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diff --git a/21741.txt b/21741.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79b1218 --- /dev/null +++ b/21741.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6905 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Island Queen, by R.M. 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: The Island Queen + +Author: R.M. Ballantyne + +Release Date: June 7, 2007 [EBook #21741] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ISLAND QUEEN *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +THE ISLAND QUEEN, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +DETHRONED BY FIRE AND WATER--A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. + +THE OPEN BOAT. + +Early one morning, in the year 18 hundred and something, the great +Southern Ocean was in one of its calmest moods, insomuch that the +cloudlets in the blue vault above were reflected with almost perfect +fidelity in the blue hemisphere below, and it was barely possible to +discern the dividing-line between water and sky. + +The only objects within the circle of the horizon that presented the +appearance of solidity were an albatross sailing in the air, and a +little boat floating on the sea. + +The boat rested on its own reflected image, almost motionless, save when +a slight undulation of the water caused the lower edge of its reflection +to break off in oily patches; but there was no dip of oars at its sides, +no rowers on its thwarts, no guiding hand at the helm. + +Evidently the albatross regarded the boat with curiosity not unmixed +with suspicion, for it sailed in wide circles round it, with +outstretched neck, head turned on one side, and an eye bent inquiringly +downward. By slow degrees the circles diminished, until the giant bird +floated almost directly over the boat. Then, apparently, it saw more +than enough to satisfy its curiosity, for, uttering a hoarse cry, it +swooped aside, and, with a flap of its mighty wings, made off towards +the horizon, where it finally disappeared. + +The flap and the cry seemed, however, to have put life into the little +boat, for a human head rose slowly above the gunwale. It was that of a +youth, of about twenty years of age, apparently in the last stage of +exhaustion. He looked round slowly, with a dazed expression, like one +who only half awakes from sleep. Drawing his hand across his brow, and +gazing wistfully on the calm sea, he rose on his knees with difficulty, +and rested his arms on a thwart, while he turned his gaze with a look of +intense anxiety on the countenance of a young girl who lay in the bottom +of the boat close beside him, asleep or dead. + +"It looks like death," murmured the youth, as he bent over the pale +face, his expression betraying sudden alarm; "and it must--it must come +to this soon; yet I cannot bear the thought. O God, spare her!" + +It seemed as if the prayer were answered at once, for a fluttering sigh +escaped from the girl's bloodless lips, but she did not awake. + +"Ah! sleep on, dear sister," said the youth, "it is all the comfort that +is left to you now. Oh for food! How often I have wasted it; thought +lightly of it; grumbled because it was not quite to my taste! What +would I not give for a little of it now--a very little!" + +He turned his head away from the sleeping girl, and a wolfish glare +seemed to shoot from his eyes as they rested on something which lay in +the stern of the boat. + +There were other human beings in that boat besides the youth and his +sister--some still living, some dead, for they had been many days on +short allowance, and the last four days in a state of absolute +starvation--all, save Pauline Rigonda and her little brother Otto, whose +fair curly head rested on his sister's arm. + +During the last two nights, when all was still, and the starving sailors +were slumbering, or attempting to slumber, Dominick Rigonda--the youth +whom we have just introduced to the reader--had placed a small quantity +of broken biscuit in the hands of his sister and little brother, with a +stern though whispered command to eat it secretly and in silence. + +Obediently they ate, or rather devoured, their small portion, wondering +where their brother had found it. Perchance they might have relished it +less if they had known that Dominick had saved it off his own too scant +allowance, when he saw that the little store in the boat was drawing to +an end--saved it in the hope of being able to prolong the lives of +Pauline and Otto. + +This reserve, however, had been also exhausted, and it seemed as if the +last ray of hope had vanished from Dominick's breast, on the calm +morning on which our tale opens. + +As we have said, the youth glared at something lying in the stern of the +boat. It was a tarpaulin, which covered a human form. Dominick knew +that it was a dead body--that of the cabin-boy, who had died during the +night with his head resting on Dominick's arm. The two men who lay +sleeping in the bow knew nothing of his death, and they were so weak +from exhaustion at the time the boy died that Dominick had thought it +unnecessary to rouse them. The poor boy's emaciated frame could lie +till morning, he thought, and then the sleepers would assist him to put +it gently into the sea. + +But when morning came, the pangs of hunger assailed the self-denying +youth with terrible power, and a horrible thought occurred to him. He +opened a large clasp-knife, and, creeping towards the body, removed the +tarpaulin. A faint smile rested on the dead lips--the same smile that +had moved them when Dominick promised to carry the boy's last loving +message to his mother if he should survive. + +He dropped the knife with a convulsive shudder, and turned his eyes on +his sleeping sister and brother. Then he thought, as he picked up the +knife again, how small an amount of food would suffice to keep these two +alive for a few days longer, and surely a sail _must_ come in sight at +last; they had waited for it, expectingly, so long! + +Suddenly the youth flung the knife away from him with violence, and +endeavoured with all his might to lift the body of the boy. In the days +of his strength he could have raised it with one hand. Now he strove +and energised for many minutes, before he succeeded in raising it to the +gunwale. At last, with a mighty effort, he thrust it overboard, and it +fell into the sea with a heavy plunge. + +The noise aroused the two men in the bow, who raised themselves feebly. +It was to them an all too familiar sound. Day by day they had heard it, +as one and another of their comrades had been committed to the deep. +One of the men managed to stand up, but as he swayed about and gazed at +Dominick inquiringly, he lost his balance, and, being too weak to +recover himself, fell over the side. He reappeared for a moment with +outstretched arms and hands clutching towards the boat. Then he sank, +to be seen no more. The other man, who had been his intimate friend and +messmate, made a frantic effort to save him. His failure to do so +seemed to be more than the poor fellow could bear, for he sprang up with +the wild laugh and the sudden strength of a maniac, and leaped into the +sea. + +Dominick could do nothing to prevent this. While staring at the little +patch of foam where the two men had gone down, he was startled by the +sound of his sister's voice. + +"Are they _all_ gone, brother?" she asked, in a low, horrified tone. + +"All--all, sister. Only you, and Otto, and I left. How soundly the +poor boy sleeps!" + +"I wish it might please God to let him die thus," said Pauline, with a +weary sigh that told eloquently of hope deferred. + +"Your wish may be granted," returned Dominick, "for the dear boy seems +to be sinking. It can scarcely, I think, be natural sleep that +prevented the shout of that poor fellow from arousing him. But lie down +again, Pauline; sleep may do you a little good if you can obtain it, and +I will watch." + +"And pray," suggested the poor girl, as she lay down again, languidly. + +"Yes, I will pray. Surely a sail must appear soon!" + +Dominick Rigonda was strong in youthful hope even in that hour of sorest +trial, but he was not strong in faith. He prayed, however, and found +his faith strengthened in the act, for he looked up immediately after +with a feeling amounting almost to certainty, that the long-expected and +wished-for sail would greet his eyes. But no sail was visible in all +the unbroken circle of his horizon. Still the faith which had prompted +the eager gaze did not quite evaporate. After the first shock of +disappointment at his prayer not being answered according to its tenor, +his assurance that God would yet send relief returned in some degree, +and he was not altogether disappointed, though the answer came at last +in a way that he did not expect. + +After sitting in a half-sleeping condition for some time, he aroused +himself, and crept with considerable difficulty to the bow to procure +the blanket which had covered the two men who had just perished. A +corner of the blanket had caught on the end of one of the floor-planks. +In disengaging it Dominick chanced to raise the plank which was loose, +and observed something like a bundle lying underneath. Curiosity +prompted him to examine it. He found that it was wrapped in canvas, and +carefully tied with cord. Opening it he discovered to his surprise and +intense joy that it contained some ship's biscuit, a piece of boiled +pork, and a flask of water. + +Only those who have been suddenly presented with food and drink, while +starving can appreciate the feelings that filled the heart of the poor +youth with laughter and thanksgiving; but his joy was not selfish, for +the prospect of immediate personal relief had but a secondary place in +his thoughts. + +Hastening with the inestimable treasure to the place where his brother +and sister lay, he carefully spread it out on a piece of sailcloth, and +cut a few thin slices of the pork before arousing them. + +"Awake, sister, and eat!" he said at last, gently shaking Pauline by the +shoulder. + +"O Dominick!" she exclaimed, raising herself, and gazing eagerly at the +food. "I was dreaming of this when you awoke me!" + +"That's odd, now," said little Otto, who had also been aroused, "for I +was dreaming of eating! And I am so hung--" + +He got no further, for, having clutched a handful of biscuit, he +suddenly stopped the way of utterance. + +"How good of you, Dom!" said Pauline, eating with as much relish, though +not with such voracity, as her little brother, "Where did you get this?" + +"No matter; eat and be thankful," said Dominick curtly, for he was +himself eating with wolfish haste by that time. He restrained himself, +however, after a few minutes. + +"Hold! We must not indulge too freely. It will hurt us after fasting +so long. Besides, this supply is very small, and must be made to last +as long as possible. No, my boy, you must eat no more at this time, but +you may drink a little." + +About a table-spoonful of water was measured out to each, and then the +remainder of the food was carefully wrapped up and put away. + +"Do you think that this supply was hidden by one of the poor fellows who +left us this morning?" asked Pauline. + +"I think so; and no doubt his motive was a good one. You know he was +very fond of his messmate. I should think he saved up his allowance to +help him; but, whatever the motive, it has proved a blessing to us--" + +He ceased speaking, for both sister and little brother had drooped their +weary heads, and were again in a heavy slumber. Dominick himself felt +intensely the desire to follow their example, but he resisted it, +feeling that it was his duty to watch for the long-expected sail that +never appeared. At first his efforts were successful, but by degrees +the tendency to sleep became so overpowering that his struggles were +unavailing. Sense of duty and every other motive gave way before it; +his head finally dropped forward, and, with a heavy sigh of contentment, +he followed his brother and sister to the land of Nod. + +Profound, prolonged, and refreshing was that sweet slumber, after the +first good meal these poor castaways had eaten for many days. The +weather fortunately continued bright and warm, so that they did not +suffer so much from exposure as on previous days, and the gentle rocking +of the boat tended to deepen and prolong their repose. + +Thus they floated peacefully during the greater part of that day--the +one solitary speck on the surface of the great ocean, for the albatross +seemed to have finally forsaken them. + +Towards noon a light westerly breeze sprang up. It was not sufficient +to raise a sea or disturb the sleepers, but, in conjunction with ocean +currents, it drifted them to the south-east at a considerable rate, so +that in the evening, without the aid of oar or sail, they were far from +the spot upon the sea where we introduced them to the reader. + +At last Dominick awoke with a long-drawn sigh, and, raising his head, +looked over the side of the boat. An exclamation of surprise and joy +broke from him, for there, like a speck, where something like a heavy +bank of clouds rested on the horizon, was the long-expected sail. + +His first impulse was to awaken the sleepers, but he checked himself. +He would look more carefully. His eyes might be deceiving him, and the +disappointment, if he should be mistaken, would be overwhelming. He +would spare them that. Rising to his feet he shaded his eyes with one +hand, and gazed long and earnestly. + +The longer he looked, however, and the more he rubbed his eyes, the more +convinced was he that a vessel was really in sight. + +"Pauline," he said at length, with suppressed emotion, as he gently +shook her arm, "see, God _has_ answered our prayers: a vessel is in +sight!" + +The poor girl raised herself quickly, with an exclamation of +thankfulness, and gazed intently in the direction pointed out. + +"It is, surely it is a ship," she said, "but--but--don't you think there +is something curious about its appearance?" + +"I have indeed been puzzled during the last few minutes," replied +Dominick. "It seems as if there were something strange under her, and +her position, too, is rather odd.--Ho! Otto, rouse up, my boy, and look +at the vessel coming to save us. Your eyes are sharp! Say, d'you see +anything strange about her?" + +Thus appealed to, Otto, who felt greatly refreshed by his good meal and +long sleep, sat up and also gazed at the vessel in question. + +"No, Dom," he said at length; "I don't see much the matter with her, +except that she leans over on one side a good deal, and there's +something black under and around her." + +"Can it be a squall that has struck her?" said Pauline. "Squalls, you +know, make ships lie over very much at times, and cause the sea round +them to look very dark." + +"It may be so," returned Dominick doubtfully. "But we shall soon see, +for a squall won't take very long to bring her down to us." + +They watched the approaching vessel with intense eagerness, but did not +again speak for a considerable time. Anxiety and doubt kept them +silent. There was the danger that the vessel might fail to observe +them, and as their oars had been washed away they had no means of +hoisting a flag of distress. Then there was the unaccountable something +about the vessel's appearance, which puzzled and filled them with +uncertainty. At last they drew so near that Dominick became all too +well aware of what it was, and a sinking of the heart kept him still +silent for a time. + +"Brother," said Pauline at last in a sad voice, as she turned her dark +eyes on Dominick, "I fear it is only a wreck." + +"You are right," he replied gloomily; "a wreck on a barren shore, too. +Not a scrap of vegetation on it, as far as I can see--a mere sandbank. +Currents are carrying us towards it, and have led us to fancy that the +vessel was moving." + +He spoke with bitterness, for the disappointment was very great, and +physical weakness had rendered him less able to bear it than he might +otherwise have been. + +"Don't get grumpy, Dom," said Otto, with a slightly humorous look that +was peculiar to him--a look which had not lighted up his eyes for many +days past. + +"I _won't_ get grumpy," returned Dominick with sudden energy, patting +the boy's head. "It is quite clear that a good feed and a long rest +were all you required to set up your plucky little spirit again." + +"Dom," said Pauline, who had been looking intently at the wreck, "is +there not something like a line of white close to the wreck?" + +"Ay, there is," replied Dominick, his countenance again becoming grave; +"it is a line of breakers, through which it will be very difficult to +steer our little boat." + +"Steer, Dom," exclaimed Otto, with a look of surprise; "how can you talk +of steering at all, without oar or helm?" + +"I must make one of the floor-planks do for both," returned Dominick. + +"I say," continued the boy, "I'm horribly hungry. Mayn't I have just a +bite or two more?" + +"Stay, I'm thinking," replied the other. + +"Think fast then, please, for the wolf inside of me is howling." + +The result of Dominick's thinking was that he resolved to consume as +much of their stock of provisions as possible in one meal, in order to +secure all the strength that was available by such means, and thus fit +them for the coming struggle with the surf. "For," said he, "if we get +capsized far from the shore, we have no chance of reaching it by +swimming in our present weak condition. Our only plan is to get up all +the strength we can by means of food. So here goes!" + +He untied the bundle as he spoke, and spread the contents on his knees. +Otto--who was, indeed, a plucky little fellow, and either did not +realise or did not fear the danger that lay before him--commenced to eat +with almost jovial avidity. Indeed, all three showed that they had +benefited greatly by what they had already eaten, and now, for the first +time during many days, consumed what they considered a full and +satisfactory meal, while they drifted slowly, but steadily, towards the +land. + +As they neared it, the heavy mass on the horizon, which they had taken +for a bank of clouds, became more distinct. A light haze cleared away +and showed it to be an island, to which the sandbank formed a barrier +reef; but any interest that might have been aroused by this discovery +was absorbed by present anxiety, for the white and gleaming surf warned +them that a serious and critical moment in their lives was fast +approaching. Pauline was awed into silence, and even Otto's countenance +became gradually solemnised. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +WRECKED ON A REEF. + +The coral reefs, which in various shapes and sizes stud the Southern +seas, are sometimes rendered almost unapproachable by the immense waves +which fall upon them. Even in the calmest weather these huge breakers +may be seen falling with prolonged roar on the beach. The lightest +undulation on the sea, which might almost escape observation away from +land, takes the form of a grand, quiet billow as it draws near to an +islet or reef, and finally, coming majestically on, like a wall of +rolling crystal, breaks the silence suddenly by its thunderous fall, and +gives to the sands a temporary fringe of pure white foam. + +To ride in on the crest of one such roller on a piece of board and leap +upon the shore, is a feat peculiar to South Sea islanders, who are +trained to the water from earliest infancy. To do the same thing in a +small boat, without oars, without strength, without experience, almost +without courage, is a feat that no South Sea islander would attempt, and +the necessity for performing which might cause the hair of any +islander's head to stand on end. + +That Dominick Rigonda's hair did not stand on end, as he sat there with +pale cheeks and compressed lips, was probably due to the fact that he +had thrust his straw hat tightly down on his brows. + +As the boat drew nearer to the reef, both Pauline and Otto had risen, in +the strength of their hearty meal, and were now seated on the thwarts of +the boat. Their brother had selected the thickest floor-plank, and cut +it roughly into the form of an oar with a clasp-knife. He now sat with +it over the stern, sculling gently--very gently, however, for he +reserved the little strength that remained to him for the critical +moment. + +The undulations of the sea, which had rocked them hitherto so softly, +had by that time assumed a decided form and force, so that the boat rose +on the oily back of each billow that passed under it, and slid back into +a watery hollow, to be relifted by each successive wave. + +"You look very anxious," said Pauline, clasping her hands on her knee, +and gazing earnestly in her brother's face. + +"I cannot help it," returned Dominick, curtly. + +"Is our danger then so great?" + +Dominick only half admitted that it was. He did not wish to alarm her, +and tried to smile as he said that the struggle would be brief--it would +soon be over. + +"But tell me, where lies the danger?" persisted Pauline. "I do not +quite see it." + +"`Where ignorance is bliss,' dear, `'tis folly to be wise,'" returned +Dominick, with an unsuccessful effort to look more at ease. + +"Nay, brother, but I am not ignorant that danger exists--only ignorant +as to the amount and nature of it. Surely there cannot be much risk in +pushing our boat through that white foam that lines the shore with so +soft a fringe." + +"I should think not," broke in the pert and inexperienced Otto; "why, +Pina," (thus he abridged his sister's name), "there's as much danger, I +should think, in pushing through a tub of soap-suds." + +"Come, Dom," returned the girl, "explain it to me; for if you don't +point out where the danger really lies, if you leave me in this state of +partial ignorance, I shall be filled with alarm instead of bliss from +this moment till we reach the shore." + +"Well, well, sister," said Dominick, when thus urged; "if you must have +it, I will explain." + +He went on to show that when the boat came near the shore the waves +would grasp it, instead of letting it slip back; would carry it swiftly +in on their crests, so that the great difficulty in such a case would be +to keep the boat's head pointing to the land, and if he failed to do so, +they would infallibly be overturned and have to swim ashore. + +"Well, that would be unpleasant, Dom," said the ignorant, as well as +innocent, Pauline, "but it would not matter much, for we can all swim-- +thanks to you for insisting on teaching us long ago." + +"We will try our best," said Dominick, who thereupon relapsed into +silence, wisely resolving to let his sister retain all the "bliss" of +"ignorance" that was possible under the circumstances. + +Indeed, there was not much more time for conversation, for the power of +the waves was beginning to be felt by the little craft, and the clumsy +oar did not act with as much precision or force as was desirable, while +Dominick's weakness rendered the steering difficult. Pauline now began +to realise the danger somewhat more clearly from experience, and even +Otto showed symptoms of surprise that amounted very nearly to alarm, as +the boat at one point made a sudden rush on a wave-top as if it meant to +try a race with it, and then as suddenly slipped back into the hollow +behind, as if it had been disheartened, feeling that there was no +chance. + +At last they reached the point of greatest danger. The huge waves, as +we have said, commenced out at sea in long, gentle undulations. Nearer +the shore they advanced in the shape of glassy walls, one after another, +like successive lines of indomitable infantry in time of war. Further +in, the tops of these waves began to gurgle and foam, and gather real, +instead of seeming, motion, as they rushed towards their fall. It was +here that the boat showed symptoms of becoming unmanageable. + +"Why, the water's beginning to boil!" exclaimed Otto, in some anxiety. + +"Hold on, boy, and keep quiet," said his brother. + +As he spoke, the water gurgled up, so that it seemed as if about to pour +inboard all round. At the same time the boat made a rush shoreward as +if suddenly endowed with life. Dominick struggled manfully to keep the +stern to the sea. He succeeded, but in another moment the boat slipped +back. It had not been fairly caught, and the wave passed on to fall +with a roar like thunder a hundred yards or so ahead. + +"The next will do it," said Dominick, with an anxious glance behind, +where a crystal wall was coming grandly on--unnaturally high, it seemed +to them, owing to their position in the hollow. + +No need to tell Otto now to hold on! No need to explain difficulty or +danger to Pauline! As her brother stood at the oar, quivering as much +from weakness as exertion, she understood it all. But she was brave, +and she could swim. This latter fact lent her additional confidence. +Best of all, she had faith in God, and her spirit was calmed, for, +whether life or death lay before her, she knew that her soul was "safe." + +As Dominick had prophesied, the next wave took them fairly in its grasp. +For a few moments the water hissed and gurgled round them. The +steersman seemed to lose control for a second or two, but quickly +recovered. Then there was a bound, as if the boat had been shot from a +catapult, and the billow fell. A tremendous roar, tumultuous foam all +round, increasing speed! The land appeared to be rushing at them, when +Dominick's oar snapped suddenly, and he went overboard. A shriek from +Pauline and a shout from Otto rose high above the din of raging water, +as the boat broached-to and hurled its remaining occupants into the sea. + +Even in that trying moment Dominick did not lose presence of mind. He +could swim and dive like a water-rat. Pushing towards his brother and +sister, who were heading bravely for the shore, he shouted, "Dig your +fingers and toes deep into the sand, and hold on for life, if--" (he +corrected himself) "_when_ you gain the beach." + +It was well they were forewarned, and that they were constitutionally +obedient. A few minutes later, and they were all swept up high on the +beach in a wilderness of foam. The return of that wilderness was like +the rushing of a millrace. Sand, stones, sticks, and seaweed went back +with it in dire confusion. Prone on their knees, with fingers and toes +fixed, and heads down, the brothers and sister met the rush. It was +almost too much for them. A moment more, and strength as well as breath +would have failed; but the danger passed, and Dominick sprang to his +feet. + +"Up, up! and run!" he shouted, as he caught Pauline round the waist and +dragged her on. Otto needed no help. They were barely in time. The +succeeding wave roared after them as if maddened at having lost its +prey, and the foaming water was up with them, and almost round their +knees, ere its fury was quite spent. + +"Safe!" exclaimed Dominick. + +"Thank God!" murmured Pauline, as she sank exhausted on the sand. + +Otto, who had never seen his sister in such a state before, ran to her, +and, kneeling down, anxiously seized one of her hands. + +"Never fear, lad," said his brother in reassuring tones, "she'll soon +come round. Lend a hand to lift her." + +They bore the fainting girl up the beach, and laid her on a grassy spot +under a bush. And now Dominick was glad to find that he had been +mistaken in supposing that the coral reef was a mere sandbank, destitute +of vegetation. Indeed, before landing, he had observed that there were +a few trees on the highest part of it. He now perceived that there was +quite a little grove of cocoa-nut palms, with a thicket of underwood +around them, which, if not extensive, was at all events comparatively +dense. He pointed out the fact to Otto, who was chafing his sister's +hands. + +"Ay," responded Otto, "and the island on the other side must be a +goodish big one, for I got a glimpse of it through the trees as we came +rushing in on that monstrous wave." + +In a short time Pauline recovered, and Dominick returned to the water's +edge with Otto. + +"Our first care must be," he said, "to save our little boat if we can, +for it is the only means we have of escaping from this island." + +"Escaping!" repeated Otto, in surprise. "I don't want to escape from +it, Dom." + +"Indeed! why not?" + +"Why, because I've dreamed about being cast on a desolate island +hundreds of times, and I've read about Robinson Crusoe, and all the +other Crusoes, and I've longed to be cast on one, and now I am cast on +one, so I don't want to escape. It'll be the greatest fun in the world. +I only hope I won't wake up, as usual, to find that it's all a dream!" + +Dominick laughed (not scornfully, by any means) at the boy's enthusiasm; +nevertheless he had strong sympathy with him, for the period had not +passed so long ago when he himself entertained a very vivid impression +of the romance of such a situation, and he did not trouble his mind +about the stern realities. + +"I sincerely hope it may come up to your expectations, Otto, my boy; +nevertheless we must secure the boat for fishing purposes, even though +we don't try to escape in it." + +"For fishing! why, we have neither hooks nor lines." + +"True, lad; but we have got fingers and brains. It strikes me that we +shall have occasion to use all our powers and possessions if we are not +to starve here, for the reef seems to have very little vegetation on it, +and there is sure to be a lagoon of water on the other side, separating +it from the island beyond." + +"I wonder if there is fresh water on the reef," said Otto, with a very +sudden look of solemnity and pursing of the mouth. + +"You may well ask that. I hope there is. We will go and settle the +point the moment we have secured the boat, if--" + +He stopped, for he saw at that moment that the sea had taken good care +to secure the boat to itself as a plaything. Having dashed it into +small pieces, it was by that time busily engaged in tossing these about +among the foam, now hurling the splinters high upon the shore, anon +sending up long watery tongues to lick them back, and then casting them +under the incoming rollers, to be further reduced into what is usually +styled matchwood. + +There was a small bay close at hand, where the sandy beach was strewn +with rocks, in which the sea appeared to play this game with unusual +vigour. It was a sort of hospital for marine incurables, into which the +sea cast its broken toys when tired of smashing them up, and left them +there to rot. + +Regarding this spot with a thoughtful look, Dominick remarked that the +wreck which lay on the rocks off the tail of the island was by no means +the first that had taken place there. + +"And won't be the last, I fancy," said Otto. + +"Probably not. Indeed, from the appearance of this bay, and the fact +that an ocean current drifted us towards the spot, I should think that +the island is a particularly dangerous one for vessels. But come, we'll +go see how Pina gets on, and then proceed to examine our new home." + +Returning to the place where Pauline had been left, they found the poor +girl wringing the water out of her dress. The news of the fate of the +little boat did not seem to affect her much, she did not fully +appreciate the loss, and was more taken up with the idea of thankfulness +for deliverance from death. + +"May I not go with you?" she asked, on hearing that her brothers were +going to search for water. + +"Certainly. I thought you might perhaps prefer to rest, and dry your +clothes in the sun," replied Dominick. + +"Walking will dry them better," said Pina. "Besides, I have quite +recovered." + +"You're a plucky little woman," said Otto, as they set off. "Isn't it +nice to be here all by ourselves, on a real uninhabited island, quite +fit for Robinson himself? Who knows but we may find Friday in the +bushes!" + +"Wouldn't that spoil it as an uninhabited isle?" + +"A little, but not much." + +"The thicket is too small to contain anything with life, I fear," said +Dominick, whose anxiety as to food and drink prevented his sympathising +much with the small-talk of the other two. "Luckily the weather is +warm," he added, "and we won't require better shelter at present than +the bushes afford, unless a storm comes.--Ho what have we here?