comfort and edification by +all."—<i>Literary Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p>WITH CHRIST IN THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER. 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GEORGE MATHESON, D.D.</h3> + +<p>MOMENTS ON THE MOUNT. A Series of Devotional</p> + +<p>Meditations. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"This little volume is not one to be read through at a sitting, and then +laid aside. Rather each meditation is to be pondered over, and enjoyed +singly and separately, and to be dwelt upon until it becomes a permanent +possession. Their suggestions can hardly fail to stimulate to Biblical +and theological research."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p>VOICES OF THE SPIRIT. Small crown 8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"A choice little volume of devotional meditations. It is not only devout +in spirit and tender in tone, but marked by freshness of thought, which +volumes of this kind too often lack."—<i>Methodist Recorder</i>.</p> + +<p>WISDOM'S HOUSE AND "HER SEVEN PILLARS."</p> + +<p>By Lady BEAUJOLOIS DENT. Small crown 8vo, 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>"An excellent little work, sound in doctrine, and thoroughly practical +in its application to the reader's conscience."<i>—Record.</i></p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By Mrs. A. RUSSELL SIMPSON.</h3> + +<p>FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIP. With Illustrations. Demy 16mo, 1s.</p> + +<p>"Twelve beautifully written chapters on friendship. Very suitable to +give to young people on life's threshold. Fresh and charming as a sprig +of heather or a morsel of thyme."—<i>Christian Treasury</i>.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Simpson quotes many of the finest things that have ever been said +or written on her subject; and some of her own remarks are quite as +good, not less full of insight, expressed with equal felicity, and +having in addition a searching spiritual power."—<i>Christian Leader</i>.</p> + +<p>BUILDING FOE GOD; or, Houses not Made with Hands. 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Being the following Seven Volumes in neat +cloth case, price 10s.</p> + +<p>MY KING; or, Daily Thoughts for the King's Children.</p> + +<p>ROYAL COMMANDMENTS; or, Morning Thoughts for the King's Servants.</p> + +<p>ROYAL BOUNTY; or, Evening Thoughts for the King's Guests.</p> + +<p>THE ROYAL INVITATION: Daily Thoughts on Coming to Christ.</p> + +<p>LOYAL RESPONSES; or, Daily Melodies for the King's Minstrels.</p> + +<p>KEPT FOR THE MASTER'S USE.</p> + +<p>STARLIGHT THROUGH THE SHADOWS.</p> + +<p><i>The Volumes may be had separately, in limp cloth, 1s. each</i>.</p> + +<p>MORNING BELLS; or, Waking Thoughts for the Little Ones. 32mo, 9d.; paper +cover, 6d.</p> + +<p>LITTLE PILLOWS. Being Good Night Thoughts for the Little Ones. 32mo, +9d.; paper cover, 6d.</p> + +<p>TREASURE TROVE. A Selection from some of Miss HAVERGAL'S Unpublished +Writings. 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SCHNEIDER, M.A., Vice-Principal +of Ridley Hall, Cambridge.</p> + +<h3>By the Rev. G.S. BOWES, B.A.</h3> + +<p>CONVERSATION: WHY DON'T WE DO MORE GOOD BY IT? +Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>SCRIPTURE ITSELF THE ILLUSTRATOR. A Manual of Illustrations gathered +from Scriptural Figures, Phrases, Types, Derivations, Chronology, Texts, +&c. Crown 8vo, 3s, 6d.</p> + +<p>INFORMATION AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR PREACHERS AND TEACHERS. Helps gathered +from Facts, Figures, Anecdotes, and Books, for Sermons, Lectures, and +Addresses. Crown 8vo, 5s.</p> + +<p>ILLUSTRATIVE GATHERINGS FOR PREACHERS AND TEACHERS. A Manual of +Anecdotes, Facts, Figures, Proverbs, Quotations, &c. 2 vols. Crown 8vo, +3s. 6d. each.</p> + +<p>IN PROSPECT OF SUNDAY. A Collection of Analyses, Arguments, +Applications, Counsels, Cautions, &c. Crown 8vo, 5s.</p> + +<p>NEARER HEAVEN: A Help to the Deepening of the Spiritual Life. By the +Rev. JOHN BAIRD. Crown 8vo, 1s. 6d.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By the Rev. 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A Book of Private Devotion for Morning and Evening. +16mo, 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE MORNING AND NIGHT WATCHES AND FAITHFUL PROMISER. In one Vol. 16mo, +2s.</p> + +<p>FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL. Being a Life of the Apostle Designed for Youth. +With Illustrations, Crown 8vo, 5s.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By the Rev. Prof. LEWIS F. STEARNS,</h3> + +<p class='center'>Author of "Evidence of Christian Experience."</p> + +<p>PRESENT DAY THEOLOGY. Extra crown 8vo, 10s. 6d.</p> + +<h3>By the Rev. HENRY WAGE, D.D.,</h3> + +<p class='center'>Principal of King's College, London.</p> + +<p>THE AUTHORITY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE, and other Sermons. Extra crown 8vo, 7s. +6d.</p> + +<h3>By the late Rev. AUBREY L. MOORE, M.A.</h3> + +<p>A VOLUME OF SERMONS.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE REV. DONALD FRASER, D.D., and a Selection from +his Sermons. With a Preface by J. OSWALD DYKES, D.D. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<p>SUNRISE GLEAMS. A Series of Daily Readings for a Month. By Lady HOPE. +16mo, 1s.</p> + +<p>SUNSET RAYS. A Companion Volume to "Sunrise Gleams." By Lady HOPE. 16mo, +1s.</p> + +<p>DAILY EVENING REST; or, Thoughts of Peace about the Master. By AGNES +GIBERNE. 16mo, 2s. 6d.</p> + +<p>THE VOICE OF JESUS DAY BY DAY. With Original Hymns. By F.M. MACRAE. And +an Introduction by HUGH MACMILLAN, D.D. Small crown 8vo, 2s.</p> + +<p>ABBA, FATHER. Helps to Prayer and Meditation. By the Rev. C.G. +BASKERVILLE, M.A. Crown 8vo, 1s. 6d.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2>LIST OF BOOKS OF FAMILY PRAYERS.</h2> + +<h3>By the Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP OF RIPON.</h3> + +<p>CHURCHMAN'S BOOK OF FAMILY PRAYERS. +Printed in Red and Black. Cloth plain, pott 4to, 3s. 6d. Cloth gilt, +burnished red edges, 5s.</p> + +<h3>By the Rev. GORDON CALTHROP, M.A.</h3> + +<p>FAMILY PRAYERS FOR FOUR WEEKS. Imperial 16mo, 2s. 6d.</p> + +<h3>By the Rev. J. OSWALD DYKES, D.D.</h3> + +<p>DAILY PRAYERS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD FOR A MONTH. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<h3>By the Rev. GEORGE EVERARD, M.A.,</h3> + +<p class='center'>Vicar of Christ Church, Dover.</p> + +<p>BEFORE HIS FOOTSTOOL. Family Prayers for one Month. With Prayers for +Special Occasions, and Introduction. Ninth Thousand. Crown 8vo, 3s.</p> + +<h3>By the Rev. C.E. KENNAWAY, M.A.</h3> + +<p>FAMILY PRAYERS FOR THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS FOR A FORTNIGHT; to which +are added, Prayers on Special Occasions. 16mo, 1s. 6d.</p> + +<h3>By the Rev. J.R. MACDUFF, D.D.</h3> + +<p>MORNING FAMILY PRAYERS. A Volume of Family Worship for each Morning of +the Year. Founded on Selected Passages of Scripture from the Old and New +Testaments. Small 4to. 6s. 6d.</p> + +<p>*** This volume is on a plan and arrangement of its own, in order to +secure, as much as may be, variety and comprehension.</p> + +<p>FAMILY PRAYERS. Small crown 8vo, 3s. 6d.</p> + +<h3>By M.L.M. DAWSON.</h3> + +<p>FAMILY PRAYERS FOR A MONTH. Demy 8vo, 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p>DAILY PRAYERS FOR BUSY HOMES. 16mo, 6d.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET, W.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2>WORKS BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<p>"In his tales of the sea, of the forest and the flames, and in all that +he writes, there is a fidelity to nature and a knowledge of many paths +of life which are not surpassed by any author in his special field of +literature."—<i>Morning Post</i>.</p> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each</i>.</p> + +<p class='center'>NEW VOLUME.</p> + +<p><b>THE BUFFALO RUNNERS</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF THE RED RIVER PLAINS.</p> + +<p><b>CHARLIE TO THE RESCUE</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE or THE SEA AND THE ROCKIES.</p> + +<p>"In 'Charlie to the Rescue' Mr. Ballantyne supplies his constituency +—which is now a large and well-satisfied one—with a sufficiency of +battles, sieges, and escapes; the troubles of ranchmen, whose lives are +threatened both by white and by black scoundrels, are admirably +reproduced. It is a capital story."—<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p><b>BLOWN TO BITS</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, THE LONELY MAN OF RAKATA. A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO.</p> + +<p>"A capital story, written in the author's old style, and full of life +and action from beginning to end."—<i>Standard</i>.</p> + +<p>"The book abounds in matter of exceptional interest, and should find its +way into the hands of all young people who would properly estimate the +wide-spreading and far-reaching influences and the extraordinary +character of the Krakatoa outburst."—<i>Manchester Courier</i>.</p> + +<p><b>BLUE LIGHTS</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, HOT WORK IN THE SOUDAN. A TALE OF SOLDIER LIFE IN SEVERAL OF ITS +PHASES.</p> + +<p>"An exciting story, full of excellent moral lessons."—<i>School Board +Chronicle</i>.</p> + +<p>"We heartily recommend 'Blue Lights'."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>"The soldier's career is graphically depicted, and the story is every +way a good one."—<i>Literary Churchman</i>.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3><i>Works by R.M. Ballantyne-continued.</i></h3> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each.</i></p> + +<p><b>THE FUGITIVES</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, THE TYRANT QUEEN OF MADAGASCAR.</p> + +<p>"There is plenty of adventure in the shape of imprisonment and combats +with men and animals, and a negro and a sailor between them supply a +comic element of the best quality. Everything considered, this is one of +the best stories even Mr. Ballantyne has published."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p><b>RED ROONEY</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, THE LAST OF THE CREW.</p> + +<p><b>THE ROVER OF THE ANDES.</b></p> + +<p>A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN SOUTH AMERICA.</p> + +<p>"We commend it to boys fond of adventure and of natural phenomena; a +very fascinating book."—<i>British Quarterly Review.</i></p> + +<p>"An admirable boy's story."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE YOUNG TRAWLER.</b></p> + +<p>A STORY OF LIFE AND DEATH AND RESCUE IN THE NORTH SEA.</p> + +<p>"Few men have laboured so steadfastly in their generation to provide +sound wholesome fare for 'our boys' as Mr. Ballantyne, and the 'Young +Trawler' is worthy of his reputation. It is not a whit less spirited +than his former tales, and conveys a large amount of useful information +on a highly important subject."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p><b>DUSTY DIAMONDS, CUT AND POLISHED.</b></p> + +<p>A TALE OF CITY-ARAB LIFE.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3><i>With Illustrations, Crown 8vo. 5s. each</i>.</h3> + +<p><b>THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, THE ELECTRICAL ADVENTURES OF A TELEGRAPH CABLE-LAYER.</p> + +<p>"There is not a dull page in it."—<i>Scotsman</i>. +"The interest never flags."—<i>Academy</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE GIANT OF THE NORTH</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, POKINGS ROUND THE POLE.</p> + +<p>"Of variety of perilous adventures and peril, ingeniously surmounted, +there is no lack."—<i>Daily News</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE LONELY ISLAND</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, THE REFUGE OF THE MUTINEERS.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ballantyne weaves the romantic episode of the mutiny of the +'Bounty' into a most effective narrative."—<i>Graphic</i>.</p> + +<p><b>POST HASTE</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF HER MAJESTY'S MAILS.</p> + +<p>"The book should find a place in every boy's library; it is full of +interest."—<i>Leeds Mercury</i>.</p> + +<p><b>IN THE TRACK OF THE TROOPS</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF MODERN WAR.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ballantyne has blended with the incidents of war on the Danube a +story of personal adventure spiritedly told."—<i>Daily News</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE SETTLER AND THE SAVAGE</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF PEACE AND WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.</p> + +<p>"A capital story of South African life. Mr. Ballantyne, through the +medium of a thoroughly manly and healthy tale of sport and war, frolic +and danger, full of stirring yet not exaggerated scenes, presents a +sketch of a very important period of the early history of our colony at +the Cape of Good Hope."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<hr /> +<h3><i>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each</i>.</h3> + +<p><b>UNDER THE WAVES</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, DIVING IN DEEP WATERS.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ballantyne enlarges the already gigantic debt due to him by the +young, by his 'Under the Waves,' a story meant to illustrate the +practice and peril of diving in deep water, which it does in not only an +interesting, but often in amusing manner."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p><b>RIVERS OF ICE</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE ILLUSTRATIVE OF ALPINE ADVENTURE AND GLACIER ACTION.</p> + +<p>"A tale brimful of interest and stirring adventure."—<i>Glasgow Herald</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE PIRATE CITY</b>.</p> + +<p>AN ALGERINE TALE.</p> + +<p>"The story is told with Mr. Ballantyne's usual felicity, and, as it is +plentifully sprinkled with horrors, no doubt it will be greatly enjoyed +by some boys."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p><b>BLACK IVORY</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF ADVENTURE AMONG THE SLAVERS OF EAST AFRICA.</p> + +<p>"A captivating story. We heartily recommend it."—<i>Record</i>.</p> + +<p>"Boys will find the book about as delightful a story of adventure as any +of them could possibly desire."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE NORSEMEN IN THE WEST</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS.</p> + +<p>"This thoroughly delightful book is an adaptation of the Saga of +Iceland, and also of Mr. Laing's 'Heimskingla; or Chronicles of the +Kings of Norway,' supplemented by Mr. Ballantyne's own experience and +adventures in the wilderness of America. These ingredients are put +together with the skill and spirit of an accomplished story-teller; and +the result is a book that cannot possibly be laid down till the very +last word of the last line has been read."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE IRON HORSE</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, LIFE ON THE LINE. A RAILWAY TALE.</p> + +<p>"A captivating book for boys."—<i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p><b>ERLING THE BOLD</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF THE NORSE SEA KINGS.</p> + +<p>"A capital tale of the Norse Sea Kings."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"The story is interesting and full of moving incidents by flood and +field, and it will therefore scarcely fail to be popular among +lads."—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p>"The story is clearly designed, and abounds with elements of romantic +interest; and the Author's illustrations are scarcely less vigorous than +his text."—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p><b>FIGHTING THE FLAMES</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF THE LONDON FIRE BRIGADE.</p> + +<p>"Many a schoolboy will find keen enjoyment in the perusal of 'Fighting +the Flames,' and assure his little sisters with suitable emphasis that +Mr. Ballantyne is 'a stunning good story-teller.'"—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p><b>DEEP DOWN</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF THE CORNISH MINES.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ballantyne's book will not fail to delight boys, for it is full of +deeds of daring and of 'hairbreadth escapes.'"—<i>Scotsman</i>.</p> + +<p>"By reading Mr. Ballantyne's admirable story a very large amount of +knowledge concerning Cornish mines may be acquired; whilst from the fact +of the information being given in the form of a connected narrative, it +is not likely very soon to be forgotten.... A book well worthy of being +extensively read."—<i>Mining Journal.</i></p> + +<p><b>THE FLOATING LIGHT OF THE GOODWIN SANDS</b>.</p> + +<p>"The tale will be especially interesting to adventure-loving +boys."—<i>Record</i>.</p> + +<p><b>SHIFTING WINDS</b>.</p> + +<p>A TOUGH YARN.</p> + +<p>"A hearty, vigorous, bracing story, fresh with the pure breezes, and +sparkling with the bright waters of the everlasting seas.'"—<i>Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE LIGHTHOUSE</b>.</p> + +<p>BEING THE STORY OF A GREAT FIGHT BETWEEN MAN AND THE SEA.</p> + +<p class='center'><i>Extract Letter from the Secretary of Northern Lighthouses</i>.</p> + +<p>" ... They (the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses) have been so much +pleased with the way in which you have combined the fiction of a tale +with the popular but correct account of the building of the Bell Rock +Lighthouse, that they think it would be an interesting work to transmit +to their Lightkeepers, and I have therefore to request that you will +direct your publishers to transmit me—copies. (Signed) ALEXR. +CUNNINGHAM."</p> + +<p>"Thoroughly at home in subjects of adventure, the Author has made this, +like all his stories for boys, smart in style, thrilling in interest, +and abounding in incidents of every kind."—<i>Quiver</i>.</p> + +<p><b>THE LIFEBOAT</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF OUR COAST HEROES.</p> + +<p>"ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION.</p> + +<p>"DEAR SIR,—I am directed by the Committee to request your acceptance of +the accompanying Photograph of a Lifeboat proceeding off to a wreck, as +a small permanent acknowledgment of the important service you have +rendered to the Lifeboat cause by your very interesting work entitled +'The Lifeboat: a Tale of our Coast Heroes." I remain, yours faithfully,</p> + +<p>(Signed) "RICHARD LEWIS, <i>Secretary</i>."</p> + +<p><b>THE GOLDEN DREAM</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF THE DIGGINGS.</p> + +<p><b>THE RED ERIC</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, THE WHALER'S LAST CRUISE.</p> + +<p><b>GASCOYNE, THE SANDALWOOD TRADER</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF THE PACIFIC.</p> + +<p>"Full of cleverly and impressively drawn pictures of life and character +in the Pacific."—<i>Caledonian Mercury</i>.</p> + +<p><b>FREAKS ON THE FELLS,</b></p> + +<p>AND</p> + +<p><b>WHY I DID NOT BECOME A SAILOR.</b></p> + +<hr /> + +<p><b>THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST.</b></p> + +<p><i>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d.</i></p> + +<p><b>BATTLES WITH THE SEA;</b></p> + +<p>Or, HEROES OF THE LIFEBOAT AND THE ROCKET.</p> + +<p><i>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s.</i></p> + +<p><b>THE KITTEN PILGRIMS;</b></p> + +<p>Or, GREAT BATTLES AND GRAND VICTORIES.</p> + +<p>"We have copied the title-page of this amusing and instructive quarto +for little folks. Nothing further is necessary. Mr. Ballantyne stands at +the head of all our children's story-tellers <i>facile +princeps</i>."—<i>Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p class='center'><i>With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + +<p class='center'>NEW VOLUME.</p> + +<p><b>A COXSWAIN'S BRIDE</b>; Or, THE RISING TIDE: And other Tales.</p> + +<p><b>THE GARRET AND THE GARDEN</b>; Or, Low LIFE HIGH UP: And <b>JEFF BENSON</b>; +Or, THE YOUNG COASTGUARDSMAN.</p> + +<p><b>THE CREW OF THE WATER-WAGTAIL</b>. +A STORY OF NEWFOUNDLAND.</p> + +<p><b>THE MIDDY AND THE MOORS</b>. +AN ALGERINE TALE.</p> + +<p><b>THE PRAIRIE CHIEF</b>.</p> + +<p><b>LIFE IN THE RED BRIGADE</b>.</p> + +<p>A FIERY TALE. AND FORT DESOLATION; or, SOLITUDE IN THE WILDERNESS.</p> + +<p><b>THE ISLAND QUEEN</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, DETHRONED BY FIRE AND WATER. A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.</p> + +<p><b>TWICE BOUGHT</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF THE OREGON GOLD FIELDS.</p> + +<p><b>THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE</b>.</p> + +<p><b>PHILOSOPHER JACK</b>.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN SEAS.</p> + +<p><b>THE RED MAN'S REVENGE</b>.</p> + +<p><b>MY DOGGIE AND I</b>.</p> + +<p><b>SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE</b>.</p> + +<p>LETTERS TO PERIWINKLE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. A RECORD OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE +AND ADVENTURE.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class='center'><i>Crown 8vo. Price 3s. 6d. each</i>.</p> + +<p><b>TALES OF ADVENTURE BY FLOOD, FIELD, AND MOUNTAIN</b>.</p> + +<p><b>TALES OF ADVENTURE</b>;</p> + +<p>Or, WILD WORK IN STRANGE PLACES.</p> + +<p><b>TALES OF ADVENTURE ON THE COAST</b>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class='center'>LONDON: JAMES NISBET & Co., 21 BERNERS STREET, W.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Blown to Bits, by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLOWN TO BITS *** + +***** This file should be named 15348-h.htm or 15348-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/3/4/15348/ + +Produced by Michael Oltz, Suzanne Lybarger, Martin Pettit +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Blown to Bits + or, The Lonely Man of Rakata + +Author: Robert Michael Ballantyne + +Release Date: March 13, 2005 [EBook #15348] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLOWN TO BITS *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Oltz, Suzanne Lybarger, Martin Pettit +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Blown to Bits or The Lonely Man of Rakata] + +[Illustration: CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN."--PAGE +112.--(_Frontispiece_.)] + + + + +BLOWN TO BITS + +OR + +THE LONELY MAN OF RAKATA. + +A Tale of the Malay Archipelago. + +BY R.M. BALLANTYNE, + +AUTHOR OF "BLUE LIGHTS, OR HOT WORK IN THE SOUDAN;" "THE FUGITIVES;" +"RED ROONEY;" "THE ROVER OF THE ANDES;" "THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST;" "THE +RED ERIC;" "FREAKS ON THE FELLS;" "THE YOUNG TRAWLER;" "DUSTY DIAMONDS;" +"THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER;" "POST HASTE;" "BLACK IVORY;" "THE IRON +HORSE;" "FIGHTING THE FLAMES;" "THE LIFEBOAT;" ETC. ETC. + +With Illustrations by the Author. + +_EIGHTH THOUSAND_. + +LONDON: + +JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET. + +1894. + +[_All rights reserved_.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The extremely violent nature of the volcanic eruption in Krakatoa in +1883, the peculiar beauty of those parts of the eastern seas where the +event occurred, the wide-spread influences of the accompanying +phenomena, and the tremendous devastation which resulted, have all +inspired me with a desire to bring the matter, in the garb of a tale, +before that portion of the juvenile world which accords me a hearing. + +For most of the facts connected with the eruption which have been +imported into my story, I have to acknowledge myself indebted to the +recently published important and exhaustive "Report" of the Krakatoa +Committee, appointed by the Royal Society to make a thorough +investigation of the whole matter in all its phases. + +I have also to acknowledge having obtained much interesting and useful +information from the following among other works:--_The Malay +Archipelago_, by A.R. Wallace; _A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern +Archipelago_, by H.O. Forbes; and Darwin's _Journal of Researches_ round +the world in H.M.S. "Beagle." + +R.M. BALLANTYNE. + +HARROW-ON-THE HILL, 1889. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + +CHAP. I.--THE PLAY COMMENCES, 1 + + II.--THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING, 9 + + III.--INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS, 19 + + IV.--NIGEL UNDERGOES SOME QUITE NEW AND INTERESTING + EXPERIENCES, 33 + + V.--CAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HIS SON, + WHO SURPRISES A NEGRO, AND SUDDENLY FORMS + AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE, 47 + + VI.--THE HERMIT OF RAKATA INTRODUCED, 58 + + VII.--WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND, 72 + + VIII.--PERBOEWATAN BECOMES MODERATELY VIOLENT, 89 + + IX.--DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEETING + UNDER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES, 99 + + X.--A CURIOUS SEA-GOING CRAFT--THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE + BEGUN, 111 + + XI.--CANOEING ON THE SEA--A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT-SURPRISE + AND SUDDEN FLIGHT, 123 + + XII.--WEATHERING A STORM IN THE OPEN SEA, 140 + + XIII.--FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A + LIFE-OR-DEATH PADDLE ENSUES, 153 + + XIV.--A NEW FRIEND FOUND--NEW DANGERS ENCOUNTERED + AND NEW HOPES DELAYED, 173 + + XV.--HUNTING THE GREAT MAN-MONKEY, 189 + + XVI.--BEGINS WITH A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND ENDS WITH + A HASTY FLIGHT, 204 + + XVII.--TELLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF THE PROFESSOR IN + THE SUMATRAN FORESTS, ALSO OF A CATASTROPHE + AVERTED, 217 + + XVIII.--A TRYING ORDEAL--DANGER THREATENS AND + FLIGHT AGAIN RESOLVED ON, 230 + + XIX.--A TERRIBLE MURDER AND A STRANGE REVELATION, 243 + + XX.--NIGEL MAKES A CONFIDANT OF MOSES--UNDERTAKES + A LONELY WATCH AND SEES SOMETHING WONDERFUL, 259 + + XXI.--IN WHICH THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF, 276 + + XXII.--A PYTHON DISCOVERED AND A GEYSER INTERVIEWED, 297 + + XXIII.--TELLS OF VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STRANGE + RETURN "HOME," 307 + + XXIV.--AN AWFUL NIGHT AND TERRIBLE MORNING, 324 + + XXV.--ADVENTURES OF THE "SUNSHINE" AND AN UNEXPECTED + REUNION, 343 + + XXVI.--A CLIMAX, 361 + + XXVII.--"BLOWN TO BITS," 371 + + XXVIII.--THE FATE OF THE "SUNSHINE," 377 + + XXIX.--TELLS CHIEFLY OF THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF + THIS ERUPTION ON THE WORLD AT LARGE, 385 + + XXX.--COMING EVENTS, ETC.--WONDERFUL CHANGES + AMONG THE ISLANDS, 401 + + XXXI.--ENDS WITH A STRUGGLE BETWEEN INCLINATION + AND DUTY, 414 + + XXXII.--THE LAST, 425 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + +VIGNETTE TITLE. + +"HE CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN."--PAGE 112, _Frontispiece_. + +ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS, _facing page_ 36 + +THEY DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC, 164 + +"DO YOU HEAR?" SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY, 187 + +BLOWN TO BITS 342 + + + + +BLOWN TO BITS + +A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PLAY COMMENCES. + + +Blown to bits; bits so inconceivably, so ineffably, so "microscopically" +small that--but let us not anticipate. + +About the darkest hour of a very dark night, in the year 1883, a large +brig lay becalmed on the Indian Ocean, not far from that region of the +Eastern world which is associated in some minds with spices, volcanoes, +coffee, and piratical junks, namely, the Malay Archipelago. + +Two men slowly paced the brig's quarter-deck for some time in silence, +as if the elemental quietude which prevailed above and below had +infected them. Both men were broad, and apparently strong. One of them +was tall; the other short. More than this the feeble light of the +binnacle-lamp failed to reveal. + +"Father," said the tall man to the short one, "I do like to hear the +gentle pattering of the reef points on the sails; it is so suggestive of +peace and rest. Doesn't it strike you so?" + +"Can't say it does, lad," replied the short man, in a voice which, +naturally mellow and hearty, had been rendered nautically harsh and +gruff by years of persistent roaring in the teeth of wind and weather. +"More suggestive to me of lost time and lee-way." + +The son laughed lightly, a pleasant, kindly, soft laugh, in keeping with +the scene and hour. + +"Why, father," he resumed after a brief pause, "you are so sternly +practical that you drive all the sentiment out of a fellow. I had almost +risen to the regions of poetry just now, under the pleasant influences +of nature." + +"Glad I got hold of 'ee, lad, before you rose," growled the captain of +the brig--for such the short man was. "When a young fellow like you gets +up into the clouds o' poetry, he's like a man in a balloon--scarce knows +how he got there; doesn't know very well how he's to get down, an' has +no more idea where he's goin' to, or what he's drivin' at, than the man +in the moon. Take my advice, lad, an' get out o' poetical regions as +fast as ye can. It don't suit a young fellow who has got to do duty as +first mate of his father's brig and push his way in the world as a +seaman. When I sent you to school an' made you a far better scholar than +myself, I had no notion they was goin' to teach you poetry." + +The captain delivered the last word with an emphasis which was meant to +convey the idea of profound but not ill-natured scorn. + +"Why, father," returned the young man, in a tone which plainly told of a +gleeful laugh within him, which was as yet restrained, "it was not +school that put poetry into me--if indeed there be any in me at all." + +"What was it, then?" + +"It was mother," returned the youth, promptly, "and surely you don't +object to poetry in _her_." + +"Object!" cried the captain, as though speaking in the teeth of a +Nor'wester. "Of course not. But then, Nigel, poetry in your mother _is_ +poetry, an' she can _do_ it, lad--screeds of it--equal to anything that +Dibdin, or, or,--that other fellow, you know, I forget his name--ever +put pen to--why, your mother is herself a poem! neatly made up, rounded +off at the corners, French-polished and all shipshape. Ha! you needn't +go an' shelter yourself under _her_ wings, wi' your inflated, up in the +clouds, reef-point-patterin', balloon-like nonsense." + +"Well, well, father, don't get so hot about it; I won't offend again. +Besides, I'm quite content to take a very low place so long as you give +mother her right position. We won't disagree about that, but I suspect +that we differ considerably about the other matter you mentioned." + +"What other matter?" demanded the sire. + +"My doing duty as first mate," answered the son. "It must be quite +evident to you by this time, I should think, that I am not cut out for a +sailor. After all your trouble, and my own efforts during this long +voyage round the Cape, I'm no better than an amateur. I told you that a +youth taken fresh from college, without any previous experience of the +sea except in boats, could not be licked into shape in so short a time. +It is absurd to call me first mate of the _Sunshine_. That is in reality +Mr. Moor's position--" + +"No, it isn't, Nigel, my son," interrupted the captain, firmly. "Mr. +Moor is _second_ mate. _I_ say so, an' if I, the skipper and owner o' +this brig, don't know it, I'd like to know who does! Now, look here, +lad. You've always had a bad habit of underratin' yourself an' +contradictin' your father. I'm an old salt, you know, an' I tell 'ee +that for the time you've bin at sea, an' the opportunities you've had, +you're a sort o' walkin' miracle. You're no more an ammytoor than I am, +and another voyage or two will make you quite fit to work your way all +over the ocean, an' finally to take command o' this here brig, an' let +your old father stay at home wi'--wi'--" + +"With the Poetess," suggested Nigel. + +"Just so--wi' the equal o' Dibdin, not to mention the other fellow. Now +it seems to me--. How's 'er head?" + +The captain suddenly changed the subject here. + +Nigel, who chanced to be standing next the binnacle, stooped to examine +the compass, and the flood of light from its lamp revealed a smooth but +manly and handsome face which seemed quite to harmonise with the cheery +voice that belonged to it. + +"Nor'-east-and-by-east," he said. + +"Are 'ee sure, lad?" + +"Your doubting me, father, does not correspond with your lately +expressed opinion of my seamanship; does it?" + +"Let me see," returned the captain, taking no notice of the remark, and +stooping to look at the compass with a critical eye. + +The flood of light, in this case, revealed a visage in which good-nature +had evidently struggled for years against the virulent opposition of +wind and weather, and had come off victorious, though not without +evidences of the conflict. At the same time it revealed features similar +to those of the son, though somewhat rugged and red, besides being +smothered in hair. + +"Vulcan must be concoctin' a new brew," he muttered, as he gazed +inquiringly over the bow, "or he's stirring up an old one." + +"What d' you mean, father?" + +"I mean that there's somethin' goin' on there-away--in the neighbourhood +o' Sunda Straits," answered the Captain, directing attention to that +point of the compass towards which the ship's head was turned. "Darkness +like this don't happen without a cause. I've had some experience o' them +seas before now, an' depend upon it that Vulcan is stirring up some o' +the fires that are always blazin' away, more or less, around the Straits +Settlements." + +"By which you mean, I suppose, that one of the numerous volcanoes in the +Malay Archipelago has become active," said Nigel; "but are we not some +five or six hundred miles to the sou'-west of Sunda? Surely the +influence of volcanic action could scarcely reach so far." + +"So far!" repeated the captain, with a sort of humph which was meant to +indicate mild contempt; "that shows how little you know, with all your +book-learnin', about volcanoes." + +"I don't profess to know much, father," retorted Nigel in a tone of +cheery defiance. + +"Why, boy," continued the other, resuming his perambulation of the deck, +"explosions have sometimes been heard for hundreds, ay _hundreds_, of +miles. I thought I heard one just now, but no doubt the unusual +darkness works up my imagination and makes me suspicious, for it's +wonderful what fools the imag--. Hallo! D'ee feel _that_?" + +He went smartly towards the binnacle-light, as he spoke, and, holding an +arm close to it, found that his sleeve was sprinkled with a thin coating +of fine dust. + +"Didn't I say so?" he exclaimed in some excitement, as he ran to the +cabin skylight and glanced earnestly at the barometer. That glance +caused him to shout a sudden order to take in all sail. At the same +moment a sigh of wind swept over the sleeping sea as if the storm-fiend +were expressing regret at having been so promptly discovered and met. + +Seamen are well used to sudden danger--especially in equatorial +seas--and to prompt, unquestioning action. Not many minutes elapsed +before the _Sunshine_ was under the smallest amount of sail she could +carry. Even before this had been well accomplished a stiff breeze was +tearing up the surface of the sea into wild foam, which a furious gale +soon raised into raging billows. + +The storm came from the Sunda Straits about which the captain and his +son had just been talking, and was so violent that they could do nothing +but scud before it under almost bare poles. All that night it raged. +Towards morning it increased to such a pitch that one of the back-stays +of the foremast gave way. The result was that the additional strain thus +thrown on the other stays was too much for them. They also parted, and +the fore-top-mast, snapping short off with a report like a cannon-shot, +went over the side, carrying the main-topgallant-mast and all its gear +along with it. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING. + + +It seemed as if the storm-fiend were satisfied with the mischief he had +accomplished, for immediately after the disaster just described, the +gale began to moderate, and when the sun rose it had been reduced to a +stiff but steady breeze. + +From the moment of the accident onward, the whole crew had been exerting +themselves to the utmost with axe and knife to cut and clear away the +wreck of the masts and repair damages. + +Not the least energetic among them was our amateur first mate, Nigel +Roy. When all had been made comparatively snug, he went aft to where his +father stood beside the steersman, with his legs nautically wide apart, +his sou'-wester pulled well down over his frowning brows, and his hands +in their native pockets. + +"This is a bad ending to a prosperous voyage," said the youth, sadly; +"but you don't seem to take it much to heart, father!" + +"How much or little I take it to heart you know nothin' whatever about, +my boy, seein' that I don't wear my heart on my coat-sleeve, nor yet on +the point of my nose, for the inspection of all and sundry. Besides, you +can't tell whether it's a bad or a good endin', for it has not ended yet +one way or another. Moreover, what appears bad is often found to be +good, an' what seems good is pretty often uncommon bad." + +"You are a walking dictionary of truisms, father! I suppose you mean to +take a philosophical view of the misfortune and make the best of it," +said Nigel, with what we may style one of his twinkling smiles, for on +nearly all occasions that young man's dark, brown eyes twinkled, in +spite of him, as vigorously as any "little star" that was ever told in +prose or song to do so--and much more expressively, too, because of the +eyebrows of which little stars appear to be destitute. + +"No, lad," retorted the captain; "I take a common-sense view--not a +philosophical one; an' when you've bin as long at sea as I have, you'll +call nothin' a misfortune until it's proved to be such. The only +misfortune I have at present is a son who cannot see things in the same +light as his father sees 'em." + +"Well, then, according to your own principle that is the reverse of a +misfortune, for if I saw everything in the same light that you do, +you'd have no pleasure in talking to me, you'd have no occasion to +reason me out of error, or convince me of truth. Take the subject of +poetry, now--" + +"Luff," said Captain Roy, sternly, to the man at the wheel. + +When the man at the wheel had gone through the nautical evolution +involved in "luff," the captain turned to his son and said abruptly-- + +"We'll run for the Cocos-Keelin' Islands, Nigel, an' refit." + +"Are the Keeling Islands far off?" + +"Lift up your head and look straight along the bridge of your nose, lad, +and you'll see them. They're an interesting group, are the Keelin' +Islands. Volcanic, they are, with a coral top-dressin', so to speak. Sit +down here an' I'll tell 'ee about 'em." + +Nigel shut up the telescope through which he had been examining the +thin, blue line on the horizon that indicated the islands in question, +and sat down on the cabin skylight beside his father. + +"They've got a romantic history too, though a short one, an' are set +like a gem on the bosom of the deep blue sea--" + +"Come, father, you're drifting out of your true course--that's +poetical!" + +"I know it, lad, but I'm only quotin' your mother. Well, you must know +that the Keelin' Islands--we call them Keelin' for short--were +uninhabited between fifty and sixty years ago, when a Scotsman named +Ross, thinking them well situated as a port of call for the repair and +provisioning of vessels on their way to Australia and China, set his +heart on them and quietly took possession in the name of England. Then +he went home to fetch his wife and family of six children, intendin' to +settle on the islands for good. Returning in 1827 with the family and +fourteen adventurers, twelve of whom were English, one a Portugee and +one a Javanee, he found to his disgust that an Englishman named Hare had +stepped in before him and taken possession. This Hare was a very bad +fellow; a rich man who wanted to live like a Rajah, with lots o' native +wives and retainers, an' be a sort of independent prince. Of course he +was on bad terms at once with Ross, who, finding that things were going +badly, felt that it would be unfair to hold his people to the agreement +which was made when he thought the whole group was his own, so he +offered to release them. They all, except two men and one woman, +accepted the release and went off in a gun-boat that chanced to touch +there at the time. For a good while Hare and his rival lived there--the +one tryin' to get the Dutch, the other to induce the English Government +to claim possession. Neither Dutch nor English would do so at first, but +the English did it at long-last--in 1878--and annexed the islands to the +Government of Ceylon. + +"Long before that date, however--before 1836--Hare left and went to +Singapore, where he died, leaving Ross in possession--the 'King of the +Cocos Islands' as he came to be called. In a few years--chiefly through +the energy of Ross's eldest son, to whom he soon gave up the management +of affairs--the Group became a prosperous settlement. Its ships traded +in cocoa-nuts (the chief produce of the islands) throughout all the +Straits Settlements, and boat-buildin' became one of their most +important industries. But there was one thing that prevented it from +bein' a very happy though prosperous place, an' that was the coolies who +had been hired in Java, for the only men that could be got there at +first were criminals who had served their time in the chain-gangs of +Batavia. As these men were fit for anything--from pitch-and-toss to +murder--and soon outnumbered the colonists, the place was kept in +constant alarm and watchfulness. For, as I dare say you know, the Malays +are sometimes liable to have the spirit of _amok_ on them, which leads +them to care for and fear nothin', and to go in for a fight-to-death, +from which we get our sayin'--_run amuck_. An' when a strong fellow is +goin' about loose in this state o' mind, it's about as bad as havin' a +tiger prowlin' in one's garden." + +"Well, sometimes two or three o' these coolies would mutiny and hide in +the woods o' one o' the smaller uninhabited islands. An' the colonists +would have no rest till they hunted them down. So, to keep matters +right, they had to be uncommon strict. It was made law that no one +should spend the night on any but what was called the Home Island +without permission. Every man was bound to report himself at the +guard-house at a fixed hour; every fire to be out at sunset, and every +boat was numbered and had to be in its place before that time. So they +went on till the year 1862, when a disaster befell them that made a +considerable change--at first for the worse, but for the better in the +long-run. Provin' the truth, my lad, of what I was--well, no--I was +goin' to draw a moral here, but I won't! + +"It was a cyclone that did the business. Cyclones have got a +free-an'-easy way of makin' a clean sweep of the work of years in a few +hours. This cyclone completely wrecked the homes of the Keelin' +Islanders, and Ross--that's the second Ross, the son of the first +one--sent home for _his_ son, who was then a student of engineering in +Glasgow, to come out and help him to put things to rights. Ross the +third obeyed the call, like a good son,--observe that, Nigel." + +"All right, father, fire away!" + +"Like a good son," repeated the captain, "an' he turned out to be a +first-rate man, which was lucky, for his poor father died soon after, +leavin' him to do the work alone. An' well able was the young engineer +to do it. He got rid o' the chain-gang men altogether, and hired none +but men o' the best character in their place. He cleared off the forests +and planted the ground with cocoa-nut palms. Got out steam mills, +circular saws, lathes, etc., and established a system of general +education with a younger brother as head-master--an' tail-master too, +for I believe there was only one. He also taught the men to work in +brass, iron, and wood, and his wife--a Cocos girl that he married after +comin' out--taught all the women and girls to sew, cook, and manage the +house. In short, everything went on in full swing of prosperity, till +the year 1876, when the island-born inhabitants were about 500, as +contented and happy as could be. + +"In January of that year another cyclone paid them a visit. The +barometer gave them warning, and, remembering the visit of fourteen +years before, they made ready to receive the new visitor. All the boats +were hauled up to places of safety, and every other preparation was +made. Down it came, on the afternoon o' the 28th--worse than they had +expected. Many of the storehouses and mills had been lately renewed or +built. They were all gutted and demolished. Everything movable was swept +away like bits of paper. Lanes, hundreds of yards in length, were +cleared among the palm trees by the whirling wind, which seemed to +perform a demon-dance of revelry among them. In some cases it snapped +trees off close to the ground. In others it seemed to swoop down from +above, lick up a patch of trees bodily and carry them clean away, +leaving the surrounding trees untouched. Sometimes it would select a +tree of thirty years growth, seize it, spin it round, and leave it a +permanent spiral screw. I was in these regions about the time, and had +the account from a native who had gone through it all and couldn't speak +of it except with glaring eyeballs and gasping breath. + +"About midnight of the 28th the gale was at its worst. Darkness that +could be felt between the flashes of lightning. Thunder that was nearly +drowned by the roaring of the wind an' the crashing of everything all +round. To save their lives the people had to fling themselves into +ditches and hollows of the ground. Mr. Ross and some of his people were +lying in the shelter of a wall near his house. There had been a schooner +lying not far off. When Mr. Ross raised his head cautiously above the +wall to have a look to wind'ard he saw the schooner comin' straight for +him on the top of a big wave. 'Hold on!' he shouted, fell flat down, +and laid hold o' the nearest bush. Next moment the wave burst right over +the wall, roared on up to the garden, 150 yards above highwater mark, +and swept his house clean away! By good fortune the wall stood the +shock, and the schooner stuck fast just before reachin' it, but so near +that the end of the jib-boom passed right over the place where the +household lay holdin' on for dear life and half drowned. It was a +tremendous night," concluded the captain, "an' nearly everything on the +islands was wrecked, but they've survived it, as you'll see. Though it's +seven years since that cyclone swep' over them, they're all right and +goin' ahead again, full swing, as if nothin' had happened." + +"And is Ross III. still king?" asked Nigel with much interest. + +"Ay--at least he was king a few years ago when I passed this way and had +occasion to land to replace a tops'l yard that had been carried away." + +"Then you won't arrive as a stranger?" + +"I should think not," returned the captain, getting up and gazing +steadily at the _atoll_ or group of islets enclosed within a coral ring +which they were gradually approaching. + +Night had descended, however, and the gale had decreased almost to a +calm, ere they steered through the narrow channel--or what we may call a +broken part of the ring--which led to the calm lagoon inside. Nigel Roy +leaned over the bow, watching with profound attention the numerous +phosphorescent fish and eel-like creatures which darted hither and +thither like streaks of silver from beneath their advancing keel. He had +enough of the naturalist in him to arouse in his mind keen interest in +the habits and action of the animal life around him, and these denizens +of the coral-groves were as new to him as their appearance was +unexpected. + +"You'll find 'em very kind and hospitable, lad," said the captain to his +son. + +"What, the fish?" + +"No, the inhabitants. Port--port--steady!" + +"Steady it is!" responded the man at the wheel. + +"Let go!" shouted the captain. + +A heavy plunge, followed by the rattling of chains and swinging round of +the brig, told that they had come to an anchor in the lagoon of the +Cocos-Keeling Islands. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS. + + +By the first blush of dawn Nigel Roy hastened on deck, eager to see the +place in regard to which his father's narrative had awakened in him +considerable interest. + +It not only surpassed but differed from all his preconceived ideas. The +brig floated on the bosom of a perfectly calm lake of several miles in +width, the bottom of which, with its bright sand and brilliant +coral-beds, could be distinctly seen through the pellucid water. This +lake was encompassed by a reef of coral which swelled here and there +into tree-clad islets, and against which the breakers of the Indian +Ocean were dashed into snowy foam in their vain but ceaseless efforts to +invade the calm serenity of the lagoon. Smaller islands, rich with +vegetation, were scattered here and there within the charmed circle, +through which several channels of various depths and sizes connected the +lagoon with the ocean. + +"We shall soon have the king himself off to welcome us," said Captain +Roy as he came on deck and gave a sailor-like glance all round the +horizon and then up at the sky from the mere force of habit. "Visitors +are not numerous here. A few scientific men have landed now and again; +Darwin the great naturalist among others in 1836, and Forbes in 1878. No +doubt they'll be very glad to welcome Nigel Roy in this year of grace +1883." + +"But I'm not a naturalist, father, more's the pity." + +"No matter, lad; you're an ammytoor first mate, an' pr'aps a poet may +count for somethin' here. They lead poetical lives and are fond o' +poetry." + +"Perhaps that accounts for the fondness you say they have for you, +father." + +"Just so, lad. See!--there's a boat puttin' off already: the king, no +doubt." + +He was right. Mr. Ross, the appointed governor, and "King of the Cocos +Islands," was soon on deck, heartily shaking hands with and welcoming +Captain Roy as an old friend. He carried him and his son off at once to +breakfast in his island-home; introduced Nigel to his family, and then +showed them round the settlement, assuring them at the same time that +all its resources were at their disposal for the repair of the +_Sunshine_. + +"Thank 'ee kindly," said the captain in reply, "but I'll only ask for a +stick to rig up a foretop-mast to carry us to Batavia, where we'll give +the old craft a regular overhaul--for it's just possible she may have +received some damage below the water-line, wi' bumpin' on the mast and +yards." + +The house of the "King" was a commodious, comfortable building in the +midst of a garden, in which there were roses in great profusion, as well +as fruit-trees and flowering shrubs. Each Keeling family possessed a +neat well-furnished plank cottage enclosed in a little garden, besides a +boat-house at the water-edge on the inner or lagoon side of the reef, +and numerous boats were lying about on the white sand. The islanders, +being almost born sailors, were naturally very skilful in everything +connected with the sea. There was about them a good deal of that kindly +innocence which one somehow expects to find associated with a mild +paternal government and a limited intercourse with the surrounding +world, and Nigel was powerfully attracted by them from the first. + +After an extensive ramble, during which Mr. Ross plied the captain with +eager questions as to the latest news from the busy centres of +civilisation--especially with reference to new inventions connected with +engineering--the island king left them to their own resources till +dinner-time, saying that he had duties to attend to connected with the +kingdom! + +"Now, boy," said the captain when their host had gone, "what'll 'ee do? +Take a boat and have a pull over the lagoon, or go with me to visit a +family I'm particularly fond of, an' who are uncommon fond o' _me!"_ + +"Visit the family, of course," said Nigel. "I can have a pull any day." + +"Come along then." + +He led the way to one of the neatest of the plank cottages, which stood +on the highest ridge of the island, so that from the front windows it +commanded a view of the great blue ocean with its breakers that fringed +the reef as with a ring of snow, while, on the opposite side, lay the +peaceful waters and islets of the lagoon. + +A shout of joyful surprise was uttered by several boys and girls at +sight of the captain, for during his former visit he had won their +hearts by telling them wild stories of the sea, one half of each story +being founded on fact and personal experience, the other half on a vivid +imagination! + +"We are rejoiced to see you," said the mother of the juveniles, a stout +woman of mixed nationality--that of Dutch apparently predominating. She +spoke English, however, remarkably well, as did many of the Cocos +people, though Malay is the language of most of them. + +The boys and girls soon hauled the captain down on a seat and began to +urge him to tell them stories, using a style of English that was by no +means equal to that of the mother. + +"Stop, stop, let me see sister Kathy first. I can't begin without her. +Where is she?" + +"Somewhere, I s'pose," said the eldest boy. + +"No doubt of that. Go--fetch her," returned the captain. + +At that moment a back-door opened, and a girl of about seventeen years +of age entered. She was pleasant-looking rather than pretty--tall, +graceful, and with magnificent black eyes. + +"Here she comes," cried the captain, rising and kissing her. "Why, +Kathy, how you've grown since I saw you last! Quite a woman, I declare!" + +Kathy was not too much of a woman, however, to join her brothers and +sisters in forcing the captain into a seat and demanding a story on the +spot. + +"Stop, stop!" cried the captain, grasping round their waists a small boy +and girl who had already clambered on his knees. "Let me inquire about +my old friends first--and let me introduce my son to you--you've taken +no notice of _him_ yet! That's not hospitable." + +All eyes were turned at once on Nigel, some boldly, others with a shy +inquiring look, as though to say, Can _you_ tell stories? + +"Come, now," said Nigel, advancing, "since you are all so fond of my +father, I must shake hands with you all round." + +The hearty way in which this was done at once put the children at their +ease. They admitted him, as it were, into their circle, and then turning +again to the captain continued their clamour for a story. + +"No, no--about old friends first. How--how's old mother Morris?" + +"Quite well," they shouted. "Fatterer than ever," added an urchin, who +in England would have been styled cheeky. + +"Yes," lisped a very little girl; "one of 'e doors in 'e house too small +for she." + +"Why, Gerchin, you've learned to speak English like the rest," said the +captain. + +"Yes, father make every one learn." + +"Well, now," continued the captain, "what about Black Sam?" + +"Gone to Batavia," chorused the children. + +"And--and--what's-'is-name?--the man wi' the nose--" + +A burst of laughter and, "We's _all_ got noses here!" was the reply. + +"Yes, but you know who I mean--the short man wi' the--" + +"Oh! with the turned _up_ nose. _I_ know," cried the cheeky boy; "you +means Johnson? He goed away nobody know whar'." + +"And little Nelly Drew, what of her?" + +A sudden silence fell on the group, and solemn eyes were turned on +sister Kathy, who was evidently expected to answer. + +"Not dead?" said the captain earnestly. + +"No, but very _very_ ill," replied the girl. + +"Dear Nelly have never git over the loss of her brother, who--" + +At this point they were interrupted by another group of the captain's +little admirers, who, having heard of his arrival, ran forward to give +him a noisy welcome. Before stories could be commenced, however, the +visitors were summoned to Mr. Ross's house to dinner, and then the +captain had got into such an eager talk with the king that evening was +upon them before they knew where they were, as Nigel expressed it, and +the stories had to be postponed until the following day. + +Of course beds were offered, and accepted by Captain Roy and Nigel. Just +before retiring to them, father and son went out to have a stroll on the +margin of the lagoon. + +"Ain't it a nice place, Nigel?" asked the former, whose kindly spirit +had been stirred up to quite a jovial pitch by the gushing welcome he +had received alike from old and young. + +"It's charming, father. Quite different from what you had led me to +expect." + +"My boy," returned the captain, with that solemn deliberation which he +was wont to assume when about to deliver a palpable truism. "W'en you've +come to live as long as me you'll find that everything turns out +different from what people have bin led to expect. Leastways that's _my_ +experience." + +"Well, in the meantime, till I have come to your time of life, I'll take +your word for that, and I do hope you intend to stay a long time here." + +"No, my son, I don't. Why do ye ask?" + +"Because I like the place and the people so much that I would like to +study it and them, and to sketch the scenery." + +"Business before pleasure, my lad," said the captain with a grave shake +of the head. "You know we've bin blown out of our course, and have no +business here at all. I'll only wait till the carpenter completes his +repairs, and then be off for Batavia. Duty first; everything else +afterwards." + +"But you being owner as well as commander, there is no one to insist on +duty being done," objected Nigel. + +"Pardon me," returned the captain, "there is a certain owner named +Captain David Roy, a very stern disciplinarian, who insists on the +commander o' this here brig performin' his duty to the letter. You may +depend upon it that if a man ain't true to himself he's not likely to be +true to any one else. But it's likely that we may be here for a couple +of days, so I release _you_ from duty that you may make the most o' your +time and enjoy yourself. By the way, it will save you wastin' time if +you ask that little girl, Kathy Holbein, to show you the best places to +sketch, for she's a born genius with her pencil and brush." + +"No, thank you, father," returned Nigel. "I want no little girl to +bother me while I'm sketching--even though she be a born genius--for I +think I possess genius enough my self to select the best points for +sketching, and to get along fairly well without help. At least I'll try +what I can do." + +"Please yourself, lad. Nevertheless, I think you wouldn't find poor +Kathy a bother; she's too modest for that--moreover, she could manage a +boat and pull a good oar when I was here last, and no doubt she has +improved since." + +"Nevertheless, I'd rather be alone," persisted Nigel. "But why do you +call her _poor_ Kathy? She seems to be quite as strong and as jolly as +the rest of her brothers and sisters." + +"Ah, poor thing, these are not her brothers and sisters," returned the +captain in a gentler tone. + +"Kathy is only an adopted child, and an orphan. Her name, Kathleen, is +not a Dutch one. She came to these islands in a somewhat curious way. +Sit down here and I'll tell 'ee the little I know about her." + +Father and son sat down on a mass of coral rock that had been washed up +on the beach during some heavy gale, and for a few minutes gazed in +silence on the beautiful lagoon, in which not only the islets, but the +brilliant moon and even the starry hosts were mirrored faithfully. + +"About thirteen years ago," said the captain, "two pirate junks in the +Sunda Straits attacked a British barque, and, after a fight, captured +her. Some o' the crew were killed in action, some were taken on board +the junks to be held to ransom I s'pose, and some, jumping into the sea +to escape if possible by swimming, were probably drowned, for they were +a considerable distance from land. It was one o' these fellows, however, +who took to the water that managed to land on the Java shore, more dead +than alive. He gave information about the affair, and was the cause of a +gun-boat, that was in these waters at the time, bein' sent off in chase +o' the pirate junks. + +"This man who swam ashore was a Lascar. He said that the chief o' the +pirates, who seemed to own both junks, was a big ferocious Malay with +only one eye--he might have added with no heart at all, if what he said +o' the scoundrel was true, for he behaved with horrible cruelty to the +crew o' the barque. After takin' all he wanted out of his prize he +scuttled her, and then divided the people that were saved alive between +the two junks. There were several passengers in the vessel; among them a +young man--a widower--with a little daughter, four year old or so. He +was bound for Calcutta. Being a very powerful man he fought like a lion +to beat the pirates off, but he was surrounded and at last knocked down +by a blow from behind. Then his arms were made fast and he was sent wi' +the rest into the biggest junk. + +"This poor fellow recovered his senses about the time the pirates were +dividin' the prisoners among them. He seemed dazed at first, so said the +Lascar, but as he must have bin in a considerable funk himself I suspect +his observations couldn't have bin very correct. Anyhow, he said he was +sittin' near the side o' the junk beside this poor man, whose name he +never knew, but who seemed to be an Englishman from his language, when a +wild scream was heard in the other junk. It was the little girl who had +caught sight of her father and began to understand that she was going to +be separated from him. At the sound o' her voice he started up, and, +looking round like a wild bull, caught sight o' the little one on the +deck o' the other junk, just as they were hoistin' sail to take +advantage of a breeze that had sprung up. + +"Whether it was that they had bound the man with a piece o' bad rope, or +that the strength o' Samson had been given to him, the Lascar could not +tell, but he saw the Englishman snap the rope as if it had bin a bit o' +pack-thread, and jump overboard. He swam for the junk where his little +girl was. If he had possessed the strength of a dozen Samsons it would +have availed him nothin', for the big sail had caught the breeze and got +way on her. At the same time the other junk lay over to the same breeze +and the two separated. At first the one-eyed pirate jumped up with an +oath and fired a pistol shot at the Englishman, but missed him. Then he +seemed to change his mind and shouted in bad English, with a diabolical +laugh--'Swim away; swim hard, p'raps you kitch 'im up!' Of course the +two junks were soon out of sight o' the poor swimmer--and that was the +end of _him,_ for, of course, he must have been drowned." + +"But what of the poor little girl?" asked Nigel, whose feelings were +easily touched by the sorrows of children, and who began to have a +suspicion of what was coming. + +"I'm just comin' to that. Well, the gun-boat that went to look for the +pirates sighted one o' the junks out in the Indian Ocean after a long +search and captured her, but not a single one o' the barque's crew was +to be found in her, and it was supposed they had been all murdered and +thrown overboard wi' shots tied to their feet to sink them. Enough o' +the cargo o' the British barque was found, however, to convict her, and +on a more careful search bein' made, the little girl was discovered, hid +away in the hold. Bein' only about four year old, the poor little thing +was too frightened to understand the questions put to her. All she could +say was that she wanted 'to go to father,' and that her name was Kathy, +probably short for Kathleen, but she could not tell." + +"Then that is the girl who is now here?" exclaimed Nigel. + +"The same, lad. The gun-boat ran in here, like as we did, to have some +slight repairs done, and Kathy was landed. She seemed to take at once to +motherly Mrs. Holbein, who offered to adopt her, and as the captain of +the gun-boat had no more notion than the man-in-the-moon who the child +belonged to, or what to do with her, he gladly handed her over, so here +she has been livin' ever since. Of course attempts have been made to +discover her friends, but without success, and now all hope has been +given up. The poor girl herself never speaks on the subject, but old +Holbein and his wife tell me she is sure that Kathy has never forgotten +her father. It may be so; anyhow, she has forgotten his name--if she +ever knew it." + +Next day Nigel made no objections to being guided to the most +picturesque spots among the coral isles by the interesting orphan girl. +If she had been older he might even have fallen in love with her, an +event which would have necessitated an awkward modification of the +ground-work of our tale. As it was, he pitied the poor child sincerely, +and not only--recognising her genius--asked her advice a good deal on +the subject of art, but--recognising also her extreme youth and +ignorance--volunteered a good deal of advice in exchange, quite in a +paternal way! + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +NIGEL UNDERGOES SOME QUITE NEW AND INTERESTING EXPERIENCES. + + +The arrangements made on the following day turned out to be quite in +accordance with the wishes and tastes of the various parties concerned. + +The ship's carpenter having been duly set to work on the repairs, and +being inspected in that serious piece of prosaic business by the second +mate, our captain was set free to charm the very souls of the juveniles +by wandering for miles along the coral strand inventing, narrating, +exaggerating to his heart's content. Pausing now and then to ask +questions irrelevant to the story in hand, like a wily actor, for the +purpose of intensifying the desire for more, he would mount a block of +coral, and thence, sometimes as from a throne, or platform, or pulpit, +impress some profound piece of wisdom, or some thrilling point, or some +exceedingly obvious moral on his followers open-mouthed and open-eyed. + +These were by no means idlers, steeped in the too common business of +having nothing to do. No, they had regularly sought and obtained a +holiday from work or school; for all the activities of social and +civilised life were going on full swing--fuller, indeed, than the +average swing--in that remote, scarcely known, and beautiful little gem +of the Indian Ocean. + +Meanwhile Nigel and Kathy, with sketch-books under their arms, went down +to where the clear waters of the lagoon rippled on the white sand, and, +launching a cockleshell of a boat, rowed out toward the islets. + +"Now, Kathy, you must let me pull," said Nigel, pushing out the sculls, +"for although the captain tells me you are very good at rowing, it would +never do for a man, you know, to sit lazily down and let himself be +rowed by a girl." + +"Very well," said Kathy, with a quiet and most contented smile, for she +had not yet reached the self-conscious age--at least, as ages go in the +Cocos-Keeling Islands! Besides, Kathy was gifted with that charming +disposition which never _objects_ to anything--anything, of course, that +does not involve principle! + +But it was soon found that, as the cockleshell had no rudder, and the +intricacies they had to wind among were numerous, frequent directions +and corrections were called for from the girl. + +"D' you know," said Nigel at last, "as I don't know where you want me +to go to, it may be as well, after all, that you should row!" + +"Very well," said Kathy, with another of her innocent smiles. "I thinked +it will be better so at first." + +Nigel could not help laughing at the way she said this as he handed her +the sculls. + +She soon proved herself to be a splendid boatwoman, and although her +delicate and shapely arms were as mere pipe-stems to the great brawny +limbs of her companion, yet she had a deft, mysterious way of handling +the sculls that sent the cockleshell faster over the lagoon than before. + +"Now, we go ashore here," said Kathy, turning the boat,--with a prompt +back-water of the left scull, and a vigorous pull of the right +one,--into a little cove just big enough to hold it. + +The keel went with such a plump on the sand, that Nigel, who sat on a +forward thwart with his back landward, reversed the natural order of +things by putting his back on the bottom of the boat and his heels in +the air. + +To this day it is an unsettled question whether this was done on purpose +by Kathy. Certain it is that _she_ did not tumble, but burst into a +hearty fit of laughter, while her large lustrous eyes half shut +themselves up and twinkled. + +"Why, you don't even apologise, you dreadful creature!" exclaimed +Nigel, joining in the laugh, as he picked himself up. + +"Why should I 'pologise?" asked the girl, in the somewhat broken English +acquired from her adopted family. "Why you not look out?" + +"Right, Kathy, right; I'll keep a sharp lookout next time. Meanwhile I +will return good for evil by offering my hand to help you a--hallo!" + +While he spoke the girl had sprung past him like a grasshopper, and +alighted on the sand like a butterfly. + +A few minutes later and this little jesting fit had vanished, and they +were both engaged with pencil and book, eagerly--for both were +enthusiastic--sketching one of the most enchanting scenes that can well +be imagined. We will not attempt the impossible. Description could not +convey it. We can only refer the reader's imagination to the one old, +hackneyed but expressive, word--fairyland! + +One peculiarly interesting point in the scene was, that on the opposite +side of the lagoon the captain could be seen holding forth to his +juvenile audience. + +[Illustration: ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS.--PAGE 36.] + +When a pretty long time had elapsed in absolute silence, each sketcher +being totally oblivious of the other, Nigel looked up with a long sigh, +and said:-- + +"Well, you _have_ chosen a most exquisite scene for me. The more I +work at it, the more I find to admire. May I look now at what you have +done?" + +"Oh yes, but I have done not much. I am slow," said the girl, as Nigel +rose and looked over her shoulder. + +"Why!--what--how beautiful!--but--but--what do you mean?" exclaimed the +youth. + +"I don't understand you," said the girl, looking up in surprise. + +"Why, Kathy, I had supposed you were drawing that magnificent landscape +all this time, and--and you've only been drawing a group of shells. +Splendidly done, I admit, but why----" + +He stopped at that moment, for her eyes suddenly filled with tears. + +"Forgive me, dear child," said Nigel, hurriedly; "I did not intend to +hurt your feelings. I was only surprised at your preference." + +"You have not hurt me," returned Kathy in a low voice, as she resumed +her work, "but what you say calls back to me--my father was very fond of +shells." + +She stopped, and Nigel, blaming himself for having inadvertently touched +some tender chord, hastened, somewhat clumsily, to change the subject. + +"You draw landscape also, I doubt not?" + +"Oh yes--plenty. If you come home to me to-night, I will show you some." + +"I shall be only too happy," returned the youth, sitting down again to +his sketch, "and perhaps I may be able to give you a hint or +two--especially in reference to perspective--for I've had regular +training, you know, Kathy, and I dare say you have not had that here." + +"Not what you will think much, perhaps, yet I have study a little in +school, and _very_ much from Nature." + +"Well, you have been under the best of masters," returned Nigel, "if you +have studied much from Nature. And who has been your other teacher?" + +"A brother of Mr. Ross. I think he must understand very much. He was an +engineer, and has explained to me the rules of perspective, and many +other things which were at first very hard to understand. But I do see +them now." + +"Perhaps then, Kathleen," said Nigel, in that drawling, absent tone in +which artists are apt to indulge when busy at work--"perhaps you may be +already too far advanced to require instruction from me." + +"Perhaps--but I think no, for you seems to understand a great deal. But +why you call me Kathleen just now?" + +"Because I suppose that is your real name--Kathy being the short for it. +Is it not so?" + +"Well, p'raps it is. I have hear mother Holbein say so once. I like +Kathleen best." + +"Then, may I call you Kathleen?" + +"If you like." + +At this point both artists had become so engrossed in their occupation +that they ceased to converse, and for a considerable time profound +silence reigned--at least on their part, though not as regarded others, +for every now and then the faint sound of laughter came floating over +the tranquil lagoon from that part of the coral strand where Captain Roy +was still tickling the fancies and expanding the imaginations and +harrowing or soothing the feelings of the Cocos-Keeling juveniles. + +Inferior animal life was also in ceaseless activity around the +sketchers, filling the air with those indescribably quiet noises which +are so suggestive of that general happiness which was originally in +terrestial paradise and is ultimately to be the lot of redeemed +creation. + +Snipe and curlews were wading with jaunty step and absorbed inquiring +gaze in the shallow pools. Hermit crabs of several species and sizes +were scuttling about searching for convenient shells in which to deposit +their naturally homeless and tender tails. Overhead there was a sort of +sea-rookery, the trees being tenanted by numerous gannets, frigate +birds, and terns--the first gazing with a stupid yet angry air; the +last--one beautiful little snow-white species in particular--hovering +only a few feet above the sketchers' heads, while their large black eyes +scanned the drawings with the owlish look of wisdom peculiar to +connoisseurs. Noddies also were there, and, on the ground, lizards and +spiders and innumerable ants engaged in all the varied activities +connected with their several domestic arrangements. + +Altogether it was a scene of bright peaceful felicity, which seemed to +permeate Nigel's frame right inward to the spinal marrow, and would have +kept him entranced there at his work for several hours longer if the +cravings of a healthy appetite had not warned him to desist. + +"Now, Kathleen," he said, rising and stretching himself as one is apt to +do after sitting long in a constrained position, "it seems to me about +time to--by the way, we've forgotten to bring something to eat!" + +His expression as he said this made his companion look up and laugh. + +"Plenty cocoa-nuts," she said, pointing with her pencil to the +overarching trees. + +"True, but I doubt my ability to climb these long straight stems; +besides, I have got only a small clasp-knife, which would be but a poor +weapon with which to attack the thick outer husk of the nuts." + +"But I have got a few without the husks in the boat," said the girl, +rising and running to the place where the cockleshell had been left. + +She returned immediately with several nuts divested of their thick outer +covering, and in the condition with which we are familiar in England. +Some of them were already broken, so that they had nothing to do but sit +down to lunch. + +"Here is one," said Kathy, handing a nut to Nigel, "that has got no meat +yet in it--only milk. Bore a hole in it and drink, but see you bore in +the right hole." + +"The right hole?" echoed the youth, "are some of them wrong ones?" + +"Oh yes, only one of the three will do. One of our crawbs knows that and +has claws that can bore through the husk and shell. We calls him +cocoa-nut crawb." + +"Indeed! That is strange; I never heard before of a crab that fed on +cocoa-nuts." + +"This one do. He is very big, and also climbs trees. It goes about most +at night. Perhaps you see one before you go away." + +The crab to which Kathy referred is indeed a somewhat eccentric +crustacean, besides being unusually large. It makes deep tunnels in the +ground larger than rabbit burrows, which it lines with cocoa-nut fibre. +One of its claws is developed into an organ of extraordinary power with +which it can break a cocoa-nut shell, and even, it is said, a man's +limb! It never takes all the husk off a cocoa-nut--that would be an +unnecessary trouble, but only enough off the end where the three eyelets +are, to enable it to get at the inside. Having pierced the proper eye +with one of its legs it rotates the nut round it until the hole is large +enough to admit the point of its great claw, with which it continues the +work. This remarkable creature also climbs the palm-trees, but not to +gather nuts; that is certain, for its habits have been closely watched +and it has been ascertained that it feeds only on fallen nuts. Possibly +it climbs for exercise, or to obtain a more extended view of its +charming habitat, or simply "for fun." Why not? + +All this and a great deal more was told to Nigel by Kathleen, who was a +bit of a naturalist in her tendencies--as they sat there under the +graceful fronds of the palm-trees admiring the exquisite view, eating +and drinking cocoa-nuts. + +"I suppose you have plenty of other kinds of food besides this?" said +Nigel. + +"Oh yes, plenty. Most of the fish in our lagoon be good for eating, and +so also the crawbs, and we have turtle too." + +"Indeed! How _do_ you catch the turtle? Another nut, please.--Thank +you." + +"The way we gets turtle is by the men diving for them and catching them +in the water. We has pigs too--plenty, and the wild birds are some very +nice."[1] + +When the artists had finished they proceeded to the shore, and to their +surprise and amusement found the cockleshell in possession of a +piratical urchin of about four years of age in a charmingly light state +of clothing. He was well known to Kathleen, and it turned out that, +having seen the cockle start at too great a distance to be hailed, and +having set his heart on joining in the excursion, he had watched their +movements, observed their landing on the islet--which was not far from +the main circlet of land--and, running round till he came opposite to +it, swam off and got into the boat. Being somewhat tired he had lain +down to rest and fallen sound asleep. + +On the way home this urchin's sole delight was to lean over the bow and +watch the fish and coral groves over which they skimmed. In this he was +imitated by Nigel who, ungallantly permitting his companion to row, also +leaned over the side and gazed down into the clear crystal depths with +unwearying delight. + +For the wonderful colours displayed in those depths must be seen to be +believed. Not only is the eye pleased with the ever-varying formations +of the coral bowers, but almost dazzled with the glittering fish--blue, +emerald, green, scarlet, orange, banded, spotted, and striped--that dart +hither and thither among the rich-toned sea-weed and the variegated +anemones which spread their tentacles upwards as if inviting the gazer +to come down! Among these, crabs could be seen crawling with undecided +motion, as if unable to make up their minds, while in out of the way +crevices clams of a gigantic size were gaping in deadly quietude ready +to close with a snap on any unfortunate creature that should give them +the slightest touch. + +Nigel was sharply awakened from his dream by a sudden splash. Looking up +he observed that the small boy was gone. With a bound he stood erect, +one foot on the gunwale and hands clasped ready to dive, when a glance +revealed the fact that Kathy was smiling broadly! + +"Don't jump!" she said. "He is only after a fish." + +Even while she spoke Nigel saw the brown little fellow shooting about +like a galvanised tadpole, with a small harpoon in his hand! + +Next moment he appeared on the surface shouting and spluttering, with a +splendid fish on the end of his harpoon! Both were hauled into the +boat, and very soon after they drew near to land. + +In the shallow water Nigel observed some remarkable creatures which +resembled hedgehogs, having jaws armed with formidable teeth to enable +them to feed, Kathy said, on coral insects. File-fishes also drew his +attention particularly. These were magnificently striped and coloured, +and apparently very fearless. + +"What convenient tails they have to lay hold of," remarked our hero, as +they slowly glided past one; "I believe I could catch it with my hand!" + +Stooping swiftly as he spoke, he dipped his arm into the water, and +actually did grasp the fish by its tail, but dropped it again +instantly--to the shrieking delight of the urchin and Kathy,--for the +tail was armed with a series of sharp spines which ran into his hand +like lancets. + +This was an appropriate conclusion to a day that would have been +otherwise too enjoyable. Poor Nigel's felicity was further diluted when +he met his father. + +"We'll have to sleep a-board to-night," said the captain, "for there's a +fair breeze outside which seems likely to hold, and the mast has been +temporarily rigged up, so we'll have to up anchor, and away by break of +day to-morrow." + +Nigel's heart sank. + +"To-morrow! father?" + +"Ay, to-morrow. Business first, pleasure afterwards." + +"Well, I suppose you are right, but it seems almost a shame to leave +such a heaven upon earth as this in such a hurry. Besides, is it not +unkind to such hospitable people to bolt off after you've got all that +you want out of them?" + +"Can't help that, lad-- + + "Dooty first, an' fun to follow, + That's what beats creation hollow." + +"Come father, don't say that you quote _that_ from mother!" + +"No more I do, my boy. It's my own--homemade. I put it together last +night when I couldn't sleep for your snorin'." + +"Don't tell fibs, father. You know I never snore. But--really--are we to +start at daylight?" + +"We are, if the wind holds. But you may stay as late as you choose on +shore to-night." + +Nigel availed himself of the opportunity to see as much of the place and +people as was possible in the limited time. Next morning the good though +damaged brig was running in the direction of Sunda Straits before a +stiff and steady breeze. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: We recommend those who desire more curious information on +the fauna and flora of the Keeling Islands to apply to Henry O. Forbes' +most interesting book, _A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern +Archipelago_.--(Sampson Low.)] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HIS SON, WHO SURPRISES A NEGRO, AND +SUDDENLY FORMS AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE. + + +Arrived in Batavia--the low-lying seaport and capital of the Dutch +island of Java--Captain Roy had his brig examined, and found that the +damage she had sustained was so serious that several months would +probably elapse before she would be again ready for sea. + +"Now, Nigel, my lad," said the old gentleman, on the morning after the +examination had been made, "come down below with me; I want to have a +confabulation with 'ee." + +"Why, father," said the youth, when seated at the small cabin table +opposite his rugged parent, "you seem to be in an unusually solemn frame +of mind this morning. Has anything happened?" + +"Nothin', boy--nothin'. Leastwise nothin' in particular. You know all +about the brig, an' what a deal o' repair she's got to undergo?" + +"Of course I do. You know I was present when you talked the matter over +with that fellow--what's-'is-name--that gave you his report." + +"Just so. Well now, Nigel, you don't suppose, do you, that I'm goin' to +keep you here for some months knockin' about with nothin' to do--eatin' +your grub in idleness?" + +"Certainly not," said the youth, regarding the stern countenance of his +parent with an amused look. "I have no intention of acting such an +ignoble part, and I'm surprised at you askin' the question, for you know +I am not lazy--at least not more so than average active men--and there +must be plenty of work for me to do in looking after the cargo, +superintending repairs, taking care of the ship and men. I wonder at +you, father. You must either have had a shock of dotage, or fallen into +a poetical vein. What is a first mate fit for if--" + +"Nigel," said Captain Roy, interrupting, "I'm the owner an' commander of +the _Sunshine_, besides bein' the paternal parent of an impertinent son, +and I claim to have the right to do as I please--therefore, hold your +tongue and listen to me." + +"All right, father," replied the young man, with a benignant grin; +"proceed, but don't be hard upon me; spare my feelings." + +"Well now, this is how the land lies," said the old seaman, resting his +elbows on the table and clasping his hands before him. "As Mr. Moor and +I, with the stooard and men, are quite sufficient to manage the affairs +o' the brig, and as we shall certainly be here for a considerable time +to come, I've made up my mind to give you a holiday. You're young, you +see, an' foolish, and your mind needs improvin'. In short, you want a +good deal o' the poetry knocked out o' you, for it's not like your +mother's poetry by any means, so you needn't flatter yourself--not built +on the same lines by a long way. Well--where was I?" + +"Only got the length of the holiday yet, father." + +"Only, indeed. You ungrateful dog! It's a considerable length to get, +that, isn't it? Well, I also intend to give you some money, to enable +you to move about in this curious archipelago--not much, but enough to +keep you from starvation if used with economy, so I recommend you to go +into the town, make general inquiries about everything and everywhere, +an' settle in your mind what you'll do, for I give you a rovin' +commission an' don't want to be bothered with you for some time to +come." + +"Are you in earnest, father?" asked Nigel, who had become more +interested while the captain unfolded his plan. + +"Never more in earnest in my life--except, p'raps, when I inquired over +twenty years ago whether you was a boy or a gurl." + +"Well, now, that _is_ good of you, father. Of course I need not say +that I am charmed at the prospect you open up to me. And--and when may I +start?" + +"At once. Up anchor and away to-night if you choose." + +"But--where?" + +"Anywhere--everywhere, Java, Sumatra, Borneo--all Malaysia before you +where to choose. Now be off, and think over it, for I've got too much to +do to waste time on you at present," said the captain, rising, "and, +stay--Nigel." + +"Well?" said the youth, looking back as he was about to leave the cabin. + +"Whatever you do, don't grow poetical about it. You know it is said +somewhere, that mischief is found for idle hands to do." + +"All right, father. I'll keep clear of poetry--leave all that sort o' +nonsense to _you_. I'll-- + + "I'll flee Temptation's siren voice, + Throw poesy to the crows, + And let my soul's ethereal fire + Gush out in sober prose." + +It need scarcely be said that our hero was not slow to take advantage of +the opportunity thus thrown in his way. He went off immediately through +the town, armed with the introduction of his father's well-known name, +and made inquiries of all sorts of people as to the nature, the +conditions, the facilities, and the prospects of travel in the Malay +Archipelago. In this quest he found himself sorely perplexed for the +very good reason that "all sorts" of people, having all sorts of ideas +and tastes, gave amazingly conflicting accounts of the region and its +attractions. + +Wearied at last with his researches, he sauntered towards afternoon in +the direction of the port, and began in a listless sort of way to watch +the movements of a man who was busily engaged with a boat, as if he were +making preparations to put to sea. + +Now, whatever philosophers may say to the contrary, we hold strongly to +the opinion that likings and dislikings among men and women and children +are the result of some profound occult cause which has nothing whatever +to do with experience. No doubt experience may afterwards come in to +modify or intensify the feelings, but it is not the originating cause. +If you say it is, how are we to account for love at first sight? Beauty +has nothing necessarily to do with it, for men fall in love at first +sight with what the world calls plain women--happily! Character is not +the cause, for love assails the human breast, ofttimes, before the loved +object has uttered a word, or perpetrated a smile, or even fulminated a +glance to indicate character. So, in like manner, affection may arise +between man and man. + +It was so on this occasion with Nigel Roy. As he stood abstractedly +gazing at the boatman he fell in love with him--at least he took a +powerful fancy to him, and this was all the more surprising that the man +was a negro,--a woolly-headed, flat-nosed, thick-lipped nigger! + +We would not for a moment have it supposed that it is unnatural to love +such a man. Quite the reverse. But when such a man is a perfect +stranger, has never uttered a word in one's presence, or vouchsafed so +much as a glance, and is gravely, stolidly engaged in the unsavoury work +of greasing some of the tackling of a boat, it does seem unaccountable +that he should be unwittingly capable of stirring up in another man's +bosom feelings of ardent goodwill, to put it mildly. + +After watching him for some time, Nigel under an almost involuntary +impulse shouted "Hullo!" + +"Hullo!" replied the negro, looking up with a somewhat stern frown and a +pout of his thick lips, as much as to say--"Who are _you_?" + +Nigel smiled, and made that suggestive motion with his forefinger which +signifies "Come here." + +The frown fled and the pout became a smile as the negro approached, +wiping his hands on a piece of cotton-waste. + +"What you want wi' _me_, sar?" he asked. + +"Well, upon my word," said Nigel, somewhat perplexed, "I can't very +well say. I suppose something must have been in my mind, but--anyhow, I +felt a desire to have a talk with you; that is, if you can spare the +time." + +The first part of this reply induced a slight recurrence of the frown +and pout, but at its conclusion the black brow cleared and the mouth +expanded to such a gum-and-teeth-exposing extent that Nigel fairly burst +into a laugh. + +"You's bery good, sar," said the man, "an' I's hab much pleasure to make +your acquaintance.--Der an't no grease on 'em now." + +The last remark had reference to the enormous black paw which he held +out. + +Nigel at once grasped it and shook it heartily. + +"I's bery fond ob a talk, sar," continued the negro, "so as you wants +one, heabe ahead." + +Thus encouraged, our hero began by remarking that he seemed to be +preparing for a trip. + +"Dat's zackly what I's a-doin', sar." + +"A long one?" + +"Well, dat depends on what you call short. Goin' to Sunda Straits, which +p'raps you know, sar, is nigh a hundred miles fro' here." + +"And what may you be going to do there?" asked Nigel. + +"Goin' home to Krakatoa." + +"Why, I thought that was an uninhabited island. I passed close to it on +my way here, and saw no sign of inhabitants." + +"Da's cause I was absint fro' home. An' massa he keeps indoors a good +deal." + +"And pray who is massa?" asked Nigel. + +"Sar," said the negro, drawing up his square sturdy frame with a look of +dignity; "fair-play is eberyt'ing wid me. You've ax me a heap o' +questions. Now's my--turn. Whar you comes fro'?" + +"From England," replied Nigel. + +"An' whar you go to?" + +"Well, you've posed me now, for I really don't know where I'm going to. +In fact that is the very thing I have been trying to find out all day, +so if you'll help me I'll be much obliged." + +Here Nigel explained his position and difficulties, and it was quite +obvious, judging from the glittering eyes and mobile mouth, that he +poured his tale into peculiarly sympathetic ears. When he had finished, +the negro stood for a considerable time gazing in meditative silence at +the sky. + +"Yes," he said at last, as if communing with himself, "I t'ink--I ain't +quite sure, but I t'ink--I may ventur'." + +"Whatever it is you are thinking about," remarked Nigel, "you may +venture to say anything you like to _me_." + +The negro, who, although comparatively short of stature, was herculean +in build, looked at the youth with an amused expression. + +"You're bery good, sar, but da's not what I's t'inkin' ob. I's t'inkin' +whedder I dar' ventur' to introdoce you to my massa. He's not fond o' +company, an' it might make 'im angry, but he came by a heaby loss lately +an' p'raps he may cond'send to receibe you. Anyhow you 'd be quite safe, +for he's sure to be civil to any friend ob mine." + +"Is he then so fierce?" asked Nigel, becoming interested as well as +amused. + +"Fierce! no, he's gentle as a lamb, but he's awrful when he's +roused--tigers, crokindiles, 'noceroses is nuffin' to him!" + +"Indeed! what's his name, and what does he do? How does he live?" + +The negro shook his head. "Da's more'n I dar tell till I ax his leave, +sar. I kin only say de peepil around calls 'im the hermit ob Rakata, +'cause he libs by his self (wid me, ob course, but _I_ counts for +nuffin), close under de ole volcano ob Krakatoa. Dey tink--some ob de +foolish peepil--dat he hab sold his-self to de dibil, but I knows +better. He's a good man, and you'd hab great fun if you stop wid him. +Now, what I's a-gwine to advise you is, come wid me an' see de hermit. +If he lets you stop, good. If not, I fetch you ober to de main +land--whar you please--an' you kin come back here or go whar you +choose. Its wort' your while to take your chance, anyhow." + +The negro said this with such an earnest look that Nigel made up his +mind on the spot to accept this curious invitation. + +"I'll go!" he exclaimed with sudden energy. "When do you start?" + +"To-morrer at daybreak, sar." + +"Well, I shall have to talk it over first with my father, but I'm sure +he won't object, so you may look out for me here at daybreak. Shall I +have to fetch any provisions with me for the voyage?" + +"No, nuffin'. Boat's crammed wi' grub. But you'd better bring a gun o' +some sort an' a 'volver, an' a big knife, an' a mortal big appetite, for +a man's no good widout dat." + +"I always carry that about with me," said the youth, "whatever else I +may leave behind; and I'll see to the other things.--By the way, what's +your name?" + +"Moses." + +"Is that all?" + +"Isn't dat enuff?" returned the negro with a look of dignity. + +"Quite; but I have the advantage of you there, Moses, for I have two +names--Nigel Roy." + +"Well, I don't see much use ob two, but which does you like to be +called by--Nadgel or Roy?" + +"Whichever you please, Moses; I'll answer to either. So now, good-bye +for the present, and look out for me to-morrow at daylight." + +"Good-bye, Massa Nadgel, till to-morrer." + +The negro waved his hand and, sauntering slowly back to his boat, +remarked in an undertone, "I lub dat young feller!" Saying which, he +resumed his greasing operations. + +Of course Captain Roy made no objection to his son's proposal, though he +freely gave his opinion that it was a wild-goose chase. + +"However, lad, please yourself and you'll please me," he added; "and +now, be particular to bear in mind that you've got to write to me every +time you get within hail of a post-office or a passing ship or steamer +that may chance to be comin' this way, and in each letter be sure to +tell me where you're goin' to next, so as I may send a letter there to +you in case I want you to return sudden or otherwise. We mustn't lose +touch, you see. You needn't write long screeds. I only want to know your +whereabouts from time to time. For the rest--you can spin it out in +yarns when you come back." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE HERMIT OF RAKATA INTRODUCED. + + +Nothing worthy of particular note occurred during the boat-voyage along +the northern shore of Java to Sunda Straits. A fair, steady breeze +wafted them westward, and, on the morning of the third day, they came in +sight of the comparatively small uninhabited island of Krakatoa. + +The boat in which they voyaged, although a little one, had a small +portion of the bow decked over, so that our hero and his sable friend +could find shelter from the night air when disposed to sleep and from +the fierce rays of the sun at noon. + +By the advice of his father, Nigel had changed his sailor costume for +the "shore-goin' toggery" in which he had landed on the Keeling Islands, +as being more suitable to his new character as a traveller, namely, a +white cloth cap with a peak in front and a curtain behind to protect his +neck, a light-grey tunic belted at the waist, and a pair of strong +canvas trousers. He had also purchased an old-fashioned +double-barrelled fowling-piece, muzzle-loading and with percussion +locks. + +"For you see, Nigel," the captain had said, "it's all very well to use +breech-loaders when you've got towns and railways and suchlike to supply +you wi' cartridges, but when you've got to cruise in out-o'-the-way +waters, there's nothin' like the old style. It's not difficult to carry +a few thousand percussion-caps an' a bullet-mould about wi' you wherever +you go. As to powder, why, you'll come across that 'most everywhere, an' +lead too; and, for the matter o' that, if your life depended on it you +could shove a handful of gravel or a pen-knife or tooth-pick into your +gun an' blaze away, but with a breech-loader, if you run out o' +cartridges, where are you?" + +So, as Nigel could not say where he was, the percussion-gun had been +purchased. + +The peak of Rakata--the highest in the island--a little over 2600 feet, +came in sight first; gradually the rest of the island rose out of the +horizon, and ere long the rich tropical verdure became distinguishable. + +Krakatoa--destined so soon to play a thrilling part in the world's +history; to change the aspect of the heavens everywhere; to attract the +wondering gaze of nearly all nations, and to devastate its immediate +neighbourhood--is of volcanic origin, and, at the time we write of +(1883) was beginning to awaken from a long, deep slumber of two hundred +years. Its last explosion occurred in the year 1680. Since that date it +had remained quiet. But now the tremendous subterranean forces which had +originally called it into being were beginning to reassert their +existence and their power. Vulcan was rousing himself again and +beginning once more to blow his bellows. So said some of the sailors who +were constantly going close past the island and through Sunda Straits, +which may be styled the narrows of the world's highway to the China +seas. + +Subterranean forces, however, are so constantly at work more or less +violently in those regions that people took little notice of these +indications in the comparatively small island of Krakatoa, which was +between five and six miles long by four broad. + +As we have said, it was uninhabited, and lying as it does between +Sumatra and Java, about sixteen miles from the former and over twenty +miles from the latter, it was occasionally visited by fishermen. The +hermit whom Nigel was about to visit might, in some sort, be counted an +inhabitant, for he had dwelt there many years, but he lived in a cave +which was difficult of access, and held communication with no one. How +he spent his time was a mystery, for although his negro servant went to +the neighbouring town of Anjer in Java for supplies, and sometimes to +Batavia, as we have seen, no piece of inanimate ebony from the forest +could have been less communicative than he. Indeed, our hero was the +first to unlock the door of his lips, with that key of mysterious +sympathy to which reference has already been made. Some of the bolder of +the young fishermen of the neighbouring coasts had several times made +futile efforts to find out where and how the hermit lived, but the few +who got a glimpse of him at a distance brought back such a report that a +kind of superstitious fear of him was generated which kept them at a +respectful distance. + +He was ten feet high, some romancers said, with shoulders four feet +broad, a chest like a sugar-hogshead, and a countenance resembling a +compound of orang-utan and tiger. + +Of course our hero knew nothing of these rumours, and as Moses declined +to give any information regarding his master beyond that already given, +he was left to the full play of his imagination. + +Moses was quite candid about it. He made no pretence to shroud things in +mystery. + +"You mus' know, Massa Nadgel," he said, as they slowly drew near to the +island, "I's 'fraid ob 'im dough I lub 'im." + +"But why do you love him, Moses?" + +"'Cause he sabe my life an' set me free." + +"Indeed? well, that is good reason. And why do you fear him?" + +"Da's what I don' know, massa," replied the negro with a puzzled look. + +"Is he harsh, then?" + +"No." + +"Passionate?" + +"No. Gentle as a lamb." + +"Strong?" + +"Yes--oh! mighty strong an' big." + +"Surely you're not afraid of his giving you a licking, Moses?" + +"Oh no," returned the negro, with a smile of expansive benignity; "I's +not 'fraid ob dat. I's bin a slabe once, got used to lickin's. Don't +care nuffin' at all for a lickin'!" + +"Then it must be that you're afraid of hurting his feelings, Moses, for +I know of no other kind of fear." + +"Pr'aps da's it!" said the negro with a bright look, "now I wouldn't +wonder if you's right, Massa Nadgel. It neber come into my head in dat +light before. I used to be t'ink, t'inkin' ob nights--when I's tired ob +countin' my fingers an' toes--But I couldn't make nuffin' ob it. _Now_ I +knows! It's 'fraid I am ob hurtin' his feelin's." + +In the excess of his satisfaction at the solution of this long-standing +puzzle, Moses threw back his head, shut his eyes, opened his enormous +mouth and chuckled. + +By the time he had reversed this process they were sufficiently near to +Krakatoa to distinguish all its features clearly, and the negro began to +point out to Nigel its various localities. There were three prominent +peaks on it, he said, named respectively, Perboewatan about 400 feet +high, at the northern end of the island; Danan, near the centre, 1500 +feet; and Rakata, at the southern end, over 2600 feet. It was high up on +the sides of the last cone that the residence of the hermit was +situated. + +"And you won't tell me your master's name?" said Nigel. + +Moses shook his woolly head. "No, sar, no. I's 'fraid ob him--he! he! +'fraid ob hurtin' his feelin's!" + +"Well, never mind; I'll find it out from himself soon. By the way, what +were you telling me about explosions yesterday when that little white +gull came to admire your pretty face, and took off our attention?" + +"Well, I dun know. Not got much to tell, only dar's bin rumblin' an' +grumblin's an' heavin's lately in de mountains as didn't use to be, an' +cracks like somet'in' bustin' down blow, an' massa he shook 'is head two +or free times an' look solemn. He don't often do dat--shook 'is head, I +mean--for he mostly always looks solemn." + +A few minutes later the boat, running through a narrow opening among +the rocks into a small circular harbour not more than fifty yards in +diameter, rested its keel gently on a little bed of pure yellow sand. +The shore there was so densely covered with bushes that the harbour +might easily have been passed without being observed. + +Jumping ashore, Moses made the painter fast to a tree. + +"What a quiet, cosy place!" said Nigel, as he sprang on the beach and +looked admiringly round. + +"Yes, an' not easy to find if you don't knows 'im. We will leabe de boat +here,--no danger ob bein' tooked away--an' den go up to de cave." + +"Is it far?" asked Nigel. + +"A good bit--near de top ob de mountain,"--answered the negro, who +looked at his companion somewhat uneasily. + +"Why, what's the matter, Moses?" + +"Nuffin'--oh! nuffin'--but--but when massa axes you who you is, an' what +you bin up to, an' whar your a-gwine to, an' what wages you want, jist +you answer 'im in a sorter permiscuous way, an' don't be too partikler." + +"Wages! man, what d' ye mean?" + +"Well, you'll 'scuse me, sar," returned the negro with an air of +profound humility, "but my massa lost a old sarvint--a nigger like +myself--only last munt', an' he wants to go on one ob his usual +expeditions jus' now, so he sends me to Batavia to git anoder man--'a +good one, you know,' says massa,--an' as you, sar, was good 'nuff to ax +me what you should do, an' you looked a pritty smart man, I----" + +"You scoundrel!" cried Nigel, interrupting him, "do you really mean to +tell me that you've brought me here as a hired servant?" + +"Well, not zackly," returned Moses, with solemn simplicity, "you needn't +ax no wages unless you like." + +"But what if I don't want to take service?" demanded our hero, with a +savage frown. + +"You kin go home agin," answered Moses, humbly. + +Nigel could contain himself no longer. As he observed the man's +deprecatory air, and thought of his own position, he burst into a fit of +hearty laughter, whereupon the negro recovered himself and smiled the +smile of the guiltless. + +"Come," said Nigel at last. "Lead on, you rascal! When I see your master +I shall know what to say." + +"All right, Massa Nadgel, but mind what you say, else I won't answer for +de consikences. Foller me an' look arter your feet, for de road is +roughish." + +The negro's last remark was unquestionably true, for the road--if a mere +footpath merits the name--was rugged in the extreme--here winding round +the base of steep cliffs, there traversing portions of luxuriant +forest, elsewhere skirting the margin of the sea. + +Moses walked at such a pace that Nigel, young and active though he was, +found it no easy matter to keep up with him. Pride, however, forbade him +to show the slightest sign of difficulty, and made him even converse now +and then in tones of simulated placidity. At last the path turned +abruptly towards the face of a precipice and seemed to terminate in a +small shallow cave. Any one following the path out of mere curiosity +would have naturally imagined that the cave was the termination of it; +and a very poor termination too, seeing that it was a rather +uninteresting cave, the whole of the interior of which could be seen at +a single glance from its mouth. + +But this cave served in reality as a blind. Climbing by one or two +projecting points, the negro, closely followed by Nigel, reached a +narrow ledge and walked along it a short distance. On coming to the end +of the ledge he jumped down into a mass of undergrowth, where the track +again became visible--winding among great masses of weatherworn lava. +Here the ascent became very steep, and Moses put on what sporting men +call a spurt, which took him far ahead of Nigel, despite the best +efforts of the latter to keep up. Still our hero scorned to run or call +out to his guide to wait, and thereby admit himself beaten. He pushed +steadily on, and managed to keep the active Moses in view. + +Presently the negro stepped upon a platform of rock high up on the +cliffs, where his form could be distinctly seen against the bright sky. +There Nigel observed that he was joined by a man whose tall commanding +figure seemed in such a position to be of gigantic proportions. + +The two stood engaged in earnest conversation while watching Nigel. The +latter immediately slackened his pace, in order at once to recover +breath and approach with a leisurely aspect. + +"The wild man of the island, I suppose," he thought as he drew near; but +on coming still nearer he saw that he must be mistaken, for the stranger +who advanced to meet him with gracious ease and self-possession was +obviously a gentleman, and dressed, not unlike himself, in a sort of +mixed travelling and shooting costume. + +"I must apologise, Mr. Roy, for the presumption of my man, in bringing +you here under something like false pretences," said the stranger, +holding out his hand, which Nigel shook heartily. "Moses, I find, has +failed to execute my commission, and has partially deceived you; but as +you are now here, the least I can do is to bid you welcome, and offer +you the hospitality of my roof." + +There was something so courteous and kindly in the tone and manner of +the stranger, and something so winning in his soft gentle tones, which +contrasted strangely with his grand towering figure and massive bearded +countenance, that Nigel felt drawn to him instantly. Indeed there was a +peculiar and mysterious something about him which quite fascinated our +hero as he looked up at him, for, bordering on six feet though Nigel +was, the stranger stood several inches above him. + +"You are very kind," said the visitor, "and I don't think that Moses can +fairly be charged with deceiving me, although he has been somewhat +unwise in his way of going about this business, for I had told him I +wanted to see something of these regions, and perhaps it may be to my +advantage to travel in your service--that is, if I can be of any use to +you; but the time at my disposal may be too limited." + +"How much time have you to spare?" asked the stranger. + +"Well, say perhaps three months." + +"That will do," returned his questioner, looking thoughtfully at the +ground. "We will talk of this hereafter." + +"But--excuse me," said Nigel, "your man spoke of you as a hermit--a sort +of--of--forgive me--a wild-man-of-the-island, if I may--" + +"No, I didn't, Massa Nadgel," said the negro, the edge of whose flat +contradiction was taken off by the extreme humility of his look. + +"Well," returned Nigel, with a laugh; "you at least gave me to +understand that other people said something of that sort." + +"Da's right, Massa Nadgel--kite right. You're k'rect _now_." + +"People have indeed got some strange ideas about me, I believe," +interposed the hermit, with a grave almost sad expression and tone. "But +come, let me introduce you to my hermitage and you shall judge for +yourself." + +So saying, this singular being turned and led the way further up the +rugged side of the peak of Rakata. + +After about five minutes' walk in silence, the trio reached a spot where +there was a clear view over the tree-tops, revealing the blue waters of +the strait, with the Java shores and mountains in the distance. + +Behind them there yawned, dark and mysterious, a mighty cavern, so black +and high that it might well suggest a portal leading to the regions +below, where Vulcan is supposed to stir those tremendous fires which +have moulded much of the configuration of the world, and which are ever +seething--an awful Inferno--under the thin crust of the globe on which +we stand. + +Curiously formed and large-leaved trees of the tropics, with their +pendent parasites, as well as rank grasses, sprouting from below and +hanging from above, partially concealed this cavern from Nigel when he +first turned towards it, but a few steps further on he could see it in +all its rugged grandeur. + +"My home," said the hermit, with a very slight smile and the air of a +prince, as he turned towards his visitor and waved his hand towards it. + +"A magnificent entrance at all events," said Nigel, returning the smile +with something of dubiety, for he was not quite sure that his host was +in earnest. + +"Follow me," said the hermit, leading the way down a narrow well-worn +path which seemed to lose itself in profound darkness. After being a few +minutes within the cavern, however, Nigel's eyes became accustomed to +the dim light, and he perceived that the roof rapidly lowered, while its +walls narrowed until they reached a spot which was not much wider than +an ordinary corridor. Here, however, it was so dark that it was barely +possible to see a small door in the right-hand wall before which they +halted. Lifting a latch the hermit threw the door wide open, and a glare +of dazzling light almost blinded the visitor. + +Passing through the entrance, Nigel followed his guide, and the negro +let the heavy door shut behind him with a clang that was depressingly +suggestive of a prison. + +"Again I bid you welcome to my home," said the hermit, turning round +and extending his hand, which Nigel mechanically took and pressed, but +without very well knowing what he did, for he was almost dumfounded by +what he saw, and for some minutes gazed in silence around him. + +And, truly, there was ground for surprise. The visitor found himself in +a small but immensely high and brilliantly lighted cavern or natural +chamber, the walls of which were adorned with drawings of scenery and +trees and specimens of plants, while on various shelves stood +innumerable stuffed birds, and shells, and other specimens of natural +history. + +A table and two chairs stood at one end of the cave, and, strangest of +all, a small but well-filled book-case ornamented the other end. + +"Arabian Nights!" thought Nigel. "I _must_ be dreaming." + +His wandering eyes travelled slowly round the cavern until they rested +at last on the door by which they had entered, beside which stood the +negro with a broad grin on his sable visage. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND. + + +The thing that perhaps surprised Nigel most in this strange cavern was +the blaze of light with which it was filled, for it came down direct +through a funnel-shaped hole in the high roof and bore a marvellous +resemblance to natural sunshine. He was well aware that unless the sun +were shining absolutely in the zenith, the laws of light forbade the +entrance of a _direct_ ray into such a place, yet there were the +positive rays, although the sun was not yet high in the heavens, +blinding him while he looked at them, and casting the shadows of himself +and his new friends on the floor. + +There was the faintest semblance of a smile on the hermit's face as he +quietly observed his visitor, and waited till he should recover +self-possession. As for Moses--words are wanting to describe the fields +of teeth and gum which he displayed, but no sound was suffered to escape +his magnificent lips, which closed like the slide of a dark lantern when +the temptation to give way to feeling became too strong. + +"My cave interests you," said the hermit at last. + +"It amazes me," returned our hero, recovering himself and looking +earnestly at his host, "for you seem not only to have all the +necessaries of life around you in your strange abode, but many of the +luxuries; among them the cheering presence of sunshine--though how you +manage to get it is beyond my powers of conception." + +"It is simple enough, as you shall see," returned the hermit. "You have +heard of the saying, no doubt, that 'all things are possible to +well-directed labour'?" + +"Yes, and that 'nothing can be achieved without it.'" + +"Well, I have proved that to some extent," continued the hermit. "You +see, by the various and miscellaneous implements on my shelves, that I +am given to dabbling a little in science, and thus have made my lonely +home as pleasant as such a home can be--but let us not talk of these +matters just now. You must be hungry. Have you had breakfast?" + +"No, we have not--unless, at least, you count a sea biscuit dipped in +salt water a breakfast. After all, that may well be the case, for +hermits are noted for the frugality of their fare." + +"I am not a genuine hermit," remarked his host gravely. "Men do indeed +call me the Hermit of Rakata, because I dwell alone here under the +shadow of this particular cone of Krakatoa, but I do not ape the austere +life of the conventional hermit, as you see, either in my domestic +arrangements or food. Come, your breakfast is ready. From my outlook I +saw your boat approaching some hours ago, and knew that it was mine, so +I made ready for your arrival, though I did not guess that Moses was +bringing me a guest instead of a servant!" + +So saying, he led the way through a short natural passage to an inner +cave, the entrance to which, like the outer one, was boarded. On opening +a small door, Nigel was again greeted as before with brilliant rays of +sunshine, and, in addition, with a gush of odours that were exceedingly +grateful to a hungry man. A low "Ho! ho!" behind him told that his black +companion was equally gratified. + +The inner cave or mess-room, as the host styled it, combined dining-room +and kitchen, for while in one corner stood a deal table with plates, +cups, etc., but no tablecloth, in another stood a small stove, heated by +an oil lamp, from which issued puffing and sputtering sounds, and the +savoury odours above referred to. + +Nigel now perceived that although his strange host necessarily spoke a +good deal while welcoming him and offering him the hospitalities of his +abode, he was by no means communicative. On the contrary, it was evident +that he was naturally reserved and reticent, and that although polite +and gentle in the extreme, there was a quiet grave dignity about him +which discouraged familiarity. It must not be supposed, however, that he +was in any degree morosely silent. He was simply quiet and +undemonstrative, said little except when asked questions, and spoke, +alike to Nigel and Moses, in the soft, low, kindly tones with which one +might address very young people. + +Going to the stove he took a coffee-pot therefrom and set it on the +table. At the same time, Moses, without requiring to be told, opened the +oven and brought forth fried fish, meat of some kind, and cakes of he +knew not what, but cared little, for their excellence was +unquestionable. + +During the meal that followed, Nigel ventured as far as politeness +permitted--indeed a little further, if truth must be told--to inquire +into the circumstances and motives of his entertainer in taking up his +abode in such a strange place, but he soon found that his eccentric +friend was not one who could be "pumped." Without a touch of rudeness, +and in the sweetest of voices, he simply assumed an absent manner and +changed the subject of discourse, when he did not choose to reply, by +drawing attention to some irrelevant matter, or by putting a counter +question which led away from the subject. Nigel also found that his host +never laughed and rarely smiled, though, when he did so the smile was so +slight as merely to indicate a general feeling of urbanity and goodwill, +and it was followed instantly by a look of gravity, if not sadness. +Altogether the guest was much perplexed about the host at first, and +somewhat constrained in consequence, but gradually he began to feel at +ease. Another discovery that he soon made was, that the hermit treated +Moses not as a servant, but as if he were in all respects an equal and a +comrade. + +After eating for some time in silence, and having tried to draw out his +host without success, Nigel changed his tactics and said-- + +"You were so kind as to speak of me as your guest, Mr.---- Mr.---- I beg +pardon, may I--" + +"My name is Van der Kemp," said the hermit quietly. + +"Well, Mr. Van der Kemp, I must tell you that I am quite willing to +accept the position for which Moses hired me--" + +"No, I didn't," contradicted the negro, flatly yet very gently, both in +tone and manner, for long residence with the hermit had apparently +imbued him with something of his spirit. + +"Well, then," said Nigel, "the position for which Moses _should have_ +hired some one else. ('K'rect _now_' whispered Moses.) Of course I do +not intend to ask for or accept wages, and also, of course, I accept the +position on the understanding that you think me fit for the service. May +I ask what that service is to be, and where you think of going to?" + +"The service," returned the hermit slowly and with his eyes fixed on the +floor as if pondering his reply, "is to accompany me as my attendant and +companion, to take notes as occasion may serve, and to paddle a canoe." + +At this reply our hero almost laughed, but was prevented from doing so +by his host asking abruptly if he understood canoeing. + +"Well, yes. At least I can manage what in England is known as the Rob +Roy canoe, having possessed one in my boyhood." + +"That will do," returned the hermit gravely. "Can you write shorthand?" + +"I can. A friend of mine, a reporter on one of the London dailies, once +gave me a few lessons, and, becoming fond of the subject, I followed it +up." + +"That is well; you did well. It is of immense advantage to a man, +whatever his position in life, that he should be able to write shorthand +with facility. Especially useful is it in commerce. I know that, having +had some experience of commercial life." + +At this point in the conversation Nigel was startled by what was to him +an absolutely new sensation, namely a shaking or trembling of the whole +cavern, accompanied by faint rumbling sounds as if in deeper caverns +below him. + +He glanced quickly at his host and at the negro, but to his surprise +these remarkable men seemed not to be aware of the shaking, although it +was severe enough to cause some of the furniture to rattle. Observing +his look of surprise, Moses remarked, with a benignant though capacious +smile, "Mountain's got de mulligrumps pritty bad jist now." + +"We are pretty well accustomed to that," said the host, observing that +Nigel turned to him for an explanation. "No doubt you are aware that +this region is celebrated for earthquakes and volcanoes, so much so that +the inhabitants pay little attention to them unless they become +unusually violent. This island of Krakatoa is itself the fragment of an +extinct volcano; but the term 'extinct' is scarcely applicable to +volcanoes, for it is well known that many which were for centuries +supposed to be extinct have awakened to sudden and violent +activity--'quiescent' might be a more appropriate term." + +"Yes," said Moses, ceasing to masticate for purposes of speech; "dem +'stinkt volcanoes hab got an okard habit ob unstinkin' dereselves +hereabouts when you don' 'spect it of 'em. Go on, massa. I ax yer +pard'n for 'truptin'." + +The hermit's peculiar good-natured little smile played for a moment on +his massive features, and then faded away as he continued-- + +"Perhaps you may have heard that this is the very heart of the district +that has long been recognised as the greatest focus of volcanic activity +on the globe?" + +"I have heard something of the sort," answered Nigel, "but I confess +that my knowledge is limited and my mind hazy on the subject." + +"I doubt it not," returned his friend, "for geographical and scientific +training in primary schools anywhere is not what it might be. The island +of Java, with an area about equal to that of England, contains no fewer +than forty-nine great volcanic mountains, some of which rise to 12,000 +feet above the sea-level. Many of these mountains are at the present +time active ('Yes, much _too_ active,' muttered the negro), and more +than half of them have been seen in eruption since Java was occupied by +Europeans. Hot springs, mud-volcanoes, and vapour-vents abound all over +the island, whilst earthquakes are by no means uncommon. There is a +distinct line in the chain of these mountains which seems to point to a +great fissure in the earth's crust, caused by the subterranean fires. +This tremendous crack or fissure crosses the Straits of Sunda, and in +consequence we find a number of these vents--as volcanic mountains may +be styled--in the Island of Sumatra, which you saw to the nor'ard as you +came along. But there is supposed to be another great crack in the +earth's crust--indicated by several volcanic mountains--which crosses +the other fissure almost at right angles, and at the exact point where +these two lines intersect _stands this island of Krakatoa_! + +"I emphasise the fact," continued the hermit after a pause, "first, +because, although this has been a quiescent volcano since the year 1680, +and people have come to regard it as extinct, there are indications now +which lead me to believe that its energy is reviving; and, second, +because this focus where fissures cross each other--this Krakatoa +Island--is in reality part of the crater of an older and much larger +volcanic mountain, which must have been literally blown away in +prehistoric times, and of which Krakatoa and the neighbouring islets of +Varlaten, Polish Hat, Lang Island, and the rest, are but the remnants of +the great crater ring. If these rumblings and minor earthquakes, which I +have noticed of late--and the latest of which you have just +experienced--are the precursors of another explosion, my home here may +be rendered untenable." + +"Hi!" exclaimed Moses, who had been listening with open mouth and eyes +to this discourse, which was obviously news to him, "I hope, massa, he +ain't a-gwine to 'splode to-day--anyhow, not till after breakfast!" + +"You must have studied the subject of volcanoes a good deal, I suppose, +from what you say," observed Nigel. + +"Naturally; living as I do almost on the top of one. My library, which I +will show you presently, contains many interesting works on the subject. +But come, if you have finished we will ascend the Peak of Rakata and I +will introduce you to my sunshine." + +He rose and led his guest back to the outer cavern, leaving Moses still +busy with knife and fork, apparently meditating on the pleasure of +breakfasting with the prospect of a possible and immediate explosion. + +In passing through the first chamber, Nigel observed, in a natural +recess, the library just referred to. He also noted that, besides +stuffed birds and other specimens and sea-shells, there were chisels, +saws, hammers, and other tools, besides something like a forge and +carpenter's bench in a side-chamber opening out of the large one, which +he had not at first seen--from all which he concluded that the hermit +was imbued with mechanical as well as scientific and literary tastes. + +At the further and darker end of the outer cave there was a staircase, +partly natural, and partly improved by art, which led upward into +profound darkness. + +"Let me take your hand here," said the hermit, looking down upon his +guest with his slight but winning smile; "it is a rough and dark +staircase. You will be apt to stumble." + +Nigel placed his hand in that of his host with perfect confidence, and +with a curious feeling--aroused, probably, by the action--of having +returned to the days of childhood. + +The stair was indeed rugged as well as winding, and so pitchy dark that +the youth could not have advanced at all without stumbling, unless his +host had held him all the way. At last a glimmer of light was seen in +the distance. It seemed to increase suddenly, and in a few moments the +two emerged from total darkness into dazzling sunshine. + +When Nigel looked round him he saw that they had gained a plateau, high +up on the very summit of the mountain, which appeared to be absolutely +inaccessible by any means save that by which they had reached it. + +"This is what I call my observatory," said the hermit, turning to his +guest. "We have passed right through the peak of Rakata, and reached its +northern side, which commands, as you see, a view of all the northern +part of the island. I come here often in the night to study the face of +the heavens, the moon, and stars, and meditate on their mysterious +Maker, whose ways are indeed wonderful and past finding out; but all +which must, in the nature of things, be _right_." + +As this was the first mention that the hermit had made of the Creator, +and the reference was one requiring more thought than Nigel had yet +bestowed on it, he made no rejoinder. + +"Have you studied astronomy, Mr. Roy?" + +"No--at least not more of it than was needful for navigation. But pray, +sir, do not call me Mr. Roy," said the youth, with a somewhat +embarrassed air. "If I am to be your assistant and familiar companion +for two or three months, I hope that you will agree to call me Nigel. +Your man has done so already without asking leave!" + +"I will, on one condition." + +"And that is--?" + +"That you also dispense with the 'Mr.' and 'sir,' and call me Van der +Kemp." + +"Agreed," said Nigel, "though it does not seem so appropriate in me as +in you, considering the difference of our years." + +"Look here," said the hermit, turning abruptly to a small wooden shed +which had hitherto escaped the youth's observation, so covered was it +with overhanging boughs and tropical creeping plants, "these are my +astronomical instruments." + +He pointed to a table in the hut on which stood several telescopes--and +microscopes as well--one of the former being a large instrument, +certainly not less than six feet long, with a diameter of apparently six +or eight inches. + +"Here, you see, I have the means of investigating the wonders of Nature +in her grandest as well as her minutest scales. And there," he added, +pointing to a couple of large reflecting mirrors in strong wooden +frames, erected on joints in such a way that they could be turned in any +direction,--"there you have the secret of my sunshine. One of these +mirrors catches the sunshine direct and reflects it on the other, which, +as you see, is so arranged that it transmits the rays down the natural +funnel or chimney into the cave. By means of chains connected with the +mechanism, and extending below, I can change the direction of the +mirrors as the sun changes its place in the sky, without requiring to +come up here." + +"Very ingenious!" said Nigel; "but how do you manage when the mountain +comes between you and the sun, as I see it cannot fail to do during some +part of the day?" + +"Simply enough," returned the hermit, pointing to a distant projecting +cliff or peak. "On yon summit I have fixed four mirrors similar to +these. When the sun can no longer be reflected from this pair, the first +of the distant mirrors takes it up and shoots a beam of light over here. +When the sun passes from that, the second mirror is arranged to catch +and transmit it, and so on to the fourth. After that I bid good-bye to +the sun, and light my lamp!" + +Nigel felt an almost irresistible tendency to smile at this, but the +grave simplicity of the man forbade such familiarity. + +"Look yonder," continued the hermit, sweeping one of his long arms +towards Sumatra, "in that direction runs the line of volcanic +disturbance--the fissure of which I have already spoken. Focus this +telescope to suit your sight. Now, do you see the little island away +there to the nor'-west?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, that is _Varlaten_. I mentioned it when at breakfast. Sweep your +glass round to the nor'ard, the little island there is _Polish Hat_, and +you see _Lang Island_ in the nor'-east. These, with Krakatoa, are merely +the higher parts still remaining above water of the ring or lip of the +ancient crater. This will give you some idea what an enormous mountain +the original of this old volcano must have been. This island-mountain is +estimated to have been twenty-five miles in circumference, and 10,000 to +12,000 feet high. It was blown into the air in 1680, and this island, +with the few islets I have pointed out, is all that remains of it! Now, +cast your eye down the centre of the island on which we stand; you see +several cones of various sizes. These are ancient vents, supposed to be +extinct--" + +"But one of them, the one furthest away," interrupted Nigel, steadying +his telescope on the branch of a tree, "seems to be anything but +extinct, for I see a thin column of white smoke or steam rising from +it." + +"That is just what I was going to point out. They call that Perboewatan. +It is the lowest peak on the island, about 400 feet high, and stands, I +should say, in the very centre of the ancient crater, where are the two +fissures I have mentioned. For two hundred years Perboewatan has not +smoked like that, and, slight though it is at present, I cannot help +thinking that it indicates an impending eruption, especially when I +consider that earthquakes have become more numerous of late years, and +there was one in 1880 which was so violent as to damage seriously the +lighthouse on Java's First Point." + +"Then you have resided here for some time?" said Nigel. + +"Yes, for many years," replied the hermit, in a low, sad tone. + +"But is it wise in you to stay if you think an explosion so likely? +Don't you needlessly run considerable risk?" + +"I do not fear to die." + +Nigel looked at his new friend in surprise, but there was not a shadow +of boastfulness or affectation either in his look or tone. + +"Besides," he continued, "the explosion may be but slight, and +Perboewatan is, as you see, about four miles off. People in the +neighbourhood of the straits and passing ships are so accustomed to +volcanic explosions on a more or less grand scale that they will never +notice this little cloud hanging over Krakatoa. Those who, like myself, +know the ancient history of the island, regard it in a more serious +light, but we may be wrong. Come, now, we will descend again and have a +ramble over part of the island. It will interest you. Not many men have +penetrated its luxuriant forests or know their secrets. I have wandered +through them in all directions, and can guide you. Indeed, Moses could +do that as well as I, for he has lived with me many years. Come." + +Returning to the cavern they found that the active negro had not only +finished his breakfast, but had washed the dishes and cleared up the +kitchen, so that he was quite ready to shoulder a wallet and a gun when +his master bade him prepare for a day in the forest. + +It is not, however, our intention to follow the trio thither. Matters +of greater interest, if not importance, claim our attention at present. +Let it suffice to say, therefore, that after a most delightful day, +spent in wandering amongst the luxuriant tropical vegetation with which +the island was densely covered, visiting one of the extinct craters, +bathing in one of the numerous hot springs, and collecting many objects +of interest to the hermit, in the shape of botanical and geological +specimens, they returned in the evening to their cavern-house not only +ready but eager for sustenance and repose. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PERBOEWATAN BECOMES MODERATELY VIOLENT. + + +The cave was enshrouded in almost total darkness when they entered it, +but this was quickly dispelled, to Nigel's no little surprise, by the +rays of a magnificent oil lamp, which Moses lighted and placed on the +table in the larger cave. A smaller one of the same kind already +illuminated the kitchen. + +Not much conversation was indulged in during the progress of the supper +that was soon spread upon the rude table. The three men, being +uncommonly hungry and powerfully robust, found in food a sufficient +occupation for their mouths for some time. + +After supper they became a little, but not much, more sociable, for, +although Nigel's active mind would gladly have found vent in +conversation, he experienced some difficulty in making headway against +the discouragement of Van der Kemp's very quiet disposition, and the +cavernous yawns with which Moses displayed at once his desire for +slumber and his magnificent dental arrangements. + +"We always retire early to rest after a day of this sort," said the +hermit at last, turning to his guest. "Do you feel disposed for bed?" + +"Indeed I do," said Nigel, with a half-suppressed yawn, that was +irresistibly dragged out of him by the sight of another earthquake on +the negro's face. + +"Come, then, I will show you your berth; we have no bedrooms here," said +the hermit, with a sort of deprecatory smile, as he led the way to the +darker end of the cavern, where he pointed to a little recess in which +there was a pile of something that smelt fresh and looked like heather, +spread on which there was a single blanket. + +"Sailors are said to be indifferent to sheets. You won't miss them, I +daresay?" + +"Not in the least," returned Nigel, with a laugh. "Good-night," he +added, shaking hands with his host and suppressing another yawn, for +Moses' face, even in the extreme distance, was irresistibly infectious! + +Our hero was indifferent not only to sheets, but also, in certain +circumstances, to the usual habiliments of night. Indeed, while +travelling in out-of-the-way regions he held it to be a duty to undress +but partially before turning in, so that he might be ready for +emergencies. + +On lying down he found his mattress, whatever it was, to be a springy, +luxurious bed, and was about to resign himself to slumber when he +observed that, from the position in which he lay, he could see the +cavern in all its extent. Opening his half-closed eyes, therefore, he +watched the proceedings of his host, and in doing so, as well as in +speculating on his strange character and surroundings, he became +somewhat wakeful. + +He saw that Van der Kemp, returning to the other end of the cave, sat +down beside the lamp, the blaze of which fell full on his fine calm +countenance. A motion of his head brought Moses to him, who sat down +beside him and entered into earnest conversation, to judge from his +gestures, for nothing could be heard where Nigel lay save the monotonous +murmur of their voices. The hermit did not move. Except for an +occasional inclination of the head he appeared to be a grand classic +statue, but it was otherwise with the negro. His position in front of +the lamp caused him to look if possible even blacker than ever, and the +blackness was so uniform that his entire profile became strongly +pronounced, thus rendering every motion distinct, and the varied pouting +of his huge lips remarkably obvious. The extended left hand, too, with +the frequent thrusting of the index finger of the other into the palm, +was suggestive of argument, and of much reasoning effort--if not power. + +After about half-an-hour of conversation, Moses arose, shook his master +by the hand, appeared to say "Good-night" very obviously, yawned, and +retired to the kitchen, whence, in five minutes or so, there issued +sounds which betokened felicitous repose. + +Meanwhile his master sat motionless for some time, gazing at the floor +as if in meditation. Then he rose, went to his book-case and took down a +large thick volume, which he proceeded to read. + +Nigel had by that time dropped into a drowsy condition, yet his interest +in the doings of his strange entertainer was so great that he struggled +hard to keep awake, and partially succeeded. + +"I wonder," he muttered, in sleepy tones, "if that's a f--fam--'ly Bible +he's reading--or--or--a vol'm o' the En--Encyclopida Brit--" + +He dropped off at this point, but, feeling that he had given way to some +sort of weakness, he struggled back again into wakefulness, and saw that +the hermit was bending over the large book with his massive brow resting +on the palms of both hands, and his fingers thrust into his iron-grey +hair. It was evident, however, that he was not reading the book at that +moment, for on its pages was lying what seemed to be a miniature or +photograph case, at which he gazed intently. Nigel roused himself to +consider this, and in doing so again dropped off--not yet soundly, +however, for curiosity induced one more violent struggle, and he became +aware of the fact that the hermit was on his knees with his face buried +in his hands. + +The youth's thoughts must have become inextricably confused at this +point, yet their general drift was indicated by the muttered words: +"I--I'm glad o' that--a good sign--an'--an' it's _not_ th' +Encyclop----." Here Morpheus finally conquered, and he sank into +dreamless repose. + +How long this condition lasted he could not tell, but he was awakened +violently by sensations and feelings of dread, which were entirely new +to him. The bed on which he rested seemed to heave under him, and his +ears were filled by sharp rattling sounds, something like--yet very +different from--the continuous roll of musketry. + +Starting up, he sprang into the large cavern where he found Van der Kemp +quietly tightening his belt and Moses hastily pulling on his boots. + +"Sometin's bu'sted an' no mistake!" exclaimed the latter. + +"An eruption from one of the cones," said the hermit. "I have been for a +long time expecting it. Come with us." + +He went swiftly up the staircase and passages which led to the +observatory as he spoke. + +The scene that met their eyes on reaching the ledge or plateau was +sublime in the extreme, as well as terrific. + +"As I thought," said Van der Kemp, in a low tone. "It is Perboewatan +that has broken out." + +"The cone from which I observed smoke rising?" asked Nigel. + +"The same. The one over the very centre of the old crater, showing that +we were wrong in supposing it to be extinct: it was only slumbering. It +is in what vulcanologists term moderate eruption now, and, perhaps, may +prove a safety-valve which will prevent a more violent explosion." + +That the cone of Perboewatan was indeed in a state of considerable +activity, worthy of a stronger term than "moderate," was very obvious. +Although at a distance, as we have said, of four miles, the glare of its +fires on the three figures perched near the top of Rakata was very +intense, while explosion after explosion sent molten lava and red-hot +rocks, pumice, and dust, high into the thickening air--clouds of smoke +and steam being vomited forth at the same time. The wind, of which there +was very little, blew it all away from the position occupied by the +three observers. + +"What if the wind were to change and blow it all this way?" asked Nigel, +with very pardonable feelings of discomfort. + +"We could return to the cavern," said the hermit. + +"But what if Rakata itself should become active?" + +It was evident from the very solemn expression on the negro's face that +he awaited the reply to Nigel's question with some anxiety. + +"Rakata," answered the hermit thoughtfully, "although the highest cone, +is the one most distant from the great centre of activity. It is +therefore not likely that the volcanic energy will seek a vent here +while there are other cones between us and Perboewatan. But we shall +soon see whether the one vent is likely to suffice. There is undoubtedly +no diminution in the explosions at present." + +There certainly was not, for the voice of the speaker was almost drowned +by the horrible din caused, apparently, by the hurtling of innumerable +fragments of rock and stones in the air, while a succession of fiery +flashes, each followed by a loud explosion, lit up the dome-shaped mass +of vapour that was mounting upwards and spreading over the sky. Vivid +flashes of lightning were also seen playing around the vapour-column. At +the same time, there began a fall of fine white dust, resembling snow, +which soon covered the foliage and the ground of all the lower part of +the island. The sea around was also ere long covered with masses of +pumice, which, being very light, floated away into the Indian ocean, and +these were afterwards encountered in large quantities by various vessels +passing through Sunda Straits. + +The Scientific Committee, which ultimately wrote on the details of this +eruption in Krakatoa, mention this first outburst as being a phase of +moderate activity, similar to that which is said to have been exhibited +for some months during the years 1680 and 1681, and they added that "the +outburst was one of considerable violence, especially at its +commencement," that falls of dust were noticed at the distance of three +hundred miles, and that "the commander of the German war-vessel +_Elizabeth_ estimated the height of the dust-column issuing from the +volcano at 11 kilometres (36,000 feet or about 7 miles)."[2] + +To our hero, however, and to Moses, the outburst seemed anything but +"moderate," and that night as they two sat together in the cave after +supper, listening with awe-struck faces to the cannonading and wild +musketry going on as it seemed under their very feet, the negro solemnly +imparted to Nigel in a low whisper that he thought "de end ob de wurld +hab come at last!" + +Returning at that moment from his observatory, to which he had ascended +for a few minutes to view the scene through one of his glasses, Van der +Kemp relieved their anxieties somewhat by remarking, in his quiet +manner, that there was a distinct diminution in the violence of the +explosions, and that, from his knowledge and experience of other +volcanoes in Java, Sumatra, and elsewhere, he thought it probable they +had seen the worst of it at that time, and that none of the other cones +would be likely to break out. + +"I'm glad to hear you say so," observed Nigel, "for although the sight +is extremely magnificent and very interesting, both from a scientific +and artistic point of view, I cannot help thinking that we should be +safer away from this island at present--at least while the volcano is +active." + +The hermit smiled almost pitifully. "I do not apprehend danger," he +said, "at least nothing unusual. But it happens that my business +requires me to leave in the course of a few days at any rate, so, +whether the eruption becomes fiercer or feebler, it will not matter to +us. I have preparations to make, however, and I have no doubt you won't +object to remain till all is ready for a start?" + +"Oh, as to that," returned the youth, slightly hurt by the implied doubt +as to his courage, "if _you_ are willing to risk going off the earth +like a skyrocket, I am quite ready to take my chance of following you!" + +"An' Moses am de man," said the negro, smiting his broad chest with his +fist, "what's ready to serve as a rocket-stick to bof, an' go up along +wid you!" + +The hermit made the nearest approach to a laugh which Nigel had yet +seen, as he left the cave to undertake some of the preparations above +referred to. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 2: See _The Eruption of Krakatoa and Subsequent Phenomena_, p. +11. (Truebner and Co., London.)] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEETING UNDER PECULIAR +CIRCUMSTANCES. + + +There is unquestionably a class of men--especially Englishmen--who are +deeply imbued with the idea that the Universe in general, and our world +in particular, has been created with a view to afford them what they +call fun. + +"It would be great fun," said an English commercial man to a friend who +sat beside him, "to go and have a look at this eruption. They say it is +Krakatoa which has broken out after a sleep of two centuries, and as it +has been bursting away now for nearly a week, it is likely to hold on +for some time longer. What would you say to charter a steamer and have a +grand excursion to the volcano?" + +The friend said he thought it would indeed be "capital fun!" + +We have never been able to ascertain who these Englishmen were, but they +must have been men of influence, or able to move men of influence, for +they at once set to work and organised an excursion. + +The place where this excursion was organised was Batavia. Although that +city was situated in Java, nearly a hundred miles distant from Krakatoa, +the inhabitants had not only heard distinctly the explosions of the +volcano, but had felt some quakings of the earth and much rattling of +doors and windows, besides a sprinkling of ashes, which indicated that +the eruption, even in that eruptive region, was of unusual violence. +They little imagined to what mighty throes the solid rocks of Krakatoa +were yet to be subjected before those volcanic fires could find a vent. +Meanwhile, as we have said, there was enough of the unusual in it to +warrant our merchants in their anticipation of a considerable amount of +fun. + +A steamer was got ready; a number of sightseeing enthusiasts were +collected, and they set forth on the morning of the 26th of May. Among +these excursionists was our friend Captain David Roy--not that _he_ was +addicted to running about in search of "fun," but, being unavoidably +thrown idle at the time, and having a poetical turn of mind--derived +from his wife--he thought he could not do better than take a run to the +volcano and see how his son was getting along. + +The party reached the scene of the eruption on the morning of the 27th, +having witnessed during the night several tolerably strong explosions, +which were accompanied by earthquake shocks. It was found that Krakatoa +and all the adjoining islands were covered with a fine white dust, like +snow, and that the trees on the northern part of the former island and +Varlaten had been to a great extent deprived of their leaves and +branches by falling pumice, while those on Lang Island and Polish Hat, +as well as those on the Peak of Rakata, had to a great extent +escaped--no doubt owing to the prevailing direction of the wind. + +It was soon seen that Perboewatan on Krakatoa was the cone in active +eruption, and the steamer made for its neighbourhood, landing her party +within a short distance of its base. Explosions were occurring at +intervals of from five to ten minutes. Each explosion being accompanied +by an uncovering of the molten lava in the vent, the overhanging +steam-cloud was lighted up with a grand glow for a few seconds. Some of +the party, who seemed to be authorities on such matters, estimated that +the vapour-column rose to a height of nearly 10,000 feet, and that +fragments of pumice were shot upwards to a height of 600 feet. + +"That's a sign that the violence of the eruption is diminished," +remarked the young merchant, who was in search of fun, as he prepared to +wade ankle-deep in the loose pumice up the slopes of the cone. + +"Diminished!" repeated our captain, who had fraternised much with this +merchant during their short voyage. "If that's what you call +diminishin', I shouldn't like to be here when it's increasin'." + +"Pooh!" exclaimed the merchant, "that's nothing. I've seen, at other +volcanoes, pieces of pumice blown up so high that they've been caught by +the upper currents of the atmosphere and carried away in an opposite +direction to the wind that was blowing below at the time. Ay, I believe +that dust is sometimes blown _miles_ up into the air." + +As Captain Roy thought that the merchant was drawing the long bow he +made no reply, but changed the subject by asking what was the height of +Perboewatan. + +"Three hundred feet or thereabouts," replied his friend. + +"I hope my son will have the sense to clear out of the island if things +look like gittin' worse," muttered the captain, as an unusually violent +explosion shook the whole side of the cone. + +"No fear of him," returned the merchant. "If he is visiting the hermit +of Rakata, as you tell me, he'll be safe enough. Although something of a +dare-devil, the hermit knows how to take care of himself. I'm afraid, +however, that you'll not find it so easy to 'look up' your son as you +seem to think. Just glance round at these almost impenetrable forests. +You don't know what part of the island he may be in just now; and you +might as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay as look for him +there. He is probably at the other end of Krakatoa--four or five miles +off--on the South side of Rakata, where the hermit's cave is supposed to +be, for no one seems to be quite sure as to its whereabouts. Besides, +you'll have to stick by the excursionists if you wish to return to +Batavia." + +Captain Roy paused for a moment to recover breath, and looking down upon +the dense tropical forest that stretched between him and the Peak of +Rakata, he shook his head, and admitted that the merchant was right. +Turning round he addressed himself once more to the ascent of the cone, +on the sides of which the whole excursion party now straggled and +struggled, remarking, as he panted along, that hill-climbing among ashes +and cinders didn't "come easy to a sea-farin' man." + +Now, nothing was more natural than that Van der Kemp and his guest +should be smitten with the same sort of desire which had brought these +excursionists from Batavia. The only thing that we do not pretend to +account for is the strange coincidence that they should have been so +smitten, and had so arranged their plans, that they arrived at +Perboewatan almost at the same time with the excursionists--only about +half an hour before them! + +Their preliminary walk, however, through the tangled, almost +impassable, forest had been very slow and toilsome, and having been +involved in its shadow from daybreak, they were, of course, quite +unaware of the approach of the steamer or the landing of the excursion +party. + +"If the volcano seems quieting down," said Nigel to his host, "shall you +start to-morrow?" + +"Yes; by daybreak. Even if the eruption does _not_ quiet down I must set +out, for my business presses." + +Nigel felt much inclined to ask what his business was, but there was a +quiet something in the air of the hermit, when he did not choose to be +questioned, which effectually silenced curiosity. Falling behind a +little, till the negro came up with him, Nigel tried to obtain +information from him, for he felt that he had a sort of right to know at +least something about the expedition in which he was about to act a +part. + +"Do you know, Moses, what business your master is going about?" he +asked, in a low voice. + +"No more nor de man ob de moon, Massa Nadgel," said Moses, with an air +at once so truthful and so solemn that the young man gave it up with a +laugh of resignation. + +On arriving at Perboewatan, and ascending its sides, they at last became +aware of the approach of the excursion steamer. + +"Strange," muttered the hermit, "vessels don't often touch here." + +"Perhaps they have run short of water," suggested Nigel. + +"Even if they had it would not be worth their while to stop here for +that," returned the hermit, resuming the ascent of the cone after an +intervening clump of trees had shut out the steamer from view. + +It was with feelings of profound interest and considerable excitement +that our hero stood for the first time on the top of a volcanic cone and +gazed down into its glowing vent. + +The crater might be described as a huge basin of 3000 feet in diameter. +From the rim of this basin on which the visitors stood the sides sloped +so gradually inward that the flat floor at the bottom was not more than +half that diameter. This floor--which was about 150 feet below the upper +edge--was covered with a black crust, and in the centre of it was the +tremendous cavity--between one and two hundred feet in diameter--from +which issued the great steam-cloud. The cloud was mixed with quantities +of pumice and fragments of what appeared to be black glass. The roar of +this huge vent was deafening and stupendous. If the reader will reflect +on the wonderful hubbub that can be created even by a kitchen kettle +when superheated, and on the exasperating shrieks of a steamboat's +safety-valve in action, or the bellowing of a fog-horn, he may form some +idea of the extent of his incapacity to conceive the thunderous roar of +Krakatoa when it began to boil over. + +When to this awful sound there were added the intermittent explosions, +the horrid crackling of millions of rock-masses meeting in the air, and +the bubbling up of molten lava--verily it did not require the +imagination of a Dante to see in all this the very vomiting of Gehenna! + +So amazed and well-nigh stunned was Nigel at the sights and sounds that +he neither heard nor saw the arrival of the excursionists, until the +equally awe-stricken Moses touched him on the elbow and drew his +attention to several men who suddenly appeared on the crater-brim not +fifty yards off, but who, like themselves, were too much absorbed with +the volcano itself to observe the other visitors. Probably they took +them for some of their own party who had reached the summit before them. + +Nigel was yet looking at these visitors in some surprise, when an +elderly nautical man suddenly stood not twenty yards off gazing in +open-mouthed amazement, past our hero's very nose, at the volcanic +fires. + +"Hallo, Father!" shouted the one. + +"Zounds! Nigel!" exclaimed the other. + +Both men glared and were speechless for several seconds. Then Nigel +rushed at the captain, and the captain met him half-way, and they shook +hands with such hearty goodwill as to arrest in his operations for a few +moments a photographer who was hastily setting up his camera! + +Yes, science has done much to reveal the marvellous and arouse exalted +thoughts in the human mind, but it has also done something to crush +enthusiasts and shock the romantic. Veracity constrains us to state that +there he was, with his tripod, and his eager haste, and his hideous +black cloth, preparing to "take" Perboewatan on a "dry plate"! And he +"took" it too! And you may see it, if you will, as a marvellous +frontispiece to the volume by the "Krakatoa Committee"--a work which is +apparently as exhaustive of the subject of Krakatoa as was the great +explosion itself of those internal fires which will probably keep that +volcano quiet for the next two hundred years. + +But this was not the Great Eruption of Krakatoa--only a rehearsal, as it +were. + +"What brought you here, my son?" asked the captain, on recovering +speech. + +"My legs, father." + +"Don't be insolent, boy." + +"It's not insolence, father. It's only poetical licence, meant to assure +you that I did not come by 'bus or rail though you did by steamer! But +let me introduce you to my friend, Mr.----" + +He stopped short on looking round, for Van der Kemp was not there. + +"He goed away wheneber he saw de peepil comin' up de hill," said Moses, +who had watched the meeting of father and son with huge delight. "But +you kin interdooce _me_ instead," he added, with a crater-like smile. + +"True, true," exclaimed Nigel, laughing. "This is Moses, father, my +host's servant, and my very good friend, and a remarkably free-and-easy +friend, as you see. He will guide us back to the cave, since Van der +Kemp seems to have left us." + +"Who's Van der Kemp?" asked the captain. + +"The hermit of Rakata, father--that's his name. His father was a +Dutchman and his mother an English or Irish woman--I forget which. He's +a splendid fellow; quite different from what one would expect; no more +like a hermit than a hermit-crab, except that he lives in a cave under +the Peak of Rakata, at the other end of the island. But you must come +with us and pay him a visit. He will be delighted to see you." + +"What! steer through a green sea of leaves like that?" said the captain, +stretching his arm towards the vast forest that lay stretched out below +them, "and on my legs, too, that have been used all their lives to a +ship's deck? No, my son. I will content myself with this lucky meetin'. +But, I say, Nigel, lad," continued the old man, somewhat more seriously, +"what if the Peak o' Ra--Ra, what's-'is-name, should take to spoutin' +like this one, an' you, as you say, livin' under it?" + +"Ha! das 'zackly what _I_ say," interposed Moses. "Das what I oftin says +to massa, but he nebber answers. He only smile. Massa's not always so +purlite as he might be!" + +"There is no fear," said Nigel, "not at present, anyhow, for Van der +Kemp says that the force of this eruption is diminishing--" + +"It don't look much like it," muttered the captain, as the volcano at +that moment gave vent to a burst which seemed like a sarcastic laugh at +the hermit's opinion, and sent the more timid of the excursionists +sprawling down the cinder-slope in great alarm. + +"There's reason in what you say, father," said Nigel, when the +diminution of noise rendered speech more easy; "and after all, as we +start off on our travels to-morrow, your visit could not have been a +long one." + +"Where do you go first?" asked the captain. + +"Not sure. Do _you_ know, Moses?" + +"No; no more 'n de man ob de moon. P'r'aps Borneo. He go dar sometimes." + +At this point another roar from the volcano, and a shout from the +leader of the excursionists to return on board, broke up the conference. + +"Well, lad, I'm glad I've seen you. Don't forget to write your +whereabouts. They say there's a lot o' wild places as well as wild men +and beasts among them islands, so keep your weather-eye open an' your +powder dry. Good-bye, Nigel. Take care of him, Moses, and keep him out +o' mischief if ye can--which is more than ever I could. Good-bye, my +boy." + +"Good-bye, father." + +They shook hands vigorously. In another minute the old seaman was +sailing down the cinder-cone at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, +while his son, setting off under the guidance of Moses towards a +different point of the compass, was soon pushing his way through the +tangled forest in the direction of the hermit's cave. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A CURIOUS SEA-GOING CRAFT--THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE BEGUN. + + +It was early next morning when Van der Kemp and his man left their +couches and descended to the shore, leaving their visitor enjoying the +benefit of that profound slumber which bids defiance to turmoil and +noise, however stupendous, and which seems to be the peculiar privilege +of healthy infants and youthful seamen. + +Perboewatan had subsided considerably towards morning, and had taken to +that internal rumbling, which in the feline species indicates mitigated +indignation. The hermit had therefore come to the conclusion that the +outburst was over, and went with Moses to make arrangements for setting +forth on his expedition after breakfast. + +They had scarcely left the cave when Nigel awoke. Feeling indisposed for +further repose, he got up and went out in that vague state of mind which +is usually defined as "having a look at the weather." Whether or not he +gathered much information from the look we cannot tell, but, taking up +his short gun, which stood handy at the entrance of the cave, he +sauntered down the path which his host had followed a short time before. +Arrived at the shore, he observed that a branch path diverged to the +left, and appeared to run in the direction of a high precipice. He +turned into it, and after proceeding through the bushes for a short way +he came quite unexpectedly on a cavern, the mouth of which resembled, +but was much higher and wider than that which led to the hermit's home. + +Just as he approached it there issued from its gloomy depths a strange +rumbling sound which induced him to stop and cock his gun. A curious +feeling of serio-comic awe crept over him as the idea of a fiery dragon +leaped into his mind! At the same time, the fancy that the immense abyss +of darkness might be one of the volcanic vents diminished the comic and +increased the serious feeling. Ere long the sound assumed the definite +tone of footsteps, and the dragon fancy seemed about to become a reality +when he beheld a long narrow thing of uncertain form emerging from the +darkness. + +"It must be coming out tail-foremost!" he muttered, with a short laugh +at his semi-credulity. + +Another instant and the hermit emerged into the blazing sunshine, and +stood pictured against the intense darkness like a being of +supernatural radiance, with the end of a long narrow canoe on his +shoulder. + +As Nigel passed round a bush to reach him he perceived the dark form of +Moses emerging from the depths and supporting the body of the canoe. + +"I see you are active and an early riser," said the hermit, with a nod +of approval on seeing our hero. + +"I almost took you for a Krakatoa monster!" said Nigel, as they came out +in front of the cavern and laid the canoe on the ground. "Why, you've +got here one of the craft which we in England call a Rob Roy canoe!" + +"It is fashioned on the same pattern," said the hermit, "but with one or +two alterations of my own devising, and an improvement--as I +think--founded on what I have myself seen, when travelling with the +Eskimos of Greenland." + +Van der Kemp here pointed out that the canoe was not only somewhat +broader than the kind used in England, but was considerably longer, and +with three openings or manholes in the deck, so that it was capable of +holding three persons. Also, that there was a large rounded mass of wood +fixed in front of the three manholes. + +"These saddles, as I call them," said the hermit, "have been suggested +to me by the Eskimos, who, instead of wearying their arms by supporting +the double-bladed paddle continuously, rest it on the saddle and let it +slide about thereon while being used. Thus they are able to carry a much +longer and heavier paddle than that used in the Rob Roy canoe, the +weight of which, as it rests on the saddle, is not felt. Moreover it +does not require nearly so much dip to put it in the water. I have heard +of a sort of upright with a universal joint being applied to the English +canoe, but it seems to me a much more clumsy and much less effective, +because rigid, contrivance than the Eskimo saddle. Inside, under the +deck, as I will show you by and by, I have lighter and shorter paddles +for use when in narrow rivers, but I prefer the long heavy paddle when +traversing great stretches of ocean." + +"You don't mean to say you ever go to sea in an eggshell like that!" +exclaimed Nigel in surprise. + +"Indeed we do," returned the hermit, "and we are fitted out for longish +voyages and rough weather. Besides, it is not so much of an eggshell as +you suppose. I made it myself, and took care that it should be fit for +the work required of it. The wood of which it is made, although light, +is very tough, and it is lined with a skin of strong canvas which is +fixed to the planks with tar. This makes the craft watertight as well as +strong. The ribs also are very light and close together, and every sixth +rib is larger and stronger than the others and made of tougher wood. +All these ribs are bound together by longitudinal pieces, or laths, of +very tough wood, yet so thin that the whole machine is elastic without +being weak. Besides this, there are two strong oiled-canvas partitions, +which divide the canoe into three water-tight compartments, any two of +which will float it if the third should get filled." + +"Is this then the craft in which you intend to voyage?" asked Nigel. + +"It is. We shall start in an hour or two. I keep it in this cave because +it is near the landing-place. But come, you will understand things +better when you see us making our arrangements. Of course you understand +how to manage sails of every kind?" + +"If I did not it would ill become me to call myself a sailor," returned +our hero. + +"That is well, because you will sit in the middle, from which position +the sail is partly managed. I usually sit in the bow to have free range +for the use of my gun, if need be, and Moses steers." + +Van der Kemp proceeded down the track as he said this, having, with the +negro, again lifted the canoe on his shoulder. + +A few minutes' walk brought them to the beach at the spot where Nigel +had originally landed. Here a quantity of cargo lay on the rocks ready +to be placed in the canoe. There were several small bags of pemmican, +which Van der Kemp had learned to make while travelling on the prairies +of North America among the Red Indians,--for this singular being seemed +to have visited most parts of the habitable globe during his not yet +very long life. There were five small casks of fresh water, two or three +canisters of gunpowder, a small box of tea and another of sugar, besides +several bags of biscuits. There were also other bags and boxes which did +not by their appearance reveal their contents, and all the articles were +of a shape and size which seemed most suitable for passing through the +manholes, and being conveniently distributed and stowed in the three +compartments of the canoe. There was not very much of anything, however, +so that when the canoe was laden and ready for its voyage, the hermit +and his man were still able to raise and carry it on their shoulders +without the assistance of Nigel. + +There was one passenger whom we have not yet mentioned, namely, a small +monkey which dwelt in the cave with the canoe, and which, although +perfectly free to come and go when he pleased, seldom left the cave +except for food, but seemed to have constituted himself the guardian of +the little craft. + +Spinkie, as Moses had named him, was an intensely affectionate creature, +with a countenance of pathetic melancholy which utterly belied his +character, for mischief and fun were the dominating qualities of that +monkey. He was seated on a water-cask when Nigel first caught sight of +him, holding the end of his long tail in one hand, and apparently wiping +his nose with it. + +"Is that what he is doing?" asked Nigel of the negro. + +"Oh no, Massa Nadgel," said Moses. "Spinkie nebber ketch cold an' hab no +need ob a pocket-hangkitcher. He only tickles his nose wid 'is tail. But +he's bery fond ob doin' dat." + +Being extremely fond of monkeys, Nigel went forward to fondle him, and +Spinkie being equally fond of fondling, resigned himself placidly--after +one interrogative gaze of wide-eyed suspicion--into the stranger's +hands. A lifelong friendship was cemented then and there. + +After stowing the cargo the party returned to the upper cavern, leaving +the monkey to guard the canoe. + +"An' he's a good defender ob it," said Moses, "for if man or beast +happen to come near it when Spinkie's in charge, dat monkey sets up a +skriekin' fit to cause a 'splosion ob Perboewatan!" + +Breakfast over, the hermit put his cave in order for a pretty long +absence, and they again descended to the shore, each man carrying his +bed on his shoulder. Each bed, however, was light and simple. It +consisted merely of one blanket wrapped up in an oil-cloth sheet. +Besides, an old-fashioned powder-flask and shot belt. Van der Kemp and +Nigel had slung a bullet-pouch on their shoulders, and carried small +hatchets and hunting-knives in their belts. Moses was similarly armed, +with this difference, that his _couteau de chasse_ bore stronger +resemblance to an ancient Roman sword than a knife, and his axe was of +larger size than the hatchets of his companions. + +Launching the canoe, the hermit and his man held it fast at either end +while Nigel was directed to take his place in the central of the three +openings or manholes. He did so and found himself seated on a flat board +on the bottom of the canoe, which was so shallow that the deck scarcely +rose as high as his waist. + +Round the manhole there was a ledge of thin wood, about three inches +high, to which a circular apron of oiled canvas was attached. + +"Yes, you'd better understand that thing before we start," said Van der +Kemp, observing that Nigel was examining the contrivance with some +curiosity. "It's an apron to tie round you in bad weather to keep the +water out. In fine weather it is rolled as you see it now round the +ledge. Undo the buckle before and behind and you will see how it is to +be used." + +Acting as directed, Nigel unbuckled the roll and found that he was +surrounded by a sort of petticoat of oil-skin which could be drawn up +and buckled round his chest. In this position it could be kept by a loop +attached to a button, or a wooden pin, thrust through the coat. + +"You see," explained the hermit, "the waves may wash all over our deck +and round our bodies without being able to get into the canoe while we +have these things on--there are similar protections round the other +holes." + +"I understand," said Nigel. "But how if water gets in through a leak +below?" + +"Do you see that brass thing in front of you?" returned the hermit. +"That is a pump which is capable of keeping under a pretty extensive +leak. The handle unships, so as to be out of the way when not wanted. I +keep it here, under the deck in front of me, along with mast and sails +and a good many other things." + +As he spoke he raised a plank of the deck in front of the foremost hole, +and disclosed a sort of narrow box about six feet long by six inches +broad. The plank was hinged at one end and fastened with a hook at the +other so as to form a lid to the box. The hole thus disclosed was not an +opening into the interior of the canoe, but was a veritable watertight +box just under the deck, so that even if it were to get filled with +water not a drop could enter the canoe itself. But the plank-lid was so +beautifully fitted, besides shutting tightly down on indiarubber, that +the chance of leakage through that source was very remote. Although very +narrow, this box was deep, and contained a variety of useful implements; +among them a slender mast and tiny sail, which could be rendered still +smaller by means of reef points. All these things were fitted into their +respective places with so keen an eye to economy of space that the +arrangement cannot be better described than by the familiar +phrase--_multum, in parvo._ + +"We don't use the sails much; we depend chiefly on this," said the +hermit, as he seated himself in the front hole and laid the long, heavy, +double-bladed paddle on the saddle in front of him. Moses uses a single +blade, partly because it is handier for steering and partly because he +has been accustomed to it in his own land. You are at liberty to use +which you prefer." + +"Thanks, I will follow the lead of Moses, for I also have been +accustomed to the single blade and prefer it--at least while I am one of +three. If alone, I should prefer the double blade." + +"Now, Moses, are you ready?" asked the hermit. + +"All ready, massa." + +"Get in then and shove off. Come along, Spinkie." + +The monkey, which all this time had been seated on a rock looking on +with an expression of inconsolable sorrow, at once accepted the +invitation, and with a lively bound alighted on the deck close to the +little mast, which had been set up just in front of Nigel, and to which +it held on when the motions of the canoe became unsteady. + +"You need not give yourself any concern about Spinkie," said the hermit, +as they glided over the still water of the little cove in which the +canoe and boat were harboured. "He is quite able to take care of +himself." + +Bounding the entrance to the cove and shooting out into the ocean under +the influence of Van der Kemp's powerful strokes, they were soon clear +of the land, and proceeded eastward at a rate which seemed unaccountable +to our hero, for he had not sufficiently realised the fact that in +addition to the unusual physical strength of Van der Kemp as well as +that of Moses, to say nothing of his own, the beautiful fish-like +adaptation of the canoe to the water, the great length and leverage of +the bow paddle, and the weight of themselves as well as the cargo, gave +this canoe considerable advantage over other craft of the kind. + +About a quarter of an hour later the sun arose in cloudless splendour on +a perfectly tranquil sea, lighted up the shores of Java, glinted over +the mountains of Sumatra, and flooded, as with a golden haze, the +forests of Krakatoa--emulating the volcanic fires in gilding the volumes +of smoke that could be seen rolling amid fitful mutterings from +Perboewatan, until the hermit's home sank from view in the western +horizon. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +CANOEING ON THE SEA--A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT-SURPRISE AND SUDDEN FLIGHT. + + +At first the voyagers paddled over the glassy sea in almost total +silence. + +Nigel was occupied with his own busy thoughts; speculating on the +probable end and object of their voyage, and on the character, the +mysterious life, and unknown history of the man who sat in front of him +wielding so powerfully the great double-bladed paddle. Van der Kemp +himself was, as we have said, naturally quiet and silent, save when +roused by a subject that interested him. As for Moses, although quite +ready at any moment to indulge in friendly intercourse, he seldom +initiated a conversation, and Spinkie, grasping the mast and leaning +against it with his head down, seemed to be either asleep or brooding +over his sorrows. Only a few words were uttered now and then when Nigel +asked the name of a point or peak which rose in the distance on either +hand. It seemed as if the quiescence of sea and air had fallen like a +soft mantle on the party and subdued them into an unusually sluggish +frame of mind. + +They passed through the Sunda Straits between Sumatra and Java--not more +at the narrowest part than about thirteen miles wide--and, in course of +time, found themselves in the great island-studded archipelago beyond. + +About noon they all seemed to wake up from their lethargic state. Van +der Kemp laid down his paddle, and, looking round, asked Nigel if he +felt tired. + +"Not in the least," he replied, "but I feel uncommonly hungry, and I +have just been wondering how you manage to feed when at sea in so small +a craft." + +"Ho! ho!" laughed Moses, in guttural tones, "you soon see dat--I 'spose +it time for me to get out de grub, massa?" + +"Yes, Moses--let's have it." + +The negro at once laid down his steering paddle and lifted a small +square hatch or lid in the deck which was rendered watertight by the +same means as the lid in front already described. From the depths thus +revealed he extracted a bird of some sort that had been shot and baked +the day before. Tearing off a leg he retained it and handed the +remainder to Nigel. + +"Help you'self, Massa Nadgel, an' pass 'im forid." + +Without helping himself he passed it on to Van der Kemp, who drew his +knife, sliced off a wing with a mass of breast, and returned the rest. + +"Always help yourself _before_ passing the food in future," said the +hermit; "we don't stand on ceremony here." + +Nigel at once fell in with their custom, tore off the remaining +drumstick and began. + +"Biskit," said Moses, with his mouth full, "an' look out for Spinkie." + +He handed forward a deep tray of the sailor's familiar food, but Nigel +was too slow to profit by the warning given, for Spinkie darted both +hands into the tray and had stuffed his mouth and cheeks full almost +before a man could wink! The negro would have laughed aloud, but the +danger of choking was too great; he therefore laughed internally--an +operation which could not be fully understood unless seen. "'Splosions +of Perboewatan," may suggest the thing. + +Sorrow, grief--whatever it was that habitually afflicted that +monkey--disappeared for the time being, while it devoted itself heart +and soul to dinner. + +Feelings of a somewhat similar kind animated Nigel as he sat leaning +back with his mouth full, a biscuit in one hand, and a drumstick in the +other, and his eyes resting dreamily on the horizon of the still +tranquil sea, while the bright sun blazed upon his already bronzed face. + +To many men the fierce glare of the equatorial sun might have proved +trying, but Nigel belonged to the salamander type of humanity and +enjoyed the great heat. Van der Kemp seemed to be similarly moulded, and +as for Moses, he was in his native element--so was Spinkie. + +Strange as it may seem, sea-birds appeared to divine what was going on, +for several specimens came circling round the canoe with great +outstretched and all but motionless wings, and with solemn sidelong +glances of hope which Van der Kemp evidently could not resist, for he +flung them scraps of his allowance from time to time. + +"If you have plenty of provisions on board, I should like to do that +too," said Nigel. + +"Do it," returned the hermit. "We have plenty of food for some days, and +our guns can at any time replenish the store. I like to feed these +creatures," he added, "they give themselves over so thoroughly to the +enjoyment of the moment, and _seem_ to be grateful. Whether they are so +or not, of course, is matter of dispute. Cynics will tell us that they +only come to us and fawn upon us because of the memory of past favours +and the hope of more to come. I don't agree with them." + +"Neither do I," said Nigel, warmly. "Any man who has ever had to do +with dogs knows full well that gratitude is a strong element of their +nature. And it seems to me that the speaking eyes of Spinkie, to whom I +have just given a bit of biscuit, tell of a similar spirit." + +As he spoke, Nigel was conveying another piece of biscuit to his own +mouth, when a small brown hand flashed before him, and the morsel, in +the twinkling of an eye, was transferred to the monkey's already swollen +cheek--whereat Moses again became suddenly "'splosive" and red, as well +as black in the face, for his capacious mouth was inordinately full as +usual. + +Clear water, from one of the casks, and poured into a tin mug, washed +down their cold collation, and then, refreshed and reinvigorated, the +trio resumed their paddles, which were not again laid down till the sun +was descending towards the western horizon. By that time they were not +far from a small wooded islet near the coast of Java, on which Van der +Kemp resolved to spend the night. + +During the day they had passed at some distance many boats and _praus_ +and other native vessels, the crews of which ceased to row for a few +moments, and gazed with curiosity at the strange craft which glided +along so swiftly, and seemed to them little more than a long plank on +the water, but these took no further notice of our voyagers. They also +passed several ships--part of that constant stream of vessels which pass +westward through those straits laden with the valuable teas and rich +silks of China and Japan. In some cases a cheer of recognition, as being +an exceptional style of craft, was accorded them, to which the hermit +replied with a wave of the hand--Moses and Nigel with an answering +cheer. + +There is something very pleasant in the rest which follows a day of hard +and healthful toil. Our Maker has so ordained it as well as stated it, +for is it not written, "The sleep of the labouring man is sweet"? and +our travellers experienced the truth of the statement that night in very +romantic circumstances. + +The small rocky islet, not more than a few hundred yards in diameter, +which they now approached had several sheltered sandy bays on its shore, +which were convenient for landing. The centre was clothed with +palm-trees and underwood, so that fuel could be procured, and +cocoa-nuts. + +"Sometimes," said the hermit, while he stooped to arrange the fire, +after the canoe and cargo had been carried to their camping-place at the +edge of the bushes,--"sometimes it is necessary to keep concealed while +travelling in these regions, and I carry a little spirit-lamp which +enables me to heat a cup of tea or coffee without making a dangerous +blaze; but here there is little risk in kindling a fire." + +"I should not have thought there was any risk at all in these peaceful +times," said Nigel, as he unstrapped his blanket and spread it on the +ground under an overhanging bush. + +"There are no peaceful times among pirates," returned the hermit; "and +some of the traders in this archipelago are little better than pirates." + +"Where I puts your bed, massa?" asked Moses, turning his huge eyes on +his master. + +"There--under the bush, beside Nigel." + +"An' where would _you_ like to sleep, Massa Spinkie?" added the negro, +with a low obeisance to the monkey, which sat on the top of what seemed +to be its favourite seat--a watercask. + +Spinkie treated the question with calm contempt, turned his head +languidly to one side, and scratched himself. + +"Unpurliteness is your k'racter from skin to marrow, you son of a +insolent mother!" said Moses, shaking his fist, whereat Spinkie, +promptly making an O of his mouth, looked fierce. + +The sagacious creature remained where he was till after supper, which +consisted of another roast fowl--hot this time--and ship's-biscuit +washed down with coffee. Of course Spinkie's portion consisted only of +the biscuit with a few scraps of cocoa-nut. Having received it he +quietly retired to his native wilds, with the intention of sleeping +there, according to custom, till morning; but his repose was destined to +be broken, as we shall see. + +After supper, the hermit, stretching himself on his blanket, filled an +enormous meerschaum, and began to smoke. The negro, rolling up a little +tobacco in tissue paper, sat down, tailor-wise, and followed his +master's example, while our hero--who did not smoke--lay between them, +and gazed contemplatively over the fire at the calm dark sea beyond, +enjoying the aroma of his coffee. + +"From what you have told me of your former trading expeditions," said +Nigel, looking at his friend, "you must have seen a good deal of this +archipelago before you took--excuse me--to the hermit life." + +"Ay--a good deal." + +"Have you ever travelled in the interior of the larger islands?" asked +Nigel, in the hope of drawing from him some account of his experiences +with wild beasts or wild men--he did not care which, so long as they +were wild! + +"Yes, in all of them," returned the hermit, curtly, for he was not fond +of talking about himself. + +"I suppose the larger islands are densely wooded?" continued Nigel +interrogatively. + +"They are, very." + +"But the wood is not of much value, I fancy, in the way of trade," +pursued our hero, adopting another line of attack which proved +successful, for Van der Kemp turned his eyes on him with a look of +surprise that almost forced him to laugh. + +"Not of much value in the way of trade!" he repeated--"forgive me, if I +express surprise that you seem to know so little about us--but, after +all, the world is large, and one cannot become deeply versed in +everything." + +Having uttered this truism, the hermit resumed his meerschaum and +continued to gaze thoughtfully at the embers of the fire. He remained so +long silent that Nigel began to despair, but thought he would try him +once again on the same lines. + +"I suppose," he said in a careless way, "that none of the islands are +big enough to contain many of the larger wild animals." + +"My friend," returned Van der Kemp, with a smile of urbanity, as he +refilled his pipe, "it is evident that you do not know much about our +archipelago. Borneo, to the woods and wild animals of which I hope ere +long to introduce you, is so large that if you were to put your British +islands, including Ireland, down on it they would be engulphed and +surrounded by a sea of forests. New Guinea is, perhaps, larger than +Borneo. Sumatra is only a little smaller. France is not so large as +some of our islands. Java, Luzon, and Celebes are each about equal in +size to Ireland. Eighteen more islands are, on the average, as large as +Jamaica, more than a hundred are as large as the Isle of Wight, and the +smaller isles and islets are innumerable. In short, our archipelago is +comparable with any of the primary divisions of the globe, being full +4000 miles in length from east to west and about 1,300 in breadth from +north to south, and would in extent more than cover the whole of +Europe." + +It was evident to Nigel that he had at length succeeded in opening the +floodgates. The hermit paused for a few moments and puffed at the +meerschaum, while Moses glared at his master with absorbed interest, and +pulled at the cigarette with such oblivious vigour that he drew it into +his mouth at last, spat it out, and prepared another. Nigel sat quite +silent and waited for more. + +"As to trade," continued Van der Kemp, resuming his discourse in a lower +tone, "why, of gold--the great representative of wealth--we export from +Sumatra alone over 26,000 ounces annually, and among other gold regions +we have a Mount Ophir in the Malay Peninsula from which there is a +considerable annual export." + +Continuing his discourse, Van der Kemp told a great deal more about the +products of these prolific islands with considerable enthusiasm--as one +who somewhat resented the underrating of his native land. + +"Were you born in this region, Van der Kemp?" asked Nigel, during a +brief pause. + +"I was--in Java. My father, as my name tells, was of Dutch descent. My +mother was Irish. Both are dead." + +He stopped. The fire that had been aroused seemed to die down, and he +continued to smoke with the sad absent look which was peculiar to him. + +"And what about large game?" asked Nigel, anxious to stir up his +friend's enthusiasm again, but the hermit had sunk back into his usual +condition of gentle dreaminess, and made no answer till the question had +been repeated. + +"Pardon me," he said, "I was dreaming of the days that are gone. Ah! +Nigel; you are yet too young to understand the feelings of the old--the +sad memories of happy years that can never return: of voices that are +hushed for ever. No one can _know_ till he has _felt_!" + +"But you are not old," said Nigel, wishing to turn the hermit's mind +from a subject on which it seemed to dwell too constantly. + +"Not in years," he returned; "but old, _very_ old in experience, +and--stay, what was it that you were asking about? Ah, the big game. +Well, we have plenty of that in some of the larger of the islands; we +have the elephant, the rhinoceros, the tiger, the puma, that great +man-monkey the orang-utan, or, as it is called here, the mias, besides +wild pigs, deer, and innumerable smaller animals and birds--" + +The hermit stopped abruptly and sat motionless, with his head bent on +one side, like one who listens intently. Such an action is always +infectious. Nigel and the negro also listened, but heard nothing. + +By that time the fire had died down, and, not being required for warmth, +had not been replenished. The faint light of the coming moon, which, +however, was not yet above the horizon, only seemed to render darkness +visible, so that the figure of Moses was quite lost in the shadow of the +bush behind him, though the whites of his solemn eyes appeared like two +glow-worms. + +"Do you hear anything?" asked Nigel in a low tone. + +"Oars," answered the hermit. + +"I hear 'im, massa," whispered the negro, "but das not +su'prisin'--plenty boats about." + +"This boat approaches the island, and I can tell by the sound that it is +a large _prau_. If it touches here it will be for the purpose of +spending the night, and Malay boatmen are not always agreeable +neighbours. However, it is not likely they will ramble far from where +they land, so we may escape observation if we keep quiet." + +As he spoke he emptied the remains of the coffee on the dying fire and +effectually put it out. + +Meanwhile the sound of oars had become quite distinct, and, as had been +anticipated, the crew ran their boat into one of the sandy bays and +leaped ashore with a good deal of shouting and noise. Fortunately they +had landed on the opposite side of the islet, and as the bush on it was +very dense there was not much probability of any one crossing over. Our +voyagers therefore lay close, resolving to be off in the morning before +the unwelcome visitors were stirring. + +As the three lay there wrapped in their blankets and gazing +contemplatively at the now risen moon, voices were heard as if of men +approaching. It was soon found that two of the strangers had sauntered +round by the beach and were slowly drawing near the encampment. + +Nigel observed that the hermit had raised himself on one elbow and +seemed to be again listening intently. + +The two men halted on reaching the top of the ridges of rock which +formed one side of the little bay, and their voices became audible +though too far distant to admit of words being distinguishable. At the +same time their forms were clearly defined against the sky. + +Nigel glanced at Van der Kemp and was startled by the change that had +come over him. The moonbeams, which had by that time risen above some +intervening shrubs, shone full on him and showed that his usually quiet +gentle countenance was deadly pale and transformed by a frown of almost +tiger-like ferocity. So strange and unaccountable did this seem to our +hero that he lay quite still, as if spell-bound. Nor did his companions +move until the strangers, having finished their talk, turned to retrace +their steps and finally disappeared. + +Then Van der Kemp rose with a sigh of relief. The negro and Nigel also +sprang up. + +"What's wrong, massa?" asked Moses, in much anxiety. + +"Nothing, nothing," said the hermit hurriedly. "I must cross over to see +these fellows." + +"All right, massa. I go wid you." + +"No, I go alone." + +"Not widout arms?" exclaimed the negro, laying his hand on his master's +shoulder. + +"Yes, without arms!" As he spoke he drew the long knife that usually +hung at his girdle and flung it down. "Now attend, both of you," he +added, with sudden and almost threatening earnestness. + +"Do not on any account follow me. I am quite able to take care of +myself." + +Next moment he glided into the bushes and was gone. + +"Can you guess what is the matter with him?" asked Nigel, turning to his +companion with a perplexed look. + +"Not more nor de man ob de moon. I nebber saw'd 'im like dat before. I +t'ink he's go mad! I tell you what--I'll foller him wid a rifle an' +knife and two revolvers." + +"You'll do nothing of the sort," said Nigel, laying hold of the negro's +wrist with a grip of iron; "when a man like Van der Kemp gives an order +it's the duty of inferior men like you and me strictly to obey." + +"Well--p'raps you're right, Nadgel," returned Moses calmly. "If you +wasn't, I'd knock you into de middle ob nixt week for takin' a grip o' +me like dat." + +"You'll wish yourself into the middle of next fortnight if you disobey +orders," returned our hero, tightening the grip. + +Moses threw back his head, opened his cavern, and laughed silently; at +the same time he twisted his arm free with a sudden wrench. + +"You's awrful strong, Nadgel, but you don't quite come up to niggers! +Howse'ber, you's right. I'll obey orders; neberdeless I'll get ready +for action." + +So saying, the negro extracted from the canoe several revolvers, two of +which he handed to Nigel, two he thrust into his own belt, and two he +laid handy for "massa" when he should return. + +"Now, if you're smart at arit'metic, you'll see dat six time six am +t'irty-six, and two double guns das forty--forty dead men's more 'n +enuff--besides de knives." + +Moses had barely finished these deadly preparations when Van der Kemp +returned as quietly as he had gone. His face was still fierce and +haggard, and his manner hurried though quite decided. + +"I have seen him," he said, in a low voice. + +"Seen who?" asked Nigel. + +"Him whom I had hoped and prayed never more to see. My enemy! Come, +quick, we must leave at once, and without attracting their notice." + +He gave his comrades no time to put further questions, but laid hold of +one end of the canoe; Moses took the other end and it was launched in a +few seconds, while Nigel carried down such part of the lading as had +been taken out. Five minutes sufficed to put all on board, and that +space of time was also sufficient to enable Spinkie to observe from his +retreat in the bushes that a departure was about to take place; he +therefore made for the shore with all speed and bounded to his +accustomed place beside the mast. + +Taking their places they pushed off so softly that they might well have +been taken for phantoms. A cloud conveniently hid the moon at the time. +Each man plied his paddle with noiseless but powerful stroke, and long +before the cloud uncovered the face of the Queen of Night they were +shooting far away over the tranquil sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WEATHERING A STORM IN THE OPEN SEA. + + +In profound silence they continued to paddle until there was no chance +of their being seen by the party on the islet. Then Van der Kemp rested +his paddle in front of him and looked slowly round the horizon and up at +the sky as if studying the weather. + +Nigel longed to ask him more about the men they had seen, and of this +"enemy" whom he had mentioned, but there was that in the hermit's grave +look which forbade questioning, and indeed Nigel now knew from +experience that it would be useless to press him to speak on any subject +in regard to which he chose to be reticent. + +"I don't like the look of the sky," he said at last. "We are going to +have a squall, I fear." + +"Had we not better run for the nearest land?" said Nigel, who, although +not yet experienced in the signs of the weather in those equatorial +regions, had quite enough of knowledge to perceive that bad weather of +some sort was probably approaching. + +"The nearest island is a good way off," returned the hermit, "and we +might miss it in the dark, for daylight won't help us yet awhile. No, we +will continue our course and accept what God sends." + +This remark seemed to our hero to savour of unreasoning contempt of +danger, for the facing of a tropical squall in such an eggshell appeared +to him the height of folly. He ventured to reply, therefore, in a tone +of remonstrance-- + +"God sends us the capacity to appreciate danger, Van der Kemp, and the +power to take precautions." + +"He does, Nigel--therefore I intend to use both the capacity and the +power." + +There was a tone of finality in this speech which effectually sealed +Nigel's lips, and, in truth, his ever-increasing trust in the wisdom, +power, and resource of his friend indisposed him to further remark. + +The night had by this time become intensely dark, for a bank of black +cloud had crept slowly over the sky and blotted out the moon. This cloud +extended itself slowly, obliterating, ere long, most of the stars also, +so that it was scarcely possible to distinguish any object more than a +yard or two in advance of them. The dead calm, however, continued +unbroken, and the few of heaven's lights which still glimmered through +the obscurity above were clearly reflected in the great black mirror +below. Only the faint gleam of Krakatoa's threatening fires was visible +on the horizon, while the occasional boom of its artillery sounded in +their ears. + +It was impossible for any inexperienced man, however courageous, to +avoid feelings of awe, almost amounting to dread, in the circumstances, +and Nigel--as he tried to penetrate the darkness around him and glanced +at the narrow craft in which he sat and over the sides of which he could +dip both hands at once into the sea--might be excused for wishing, with +all his heart, that he were safely on shore, or on the deck of his +father's brig. His feelings were by no means relieved when Van der Kemp +said, in a low soliloquising tone-- + +"The steamers will constitute our chief danger to-night. They come on +with such a rush that it is not easy to make out how they are steering, +so as to get out of their way in time." + +"But should we not hear them coming a long way off?" asked Nigel. + +"Ay. It is not during a calm like this that we run risk, but when the +gale begins to blow we cannot hear, and shall not, perhaps, see very +well." + +As he spoke the hermit lifted the covering of the forehatch and took out +a small sail which he asked Nigel to pass aft to the negro. + +"Close-reef it, Moses; we shall make use of the wind as long as +possible. After that we will lay-to." + +"All right, massa," said the negro, in the same cheerful free-and-easy +tone in which he was wont to express his willingness to obey orders +whether trifling or important. "Don' forgit Spinkie, massa." + +"You may be sure I won't do that," replied the hermit. "Come along, +monkey!" + +Evidently Van der Kemp had trained his dumb companion as thoroughly to +prompt obedience as his black follower, for the little creature +instantly bounded from its place by the mast on to the shoulder of its +master, who bade it go into the place from which he had just extracted +the sail. Nigel could not see this--not only because of the darkness, +but because of the intervention of the hermit's bulky person, but he +understood what had taken place by the remark--"That's a good little +fellow. Keep your head down, now, while I shut you in!" + +From the same place Van der Kemp had drawn a small triangular foresail, +which he proceeded to attach to the bow of the canoe--running its point +out by means of tackle laid along the deck--while Moses was busy reefing +the mainsail. + +From the same repository were extracted three waterproof coats, which, +when put on by the canoe-men, the tails thrust below-deck, and the +aprons drawn over them and belted round their waists, protected their +persons almost completely from water. + +"Now, Nigel," said the hermit, "unship the mast, reeve the halyard of +this foresail through the top and then re-ship it. Moses will give you +the mainsail when ready, and you can hook the halyards on to it. The +thing is too simple to require explanation to a sailor. I attend to the +foresail and Moses manages the mainsheet, but you have to mind the +halyards of both, which, as you would see if it were light enough, run +down alongside the mast. All I ask you to remember is to be smart in +obeying orders, for squalls are sometimes very sudden here--but I doubt +not that such a caution is needless." + +"I'll do my best," said Nigel. + +By this time a slight puff of air had ruffled the sea, thereby +intensifying, if possible, the blackness which already prevailed. The +tiny sails caught the puff, causing the canoe to lean slightly over, and +glide with a rippling sound through the water, while Moses steered by +means of his paddle. + +"You have put Spinkie down below, I think," said Nigel, who had been +struck more than once with the hermit's extreme tenderness and care of +the little creature. + +"Yes, to prevent it from being washed overboard. I nearly lost the poor +little thing once or twice, and now when we are likely to be caught in +bad weather I put him below." + +"Is he not apt to be suffocated?" asked Nigel. "With everything made so +tight to prevent water getting into the canoe, you necessarily prevent +air entering also." + +"I see you have a mechanical turn of mind," returned the hermit. "You +are right. Yet in so large a canoe the air would last a considerable +time to satisfy a monkey. Nevertheless, I have made provision for that. +There is a short tube alongside the mast, and fixed to it, which runs a +little below the deck and rises a foot above it so as to be well above +the wash of most waves, and in the deck near the stern there is a small +hole with a cap fitted so as to turn the water but admit the air. Thus +free circulation of air is established below deck." + +Suddenly a hissing sound was heard to windward. + +"Look out, Moses," said Van der Kemp. "There it comes. Let go the sheet. +Keep good hold of your paddle, Nigel." + +The warning was by no means unnecessary, for as the canoe's head was +turned to meet the blast, a hissing sheet of white water swept right +over the tiny craft, completely submerging it, insomuch that the three +men appeared to be sitting more than waist-deep in the water. + +"Lower the mainsail!" shouted the hermit, for the noise of wind and sea +had become deafening. + +Nigel obeyed and held on to the flapping sheet. The hermit had at the +same moment let go the foresail, the flapping of which he controlled by +a rope-tackle arranged for the purpose. He then grasped his single-blade +paddle and aided Moses in keeping her head to wind and sea. For a few +minutes this was all that could be done. Then the first violence of the +squall passed off, allowing the deck of the little craft to appear above +the tormented water. Soon the waves began to rise. + +The mere keeping of the canoe's head to wind required all the attention +of both master and man, while Nigel sat waiting for orders and looking +on with mingled feelings of surprise and curiosity. Of course they were +all three wet to the skin, for the water had got up their sleeves and +down their necks; but, being warm, that mattered little, and the oiled +aprons before mentioned, being securely fastened round their waists, +effectually prevented any of it from getting below save the little that +passed through the thickness of their own garments. + +No word was spoken for at least a quarter of an hour, during which time, +although they rose buoyantly on the water, the waves washed continually +over the low-lying deck. As this deck was flush with the gunwale, or +rather, had no gunwale at all, the water ran off it as it does off a +whale's back. + +Then there came a momentary lull. + +"Now, Moses--'bout ship!" shouted Van der Kemp. "Stand by, Nigel!" + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +Although the canoe was long--and therefore unfitted to turn quickly--the +powerful strokes of the two paddles in what may be called +counteracting-harmony brought the little craft right round with her +stern to the waves. + +"Hoist away, Nigel! We must run right before it now." + +Up went the mainsail, the tiny foresail bulged out at the same moment, +and away they went like the driving foam, appearing almost to leap from +wave to wave. All sense of danger was now overwhelmed in Nigel's mind by +that feeling of excitement and wild delight which accompanies some kinds +of rapid motion. This was, if possible, intensified by the crashing +thunder which now burst forth and the vivid lightning which began to +play, revealing from time to time the tumultuous turmoil as if in +clearest moonlight, only to plunge it again in still blacker night. + +By degrees the gale increased in fury, and it soon became evident that +neither sails nor cordage could long withstand the strain to which they +were subjected. + +"A'most too much, massa," said the negro in a suggestive shout. + +"Right, Moses," returned his master. "I was just thinking we must risk +it." + +"Risk what? I wonder," thought Nigel. + +He had not long to wait for an answer to his thought. + +"Down wi' the mainsail," was quickly followed by the lowering of the +foresail until not more than a mere corner was shown, merely to keep the +canoe end-on to the seas. Soon even this was lowered, and Van der Kemp +used his double-blade paddle to keep them in position, at the same time +telling Nigel to unship the mast. + +"And plug the hole with that," he added, handing him a bit of wood which +exactly fitted the hole in the deck. + +Watching for another lull in the blast, the hermit at last gave the +order, and round they came as before, head to wind, but not quite so +easily, and Nigel felt that they had narrowly escaped overturning in the +operation. + +"Keep her so, Moses. You can help with your paddle, Nigel, while I get +ready our anchor." + +"Anchor!" exclaimed our hero in amazement--obeying orders, however, at +the same moment. + +The hermit either did not hear the exclamation or did not care to +notice it. He quickly collected the mast and sails, with a couple of +boat-hooks and all the paddles excepting two single ones. These he bound +together by means of the sheets and halyards, attached the whole to a +hawser,--one end of which passed through an iron ring at the bow--and +tossed it into the sea--paying out the hawser rapidly at the same time +so as to put a few yards between them and their floating anchor--if it +may be so called--in the lee of which they prepared to ride out the +gale. + +It was well that they had taken the precaution to put on their +waterproofs before the gale began, because, while turned head to wind +every breaking wave swept right over their heads, and even now while +under the lee of the floating anchor they were for some time almost +continually overwhelmed by thick spray. Being, however, set free from +the necessity of keeping their tiny craft in position, they all bowed +their heads on the deck, sheltered their faces in their hands and +awaited the end! + +Whilst in this attitude--so like to that of prayer--Nigel almost +naturally thought of Him who holds the water in the hollow of His hand, +and lifted his soul to God; for, amid the roaring of the gale, the +flashes of lightning, the appalling thunder, the feeling that he was in +reality all but under the waves and the knowledge that the proverbial +plank between him and death was of the very thinnest description, a +sensation of helplessness and of dependence on the Almighty, such as he +had never before experienced, crept over him. What the thoughts of the +hermit were he could not tell, for that strange man seldom spoke about +himself; but Moses was not so reticent, for he afterwards remarked that +he had often been caught by gales while in the canoe, and had been +attached for hours to their floating anchor, but that "dat was out ob +sight de wust bust ob wedder dey'd had since dey come to lib at +Krakatoa, an' he had bery nigh giben up in despair!" + +The use of the floating breakwater was to meet the full force of the +seas and break them just before they reached the canoe. In spite of this +some of them were so tremendous that, broken though they were, the +swirling foam completely buried the craft for a second or two, but the +sharp bow cut its way through, and the water poured off the deck and off +the stooping figures like rain from a duck's back. Of course a good deal +got in at their necks, sleeves, and other small openings, and wet them +considerably, but that, as Moses remarked, "was not'ing to speak ob." + +Thus they lay tossing in the midst of the raging foam for several hours. +Now and then each would raise his head a little to see that the rope +held fast, but was glad to lower it again. They hardly knew when day +broke. It was so slow in coming, and so gloomy and dark when it did +come, that the glare of the lightning-flash seemed more cheerful. + +It may be easily believed that there was no conversation during those +hours of elemental strife, though the thoughts of each were busy enough. +At last the thunder ceased, or, rather, retired as if in growling +defiance of the world which it had failed to destroy. Then the sky began +to lighten a little, and although the wind did not materially abate in +force it became more steady and equal. Before noon, however, it had +subsided so much that Moses suggested the propriety of continuing the +voyage. To this Van der Kemp agreed, and the floating anchor was hauled +in; the large paddle was resumed by the hermit, and the dangerous +process of turning the canoe was successfully accomplished. + +When the mast was again set up and the close-reefed main and foresails +were hoisted, the light craft bounded away once more before the wind +like a fleck of foam. Then a gleam of sunshine forced its way through +the driving clouds, and painted a spot of emerald green on the heaving +sea. Soon after that Van der Kemp opened the lid, or hatch, of the +forehold, and Spinkie, jumping out with alacrity, took possession of his +usual seat beside the mast, to which he clung with affectionate +tenacity. Gradually the wind went down. Reef after reef of the two sails +was shaken out, and for several hours thereafter our travellers sped +merrily on, plunging into the troughs and cutting through the crests of +the stormy sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A LIFE-OR-DEATH PADDLE ENSUES. + + +In physics, as in morals, a storm is frequently the precursor of a dead +calm. + +Much to the monkey's joy, to say nothing of the men, the sun erelong +asserted its equatorial power, and, clearing away the clouds, allowed +the celestial blue to smile on the turmoil below. The first result of +that smile was that the wind retired to its secret chambers, leaving the +ships of men to flap their idle sails. Then the ocean ceased to fume, +though its agitated bosom still continued for some time to heave. +Gradually the swell went down and soon the unruffled surface reflected a +dimpling smile to the sky. + +When this happy stage had been reached our voyagers lowered and stowed +the canoe-sails, and continued to advance under paddles. + +"We get along wonderfully fast, Van der Kemp," said Nigel, while resting +after a pretty long spell; "but it seems to me, nevertheless, that we +shall take a considerable time to reach Borneo at this rate, seeing +that it must be over two hundred miles away, and if we have much bad +weather or contrary wind, we shan't be able to reach it for weeks--if at +all." + +"I have been thrown somewhat out of my reckoning," returned the hermit, +"by having to fly from the party on the islet, where I meant to remain +till a steamer, owned by a friend of mine, should pass and pick us up, +canoe and all. The steamer is a short-voyage craft, and usually so +punctual that I can count on it to a day. But it may have passed us in +the gale. If so, I shall take advantage of the first vessel that will +agree to lend us a hand." + +"How!--Do you get them to tow you?" + +"Nay, that were impossible. A jerk from the tow-rope of a steamer at +full speed would tear us asunder. Have you observed these two strong +ropes running all round our gunwale, and the bridles across with +ring-bolts in them?" + +"I have, and did not ask their use, as I thought they were merely meant +to strengthen the canoe." + +"So they are," continued the hermit, "but they have other uses +besides--" + +"Massa," cried Moses, at this point. "You'll 'scuse me for 'truptin' +you, but it's my opinion dat Spinkie's sufferin' jus' now from a empty +stummik!" + +The hermit smiled and Nigel laughed. Laying down his paddle the former +said-- + +"I understand, Moses. That speech means that you are suffering from the +same complaint. Well--get out the biscuit." + +"Jus' de way oh de wurld," muttered the negro with a bland smile. "If a +poor man obsarves an' feels for de sorrows ob anoder, he allers gits +credit for t'inkin' ob hisself. Neber mind, I's used to it!" + +Evidently the unjust insinuation did not weigh heavily on the negro's +spirit, for he soon began to eat with the appetite of a healthy +alligator. + +While he was thus engaged, he chanced to raise his eyes towards the +south-western horizon, and there saw something which caused him to +splutter, for his mouth was too full to speak, but his speaking eyes and +pointing finger caused his companions to turn their faces quickly to the +quarter indicated. + +"A steamer!" exclaimed the hermit and Nigel in the same breath. + +The vessel in question was coming straight towards them, and a very +short time enabled Van der Kemp to recognise with satisfaction the +steamer owned by his friend. + +"Look here, run that to the mast-head," said Van der Kemp, handing a red +flag to Nigel. "We lie so low in the water that they might pass quite +close without observing us if we showed no signal." + +An immediate though slight change in the course of the steamer showed +that the signal had been seen. Hereupon the hermit and Moses performed +an operation on the canoe which still further aroused Nigel's surprise +and curiosity. He resolved to ask no questions, however, but to await +the issue of events. + +From the marvellous hold of the canoe, which seemed to be a magazine for +the supply of every human need, Moses drew a short but strong rope or +cable, with a ring in the middle of it, and a hook at each end. He +passed one end along to his master who hooked it to the bridle-rope at +the bow before referred to. The other end was hooked to the bridle in +the stern, so that the ring in the centre came close to Nigel's elbow. + +This arrangement had barely been completed when the steamer was within +hail, but no hail was given, for the captain knew what was expected of +him. He reduced speed as the vessel approached the canoe, and finally +came almost to a stop as he ranged alongside. + +"What cheer, Van der Kemp? D'ye want a lift to-day?" shouted the +skipper, looking over the side. + +A nod and a wave of the hand was the hermit's reply. + +"Heave a rope, boys--bow and stern--and lower away the tackle," was the +skipper's order. + +A coil was flung to Van der Kemp, who deftly caught it and held on +tight. Another was flung to Moses, who also caught it and held +on--slack. At the same moment, Nigel saw a large block with a hook +attached descending towards his head. + +"Catch it, Nigel, and hook it to the ring at your elbow," said the +hermit. + +Our hero obeyed, still in surprise, though a glimmer of what was to +follow began to dawn. + +"Haul away!" shouted the skipper, and next moment the canoe was swinging +in the air, kept in position by the lines in the hands of Van der Kemp +and Moses. At the same time another order was given, and the steamer +went ahead full speed. + +It was all so suddenly done, and seemed such a reckless proceeding, that +Nigel found himself on the steamer's deck, with the canoe reposing +beside him, before he had recovered from his surprise sufficiently to +acknowledge in suitable terms the welcome greeting of the hospitable +skipper. + +"You see, Nigel," said Van der Kemp that night, as the two friends paced +the deck together after supper, "I have other means, besides paddles and +sails, of getting quickly about in the Java seas. Many of the traders +and skippers here know me, and give me a lift in this way when I require +it." + +"Very kind of them, and very convenient," returned Nigel. He felt +inclined to add: "But why all this moving about?" for it was quite +evident that trade was not the hermit's object, but the question, as +usual, died on his lips, and he somewhat suddenly changed the subject. + +"D'ye know, Van der Kemp, that I feel as if I must have seen you +somewhere or other before now, for your features seem strangely familiar +to me. Have you ever been in England?" + +"Never. As I have told you, I was born in Java, and was educated in +Hongkong at an English School. But a fancy of this sort is not very +uncommon. I myself once met a perfect stranger who bore so strong a +resemblance to an old friend, that I spoke to him as such, and only +found out from his voice that I was mistaken." + +The captain of the steamer came on deck at that moment and cut short the +conversation. + +"Are you engaged, Van der Kemp?" he asked. + +"No--I am at your service." + +"Come below then, I want to have a talk with you." + +Thus left alone, and overhearing a loud burst of laughter at the fore +part of the steamer, Nigel went forward to see what was going on. He +found a group of sailors round his comrade Moses, apparently engaged in +good-natured "chaff." + +"Come, now, blackey," said one; "be a good fellow for once in your life +an' tell us what makes your master live on a desert island like Robinson +Crusoe, an' go about the ocean in a canoe." + +"Look 'ere now, whitey," returned Moses, "what you take me for?" + +"A nigger, of course." + +"Ob course, an' you're right for once, which is sitch an unusual t'ing +dat I 'dvise you go an' ax de cappen to make a note ob it in de log. I's +a nigger, an' a nigger's so much more 'cute dan a white man dat you +shouldn't ought to expect him to blab his massa's secrets." + +"Right you are, Moses. Come, then, if you won't reweal secrets, give us +a song." + +"Couldn't t'ink ob such a t'ing," said the negro, with a solemn, +remonstrant shake of the head. + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause I neber sing a song widout a moral, an' I don't like to hurt +your feelin's by singin' a moral dat would be sure to waken up _some_ o' +your consciences." + +"Never mind that, darkey. Our consciences are pretty tough. Heave +ahead." + +"But dere's a chorus," said Moses, looking round doubtfully. + +"What o' that? We'll do our best with it--if it ain't too difficult." + +"Oh, it's not diffikilt, but if de lazy fellers among you sings de +chorus dey'll be singin' lies, an' I don't 'zackly like to help men to +tell lies. Howseber, here goes. It begins wid de chorus so's you may +know it afore you has to sing it." + +So saying, Moses struck two fingers on the capstan after the manner of a +tuning-fork, and, holding them gravely to his ear as if to get the right +pitch, began in a really fine manly voice to chant the following +ditty:-- + +"GO TO WORK." + + Oh when de sun am shinin' bright, and eberyt'ing am fair, + Clap on de steam an' go to work, an' take your proper share. + De wurld hab got to go ahead, an' dem what's young and strong + Mus' do deir best, wid all de rest, to roll de wurld along. + + De lazy man does all he can to stop its whirlin' round. + If he was king he'd loaf an' sing--and guzzle, I'll be bound, + He always shirk de hardest work, an' t'ink he's awful clebbar, + But boder his head to earn his bread, Oh! no, he'll nebber, nebber. + _Chorus_--Oh when de sun, etc. + + De selfish man would rader dan put out his hand to work, + Let women toil, an' sweat and moil--as wicked as de Turk. + De cream ob eberyt'ing he wants, let oders hab de skim; + In fact de wurld and all it holds was only made for him. + _Chorus_--Oh when de sun, etc. + + So keep de ball a-rollin', boys, an' each one do his best + To make de wurld a happy one--for dat's how man is blest. + Do unto oders all around de t'ing what's good and true, + An' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to you. + _Chorus_--Oh when de sun, etc. + +The sailors, who were evidently much pleased, took up the chorus +moderately at the second verse, came out strong at the third, and sang +with such genuine fervour at the last that it was quite evident, as +Moses remarked, there was not a lazy man amongst them--at least, if they +all sang conscientiously! + +The weather improved every hour, and after a fine run of about +twenty-four hours over that part of the Malay Sea, our three voyagers +were lowered over the steamer's side in their canoe when within sight of +the great island of Borneo. + +"I'm sorry," said the captain at parting, "that our courses diverge +here, for I would gladly have had your company a little longer. +Good-bye. I hope we'll come across you some other time when I'm in these +parts." + +"Thanks--thanks, my friend,'" replied Van der Kemp, with a warm grip of +the hand, and a touch of pathos in his tones. "I trust that we shall +meet again. You have done me good service by shortening my voyage +considerably.--Farewell." + +"I say, Moses," shouted one of the seamen, as he looked down on the tiny +canoe while they were pushing off. + +"Hallo?" + +"Keep your heart up, for--we'll try to 'do to oders all around de t'ing +what's good an' true!'" + +"Das de way, boy--'an' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to +you!'" + +He yelled rather than sang this at the top of his tuneful voice, and +waved his hand as the sharp craft shot away over the sea. + +Fortunately the sea was calm, for it was growing dark when they reached +the shores of Borneo and entered the mouth of a small stream, up which +they proceeded to paddle. The banks of the stream were clothed with +mangrove trees. We have said the banks, but in truth the mouth of that +river had no distinguishable banks at all, for it is the nature of the +mangrove to grow in the water--using its roots as legs with which, as it +were, to wade away from shore. When darkness fell suddenly on the +landscape, as it is prone to do in tropical regions, the gnarled roots +of those mangroves assumed the appearance of twining snakes in Nigel's +eyes. Possessing a strongly imaginative mind he could with difficulty +resist the belief that he saw them moving slimily about in the black +water, and, in the dim mysterious light, tree stems and other objects +assumed the appearance of hideous living forms, so that he was enabled +to indulge the uncomfortable fancy that they were traversing some +terrestrial Styx into one of Dante's regions of horror. + +In some respects this was not altogether a fancy, for they were +unwittingly drawing near to a band of human beings whose purposes, if +fully carried out, would render the earth little better than a hell to +many of their countrymen. + +It is pretty well known that there is a class of men in Borneo called +Head Hunters. These men hold the extraordinary and gruesome opinion that +a youth has not attained to respectable manhood until he has taken the +life of some human being. + +There are two distinct classes of Dyaks--those who inhabit the hills and +those who dwell on the sea-coast. It is the latter who recruit the ranks +of the pirates of those eastern seas, and it was to the camp of a band +of such villains that our adventurers were, as already said, unwittingly +drawing near. + +They came upon them at a bend of the dark river beyond which point the +mangroves gave place to other trees--but what sort of trees they were it +was scarcely light enough to make out very distinctly, except in the +case of the particular tree in front of which the Dyaks were encamped, +the roots of which were strongly illuminated by their camp fire. We say +_roots_ advisedly, for this singular and gigantic tree started its +branches from a complexity of aerial roots which themselves formed a +pyramid some sixty feet high, before the branches proper of the tree +began. + +If our voyagers had used oars the sharp ears of the pirates would have +instantly detected them. As it was, the softly moving paddles and the +sharp cutwater of the canoe made no noise whatever. The instant that Van +der Kemp, from his position in the bow, observed the camp, he dipped his +paddle deep, and noiselessly backed water. There was no need to give any +signal to his servant. Such a thorough understanding existed between +them that the mere action of the hermit was sufficient to induce the +negro to support him by a similar movement on the opposite side, and the +canoe glided as quickly backward as it had previously advanced. When +under the deep shadow of the bank Moses thrust the canoe close in, and +his master, laying hold of the bushes, held fast and made a sign to him +to land and reconnoitre. + +Creeping forward to an opening in the bushes close at hand, Moses peeped +through. Then he turned and made facial signals of a kind so complicated +that he could not be understood, as nothing was visible save the +flashing of his teeth and eyes. Van der Kemp therefore recalled him by a +sign, and, stepping ashore, whispered Nigel to land. + +[Illustration: DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC.--PAGE 164.] + +Another minute and the three travellers stood on the bank with their +heads close together. + +"Wait here for me," said the hermit, in the lowest possible whisper. "I +will go and see who they are." + +"Strange," said Nigel, when he was gone; "strange that in so short a +time your master should twice have to stalk strangers in this way. +History repeats itself, they say. It appears to do so rather fast in +these regions! Does he not run a very great risk of being discovered?" + +"Not de smallest," replied the negro, with as much emphasis as was +possible in a whisper. "Massa hab ride wid de Vaquieros ob Ameriky an' +hunt wid de Injuns on de Rockies. No more fear ob deir ketchin' him dan +ob ketchin' a streak o' lightnin'. He come back bery soon wid all de +news." + +Moses was a true prophet. Within half-an-hour Van der Kemp returned as +noiselessly as he had gone. He did not keep them long in uncertainty. + +"I have heard enough," he whispered, "to assure me that a plot, of which +I had already heard a rumour, has nearly been laid. We fell in with the +chief plotters on the islet the other night; the band here is in +connection with them and awaits their arrival before carrying out their +dark designs. There is nothing very mysterious about it. One tribe +plotting to attack another--that is all; but as a friend of mine dwells +just now with the tribe to be secretly attacked, it behoves me to do +what I can to save him. I am perplexed, however. It would seem sometimes +as if we were left in perplexity for wise purposes which are beyond our +knowledge." + +"Perhaps to test our willingness to _do right_," suggested Nigel. + +"I know not," returned the hermit, as if musing, but never raising his +voice above the softest whisper. "My difficulty lies here; I _must_ go +forward to save the life of my friend. I must _not_ leave you at the +mouth of a mangrove river to die or be captured by pirates, and yet I +have no right to ask you to risk your life on my account!" + +"You may dismiss your perplexities then," said Nigel, promptly, "for I +decline to be left to die here or to be caught by pirates, and I am +particularly anxious to assist you in rescuing your friend. Besides, am +I not your hired servant?" + +"The risk we run is only at the beginning," said Van der Kemp. "If we +succeed in passing the Dyaks unseen all will be well. If they see us, +they will give chase, and our lives, under God, will depend on the +strength of our arms, for I am known to them and have thwarted their +plans before now. If they catch us, death will be our certain doom. Are +you prepared?" + +"Ready!" whispered Nigel. + +Without another word the hermit took his place in the bow of the canoe. +Moses stepped into the stern, and our hero sat down in the middle. + +Before pushing off, the hermit drew a revolver and a cutlass from his +store-room in the bow and handed them to Nigel, who thrust the first +into his belt and fastened the other to the deck by means of a strap +fixed there on purpose to prevent its being rolled or swept off. This +contrivance, as well as all the other appliances in the canoe, had +previously been pointed out and explained to him. The hermit and negro +having armed themselves in similar way, let go the bushes which held +them close to the bank and floated out into the stream. They let the +canoe drift down a short way so as to be well concealed by the bend in +the river and a mass of bushes. Then they slowly paddled over to the +opposite side and commenced to creep up as close to the bank as +possible, under the deep shadow of overhanging trees, and so noiselessly +that they appeared in the darkness like a passing phantom. + +But the sharp eyes of the pirates were too much accustomed to phantoms +of every kind to be easily deceived. Just as the canoe was about to pass +beyond the line of their vision a stir was heard in their camp. Then a +stern challenge rolled across the river and awoke the slumbering echoes +of the forest--perchance to the surprise and scaring away of some +prowling beast of prey. + +"No need for concealment now," said Van der Kemp, quietly; "we must +paddle for life. If you have occasion to use your weapons, Nigel, take +no life needlessly. Moses knows my mind on this point and needs no +warning. Any fool can take away life. Only God can give it." + +"I will be careful," replied Nigel, as he dipped his paddle with all the +muscular power at his command. His comrades did the same, and the canoe +shot up the river like an arrow. + +A yell from the Dyaks, and the noise of jumping into and pushing off +their boats told that there was no time to lose. + +"They are strong men, and plenty of them to relieve each other," said +the hermit, who now spoke in his ordinary tones, "so they have some +chance of overhauling us in the smooth water; but a few miles further up +there is a rapid which will stop them and will only check us. If we can +reach it we shall be safe." + +While he was speaking every muscle in his broad back and arms was +strained to the uttermost; so also were the muscles of his companions, +and the canoe seemed to advance by a series of rapid leaps and bounds. +Yet the sound of the pursuers' oars seemed to increase, and soon the +proverb "it is the pace that kills" received illustration, for the speed +of the canoe began to decrease a little--very little at first--while the +pursuers, with fresh hands at the oars, gradually overhauled the +fugitives. + +"Put on a spurt!" said the hermit, setting the example. + +The pirates heard the words and understood either them or the action +that followed, for they also "put on a spurt," and encouraged each other +with a cheer. + +Moses heard the cheer, and at the same time heard the sound of the rapid +to which they were by that time drawing near. He glanced over his +shoulder and could make out the dim form of the leading boat, with a +tall figure standing up in the bow, not thirty yards behind. + +"Shall we manage it, Moses?" asked Van der Kemp, in that calm steady +voice which seemed to be unchangeable either by anxiety or peril. + +"No, massa. Unpossable--widout _dis_!" + +The negro drew the revolver from his belt, slewed round, took rapid aim +and fired. + +The tall figure in the bow of the boat fell back with a crash and a +hideous yell. Great shouting and confusion followed, and the boat +dropped behind. A few minutes later and the canoe was leaping over the +surges of a shallow rapid. They dashed from eddy to eddy, taking +advantage of every stone that formed a tail of backwater below it, and +gradually worked the light craft upward in a way that the hermit and his +man had learned in the nor'-western rivers of America. + +"We are not safe yet," said the former, resting and wiping his brow as +they floated for a few seconds in a calm basin at the head of the +rapid. + +"Surely they cannot take a boat up such a place as that!" + +"Nay, but they can follow up the banks on foot. However, we will soon +baffle them, for the river winds like a serpent just above this, and by +carrying our canoe across one, two, or three spits of land we will gain +a distance in an hour or so that would cost them nearly a day to ascend +in boats. They know that, and will certainly give up the chase. I think +they have given it up already, but it is well to make sure." + +"I wonder why they did not fire at us," remarked Nigel. + +"Probably because they felt sure of catching us," returned the hermit, +"and when they recovered from the confusion that Moses threw them into +we were lost to them in darkness, besides being pretty well beyond +range. I hope, Moses, that you aimed low." + +"Yes, massa--but it's sca'cely fair when life an' def am in de balance +to expect me to hit 'im on de legs on a dark night. Legs is a bad +targit. Bullet's apt to pass between 'em. Howseber, dat feller won't hop +much for some time to come!" + +A couple of hours later, having carried the canoe and baggage across the +spits of land above referred to, and thus put at least half-a-day's +journey between themselves and their foes, they came to a halt for the +night. + +"It won't be easy to find a suitable place to camp on," remarked Nigel, +glancing at the bank, where the bushes grew so thick that they overhung +the water, brushing the faces of our travellers and rendering the +darkness so intense that they had literally to feel their way as they +glided along. + +"We will encamp where we are," returned the hermit. "I'll make fast to a +bush and you may get out the victuals, Moses." + +"Das de bery best word you've said dis day, massa," remarked the negro +with a profound sigh. "I's pritty well tired now, an' de bery t'ought ob +grub comforts me!" + +"Do you mean that we shall sleep in the canoe?" asked Nigel. + +"Ay, why not?" returned the hermit, who could be heard, though not seen, +busying himself with the contents of the fore locker. "You'll find the +canoe a pretty fair bed. You have only to slip down and pull your head +and shoulders through the manhole and go to sleep. You won't want +blankets in this weather, and, see--there is a pillow for you and +another for Moses." + +"I cannot _see_, but I can feel," said Nigel, with a soft laugh, as he +passed the pillow aft. + +"T'ank ee, Nadgel," said Moses; "here--feel behind you an' you'll find +grub for yourself an' some to pass forid to massa. Mind when you slip +down for go to sleep dat you don't dig your heels into massa's skull. +Dere's no bulkhead to purtect it." + +"I'll be careful," said Nigel, beginning his invisible supper with keen +appetite. "But how about _my_ skull, Moses? Is there a bulkhead between +it and _your_ heels?" + +"No, but you don't need to mind, for I allers sleeps doubled up, wid my +knees agin my chin. It makes de arms an' legs feel more sociable like." + +With this remark Moses ceased to encourage conversation--his mouth being +otherwise engaged. + +Thereafter they slipped down into their respective places, laid their +heads on their pillows and fell instantly into sound repose, while the +dark waters flowed sluggishly past, and the only sound that disturbed +the universal stillness was the occasional cry of some creature of the +night or the flap of an alligator's tail. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A NEW FRIEND FOUND--NEW DANGERS ENCOUNTERED AND HEW HOPES DELAYED. + + +When grey dawn began to dispel the gloom of night, Nigel Roy awoke with +an uncomfortable sensation of having been buried alive. Stretching +himself as was his wont he inadvertently touched the head of Van der +Kemp, an exclamation from whom aroused Moses, who, uncoiling himself, +awoke Spinkie. It was usually the privilege of that affectionate +creature to nestle in the negro's bosom. + +With the alacrity peculiar to his race, Spinkie sprang through the +manhole and sat down in his particular place to superintend, perhaps to +admire, the work of his human friends, whose dishevelled heads emerged +simultaneously from their respective burrows. + +Dawn is a period of the day when the spirit of man is calmly reflective. +Speech seemed distasteful that morning, and as each knew what had to be +done, it was needless. The silently conducted operations of the men +appeared to arouse fellow-feeling in the monkey, for its careworn +countenance became more and more expressive as it gazed earnestly and +alternately into the faces of its comrades. To all appearance it seemed +about to speak--but it didn't. + +Pushing out from the shore they paddled swiftly up stream, and soon put +such a distance between them and their late pursuers that all risk of +being overtaken was at an end. + +All day they advanced inland without rest, save at the breakfast hour, +and again at mid-day to dine. Towards evening they observed that the +country through which they were passing had changed much in character +and aspect. The low and swampy region had given place to hillocks and +undulating ground, all covered with the beautiful virgin forest with its +palms and creepers and noble fruit-trees and rich vegetation, +conspicuous among which magnificent ferns of many kinds covered the +steep banks of the stream. + +On rounding a point of the river the travellers came suddenly upon an +interesting group, in the midst of a most beautiful woodland scene. +Under the trees on a flat spot by the river-bank were seated round a +fire a man and a boy and a monkey. The monkey was a tame orang-utan, +youthful but large. The boy was a Dyak in light cotton drawers, with the +upper part of his body naked, brass rings on his arms, heavy ornaments +in his ears, and a bright kerchief worn as a turban on his head. The man +was a sort of nondescript in a semi-European shooting garb, with a +wide-brimmed sombrero on his head, black hair, a deeply tanned face, a +snub nose, huge beard and moustache, and immense blue spectacles. + +Something not unlike a cheer burst from the usually undemonstrative Van +der Kemp on coming in sight of the party, and he waved his hand as if in +recognition. The nondescript replied by starting to his feet, throwing +up both arms and giving vent to an absolute roar of joy. + +"He seems to know you," remarked Nigel, as they made for a +landing-place. + +"Yes. He is the friend I have come to rescue," replied the hermit in a +tone of quiet satisfaction. "He is a naturalist and lives with the Rajah +against whom the pirates are plotting." + +"He don't look z'if he needs much rescuin'," remarked Moses with a +chuckle, as they drew to land. + +The man looked in truth as if he were well able to take care of himself +in most circumstances, being of colossal bulk although somewhat short of +limb. + +"Ah! mein frond! mine brodder!" he exclaimed, in fairly idiomatic +English, but with a broken pronunciation that was a mixture of Dutch, +American, and Malay. His language therefore, like himself, was +nondescript. In fact he was an American-born Dutchman, who had been +transported early in life to the Straits Settlements, had received most +of his education in Hongkong, was an old school-fellow of Van der Kemp, +became an enthusiastic naturalist, and, being possessed of independent +means, spent most of his time in wandering about the various islands of +the archipelago, making extensive collections of animal and vegetable +specimens, which he distributed with liberal hand to whatever museums at +home or abroad seemed most to need or desire them. Owing to his tastes +and habits he had been dubbed Professor by his friends. + +"Ach! Van der Kemp," he exclaimed, while his coal-black eyes glittered +as they shook hands, "_vat_ a booterfly I saw to-day! It beat all +creation! The vay it flew--oh! But, excuse me--v'ere did you come from, +and vy do you come? An' who is your frond?" + +He turned to Nigel as he spoke, and doffed his sombrero with a gracious +bow. + +"An Englishman--Nigel Roy--who has joined me for a few months," said the +hermit. "Let me introduce you, Nigel, to my good friend, Professor +Verkimier." + +Nigel held out his hand and gave the naturalist's a shake so hearty, +that a true friendship was begun on the spot--a friendship which was +rapidly strengthened when the professor discovered that the English +youth had a strong leaning towards his own favourite studies. + +"Ve vill hont an' shot togezzer, mine frond," he said, on making this +discovery, "ant I vill show you v'ere de best booterflies are to be +fount--Oh! sooch a von as I saw to---- but, excuse me, Van der Kemp. Vy +you come here joost now?" + +"To save _you_" said the hermit, with a scintillation of his +half-pitiful smile. + +"To safe _me_!" exclaimed Verkimier, with a look of surprise which was +greatly intensified by the rotundity of the blue spectacles. "Vell, I +don't feel to vant safing joost at present." + +"It is not that danger threatens _you_ so much as your friend the +Rajah," returned the hermit. "But if he falls, all under his protection +fall along with him. I happen to have heard of a conspiracy against him, +on so large a scale that certain destruction would follow if he were +taken by surprise, so I have come on in advance of the conspirators to +warn him in time. You know I have received much kindness from the Rajah, +so I could do no less than warn him of impending danger, and then the +fact that you were with him made me doubly anxious to reach you in +time." + +While the hermit was saying this, the naturalist removed his blue +glasses, and slowly wiped them with a corner of his coat-tails. +Replacing them, he gazed intently into the grave countenance of his +friend till he had finished speaking. + +"Are zee raskils near?" he asked, sternly. + +"No. We have come on many days ahead of them. But we found a party at +the river's mouth awaiting their arrival." + +"Ant zey cannot arrife, you say, for several veeks?" + +"Probably not--even though they had fair and steady winds." + +A sigh of satisfaction broke through the naturalist's moustache on +hearing this. + +"Zen I vill--_ve_ vill, you and I, Mister Roy,--go after ze booterflies +to-morrow!" + +"But we must push on," remonstrated Van der Kemp, "for preparations to +resist an attack cannot be commenced too soon." + +"_You_ may push on, mine frond; go ahead if you vill, but I vill not +leave zee booterflies. You know veil zat I vill die--if need be--for zee +Rajah. Ve must all die vonce, at least, and I should like to die--if I +must die--in a goot cause. What cause better zan frondship? But you say +joost now zere is no dancher. Vell, I vill go ant see zee booterflies +to-morrow. After zat, I will go ant die--if it must be--vith zee Rajah." + +"I heartily applaud your sentiment," said Nigel, with a laugh, as he +helped himself to some of the food which the Dyak youth and Moses had +prepared, "and if Van der Kemp will give me leave of absence I will +gladly keep you company." + +"Zank you. Pass round zee victuals. My appetite is strong. It alvays vas +more or less strong. Vat say you, Van der Kemp?" + +"I have no objection. Moses and I can easily take the canoe up the +river. There are no rapids, and it is not far to the Rajah's village; so +you are welcome to go, Nigel." + +"Das de most 'straord'nary craze I eber know'd men inflicted wid!" said +Moses that night, as he sat smoking his pipe beside the Dyak boy. "It +passes my compr'ension what fun dey find runnin' like child'n arter +butterflies, an' beetles, an' sitch like varmint. My massa am de wisest +man on eart', yet _he_ go a little wild dat way too--sometimes!" + +Moses looked at the Dyak boy with a puzzled expression, but as the Dyak +boy did not understand English, he looked intently at the fire, and said +nothing. + +Next morning Nigel entered the forest under the guidance of Verkimier +and the Dyak youth, and the orang-utan, which followed like a dog, and +sometimes even took hold of its master's arm and walked with him as if +it had been a very small human being. It was a new experience to Nigel +to walk in the sombre shade beneath the tangled arches of the +wilderness. In some respects it differed entirely from his expectations, +and in others it surpassed them. The gloom was deeper than he had +pictured it, but the shade was not displeasing in a land so close to the +equator. Then the trees were much taller than he had been led to +suppose, and the creeping plants more numerous, while, to his surprise, +the wild-flowers were comparatively few and small. But the scarcity of +these was somewhat compensated by the rich and brilliant colouring of +the foliage. + +The abundance and variety of the ferns also struck the youth +particularly. + +"Ah! zey are magnificent!" exclaimed Verkimier with enthusiasm. "Look at +zat tree-fern. You have not'ing like zat in England--eh! I have found +nearly von hoondred specimens of ferns. Zen, look at zee fruit-trees. Ve +have here, you see, zee Lansat, Mangosteen, Rambutan, Jack, Jambon, +Blimbing ant many ozers--but zee queen of fruits is zee Durian. Have you +tasted zee Durian?" + +"No, not yet." + +"Ha! a new sensation is before you! Stay, you vill eat von by ant by. +Look, zat is a Durian tree before you." + +He pointed as he spoke to a large and lofty tree, which Mr. A.R. +Wallace, the celebrated naturalist and traveller, describes as +resembling an elm in general character but with a more smooth and scaly +bark. The fruit is round, or slightly oval, about the size of a man's +head, of a green colour, and covered all over with short spines which +are very strong and so sharp that it is difficult to lift the fruit from +the ground. Only the experienced and expert can cut the tough outer +rind. There are five faint lines extending from the base to the apex of +the fruit, through which it may be divided with a heavy knife and a +strong hand, so as to get to the delicious creamy pulp inside. + +There is something paradoxical in the descriptions of this fruit by +various writers, but all agree that it is inexpressibly good! Says +one--writing of the sixteenth century--"It is of such an excellent taste +that it surpasses in flavour all the other fruits of the world." Another +writes: "This fruit is of a hot and humid nature. To those not used to +it, it seems at first to smell like rotten onions! but immediately they +have tasted it they prefer it to all other food." Wallace himself says +of it: "When brought into the house, the smell is so offensive that some +persons can never bear to taste it. This was my own case in Malacca, but +in Borneo I found a ripe fruit on the ground, and, eating it out of +doors, I at once became a confirmed Durian-eater!" + +This was exactly the experience of Nigel Roy that day, and the way in +which the fruit came to him was also an experience, but of a very +different sort. It happened just as they were looking about for a +suitable spot on which to rest and eat their mid-day meal. Verkimier was +in front with the orang-utan reaching up to his arm and hobbling +affectionately by his side--for there was a strong mutual affection +between them. The Dyak youth brought up the rear, with a sort of +game-bag on his shoulders. + +Suddenly Nigel felt something graze his arm, and heard a heavy thud at +his side. It was a ripe Durian which had fallen from an immense height +and missed him by a hairbreadth. + +"Zank Got, you have escaped!" exclaimed the professor, looking back with +a solemn countenance. + +"I have indeed escaped what might have been a severe blow," said Nigel, +stooping to examine the fruit, apparently forgetful that more might +follow. + +"Come--come avay. My boy vill bring it. Men are sometimes killed by zis +fruit. Here now ve vill dine." + +They sat down on a bank which was canopied by ferns. While the boy was +arranging their meal, Verkimier drew a heavy hunting-knife from his belt +and applying it with an unusually strong hand to the Durian laid it +open. Nigel did not at all relish the smell, but he was not fastidious +or apt to be prejudiced. He tasted--and, like Mr. Wallace, "became a +confirmed Durian eater" from that day. + +"Ve draw near to zee region vere ve shall find zee booterflies," said +the naturalist, during a pause in their luncheon. + +"I hope we shall be successful," said Nigel, helping himself to some +more of what may be styled Durian cream. "To judge from the weight and +hardness of this fruit, I should think a blow on one's head from it +would be fatal." + +"Sometimes, not alvays. I suppose zat Dyak skulls are strong. But zee +wound is terrible, for zee spikes tear zee flesh dreadfully. Zee Dyak +chief, Rajah, vith whom I dwell joost now, was floored once by one, and +he expected to die--but he did not. He is alife ant vell, as you shall +see." + +As he spoke a large butterfly fluttered across the scene of their +festivities. With all the energy of his enthusiastic spirit and strong +muscular frame the naturalist leaped up, overturned his dinner, rushed +after the coveted _specimen_, tripped over a root, and measured his +length on the ground. + +"Zat comes of too much horry!" he remarked, as he picked up his glasses, +and returned, humbly, to continue his dinner. "Mine frond, learn a +lesson from a foolish man!" + +"I shall learn two lessons," said Nigel, laughing--"first, to avoid +your too eager haste, and, second, to copy if I can your admirable +enthusiasm." + +"You are very goot. Some more cheekin' if you please. Zanks. Ve most +make haste viz our meal ant go to vork." + +The grandeur and novelty of the scenery through which they passed when +they did go to work was a source of constant delight and surprise to our +hero, whose inherent tendency to take note of and admire the wonderful +works of God was increased by the unflagging enthusiasm and interesting +running commentary of his companion, whose flow of language and eager +sympathy formed a striking contrast to the profound silence and gravity +of the Dyak youth, as well as to the pathetic and affectionate +selfishness of the man-monkey. + +It must not, however, be supposed that the young orang-utan was unworthy +of his victuals, for, besides being an amusing and harmless companion, +he had been trained to use his natural capacity for climbing trees in +the service of his master. Thus he ascended the tall Durian trees, when +ordered, and sent down some of the fruit in a few minutes--an operation +which his human companions could not have accomplished without tedious +delay and the construction of an ingenious ladder having slender bamboos +for one of its sides, and the tree to be ascended for its other side, +with splinters of bamboo driven into it by way of rounds. + +"Zat is zee pitcher-plant," said Verkimier, as Nigel stopped suddenly +before a plant which he had often read of but never seen. He was told by +his friend that pitcher-plants were very numerous in that region; that +every mountain-top abounded with them; that they would be found trailing +along the ground and climbing over shrubs and stunted trees, with their +elegant pitchers hanging in every direction. Some of these, he said, +were long and slender, others broad and short. The plant at which they +were looking was a broad green one, variously tinted and mottled with +red, and was large enough to hold two quarts of water. + +Resuming the march Nigel observed that the group of orchids was +abundant, but a large proportion of the species had small inconspicuous +flowers. Some, however, had large clusters of yellow flowers which had a +very ornamental effect on the sombre forest. But, although the +exceptions were striking, he found that in Borneo, as elsewhere, flowers +were scarcer than he had expected in an equatorial forest. There were, +however, more than enough of striking and surprising things to engage +the attention of our hero, and arouse his interest. + +One tree they came to which rendered him for some moments absolutely +speechless! to the intense delight of the professor, who marched his +new-found sympathiser from one object of interest to another with the +secret intention of surprising him, and when he had got him to the point +of open-mouthed amazement he was wont to turn his spectacles full on his +face, like the mouths of a blue binocular, in order to witness and enjoy +his emotions! + +Nigel found this out at last and was rather embarrassed in consequence. + +"Zat," exclaimed the naturalist, after gazing at his friend for some +time in silence, "zat is a tree vitch planted itself in mid-air and zen +sent its roots down to zee ground and its branches up to zee sky!" + +"It looks as if it had," returned Nigel; "I have seen a tree of the same +kind near the coast. How came it to grow in this way?" + +"I know not. It is zought zat zey spring from a seed dropped by a bird +into zee fork of anozer tree. Zee seed grows, sends his roots down ant +his branches up. Ven his roots reach zee ground he lays hold, ant, ven +strong enough, kills his support--zus returning efil for good, like a +zankless dependent. Ah! zere is much resemblance between plants and +animals! Com', ve must feed here," said the professor, resting his gun +against one of the roots, "I had expected to find zee booterflies +sooner. It cannot be helped. Let us make zis our banqueting-hall. Ve +vill have a Durian to refresh us, ant here is a bandy tree which seems +to have ripe vones on it.--Go," he added, turning to the orang-utan, +"and send down von or two." + +The creature looked helplessly incapable, pitifully unwilling, +scratching its side the while. Evidently it was a lazy monkey. + +"Do you hear?" said Verkimier, sternly. + +The orang moved uneasily, but still declined to go. + +Turning sharply on it, the professor bent down, placed a hand on each of +his knees and stared through the blue goggles into the animal's face. + +This was more than it could stand. With a very bad grace it hobbled off +to the Durian tree, ascended it with a sort of lazy, lumbering facility, +and hurled down some of the fruit without warning those below to look +out. + +"My little frond is obstinate sometimes," remarked the naturalist, +picking up the fruit, "but ven I bring my glasses to bear on him he +alvays gives in. I never found zem fail. Come now; eat, an' ve vill go +to vork again. Ve must certainly find zee booterflies somevere before +night." + +[Illustration: "DO YOU HEAR?" SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY.--PAGE 187.] + +But Verkimier was wrong. It was his destiny not to find the butterflies +that night, or in that region at all, for he and his companion had not +quite finished their meal when a Dyak youth came running up to them +saying that he had been sent by the Rajah to order their immediate +return to the village. + +"Alas! ve most go. It is dancherous to disobey zee Rajah--ant I am +sorry--very sorry--zat I cannot show you zee booterflies to-day. No +matter.--Go" (to the Dyak youth), "tell your chief ve vill come. Better +lock zee next time!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +HUNTING THE GREAT MAN-MONKEY. + + +Although Professor Verkimier had promised to return at once, he was +compelled to encamp in the forest, being overtaken by night before he +could reach the river and procure a boat. + +Next morning they started at daybreak. The country over which they +passed had again changed its character and become more hilly. On the +summits of many of the hills Dyak villages could be seen, and rice +fields were met with as they went along. Several gullies and rivulets +were crossed by means of native bamboo bridges, and the professor +explained as he went along the immense value of the bamboo to the +natives. With it they make their suspension bridges, build their houses, +and procure narrow planking for their floors. If they want broader +planks they split a large bamboo on one side and flatten it out to a +plank of about eighteen inches wide. Portions of hollow bamboo serve as +receptacles for milk or water. If a precipice stops a path, the Dyaks +will not hesitate to construct a bamboo path along the face of it, using +branches of trees wherever convenient from which to hang the path, and +every crevice or notch in the rocks to receive the ends of the bamboos +by which it is supported. + +Honey-bees in Borneo hang their combs, to be out of danger no doubt, +under the branches of the Tappan, which towers above all the other trees +of the forest. But the Dyaks love honey and value wax as an article of +trade; they therefore erect their ingenious bamboo ladder--which can be +prolonged to any height on the smooth branchless stem of the Tappan--and +storm the stronghold of the bees with much profit to themselves, for +bees'-wax will purchase from the traders the brass wire, rings, +gold-edged kerchiefs and various ornaments with which they decorate +themselves. When travelling, the Dyaks use bamboos as cooking vessels in +which to boil rice and other vegetables; as jars in which to preserve +honey, sugar, etc., or salted fish and fruit. Split bamboos form +aqueducts by which water is conveyed to the houses. A small neatly +carved piece of bamboo serves as a case in which are carried the +materials used in the disgusting practice of betel-nut chewing--which +seems to be equivalent to the western tobacco-chewing. If a pipe is +wanted the Dyak will in a wonderfully short space of time make a huge +hubble-bubble out of bamboos of different sizes, and if his long-bladed +knife requires a sheath the same gigantic grass supplies one almost +ready-made. But the uses to which this reed may be applied are almost +endless, and the great outstanding advantage of it is that it needs no +other tools than an axe and a knife to work it. + +At about mid-day the river was reached, and they found a native boat, or +prau, which had been sent down to convey them to the Rajah's village. +Here Nigel was received with the hospitality due to a friend of Van der +Kemp, who, somehow--probably by unselfish readiness, as well as ability, +to oblige--had contrived to make devoted friends in whatever part of the +Malay Archipelago he travelled. + +Afterwards, in a conversation with Nigel, the professor, referring to +those qualities of the hermit which endeared him to men everywhere, +said, with a burst of enthusiasm, which almost outdid himself-- + +"You cannot oonderstant Van der Kemp. No man can oonderstant him. He is +goot, right down to zee marrow--kind, amiable, oonselfish, obliging, +nevair seems to zink of himself at all, ant, abof all zings, is capable. +Vat he vill do, he can do--vat he can do he vill do. But he is sad--very +sad." + +"I have observed that, of course," said Nigel. "Do you know what makes +him so sad?" + +The professor shook his head. + +"No, I do not know. Nobody knows. I have tried to find out, but he vill +not speak." + +The Orang-Kaya, or rich man, as this hill chief was styled, had provided +lodgings for his visitors in the "head-house." This was a large circular +building erected on poles. There is such a house in nearly all Dyak +villages. It serves as a trading-place, a strangers' room, a +sleeping-room for unmarried youths, and a general council-chamber. Here +Nigel found the hermit and Moses enjoying a good meal when he arrived, +to which he and the professor sat down after paying their respects to +the chief. + +"The Orang-Kaya hopes that we will stay with him some time and help to +defend the village," said Van der Kemp, when they were all seated. + +"Of course you have agreed?" said Nigel. + +"Yes; I came for that purpose." + +"We's allers ready to fight in a good cause," remarked Moses, just +before filling his mouth with rice. + +"Or to die in it!" added Verkimier, engulfing the breast of a chicken at +a bite. "But as zee pirates are not expected for some days, ve may as +veil go after zee mias--zat is what zee natifs call zee orang-utan. It +is a better word, being short." + +Moses glanced at the professor out of the corners of his black eyes and +seemed greatly tickled by his enthusiastic devotion to business. + +"I am also," continued the professor, "extremely anxious to go at zee +booterflies before--" + +"You die," suggested Nigel, venturing on a pleasantry, whereat Moses +opened his mouth in a soundless laugh, but, observing the professor's +goggles levelled at him, he transformed the laugh into an astounding +sneeze, and immediately gazed with pouting innocence and interest at his +plate. + +"Do you alvays sneeze like zat?" asked Verkimier. + +"Not allers," answered the negro simply, "sometimes I gibs way a good +deal wuss. Depends on de inside ob my nose an' de state ob de wedder." + +What the professor would have replied we cannot say, for just then a +Dyak youth rushed in to say that an unusually large and gorgeous +butterfly had been seen just outside the village! + +No application of fire to gunpowder could have produced a more immediate +effect. The professor's rice was scattered on the floor, and himself was +outside the head-house before his comrades knew exactly what was the +matter. + +"He's always like that," said the hermit, with a slight twinkle in his +eyes. "Nothing discourages--nothing subdues him. Twice I pulled him out +of deadly danger into which he had run in his eager pursuit of +specimens. And he has returned the favour to me, for he rescued me once +when a mias had got me down and would certainly have killed me, for my +gun was empty at the moment, and I had dropped my knife." + +"Is, then, the orang-utan so powerful and savage?" + +"Truly, yes, when wounded and driven to bay," returned the hermit. "You +must not judge of the creature by the baby that Verkimier has tamed. A +full-grown male is quite as large as a man, though very small in the +legs in proportion, so that it does not stand high. It is also very much +stronger than the most powerful man. You would be quite helpless in its +grip, I assure you." + +"I hope, with the professor," returned Nigel, "that we may have a hunt +after them, either before or after the arrival of the pirates. I know he +is very anxious to secure a good specimen for some museum in which he is +interested--I forget which." + +As he spoke, the youth who had brought information about the butterfly +returned and said a few words to Moses in his native tongue. + +"What does he say?" asked Nigel. + +"Dat Massa Verkimier is in full chase, an' it's my opinion dat when he +comes back he'll be wet all ober, and hab his shins and elbows barked." + +"Why d'you think so?" + +"'Cause dat's de way he goed on when we was huntin' wid him last year. +He nebber larns fro' 'sperience." + +"That's a very fine-looking young fellow," remarked Nigel, referring to +the Dyak youth who had just returned, and who, with a number of other +natives, was watching the visitors with profound interest while they +ate. + +As the young man referred to was a good sample of the youth of his +tribe, we shall describe him. Though not tall, he was well and strongly +proportioned, and his skin was of a reddish-brown colour. Like all his +comrades, he wore little clothing. A gay handkerchief with a gold lace +border encircled his head, from beneath which flowed a heavy mass of +straight, jet-black hair. Large crescent-shaped ornaments hung from his +ears. His face was handsome and the expression pleasing, though the +mouth was large and the lips rather thick. Numerous brass rings +encircled his arms above and below the elbows. His only other piece of +costume was a waist-cloth of blue cotton, which hung down before and +behind. It ended in three bands of red, blue, and white. There were also +rows of brass rings on his legs, and armlets of white shells. At his +side he wore a long slender knife and a little pouch containing the +materials for betel-chewing. + +"Yes, and he is as good as he looks," said the hermit. "His name is +Gurulam, and all the people of his tribe have benefited by the presence +in Borneo of that celebrated Englishman Sir James Brooke,--Rajah Brooke +as he was called,--who did so much to civilise the Dyaks of Borneo and +to ameliorate their condition." + +The prophecy of Moses about the professor was fulfilled. Just as it was +growing dark that genial scientist returned, drenched to the skin and +covered with mud, having tumbled into a ditch. His knuckles also were +skinned, his knees and shins damaged, and his face scratched, but he was +perfectly happy in consequence of having secured a really splendid +specimen of a "bootterfly" as big as his hand; the scientific name of +which, for very sufficient reasons, we will not attempt to inflict on +our readers, and the description of which may be shortly stated by the +single word--gorgeous! + +Being fond of Verkimier, and knowing his desire to obtain a full-grown +orang-utan, Gurulam went off early next morning to search for one. +Half-a-dozen of his comrades accompanied him armed only with native +spears, for their object was not to hunt the animal, but to discover one +if possible, and let the professor know so that he might go after it +with his rifle, for they knew that he was a keen sportsman as well as a +man of science. + +They did not, indeed, find what they sought for, but they were told by +natives with whom they fell in that a number of the animals had been +seen among the tree-tops not more than a day's march into the forest. +They hurried home therefore with this information, and that +day--accompanied by the Dyak youths, Nigel, the hermit, and +Moses--Verkimier started off in search of the mias; intending to camp +out or to take advantage of a native hut if they should chance to be +near one when night overtook them. + +Descending the hill region, they soon came to more level ground, where +there was a good deal of swamp, through which they passed on Dyak roads. +These roads consisted simply of tree-trunks laid end to end, along which +the natives, being barefooted, walk with ease and certainty, but our +booted hunters were obliged to proceed along them with extreme caution. +The only one who came to misfortune was, as usual, the professor; and in +the usual way! It occurred at the second of these tree-roads. + +"Look, look at that remarkable insect!" exclaimed Nigel, eagerly, in the +innocence of his heart. The professor was in front of him; he obediently +looked, saw the insect, made an eager step towards it, and next moment +was flat on the swamp, while the woods rang with his companions' +laughter. The remarkable insect, whatever it was, vanished from the +scene, and the professor was dragged, smiling though confused, out of +the bog. These things affected him little. His soul was large and rose +superior to such trifles. + +The virgin forest into which they penetrated was of vast extent; +spreading over plain, mountain, and morass in every direction for +hundreds of miles, for we must remind the reader that the island of +Borneo is considerably larger than all the British islands put together, +while its inhabitants are comparatively few. Verkimier had been +absolutely revelling in this forest for several months--ranging its +glades, penetrating its thickets, bathing (inadvertently) in its +quagmires, and maiming himself generally, with unwearied energy and +unextinguishable enthusiasm; shooting, skinning, stuffing, preserving, +and boiling the bones of all its inhabitants--except the human--to the +great advantage of science and the immense interest and astonishment of +the natives. Yet with all his energy and perseverance the professor had +failed, up to that time, to obtain a large specimen of a male +orang-utan, though he had succeeded in shooting several small specimens +and females, besides catching the young one which he had tamed. + +It was therefore with much excitement that he learned from a party of +bees'-wax hunters, on the second morning of their expedition, that a +large male mias had been seen that very day. Towards the afternoon they +found the spot that had been described to them, and a careful +examination began. + +"You see," said Verkimier, in a low voice, to Nigel, as he went a step +in advance peering up into the trees, with rifle at the "ready" and +bending a little as if by that means he better avoided the chance of +being seen. "You see, I came to Borneo for zee express purpose of +obtaining zee great man-monkey and vatching his habits.--Hush! Do I not +hear somet'ing?" + +"Nothing but your own voice, I think," said Nigel, with a twinkle in his +eye. + +"Vell--hush! Keep kviet, all of you." + +As the whole party marched in single file after the professor, and were +at the moment absolutely silent, this order induced the display of a +good many teeth. + +Just then the man of science was seen to put his rifle quickly to the +shoulder; the arches of the forest rang with a loud report; various +horrified creatures were seen and heard to scamper away, and next moment +a middle-sized orang-utan came crashing through the branches of a tall +tree and fell dead with a heavy thud on the ground. + +The professor's rifle was a breechloader. He therefore lost no time in +re-charging, and hurried forward as if he saw other game, while the rest +of the party--except Van der Kemp, Nigel, and Gurulam--fell behind to +look at and pick up the fallen animal. + +"Look out!" whispered Nigel, pointing to a bit of brown hair that he saw +among the leaves high overhead. + +"Vere? I cannot see him," whispered the naturalist, whose eyes blazed +enough almost to melt his blue glasses. "Do _you_ fire, Mr. Roy?" + +"My gun is charged only with small-shot, for birds. It is useless for +such game," said Nigel. + +"Ach! I see!" + +Up went the rifle and again the echoes were startled and the animal +kingdom astounded, especially that portion at which the professor had +fired, for there was immediately a tremendous commotion among the leaves +overhead, and another orang of the largest size was seen to cross an +open space and disappear among the thick foliage. Evidently the creature +had been hit, but not severely, for it travelled among the tree-tops at +the rate of full five miles an hour, obliging the hunters to run at a +rapid pace over the rough ground in order to keep up with it. In its +passage from tree to tree the animal showed caution and foresight, +selecting only those branches that interlaced with other boughs, so that +it made uninterrupted progress, and also had a knack of always keeping +masses of thick foliage underneath it so that for some time no +opportunity was found of firing another shot. At last, however, it came +to one of those Dyak roads of which we have made mention, so that it +could not easily swing from one tree to another, and the stoppage of +rustling among the leaves told that the creature had halted. For some +time they gazed up among the branches without seeing anything, but at +last, in a place where the leaves seemed to have been thrust aside near +the top of one of the highest trees, a great red hairy body was seen, +and a huge black face gazed fiercely down at the hunters. + +Verkimier fired instantly, the branches closed, and the monster moved +off in another direction. In desperate anxiety Nigel fired both barrels +of his shot-gun. He might as well have fired at the moon. Gurulam was +armed only with a spear, and Van der Kemp, who was not much of a +sportsman, carried a similar weapon. The rest of the party were still +out of sight in rear looking after the dead mias. + +It was astonishing how little noise was made by so large an animal as it +moved along. More than once the hunters had to halt and listen intently +for the rustling of the leaves before they could make sure of being on +the right track. + +At last they caught sight of him again on the top of a very high tree, +and the professor got two more shots, but without bringing him down. +Then he was seen, quite exposed for a moment, walking in a stooping +posture along the large limb of a tree, but the hunter was loading at +the time and lost the chance. Finally he got on to a tree whose top was +covered with a dense mass of creepers which completely hid him from +view. Then he halted and the sound of snapping branches was heard. + +"You've not much chance of him now," remarked the hermit, as they all +stood in a group gazing up into the tree-top. "I have often seen the +mias act thus when severely wounded. He is making a nest to lie down and +die in." + +"Zen ve must shoot again," said the professor, moving round the tree and +looking out for a sign of the animal. At last he seemed to have found +what he wanted, for raising his rifle he took a steady aim and fired. + +A considerable commotion of leaves and fall of broken branches followed. +Then the huge red body of the mias appeared falling through, but it was +not dead, for it caught hold of branches as it fell and hung on as long +as it could; then it came crashing down, and alighted on its face with +an awful thud. + +After firing the last shot Verkimier had not reloaded, being too intent +on watching the dying struggles of the creature, and when it fell with +such violence he concluded that it was dead. For the same reason Nigel +had neglected to reload after firing. Thus it happened that when the +enormous brute suddenly rose and made for a tree with the evident +intention of climbing it, no one was prepared to stop it except the Dyak +youth Gurulam. He chanced to be standing between the mias and the tree. + +Boldly he levelled his spear and made a thrust that would probably have +killed the beast, if it had not caught the point of the spear and turned +it aside. Then with its left paw it caught the youth by the neck, seized +his thigh with one of its hind paws, and fixed its teeth in his right +shoulder. + +Never was man rendered more suddenly and completely helpless, and death +would have been his sure portion before the hunters had reloaded if Van +der Kemp had not leaped forward, and, thrusting his spear completely +through the animal's body, killed it on the spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +BEGINS WITH A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND ENDS WITH A HASTY FLIGHT. + + +The hunt, we need scarcely say, was abruptly terminated, and immediate +preparations were made for conveying the wounded man and the two orangs +to the Dyak village. This was quickly arranged, for the convenient +bamboo afforded ready-made poles wherewith to form a litter on which to +carry them. + +The huge creature which had given them so much trouble, and so nearly +cost them one human life, was found to be indeed of the largest size. It +was not tall but very broad and large. The exact measurements, taken by +the professor, who never travelled without his tape measure, were as +follows:-- + +Height from heel to top of head, 4 feet 2 inches. + +Outstretched arms across chest, 7 " 8 " + +Width of face, 1 foot 2 " + +Girth of arm, 1 " 3 " + +Girth of wrist, 8 " + +The muscular power of such a creature is of course immense, as Nigel and +the professor had a rare chance of seeing that very evening--of which, +more presently. + +On careful examination by Nigel, who possessed some knowledge of +surgery, it was found that none of Gurulam's bones had been broken, and +that although severely lacerated about the shoulders and right thigh, no +very serious injury had been done--thanks to the promptitude and vigour +of the hermit's spear-thrust. The poor youth, however, was utterly +helpless for the time being, and had to be carried home. + +That afternoon the party reached a village in a remote part of the +forest where they resolved to halt for the night, as no other +resting-place could be reached before dark. + +While a supper of rice and fowl was being cooked by Moses, Van der Kemp +attended to the wounded man, and Nigel accompanied the professor along +the banks of the stream on which the village stood. Having merely gone +out for a stroll they carried no weapons except walking-sticks, +intending to go only a short distance. Interesting talk, however, on the +character and habits of various animals, made them forget time until the +diminution of daylight warned them to turn. They were about to do so +when they observed, seated in an open place near the stream, the largest +orang they had yet seen. It was feeding on succulent shoots by the +water-side: a fact which surprised the professor, for his inquiries and +experience had hitherto taught him that orangs never eat such food +except when starving. The fat and vigorous condition in which this +animal was forbade the idea of starvation. Besides, it had brought a +Durian fruit to the banks of the stream and thrown it down, so that +either taste or eccentricity must have induced it to prefer the shoots. +Perhaps its digestion was out of order and it required a tonic. + +Anyhow, it continued to devour a good many young shoots while our +travellers were peeping at it in mute surprise through the bushes. That +they had approached so near without being observed was due to the fact +that a brawling rapid flowed just there, and the mias was on the other +side of the stream. By mutual consent the men crouched to watch its +proceedings. They were not a little concerned, however, when the brute +seized an overhanging bough, and, with what we may style sluggish +agility, swung itself clumsily but lightly to their side of the stream. +It picked up the Durian which lay there and began to devour it. Biting +off some of the strong spikes with which that charming fruit is covered, +it made a small hole in it, and then with its powerful fingers tore off +the thick rind and began to enjoy a feast. + +Now, with monkeys, no less than with men, there is many a slip 'twixt +the cup and the lip, for the mias had just begun its meal, or, rather, +its dessert, when a crocodile, which the professor had not observed and +Nigel had mistaken for a log, suddenly opened its jaws and seized the +big monkey's leg. The scene that ensued baffles description! Grasping +the crocodile with its other three hands by nose, throat, and eyes, the +mias almost performed the American operation of gouging--digging its +powerful thumbs and fingers into every crevice and tearing open its +assailant's jaws. The crocodile, taken apparently by surprise, went into +dire convulsions, and making for deep water, plunged his foe therein +over head and ears. Nothing daunted, the mias regained his footing, +hauled his victim on to a mudbank, and, jumping on his back began to +tear and pommel him. There was nothing of the prize-fighter in the mias. +He never clenched his fist--never hit straight from the shoulder, but +the buffeting and slapping which he gave resounded all over the place. +At last he caught hold of a fold of his opponent's throat, which he +began to tear open with fingers and teeth. Wrenching himself free with a +supreme effort the crocodile shot into the stream and disappeared with a +sounding splash of its tail, while the mias waded lamely to the shore +with an expression of sulky indignation on its great black face. + +Slowly the creature betook itself to the shelter of the forest, and we +need scarcely add that the excited observers of the combat made no +attempt to hinder its retreat. + +It is said that the python is the only other creature that dares to +attack the orang-utan, and that when it does so victory usually declares +for the man-monkey, which bites and tears it to death. + +The people of the village in which the hunters rested that night were +evidently not accustomed to white men--perhaps had never seen them +before--for they crowded round them while at supper and gazed in silent +wonder as if they were watching a group of white-faced baboons feeding! +They were, however, very hospitable, and placed before their visitors +abundance of their best food without expecting anything in return. Brass +rings were the great ornament in this village--as they are, indeed, +among the Dyaks generally. Many of the women had their arms completely +covered with them, as well as their legs from the ankle to the knee. +Their petticoats were fastened to a coil of rattan, stained red, round +their bodies. They also wore coils of brass wire, girdles of small +silver coins, and sometimes broad belts of brass ring-armour. + +It was break of dawn next morning when our hunters started, bearing +their wounded comrade and the dead orangs with them. + +Arrived at the village they found the people in great excitement +preparing for defence, as news had been brought to the effect that the +pirates had landed at the mouth of the river, joined the disaffected +band which awaited them, and that an attack might be expected without +delay, for they were under command of the celebrated Malay pirate +Baderoon. + +Nigel observed that the countenance of his friend Van der Kemp underwent +a peculiar change on hearing this man's name mentioned. There was a +combination of anxiety, which was unnatural to him, and of resolution, +which was one of his chief characteristics. + +"Is Baderoon the enemy whom you saw on the islet on our first night +out?" asked Nigel, during a ramble with the hermit that evening. + +"Yes, and I fear to meet him," replied his friend in a low voice. + +Nigel was surprised. The impression made on his mind since their +intercourse was that Van der Kemp was incapable of the sensation of +fear. + +"Is he so very bitter against you?" asked Nigel. + +"Very," was the curt reply. + +"Have you reason to think he would take your life if he could?" + +"I am sure he would. As I told you before, I have thwarted his plans +more than once. When he hears that it is I who have warned the +Orang-Kaya against him he will pursue me to the death--and--and I _must +not_ meet him." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Nigel, with renewed surprise. + +But the hermit took no note of the exclamation. Anxiety had given place +to a frown, and his eyes were fixed on the ground. It seemed to Nigel so +evident that he did not wish to pursue the subject, that he slightly +changed it. + +"I suppose," he said, "that there is no fear of the Dyaks of the village +being unable to beat off the pirates now that they have been warned?" + +"None whatever. Indeed, this is so well known to Baderoon that I think +he will abandon the attempt. But he will not abandon his designs on me. +However, we must wait and see how God will order events." + +Next morning spies returned to the village with the information that the +pirates had taken their departure from the mouth of the river. + +"Do you think this is an attempt to deceive us?" asked the chief, +turning to Van der Kemp, when he heard the news. + +"I think not. And even should it be so, and they should return, you are +ready and well able to meet them." + +"Yes, ready--and _well_ able to meet them," replied the Orang-Kaya, +drawing himself up proudly. + +"Did they _all_ go in one direction?" asked Van der Kemp of the youths +who had brought the news. + +"Yes, all went in a body to the north--except one boat which rowed +southward." + +"Hm! I thought so. My friends, listen to me. This is no pretence. They +do not mean to attack you now you are on your guard; but that boat which +went south contains Baderoon, and I feel certain that he means to hang +about here till he gets the chance of killing me." + +"That is well," returned the chief, calmly. "My young men will hunt till +they find where he is. Then they will bring us the information and Van +der Kemp will go out with a band and slay his enemy." + +"No, my friend," said the hermit, firmly; "that shall not be. I must get +out of his way, and in order to do so will leave you at once, for there +will be no further need for my services here." + +The chief looked at his friend in surprise. "Well," he said, "you have a +good judgment, and understand your own affairs. But you have already +rendered me good service, and I will help you to fly--though such is not +the habit of the Dyaks! There is a trader's vessel to start for Sumatra +by the first light of day. Will my friend go by that?" + +"I am grateful," answered the hermit, "but I need no help--save some +provisions, for I have my little canoe, which will suffice." + +As this colloquy was conducted in the native tongue it was +unintelligible to Nigel, but after the interview with the chief the +hermit explained matters to him, and bade Moses get ready for a start +several hours before dawn. + +"You see we must do the first part of our trip in the dark, for Baderoon +has a keen eye and ear. Then we will land and sleep all day where the +sharpest eye will fail to find us--and, luckily, pirates have been +denied the power of scenting out their foes. When night comes we will +start again and get out of sight of land before the next dawn." + +"Mine frond," said the professor, turning his moon-like goggles full on +the hermit. "I vill go viz you." + +"I should be only too happy to have your company," returned the hermit, +"but my canoe cannot by any contrivance be made to hold more than +three." + +"Zat is no matter to me," rejoined Verkimier; "you forget zee trader's +boat. I vill go in zat to Sumatra. Ve vill find out zee port he is going +to, ant you vill meet me zere. Vait for me if I have not arrived--or I +vill vait for you. I have longed to visit Sumatra, ant vat better fronds +could I go viz zan yourselfs?" + +"But, my good friend," returned the hermit, "my movements may not +exactly suit yours. Here they are,--you can judge for yourself. First I +will, God permitting, cross over to Sumatra in my canoe." + +"But it is t'ree hoondert miles across, if not more!" + +"No matter--there are plenty of islands on the way. Besides, some +passing vessel will give me a lift, no doubt. Then I will coast along to +one of the eastern ports, where I know there is a steamboat loading up +about this time. The captain is an old friend of mine. He brought me and +my companions the greater part of the way here. If I find him I will ask +him to carry my canoe on his return voyage through Sunda Straits, and +leave it with another friend of mine at Telok Betong on the south coast +of Sumatra--not far, as you know, from my home in Krakatoa. Then I will +proceed overland to the same place, so that my friend Nigel Roy may see +a little of the country." + +"Ant vat if you do _not_ find your frond zee captain of zee steamer?" + +"Why, then I shall have to adopt some other plan. It is the uncertainty +of my movements that makes me think you should not depend on them." + +"Zat is not'ing to me, Van der Kemp; you joost go as you say. I vill +follow ant take my chance. I am use' to ooncertainties ant +difficoolties. Zey can not influence me." + +After a good deal of consideration this plan was agreed to. The +professor spent part of the night in giving directions about the +preserving of his specimens, which he meant to leave at the village in +charge of a man whom he had trained to assist him, while Van der Kemp +with his companions lay down to snatch a little sleep before setting out +on their voyage, or, as the Dyak chief persisted in calling it, their +flight! + +When Nigel had slept about five minutes--as he thought--he was awakened +by Moses. + +"Don't make a noise, Massa Nadgel! Dere may be spies in de camp for all +we knows, so we mus' git off like mice. Canoe's ready an' massa waitin'; +we gib you to de last momint." + +In a few minutes our hero was sleepily following the negro through the +woods to the spot where the canoe was in waiting. + +The night was very dark. This was in their favour,--at least as regarded +discovery. + +"But how shall we ever see to make our way down stream?" asked Nigel of +the hermit in a whisper on reaching the place of embarkation. + +"The current will guide us. Besides, I have studied the river with a +view to this flight. Be careful in getting in. Now, Moses, are you +ready?" + +"All right, massa." + +"Shove off, then." + +There was something so eerie in the subdued tones, and stealthy +motions, and profound darkness, that Nigel could not help feeling as if +they were proceeding to commit some black and criminal deed! + +Floating with the current, with as little noise as possible, and having +many a narrow escape of running against points of land and sandbanks, +they flew swiftly towards the sea, so that dawn found them among the mud +flats and the mangrove swamps. Here they found a spot where mangrove +roots and bushes formed an impenetrable screen, behind which they spent +the day, chiefly in sleep, and in absolute security. + +When darkness set in they again put forth, and cautiously clearing the +river's mouth, were soon far out on the open sea, which was fortunately +calm at the time, the slight air that blew being in their favour. + +"We are safe from pursuit now," said Van der Kemp in a tone of +satisfaction, as they paused for a breathing spell. + +"O massa!" exclaimed Moses at that moment, in a voice of consternation; +"we's forgotten Spinkie!" + +"So we have!" returned the hermit in a voice of regret so profound that +Nigel could scarce restrain a laugh in spite of his sympathy. + +But Spinkie had not forgotten himself. Observing probably, that these +night expeditions were a change in his master's habits, he had kept an +unusually watchful eye on the canoe, so that when it was put in the +water, he had jumped on board unseen in the darkness, and had retired to +the place where he usually slept under hatches when the canoe travelled +at night. + +Awakened from refreshing sleep at the sound of his name, Spinkie emerged +suddenly from the stern-manhole, right under the negro's nose, and with +a sleepy "oo, oo!" gazed up into his face. + +"Ho! Dare you is, you mis'rible hyperkrite!" exclaimed Moses, kissing +the animal in the depth of his satisfaction. "He's here, massa, all +right. Now, you go to bed agin, you small bundle ob hair." + +The creature retired obediently to its place, and laying its little +cheek on one of its small hands, committed itself to repose. + +Van der Kemp was wrong when he said they were safe. A pirate scout had +seen the canoe depart. Being alone and distant from the rendezvous of +his commander, some time elapsed before the news could be conveyed to +him. When Baderoon was at length informed and had sailed out to sea in +pursuit, returning daylight showed him that his intended victim had +escaped. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TELLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF THE PROFESSOR IN THE SUMATRAN FORESTS, ALSO +OF A CATASTROPHE AVERTED. + + +Fortunately the weather continued fine at first, and the light wind +fair, so that the canoe skimmed swiftly over the wide sea that separates +Borneo from Sumatra. Sometimes our travellers proceeded at night when +the distance between islets compelled them to do so. At other times they +landed on one of these isles when opportunity offered to rest and +replenish the water-casks. + +We will not follow them step by step in this voyage, which occupied more +than a week, and during which they encountered without damage several +squalls in which a small open boat could not have lived. Beaching at +last the great island of Sumatra--which, like its neighbour Borneo, is +larger in extent than the British Islands--they coasted along +southwards, without further delay than was absolutely necessary for rest +and refreshment, until they reached a port where they found the steamer +of which they were in search just about to start on its return voyage. +Van der Kemp committed his little craft to the care of the captain, who, +after vainly advising his friend to take a free passage with him to the +Straits of Sunda, promised to leave the canoe in passing at Telok +Betong. We may add that Spinkie was most unwillingly obliged to +accompany the canoe. + +"Now, we must remain here till our friend Verkimier arrives," said the +hermit, turning to Nigel after they had watched the steamer out of +sight. + +"I suppose we must," said Nigel, who did not at all relish the +delay--"of course we must," he added with decision. + +"I sees no 'ob course' about it, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who +never refrained from offering his opinion from motives of humility, or +of respect for his employer. "My 'dvice is to go on an' let de purfesser +foller." + +"But I promised to wait for him," said the hermit, with one of his +kindly, half-humorous glances, "and you know I _never_ break my +promises." + +"Das true, massa, but you di'n't promise to wait for him for eber an' +eber!" + +"Not quite; but of course I meant that I would wait a reasonable time." + +The negro appeared to meditate for some moments on the extent of a +"reasonable" time, for his huge eyes became huger as he gazed +frowningly at the ground. Then he spoke. + +"A 'reasonable' time, massa, is such an oncertain time--wariable, so to +speak, accordin' to the mind that t'inks upon it! Hows'eber, if you's +_promised,_ ob coorse dat's an end ob it; for w'en a man promises, he's +bound to stick to it." + +Such devotion to principle was appropriately rewarded the very next day +by the arrival of the trading prau in which the professor had embarked. + +"We did not expect you nearly so soon," said Nigel, as they heartily +shook hands. + +"It vas because zee vind freshen soon after ve set sail--ant, zen, ve +made a straight line for zis port, w'ereas you possibly crossed over, +ant zen push down zee coast." + +"Exactly so, and that accounts for your overtaking us," said the hermit. +"Is that the lad Baso I see down there with the crew of the prau?" + +"It is. You must have some strainch power of attracting frondship, Van +der Kemp, for zee poor yout' is so fond of you zat he beg ant entreat me +to take him, ant he says he vill go on vit zee traders if you refuse to +let him follow you." + +"Well, he may come. Indeed, we shall be the better for his services, for +I had intended to hire a man here to help to carry our things. Much of +our journeying, you see, must be done on foot." + +Baso, to his great joy, thus became one of the party. + +We pass over the next few days, which were spent in arranging and +packing their provisions, etc., in such a way that each member of the +party should carry on his shoulders a load proportioned to his strength. +In this arrangement the professor, much against his will, was compelled +to accept the lightest load in consideration of his liability to dart +off in pursuit of creeping things and "bootterflies" at a moment's +notice. The least damageable articles were also assigned to him in +consideration of his tendency at all times to tumble into bogs and +stumble over fallen trees, and lose himself, and otherwise get into +difficulties. + +We also pass over part of the journey from the coast, and plunge with +our travellers at once into the interior of Sumatra. + +One evening towards sunset they reached the brow of an eminence which, +being rocky, was free from much wood, and permitted of a wide view of +the surrounding country. It was covered densely with virgin forest, and +they ascended the eminence in order that the hermit, who had been there +before, might discover a forest road which led to a village some miles +off, where they intended to put up for the night. Having ascertained his +exact position, Van der Kemp led his followers down to this footpath, +which led through the dense forest. + +The trees by which they were surrounded were varied and +magnificent--some of them rising clear up seventy and eighty feet +without a branch, many of them had superb leafy crowns, under any one of +which hundreds of men might have found shelter. Others had trunks and +limbs warped and intertwined with a wild entanglement of huge creepers, +which hung in festoons and loops as if doing their best to strangle +their supports, themselves being also encumbered, or adorned, with ferns +and orchids, and delicate twining epiphytes. A forest of smaller trees +grew beneath this shade, and still lower down were thorny shrubs, +rattan-palms, broad-leaved bushes, and a mass of tropical herbage which +would have been absolutely impenetrable but for the native road or +footpath along which they travelled. + +"A most suitable abode for tigers, I should think," remarked Nigel to +the hermit, who walked in front of him--for they marched in single file. +"Are there any in these parts?" + +"Ay, plenty. Indeed, it is because I don't like sleeping in their +company that I am so anxious to reach a village." + +"Are zey dangerows?" asked the professor, who followed close on Nigel. + +"Well, they are not safe!" replied the hermit. "I had an adventure with +one on this very road only two years ago." + +"Indeed! vat vas it?" asked the professor, whose appetite for anecdote +was insatiable. "Do tell us about it." + +"With pleasure. It was on a pitch-dark night that it occurred. I had +occasion to go to a neighbouring village at a considerable distance, and +borrowed a horse from a friend----" + +"Anozer frond!" exclaimed the professor; "vy, Van der Kemp, zee country +seems to be svarming vid your fronds." + +"I have travelled much in it and made many friends," returned the +hermit. "The horse that I borrowed turned out to be a very poor one, and +went lame soon after I set out. Business kept me longer than I expected, +and it was getting dark before I started to return. Erelong the darkness +became so intense that I could scarcely see beyond the horse's head, and +could not distinguish the path. I therefore let the animal find his own +way--knowing that he would be sure to do so, for he was going home. As +we jogged along, I felt the horse tremble. Then he snorted and came to a +dead stop, with his feet planted firmly on the ground. I was quite +unarmed, but arms would have been useless in the circumstances. +Suddenly, and fortunately, the horse reared, and next moment a huge dark +object shot close past my face--so close that its fur brushed my +cheek--as it went with a heavy thud into the jungle on the other side. +I knew that it was a tiger and felt that my life, humanly speaking, was +due to the rearing of the poor horse." + +"Are ve near to zee spote?" asked the professor, glancing from side to +side in some anxiety. + +"Not far from it!" replied the hermit, "but there is not much fear of +such an attack in broad daylight and with so large a party." + +"Ve are not a very large party," returned the professor. "I do not zink +I would fear much to face a tiger vid my goot rifle, but I do not relish +his choomping on me unavares. Push on, please." + +They pushed on and reached the village a little before nightfall. + +Hospitality is a characteristic of the natives of Sumatra. The +travellers were received with open arms, so to speak, and escorted to +the public building which corresponds in some measure to our western +town-halls. It was a huge building composed largely of bamboo +wooden-planks and wicker-work, with a high thatched roof, and it stood, +like all the other houses, on posts formed of great tree-stems which +rose eight or ten feet from the ground. + +"You have frunds here too, I zink," said Verkimier to the hermit, as +they ascended the ladder leading to the door of the hall. + +"Well, yes--I believe I have two or three." + +There could be no doubt upon that point, unless the natives were +consummate hypocrites, for they welcomed Van der Kemp and his party with +effusive voice, look and gesture, and immediately spread before them +part of a splendid supper which had just been prepared; for they had +chanced to arrive on a festive occasion. + +"I do believe," said Nigel in some surprise, "that they are lighting up +the place with petroleum lamps!" + +"Ay, and you will observe that they are lighting the lamps with Congreve +matches--at least with matches of the same sort, supplied by the Dutch +and Chinese. Many of their old customs have passed away (among others +that of procuring fire by friction), and now we have the appliances of +western civilisation to replace them." + +"No doubt steam is zee cause of zee change," remarked the professor. + +"That," said Nigel, "has a good deal to do with most things--from the +singing of a tea-kettle to the explosion of a volcano; though, +doubtless, the commercial spirit which is now so strong among men is the +proximate cause." + +"Surely dese people mus' be reech," said the professor, looking round +him with interest. + +"They are rich enough--and well off in every respect, save that they +don't know very well how to make use of their riches. As you see, much +of their wealth is lavished on their women in the shape of ornaments, +most of which are of solid gold and silver." + +There could be little doubt about that, for, besides the ornaments +proper, such as the bracelets and rings with which the arms of the young +women were covered, and earrings, etc.,--all of solid gold and +native-made--there were necklaces and collars composed of Spanish and +American dollars and British half-crowns and other coins. In short, +these Sumatran young girls carried much of the wealth of their parents +on their persons, and were entitled to wear it until they should be +relegated to the ranks of the married--the supposed-to-be unfrivolous, +and the evidently unadorned! + +As this was a region full of birds, beasts, and insects of many kinds, +it was resolved, for the professor's benefit, that a few days should be +spent in it. Accordingly, the village chief set apart a newly-built +house for the visitors' accommodation, and a youth named Grogo was +appointed to wait on them and act as guide when they wished to traverse +any part of the surrounding forest. + +The house was on the outskirts of the village, a matter of satisfaction +to the professor, as it enabled him at once to plunge into his beloved +work unobserved by the youngsters. It also afforded him a better +opportunity of collecting moths, etc., by the simple method of opening +his window at night. A mat or wicker-work screen divided the hut into +two apartments, one of which was entirely given over to the naturalist +and his _materiel_. + +"I vil begin at vonce," said the eager man, on taking possession. + +And he kept his word by placing his lamp on a table in a conspicuous +position, so that it could be well seen from the outside. Then he threw +his window wide open, as a general invitation to the insect world to +enter! + +Moths, flying beetles, and other creatures were not slow to accept the +invitation. They entered by twos, fours, sixes--at last by scores, +insomuch that the room became uninhabitable except by the man himself, +and his comrades soon retired to their own compartment, leaving him to +carry on his work alone. + +"You enjoy this sort of thing?" said Nigel, as he was about to retire. + +"Enchoy it? yes--it is 'paradise regained'!" He pinned a giant moth at +the moment and gazed triumphant through his blue glasses. + +"'Paradise lost' to the moth, anyhow," said Nigel with a nod, as he bade +him good-night, and carefully closed the wicker door to check the +incursions of uncaptured specimens. Being rather tired with the day's +journey, he lay down on a mat beside the hermit, who was already sound +asleep. + +But our hero found that sleep was not easily attainable so close to an +inexhaustible enthusiast, whose every step produced a rattling of the +bamboo floor, and whose unwearied energy enabled him to hunt during the +greater part of the night. + +At length slumber descended on Nigel's spirit, and he lay for some time +in peaceful oblivion, when a rattling crash awoke him. Sitting up he +listened, and came to the conclusion that the professor had upset some +piece of furniture, for he could hear him distinctly moving about in a +stealthy manner, as if on tip-toe, giving vent to a grumble of +dissatisfaction every now and then. + +"What _can_ he be up to now, I wonder?" murmured the disturbed youth, +sleepily. + +The hermit, who slept through all noises with infantine simplicity, made +no answer, but a peculiar snort from the negro, who lay not far off on +his other side, told that he was struggling with a laugh. + +"Hallo, Moses! are you awake?" asked Nigel, in a low voice. + +"Ho yes, Massa Nadgel. I's bin wakin' a good while, larfin fit to bu'st +my sides. De purfesser's been agoin' on like a mad renoceros for more 'n +an hour. He's arter suthin, which he can't ketch. Listen! You hear 'im +goin' round an' round on his tip-toes. Dere goes anoder chair. I only +hope he won't smash de lamp an' set de house a-fire." + +"Veil, veil; I've missed him zee tence time. Nevair mind. Have at you +vonce more, you aggravating leetle zing!" + +Thus the unsuccessful man relieved his feelings, in a growling tone, as +he continued to move about on tip-toe, rattling the bamboo flooring in +spite of his careful efforts to move quietly. + +"Why, Verkimier, what are you after?" cried Nigel at last, loud enough +to be heard through the partition. + +"Ah! I am sorry to vake you," he replied, without, however, suspending +his hunt. "I have tried my best to make no noice, but zee bamboo floor +is--hah! I have 'im at last!" + +"What is it?" asked Nigel, becoming interested. + +"Von leetle bat. He come in vis a moss----" + +"A what?" + +"A moss--a big, beautiful moss." + +"Oh! a moth--well?" + +"Vell, I shut zee window, capture zee moss, ant zen I hunt zee bat vith +my bootterfly-net for an hour, but have only captured him zis moment. +Ant he is--sooch a--sooch a splendid specimen of a _very_ rar' species, +zee _Coelops frizii_--gootness! Zere goes zee lamp!" + +The crash that followed told too eloquently of the catastrophe, and +broke the slumbers even of the hermit. The whole party sprang up, and +entered the naturalist's room with a light, for the danger from fire +was great. Fortunately the lamp had been extinguished in its fall, so +that, beyond an overpowering smell of petroleum and the destruction of a +good many specimens, no serious results ensued. + +After securing the _Coelops frithii_, removing the shattered glass, +wiping up the oil, and putting chairs and tables on their legs, the +professor was urged to go to bed,--advice which, in his excitement, he +refused to take until it was suggested that, if he did not, he would be +totally unfit for exploring the forest next day. + +"Vy, it is next day already!" he exclaimed, consulting his watch. + +"Just so. Now _do_ turn in." + +"I vill." + +And he did. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A TRYING ORDEAL--DANGER THREATENS AND FLIGHT AGAIN RESOLVED ON. + + +When the early birds are singing, and the early mists are scattering, +and the early sun is rising to gladden, as with the smile of God, all +things with life in earth and sea and sky--then it is that early-rising +man goes forth to reap the blessings which his lazy fellow-man fails to +appreciate or enjoy. + +Among the early risers that morning was our friend Moses. Gifted with an +inquiring mind, the negro had proceeded to gratify his propensities by +making inquiries of a general nature, and thus had acquired, among other +things, the particular information that the river on the banks of which +the village stood was full of fish. Now, Moses was an ardent angler. + +"I lub fishing," he said one day to Nigel when in a confidential mood; +"I can't tell you how much I lub it. Seems to me dat der's nuffin' like +it for proggin' a man!" + +When Nigel demanded an explanation of what proggin' meant, Moses said +he wasn't quite sure. He could "understand t'ings easy enough though he +couldn't allers 'splain 'em." On the whole he thought that prog had a +compound meaning--it was a combination of poke and pull "wid a flavour +ob ticklin' about it," and was rather pleasant. + +"You see," he continued, "when a leetle fish plays wid your hook, it +progs your intellec' an' tickles up your fancy a leetle. When he grabs +you, dat progs your hopes a good deal. When a big fish do de same, dat +progs you deeper. An' when a real walloper almost pulls you into de +ribber, dat progs your heart up into your t'roat, where it stick till +you land him." + +With surroundings and capacities such as we have attempted to describe, +it is no wonder that Moses sat down on the river-bank and enjoyed +himself, in company with a little Malay boy, who lent him his bamboo rod +and volunteered to show him the pools. + +But there were no particular pools in that river It was a succession of +pools, and fish swarmed in all of them. There were at least fifteen +different species which nothing short of an ichthyologist could +enumerate correctly. The line used by Moses was a single fibre of bark +almost as strong as gut; the hook was a white tinned weapon like a small +anchor, supplied by traders, and meant originally for service in the +deep sea. The bait was nothing in particular, but as the fish were not +particular that was of no consequence. The reader will not be surprised, +then, when we state that in an hour or so Moses had had his heart +progged considerably and had filled a large bag with superb fish, with +which he returned, perspiring, beaming, and triumphant to breakfast. + +After breakfast the whole party went forth for what Verkimier styled +"zee business of zee day," armed with guns, spears, botanical boxes, +bags, wallets, and butterfly nets. + +In the immediate neighbourhood of the village large clearings in the +forest were planted as coffee gardens, each separated from the other for +the purpose of isolation, for it seems that coffee, like the potato, is +subject to disease. Being covered with scarlet flowers these gardens had +a fine effect on the landscape when seen from the heights behind the +village. Passing through the coffee grounds the party was soon in the +tangled thickets of underwood through which many narrow paths had been +cut. + +We do not intend to drag our readers through bog and brake during the +whole of this day's expedition; suffice it to say that the collection of +specimens made, of all kinds, far surpassed the professor's most +sanguine expectations, and, as for the others, those who could more or +less intelligently sympathise did so, while those who could not were +content with the reflected joy of the man of science. + +At luncheon--which they partook of on the river-bank, under a +magnificently umbrageous tree--plans for the afternoon were fixed. + +"We have kept together long enough, I think," said Van der Kemp. "Those +of us who have guns must shoot something to contribute to the national +feast on our return." + +"Vell, let us divide," assented the amiable naturalist. Indeed he was so +happy that he would have assented to anything--except giving up the +hunt. "Von party can go von vay, anoder can go anoder vay. I vill +continue mine business. Zee place is more of a paradise zan zee last. Ve +must remain two or tree veeks." + +The hermit glanced at Nigel. + +"I fear it is impossible for me to do so," said the latter. "I am +pledged to return to Batavia within a specified time, and from the +nature of the country I perceive it will take all the time at my +disposal to reach that place so as to redeem my pledge." + +"Ha! Zat is a peety. Vell, nevair mind. Let us enchoy to-day. Com', ve +must not vaste more of it in zee mere gratification of our animal +natures." + +Acting on this broad hint they all rose and scattered in different +groups--the professor going off ahead of his party in his eager haste, +armed only with a butterfly net. + +Now, as the party of natives,--including Baso, who carried the +professor's biggest box, and Grogo, who bore his gun,--did not overtake +their leader, they concluded that he must have joined one of the other +parties, and, as it was impossible to ascertain which of them, they +calmly went hunting on their own account! Thus it came to pass that the +man of science was soon lost in the depths of that primeval forest! But +little cared the enthusiast for that--or, rather, little did he realise +it. With perspiration streaming from every pore--except where the pores +were stopped by mud--he dashed after "bootterflies" with the wisdom of +Solomon and the eagerness of a school-boy, and not until the shades of +evening began to descend did his true position flash upon him. Then, +with all the vigour of a powerful intellect and an enlightened mind, he +took it in at a glance--and came to a sudden halt. + +"Vat _shall_ I do?" he asked. + +Not even an echo answered, and the animal kingdom was indifferent. + +"Lat me see. I have been vandering avay all dis time. Now, I have +not'ing to do but right-about-face and vander back." + +Could reasoning be clearer or more conclusive? He acted on it at once, +but, after wandering back a long time, he did not arrive at any place +or object that he had recognised on the outward journey. + +Meanwhile, as had been appointed, the rest of the party met a short time +before dark at the rendezvous where they had lunched. + +"Where is the professor, Baso?" asked Van der Kemp as he came up. + +Baso did not know, and looked at Grogo, who also professed ignorance, +but both said they thought the professor had gone with Nigel. + +"I thought he was with _you_," said the latter, looking anxiously at the +hermit. + +"He's goed an' lost hisself!" cried Moses with a look of concern. + +Van der Kemp was a man of action. "Not a moment to lose," he said, and +organised the band into several smaller parties, each led by a native +familiar with the jungle. + +"Let this be our meeting-place," he said, as they were on the point of +starting off together; "and let those of us who have fire-arms discharge +them occasionally." + +Meanwhile, the professor was walking at full speed in what he supposed +to be--and in truth was--"back." + +He was not alone, however. In the jungle close beside him a tiger +prowled along with the stealthy, lithe, sneaking activity of a cat. By +that time it was not absolutely dark, but the forest had assumed a very +sombre appearance. Suddenly the tiger made a tremendous bound on to the +track right in front of the man. Whether it had miscalculated the +position of its intended victim or not we cannot say, but it crouched +for another spring. The professor, almost instinctively, crouched also, +and, being a brave man, stared the animal straight in the face without +winking! and so the two crouched there, absolutely motionless and with a +fixed glare, such as we have often seen in a couple of tom-cats who were +mutually afraid to attack each other. + +What the tiger thought at that critical and crucial moment we cannot +tell, but the professor's thoughts were swift, varied, +tremendous--almost sublime, and once or twice even ridiculous! + +"Vat shall I do? Deaf stares me in zee face! No veapons! only a net, ant +he is _not_ a bootterfly! Science, adieu! Home of my chilthood, +farevell! My moder--Hah! zee fusees!" + +Such were a few of the thoughts that burned but found no utterance. The +last thought however led to action. Verkimier, foolish man! was a +smoker. He carried fusees. Slowly, with no more apparent motion than the +hour-hand on the face of a watch, he let his hand glide into his +coat-pocket and took out the box of fusees. The tiger seemed uneasy, but +the bold man never for one instant ceased to glare, and no disturbed +expression or hasty movement gave the tiger the slightest excuse for a +spring. Bringing the box up by painfully slow degrees in front of his +nose the man opened it, took out a fusee, struck it, and revealed the +blue binoculars! + +The effect on the tiger was instantaneous and astounding. With a +demi-volt or backward somersault it hurled itself into the jungle whence +it had come with a terrific roar of alarm, and its tail--undoubtedly +though not evidently--between its legs! + +Heaving a deep, long-drawn sigh, the professor stood up and wiped his +forehead. Then he listened intently. + +"A shote, if mine ears deceive me not!" he said, and listened again. + +He was right. Another shot, much nearer, was heard, and he replied with +a shout to which joy as much as strength of lung gave fervour. Hurrying +along the track--not without occasional side-glances at the jungle--the +hero was soon again in the midst of his friends; and it was not until +his eyes refused to remain open any longer that he ceased to entertain +an admiring circle that night with the details of his face-to-face +meeting with a tiger. + +But Verkimier's anticipations in regard to that paradise were not to be +realised. The evil passions of a wicked man, with whom he had personally +nothing whatever to do, interfered with his plans. In the middle of the +night a native Malay youth named Babu arrived at the village and +demanded an interview with the chief. That worthy, after the interview, +conducted the youth to the hut where his visitors lived, and, rousing +Van der Kemp without disturbing the others, bade him listen to what the +young man had to say. An expression of great anxiety overspread the +hermit's usually placid countenance while Babu was speaking. + +"It is fate!" he murmured, as if communing with himself--then, after a +pause--"no, there is no such thing as fate. It is, it must be, the will +of God. Go, young man, mention this to no one. I thank you for the +kindness which made you take so long a journey for my sake." + +"It is not kindness, it is love that makes me serve you," returned the +lad earnestly. "Every one loves you, Van der Kemp, because that curse of +mankind, _revenge_, has no place in your breast." + +"Strange! how little man does know or guess the secret thoughts of his +fellow!" said the hermit with one of his pitiful smiles. "_Revenge_ no +place in me!--but I thank you, boy, for the kind thought as well as the +effort to save me. My life is not worth much to any one. It will not +matter, I think, if my enemy should succeed. Go now, Babu, and God be +with you!" + +"He will surely succeed if you do not leave this place at once," +rejoined the youth, in a tone of decision. "Baderoon is furious at all +times. He is worse than ever just now, because you have thwarted his +plans--so it is said--very often. If he knew that _I_ am now thwarting +them also, he would hunt me to death. I will not leave you till you are +safe beyond his reach." + +The hermit looked at the lad with kindly surprise. + +"How comes it," he said, "that you are so much interested in me? I +remember seeing you two years ago, but have no recollection of having +done you any service." + +"Do you not remember that my mother was ill when you spent a night in +our hut, and my little sister was dying? You nursed her, and tried your +best to save her, and when you could not save her, and she died, you +wept as if the child had been your own. I do not forget that, Van der +Kemp. Sympathy is of more value than service." + +"Strangely mistaken again!" murmured the hermit. "Who can know the +workings of the human mind! Self was mixed with my +feelings--profoundly--yet my sympathy with you and your mother was +sincere." + +"We never doubted that," returned Babu with a touch of surprise in his +tone. + +"Well now, what do you propose to do, as you refuse to leave me?" asked +the hermit with some curiosity. + +"I will go on with you to the next village. It is a large one. The chief +man there is my uncle, who will aid me, I know, in any way I wish. I +will tell him what I know and have heard of the pirate's intention, of +which I have proof. He will order Baderoon to be arrested on suspicion +when he arrives. Then we will detain him till you are beyond his reach. +That is not unjust." + +"True--and I am glad to know by your last words that you are sensitive +about the justice of what you propose to do. Indifference to pure and +simple justice is the great curse of mankind. It is not indeed the root, +but it is the fruit of our sins. The suspicion that detains Baderoon is +more than justified, for I could bring many witnesses to prove that he +has vowed to take my life, and I _know_ him to be a murderer." + +At breakfast-time Van der Kemp announced to his friends his intention of +quitting the village at once, and gave an account of his interview with +the Malay lad during the night. This, of course, reconciled them to +immediate departure,--though, in truth, the professor was the only one +who required to be reconciled. + +"It is _very_ misfortunate," he remarked with a sigh, which had +difficulty in escaping through a huge mass of fish and rice. "You see +zee vonderful variety of ornizological specimens I could find here, ant +zee herbareum, not to mention zee magnificent _Amblypodia eumolpus_ ant +ozer bootterflies--ach!-a leetle mor' feesh if you please. Zanks. My +frond, it is a great sacrifice, but I vill go avay viz you, for I could +not joostify myself if I forzook you, ant I cannot ask you to remain +vile your life is in dancher." + +"I appreciate your sentiments and sacrifice thoroughly," said the +hermit. + +"So does I," said Moses, helping himself to coffee; "but ob course if I +didn't it would be all de same. Pass de venison, Massa Nadgel, an' don't +look as if you was goin' to gib in a'ready. It spoils my appetite." + +"You will have opportunities," continued Van der Kemp, addressing the +professor, "to gather a good many specimens as we go along. Besides, if +you will consent to honour my cave in Krakatoa with a visit, I promise +you a hearty welcome and an interesting field of research. You have no +idea what a variety of species in all the branches of natural history my +little island contains." + +Hereupon the hermit proceeded to enter into details of the flora, fauna, +and geology of his island-home, and to expatiate in such glowing +language on its arboreal and herbal wealth and beauty, that the +professor became quite reconciled to immediate departure. + +"But how," he asked, "am I to get zere ven ve reach zee sea-coast? for +your canoe holds only t'ree, as you have told me." + +"There are plenty of boats to be had. Besides, I can send over my own +boat for you to the mainland. The distance is not great." + +"Goot. Zat vill do. I am happay now." + +"So," remarked Nigel as he went off with Moses to pack up, "his +'paradise regained' is rather speedily to be changed into paradise +forsaken! 'Off wi' the old love and on wi' the new.' 'The expulsive +power of a new affection!'" + +"Das true, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who entertained profound +admiration for anything that sounded like proverbial philosophy. "De +purfesser am an affectionit creeter. 'Pears to me dat he lubs de whole +creation. He kills an' tenderly stuffs 'most eberyt'ing he kin lay hands +on. If he could only lay hold ob Baderoon an' stuff an' stick him in a +moozeum, he'd do good service to my massa an' also to de whole ob +mankind." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A TERRIBLE MURDER AND A STRANGE REVELATION. + + +After letting the chief of the village know that the news just received +rendered it necessary that they should proceed at once to the next +town--but carefully refraining from going into particulars lest Baderoon +should by any means be led to suspect their intentions--the party +started off about daybreak under the guidance of the Malay youth Babu. + +Anxious as he was that no evil should befall his friend, Nigel could not +help wondering that a man of such a calm spirit, and such unquestionable +courage, should be so anxious to escape from this pirate. + +"I can't understand it at all," he said to Moses, as they walked through +the forest together a little in rear of the party. + +"No more kin I, Massa Nadgel," answered the negro, with one of those +shakes of the head and glares of solemn perplexity with which he was +wont to regard matters that were too deep for him. + +"Surely Van der Kemp is well able to take care of himself against any +single foe." + +"Das true, Massa Nadgel,--'gainst any half-dozen foes as well." + +"Fear, therefore, cannot be the cause." + +The negro received this with a quiet chuckle. + +"No," said he. "Massa nebber knowed fear, but ob dis you may be bery +sure, massa's _allers_ got good reasons for what he does. One t'ing's +sartin, I neber saw him do nuffin for fear, nor revenge, nor anger, no, +nor yet for fun; allers for lub--and," added Moses, after a moment's +thought, "sometimes for money, when we goes on a tradin' 'spidition--but +he don't make much account ob dat." + +"Well, perhaps the mystery may be cleared up in time," said Nigel, as +they closed up with the rest of the party, who had halted for a short +rest and some refreshment. + +This last consisted largely of fruit, which was abundant everywhere, and +a little rice with water from sparkling springs to wash it down. + +In the afternoon they reached the town--a large one, with a sort of +market-place in the centre, which at the time of their arrival was +crowded with people. Strangers, especially Europeans, were not often +seen in that region, so that Van der Kemp and his friends at once +attracted a considerable number of followers. Among these was one man +who followed them about very unobtrusively, usually hanging well in +rear of the knot of followers whose curiosity was stronger than their +sense of propriety. This man wore a broad sun-hat and had a bandage +round his head pulled well over one eye, as if he had recently met with +an accident or been wounded. He was unarmed, with the exception of the +kriss, or long knife, which every man in that region carries. + +This was no other than Baderoon himself, who had outwitted his enemies, +had somehow discovered at least part of their plans, and had hurried on +in advance of them to the town, where, disguising himself as described, +he awaited their arrival. + +Babu conducted his friends to the presence of his kinsman the chief man +of the town, and, having told his story, received a promise that the +pirate should be taken up when he arrived and put in prison. Meanwhile +he appointed to the party a house in which to spend the night. + +Baderoon boldly accompanied the crowd that followed them, saw the house, +glanced between the heads of curious natives who watched the travellers +while eating their supper, and noted the exact spot on the floor of the +building where Van der Kemp threw down his mat and blanket, thus taking +possession of his intended couch! He did not, however, see that the +hermit afterwards shifted his position a little, and that Babu, +desiring to be near his friend, lay down on the vacated spot. + +In the darkest hour of the night, when even the owls and bats had sought +repose, the pirate captain stole out of the brake in which he had +concealed himself, and, kriss in hand, glided under the house in which +his enemy lay. + +Native houses, as we have elsewhere explained, are usually built on +posts, so that there is an open space under the floors, which is +available as a store or lumber-room. It is also unfortunately available +for evil purposes. The bamboo flooring is not laid so closely but that +sounds inside may be heard distinctly by any one listening below. Voices +were heard by the pirate as he approached, which arrested his steps. +They were those of Van der Kemp and Nigel engaged in conversation. +Baderoon knew that as long as his enemy was awake and conversing he +might probably be sitting up and not in a position suitable to his fell +purpose. He crouched therefore among some lumber like a tiger abiding +its time. + +"Why are you so anxious not to meet this man?" asked Nigel, who was +resolved, if possible without giving offence, to be at the bottom of the +mystery. + +For some moments the hermit was silent, then in a constrained voice he +said slowly-- + +"Because revenge burns fiercely in my breast. I have striven to crush +it, but cannot. I fear to meet him lest I kill him." + +"Has he, then, done you such foul wrong?" + +"Ay, he has cruelly--fiendishly--done the worst he could. He robbed me +of my only child--but I may not talk of it. The unholy desire for +vengeance burns more fiercely when I talk. 'Vengeance is mine, saith the +Lord.' My constant prayer is that I may not meet him. Good-night." + +As the hermit thus put an abrupt end to the conversation he lay down and +drew his blanket over him. Nigel followed his example, wondering at what +he had heard, and in a few minutes their steady regular breathing told +that they were both asleep. Then Baderoon advanced and counted the +bamboo planks from the side towards the centre of the house. When +looking between the heads of the people he had counted the same planks +above. Standing under one he looked up, listened intently for a few +seconds, and drew his kriss. The place was almost pitch dark, yet the +blade caught a faint gleam from without, which it reflected on the +pirate's face as he thrust the long keen weapon swiftly, yet +deliberately, between the bamboos. + +A shriek, that filled those who heard it with a thrill of horror, rang +out on the silent night. At the same moment a gush of warm blood poured +over the murderer's face before he could leap aside. Instant uproar and +confusion burst out in the neighbourhood, and spread like wildfire until +the whole town was aroused. When a light was procured and the people +crowded into the hut where the strangers lay, Van der Kemp was found on +his knees holding the hand of poor Babu, who was at his last gasp. A +faint smile, that yet seemed to have something of gladness in it, +flitted across his pale face as he raised himself, grasped the hermit's +hand and pressed it to his lips. Then the fearful drain of blood took +effect and he fell back--dead. + +One great convulsive sob burst from the hermit as he leaped up, drew his +knife, and, with a fierce glare in his blue eyes, rushed out of the +room. + +Vengeance would indeed have been wreaked on Baderoon at that moment if +the hermit had caught him, but, as might have been expected, the +murderer was nowhere to be found. He was hid in the impenetrable jungle, +which it was useless to enter in the darkness of night. When daybreak +enabled the townspeople to undertake an organised search, no trace of +him could be discovered. + +Flight, personal safety, formed no part of the pirate's plan. The guilty +man had reached that state of depravity which, especially among the +natives of that region, borders close on insanity. While the inhabitants +of the village were hunting far a-field for him, Baderoon lay concealed +among some lumber in rear of a hut awaiting his opportunity. It was not +very long of coming. + +Towards afternoon the various searching parties began to return, and all +assembled in the market-place, where the chief man, with the hermit and +his party, were assembled discussing the situation. + +"I will not now proceed until we have buried poor Babu," said Van der +Kemp. "Besides, Baderoon will be sure to return. I will meet him now." + +"I do not agree viz you, mine frond," said the professor. "Zee man is +not a fool zough he is a villain. He knows vat avaits him if he comes." + +"He will not come openly," returned the hermit, "but he will not now +rest till he has killed me." + +Even as he spoke a loud shouting, mingled with shrieks and yells, was +heard at the other end of the main street. The sounds of uproar appeared +to approach, and soon a crowd of people was seen rushing towards the +market-place, uttering cries of fear in which the word "a-mok" was +heard. At the sound of that word numbers of people--specially women and +children--turned and fled from the scene, but many of the men stood +their ground, and all of them drew their krisses. Among the latter of +course were the white men and their native companions. + +We have already referred to that strange madness, to which the Malays +seem to be peculiarly liable, during the paroxysms of which those +affected by it rush in blind fury among their fellows, slaying right and +left. From the terrified appearance of some of the approaching crowd and +the maniac shouts in rear, it was evident that a man thus possessed of +the spirit of amok was venting his fury on them. + +Another minute and he drew near, brandishing a kriss that dripped with +the gore of those whom he had already stabbed. Catching sight of the +white men he made straight for them. He was possessed of only one eye, +but that one seemed to concentrate and flash forth the fire of a dozen +eyes, while his dishevelled hair and blood-stained face and person gave +him an appalling aspect. + +"It is Baderoon!" said Van der Kemp in a subdued but stern tone. + +Nigel, who stood next to him, glanced at the hermit. His face was deadly +pale; his eyes gleamed with a strange, almost unearthly light, and his +lips were firmly compressed. With a sudden nervous motion, unlike his +usually calm demeanour, he drew his long knife, and to Nigel's surprise +cast it away from him. At that moment a woman who came in the madman's +way was stabbed by him to the heart and rent the air with her dying +shriek as she fell. No one could have saved her, the act was so quickly +done. Van der Kemp would have leaped to her rescue, but it was too late; +besides, there was no need to do so now, for the maniac, recognising +his enemy, rushed at him with a shout that sounded like a triumphant +yell. Seeing this, and that his friend stood unarmed, as well as +unmoved, regarding Baderoon with a fixed gaze, Nigel stepped a pace in +advance to protect him, but Van der Kemp seized his arm and thrust him +violently aside. Next moment the pirate was upon him with uplifted +knife, but the hermit caught his wrist, and with a heave worthy of +Samson hurled him to the ground, where he lay for a moment quite +stunned. + +Before he could recover, the natives, who had up to this moment held +back, sprang upon the fallen man with revengeful yells, and a dozen +knives were about to be buried in his breast when the hermit sprang +forward to protect his enemy from their fury. But the man whose wife had +been the last victim came up at the moment, and led an irresistible rush +which bore back the hermit as well as his comrades, who had crowded +round him, and in another minute the maniac was almost hacked to pieces. + +"I did not kill him--thank God!" muttered Van der Kemp as he left the +market-place, where the relatives of those who had been murdered were +wailing over their dead. + +After this event even the professor was anxious to leave the place, so +that early next morning the party resumed their journey, intending to +make a short stay at the next village. Failing to reach it that night, +however, they were compelled to encamp in the woods. Fortunately they +came upon a hill which, although not very high, was sufficiently so, +with the aid of watch-fires, to protect them from tigers. From the +summit, which rose just above the tree-tops, they had a magnificent view +of the forest. Many of the trees were crowned with flowers among which +the setting sun shone for a brief space with glorious effulgence. + +Van der Kemp and Nigel stood together apart from the others, +contemplating the wonderful scene. + +"What must be the dwelling-place of the Creator Himself when his +footstool is so grand?" said the hermit in a low voice. + +"That is beyond mortal ken," said Nigel. + +"True--true. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived it. +Yet, methinks, the glory of the terrestrial was meant to raise our souls +to the contemplation of the celestial." + +"And yet how signally it has failed in the case of Baderoon," returned +Nigel, with a furtive glance at the hermit, whose countenance had quite +recovered its look of quiet simple dignity. "Would it be presumptuous if +I were to ask why it is that this pirate had such bitter enmity against +you?" + +"It is no secret," answered the hermit, in a sad tone. "The truth is, I +had discovered some of his nefarious plans, and more than once have been +the means of preventing his intended deeds of violence--as in the case +of the Dyaks whom we have so lately visited. Besides, the man had done +me irreparable injury, and it is one of the curious facts of human +experience that sometimes those who injure us hate us because they have +done so." + +"May I venture to ask for a fuller account of the injury he did you?" +said Nigel with some hesitancy. + +For some moments the hermit did not answer. He was evidently struggling +with some suppressed feeling. Turning a look full upon his young friend, +he at length spoke in a low sad voice-- + +"I have never mentioned my grief to mortal man since that day when it +pleased God to draw a cloud of thickest darkness over my life. But, +Nigel, there is that in you which encourages confidence. I confess that +more than once I have been tempted to tell you of my grief--for human +hearts crave intelligent sympathy. My faithful servant and friend Moses +is, no doubt, intensely sympathetic, but--but--well, I cannot +understand, still less can I explain, why I shrink from making a +confidant of him. Certainly it is not because of his colour, for I hold +that the _souls_ of men are colourless! + +"I need not trouble you with the story of my early life," continued the +hermit. "I lost my dear wife a year after our marriage, and was left +with a little girl whose lovely face became more and more like that of +her mother every day she lived. My soul was wrapped up in the child. +After three years I went with her as a passenger to Batavia. On the way +we were attacked by a couple of pirate junks. Baderoon was the pirate +captain. He killed many of our men, took some of us prisoners, sank the +vessel, seized my child, and was about to separate us, putting my child +into one junk while I was retained, bound, in the other." + +He paused, and gazed over the glowing tree-tops into the golden horizon, +with a longing, wistful look. At the same time something like an +electric shock passed through Nigel's frame, for was not this narrative +strangely similar in its main features to that which his own father had +told him on the Keeling Islands about beautiful little Kathleen Holbein +and her father? He was on the point of seizing the hermit by the hand +and telling him what he knew, when the thought occurred that attacks by +pirates were common enough in those seas, that other fathers might have +lost daughters in this way, and that, perhaps, his suspicion might be +wrong. It would be a terrible thing, he thought, to raise hope in his +poor friend's breast unless he were pretty sure of the hope being well +founded. He would wait and hear more. He had just come to this +conclusion, and managed to subdue the feelings which had been aroused, +when Van der Kemp turned to him again, and continued his narrative-- + +"I know not how it was, unless the Lord gave me strength for a purpose +as he gave it to Samson of old, but when I recovered from the stinging +blow I had received, and saw the junk hoist her sails and heard my child +scream, I felt the strength of a lion come over me; I burst the bonds +that held me and leaped into the sea, intending to swim to her. But it +was otherwise ordained. A breeze which had sprung up freshened, and the +junk soon left me far behind. As for the other junk, I never saw it +again, for I never looked back or thought of it--only, as I left it, I +heard a mocking laugh from the one-eyed villain, who, I afterwards found +out, owned and commanded both junks." + +Nigel had no doubt now, but the agitation of his feelings still kept him +silent. + +"Need I say," continued the hermit, "that revenge burned fiercely in my +breast from that day forward? If I had met the man soon after that, I +should certainly have slain him. But God mercifully forbade it. Since +then He has opened my eyes to see the Crucified One who prayed for His +enemies. And up till now I have prayed most earnestly that Baderoon and +I might _not_ meet. My prayer has not been answered in the way I +wished, but a _better_ answer has been granted, for the sin of revenge +was overcome within me before we met." + +Van der Kemp paused again. + +"Go on," said Nigel, eagerly. "How did you escape?" + +"Escape! Where was I--Oh! I remember," said the hermit, awaking as if +out of a dream "Well, I swam after the junk until it was out of sight, +and then I swam on in silent despair until so completely exhausted that +I felt consciousness leaving me. Then I knew that the end must be near +and I felt almost glad; but when I began to sink, the natural desire to +prolong life revived, and I struggled on. Just as my strength began a +second time to fail, I struck against something. It was a dead cocoa-nut +tree. I laid hold of it and clung to it all that night. Next morning I +was picked up by some fishermen who were going to Telok Betong by the +outer passage round Sebesi Island, and were willing to land me there. +But as my business connections had been chiefly with the town of Anjer, +I begged of them to land me on the island of Krakatoa. This they did, +and it has been my home ever since. I have been there many years." + +"Have you never seen or heard of your daughter since?" asked Nigel +eagerly, and with deep sympathy. + +"Never--I have travelled far and near, all over the archipelago; into +the interior of the islands, great and small, but have failed to find +her. I have long since felt that she must be dead--for--for she could +not live with the monsters who stole her away." + +A certain contraction of the mouth, as he said this, and a gleam of the +eyes, suggested to Nigel that revenge was not yet dead within the +hermit's breast, although it had been overcome. + +"What was her name?" asked Nigel, willing to gain time to think how he +ought to act, and being afraid of the effect that the sudden +communication of the news might have on his friend. + +"Winnie--darling Winnie--after her mother," said the hermit with deep +pathos in his tone. + +A feeling of disappointment came over our hero. Winnie bore not the most +distant resemblance to Kathleen! + +"Did you ever, during your search," asked Nigel slowly, "visit the +Cocos-Keeling Islands?" + +"Never. They are too far from where the attack on us was made." + +"And you never heard of a gun-boat having captured a pirate junk +and----" + +"Why do you ask, and why pause?" said the hermit, looking at his friend +in some surprise. + +Nigel felt that he had almost gone too far. + +"Well, you know--" he replied in some confusion, "you--you are right +when you expect me to sympathise with your great sorrow, which I do most +profoundly, and--and--in short, I would give anything to be able to +suggest hope to you, my friend. Men should _never_ give way to despair." + +"Thank you. It is kindly meant," returned the hermit, looking at the +youth with his sad smile. "But it is vain. Hope is dead now." + +They were interrupted at this point by the announcement that supper was +ready. At the same time the sun sank, like the hermit's hope, and +disappeared beyond the dark forest. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +NIGEL MAKES A CONFIDANT OF MOSES--UNDERTAKES A LONELY WATCH AND SEES +SOMETHING WONDERFUL. + + +It was not much supper that Nigel Roy ate that night. The excitement +resulting from his supposed discovery reduced his appetite seriously, +and the intense desire to open a safety-valve in the way of confidential +talk with some one induced a nervously absent disposition which at last +attracted attention. + +"You vant a goot dose of kvinine," remarked Verkimier, when, having +satiated himself, he found time to think of others--not that the +professor was selfish by any means, only he was addicted to +concentration of mind on all work in hand, inclusive of feeding. + +The hermit paid no attention to anything that was said. His recent +conversation had given vent to a flood of memories and feelings that had +been pent up for many years. + +After supper Nigel resolved to make a confidant of Moses. The negro's +fidelity to and love for his master would ensure his sympathy at least, +if not wise counsel. + +"Moses," he said, when the professor had raised himself to the seventh +heaven by means of tobacco fumes, "come with me. I want to have a talk." + +"Das what I's allers wantin', Massa Nadgel; talkin's my strong point if +I hab a strong point at all." + +They went together to the edge of a cliff on the hill-top, whence they +could see an almost illimitable stretch of tropical wilderness bathed in +a glorious flood of moonlight, and sat down. + +On a neighbouring cliff, which was crowned with a mass of grasses and +shrubs, a small monkey also sat down, on a fallen branch, and watched +them with pathetic interest, tempered, it would seem, by cutaneous +irritation. + +"Moses, I am sorely in need of advice," said Nigel, turning suddenly to +his companion with ill-suppressed excitement. + +"Well, Massa Nadgel, you _does_ look like it, but I'm sorry I ain't a +doctor. Pra'ps de purfesser would help you better nor me." + +"You misunderstand me. Can you keep a secret, Moses?" + +"I kin try--if--if he's not too diffikilt to keep." + +"Well, then; listen." + +The negro opened his eyes and his mouth as if these were the chief +orifices for the entrance of sound, and advanced an ear. The distant +monkey, observing, apparently, that some unusual communication was about +to be made, also stretched out its little head, cocked an ear, and +suspended its other operations. + +Then, in low earnest tones, Nigel told Moses of his belief that Van der +Kemp's daughter might yet be alive and well, and detailed the recent +conversation he had had with his master. + +"Now, Moses; what d' ye think of all that?" + +Profundity unfathomable sat on the negro's sable brow as he replied, +"Massa Nadgel, I don't bery well know _what_ to t'ink." + +"But remember, Moses, before we go further, that I tell you all this in +strict confidence; not a word of it must pass your lips." + +The awful solemnity with which Nigel sought to impress this on his +companion was absolutely trifling compared with the expression of that +companion's countenance, as, with a long-drawn argumentative and +remonstrative _Oh!_ he replied:--"Massa--Nadgel. Does you really t'ink I +would say or do any mortal t'ing w'atsumiver as would injure _my_ +massa?" + +"I'm _sure_, you would not," returned Nigel, quickly. "Forgive me, +Moses, I merely meant that you would have to be very cautious--very +careful--that you do not let a word slip--by accident, you know. I +believe you'd sooner die than do an intentional injury to Van der Kemp. +If I thought you capable of _that_, I think I would relieve my feelings +by giving you a good thrashing." + +The listening monkey cocked its ear a little higher at this, and Moses, +who had at first raised his flat nose indignantly in the air, gradually +lowered it, while a benignant smile supplanted indignation. + +"You're right dere, Massa Nadgel. I'd die a t'ousand times sooner dan +injure massa. As to your last obserwation, it rouses two idees in my +mind. First, I wonder how you'd manidge to gib me a t'rashin', an' +second, I wonder if your own moder would rikognise you arter you'd tried +it." + +At this the monkey turned its other ear as if to make quite sure that it +heard aright. Nigel laughed shortly. + +"But seriously, Moses," he continued; "what do you think I should do? +Should I reveal my suspicions to Van der Kemp?" + +"Cer'nly not!" answered the negro with prompt decision. "What! wake up +all his old hopes to hab 'em all dashed to bits p'raps when you find dat +you's wrong!" + +"But I feel absolutely certain that I'm _not_ wrong!" returned Nigel, +excitedly. "Consider--there is, first, the one-eyed pirate; second, +there is--" + +"'Scuse me, Massa Nadgel, dere's no occasion to go all ober it again. +I'll tell you what you do." + +"Well?" exclaimed Nigel, anxiously, while his companion frowned savagely +under the force of the thoughts that surged through his brain. + +"Here's what you'll do," said Moses. + +"Well?" (impatiently, as the negro paused.) + +"We're on our way home to Krakatoa." + +"Yes--well?" + +"One ob our men leabes us to-morrer--goes to 'is home on de coast. Kitch +one ob de steamers dat's allers due about dis time." + +"Well, what of that?" + +"What ob dat! why, you'll write a letter to your fadder. It'll go by de +steamer to Batavia. He gits it long before we gits home, so dere's +plenty time for 'im to take haction." + +"But what good will writing to my father do?" asked Nigel in a somewhat +disappointed tone. "_He_ can't help us." + +"Ho yes, he can," said Moses with a self-satisfied nod. "See here, I'll +tell you what to write. You begin, 'Dear fadder--or Dearest fadder--I's +not quite sure ob de strengt' ob your affection. P'raps de safest +way--." + +"Oh! get on, Moses. Never mind that." + +"Ho! it's all bery well for you to say dat, but de ole gen'leman'll mind +it. Hows'ever, put it as you t'ink best--'Dear fadder, victual your +ship; up anchor; hois' de sails, an' steer for de Cocos-Keelin' Islands. +Go ashore; git hold ob de young 'ooman called Kat'leen Hobbleben--'" + +"Holbein, Moses." + +"What! is she Moses too?" + +"No, no! get on, man." + +"Well, 'Dearest fadder, git a hold ob her, whateber her name is, an' +carry her off body and soul, an' whateber else b'longs to her. Take her +to de town ob Anjer an' wait dere for furder orders.' Ob course for de +windin' up o' de letter you must appeal agin to de state ob your +affections, for, as--" + +"Not a bad idea," exclaimed Nigel. "Why, Moses, you're a genius! Of +course I'll have to explain a little more fully." + +"'Splain what you please," said Moses. "My business is to gib you de +bones ob de letter; yours--bein' a scholar--is to clove it wid flesh." + +"I'll do it, Moses, at once." + +"I should like," rejoined Moses, with a tooth-and-gum-disclosing smile, +"to see your fadder when he gits dat letter!" + +The picture conjured up by his vivid imagination caused the negro to +give way to an explosive laugh that sent the eavesdropping monkey like a +brown thunderbolt into the recesses of its native jungle, while Nigel +went off to write and despatch the important letter. + +Next day the party arrived at another village, where, the report of +their approach having preceded them, they were received with much +ceremony--all the more that the professor's power with the rifle had +been made known, and that the neighbourhood was infested by tigers. + +There can be little doubt that at this part of the journey the +travellers must have been dogged all the way by tigers, and it was +matter for surprise that so small a party should not have been molested. +Possibly the reason was that these huge members of the feline race were +afraid of white faces, being unaccustomed to them, or, perchance, the +appearance and vigorous stride of even a few stalwart and fearless men +had intimidated them. Whatever the cause, the party reached the village +without seeing a single tiger, though their footprints were observed in +many places. + +The wild scenery became more and more beautiful as this village was +neared. + +Although flowers as a rule were small and inconspicuous in many parts of +the great forest through which they passed, the rich pink and scarlet of +many of the opening leaves, and the autumn-tinted foliage which lasts +through all seasons of the year, fully made up for the want of them--at +least as regards colour, while the whole vegetation was intermingled in +a rich confusion that defies description. + +The professor went into perplexed raptures, his mind being distracted by +the exuberant wealth of subjects which were presented to it all at the +same time. + +"Look zere!" he cried, at one turning in the path which opened up a new +vista of exquisite beauty--"look at zat!" + +"Ay, it is a Siamang ape--next in size to the orang-utan," said Van der +Kemp, who stood at his friend's elbow. + +The animal in question was a fine full-grown specimen, with long +jet-black glancing hair. Its height might probably have been a few +inches over three feet, and the stretch of its arms over rather than +under five feet, but at the great height at which it was seen--not less +than eighty feet--it looked much like an ordinary monkey. It was hanging +in the most easy nonchalant way by one hand from the branch of a tree, +utterly indifferent to the fact that to drop was to die! + +The instant the Siamang observed the travellers it set up a loud barking +howl which made the woods resound, but it did not alter its position or +seem to be alarmed in any degree. + +"Vat a 'straordinary noise!" remarked the professor. + +"It is indeed," returned the hermit, "and it has an extraordinary +appliance for producing it. There is a large bag under its throat +extending to its lips and cheeks which it can fill with air by means of +a valve in the windpipe. By expelling this air in sudden bursts it makes +the varied sounds you hear." + +"Mos' vonderful! A sort of natural air-gun! I vill shoot it," said the +professor, raising his deadly rifle, and there is no doubt that the poor +Siamang would have dropped in another moment if Van der Kemp had not +quietly and gravely touched his friend's elbow just as the explosion +took place. + +"Hah! you tooched me!" exclaimed the disappointed naturalist, looking +fiercely round, while the amazed ape sent forth a bursting crack of its +air-gun as it swung itself into the tree-top and made off. + +"Yes, I touched you, and if you _will_ shoot when I am so close to you, +you cannot wonder at it--especially when you intend to take life +uselessly. The time now at the disposal of my friend Nigel Roy will not +permit of our delaying long enough to kill and preserve large specimens. +To say truth, my friend, we must press on now, as fast as we can, for we +have a very long way to go." + +Verkimier was not quite pleased with this explanation, but there was a +sort of indescribable power about the hermit, when he was resolved to +have his way, that those whom he led found it impossible to resist. + +On arriving at the village they were agreeably surprised to find a grand +banquet, consisting chiefly of fruit, with fowl, rice, and Indian corn, +spread out for them in the Balai or public hall, where also their +sleeping quarters were appointed. An event had recently occurred, +however, which somewhat damped the pleasure of their reception. A young +man had been killed by a tiger. The brute had leaped upon him while he +and a party of lads were traversing a narrow path through the jungle, +and had killed him with one blow of its paw. The other youths +courageously rushed at the beast with their spears and axes, and, +driving it off, carried the body of their comrade away. + +"We have just buried the young man," said the chief of the village, "and +have set a trap for the tiger, for he will be sure to visit the grave." + +"My friends would like to see this trap," said the hermit, who, of +course, acted the part of interpreter wherever they went, being well +acquainted with most of the languages and dialects of the archipelago. + +"There will yet be daylight after you have finished eating," said the +chief. + +Although anxious to go at once to see this trap, they felt the +propriety of doing justice to what had been provided for them, and sat +down to their meal, for which, to say truth, they were quite ready. + +Then they went with a large band of armed natives to see this curious +tiger-trap, the bait of which was the grave of a human being! + +The grave was close to the outskirts of the village, and, on one side, +the jungle came up to within a few yards of it. The spot was surrounded +by a strong and high bamboo fence, except at one point where a narrow +but very conspicuous opening had been left. Here a sharp spear was so +arranged beside the opening that it could be shot across it at a point +corresponding with the height of a tiger's heart from the ground--as +well, at least, as that point could be estimated by men who were pretty +familiar with tigers. The motive power to propel this spear was derived +from a green bamboo, so strong that it required several powerful men to +bend it in the form of a bow. A species of trigger was arranged to let +the bent bow fly, and a piece of fine cord passed from this across the +opening about breast-high for a tiger. The intention was that the +animal, in entering the enclosure, should become its own +executioner--should commit unintentional suicide, if we may so put it. + +"I have an ambition to shoot a tiger," said Nigel to Van der Kemp that +evening. "Do you think the people would object to my getting up into a +tree with my rifle and watching beside the grave part of the night?" + +"I am sure that they would not. But your watch will probably be in vain, +for tigers are uncommonly sagacious creatures and seem to me to have +exceptional powers for scenting danger." + +"No matter, I will try." + +Accordingly, a little before dark that evening our hero borrowed the +professor's double-barrelled rifle, being more suitable for large game +than his own gun, and sauntered with Moses down to the grave where he +ensconced himself in the branches of a large tree about thirty feet from +the ground. The form of the tree was such, that among its forks Nigel +could form a sort of nest in which he could sit, in full view of the +poor youth's grave, without the risk of falling to the ground even if he +should chance to drop asleep. + +"Good-night, massa Nadgel," said Moses as he turned to leave his +companion to his solitary vigil. "See you not go to sleep." + +"No fear of _that_!" said Nigel. + +"An' whateber you do, don't miss." + +"I'll do my best--Good-night." + +While there was yet a little daylight, our hunter looked well about him; +took note of the exact position of the fence, the entrance to the +enclosure, and the grave; judged the various distances of objects, and +arranged the sights of the rifle, which was already loaded with a brace +of hardened balls. Then he looked up through the tree-tops and wished +for darkness. + +It came sooner than he expected. Night always descends more suddenly in +tropical than in temperate regions. The sun had barely dipped below the +horizon when night seemed to descend like a pall over the jungle, and an +indescribable sensation of eerieness crept over Nigel's spirit. Objects +became very indistinct, and he fancied that he saw something moving on +the newly-made grave. With a startled feeling he grasped his weapon, +supposing that the tiger must have entered the enclosure with cat-like +stealth. On second thoughts, however, he discarded the idea, for the +entrance was between him and the grave, and still seemed quite visible. +Do what he would, however, the thought of ghosts insisted on intruding +upon him! He did not believe in ghosts--oh no!--had always scouted the +idea of their existence. Why, therefore, did he feel uncomfortable? He +could not tell. It must simply be the excitement natural to such a very +new and peculiar situation. He would think of something else. He would +devote his mind to the contemplation of tigers! In a short time the moon +would rise, he knew--then he would be able to see better. + +While he was in this very uncomfortable state of mind, with the jungle +wrapped in profound silence as well as gloom, there broke on the night +air a wail so indescribable that the very marrow in Nigel's bones seemed +to shrivel up. It ceased, but again broke forth louder than before, +increasing in length and strength, until his ears seemed to tingle with +the sound, and then it died away to a sigh of unutterable woe. + +"I have always," muttered Nigel, "believed myself to be a man of +ordinary courage, but _now_--I shall write myself a coward, if not an +ass!" + +He attempted to laugh at this pleasantry, but the laugh was hollow and +seemed to freeze in his gullet as the wail broke forth again, ten times +more hideous than at first. After a time the wail became more +continuous, and the watcher began to get used to it. Then a happy +thought flashed into his mind--this was, perhaps, some sort of mourning +for the dead! He was right. The duty of the father of the poor youth who +had been killed was, for several days after the funeral, to sit alone in +his house and chant from sunset till daybreak a death-dirge, or, as it +is called, the _Tjerita bari_. It was not till next day that this was +told to him, but meanwhile the surmise afforded him instantaneous +relief. + +As if nature sympathised with his feelings, the moon arose at the same +time and dispelled the thick darkness, though it was not till much +later that, sailing across a clear sky, she poured her bright beams +through the tree-tops and finally rested on the dead man's grave. + +By that time Nigel had quite recovered his equanimity, and mentally +blotted out the writing of "coward" and "ass" which he had written +against himself. But another trouble now assailed him. He became sleepy! +Half-a-dozen times at least within half-an-hour he started wide awake +under the impression that he was falling off the tree. + +"This will never do," he exclaimed, rising to his feet, resting his +rifle in a position of safety, and then stretching himself to his utmost +extent so that he became thoroughly awake. After this "rouser," as he +called it, he sat down again, and almost immediately fell fast asleep. + +How long he sat in this condition it is impossible to say, but he opened +his eyes at length with an indescribable sensation that _something_ +required attention, and the first thing they rested on (for daylight was +dawning) was an enormous tiger not forty yards away from him, gliding +like a shadow and with cat-like stealth towards the opening of the +enclosure. The sight was so sudden and so unexpected that, for the +moment, he was paralysed. Perhaps he thought it was a dream. Before he +could recover presence of mind to seize his rifle, the breast of the +animal had touched the fatal line; the trigger was drawn; the stout +bamboo straightened with a booming sound, and the spear--or, rather, the +giant arrow--was shot straight through the tiger's side! + +Then occurred a scene which might well have induced Nigel to imagine +that he dreamt, for the transfixed creature bounded into the enclosure +with a terrific roar that rang fearfully through the arches of the +hitherto silent forest. Rushing across the grave, it sprang with one +tremendous bound right over the high fence, carrying the spear along +with it into the jungle beyond. + +By that time Nigel was himself again, with rifle in hand, but too late +to fire. The moment he heard the thud of the tiger's descent, he slid +down the tree, and, forgetful or regardless of danger, went crashing +into the jungle, while the yells and shouts of hundreds of aroused +natives suggested the peopling of the region with an army of fiends. + +But our hero had not to go far. In his haste he almost tumbled over the +tiger. It was lying stone dead on the spot where it had fallen! + +A few minutes more and the natives came pouring round him, wild with +excitement and joy. Soon he was joined by his own comrades. + +"Well, you've managed to shoot him, I see," said Van der Kemp as he +joined the group. + +"Alas! no. I have not fired a shot," said Nigel, with a half +disappointed look. + +"You's got de better ob him anyhow," remarked Moses as he pushed to the +front. + +"The spear got the better of him, Moses." + +"Veil now, zat is a splendid animal. Lat me see," said the professor, +pulling out his tape-measure. + +It was with difficulty that the man of science made and noted his +measurements, for the people were pressing eagerly round the carcase to +gratify their revenge by running their spears into the still warm body. +They dipped the points in the blood and passed their krisses broadside +over the creature that they might absorb the courage and boldness which +were supposed to emanate from it! Then they skinned it, and pieces of +the heart and brain were eaten raw by some of those whose relatives had +been killed by tigers. Finally the skull was hacked to pieces for the +purpose of distributing the teeth, which are used by the natives as +charms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +IN WHICH THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF. + + +Leaving this village immediately after the slaying of the tiger, the +party continued to journey almost by forced marches, for not only was +Nigel Roy very anxious to keep tryst with his father, and to settle the +question of Kathleen's identity by bringing father and daughter +together, but Van der Kemp himself, strange to say, was filled with +intense and unaccountable anxiety to get back to his island home. + +"I don't know how it is," he said to Nigel as they walked side by side +through the forest, followed by Moses and the professor, who had become +very friendly on the strength of a certain amount of vacant curiosity +displayed by the former in regard to scientific matters--"I don't know +how it is, but I feel an unusually strong desire to get back to my cave. +I have often been absent from home for long periods at a time, but have +never before experienced these strange longings. I say strange, because +there is no such thing as an effect without a cause." + +"May not the cause be presentiment?" suggested Nigel, who, knowing what +a tremendous possibility for the hermit lay in the future, felt a little +inclined to be superstitious. It did not occur to him just then that an +equally, if not more, tremendous possibility lay in the future for +himself--touching his recent discovery or suspicion! + +"I do not believe in presentiments," returned the hermit. "They are +probably the result of indigestion or a disordered intellect, from +neither of which complaints do I suffer--at least not consciously!" + +"But you have never before left home in such peculiar circumstances," +said Nigel. "Have you not told me that this is the first time for about +two hundred years that Krakatoa has broken out in active eruption?" + +"True, but that cannot be to me the cause of longings or anxieties, for +I have seen many a long-dormant crater become active without any +important result either to me or to any one else." + +"Stop, stop!" cried Professor Verkimier in a hoarse whisper at that +moment; "look! look at zee monkeys!" + +Monkeys are very abundant in Sumatra, but the nest of them which the +travellers discovered at that time, and which had called forth the +professor's admiration, was enough--as Moses said--to make a "renocerus +laugh." The trees around absolutely swarmed with monkeys; those of a +slender form and with very long tails being most numerous. They were +engaged in some sort of game, swinging by arms, legs, and tails from +branches, holding on to or chasing each other, and taking the most +astonishing leaps in circumstances where a slip would have no doubt +resulted in broken limbs or in death. + +"Stand still! Oh! _do_ stand still--like you vas petrivied," said the +professor in a low voice of entreaty. + +Being quite willing to humour him, the whole party stood immovable, like +statues, and thus avoided attracting the attention of the monkeys, who +continued their game. It seemed to be a sort of "follow my leader," for +one big strong fellow led off with a bound from one branch to another +which evidently tried the nerves of his more timid and less agile +companions. They all succeeded, however, from the largest even to the +smallest--which last was a very tiny creature with a pink face, a sad +expression, and a corkscrew tail. + +For a time they bounded actively among the branches, now high now low, +till suddenly the big leader took a tremendous leap, as if for the +express purpose of baffling or testing his companions. It was immensely +amusing to see the degrees of trepidation with which the others +followed. The last two seemed quite unable to make up their minds to +the leap, until the others seemed about to disappear, when one of them +took heart and bounded wildly across. Thus little pink-face with the +corkscrew tail was left alone! Twice did that little monkey make a +desperate resolution to jump, and twice did its little heart fail as it +measured the distance between the branches and glanced at the abyss +below. Its companions seemed to entertain a feeling of pity for it. +Numbers of them came back, as if to watch the jump and encourage the +little one. A third time it made an abortive effort to spring, and +looked round pitifully, whereupon Moses gave vent to an uncontrollable +snort of suppressed laughter. + +"Vat you mean by zat?" growled the professor angrily. + +The growl and snort together revealed the intruders, and all the +monkeys, except pink-face, crowding the trees above the spot where they +stood, gazed down upon them with expressions in which unparalleled +indignation and inconceivable surprise struggled for the mastery. + +Then, with a wild shriek, the whole troop fled into the forest. + +This was too much for poor, half-petrified pink-face with the twisted +tail. Seeing that its comrades were gone in earnest, it became +desperate, flung itself frantically into the air with an agonising +squeak, missed its mark, went crashing through the slender branches and +fell to the ground. + +Fortunately these branches broke its fall so that it arose unhurt, +bounded into a bush, still squeaking with alarm, and made after its +friends. + +"Why did you not shoot it, professor?" asked Nigel, laughing as much at +Verkimier's grave expression as at the little monkey's behaviour. + +"Vy did I not shot it?" echoed the professor. "I vould as soon shot a +baby. Zee pluck of zat leetle creature is admirable. It vould be a +horrible shame to take his life. No! I do love to see ploock vezer in +man or beast! He could not shoomp zat. He _knew_ he could not shoomp it, +but he _tried_ to shoomp it. He vould not be beat, an' I vould not kill +him--zough I vant 'im very mooch for a specimen." + +It seemed as if the professor was to be specially rewarded for his +generous self-denial on this occasion, for while he was yet speaking, a +soft "hush!" from Van der Kemp caused the whole party to halt in dead +silence and look at the hermit inquiringly. + +"You are in luck, professor," he murmured, in a soft, low voice--very +different from that hissing whisper which so many people seem to imagine +is an inaudible utterance. "I see a splendid Argus pheasant over there +making himself agreeable to his wife!" + +"Vare? oh! vare?" exclaimed the enthusiast with blazing eyes, for +although he had already seen and procured specimens of this most +beautiful creature, he had not yet seen it engage in the strange +love-dance--if we may so call it--which is peculiar to the bird. + +"You'll never get near enough to see it if you hiss like a serpent," +said the hermit. "Get out your binoculars, follow me, and hold your +tongue, all of you--that will be the safest plan. Tread lightly." + +It was a sight to behold the professor crouching almost double in order +to render himself less conspicuous, with his hat pushed back, and the +blue glasses giving him the appearance of a great-eyed seal. He carried +his butterfly-net in one hand, and the unfailing rifle in the other. + +Fortunately the hermit's sharp and practised eye had enabled him to +distinguish the birds in the distance before their advance had alarmed +them, so that they were able to reach a mound topped with low bushes +over which they could easily watch the birds. + +"Zat is very koorious an' most interesting," murmured the professor +after a short silence. + +He was right. There were two Argus pheasants, a male and female--the +male alone being decorated superbly. The Argus belongs to the same +family as the peacock, but is not so gaudy in colouring, and therefore, +perhaps, somewhat more pleasing. Its tail is formed chiefly by an +enormous elongation of the two tail quills, and of the secondary wing +feathers, no two of which are exactly the same, and the closer they are +examined the greater is seen to be the extreme beauty of their markings, +and the rich varied harmony of their colouring. + +When a male Argus wishes to show off his magnificence to his spouse--or +when she asks him to show it off, we know not which--he makes a circle +in the forest some ten or twelve feet in diameter, which he clears of +every leaf, twig, and branch. On the margin of this circus there is +invariably a projecting branch, or overarching root a few feet above the +ground, on which the female takes her place to watch the exhibition. +This consists of the male strutting about, pluming his feathers, and +generally displaying his gorgeous beauty. + +"Vat ineffable vanity!" exclaimed the professor, after gazing for some +time in silence. + +His own folly in thus speaking was instantly proved by the two birds +bringing the exhibition to an abrupt close and hastily taking wing. + +Not long after seeing this they came to a small but deep and rapid +river, which for a time checked their progress, for there was no ford, +and the porters who carried Verkimier's packages seemed to know nothing +about a bridge, either natural or artificial. After wandering for an +hour or so along its banks, however, they found a giant tree which had +fallen across the stream and formed a natural bridge. + +On the other side of the stream the ground was more rugged and the +forest so dense that they had to walk in a sort of twilight--only a +glimpse of blue sky being visible here and there through the tree-tops. +In some places, however, there occurred bright little openings which +swarmed with species of metallic tiger-beetles and sand-bees, and where +sulphur, swallow-tailed, and other butterflies sported their brief life +away over the damp ground by the water's edge. + +The native forest path which they followed was little better than a +tunnel cut through a grove of low rattan-palms, the delicate but +exceedingly tough tendrils of which hung down in all directions. These +were fringed with sharp hooks which caught their clothing and tore it, +or held on unrelentingly, so that the only way of escape was to step +quietly back and unhook themselves. This of itself would have rendered +their progress slow as well as painful, but other things tended to +increase the delay. At one place they came to a tree about seven feet in +diameter which lay across the path and had to be scrambled over, and +this was done with great difficulty. At another, a gigantic +mud-bath--the wallowing hole of a herd of elephants--obstructed the +way, and a yell from one of the porters told that in attempting to cross +it he had fallen in up to the waist. A comrade in trying to pull him out +also fell in and sank up to the armpits. But they got over it--as +resolute men always do--somehow! + +"Zis is horrible!" exclaimed the professor, panting from his exertions, +and making a wild plunge with his insect-net at some living creature. +"Hah! zee brute! I have 'im." + +The man of science was flat on his stomach as he spoke, with arm +outstretched and the net pressed close to the ground, while a smile of +triumph beamed through the mud and scratches on his face. + +"What have you got?" asked Nigel, doing his best to restrain a laugh. + +"A splendid _Ornit'optera_ a day-flying moss'," said Verkimier as he +cautiously rose, "vich mimics zee _Trepsichrois mulciber_. Ant zis very +morning I caught von _Leptocircus virescens_, vich derives protection +from mimicking zee habits ant appearance of a dragon-fly." + +"What rubbish dat purfesser do talk!" remarked Moses in an undertone to +the hermit as they moved on again. + +"Not such rubbish as it sounds to you, Moses. These are the scientific +names of the creatures, and you know as well as he does that many +creatures think they find it advantageous to pretend to be what they +are not. Man himself is not quite free from this characteristic. Indeed, +you have a little of it yourself," said the hermit with one of his +twinkling glances. "When you are almost terrified of your wits don't you +pretend that there's nothing the matter with you?" + +"Nebber, massa, nebber!" answered the negro with remonstrative gravity. +"When I's nigh out ob my wits, so's my innards feels like nuffin' but +warmish water, I gits whitey-grey in de chops, so I's told, an' blue in +de lips, an' I _pretends_ nuffin'--I don't care _who_ sees it!" + +The track for some distance beyond this point became worse and worse. +Then the nature of the ground changed somewhat--became more hilly, and +the path, if such it could be styled, more rugged in some places, more +swampy in others, while, to add to their discomfort, rain began to fall, +and night set in dark and dismal without any sign of the village of +which they were in search. By that time the porters who carried +Verkimier's boxes seemed so tired that the hermit thought it advisable +to encamp, but the ground was so wet and the leeches were so numerous +that they begged him to go on, assuring him that the village could not +be far distant. In another half-hour the darkness became intense, so +that a man could scarcely see his fellow even when within two paces of +him. Ominous mutterings and rumblings like distant thunder also were +heard, which appeared to indicate an approaching storm. In these +circumstances encamping became unavoidable, and the order was given to +make a huge fire to scare away the tigers, which were known to be +numerous, and the elephants whose fresh tracks had been crossed and +followed during the greater part of the day. The track of a rhinoceros +and a tapir had also been seen, but no danger was to be anticipated from +those creatures. + +"Shall we have a stormy night, think you?" asked Nigel, as he assisted +in striking a light. + +"It may be so," replied the hermit, flinging down one after another of +his wet matches, which failed to kindle. "What we hear may be distant +thunder, but I doubt it. The sounds seem to me more like the mutterings +of a volcano. Some new crater may have burst forth in the Sumatran +ranges. This thick darkness inclines me to think so--especially after +the new activity of volcanic action we have seen so recently at +Krakatoa. Let me try your matches, Nigel, perhaps they have +escaped--mine are useless." + +But Nigel's matches were as wet as those of the hermit. So were those of +the professor. Luckily Moses carried the old-fashioned flint and steel, +with which, and a small piece of tinder, a spark was at last kindled, +but as they were about to apply it to a handful of dry bamboo scrapings, +an extra spirt of rain extinguished it. For an hour and more they made +ineffectual attempts to strike a light. Even the cessation of the rain +was of no avail. + +"Vat must ve do _now_?" asked the professor in tones that suggested a +wo-begone countenance, though there was no light by which to distinguish +it. + +"Grin and bear it," said Nigel, in a voice suggestive of a slight +expansion of the mouth--though no one could see it. + +"Dere's nuffin' else left to do," said Moses, in a tone which betrayed +such a very wide expansion that Nigel laughed outright. + +"Hah! you may laugh, my yoong frond, hot if zee tigers find us out or +zee elephants trample on us, your laughter vill be turned to veeping. +Vat is zat? Is not zat vonderful?" + +The question and exclamation were prompted by the sudden appearance of +faint mysterious lights among the bushes. That the professor viewed them +as unfriendly lights was clear from the click of his rifle-locks which +followed. + +"It is only phosphoric light," explained Van der Kemp. "I have often +seen it thus in electric states of the atmosphere. It will probably +increase--meanwhile we must seat ourselves on our boxes and do the best +we can till daylight. Are you there, boys?" + +This question, addressed to the bearers in their native tongue, was not +answered, and it was found, on a _feeling_ examination, that, in spite +of leeches, tigers, elephants, and the whole animal creation, the +exhausted porters had flung themselves on the wet ground and gone to +sleep while their leaders were discussing the situation. + +Dismal though the condition of the party was, the appearances in the +forest soon changed the professor's woe into eager delight, for the +phosphorescence became more and more pronounced, until every tree-stem +blinked with a palish green light, and it trickled like moonlight over +the ground, bringing out thick dumpy mushrooms like domes of light. +Glowing caterpillars and centipedes crawled about, leaving a trail of +light behind them, and fireflies darting to and fro peopled the air and +gave additional animation to the scene. + +In the midst of the darkness, thus made singularly visible, the white +travellers sat dozing and nodding on their luggage, while the cries of +metallic-toned horned frogs and other nocturnal sounds peculiar to that +weird forest formed their appropriate lullaby. + +But Moses neither dozed nor nodded. With a pertinacity peculiarly his +own he continued to play a running accompaniment to the lullaby with his +flint and steel, until his perseverance was rewarded with a spark which +caught on a dry portion of the tinder and continued to burn. By that +time the phosphoric lights had faded, and his spark was the only one +which gleamed through intense darkness. + +How he cherished that spark! He wrapped it in swaddling clothes of dry +bamboo scrapings with as much care as if it had been the essence of his +life. He blew upon it tenderly as though to fan its delicate brow with +the soft zephyrs of a father's affection. Again he blew more vigorously, +and his enormous pouting lips came dimly into view. Another blow and his +flat nose and fat cheeks emerged from darkness. Still another--with +growing confidence--and his huge eyes were revealed glowing with hope. +At last the handful of combustible burst into a flame, and was thrust +into a prepared nest of twigs. This, communicating with a heap of logs, +kindled a sudden blaze which scattered darkness out of being, and +converted thirty yards of the primeval forest into a chamber of glorious +light, round which the human beings crowded with joy enhanced by the +unexpectedness of the event, and before which the wild things of the +wilderness fled away. + +When daylight came at last, they found that the village for which they +had been searching was only two miles beyond the spot where they had +encamped. + +Here, being thoroughly exhausted, it was resolved that they should spend +that day and night, and, we need scarcely add, they spent a considerable +portion of both in sleep--at least such parts of both as were not +devoted to food. And here the professor distinguished himself in a way +that raised him greatly in the estimation of his companions and caused +the natives of the place to regard him as something of a demi-god. Of +course we do not vouch for the truth of the details of the incident, for +no one save himself was there to see, and although we entertained the +utmost regard for himself, we were not sufficiently acquainted with his +moral character to answer for his strict truthfulness. As to the main +event, there was no denying that. The thing happened thus:-- + +Towards the afternoon of that same day the travellers began to wake up, +stretch themselves, and think about supper. In the course of +conversation it transpired that a tiger had been prowling about the +village for some days, and had hitherto successfully eluded all attempts +to trap or spear it. They had tethered a goat several times near a small +pond and watched the spot from safe positions among the trees, with +spears, bows and arrows, and blow-pipes ready, but when they watched, +the tiger did not come, and when they failed to watch, the tiger did +come and carried off the goat. Thus they had been baffled. + +"Mine frond," said the professor to the hermit on hearing this. "I vill +shot zat tiger! I am resolved. Vill you ask zee chief to show me zee +place ant zen tell his people, on pain of def, not to go near it all +night, for if zey do I vill certainly shot zem--by accident of course!" + +The hermit did as he was bid, but advised his sanguine friend against +exposing himself recklessly. The chief willingly fell in with his +wishes. + +"Won't you tell us what you intend to do, professor?" asked Nigel, "and +let us help you." + +"No, I vill do it all by mineself--or die! I vill vant a shofel or a +spade of some sort." + +The chief provided the required implement, conducted his visitor a +little before sunset to the spot, just outside the village, and left him +there armed with his rifle, a revolver, and a long knife or kriss, +besides the spade. + +When alone, the bold man put off his glasses, made a careful inspection +of the ground, came to a conclusion--founded on scientific data no +doubt--as to the probable spot whence the tiger would issue from the +jungle when about to seize the goat, and, just opposite that spot, on +the face of a slope about ten yards from the goat, he dug a hole deep +enough to contain his own person. The soil was sandy easy to dig, and +quite dry. It was growing dusk when the professor crept into this +rifle-pit, drew his weapons and the spade in after him, and closed the +mouth of the pit with moist earth, leaving only a very small eye-hole +through which he could see the goat standing innocently by the brink of +the pool. + +"Now," said he, as he lay resting on his elbows with the rifle laid +ready to hand and the revolver beside it; "now, I know not vezer you can +smell or not, but I have buried mineself in eart', vich is a +non-conductor of smell. Ve shall see!" + +It soon became very dark, for there was no moon, yet not so dark but +that the form of the goat could be seen distinctly reflected in the +pond. Naturally the professor's mind reverted to the occasion when Nigel +had watched in the branches of a tree for another tiger. The conditions +were different, and so, he thought, was the man! + +"Mine yoong frond," he said mentally, "is brav', oondoubtedly, but his +nerves have not been braced by experience like mine. It is vell, for +zere is more dancher here zan in a tree. It matters not. I am resolf to +shot zat tigre--or die!" + +In this resolute and heroic frame of mind he commenced his vigil. + +It is curious to note how frequently the calculations of men fail +them--even those of scientific men! The tiger came indeed to the spot, +but he came in precisely the opposite direction from that which the +watcher expected, so that while Verkimier was staring over the goat's +head at an opening in the jungle beyond the pond, the tiger was +advancing stealthily and slowly through the bushes exactly behind the +hole in which he lay. + +Suddenly the professor became aware of _something_! He saw nothing +consciously, he heard nothing, but there stole over him, somehow, the +feeling of a dread presence! + +Was he asleep? Was it nightmare? No, it was night-tiger! He knew it, +somehow; he _felt_ it--but he could not see it. + +To face death is easy enough--according to some people--but to face +nothing at all is at all times trying. Verkimier felt it to be so at +that moment. But he was a true hero and conquered himself. + +"Come now," he said mentally, "don't be an ass! Don't lose your shance +by voomanly fears. Keep kviet." + +Another moment and there was a very slight sound right over his head. He +glanced upwards--as far as the little hole would permit--and there, not +a foot from him, was a tawny yellow throat! with a tremendous paw moving +slowly forward--so slowly that it might have suggested the imperceptible +movement of the hour-hand of a watch, or of a glacier. There was indeed +motion, but it was not perceptible. + +The professor's perceptions were quick. He did not require to think. He +knew that to use the rifle at such close quarters was absolutely +impossible. He knew that the slightest motion would betray him. He could +see that as yet he was undiscovered, for the animal's nose was straight +for the goat, and he concluded that either his having buried himself was +a safeguard against being smelt, or that the tiger had a cold in its +head. He thought for one moment of bursting up with a yell that would +scare the monster out of his seven senses--if he had seven--but +dismissed the thought as cowardly, for it would be sacrificing success +to safety. He knew not what to do, and the cold perspiration consequent +upon indecision at a supreme moment broke out all over him. Suddenly he +thought of the revolver! + +Like lightning he seized it, pointed it straight up and fired. The +bullet--a large army revolver one--entered the throat of the animal, +pierced the root of the tongue, crashed through the palate obliquely, +and entered the brain. The tiger threw one indescribable somersault and +fell--fell so promptly that it blocked the mouth of the pit, all the +covering earth of which had been blown away by the shot, and Verkimier +could feel the hairy side of the creature, and hear the beating of its +heart as it gasped its life away. But in his cramped position he could +not push it aside. Well aware of the tenacity of life in tigers, he +thought that if the creature revived it would certainly grasp him even +in its dying agonies, for the weight of its body and its struggles were +already crushing in the upper part of the hole. + +To put an end to its sufferings and his own danger, he pointed the +revolver at its side and again fired. The crash in the confined hole was +tremendous--so awful that the professor thought the weapon must have +burst. The struggles of the, tiger became more violent than ever, and +its weight more oppressive as the earth crumbled away. Again the cold +perspiration broke out all over the man, and he became unconscious. + +It must not be supposed that the professor's friends were unwatchful. +Although they had promised not to disturb him in his operations, they +had held themselves in readiness with rifle, revolver, and spear, and +the instant the first shot was heard, they ran down to the scene of +action. Before reaching it the second shot quickened their pace as they +ran down to the pond--a number of natives yelling and waving torches at +their heels. + +"Here he is," cried Moses, who was first on the scene, "dead as mutton!" + +"What! the professor?" cried Nigel in alarm. + +"No; de tiger." + +"Where's Verkimier?" asked the hermit as he came up. + +"I dun know, massa," said Moses, looking round him vacantly. + +"Search well, men, and be quick, he may have been injured," cried Van +der Kemp, seizing a torch and setting the example. + +"Let me out!" came at that moment from what appeared to be the bowels of +the earth, causing every one to stand aghast gazing in wonder around and +on each other. + +"Zounds! vy don't you let me _out_?" shouted the voice again. + +There was an indication of a tendency to flight on the part of the +natives, but Nigel's asking "Where _are_ you?" had the effect of +inducing them to delay for the answer. + +"Here--oonder zee tigre! Kveek, I am suffocat!" + +Instantly Van der Kemp seized the animal by the 'tail, and, Avith a +force worthy of Hercules, heaved it aside as if it had been a dead cat, +revealing the man of science underneath--alive and well, but +dishevelled, scratched, and soiled--also, as deaf as a door-post! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +A PYTHON DISCOVERED AND A GEYSER INTERVIEWED. + + +"It never rains but it pours" is a well-known proverb which finds, +frequent illustration in the experience of almost every one. At all +events Verkimier had reason to believe in the truth of it at that time, +for adventures came down on him, as it were, in a sort of deluge, more +or less astounding, insomuch that his enthusiastic spirit, bathing, if +we may say so, in an ocean of scientific delight, pronounced Sumatra to +be the very paradise of the student of nature. + +We have not room in this volume to follow him in the details of his +wonderful experiences, but we must mention one adventure which he had on +the very day after the tiger-incident, because it very nearly had the +effect of separating him from his travelling companions. + +Being deaf, as we have said--owing to the explosion of his revolver in +the hole--but not necessarily dumb, the professor, after one or two +futile attempts to hear and converse, deemed it wise to go to bed and +spend the few conscious minutes that might precede sleep in watching Van +der Kemp, who kindly undertook to skin his tiger for him. Soon the +self-satisfied man fell into a sweet infantine slumber, and dreamed of +tigers, in which state he gave vent to sundry grunts, gasps, and +half-suppressed cries, to the immense delight of Moses, who sat watching +him, indulging in a running commentary suggestive of the recent event, +and giving utterance now and then to a few imitative growls by way of +enhancing the effect of the dreams! + +"Look! look! Massa Nadgel, he's twitchin' all ober. De tiger's comin' to +him now." + +"Looks like it, Moses." + +"Yes--an', see, he grip de 'volver--no, too soon, or de tiger's goed +away, for he's stopped twichin'--dare; de tiger comes agin!" + +A gasp and clenching of the right hand seemed to warrant this +assumption. Then a yell rang through the hut; Moses displayed all, and +more than all his teeth, and the professor, springing up on one elbow, +glared fearfully. + +"I'n't it awrful?" inquired Moses in a low tone. + +The professor awoke mentally, recognised the situation, smiled an +imbecile smile, and sank back again on his pillow with a sigh of relief. + +After that, when the skinning of the tiger was completed, the dreams +appeared to leave him, and all his comrades joined him in the land of +Nod. He was first to awake when daylight entered their hut the following +morning, and, feeling in a fresh, quiescent state of mind after the +excitement of the preceding night, he lay on his back, his eyes fixed +contentedly on the grand tiger-skin which hung on the opposite wall. + +By degrees his eyes grew wearied of that object, and he allowed them to +travel languidly upwards and along the roof until they rested on the +spot directly over his head, where they became fixed, and, at the same +time, opened out to a glare, compared to which all his previous glaring +was as nothing--for there, in the thatch, looking down upon him, was the +angular head of a huge python. The snake was rolled up in a tight coil, +and had evidently spent the night within a yard of the professor's head! +Being unable to make out what sort of snake it was, and fearing that it +might be a poisonous one, he crept quietly from his couch, keeping his +eyes fixed on the reptile as he did so. One result of this mode of +action was that he did not see where he was going, and inadvertently +thrust one finger into Moses' right eye, and another into his open +mouth. The negro naturally shut his mouth with a snap, while the +professor opened his with a roar, and in another moment every man was +on his feet blinking inquiringly. + +"Look! zee snake!" cried the professor, when Moses released him. + +"We must get him out of that," remarked Van der Kemp, as he quietly made +a noose with a piece of rattan, and fastened it to the end of a long +pole. With the latter he poked the creature up, and, when it had +uncoiled sufficiently, he slipped the noose deftly over its head. + +"Clear out, friends," he said, looking round. + +All obeyed with uncommon promptitude except the professor, who valiantly +stood his ground. Van der Kemp pulled the python violently down to the +floor, where it commenced a tremendous scuffle among the chairs and +posts. The hermit kept its head off with the pole, and sought to catch +its tail, but failed twice. Seeing this the professor caught the tail as +it whipped against his legs, and springing down the steps so violently +that he snapped the cord by which the hermit held it, and drew the +creature straight out--a thick monster full twelve feet long, and +capable of swallowing a dog or a child. + +"Out of zee way!" shouted the professor, making a wild effort to swing +the python against a tree, but the tail slipped from his grasp, the +professor fell, and the snake went crashing against a log, under which +it took refuge. + +Nigel, who was nearest to it, sprang forward, fortunately caught its +tail, and, swinging it and himself round with such force that it could +not coil up at all, dashed it against a tree. Before it could recover +from the shock, Moses had caught up a hatchet and cut its head off with +one blow. The tail wriggled for a few seconds, and the head gaped once +or twice, as if in mild surprise at so sudden a finale. + +"Zat is strainch--very strainch," slowly remarked the professor, as, +still seated on the ground, he solemnly noted these facts. + +"Not so _very_ strange, after all," said Van der Kemp; "I've seen the +head of many a bigger snake cut off at one blow." + +"Mine frond, you mistake me. It is zee vorking of physical law in zee +spiritual vorld zat perplexes me. Moses has cut zee brute in +two--physical fact, substance can be divided. Zee two parts are still +alife, zerfore, zee life--zee spirit--has also been divided!" + +"It is indeed very strange," said Nigel, with a laugh. "Stranger still +that you may cut a worm into several parts, and the life remains in +each, but, strangest of all, that you should sit on the ground, +professor, instead of rising up, while you philosophise. You are not +hurt, I hope--are you?" + +"I razer zink I am," returned the philosopher with a faint smile; "mine +onkle, I zink, is spraint." + +This was indeed true, and it seemed as if the poor man's wanderings +were to be, for a time at least, brought to an abrupt close. Fortunately +it was found that a pony could be procured at that village, and, as they +had entered the borders of the mountainous regions, and the roads were +more open and passable than heretofore, it was resolved that the +professor should ride until his ankle recovered. + +We must now pass over a considerable portion of time and space, and +convey the reader, by a forced march, to the crater of an active +volcano. By that time Verkimier's ankle had recovered and the pony had +been dismissed. The heavy luggage, with the porters, had been left in +the low grounds, for the mountain they had scaled was over 10,000 feet +above the sea-level. Only one native from the plain below accompanied +them as guide, and three of their porters whose inquiring minds tempted +them to make the ascent. + +At about 10,000 feet the party reached what the natives called the dempo +or edge of the volcano, whence they looked down into the sawah or +ancient crater, which was a level space composed of brown soil +surrounded by cliffs, and lying like the bottom of a cup 200 feet below +them. It had a sulphurous odour, and was dotted here and there with +clumps of heath and rhododendrons. In the centre of this was a cone +which formed the true--or modern--crater. On scrambling up to the lip +of the cone and looking down some 300 feet of precipitous rock they +beheld what seemed to be a pure white lake set in a central basin of 200 +feet in diameter. The surface of this lakelet smoked, and although it +reflected every passing cloud as if it were a mirror, it was in reality +a basin of hot mud, the surface of which was about thirty feet below its +rim. + +"You will soon see a change come over it," said the hermit, as the party +gazed in silent admiration at the weird scene. + +He had scarcely spoken, when the middle of the lake became intensely +black and scored with dark streaks. This, though not quite obvious at +first from the point where they stood, was caused by the slow formation +of a great chasm in the centre of the seething lake of mud. The lake was +sinking into its own throat. The blackness increased. Then a dull sullen +roar was heard, and next moment the entire lake upheaved, not violently, +but in a slow, majestic manner some hundreds of feet into the air, +whence it fell back into its basin with an awful roar which reverberated +and echoed from the rocky walls of the caldron like the singing of an +angry sea. An immense volume of steam--the motive power which had blown +up the lake--was at the same time liberated and dissipated in the air. + +The wave-circles died away on the margin of the lake, and the placid, +cloud-reflecting surface was restored until the geyser had gathered +fresh force for another upheaval. + +"Amazing!" exclaimed Nigel, who had gazed with feelings of awe at this +curious exhibition of the tremendous internal forces with which the +Creator has endowed the earth. + +"Vonderful!" exclaimed the professor, whose astonishment was such, that +his eyebrows rose high above the rim of his huge blue binoculars. + +Moses, to whom such an exhibition of the powers of nature was familiar, +was, we are sorry to say, not much impressed, if impressed at all! +Indeed he scarcely noticed it, but watched, with intense teeth-and-gum +disclosing satisfaction, the faces of two of the native porters who had +never seen anything of the kind before, and whose terrified expressions +suggested the probability of a precipitate flight when their trembling +limbs became fit to resume duty. + +"Will it come again soon?" asked Nigel, turning to Van der Kemp. + +"Every fifteen or twenty minutes it goes through that process all day +and every day," replied the hermit. + +"But, if I may joodge from zee stones ant scoriae around," said the +professor, "zee volcano is not alvays so peaceful as it is joost now." + +"You are right. About once in every three years, and sometimes oftener, +the crops of coffee, bananas, rice, etc., in this region are quite +destroyed by sulphur-rain, which covers everything for miles around the +crater." + +"Hah! it vould be too hote a place zis for us, if zat vas to happin +joost now," remarked Verkimier with a smile. + +"It cannot be far off the time now, I should think," said Yan der Kemp. + +All this talk Moses translated, and embellished, to the native porters +with the solemn sincerity of a true and thorough-paced hypocrite. He had +scarcely finished, and was watching with immense delight the changeful +aspect of their whitey-green faces, when another volcanic fit came on, +and the deep-toned roar of the coming explosion was heard. It was so +awesome that the countenance even of Van der Kemp became graver than +usual. As for the two native porters, they gazed and trembled. Nigel and +the professor also gazed with lively expectation. Moses--we grieve to +record it--hugged himself internally, and gloated over the two porters. + +Another moment and there came a mighty roar. Up went the mud-lake +hundreds of feet into the air; out came the steam with the sound of a +thousand trombones, and away went the two porters, head ever heels, down +the outer slope of the cone and across the sawah as if the spirit of +evil were after them. + +There was no cause, however, for alarm. The mud-lake, falling back into +its native cup, resumed its placid aspect and awaited its next upheaval +with as much tranquillity as if it had never known disturbance in the +past, and were indifferent about the future. + +That evening our travellers encamped in close proximity to the crater, +supped on fowls roasted in an open crevice whence issued steam and +sulphurous smells, and slept with the geyser's intermittent roar +sounding in their ears and re-echoing in their dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +TELLS OF VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STRANGE RETURN "HOME." + + +This tremendous introduction to volcanic fires was but the prelude to a +period of eruptive action which has not been paralleled in the world's +history. + +For a short time after this, indeed, the genial nature of the weather +tended to banish from the minds of our travellers all thoughts of +violence either in terrestrial or human affairs, and as the professor +devoted himself chiefly to the comparatively mild occupation of catching +and transfixing butterflies and beetles during the march southward, +there seemed to be nothing in the wide universe above or below save +peace and tranquillity--except, perhaps, in the minds of beetles and +butterflies! + +Throughout all this period, nevertheless, there were ominous growlings, +grumblings, and tremors--faint but frequent--which indicated a +condition of mother earth that could not have been called easy. + +"Some of the volcanoes of Java must be at work, I think," said Nigel +one night, as the party sat in a small isolated wood-cutter's hut +discussing a supper of rice and fowls with his friends, which they were +washing down with home-grown coffee. + +"It may be so," said Van der Kemp in a dubious tone; "but the sounds, +though faint, seem to me a good deal nearer. I can't help thinking that +the craters which have so recently opened up in Krakatoa are still +active, and that it may be necessary for me to shift my quarters, for my +cave is little more, I suspect, than the throat of an ancient volcano." + +"Hah! say you so, mine frond? Zen I vould advise you to make no delay," +said the professor, critically examining a well-picked drumstick. "You +see, it is not pleasant to be blown up eizer by the terrestrial +eruptions of zee vorld or zee celestial explosions of your vife.--A +leetle more rice, Moses if you please. Zanks." + +"Now, mine fronds," he continued, after having disposed of a supper +which it might have taxed a volcano's throat to swallow, "it is viz +great sorrow zat I must part from you here." + +"Part! Why?" asked the hermit in surprise. + +"Vy, because I find zis contrie is heaven upon eart'. Zat is, of course, +only in a scientific point of view. Zee voods are svarming, zee air is +teeming, ant zee vaters are vallo'ing vit life. I cannot tear myself +avay. But ve shall meet again--at Telok Betong, or Krakatoa, or Anjer, +or Batavia." + +It was found that the man of science was also a man of decision. Nothing +would persuade him to go a step further. The wood-cutter's hut suited +him, so did the wood-cutter himself, and so, as he said, did the region +around him. With much regret, therefore, and an earnest invitation from +the hermit to visit his cave, and range the almost unexplored woods of +his island, the travellers parted from him; and our three adventurers, +dismissing all attendants and hiring three ponies, continued their +journey to the southern shores of Sumatra. + +As they advanced it soon became evident that the scene of volcanic +activity was not so far distant as the island of Java, for the air was +frequently darkened by the falling of volcanic dust which covered the +land with a greyish powder. As, however, at least sixteen volcanoes have +been registered in the island of Sumatra, and there are probably many +others, it was impossible to decide where the scene of eruption was that +caused those signs. + +One afternoon the travellers witnessed a catastrophe which induced them +to forego all idea of spending more time in examining the country. They +had arrived at a village where they found a traveller who appeared to be +going about without any special object in view. He spoke English, but +with a foreign accent. Nigel naturally felt a desire to become sociable +with him, but he was very taciturn and evidently wished to avoid +intercourse with chance acquaintances. Hearing that there were curious +hot-water and mud springs not far off, the stranger expressed a desire +to visit them. Nigel also felt anxious to see them, and as one guide was +sufficient for the party the stranger joined the party and they went +together. + +The spot they were led to was evidently a mere crust of earth covering +fierce subterranean fires. In the centre of it a small pond of mud was +boiling and bubbling furiously, and round this, on the indurated clay, +were smaller wells and craters full of boiling mud. The ground near them +was obviously unsafe, for it bent under pressure like thin ice, and at +some of the cracks and fissures the sulphurous vapour was so hot that +the hand could not be held to it without being scalded. + +Nigel and the stranger walked close behind the native guide, both, +apparently, being anxious to get as near as possible to the central +pond. But the guide stopped suddenly, and, looking back, said to Van der +Kemp that it was not safe to approach nearer. + +Nigel at once stopped, and, looking at the stranger, was struck by the +wild, incomprehensible expression of his face as he continued to +advance. + +"Stop! stop, sir!" cried the hermit on observing this, but the man paid +no attention to the warning. + +Another instant and the crust on which he stood gave way and he sank +into a horrible gulf from which issued a gust of sulphurous vapour and +steam. The horror which almost overwhelmed Nigel did not prevent him +bounding forward to the rescue. Well was it for him at that time that a +cooler head than his own was near. The strong hand of the hermit seized +his collar on the instant, and he was dragged backward out of danger, +while an appalling shriek from the stranger as he disappeared told that +the attempt to succour him would have been too late. + +A terrible event of this kind has usually the effect of totally +changing, at least for a time, the feelings of those who witness it, so +as to almost incapacitate them from appreciating ordinary events or +things. For some days after witnessing the sudden and awful fate of this +unknown man, Nigel travelled as if in a dream, taking little notice of, +or interest in, anything, and replying to questions in mere +monosyllables. His companions seemed to be similarly affected, for they +spoke very little. Even the volatile spirit of Moses appeared to be +subdued, and it was not till they had reached nearly the end of their +journey that their usual flow of spirits returned. + +Arriving one night at a village not very far from the southern shores +of Sumatra they learned that the hermit's presentiments were justified, +and that the volcano which was causing so much disturbance in the +islands of the archipelago was, indeed, the long extinct one of +Krakatoa. + +"I've heard a good deal about it from one of the chief men here," said +the hermit as he returned to his friends that night about supper-time. +"He tells me that it has been more or less in moderate eruption ever +since we left the island, but adds that nobody takes much notice of it, +as they don't expect it to increase much in violence. I don't agree with +them in that," he added gravely. + +"Why not?" asked Nigel. + +"Partly because of the length of time that has elapsed since its last +eruption in 1680; partly from the fact that that eruption--judging from +appearances--must have been a very tremendous one, and partly because my +knowledge of volcanic action leads me to expect it; but I could not +easily explain the reason for my conclusions on the latter point. I have +just been to the brow of a ridge not far off whence I have seen the glow +in the sky of the Krakatoa fires. They do not, however, appear to be +very fierce at the present moment." + +As he spoke there was felt by the travellers a blow, as if of an +explosion under the house in which they sat. It was a strong vertical +bump which nearly tossed them all off their chairs. Van der Kemp and his +man, after an exclamation or two, continued supper like men who were +used to such interruptions, merely remarking that it was an earthquake. +But Nigel, to whom it was not quite so familiar, stood up for a few +seconds with a look of anxious uncertainty, as if undecided as to the +path of duty and prudence in the circumstances. Moses relieved him. + +"Sot down, Massa Nadgel," said that sable worthy, as he stuffed his +mouth full of rice; "it's easier to sot dan to stand w'en its +eart'quakin'." + +Nigel sat down with a tendency to laugh, for at that moment he chanced +to glance at the rafters above, where he saw a small anxious-faced +monkey gazing down at him. + +He was commenting on this creature when another prolonged shock of +earthquake came. It was not a bump like the previous one, but a severe +vibration which only served to shake the men in their chairs, but it +shook the small monkey off the rafter, and the miserable little thing +fell with a shriek and a flop into the rice-dish! + +"Git out o' dat--you scoundril!" exclaimed Moses, but the order was +needless, for the monkey bounced out of it like indiarubber and sought +to hide its confusion in the thatch, while Moses helped himself to some +more of the rice, which, he said; was none the worse for being +monkeyfied! + +At last our travellers found themselves in the town of Telok Betong, +where, being within forty-five miles of Krakatoa, the hermit could both +see and hear that his island-home was in violent agitation; tremendous +explosions occurring frequently, while dense masses of smoke were +ascending from its craters. + +"I'm happy to find," said the hermit, soon after their arrival in the +town, "that the peak of Rakata, on the southern part of the island where +my cave lies, is still quiet and has shown no sign of breaking out. And +now I shall go and see after my canoe." + +"Do you think it safe to venture to visit your cave?" asked Nigel. + +"Well, not absolutely safe," returned the hermit with a peculiar smile, +"but, of course, if you think it unwise to run the risk of--" + +"I asked a simple question, Van der Kemp, without any thought of +myself," interrupted the youth, as he flushed deeply. + +"Forgive me, Nigel," returned the hermit quickly and gravely, "it is but +my duty to point out that we cannot go there without running _some_ +risk." + +"And it is _my_ duty to point out," retorted his hurt friend, "that when +any man, worthy of the name, agrees to follow another, he agrees to +accept all risks." + +To this the hermit vouchsafed no further reply than a slight smile and +nod of intelligence. Thereafter he went off alone to inquire about his +canoe, which, it will be remembered, his friend, the captain of the +steamer, had promised to leave for him at this place. + +Telok Betong, which was one of the severest sufferers by the eruption of +1883, is a small town at the head of Lampong Bay, opposite to the island +of Krakatoa, from which it is between forty and fifty miles distant. It +is built on a narrow strip of land at the base of a steep mountain, but +little above the sea, and is the chief town of the Lampong Residency, +which forms the most southerly province of Sumatra. At the time we write +of, the only European residents of the place were connected with +Government. The rest of the population was composed of a heterogeneous +mass of natives mingled with a number of Chinese, a few Arabs, and a +large fluctuating population of traders from Borneo, Celebes, New +Guinea, Siam, and the other innumerable isles of the archipelago. These +were more or less connected with praus laden with the rich and varied +merchandise of the eastern seas. As each man in the town had been +permitted to build his house according to his own fancy, picturesque +irregularity was the agreeable result. It may be added that, as each +man spoke his own language in his own tones, Babel and noise were the +consequence. + +In a small hut by the waterside the hermit found the friend--a Malay--to +whom his canoe had been consigned, and, in a long low shed close by, he +found the canoe itself with the faithful Spinkie in charge. + +"Don't go near the canoe till you've made friends with the monkey," said +the Malay in his own tongue, as he was about to put the key in the door. + +"Why not?" asked the hermit. + +"Because it is the savagest brute I ever came across," said the man. "It +won't let a soul come near the canoe. I would have killed it long ago if +the captain of the steamer had not told me you wished it to be taken +great care of. There, look out! The vixen is not tied up." + +He flung open the shed-door and revealed Spinkie seated in his old +place, much deteriorated in appearance and scowling malevolently. + +The instant the poor creature heard its master's voice and saw his +form--for his features must have been invisible against the strong +light--the scowl vanished from its little visage. With a shriek of joy +it sprang like an acrobat from a spring-board and plunged into the +hermit's bosom--to the alarm of the Malay, who thought this was a +furious attack. We need not say that Van der Kemp received his faithful +little servant kindly, and it was quite touching to observe the monkey's +intense affection for him. It could not indeed wag its tail like a dog, +but it put its arms round its master's neck with a wondrously human air, +and rubbed its little head in his beard and whiskers, drawing itself +back now and then, putting its black paws on his cheeks, turning his +face round to the light and opening its round eyes wide--as well as its +round little mouth--as if to make sure of his identity--then plunging +into the whiskers again, and sometimes, when unable to contain its joy, +finding a safety-valve in a little shriek. + +When the meeting and greeting were over, Van der Kemp explained that he +would require his canoe by daybreak the following morning, ordered a few +provisions to be got ready, and turned to leave. + +"You must get down, Spinkie, and watch the canoe for one night more," +said the hermit, quietly. + +But Spinkie did not seem to perceive the necessity, for he clung closer +to his master with a remonstrative croak. + +"Get down, Spinkie," said the hermit firmly, "and watch the canoe." + +The poor beast had apparently learned that Medo-Persic law was not more +unchangeable than Van der Kemp's commands! At all events it crept down +his arm and leg, waddled slowly over the floor of the shed with bent +back and wrinkled brow, like a man of ninety, and took up its old +position on the deck, the very personification of superannuated woe. + +The hermit patted its head gently, however, thus relieving its feelings, +and probably introducing hope into its little heart before leaving. Then +he returned to his friends and bade them prepare for immediate +departure. + +It was the night of the 24th of August, and as the eruptions of the +volcano appeared to be getting more and more violent, Van der Kemp's +anxiety to reach his cave became visibly greater. + +"I have been told," said the hermit to Nigel, as they went down with +Moses to the place where the canoe had been left, "the history of +Krakatoa since we left. A friend informs me that a short time after our +departure the eruptions subsided a little, and the people here had +ceased to pay much attention to them, but about the middle of June the +volcanic activity became more violent, and on the 19th, in particular, +it was observed that the vapour column and the force of the explosions +were decidedly on the increase." + +"At Katimbang, from which place the island can be seen, it was noticed +that a second column of vapour was ascending from the centre of the +island, and that the appearance of Perboewatan had entirely changed, +its conspicuous summit having apparently been blown away. In July there +were some explosions of exceptional violence, and I have now no doubt +that it was these we heard in the interior of this island when we were +travelling hither, quite lately. On the 11th of this month, I believe, +the island was visited in a boat by a government officer, but he did not +land, owing to the heavy masses of vapour and dust driven about by the +wind, which also prevented him from making a careful examination, but he +could see that the forests of nearly the whole island have been +destroyed--only a few trunks of blighted trees being left standing above +the thick covering of pumice and dust. He reported that the dust near +the shore was found to be twenty inches thick." + +"If so," said Nigel, "I fear that the island will be no longer fit to +inhabit." + +"I know not," returned the hermit sadly, in a musing tone. "The officer +reported that there is no sign of eruption at Rakata, so that my house +is yet safe, for no showers of pumice, however deep, can injure the +cave." + +Nigel was on the point of asking his friend why he was so anxious to +revisit the island at such a time, but, recollecting his recent tiff on +that subject, refrained. Afterwards, however, when Van der Kemp was +settling accounts with the Malay, he put the question to Moses. + +"I can't help wondering," he said, "that Van der Kemp should be so +anxious to get back to his cave just now. If he were going in a big boat +to save some of his goods and chattels I could understand it, but the +canoe, you know, could carry little more than her ordinary lading." + +"Well, Massa Nadgel," said Moses, "it's my opinion dat he wants to go +back 'cause he's got an uncommon affekshnit heart." + +"How? Surely you don't mean that his love of the mere place is so strong +that--" + +"No, no, Massa Nadgel--'s not dat. But he was awrful fond ob his wife +an' darter, an' I know he's got a photogruff ob 'em bof togidder, an' I +t'ink he'd sooner lose his head dan lose dat, for I've seed him look at +'em for hours, an' kiss 'em sometimes w'en he t'ought I was asleep." + +The return of the hermit here abruptly stopped the conversation. The +canoe was carried down and put into the water, watched with profound +interest by hundreds of natives and traders, who were all more or less +acquainted with the hermit of Rakata. + +It was still daylight when they paddled out into Lampong Bay, but the +volumes of dust which rose from Krakatoa--although nearly fifty miles +off--did much to produce an unusually early twilight. + +"Goin' to be bery dark, massa," remarked Moses as they glided past the +shipping. "Shall I light de lamp?" + +"Do, Moses, but we shan't need it, for as we get nearer home the +volcanic fires will light us on our way." + +"De volcanic dust is a-goin' to powder us on our way too, massa. Keep +your hands out o' the way, Spinkie," said the negro as he fixed a small +oil-lamp to the mast, and resumed his paddle. + +"After we get out a bit the wind will help us," said the hermit. + +"Yes, massa, if he don't blow too strong," returned Moses, as a squall +came rushing down the mountains and swept over the bay, ruffling its now +dark waters into foaming wavelets. + +Altogether, what with the increasing darkness and the hissing squall, +and the night-voyage before them, and the fires of Krakatoa which were +now clearly visible on the horizon, Nigel Boy felt a more eerie +sensation in his breast than he ever remembered to have experienced in +all his previous life, but he scorned to admit the fact--even to +himself, and said, mentally, that it was rather romantic than otherwise! + +Just then there burst upon their ears the yell of a steam-whistle, and a +few moments later a steamer bore straight down on them, astern. + +"Steamer ahoy!" shouted Van der Kemp. "Will ye throw us a rope?" + +"Ay! ay!--ease 'er!--stop 'er! where are 'ee bound for?" demanded an +unmistakably English voice. + +"Krakatoa!" replied the hermit. "Where are you?" + +"Anjer, on the Java coast. Do 'ee want to be smothered, roasted, and +blown up?" asked the captain, looking down on the canoe as it ranged +alongside the dark hull. + +"No, we want to get home." + +"Home! Well, you're queer fellows in a queer eggshell for such waters. +Every man to his taste. Look out for the rope!" + +"All right, cappen," cried Moses as he caught the coil. + +Next moment the steamer went ahead, and the canoe ploughed over the +Sunda Straits at the rate of thirteen miles an hour, with her sharp prow +high out of the water, and the stern correspondingly low. The voyage, +which would have otherwise cost our three travellers a long laborious +night and part of next day, was by this means so greatly shortened that +when daybreak arrived they were not more than thirteen miles to the east +of Krakatoa. Nearer than this the steamboat could not take them without +going out of her course, but as Van der Kemp and Nigel gratefully +acknowledged, it was quite near enough. + +"Well, I should just think it was rather too near!" said the captain +with a grin. + +And, truly, he was justified in making the remark, for the explosions +from the volcano had by that time become not only very frequent, but +tremendously loud, while the dense cloud which hung above it and spread +far and wide over the sky covered the sea with a kind of twilight that +struggled successfully against the full advent of day. Lightning too was +playing among the rolling black masses of smoke, and the roaring +explosions every now and then seemed to shake the very heavens. + +Casting off the tow-rope, they turned the bow of their canoe to the +island. As a stiffish breeze was blowing, they set the sails, +close-reefed, and steered for the southern shore at that part which lay +under the shadow of Rakata. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +AN AWFUL NIGHT AND TERRIBLE MORNING. + + +It was a matter of some satisfaction to find on drawing near to the +shore that the peak of Rakata was still intact, and that, although most +other parts of the island which could be seen were blighted by fire and +covered deeply with pumice dust, much of the forest in the immediate +neighbourhood of the cave was still undestroyed though considerably +damaged. + +"D'you think our old harbour will be available, Moses?" asked Van der +Kemp as they came close to the first headland. + +"Pr'aps. Bes' go an' see," was the negro's practical reply. + +"Evidently Rakata is not yet active," said Nigel, looking up at the grey +dust-covered crags as the canoe glided swiftly through the dark water. + +"That is more than can be said for the other craters," returned the +hermit. "It seems to me that not only all the old ones are at work, but +a number of new ones must have been opened." + +The constant roaring and explosions that filled their ears and the rain +of fine ashes bore testimony to the truth of this, though the solid and +towering mass of Rakata rose between them and the part of Krakatoa which +was in eruption, preventing their seeing anything that was passing +except the dense masses of smoke, steam, and dust which rose many miles +into the heavens, obstructing the light of day, but forming cloud-masses +from which the lurid flames of the volcano were reflected downward. + +On reaching the little bay or harbour it was found much as they had left +it, save that the rocks and bushes around were thickly covered with +dust, and their boat was gone. + +"Strange! at such a time one would scarcely have expected thieves to +come here," said the hermit, looking slowly round. + +"No t'ief bin here, massa," said Moses, looking over the side of the +canoe. "I see de boat!" + +He pointed downwards as he spoke, and on looking over the side they saw +the wreck of the boat at the bottom, in about ten feet of water, and +crushed beneath a ponderous mass of lava, which must have been ejected +from the volcano and afterwards descended upon the boat. + +The destruction of the boat rendered it impossible to remove any of the +property of the hermit, and Nigel now saw, from his indifference, that +this could not have been the cause of his friend's anxiety and +determination to reach his island home in spite of the danger that such +a course entailed. That there was considerable danger soon became very +obvious, for, having passed to some extent at this point beyond the +shelter of the cliffs of Rakata, and come partly into view of the other +parts of the island, the real extent of the volcanic violence burst upon +Nigel and Moses as a new revelation. The awful sublimity of the scene at +first almost paralysed them, and they failed to note that not only did a +constant rain of pumice dust fall upon them, but that there was also a +pretty regular dropping of small stones into the water around them. +Their attention was sharply aroused to this fact by the fall of a lump +of semi-molten rock, about the size of a cannon shot, a short distance +off, which was immediately followed by not less than a cubic yard of +lava which fell close to the canoe and deluged them with spray. + +"We must go," said the hermit quietly. "No need to expose ourselves +here, though the watching of the tremendous forces that our Creator has +at command does possess a wonderful kind of fascination. It seems to me +the more we see of His power as exerted on our little earth, the more do +we realise the paltriness of our conception of the stupendous Might that +upholds the Universe." + +While he was speaking, Van der Kemp guided the canoe into its little +haven, and in a few minutes he and Moses had carried it into the shelter +of the cave out of which Nigel had first seen it emerge. Then the lading +was carried up, after which they turned into the track which led to the +hermit's home. + +The whole operation may be said to have been performed under fire, for +small masses of rock kept pattering continually on the dust-covered +ground around them, causing cloudlets, like smoke, to spring up wherever +they struck. Nigel and Moses could not resist glancing upward now and +then as they moved quickly to and fro, and they experienced a shrinking +sensation when a stone fell very near them, but each scorned to exhibit +the smallest trace of anxiety, or to suggest that the sooner they got +from under fire the better! As for Van der Kemp, he moved about +deliberately as if there was nothing unusual going on, and with an +absent look on his grave face as though the outbursts of smoke, and +fire, and lava, which turned the face of day into lurid night, and +caused the cliffs to reverberate with unwonted thunders, had no effect +whatever on his mind. + +A short walk, however, along the track, which was more than ankle-deep +in dust, brought them under the sheltering sides of Rakata, up which +they soon scrambled to the mouth of their cave. Here all was found as +they had left it, save that the entrance was knee-deep in pumice dust. + +And now a new and very strange sensation was felt by each of them, for +the loud reports and crackling sounds which had assailed their ears +outside were reduced by the thick walls of the cave to a continuous dull +groan, as it were, like the soft but thunderous bass notes of a +stupendous organ. To these sounds were added others which seemed to be +peculiar to the cave itself. They appeared to rise from crevices in the +floor, and were no doubt due to the action of those pent-up subterranean +fires which were imprisoned directly, though it may be very far down, +under their feet. Every now and then there came a sudden increase of the +united sounds as if the "swell" of the great organ had been opened, and +such out-gushing was always accompanied with more or less of +indescribable shocks followed by prolonged tremors of the entire +mountain. + +If the three friends had been outside to observe what was taking place, +they would have seen that these symptoms were simultaneous with +occasional and extremely violent outbursts from the crater of +Perboewatan and his compeers. Indeed they guessed as much, and two of +them at least were not a little thankful that, awesome as their position +was, they had the thick mountain between them and the fiery showers +outside. + +Of all this the hermit took no notice, but, hastening into the inner +cavern, opened a small box, and took therefrom a bundle of papers and a +little object which, at a first glance, Nigel supposed to be a book, but +which turned out to be a photograph case. These the hermit put carefully +into the breastpocket of his coat and then turned to his companions with +a sigh as if of relief. + +"I think there is no danger of anything occurring at this part of the +island," he remarked, looking round the cave, "for there is no sign of +smoke and no sulphurous smell issuing from any of the crevices in walls +or floor. This, I think, shows that there is no direct communication +with Rakata and the active volcano--at least not at present." + +"Do you then think there is a possibility of an outbreak at some future +period?" asked Nigel. + +"Who can tell? People here, who don't study the nature of volcanoes +much, though surrounded by them, will expect things ere long to resume +their normal condition. I can never forget the fact that the greater +part of Krakatoa stands, as you know, exactly above the spot where the +two great lines of volcanic action cross, and right over the mouth of +the immense crater to which Perboewatan and all the other craters serve +as mere chimneys or safety-valves. We cannot tell whether a great +eruption similar to that of 1680 may not be in store for us. The only +reason that I can see for the quiescence of this peak of Rakata is, as I +said to you once before, that it stands not so much above the old crater +as above and on the safe side of its lip." + +"I t'ink, massa, if I may ventur' to speak," said Moses, "dat de sooner +we git off his lip de better lest we tumble into his mout'." + +"You may be right, Moses, and I have no objection to quit," returned the +hermit, "now that I have secured the photograph and papers. At the same +time I fear the rain of stones and lava is growing worse. It might be +safer to stay till there is a lull in the violence of the eruption, and +then make a dash for it. What say you, Nigel?" + +"I say that you know best, Van der Kemp. I'm ready to abide by your +decision, whatever it be." + +"Well, then, we will go out and have a look at the state of matters." + +The view from the entrance was not calculated to tempt them to forsake +the shelter of the cave, however uncertain that might be. The latest +explosions had enshrouded the island in such a cloud of smoke and dust, +that nothing whatever was visible beyond a few yards in front, and even +that space was only seen by the faint rays of the lamp issuing from the +outer cave. This lamp-light was sufficient, however, to show that within +the semicircle of a few yards there was a continuous rain of grey ashes +and dust mingled with occasional stones of various sizes--some larger +than a man's fist. + +"To go out in that would be simply to court death," said Nigel, whose +voice was almost drowned by the noise of the explosions and fall of +material. + +As it was manifest that nothing could be done at the moment except to +wait patiently, they returned to the cave, where they lighted the +oil-stove, and Moses--who had taken the precaution to carry up some +provisions in a bag from the canoe--proceeded to prepare a meal. + +"Stummicks must be attended to," he murmured to himself as he moved +about the cave-kitchen and shook his head gravely. "Collapses in dat +region is wuss, a long way, dan 'splosion of the eart'!" + +Meanwhile, Nigel and the hermit went to examine the passage leading to +the observatory. The eruption had evidently done nothing to it, for, +having passed upwards without difficulty, they finally emerged upon the +narrow ledge. + +The scene that burst upon their astonished gaze here was awful in the +extreme. It will be remembered that while the hermit's cave was on the +southern side of Krakatoa, facing Java, the stair and passage leading to +the observatory completely penetrated the peak of Rakata, so that when +standing on the ledge they faced northward and were thus in full view of +all the craters between them and Perboewatan. These were in full blast +at the time, and, being so near, the heat, as well as the dust, molten +lava, and other missiles, instantly drove them back under the protection +of the passage from which they had emerged. + +Here they found a small aperture which appeared to have been recently +formed--probably by a blow from a mass of falling rock--through which +they were able to obtain a glimpse of the pandemonium that lay seething +below them. They could not see much, however, owing to the smoke which +filled the air. The noise of the almost continuous explosions was so +loud, that it was impossible to converse save by placing the mouth to +the ear and shouting. Fortunately soon after their ascent the wind +shifted and blew smoke, fire, and dust away to the northward, enabling +them to get out on the ledge, where for a time they remained in +comparative safety. + +"Look! look at your mirrors!" exclaimed Nigel suddenly, as his wandering +gaze happened to turn to the hermit's sun-guides. + +And he might well exclaim, for not only was the glass of these ingenious +machines shivered and melted, but their iron frameworks were twisted up +into fantastic shapes. + +"Lightning has been at work here," said Van der Kemp. + +It did not at the moment occur to either of them that the position on +which they stood was peculiarly liable to attack by the subtle and +dangerous fluid which was darting and zig-zagging everywhere among the +rolling clouds of smoke and steam. + +A louder report than usual here drew their attention again to the +tremendous scene that was going on in front of them. The extreme summit +of Perboewatan had been blown into a thousand fragments, which were +hurtling upwards and crackling loudly as the smaller masses were +impelled against each other in their skyward progress. This crackling +has been described by those who heard it from neighbouring shores as a +"strange rustling sound." To our hermit and his friend, who were, so to +speak, in the very midst of it, the sound rather resembled the +continuous musketry of a battle-field, while the louder explosions might +be compared to the booming of artillery, though they necessarily lose by +the comparison, for no invention of man ever produced sounds equal to +those which thundered at that time from the womb of Krakatoa. + +Immediately after this, a fountain of molten lava at white heat welled +up in the great throat that had been so violently widened, and, +overflowing the edges of the crater, rolled down its sides in fiery +rivers. All the other craters in the island became active at the same +moment and a number of new ones burst forth. Indeed it seemed to those +who watched them that if these had not opened up to give vent to the +suppressed forces the whole island must have been blown away. As it was, +the sudden generation of so much excessive heat set fire to what +remained of trees and everything combustible, so that the island +appeared to be one vast seething conflagration, and darkness was for a +time banished by a red glare that seemed to Nigel far more intense than +that of noonday. + +It is indeed the partiality (if we may say so) of conflagration-light +which gives to it the character of impressive power with which we are +all so familiar--the intense lights being here cut sharply off by +equally intense shadows, and then grading into dull reds and duller +greys. The sun, on the other hand, bathes everything in its genial glow +so completely that all nature is permeated with it, and there are no +intense contrasts, no absolutely black and striking shadows, except in +caverns and holes, to form startling contrasts. + +"These safety-valves," said the hermit, referring to the new craters, +"have, under God, been the means of saving us from destruction." + +"It would seem so," said Nigel, who was too overwhelmed by the sight to +say much. + +Even as he spoke the scene changed as if by magic, for from the cone of +Perboewatan there issued a spout of liquid fire, followed by a roar so +tremendous that the awe-struck men shrank within themselves, feeling as +though that time had really come when the earth is to melt with fervent +heat! The entire lake of glowing lava was shot into the air, and lost in +the clouds above, while mingled smoke and steam went bellowing after it, +and dust fell so thickly that it seemed as if sufficient to extinguish +the raging fires. Whether it did so or not is uncertain. It may have +been that the new pall of black vapour only obscured them. At all +events, after the outburst the darkness of night fell suddenly on all +around. + +Just then the wind again changed, and the whole mass of vapour, smoke, +and ashes came sweeping like the very besom of destruction towards the +giddy ledge on which the observers stood. Nigel was so entranced that it +is probable he might have been caught in the horrible tempest and lost +had not his cooler companion grasped his arm and dragged him violently +into the passage--where they were safe, though half suffocated by the +heat and sulphurous vapours that followed them. + +At the same time the thunderous roaring became so loud that conversation +was impossible. Van der Kemp therefore took his friend's hand and led +him down to the cave, where the sounds were so greatly subdued as to +seem almost a calm by contrast. + +"We are no doubt in great danger," said the hermit, gravely, as he sat +down in the outer cave, "but there is no possibility of taking action +to-night. Here we are, whether wisely or unwisely, and here we must +remain--at least till there is a lull in the eruption. 'God is our +refuge.' He ought to be so at _all_ times, but there are occasions when +this great, and, I would add, glorious fact is pressed upon our +understandings with unusual power. Such a time is this. Come--we will +see what His word says to us just now." + +To Nigel's surprise, and, he afterwards confessed, to his comfort and +satisfaction, the hermit called the negro from his work, and, taking +down the large Bible from its shelf, read part of the 46th Psalm, "God +is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore +will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains +be carried into the midst of the sea." + +He stopped reading at the verse where it is written, "Be still, and know +that I am God." + +Then, going down on his knees,--without even the familiar formula, "Let +us pray"--he uttered a brief but earnest prayer for guidance and +deliverance "in the name of Jesus." + +Rising, he quietly put the Bible away, and, with the calmness of a +thoroughly practical man, who looks upon religion and ordinary matters +as parts of one grand whole, ordered Moses to serve the supper. + +Thus they spent part of that memorable night of 26th August 1883 in +earnest social intercourse, conversing chiefly and naturally about the +character, causes, and philosophy of volcanoes, while Perboewatan and +his brethren played a rumbling, illustrative accompaniment to their +discourse. The situation was a peculiar one. Even the negro was alive to +that fact. + +"Ain't it koorious," he remarked solemnly in a moment of confidence +after swallowing the last bite of his supper. "Ain't it koorious, Massa +Nadgel, dat we're a sottin' here comf'rably enjoyin' our wittles ober de +mout' ob a v'licano as is quite fit to blow us all to bits an' hois' us +into de bery middle ob next week--if not farder?" + +"It is strange indeed, Moses," said Nigel, who however added no +commentary, feeling indisposed to pursue the subject. + +Seeing this, Moses turned to his master. + +"Massa," he said. "You don' want nuffin' more to-night, I s'pose?" + +"No, Moses, nothing." + +"An' is you _quite_ easy in your mind?" + +"Quite," replied the hermit with his peculiar little smile. + +"Den it would be wuss dan stoopid for me to be _on_easy, so I'll bid ye +bof good-night, an' turn in." + +In this truly trustful as well as philosophical state of mind, the negro +retired to his familiar couch in the inner cave, and went to sleep. + +Nigel and the hermit sat up for some time longer. + +"Van der Kemp," said the former, after a pause, "I--I trust you won't +think me actuated by impertinent curiosity if I venture to ask you about +--the--photograph that I think you----" + +"My young friend!" interrupted the hermit, taking the case in question +from his breast pocket; "I should rather apologise to you for having +appeared to make any mystery of it--and yet," he added, pausing as he +was about to open the case, "I have not shown it to a living soul since +the day that--Well, well,--why should I hesitate? It is all I have +left of my dead wife and child." + +He placed the case in the hands of Nigel, who almost sprang from his +seat with excitement as he beheld the countenance of a little child of +apparently three or four years of age, who so exactly resembled Kathy +Holbein--allowing of course for the difference of age--that he had now +no doubt whatever as to her being the hermit's lost daughter. He was on +the point of uttering her name, when uncertainty as to the effect the +sudden disclosure might have upon the father checked him. + +"You seem surprised, my friend," said Van der Kemp gently. + +"Most beautiful!" said Nigel, gazing intently at the portrait. "That +dear child's face seems so familiar to me that I could almost fancy I +had seen it." + +He looked earnestly into his friend's face as he spoke, but the hermit +was quite unmoved, and there was not a shadow of change in the sad low +tone of his voice as he said-- + +"Yes, she was indeed beautiful, like her mother. As to your fancy about +having seen it--mankind is formed in groups and types. We see many faces +that resemble others." + +The absent look that was so common to the solitary man here overspread +his massive features, and Nigel felt crushed, as it were, back into +himself. Thus, without having disclosed his belief, he retired to rest +in a very anxious state of mind, while the hermit watched. + +"Don't take off your clothes," he said. "If the sounds outside lead me +to think things are quieting down, I will rouse you and we shall start +at once." + +It was very early on the morning of the 27th when Van der Kemp roused +our hero. + +"Are things quieter?" asked Nigel as he rose. + +"Yes, a little, but not much--nevertheless we must venture to leave." + +"Is it daylight yet?" + +"No. There will be no daylight to-day!" with which prophecy the hermit +left him and went to rouse Moses. + +"Massa," said the faithful negro. "Isn't you a goin' to take nuffin' wid +you? None ob de books or t'ings?" + +"No--nothing except the old Bible. All the rest I leave behind. The +canoe could not carry much. Besides, we may have little time. Get ready; +quick! and follow me." + +Moses required no spur. The three men left the cave together. It was so +intensely dark that the road could not be distinguished, but the hermit +and his man were so familiar with it that they could have followed it +blindfold. + +On reaching the cave at the harbour, some light was obtained from the +fitful outbursts of the volcano, which enabled them to launch the canoe +and push off in safety. Then, without saying a word to each other, they +coasted along the shore of the island, and, finally, leaving its dangers +behind, them, made for the island of Java--poor Spinkie sitting in his +accustomed place and looking uncommonly subdued! + +Scarcely had they pushed off into Sunda Straits when the volcano burst +out afresh. They had happily seized on the only quiet hour that the day +offered, and had succeeded, by the aid of the sails, in getting several +miles from the island without receiving serious injury, although showers +of stones and masses of rock of all sizes were falling into the sea +around them. + +Van der Kemp was so far right in his prophecy that there would be no +daylight that day. By that time there should have been light, as it was +nearly seven o'clock on the memorable morning of the 27th of August. But +now, although the travellers were some miles distant from Krakatoa, the +gloom was so impervious that Nigel, from his place in the centre of the +canoe, could not see the form of poor Spinkie--which sat clinging to the +mast only two feet in front of him--save when a blaze from Perboewatan +or one of the other craters lighted up island and ocean with a vivid +glare. + +At this time the sea began to run very high and the wind increased to a +gale, so that the sails of the canoe, small though they were, had to be +reduced. + +"Lower the foresail, Nigel," shouted the hermit. "I will close-reef it. +Do you the same to the mainsail." + +"Ay, ay, sir," was the prompt reply. + +Moses and Nigel kept the little craft straight to the wind while the +foresail was being reefed, Van der Kemp and the former performing the +same duty while Nigel reefed the mainsail. + +Suddenly there came a brief but total cessation of the gale, though not +of the tumultuous heaving of the waters. During that short interval +there burst upon the world a crash and a roar so tremendous that for a +few moments the voyagers were almost stunned! + +It is no figure of speech to say that the _world_ heard the crash. +Hundreds, ay, thousands of miles did the sound of that mighty upheaval +pass over land and sea to startle, more or less, the nations of the +earth. + +The effect of a stupendous shock on the nervous system is curiously +various in different individuals. The three men who were so near to the +volcano at that moment involuntarily looked round and saw by the lurid +blaze that an enormous mass of Krakatoa, rent from top to bottom, was +falling headlong into the sea; while the entire heavens were alive with +flame, lightning, steam, smoke, and the upward-shooting fragments of the +hideous wreck! + +The hermit calmly rested his paddle on the deck and gazed around in +silent wonder. Nigel, not less smitten with awe, held his paddle with an +iron grasp, every muscle quivering with tension in readiness for instant +action when the need for action should appear. Moses, on the other hand, +turning round from the sight with glaring eyes, resumed paddling with +unreasoning ferocity, and gave vent at once to his feelings and his +opinion in the sharp exclamation--"Blown to bits!" + +[Illustration: BLOWN TO BITS--PAGE 342.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ADVENTURES OF THE "SUNSHINE" AND AN UNEXPECTED REUNION. + + +We must request the reader to turn back now for a brief period to a very +different scene. + +A considerable time before the tremendous catastrophe described in the +last chapter--which we claim to have recorded without the slightest +exaggeration, inasmuch as exaggeration were impossible--Captain David +Roy, of the good brig _Sunshine_, received the letter which his son +wrote to him while in the jungles of Sumatra. + +The captain was seated in the back office of a Batavian merchant at the +time, smoking a long clay pipe--on the principle, no doubt, that +moderate poisoning is conducive to moderate health! + +As he perused the letter, the captain's eyes slowly opened; so did his +mouth, and the clay pipe, falling to the floor, was reduced to little +pieces. But the captain evidently cared nothing for that. He gave forth +a prolonged whistle, got up, smote upon his thigh, and exclaimed with +deep-toned emphasis-- + +"The _rascal_!" + +Then he sat down again and re-perused the letter, with a variety of +expression on his face that might have recalled the typical April day, +minus the tears. + +"The rascal!" he repeated, as he finished the second reading of the +letter and thrust it into his pocket. "I knew there was somethin' i' the +wind wi' that little girl! The memory o' my own young days when I +boarded and captured the poetess is strong upon me yet. I saw it in the +rascal's eye the very first time they met--an' he thinks I'm as blind as +a bat, I'll be bound, with his poetical reef-point-pattering sharpness. +But it's a strange discovery he has made and must be looked into. The +young dog! He gives me orders as if he were the owner." + +Jumping up, Captain Roy hurried out into the street. In passing the +outer office he left a message with one of the clerks for his friend the +merchant. + +"Tell him," he said, "that I'll attend to that little business about the +bill when I come back. I'm going to sail for the Keeling Islands this +afternoon." + +"The Keeling Islands?" exclaimed the clerk in surprise. + +"Yes--I've got business to do there. I'll be back, all bein' well, in a +week--more or less." + +The clerk's eyebrows remained in a raised position for a few moments, +until he remembered that Captain Roy, being owner of his ship and +cargo, was entitled to do what he pleased with his own and himself. Then +they descended, and he went on with his work, amusing himself with the +thought that the most curious beings in the world were seafaring men. + +"Mr. Moor," said the captain somewhat excitedly, as he reached the deck +of his vessel, "are all the men aboard?" + +"All except Jim Sloper, sir." + +"Then send and hunt up Jim Sloper at once, for we sail this afternoon +for the Keeling Islands." + +"Very well, sir." + +Mr. Moor was a phlegmatic man; a self-contained and a reticent man. If +Captain Roy had told him to get ready to sail to the moon that +afternoon, he would probably have said "Very well, sir," in the same +tone and with the same expression. + +"May I ask, sir, what sort of cargo you expect there?" said Mr. Moor; +for to his practical mind some re-arrangement of the cargo already on +board might be necessary for the reception of that to be picked up at +Keeling. + +"The cargo we'll take on board will be a girl," said the captain. + +"A what, sir?". + +"A girl." + +"Very well, sir." + +This ended the business part of the conversation. Thereafter they went +into details so highly nautical that we shrink from recording them. An +amateur detective, in the form of a shipmate, having captured Jim +Sloper, the _Sunshine_ finally cleared out of the port of Batavia that +evening, shortly before its namesake took his departure from that part +of the southern hemisphere. + +Favouring gales carried the brig swiftly through Sunda Straits and out +into the Indian Ocean. Two days and a half brought her to the desired +haven. On the way, Captain Roy took note of the condition of Krakatoa, +which at that time was quietly working up its subterranean forces with a +view to the final catastrophe; opening a safety-valve now and then to +prevent, as it were, premature explosion. + +"My son's friend, the hermit of Rakata," said the captain to his second +mate, "will find his cave too hot to hold him, I think, when he +returns." + +"Looks like it, sir," said Mr. Moor, glancing up at the vast clouds +which were at that time spreading like a black pall over the re-awakened +volcano. "Do you expect 'em back soon, sir?" + +"Yes--time's about up now. I shouldn't wonder if they reach Batavia +before us." + +Arrived at the Keeling Islands, Captain Roy was received, as usual, with +acclamations of joy, but he found that he was by no means as well +fitted to act the part of a diplomatist as he was to sail a ship. It +was, in truth, a somewhat delicate mission on which his son had sent +him, for he could not assert definitely that the hermit actually was +Kathleen Holbein's father, and her self-constituted parents did not +relish the idea of letting slip, on a mere chance, one whom they loved +as a daughter. + +"Why not bring this man who claims to be her father _here_?" asked the +perplexed Holbein. + +"Because--because, p'raps he won't come," answered the puzzled mariner, +who did not like to say that he was simply and strictly obeying his +son's orders. "Besides," he continued, "the man does not claim to be +anything at all. So far as I understand it, my boy has not spoken to him +on the subject, for fear, I suppose, of raisin' hopes that ain't to be +realised." + +"He is right in that," said Mrs. Holbein, "and we must be just as +careful not to raise false hopes in dear little Kathy. As your son says, +it may be a mistake after all. We must not open our lips to her about +it." + +"Right you are, madam," returned the captain. "Mum's the word; and we've +only got to say she's goin' to visit one of your old friends in +Anjer--which'll be quite true, you know, for the landlady o' the chief +hotel there is a great friend o' yours, and we'll take Kathy to her +straight. Besides, the trip will do her health a power o' good, though +I'm free to confess it don't need no good to be done to it, bein' A.1 at +the present time. Now, just you agree to give the girl a holiday, an' +I'll pledge myself to bring her back safe and sound--with her father, if +he's _him_; without him if he isn't." + +With such persuasive words Captain Roy at length overcame the Holbein +objections. With the girl herself he had less difficulty, his chief +anxiety being, as he himself said, "to give her reasons for wishin' her +to go without tellin' lies." + +"Wouldn't you like a trip in my brig to Anjer, my dear girl?" He had +almost said daughter, but thought it best not to be too precipitate. + +"Oh! I should like it _so_ much," said Kathleen, clasping her little +hands and raising her large eyes to the captain's face. + +"_Dear_ child!" said the captain to himself. Then aloud, "Well, I'll +take you." + +"But I--I fear that father and mother would not like me to go--perhaps." + +"No fear o' them, my girl," returned the captain, putting his huge rough +hand on her pretty little head as if in an act of solemn appropriation, +for, unlike too many fathers, this exemplary man considered only the +sweetness, goodness, and personal worth of the girl, caring not a straw +for other matters, and being strongly of opinion that a man should +marry young if he possess the spirit of a man or the means to support a +wife. As he was particularly fond of Kathleen, and felt quite sure that +his son had deeper reasons than he chose to express for his course of +action, he entertained a strong hope, not to say conviction, that she +would also become fond of Nigel, and that all things would thus work +together for a smooth course to this case of true love. + +It will be seen from all this that Captain David Roy was a sanguine man. +Whether his hopes were well grounded or not remains to be seen. + +Meanwhile, having, as Mr. Moor said, shipped the cargo, the _Sunshine_ +set sail once more for Sunda Straits in a measure of outward gloom that +formed a powerful contrast to the sunny hopes within her commander's +bosom, for Krakatoa was at that time progressing rapidly towards the +consummation of its designs, as partly described in the last chapter. + +Short though that voyage was, it embraced a period of action so +thrilling that ever afterwards it seemed a large slice of life's little +day to those who went through it. + +We have said that the culminating incidents of the drama began on the +night of the 26th. Before that time, however, the cloud-pall was fast +spreading over land and sea, and the rain of pumice and ashes had begun +to descend. + +The wind being contrary, it was several days before the brig reached +the immediate neighbourhood of Krakatoa, and by that time the volcano +had begun to enter upon the stage which is styled by vulcanologists +"paroxysmal," the explosions being extremely violent as well as +frequent. + +"It is very awful," said Kathleen in a low voice, as she clasped the +captain's arm and leaned her slight figure on it. "I have often heard +the thunder of distant volcanoes, but never been so near as to hear such +terrible sounds." + +"Don't be frightened, my ducky," said the captain in a soothing tone, +for he felt from the appearance of things that there was indeed some +ground for alarm. "Volcanoes always look worse when you're near them." + +"I not frightened," she replied. "Only I got strange, solemn feelings. +Besides, no danger can come till God allows." + +"That's right, lass. Mrs. Holbein has been a true mother if she taught +you that." + +"No, she did not taught me that. My father taught me that." + +"What! Old Holbein?" + +"No--my father, who is dead," she said in a low voice. + +"Oh! I see. My poor child, I should have understood you. Forgive me." + +As the captain spoke, a tremendous outburst on Krakatoa turned their +minds to other subjects. They were by that time drawing near to the +island, and the thunders of the eruption seemed to shake not only the +heavens but even the great ocean itself. Though the hour was not much +past noon the darkness soon became so dense that it was difficult to +perceive objects a few yards distant, and, as pieces of stone the size +of walnuts, or even larger, began to fall on the deck, the captain sent +Kathleen below. + +"There's no saying where or when a big stone may fall, my girl," he +said, "and it's not the habit of Englishmen to let women come under +fire, so you'll be safer below. Besides, you'll be able to see something +of what's goin' on out o' the cabin windows." + +With the obedience that was natural to her, Kathleen went down at once, +and the captain made everything as snug as possible, battening down the +hatches and shortening sail so as to be ready for whatever might befall. + +"I don't like the look o' things, Mr. Moor," said the captain when the +second mate came on deck to take his watch. + +"No more do I, sir," answered Mr. Moor calmly. + +The aspect of things was indeed very changeable. Sometimes, as we have +said, all nature seemed to be steeped in thick darkness, at other times +the fires of the volcano blazed upward, spreading a red glare on the +rolling clouds and over the heaving sea. Lightning also played its part +as well as thunder, but the latter was scarcely distinguishable from the +volcano's roar. Three days before Sunday the 26th of August, Captain +Roy--as well as the crews of several other vessels that were in Sunda +Straits at the time--had observed a marked though gradual increase in +the violence of the eruption. On that day, as we read in the _Report of +the Krakatoa Committee of the Royal Society_, about 1 P.M. the +detonations caused by the explosive action attained such violence as to +be heard at Batavia, about 100 English miles away. At 2 P.M. of the same +day, Captain Thompson of the _Medea_, when about 76 miles E.N.E. of the +island, saw a black mass rising like clouds of smoke to a height which +has been estimated at no less than 17 miles! And the detonations were at +that time taking place at intervals of ten minutes. But, terrible though +these explosions must have been, they were but as the whisperings of the +volcano. An hour later they had increased so much as to be heard at +Bandong and other places 150 miles away, and at 5 P.M. they had become +so tremendous as to be heard over the whole island of Java, the eastern +portion of which is about 650 miles from Krakatoa. + +And the sounds thus heard were not merely like distant thunder. In +Batavia--although, as we have said, 100 miles off--they were so violent +during the whole of that terrible Sunday night as to prevent the people +from sleeping. They were compared to the "discharge of artillery close +at hand," and caused a rattling of doors, windows, pictures, and +chandeliers. + +Captain Watson of the _Charles Bal_, who chanced to be only 10 miles +south of the volcano, also compared the sounds to discharges of +artillery, but this only shows the feebleness of ordinary language in +attempting to describe such extraordinary sounds, for if they were +comparable to close artillery at Batavia, the same comparison is +inappropriate at only ten miles' distance. He also mentions the +crackling noise, probably due to the impact of fragments in the +atmosphere, which were noticed by the hermit and Nigel while standing +stunned and almost stupefied on the giddy ledge of Rakata that same +Sunday. + +About five in the evening of that day, the brig _Sunshine_ drew still +nearer to the island, but the commotion at the time became so intense, +and the intermittent darkness so profound, that Captain Roy was afraid +to continue the voyage and shortened sail. Not only was there a heavy +rolling sea, but the water was seething, as if about to boil. + +"Heave the lead, Mr. Moor," said the captain, who stood beside the +wheel. + +"Yes, sir," answered the imperturbable second mate, who thereupon gave +the necessary order, and when the depth was ascertained, the report was +"Ten fathoms, sand, with a 'ot bottom." + +"A hot bottom! what do you mean?" + +"The lead's 'ot, sir," replied the sailor. + +This was true, as the captain found when he applied his hand to it. + +"I do believe the world's going on fire," he muttered; "but it's a +comfort to know that it can't very well blaze up as long as the sea +lasts!" + +Just then a rain of pumice in large pieces, and quite warm, began to +fall upon the deck. As most people know, pumice is extremely light, so +that no absolute injury was done to any one, though such rain was +excessively trying. Soon, however, a change took place. The dense +vapours and dust-clouds which had rendered it so excessively dark were +entirely lighted up from time to time by fierce flashes of lightning +which rent as well as painted them in all directions. At one time this +great mass of clouds presented the appearance of an immense pine-tree +with the stem and branches formed of volcanic lightning. + +Captain Roy, fearing that these tremendous sights and sounds would +terrify the poor girl in the cabin, was about to look in and reassure +her, when the words "Oh! how splendid!" came through the slightly +opened door. He peeped in and saw Kathleen on her knees on the stern +locker, with her hands clasped, gazing out of one of the stern windows. + +"Hm! she's all right," he muttered, softly reclosing the door and +returning on deck. "If she thinks it's splendid, she don't need no +comfortin'! It's quite clear that she don't know what danger means--and +why should she? Humph! there go some more splendid sights for her," he +added, as what appeared to be chains of fire ascended from the volcano +to the sky. + +Just then a soft rain began to fall. It was warm, and, on examination at +the binnacle lamp, turned out to be mud. Slight at first, it soon poured +down in such quantities that in ten minutes it lay six inches thick on +the deck, and the crew had to set to work with shovels to heave it +overboard. At this time there was seen a continual roll of balls of +white fire down the sides of the peak of Rakata, caused, doubtless, by +the ejection of white-hot fragments of lava. Then showers of masses like +iron cinders fell on the brig, and from that time onward till four +o'clock of the morning of the 27th, explosions of indescribable grandeur +continually took place, as if the mountains were in a continuous roar of +terrestrial agony--the sky being at one moment of inky blackness, the +next in a blaze of light, while hot, choking, and sulphurous smells +almost stifled the voyagers. + +At this point the captain again became anxious about Kathleen and went +below. He found her in the same place and attitude--still fascinated! + +"My child," he said, taking her hand, "you must lie down and rest." + +"Oh! no. Do let me stay up," she begged, entreatingly. + +"But you must be tired--sleepy." + +"Sleepy! who could sleep with such wonders going on around? Pray _don't_ +tell me to go to bed!" + +It was evident that poor Kathy had the duty of obedience to authority +still strong upon her. Perhaps the memory of the Holbein nursery had not +yet been wiped out. + +"Well, well," said the captain with a pathetic smile, "you are as +safe--comfortable, I mean--here as in your berth or anywhere else." + +As there was a lull in the violence of the eruption just then, the +captain left Kathleen in the cabin and went on deck. It was not known at +that time what caused this lull, but as it preceded the first of the +four grand explosions which effectually eviscerated--emptied--the +ancient crater of Krakatoa, we will give, briefly, the explanation of it +as conjectured by the men of science. + +Lying as it did so close to the sea-level, the Krakatoa volcano, having +blown away all its cones, and vents, and safety-valves--from Perboewatan +southward, except the peak of Rakata--let the sea rush in upon its +infernal fires. This result, ordinary people think, produced a gush of +steam which caused the grand terminal explosions. Vulcanologists think +otherwise, and with reason--which is more than can be said of ordinary +people, who little know the power of the forces at work below the crust +of our earth! The steam thus produced, although on so stupendous a +scale, was free to expand and therefore went upwards, no doubt in a +sufficiently effective gust and cloud. But nothing worthy of being named +a blow-up was there. + +The effect of the in-rushing water was to cool the upper surface of the +boiling lava and convert it into a thick hard solid crust at the mouth +of the great vent. In this condition the volcano resembled a boiler with +all points of egress closed and the safety-valve shut down! Oceans of +molten lava creating expansive gases below; no outlet possible +underneath, and the neck of the bottle corked with tons of solid rock! +One of two things must happen in such circumstances: the cork must go or +the bottle must burst! Both events happened on that terrible night. All +night long the corks were going, and at last--Krakatoa burst! + +In the hurly-burly of confusion, smoke, and noise, no eye could note +the precise moment when the island was shattered, but there were on the +morning of the 27th four supreme explosions, which rang loud and high +above the horrible average din. These occurred--according to the careful +investigations made, at the instance of the Dutch Indian Government, by +the eminent geologist, Mr. R.D.M. Verbeek--at the hours of 5.30, 6.44, +10.2, and 10.52 in the morning. Of these the third, about 10, was by far +the worst for violence and for the wide-spread devastation which it +produced. + +At each of these explosions a tremendous sea-wave was created by the +volcano, which swept like a watery ring from Krakatoa as a centre to the +surrounding shores. It was at the second of these explosions--that of +6.44--that the fall of the mighty cliff took place which was seen by the +hermit and his friends as they fled from the island, and, on the crest +of the resulting wave, were carried along they scarce knew whither. + +As the previous wave--that of 5.30--had given the brig a tremendous +heave upwards, the captain, on hearing the second, ran down below for a +moment to tell Kathleen there would soon be another wave, but that she +need fear no danger. + +"The brig is deep and has a good hold o' the water," he said, "so the +wave is sure to slip under her without damage. I wish I could hope it +would do as little damage when it reaches the shore." + +As he spoke a strange and violent crash was heard overhead, quite +different from volcanic explosions, like the falling of some heavy body +on the deck. + +"One o' the yards down!" muttered the captain as he ran to the cabin +door. "Hallo, what's that, Mr. Moor?" + +"Canoe just come aboard, sir." + +"A canoe?" + +"Yes, sir. Crew, three men and a monkey. All insensible--hallo!" + +The "hallo!" with which the second mate finished his remark was so +unlike his wonted tone, and so full of genuine surprise, that the +captain ran forward with unusual haste, and found a canoe smashed to +pieces against the foremast, and the mate held a lantern close to the +face of one of the men while the crew were examining the others. + +A single glance told the captain that the mud-bespattered figure that +lay before him as if dead was none other than his own son! The great +wave had caught the frail craft on its crest, and, sweeping it along +with lightning speed for a short distance, had hurled it on the deck of +the _Sunshine_ with such violence as to completely stun the whole crew. +Even Spinkie lay in a melancholy little heap in the lee scuppers. + +You think this a far-fetched coincidence, good reader! Well, all we can +say is that we could tell you of another--a double--coincidence, which +was far more extraordinary than this one, but as it has nothing to do +with our tale we refrain from inflicting it on you. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +A CLIMAX. + + +Three of those who had tumbled thus unceremoniously on the deck of the +_Sunshine_ were soon sufficiently recovered to sit up and look around in +dazed astonishment--namely Nigel, Moses, and the monkey--but the hermit +still lay prone where he had been cast, with a pretty severe wound on +his head, from which blood was flowing freely. + +"Nigel, my boy!" + +"Father!" exclaimed the youth. "Where am I? What has happened?" + +"Don't excite yourself, lad," said the mariner, stooping and whispering +into his son's ear. "We've got _her_ aboard!" + +No treatment could have been more effectual in bringing Nigel to his +senses than this whisper. + +"Is--is--Van der Kemp safe?" he asked anxiously. + +"All right--only stunned, I think. That's him they're just goin' to +carry below. Put 'im in my bunk, Mr. Moor." + +"Ay ay, sir." + +Nigel sprang up. "Stay, father," he said in a low voice. "_She_ must not +see him for the first time like this." + +"All right, boy. I understand. You leave that to me. My bunk has bin +shifted for'id--more amidships--an' Kathy's well aft. They shan't be let +run foul of each other. You go an' rest on the main hatch till we get +him down. Why, here's a nigger! Where did you pick him--oh! I remember. +You're the man we met, I suppose, wi' the hermit on Krakatoa that day o' +the excursion from Batavia." + +"Yes, das me. But we'll meet on Krakatoa no more, for dat place am blown +to bits." + +"I'm pretty well convinced o' that by this time, my man. Not hurt much, +I hope?" + +"No, sar--not more 'n I can stan'. But I's 'fraid dat poor Spinkie's +a'most used up--hallo! what you gwine to do with massa?" demanded the +negro, whose wandering faculties had only in part returned. + +"He's gone below. All right. Now, you go and lie down beside my son on +the hatch. I'll see to Van der Kemp." + +But Captain David Roy's intentions, like those of many men of greater +note, were frustrated by the hermit himself, who recovered consciousness +just as the four men who carried him reached the foot of the +companion-ladder close to the cabin door. Owing to the deeper than +midnight darkness that prevailed a lamp was burning in the cabin--dimly, +as if, infected by the universal chaos, it were unwilling to enlighten +the surrounding gloom. + +On recovering consciousness Van der Kemp was, not unnaturally, under the +impression that he had fallen into the hands of foes. With one effectual +convulsion of his powerful limbs he scattered his bearers right and +left, and turning--like all honest men--to the light, he sprang into the +cabin, wrenched a chair from its fastenings, and, facing round, stood at +bay. + +Kathleen, seeing this blood-stained giant in such violent action, +naturally fled to her cabin and shut the door. + +As no worse enemy than Captain Roy presented himself at the cabin door, +unarmed, and with an anxious look on his rugged face, the hermit set +down the chair, and feeling giddy sank down on it with a groan. + +"I fear you are badly hurt, sir. Let me tie a handkerchief round your +wounded head," said the captain soothingly. + +"Thanks, thanks. Your voice is not unfamiliar to me," returned the +hermit with a sigh, as he submitted to the operation. "I thought I had +fallen somehow into the hands of pirates. Surely an accident must have +happened. How did I get here? Where are my comrades--Nigel and the +negro?" + +"My son Nigel is all right, sir, and so is your man Moses. Make your +mind easy--an' pray don't speak while I'm working at you. I'll explain +it all in good time. Stay, I'll be with you in a moment." + +The captain--fearing that Kathleen might come out from curiosity to see +what was going on, and remembering his son's injunction--went to the +girl's berth with the intention of ordering her to keep close until he +should give her leave to come out. Opening the door softly and looking +in, he was startled, almost horrified, to see Kathleen standing +motionless like a statue, with both hands pressed tightly over her +heart. The colour had fled from her beautiful face; her long hair was +flung back; her large lustrous eyes were wide open and her lips slightly +parted, as if her whole being had been concentrated in eager expectancy. + +"What's wrong, my girl?" asked the captain anxiously. "You've no cause +for fear. I just looked in to--." + +"That voice!" exclaimed Kathleen, with something of awe in her +tones--"Oh! I've heard it _so_ often in my dreams." + +"Hush! sh! my girl," said the captain in a low tone, looking anxiously +round at the wounded man. But his precautions were unavailing,--Van der +Kemp had also heard a voice which he thought had long been silent in +death. The girl's expression was almost repeated in his face. Before the +well-meaning mariner could decide what to do, Kathleen brushed lightly +past him, and stood in the cabin gazing as if spell-bound at the hermit. + +"Winnie!" he whispered, as if scarcely daring to utter the name. + +"Father!" + +She extended both hands towards him as she spoke. Then, with a piercing +shriek, she staggered backward, and would have fallen had not the +captain caught her and let her gently down. + +Van der Kemp vaulted the table, fell on his knees beside her, and, +raising her light form, clasped her to his heart, just as Nigel and +Moses, alarmed by the scream, sprang into the cabin. + +"Come, come; away wi' you--you stoopid grampusses!" cried the captain, +pushing the intruders out of the cabin, following them, and closing the +door behind him. "This is no place for bunglers like you an' me. We +might have known that natur' would have her way, an' didn't need no help +from the like o' us. Let's on deck. There's enough work there to look +after that's better suited to us." + +Truly there was enough--and more than enough--to claim the most +anxious attention of all who were on board of the _Sunshine_ that +morning, for hot mud was still falling in showers on the deck, and the +thunders of the great volcano were still shaking heaven, earth, and sea. + +To clear the decks and sails of mud occupied every one for some time so +earnestly that they failed to notice at first that the hermit had come +on deck, found a shovel, and was working away like the rest of them. The +frequent and prolonged blazes of intense light that ever and anon +banished the darkness showed that on his face there sat an expression of +calm, settled, triumphant joy, which was strangely mingled with a look +of quiet humility. + +"I thank God for this," said Nigel, going forward when he observed him +and grasping his hand. + +"You knew it?" exclaimed the hermit in surprise. + +"Yes. I knew it--indeed, helped to bring you together, but did not dare +to tell you till I was quite sure. I had hoped to have you meet in very +different circumstances." + +"'It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,'" returned the +hermit reverently. "God bless you, Nigel. If you have even aimed at +bringing this about, I owe you _more_ than my life." + +"You must have lost a good deal of blood, Van der Kemp. Are you much +hurt?" asked Nigel, as he observed the bandage round his friend's head. + +"Somewhat. Not much, I hope--but joy, as well as blood, gives strength, +Nigel." + +A report from a man who had just been ordered to take soundings induced +the captain at this time to lay-to. + +"It seems to me," he said to Nigel and the hermit who stood close beside +him, "that we are getting too near shore. But in cases o' this kind the +bottom o' the sea itself can't be depended on." + +"What part of the shore are we near, d' you think, father?" + +"Stand by to let go the anchor!" roared the captain, instead of +answering the question. + +"Ay, ay, sir," replied the second mate, whose cool, sing-song, +business-like tone at such a moment actually tended to inspire a measure +of confidence in those around him. + +Another moment, and the rattling chain caused a tremor through the +vessel, which ceased when the anchor touched bottom, and they rode head +to wind. Coruscations of bluish light seemed to play about the masts, +and balls of electric fire tipped the yards, throwing for a short time a +ghastly sheen over the ship and crew, for the profound darkness had +again settled down, owing, no doubt, to another choking of the Krakatoa +vent. + +Before the light referred to went out, Moses was struck violently on +the chest by something soft, which caused him to stagger. + +It was Spinkie! In the midst of the unusual horrors that surrounded him, +while clinging to the unfamiliar mizzen shrouds on which in desperation +the poor monkey had found a temporary refuge, the electric fire showed +him the dark figure of his old familiar friend standing not far off. +With a shriek of not quite hopeless despair, and an inconceivable bound, +Spinkie launched himself into space. His early training in the forest +stood him in good stead at that crisis! As already said he hit the mark +fairly, and clung to Moses with a tenacity that was born of mingled love +and desperation. Finding that nothing short of cruelty would unfix his +little friend, Moses stuffed him inside the breast of his cotton shirt. +In this haven of rest the monkey heaved a sigh of profound contentment, +folded his hands on his bosom, and meekly went to sleep. + +Two of the excessively violent paroxysms of the volcano, above referred +to, had by that time taken place, but the third, and worst--that which +occurred about 10 A.M.--was yet in store for them, though they knew it +not, and a lull in the roar, accompanied by thicker darkness than ever, +was its precursor. There was not, however, any lull in the violence of +the wind. + +"I don't like these lulls," said Captain Roy to the hermit, as they +stood close to the binnacle, in the feeble light of its lamp. "What is +that striking against our sides, Mr. Moor?" + +"Looks like floating pumice, sir," answered the second mate, "and I +think I see palm-trees amongst it." + +"Ay, I thought so, we must be close to land," said the captain. "We +can't be far from Anjer, and I fear the big waves that have already +passed us have done some damage. Lower a lantern over the side,--no, +fetch an empty tar-barrel and let's have a flare. That will enable us to +see things better." + +While the barrel was being fastened to a spar so as to be thrust well +out beyond the side of the brig, Van der Kemp descended the companion +and opened the cabin door. + +"Come up now, Winnie, darling." + +"Yes, father," was the reply, as the poor girl, who had been anxiously +awaiting the summons, glided out and clasped her father's arm with both +hands. "Are things quieting down?" + +"They are, a little. It may be temporary, but--Our Father directs it +all." + +"True, father. I'm _so_ glad of that!" + +"Mind the step, we shall have more light on deck. There is a friend +there who has just told me he met you on the Cocos-Keeling Island, Nigel +Roy;--you start, Winnie?" + +"Y--yes, father. I am _so_ surprised, for it is _his_ father who sails +this ship! And I cannot imagine how he or you came on board." + +"Well, I was going to say that I believe it is partly through Nigel that +you and I have been brought together, but there is mystery about it that +I don't yet understand; much has to be explained, and this assuredly is +not the time or place. Here, Nigel, is your old Keeling friend." + +"Ay--friend! humph!" said old Roy softly to himself. + +"My _dear_--child!" said young Roy, paternally, to the girl as he +grasped her hand. "I cannot tell you how thankful I am that this has +been brought about, and--and that _I_ have had some little hand in it." + +"There's more than pumice floating about in the sea, sir," said Mr. +Moor, coming aft at the moment and speaking to the captain in a low +tone. "You'd better send the young lady below--or get some one to take +up her attention just now." + +"Here, Nigel. Sit down under the lee of the companion, an' tell Kathy +how this all came about," said the captain, promptly, as if issuing +nautical orders. "I want you here, Van der Kemp." + +So saying, the captain, followed by the hermit, went with the second +mate to the place where the flaming tar-barrel was casting a lurid glare +upon the troubled sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +"BLOWN TO BITS." + + +The sight that met their eyes was well calculated to shock and sadden +men of much less tender feeling than Van der Kemp and Captain Roy. + +The water had assumed an appearance of inky blackness, and large masses +of pumice were floating past, among which were numerous dead bodies of +men, women, and children, intermingled with riven trees, fences, and +other wreckage from the land, showing that the two great waves which had +already passed under the vessel had caused terrible devastation on some +parts of the shore. To add to the horror of the scene large sea-snakes +were seen swimming wildly about, as if seeking to escape from the novel +dangers that surrounded them. + +The sailors looked on in awe-stricken silence for some time. + +"P'raps some of 'em may be alive yet!" whispered one. "Couldn't we lower +a boat?" + +"Impossible in such a sea," said the captain, who overheard the remark. +"Besides, no life could exist there." + +"Captain Roy," said Van der Kemp earnestly, "let me advise you to get +your foresail ready to hoist at a moment's notice, and let them stand by +to cut the cable." + +"Why so? There seems no need at present for such strong measures." + +"You don't understand volcanoes as I do," returned the hermit. "This +lull will only last until the imprisoned fires overcome the block in the +crater, and the longer it lasts the worse will be the explosion. From my +knowledge of the coast I feel sure that we are close to the town of +Anjer. If another wave like the last comes while we are here, it will +not slip under your brig like the last one. It will tear her from her +anchor and hurl us all to destruction. You have but one chance; that is, +to cut the cable and run in on the top of it--a poor chance at the best, +but if God wills, we shall escape." + +"If we are indeed as near shore as you think," said the captain, "I know +what you say must be true, for in shoal water such a wave will surely +carry all before it. But are you certain there will be another +explosion?" + +"No man can be sure of that. If the last explosion emptied the crater +there will be no more. If it did not, another explosion is certain. All +I advise is that you should be ready for whatever is coming, and ready +to take your only chance." + +"Right you are, sir. Send men to be ready to cut the cable, Mr. Moor. +And stand by the topsail halyards." + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +During the anxious minutes that followed, the hermit rejoined Winnie and +Nigel on the quarter-deck, and conversed with the latter in a low voice, +while he drew the former to his side with his strong arm. Captain Roy +himself grasped the wheel and the men stood at their various stations +ready for action. + +"Let no man act without orders, whatever happens," said the captain in a +deep powerful voice which was heard over the whole ship, for the lull +that we have mentioned extended in some degree to the gale as well as to +the volcano. Every one felt that some catastrophe was pending. + +"Winnie, darling," said the hermit tenderly, as he bent down to see the +sweet face that had been restored to him. "I greatly fear that there is +sure to be another explosion, and it may be His will that we shall +perish, but comfort yourself with the certainty that no hair of your +dear head can fall without His permission--and in any event He will not +fail us." + +"I know it, father. I have no fear--at least, only a little!" + +"Nigel," said the hermit, "stick close to us if you can. It may be +that, if anything should befall me, your strong arm may succour Winnie; +mine has lost somewhat of its vigour," he whispered. + +"Trust me--nothing but death shall sunder us," said the anxious youth in +a burst of enthusiasm. + +It seemed as if death were indeed to be the immediate portion of all on +board the _Sunshine_, for a few minutes later there came a crash, +followed by a spout of smoke, fire, steam, and molten lava, compared to +which all that had gone before seemed insignificant! + +The crash was indescribable! As we have said elsewhere, the sound of it +was heard many hundreds of miles from the seat of the volcano, and its +effects were seen and felt right round the world. + +The numerous vents which had previously been noticed on Krakatoa must at +that moment have been blown into one, and the original crater of the old +volcano--said to have been about six miles in diameter--must have +resumed its destructive work. All the eye-witnesses who were near the +spot at the time, and sufficiently calm to take note of the terrific +events of that morning, are agreed as to the splendour of the electrical +phenomena displayed during this paroxysmal outburst. One who, at the +time, was forty miles distant speaks of the great vapour-cloud looking +"like an immense wall or blood-red curtain with edges of all shades of +yellow, and bursts of forked lightning at times rushing like large +serpents through the air." Another says that "Krakatoa appeared to be +alight with flickering flames rising behind a dense black cloud." A +third recorded that "the lightning struck the mainmast conductor five or +six times," and that "the mud-rain which covered the decks was +phosphorescent, while the rigging presented the appearance of St. Elmo's +fire." + +It may be remarked here, in passing, that giant steam-jets rushing +through the orifices of the earth's crust constitute an enormous +hydro-electric engine; and the friction of ejected materials striking +against each other in ascending and descending also generates +electricity, which accounts to some extent for the electrical condition +of the atmosphere. + +In these final and stupendous outbursts the volcano was expending its +remaining force in breaking up and ejecting the solid lava which +constituted its framework, and not in merely vomiting forth the +lava-froth, or pumice, which had characterised the earlier stages of the +eruption. In point of fact--as was afterwards clearly ascertained by +careful soundings and estimates, taking the average height of the +missing portion at 700 feet above water, and the depth at 300 feet below +it--two-thirds of the island were blown entirely off the face of the +earth. The mass had covered an area of nearly six miles, and is +estimated as being equal to 1-1/8 cubic miles of solid matter which, as +Moses expressed it, was blown to bits! + +If this had been all, it would have been enough to claim the attention +and excite the wonder of the intelligent world--but this was not nearly +all, as we shall see, for saddest of all the incidents connected with +the eruption is the fact that upwards of thirty-six thousand human +beings lost their lives. The manner in which that terrible loss occurred +shall be shown by the future adventures of the _Sunshine_. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE FATE OF THE "SUNSHINE." + + +Stunned at first, for a few minutes, by the extreme violence of the +explosion, no one on board the _Sunshine_ spoke, though each man stood +at his post ready to act. + +"Strange," said the captain at last. "There seems to be no big wave this +time." + +"That only shows that we are not as near the island as we thought. But +it won't be long of----See! There it comes," said the hermit. "Now, +Winnie, cling to my arm and put your trust in God." + +Nigel, who had secured a life-buoy, moved close to the girl's side, and +looking anxiously out ahead saw a faint line of foam in the thick +darkness which had succeeded the explosion. Already the distant roar of +the billow was heard, proving that it had begun to break. + +"The wind comes with it," said Van der Kemp. + +"Stand by!" cried the captain, gazing intently over the side. Next +moment came the sharp order to hoist the foretopsail and jib, soon +followed by "Cut the cable!" + +There was breeze enough to swing the vessel quickly round. In a few +seconds her stern was presented to the coming wave, and her bow cleft +the water as she rushed upon what every one now knew was her doom. + +To escape the great wave was no part of the captain's plan. To have +reached the shore before the wave would have been fatal to all. Their +only hope lay in the possibility of riding in on the top of it, and the +great danger was that they should be unable to rise to it stern first +when it came up, or that they should turn broadside on and be rolled +over. + +They had not long to wait. The size of the wave, before it came near +enough to be seen, was indicated by its solemn, deep-toned, +ever-increasing roar. The captain stood at the wheel himself, guiding +the brig and glancing back from time to time uneasily. + +Suddenly the volcano gave vent to its fourth and final explosion. It was +not so violent as its predecessors had been, though more so than any +that had occurred on the day before, and the light of it showed them the +full terrors of their situation, for it revealed the mountains of +Java--apparently quite close in front, though in reality at a +considerable distance--with a line of breakers beating white on the +shore. But astern of them was the most appalling sight, for there, +rushing on with awful speed and a sort of hissing roar, came the +monstrous wave, emerging, as it were, out of thick darkness, like a +mighty wall of water with a foaming white crest, not much +less--according to an average of the most reliable estimates--than 100 +feet high. + +Well might the seamen blanch, for never before in all their varied +experience had they seen the like of that. + +On it came with the unwavering force of Fate. To the eye of Captain Roy +it appeared that up its huge towering side no vessel made by mortal man +could climb. But the captain had too often stared death in the face to +be unmanned by the prospect now. Steadily he steered the vessel straight +on, and in a quiet voice said-- + +"Lay hold of something firm--every man!" + +The warning was well timed. In the amazement, if not fear, caused by the +unwonted sight, some had neglected the needful precaution. + +As the billow came on, the bubbling, leaping, and seething of its crest +was apparent both to eye and ear. Then the roar became tremendous. + +"Darling Winnie," said Nigel at that moment. "I will die for you or with +you!" + +The poor girl heard, but no sign of appreciation moved her pale face as +she gazed up at the approaching chaos of waters. + +Next moment the brig seemed to stand on its bows. Van der Kemp had +placed his daughter against the mast, and, throwing his long arms round +both, held on. Nigel, close to them, had grasped a handful of ropes, and +every one else was holding on for life. Another moment and the brig rose +as if it were being tossed up to the heavens. Immediately thereafter it +resumed its natural position in a perfect wilderness of foam. They were +on the summit of the great wave, which was so large that its crest +seemed like a broad, rounded mass of tumbling snow with blackness before +and behind, while the roar of the tumult was deafening. The brig rushed +onward at a speed which she had never before equalled even in the +fiercest gale--tossed hither and thither by the leaping foam, yet always +kept going straight onward by the expert steering of her captain. + +"Come aft--all of you!" he shouted, when it was evident that the vessel +was being borne surely forward on the wave's crest. "The masts will go +for certain when we strike." + +The danger of being entangled in the falling spars and cordage was so +obvious that every one except the hermit and Nigel obeyed. + +"Here, Nigel," gasped the former. "I--I've--lost blood--faint!----" + +Our hero at once saw that Van der Kemp, fainting from previous loss of +blood, coupled with exertion, was unable to do anything but hold on. +Indeed, he failed even in that, and would have fallen to the deck had +Nigel not caught him by the arm. + +"Can you run aft, Winnie?" said Nigel anxiously. + +"Yes!" said the girl, at once understanding the situation and darting to +the wheel, of which and of Captain Roy she laid firm hold, while Nigel +lifted the hermit in his arms and staggered to the same spot. Winnie +knelt beside him immediately, and, forgetting for the moment all the +horrors around her, busied herself in replacing the bandage which had +been loosened from his head. + +"Oh! Mr. Roy, save him!--save him!" cried the poor child, appealing in +an agony to Nigel, for she felt instinctively that when the crash came +her father would be utterly helpless even to save himself. + +Nigel had barely time to answer when a wild shout from the crew caused +him to start up and look round. A flare from the volcano had cast a red +light over the bewildering scene, and revealed the fact that the brig +was no longer above the ocean's bed, but was passing in its wild career +right through, or rather _over_, the demolished town of Anjer. A few of +the houses that had been left standing by the previous waves were being +swept--hurled--away by this one, but the mass of rolling, rushing, +spouting water was so deep, that the vessel had as yet struck nothing +save the tops of some palm-trees which bent their heads like straws +before the flood. + +Even in the midst of the amazement, alarm, and anxiety caused by the +situation, Nigel could not help wondering that in this final and +complete destruction of the town no sign of struggling human beings +should be visible. He forgot at the moment, what was terribly proved +afterwards, that the first waves had swallowed up men, women, and +children by hundreds, and that the few who survived had fled to the +hills, leaving nothing for the larger wave to do but complete the work +of devastation on inanimate objects. Ere the situation had been well +realised the volcanic fires went down again, and left the world, for +over a hundred surrounding miles, in opaque darkness. Only the humble +flicker of the binnacle light, like a trusty sentinel on duty, continued +to shed its feeble rays on a few feet of the deck, and showed that the +compass at least was still faithful to the pole! + +Then another volcanic outburst revealed the fact that the wave which +carried them was thundering on in the direction of a considerable cliff +or precipice--not indeed quite straight towards it, but sufficiently so +to render escape doubtful. + +At the same time a swarm of terror-stricken people were seen flying +towards this cliff and clambering up its steep sides. They were probably +some of the more courageous of the inhabitants who had summoned courage +to return to their homes after the passage of the second wave. Their +shrieks and cries could be heard above even the roaring of the water and +the detonations of the volcano. + +"God spare us!" exclaimed poor Winnie, whose trembling form was now +partially supported by Nigel. + +As she spoke darkness again obscured everything, and they could do +naught but listen to the terrible sounds--and pray. + +On--on went the _Sunshine_, in the midst of wreck and ruin, on this +strange voyage over land and water, until a check was felt. It was not a +crash as had been anticipated, and as might have naturally been +expected, neither was it an abrupt stoppage. There was first a hissing, +scraping sound against the vessel's sides, then a steady checking--we +might almost say a hindrance to progress--not violent, yet so very +decided that the rigging could not bear the strain. One and another of +the back-stays parted, the foretopsail burst with a cannon-like report, +after which a terrible rending sound, followed by an indescribable +crash, told that both masts had gone by the board. + +Then all was comparatively still--comparatively we say, for water still +hissed and leaped beneath them like a rushing river, though it no longer +roared, and the wind blew in unfamiliar strains and laden with unwonted +odours. + +At that moment another outburst of Krakatoa revealed the fact that the +great wave had borne the brig inland for upwards of a mile, and left her +imbedded in a thick grove of cocoa-nut palms! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +TELLS CHIEFLY OF THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF THIS ERUPTION ON THE WOULD AT +LARGE. + + +The great explosions of that morning had done more damage and had +achieved results more astounding than lies in the power of language +adequately to describe, or of history to parallel. + +Let us take a glance at this subject in passing. + +An inhabitant of Anjer--owner of a hotel, a ship-chandler's store, two +houses, and a dozen boats--went down to the beach about six on the +morning of that fateful 27th of August. He had naturally been impressed +by the night of the 26th, though, accustomed as he was to volcanic +eruptions, he felt no apprehensions as to the safety of the town. He +went to look to the moorings of his boats, leaving his family of seven +behind him. While engaged in this work he observed a wave of immense +size approaching. He leaped into one of his boats, which was caught up +by the wave and swept inland, carrying its owner there in safety. But +this was the wave that sealed the doom of the town and most of its +inhabitants, including the hotel-keeper's family and all that he +possessed. + +This is one only out of thousands of cases of bereavement and +destruction. + +A lighthouse-keeper was seated in his solitary watch-tower, speculating, +doubtless, on the probable continuance of such a violent outbreak, while +his family and mates--accustomed to sleep in the midst of elemental +war--were resting peacefully in the rooms below, when one of the mighty +waves suddenly appeared, thundered past, and swept the lighthouse with +all its inhabitants away. + +This shows but one of the many disasters to lighthouses in Sunda +Straits. + +A Dutch man-of-war--the _Berouw_--was lying at anchor in Lampong Bay, +fifty miles from Krakatoa. The great wave came, tore it from its +anchorage, and carried it--like the vessel of our friend David +Roy--nearly two miles inland! + +Masses of coral of immense size and weight were carried four miles +inland by the same wave. The river at Anjer was choked up; the conduit +which used to carry water into the place was destroyed, and the town +itself was laid in ruins. + +But these are only a few of the incidents of the great catastrophe. Who +can conceive, much less tell of, those terrible details of sudden death +and disaster to thousands of human beings, resulting from an eruption +which destroyed towns like Telok Betong, Anjer, Tyringin, etc., besides +numerous villages and hamlets on the shores of Java and Sumatra, and +caused the destruction of more than 36,000 souls? + +But it is to results of a very different kind, and on a much more +extended scale, that we must turn if we would properly estimate the +magnitude, the wide-spreading and far-reaching influences, and the +extraordinary character, of the Krakatoa outburst of 1883. + +In the first place, it is a fact, testified to by some of the best-known +men of science, that the shock of the explosion extended _appreciably_ +right round the world, and seventeen miles (some say even higher!) up +into the heavens. + +Mr. Verbeek, in his treatise on this subject, estimates that a cubic +mile of Krakatoa was propelled in the form of the finest dust into the +higher regions of the atmosphere--probably about thirty miles! The dust +thus sent into the sky was of "ultra-microscopic fineness," and it +travelled round and round the world in a westerly direction, producing +those extraordinary sunsets and gorgeous effects and afterglows which +became visible in the British Isles in the month of November following +the eruption; and the mighty waves which caused such destruction in the +vicinity of Sunda Straits travelled--not once, but at least--six times +round the globe, as was proved by trustworthy and independent +observations of tide-gauges and barometers made and recorded at the same +time in nearly all lands--including our own. + +Other volcanoes, it is said by those who have a right to speak in regard +to such matters, have ejected more "stuff," but not one has equalled +Krakatoa in the intensity of its explosions, the appalling results of +the sea-waves, the wonderful effects in the sky, and the almost +miraculous nature of the sounds. + +Seated on a log under a palm-tree in Batavia, on that momentous morning +of the 27th, was a sailor who had been left behind sick by Captain Roy +when he went on his rather Quixotic trip to the Keeling Islands. He was +a somewhat delicate son of the sea. Want of self-restraint was his +complaint--leading to a surfeit of fruit and other things, which +terminated in a severe fit of indigestion and indisposition to life in +general. He was smoking--that being a sovereign and infallible cure for +indigestion and all other ills that flesh is heir to, as every one +knows! + +"I say, old man," he inquired, with that cheerful tone and air which +usually accompanies incapacity for food. "Do it always rain ashes here?" + +The old man whom he addressed was a veteran Malay seaman. + +"No," replied the Malay, "sometimes it rain mud--hot mud." + +"Do it? Oh! well--anything for variety, I s'pose," returned the sailor, +with a growl which had reference to internal disarrangements. + +"Is it often as dark as this in the daytime, an' is the sun usually +green?" he asked carelessly, more for the sake of distracting the mind +from other matters than for the desire of knowledge. + +"Sometime it's more darker," replied the old man. "I've seed it so dark +that you couldn't see how awful dark it was." + +As he spoke, a sound that has been described by ear-witnesses as +"deafening" smote upon their tympanums, the log on which they sat +quivered, the earth seemed to tremble, and several dishes in a +neighbouring hut were thrown down and broken. + +"I say, old man, suthin' busted there," remarked the sailor, taking the +pipe from his mouth and quietly ramming its contents down with the end +of his blunt forefinger. + +The Malay looked grave. + +"The gasometer?" suggested the sailor. + +"No, that _never_ busts." + +"A noo mountain come into action, p'raps, an' blow'd its top off?" + +"Shouldn't wonder if that's it--close at hand too. We's used to that +here. But them's bigger cracks than or'nar'." + +The old Malay was right as to the cause, but wrong as to distance. +Instead of being a volcano "close at hand," it was Krakatoa eviscerating +itself a hundred miles off, and the sound of its last grand effort +"extended over 50 degrees = about 3000 miles." + +On that day all the gas lights were extinguished in Batavia, and the +pictures rattled on the walls as though from the action of an +earthquake. But there was no earthquake. It was the air-wave from +Krakatoa, and the noise produced by the air-waves that followed was +described as "deafening." + +The effect of the sounds of the explosions on the Straits Settlements +generally was not only striking, but to some extent amusing. At Carimon, +in Java--355 miles distant from Krakatoa--it was supposed that a vessel +in distress was firing guns, and several native boats were sent off to +render assistance, but no distressed vessel was to be found! At Acheen, +in Sumatra--1073 miles distant--they supposed that a fort was being +attacked and the troops were turned out under arms. At Singapore--522 +miles off--they fancied that the detonations came from a vessel in +distress and two steamers were despatched to search for it. And here the +effect on the telephone, extending to Ishore, was remarkable. On raising +the tubes a perfect roar as of a waterfall was heard. By shouting at +the top of his voice, the clerk at one end could make the clerk at the +other end hear, but he could not render a word intelligible. At +Perak--770 miles off--the sounds were thought to be distant salvos of +artillery, and Commander Hon. F. Vereker, R.N., of H.M.S. _Magpie_, when +1227 miles distant (in lat. 5 deg. 52' N. long. 118 deg. 22' E.), states that +the detonations of Krakatoa were distinctly heard by those on board his +ship, and by the inhabitants of the coast as far as Banguey Island, on +August 27th. He adds that they resembled distant heavy cannonading. In a +letter from St. Lucia Bay--1116 miles distant--it was stated that the +eruption was plainly heard all over Borneo. A government steamer was +sent out from the Island of Timor--1351 miles off--to ascertain the +cause of the disturbance! In South Australia also, at places 2250 miles +away, explosions were heard on the 26th and 27th which "awakened" +people, and were thought worthy of being recorded and reported. From +Tavoy, in Burmah--1478 miles away--the report came--"All day on August +27th unusual sounds were heard, resembling the boom of guns. Thinking +there might be a wreck or a ship in distress, the Tavoy Superintendent +sent out the police launch, but they 'could see nothing.'" And so on, +far and near, similar records were made, the most distant spot where the +sounds were reported to have been heard being Rodriguez, in the +Pacific, nearly 3000 miles distant! + +One peculiar feature of the records is that some ships in the immediate +neighbourhood of Krakatoa did not experience the shock in proportionate +severity. Probably this was owing to their being so near that a great +part of the concussion and sound flew over them--somewhat in the same +way that the pieces of a bomb-shell fly over men who, being too near to +escape by running, escape by flinging themselves flat on the ground. + +Each air-wave which conveyed these sounds, commencing at Krakatoa as a +centre, spread out in an ever-increasing circle till it reached a +distance of 180 deg. from its origin and encircled the earth at its widest +part, after which it continued to advance in a contracting form until it +reached the antipodes of the volcano; whence it was reflected or +reproduced and travelled back again to Krakatoa. Here it was turned +right-about-face and again despatched on its long journey. In this way +it oscillated backward and forward not fewer than six times before +traces of it were lost. We say "traces," because these remarkable facts +were ascertained, tracked, and corroborated by independent barometric +observation in all parts of the earth. + +For instance, the passage of the great air-wave from Krakatoa to its +antipodes, and from its antipodes back to Krakatoa, was registered six +times by the automatic barometer at Greenwich. The instrument at Kew +Observatory confirmed the records of Greenwich, and so did the +barometers of other places in the kingdom. Everywhere in Europe also +this fact was corroborated, and in some places even a seventh +oscillation was recorded. The Greenwich record shows that the air-waves +took about thirty-six hours to travel from pole to pole, thus proving +that they travelled at about the rate of ordinary sound-waves, which, +roughly speaking, travel at the rate of between six and seven hundred +miles an hour. + +The height of the sea-waves that devastated the neighbouring shores, +being variously estimated at from 50 to 135 feet, is sufficiently +accounted for by the intervention of islands and headlands, etc., which, +of course, tended to diminish the force, height, and volume of waves in +varying degrees. + +These, like the air-waves, were also registered--by self-acting +tide-gauges and by personal observation--all over the world, and the +observations _coincided as to date with the great eruptions of the 26th +and 27th of August_. The influence of the sea-waves was observed and +noted in the Java sea--which is shallow and where there are innumerable +obstructions--as far as 450 miles, but to the west they swept over the +deep waters of the Indian Ocean on to Cape Horn, and even, it is said, +to the English Channel. + +The unusual disturbance of ocean in various places was sufficiently +striking. At Galle, in Ceylon, where the usual rise and fall of the tide +is 2 feet, the master-attendant reports that on the afternoon of the +27th four remarkable waves were noticed in the port. The last of these +was preceded by an unusual recession of the sea to such an extent that +small boats at their anchorage were left aground--a thing that had never +been seen before. The period of recession was only one-and-a-half +minutes; then the water paused, as it were, for a brief space, and, +beginning to rise, reached the level of the highest high-water mark in +less than two minutes, thus marking a difference of 8 feet 10 inches +instead of the ordinary 2 feet. + +At one place there was an ebb and flood tide, of unusual extent, within +half-an-hour. At another, a belt of land, including a burying-ground, +was washed away, so that according to the observer "it appeared as if +the dead had sought shelter with the living in a neighbouring cocoa-nut +garden!" Elsewhere the tides were seen to advance and recede ten or +twelve times--in one case even twenty times--on the 27th. + +At Trincomalee the sea receded three times and returned with singular +force, at one period leaving part of the shore suddenly bare, with fish +struggling in the mud. The utilitarian tendency of mankind was at once +made manifest by some fishermen who, seizing the opportunity, dashed +into the struggling mass and began to reap the accidental harvest, +when--alas for the poor fishermen!--the sea rushed in again and drove +them all away. + +In the Mauritius, however, the fishers were more fortunate, for when +their beach was exposed in a similar manner, they succeeded in capturing +a good many fish before the water returned. + +Even sharks were disturbed in their sinister and slimy habits of life by +this outburst of Krakatoa--and no wonder, when it is recorded that in +some places "the sea looked like water boiling heavily in a pot," and +that "the boats which were afloat were swinging in all directions." At +one place several of these monsters were flung out of their native home +into pools, where they were left struggling till their enemy man +terminated their career. + +Everywhere those great waves produced phenomena which were so striking +as to attract the attention of all classes of people, to ensure record +in most parts of the world, and to call for the earnest investigation of +the scientific men of many lands--and the conclusion to which such men +have almost universally come is, that the strange vagaries of the sea +all over the earth, the mysterious sounds heard in so many widely +distant places, and the wonderful effects in the skies of every quarter +of the globe, were all due to the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in +1883. + +With reference to these last--the sky-effects-a few words may not be out +of place here. + +The superfine "ultra-microscopic" dust, which was blown by the volcano +in quantities so enormous to such unusual heights, was, after dropping +its heavier particles back to earth, caught by the breezes which always +blow in the higher regions from east to west, and carried by them for +many months round and round the world. The dust was thickly and not +widely spread at first, but as time went on it gradually extended itself +on either side, becoming visible to more and more of earth's +inhabitants, and at the same time becoming necessarily less dense. + +Through this medium the sun's rays had to penetrate. In so far as the +dust-particles were opaque they would obscure these rays; where they +were transparent or polished they would refract and reflect them. That +the material of which those dust-particles was composed was very various +has been ascertained, proved, and recorded by the Krakatoa Committee. +The attempt to expound this matter would probably overtax the endurance +of the average reader, yet it may interest all to know that this +dust-cloud travelled westward within the tropics at the rate of about +double the speed of an express train--say 120 miles an hour; crossed the +Indian Ocean and Africa in three days, the Atlantic in two, America in +two, and, in short, put a girdle round the world in thirteen days. +Moreover, the cloud of dust was so big that it took two or three days to +pass any given point. During its second circumnavigation it was +considerably spread and thinned, and the third time still more so, +having expanded enough to include Europe and the greater part of North +America. It had thinned away altogether and disappeared in the spring of +1884. + +Who has not seen--at least read or heard of--the gorgeous skies of the +autumn of 1883? Not only in Britain, but in all parts of the world, +these same skies were seen, admired, and commented on as marvellous. And +so they were. One of the chief peculiarities about them, besides their +splendour, was the fact that they consisted chiefly of +"afterglows"--that is, an increase of light and splendour _after_ the +setting of the sun, when, in an ordinary state of things, the grey +shadows of evening would have descended on the world. Greenish-blue +suns; pink clouds; bright yellow, orange, and crimson afterglows; +gorgeous, magnificent, blood-red skies--the commentators seemed unable +to find language adequately to describe them. Listen to a German +observer's remarks on the subject:-- + +"The display of November 29th was the grandest and most manifold. I +give a description as exactly; as possible, for its overwhelming +magnificence still presents itself to me as if it had been yesterday. +When the sun had set about a quarter of an hour, there was not much +afterglow, but I had observed a remarkably yellow bow in the south, +about 10 deg. above the horizon. In about ten minutes more this arc rose +pretty quickly, extended itself all over the east and up to and beyond +the zenith. The sailors declared, 'Sir, that is the Northern Lights.' I +thought I had never seen Northern Lights in greater splendour. After +five minutes more the-light had faded, though not vanished, in the east +and south, and the finest purple-red rose up in the south-west; one +could imagine one's-self in Fairyland." + +All this, and a great deal more, was caused by the dust of Krakatoa! + +"But how--how--why?" exclaims an impatient and puzzled reader. + +"Ay--there's the rub." Rubbing, by the way, may have had something to do +with it. At all events we are safe to say that whatever there was of +electricity in the matter resulted from friction. + +Here is what the men of science say--as far as we can gather and +condense. + +The fine dust blown out of Krakatoa was found, under the microscope, to +consist of excessively thin, transparent plates or irregular specks of +pumice--which inconceivably minute fragments were caused by enormous +steam pressure in the interior and the sudden expansion of the masses +blown out into the atmosphere. Of this glassy dust, that which was blown +into the regions beyond the clouds must have been much finer even than +that which was examined. These glass fragments were said by Dr. Fluegel +to contain either innumerable air-bubbles or minute needle-like +crystals, or both. Small though these vesicles were when ejected from +the volcano, they would become still smaller by bursting when they +suddenly reached a much lower pressure of atmosphere at a great height. +Some of them, however, owing to tenacity of material and other causes, +might have failed to burst and would remain floating in the upper air as +perfect microscopic glass balloons. Thus the dust was a mass of +particles of every conceivable shape, and so fine that no watches, +boxes, or instruments were tight enough to exclude from their interior +even that portion of the dust which was heavy enough to remain on earth! + +Now, to the unscientific reader it is useless to say more than that the +innumerable and varied positions of these glassy particles, some +transparent, others semi-transparent or opaque, reflecting the sun's +rays in different directions, with a complex modification of colour and +effect resulting from the blueness of the sky, the condition of the +atmosphere, and many other causes--all combined to produce the +remarkable appearances of light and colour which aroused the admiration +and wonder of the world in 1883. + +The more one thinks of these things, and the deeper one dives into the +mysteries of nature, the more profoundly is one impressed at once with a +humbling sense of the limited amount of one's knowledge, and an +awe-inspiring appreciation of the illimitable fields suggested by that +comprehensive expression: "THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +COMING EVENTS, ETC.--WONDERFUL CHANGES AMONG THE ISLANDS. + + +Some days after the wreck of the _Sunshine_, as described in a previous +chapter, Captain Roy and his son stood on the coast of Java not far from +the ruins of Anjer. A vessel was anchored in the offing, and a little +boat lay on the shore. + +All sign of elemental strife had passed, though a cloud of smoke hanging +over the remains of Krakatoa told that the terrible giant below was not +dead but only sleeping--to awake, perchance, after a nap of another 200 +years. + +"Well, father," said our hero with a modest look, "it may be, as you +suggest, that Winnie Van der Kemp does not care for me more than for a +fathom of salt water----" + +"I did not say salt water, lad, I said bilge--a fathom o' _bilge_ +water," interrupted the captain, who, although secretly rejoiced at the +fact of his son having fallen over head and ears in love with the pretty +little Cocos-Keeling islander, deemed it his duty, nevertheless, as a +sternly upright parent, to, make quite sure that the love was mutual as +well as deep before giving his consent to anything like courtship. + +"It matters not; salt or bilge water makes little difference," returned +the son with a smile. "But all I can say is that I care for Winnie so +much that her love is to me of as much importance as sunshine to the +world--and we have had some experience lately of what the want of _that_ +means." + +"Nonsense, Nigel," returned the captain severely. "You're workin' +yourself into them up-in-the-clouds, reef-point-patterin' regions +again--which, by the way, should be pretty well choked wi' Krakatoa dust +by this time. Come down out o' that if ye want to hold or'nary +intercourse wi' your old father. She's far too young yet, my boy. You +must just do as many a young fellow has done before you, attend to your +dooties and forget her." + +"Forget her!" returned the youth, with that amused, quiet expression +which wise men sometimes assume when listening to foolish suggestions. +"I could almost as easily forget my mother!" + +"A very proper sentiment, Nigel, very--especially the 'almost' part of +it." + +"Besides," continued the son, "she is not so _very_ young--and that +difficulty remedies itself every hour. Moreover, I too am young. I can +wait." + +"The selfishness of youth is only equalled by its presumption," said +the captain. "How d'ee know _she_ will wait?" + +"I don't know, father, but I hope she will--I--I--_think_ she will." + +"Nigel," said the captain, in a tone and with a look that were meant to +imply intense solemnity, "have you ever spoken to her about love?" + +"No, father." + +"Has she ever spoken to _you_?" + +"No--at least--not with her lips." + +"Come, boy, you're humbuggin' your old father. Her tongue couldn't well +do it without the lips lendin' a hand." + +"Well then--with neither," returned the son. "She spoke with her +eyes--not intentionally, of course, for the eyes, unlike the lips, +refuse to be under control." + +"Hm! I see--reef-point-patterin' poetics again! An' what did she say +with her eyes?" + +"Really, father, you press me too hard; it is difficult to translate +eye-language, but if you'll only let memory have free play and revert to +that time, nigh quarter of a century ago, when you first met with a +certain _real_ poetess, perhaps--" + +"Ah! you dog! you have me there. But how dare you, sir, venture to think +of marryin' on nothin'?" + +"I don't think of doing so. Am I not a first mate with a handsome +salary?" + +"No, lad, you're not. You're nothin' better than a seaman out o' work, +with your late ship wrecked in a cocoa-nut grove!" + +"That's true," returned Nigel with a laugh. "But is not the cargo of the +said ship safe in Batavia? Has not its owner a good bank account in +England? Won't another ship be wanted, and another first mate, and would +the owner dare to pass over his own son, who is such a competent +seaman--according to your own showing? Come, father, I turn the tables +on you and ask you to aid rather than resist me in this matter." + +"Well, I will, my boy, I will," said the captain heartily, as he laid +his hand on his son's shoulder. "But, seriously, you must haul off this +little craft and clap a stopper on your tongue--ay, and on your eyes +too--till three points are considered an' made quite clear. First, you +must find out whether the hermit would be agreeable. Second, you must +look the matter straight in the face and make quite sure that you mean +it. For better or for worse. No undoin' _that_ knot, Nigel, once it's +fairly tied! And, third, you must make quite sure that Winnie is sure of +her own mind, an' that--that--" + +"We're all sure all round, father. Quite right. I agree with you. 'All +fair an' aboveboard' should be the sailing orders of every man in such +matters, especially of every seaman. But, will you explain how I am to +make sure of Winnie's state of mind without asking her about it?" + +"Well, I don't exactly see my way," replied the captain slowly. "What +d'ee say to my soundin' her on the subject?" + +"Couldn't think of it! You may be first-rate at deep-sea soundings, +father, but you couldn't sound the depths of a young girl's heart. I +must reserve that for myself, however long it may be delayed." + +"So be it, lad. The only embargo that I lay upon you is--haul off, and +mind you don't let your figurehead go by the board. Meanwhile, here +comes the boat. Now, Nigel, none o' your courtin' till everything is +settled and the wind fair--dead aft my lad, and blowin' stiff. You and +the hermit are goin' off to Krakatoa to-day, I suppose?" + +"Yes. I am just now waiting for him and Moses," returned Nigel. + +"Is Winnie going?" + +"Don't know. I hope so." + +"Humph! Well, if we have a fair wind I shall soon be in Batavia," said +the captain, descending to business matters, "and I expect without +trouble to dispose of the cargo that we landed there, as well as that +part o' the return cargo which I had bought before I left for +Keeling--at a loss, no doubt, but that don't matter much. Then I'll come +back here by the first craft that offers--arter which----. Ay!--Ay! +shove her in here. Plenty o' water." + +The last remark was made to the seaman who steered the boat sent from +the vessel in the offing. + +A short time thereafter Captain Roy was sailing away for Batavia, while +his son, with Van der Kemp, Moses, Winnie, and Spinkie, was making for +Krakatoa in a native boat. + +The hermit, in spite of his injuries, had recovered his wonted +appearance, if not his wonted vigour. Winnie seemed to have suddenly +developed into a mature woman under her recent experiences, though she +had lost none of her girlish grace and attractiveness. As for +Moses--time and tide seemed to have no effect whatever on his ebony +frame, and still less, if possible, on his indomitable spirit. + +"Now you keep still," he said in solemn tones and with warning looks to +Spinkie. "If you keep fidgitin' about you'll capsize de boat. You hear?" + +Spinkie veiled his real affection for the negro under a look of supreme +indifference, while Winnie went off into a sudden giggle at the idea of +such a small creature capsizing the boat. + +Mindful of his father's warning, Nigel did his best to "haul off" and to +prevent his "figurehead" from going "by the board." But he found it +uncommonly hard work, for Winnie looked so innocent, so pretty, so +unconscious, so sympathetic with everybody and everything, so very +young, yet so wondrously wise and womanly, that he felt an irresistible +desire to prostrate himself at her feet in abject slavery. + +"Dear little thing," said Winnie, putting her hand on Spinkie's little +head and smoothing him down from eyes to tail. + +Spinkie looked as if half inclined to withdraw his allegiance from Moses +and bestow it on Winnie, but evidently changed his mind after a moment's +reflection. + +"O that I were a monkey!" thought Nigel, paraphrasing Shakespeare, "that +I might----" but it is not fair to our hero to reveal him in his +weaker moments! + +There was something exasperating, too, in being obliged, owing to the +size of the boat, to sit so close to Winnie without having a right to +touch her hand! Who has not experienced this, and felt himself to be a +very hero of self-denial in the circumstances? + +"Mos' awrful hot!" remarked Moses, wiping his forehead with the sleeve +of his shirt. + +"_You_ hot!" said Nigel in surprise. "I thought nothing on earth could +be too hot for you." + +"Dat's your ignerance," returned Moses calmly. "Us niggers, you see, +ought to suffer more fro' heat dan you whites." + +"How so?" + +"Why, don't your flossiphers say dat black am better dan white for +'tractin' heat, an' ain't our skins black? I wish we'd bin' born white +as chalk. I say, Massa Nadgel, seems to me dat dere's not much left ob +Krakatoa." + +They had approached near enough to the island by that time to perceive +that wonderful changes had indeed taken place, and Van der Kemp, who had +been for some time silently absorbed in contemplation, at last turned to +his daughter and said-- + +"I had feared at first, Winnie, that my old home had been blown entirely +away, but I see now that the Peak of Rakata still stands, so perhaps I +may yet show you the cave in which I have spent so many years." + +"But why did you go to live in such a strange place, dear father?" asked +the girl, laying her hand lovingly on the hermit's arm. + +Van der Kemp did not reply at once. He gazed in his child's face with an +increase of that absent air and far-away look which Nigel, ever since he +met him, had observed as one of his characteristics. At this time an +anxious thought crossed him,--that perhaps the blows which his friend +had received on his head when he was thrown on the deck of the +_Sunshine_ might have injured his brain. + +"It is not easy to answer your question, dear one," he said after a +time, laying his strong hand on the girl's head, and smoothing her +luxuriant hair which hung in the untrammelled freedom of nature over her +shoulders. "I have felt sometimes, during the last few days, as if I +were awaking out of a long long dream, or recovering from a severe +illness in which delirium had played a prominent part. Even now, though +I see and touch you, I sometimes tremble lest I should really awake and +find that it is all a dream. I have so often--so _very_ often--dreamed +something like it in years gone by, but never so vividly as now! I +cannot doubt--it is sin to doubt--that my prayers have been at last +answered. God is good and wise. He knows what is best and does not fail +in bringing the best to pass. Yet I have doubted Him--again and again." + +Van der Kemp paused here and drew his hand across his brow as if to +clear away sad memories of the past, while Winnie drew closer to him and +looked up tenderly in his face. + +"When your mother died, dear one," he resumed, "it seemed to me as if +the sun had left the heavens, and when _you_ were snatched from me, it +was as though my soul had fled and nought but animal life remained. I +lived as if in a terrible dream. I cannot recall exactly what I did or +where I went for a long long time. I know I wandered through the +archipelago looking for you, because I did not believe at first that you +were dead. It was at this time I took up my abode in the cave of Rakata, +and fell in with my good faithful friend Moses--" + +"Your sarvint, massa," interrupted the negro humbly. "I's proud to be +call your frind, but I's only your sarvint, massa." + +"Truly you have been my faithful servant, Moses," said Van der Kemp, +"but not the less have you been my trusted friend. He nursed me through +a long and severe illness, Winnie. How long, I am not quite sure. After +a time I nearly lost hope. Then there came a very dark period, when I +was forced to believe that you must be dead. Yet, strange to say, even +during this dark time I did not cease to pray and to wander about in +search of you. I suppose it was the force of habit, for hope seemed to +have died. Then, at last, Nigel found you. God used him as His +instrument. And now, praise to His name, we are reunited--for ever!" + +"Darling father!" were the only words that Winnie could utter as she +laid her head on the hermit's shoulder and wept for joy. + +Two ideas, which had not occurred to him before, struck Nigel with great +force at that moment. The one was that whatever or wherever his future +household should be established, if Winnie was to be its chief ornament, +her father must of necessity become a member of it. The other idea was +that he was destined to possess a negro servant with a consequent and +unavoidable monkey attendant! How strange the links of which the chain +of human destiny is formed, and how wonderful the powers of thought by +which that chain is occasionally forecast! How to convey all these +possessions to England and get them comfortably settled there was a +problem which he did not care to tackle just then. + +"See, Winnie," said Van der Kemp, pointing with interest to a mark on +the side of Rakata, "yonder is the mouth of my cave. I never saw it so +clearly before because of the trees and bushes, but everything seems now +to have been burnt up." + +"Das so, massa, an' what hasn't bin bu'nt up has bin blow'd up!" +remarked the negro. + +"Looks very like it, Moses, unless that is a haze which enshrouds the +rest of the island," rejoined the other, shading his eyes with his +hands. + +It was no haze, however; for they found, on drawing nearer, that the +greater part of Krakatoa had, as we have already said, actually +disappeared from the face of the earth. + +When the boat finally rounded the point which hid the northern part of +the island from view, a sight was presented which it is not often given +to human eyes to look upon. The whole mountain named the Peak of Rakata +(2623 feet high) had been split from top to bottom, and about one-half +of it, with all that part of the island lying to the northward, had been +blown away, leaving a wall or almost sheer precipice which presented a +grand section of the volcano. + +Pushing their boat into a creek at the base of this precipice, the party +landed and tried to reach a position from which a commanding view might +be obtained. This was not an easy matter, for there was not a spot for a +foot to rest on which was not covered deeply with pumice-dust and ashes. +By dint of perseverance, however, they gained a ledge whence the +surrounding district could be observed, and then it was clearly seen how +wide-spread and stupendous the effects of the explosion had been. + +Where the greater part of the richly wooded island had formerly +flourished, the ocean now rippled in the sunshine, and of the smaller +islands around it _Lang_ Island had been considerably increased in bulk +as well as in height. _Verlaten_ Island had been enlarged to more than +three times its former size and also much increased in height. The +island named _Polish Hat_ had disappeared altogether, and two entirely +new islets--afterwards named _Steers_ and _Calmeyer_ Islands--had +arisen to the northward. + +"Now, friends," said Van der Kemp, after they had noted and commented on +the vast and wonderful changes that had taken place, "we will pull round +to our cave and see what has happened there." + +Descending to the boat they rowed round the southern shores of Rakata +until they reached the little harbour where the boat and canoe had +formerly been kept. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +ENDS WITH A STRUGGLE BETWEEN INCLINATION AND DUTY. + + +"De cave's blowed away too!" was the first remark of Moses as they rowed +into the little port. + +A shock of disappointment was experienced by Winnie, for she fancied +that the negro had referred to her father's old home, but he only meant +the lower cave in which the canoe had formerly been kept. She was soon +relieved as to this point, however, but, when a landing was effected, +difficulties that seemed to her almost insurmountable presented +themselves, for the ground was covered knee-deep with pumice-dust, and +the road to the upper cave was blocked by rugged masses of lava and +ashes, all heaped up in indescribable confusion. + +On careful investigation, however, it was found that after passing a +certain point the footpath was almost unencumbered by volcanic debris. +This was owing to the protection afforded to it by the cone of Rakata, +and the almost overhanging nature of some of the cliffs on that side of +the mountain; still the track was bad enough, and in places so rugged, +that Winnie, vigorous and agile though she was, found it both difficult +and fatiguing to advance. Seeing this, her father proposed to carry her, +but she laughingly declined the proposal. + +Whereupon Nigel offered to lend her a hand over the rougher places, but +this she also declined. + +Then Moses, stepping forward, asserted his rights. + +"It's _my_ business," he said, "to carry t'ings w'en dey's got to be +carried. M'r'over, as I's bin obleeged to leabe Spinkie in charge ob de +boat, I feels okard widout somet'ing to carry, an' you ain't much +heavier dan Spinkie, Miss Winnie--so, come along." + +He stooped with the intention of grasping Winnie as if she were a little +child, but with a light laugh the girl sprang away and left Moses +behind. + +"'S'my opinion," said Moses, looking after her with a grin, "dat if de +purfesser was here he 'd net her in mistook for a bufferfly. Dar!--she's +down!" he shouted, springing forward, but Nigel was before him. + +Winnie had tripped and fallen. + +"Are you hurt, dear--child?" asked Nigel, raising her gently. + +"Oh no! only a little shaken," answered Winnie, with a little laugh that +was half hysterical. "I am strong enough to go on presently." + +"Nay, my child, you _must_ suffer yourself to be carried at this part," +said Van der Kemp. "Take her up, Nigel, you are stronger than I am +_now_. I would not have asked you to do it before my accident!" + +Our hero did not need a second bidding. Grasping Winnie in his strong +arms he raised her as if she had been a feather, and strode away at a +pace so rapid that he soon left Van der Kemp and Moses far behind. + +"Put me down, now," said Winnie, after a little while, in a low voice. +"I'm quite recovered now and can walk." + +"Nay, Winnie, you are mistaken. The path is very rough yet, and the dust +gets deeper as we ascend. _Do_ give me the pleasure of helping you a +little longer." + +Whatever Winnie may have felt or thought she said nothing, and Nigel, +taking silence for consent, bore her swiftly onward and upward,--with an +"Excelsior" spirit that would have thrown the Alpine youth with the +banner and the strange device considerably into the shade,--until he +placed her at the yawning black mouth of the hermit's cave. + +But what a change was there! The trees and flowering shrubs and ferns +were all gone, lava, pumice, and ashes lay thick on everything around, +and only a few blackened and twisted stumps of the larger trees +remained to tell that an umbrageous forest had once flourished there. +The whole scene might be fittingly described in the two words--grey +desolation. + +"That is the entrance to your father's old home," said Nigel, as he set +his fair burden down and pointed to the entrance. + +"What a dreadful place!" said Winnie, peering into the black depths of +the cavern. + +"It was not dreadful when I first saw it, Winnie, with rich verdure +everywhere; and inside you will find it surprisingly comfortable. But we +must not enter until your father arrives to do the honours of the place +himself." + +They had not to wait long. First Moses arrived, and, shrewdly suspecting +from the appearance of the young couple that they were engaged in +conversation that would not brook interruption, or, perhaps, judging +from what might be his own wishes in similar circumstances, he turned +his back suddenly on them, and, stooping down, addressed himself to an +imaginary creature of the animal kingdom. + +"What a bootiful bufferfly you is, to be sure! up on sitch a place too, +wid nuffin' to eat 'cept Krakatoa dust. I wonder what your moder would +say if she know'd you was here. You should be ashamed ob yourself!" + +"Hallo! Moses, what are you talking to over there?" + +"Nuffin', Massa Nadgel. I was on'y habin' a brief conv'sation wid a +member ob de insect wurld in commemoration ob de purfesser. Leastwise, +if it warn't a insect it must hab bin suffm' else. Won't you go in, Miss +Winnie?" + +"No, I'd rather wait for father," returned the girl, looking a little +flushed, for some strange and totally unfamiliar ideas had recently +floated into her brain and caused some incomprehensible flutterings of +the heart to which hitherto she had been a stranger. + +Mindful of his father's injunctions, however, Nigel had been +particularly careful to avoid increasing these flutterings. + +In a few minutes the hermit came up. "Ah! Winnie," he said, "there has +been dire devastation here. Perhaps inside things may look better. Come, +take my hand and don't be afraid. The floor is level and your eyes will +soon get accustomed to the dim light." + +"I's afeared, massa," remarked Moses, as they entered the cavern, "dat +your sun-lights won't be wu'th much now." + +"You are right, lad. Go on before us and light the lamps if they are not +broken." + +It was found, as they had expected, that, the only light which +penetrated the cavern was that which entered by the cave's mouth, which +of course was very feeble. + +Presently, to Winnie's surprise, Moses was seen issuing from the kitchen +with a petroleum lamp in one hand, the brilliant light of which not only +glittered on his expressive black visage but sent a ruddy glare all over +the cavern. + +Van der Kemp seemed to watch his daughter intently as she gazed in a +bewildered way around. There was a puzzled look as well as mere surprise +in her pretty face. + +"Father," she said earnestly, "you have spoken more than once of living +as if in a dream. Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that I +experience something of that sort now. Strange though this place seems, +I have an unaccountable feeling that it is not absolutely new to +me--that I have seen it before." + +"I do not wonder, dear one," he replied, "for the drawings that surround +this chamber were the handiwork of your dear mother, and they decorated +the walls of your own nursery when you were a little child at your +mother's knee. For over ten long years they have surrounded me and kept +your faces fresh in my memory--though, truth to tell, it needed no such +reminders to do that. Come, let us examine them." + +It was pleasant to see the earnest face of Winnie as she +half-recognised and strove to recall the memories of early childhood in +that singular cavern. It was also a sight worth seeing--the countenance +of Nigel, as well as that of the hermit, while they watched and admired +her eager, puzzled play of feature, and it was the most amazing sight of +all to see the all but superhuman joy of Moses as he held the lamp and +listened to facts regarding the past of his beloved master which were +quite new to him--for the hermit spoke as openly about his past domestic +affairs as if he and Winnie had been quite alone. + +"He either forgets that we are present, or counts us as part of his +family," thought Nigel with a feeling of satisfaction. + +"What a dear comoonicative man!" thought Moses, with unconcealed +pleasure. + +"Come now, let us ascend to the observatory," said the hermit, when all +the things in the library had been examined. "There has been damage done +there, I know; besides, there is a locket there which belonged to your +mother. I left it by mistake one day when I went up to arrange the +mirrors, and in the hurry of leaving forgot to return for it. Indeed, +one of my main objects in re-visiting my old home was to fetch that +locket away. It contains a lock of hair and one of those miniatures +which men used to paint before photography drove such work off the +field." + +Winnie was nothing loth to follow, for she had reached a romantic period +of life, and it seemed to her that to be led through mysterious caves +and dark galleries in the very heart of a still active volcano by her +own father--the hermit of Rakata--was the very embodiment of romance +itself. + +But a disappointment awaited them, for they had not proceeded halfway +through the dark passage when it was found that a large mass of rock had +fallen from the roof and almost blocked it up. + +"There is a space big enough for us to creep through at the right-hand +corner above, I think," said Nigel, taking the lantern from Moses and +examining the spot. + +"Jump up, Moses, and try it," said the hermit. "If your bulky shoulders +get through, we can all manage it." + +The negro was about to obey the order when Nigel let the lantern fall +and the shock extinguished it. + +"Oh! Massa Nadgel; das a pritty business!" + +"Never mind," said Van der Kemp. "I've got matches, I think, in my--no, +I haven't. Have you, Moses?" + +"No, massa, I forgit to remember him." + +"No matter, run back--you know the road well enough to follow it in the +dark. We will wait here till you return. Be smart, now!" + +Moses started off at once and for some moments the sound of clattering +along the passage was heard. + +"I will try to clamber through in the dark. Look after Winnie, +Nigel--and don't leave the spot where you stand, dear one, for there are +cracks and holes about that might sprain your little ankles." + +"Very well, father." + +"All right. I've got through, Nigel; I'll feel my way on for a little +bit. Remain where you are." + +"Winnie," said Nigel when they were alone, "doesn't it feel awesome and +strange to be standing here in such intense darkness?" + +"It does--I don't quite like it." + +"Whereabouts are you?" said Nigel. + +He carefully stretched out his hand to feel, as he spoke, and laid a +finger on her brow. + +"Oh! take care of my eyes!" exclaimed Winnie with a little laugh. + +"_I_ wish you would turn your eyes towards me for I'm convinced they +would give some light--? to _me_ at least. Here, do let me hold your +hand It will make you feel more confident." + +To one who is at all familiar with the human frame, the way from the +brow to the hand is comparatively simple. Nigel soon possessed himself +of the coveted article. Like other things of great value the possession +turned the poor youth's head! He forgot his father's warnings for the +moment, forgot the hermit and Moses and Spinkie, and the thick +darkness--forgot almost everything in the light of that touch! + +"Winnie!" he exclaimed in a tone that quite alarmed her; "I--I--" He +hesitated. The solemn embargo of his father recurred to him. + +"What is it! Is there danger?" exclaimed the poor girl, clasping his +hand tighter and drawing nearer to him. + +This was too much! Nigel felt himself to be contemptible. He was taking +unfair advantage of her. + +"Winnie," he began again, in a voice of forced calmness, "there is no +danger whatever. I'm an ass--a dolt--that's all! The fact is, I made my +father a sort of half promise that I would not ask your opinion on a +certain subject until--until I found out exactly what you thought about +it. Now the thing is ridiculous--impossible--for how can I know your +opinion on any subject until I have asked you?" + +"Quite true," returned Winnie simply, "so you better ask me." + +"Ha! _ha_!" laughed Nigel, in a sort of desperate amusement, "I--I--Yes, +I _will_ ask you, Winnie! But first I must explain----" + +"Hallo! Nigel!" came at that moment from the other side of the +obstruction, "are you there--all right?" + +"Yes, yes--I'm here--_not_ all right exactly, but I'll be all right +_some day_, you may depend upon that!" shouted the youth, in a tone of +indignant exasperation. + +"What said you?" asked Van der Kemp, putting his head through the hole. + +"Hi! I's a-comin', look out, dar!" hallooed Moses in the opposite +direction. + +"Just so," said Nigel, resuming his quiet tone and demeanour, "we'll be +all right when the light comes. Here, give us your hand, Van der Kemp." + +The hermit accepted the proffered aid and leaped down amongst his +friends just as Moses arrived with the lantern. + +"It's of no use going further," he said. "The passage is completely +blocked up--so we must go round to where the mountain has been split off +and try to clamber up. There will be daylight enough yet if we are +quick. Come." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE LAST. + + +Descending to the boat they rowed round to the face of the great cliff +which had been so suddenly laid bare when the Peak of Rakata was cleft +from its summit to its foundations in the sea. It was a wonderful +sight--a magnificent section, affording a marvellous view of the +internal mechanism of a volcano. + +But there was no time to spend in contemplation of this extraordinary +sight, for evening approached and the hermit's purpose had to be +accomplished. + +High up near the top of the mighty cliff could be seen a small hole in +the rock, which was all that remained of the observatory. + +"It will be impossible, I fear, to reach that spot," said Nigel; "there +does not appear to be foothold for a goat." + +"I will reach it," said the hermit in a low voice, as he scanned the +precipice carefully. + +"So will I," said the negro. + +"No, Moses, I go alone. You will remain in the boat and watch. If I +fall, you can pick me up." + +"Pick you up!" echoed Moses. "If you tumbles a t'ousand feet into de +water how much t'ink you will be lef to pick up?" + +It was useless to attempt to dissuade Van der Kemp. Being well aware of +this, they all held their peace while he landed on a spur of the riven +cliff. + +The first part of the ascent was easy enough, the ground having been +irregularly broken, so that the climber disappeared behind masses of +rock at times, while he kept as much as possible to the western edge of +the mountain where the cleavage had occurred; but as he ascended he was +forced to come out upon narrow ledges that had been left here and there +on the face of the cliff, where he seemed, to those who were watching +far below, like a mere black spot on the face of a gigantic wall. Still +upward he went, slowly but steadily, till he reached a spot nearly level +with the observatory. Here he had to go out on the sheer precipice, +where his footholds were invisible from below. + +Winnie sat in the boat with blanched face and tightly clasped hands, +panting with anxiety as she gazed upwards. + +"It looks much more dangerous from here than it is in reality," said +Nigel to her in a reassuring tone. + +"Das true, Massa Nadgel, das bery true," interposed Moses, endeavouring +to comfort himself as well as the others by the intense earnestness of +his manner. "De only danger, Miss Winnie, lies in your fadder losin' his +head at sitch a t'riffic height, an' dar's no fear at all ob dat, for +Massa neber loses his head--pooh! you might as well talk ob him losin' +his heart. Look! look! he git close to de hole now--he put his +foot--yes--next step--dar! he've done it!" + +With the perspiration of anxiety streaming down his face the negro +relieved his feelings by a wild prolonged cheer. Nigel obtained the same +relief by means of a deep long-drawn sigh, but Winnie did not move; she +seemed to realise her father's danger better than her companions, and +remembered that the descent would be much more difficult than the +ascent. They were not kept long in suspense. In a few minutes the hermit +reappeared and began to retrace his steps--slowly but steadily--and the +watchers breathed more freely. + +Moses was right; there was in reality little danger in the climb, for +the ledges which appeared to them like mere threads, and the footholds +that were almost invisible, were in reality from a foot to three feet +wide. The only danger lay in the hermit's head being unable to stand the +trial, but, as Moses had remarked, there was no fear of that. + +The watchers were therefore beginning to feel somewhat relieved from +the tension of their anxiety, when a huge mass of rock was seen to slip +from the face of the cliff and descend with the thunderous roar of an +avalanche. The incident gave those in the boat a shock, for the landslip +occurred not far from the spot which Van der Kemp had reached, but as he +still stood there in apparent safety there seemed no cause for alarm +till it was observed that the climber remained quite still for a long +time and, seemed to have no intention of moving. + +"God help him!" cried Nigel in sudden alarm, "the ledge has been carried +away and he cannot advance! Stay by the boat, Moses, I will run to help +him!" + +"No, Massa Nadgel," returned the negro, "I go to die wid 'im. Boat kin +look arter itself." + +He sprang on shore as he spoke, and dashed up the mountain-side like a +hunted hare. + +Our hero looked at Winnie for an instant in hesitation. + +"Go!" said the poor girl. "You know I can manage a boat--quick!" + +Another moment and Nigel was following in the track of the negro. They +gained the broken ledge together, and then found that the space between +the point which they had reached and the spot on which the hermit stood +was a smooth face of perpendicular rock--an absolutely impassable gulf! + +Van der Kemp was standing with his back flat against the precipice and +his feet resting on a little piece of projecting rock not more than +three inches wide. This was all that lay between him and the hideous +depth below, for Nigel found on carefully drawing nearer that the +avalanche had been more extensive than was apparent from below, and that +the ledge beyond the hermit had been also carried away--thus cutting +off his retreat as well as his advance. + +"I can make no effort to help myself," said Van der Kemp in a low but +calm voice, when our hero's foot rested on the last projecting point +that he could gain, and found that with the utmost reach of his arm he +could not get within six inches of his friend's outstretched hand. +Besides, Nigel himself stood on so narrow a ledge, and against so steep +a cliff, that he could not have acted with his wonted power even if the +hand could have been grasped. Moses stood immediately behind Nigel, +where the ledge was broader and where a shallow recess in the rock +enabled him to stand with comparative ease. The poor fellow seemed to +realise the situation more fully than his companion, for despair was +written on every feature of his expressive face. + +"What is to be done?" said Nigel, looking back. + +"De boat-rope," suggested the negro. + +"Useless," said Van der Kemp, in a voice as calm and steady as if he +were in perfect safety, though the unusual pallor of his grave +countenance showed that he was fully alive to the terrible situation. "I +am resting on little more than my heels, and the strain is almost too +much for me even now. I could not hold on till you went to the boat and +returned. No, it seems to be God's will--and," added he humbly, "His +will be done." + +"O God, send us help!" cried Nigel in an agony of feeling that he could +not master. + +"If I had better foothold I might spring towards you and catch hold of +you," said the hermit, "but I cannot spring off my heels. Besides, I +doubt if you could bear my weight." + +"Try, try!" cried Nigel, eagerly extending his hand. "Don't fear for my +strength--I've got plenty of it, thank God! and see, I have my right arm +wedged into a crevice so firmly that nothing could haul it out." + +But Van der Kemp shook his head. "I cannot even make the attempt," he +said. "The slightest move would plunge me down. Dear boy! I know that +you and your father and Moses will care for my Winnie, and--" + +"Massa!" gasped Moses, who while the hermit was speaking had been +working his body with mysterious and violent energy; "massa! couldn't +you _fall_ dis way, an' Nadgel could kitch your hand, an' I's got my +leg shoved into a hole as nuffin' 'll haul it out ob. Dere's a holler +place here. If Nadgel swings you into dat, an' I only once grab you by +de hair--you're safe!" + +"It might be done--tried at least," said the hermit, looking anxiously +at his young friend. + +"Try it!" cried Nigel, "I won't fail you." + +It is not possible for any except those who have gone through a somewhat +similar ordeal to understand fully the test of cool courage which Van +der Kemp had to undergo on that occasion. + +Shutting his eyes for a moment in silent prayer, he deliberately worked +with his shoulders upon the cliff against which he leaned until he felt +himself to be on the point of falling towards his friend, and the two +outstretched hands almost touched. + +"Now, are you ready?" he asked. + +"Ready," replied Nigel, while Moses wound both his powerful arms round +his comrade's waist and held on. + +Another moment and the hands clasped, Nigel uttered an irrepressible +shout as the hermit swung off, and, coming round with great violence to +the spot where the negro had fixed himself, just succeeded in catching +the edge of the cliff with his free hand. + +"Let go, Nigel," he shouted;--"safe!" + +The poor youth was only too glad to obey, for the tremendous pull had +wrenched his arm out of the crevice in which he had fixed it, and for a +moment he swayed helplessly over the awful abyss. + +"Don't let me go, Moses!" he yelled, as he made a frantic but futile +effort to regain his hold,--for he felt that the negro had loosened one +of his arms though the other was still round him like a hoop of iron. + +"No fear, Nadgel," said Moses, "I's got you tight--only don' wriggle. +Now, massa, up you come." + +Moses had grasped his master's hair with a grip: that well-nigh scalped +him, and he held on until the hermit had got a secure hold of the ledge +with both hands. Then he let the hair go, for he knew that to an athlete +like his master the raising himself by his arms on to the ledge would be +the Work of a few seconds. Van der Kemp was thus able to assist in +rescuing Nigel from his position of danger. + +But the expressions of heartfelt thankfulness for this deliverance which +naturally broke from them were abruptly checked when it was found that +Moses could by no means extract his leg out of the hole into which he +had thrust it, and that he was suffering great pain. + +After some time, and a good deal of violent wrenching, during which our +sable hero mingled a few groans in strange fashion with his +congratulations, he was got free, and then it was found that the strain +had been too much for even his powerful bones and sinews, for the leg +was broken. + +"My poor fellow!" murmured Van der Kemp, as he went down on his knees to +examine the limb. + +"Don' care a buttin for dat, massa. You're safe, an' Nadgel's safe--an' +it only cost a broken leg! Pooh! das nuffin'!" said Moses, unable to +repress a few tears in the excess of his joy and pain! + +With considerable difficulty they carried the poor negro down to the +boat, where they found Winnie, as might be supposed, in a half-fainting +condition from the strain of prolonged anxiety and terror to which she +had been subjected; but the necessity of attending to the case of the +injured Moses was an antidote which speedily restored her. + +Do you think, good reader, that Nigel and Winnie had much difficulty in +coming to an understanding after that, or that the hermit was disposed +to throw any obstacles in the way of true love? If you do, let us assure +you that you are mistaken. Surely this is information enough for any +intelligent reader. + +Still, it may be interesting to add, difficulties did not all at once +disappear. The perplexities that had already assailed Nigel more than +once assailed him again--perplexities about a negro man-servant, and a +household monkey, and a hermit father-in-law, and a small income--to +say nothing of a disconsolate mother-poetess in England and a father +roving on the high seas! How to overcome these difficulties gave him +much thought and trouble; but they were overcome at last. That which +seemed impossible to man proved to be child's-play in the hands of +woman. Winnie solved the difficulty by suggesting that they should all +return to the Cocos-Keeling Islands and dwell together there for +evermore! + + * * * * * + +Let us drop in on them, good reader, at a later period, have a look at +them, and bid them all good-bye. + +On a green knoll by the margin of the lagoon stands a beautiful cottage +with a garden around it, and a pleasure-boat resting on the white coral +sand in front. From the windows of that cottage there is a most +magnificent view of the lagoon with its numerous islets and its +picturesque palm-trees. Within that cottage dwell Nigel and Winnie, and +a brown-eyed, brown-haired, fair-skinned baby girl who is "the most +extraordinary angel that ever was born." It has a nurse of its own, but +is chiefly waited on and attended to by an antique poetess, who dwells +in another cottage, a stone's-cast off, on the same green knoll. There +she inspires an ancient mariner with poetical sentiments--not your +up-in-the-clouds, reef-point-pattering nonsense, observe; but the real +genuine article, superior to "that other fellow's," you know--when not +actively engaged with _the_ baby. + +The first cottage is named Rakata, in honour of our hermit, who is one +of its inhabitants. The second is named Krakatoa by its eccentric owner, +Captain Roy. + +It must not be imagined, however, that our friends have settled down +there to spend their lives in idleness. By no means. This probably would +not be permitted by the "King of the Cocos Islands" even if they wished +to do so. But they do not wish that. There is no such condition as +idleness in the lives of good men and women. + +Nigel has taken to general superintendence of the flourishing community +in the midst of which he has cast his lot. He may be almost regarded as +the prime minister of the islands, in addition to which he has started +an extensive boat-building business and a considerable trade in +cocoa-nuts, etc., with the numerous islands of the Java Sea; also a +saw-mill, and a forge, and a Sunday-school--in which last the pretty, +humble-minded Winnie lends most efficient aid. Indeed it is said that +she is the chief manager as well as the life and soul of that business, +though Nigel gets all the credit. + +Captain Roy sometimes sails his son's vessels, and sometimes looks +after the secular education of the Sunday-school children--the said +education being conducted on the principle of unlimited story-telling +with illimitable play of fancy. But his occupations are +irregular--undertaken by fits and starts, and never to be counted on. +His evenings he usually devotes to poetry and pipes--for the captain is +obstinate, and sticks--like most of us--to his failings as well as his +fancies. + +There is a certain eccentric individual with an enthusiastic temperament +and blue binoculars who pays frequent and prolonged visits to the +Keeling Islands. It need scarcely be said that his name is Verkimier. +There is no accounting for the tastes of human beings. Notwithstanding +all his escapes and experiences, that indomitable man of science still +ranges, like a mad philosopher, far and wide over the archipelago in +pursuit of "booterflies ant ozer specimens of zee insect vorld." It is +observed, however, even by the most obtuse among his friends, that +whereas in former times the professor's nights were centrifugal they +have now become centripetal--the Keeling Islands being the great centre +towards which he flies. Verkimier is, and probably will always be, a +subject of wonder and of profound speculation to the youthful +inhabitants of the islands. They don't understand him and he does not +understand them. If they were insects he would take deep and +intelligent interest in them. As they are merely human beings, he +regards them with that peculiar kind of interest with which men regard +the unknown and unknowable. He is by no means indifferent to them. He is +too kindly for that. He studies them deeply, though hopelessly, and when +he enters the Sunday-school with his binoculars--which he often does, to +listen--a degree of awe settles down on the little ones which it is +impossible to evoke by the most solemn appeals to their spiritual +natures. + +Nigel and Winnie have a gardener, and that gardener is black--as black +as the Ace of Spades or the King of Ashantee. He dwells in a corner of +the Rakata Cottage, but is addicted to spending much of his spare time +in the Krakatoa one. He is as strong and powerful as ever, but limps +slightly on his right leg--his "game" leg, as he styles it. He is, of +course, an _immense_ favourite with the young people--not less than with +the old. He has been known to say, with a solemnity that might tickle +the humorous and horrify the timid, that he wouldn't "hab dat game leg +made straight agin! no, not for a hundred t'ousand pounds. 'Cause why? +--it was an eber-present visible reminder dat once upon a time he had de +libes ob massa and Nadgel in his arms ahangin' on to his game leg, an' +dat, t'rough Gracious Goodness, he sabe dem bof!" + +Ha! You may smile at Moses if you will, but he can return the smile +with kindly interest, for he is actuated by that grand principle which +will sooner or later transform even the scoffers of earth, and which is +embodied in the words--"Love is the fulfilling of the law." + +Even the lower animals testify to this fact when the dog licks the hand +that smites it and accords instant forgiveness on the slightest +encouragement. Does not Spinkie prove it also, when, issuing at call, +from its own pagoda in the sunniest corner of the Rakata garden, it +forsakes cocoa-nuts, sugar-cane, fruits, and other delights, to lay its +little head in joyful consecration on the black bosom of its benignant +friend? + +And what of Moses' opinion of the new home? It may be shortly expressed +in his own words-"It's heaben upon eart', an' de most happiest time as +eber occurred to me was dat time when Sunda Straits went into cumbusti'n +an' Krakatoa was Blown to Bits." + +THE END + +Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty, _at the +Edinburgh University Press_. + + * * * * * + + + + ++ADVERTISEMENTS+ + + + + + +BY MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE. + +With Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. each. + + * * * * * + +'The fathers, mothers, guardians, uncles, and aunts who wish to find an +acceptable birthday present for a healthy-minded boy of normal tastes, +cannot possibly go wrong if they buy a book with Mr. Ballantyne's name +on the title-page.'--_Academy_. + + * * * * * + ++The Hot Swamp+: A Romance of Old Albion. + ++The Buffalo Runners+: A Tale of the Red River Plains. + ++Charlie to the Rescue+: A Tale of the Sea and the Rockies. + ++Blown to Bits+; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata: A Tale of the Malay +Archipelago. + ++Blue Lights+; or, Hot Work in the Soudan. 