--a +path!" + +They had reached the entrance to the thicket, and discovered what +appeared to be an opening into it, made apparently by the hand of man. + +"Nothing more likely," said Pauline. "If so many wrecks have taken +place here--as you seem to think--some of the crews must have landed, +and perhaps lived here." + +"Ay, and died here," returned Dominick, in a grave, low tone, as he +pointed to a skeleton lying on a spot which had once been cleared of +bushes, but so long ago that the vegetation had partially grown up +again. The man whose bleached bones lay before them had evidently +perished many years before. On examination, nothing was found to afford +any information about him, but when they had advanced a dozen yards +further they came upon six little mounds, which showed that a party-- +probably a wrecked crew--had sojourned there for a time, and finally +perished: so far their story was clear enough. One by one they must +have sunk, until the last man had lain down to die and remain unburied. + +Pushing past these sad evidences of former suffering, and feeling that +the same fate might await themselves, they came to a sight which tended +slightly to restore their spirits. It was a pool of water of +considerable size, whether a spring or a rain-pool they could not tell. +Neither did they care at that time, for the sudden feeling of relieved +anxiety was so great, that they ran forward, as if under one impulse, +and, lying down on their breasts, took a long refreshing draught. So +powerful was the influence of this refreshment and discovery on their +spirits that they became totally regardless and forgetful for the moment +about food--all the more that, having so recently had a good meal, they +were not hungry. + +"I was sure we would find water," said Otto, as they continued to +explore the thicket, "and I've no doubt that we shall find yams and +plantains and breadfruits, and--aren't these the sort of things that +grow wild on coral islands, Dom?" + +"Yes, but I fear not on such a little scrap of reef as this. However, +we shall not be quite destitute, for there are cocoa-nuts, you see-- +though not many of them. Come, our prospects are brightening, and as +the sun is beginning to sink, we will look out for a suitable +camping-ground." + +"As far away from the skeleton, please, as possible," said Otto. + +"Surely you don't suppose it can hurt you?" said Pauline. + +"N-no, of course not, but it would be unpleasant to have it for a +bedfellow, you know; so, the further away from it the better." + +As he spoke they emerged from the thicket, at the end opposite to the +spot where they had entered, and had their spirits again powerfully +cheered by coming suddenly into a blaze of sunshine, for the bright orb +of day was descending at that side of the islet, and his red, +resplendent rays were glowing on the reef and on the palm-trees. + +They also came in full view of the islet beyond, which, they now +perceived, was of considerable size, and covered with vegetation, but, +as Dominick had suspected, separated completely from the reef or outer +isle on which they stood by a deep lagoon. + +"Splendid!" exclaimed Pauline. + +"As I feared," muttered Dominick, "and no means of reaching it." + +"Pooh! Didn't Robinson Crusoe make rafts?" said Otto; "at least if he +didn't, somebody else did, and anyhow _we_ can." + +"Come, let us continue our walk," said Dominick. "You don't fully +appreciate the loss of our boat Otto. Don't you see that, even if we do +build a raft, it will at best be a clumsy thing to manage, and heavy to +pull, slow to sail, and bad to steer, and if we should chance to be on +it when a stiff breeze springs up from the land, we should probably be +driven out to sea and lost--or separated, if Pina should chance to have +been left on shore at the time." + +"What a fellow you are, Dom, for supposing chances and difficulties, and +fancying they cannot be overcome," returned Otto, with the pert +self-sufficiency that characterised him. "For my part I rather enjoy +difficulties, because of the fun of overcoming them. Don't you see, we +three can make quite sure of never being separated by never going out on +our raft except together, so that we shall always enjoy ourselves +unitedly, or perish in company. Then we can easily get over the +difficulty of being blown out to sea, by never going on the sea at all, +but confining ourselves entirely to the lagoon, which is large enough +for any reasonable man, and may be larger than we think, for we can't +see the whole of it from where we stand. Then, as to sailing and rowing +slowly, we can overcome these difficulties by not being in a hurry,-- +taking things easy, you know." + +To this Dominick replied that there was one difficulty which his little +brother, with all his wisdom and capacity, would never overcome. + +"And what may that be?" demanded Otto. + +"The difficulty of being unable to talk common-sense." + +"True, Dom, true, that is a great difficulty," retorted the boy, with +deep humility of aspect, "for a man's conversation is greatly affected +by the company he keeps, and with _you_ as my only male companion, I +have not much to hope for in the way of example. But even that may be +got the better of by holding intercourse chiefly with Pina." + +"But what if I refuse to talk?" said Pauline, with a laugh. + +"Then will you be all the more able to listen, sister mine, which is the +most common-sense thing that you can do, except when brother Dom +speaks," said the incorrigible boy. + +They had seated themselves on a bank while thus conversing, and from +their position could see over a considerable portion of the lagoon. +Suddenly Dominick pointed to an object a long way off, which was half +concealed by the shadow of an island. + +"Does it not look like a canoe?" he asked eagerly. + +"Can't make it out at all," said Otto, shading his eyes with his hand. + +"The sun on the water dazzles one so," observed Pauline, "that it is +difficult to look steadily." + +In a few moments the object which had drawn their attention sailed out +from under the shade of the island, and, breaking up into fragments, +rose into the air, proving itself to be a flock of large aquatic birds +which had been swimming in a line. + +"Things are not what they seem," observed Pauline, rising and following +her brothers through a little thicket. + +"What a pity!" exclaimed Otto; "I was in hopes it was a canoeful of +savages. It would be such fun to have a real Friday to be our servant." + +"More likely that our Friday would kill, cook, and eat us if he could," +said Dominick, to the surprise of Otto, who gave it as his opinion that +savages never ate men, and asked if his brother really believed that +they did. + +"Indeed I do. We have it recorded by all the best authorities that +South Sea islanders are given to this horrible practice. There can be +no doubt about it whatever, and the less we see of these fellows in our +present defenceless state the better." + +"How little," said Pauline, "our dear father thought when he wrote for +us to go out to him in his ship, that we should be cast on an unknown +island, and the ship itself go to the bottom!" + +"Little indeed, and as little did poor mother dream of such a fate," +returned Dominick, "when she let us all go so readily, on the +understanding that we should give father no rest until we had got him to +give up business, quit Java for ever, and return home." + +"Dear old mother!" said Pauline, "I wish--oh! I wish so much that we +had not left her, even though it was to be for only a few months. She +must be _so_ lonely, with no one to talk to--" + +"You forget Pina." + +"Forget--what?" + +"The cat," returned Otto, unable to repress a smile, which rose in spite +of the ready tear that dimmed his eye at the mere mention of his mother. +"You know the cat is her great resource--a sort of safety-valve. +Sometimes, when I've been listening to her, lying on the rug at her feet +half asleep, I've heard her talk to that cat as if it really was a human +being, and tell it all about her little affairs and daily troubles and +worries in quite a confidential tone. I've taken it into my head that +that's mother's way of thinking aloud--she thinks at the cat, for +company: and to do the brute justice, it does its best to accommodate +her. I've seen it sit and stare at her by the half-hour at a time, and +give a little purr or a meaiow now and then as if it wanted to speak. +I'm quite sure it thinks, and wonders no doubt what idle, useless work +it is to click knitting-needles together by the hour." + +"Dear me, Otto," said Pauline, with a laugh, "I had no idea that you +could think so much about anything." + +"Think!" exclaimed the boy, indignantly; "d'you suppose that it's only +stern-browed, long-legged fellows like Dom there who can think? Why, I +think, and think, sometimes, to such an extent that I nearly think +myself inside out! But, Pina, you don't know half as much about +motherkin as I do, for when _you_ are with her she usually forgets +_herself_, I can see, and talks only about the things that interest +_you_; whereas, when there's nobody present but _me_, she counts me for +nothing, and lets me do pretty much what I like--because no doubt she +thinks I'll do that whether she lets me or not--but she's wrong, for I +love her far more than she thinks; and then it's when I'm quiet and she +forgets me, I fancy, or thinks I'm asleep, that she comes out strong at +the cat." + +"Darling mother!" said Pauline, musingly. "I can see her now, in my +mind, with her neat black cap and smooth braided hair, and gold +spectacles, as plain as if she were sitting before me." + +"I'm sorry to destroy the vision, Pina, on my own account as well as +yours," observed Dominick, "but it behoves us now to look for a night's +lodging, for the sun is sinking fast, and it would not be pleasant to +lie down on the bare ground shelterless, fine though the climate is. +Come, we will return to the place where we landed, and search for a cave +or a bit of overhanging rock." + +The best sleeping-place that they had up to that time discovered was +undoubtedly the grove in which they had found the graves of the +shipwrecked crew, but, as Otto truly remarked, it would probably result +in uncomfortable dreams if they were to go to sleep in a burying-ground, +alongside of a skeleton. + +Accordingly they returned to the beach, and sought for some time among +the _debris_ of the boat for anything useful that might have been washed +up, but found nothing. Then they went along-shore in the direction of +the wreck which had raised their hopes so high that day when first seen, +but nothing suitable was discovered until they rounded a low point of +rocks, when Pauline came to a sudden pause. + +"Look! a golden cave!" she exclaimed, pointing eagerly to a grassy spot +which was canopied by feathery palms, and half enclosed by coral rocks, +where was a cavern into which the sinking sun streamed at the moment +with wonderful intensity. + +Their home for that night obviously lay before them, but when they +entered it and sat down, their destitution became sadly apparent. No +beds to spread, no food to prepare, nothing whatever to do but lie down +and sleep. + +"No matter, we're neither hungry nor thirsty," said Dominick, with an +air of somewhat forced gaiety, "and our clothes are getting dry. Come, +sister, you must be weary. Lie down at the inner side of the cave, and +Otto and I, like faithful knights, will guard the entrance. I--I wish," +he added, in a graver tone, and with some hesitation, "that we had a +Bible, that we might read a verse or two before lying down." + +"I can help you in that," said his sister, eagerly. "I have a fair +memory, you know, and can repeat a good many verses." + +Pauline repeated the twenty-third Psalm in a low, sweet voice. When she +had finished, a sudden impulse induced Dominick, who had never prayed +aloud before, to utter a brief but fervent prayer and thanksgiving. +Then the three lay down in the cave, and in five minutes were sound +asleep. + +Thus appropriately did these castaways begin their sojourn on a spot +which was destined to be their home for a long time to come. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +EXPLORATIONS AND DISCOVERIES. + +As the sun had bathed the golden cave when our castaways went to sleep, +so it flooded their simple dwelling when they awoke. + +"Then," exclaims the intelligent reader, "the sun must have risen in the +west!" + +By no means, good reader. Whatever man in his wisdom, or weakness, may +do or say, the great luminaries of day and night hold on the even tenor +of their way unchanged. But youth is a wonderful compound of strength, +hope, vitality, carelessness, and free-and-easy oblivion, and, in the +unconscious exercise of the last capacity, Pauline and her brothers had +slept as they lay down, without the slightest motion, all through that +night, all through the gorgeous sunrise of the following morning, all +through the fervid noontide and the declining day, until the setting sun +again turned their resting-place into a cave of gold. + +The effect upon their eyelids was such that they winked, and awoke with +a mighty yawn. We speak advisedly. There were not three separate +awakenings and three distinct yawns; no, the rousing of one caused the +rousing of the others in succession so rapidly that the yawns, +commencing with Pauline's treble, were prolonged, through Otto's tenor +down to Dominick's bass, in one stupendous monotone or slide, which the +last yawner terminated in a groan of contentment. Nature, during the +past few days, had been doubly defrauded, and she, having now partially +repaid herself, allowed her captives to go free with restored vigour. +There was, however, enough of the debt still unpaid to induce a desire +in the captives to return of their own accord to the prison-house of +Oblivion, but the desire was frustrated by Otto, who, sitting up +suddenly and blinking at the sun with owlish gravity, exclaimed-- + +"Well, I never! We've only slept five minutes!" + +"The sun hasn't set _yet_!" + +Dominick, replying with a powerful stretch and another yawn, also raised +himself on one elbow and gazed solemnly in front of him. A gleam of +intelligence suddenly crossed his countenance. + +"Why, boy, when we went to sleep the sun was what you may call six feet +above the horizon; now it is twelve feet if it is an inch, so that if it +be still setting, it must be setting upwards--a phenomenon of which the +records of astronomical research make no mention." + +"But it _is_ setting?" retorted Otto, with a puzzled look, "for I never +heard of your astronomical searchers saying that they'd ever seen the +sun rise in the same place where it sets." + +"True, Otto, and the conclusion I am forced to is that we have slept +right on from sunset to sunset." + +"So, then, we've lost a day," murmured Pauline, who in an attitude of +helpless repose, had been winking with a languid expression at the +luminous subject of discussion. + +"Good morning, Pina," said Dominick. + +"Good evening, you mean," interrupted his brother. "Well, good evening. +It matters little which; how have you slept?" + +"Soundly--oh, so soundly that I don't want to move." + +"Well, then, don't move; I'll rise and get you some breakfast." + +"Supper," interposed Otto. + +"Supper be it; it matters not.--But don't say we've lost a day, sister +mine. As regards time, indeed, we have; but in strength I feel that I +have gained a week or more." + +"Does any one know," said Otto, gazing with a perplexed expression at +the sky--for he had lain back again with his hands under his head--"does +any one know what day it was when we landed?" + +"Thursday, I think," said Dominick. + +"Oh no," exclaimed Pauline; "surely it was Wednesday or Tuesday; but the +anxiety and confusion during the wreck, and our terrible sufferings +afterwards in the little boat, have quite confused my mind on that +point." + +"Well, now, here's a pretty state of things," continued Otto, sleepily; +"we've lost one day, an' we don't agree about three others, and Dom says +he's gained a week! how are we ever to find out when Sunday comes, I +should like to know? There's a puzzler--a reg'lar--puzzl'--puz--" + +A soft snore told that "tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," had +again taken the little fellow captive, and prolonged silence on the part +of the other two proved them to have gone into similar captivity. +Nature had not recovered her debt in full. She was in an exacting mood, +and held them fast during the whole of another night. Then she set them +finally free at sunrise on the following day, when the soft yellow light +streamed on surrounding land and sea, converting their sleeping-place +into a silver cave by contrast. + +There was no languid or yawny awakening on this occasion. Dominick sat +up the instant his eyes opened, then sprang to his feet, and ran out of +the cave. He was followed immediately by Otto and Pauline, the former +declaring with emphasis that he felt himself to be a "new man." + +"Yes, Richard's himself again," said Dominick, as he stretched himself +with the energy of one who rejoices in his strength. "Now, Pina, we've +got a busy day before us. We must find out what our islet contains in +the way of food first, for I am ravenously hungry, and then examine its +other resources. It is very beautiful. One glance suffices to tell us +that. And isn't it pleasant to think that it is all our own?" + +"`The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof,'" said his sister, +softly. + +The youth's gaiety changed into a deeper and nobler feeling. He looked +earnestly at Pauline for a few seconds. + +"Right, Pina, right," he said. "To tell you the truth, I was +half-ashamed of my feelings that time when I broke into involuntary +prayer and thanksgiving. I'm ashamed now of having been ashamed. Come, +sister, you shall read the Word of God from memory, and I will pray +every morning and evening as long as we shall dwell here together." + +That day they wandered about their islet with more of gaiety and +light-heartedness than they would have experienced had they neglected, +first, to give honour to God, who not only gives us all things richly to +enjoy, but also the very capacity for enjoyment. + +But no joy of earth is unmingled. The exploration did not result in +unmitigated satisfaction, as we shall see. + +Their first great object, of course, was breakfast. + +"I can't ask you what you'll have, Pina. Our only dish, at least this +morning," said Dominick, glancing upwards, "is--" + +"Cocoa-nuts," put in Otto. + +Otto was rather fond of "putting in" his word, or, as Dominick expressed +it, "his oar." He was somewhat pert by nature, and not at that time +greatly modified by art. + +"Just so, lad," returned his brother; "and as you have a considerable +spice of the monkey in you, be good enough to climb up one of these +palms, and send down a few nuts." + +To do Otto justice, he was quite as obliging as he was pert; but when he +stood at the foot of the tall palm-tree and looked up at its thick stem, +he hesitated. + +"D'you know, Dom," he said, "it seems to me rather easier to talk about +than to do?" + +"You are not the first who has found that out," returned his brother, +with a laugh. "Now, don't you know how the South Sea islanders get up +the palm-trees?" + +"No; never heard how." + +"Why, I thought your great authority Robinson Crusoe had told you that." + +"Don't think he ever referred to it. Friday may have known how, but if +he did, he kept his knowledge to himself." + +"I wish you two would discuss the literature of that subject some other +time," said Pauline. "I'm almost sinking for want of food. Do be +quick, please." + +Thus urged, Dominick at once took off his neckcloth and showed his +brother how, by tying his feet together with it at a sufficient distance +apart, so as to permit of getting a foot on each side of the tree, the +kerchief would catch on the rough bark, and so form a purchase by which +he could force himself up step by step, as it were, while grasping the +stem with arms and knees. + +Otto was an apt scholar in most things, especially in those that +required activity of body. He soon climbed the tree, and plucked and +threw down half a dozen cocoa-nuts. But when these had been procured, +there still remained a difficulty, for the tough outer husk of the nuts, +nearly two inches thick, could not easily be cut through with a +clasp-knife so as to reach that kernel, or nut, which is ordinarily +presented to English eyes in fruit-shops. + +"We have no axe, so must adopt the only remaining method," said +Dominick. + +Laying a nut on a flat rock, he seized a stone about twice the size of +his own head, and, heaving it aloft, brought it down with all his force +on the nut, which was considerably crushed and broken by the blow. With +perseverance and the vigorous use of a clasp-knife he at last reached +the interior. Thereafter, on cocoa-nut meat and cocoa-nut milk, with a +draught from a pool in the thicket they partook of their first breakfast +on the reef. + +"Now, our first duty is to bury the skeleton," said Dominick, when the +meal was concluded; "our next to examine the land; and our last to visit +the wreck. I think we shall be able to do all this in one day." + +Like many, perhaps we may say most, of man's estimates, Dominick's +calculation was short of the mark, for the reef turned out to be +considerably larger than they had at first supposed. It must be +remembered that they had, up to that time, seen it only from the low +level of the sea, and from that point of view it appeared to be a mere +sandbank with a slight elevation in the centre, which was clothed with +vegetation. But when the highest point of this elevation was gained, +they discovered that it had hidden from their view not only a +considerable stretch of low land which lay behind, but an extensive +continuation of the lagoon, or salt-water lake, in which lay a multitude +of smaller islets of varying shapes, some mere banks of sand, others +with patches of vegetation in their centres, and a few with several +cocoa-nut palms on them, the nucleus, probably, of future palm groves. +A large island formed the background to this lovely picture, and the +irregular coral reef guarded the whole from the violence of the ocean. +In some places this reef rose to a considerable height above the +sea-level. In others, it was so little above it that each falling +breaker almost buried it in foam; but everywhere it was a sufficient +protection to the lagoon, which lay calm and placid within, encircled by +its snowy fringe,--the result of the watery war outside. In one spot +there was a deep entrance into this beautiful haven of peace, and that +chanced to be close to the golden cave, and was about fifty yards wide. +At the extremity of the reef, on the other side of this opening, lay +another elevated spot, similar to their own, though smaller, and with +only a few palms in the centre of it. From the sea this eminence had +appeared to be a continuation of the other, and it was only when they +landed that the Rigondas discovered the separation caused by the channel +leading into the lagoon. + +"Fairyland!" exclaimed Pauline, who could scarcely contain herself with +delight at the marvellous scene of beauty that had so unexpectedly burst +upon their view. + +"Rather a noisy and bustling fairyland too," said Otto, referring to the +numerous sea-birds that inquisitively came to look at them, as well as +to the other waterfowl that went about from isle to isle on whistling +wings. + +The boy spoke jestingly, but it was clear from his heaving chest, +partially-open mouth, and glittering eyes, that his little heart was +stirred to an unwonted depth of emotion. + +"Alas! that we have lost our boat," exclaimed Dominick. + +To this Otto replied by expressing an earnest wish that he were able to +swim as well as a South Sea islander, for in that case he would launch +forth and spend the remainder of that day in visiting all the islands. + +"Yes; and wouldn't it be charming," responded his brother, "to pay your +aquatic visits in such pleasant company as that?" + +He pointed to an object, which was visible at no great distance, moving +about on the surface of the glassy sea with great activity. + +"What creature is that?" asked Pauline. + +"It is not a creature, Pina, only part of a creature." + +"You don't mean to say it's a shark!" cried Otto, with a frown. + +"Indeed it is--the back-fin of one at least--and he must have heard you, +for he seems impatient to join you in your little trip to the islands." + +"I'll put it off to some future day, Dom. But isn't it a pity that such +pretty places should be spoiled by such greedy and cruel monsters?" + +"And yet they _must_ have been made for some good purpose," suggested +Pauline. + +"I rather suspect," said Dominick, "that if game and fish only knew who +shoot and catch them, and afterwards eat them, they might be inclined to +call man greedy and cruel." + +"But we can't help that Dom. We must live, you know." + +"So says or thinks the shark, no doubt, when he swallows a man." + +While the abstruse question, to which the shark had thus given rise, was +being further discussed, the explorers returned to the thicket, where +they buried the skeleton beside the other graves. A close search was +then made for any object that might identify the unfortunates or afford +some clue to their history, but nothing of the sort was found. + +"Strange," muttered Dominick, on leaving the spot after completing their +task. "One would have expected that, with a wrecked ship to fall back +upon, they would have left behind them evidences of some sort-- +implements, or books, or empty beef-casks,--but there is literally +nothing." + +"Perhaps," suggested Pauline, "the men did not belong to this wreck. +They may have landed as we have done out of a small boat, and the vessel +we now see may have been driven here after they were dead." + +"True, Pina, it may have been so. However, the matter must remain a +mystery for the present. Meanwhile we will go and explore the low land +behind our reef." + +"Isn't it strange, Dom, that we should become landed proprietors in this +fashion?" remarked Otto, as they walked along. + +"And that, too," added Pauline, "at a time when our hopes were lowest +and our case most desperate." + +"'Tis a magnificent estate," said Dominick, "of which we will constitute +Pina the Queen, myself the Prime Minister, and Otto the army." + +To this Otto objected that, as it was the business of an army to defend +the people and keep them in order, there was no use for an army, seeing +that there were no people; but Dominick replied that a queen and prime +minister formed part of a people, and that an army was required to +defend _them_. + +"To keep them in order, you should say," retorted Otto, "for that will +clearly be my chief duty if I accept the situation. Well, I've no +objection, on the whole, to be an army; but, please, remember that in +time of peace an army is expected to do no laborious work, and that at +all times it is clothed and fed by the State. Now, Queen Pina the +First, what would your Majesty wish the army to do?" + +"Go forth and subdue the land," replied Pina the First, promptly, with +quite a regal sweep of her hand towards the low ground and the lagoon +beyond. + +"Will your Majesty deign to instruct me how I am to begin?" + +The Queen hesitated. She was rather puzzled, as rulers sometimes are +when required to tackle details. + +"May it please your Majesty," said Dominick, coming to the rescue like a +true premier, "it is the chief duty of a prime minister to advise his +sovereign. If it be your pleasure, I would recommend that the army +should be sent down into yonder clump of reeds to ascertain what revenue +is to be derived from the inhabitants thereof in the shape of wildfowl, +eggs, etcetera, while I visit the shore of the lagoon to ascertain the +prospects of supply, in the form of shellfish, from that quarter. +Meanwhile, I would further advise your Majesty to sit down on this coral +throne, and enjoy the contemplation of your kingdom till we return." + +With a dignified bow and a little laugh Queen Pina assented, and the +Prime Minister went off to the shore, while the army defiled towards the +marsh. + +Left alone, Pina the First soon forgot her royal condition in +contemplation of the lovely prospect before her. As she gazed over the +sand, and across the lagoon, and out on the gleaming sea, her thoughts +assumed the wings of the morning and flew away over the mighty ocean to +old England. Sadness filled her heart, and tears her eyes, as she +thought of a mild little mother who had, since the departure of her +three children, been reduced for companionship to a huge household cat, +and who would ere long be wondering why letters were so long of coming +from the dear ones who had left her. + +Pauline had a vivid imagination and great power of mental abstraction. +She summoned up the image of the little mother so successfully that she +felt as if she actually saw her knitting her socks, sadly, with her head +on one side. She even heard her address the cat (she was accustomed to +address the cat when alone), and express a hope that in the course of a +month or six weeks more she might expect to have news of the absent +ones. And Pauline almost saw the household cat, which occupied its +usual place on the table at the old lady's elbow, blink its eyes with +sympathy--or indifference, she could not be quite sure which. Then +Pauline's wayward thoughts took a sudden flight to the island of Java, +in the China seas, where she beheld a bald little old gentleman--a +merchant and a shipowner--who was also her father, and who sat reading a +newspaper in his office, and was wondering why his good ship _Flying +Fish_--which was bringing his children to him besides a quantity of +other goods--did not make its appearance, and she plainly saw the look +of disappointment as he threw the paper down, exclaiming, "Odd, very +odd, but she _must_ turn up soon." + +Pauline saw nothing more after that for some time, because her eyes were +blinded with tears. + +Then Queen Pina cheered up again, for she thought that surely a ship +would soon pass the island and take them off. As this last thought +became more definite (for Pina was very young and hopeful) her eyes +dried and permitted her to observe her kingdom more clearly. + +The Prime Minister, she observed, was still busy on the shore, and, from +his frequently stooping to pick up something, she argued that the +affairs of State in that quarter were prospering. + +Presently, from the midst of a mass of reeds not far off, there arose a +shout, easily recognisable as that of the army, which was followed by +cries of a stupendous, yet extremely familiar, kind. Pauline started up +in considerable haste, and a moment later beheld the chief authors of +the noise burst from the clump of reeds in the form of a large sow and a +troop of little pigs. + +They were evidently in a state of wild alarm, for, besides squealing +with a degree of intensity possible only to pigs, they ran in such +furious haste that they stumbled over sticks and stones in reckless +confusion, scrambling to their feet again in such a hurry as to ensure +repeated falls, and, generally, twirling themselves and their tails in a +manner that was consistent with nothing short of raving madness. + +Little wonder that those creatures acted thus, for, close on their +heels, gasping and glaring, the army burst forth and fell on them-- +literally fell on one of them, for Otto in his anxiety to catch the +hindmost pig, a remarkably small but active animal, tripped over a root +just as he was about to lay hold of its little tail, and fell on the top +of it with fearful violence. The mechanical pressure, combining with +the creature's spiritual efforts, produced a sudden yell that threw the +cries of its companions quite into the shade. It might have sufficed to +blow Otto into the air. Indeed, it seemed as if some such result +actually followed, for, after turning a complete somersault, the boy was +on his feet again as if by magic; but so also was the little pig, which, +being thus forcibly separated from its family, turned aside and made for +the main thicket. To cut off its retreat, the army made a sudden flank +movement, headed the enemy, grasped it by the curly tail, and sought to +lift it into his arms, but the curly tail straightened out, and, being +exceedingly thin as well as taper, slipped from his hand. Need we say +that the little pig came to the ground with a remonstrative squeal? It +also rolled over. Otto, unable to check himself, flew past. The pig +rose, diverged, and resumed its headlong flight. Otto doubled, came +close up again, "stooped to conquer," and was on the point of coming off +victorious, when, with a final shriek of mingled rage and joy, the enemy +rushed through a hole under a prickly bush, while the discomfited army +plunged headlong into the same, and stuck fast. + +Meanwhile the rest of the porcine family had found refuge in an almost +impenetrable part of the thicket. + +"Pork, your Majesty," said Otto, on returning from the field of battle, +"may at all events be counted as one of the products of your dominions." + +"Truly it would seem so," responded the Queen, with a laugh; +"nevertheless there does not appear to be much hope of its forming a +source of supply to the royal larder." + +"Time will show," said Dominick, coming up at the moment; "and see, here +are several kinds of shellfish, which will form a pleasant addition to +our fare." + +"Ay, and I saw eggs among the reeds," said Otto, "some of which--" + +"Not pigs' eggs, surely?" interrupted Dominick. + +"They may be so," retorted Otto; "the fact that English pigs don't lay +eggs, is no argument against South Sea pigs doing so, if they choose. +But, as I was about to say, your Majesty, when the Premier interrupted +me--some of these eggs I gathered, and would have presented them as an +offering from the army, if I had not fallen and crushed them beyond +repair." + +In corroboration of what he said, Otto opened his coat pocket and +revealed in its depths a mass of yellow substance, and broken shells. + +"Horrible!" exclaimed Pauline; "how will you ever get it cleaned?" + +"By turning it inside out--thus, most gracious Queen." + +He reversed the pocket as he spoke, allowing the yellow compound to drip +on the ground, and thereafter wiped it with grass. + +"I wouldn't have minded this loss so much," he continued, "if I had not +lost that little pig. But I shall know him again when I see him, and +you may depend on it that he is destined ere long to be turned into pork +chops." + +"Well, then, on the strength of that hope we will continue the survey of +our possessions," said Dominick, leading the party still further into +the low grounds. + +For some time the trio wandered about without making any further +discoveries of importance until they came to a thicket, somewhat similar +to the one near which they had been cast on shore, but much smaller. On +entering it they were startled by a loud cackling noise, accompanied by +the whirring of wings. + +"Sounds marvellously like domestic fowls," said Dominick, as he pushed +forward. And such it turned out to be, for, on reaching an open glade +in the thicket, they beheld a large flock of hens running on ahead of +them, with a splendid cock bringing up the rear, which turned +occasionally to cast an indignant look at the intruders. + +"That accounts for your eggs, Otto," observed Pauline. + +"Yes, and here are more of them," said the boy, pointing to a nest with +half a dozen eggs in it, which he immediately proceeded to gather. + +"It is quite evident to me," remarked Dominick, as they continued to +advance, "that both the pigs and fowls must have been landed from the +wreck that lies on the shore, and that, after the death of the poor +fellows who escaped the sea, they went wild. Probably they have +multiplied, and we may find the land well stocked." + +"I hope so. Perhaps we may find some more traces of the shipwrecked +crew," suggested Pauline. + +Their expectations were not disappointed, for, on returning in the +evening from their tour of exploration, they came on a partially cleared +place in the thicket beside the golden cave, which had evidently been +used as a garden. In the midst of a mass of luxuriant undergrowth, +which almost smothered them, vegetables of various kinds were found +growing--among others the sweet potato. + +Gathering some of these, Otto declared joyfully that he meant to have a +royal feast that night, but a difficulty which none of them had thought +of had to be faced and overcome before that feast could be enjoyed. It +was just as they arrived at the golden cave that this difficulty +presented itself to their minds. + +"Dom," said Otto, with a solemn look, "how are we to make a fire?" + +"By kindling it, of course." + +"Yes, but, you stupid Premier, where are we to find a light?" + +"To tell you the truth, my boy," returned Dominick, "I never thought of +that till this moment, and I can't very well see my way out of the +difficulty." + +Pauline, to whom the brothers now looked, shook her head. Never before, +she said, had she occasion to trouble her brain about a light. When she +wanted one in England, all she had to do was to call for one, or strike +a match. What was to be done in their present circumstances she had not +the smallest conception. + +"I'll tell you what," said Otto, after several suggestions had been made +and rejected, "this is how we'll do it. We will gather a lot of dry +grass and dead sticks and build them up into a pile with logs around it, +then Pina will sit down and gaze steadily at the heart of the pile for +some minutes with her great, brown, sparkling eyes she should be able to +kindle a flame in the heart of almost anything in five minutes--or, say +ten, at the outside, eh?" + +"I should think," retorted the Queen, "that your fiery spirit or +flashing wit might accomplish the feat in a shorter time." + +"It seems to me," remarked Dominick, who had been thinking too hard to +pay much regard to these pleasantries, "that if we live long here we +shall have to begin life over again--not our own lives, exactly, but the +world's life. We shall have to invent everything anew for ourselves; +discover new methods of performing old familiar work, and, generally, +exercise our ingenuity to the uttermost." + +"That may be quite true, you philosophic Premier," returned Otto, "but +it does not light our fire, or roast that old hen which you brought down +with a stone so cleverly to-day. Come, now, let us exercise our +ingenuity a little more to the purpose, if possible." + +"If we had only some tinder," said Dominick, "we could find flint, I +dare say, or some hard kind of stone from which fire could be struck +with the back of a clasp-knife, but I have seen nothing like tinder +to-day. I've heard that burnt rag makes capital tinder. If so, a bit +of Pina's dress might do, but we can't burn it without fire." + +For a considerable time the trio sought to devise some means of +procuring fire, but without success, and they were at last fain to +content themselves with another cold supper of cocoa-nut and water, +after which, being rather tired, they went to rest as on the previous +night. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +DIFFICULTIES MET AND OVERCOME. + +The next day Pauline and her brothers visited the wreck, and here new +difficulties met them, for although the vessel lay hard and fast on the +rocks, there was a belt of water between it and the main shore, which +was not only broad, but deep. + +"I can easily swim it," said Dominick, beginning to pull off his coat. + +"Dom," said Otto, solemnly, "sharks!" + +"That's true, my boy, I won't risk it." + +He put his coat on again, and turned to look for some drift-wood with +which to make a raft. + +"There's sure to be some lying about, you know," he said, "for a wreck +could hardly take place without something or other in the way of spars +or wreckage being washed ashore." + +"But don't you think," suggested Otto, "that the men whose graves we +have found may have used it all up?" + +Otto was right. Not a scrap of timber or cordage of any kind was to be +found after a most diligent search, and they were about to give it up in +despair, when Pauline remembered the bay where they had been cast +ashore, and which we have described as being filled with wreckage. + +In truth, this bay and the reef with its group of islands lay right in +the track of one of those great ocean currents which, as the reader +probably knows, are caused by the constant circulation of all the waters +of the sea between the equator and the poles. This grand and continuous +flow is caused by difference of temperature and density in sea-water at +different places. At the equator the water is warm, at the poles it is +cold. This alone would suffice to cause circulation--somewhat as water +circulates in a boiling pot--but other active agents are at work. The +Arctic and Antarctic snows freshen the sea-water as well as cool it, +while equatorial heat evaporates as well as warms it, and thus leaves a +superabundance of salt and lime behind. The grand ocean current thus +caused is broken up into smaller streams, and the courses of these are +fixed by the conformation of land--just as a river's flow is turned +right or left, and sometimes backward in eddies, by the form of its +banks and bottom. Trade winds, and the earth's motion on its axis, +still further modify the streams, both as to direction and force. + +It was one of those currents, then, which flowed past the reef and +sometimes cast vessels and wreckage on its shores. + +Hastening to the bay, they accordingly found enough of broken spars and +planks, to have made half a dozen rafts, twice the size of that required +to go off with to the wreck; so to work they went at once with eager +enthusiasm. + +"Hold on!" shouted Dominick, after a few spars had been collected and +dragged up on the sand. + +Otto and Pauline paused in their labour, and looked anxiously at their +brother, for his face wore a perplexed look. + +"We have forgotten that it is impossible to shove a raft of any size, +big or little, through these huge breakers, so as to get it round the +point, to where the wreck lies." + +"Well, then," cried Otto, with the ready assurance of ignorance, "we'll +just drag it overland to the wreck, and launch it there." + +"But, Otto, you have not taken into consideration the fact that our raft +must be so large that, when finished, the dragging of it over rough +ground would require three or four horses instead of three human +beings." + +"Well, then," returned the boy, "we'll make it small, just big enough to +carry one person, and then we'll be able to drag it overland, and can go +off to the wreck one at a time." + +"Now, just think, brainless one," retorted Dominick; "suppose that I +were to go off first to the wreck, what then?" + +"Why, then _I_ would go off next of course, and then Pina would follow, +and so we'd all get on board one at a time, and explore it together." + +"Yes; but what would you come off on?" + +"The raft, to be sure." + +"But the raft, I have supposed, is with me at the wreck. It won't go +back to the shore of its own accord to fetch you, and we have no ropes +with which to haul it to and fro." + +"Then there's nothing for it," said Otto, after a few moments' thought, +"but to make it big enough for two, or carry over the broken spars and +planks piecemeal, and put them together opposite the wreck; so, come +along." + +This latter plan being adopted, they set to work with energy. To their +joy they found not only that a good deal of cordage--somewhat worn, +indeed, but still serviceable--was mingled with the wreckage, but that +many large protruding bolts and rusty nails formed convenient holdfasts, +which facilitated the building up and fastening together of the parts. + +At last, after considerable labour, the raft was got ready early in the +afternoon, and the brothers, embarking on it with two long poles, pushed +off to the wreck while Pauline sat on the shore and watched them. + +It was an anxious moment when they drew near enough to observe the +vessel more distinctly, for it was just possible that they might find in +her hold a supply of food and things they stood so much in need of, +while, on the other hand, there was a strong probability that everything +had been washed out of her long ago, or that her former crew had taken +out all that was worth removing. + +"What if we should find casks of biscuits and barrels of pork, to say +nothing of tea and sugar, and such like?" murmured the sanguine Otto, as +they poled slowly out. + +"And what if we should find nothing at all?" said Dominick. + +"O Dom!" exclaimed Otto, in a voice so despairing that his companion +turned to look at him in surprise. "Look! see! the ship has been on +fire! It can only be the mere skeleton that is left." + +Dominick turned quickly, and saw that his brother had reason for this +remark. They had by that time approached so near to the wreck that the +charred condition of part of her bulwarks, and specially of her lower +spars, became obvious; and when, a few minutes later, they stood on the +deck, the scene that presented itself was one of black desolation. +Evidently the ill-fated vessel had been enveloped in flames, for +everything on board was charred, and it was almost certain that her crew +had run her on the rocks as the only method of escaping, her boats +having been totally destroyed, as was apparent from the small portions +of them that still hung from the davits. + +"Nothing left!" said Otto. "I think that Robinson Crusoe himself would +have given way to despair if _his_ wreck had been anything like this. I +wonder that even this much of it has been left above water after fire +had got hold of it." + +"Perhaps the hull sank after the first crash on the rocks, and put out +the fire," suggested Dominick, "and then subsequent gales may have +driven her higher up. Even now her stern lies pretty deep, and +everything in her hold has been washed away." + +There could be no doubt as to the latter point, for the deck had been +blown up, probably by gunpowder, near the main-hatch, leaving a great +hole, through which the hold could be seen almost as far as the bulkhead +of the forecastle. + +Hastening forward to the hatchway of this part of the vessel, in the +feeble hope that they might still find something that would be of use, +they descended quickly, but the first glance round quenched such a hope, +for the fire had done its work there effectually, and, besides, there +were obvious indications that, what the fire had spared, her crew had +carried away. The only things left of any value were the charred +remnants of the hammocks and bedding which had belonged to the sailors. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Otto, with a sudden burst of joy, as he leaped forward +and dragged out a quantity of the bedding; "here's what'll make fire at +last! You said, Dom, that burnt rag was capital tinder. Well, here we +have burnt sheets enough to last us for years to come!" + +"That's true," returned Dominick, laughing at his brother's enthusiasm; +"let's go aft and see if we can stumble on something more." + +But the examination of the after part of the vessel yielded no fruit. +As we have said, that part was sunk deeply, so that only the cabin +skylight was above water, and, although they both gazed intently down +through the water with which the cabin was filled, they could see +nothing whatever. With a boat-hook which they found jammed in the port +bulwarks, they poked and groped about for a considerable time, but +hooked nothing, and were finally obliged to return empty-handed to the +anxious Pauline. + +Otto did not neglect, however, to carry off a pocketful of +burnt-sheeting, by means of which, with flint and steel, they were +enabled that night to eat their supper by the blaze of a cheering fire. +The human heart when young, does not quickly or easily give way to +despondency. Although the Rigondas had thus been cast on an island in +the equatorial seas, and continued week after week to dwell there, +living on wild fruits and eggs, and such animals and birds as they +managed to snare, with no better shelter than a rocky cavern, and with +little prospect of a speedy release, they did not by any means mourn +over their lot. + +"You see," remarked Otto, one evening when his sister wondered, with a +sigh, whether their mother had yet begun to feel very anxious about +them, "you see, she could not have expected to hear much before this +time, for the voyage to Eastern seas is always a long one, and it is +well known that vessels often get blown far out of their courses by +monsoons, and simoons, and baboons, and such like southern hurricanes, +so motherkins won't begin to grow anxious, I hope, for a long time yet, +and it's likely that before she becomes _very_ uneasy about us, some +ship or other will pass close enough to see our signals and take us off +so--" + +"By the way," interrupted Dominick, "have you tried to climb our +signal-tree, as you said you would do, to replace the flag that was +blown away by last night's gale?" + +"Of course not. There's no hurry, Dom," answered Otto, who, if truth +must be told, was not very anxious to escape too soon from his present +romantic position, and thought that it would be time enough to attract +the attention of any passing vessel when they grew tired of their +solitude. "Besides," he continued, with that tendency to self-defence +which is so natural to fallen humanity, "I'm not a squirrel to run up +the straight stem of a branchless tree, fifty feet high or more." + +"No, my boy, you're not a squirrel, but, as I have often told you, you +are a monkey--at least, monkey enough to accomplish your ends when you +have a mind to." + +"Now, really you are too hard," returned Otto, who was busily employed +as he spoke in boring a hole through a cocoa-nut to get at the milk, +"you know very well that the branch of the neighbouring tree by which we +managed to reach the branches of the signal-tree has been blown away, so +that the thing is impossible, for the stem is far too big to be climbed +in the same way as I get up the cocoa-nut trees." + +"That has nothing to do with the question," retorted Dominick, "you +_said_ you would try." + +Otto looked with an injured expression at his sister and asked what she +thought of a man being required to attempt impossibilities. + +"Not a man--a monkey," interjected his brother. + +"Whether man or monkey," said Pauline, in her quiet but decided way, "if +you promised to attempt the thing, you are bound to try." + +"Well, then, I will try, and here, I drink success to the trial." Otto +applied the cocoa-nut to his lips, and took a long pull. "Come along, +now, the sooner I prove the impossibility the better." + +Rising at once, with an injured expression, the boy led the way towards +a little eminence close at hand, on the top of which grew a few trees of +various kinds, the tallest of these being the signal-tree, to which +Dominick had fixed one of the half-burnt pieces of sheeting, brought +from the wreck. The stem was perfectly straight and seemingly smooth, +and as they stood at its foot gazing up to the fluttering little piece +of rag that still adhered to it, the impossibility of the ascent became +indeed very obvious. + +"Now, sir, are you convinced?" said Otto. + +"No, sir, I am not convinced," returned Dominick. + +"You said you would try." + +Without another word Otto grasped the stem of the tree with arms and +legs, and did his best to ascend it. He had, in truth, so much of the +monkey in him, and was so wiry and tough, that he succeeded in getting +up full twelve or fourteen feet before being utterly exhausted. At that +point, however, he stuck, but instead of slipping down as he had +intended, and again requesting to know whether his brother was +convinced, he uttered a sharp cry, and shouted-- + +"Oh! I say, Dom, what am I to do?" + +"Why, slip down, of course." + +"But I can't. The bark seems to be made of needle-joints, all sticking +upwards. If I try to slip, my trousers vill remain behind, and--and--I +can't hold on much longer!" + +"Let go then, and drop," said Dominick, stepping close to the tree. + +"Oh no, don't!" cried Pauline, with a little shriek; "if you do you'll-- +you'll--" + +"Bust! Yes, I know I shall," shouted Otto, in despair. + +"No fear," cried Dominick, holding out his arms, "let go, I'll cat--" + +He was stopped abruptly by receiving a shock from his little brother +which sent him sprawling on his back. He sprang up, however, with a +gasp. + +"Why, boy, I had no idea you were so heavy," he exclaimed, laughing. + +"Now, don't you go boasting in future, you prime minister, that I can't +knock you down," said Otto, as he gathered himself up. "But I say, +you're not hurt, are you?" he added, with a look of concern, while +Pauline seized one of Dominick's hands and echoed the question. + +"Not in the least--only a little wind knocked out of me. Moreover, I'm +not yet convinced that the ascent of that tree is an impossibility." + +"You'll have to do it yourself, then," said Otto; "and let me warn you +beforehand that, though I'm very grateful to you, I won't stand under to +catch you." + +"Was it not you who said the other night at supper that whatever a +fellow resolved to do he could accomplish, and added that, where there's +a will, there's a way?" + +"I rather think it was you, Dom, who gave expression to those boastful +sentiments." + +"It may be so. At all events I hold them. Come, now, lend a hand and +help me. The work will take some time, as we have no other implements +than our gully-knives, but we'll manage it somehow." + +"Can I not help you?" asked Pauline. + +"Of course you can. Sit down on the bank here, and I'll give you +something to do presently." + +Dominick went, as he spoke, to a small tree, the bark of which was long, +tough, and stringy. Cutting off a quantity of this, he took it to his +sister, and showed her how to twist some of it into stout cordage. +Leaving her busily at work on this, he went down to the nearest bamboo +thicket and cut a stout cane. It took some time to cut, for the bamboo +was hard and the knife small for such work. From the end of the cane he +cut off a piece about a foot in length. + +"Now, Otto, my boy, you split that into four pieces, and sharpen the end +of each piece, while I cut off another foot of the bamboo." + +"But what are you going to do with these bits of stick?" asked Otto, as +he went to work with a will. + +"You shall see. No use in wasting time with explanations just now. I +read of the plan in a book of travels. There's nothing like a good book +of travels to put one up to numerous dodges." + +"I'm not so sure o' that," objected the boy. "I have read _Robinson +Crusoe_ over and over, and over again, and I don't recollect reading of +his having made use of pegs to climb trees with." + +"Your memory may be at fault, perhaps. Besides, Robinson's is not the +only book of travels in the world," returned Dominick, as he hacked away +at the stout bamboo. + +"No; but it is certainly the best," returned Otto, with enthusiasm, "and +I mean to imitate its hero." + +"Don't do that, my boy," said Dominick; "whatever you do, don't imitate. +Act well the part allotted to you, whatever it may be, according to the +promptings of your own particular nature; but don't imitate." + +"Humph! I won't be guided by your wise notions, Mr Premier. All I +know is, that I wish my clothes would wear out faster, so that I might +dress myself in skins of some sort. I would have made an umbrella by +this time, but it never seems to rain in this country." + +"Ha! Wait till the rainy season comes round, and you'll have more than +enough of it. Come, we've got enough of pegs to begin with. Go into +the thicket now; cut some of the longest bamboos you can find, and bring +them to me; six or eight will do--slender ones, about twice the +thickness of my thumb at the ground." + +While Otto was engaged in obeying this order, his brother returned to +the signal-tree. + +"Well done, Pina," he said; "you've made some capital cordage." + +"What are you going to do now, brother?" + +"You shall see," said Dominick, picking up a heavy stone to use as a +hammer, with which he drove one of the hard, sharp pegs into the tree, +at about three feet from the ground. We have said the peg was a foot +long. As he fixed it in the tree about three inches deep, nine inches +of it projected. On this he placed his foot and raised himself to test +its strength. It bore his weight well. Above this first peg he fixed a +second, three feet or so higher, and then a third about level with his +face. + +"Ah! I see," exclaimed Otto, coming up at that moment with several long +bamboos. "But, man, don't you see that if one of these pegs should give +way while you're driving those above it, down you come by the run, and, +if you should be high up at the time, death will be probable--lameness +for life, certain." + +Dominick did not condescend to answer this remark, but, taking one of +the bamboos, stood it up close to the tree, not touching, but a few +inches from the trunk, and bound it firmly with the cord to the three +pegs. Thus he had the first three rounds or rungs of an upright ladder, +one side of which was the tree, the other the bamboo. Mounting the +second of these rungs he drove in a fourth peg, and fastened the bamboo +to it in the same way, and then, taking another step, he fixed a fifth +peg. Thus, step by step, he mounted till he had reached between fifteen +and twenty feet from the ground, where the upright bamboo becoming too +slender, another was called for and handed up by Otto. This was lashed +to the first bamboo, as well as to three of the highest pegs, and the +operation was continued. When the thin part of the second long bamboo +was reached, a third was added; and so the work progressed until the +ladder was completed, and the lower branches of the tree were gained. + +Long before that point, however, Otto begged to be allowed to continue +and finish the work, which his brother agreed to, and, finally, the +signal flag was renewed, by the greater part of an old hammock being +lashed to the top of the tree. + +But weeks and months passed away, and the flag continued to fly without +attracting the attention of any one more important, or more powerful to +deliver them, than the albatross and the wild sea-mew. + +During this period the ingenuity and inventive powers of the party were +taxed severely, for, being utterly destitute of tools of any kind, with +the exception of the gully-knives before mentioned, they found it +extremely difficult to fashion any sort of implement. + +"If we had only an axe or a saw," said Otto one morning, with a groan of +despair, "what a difference it would make." + +"Isn't there a proverb," said Pauline, who at the time was busy making +cordage while Otto was breaking sticks for the fire, "which says that we +never know our mercies till we lose them?" + +"Perhaps there is," said Otto, "and if there isn't, I don't care. I +don't like proverbs, they always tell you in an owlishly wise sort o' +way what you know only too well, at a time when you'd rather not know it +if possible. Now, if we only had an axe--ever so small--I would be able +to fell trees and cut 'em up into big logs, instead of spending hours +every day searching for dead branches and breaking them across my knee. +It's not a pleasant branch of our business, I can tell you." + +"But you have the variety of hunting," said his sister, "and that, you +know, is an agreeable as well as useful branch." + +"Humph! It's not so agreeable as I used to think it would be, when one +has to run after creatures that run faster than one's-self, and one is +obliged to use wooden spears, and slings, instead of guns. By the way, +what a surprising, I may say awful, effect a well-slung stone has on the +side of a little pig! I came upon a herd yesterday in the cane-brake, +and, before they could get away, I slung a big stone at them, which +caught the smallest of the squeakers fair in the side. The sudden +squeal that followed the slap was so intense, that I thought the life +had gone out of the creature in one agonising gush; but it hadn't, so I +slung another stone, which took it in the head and dropt it." + +"Poor thing! I wonder how you can be so cruel." + +"Cruel!" exclaimed Otto, "I don't do it for pleasure, do I? Pigs and +other things have got to be killed if we are to live." + +"Well, I suppose so," returned Pauline, with a sigh; "at all events it +would never do to roast and eat them alive. But, about the axe. Is +there no iron-work in the wreck that might be fashioned into one?" + +"Oh yes, sister dear," returned Otto, with a short laugh, "there's +plenty of iron-work. Some crowbars and ringbolts, and an anchor or two; +but do you suppose that I can slice off a bit of an anchor in the shape +of an axe as you slice a loaf?" + +"Well no, not exactly, but I thought there might be some small flat +pieces that could be made to do." + +"What is your difficulty," asked Dominick, returning from a hunting +expedition at that moment, and flinging down three brace of fowls on the +floor of the golden cave. + +When the difficulty was stated, he remarked that he had often pondered +the matter while lying awake at night, and when wandering in the woods; +and he had come to the conclusion that they must return to what was +termed the stone period of history, and make their axes of flint. + +Otto shook his head, and thought Pina's idea of searching the wreck till +they found a piece of flat metal was a more hopeful scheme. + +"What do you say to trying both plans?" cried Pauline, with sudden +animation. "Come, as you have voluntarily elected me queen of this +realm, I command you, Sir Dominick, to make a flint axe without delay, +and you, Sir Otto, to make an iron one without loss of time." + +"Your majesty shall be obeyed," replied her obedient subjects, and to +work they went accordingly, the very next morning. + +Dominick searched far and near for a flint large enough for his purpose. +He found several, and tried to split them by laying them on a flat +stone, upheaving another stone as large as he could lift, and hurling it +down on them with all his might. Sometimes the flint would fly from +under the stone without being broken, sometimes it would be crushed to +fragments, and at other times would split in a manner that rendered it +quite unsuitable. At last, however, by patient perseverance, he +succeeded in splitting one so that an edge of it was thin and sharp, +while the other end was thick and blunt. + +Delighted with this success, he immediately cut with his knife, a branch +of one of the hardest trees he could find, and formed it into an +axe-handle. Some of Pauline's cord he tied round the middle of this, +and then split it at one end, using his flint for the purpose, and a +stone for a hammer. The split extended only as far as the cord, and he +forced it open by means of little stones as wedges until it was wide +enough to admit the thick end of his flint axe-head. Using a piece of +soft stone as a pencil, he now marked the form of the flint, where it +touched the wood, exactly, and worked at this with his knife, as +patiently as a Chinaman, for several hours, until the wood fitted the +irregularities and indentations of the flint to a nicety. This of +itself caused the wood to hold the flint-head very firmly. Then the +wedges were removed, and when the handle was bound all round the split +part with cord, and the flint-head enveloped in the same, the whole +thing became like a solid mass. + +Gingerly and anxiously did Dominick apply it to a tree. To his joy his +axe caused the chips to fly in all directions. He soon stopped, +however, for fear of breaking it, and set off in triumph to the golden +cave. + +Meanwhile Otto, launching the raft, went on board the wreck to search +for a suitable bit of iron. As he had said, there was plenty on board, +but none of the size or shape that he required, and he was about to quit +in despair when he observed the flat iron plates, about five inches +square and quarter of an inch thick, with a large hole in the centre of +each, which formed the sockets that held the davits for suspending the +ship's boats. A crowbar enabled him, after much trouble, to wrench off +one of these. A handspike was, after some hours' labour, converted into +a handle with one side cut flat. Laying the plate on this, he marked +its exact size, and then cut away the wood until the iron sank its own +thickness into it. There were plenty of nails in the wreck; with these +he nailed the iron, through its own nail-holes, to the hard handspike, +and, still further to secure it, he covered it with a little piece of +flat wood, which he bound firmly on with some cordage made by his sister +from cocoa-nut fibre. As the iron projected on both sides of the +handle, it thus formed a double-edged axe of the most formidable +appearance. Of course the edges required grinding down, but this was a +mere matter of detail, to be accomplished by prolonged and patient +rubbing on a stone! + +Otto arrived triumphantly at the golden cave almost at the same moment +with his brother, and they both laid their axes at the feet of the +queen. + +"Thanks, my trusty vassals," she said; "I knew you would both succeed, +and had prepared a royal feast against your return." + +"To which I have brought a royal appetite, your majesty," said Otto. + +"In truth so have I," added Dominick. + +There was a good deal of jesting in all this; nevertheless the trio sat +down to supper that night highly pleased with themselves. While eating, +they discussed, with much animation, the merits of the axes, and +experienced no little difficulty in deciding which was the better tool. +At last Pauline settled the matter by declaring that the iron axe, being +the strongest, was, perhaps, the best; but as it was not yet sharpened, +while Dominick's was ready for immediate use, the flint axe was in +present circumstances better. + +"So then, being equal," said Otto, "and having had a splendid supper, we +will retire to rest." + +Thus, in devising means for increasing their comforts, and supplying +their daily necessities, the days and weeks flew swiftly by. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +STIRRING EVENTS AND CHANGES. + +An event was now pending over the castaway family which was destined to +darken their bright sky, and interrupt them in the even tenor of their +way. + +Up to this time the interest, not to say delight, with which they went +about their daily avocations, the fineness of the weather, and the +romance of their situation, had prevented their minds from dwelling much +on the flight of time, and if Pauline had not remembered the Sundays by +conscientiously keeping a daily record with a pencil on a piece of bark, +not one of them would have believed it possible that two months had +elapsed since they were cast ashore. + +The sanguine hope, too, which filled the breast of each, that a vessel +would certainly pass by sooner or later and take them off, prevented +their being disturbed by gloomy anticipations of a long exile, and it is +probable that they would have gone on pleasantly for a much longer time, +improving the golden cave, and exploring the reef, and developing the +resources of what Otto styled the Queendom, without much caring about +the future, had not the event above referred to come upon them with the +sudden violence of a thunder-clap, terminating their peaceful life in a +way they had never anticipated, and leading to changes which the wildest +imagination could hardly have conceived. + +That event was, indeed, the arrival of a ship, but it did not arrive in +the manner that had been expected. It came in the dead of a dark night, +when the elements seemed to have declared fierce war against each other, +for it was difficult to say whether the roaring of the sea, the crashing +of the thunder, or the flashing of the forked lightning was most +tremendous. + +A previous storm or two, of a mild type, having warned our trio that +Paradise had not been quite regained, even in that lovely region, they +had fitted something like a front, formed of wreckage, to the golden +cave, and this had, up to that time, formed a sufficient protection +against slight inclemencies of weather; but on this particular night the +gusts of wind were so violent, and shook the front of their dwelling so +much, that both Dominick and his brother found it impossible to sleep. +Their sister, however, lay undisturbed, because she reposed in an inner +chamber, which had been screened off with broken planks, and these not +only checked draughts, but deadened sounds. + +"I'm afraid our wall will come down," said Dominick, raising himself at +last on one elbow, and gazing at the wooden erection uneasily. + +"Oh, let it come!" growled Otto, who had been so frequently checked +while dropping into slumber that night that he was getting quite cross. + +Not feeling quite so regardless of consequences, his brother Dominick +arose and endeavoured to prop the weak part of the structure with an +additional piece of timber. + +He had accomplished his object, and was about to lie down again to rest, +when a terrible cry was heard, which rose above the roaring of the +storm. There seemed something so appalling in it, and at the same time +so unaccountable in that solitary spot, that Dominick's heart almost +stood still for a moment with superstitious fear. Otto also heard the +cry, and sat bolt upright, while drowsiness was effectually banished +from his brain. + +"Dom, did you hear that?" he asked in a solemn voice. "I should think I +did," replied his brother in a low tone. The cave being very dark, +neither could see the other distinctly. They sat silent for a few +moments, anxiously listening for a repetition of the cry. + +"Move quietly, Otto," said Dominick, as he crept towards their little +door, "it evidently has not awaked Pina, and we may as well let her lie +still till we find out what it is." + +"You're not going out, Dom?" asked Otto, in anxiety. + +"Yes, why not?" + +"Be--because--it--it may be--be--something--_awful_!" + +"It _must_ be something awful, and that is just why I am going out. +Come, you didn't use to be a coward." + +This was touching the boy on a tender point. He was indeed by no means +a coward when the danger he had to face was comprehensible and obvious, +but when the danger happened to be incomprehensible, as well as +invisible, his courage was not quite as high as might have been desired. +The taunt of his brother stirred up his pride however. He rose and +followed him in silence, with stern resolve and a quaking heart! + +On issuing from their shelter the brothers had to lean heavily against +the blast to prevent their being swept away. Seeking the shelter of a +bush, they gazed around them, but saw nothing save a dim appearance of +bending trees and scudding foam. + +"The cry may have come from the beach; let's go down," said Dominick, +leaving the shelter of the bush, and pushing forward. + +"Better go back," was on Otto's lips, but he repressed the words and +followed. + +There was not light enough to enable them to see objects on land, but +whatever chanced to be pictured against the dark sky became distinctly +visible as a dark object. The old familiar wreck was therefore seen the +moment they cleared the bushes that fringed the bay, but close to it was +another object which was very unfamiliar indeed to their eyes. It +accounted for the cry and caused a gush of mingled feelings in the +breasts of the brothers. + +Let us now, good reader, wing our flight out to sea, and backwards a +little in time. On that stormy night of which we treat, a large +emigrant ship was scudding before the gale almost under bare poles. +Part of her sails and rigging had been carried away; the rest of her was +more or less damaged. The officers, having had no reliable observation +for several days, were not sure of their exact position on the great +ocean, and the captain, being well aware of the danger of those seas, +was filled with anxiety. To add to his troubles, the crew had become +slightly mutinous, and some of the emigrants--of whom there were upwards +of three hundred on board--sided with the crew. It was even whispered +that the chief mate was at the bottom of a plot to murder the captain +and seize the ship. For what purpose, of course, no one could tell, +and, indeed, there was no apparent ground for the rumour, beyond the +fact that the mate--Malines by name--was a surly, taciturn man, with a +scowling, though handsome, visage, and a powerful frame. + +But whatever of truth might have been in these rumours was never brought +to light, for an accident occurred during the gale which put the +commander of the vessel beyond the power of earthly foes. One of the +larger ropes of the vessel snapt, and the heavy block attached to it +swung against the captain with such violence as to kill him on the spot. +The momentary confusion which followed the disaster distracted the +attention of the steersman, and a heavy sea was shipped, by which the +captain's body was swept overboard. No attempt was made to lower a boat +or check the ship. Even the unskilled emigrants understood that no boat +could live in such a sea, and that rescue was impossible. The vessel +held on her wild course as if nothing had happened. + +Malines, being now in command, issued an order that all the emigrants +should go below, and the hatches be secured. + +The women and children and most of the men were already in their +uncomfortable quarters below hatches, but a group of hardy-looking +fellows, who held on to ropes and stanchions near the windlass, refused +to move. Among them was a remarkably powerful woman, whose tongue +afforded presumptive evidence that she had been born in the Emerald +Isle. + +"We'll stop where we be, master," said one of the emigrants, with a +quiet but resolute air. + +"That's right, Joe, stick up. We ain't slaves," said another. + +To this last speaker Malines turned fiercely and knocked him down; then, +seizing him by the collar and dragging him to the hatchway, he thrust +him below. It may be remarked that the man thus roughly treated-- +Redding by name--was a little man. Bullies usually select little men +when inclined to display their courage. + +"Shame on yez," exclaimed the Irish woman, clenching her huge fist. "If +it wasn't that I'm a poor widdy woman, I'd--I'd--" + +"Howld yer tongue, Mother Lynch," whispered a lively youth of about +nineteen by her side, who obviously hailed from the same country. "It's +not aggravatin' him that'll do _him_ good. Let him be, darlin', and +he'll soon blow the steam off." + +"An' what does it matter to me, Teddy Malone, whether he blows the steam +off, or keeps it down till he bursts his biler? Is it a descendant o' +the royal family o' Munster as'll howld her tongue whin she sees cruelty +and injustice?" + +Without paying the slightest regard to this royal personage, Malines +returned to the group of men, and repeated his order to go below; but +they did not go, and he seized a handspike with a view to enforce his +commands. He hesitated, however, on observing that the man named Joe, +after quietly buttoning his coat, was turning up his wristbands as if in +preparation for a pugilistic encounter. + +"Lookee here now, Mister Malines," said Joe, with a mild, even kindly, +expression, which was the very reverse of belligerent; "I was allers a +law-abidin' man myself, and don't have no love for fightin'; but when +I'm ordered to go into a dark hole, and have the lid shut down on me an' +locked, I feels a sort of objection, d'ee see. If you lets us be, us'll +let you be. If otherwise--" + +Joe stopped abruptly, grinned, and clenched his enormous fists. + +Mr Malines was one of those wise men who know when they have met their +match. His knockings down and overbearing ways always stopped short at +that line where he met courage and strength equal or superior to his +own. He possessed about the average of bull-dog courage and more than +the average of physical strength, but observing that Joe was gifted with +still more of both these qualities, he lowered the handspike, and with a +sneer replied-- + +"Oh, well--please yourselves. It matters nothing to me if you get +washed overboard. Make all fast, lads," he added, turning to his crew, +who stood prepared for what one of them styled a scrimmage. Malines +returned to the quarter-deck, followed by a half-suppressed laugh from +some of the mutinous emigrants. + +"You see, David," remarked Joe, in a quiet tone, to a man beside him, as +he turned down his cuffs, "I think, from the look of him, that if we was +to strike on rocks, or run on shore, or take to sinking, or anything o' +that sort, the mate is mean enough to look arter hisself and leave the +poor things below to be choked in a hole. So you an' me must keep on +deck, so as to let 'em all out if need be." + +"Right, Joe, right you are." + +The man who thus replied bore such a strong resemblance to Joe in grave +kindliness of expression and colossal size of frame, that even a +stranger could not fail to recognise them as brothers, and such they +were--in truth they were twins, having first seen the light together +just thirty years before. There was this difference in the character of +the brothers, however, that Joe Binney was the more intellectual and +resolute of the two. David Binney, recognising this fact, and loving +his brother with all the fervour of a strong nature, was in the habit of +looking up to him for advice, and submitting to him as if he had been an +elder brother. Nevertheless, David was not without a mind of his own, +and sometimes differed in opinion with Joe. He even occasionally +disputed, but never with the slightest tinge of ill-feeling. + +While the brothers were conversing in an undertone on the dangers of the +sea, and the disagreeables of a fore-cabin, the mass of unfortunates +below were cowering in their berths, rendered almost forgetful of the +stifling atmosphere, and the wailing of sick children, by the fear of +shipwreck, as they listened with throbbing hearts to the howling wind +and rattling cordage overhead, and felt the tremendous shocks when the +good ship was buffeted by the sea. + +Near to Joe Binney stood one of the sailors on outlook. He was a +dark-complexioned, savage-looking man, who had done more than any one +else to foment the bad feeling that had existed between the captain and +his men. + +"Ye look somethin' skeared, Hugh Morris," said Joe, observing that the +look-out was gazing over the bow with an expression of alarm. + +"Breakers ahead!" roared the man at that moment--"port!