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A Tale of the Sea and the Rockies. + +BLOWN TO BITS; or, The Lonely Man of Rakata. A Tale of the Malay +Archipelago. + +BLUE LIGHTS; or, Hot Work in the Soudan. + +THE FUGITIVES; or, The Tyrant Queen of Madagascar. + +RED ROONEY; or, The Last of the Crew. + +THE ROVER OF THE ANDES: A Tale of Adventure in South America. + +THE YOUNG TRAWLER: A Story of Life and Death and Rescue in the North +Sea. + +DUSTY DIAMONDS, CUT AND POLISHED: A Tale of Arab City Life. + +THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER; or, Adventures in the Laying of Submarine +Electric Cables. + +THE GIANT OF THE NORTH; or, Pokings Round the Pole. + +THE LONELY ISLAND; or, The Refuge of the Mutineers. + +POST HASTE: A Tale of Her Majesty's Mails. + +IN THE TRACK OF THE TROOPS: A Tale of Modern War. + +THE SETTLER AND THE SAVAGE: A Tale of Peace and War in South Africa. + +UNDER THE WAVES; or, Diving in Deep Waters. + +RIVERS OF ICE: A Tale Illustrative of Alpine Adventure and Glacier +Action. + +THE PIRATE CITY: An Algerine Tale. + +BLACK IVORY: A Tale of Adventure among the Slavers of East Africa. + +THE NORSEMEN IN THE WEST; or, America before Columbus. + +THE IRON HORSE; or, Life on the Line. + +THE FLOATING LIGHT OF THE GOODWIN SANDS. + +ERLING THE BOLD: A Tale of the Norse Sea-Kings. + + + + +Mr. R.M. BALLANTYNE'S BOOKS--continued. + +THE GOLDEN DREAM: A Tale of the Diggings. + +DEEP DOWN: A Tale of the Cornish Mines. + +FIGHTING THE FLAMES: A Tale of the London Fire-Brigade. + +SHIFTING WINDS: A Tough Yarn. + +THE LIGHTHOUSE; or, The Story of a Great Fight between Man and the Sea. + +THE LIFEBOAT: A Tale of our Coast Heroes. + +GASCOYNE, THE SANDALWOOD TRADER. + +THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST: A Tale of the Rocky Mountains. + +THE RED ERIC; or, The Whaler's Last Cruise. + +FREAKS ON THE FELLS: and Why I did not become a Sailor? + + * * * * * + ++With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each.+ + +HUNTED AND HARRIED. + +A COXSWAIN'S BRIDE; or, The Rising Tide. And other Tales. + +THE GARRET AND THE GARDEN; or, Low Life High Up: and + +JEFF BENSON; or, The Young Coastguardsman. + +THE CREW OF THE WATER-WAGTAIL. + +THE MIDDY AND THE MOORS. + +LIFE IN THE RED BRIGADE. A Fiery Tale. + +THE PRAIRIE CHIEF. A Tale. + +THE ISLAND QUEEN; or, Dethroned by Fire and Water. + +THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE. + +TWICE BOUGHT: A Tale of the Oregon Gold Fields. + +MY DOGGIE AND I. + +THE RED MAN'S REVENGE. + +PHILOSOPHER JACK: A Tale of the Southern Seas. + +SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE. + +BATTLES WITH THE SEA; or, Heroes of the Lifeboat and the Rocket. Crown +8vo. 2s. 6d. + +THE KITTEN PILGRIMS; or, Great Battles and Grand Victories. Crown 8vo. +2s. + ++Price 3s. 6d. each.+ + +TALES OF ADVENTURE BY FLOOD, FIELD, AND MOUNTAIN. + +TALES OF ADVENTURE; or, Wild Work in Strange Places. + +TALES OF ADVENTURE ON THE COAST. + + + + ++MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE'S + +MISCELLANY of ENTERTAINING and + +INSTRUCTIVE TALES+. + ++With Illustrations. 1s. each+. + +_Also in a Handsome Cloth Case, Price 20s_. + + +The "Athenaeum" says:--"There is no more practical way of communicating +elementary information than that which has been adopted in this series. +When we see contained in 124 small pages (as in _Fast in the Ice_) such +information as a man of fair education should possess about icebergs, +northern lights, Esquimaux, musk-oxen, bears, walruses, &c., together +with all the ordinary incidents of an Arctic voyage woven into a clear +connected narrative, we must admit that a good work has been done, and +that the author deserves the gratitude of those for whom the books are +especially designed, and also of young people of all classes." + +I. + +FIGHTING THE WHALES; or, Doings and Dangers on a Fishing Cruise. + +II. + +AWAY IN THE WILDERNESS; or, Life among the Red Indians and Fur Traders +of North America. + +III. + +FAST IN THE ICE; or, Adventures In the Polar Regions. + +IV. + +CHASING THE SUN; or, Rambles in Norway. + +V. + +SUNK AT SEA; or, The Adventures of Wandering Will in the Pacific. + +VI. + +LOST IN THE FOREST; or, Wandering Will's Adventures in South America. + + + + +MR. R.M. BALLANTYNE'S MISCELLANY--continued. + +VII. + +OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS; or, Wandering Will in the Land of the Red +Skin. + +VIII. + +SAVED BY THE LIFEBOAT; or, A Tale of Wreck and Rescue on the Coast. + +IX. + +THE CANNIBAL ISLANDS; or, Captain Cook's Adventures in the South Seas. + +X. HUNTING THE LIONS; or, The Land of the Negro. + +XI. DIGGING FOR GOLD; or, Adventures in California. + +XII. + +UP IN THE CLOUDS; or, Balloon Voyages. + +XIII. + +THE BATTLE AND THE BREEZE; or, The Fights and Fancies of a British Tar. + +XIV. + +THE PIONEERS: A Tale of the Western Wilderness. + +XV. THE STORY OF THE ROCK. + +XVI. + +WRECKED, BUT NOT RUINED. + +XVII. + +THE THOROGOOD FAMILY. + +XVIII. + +THE LIVELY POLL: A Tale of the North Sea. + + + + ++By AGNES GIBERNE+. + + +"Tales that bear Miss Giberne's name are 'the best of the best.' No +writer excels her in this department of literature."--_Fireside News_. + +"That the story is Miss Giberne's guarantees refinement and Christian +principle."--_Churchman_. + + * * * * * + +THE ANDERSONS. Illustrated. Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + + +THE DALRYMPLES. With Illustrations. Third Edition. Crown +8vo. 3s. 6d. + +With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. + + +"LEAST SAID, SOONEST MENDED." 3s. 6d. + +"A simple tale, well told."--_Guardian_. + +"To say that it is by Miss Giberne is at once to recommend the story +highly to girls."--_Quiver_. + +"A well written and most interesting tale."--_Glasgow Herald_. + +"A well written story. The moral is conveyed in a most interesting way, +and as a mere tale it will well repay perusal."--_Church Review_. + + +NUMBER THREE WINIFRED PLACE. 3s. 6d. + +"A delightful story, and, we need hardly add--being Miss Giberne's--is +full of the highest and most profitable religious teaching."--_Record_. + +"A well constructed, thoroughly healthy tale."--_Aberdeen Free Press_. + +"Miss Giberne's book is for gentler readers. It appeals very delicately +to their softer sympathies, and introduces them to one young girl at +least who may serve as a model or ideal to them. It is written in a +pleasing sympathetic style."--_Scotsman_. + +"The plot of the story is as ingenious as the treatment is effective, +and it is told with great skill."--_Yorkshire Post_. + + +READY, AYE READY! 2s. 6d. + +"A thoroughly good and deeply interesting story."--_Newcastle +Chronicle_. + +"A charming story, which displays all this well-known writer's knowledge +of girls and their habits of mind."--_Scotsman_. + + +MISS CON; or, All Those Girls. 5s. + +"Constance Conway is a charming heroine. Her diary is an admirable +collection of character sketches."_--Athenaeum_. + + + + +AGNES GIBERNE'S WORKS--continued + +ENID'S SILVER BOND. 5s. + +"Enid's nature is essentially heroic.... The other characters are +cleverly sketched."--_Times_. + +FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS. 2s. + +"Youthful readers have reason to thank Miss Giberne for having written +this capital story."--_John Bull_. + +ST. AUSTIN'S LODGE; or, Mr. Berkeley and his Nieces. 5s. + +"A very good example of the author's well-known style. It is carefully +written, and is in all respects a conscientious +performance."--_Academy_. + +BERYL AND PEARL. 5s. + +"Characterised by unflagging vivacity and great dramatic +power."-_Christian Leader_. + +"One of Miss Giberne's most delightful tales."--_Record_. + +DECIMA'S PROMISE. 3s. 6d. + +"One of the best and soundest books we have seen."--_Public Opinion_. + +"The result of a disaster, Decima's distress, and the behaviour of the +parents, are touchingly told, and the whole case of conscience is +admirably, managed."--_Guardian_. + +DAISY OF OLD MEADOW. 2s. + +"There are few boys or girls to whom this story will not prove +interesting reading."--_Court Circular_. + +KATHLEEN. 5s. + +"Worthy of high praise, thoroughly good and very interesting."--_Church +Bells_. + +"A fascinating tale."--_Record_. + +OLD UMBRELLAS; or, Clarrie and her Mother. 2s. + +"The book is bright and lively, and will be read with pleasure and +profit."--_Christian_. + +MILES MURCHISON. Illustrated. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + + + + +By Dr. MACAULAY. + +STRANGE YET TRUE. With many Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s. + + * * * * * + +By S.M.S. CLARKE (Mrs. Pereira). + +BARON AND SQUIRE. A Story of the Thirty Years' War. From the German of +N. NOELDECHEN. With Sixteen Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s. + +THE DUKE'S PAGE; or, "In the Days of Luther." A Story for Boys. From the +German. Sixteen Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 5s. + +"A spirited and attractive narrative."--_Literary Churchman_. + +"A capital story for boys."--_Guardian_. + +"This is one of the most fascinating historical tales we have ever +read."--_British Weekly_. + +"Throughout incident succeeds incident, and the interest never flags +until the end is reached."--_Public Opinion_. + +"A very good story.... Of sterling value."--_Spectator_. + +THE TRIVIAL ROUND; or, Chapters of Village Life. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"A book that will interest and refresh dwellers in cities with this +glimpse of a life in many respects different from their +own."--_Academy_. + +"These scenes from village life will be a source of pleasure to very +many readers. The story is ably worked out and pleasantly told."--_John +Bull_. + + * * * * * + +By Rev. J. REID HOWATT. + +THE CHILDREN'S PEW. Extra crown 8vo. 6s. + +THE CHILDREN'S PULPIT. A Year's Sermons and Parables for the Young. +Extra crown 8vo. 6s. + +"The subjects are well selected; the style is always simple and +forcible; and the lessons which the preacher desires to impress upon the +mind are such as every youthful reader may appreciate. The sermons have +another merit--that of brevity."--_Scotsman_. + +"Simple, suggestive, and singularly happy in illustration and +treatment."--_Word and Work_. ^ + +THE CHILDREN'S ANGEL. A Volume of Sermons to Children. Crown 8vo. 2s. +6d. + +"Fifty-three brief addresses to children. Direct, as such things should +be; clear, as they must always be; and interesting, as, if any good is +to be done, they are bound to be--they contain a collection of truths +which children ought to be taught, and the teacher is always bright and +clear, which is saying a great deal."--_Church Bells_. + +"These sermonettes are eminently practical, while their homely style and +freedom from cant are delightful."--_Christian Commonwealth_. + + + + +By Lady KENNETT-BARRINGTON. + +BIBLE HISTORY FOR CHILDREN. With a Short History of Christianity after +the Days of the Apostles. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + +"This book is eminently adapted for children's capabilities, and has the +great advantage of keeping as nearly as possible to Bible language. It +is an excellent little book."--_Christian Commonwealth_. + +"A little work that will commend itself to all who have to do with the +religious training of the young."--_Church Bells_. + +"The work is well and carefully done, the main current of the Bible +story being rendered with point and brevity in the very spirit of the +Scriptures."--_School Board Chronicle_. + + +By WILLIAM CHARLES METCALFE. + +STEADY YOUR HELM; or, Stowed Away. With Six Illustrations. Extra crown +8vo. 5s. + +ABOVEBOARD. A Tale of Adventure on the Sea. With Six Illustrations. +Extra crown 8vo. 5s. + +"This is a delightfully exciting tale of the adventures of two sailor +lads, with icebergs, pirates, and similar horrors of the sea. Its chief +defect is that it leaves off too soon, even at the end of more than 300 +pages."--_Pall Mall Gazette._ + +"This story of a cruise is about as full of adventures as it can well +be. There is plenty of 'go' in the narrative, and the incidents succeed +each other with a very plausible probability."--_Spectator_. + +"It is a long time since we have read anything racier, breezier, more +healthful and invigorating than Mr. Metcalfe's fine sea +story."--_Methodist Recorder._ + +FRANK WEATHERALL; or, Life in the Merchant Marine. A Sea Story for +Youth. Illustrated. Small crown 8vo. 2s. + + +By Mrs. SAXBY. + +TOM AND HIS CROWS. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +VIKING BOYS. With Four Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"Wholesome and manly in tone, the book is thoroughly fresh and natural." +--_Morning Post_. + +"We prophesy that the tale of the Viking boys and their wild deeds will +become as popular as 'The Lads of Lunda,' and all the other stories with +which Mrs. Saxby has delighted us."--_Athenaeum_. + +THE LADS OF LUNDA. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"A perfect book for boys--generous, wholesome, manly in tone, and withal +thoroughly young, fresh, and natural. We recommend the book heartily, +not only to all boys, but to everybody who knows and likes brave +boys."-_Guardian_. + +"A capital book. The tales are full of fun and pathos."--_Athenaeum_. + +THE YARL'S YACHT. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"'The Yarl's Yacht' is even superior in interest to its +predecessor."-_Standard_. + +"Mrs. Saxby knows young people as few know them, and they will in return +thoroughly appreciate her. As long as she writes such genuine, +refreshing, happy family stories for them, they certainly will be most +fortunate."--_Spectator_. + +"'The Yarl's Yacht' is a delightful sequel to the 'Lads of +Lunda.'"--_Times_. + +THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY and the Rev. BIOT +EDMONSTON. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"We would fain linger long over the scenes which this excellent volume +brings up before us. The authors have put together a very refreshing set +of memories."--_Saturday Review_. + + * * * * * + +By EVA TRAVERS EVERED POOLE. LOTTA'S LIFE MISTAKE. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 1s. + +GOLDEN LINKS IN A LIFE CHAIN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"GOOD-NIGHT" THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD; or, Evening Readings for the Young. +Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + + * * * * * + +By BARLEY DALE. + +A TALE OF OUGHTS AND CROSSES; or, Mr. Holland's Conquest. With +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +SPOILT GUY. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. "A pretty tale, and +contains excellent religious teaching."--_Church, Sunday-School +Magazine._ + +CISSY'S TROUBLES. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + +"A very charming story."--_Yorkshire Post_. + +"The book will be a favourite with young people, especially with our +girls."--_Family Churchman_. + +LITTLE BRICKS. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. "The story +is fascinating from the interest which is excited and maintained It is +written with power and insight."--_Courant_. + + + + +By ELLEN L. DAVIS. + +HIGH AND LOWLY: A Story of Hearts and Homes. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo. 1s. 6d. + +YOKED TOGETHER: A Tale of Three Sisters. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +2s. + +"A quiet domestic story of deep interest-, with several striking +situations, described with considerable power."--_Leeds Mercury_. + +A BOY'S WILL. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + +"The book is full of life and character, and would be a fitting gift +alike to the Sunday-school teacher and the scholar."--_British +Messenger_. + + +By the Rev. GEORGE EVERARD, M.A. + +YOUR SUNDAYS: Fifty-Two Short Readings. Especially intended for +Schoolboys. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"YOUR INNINGS:" A Book for Schoolboys. Sixth Thousand. Crown 8vo. 1s. +6d. + +EDIE'S LETTER; or, Talks with the Little Folks. 4to. 2s. 6d. + + +By Miss HAVERGAL. + +STREAMLETS OF SONG FOR THE YOUNG. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +MORNING BELLS. Being Waking Thoughts for the Little Ones. Royal 32mo, +9d.; paper cover, 6d. + +LITTLE PILLOWS. Being Good Night Thoughts for the Little Ones. 32mo, +9d.; paper cover, 6d. + +MORNING STARS; or, Names of Christ for His Little Ones. 32mo. 9d. + +THE FOUR HAPPY DAYS. 16mo. 1s. + +BEN BRIGHTBOOTS, and Other True Stories. Crown 8vo. 1s. + +BRUEY. A Little Worker for Christ. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d.; paper cover, 1s. + + +MEMORIALS OF LITTLE NONY. A Biography of Nony Heywood, who was the First +Collector for the Bruey Branch of the Irish Society. By her Mother. With +Preface by Miss HAVERGAL, and a Portrait. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + + + + +By the Rev. J.B. MACDUFF, D.D. + +PARABLES OF THE LAKE; or, The Seven Stories of Jesus by the Lake of +Galilee. A Sunday Book for Young Readers. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. + +THE STORY OF A SHELL. A Romance of the Sea: with some Sea Teachings. A +Book for Boys and Girls. With Coloured Frontispiece and Other +Illustrations. Small 4to. 6s. Cheaper Edition, paper cover, 1s.; limp +cloth, 2s. + +THE STORY OF BETHLEHEM. A Book for Children. With Illustrations by +THOMAS. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +HOSANNAS OF THE CHILDREN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. + +THE WOODCUTTER OF LEBANON. A Story Illustrative of a Jewish Institution. +16mo. 2s. + +TALES OF THE WARRIOR JUDGES. Fcap. 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +THE CITIES OF REFUGE; or, The Name of Jesus. A Sunday Book for the +Young. 16mo. 1s. 6d. + +FERGUS MORTON. A Tale of a Scottish Boy. 18mo. 9d. + +THE EXILES OF LUCERNA; or, The Sufferings of the Waldenses during the +Persecution of 1686. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL. Being a Life of the Apostle designed for +Youth. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. + +BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN; or, Christ the Light of the World. A Life of Our +Lord for the Young. With Illustrations by A. ROWAN. Post 4to. 3s. 6d.; +in paper cover, 1s.; limp cloth, 2s. + +WILLOWS BY THE WATERCOURSES; or, God's Promises to the Young. 64mo. 6d.; +paper cover, 3d. + + + + +By Rev. J. JACKSON WRAY. + +OLD CRUSTY'S NIECE. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +WILL IT LIFT? A Story of a London Fog. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. + +JACK HORNER THE SECOND. With Illustrations. Cr. 8vo. 2s; + +SIMON HOLMES, THE CARPENTER IF ASPENDALE. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. + +THE SECRET OF THE MERE; or, Under the Surface. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +GARTON ROWLEY; or, Leaves from the Log of a Master Mariner. With +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +HONEST JOHN STALLIBRASS. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +THE CHRONICLES OF CAPSTAN CABIN. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +MATTHEW MELLOWDEW. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +NESTLETON MAGNA. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +PETER PENGELLY. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 1s. 6d. + +PAUL MEGGITT'S DELUSION. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +A MAN EVERY INCH OF HIM. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +_THE "KNAPSACK" SERIES_. + +With Frontispiece. Small crown 8vo. 1s. each. + +1. THE MAN WITH THE KNAPSACK; or, The Miller o Burnham Lee. + +2. WIDOW WINPENNY'S WATCHWORD. + +3. PRIMROSE GARTH. + +4. "A SONG O' SIXPENCE" FOR THE BAIRNS. + +5. GEOFFREY HALLAM; or, The Clerk of the Parish. + + + + +By Mrs. BARBOUR. + +THE WAY HOME, AND HOW THE CHILDREN REACHED IT BY A RAILWAY ACCIDENT. +With Illustrations. Eighteenth Thousand. 16mo. 1s. 6d. limp; 2s. 6d. +boards. + +THE IRISH ORPHAN IN A SCOTTISH HOME. A Sequel to "The Way Home." 16mo. +1s. limp; 2s. 6d. boards. + +THE CHILD OF THE KINGDOM. Twenty-second Thousand. With Illustrations. +16mo. 1s. limp; 2s. 6d. boards. + +THE SOUL-GATHERER. Seventeenth Thousand. 16mo. 1s. limp; cloth gilt, 2s. +6d. + + * * * * * + +By Mrs. HAYCRAFT. + +SUNWOOD GLORY; or, Through the Refiner's Fire. With Four Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + + * * * * * + +By ESME STUART. + +A BRAVE FIGHT, AND OTHER STOKIES. With Four Illustrations. Crown 8vo. +2s. 6d. + + * * * * * + +By EDITH RALPH. + +STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE BIBLE. Part I. A Scripture History for Little +Children. With a Preface by CUNNINGHAM GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D., and Twelve +Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +Part II. From Death of Joshua to end of the Old Testament. A Scripture +History for Little Children. Revised and recommended by CUNNINGHAM +GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D. Twelve Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + + + + +MRS. LESTER'S GIRLS AND THEIR SERVICE. By the Author of "Miss Marston's +Girls and their Confirmation." With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"A good book for young servants, or for reading at a sewing-class +attended by young women. Its tone and teaching are all we could +wish."--_Record_.. + +"Its evident truthfulness and fidelity to nature make us think that it +is founded upon much experience of young girls in the working class. To +such it would, no doubt, be exceedingly interesting."--_Literary +Churchman_. + +MISS MARSTON'S GIRLS AND THEIR CONFIRMATION. With Frontispiece. Crown +8vo. 1s. + + * * * * * + +By the Rev. DAVID MacEWAN, D.D. + +THIS YEAR. Anniversary Addresses for the Young. Second Edition. Square +16mo. 1s. + +By the Rev. JAMES WELLS, M.A. + +BIBLE OBJECT-LESSONS. Addresses to Children. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo. 3s. 6d. + +BIBLE ECHOES: Addresses to the Young. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +THE PARABLES OF JESUS. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. + +BIBLE CHILDREN. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +BIBLE IMAGES. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"Mr. Wells has in these volumes been content to restrict himself to an +endeavour to win and instruct the young. He has done this with admirable +skill, with great transparency of meaning, vividness of treatment and +nicety of discrimination, combined with a befitting freedom and an +impressive earnestness."--_Literary World_. + +"Mr. Wells contrives by a studied plainness of diction, by the +simplicity and directness of his style, by his evident earnestness and +kindliness, and a wealth of illustrative anecdotes, to minimise the +difficulties which children have to encounter in grasping new and +especially abstract ideas."--_Scotsman_. + + + + +By Lady DUNBOYNE. + +BREAKING OF THE CLOUDS. Crown 8vo. Illustrated. 2s. + +CHARITY. A Tale. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. + +HER LIFE'S WORK. A Tale. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"The story, which is pleasantly and touchingly told, is thoroughly +suitable for a gift-book for girls of the upper classes."--_Guardian_. + + * * * * * + +By the Rev. J.H. WILSON. + +THE KING'S MESSAGE. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. Small +crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"The union of solid teaching and fervent appeal with a cheerful outlook +on life we have seldom, if ever, seen more happily exemplified. Dr. +Wilson's book is as winsome as it is wise, thoroughly human in its +spirit and robust in its tone and teaching."--_Christian Leader_. + +"No better book than this very thoughtful, clearly and beautifully +written and tastefully illustrated volume, could be put into the hands +of the young."--_Aberdeen Free Press_. + + +THE GOSPEL AND ITS FRUITS. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"Exceedingly plain, practical, and pointed, full of striking and +ingenious illustrations."--_Aberdeen Journal_. + + +OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN: The Lord's Prayer Familiarly Explained and +Illustrated for the Young. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. + +"Dr. Wilson graduated long since as a prophet of God who has a voice for +the young. His explanation of the Lord's Prayer has made him a dear +friend to many a parent as well as child."--_Presbyterian Churchman_. + +"Dr. Wilson's addresses are admirable specimens of what productions of +the kind should be, pithy, pointed, and practical, and abounding in +anecdotes and illustrations."--_Congregational Review_. + + + + +By L.T. MEADE. + +A LONDON BABY: The Story of King Roy. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. + +"Very touching and sad, though the end is happy."--_Athenaeum_. + +THE CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE. With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo, 2s.; +gilt edges, 2s. 6d. + +"Displays vivid conception of character, and clear, graphic description. +The story is full of incident and adventure."--_Literary Churchman_. + + * * * * * + +By Mrs. WINSCOM. + +DEAR OLD ENGLAND. A Description of our Fatherland. Dedicated to all +English Children. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +"English children will find much that is well worth knowing, and well +told, in this copiously illustrated volume."--_Christian World_. + + * * * * * + +By the Rev. W.W. TULLOCH, B.D. + +THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF THE EMPEROR WILLIAM. Told for Boys and Girls +all over the World. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt +edges, 3s. 6d. + +REVISED BY THE QUEEN. + +THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF THE PRINCE CONSORT. Told for Boys and Girls. +Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt edges, 3s. 6d. + +THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA. Told for Boys and Girls all +over the World. With Two Portraits. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d.; with gilt edges, +3s. 6d. + + + + +THE "CHIMES" SERIES. + +_Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 3s. 6d. each._ +By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +1. SILVER CHIMES; or, Olive. +2. DAPHNE'S DECISION; or, Which Shall it Be. +3. CASSANDRA'S CASKET. +4. POPPIES AND PANSIES. +5. REX AND REGINA; or, The Song of the River. +6. STORIES OF THE CATHEDRAL CITIES OF ENGLAND. +7. DEWDROPS AND DIAMONDS. +8. HEATHER AND HAREBELL. +9. THE ROSES OF RINGWOOD. A Story for Children. +10. IN THE PURPLE. + +THE "LAUREL" SERIES. + +_Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 2s. 6d. each_. + +1. TOM AND HIS CROWS. By Mrs. SAXBY, Author of "Viking Boys," &c. + +2. WATCH AND WATCH. By W.C. METCALFE, Author of "Frank Weatherall." + +3. WINNING HIS LAURELS; or, The Boys of St. Raglan's. By F.M. HOLMES. + +4. THAT AGGRAVATING SCHOOLGIRL. By GRACE STEBBING. + +5. WHAT A MAN SOWETH. By GRACE STEBBING. + +6. DULCIBEL'S DAY DREAMS; or, The Grand, Sweet Song. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +7. THE LADS OF LUNDA. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY. + +8. THE YARL'S YACHT. By JESSIE M.E. SAXBY. + +9. A NEW EXODUS; or, The Exiles of the Zillerthal. A Story of the +Protestants of the Tyrol. By CATHERINE RAY. + +10. GRACE MURRAY. A Story. By ELLA STONE. + +11. MR. ORDE'S GRANDCHILDREN. By CECILIA SELBY LOWNDES. + +12. WHERE THE DEW FALLS IN LONDON. By SARAH DOUDNEY. + + + + +THE "SUNSHINE" SERIES. + +_Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 2s. each_. + +1. THE BREAKING OF THE CLOUDS. By Lady DUNBOYNE, Author of "Charity," +&c. &c. + +2. THROUGH SHADOW TO SUNSHINE. By Mrs. HORNIBROOK. + +3. A SUMMER IN THE LIFE OF TWO LITTLE CHILDREN. By Mrs. HOWARD. + +4. OLIVER'S OLD PICTURES; or, The Magic Circle. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +5. RUBY AND PEARL; or, The Children at Castle Aylmer. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +6. LADY TEMPLE'S GRANDCHILDREN. By Miss EVERETT GREEN. + +7. A LONDON BABY: The Story of King Roy. By L.T. MEADE. + +8. HIDDEN HOMES; or, The Children's Discoveries. By M.A. PAULL RIPLEY. + +9. AN UNWILLING WITNESS. By Miss LYSTER. + +10. OUR NEIGHBOUR, WIDOW YATES. By GRACE STEBBING. + +11. BIBLE PLANTS AND ANIMALS. Containing Illustrations of over 1000 +Passages of Scripture from the Works of Travellers and other Sources. By +ALFRED E. KNIGHT. + + * * * * * + +THE "MARBECK" SERIES. + +_Crown 8vo. Numerous Illustrations. 1s. 6d. each_ + +1. THE STORY OF JOHN MARBECK: A Windsor Organist of 300 Years Ago. By +Mrs. MARSHALL. + +2. MY GRANDMOTHER'S PICTURES. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +3. THE OLD VIOLIN; or, Charity Hope's Own Story. By EDITH C. KENYON. + +4. A BOY'S WILL. By ELLEN L. DAVIS. + +5. SPOILT GUY. By DARLEY DALE. + +6. HIGH AND LOWLY: A Tale of Hearts and Homes. By ELLEN L. DAVIS. + +7. PETER PENGELLY. By Rev. JACKSON WRAY. + +8. NELLIE GRAHAM; or, The Story of a Commonplace Woman. By ELLA STONE. + + + + +THE "SWEETBRIAR" SERIES. + +_A New Series of Volumes. With Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. +each._ + +WORK, WAIT, WIN. By RUTH LAMB. + +THE ANDERSONS. By Miss GIBERNE, Author of "The Dalrymples," &c. + +SWEETBRIAR; or, Doings in Priorsthorpe Magna. By AGNES GIBERNE. + +COULYING CASTLE; or, A Knight of the Olden Days. By AGNES GIBERNE. + +AIMEE: A Tale of the Days of James the Second. By AGNES GIBERNE. + +LILLA THORNE'S VOYAGE; or, "That Far Remembrancer." By GRACE STEBBING. + + * * * * * + +THE "ROUNDABOUT" SERIES. + +_Extra crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each._ + +THE RIGHT ROAD. A Manual for Parents and Teachers. By J. KRAMER. + +THROUGH BIBLE LANDS. Notes of Travel in Egypt, the Desert, and +Palestine. Profusely Illustrated. By PHILIP SCHAFF, D.D., and an Essay +on Egyptology and the Bible, by EDOUARD NAVILLE. + + * * * * * + + + + +BIBLE HISTORY FOR THE YOUNG. + ++"THE WORD" SERIES.+ + +By SUSAN and ANNA WARNER, Authors of "The Wide, Wide World," "Queechy," +&c. + +_With Illustrations, Plain and Coloured. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each_. + + +The aim of this Series of Volumes is so to set forth the Bible incidents +and course of history, with its train of actors, as to see them in the +circumstances and colouring, the light and shade, of their actual +existence. + +The volumes embody, as far as possible, all the known facts, natural, +social, and historical, which are required for the illustration and +elucidation of the Bible narrative. + +1. WALKS FROM EDEN: The Scripture Story from the Creation to the Death +of Abraham. + +2. THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: The Scripture Story from the Birth of Isaac to +the Death of Jacob. + +3. THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH: The Scripture Story from the Death of Solomon +to the Captivity. + +4. THE BROKEN WALLS OF JERUSALEM AND THE REBUILDING OF THEM. In +continuation of "The House of Israel" and "The Kingdom of Judah," and +completing the work. + +5. THE STAR OUT OF JACOB: The Scripture Story Illustrating the Earlier +Portion of the Gospel Narrative. + +"These five books form a most comprehensive and attractive commentary on +the Scriptures suited to the requirements of the young. More real +knowledge in true child language, and within the understanding of +children, it has never been our privilege to meet with before. We are +disposed to envy those young friends who are fortunate enough to number +them among their literary possessions, for although pre-eminently +children's books, they are yet well able to impart instruction to +children of a larger growth."--_Rock_. + +"There is a pleasant freshness and reality conveyed to the old, +well-worn stories, which will make children understand the details of +Eastern life and the manners and customs of the old pastoral times. 'The +Word' Series will be a charming gift to young people."--_Athenaeum_. + +"We doubt whether any one has ever told 'the old, old story' more +attractively, for children at least, than the author of 'The Wide, Wide +World.' Whatever fame she may have won by her works of fiction will be +greatly increased by her success in writing these marvellous +stories."--_Christian World_. + + + + +THE GOLDEN LADDER SERIES. + + +_With Illustrations. Handsomely bound in cloth, gilt edges. Crown 8vo. +3s. 6d. each_. + +"Children welcome with glee the volumes comprised in Nisbet's 'Golden +Ladder Series,' for they are full of interest, even though they are +stories with a moral, which is always a high-toned one."--_Liverpool +Courier_. + +"'The Golden Ladder Series' of story-books, so much appreciated for +their excellence. They can be all safely recommended to the notice of +teachers as being especially suitable as rewards, while no school +library can be said to be complete without a selection from +them."--_Schoolmaster_. + +1. THE GOLDEN LADDER: Stories Illustrative of the Beatitudes. By SUSAN +and ANNA B. WARNER. + +2. THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD. By SUSAN WARNER. + +3. QUEECHY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +4. MELBOURNE HOUSE. By SUSAN WARNER. + +5. DAISY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +6. DAISY IN THE FIELD. By SUSAN WARNER. + +7. THE OLD HELMET. By SUSAN WARNER. + +8. NETTIE'S MISSION: Stories Illustrative of the Lord's Prayer. By JULIA +MATHEWS. + +9. GLEN LUNA; or, Dollars and Cents. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +10. DRAYTON HALL. Stories Illustrative of the Beatitudes. By JULIA +MATHEWS. + +11. WITHIN AND WITHOUT: A New England Story. + +12. VINEGAR HILL STORIES: Illustrative of the Parable of the Sower. By +ANNA B. WARNER. + +13. LITTLE SUNBEAMS. By JOANNA MATHEWS. + +14. WHAT SHE COULD AND OPPORTUNITIES. By SUSAN WARNER. + +15. TRADING AND THE HOUSE IN TOWN. + +16. DARE TO DO RIGHT. By JULIA MATHEWS. + + + + +THE GOLDEN LADDER SERIES-continued. + +17. HOLDEN WITH THE CORDS. By the Author of "Within and Without." + +18. GIVING HONOUR: Containing "The Little Camp on Eagle Hill" and +"Willow Brook." By SUSAN WARNER. + +19. GIVING SERVICE: Containing "Sceptres and Crowns" and "The Flag of +Truce." By SUSAN WARNER. + +20. GIVING TRUST: Containing "Bread and Oranges" and "The Rapids of +Niagara." By SUSAN WARNER. + +*** _The Tales in the last three Volumes are Illustrative of the_ LORD'S +PRAYER. + +21. WYCH HAZEL. A Tale. By SUSAN and ANNA WARNER. + +22. THE GOLD OF CHICKAREE. A Sequel to "Wych Hazel." By SUSAN and ANNA +B. WARNER. + +23. DIANA. By SUSAN WARNER. + +24. MY DESIRE. By SUSAN WARNER. + +25. THE END OF A COIL. By SUSAN WARNER. + +26. THE LETTER OF CREDIT. By SUSAN WARNER. + +27. NOBODY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +28. STEPHEN, M.D. By SUSAN WARNER. + +29. A RED WALLFLOWER. By SUSAN WARNER. + +30. DAISY PLAINS. By SUSAN WARNER. + +31. CROSS CORNERS. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +32. MISTRESS MATCHETT'S MISTAKE. By EMMA MARSHALL. + +33. YOURS AND MINE. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +34. ONE LITTLE VEIN OF DROSS. By Mrs. RUTH LAMB. + +35. OAK BEND; or, Patience and her Schooling. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +36. A CANDLE IN THE SEA; or, Winter at Seal's Head. A Book about +Lighthouses. By Rev. E.A. RAND. + + + + +THE "GOLDEN SILENCE" SERIES OF TALES. + +_With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. Attractively bound in cloth. 1s. +6d. each_. + +GOLDEN SILENCE; or, Annals of the Birkett Family of Crawford-under-Wold. +By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +THE STORY OF OUR ENGLISH BIBLE AND WHAT IT COST. By Mrs. BAYLY. + +STEPPING HEAVENWARD. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +WHAT KATY DID. By SUSAN COOLIDGE. + +MORAG: A Tale of Highland Life. By Mrs. MILNE RAE, Author of +"Rinaultrie," "Geordy's Tryst," &c. + +AUNT JANE'S HERO; or, Sorrow and Sunshine. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +MAGGIE AND BESSIE, AND THEIR WAY TO DO GOOD. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE AT SCHOOL. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE AND HER FRIENDS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE IN THE MOUNTAINS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE AT THE SEASIDE. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +BESSIE ON HER TRAVELS. By JOANNA H. MATHEWS. + +THE THREE LITTLE SPADES. By ANNA B. WARNER. + +WHEN I WAS YOUNG. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +THE HOME AT GREYLOCK. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +MICHAEL'S TREASURES; or, Choice Silver. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +CISSY'S TROUBLES. By DARLEY DALE. + +LITTLE BRICKS. By DARLEY DALE. + +EFFIE'S FRIENDS; or, Chronicles of the Woods and Shore. + +MATTHEW FROST, CARRIER; or, Little Snowdrop's Mission. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +MY LADY BOUNTIFUL. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +A TALE OF TWO OLD SONGS. By Lady DUNBOYNE. + +ESTHER'S JOURNAL. A Tale of Swiss Pension Life. By a RESIDENT. + +THREE PATHS IN LIFE. A Tale for Girls. + +STELLAFONT ABBEY; or, "Nothing New." By EMMA MARSHALL. + +A SUNBEAM'S INFLUENCE; or, Eight Years After. By Lady DUNBOYNE. + +SUSY'S SACRIFICE. + +KENNETH FORBES. + +THE CHILDREN OF BLACKBERRY HOLLOW. + +THE SAFE COMPASS, AND HOW IT POINTS. By Rev. R. NEWTON, D.D. + +ME. RUTHERFORD'S CHILDREN. + +THERESA'S JOURNAL. + +GRAN. By E.A.B.D. + +PAT'S INHERITANCE. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +IN THE MIST. A Tale. By Ross PORTER. + +THE OTHER HOUSE. A Tale. By MARY R. HIGHAM. + +NATURE'S GENTLEMAN. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +THE BRIDE'S HOME. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +MILES MURCHISON. By Miss GIBERNE. + +HOUSE IN TOWN. By the Author of "The Wide, Wide World." + +TRADING. By the Author of "The Wide, Wide World." Sequel to above. + + * * * * * + +_Bound in Paper Covers. 1s._ + +AUNT JANE'S HERO. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +STEPPING HEAVENWARD. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +WHAT KATIE DID. By SUSAN COOLIDGE. + +MORAG. A Tale of Highland Life. By Mrs. MILNE RAB. + + + + +"DOLLY'S CHARGE" SERIES. + +_With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. 1s. each._. + +1. DOLLY'S CHARGE. By Miss MARSHALL. + +2. THE LITTLE PEAT-CUTTERS; or, The Song of Love. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +3. PRIMROSE; or, The Bells of Old Effingham. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +4. THE BOY GUARDIAN. By C.E. BOWEN. + +5. GENTLEMAN JIM. By Mrs. PRENTISS. + +6. OUR LADDIE. By Miss L.J. TOMLINSON. + +7. VIOLET IN THE SHADE. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +8. LIGHT ON THE LILY. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +9. A ROSE WITHOUT A THORN. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +10. ALICE'S PUPIL. By Miss M'CLINTOCK. + +11. HEATHERCLIFFE; or, It's no Concern of Mine. By Mrs. MARSHALL. + +12. ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY PASCOE. By G. NORWAY. + +13. MISS BROWN'S BASKET. By Mrs. HENRY CHARLES. + +14. LOTTA'S LIFE MISTAKE. By Mrs. EVERED POOLE. + +15. THE PRINCESSES OF PENRUTH. By MARY H. DEBENHAM. + +16. SEE FOR YOURSELF. By GRACE STEBBING. + +17. SUNDAY OCCUPATIONS FOR CHILDREN. BY Mrs. BARCLAY. + +18. PARSON'S GREEN. By G. NORWAY. + +19. HELEN; or, Temper and its Consequences. + +20. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY; or, The Disobedient Son. + +21. CHINA AND ITS PEOPLE. By A MISSIONARY'S WIFE. + +22. FRANK GORDON, by F.R. GOULDING; and LITTLE JACK, by ANNA WARNER. + +23. TO-DAY AND YESTERDAY. A Story of Summer and Winter Holidays. By Mrs. +MARSHALL. + +24. BOTH SIDES. By JESSIE W. SMITH. + +25. STEPHEN GILMORE'S DREAM; or, Coals of Fire. By JESSIE W. SMITH. + +26. JUDITH THE STRANGER. By the Hon. GERTRUDE BOSCAWEN. + +27. THE GATE IN PARK LANE. By the Hon. GERTRUDE BOSCAWEN. + +28. SIMPLE LESSONS FROM NATURE. By the Hon. M.C. LEIGH. + +29. THE SPOILT TWINS. By EMILY DIBDIN. + +30. BEN BRIGHTBOOTS, and Other True Stories. HAVERGAL. + +31. SAM'S MISSION. By BEATRICE MARSHALL, Author of "Dolly's Charge," &c. + +32. KATIE: A Daughter of the King. + + + + +NISBET'S JUVENILE LIBRARY. + +_With Illustrations. 16mo. 1s. 6d. each_. + + +"Capital books, well printed, tastefully bound, and containing a good +deal of letterpress. We do not know a cheaper series at the +price."--_Sunday School Chronicle_. + +LILIES OF THE VALLEY. + +HERBERT PERCY. + +PASSING CLOUDS. + +WARFARE AND WORK. + +EVELYN GREY. + +THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING. + +SOWING IN TEARS AND REAPING IN JOY. + +SILVER SANDS. + +THE KNOTS TOM GILLIES TIED AND UNTIED. + + * * * * * + +THE SELECT SERIES OF BOOKS SUITABLE FOR PRESENTS AND PRIZES. + +_With Illustrations. Small Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each_. + +THE MOUNTAINS OF THE BIBLE: Their Scenes and their Lessons. By the Rev. +JOHN MACFARLANE, LL.D. + +LIFE: A Series of Illustrations of the Divine Wisdom in the Forms, +Structures, and Instincts of Animals. By P.H. GOSSE, F.R.S. + +LAND AND SEA. By P.H. GOSSE, F.R.S. + +THE ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. By P.H. Gosse, F.R.S. Two Vols. + +TALES FROM ALSACE; or, Scenes and Portraits from Life in the Days of the +Reformation. + +BYEWAYS IN PALESTINE. By JAMES FINN, M.R.A.S. + + + + +THE "PILGRIM" SERIES. + +POPULAR EDITIONS OF STANDARD BOOKS. + +_Small Crown 8vo, numerous Illustrations, 2s. each; with gilt edges, 2s. +6d. each_. + + * * * * * + +1. BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. + +2. BUNYAN'S HOLY WAR. + +3. FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. + +4. THE THRONE OF DAVID: From the Consecration of the Shepherd of +Bethlehem to the Rebellion of Prince Absalom. By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, +LL.D. + +5. THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID; or, Three Years in the Holy City. +By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, LL.D. + +6. THE PILLAR OF FIRE; or, Israel in Bondage. By the Rev. J.H. INGRAHAM, +LL.D. + +7. BEN-HUR; or, The Days of the Messiah. By LEW WALLACE. + +8. THE LAMPLIGHTER. By M. CUMINS. + +9. UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. By Mrs. H. STOWE. + +10. ROBINSON CRUSOE. + +11. MY DESIRE. By SUSAN WARNER. + +12. NOBODY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +13. THE FAIRCHILD FAMILY. By Mrs. SHERWOOD. + +14. THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. + +15. DERRY. A Tale of the Revolution. By CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. + +16. ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. By P.H. GOSSE. + +17. GREAT MEN: A Series of Lectures. By the late Rev. FREDERIC MYERS, +M.A. + +18. TOO LATE FOR THE TIDE-MILL. By Rev. E.A. RAND. + +19. LITTLE WOMEN. By L.M. ALCOTT. + +20. DRAYTON HALL. By JULIA MATHEWS. + + + + +THE "PILGRIM" SERIES-continued. + +21. THE END OF A COIL. By SUSAN WARNER. + +22. GLEN LUNA. By ANNA WARNER. + +23. DIANA. By SUSAN WARNER. + +24. STEPHEN, M.D. By SUSAN WARNER. + +25. MELBOURNE HOUSE. By SUSAN WARNER. + +26. BIBLE WARNINGS. By Rev. Dr. NEWTON. + +27. THE PHYSICIAN'S DAUGHTER. + +28. THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD. By SUSAN WARNER. + +29. DAISY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +30. DAISY IN THE FIELD. By SUSAN WARNER. + +31. NOR'ARD OF THE DOGGER. By E.J. MATHER. + +32. A DREAM OF THE NORTH SEA. By J. RUNCIMAN. + +33. SCRIPTURE ANIMALS. By Rev. Dr. NEWTON. + +34. QUEECHY. By SUSAN WARNER. + +35. DARE TO DO RIGHT. By JULIA MATHEWS. + +36. NETTIE'S MISSION. By JULIA MATHEWS. + +37. WANDERING HOMES AND THEIR INFLUENCES. + +38. FRANK WEATHERALL. By W.C. METCALFE, Author of "Above Board," &c. + +39. SHORT LIVES OF MEN WITH A MISSION: Charles Kingsley, Lord Lawrence, +Henry M. Stanley. With Portraits. + +40. EXPELLED. By the Author of "Dorrincourt." + +41. YOKED TOGETHER. By ELLEN DAVIS. + +42. BESSIE HARRINGTON'S VENTURE. By JULIA MATHEWS. + +43. OPENING OF A CHESTNUT BURR. By E.P. ROE. + +44. ST. ELMO. By A.J.E. WILSON. + +45. THE CHILDREN'S PILGRIMAGE. By L.T. MEAD. + +46. ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY. Second Series. By P.H. GOSSE. + +LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET, W. + + + + +SELECT LIST OF BOOKS +DEVOTIONAL AND PRACTICAL +PUBLISHED BY +JAMES NISBET & CO. + + * * * * * + ++THE CHRISTIAN UNDER REVIEW+. + +A SERIES OF WORKS ON PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIFE Small crown 8vo. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S INFLUENCE. By the Ven. WILLIAM MACDONALD SINCLAIR, D.D., +Archdeacon of London. 2s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S START. By the Very Rev. the DEAN OF NORWICH. 1s. + +THE MORAL CULTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN. By the Rev. JAMES MCCANN, D.D. 1s. + +THE PATHWAY OF VICTORY. By the Rev. ROBERT B. GIRDLESTONE, M.A., Hon. +Canon of Christ Church, and late Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S RECREATIONS. By the Rev. HENRY SUTTON, M.A., Vicar of +Holy Trinity, Bordesley. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S PROGRESS. By the Ven. G.R. WYNNE, D.D., Archdeacon of +Aghadoe. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. By the Very Rev. the DEAN +OF NORWICH. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S AIMS. By the Rev. ALFRED PEARSON, M.A., Incumbent of St. +Margaret's Church, Brighton. 1s. + +THE INTELLECTUAL CULTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN. By the Rev. JAMES MCCANN, +D.D. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S PRIVILEGES. By the Rev. W.J. DEANE, M.A. 1s. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S INHERITANCE. By the Rev. C.A. GOODHART, M.A., Incumbent +of St. Barnabas', Highfield, Sheffield. 1s. + +"Simple and forcible as these books are in their teaching, and brief in +extent, they deserve the attention of those who direct the religious +teaching of the young."--_Scotsman_. + +"We dipped into these pages alike with pleasure and profit. The writers, +each on his own theme, seem steadfastly to keep in view scriptural +teaching, sound doctrine, and the trials and temptations which beset the +daily life and walk of the believer."--_Word and Work_. + +"How completely they cover the field of Christian needs is sufficiently +indicated by their titles. They are well fitted to stimulate the piety +and clear the views of those holding the doctrines of the Church of +England."-_Liverpool Mercury._ + + + + +By H. BONAR, D.D. + +GOD'S WAY OF PEACE. A Book for the Anxious. 16mo, 1s. 6d. Cheap Edition, +paper cover, 6d.; cloth, 9d. Large Type Edition, crown 8vo, 2s. + +GOD'S WAY OF HOLINESS. 16mo, 1s. 6d. Cheap Edition, paper cover, 6d.; +cloth, 9d. Large Type Edition, crown 8vo, 2s. + + +By MATTHEW HENRY. + +EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS; + +With Practical Remarks and Observations--In Nine Volumes. Imp. 8vo, L2, +2s. _Net._ In Six Volumes. Medium 8vo, L1, 11s. 6d. _Net_. + + +By LADY CATHARINE LONG. + +HEAVENLY THOUGHTS FOR MORNING AND EVENING HOURS. Selections in Prose and +Verse, with Passages from Scripture. With a Short Introduction, 16mo., +Cloth, 2s. 6d.; silk, 4s. 6d, each. + + +By HARRIET E. COLVILE. + +THE WAY SHE TROD. A STUDY. Just Published. Small crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. + +"'The Way She Trod' is a study of the development of religious sentiment +and belief in a girl's character."--_Scotsman._ + +"She is Triplice, which, being interpreted, means threefold.... Her +life-history, under these various phases, is ingeniously set +forth."--_Glasgow Herald._ + +"An admirably written book for young women, who will be attracted by the +interesting story, telling how Triplice was led by a way she knew not' +until she finds rest and joy in God."--_The Christian_. + +"A good book for distribution among girls of the upper +classes."--_Record_. + +FLOWER VOICES. With Illustrations. Demy 16mo, 1s. + +"A dainty little booklet, giving many sweet and useful lessons from the +flowers."--_The News_. + +"A choice little book, in which flowers are made to typify men and +women, and to whisper important lessons regarding life and +duty."-_Christian_. + +"Short stories, which will both please and profit. There is life and +point about them, and their association with flowers is by no means +strained. We place this little book in the first class as to the quality +of the writing."-_Sword and Trowel_. + +WAFTED SEEDS. With Illustrations. Demy 16mo, 1s. + + + + +By Miss MARSH. + +THE RIFT IN THE CLOUDS. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +CROSSING THE RIVER. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +SHINING LIGHT. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. A True Story. Crown 8vo, 1s. + + +By Rev. J. REID HOWATT. + +THE CHILDREN'S PEW. Sermons to Children. + +AFTER HOURS; or, The Religion of Our Leisure Time. With Appendix on How +to Form a Library for Twenty Shillings. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +THE CHILDREN'S PULPIT. A Year's Sermons and Parables for the Young. +Second Edition. Extra crown 8vo, 6s. + +"It will be heartily welcomed. The subjects are well selected; the style +is always simple and forcible, and the lessons which the preacher +desires to impress upon the mind are such as every youthful reader may +appreciate. The sermons have another merit--that of brevity. A child may +read them with a good deal of pleasure, and, it need hardly be said, +with much profit."--_Scotsman_. + +"The sermonettes are simple, suggestive, and singularly happy in +illustration and treatment."--_Word and Work_. + +"All these fifty-three sermons and parables are worth reading, and would +seem admirable either as models for addresses to children, or for +reading in the home circle."--_Church Bells_. + +"Full of nature and of life, and flashing with happy illustrations. +"_--Christian World._ + +THE CHILDREN'S ANGEL. Being a Volume of Sermons to Children. Crown 8vo, +2s. 6d. + +"Brief, fresh, and often original in thought. A preacher to children +will find many suggestions and ideas in these discourses."--_Literary +Churchman_. + +"Fifty-three brief addresses to children. Direct, as such things should +be; clear, as they must always be; and interesting, as, if any good is +to be done, they are bound to be--they contain a collection of truths +which children ought to be taught, and the teacher is always bright and +clear, which is saying a great deal."--_Church Bells_. + +"One of the most beautiful and helpful books we know of for ministers +and others who are called upon to address the young."--_Methodist New +Connexion Magazine._ + + +By Miss NUGENT. + +THE PRINCE IN THE MIDST. Jesus our Centre. 16mo, 1s. + + +By SAMUEL GILLESPIE PROUT. + +NEVER SAY DIE: A Talk with Old Friends. 16mo. 9d.; paper cover, 6d. + + + + +By the Rev. JAMES WELLS, M.A. + +BIBLE OBJECT LESSONS. Addresses to Children. With Illustrations. Crown +8vo, 3s. 6d. + +BIBLE ECHOES. Addresses to the Young. Small crown. 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +THE PARABLES OF JESUS. With Illustrations. Small crown 8vo, 5s. + +BIBLE CHILDREN. Studies for the Young. With illustrations. Small crown +8vo, 3s. 6d. + +BIBLE IMAGES. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. + + +By the Rev. J.H. WILSON, D.D. + +THE KING'S MESSAGE. A Book for the Young. With Illustrations. Small +crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +THE GOSPEL AND ITS FRUITS. A Book for the Young With Illustrations. +Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN: The Lord's Prayer Familiarly Explained and +Illustrated for the Young. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. + + +By EDITH RALPH. + +STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE BIBLE. PART I +FROM THE CREATION TO THE DEATH OF JOSHUA. A Scripture History for Little +Children. With a Preface by CUNNINGHAM GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D., and Twelve +Illustrations. Crown. 8vo, 2s. 6d. + +FROM THE PREFACE. + +"Miss Edith Ralph, in this little book, shows herself exceptionally +skilful in her delicate task.... The tone and spirit of her pages seem +to me admirably suited to her subject--simple, tender, gentle, wise, and +full of sweet Christian love, they point the little ones invitingly to +heaven, and lead the way.... Nor is the careful and well-informed +intelligence wanting which is needed to make the first steps in Bible +knowledge a preparation for safe and healthy progress in it hereafter." + +Part II. FROM DEATH OF JOSHUA TO END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. A Scripture +History for Little Children. Revised and recommended by CUNNINGHAM +GEIKIE, D.D., LL.D. Twelve Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. + +"No sweeter, wiser, or more Christian story of the Scriptures could be +given to a little child or read to it."--_Christian Commonwealth._ "Just +the thing for Sunday afternoon,"--_Word and Work_. + + + + +By FREDERICK A. ATKINS, + +Editor of "The Young Man," and Hon. Sec. of the National Anti-Gambling +League. + +MORAL MUSCLE: AND How TO USE IT. A Brotherly Chat with Young Men. With +an Introduction by Rev. THAIN DAVIDSON, D.D. Now ready. Small crown 8vo, +1s. + +Dr. CLIFFORD writes:--"It is full of life, throbs with energy, is rich +in stimulus, and bright with hope." + +_The Methodist Times_ says:--"An excellent book for young men--manly, +honest, straightforward, and full of Christian earnestness." + +FIRST BATTLES, AND HOW TO FIGHT THEM. + +Just Published. Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +"An excellent book for young men. The addresses are vigorous and to the +point. The work would certainly help to develop in a thoughtful reader a +truer manliness than generally prevails among our young men."--_Irish +Ecclesiastical Gazette_. + +"Another of Mr. Atkins' capital little books for young men."--_British +Weekly._ + + +HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE. By Dr. CLIFFORD, M.A.; Professor ELMSLIE, D.D.; +R.F. HORTON, M.A.; Rev. F.B. MEYEE, B.A.; Rev. C.H. WALLER, M.A.; Rev. +H.C.G. MOULE, M.A.; Rev. C.A. BERRY; Rev. W.J. DAWSON. Third Edition. +Small crown 8vo, 1s. + +"In this little book we have the choicest counsels of men who are +themselves successful students of the Word. We very earnestly commend +this volume. All those who desire to know how to study the Scriptures +with the utmost profit should secure it at once."--_Christian Advocate_. + +"Young Bible students will find some very valuable hints in this little +volume."--_Nonconformist_. + +"The whole of these essays are well worthy of perusal, and are as +instructive as they are interesting-."--_Manchester Courier_. + +"In this small book are comprised eight practical and, we may say, +delightful essays from well-known divines and authors,"--_Schoolmaster_. + + +THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS: "WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?" By SAMUEL +WAINWRIGHT, D.D., Incumbent of St. Stephen's, Clapham Park. Crown 8vo, +cloth, 7s. 6d. + + + + +By Rev. THEODORE CUYLER, D.D. + +STIRRING THE EAGLE'S NEST, AND OTHER PRACTICAL DISCOURSES. Just +Published. Extra Crown 8vo, 6s. + +"A volume of earnest and able sermons, full of life and +vigour."--_Literary Churchman._ + +"In this volume Dr. Cuyler is at his best.... His sermons are full of +practical teaching, and cannot fail to profit the reader."--_Rock_. "Dr. +Cuyler has given us here some of his best work."--_Church Bells_. + +"This is a volume of short practical sermons, characterised by the +simplicity and directness which we expect from Dr. Cuyler."--_Christian +Leader_. + +"The discourses are vigorous expositions of simple texts."--_Scotsman_ + +HOW TO BE A PASTOR. Recently Published. Crown 8vo, 2s. + +"It is full of strong, cheery, sensible, hard-working Christianity. It +ought to have a very large circulation."--_British Weekly_. + +"Twelve chapters well worthy of the study of pastors, and calculated to +stimulate all who have at heart the cause of Christ."--_Christian_. + +"In this handy little volume Dr. Cuyler gives wise guidance, couched in +graphic and telling style."--_Methodist Recorder_. + +"We lay down this book, brimful of wholesome advice, with the earnest +wish that some of our wealthy laymen would place a copy of it in the +hands of each of our ministers."--_Christian Advocate_. + + +By the Rev. ALFRED PEARSON, M.A., + +INCUMBENT OF ST. MARGARET'S CHURCH, BRIGHTON. + +CHRISTUS MAGISTER: SOME TEACHINGS FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Just +Published. Crown 8vo, 5s. + +_The Bishop of Bedford_ says:--"Old truths are felicitously expressed +and beautifully illustrated. There is much that is original and +suggestive in exposition." + +_The Dean of Winchester_ says:--"A delightful volume: the chapter on +'Non-Resistance' pleases me especially." + +THE CHRISTIAN'S AIMS. Small Crown 8vo, 1s. + +"Under Mr. Pearson's guidance the aims of life are considered with +reference to God, to ourselves, and to our fellows. Self-denial, as +required of every Christian, is sensibly considered in the chapter on +Cross-bearing. "--_Guardian_. + +"Many Christians would derive benefit from reading the chapters 'On +Glorifying God,' 'On Self-Mastery,' 'On Self-Fulfilment,' 'On +Cross-Bearing' and 'On Tone.'"--_English Churchman_. + + + + +By the Rev. ANDREW MURRAY. + +Small crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. each. + +THE NEW LIFE. Words of God for Disciples of Christ. + +"This book stands out among many of its kind as distinguished by a new +impulse and freshness of thought."--_Scotsman_. + +ABIDE IN CHRIST. Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Fellowship with the Son +of God. Sixty-third Thousand. + +"The varied aspects of this practical truth are treated with much +freshness, power, and unction. It cannot fail to stimulate, to cheer, +and to qualify for higher service."--Mr. SPURGEON in _The Sword and +Trowel_. + +LIKE CHRIST. Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Conformity to the Son of +God. A Sequel to "Abide in Christ." Twenty-eighth Thousand. + +"The author has written with such loving unction and spiritual insight +that his pages may be read with comfort and edification by +all."--_Literary Churchman_. + +WITH CHRIST IN THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER. Twenty-fifth Thousand. + +"A volume of rare excellence, and one which is much needed."--_Christian +News._ + +HOLY IN CHRIST. Thoughts on the Calling of God's Children to be Holy as +He is Holy. Tenth Thousand. + +"This is one of the best books we have seen upon a subject which is +happily attracting much attention nowadays. There is so much spurious +sentimentalism abroad that we are glad to meet with a book in which this +sacred theme--holiness--is dealt with so robustly and +scripturally."--_Methodist N.C. Magazine._ + +THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. Thoughts on the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit in +the Believer and the Church. Eighth Thousand. + +"Mr. Murray's new work, like his former ones, will serve for the +edification of those who are able to appreciate spirituality of thought, +and inclined to give the attention needful to digest and profit by +meditations presented in a manner more solid than lively."--_Record_. + +Small Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +THE CHILDREN FOR CHRIST. Thoughts for Christian Parents on the +Consecration of the Home Life. Tenth Thousand. + +"There is a tone of fervour and devotion pervading the book that +contrasts pleasantly with the trivially inane tone some writers think +fit to adopt in writing for and about children. 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The treatment is suited only to +an intelligent, if not educated, Christian. To such it is calculated to +give an intellectual, as well as spiritual, perception of the things +which accompany salvation."--_Rock_. + + +By the Rev. GEORGE MATHESON, D.D. + +MOMENTS ON THE MOUNT. A Series of Devotional + +Meditations. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +"This little volume is not one to be read through at a sitting, and then +laid aside. Rather each meditation is to be pondered over, and enjoyed +singly and separately, and to be dwelt upon until it becomes a permanent +possession. Their suggestions can hardly fail to stimulate to Biblical +and theological research."--_Scotsman_. + +VOICES OF THE SPIRIT. Small crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +"A choice little volume of devotional meditations. It is not only devout +in spirit and tender in tone, but marked by freshness of thought, which +volumes of this kind too often lack."--_Methodist Recorder_. + +WISDOM'S HOUSE AND "HER SEVEN PILLARS." + +By Lady BEAUJOLOIS DENT. Small crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. + +"An excellent little work, sound in doctrine, and thoroughly practical +in its application to the reader's conscience."_--Record._ + + + + ++By Mrs. A. RUSSELL SIMPSON.+ + +FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIP. With Illustrations. + +Demy 16mo, 1s. + +"Twelve beautifully written chapters on friendship. Very suitable to +give to young people on life's threshold. Fresh and charming as a sprig +of heather or a morsel of thyme."--_Christian Treasury_. + +"Mrs. Simpson quotes many of the finest things that have ever been said +or written on her subject; and some of her own remarks are quite as +good, not less full of insight, expressed with equal felicity, and +having in addition a searching spiritual power."--_Christian Leader_. + + +BUILDING FOE GOD; or, Houses not Made with Hands. + +With Illustrations. 16mo, 1s. + +"A beautiful little book, rich in anecdote, allusion, and +illustration."-_Pall Mall Gazette_. + +"Mrs. Simpson's prettily got-up books of devotional reading are always +deservedly popular.... As usual, the writer has shown much ingenuity in +the arrangement and choice of illustrations, and much fervent devotion +in her meditations and comments thereon."--_Record_. + + +STEPS THROUGH THE STREAM.. Morning Readings for a Month. Square 16mo, +1s. + +"A very sweet, quickening, stimulating volume. We trust that the work +may secure an extended sale, and be of much spiritual blessing to God's +believing people."--Mr. SPURGEON in _The Sword and Trowel_. + + +BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS. Evening Readings for a Month. Square 16mo, +1s. + +"A series of brief readings, thoroughly devotional, earnest and simple, +full of true thought, and exceedingly interesting."--_Guardian_. + + +GATES AND DOORS. Square 16mo, 1s. + +"Full of anecdote and illustration. Mrs. Simpson's pleasant pages are +well calculated to fulfil their author's design."--_Churchman_. + +"Original and stimulating in a high degree."--_Liverpool Post_. + + +WELLS OF WATER. A Series of Chapters Descriptive and Practical on the +Wells mentioned in Scripture. Square 16mo, 1s. + +"A series of short studies, meditations, and expositions on some among +the many passages of Scripture which refer to wells and springs. As in +the preceding volumes of a similar kind from the same pen, there is here +much earnest, unquestioning piety, and a felicity in illustration that +many a minister may envy."--_Scotsman_. + + + + ++By FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL.+ + +ROYAL GRACE AND LOYAL GIFTS. Being the following Seven Volumes in neat +cloth case, price 10s. + +MY KING; or, Daily Thoughts for the King's Children. + +ROYAL COMMANDMENTS; or, Morning Thoughts for the King's Servants. + +ROYAL BOUNTY; or, Evening Thoughts for the King's Guests. + +THE ROYAL INVITATION: Daily Thoughts on Coming to Christ. + +LOYAL RESPONSES; or, Daily Melodies for the King's Minstrels. + +KEPT FOR THE MASTER'S USE. + +STARLIGHT THROUGH THE SHADOWS. + +_The Volumes may be had separately, in limp cloth, 1s. each_. + +MORNING BELLS; or, Waking Thoughts for the Little Ones. 32mo, 9d.; paper +cover, 6d. + +LITTLE PILLOWS. Being Good Night Thoughts for the Little Ones. 32mo, +9d.; paper cover, 6d. + +TREASURE TROVE. 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Small crown +8vo, 2s. + +THE PRECIOUS PROMISES; or, Light from Beyond. +By the Rev. CUNNINGHAM GEIKIE, D.D. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. + +Lectures on Ecclesiastical History delivered in Norwich Cathedral. + +_The following have already appeared_:-- + +ST. IGNATIUS AND ST. POLYCARP. By F.W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., Archdeacon +of Westminster, Chaplain to the Queen and to the House of Commons. + +THE APOLOGY OF ARISTIDES. By the Rev. J. ARMITAGE ROBINSON, B.D., Fellow +and Assistant Tutor of Christ's College, Cambridge. + +THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUSTIN MARTYR. By the Rev. FREDERICK MEYRICK, +M.A., Rector of Blickling, Norfolk; Non-residentiary Canon of Lincoln. + +THE LIFE AND TIMES OF IRENAEUS. By the Rev. Prebendary STANLEY LEATHES, +D.D. + +Other Lectures will be delivered by the following:--The Right Rev. the +LORD BISHOP OF RIPON, and the Rev. G.A. SCHNEIDER, M.A., Vice-Principal +of Ridley Hall, Cambridge. + + +By the Rev. G.S. 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BOGATZKY'S GOLDEN TREASURY. + +2. KEBLE'S CHRISTIAN YEAR. + +3. THE IMITATION OF CHRIST (THOMAS A KEMPIS). + +4. THE POEMS OF GEORGE HERBERT. + +5. BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. + + + + ++By the Rev. J.R. MACDUFF, D.D.+ + +IN CHRISTO; or, The Monogram of St. Paul. Crown 8vo, 5s. + +CLEFTS OF THE ROCK; or, The Believer's Grounds of Confidence in Christ. +Crown 8vo, 5s. + +PALMS OF ELIM; or, Rest and Refreshment in the Valley. Crown 8vo, 5s. + +NOONTIDE AT SYCHAR; or, The Story of Jacob's Well. With Frontispiece and +Vignette. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +EVENTIDE AT BETHEL; or, The Night Dream of the Desert. Crown 8vo, 3s. +6d. + +THE GRAPES OF ESHCOL; or, Gleanings from the Land of Promise. Crown 8vo, +3s. 6d. + +SUNSETS ON THE HEBREW MOUNTAINS. With Frontispiece. Post 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK; or, The Keeper of Israel and the Sheep of +His Pasture. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +MEMORIES OF BETHANY. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +MEMORIES OF GENNESARET. With Frontispiece. Extra crown 8vo, 5s. + +MEMORIES OF OLIVET. With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +MEMORIES OF PATMOS; or, Some of the Great Words and Visions of the +Apocalypse, With Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +CAST THY BURDEN ON THE LORD. A Scripture Text-Book. 32mo, 1s.; paper +cover, 6d. + +STRENGTH FOR THE DAY. A Daily Book in the Words of Scripture for Morning +and Evening. With an Introduction. 16mo, 1s. 6d. + +VOICES OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND SHADOWS OF THE GREAT ROCK. Square 16mo, +1s. 6d. + +THE GATES OF PRAYER. A Book of Private Devotion for Morning and Evening. +16mo, 1s. 6d. + +THE MORNING AND NIGHT WATCHES AND FAITHFUL PROMISER. In one Vol. 16mo, +2s. + +FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL. Being a Life of the Apostle Designed for Youth. +With Illustrations, Crown 8vo, 5s. + + + + ++By the Rev. Prof. LEWIS F. STEARNS+, + +Author of "Evidence of Christian Experience." + +PRESENT DAY THEOLOGY. Extra crown 8vo, 10s. 6d. + + ++By the Rev. HENRY WAGE, D.D.+, + +Principal of King's College, London. + +THE AUTHORITY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE, and other Sermons. Extra crown 8vo, 7s. +6d. + + ++By the late Rev. AUBREY L. MOORE, M.A.+ + +A VOLUME OF SERMONS. + + * * * * * + +AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE REV. DONALD FRASER, D.D., and a Selection from +his Sermons. With a Preface by J. OSWALD DYKES, D.D. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + +SUNRISE GLEAMS. A Series of Daily Readings for a Month. By Lady HOPE. +16mo, 1s. + +SUNSET RAYS. A Companion Volume to "Sunrise Gleams." By Lady HOPE. 16mo, +1s. + +DAILY EVENING REST; or, Thoughts of Peace about the Master. By AGNES +GIBERNE. 16mo, 2s. 6d. + +THE VOICE OF JESUS DAY BY DAY. With Original Hymns. By F.M. MACRAE. And +an Introduction by HUGH MACMILLAN, D.D. Small crown 8vo, 2s. + +ABBA, FATHER. Helps to Prayer and Meditation. By the Rev. C.G. +BASKERVILLE, M.A. Crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. + + + + +LIST OF BOOKS OF FAMILY PRAYERS. + + +By the Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP OF RIPON. + +CHURCHMAN'S BOOK OF FAMILY PRAYERS. +Printed in Red and Black. Cloth plain, pott 4to, 3s. 6d. Cloth gilt, +burnished red edges, 5s. + + +By the Rev. GORDON CALTHROP, M.A. + +FAMILY PRAYERS FOR FOUR WEEKS. Imperial 16mo, 2s. 6d. + + +By the Rev. J. OSWALD DYKES, D.D. + +DAILY PRAYERS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD FOR A MONTH. Crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + + +By the Rev. GEORGE EVERARD, M.A., + +Vicar of Christ Church, Dover. + +BEFORE HIS FOOTSTOOL. Family Prayers for one Month. With Prayers for +Special Occasions, and Introduction. Ninth Thousand. Crown 8vo, 3s. + + +By the Rev. C.E. KENNAWAY, M.A. + +FAMILY PRAYERS FOR THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS FOR A FORTNIGHT; to which +are added, Prayers on Special Occasions. 16mo, 1s. 6d. + + +By the Rev. J.R. MACDUFF, D.D. + +MORNING FAMILY PRAYERS. A Volume of Family Worship for each Morning of +the Year. Founded on Selected Passages of Scripture from the Old and New +Testaments. Small 4to. 6s. 6d. + +*** This volume is on a plan and arrangement of its own, in order to +secure, as much as may be, variety and comprehension. + +FAMILY PRAYERS. Small crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. + + +By M.L.M. DAWSON. + +FAMILY PRAYERS FOR A MONTH. Demy 8vo, 1s. 6d. + +DAILY PRAYERS FOR BUSY HOMES. 16mo, 6d. + + +LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET, W. + + + + ++WORKS BY R.M. BALLANTYNE+. + + * * * * * + +"In his tales of the sea, of the forest and the flames, and in all that +he writes, there is a fidelity to nature and a knowledge of many paths +of life which are not surpassed by any author in his special field of +literature."--_Morning Post_. + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each_. + +NEW VOLUME. + ++THE BUFFALO RUNNERS+. + +A TALE OF THE RED RIVER PLAINS. + + ++CHARLIE TO THE RESCUE+. + +A TALE or THE SEA AND THE ROCKIES. + +"In 'Charlie to the Rescue' Mr. Ballantyne supplies his constituency +--which is now a large and well-satisfied one--with a sufficiency of +battles, sieges, and escapes; the troubles of ranchmen, whose lives are +threatened both by white and by black scoundrels, are admirably +reproduced. It is a capital story."--_Spectator_. + + ++BLOWN TO BITS+; + +Or, THE LONELY MAN OF RAKATA. A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. + +"A capital story, written in the author's old style, and full of life +and action from beginning to end."--_Standard_. + +"The book abounds in matter of exceptional interest, and should find its +way into the hands of all young people who would properly estimate the +wide-spreading and far-reaching influences and the extraordinary +character of the Krakatoa outburst."--_Manchester Courier_. + + ++BLUE LIGHTS+; + +Or, HOT WORK IN THE SOUDAN. A TALE OF SOLDIER LIFE IN SEVERAL OF ITS +PHASES. + +"An exciting story, full of excellent moral lessons."--_School Board +Chronicle_. + +"We heartily recommend 'Blue Lights'."--_Guardian_. + +"The soldier's career is graphically depicted, and the story is every +way a good one."--_Literary Churchman_. + + + + +_Works by R.M. Ballantyne-continued. + +With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each_. + +THE FUGITIVES; + +Or, THE TYRANT QUEEN OF MADAGASCAR. + +"There is plenty of adventure in the shape of imprisonment and combats +with men and animals, and a negro and a sailor between them supply a +comic element of the best quality. Everything considered, this is one of +the best stories even Mr. Ballantyne has published."--_Academy_. + +RED ROONEY; + +Or, THE LAST OF THE CREW. + +THE ROVER OF THE ANDES. + +A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN SOUTH AMERICA. + +"We commend it to boys fond of adventure and of natural phenomena; a +very fascinating book."--_British Quarterly Review._ + +"An admirable boy's story."--_Scotsman_. + +THE YOUNG TRAWLER. + +A STORY OF LIFE AND DEATH AND RESCUE IN THE NORTH SEA. + +"Few men have laboured so steadfastly in their generation to provide +sound wholesome fare for 'our boys' as Mr. Ballantyne, and the 'Young +Trawler' is worthy of his reputation. It is not a whit less spirited +than his former tales, and conveys a large amount of useful information +on a highly important subject."--_Academy_. + +DUSTY DIAMONDS, CUT AND POLISHED. + +A TALE OF CITY-ARAB LIFE. + + + + +_With Illustrations, Crown 8vo. 5s. each_. + + ++THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER+; + +Or, THE ELECTRICAL ADVENTURES OF A TELEGRAPH CABLE-LAYER. + +"There is not a dull page in it."--_Scotsman_. +"The interest never flags."--_Academy_. + + ++THE GIANT OF THE NORTH+; + +Or, POKINGS ROUND THE POLE. + +"Of variety of perilous adventures and peril, ingeniously surmounted, +there is no lack."--_Daily News_. + + ++THE LONELY ISLAND+; + +Or, THE REFUGE OF THE MUTINEERS. + +"Mr. Ballantyne weaves the romantic episode of the mutiny of the +'Bounty' into a most effective narrative."--_Graphic_. + + ++POST HASTE+. + +A TALE OF HER MAJESTY'S MAILS. + +"The book should find a place in every boy's library; it is full of +interest."--_Leeds Mercury_. + + ++IN THE TRACK OF THE TROOPS+. + +A TALE OF MODERN WAR. + +"Mr. Ballantyne has blended with the incidents of war on the Danube a +story of personal adventure spiritedly told."--_Daily News_. + + ++THE SETTLER AND THE SAVAGE+. + +A TALE OF PEACE AND WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. + +"A capital story of South African life. Mr. Ballantyne, through the +medium of a thoroughly manly and healthy tale of sport and war, frolic +and danger, full of stirring yet not exaggerated scenes, presents a +sketch of a very important period of the early history of our colony at +the Cape of Good Hope."--_Times_. + + + + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 5s. each_. + + ++UNDER THE WAVES+; + +Or, DIVING IN DEEP WATERS. + +"Mr. Ballantyne enlarges the already gigantic debt due to him by the +young, by his 'Under the Waves,' a story meant to illustrate the +practice and peril of diving in deep water, which it does in not only an +interesting, but often in amusing manner."--_Times_. + + ++RIVERS OF ICE+. + +A TALE ILLUSTRATIVE OF ALPINE ADVENTURE AND GLACIER ACTION. + +"A tale brimful of interest and stirring adventure."--_Glasgow Herald_. + + ++THE PIRATE CITY+. + +AN ALGERINE TALE. + +"The story is told with Mr. Ballantyne's usual felicity, and, as it is +plentifully sprinkled with horrors, no doubt it will be greatly enjoyed +by some boys."--_Athenaeum_. + + ++BLACK IVORY+. + +A TALE OF ADVENTURE AMONG THE SLAVERS OF EAST AFRICA. + +"A captivating story. We heartily recommend it."--_Record_. + +"Boys will find the book about as delightful a story of adventure as any +of them could possibly desire."--_Scotsman_. + + ++THE NORSEMEN IN THE WEST+; + +Or, AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS. + +"This thoroughly delightful book is an adaptation of the Saga of +Iceland, and also of Mr. Laing's 'Heimskingla; or Chronicles of the +Kings of Norway,' supplemented by Mr. Ballantyne's own experience and +adventures in the wilderness of America. These ingredients are put +together with the skill and spirit of an accomplished story-teller; and +the result is a book that cannot possibly be laid down till the very +last word of the last line has been read."--_Athenaeum_. + + ++THE IRON HORSE+; + +Or, LIFE ON THE LINE. A RAILWAY TALE. + +"A captivating book for boys."--_Guardian_. + + + + ++ERLING THE BOLD+. + +A TALE OF THE NORSE SEA KINGS. + + +"A capital tale of the Norse Sea Kings."--_Times_. + +"The story is interesting and full of moving incidents by flood and +field, and it will therefore scarcely fail to be popular among +lads."--_Scotsman_. + +"The story is clearly designed, and abounds with elements of romantic +interest; and the Author's illustrations are scarcely less vigorous than +his text."--_Athenaeum_. + + ++FIGHTING THE FLAMES+. + +A TALE OF THE LONDON FIRE BRIGADE. + + +"Many a schoolboy will find keen enjoyment in the perusal of 'Fighting +the Flames,' and assure his little sisters with suitable emphasis that +Mr. Ballantyne is 'a stunning good story-teller.'"--_Athenaeum_. + + ++DEEP DOWN+. + +A TALE OF THE CORNISH MINES. + + +"Mr. Ballantyne's book will not fail to delight boys, for it is full of +deeds of daring and of 'hairbreadth escapes.'"--_Scotsman_. + +"By reading Mr. Ballantyne's admirable story a very large amount of +knowledge concerning Cornish mines may be acquired; whilst from the fact +of the information being given in the form of a connected narrative, it +is not likely very soon to be forgotten.... A book well worthy of being +extensively read."--_Mining Journal._ + + ++THE FLOATING LIGHT OF THE GOODWIN SANDS+. + +"The tale will be especially interesting to adventure-loving +boys."--_Record_. + + + ++SHIFTING WINDS+. + +A TOUGH YARN. + + +"A hearty, vigorous, bracing story, fresh with the pure breezes, and +sparkling with the bright waters of the everlasting seas.'"--_Athenaeum_. + + + + ++THE LIGHTHOUSE+. + +BEING THE STORY OF A GREAT FIGHT BETWEEN MAN AND THE SEA. + + +_Extract Letter from the Secretary of Northern Lighthouses_. + +" ... They (the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses) have been so much +pleased with the way in which you have combined the fiction of a tale +with the popular but correct account of the building of the Bell Rock +Lighthouse, that they think it would be an interesting work to transmit +to their Lightkeepers, and I have therefore to request that you will +direct your publishers to transmit me--copies. (Signed) ALEXR. +CUNNINGHAM." + +"Thoroughly at home in subjects of adventure, the Author has made this, +like all his stories for boys, smart in style, thrilling in interest, +and abounding in incidents of every kind."--_Quiver_. + + + + ++THE LIFEBOAT+. + +A TALE OF OUR COAST HEROES. + + +"ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION. + +"DEAR SIR,--I am directed by the Committee to request your acceptance of +the accompanying Photograph of a Lifeboat proceeding off to a wreck, as +a small permanent acknowledgment of the important service you have +rendered to the Lifeboat cause by your very interesting work entitled +'The Lifeboat: a Tale of our Coast Heroes." I remain, yours faithfully, + +(Signed) "RICHARD LEWIS, _Secretary_." + + + + ++THE GOLDEN DREAM+. + +A TALE OF THE DIGGINGS. + + ++THE RED ERIC+; + +Or, THE WHALER'S LAST CRUISE. + + ++GASCOYNE, THE SANDALWOOD TRADER+. + +A TALE OF THE PACIFIC. + + +"Full of cleverly and impressively drawn pictures of life and character +in the Pacific."--_Caledonian Mercury_. + + ++FREAKS ON THE FELLS,+ + +AND + ++WHY I DID NOT BECOME A SAILOR.+ + + * * * * * + + ++THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST.+ + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d._ + + ++BATTLES WITH THE SEA;+ + +Or, HEROES OF THE LIFEBOAT AND THE ROCKET. + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s._ + + ++THE KITTEN PILGRIMS;+ + +Or, GREAT BATTLES AND GRAND VICTORIES. + + +"We have copied the title-page of this amusing and instructive quarto +for little folks. Nothing further is necessary. Mr. Ballantyne stands at +the head of all our children's story-tellers _facile +princeps_."--_Churchman_. + +_With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. each_. + +NEW VOLUME. + ++A COXSWAIN'S BRIDE+; Or, THE RISING TIDE: And other Tales. + ++THE GARRET AND THE GARDEN+; Or, Low LIFE HIGH UP: And +JEFF BENSON+; +Or, THE YOUNG COASTGUARDSMAN. + ++THE CREW OF THE WATER-WAGTAIL+. +A STORY OF NEWFOUNDLAND. + ++THE MIDDY AND THE MOORS+. +AN ALGERINE TALE. + ++THE PRAIRIE CHIEF+. + ++LIFE IN THE RED BRIGADE+. + +A FIERY TALE. AND FORT DESOLATION; or, SOLITUDE IN THE WILDERNESS. + + ++THE ISLAND QUEEN+; + +Or, DETHRONED BY FIRE AND WATER. A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. + + ++TWICE BOUGHT+. + +A TALE OF THE OREGON GOLD FIELDS. + + ++THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE+. + + ++PHILOSOPHER JACK+. + +A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN SEAS. + + ++THE RED MAN'S REVENGE+. + + ++MY DOGGIE AND I+. + + ++SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE+. + +LETTERS TO PERIWINKLE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. A RECORD OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE +AND ADVENTURE. + + * * * * * + +_Crown 8vo. Price 3s. 6d. each_. + + ++TALES OF ADVENTURE BY FLOOD, FIELD, AND MOUNTAIN+. + + ++TALES OF ADVENTURE+; + +Or, WILD WORK IN STRANGE PLACES. + + ++TALES OF ADVENTURE ON THE COAST+. + + * * * * * + +LONDON: JAMES NISBET & Co., 21 BERNERS STREET, W. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Blown to Bits, by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLOWN TO BITS *** + +***** This file should be named 15348.txt or 15348.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/3/4/15348/ + +Produced by Michael Oltz, Suzanne Lybarger, Martin Pettit +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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