--hard-a-port!" + +The order was sharply repeated, and promptly obeyed, and the vessel came +round in time to escape destruction on a ledge of rocks, over which the +water was foaming furiously. + +Instantly Malines went forward and began to give hurried directions to +the steersman. The danger was avoided, though the escape was narrow, +and the low rocks were seen passing astern, while the sea ahead seemed +to be free from obstruction, as far, at least, as the profound darkness +permitted them to see. + +"They'll be all drowned like rats in a hole if we strike," muttered the +sailor, Hugh Morris, as if speaking to himself. + +"Not if I can help it," said Joe Binney, who overheard the remark. + +As he spoke he went to the little companion hatch, or door to the +fore-cabin, and tried to open it, but could not. + +"Here, David," he cried, "lend a hand." + +Applying their united strength--with some assistance from Teddy Malone, +and earnest encouragement from Mrs Lynch--they succeeded in bursting +open the hatch. + +"Hallo! there," shouted Joe, in a voice that would have been creditable +to a boatswain, "come on deck if ye don't want to be drownded." + +"Hooroo!" added Malone, "we're goin' to the bottom! Look alive wid ye." + +"Ay, an' bring up the childers," yelled Mrs Lynch. "Don't lave wan o' +thim below." + +Of course, the poor emigrants were not slow to obey these startling +orders. + +The state of affairs was so serious that Malines either did not see, or +did not care for, what was going on. He stood on the forecastle looking +out intently ahead. + +"Land on the starboard beam!" shouted Morris suddenly. + +The mate was on the point of giving an order to the steersman when he +observed land looming on the port bow. Instantly he saw that all hope +was over. They were steering to inevitable destruction between two +ledges of rock! What he would have done in the circumstances no one can +tell, because before he had time to act the vessel struck with great +violence, and the terror-stricken passengers gave vent to that appalling +cry of fear which had so suddenly aroused Dominick Rigonda and his +brother. + +As the vessel remained hard and fast, with her bow thrust high on the +rocks, the emigrants and crew found a partial refuge from the violence +of the waves on the forecastle. Hence the first wild shriek of fear was +not repeated. In a few minutes, however, a wave of greater size than +usual came rushing towards the vessel. Fortunately, most of the +emigrants failed to realise the danger, but the seamen were fully alive +to it. + +"It's all over with us," exclaimed the mate, in a sort of reckless +despair. But he was wrong. The great billow, which he expected would +dash the vessel in pieces--and which, in nine cases out of ten, would +have done so--lifted the wreck so high as to carry it almost completely +over the ledge, on which it had struck, leaving the stern high on the +rocks, while the bow was plunged into the partly-protected water on the +other side. + +The sudden descent of the forecastle induced the belief an many of the +emigrants' minds that they were about to go headlong to the bottom, and +another cry of terror arose; but when they found that their place of +refuge sank no further than to a level with the water, most of them took +heart again, and began to scramble up to the quarter-deck as hastily as +they had before scrambled to the forecastle. + +"Something like land ahead," observed Hugh Morris, who stood close to +the mate. + +"I don't see it," returned the latter, gruffly, for he was jealous of +the influence that Morris had over the crew, and, during the whole +voyage, had treated him harshly. + +"It may be there, although you don't see it," retorted Hugh, with a +feeling of scorn, which he made no attempt to conceal. + +"Sure I sees somethin' movin' on the wather," exclaimed Mrs Lynch, who, +during the occurrences just described, had held on to a belaying pin +with the tenacity and strength of an octopus. + +"It's the wather movin' in yer own eyes, mother," said Malone, who stood +beside his Amazonian countrywoman. + +At that moment a halloo was heard faintly in the distance, and, soon +after, a raft was seen approaching, guided, apparently, by two men. + +"Raft a-hoy! Where d'ee hail from?" shouted the mate. + +"From nowhere!" came back promptly in a boy's ringing voice. + +"You've got on a coral reef," shouted a powerful voice, which, we need +scarcely say, was that of Dominick Rigonda, "but you're safe enough now. +The last wave has shoved you over into sheltered water. You're in +luck. We'll soon put you on shore." + +"An island, I suppose," said Malines, as the raft came alongside. "What +may be its name?" + +"Got no name that I know of; as far as I know it's uninhabited, and, +probably, unknown. Only three of us here--wrecked like yourselves. If +you have boats, lower them, and I'll pilot you to land." + +"Ohone!" groaned Mrs Lynch, in solemn despair, as she tried to see the +speaker, whom darkness rendered almost invisible. "An unbeknown island, +uninhabited by nobody. Boys, we are done for intirely. Didn't I say +this would be the end of it, when we made up our minds to go to say?" + +No one seemed inclined just then to dispute the prophetic reminiscences +of the widow, for the order had been given to get ready one of the +boats. Turning to the emigrants, who were now clustering on the fore +part of the vessel, Malines, condescending to adopt a more respectful +tone, addressed them as follows:-- + +"Now, let me tell you, one and all, that your voyage has come to an end +sooner than I expected. Our ship is wrecked, but we're out of danger, +and must go ashore an' live as best we can, or die if we can't live. +Where we are, I don't know, and don't care, for it don't much matter. +It's an island, it seems, and three people who have been wrecked before +us are all its population. As it is too dark to go ashore comfortably +to-night, I would advise you to go below again, an' turn in till +daylight. You may make your minds easy, for there's no fear of our +going to the bottom _now_." + +"Sure, an' you're right there," murmured Teddy Malone, "for aren't we at +the bottom already?" + +"You may all do as you please, however," continued the mate, after a +low-toned remark from one of the crew, "for my command has come to an +end with the loss of the ship." + +When the mate ceased speaking, there was a brief pause, for the +unfortunate emigrants had been so long accustomed to conform to the +strict discipline of the ship that they felt like sheep suddenly +deprived of a shepherd, or soldiers bereft of their officers when thus +left to think for themselves. Then the self-sufficient and officious +among them began to give advice, and to dispute noisily as to what they +should do, so that in a few minutes their voices, mingling with the gale +and the cries of terrified children, caused such a din that the strong +spirit of the widow Lynch was stirred within her, inducing her to raise +her masculine voice in a shout that silenced nearly all the rest. + +"That's right, mother," cried young Malone, "howld yer tongues, boys, +and let's hear what the widdy has to say. Isn't it herself has got the +great mind--not to mintion the body?" + +"Shut your murphy-trap, Teddy," retorted the widow, "an' here's what +I've got to say. We must have only wan man to guide us if we are to get +on at all. Too many cooks, ye knows well enough, is sure to spile the +broth. Let Joe Binney speak, and the rest of 'ee howld yer tongues, if +ye can." + +Thus invited, modest Joe gave it as his opinion that the emigrants could +not do better than follow the advice of Muster Malines--go below, turn +in, and wait till daylight. He added further that he would count it a +favour if Muster Malines would continue in command of the party, at +least till they all got ashore. + +This little compliment to the man whom he had so recently defied had a +softening influence on the mate, and the proposal was well received by +the people, who, even during the few minutes of anarchy which had +prevailed, were led to appreciate the value of order and government. + +"You are right, Binney," said the mate. "I would advise you all, good +people, to go below and rest as well as you can, while I, and those who +choose to act under me, will go ashore and make the best possible +arrangements for your landing in the morning." + +"Now, why don't ye do what ye'er towld at wanst?" cried Mrs Lynch, who +had evidently made up her mind that the reins of government were not to +be entirely given up to the mate. "It's not wishin', are ye, to get +wetter than ye are, a'ready? Go below, ivery wan of ye." + +Like a meek flock, the women and children obeyed the mandate, being +absolutely in bodily fear of the woman, while most of the men followed +them with a laugh, or a little chaff, according to temperament. + +Before the latter had left the deck, Malines suggested that Joe Binney +and his brother David should accompany him on shore that night, to +represent the emigrants, as it were, and assist him in the proposed +arrangements. + +"Besides," he added, "there is just the possibility that we may fall +into a trap. We know nothing about the man who has come off to us +except his voice, so that it will be wise to land with some of our best +men armed." + +Of course the brothers had no objection to this plan, and accordingly +they, with the mate and four of the ship's crew--all armed with +cutlasses and pistols--got into one of the boats and were lowered into +the water on the lee side of the vessel, where Dominick and Otto had +been quietly awaiting the end of the foregoing discussions. + +In a few minutes they reached the shore, and then Dominick shook hands +with them, and welcomed them to the islands, "which," he said, "we have +named `Refuge Islands.'" + +"Run up to the cave, Otto," he whispered, while the party was engaged in +drawing up the boat. "Stir up the fire and rouse Pina,--tell her to +prepare to receive company." + +"She'll be as much puzzled as if I told her to prepare to receive +cavalry," muttered the boy as he ran up to the cave. + +"Hallo! Pina! rouse up, old girl," he shouted, bursting into the cave, +and falling on his knees before the embers of the fire, which he soon +blew up into a flame. "I say, Pina! hallo! Pina! Pi-i-i-i-na!" + +"Dear me, Otto, what is wrong?" asked the sleepy voice of Pauline from +behind her screen. + +"Wrong?" cried her brother, "nothing's wrong--that is, everything's +wrong; but don't be afraid, old girl, all's right. Dress as fast as you +can, and prepare for company!" + +"What _do_ you mean?" cried the girl, by that time thoroughly aroused, +and somewhat alarmed by Otto's words and excitement. + +"Can't explain. No time. Get up, make yourself presentable, and come +out of your den." + +As he spoke Pauline lifted the curtain door of her apartment and stepped +into the outer cave, which was by that time all aglow with the ruddy +blaze. + +"Do you call yourself presentable?" asked Otto, laughing; "why your hair +is raised like the back of a wild cat." + +It is only right to say that the boy did not do his sister justice. An +old shawl thrown hastily on, and descending in confused folds around her +slight, graceful figure, invested her with an air of classic simplicity, +while her pretty face, surrounded by a wealth of dishevelled, but +beautiful, hair, was suggestive of something very much the reverse of a +wild cat. + +"Are you prepared, sister, for a stunning surprise?" said Otto, quickly, +for he heard the approaching footsteps of the party. + +"I'm prepared for anything," said Pauline, her lustrous eyes and her +little mouth opening simultaneously, for she also heard the numerous +footfalls outside. + +"'Tis well!" cried Otto, starting up, and assuming a heroic attitude as +he waved his right hand toward the door of the cavern, "no time to +explain. Enter Dominick, with band of robbers, headed by their captain, +amid shrieking wind, forked lightning, and peals of thunder!" + +As he spoke, Pauline, despite her surprise, could scarcely refrain from +laughter, for Otto's words were fulfilled almost to the letter. Amid a +strife of elements that caused their frail erections to tremble, the +little door burst open, and Dominick, stooping low to save his head, +entered. He was followed by the gaunt, dark form of Malines, who, in +rough garments and long fishermen's boots, with pistols in belt, and +cutlass by his side, was a particularly good representative of a +robber-captain. Following him came the still more gigantic Joe Binney, +and his equally huge brother David, after which trooped in the boat's +crew one by one. + +As each man entered he stood stock still--dumb, petrified with +astonishment--as he gazed, saucer-eyed, at Pauline. Bereft of speech +and motion, she returned the gaze with interest. + +Oh! it was a rare treat to Otto! His little bosom heaved with delight +as he watched the shipwrecked men enter one after another and become +petrefactions! Some of the sailors even dropped their lower jaws with +wonder. + +Dominick, who, in the bustle of action, had not thought of the surprise +in store for his visitors, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. + +"It was well got up, Otto," he said at last. + +"No, it wasn't, Dom. I do assure you it was not got up at all, but came +about in the most natural manner." + +"Well, got up or not," returned Dominick, "here you are, friends, in +what we have styled our golden cave, and this is my sister Pauline-- +allow me to introduce you, Pina, to part of a shipwrecked crew." + +The youth's laughter, and the introduction which followed, seemed to +disenchant the mariners, who, recovering self-possession with a deep +sigh, became sheepish in bearing, and seemed inclined to beat a retreat, +but our heroine quickly put them at their ease. With a natural tact and +grace of manner which had the appearance of, but was not meant for, +dignity, she advanced and offered her little hand to Malines, who seemed +to fear that he might crush it unintentionally, so slight was the shake +he gave it. + +"You are heartily welcome to our cavern," she said. "I'm _so_ grieved +to hear that you have been wrecked." + +"Don't mention it, Miss. Not worth speaking of, I assure you; we're +quite used to it," replied Malines, not knowing very well what he said. + +The ice, however, was broken. From this point all went on, as Otto +said, swimmingly. The mate began to relate the circumstances of the +recent wreck, while Pauline and Otto spread the remains of their supper +before the men, and set about roasting the fowls that had been intended +for the morrow's breakfast. + +Before long the gale began to abate, and the sailors went out with +Dominick, to select a spot on which the emigrants might encamp, being +aided in this work by a struggling and fitful moonlight. After that +Malines went back with his party to the ship, and Dominick returned with +Otto to court slumber in the golden cave. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +SHIPWRECKED EMIGRANTS AND HORRIFIED CONSPIRATORS. + +The scene which presented itself on the morning after the storm is not +easily described, and the change to the trio who had up to that time +lived so peacefully on Refuge Islands' Reef was so great that they found +it difficult at first to believe it was other than a dream. + +On awaking, indeed, Otto saluted his brother with the exclamation-- + +"O Dom, I've had such a comical dream!" + +"Indeed, my boy," said Dominick, "I fear it was no dream, but a +reality." + +At this Otto suddenly sprang up, and ran out to relieve his mind on the +point. A few seconds sufficed. On clearing the bushes he beheld the +new wreck lying not far from the old one, and saw from the crowds of +people who were being put into the boats that the emigrant ship had been +no mere creature of his imagination. It was evident that the boat which +had just quitted the vessel's side contained the first band of +emigrants, for the only people yet landed were a few men, who busied +themselves in putting up a rude shelter for the women and children, and +in kindling fires for the preparation of breakfast on a little mound +between two and three hundred yards from the golden cave. + +By that time the storm had blown itself out, and the rising sun was +mounting into a cloudless blue sky, and covering the sea with dazzling +ripples, which looked as if the very water were laughing with joy at the +sudden change from darkness and fury to light and peace. + +Conspicuous among those who worked on shore was the gigantic form of Joe +Binney. Considering him an old acquaintance. Otto ran up to him and +shook hands. + +"How many emigrants are there of you?" he asked. + +"Three hundred, more or less, master, but I ain't rightly sure; there's +such a many that it's difficult to count 'em when they are all a-movin' +to and fro." + +"Here, Joe, catch hold o' this post, an' keep it steady till I make it +fast," said Hugh Morris, the seaman who has been described as one of the +most turbulent among the men. + +While Joe assisted in the erection of the canvas booth or shelter, he +gave Otto a good deal of information regarding the vessel, the +emigrants, the crew, and the misunderstandings which had occurred +previous to the captain's death. + +"It's well for one man that we've bin wrecked, anyhow," remarked Morris, +stepping back with an artistic air to survey his handiwork. + +"You mean the young doctor," said Joe. + +"That's who I mean," returned Morris. "Doctor John Marsh. He's the +only man in the ship that's worth his salt, but I fear he's a doomed +man." + +"I hope not, Hugh, though there _are_ one or two men on board worth more +than their salt," said Joe, with a peculiar smile, as he returned to the +care of a large kettle of beans, from which the sailor had called him. + +On Otto inquiring what was the matter with the doctor, Joe Binney +explained-- + +"He's been ill a'most since we left England, owin' to a fall he had in +tryin' to save one o' the child'n as was tumblin' down the after-hatch. +He saved the child, but broke one or two of his own ribs, an' the broken +ends must have damaged his lungs, for, ever since, he's bin spittin' +blood an' wearin' away, till we can hardly believe he's the same stout, +hearty, active young feller that came aboord at Gravesend. Spite of his +hurt he's bin goin' among us quite cheerful-like, doin' the best he +could for the sick; but as Morris says, he looks like a doomed man. +P'r'aps gittin' ashore may do him good. You see, bein' the only doctor +in the ship, he couldn't attend to hisself as well as might be, mayhap." + +While Joe and Otto were conversing, the first boat load of emigrants +landed, consisting chiefly of women and children. Dr Marsh was also +among them, in order that, as he said with quiet pleasantry, he might +attend to the sanitary arrangements of the camp in the new land, though +all who saw him quit the wreck were under the sorrowful impression that +the new land would prove to be in his case a last resting-place. + +There was something peculiarly attractive in the manly, handsome face of +this young disciple of Aesculapius, worn as it was by long sickness and +suffering, and Otto fell in love with him at first sight. + +There can be no doubt that some human beings are so constituted as to +powerfully attract others by their mere physical conformation and +expression, without reference to character or conduct,--indeed, before +character or conduct can possibly be known. And when this peculiar +conformation and expression is coupled with delicacy of health, and +obvious suffering, the attractive influence becomes irresistible. Let +us thank God that such is the case. Blind, unreasoning affection is a +grand foundation on which to build a mighty superstructure of good +offices, kindly acts, and tender feelings, mingled, it may be, with +loving forbearance, and occasional suffering, which shall be good to the +souls of the lover, as well as the loved one. + +Anyhow, when Otto saw Dr Marsh helped, almost lifted, out of the boat; +observed him give a pitiful little smile, and heard him utter some mild +pleasantry to those who assisted him, he experienced a gush of feeling +such as had never before inflated his reckless little bosom, and +something like water--to his great astonishment--caused interference +with his vision. + +Running forward just as the widow Lynch was officiously thrusting her +warm-hearted attentions on the invalid, he accosted the doctor, and +offered to escort him to the golden cave. + +And we may here inform the reader that the involuntary affection of our +little hero met with a suitable return, for Dr Marsh also fell in love +with Otto at first sight. His feelings, however, were strongly mingled +with surprise. + +"My boy," he said, with painfully wide-open eyes, "from what part of the +sky have _you_ dropt?" + +"Well, not being a falling star or a rocket-stick, I cannot claim such +high descent,--but hasn't the mate told you about us?" returned Otto. + +Here widow Lynch broke in with: + +"Towld him about you? Av course he hasn't. He don't throuble his hid +to tell much to any wan; an', sure, wasn't the doctor slaapin' whin he +returned aboord i' the night, an' wasn't I nursin' of 'im, and d'ee +think any wan could git at 'im widout my lave?" + +Otto thought that certainly no one could easily accomplish that feat, +and was about to say so, when Dr Marsh said remonstratively-- + +"Now, my dear widow Lynch, do leave me to the care of this new friend, +who, I am sure, is quite able to assist me, and do you go and look after +these poor women and children. They are quite helpless without your +aid. Look! your favourite Brown-eyes will be in the water if you don't +run." + +The child of a poor widow, which had been styled Brown-eyes by the +doctor because of its gorgeous optics, was indeed on the point of taking +an involuntary bath as he spoke. Mrs Lynch, seeing the danger, rushed +tumultuously to the rescue, leaving the doctor to Otto's care. + +"Don't let me lean too heavily on you," he said, looking down; "I'm +big-boned, you see, and long-legged, though rather thin." + +"Pooh!" said Otto, looking up, "you're as light as a feather, and I'm as +strong as a horse,--a little horse, at least. You'd better not go to +the camp yet, they are not ready for you, and that sweet little delicate +creature you call widow Lynch is quite able to manage them all. Come up +with me to the cave. But has nobody said a word about _us_?" + +"Not a soul. As the widow told you, I was asleep when the mate returned +to the wreck. Indeed, it is not very long since I awoke. I did hear +some mention in passing of a few people being on the island, but I +thought they referred to savages." + +"Perhaps they were not far wrong," said Otto, with a laugh. "I do feel +pretty savage sometimes, and Dominick is awful when he is roused; but we +can't count Pauline among the savages." + +"Dominick! Pauline!" exclaimed the doctor. "My good fellow, explain +yourself, and let us sit down on this bank while you do so. I'm so +stupidly weak that walking only a few yards knocks me up." + +"Well, only two or three yards further will bring you to our cave, which +is just beyond that cluster of bushes, but it may be as well to +enlighten you a little before introducing you." + +In a few rapid sentences Otto explained their circumstances, and how +they came to be there. He told his brief tale in sympathetic ears. + +"And your own name," asked the doctor, "is--?" + +"Otto Rigonda." + +"Well, Otto, my boy, you and I shall be friends; I know it--I feel it." + +"And I'm _sure_ of it," responded the enthusiastic boy, grasping the +hand of the invalid, and shaking it almost too warmly. "But come, I +want to present you to my sister. Dominick is already among the +emigrants, for I saw him leave the cave and go down to the camp when you +were disputing with that female grampus." + +"Come, don't begin our friendship by speaking disrespectfully of one of +my best friends," said the doctor, rising; "but for widow Lynch's tender +nursing I don't think I should be here now." + +"I'll respect and reverence her henceforth and for ever," said Otto. +"But here we are--this is the golden cave. Now you'll have to stoop, +because our door was made for short men like me--and for humble long +ones like my brother." + +"I'll try to be a humble long one," said the doctor as he stooped and +followed Otto into the cave. + +Pauline was on her knees in front of the fire, with her back to the +door, as they entered. She was stooping low and blowing at the flames +vigorously. + +"O Otto!" she exclaimed, without looking round, "this fire will break my +heart. It _won't_ light!" + +"More company, Pina," said her brother. + +Pauline sprang up and turned round with flushed countenance and +disordered hair; and again Otto had the ineffable delight of seeing +human beings suddenly reduced to that condition which is variously +described as being "stunned," "thunderstruck," "petrified," and "struck +all of a heap" with surprise. + +Pauline was the first to recover self-possession. + +"Really, Otto, it is too bad of you to take one by surprise so. Excuse +me, sir,--no doubt you are one of the unfortunates who have been +wrecked. I have much pleasure in offering you the hospitality of our +humble home!" + +Pauline spoke at first half jestingly, but when she looked full at the +thin, worn countenance of the youth who stood speechless before her, she +forgot surprise and everything else in a feeling of pity. + +"But you have been ill," she continued, sympathetically; "this wreck +must have--pray sit down." + +She placed a little stool for her visitor beside the fire. + +If Dr John Marsh had spoken the words that sprang to his lips he would +have begun with "Angelic creature," but he suppressed his feelings and +only stammered-- + +"Your b-brother, Miss Rigonda, must have a taste for taking people by +surprise, for he did not tell me that--that--I--I mean he did not +prepare me for--for--you are right. I think I had better sit down, for +I have, as you perceive, been very ill, and am rather weak, and--and in +the circumstances such an unexpected--a--" + +At this critical moment Dominick fortunately entered the cave, and +rescued the doctor from the quicksand, in which he was floundering. + +"Oh! you must be the very man I want," he said, grasping his visitor by +the hand. + +"That is strange," returned the doctor, with a languid smile, "seeing +that you have never met me before." + +"True, my good sir; nevertheless I may venture to say that I know you +well, for there's a termagant of an Irish woman down at the camp going +about wringing her hands, shouting out your good qualities in the most +pathetic tones, and giving nobody a moment's peace because she does not +know what has become of you. Having a suspicion that my brother must +have found you and brought you here, I came to see. But pray, may I ask +your name, for the Irish woman only describes you as `Doctor, dear!'" + +"Allow me to introduce him," cried Otto, "as an old friend of mine--Dr +Marsh." + +Dominick looked at his brother in surprise. + +"Otto is right," said the doctor, with a laugh, "at least if feeling may +be permitted to do duty for time in gauging the friendship." + +"Well, Dr Marsh, we are happy to make your acquaintance, despite the +sadness of the circumstances," said Dominick, "and will do all we can +for you and your friends; meanwhile, may I ask you to come to the camp +and relieve the mind of your worshipper, for I can scarcely call her +less." + +Poor Dr Marsh, feeling greatly exhausted by excitement as much as by +exertion, was on the point of excusing himself and begging his host to +fetch the widow up to the cave, when he was saved the trouble by the +widow herself, whose voice was just then heard outside. + +"What's that yer sayin', Joe?" she exclaimed in a remonstrative tone, +"ye seed 'im go into that rabbit-hole? Never! Don't tell me! Arrah +it's on his hands an knees he'd have to do it." + +The voice which replied was pitched in a much deeper and softer key, but +it was heard distinctly to say, "Ay, widdy Lynch, that's the door I seed +him an' a boy go through; so ye'd better rap at it an' inquire." + +"Faix, an' that's jist what I'll do, though I don't half belave ye." + +She was about to apply her large red knuckles to the door in question +when her intention was frustrated and her doubts were scattered by the +door opening and Dominick presenting himself. + +"Come in, Mrs Lynch, come in. Your doctor is here, alive and well." + +"Well, is it--ah! I wish he was! Are ye there, darlin'?" + +"Yes, yes," came from within, in a laughing voice. "Here I am, Mrs +Lynch, all right and comfortable. Come in." + +Being excessively tall, the widow was obliged, like others, to stoop to +enter; but being also excessively broad, she only got her head and +shoulders through the doorway, and then, unlike others, she stuck fast. +By dint, however, of a good pull from Dominick and a gentle push from +Joe, she was got inside without quite carrying away the structure which +the gale of the preceding night had spared. + +"Och! 'tis a quare place intirely, and there is some disadvantage in +bein' big--thank ye kindly, sir--but on the whole--" + +She got no further, for at that moment her sharp little grey eyes fell +on Pauline, and once again Otto's heart was stirred to its profoundest +depths by the expressive glare that ensued. Indeed, Dominick and Marsh +were equally affected, and could not help laughing. + +"Ha! ye may laugh," said the widow, with profound solemnity, "but if +it's not dramin' I am, what Father Macgrath says about ghosts is true, +and--" + +"I hope you don't take _me_ for a ghost, Mrs Lynch," said Pauline, +stepping forward with a kindly smile and holding out her hand. + +"No, cushla! I don't," returned the widow, accepting the hand tenderly. +"Sure it's more like a ghost the doctor is, in spite of his larfin'. +But wonders 'll niver cease. I'll lave 'im wid an aisy mind, for he's +in good hands. Now, Joe, clear out o' the door, like a good man, an' +let me through. They'll be wantin' me at the camp. A good haul, Joe, +I'm tough; no fear o' me comin' to pieces. Och! but it's a poor cabin. +An Irish pig wouldn't thank ye for it." + +Murmuring similar uncomplimentary remarks, mingled with expressions of +surprise, the voice of the woman gradually died away, and the people in +the golden cave were left to discuss their situation and form hasty +plans for the present emergency. + +At first, of course, they could do little else than make each other +partially acquainted with the circumstances which had so strangely +thrown them together, but Dominick soon put an end to this desultory +talk. + +"You see, it will take all our time," he said, "between this and sunset +to get the emigrants comfortably under canvas, or some sort of shelter." + +"True," assented Dr Marsh, "and it would never do with so many women +and children, some of whom are on the sick list, to leave them to the +risk of exposure to another storm like that which has just passed. Is +your island subject to such?" + +"By no means," answered Dominick. "It has a splendid climate. This +gale is quite exceptional. Nevertheless, we cannot tell when the next +may burst on us. Come, Otto, you and I will go down to the camp. Now, +Dr Marsh, you must remain here. I can see, without being told, that +you are quite unfit to help us. I know that it is hard to be condemned +to inaction when all around are busy, but reflect how many patients you +have solemnly warned that their recovery would depend on implicit +obedience to the doctor's orders! Divide yourself in two, now, and, as +a doctor, give yourself strict orders to remain quiet." + +"H'm! Gladly would I divide myself," was the doctor's reply, "if while +I left the patient half to act the invalid, I could take the impatient +half down to the camp to aid you. But I submit. The days of my once +boasted strength are gone. I feel more helpless than a mouse." + +There was something quite pitiful in the half-humorous look, and the +weary sigh, with which the poor youth concluded his remarks, and Otto +was so touched that he suddenly suggested the propriety of his staying +behind and taking care of him. + +"Why, you conceited creature," cried Dominick, "of what use could _you_ +be? Besides, don't you think that Pina is a sufficiently good nurse?" + +Otto humbly admitted that she was. + +Dr Marsh, glancing at her pretty face, on which at the moment there +beamed an expression of deep sympathy, also admitted that she was; but, +being a man of comparatively few words, he said nothing. + +It was a busy day for Dominick and his brother. Not only had they to +counsel and advise with the unfortunate emigrants as to the best +position for the temporary encampment, with reference to wood and water, +as well as to assist with their own hands in the erection of tents made +of torn sails and huts and booths composed of broken planks and reeds, +but they had to answer innumerable questions from the inquisitive as to +their own history, from the anxious as to the probabilities of +deliverance, from the practical as to the resources of the islands, and +from the idiotic as to everything in general and nothing in particular. +In addition to which they had to encourage the timid, to correct the +mistaken, and to remonstrate with or resist the obstinate; also to romp +a little with the children as they recovered their spirits, quiet the +babies as they recovered their powers of lung, and do a little amateur +doctoring for the sick in the absence of the medical man. + +In all these varied occupations they were much aided by the widow Lynch, +who, instead of proving to be, as they had expected, a troublesome +termagant, turned out to be a soft-hearted, kindly, enthusiastic, +sympathetic woman, with a highly uneducated, unbalanced mind, a +powerfully constituted and masculine frame, and "a will of her own." In +this last particular she did not differ much from the rest of the human +species, but she was afflicted with an unusually strong desire to assert +it. + +Very like Mrs Lynch in the matters of kindly soft-heartedness and +sympathy was Mrs Welsh--a poor, gentle, delicate Englishwoman, the wife +of a great hulking cross-grained fellow named Abel, who was a carpenter +by trade and an idler by preference. Mrs Welsh was particularly good +as a sick-nurse and a cook, in which capacities she made herself +extremely useful. + +About midday, Mrs Welsh having prepared a glorious though simple meal +for her section of the emigrant band, and the other sections having been +ministered to more or less successfully by their more or less capable +cooks, Dominick and Otto went up to the golden cave to dinner, which +they well knew the faithful Pauline would have ready waiting for them. + +"What a day we have had, to be sure!" said Dominick as they walked +along; "and I'm as hungry as a kangaroo." + +Without noticing the unreasonableness of supposing that long-legged +creature to be the hungriest of animals, Otto declared that he was in +the same condition, "if not more so." + +On opening the door they were checked by the expression of Pauline's +face, the speaking eyes of which, and the silent mouth, were +concentrated into an unmistakable "hush!"--which was emphasised by a +significant forefinger. + +"What's wrong?" whispered Dominick, anxiously. + +"Sleeping," murmured Pauline--she was too good a nurse to whisper-- +pointing to the invalid, who, overcome with the night's exposure and the +morning's excitement, had fallen into a profound slumber on Otto's +humble couch. + +This was a rather severe and unexpected trial to Otto, who had come up +to the cave brimming over with camp news for Pauline's benefit. He felt +that it was next to impossible to relate in a whisper all the doings and +sayings, comical and otherwise, that he had seen and heard that day. To +eat his dinner and say nothing seemed equally impossible. To awaken the +wearied sleeper was out of the question. However, there was nothing for +it but to address himself to the suppression of his feelings. Probably +it was good for him to be thus self-disciplined; certainly it was +painful. + +He suffered chiefly at the top of the nose--inside behind his eyes--that +being the part of the safety-valve where bursts of laughter were +checked; and more than once, while engaged in a whispering commentary on +the amiable widow Lynch, the convulsions within bade fair to blow the +nasal organ off his face altogether. Laughter is catching. Pauline and +Dominick, ere long, began to wish that Otto would hold his tongue. At +last, some eccentricity of Joe Binney, or his brother, or Mrs Lynch, we +forget which, raised the pressure to such a pitch that the safety-valves +of all three became ineffective. They all exploded in unison, and poor +Marsh was brought to consciousness, surprise, and a sitting posture at +the same instant. + +"I'm afraid," he said, rather sheepishly, "that I've been sleeping." + +"You have, doctor, and a right good sleep you've had," said Dominick, +rising and placing a stool for the invalid. "We ought to apologise for +disturbing you; but come, sit down and dine. You must be hungry by this +time." + +"Indeed I am. The land air seems to have had a powerful effect on me +already." + +"Truly it must," remarked Pauline, "else you could not have fallen +asleep in the very middle of my glowing description of our island home." + +"Did I really do that?" said the doctor, with an air of self-reproach. + +"Indeed you did; but in the circumstances you are to be excused." + +"And I hope," added Dominick, "that you'll have many a good sleep in our +golden cave." + +"Golden cave, indeed," echoed the invalid, in thought, for his mind was +too much taken up just then with Pauline to find vent in speech. "A +golden cave it will be to me for evermore!" + +It is of no use mincing the matter; Dr John Marsh, after being regarded +by his friends at home as hopelessly unimpressible--in short, an +absolute woman-hater--had found his fate on a desolate isle of the +Southern seas, he had fallen--nay, let us be just--had jumped over head +and ears in love with Pauline Rigonda! Dr Marsh was no sentimental +die-away noodle who, half-ashamed, half-proud of his condition, displays +it to the semi-contemptuous world. No; after disbelieving for many +years in the power of woman to subdue him, he suddenly and manfully gave +in--sprang up high into the air, spiritually, and so to speak, turning a +sharp somersault, went headlong down deep into the flood, without the +slightest intention of ever again returning to the surface. + +But of this mighty upheaval and overturning of his sentiments he +betrayed no symptom whatever, excepting two bright spots--one on either +cheek--which might easily have been mistaken for the effects of +weakness, or recent excitement, or bad health, or returning hunger. +Calmly he set to work on the viands before him with unusual appetite, +conversing earnestly, meanwhile, with Dominick and Otto on the gravity +of their situation, and bestowing no more attention upon Pauline than +was barely consistent with good breeding, insomuch that that pretty +young creature began to feel somewhat aggrieved. Considering all the +care she had so recently bestowed on him, she came to the conclusion, in +short, that he was by no means as polite as at first she had supposed +him to be. + +By degrees the conversation about the present began to give place to +discussions as to the future, and when Dominick and Otto returned for +their evening meal at sunset, bringing with them Mr Malines, the mate, +and Joe Binney and his brother David and Hugh Morris as being +representative men of the emigrants and ship's crew, the meeting +resolved itself into a regular debating society. At this point Pauline +deserted them and went down to the camp to cultivate the acquaintance of +the widow Lynch, Mrs Welsh, and the other female and infantine members +of the wrecked party. + +"For my part," said Malines, "I shall take one o' the boats, launch it +in the lagoon, and go over to the big island, follow me who may, for it +is clear that there's not room for us all on this strip of sand." + +"I don't see that," objected Hugh Morris. "Seems to me as there's space +enough for all of us, if we're not too greedy." + +"That shows ye knows nothin' about land, Hugh," said Joe Binney. +"What's of it here is not only too little, but too sandy. I votes for +the big island." + +"So does I," said David Binney. "Big Island for me." + +Thus, incidentally, was the large island named. + +"But," said Hugh, still objecting, "it won't be half so convenient to +git things out o' the wreck, as where we are." + +"Pooh! that's nothing," said Malines. "It won't cost us much trouble to +carry all we want across a spit of sand." + +Seeing that the two men were getting angry with each other, Dominick +interposed by blandly stating that he knew well the capabilities of the +spot on which they were encamped, and he was sure that such a party +would require more ground if they meant to settle on it. + +"Well now, master," observed Joe, with a half-laugh, "we don't 'zactly +mean for to settle on it, but here we be, an' here we must be, till a +ship takes us off, an' we can't afford to starve, 'ee know, so we'll +just plough the land an' plant our seed, an' hope for good weather an' +heavy crops; so I says Big Island!" + +"An' so says I--Big Island for ever!" repeated his brother David. + +After a good deal more talk and altercation this was finally agreed to, +and the meeting dissolved itself. + +That night, at the darkest hour, another meeting was held in the darkest +spot that could be found near the camp. It chanced, unknown to the +meeting, to be the burial-ground at first discovered by the Rigondas. + +Unwittingly, for it was very dark, Hugh Morris seated himself on one of +the old graves, and about thirty like-minded men gathered round him. +Little did they know that Otto was one of the party! Our little hero, +being sharp eyed and eared, had seen and overheard enough in the camp +that day to induce him to watch Morris after he left the cave, and +follow him to the rendezvous. + +"My lads," said Morris, "I've done my best to keep them to the reef, but +that blackguard Malines won't hear of it. He's bent on takin' 'em all +to the big island, so they're sure to go, and we won't get the help o' +the other men: but no matter; wi' blocks an' tackle we'll do it +ourselves, so we can afford to remain quiet till our opportunity comes. +I'm quite sure the ship lays in such a position that we can get her over +the ledge into deep water, and so be able to draw round into the open +sea, and then--" + +"Hurrah for the black flag and the southern seas," cried one of the +party. + +"No, no, Jabez Jenkins," said Morris, "we don't mean to be pirates; only +free rovers." + +"Hallo! what's this?" exclaimed another of the party. "A cross, I do +believe! and this mound--why, it's a grave!" + +"And here's another one!" said Jabez, in a hoarse whisper. "Seems to me +we've got into a cannibal churchyard, or--" + +"Bo-o-o-o-oo!" groaned Otto at that moment, in the most horribly +sepulchral tone he could command. + +Nothing more was wanted. With one consent the conspirators leapt up and +fled from the dreadful spot in a frenzy of unutterable consternation. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +TREATS OF BIG ISLAND--A GREAT FIGHT AND A ROYAL FAMILY. + +"Dominick," said Otto, next morning, after having solemnly and somewhat +mysteriously led his brother to the old burial-ground, "would you +believe me if I told you that last night, when you and the like of you +were sound asleep, not to say snoring, I saw some twenty or thirty men +fly from this spot like maniacs at the howling of a ghost?" + +"No, I would not believe you," answered Dominick, with a bland smile. + +"Would you not believe me if I told you that _I_ was the ghost and that +Hugh Morris was the ringleader of the cowards?" + +"Come, Otto, be sensible and explain." + +Otto became sensible and explained. Thereupon Dominick became serious, +and said "Oho!" To which Otto replied "Just so," after which they +became meditative. Then Dominick linked his arm in that of his little +brother, and, leading him off to a well-known and sequestered walk, +entered into an earnest confabulation. + +With the details of that confabulation we will not trouble the reader. +We will only repeat the concluding sentences. + +"Well, then, Dom, it's agreed on, that we are to go on as if we knew +nothing about this matter, and take no notice of it whatever to any +one--not even to Pina." + +"Yes, Otto, that's it. Of course I don't like to have any sort of +secret from Pina, but it would be cruel in us to fill her mind with +alarm for no good purpose. No--mum's the word. Take no notice +whatever. Morris may repent. Give him the benefit of the doubt, or the +hope." + +"Very well, Dom, mum shall be the word." + +Having thus for the time being disposed of a troublesome subject, the +brothers returned to the place where the emigrants were encamped. + +Here all was wild confusion and harmony. Lest this should appear +contradictory, we must explain that the confusion was only physical, and +addressed to the eye. The emigrants, who were busy as ants, had already +disembarked large quantities of their goods, which were scattered about +in various heaps between the landing-place and the encampment. The +harmony, on the other hand, was mental and spiritual, for as yet there +had been no time for conflicting interests to arise, and the people were +all so busy that they had not leisure to disagree. + +Besides, the weather being splendidly bright and warm was conducive to +good-humour. It will be remembered also that Hugh Morris and his +friends had resolved to remain quiet for the present. Perhaps the +effect of the ghostly visitation might have had some influence in +restraining their turbulent spirits. + +At all events, be this as it may, when Dominick and Otto came upon the +scene everything was progressing pleasantly. The male emigrants were +running between the beach and the camp with heavy burdens on their +shoulders. The females were busy washing and mending garments, which +stood sorely in need of their attention, or tending the sick and what +Otto styled the infantry. The sailors were engaged, some in +transporting goods from the wreck to the shore, others in piloting two +of the large boats through the reef into the lagoon, and the larger +children were romping joyously in the thickets and trying to climb the +cocoa-nut trees, while the smaller fry were rolling helplessly on the +sands--watched, more or less, by mothers and big sisters. + +Chief among those who piloted the large boats through the passage in the +reef was Hugh Morris. He took careful observations and soundings as he +went along, not that such were needed for the safety of the boats, but +Hugh Morris had an eye to the ultimate destiny of the ship. + +"You're mighty particular, Morris," said Malines, with something of a +sneer in his tone, when the former drew up his boat inside the reef +beside the other boat. "One would think you were piloting a man-of-war +through instead of a little boat." + +"What I was doin' is none o' your business, Malines," returned Hugh, +sternly. "Your command ceased when you lost your ship, and I ain't +agoin' to obey your orders; no, nor take any of your cheek." + +"The emigrants chose to accept me as their commander, at least for the +present," retorted Malines, fiercely. + +To this Hugh replied, with a laugh of scorn, that the emigrants might +make a commander of the ship's monkey for all that he cared, the +emigrants were not _his_ masters, and he would do exactly as he pleased. + +As a number of his followers echoed the scornful laugh, Malines felt +that he had not the power to carry things with a high hand. + +"Well, well," he returned, in a tone of quiet indifference, "we shall +see. It is quite clear to every one with a grain of sense that people +can't live comfortably under two masters; the people will have to decide +that matter for themselves before long." + +"Ay, that will they, master," remarked Joe Binney, in a low but +significant voice. "Seems to me, however, that as we're all agreed +about goin' over to Big Island, we'd better go about it an' leave +disputation till afterwards." + +Agreeing to this in silence, the men set about loading the boats for the +first trip. + +Dominick and Otto, standing on the beach, had witnessed this +altercation. + +"The seeds of much dissension and future trouble are there," remarked +the former. + +"Unless we prevent the growth of the seed," said Otto. + +"True, but how that is to be done does not appear obvious at present. +These men have strong wills and powerful frames, and each has a large +following, I can see that. We must hope that among the emigrants there +may be good and strong men enough to keep the crew in check." + +"Luckily two of the biggest and stoutest are also the most sensible," +said Otto. + +"You mean the brothers Binney?" + +"Yes, Dom. They're first-rate men, don't you think so?" + +"Undoubtedly; but very ignorant, and evidently unaccustomed to lead or +command men." + +"What a pity," exclaimed the boy, with a flush of sudden inspiration, +"that we couldn't make you king of the island! You're nearly as strong +as the best of them, and much cleverer." + +Dominick received this compliment with a laugh and a shake of the head. + +"No, my boy; I am not nearly as strong as Malines or Morris, or the +Binneys. Besides, you forget that `the race is not always to the swift, +nor the battle to the strong,' and as to cleverness, that does not +consist in a superior education or a head crammed full of knowledge, but +in the right and ready application of knowledge. No; I have no ambition +to be a king. But it won't do for us to stand here talking, else we +shall be set down as idlers. Come, let us lend a helping hand." + +While the men were busy at the boats on the lagoon side of the reef, +Pauline was winning golden opinions among the women at the camp by the +hearty, unaffected way in which she went about making herself generally +useful. O blessed simplicity, how adorable art thou in man and woman! +Self-forgetfulness was a salient point in Pauline's character, and, +being conjoined with strong powers of sympathy, active good-will to man +and beast, and more than the average of intellectual capacity, with an +under-current of rippling fun, the girl's influence quickly made itself +felt. + +Mrs Lynch said she was a jewel, and that was extraordinary praise from +the strapping widow, who seldom complimented her sex, whatever she may +have felt. Mrs Welsh said she was a "dear, pritty creetur'," and +laughter-loving little Mrs Nobbs, the wife of a jovial harum-scarum +blacksmith, pronounced her a "perfect darling." As for the children, +after one hour's acquaintance they adored her, and would have "bored her +to death" had that been possible. What the men thought of her we cannot +tell, for they spake not, but furtively stared at her in a sort of +reverential amazement, and some of them, in a state of mild enthusiasm, +gave murmured utterance to the sentence quoted above, "Blessed +simplicity!" for Pauline Rigonda was, at first, utterly unaware of the +sensation she created. + +When the two boats were loaded down to the gunwales, a select party of +men embarked and rowed them over the calm lagoon to Big Island. Of +course they were well armed, for no one could tell what they might meet +with there. Dominick and Otto were of the party, and, being regarded in +some measure as owners of the soil, the former was tacitly recognised as +leader on this their first visit. + +The distance they had to row was not more than a quarter of a mile, so +the lagoon was soon crossed. The spot at which they landed was a +beautiful little bay with bush-topped cliffs on one side, a thicket of +luxuriant plants on the other, and palm groves rising to a moderate +height behind. The little beach on which they ran the boats was of pure +white sand, which induced one of them to name it Silver Bay. + +Jumping out, Dominick, with a dozen armed men, advanced into the bushes +with caution. + +"Nothing to be seen here of either friends or foes," he said, halting. +"I felt sure that we should find no one, and it is of no use taking so +many of you from work; therefore, lads, I would advise your returning to +the boats and going to work at once. My little brother and I will +ascend to the top of the cliff there, from which we will be able to see +all the neighbouring country, and give you timely warning should any +natives appear. Pile your rifles on the beach, so as to have them +handy; but you've nothing to fear." + +In a few minutes Dominick and his brother, each carrying a rifle and +cutlass supplied by the wrecked party, had mounted to the top of the +neighbouring cliff, while the men returned to aid in unloading the +boats. + +"What a splendid island!" exclaimed Otto, with intense delight, as, from +the lofty outlook, they gazed down upon a scene of the richest beauty. +From their position on the reef they had hitherto seen the island +through the softening atmosphere of distance, like a rounded mass of +verdure; but in this case distance had _not_ "lent enchantment to the +view," for, now that they beheld it spread in all its luxuriance at +their feet, like a verdant gem resting on the breast of ocean, it +appeared infinitely more beautiful. Not only was the mind charmed by +the varied details of grove and bay, thicket and grotto, but the eye was +attracted irresistibly to the magnificent trees and shrubs which stood +prominent in their individuality--such as the light and elegant +aito-tree; the stately apape, with its branchless trunk and light crown +of pale green leaves, resembling those of the English ash; the splendid +tamanu, an evergreen, with its laurel-shaped leaves; the imposing +hutu-tree, with foliage resembling the magnolia and its large white +flowers, the petals of which are edged with bright pink;--these and many +others, with the feathery palm and several kinds of mimosa lining the +seashore, presented a display of form and colour such as the brothers +had not up to that time even dreamed of. + +While Otto gazed in silent wonder and admiration, he was surprised to +hear Dominick give vent to a sigh, and shake his head. + +"Dom!" he said, remonstratively, "what do you mean by that?" + +"I mean that the place is such a paradise that the emigrants won't want +to leave it, and that will interfere with a little plan which had begun +to form itself in my brain of late. I had been thinking that among so +many tradesmen I should find men to help me to break up the wreck, and, +out of the materials, to build a small vessel, with which to leave the +island--for, to tell you the truth, Otto, I have begun to fear that this +place lies so far out of the track of ships that we may be left on it +for many years like the mutineers of Pitcairn Island." + +"Humph! I'm sorry you're growing tired of it already," said Otto; "I +thought you had more o' the spirit of Robinson Crusoe in you, Dom, and I +never heard of the mutineers of Pitcairn Island; but if--" + +"What! did you never hear of the mutineers of the _Bounty_?" + +"Never. My education, you know, has been neglected." + +"Then I'll tell you the story some time or other. It's too long to +begin just now, but it beats that of your favourite Robinson out of +sight in my opinion." + +Otto shook his head in grave unbelief. "That," he said, "is impossible. +But as to this island proving so attractive, don't you think that such +fellows as Hugh Morris and Malines will take care to prevent it becoming +too much of a paradise?" + +Dominick laughingly admitted that there was something in that--and he +was right. There was even more in that than he had imagined, for the +party had not been a week in their new home when they began to differ as +to the division of the island. That old, old story of mighty men +desiring to take possession of the land and push their weaker brethren +to the wall soon began to be re-enacted on this gem of the ocean, and +bade fair to convert the paradise--like the celebrated Monte Carlo--into +a magnificent pandemonium. + +At one of their stormy meetings, of which the settlers had many, the +brothers Binney and Dominick were present. It was held on the shores of +Silver Bay, where the first boat-loads had been discharged, and around +which quite a village of rude huts had sprung up like mushrooms. From +those disputatious assemblies most of the women absented themselves, but +the widow Lynch always remained, holding herself in reserve for any +emergency, for she was well aware that her opinion carried much weight +with many of the party. + +"We're a rough lot, and would need tight handlin'," whispered the little +man named Redding to Joe Binney, who sat on a bank beside him. + +"The handlin' will be tight enough before long," returned Joe, with a +decided little nod. "Listen, the worst o' the lot's agoin' to spout." + +This last remark had reference to Malines, who had just risen to reply +to a fiery little man named Buxley, a tailor by trade, who was possessed +not only of good reasoning power but great animal courage, as he had +proved on more than one occasion on the voyage out. + +"Friends," said the mate, "it's all very well for Buxley to talk about +fair play, and equal rights, etcetera, but, I ask, would it be fair play +to give each of us an equal portion of land, when it's quite clear that +some--like Joe Binney there--could cultivate twice as much as his share, +while a creature like Buxley--" + +"No more a creature than yourself!" shouted the little tailor. + +"Could only work up half his lot--if even so much," continued the mate, +regardless of the interruption. + +"Hear, hear!" from those who sympathised with Malines. + +"An' what could _you_ do with land?" demanded Buxley in a tone of scorn, +"a man that's ploughed nothing but salt water all his life." + +This was greeted with a laugh and "That's so." "He's only sowed wild +oats as yet." "Pitch into him, Buckie." + +Malines was fast losing temper under the little man's caustic remarks, +but succeeded in restraining himself, and went on:-- + +"It's quite plain that the island is too small to let every man have an +equal bit of land, so I propose that it should be divided among those +who have strength and knowledge to work it, and--" + +"_You_ ain't one o' them," shouted the irate tailor. + +"Come, come, Buxley--let him speak," said Joe Binney, "fair play, ye +know. That's what you sticks up for, ain't it? Let 'im speak." + +"Anyhow," continued Malines, sharply, "_I_ mean to keep the bit o' +ground I've staked off whether you like it or no--" + +"An' so do I," cried Welsh, who was what may be styled a growly man. + +"Sure, an' so does myself," said Teddy Malone, "for I've staked off a +bit about six feet long an' two broad, to plant mesilf in whin I give up +the ghost." + +This mild pleasantry seemed to calm a little the rising wrath of +contending parties, much to Dominick's satisfaction, for he was +exceedingly anxious to keep in the background and avoid interference. +During the week that had passed, he had more than once been forced to +have sharp words with Malines, and felt that if he was to act as a +peacemaker--which he earnestly wished to do--he must avoid quarrelling +with him if possible. + +The hopes of those who wished to settle matters amicably, however, were +dashed by the fiery tailor, who, still smarting under the contemptuous +tones and words of the mate, suddenly sprang to his feet and suggested +that, as Malines knew nothing about agriculture, no land at all should +be apportioned to him, but that he should be set to fishing, or some +such dirty work, for the benefit of the community. + +This was too much for Malines, who strode towards Buxley with clenched +fists and furious looks, evidently intending to knock him down. To the +surprise and amusement of every one, Buxley threw himself into a +pugilistic attitude, and shouted defiantly, "Come on!" There is no +saying how the thing would have ended, if Dominick had not quickly +interposed. + +"Come, Mr Malines," he said, "it is not very creditable in you to +threaten a man so very much smaller than yourself." + +"Out of my road," shouted the mate, fiercely, "we don't want _gentlemen_ +to lord it over us." + +"No, nor yet _blackguards_," growled a voice in the crowd. + +This so angered Malines, that he dealt Dominick a sounding slap on the +cheek. + +For a moment there was dead silence, as the two men glared at each +other. If it had been a blow the youth might have stood it better, but +there was something so stinging, as well as insulting, in a slap, that +for a moment he felt as if his chest would explode. Before he could +act, however, Joe Binney thrust his bulky form between the men. + +"Leave'm to me, master," he said, quietly turning up his wristbands, +"I'm used to this sort o' thing, an'--" + +"No, no," said Dominick, in a deep, decided voice, "listen." + +He grasped Joe by the arm, and whispered a few words in his ear. A +smile broke over the man's face, and he shook his head doubtfully. + +"Well, it may be so," he remarked, "an' no doubt it would have a good +effect." + +"Now, then, stand aside," said Dominick, as he retreated a few paces and +threw off his coat, while Malines still stood in a threatening attitude, +with an expression of contempt on his face. "My friends," he said, as +he slowly rolled up his shirt-sleeves, showing a pair of arms which, +although not bulky, displayed an amount of sinews and muscle that was +suggestive of knotted ropes under a fair skin-- + +"My friends," he said, "somewhere in the Bible it is written, `Smite a +scorner, and the simple will beware.' I have done my best to conciliate +_this_ scorner without success; I shall now try to smite him." + +"An' brother David an' me will see fair play," remarked Joe Binney. + +If the combatants had been more equally matched, the spectators would +probably have encouraged Dominick with a cheer, but the difference in +size was so apparent, that astonishment kept them silent. Dominick was +indeed fully as tall as his opponent, and his shoulders were nearly as +broad, but the massive weight of Malines's figure seemed to render the +chance of Dominick's success highly improbable. + +The youth sprang at him, however, like lightning, and, hitting him a +violent blow on the forehead, leapt back out of his reach. + +The blow had the effect that was intended; it roused the mate's wrath to +the utmost pitch, causing him to rush at his opponent, striking right +and left with all his force. Dominick, however, leapt about with such +activity, that only a few of the blows reached him, and these not with +their full force. The result was that the mate became what is styled +winded in a few minutes, and was compelled to pause to recover himself, +but Dominick had no intention of allowing him time to recover himself. +Without a moment's hesitation, he sprang in again and planted a severe +left-hander between his opponent's eyes. This roused the mate once more +to white heat, and he sought to close with his foe, but the latter +prevented that by leaping aside, tripping him up, and causing him to +plunge forward on his hands and knees--assisting him to that position +with a stiff rap on the right temple as he passed. + +Then it was that Malines discovered that he had drawn on himself the +wrath of one who had been the champion boxer in a large public school, +and was quite as tough as himself in wind and limb, though not so strong +or so heavy. + +Now, it is not our intention to give a graphic account of that +pugilistic encounter. Yet is it needful to point out briefly how, being +a man of peace, as well as a man of science, Dominick managed to bring +this fight to as speedy a close as possible. Instead, then, of striking +his foe in all directions, and producing a disgusting scene of +bloodshed, he confined his practice chiefly to one spot, between the +eyes, close above the bridge of the nose--varying it a little with a +shot now and then under each eye. This had the effect, owing to +constant repetition, of gradually shutting up both Malines's eyes so +that he could not easily see. When in this condition, Dominick suddenly +delivered first a left and then a right hander into what is sometimes +called the breadbasket, and stretched his adversary on the sand. + +Dominick was not boastful or ungenerous. He did not crow over his +fallen foe. On the contrary, he offered to assist that smitten scorner +to rise, but Malines preferred in the meantime to lie still. + +It is scarcely necessary to say that the emigrants watched this short +but sharp encounter with keen interest, and when it was ended gave vent +to a cheer, in which surprise was quite as clearly expressed as +satisfaction. + +"Now, I tell 'ee what it is, lads," said Joe Binney, striking his great +right fist into the palm of his left hand enthusiastically, "I never +seed the likes o' that since I was a leetle booy, and I've got a motion +for to propose, as they say at meetin's. It's this, that we makes +Master Dom'nik Riggundy capting over us all." + +Up started Teddy Malone, with a slap of his thigh. "And it's mesilf +as'll second that motion--only we should make him governor of the whole +island, if not king!" + +"Hear! hear!" shouted a decided majority of the party. "Let him be +king!" + +When silence had been partially restored Dominick politely but firmly +declined the honour, giving it as his opinion that the fairest way would +be to have a republic. + +"A republic! No; what we wants is a despotism," said David Binney, who +had up to this point remained silent, "a regular despot--a howtocrat--is +what we wants to keep us in order." + +"Hump!" exclaimed Hugh Morris, contemptuously, "if you'd on'y let +Malines have his way you'd soon have a despot an' a howtocrat as 'ud +keep yer noses to the grindstone." + +"Mrs Lynch," whispered Otto, who had hitherto stood beside the widow +watching the proceedings with inexpressible glee, "you get up an' +propose that Pina should be _queen_!" + +That this suggestion came upon the widow with a shock of surprise, as +well as approval, was obvious from the wide-eyed stare, with which for a +moment she regarded the boy, and from her subsequent action. Taking a +bold and masculine stride to the front of the disputers, she turned +about and faced them. + +"Howld yer tongues now, boys, all of you, and listen to what your +grandmother's got to say." + +A shout of laughter cut her short for a few seconds. + +"That's right, old 'ooman, out with it." + +"Sure, if ye'd stop your noise I'd out wid it fast enough. Now, then, +here ye are, nivver a man of ye able to agree wid the others; an' the +raisin's not far to seek--for yer all wrong togither. It would nivver +do to make wan o' you a king--not even Joe here, for he knows nixt to +nothin', nor yet Mister Rig Gundy, though he can fight like a man, for +it's not a king's business to fight. No, take my word for it; what ye +want is a _queen_--" + +A loud explosion of mirth drowned the rest. "Hurrah! for Queen Lynch," +cried one. "The Royal blood of owld Ireland for ivver!" shouted Malone. + +"I wouldn't," said the widow indignantly, "condescind to reign over +sitch a nation o' pigs, av ye was to go down on yer bare knees an' +scrape them to the bone. No, it's English blood, or Spanitch, I don't +rightly know which, that I'm drivin' at, for where could ye find a +better, or honester, or purtier queen than that swate creetur, Miss +Pauline Rig Gundy?" + +The idea seemed to break upon the assembly as a light in a dark place. +For a moment they seemed struck dumb; then there burst forth such a +cheer as showed that the greater part of those present sympathised +heartily with the proposal. + +"I know'd ye'd agree to it. Sure, men always does when a sensible woman +spakes. You see, Queen Pauline the First--" + +"Hurrah! for Queen Pauline the First," yelled the settlers, with mingled +cheers and laughter. + +"Queen Pauline the First, ye may be sure," continued the widow, "would +nivver try to kape order wid her fists, nor yit wid shoutin' or +swearin'. An' then, av coorse, it would be aisy to make Mister Duminick +or Joe Binney Prime Minister, an' little Buxley Chancler o' the +Checkers, or whatever they calls it. Now, think over it, boys, an' good +luck be wid ye." + +They did think over it, then and there, in real earnest, and the +possibility of an innocent, sensible, gentle, just, sympathetic, and +high-minded queen reigning over them proved so captivating to these +rough fellows, that the idea which had been at first received in jest +crystallised into a serious purpose. At this point Otto ventured to +raise his voice in this first deliberation of the embryo State. + +"Friends," he said, with an air of modesty, which, we fear, was foreign +to his nature, "although I can only appear before you as a boy, my big +brother has this day proved himself to be so much more than an ordinary +man that I feel somehow as if I had a right to his surplus manhood, +being next-of-kin, and therefore I venture to address you as a sort of +man." (Hear, hear!) "I merely wish to ask a question. May I ask to be +the bearer of the news of this assembly's determination to--the--the +_Queen_?" + +"Yes--yes--of course--av course," were the immediate replies. + +Otto waited not for more, but sped to their new hut, in which the Queen +was busy preparing dinner at the time. + +"Pina," exclaimed the boy, bursting in, "will you consent to be the +Queen of Big Island?" + +"Come, Otto; don't talk nonsense. I hope Dom is with you. Dinner is +much overdone already." + +"No, but I'm not talking nonsense," cried Otto. "I say, will you +consent to be a queen--a _real_ queen--Pina the First, eh?" + +Hereupon he gave his wondering sister a graphic account of the recent +meeting, and fight, and final decision. + +"But they don't really mean it, you know," said Pauline, laughing. + +"But they do really mean it," returned Otto; "and, by the way, if _you_ +become a queen won't that necessarily make me and Dom princes?" + +As Dominick entered the hut at that moment he joined in the laugh which +this question created, and corroborated his brother's statement. + +In this cheerful frame of mind the new Royal Family sat down to dinner. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +THE CORONATION--CROWN-MAKING DELIBERATIONS, CEREMONIALS, AND +CATASTROPHES. + +There came a day, not many weeks later in the history of our emigrants, +when great preparations were made for an important and unusual event. + +This was neither more nor less than the coronation of Queen Pauline the +First. + +The great event had been delayed by the unfortunate illness of the elect +queen herself--an illness brought on by reckless exposure in the pursuit +of the picturesque and beautiful among the islets of the lagoon. In +other words, Otto and she, when off on a fishing and sketching excursion +in the dinghy of the wreck, had been caught in a storm and drenched to +the skin. The result to Otto was an increase of appetite; to Pauline, a +sharp attack of fever, which confined her for some time to the palace, +as their little hut was now styled. Here the widow Lynch--acting the +united parts of nurse, lady of the bedchamber, mistress of the robes, +maid of honour, _chef de cuisine_, and any other office that the reader +may recollect as belonging to royalty--did so conduct herself as to gain +not only the approval but the affection and gratitude of her royal +mistress. + +During the period of Pauline's convalescence considerable changes had +taken place in the circumstances and condition of the community. The +mere fact that a government had been fixed on, the details of which were +being wrought out by a committee of leading men appointed by the people, +tended to keep the turbulent spirits pretty quiet, and enabled the +well-disposed to devote all their strength of mind and body to the +various duties that devolved upon them and the improving of their +circumstances. Busy workers are usually peaceful. They have no time to +quarrel. It is only when turbulent idlers interfere with or oppress +them that the industrious are compelled to show their teeth and set up +their backs. + +During these weeks the appearance of the shores of Big Island began to +change materially. All round the edge of Silver Bay a number of bright +green patches were enclosed by rough but effective fences. These were +the gardens of the community, in which sweet potatoes, yams, etcetera, +grew spontaneously, while some vegetables of the northern hemisphere had +already been sown, and were in some cases even beginning to show above +ground. In these gardens, when the important work of planting had been +finished, the people set about building huts of various shapes and +sizes, according to their varying taste and capacity. + +Even at this early stage in the life of the little community the +difficulties which necessarily surround a state of civilisation began to +appear, and came out at one of the frequent, though informal, meetings +of the men on the sands of Silver Bay. It happened thus:-- + +It was evening. The younger and more lively men of the community, +having a large store of surplus energy unexhausted after the labours of +the day, began, as is the wont of the young and lively, to compete with +one another in feats of agility and strength, while a group of their +elders stood, sat, or reclined on a bank, discussing the affairs of the +nation, and some of them enjoying their pipes--for, you see, everything +in the wreck having been saved, they had, among other bad things, plenty +of tobacco. + +Dr Marsh sat among the elders, for, although several weeks on shore had +greatly restored his health, he was still too weak to join in the +athletics. A few of the women and children also looked on, but they +stood aside by themselves, not feeling very much interested in the +somewhat heated discussions of the men. + +By degrees these discussions degenerated into disputes, and became at +last so noisy that the young athletes were attracted, and some of them +took part in the debates. + +"I tell 'ee what it is," exclaimed Nobbs, the blacksmith, raising his +powerful voice above the other voices, and lifting his huge fist in the +air, "something'll have to be done, for I can't go on workin' for +nothin' in this fashion." + +"No more can I, or my mates," said Abel Welsh, the carpenter. + +"Here comes the Prime Minister," cried Teddy Malone. + +"To _be_--he ain't Prime Minister yet," growled Jabez Jenkins, who, +being a secret ally of Hugh Morris, was one of the disaffected, and had, +besides, a natural tendency to growl and object to everything. + +"He _is_ Prime Minister," cried the fiery little Buxley, starting up and +extending his hand with the air of one who is about to make a speech. +"No doubt the Queen ain't crowned yet, an' hasn't therefore appointed +any one to be her Minister, but we know she means to do it and we're all +agreed about it." + +"No we ain't," interrupted Jenkins, angrily. + +"Well, the most on us, then," retorted Buxley. + +"Shut up, you radical!" said Nobbs, giving the tailor a facetious slap +on the back, "an' let's hear what the Prime Minister himself has got to +say about it." + +"What is the subject under discussion?" inquired Dominick, who, with +Otto, joined the group of men at the moment and flung down a basket of +fine fish which he had just caught in the lagoon. + +He turned to Dr Marsh for an answer. + +"Do _you_ explain your difficulties," said the doctor to the blacksmith. + +"Well, sir," said Nobbs, "here's where it is. When I fust comed ashore +an' set up my anvil an' bellows I went to work with a will, enjyin' the +fun o' the thing an' the novelty of the sitivation; an' as we'd lots of +iron of all kinds I knocked off nails an' hinges an' all sorts o' things +for anybody as wanted 'em. Similarly, w'en Abel Welsh comed ashore he +went to work with his mates at the pit-saw an' tossed off no end o' +planks, etceterer. But you see, sir, arter a time we come for to find +that we're workin' to the whole population for nothin', and while +everybody else is working away at his own hut or garden, or what not, +_our_ gardens is left to work themselves, an' _our_ huts is nowhere! +Now, as we've got no money to pay for work with, and as stones an' +shells won't answer the purpus--seein' there's a sight too much of 'em-- +the question is, what's to be done?" + +"Not an easy question to answer, Nobbs," said Dominick, "and one that +requires serious consideration. Perhaps, instead of trying to answer it +at present, we might find a temporary expedient for the difficulty until +a Committee of the House--if I may say so--shall investigate the whole +problem." (Hear, hear from Malone, Redding, and Buxley, and a growl +from Jenkins.) "I would suggest, then, in the meantime, that while Nobbs +and Welsh,--who are, perhaps, the most useful men among us--continue to +ply their trades for the benefit of the community, every man in the +community shall in turn devote a small portion of time to working in the +gardens and building the huts of these two men." (Hear, hear, from a +great many of the hearers, and dissenting growls from a few.) "But," +continued Dominick, "as there are evidently some here who are not of an +obliging disposition, and as the principle of willing service lies at +the root of all social felicity, I would further suggest that, until our +Queen is crowned and the Government fairly set up, all such labour shall +be undertaken entirely by volunteers." + +This proposal was agreed to with boisterous acclaim, and nearly the +whole community volunteered on the spot. While this little difficulty +was being overcome, Pauline lay sleeping in the palace hard by, and the +enthusiastic cheer with which the conclusion of Dominick's speech was +received awoke her. + +"There--I know'd they'd do it!" exclaimed the lady of the bedchamber +fiercely; "lie still, cushla! an' shut your purty eyes. Maybe you'll +drop off again!" + +A humorous smile beamed in Pauline's countenance and twinkled in her +eyes. + +"Thank you, dear nurse, I've had enough of sleep. Indeed, I begin to +feel so strong that I think I shall very soon be able to undergo that--" + +Pauline stopped and burst into a fit of merry laughter. + +"It's that caronation, now, ye'll be thinkin' av?" said the widow Lynch, +with a reproving look. "Faix, it's no laughin' matter ye'll find it, +dear. It's onaisy is the hid as wears a crown." + +"Why you talk, nurse, as if you had worn one yourself, and knew all +about its troubles." + +"Sure, av I didn't, me progenissors did, in Munster, before you English +konkered us an' turned us topsy-turvy. But nivver mind. I don't bear +no ill-will to 'ee, darlint, bekaise o' the evil deeds o' yer +forefathers. I'm of a forgivin' disposition. An' it's a good quane +you'll make, too, av ye don't let the men have too much o' their own +way. But I do think that you an' me togither'll be more than a match +for them all. D'ee think ye could stand the caronation now, dear?" + +"Yes, I think I could. But really, you know, I find it so hard to +believe it is not all a joke, despite the grave deputations that have +waited on me, and the serious arguments they have used. The idea of +making me--_Me_--a Queen!" + +Again Pauline Rigonda gave way to merry laughter, and again did her lady +of the bedchamber administer a reproof by expressing the hope that she +might take the matter as lightly a year hence. + +This pertinacious reference to possible trouble being mingled with the +contemplated honour checked Pauline's disposition to laugh, and she had +quite recovered her gravity when her brother Otto entered. + +"Pina, I've come to tell you that they've fixed the coronation for +Monday next if you feel up to it, and that the new palace is begun--a +very different one, let me tell you, from this wretched affair with its +tumble-down walls and low roof." + +"Indeed--is it so very grand?" + +"Grand! I should think it is. Why, it has got three rooms--_three_ +rooms--think o' that! Not countin' a splendid out-house stuck on +behind, about ten feet square and over six feet high. Each of the three +rooms is twelve feet long by ten broad; seven feet high, and papered +with palm leaves. The middle one is the hall of Audience and Justice-- +or injustice if you like--the Council Chamber, the House of Parliament, +the mess-room, and the drawing-room. The one on the right with two +windows, from which are magnificent views, is your Majesty's +sleeping-room and boudoir; that on the left is the ditto of Prime +Minister Dominick and his Chief Secretary Prince Otto. The sort of +hen-coop stuck on behind is to be the abode of the Court Physician, Dr +John Marsh--whom, by the way, you'll have to knight--and with whom is to +be billeted the Court Jester, Man-at-Arms, Man-of-all-work and general +retainer, little Buxley. So, you see, it's all cut and dry, though of +course it will take some little time to finish the palace in all its +multitudinous details. Meanwhile I have been sent to sound you as to +Monday next. Will you be able and ready?" + +"If I could only get myself to believe," answered Pauline, as she leaned +on one elbow on her couch, and toyed contemplatively with a fold of the +shawl that covered her, "that the people are really in earnest, I--" + +"Really in earnest!" repeated Otto. "Why, Pina, never were people more +in earnest in this world. If you'd heard and seen them talking about it +as I have, you'd not doubt their earnestness. Besides, you have no idea +how needful you are to the community. The fact is, it is composed of +such rough and rowdy elements--though of course there are some +respectable and well-principled fellows among them--that nothing short +of a power standing high above them and out o' their reach will have any +influence with them at all. There are so many strong, determined, and +self-willed men amongst them that there's no chance of their ever +agreeing to submit to each other; so, you see, you are a sort of good +angel, before whom they will be only too glad to bow--a kind of superior +being, whom they will reverence, and to whom they will submit--a human +safety-valve, in short, to prevent the community from blowing up--a +species of--of--" + +Here Pauline burst into another of her irrepressible fits of laughter, +and being joined therein by Prince Otto, called forth a remonstrance +from Mrs Lynch, who declared that if that was the way they were goin' +to manage the affairs of state, she would be obliged to advise the +settlers to change their minds and set up a republic. + +"An' sure, mother," said Otto, who was a privileged favourite, "nothing +could be better, with yourself as President." + +"Go along wid ye, boy, an' do yer dooty. Tell the people that Miss +Pauline will be ready--wind an' weather permittin'." + +"Am I to take back that message, Pina?" asked Otto, with a look of glee. + +"Well, I suppose you may." + +It was not in the nature of things that a coronation in the +circumstances which we have described should take place without being +more or less intermingled with the unavoidable absurdities which mark +the coronations of older and more densely peopled lands. It was felt +that as the act was a seriously meant reality, and no mere joke, it +should be gone about and accomplished with all due solemnity and proper +ceremonial, somewhat after the pattern--as Teddy Malone suggested--of a +Lord Mayor's Show; a suggestion, by the way, which did not conduce to +the solemnity of the preliminary discussions. + +There was one great difficulty, however, with which the embryo nation +had to contend, and this was that not one of the community had ever seen +a coronation, or knew how the details of the matter should be arranged. + +In these circumstances an assembly of the entire nation was convened to +consider the matter. As this convention embraced the women (except, of +course, the queen elect), it included the babies, and as most of these +were self-assertive and well-developed in chest and throat, it was found +necessary to relegate them and the women to an outer circle, while the +men in an inner circle tackled the problem. + +The widow Lynch, being quite irrepressible except by physical force, and +even by that with difficulty, was admitted on sufferance to the inner +circle, and took part in the discussions. + +Like most large assemblies, this one was found so unmanageable, that, +after an hour or two of hopeless wrangling, Buxley the tailor started up +with dishevelled hair and glaring eyeballs, and uttered a yell that +produced a momentary silence. Seizing the moment, he said-- + +"I moves that we apint a committee to inquire into the whole matter an' +report." + +"Hear, hear, and well said!" shouted a multitude of voices. + +"An' _I_ moves," cried Mrs Lynch, starting forward with both arms up +and all her fingers rampant, "that--" + +"No, no, mother," interrupted Buxley, "you must second the motion." + +"Howld yer tongue, ye dirty spalpeen! Isn't it the second motion that +I'm puttin'? _I_ moves that the committee is Mr Dumnik Rig Gundy an' +Dr Marsh--" + +"An' _Mister_ Nobbs," shouted a voice. + +"An' _Mister_ Joe Binney," said another. + +"An' _little_ Mister Buxley, be way of variashun," cried Teddy Malone. + +"An' Mistress Lynch, for a change," growled Jabez Jenkins. + +"Hear, hear! No, no! Hurrah! Nonsense! Howld yer tongue! Be +serious!"--gradually drowned in a confusion of tongues with a yelling +accompaniment from infantry in the outer circle. + +It was finally agreed, however, that the arrangements for the coronation +should be left entirely to a committee composed of Dominick, Dr Marsh, +Joe Binney, and Hugh Morris--Joe being put forward as representing the +agricultural interest, and Hugh the malcontents. Teddy Malone was added +to make an odd number, "for there's luck in odd numbers," as he himself +remarked on accepting office. + +Immediately after the general meeting broke up, these five retired to +the privacy of a neighbouring palm grove, where, seated on a verdant and +flowering bank, they proceeded calmly to discuss details. + +"You see, my friends," said Dominick, "it must be our most earnest +endeavour to carry out this important matter in a serious and +business-like manner. Already there is too much of a spirit of levity +among the people, who seem to look at the whole affair as a sort of game +or joke, playing, as it were, at national life, whereas we actually +_are_ an independent nation--" + +"A small wan, av coorse," murmured Malone. + +"Yes, a small one, but not the less real on that account, so that we are +entitled to manage our own affairs, arrange our own government, and, +generally, to act according to our united will. These islands and their +surroundings are unknown--at least they are not put down on any chart; I +believe we have discovered them. There are no inhabitants to set up a +counter claim; therefore, being entitled to act according to our will, +our appointment of a queen to rule us--under limited powers, to be +hereafter well considered and clearly written down--is a reality; not a +mere play or semi-jest to be undone lightly when the fancy takes us. +That being so, we must go to work with gravity and earnestness of +purpose." + +Teddy Malone, who was an impressionable creature, here became so +solemnised that his lengthening visage and seriously wrinkled brow +rendered gravity--especially on the part of Dr Marsh--almost +impossible. + +Overcoming his feelings with a powerful effort the doctor assented to +what Dominick said, and suggested that some mild sort of ceremonial +should be devised for the coronation, in order to impress the beholders +as well as to mark the event. + +"That's so," said Teddy Malone, "somethin' quiet an' orderly, like an +Irish wake, or--. Ah! then ye needn't smile, doctor. It's the quietest +an' most comfortin' thing in life is an Irish wake whin it's gone about +properly." + +"But we don't want comforting, Teddy," said Dominick, "it is rather a +subject for rejoicing." + +"Well, then, what's to hinder us rejoicin' in comfort?" returned Teddy. +"At all the wakes I ivver attinded there was more rejoicin' than +comfortin' goin' on; but that's a matter of taste, av coorse." + +"There'll have to be a crown o' some sort," remarked Hugh Morris. + +"You're right, lad," said Joe Binney. "It wouldn't do to make it o' +pasteboard, would it? P'r'aps that 'ud be too like playin' at a game, +an' tin would be little better." + +"What else can we make it of, boys?" said Malone, "we've got no goold +here--worse luck! but maybe the carpenter cud make wan o' wood. With a +lick o' yellow paint it would look genuine." + +"Nonsense, Teddy," said the doctor, "don't you see that in this life men +should always be guided by circumstances, and act with propriety. Here +we are on an island surrounded by coral reefs, going to elect a queen; +what more appropriate than that her crown should be made of coral." + +"The very thing, doctor," cried Malone, with emphasis, "och! it's the +genius ye have! There's all kinds o' coral, red and white, an' we could +mix it up wi' some o' that fine-coloured seaweed to make it purty." + +"It could be made pritty enough without seaweed," said Binney, "an' it's +my notion that the women-folk would be best at makin' of it." + +"Right, Joe, right, so, if you have no objection, we will leave it to +them," said Dominick, "and now as to the ceremonial?" + +"A pursession," suggested Joe Binney. + +"Just so," said Hugh Morris, "the very thing as was in my mind." + +"And a throne," cried Malone, "there couldn't be a proper quane widout a +throne, you know. The carpenter can make that, anyhow, for there's wood +galore on the island--red, black, an' white. Yis, we must have a grand +throne, cut, an' carved, an' mounted high, so as she'll have two or +three steps to climb up to it." + +In regard to the procession and the throne there was considerable +difference of opinion, but difficulties were got over and smoothed down +at last by the tact and urbanity of Dominick, to whom, finally, the +whole question of the coronation was committed. Thus it frequently +happens among men. In the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom +enough, usually, to guide in the selection of the fittest man to take +the helm in all important affairs. + +And that reminds us that it is high time to terminate this long +digression, and guide our readers back to the beginning of the chapter, +where we stated that the important day had at last arrived. + +Happily, in those highly favoured climes weather has not usually to be +taken much into account. The sun arose out of the ocean's breast with +the same unclouded beauty that had marked his rise every morning for a +week previously, and would probably mark it for a week to come. The +sweet scents of the wooded heights floated down on the silver strand; +the sharks ruffled the surface of the lagoon with their black fins, the +birds hopped or flew from palm-tree to mimosa-bush, and the waterfowl +went about according to taste on lazy or whistling wings, intent on +daily business, much as though nothing unusual were "in the air." + +But it was otherwise with the human family on Big Island. Unwonted +excitement was visible on almost every face. Bustle was in every +action. Preparations were going on all round, and, as some members of +the community were bent on giving other members a surprise, there was +more or less of secrecy and consequent mystery in the behaviour of every +one. + +By breakfast-time little Mrs Nobbs, the blacksmith's laughter-loving +wife, had nearly laughed herself into fits of delight at the crown, +which she assisted Mrs Welsh and the widow Lynch to fabricate. The +last had devised it, Mrs Welsh had built it in the rough, and Mrs +Nobbs had finished it off with the pretty little wreath of red and white +branching coral that formed its apex. Apart from taste it was a +stupendous erection. + +"But don't you think that it's too big and heavy?" cried Mrs Nobbs, +with a shrieking giggle and clapping of her hands, as she ran back to +have a distant view of it. + +"Pooh!" exclaimed Mrs Lynch contemptuously, "too heavy? No, it's +nothin', my dear, to what the kings an' quanes of Munster wore." + +"But Miss Pauline is neither a king nor a queen of Munster, an' I do +think it's a bit over-heavy," objected Mrs Welsh, as she lifted the +structure with difficulty. + +"Well, ye might take off the wreath," was the widow's reply. + +Mrs Nobbs removed the only part of the erection that was really pretty, +but still it was pronounced by Mrs Welsh to be too heavy, especially +for the fair and delicate brows of Pauline Rigonda. + +While they were thus engaged Dr Marsh entered the hut, where, for the +sake of secrecy, the crown had been prepared, but Dr Marsh was a +privileged man, besides he was there professionally; little Brown-eyes +was sick--not seriously, but sufficiently so to warrant medical +intervention. + +"Well, what have we here, ladies?" said the doctor blandly, "part of the +throne, eh?" + +"Sure it is, in a sort of way, for it's the crown," answered Mrs Lynch, +"an' they think it's over-heavy." + +"Not at all; by no means," cried the doctor heartily. "It's splendid. +Put the wreath on--so. Nothing could be finer. Shall I carry it up for +you? The coronation is fixed for noon, you know, so that we may have +time to finish off with a grand feast." + +"No, no, doctor dear. Thank 'ee kindly, but we must cover it up, so's +not to let the people see it till the right time." + +"Well, see that you're not late with it." + +Having caused Brown-eyes to put out her little tongue, and felt her +pulse, and nodded his head gravely once or twice without speaking, all +of which must have been highly comforting and beneficial to the child, +the doctor went out. + +Not long afterwards the people began to assemble round the palace, in +front of which a wondrous throne had been erected. Down in a dell +behind a cliff some fifty men had assembled secretly with the crown on a +cushion in their midst. They were headed by Dr Marsh, who had been +unanimously elected to place the crown on Pauline's head. In the palace +Pauline was being prepared by Mrs Lynch and Mrs Nobbs for the +ceremony. + +On the top of a mound close to the palace a band of conspirators was +assembled. These conspirators were screened from view by some thick +bushes. Otto Rigonda was their ringleader, Teddy Malone and little +Buxley formed the rest of the band. Otto had found a dead tree. Its +trunk had been hollowed by decay. He and his fellow-conspirators had +sawn it off near to the ground, and close to the root they had drilled a +touch-hole. This huge piece of ordnance they had loaded with a heavy +charge of the ship's gunpowder. Otto now stood ready with a piece of +slow-match at the touch-hole, and another piece, lighted, in hand. + +Suddenly, about the hour of noon, Abel Welsh the carpenter, and Nobbs +the blacksmith, issued from the palace with two long tin implements. +Secretly, for two weeks previously, had these devoted men retired every +night to the opposite extremity of Big Island, and frightened into fits +the birds and beasts of that region with the sounds they produced in +practising on those instruments. Applying the trumpets to their lips, +they sent forth a tremendous, though not uniform, blast. + +The surrounding crowd, who expected something, but knew not what, +replied with a cheer not unmixed with laughter, for the two trumpets, +after the manner of asses, had to make some ineffectual preliminary +efforts before achieving a full-toned bray. An answering note from the +dell, however, repressed the laughter and awoke curiosity. Next moment +the doctor appeared carrying the crown, and followed by his fifty men, +armed with muskets, rifles, fowling-pieces, and revolvers. Their +appearance was so realistic and impressive that the people forgot to +cheer. At the same moment the palace door was thrown open, and Dominick +led the youthful queen to the foot of the throne. + +Poor little Pauline looked so modest and pretty, and even timid, and +withal so angelically innocent in the simplicity of her attire, that the +people burst into an earnestly enthusiastic shout, and began for the +first time to feel that this was no game or play, but a serious reality. + +Things had been so arranged that Pina and Dr Marsh reached the foot of +the throne together. Then the latter took the pretty coral wreath off +the huge crown, and, to widow Lynch's felt, but not expressed, +indignation, placed _that_ on Pauline's head. + +"Pauline Rigonda," he said in a loud voice, "I have been appointed by +the people of this island to crown you, in their name and by their +authority, as Queen of Refuge Islands, in the full belief that your +innocence and regard for truth and righteousness will be their best +guarantee that you will select as your assistants the men whom you think +best suited to aid you in the promotion of good government." + +The serious tone of the doctor's voice, and the genuine shouts of +satisfaction from the people, put the poor little queen in such a +flutter that nearly all her courage forsook her, and she could scarcely +reply. Nevertheless, she had a mind of her own. + +"Doctor Marsh, and my dear people," she said at last, "I--I scarcely +know how to reply. You overrate me altogether; but--but, if I rule at +all, I will do so by the blessed truths of this book (she held up a +Bible); and--and before taking a single step further I appoint as my--my +Prime Minister--if I may so call him--Joe Binney." + +For one moment there was the silence of amazement, for neither Dominick +nor Dr Marsh knew of Pauline's intention. Only the widow Lynch had +been aware of her resolve. Next moment a hilarious cheer burst from the +crowd, and Teddy Malone, from his retreat, shouted, "God bliss the +Quane!" which infused hearty laughter into the cheer, whereupon Welsh +and Nobbs, thinking the right time had come, sent out of their tin +tubes, after a few ineffectual blurts, two terrific brays. Fearing to +be too late, one of the armed men let off his piece, which was the +signal for a grand _feu de joie_. + +"Now for it," thought the chief conspirator in the bushes, as he applied +his light to the slow-match. He thought nothing more just then, for the +slow-match proved to be rather quick, fired the powder at once, and the +monster cannon, bursting with a hideous roar into a thousand pieces, +blew Otto through the bushes and down the mound, at the foot of which he +lay as one dead. + +Consternation was on every face. The queen, dropping her crown, sprang +to his side, Dr Marsh did the same, but Otto recovered almost +immediately. + +"That _was_ a stunner!" he said, with a confused look, putting his hand +to his head, as they helped him to rise. + +Strange to say, he was none the worse of the misadventure, but did his +part nobly at the Royal feast that followed. + +That night she who had risen with the sun as Pauline Rigonda, laid her +fair young head upon the pillow as--the Island Queen. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +SHOWS HOW THEY WERE TORMENTED BY AN OLD FAMILIAR FIEND; HOW THEY KILLED +HIM, AND WHAT BEFELL THE QUEEN AND OTTO WHILE IN THE PURSUIT OF +LEGITIMATE PLEASURE. + +When the widow Lynch told Pauline that "onaisy is the hid as wears a +crown," she stated a great truth which was borne in upon the poor queen +at the very commencement of her reign. + +Up to that time Malines had quietly kept possession of the key of the +ship's liquor-room, knowing full well what extreme danger lay in letting +men have unrestrained command of strong drink. But when the royal feast +referred to in the last chapter was pending, he could not well refuse to +issue an allowance of grog. He did so, however, on the understanding +that only a small quantity was to be taken for the occasion, and that he +should himself open and lock the door for them. He made this +stipulation because he knew well enough the men who wanted to drink +would break the door open if he refused to give up the key; and his +fears were justified, for some of the more mutinous among the men, under +the leadership of Jabez Jenkins and Morris, seized the key from the mate +when he produced it, carried all the spirit and wine casks to the shore, +ferried them over the lagoon to Big Island, and set them up +ostentatiously and conspicuously in a row not far from the palace. As +this was understood by the people to be in connection with the +coronation festivities, no particular notice was taken of it. + +But the result soon began to be felt, for after the festivities were +over, and most of the settlers had retired to rest, a group of kindred +souls gathered round the spirit casks, and went in for what one of them +termed a "regular spree." At first they drank and chatted with moderate +noise, but as the fumes of the terrible fire-water mounted to their +brains they began to shout and sing, then to quarrel and fight, and, +finally, the wonted silence of the night was wildly disturbed by the +oaths and fiendish yells and idiotic laughter of maniacs. + +"This won't do," said Dominick, issuing from his room in the palace, and +meeting the doctor. + +"I had just come to the same conclusion," said the latter, "and was +about to consult you as to what we should do." + +"Collect some of our best men and put a stop to it," returned Dominick; +"but here comes the prime minister--roused, no doubt, as we have been. +What say you, Joe; shall we attempt to quell them?" + +"Well, master, that depends. There's a braw lot on 'em, an' if they +beant far gone, d'ee see, they might gie us a deal o' trouble. If they +_be_ far gone I'd advise ye to let 'em alone; the drink'll quell 'em +soon enough. Arter that we'll know what to do." + +Just as he spoke a woman was seen rushing frantically towards them. It +was little Mrs Nobbs. Poor thing! All her wonted merriment had fled +from her comely face, and been supplanted by a look of horror. + +"O sirs!" she cried, clasping her hands, and gasping as she spoke, +"come, come quick, my John has falled an' broke his pledge, an' he's +goin' to murder some of 'em. I _know_ he'll do it; he's got hold o' the +fore-hammer. Oh! come quick!" + +They required no urging. Running down to the scene of the orgies, they +found that the blacksmith, who had hitherto been considered--and really +was--one of the quietest men of the party, was now among the drunkards. +He stood in the midst of the rioters, his large frame swaying to and +fro, while he held the ponderous fore-hammer threateningly in his hands, +and insanity gleamed in his eyes as he glared fiercely at Jabez Jenkins. + +On Jabez the liquor had a different effect, his temperament being +totally different. He was a rather phlegmatic man, and, having drunk +enough to have driven two men like the blacksmith raving mad, he only +stood before him with a dull heavy look of stupidity, mingled with an +idiotic sneer of defiance. + +"Fiend!" shouted Nobbs, gnashing his teeth, "you have got me to do it, +and now I'll smash in your thick skull--I'll--" + +He stopped abruptly for a moment. Joe Binney came up behind and gently +laid a hand on his shoulder. + +"Come, John, you ain't agoin' to do it. You knows you're not." + +The quiet tone, the gentle yet fearless look, and, above all, the +sensible, kindly expression on his friend's countenance, effectually +subdued the blacksmith for a few seconds, but the fury soon returned, +though the channel in which it flowed was changed, for Jabez was +forgotten, having slunk away. + +"Ha!" he shouted, grasping Joe by the hand and arm, "I've had it again! +You don't know how it shoots through my veins. I--I've tried to break +with it, too--tried--tried! D'ee know what it is to try, Joe, to try-- +try--try till your blood curdles, an' your marrow boils, and your nerves +tingle--but I gained the victory once--I--ha! ha! yes, I took the pledge +an' kep' it, an' I've bin all right--till to-night. My Mary knows that. +She'll tell you it's true--for months, and months, and months, and--but +I'll keep it _yet_!" + +He shouted his last words in a tone of fierce defiance, let go his +friend, caught up the sledge-hammer, and, whirling it round his head as +if it had been a mere toy, turned to rush towards the sea. + +But Joe's strong arm arrested him. Well did he understand the nature of +the awful fiend, with which the blacksmith was fighting. The scene +enacting was, with modifications, somewhat familiar to him, for he had +dwelt near a great city where many a comrade had fallen in the same +fight, never more to rise in this life. + +Joe's superior strength told for a moment, and he held the struggling +madman fast, but before Dominick and the doctor could spring to his aid, +Nobbs had burst from him. The brief check, however, seemed to have +changed his intentions. Possibly he was affected by some hazy notion +that it would be a quicker end to leap headlong from the neighbouring +cliffs than to plunge into the sea. At all events, he ran like a deer +up towards the woods. A bonfire, round which the revellers had made +merry, lay in his path. He went straight through it, scattering the +firebrands right and left. No one attempted, no one dared, to stop him, +but God put a check in his way. The course he had taken brought him +straight up to the row of casks which stood on the other side of the +fire, and again his wild mood was changed. With a yell of triumph he +brought the sledge-hammer down on one of the casks, drove in the head, +and overturned it with the same blow, and the liquor gushing out flowed +into the fire, where it went up in a magnificent roar of flame. + +The effect on those of the rioters who were not too drunk to understand +anything, was to draw forth a series of wild cheers, but high above +these rang the triumphant shout of the blacksmith as he gazed at the +destruction of his enemy. + +By this time all the people in the settlement had turned out, and were +looking on in excitement, alarm, or horror, according to temperament. +Among them, of course, was the widow Lynch, who was quick to note that +events were taking a favourable turn. Springing boldly to the side of +the smith, and, in her wild dishevelment of hair and attire, seeming a +not unfit companion, she cried-- + +"Don't spare them, John! sure there's another inimy close at yer back." + +Nobbs had sense enough left to observe something of the ludicrous in the +woman and her advice. He turned at once, uttered a wildly jovial laugh, +and driving in the head of another cask, overturned it. As before, the +spirit rushed down the hill and was set ablaze, but the poor madman did +not pause now to look at the result. His great enemy was in his power; +his spirit was roused. Like one of the fabled heroes of old, he laid +about him with his ponderous weapon right and left until every cask was +smashed, and every drop of the accursed liquid was rushing down the +hillside to the sea, or flaming out its fierce existence in the air. + +The people looked on awe-stricken, and in silence, while the madman +fought. It was not with the senseless casks or the inanimate liquor +that poor John Nobbs waged war that night; it was with a real fiend who, +in days gone by, had many a time tripped him up and laid him low, who +had nearly crushed the heart of his naturally cheerful little wife, who +had ruined his business, broken up his home, alienated his friends, and, +finally, driven him into exile--a fiend from whom, for many months, +under the influence of "the pledge," he had been free, and who, he had +fondly hoped, was quite dead. + +This sudden revival of the old foe, and this unexpected surprise and +fall, had roused this strong man's spirit to its utmost ferocity, and in +mighty wrath he plied his hammer like a second Thor. But the very +strength and nervous power of the man constituted his weakness, when +brought under the subtle influence of the old tempter, and it is +probable that on his recovery, with nerves shaken, old cravings +awakened, and self-respect gone, he would have fallen again and again if +God had not made use of the paroxysm of rage to destroy the opportunity +and the cause of evil. Nobbs did not know at that time, though he +learned it afterwards, that safety from the drink-sin--as from all other +sin--lies not in strong-man resolutions, or Temperance pledges, though +both are useful aids, but in Jesus, the Saviour _from sin_. + +Some of those who witnessed the wholesale destruction of the liquor +would fain have made an effort to prevent it; but, fortunately for the +community, most of them were too drunk to care, and the others to +interfere; while all were so taken by surprise that the deed was done +and the grand conflagration ended before they had realised the full +significance of the blacksmith's act. + +When the last head had been driven in, and the last gallon of spirit +summarily dismissed by the fire, Nobbs threw up his arms, and, looking +upward, gave vent to a cheer which ended in a prolonged cry. For a +moment he stood thus, then the hammer dropt from his grasp, and he fell +back insensible. + +Poor little Mrs Nobbs was by his side on her knees in a moment, parting +the dark hair from his broad brow, kissing his swart cheeks, and chafing +his strong hands. + +"O John! darling John!" she cried, "come back--come back--don't die. +You never was hard or cruel to _me_! Even the drink could not do that. +Come back, John!" + +Dr Marsh here gently restrained her. "Don't be alarmed," he said, as +he undid the smith's necktie; "he'll be all right presently. Stand +back, don't crowd round him; and you go fetch a cup of water, Mrs +Nobbs." + +The reassuring tones and the necessity for action did much to calm the +excited woman. Before she had returned with the water her husband had +partially recovered. They carried him to his hut, and left him to sleep +off the effects, while his poor little wife watched by his side. When +left quite alone, she went down on her knees beside him, and prayed for +his deliverance with all her heart. Then she rose and sat down with a +calm, contented look, muttering, "Yes; He _is_ the hearer and answerer +of prayer. He _will_ answer me." + +She might have gone further and said, "He _has_ answered me," for was +not the destruction of the liquor an answer to the petition before it +was put up? "Before they call I will answer." + +"Pina," said Otto the following day, in a tone almost of reproach, +during a private audience with the queen, "Pina, how came you to do such +an insane thing as choose Joe Binney for your premier? Why didn't you +choose Dom? You know well enough that he's fifty times cleverer than +Joe, and even in the matter of strength, though he's not so strong, I'm +very sure that with his pugilistic powers he could keep order quite as +well. Besides, all the people had made up their minds, as a matter of +course, that Dom was to be premier, and then--he's a gentleman." + +"I'm thankful that you are not one of the Privy Council, Otto," returned +Pauline, with a laugh. "You put several questions, and a string of +commentary and suggestion in the same breath! Let me answer you in +detail, beginning with your last remark. Joe is a gentleman in the +highest sense of that word. He is gentle as a lamb by nature, and a +_man_ every inch of him. But, more than this, I have noticed that he is +a peculiarly wise man, with a calm, pool head on all occasions, and not +too ready to use his great physical power in the settlement of disputes. +I have observed, too, that when asked for his advice, he usually thinks +well before he gives it, and when his advice is followed things almost +always go well. Still further, Joe has the thorough confidence of the +people, and I am not so sure that Dom has. Besides, if I had appointed +Dom, some of the ungenerous among them might have said it was done from +mere favouritism. Then as to the people making up their minds that I +would appoint Dom," continued Pauline, "what have I to do with _that_?" + +"Why, everything to do with it," returned Otto, with a surprised look. +"Were you not made queen for the purpose of carrying out their wishes?" + +"Certainly not," answered Pauline; "I was made queen for the purpose of +ruling. They told me they had confidence in my judgment, not in my +readiness to carry out their wishes. If my judgment, coupled with that +of my advisers, does not suit them, it is open to them to unmake me as +they made me, and appoint a king or a president, but my judgment I +cannot alter." + +Otto listened to these gravely stated opinions of the new queen with +increasing astonishment. + +"Then, you awful despot," he said, "do you mean to tell me that you are +going to have no regard for the will of the people?" + +"No, I don't mean to tell you that, you presumptuous little subject. I +intend always to have the utmost regard for the will of my people, and +to weigh it well, and consult with my advisers about it; and when our +united judgment says that their will is good, I will act in accordance +with it; when we think it bad, I will reject it. I have been made queen +to rule, and I _mean_ to rule! That's fair, isn't it? If they don't +like my ruling they can dethrone me. That's also fair, isn't it? You +wouldn't have me become a mere puppet--a jumping Jack or Jinnie--would +you, for the people to pull the string of?" + +"Well, I never!" exclaimed Otto, gazing with distended eyes at the soft +fair face and at the pretty little innocent mouth that gave vent to +these vigorous sentiments. "And what may it be your majesty's pleasure +to do next?" + +"It is my pleasure that you, sir, shall go down to the beach and prepare +the dinghy for immediate service. I have already directed the prime +minister, in conjunction with Dom and our Court physician, to draw up a +constitution and code of laws; while they are thus employed you and I +will go a-fishing." + +"Very good; I suppose I'm bound to obey, but I thought your majesty +preferred to go a-sketching." + +"We will do both. Be off, sirrah!" + +Otto was not long in launching and getting ready the little punt, or +dinghy, belonging to the wreck, which, being too small for carrying +goods to the island, had been made over to Pauline as a royal barge for +her special amusement, and already had she and her little brother +enjoyed several charming expeditions among the sheltered islets of the +lagoon, when Otto devoted himself chiefly to rowing and fishing, while +his sister sketched with pencil and water-colours. Being expert with +both, she took great pleasure therein. + +"It _is_ so pleasant and so very engrossing," she murmured, busying +herself with a sketch of Otto as he rowed gently towards one of the +smaller islets. "I can't tell you how much I delight--turn your head a +little more to the left--so--and do keep your nose quiet if you can." + +"Impossible," said Otto. "There's a little fly that has made up its +mind to go into my nose. I can neither drive it away nor catch it while +both hands are engaged with the oars, so there's no resource left but to +screw my nose about. But what were you going to say you delighted in?" + +"In--in drawing," replied the queen very slowly, while her pretty little +head went up and down as she glanced alternately at her sitter and the +sketch-book on her knee; "it--it takes one's mind--so--off--" + +"The cares of state?" said Otto. "Yes, I can easily understand what +a-re-re-ha! hk-sh!" he gave way to a convulsive sneeze; "there, it went +up at last, and that little fly's doom is sealed!" + +"I should think it was," said Pauline laughingly. "To be blown from a +cannon's mouth must be nothing to that. Now, do keep still, just for +one minute." + +For considerably more than a minute she went on sketching busily, while +her brother pulled along very gently, as if unwilling to break the +pleasant silence. Everything around was calculated to foster a dreamy, +languid, peaceful state of mind. The weather was pleasantly cool--just +cool enough to render the brilliant sunshine most enjoyable. Not a +zephyr disturbed the glassy surface of the sea outside or the lagoon +within, or broke the perfect reflections of the islets among which they +moved. The silence would have been even oppressive had it not been for +the soft, plaintive cries of wildfowl and the occasional whistling of +wings as they hurried to and fro, and the solemn boom of the great +breakers as they fell at slow regular intervals on the reef. "Doesn't +it sound," said Pauline, looking up from her sketch with a flush of +delight, "like the deep soft voice of the ocean speaking peace to all +mankind?" + +"What, the breakers?" asked Otto. + +"Yes, dropping with a soft deep roar as they do in the midst of the +universal silence." + +"Well, it doesn't quite strike me in that light, Pina. My imagination +isn't so lively as yours. Seems to me more like the snoring of a +sleeping giant, whom it is best to let lie still like a sleeping dog, +for he's apt to do considerable damage when roused." + +The soft influences around soon reduced the pair to silence again. +After a time it was broken by Pauline. + +"What are you thinking of, Otto?" + +"I was thinking, your majesty, that it seems unfair, after making Joe +prime minister, Dom a privy councillor, the doctor Court physician and +general humbug, that you should give me no definite position in the +royal household." + +"What would you say to being commander of the forces?" asked Pauline +dreamily, as she put in a few finishing touches, "for then, you see, you +might adopt the title which you have unfairly bestowed on the doctor-- +General Humbug." + +Otto shook his head. "Wouldn't do, my dear queen. Not being a correct +description, your bestowing it would compromise your majesty's +well-known character for truthfulness. What d'you say to make me a +page--page in waiting?" + +"You'll have to turn over a new leaf if I do, for a page is supposed to +be quiet, respectful, polite, obedient, ready--" + +"No use to go further, Pina. I'm not cut out for a page. Will you land +on this islet?" + +They were gliding softly past one of the most picturesque and verdant +gems of the lagoon at the time. + +"No, I've taken a fancy to make a sketch from that one nearer to the +shore of Big Island. You see, there is not only a very picturesque +group of trees on it just at that place, but the background happens to +be filled up by a distant view of the prettiest part of our settlement, +where Joe Binney's garden lies, close to Mrs Lynch's garden, with its +wonderfully shaped and curious hut, (no wonder, built by herself!) and a +corner of the palace rising just behind the new schoolhouse." + +"Mind your eye, queen, else you go souse overboard when we strike," said +Otto, not without reason, for next moment the dinghy's keel grated on +the sand of the islet, and Pauline, having risen in her eagerness to go +to work, almost fulfilled the boy's prediction. + +"But tell me, Pina, what do you mean to do with that schoolhouse when it +is built?" asked Otto, as he walked beside his sister to the picturesque +spot above referred to. + +"To teach in it, of course." + +"What--yourself?" + +"Well, yes, to some extent. Of course I cannot do much in that way--" + +"I understand--the affairs of state!" said Otto, "will not permit, +etcetera." + +"Put it so if you please," returned Pauline, laughing. "Here, sit down; +help me to arrange my things, and I'll explain. You cannot fail to have +been impressed with the fact that the children of the settlers are +dreadfully ignorant." + +"H'm! I suppose you are right; but I have been more deeply impressed +with the fact that they are dreadfully dirty, and desperately +quarrelsome, and deplorably mischievous." + +"Just so," resumed Pauline. "Now, I intend to get your friend Redding, +who was once a schoolmaster, to take these children in hand when the +schoolroom is finished, and teach them what he can, superintended by Dr +Marsh, who volunteered his services the moment I mentioned the school. +In the evenings I will take the mothers in hand, and teach them their +duties to their children and the community--" + +"Being yourself such an old and experienced mother," said Otto. + +"Silence, sir! you ought to remember that we have a dear, darling mother +at home, whose character is engraven on my memory, and whom I can hold +up as a model." + +"True, Pina! The dear old mother!" returned Otto, a burst of +home-feeling interfering for a moment with his levity. "Just you paint +her portrait fair and true, and if they come anything within a hundred +miles o' the mark yours will be a kingd---queendom, I mean--of amazin' +mothers. I sometimes fear," continued the boy, becoming grave, "it may +be a long time before we set eyes on mother again." + +"I used to fear the same," said Pauline, "but I have become more hopeful +on that point since Dr Marsh said he was determined to have a small +schooner built out of the wreck, and attempt with a few sailors to reach +England in her, and report our condition here." + +"Why, that would do you out of your kingdom, Pina!" + +"It does not follow. And what if it did?" + +"It would be a pity. Not pleasant you know, to be dethroned. But to +return to mother. D'you think the old cat will have learned to speak by +this time?" + +To this Pauline replied that she feared not; that, although the cat +might have mastered the consonants, it could never have managed the +vowels. "Dear mother," she added, in a more earnest tone, "I am quite +sure that though the cat may not speak to her, she will not have ceased +to speak to the cat. Now, go away, Otto, you're beginning to make me +talk nonsense." + +"But what about the schoolhouse?" persisted the boy, while the girl +began to sketch the view. "You have not finished that subject." + +"True--well, besides teaching the mothers I have great hopes of inducing +Dom to set up a Sunday-school, in which those who feel inclined might be +taught out of the Bible, and that might in time lead to our making a +church of it on Sundays, and having regular services, for there are some +earnest Christians among the men, who I feel quite sure would be ready +to help in the work. Then as to an army--" + +"An army!" echoed Otto, "what do we want with an army? who have we to +fight against?" + +Little did Otto or Pauline think that at the very time they were +conversing thus pleasantly on that beautiful islet, the presence of a +friendly army was urgently required, for there in the bushes close +behind them listening to every sentence, but understanding never a word, +lay a group of tattooed and armed savages! + +In the prosecution of evil designs, the nature of which was best known +to themselves, these savages had arrived at Refuge Islands the night +before. Instantly they became aware of the presence of the white men, +and took measures to observe them closely without being themselves +observed. Carrying their war-canoe over the reef in the dark, and +launching it on the lagoon, they advanced as near to the settlement as +possible, landed a small party on an islet, and then retired with the +canoe. It was this party which lay in ambush so near to our little hero +and heroine. They had been watching the settlers since daybreak, and +were not a little surprised, as well as gratified, by the unexpected +arrival of the little boat. + +The savage who lay there grinning like a Cheshire cat, and peeping +through the long grass not ten feet from where the brother and sister +sat, was a huge man, tattooed all over, so that his face resembled +carved mahogany, his most prominent feature being a great flat nose, +with a blue spot on the point of it. + +Suddenly Otto caught sight of the glitter of this man's eyes and teeth. + +Now, the power of self-restraint was a prominent feature in Otto's +character, at least in circumstances of danger, though in the matter of +fun and mischief he was rather weak. No sign did Otto give of his +discovery, although his heart seemed to jump into his mouth. He did not +even check or alter the tone of his conversation, but he changed the +subject with surprising abruptness. He had brought up one of the +dinghy's oars on his shoulder as a sort of plaything or vaulting-pole. +Suddenly, asking Pauline if she had ever seen him balance an oar on his +chin, he proceeded to perform the feat, much to her amusement. In doing +so he turned his back completely on the savage in ambush, whose cattish +grin increased as the boy staggered about. + +But there was purpose in Otto's staggering. He gradually lessened the +distance between himself and the savage. When near enough for his +purpose, he grasped the oar with both hands, wheeled sharply round, and +brought the heavy handle of it down with such a whack on the bridge of +the savage's blue-spotted nose that he suddenly ceased to grin, and +dropped his proboscis in the dust! + +At the same instant, to the horror and surprise of the brother and +sister, up sprang half a dozen hideous natives, who seized them, placed +their black hands on their mouths, and bore them swiftly away. The +war-canoe, putting off from its concealment, received the party along +with the fallen leader, and made for the reef. + +High on the cliffs of Big Island Dr John Marsh had been smilingly +watching the proceedings of the queen and her brother in the dinghy. +When he witnessed the last act of the play, however, the smile vanished. +With a bound that would have done credit to a kangaroo, and a roar that +would have shamed a lion, he sprang over the cliffs, ran towards the +beach, and was followed--yelling--by all the men at hand--some armed, +and some not. They leaped into the largest boat on the shore, put out +the ten oars, bent to them with a will, and skimmed over the lagoon in +fierce pursuit. + +Soon the savages gained the reef, carried their canoe swiftly over, and +launched on the open sea, cutting through the great rollers like a +rocket or a fish-torpedo. + +Heavy timbers and stout planks could not be treated thus; nevertheless, +the white men were so wild and strong, that when the boat finally gained +the open sea it was not very far behind the canoe. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +DESCRIBES A RESCUE, A CONSPIRACY, AND A TRIAL. + +Proverbially a stern chase is a long one. Happily, there are exceptions +to proverbs as well as rules. The chase of the war-canoe, however, with +the captured queen on board, did not promise to be exceptional at first, +for the canoe was light and sharp, and powerfully manned, so that the +savages could relieve each other frequently, whereas the settlers' boat +was heavy and blunt, and not by any means too full of men. It soon +became apparent that the latter was no match for the former under oars. +The distance between the two visibly increased. + +Dr Marsh steered. He was deadly pale, and there was a peculiarly +intense expression of anxiety in the steady gaze, with which he watched +the ever-diminishing canoe. + +"No chance?" muttered Jabez Jenkins, who happened to form one of the +crew and pulled the bow oar. + +"No chance?" repeated Dominick, who also pulled one of the oars. +"There's _every_ chance. We're sure to tire them out. Ho! lads, give +way with a will!" + +Although labouring already with all his might, indignation at Jenkins's +remark enabled him to put on a spurt, which the others imitated. Still +the distance between boat and canoe increased. + +"They are three to one," growled Malines, who, up to that time, had been +doing his best. + +"Silence!" thundered the doctor, drawing a revolver from his pocket and +cocking it. + +Beads of perspiration stood on the doctor's brow, and there was +something so terrible in the look of his white face that no one ventured +to utter another word, but all pulled as if for their lives. + +For some minutes no sound was heard save the regular rattle of the oars +in the rowlocks, the swish of the foam as it flew from the cutwater, and +the occasional sob or gasp of the men as they exerted themselves to the +utmost limit of their powers in the hopeless pursuit. + +Suddenly Teddy Malone cried eagerly, "Look out--astarn!" + +All turned their gaze as directed, and observed a dark line on the +horizon. + +"Thank God!" murmured the doctor, "a breeze!" + +It was indeed true. Just at this critical moment of profound, despair, +a gleam of hope was sent to sustain them! Is it not often thus in the +dealings of God with man? + +There was no relaxation of effort, however, on the part of the crew +until the breeze bore down on them. Then the mate and Hugh Morrison, +drawing in their oars, set up the mast and hoisted the sails. Instantly +the good craft bent over, as if bowing submissively to her rightful +lord, and the gurgling water rolled swiftly from her prow. Still the +men plied the oars, but now with the strength of hope, until the breeze +freshened so much as to render their further use unnecessary. + +"Now, indeed, the tables are turned," said Dominick with a great sigh of +relief, as he drew in his oar. + +"Yes; if the wind holds," said the doctor, glancing back anxiously. + +"It'll howld," said Malone firmly. + +"Who made you so sure a judge of weather?" demanded Jenkins. + +"Sure it isn't me as is judge. It's the widdy. She says to me this +mornin', says she, `The'll be a stiff breeze afore night, Teddy,' an' I +nivver found the widdy wrong in her forecasts o' the weather." + +"The distance decreases rapidly! Hurrah! boys, we'll catch them yet," +cried Dominick. + +This was obviously the case. With her large sails filled by a stiff +breeze almost directly astern, the boat went through the water like "a +thing of life." The savages, perceiving this, redoubled their efforts, +but in vain. The pursuers gained on them rapidly. + +An exclamation of surprise burst from those in the boat as they observed +two splashes, one on either side of the canoe, as if some one had fallen +or leaped overboard. A great shout from the savages followed, and they +suddenly ceased to paddle. The canoe was still too far off for the +pursuers to make out what had occurred; but in another minute they +observed that two round black objects emerged from the water some +distance astern of the canoe. The savages also saw these, and uttered a +frightful yell as they backed their craft towards them. + +"They've jumped overboard!" exclaimed Dominick. "Now, boys--ready with +your guns!" + +No need for this order. All were ready in a second, but none dared to +fire for fear of hitting the swimmers. + +Just then a savage rose in the stern of the canoe and poised a short +spear. + +Instantly every gun in the boat was pointed. + +"Not a shot!" shouted Dr Marsh, as he sprang forward with a +double-barrelled rifle in his hand. + +"Keep her away two points!" he cried, as he knelt to take aim. Every +one was well aware of the doctor's power of shooting, and waited the +result with bated breath. The savage seemed to bend backward for the +cast of the spear. At that moment the crack of the doctor's rifle was +heard, and the right arm of the savage fell. + +Another savage caught up the spear, and urged his comrades, apparently, +to back the canoe still further; but they had got a fright, and were +evidently unwilling to do so. Before they could make up their minds, +another shot from the doctor's rifle sent the second savage headlong +into the bottom of the canoe. + +"Give them a volley now, lads," he said, turning round and resuming his +place at the helm; "but fire high." + +The rattling volley which followed, and the whistle of the leaden hail +over their heads, quickly settled the savage minds. One of their +paddles, which chanced to be held aloft at the moment, was shot into +splinters, and precipitated their decision. With a howl of rage and +terror they dipped their paddles into the sea and flew ahead. + +"Be ready there," cried the doctor, as he anxiously guided the boat. + +Teddy Malone, Morris, Dominick, and Jabez leaned eagerly over the bows +with outstretched arms and clawlike fingers. Another moment and Queen +Pina with Otto were rescued from the deep, as well as from several +sharks, which, doubtless, had been licking their lips at the prospect of +the royal feast in store for them. + +"Ain't you goin' to carry on, an' sink the varmints?" exclaimed Jabez in +surprise, as the doctor put the helm hard down, and prepared to return +home. + +"No," replied the doctor sharply. + +During the voyage out the crew of the wrecked ship had become intimately +acquainted with the doctor's qualities, among others that there was a +certain quiet tone in his "no" which was final. To put the belligerents +of the party more at rest, however, Dominick backed his friend up by +adding that he had no ill-will to the miserable savages; that they had +been punished enough already; that they had got all they wanted from +them; and that as their own party consisted chiefly of settlers, not +warriors, there was no occasion for fighting. + +"Speak for yourself, Dom," cried Otto, as he wrung the water out of his +garments. "If I was in that canoe with a good carving-knife, I'd be +warrior enough to give a settler to the baboon wi' the swelled nose who +crammed me into a--" + +The remainder of the speech was drowned in laughter, for Otto spoke with +intense indignation, as he thought of the injuries and indignities he +had so recently suffered. + +"Why, what did they do to you, Otto?" asked his brother. + +"Oh! I can't tell you," replied the other; "I'm too mad. Tell 'em, +Pina." + +Queen Pina, who had also been engaged for some minutes in wringing the +water from her skirts, sat down, and, in the sweetest of voices, told +how they had been surprised on the islet, how Otto had flattened a +chief's nose with an oar, and how they had afterwards been carried off. + +"Then," she added, "when they saw that you were unable to overtake them, +the chief with the swelled nose began to beat poor Otto and pull his +hair savagely. I do believe he would have killed him if a man, who +seemed to be the leader of them all, had not ordered him to desist. +When you put up the sail and began to overtake us, the chief with the +swelled nose got out a rough kind of sack and tried to thrust Otto into +it. While he was struggling with this chief--" + +"Fighting," interrupted Otto; "fighting with the baboon." + +"Well, fighting, if you prefer it--he asked me if I was brave?" + +"No, I didn't; I said game." + +"Well--if I was game to jump overboard at the same moment that he did? +I quickly said yes. He twisted himself out of the man's--" + +"Baboon's! baboon's!" + +"Well--baboon's grasp, and went over the side like an eel, and--" + +"And she," interrupted Otto, "she went plump on the other side like a +sack of potatoes, and we met under the canoe and dived well astern +before coming up for breath. You know what pains you took with our +swimming and diving, Dom; it helped us then, I can tell you; and so here +we are, all alive and hearty. But I saw the black fellow goin' to send +a spear at Pina, and can't think why he didn't let fly. P'r'aps he did, +and missed." + +"No, he didn't; for Dr Marsh shot him in the arm," said Dominick, "and +thus saved Pauline's life." + +"Three cheers for the Queen!" cried little Buxley, who had done good +service at the oar, and whose little bosom was filled with enthusiasm at +the recital of this adventure. + +The invitation was heartily responded to. + +"An' wan more for the doctor!" shouted Malone. + +In this rejoicing frame of mind they returned to Big Island, where +Pauline was received with a warm embrace by the widow Lynch, who had +been dancing about the settlement in a more or less deranged state ever +since the boat left. + +That same evening two meetings of considerable importance took place in +the palace. The first was a cabinet council in the hall; the other a +meeting of conspirators in the back-kitchen. Both were brief, for each +was interrupted. We will take the cabinet council first. + +The ministers present at it were the premier, Dominick and Dr Marsh, +both of whom Joe had called to his aid. + +"Now, my dear queen," said the premier, "we have met to consider the +constitution; but before saying a word about it myself, I would like to +hear what your majesty has to say about it." + +"I'm not sure," said the queen gravely, "that I have the faintest notion +as to how a constitution should begin or end. But I will give you a +motto to set in the forefront of our constitution, which may also form +the foundation on which it is to be built--the pattern to which its +parts must conform. It is this: `Whatsoever ye would that men should do +to you, do ye even so to them.'" + +"I will set that down with pleasure," said Dominick, who acted as clerk, +but, before he could write a line, a knock at the door interrupted them. +Then the door opened, and Otto's head appeared with eagerness in the +eyes, and a beckoning hand in advance. + +Dominick rose and went out. + +"I've just overheard Morris and Jabez in the back-kitchen making an +appointment. Shall I tell our squad to be ready?" + +"Where is the appointed place?" asked Dominick. + +"On the reef. They start this very night, for the wind suits, and I +heard Hugh say that all was ready." + +"Good! I didn't think the game was so nearly played out. Well for us +that we are prepared. Yes, call up the squad. We'll give them +checkmate to-night." + +It must be explained here that ever since the night of the discovery of +the plot organised by Morris to seize and carry off the wrecked ship, +Otto and his brother had kept a close watch on the men, and were aware +of all their plans and intended movements. They had also communicated +their knowledge to a select few, whom Otto styled the squad, who had +pledged themselves to be ready at a moment's notice to do their best to +circumvent the conspirators. Among other things Otto had discovered +that Malines had agreed to join them, professing himself quite willing +to act as second in command under Morris. + +It may also be explained that though we have hitherto spoken of the +vessel which had been cast on the reef as a wreck, it was in reality +very slightly injured about the hull, and much of the damage done to the +spars and rigging had been quietly repaired by the conspirators. + +When darkness shrouded land and sea, two expeditions started from the +settlement that night--one following the other. The conspirators in the +largest boat set off first. As it was no unusual thing for a night +expedition to the reef in order to transport supplies from the wreck in +the morning, the departure of the large boat attracted little notice. + +When it had got well away a smaller boat set off, containing the +"squad," which numbered among its members Dominick, the doctor, Otto, +Joe, and his brother David, Teddy Malone, little Buxley, John Nobbs the +blacksmith, and others, all of whom were armed with revolvers. + +They steered for a different part of the reef, so as to avoid being seen +by the conspirators. On landing they passed through the old +burial-ground and made for the Golden Cave. This place had, since the +settlement on Big Island, been given over entirely to Pauline's use, and +being styled the Queen's seaside palace, no one ever thought of entering +it without permission. Hence the party of observation knew that it +would be a secure place of ambush. + +When safe inside, Dominick and Otto were deputed to go out as quietly as +possible, note what Morris and his men were doing, and bring back a +report. + +"For," said the doctor, "if we interrupt them too soon they may pretend +that this is one of their ordinary visits to the ship for supplies, and +if we are too late they may get clear away in spite of us. We must +strike when the iron is hot." + +"Yes," said Otto, looking back as he followed his brother, "we'll look +well to the heating process and let you know when they're white hot, so +have your revolvers ready, my braves!" + +"Och! shut your tatie-trap," cried Malone, but Otto, having shut the +door, lost the advice. + +The night was neither decidedly light nor dark. There might, indeed, to +have been moonlight, but clouds veiled the light though they could not +altogether obscure it; thus there was just enough to render objects +dimly visible. + +"All the better," whispered Dominick, as they turned the point of rock +that hid the wreck from view. "We'll go down by the thicket. Keep +close to my heels, boy, and drop on your hands and knees when you see me +do so." + +"All right, captain." + +Gliding cautiously down in the direction indicated, they came at length +to the seaward edge of the thicket, where the bushes, being less dense, +permitted them to partially see the wreck. Here Dominick went on +all-fours, appearing, as he crept slowly forward, like some sort of huge +bear with no tail, and its hind feet turned the wrong way. Otto +followed like a little bear with similar undignified peculiarities. +Having advanced far enough to obtain a clear view of the wreck, the +spies sank into the grass and crept forward a little way. Then they lay +still a few moments and listened. They then raised their heads +cautiously and looked. What they heard and saw puzzled them not a +little. + +First, they noted that the wreck did not seem to lie in the position, +with which they had been so long familiar. Then, as their eyes became +accustomed to the faint light, they observed that a small boat was +moving busily about the vessel's bow, and that a group of dark +scarce-distinguishable forms of men was standing on the shore. +Presently there was heard a low, yet not unfamiliar growl. This was +followed by a high yet not unfamiliar shriek, accompanied by a grating +sound. + +"Lions and cockatoos!" whispered Otto, who had crept up alongside of his +brother by that time, "what _can_ they be about?" + +"Is that a line I see athwart the sky?" asked Dominick, "look--just +between the wreck and the big ledge there." + +Said Otto, "It's more than a line. _I_ see it. Half a dozen lines at +least, and something like a round lump in the middle of 'em. Don't you +see it?--against the sky like a black moon--" + +"Hush! boy--the growl again!" + +"Ay, man, also the cockatoo." + +"Oh! I have it now," whispered Dominick, with a low laugh; "they've +rove blocks and tackle from the ship to the rocks, and are working them +softly. Evildoers fear to be overheard, even when there's no chance of +being so! Your lion, Otto, is the subdued yo-heave-ho of the men." + +"I see," said Otto, with a grin so broad that his white teeth glistened +even in the dark, "and my cockatoo is the unsubdued screeching of the +block-sheaves! They must be trying to get the ship off the reef." + +A heavy plunge at that moment told that the conspirators were not only +trying but had succeeded, for the plunge was followed by an irresistible +though powerfully suppressed cheer. + +"We have not a moment to lose, Otto," whispered Dominick. "The ship is +free, and they will only take time to carry the tackle aboard before +embarking. Do you run back and bring the squad down at the double. I +will keep our friends here in play till they come." + +Not a word did Otto reply. He had acquired that first of requisites in +a soldier or servant--the habit of prompt obedience. Somewhat like a +North American savage, he sank into the grass and wriggled from the +scene. A few moments later Dominick rose, and walked down towards the +conspirators with the easy off-hand manner of a man who saunters forth +to enjoy the night air. So busy were they getting the tackle into the +boat that he was not observed until quite close to them. + +"You seem busy to-night, friends," he said, in his usual pleasant tones, +as he took his stand close beside Hugh Morris, who was near the bow of +the boat. + +"Mr Rigonda!" exclaimed Malines in great surprise, coming forward at +the moment. + +"Why are you surprised? It is not unusual for me to take a row on a +fine night." + +This reply seeming to imply that Dominick had come to the reef alone-- +perhaps in the dinghy--emboldened the men; some of them laughed. + +"Well, I confess to being a little surprised, sir," replied the mate, +"for it so happened that we were preparing something in the nature of a +surprise for you and the rest of the settlers." + +"Yes, I see," returned Dominick, in the same pleasant tone. "You've +managed to get the ship off the ledge in a very creditable manner, and +you mean to take her into the lagoon and cast anchor off the +settlement?" + +Again the men laughed lightly. + +"No, sir, we don't," broke in Hugh Morris at this point, "we intend to +take her in quite the opposite direction, and clear off to sea with +her." + +"Oh no, you don't, Hugh," returned Dominick, with an agreeable smile, +which was a little perplexing as well as exasperating. "You are going +into the lagoon; you know you are, and I have come to help you." + +"But I say we are _not_!" retorted Morris, in rising wrath, "and what's +more, you'll have to go along with us, now that you've had the ill-luck +to fall in with us." + +"Quite right, Hugh; didn't I _say_ that I came off on purpose to go +along with you?" + +As he spoke there was heard a rushing sound of feet and a number of dark +forms were seen approaching from the bushes. + +"Betrayed!" shouted Malines. "Jump in, lads, and shove off!" + +He sprang forward, but was instantly arrested by the muzzle of a +revolver within a foot of his head. + +"It's of no use, boys," said Dominick, laying his hand on the bow of the +boat. "You'll have to enter it as dead men if you do so without my +permission." + +Had the men been armed it might have gone hard with Dominick at that +moment, but so sure had they been of accomplishing their purpose +unmolested, that the idea of arming had never crossed their minds. +Before they could recover from the surprise or decide what to do, the +armed squad was upon them. + +"Halt! boys," cried Joe Binney, when close to the boat. "Now, look 'ee +here. It warn't o' my seekin' that I was made prime minister, but now +that it's bin done I'll stick to it an' do my duty. If ye knock under +like good boys I'll recommend ye to the queen's marcy. If not I'll have +'ee strung up, every man jack of 'ee. Moreover, the first man as +disobeys my orders I'll blow his brains out. Now, jump aboard, boys +(turning to his own men), an' keep your revolvers handy. You lads as +wanted to run away will follow." + +The mixture of humour and resolution in Joe's manner, coupled with his +well-known decision of character and his commanding size, had its +effect. The squad instantly jumped into the boat, and the conspirators +meekly followed without a word. They saw--as Hugh afterwards expressed +it--that the game was up, and made up their minds to submit to the +inevitable. + +The conspirators were ordered to take the oars. Afterwards they were +made to work the ship round into the channel leading to the lagoon, +while their armed friends mounted guard over them. + +It was daybreak when the ship sailed calmly over the lagoon towards +Silver Bay. + +"Och! man," said Teddy Malone, in a low voice, to Jabez Jenkins, who +stood near him, "why did ye want to run away wid the owld ship? It wor +a sneakin' sort o' thing, warn't it, seein' that the poor little +childers, an' the women, depind so much on what's inside of her?" + +"To tell 'ee the truth, Teddy," replied the man, an improved expression +coming suddenly over his face, "I ain't sorry that we've bin stopped in +this business, and, wot's more, I believe that most of us ain't sorry. +We was more than half led into it, d'ee see, by lies as to what the +leaders was goin' to do, an' arterwards we didn't like to draw back." + +"I'm sorry for yez," returned Malone, "for I'm afeared we'll have to +skrag the wan half of ye to keep the other half in order. In a spik an' +span noo settlement, where ivvery wan thinks he may do as he likes, the +laws has to be pritty stiff. We've wan comfort, howivver--the quane is +marciful." + +The Irishman was right in both his views on this subject, as the sequel +will show. + +Great was the surprise and joy among the settlers that morning when the +fine ship in which they had traversed the ocean sailed grandly over the +lagoon, and let go her anchor in Silver Bay. Some viewed her as a means +of continuing the voyage, and escaping from a secluded life, of which +they were beginning to tire. Others thought of her as a means of +reopening intercourse with home, while not a few thought only of the +convenience of having her and her useful cargo so near to them. + +But great was their surprise when Malines, Morris, Jabez, and the rest +of them were landed with their hands bound behind their backs; and still +greater was that surprise when, in open court, that is, in the midst of +the entire colony in the open air, these men were charged with their +crime. + +A regular criminal court was instituted on the spot, as regular, at +least, as was possible, considering the almost total ignorance of all +concerned in regard to matters of law. Queen Pauline appointed Dr +Marsh to be judge, he being supposed to be the best acquainted with, or +least ignorant of, legal matters and forms. A jury of twelve men were +selected by lot, and little Buxley was appointed public prosecutor. In +justice to the prisoners it was thought that they ought to have an +advocate to defend them, but as no one would undertake the duty, that +also was settled by lot, and the lot fell upon Redding, who, being a +gentle and meek man, was perhaps best suited for it. + +We may not go into the details of this celebrated trial, which lasted +the greater part of the day, and was watched with intense eagerness by +the entire population, including some of the older children, who had +become impressed with the delightfully-horrible idea that a hanging or +shooting, if not flaying and roasting, of some of the criminals would be +the certain result. Suffice it to say that there was grievous +irregularity in the proceedings: the public prosecutor not only proved +the guilt of the men, but in the fervour of his indignation suggested +the nature of their punishment; the jury not only listened to the facts +of the case, but commented on them freely throughout, and, usurping the +judge's office, pronounced sentence on the criminals three or four times +over; while the judge himself had the greatest possible difficulty in +keeping anything like order all round. + +The only man who performed his duty calmly was Redding, who, in a speech +that quite surprised and transfixed the hearers, sought to point out +that the men on trial had not actually committed the crime, with which +they had been charged, that of seizing the ship, but had only +contemplated it, as had been alleged, though even that had not been +clearly proved; that, supposing the crime to have been committed, it was +a first offence, and that justice should always be tempered with mercy, +as was taught in that best of all law-books, the Bible. + +The pleading of this man had considerable effect, but it could not turn +the tide of feeling in favour of the principal prisoners for more than +one reason. They had been domineering, turbulent fellows all along; +they had meditated a crime which would have robbed the settlers of many +of the necessaries and all the luxuries of life, and this displayed a +meanness of spirit which, they thought, deserved severe punishment. + +Accordingly, after they had been pronounced guilty by the unanimous +voice of the jury, and after the judge had consulted earnestly with some +members of the privy council, Malines and Morris were condemned to a +fortnight's imprisonment on short allowance of the poorest food, and the +other criminals to the same for a week. + +When Malines had been seized and bound on board the ship, he had +submitted, partly from prudence, and partly from a belief that the whole +affair was a sort of half joke but when he found himself rebound, after +the trial, and cast with his companions into a solid wooden building +with a strong door and no window, which had been erected as a sort of +fortress in which to put the women and children in case of attack by the +savages, and there provided with maize and water for food and straw for +bed, he began to realise the fact that he had indeed fallen into the +hands of resolute men and under the power of law. + +"I wouldn't mind it so much if they'd only not cut off our baccy," he +groaned, on the afternoon of the following day, after a prolonged fit of +sullen silence. + +"After all it sarves us right," growled Hugh Morris. + +"Speak for yourself," said Jabez Jenkins sulkily. + +"That's just what I do," retorted Hugh. + +"Hear, hear!" from some of the others. + +What this conversation might have grown to no one can tell, for it was +interrupted by the opening of the prison door and the entrance of a +party of armed men. + +"I am directed," said Otto, who was in command of the party, "to bring +you fellows before the queen, so, come along." + +Half amused by and half contemptuous of the leader, who gave his orders +as if he were a powerful giant, the prisoners rose and marched out. + +While this scene was taking place in the jail, the widow Lynch was +holding a private interview with the queen in the palace. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +SHOWS HOW THE QUEEN CONDUCTED HERSELF IN TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WAS +FINALLY DETHRONED. + +"Now, darlin'," said Mrs Lynch to Queen Pauline, as she sat on the side +of her bed looking contemplatively at the floor, "thim rascals'll be in +the Hall in two minits, so take me advice and give them more nor they've +got." + +"But my object in sending for them is not to add to their punishment," +said the queen. + +"More's the pity, for they need it, an' the Coort was too tinder wi' +them intirely. Two weeks! why, two months would do them more good. +Anyhow, see that ye give them a fearful blowin' up." + +"I'll do what I can for them," returned Pina, with a pleasant laugh, as +she rose and passed into the Audience Hall, where the prisoners and as +many of the settlers as could find room were already gathered. + +Here a slight change of feeling seemed to have taken place in the +people. Perhaps the sight of Hugh and Malines--two men who had, up till +that time, carried matters with rather a high hand--bound, humbled, +helpless, and with bits of straw which had been given them as bedding +sticking to their garments, induced a touch of pity. At all events, +there was none of that riotous demand for vengeance which had +characterised them when under the influence of excitement at the trial. +Evidently a slight reaction in favour of the culprits had set in, and +the entrance of the queen, therefore, took place in solemn silence, no +one knowing why she had sent for the men or what were her intentions. +Poor Pauline was much embarrassed by the silence, and by the situation, +in which she found herself. Being a girl of mind, and not a mere human +machine made and content to run always on beaten paths, she had resolved +to try an experiment, and braced herself to the duty. + +It was by no means a new experiment; on the contrary, it was older than +this world's history, though new to Pauline in the particular +circumstances--being an application of the law of mercy. + +"My friends," said Pina, in a somewhat tremulous voice, which however +became firmer as she proceeded, "this is the first trial that has taken +place in our little colony, and as crime must be firmly repressed--" + +("Punished, my dear--putt it stronger!" came in a whisper from the side +door, where widow Lynch was listening; but, fortunately, none of the +audience heard her.) + +"I feel," continued Pauline, taking no notice of the advice, "that it +becomes me, as your chosen queen, to do what I think will be best for +the interests of the community." + +"Hear, hear!" exclaimed some of the audience; but they gave no further +expression to their feelings, being still uncertain as to the queen's +leanings. + +"No doubt," continued Pina, trying, not quite successfully, to swallow +the lump in her throat, "the punishment which you have awarded these men +is in strict accordance with your ideas of justice, and, being utterly +ignorant of law, I will not presume to doubt the wisdom of your +decision; nor would I interfere, either by increasing or decreasing the +punishment, did I not feel that this case is peculiar, very peculiar. +It is, as I have said, the beginning of crime in our kingdom, and little +beginnings, you all know, often lead to great results. A small leak may +sink a ship. Then, in the second place, this is the first offence +committed by these men, and first offences require peculiar treatment--" + +("That's so, my dear--_powerful_ treatment. Give it 'em hot!" inaudibly +whispered the widow.) + +"Turning to that Book," continued Pauline, "which shall be my guide in +every act of life, I find that God `delighteth in mercy.' Can I go +wrong in following humbly in His footsteps? I think not. Therefore, I +venture to exercise the privilege of my position, and extend mercy to +these men. The law has been vindicated by their trial and condemnation. +I now, in accordance with constitutional right, bestow on them a free +pardon." + +This, being rapidly uttered, quite took the people by surprise, and +caused them to burst into a ringing cheer, above which the no longer +inaudible voice of the widow was heard to exclaim-- + +"Free parding, indeed!" in tones of indignant contempt, as she shut the +door with a bang and retired in disgust from the scene. + +"I do not know," said the queen, when silence was restored, "on what +particular officer of my household," (a confused little smile and blush +here), "falls the duty of setting crim--I mean _forgiven_ men free, so I +now order the prime minister to cut their bonds." + +Amid some laughter, Joe readily drew forth an enormous clasp-knife and +obeyed this command. Then the queen, stepping forward, held out her +hand with a bright smile to Hugh Morris. None but an utterly abandoned +wretch could have resisted that. Hugh gave in at once--seized the hand, +and not only shook it, but kissed it heartily. So did Malines, and so +did the others, and then they all dispersed--Teddy Malone signalling his +exit with a cheer and a shout to the following effect-- + +"Hooroo! boys--she's ivvery inch a quane, an' two or three eighths +over--cut an' dry, ready-made, hot off the irons! We're in luck--eh! +boys, aren't we?" + +The latter remark was made, with a hearty slap on the back, to little +Buxley, who, turning at once and grasping Malone in his arms, went in +for a vigorous wrestle by way of relieving his feelings. + +Whatever may be thought of this matter by men deep in the learning of +human law, we feel bound to put on record that this plan of Queen +Pauline the First proved a great success, for, from that day forward, +Malines and Morris and all the other conspirators became excellent +members of the community--gave up all ideas of piracy on the high seas, +set to work like men to fence in their properties, cultivate their +farms, prosecute their fisheries, and otherwise to make themselves +useful. Another result was that Silver Bay Settlement began to +flourish. + +Similar results usually happen when men give up quarrelling and take to +working. The schoolroom was soon finished. The queen had her Bible +classes--plenty of Bibles having been found in the ship--and Dominick +even went the length of venturing to conduct special services on +Sundays. + +But, strange to say, the more things prospered on the island, the more +pensive became the queen, as well as Otto and his brother. It was not +so with Dr Marsh, however. Some unknown influence seemed to keep him +always in a hearty frame of mind. + +"I can't help it, Dom," said the queen, as she walked on the white shore +of Silver Bay one evening while the sun was descending in a golden +blaze, "I can't bear to think of them." + +Poor Pauline's mind was running on a cheery bald little old gentleman in +Java, and a mild little spectacled old lady, with knitting proclivities, +in England, whose chief solace, in a humble way, was an elderly female +cat. + +"Am I _never_ to see them again?" she added, as she sat down on a coral +rock, buried her fair face in her hands, and wept. + +Dominick tried to comfort her, but in vain. + +"It's all very well what you say, Dom, but here we are settling down as +if we meant to stay for ever. Even Otto talks less than he used to +about Robinson Crusoe, and no ships ever come near us, and the sailors +don't want to quit the islands, so we can't even use the ship we have +got, and--and--O darling mother! and dear, _dear_ papa!" + +If Queen Pina, who broke down at this point, had only known that, about +the time she was speaking, the _dear_ papa was running for his life, +covered with mud from head to foot, in the midst of thunder and fire and +smoke, she might have mingled horror with loving emphasis as she +mentioned his name. + +At the time of which we write, the island of Java, in the Malay +Archipelago, was convulsed by one of those tremendous earthquakes which +have at irregular intervals, from time immemorial, shattered its +mountains, overwhelmed some of its fairest lands, and killed thousands +of its inhabitants. It is not our intention, however, to touch on this +subject more than will suffice to elucidate our tale. + +Deeply interesting is it, at times, to note the intimate connection that +sometimes exists between places and events which seem exceedingly +remote. One would imagine that the eruption of a volcanic mountain in +Java could not have much influence on the life or fortunes of people +living on an island nearly a thousand miles distant from the same. Yet +so it was, in a double sense, too, as we shall see. + +The great shock in Java, which overturned the bald little old +gentleman's chair, causing him to spring up and exclaim to his partner, +"Hallo, Brooks!" passed through the intervening earth, losing much of +its power on the way, caused Refuge Islands to tremble, and Pauline to +look up suddenly with the exclamation-- + +"What's that Dom?" + +"It is marvellously like an earthquake, Pina." + +Strange to say, Brooks in Java made precisely the same remark, at about +the same moment, to his senior partner. + +Thereafter old Mr Rigonda, who didn't like earthquakes, said to +Brooks--who didn't mind earthquakes, being used to them-- + +"I'll start off for England immediately." + +He did start off, even more immediately than he had intended, for the +neighbouring volcano, as if angered by his remark, sent up a shock that +shook the surrounding houses to their foundations. The senior partner +rushed out in terror, and was just in time to receive a shower of mud +and ashes while he fled away through fire and smoke, as already +mentioned. + +The volcano went to sleep again for a short time after that little +indication of its power, and you may be sure that old Rigonda did not +wait for its reawakening. One of his own ships was on the point of +sailing that very day. He went on board--after cleaning himself--got +Brooks to wind up their business relations in the cabin, and left for +England with a fair wind. + +And well was it for the bald little old gentleman that he did so, for, a +few days later, strange sounds and appearances were in the air and on +the sea. Fine ashes filled the sky, so that noon became like midnight, +and everything betokened that something unusually violent must have +occurred in the land which they had left. Nothing more serious, +however, befell our voyager. In due course he reached England, hastened +home, and, without warning, burst in upon his wife while that dear +little old lady was in the act of remarking to the middle-aged cat, in a +very dolorous tone, that she feared something must have happened to the +ship, for her darlings could never have been so long of writing if all +had gone well. + +It was while the cat gazed contemplatively at the everlasting socks, as +if meditating a reply, that old Rigonda burst in. + +Starting up with amazing activity and a cry of joy, the old lady swept +her feline friend from the table--inadvertently, of course--and rushed +into her husband's arms, while the outraged animal sought refuge on top +of the bookcase, whence it glared at the happy meeting with feelings +that may be more easily understood than described. Of course the old +man's joy was turned into grief and anxiety when he heard of the +departure of his children and was told of their prolonged silence; but +with that we have nothing to do at present. + +We return to Silver Bay, where a sense of insecurity had been aroused in +the community, ever since the tremors of the earth, to which we have +just referred. + +With the slumbering of the Javanese mountains, however, these tremors +and the consequent fears subsided, and were almost forgotten in another +source of anxiety. + +One morning, while Teddy Malone was walking on the beach of Silver Bay, +he observed a small object running and stumbling towards him, as if in +great haste or fear. Hurrying forward to meet this object he soon +perceived that it was little Brown-eyes, of whom he was very fond. + +"What's wrong, me darlint?" he asked, catching the child up and kissing +her. + +"Oh, such funny tings me sawd--oder side de rocks," replied Brown-eyes, +panting; "come wid me an' see dem. Come kik!" + +"Funny things, eh, mavourneen, what sort of things?" + +"Oh, like beasts. Come kik!" + +"They wasn't sarpints, was they?" said Malone, seating the child on his +shoulder and hastening towards the rocky point which separated Silver +Bay from the land beyond. + +"No, no--not saa'pints. Long beasts, like mans, only hims not stand and +walk, but lie down and crawl." + +Much impressed with the child's eager manner, the Irishman hurried +towards the point of rocks, filled with curiosity as to what the +creatures could be. + +"What sort o' hids have they, darlint?" he asked, as he neared the +point. + +"Hids same as mans, and faces like you, but more uglier, all scratched +over, an' dey try to catch me, but me runned away." + +Teddy Malone's hitherto obtuse faculties were awakened. He stopped +suddenly, being by that time convinced that he stood unarmed within +spear-throw of savages in ambush. To advance, supposing his conjecture +to be right, he knew would be certain death. To turn and fly would +probably be the same, for naked savages could easily overtake him even +if unburdened with Brown-eyes, whom, of course, he could not forsake, +and he was too far from the settlement to shout an alarm. + +Perspiration burst from poor Teddy's brow, for even delay, he knew, +would be fatal, as the savages would suspect him of having discovered +them. + +Suddenly he put Brown-eyes down on the sand, and, twisting his figure +into a comical position, began to hop like a frog. His device had the +desired effect; Brown-eyes burst into a hearty fit of laughter, forgot +for the moment the "funny beasts," and cried, "Do it agin!" + +The poor man did it again, thinking intensely all the time what he +should do next. + +"Would you like to see me dance, darlint?" he asked suddenly. + +"Oh yis!" + +Thereupon Teddy Malone began to dance an Irish jig to his own whistling, +although, being much agitated, he found it no easy matter to whistle in +tune or time, but that was unimportant. As he danced he took care to +back in a homeward direction. The child naturally followed. Thus, by +slow degrees, he got beyond what he considered spear-throw, and feeling +boldness return with security, he caught the child up and danced with +her on his shoulder. Then he set her down, and pretended to chase her. +He even went the length of chasing her a little way in the wrong +direction, in order to throw the savages more completely off their +guard. By degrees he got near to the settlement, and there was met by +Otto. + +"You seem jolly to-day, Ted," said the boy. + +"Whist, lad," returned the other, without intermitting his exercise. +"Look as if ye was admirin' me. There's lot of them tattooed monkeys-- +savages--beyant the pint. They don't know I've found it out. Slink up +an' gather the boys, an' look alive. I'll amuse 'em here till you come +back. An' I say, don't forgit to bring me revolver an' cutlash." + +"All right," was Otto's brief reply, as he sauntered slowly up towards +the bushes. No sooner was he screened by these, however, than he ran +like a hare to the palace. + +"Halloo! Dom, Joe, Hugh--all of you--the savages again! Arm--quick!" + +It needed no urging to hasten the movements of all who heard the boy's +voice. Ever since the first appearance of the savages Dominick and the +doctor had put all the men of the settlement under daily training in +drill for an hour or so, that they might be better able to act promptly +and in concert if occasion should again occur. The arms had been +collected, and such of them as were not in use stored in a handy +position, so that in two minutes an armed company was proceeding at a +run towards the spot on the shore where Malone was still performing his +antics, to the inexpressible delight of Brown-eyes. + +"Where are the spalpeens?" asked the widow Lynch, who had followed the +men. + +"Beyant the rocks, mother," answered Malone, as he received his weapons +from Otto and fell into his place in the ranks; "ye'd as well take the +child home, or she'll be sure to follow--she's nigh as wild as yerself." + +The widow was indeed fond of seeing, as she used to say, "all the fun +that was goin'," but on this occasion she consented to carry Brown-eyes +out of danger while the settlers moved at a quick step towards the +point. + +Behind that point of rocks a band of savages lay concealed, as Malone +had rightly conjectured. There were about forty of them, all armed with +clubs and spears, evidently bent on attacking the settlement. Of course +they meant to do it by surprise, and had concealed themselves among the +bushes behind the point, where they probably would have lain till +nightfall if Brown-eyes in her wanderings had not discovered them. +Their chief would have instantly caught and silenced the poor child, had +she not run so far clear of the point that he would infallibly have +revealed himself to Teddy Malone in doing so. + +When that worthy drew near to the rocks, as described, the chief got +ready a spear for his reception. When Malone took to dancing, the chief +condescended to smile, or grin, hideously. When he retreated out of +range the chief consoled himself with the reflection that it was just as +well, night being the best time for attack. When, however, he beheld a +band of men moving towards him armed with the terrible things that +"spouted smoke, fire, and stones," a change came over the spirit of his +dream. After a hasty consultation with his comrades, he glided off in +the direction of their canoe. The rest followed, and when our settlers +at last turned the point, they saw the foe paddling at full speed across +the lagoon. + +Firing a volley of disappointment after them, both in words and bullets, +they ran to their boats and gave chase, but, as on the former occasion, +the canoe proved too swift for the boats under oars, and the savages got +away. + +The anxiety that naturally filled the breasts of Queen Pauline and her +councillors at this event was speedily forgotten in a recurrence of the +earthquake which had previously alarmed them so much. + +It happened on a calm, bright morning, when the widow Lynch chanced to +be washing garments in the palace beside the queen. You see they had +not much regard for state-ceremonial or etiquette at the court of +Pauline the First even in public, much less in private, so that, while +the widow was deep in the washtub at one end of the hall, the queen was +busy at the other end patching Otto's garments. + +At first there occurred a slight trembling of the earth, which the +widow, attributing to giddiness in her own cranium, recognised with a +remonstrative "Ohone!" + +"Did you feel _that_?" exclaimed Pauline, pausing in her work and +looking up with a slight feeling of alarm. + +"_What_, dearie?" demanded the widow, clearing the soap-suds from her +red roly-poly arms. + +Before Pauline could answer, the earthquake took the liberty of reply by +giving an abrupt shake to the whole island, which not only set chairs +and tables rocking in an alarming manner, but drove the entire +population from their houses in consternation. Among other effects it +caused Mrs Lynch to stagger and catch hold of the washtub, which, far +from supporting her, let her fall to the ground, and fell on the top of +her. + +To most of the settlers the sensation of a trembling earth was quite new +and exceedingly alarming. They stopped abruptly after the first rush, +and then looked about with pale faces, not knowing what to do. Malines, +however, was cool and collected. He had been in various volcanic +regions of the world, and undertook to comfort them. + +"Don't be afraid," he said, when the most of the people had gathered +round him. "I've often seen this sort o' thing, on the coast o' South +America and among the Malay Islands. It passes away after a while, and +often without doin' much damage--though I _have_ seen a town shook +almost to pieces in about five minutes." + +"And what did they do?" asked Jabez Jenkins. + +"Och, whirri-hoo!" shouted Teddy Malone, for at that moment another +shock was felt, more violent than the preceding. The earth seemed +absolutely to roll, and one or two of the huts that had been carelessly +built, fell asunder in partial ruin. + +"Where is my brother--and the doctor?" demanded Pauline, running up to +the group at the moment. + +"They're away up the mountain, with Joe and Otto," answered little +Buxley; "I saw 'em start soon after daybreak--to explore, they said." + +"What do you think should be done?" asked Pina, turning naturally to the +mate, as being the most intelligent of those around her. + +"If it's goin' to be bad," said Malines, "I would advise you all to git +on board the ship as fast as ye can, for the land isn't so safe as the +water when it takes to quakin'." + +"You seem to have had some experience of it. Is it going to be bad, +think you?" + +"Earthquakes are deceptive--no man can tell." + +"Well, then, we must do our best at once," said the queen, with an air +of calm decision worthy of her rank. "Go, Mr Malines, with your +sailors, and get all the boats ready. And you, my people, carry down +what you esteem most valuable and get on board the ship without loss of +time--for the rest, we are in the hands of a loving and merciful God." + +While these events were enacting on the shore, Dominick, Otto, the +doctor, and Joe Binney were seated near the summit of the highest peak, +enjoying a cold breakfast. It was their first visit to that particular +peak, which had a slight hollow or basin of perhaps fifty feet diameter +in the centre. + +Just before the first tremulous shock the doctor had been explaining to +the prime minister the nature of volcanoes, and stating his opinion that +the cup-like hollow before them was an extinct crater. The slight shock +stopped him in his discourse, and caused the party to look at each other +with serious faces. + +"It's not extinct yet," exclaimed Otto excitedly, pointing to the +hollow, the earth of which had suddenly cracked in several places and +was emitting puffs of sulphurous smoke and steam. + +They all started up. + +"We'd better hasten home," said Dominick. + +"Yes--they'll be terribly scared," said the doctor, hastily beginning to +pack up the remains of their breakfast. + +But, before this could be done, the second convulsion took place. +Violent trembling occurred for a few seconds; then the ground in the old +crater burst open, and, with a terrible explosion, fire and smoke +belched forth, sending huge fragments of rock and showers of ashes into +the air, which latter fell around the explorers in all directions-- +fortunately without doing them injury. + +They waited no longer. Without even uttering a word they all turned and +ran down the hill at full speed. Being a considerable distance from the +settlement, it was upwards of an hour before they arrived. By that time +most of the women and children had been sent off to the ship. Pauline, +however, had remained on shore to direct and encourage the rest, as well +as to await the return of her brothers. + +"Right--right--you couldn't have done better," said Dominick, when +Pauline hastily explained how she had acted. + +"It was Mr Malines, not I, who suggested the plan," returned the queen. + +"Hadn't you better go on board yourself?" said the doctor, "and leave us +to manage." + +"No, I am not a mere puppet, sir," answered Pauline, with a little +smile, yet firmly. "My place is here till all my subjects are safe! +And your duty is to assist in the embarkation, not to offer advice to +your queen!" + +With a laugh the doctor went off to do his duty, muttering, "My _queen_, +indeed!" fervently. + +For some time the volcano, which had thus sprung into sudden activity, +partially subsided, yet there were occasional tremulous motions of the +earth and low growlings in the heart of the mountain on Big Island, +while several minor explosions occurred in the crater, so that the +thoroughly alarmed settlers hastened the embarkation with all despatch. +Before night had closed in they were all safely on board with most of +their lighter valuables and tools, though, necessarily, much of their +heavier property was left behind. Where life is threatened, however, +men are not apt to mind such losses. + +It now became a question whether they should remain at anchor where they +were and abide the issue, or proceed at once to sea. Some were for +remaining, others were for putting off to sea. There was much wrangling +over it at first, and the people seemed in their anxiety to have quite +forgotten their queen, when she stepped forward, and, raising her clear +silvery voice, produced a dead calm at once. + +"Joe," she said, "go down to the cabin and await me there." + +The prime minister obeyed instantly. + +"Now," said Pauline, turning to the people, "choose among you six of +your number to consult with me, and do it at once." + +Of course, the men well-known as the best among the settlers were +instantly named we need scarcely add that among them were Dominick, the +doctor, and Malines. + +While these were engaged in consultation below, a terrible outburst of +the volcano settled the matter for them, and brought them all hastily on +deck. + +The summit of the crater seemed to have been blown up into the air with +a most terrific noise, while a dense mass of smoke, steam, and ashes was +hurled upwards, and seemed to blot out the sky. Twilight, which had +been deepening, was converted into blackest night in a moment, and +darkness profound would undoubtedly have continued, had it not been for +the lurid glare of the fires which flashed at intervals from the crater. +Suddenly the waters of the sea became agitated. The ship rocked +uneasily, and jerked at her cable, while the terrified people clung to +shrouds and ropes, and belaying-pins. Then the fire on the mountain-top +increased tenfold in volume and intensity. Another moment, and several +large holes opened in the mountain-side nearest to them, from which +streams of molten lava burst forth and began to descend towards the +deserted settlement. + +At that moment there was a great shout. It had been discovered that in +the confusion little Brown-eyes had been forgotten! + +A small boat hung at the davits on the port side. It was manned +instantly. The doctor jumped to the helm, Otto followed, and, before +any could interpose, the queen suddenly stepped in. + +"You are mad!" cried the doctor. + +"Lower away!" said Pina, as if she had been a trained sea-captain all +her life. + +Instantly the ropes were eased off, and in a few seconds the boat was in +the sea and on the shore. They found little Brown-eyes sound asleep in +her crib, with a river of red-hot lava stretching its fiery tongues +towards her as if eager for a meal! + +Supple-limbed Otto was first; he seized the child and bore her off to +the boat. Another terrible explosion occurred just then. Ashes and +masses of rock began to rain around them. A falling stone struck +Pauline's head, and she fell. The doctor, who held her hand, seized her +in his arms and bore her away. A few minutes more and they were all +safe on board again. + +But there was no time for congratulations. The sea which had before +been agitated, now heaved in wild waves, though there was no wind. It +was then seen that Big Island was actually crumbling--sinking into the +water! The continuous rumbling of the volcano was terrible. +Intermittent explosions were frequent. To add to the horrors of the +scene the darkness deepened. As the island went down the sea rushed +tumultuously in to overwhelm it. Then it was that the stout cable, +under God, saved them from immediate destruction. The ship was hurled +from side to side like a cork on the boiling flood. But no cable could +long withstand such a strain. The chain snapped at last, and they +seemed to be rushing with railway speed to their fate amid surrounding +fire and overwhelming water, and roaring thunders, and raining ashes, +when, suddenly, there was a perceptible diminution in the turmoil, and, +gradually, the waves calmed down. With feelings of intense thankfulness +the terrified people let go their second anchor, though the darkness was +by that time so thick that they could barely see each other. + +It may be imagined what a night of anxiety they spent. With Pauline and +some others it was a night of earnest prayer. + +When the light of day at last broke faintly in the east it revealed the +fact that Refuge Islands had actually and totally disappeared, and that +our settlers were floating on the bosom of the open sea! + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +LAST CHAPTER. + +An Island Queen no longer, Pauline Rigonda sits on the quarter-deck of +the emigrant ship gazing pensively over the side at the sunlit sea. +Dethroned by the irresistible influences of fire and water, our heroine +has retired into the seclusion of private life. + +After escaping from the volcano, as described in the last chapter, the +settlers resolved to proceed, under the guidance of Malines as captain, +and Morris as mate, to the port for which they had originally been bound +when the disaster on Refuge Islands had arrested them. + +Of course this was a great disappointment to poor Pauline and her +brothers, who, as may be imagined, were burning with anxiety to get back +to England. Feeling, however, that it would be unreasonable as well as +selfish to expect the emigrants to give up their long-delayed plans +merely to meet their wishes, they made up their minds to accept the +situation with a good grace. + +"You see," said Otto to the ex-queen--for he was becoming very wise in +his own eyes, and somewhat oracular in the midst of all these +excitements--"when a fellow can't help himself he's bound to make the +best of a bad business." + +"Don't you think it would be better to say he is bound to accept +trustingly what God arranges, believing that it will be all for the +best?" returned Pauline. + +"How can a bad business be for the best?" demanded Otto, with the air of +one who has put an unanswerable question. + +His sister looked at him with an expression of perplexity. "Well, it is +not easy to explain," she said, "yet I can believe that all _is_ for the +best." + +"Ha, Pina!" returned the boy, with a little touch of pride, "it's all +very well for you to say that, but you won't get men to believe things +in that way." + +"Otto," said Dr Marsh, who was standing near and listening to the +conversation, "it is not so difficult as you think to prove that what we +call a bad business may after all be for the best. I remember at this +moment a case in point. Come--I'll tell you a story. Once upon a time +I knew a gentleman with a stern face and a greedy soul, who believed in +nothing, almost, except in the wickedness of mankind, and in his own +capacity to take advantage of that wickedness in order to make money. +Money was his god. He spent all his time and all his strength in making +it, and he was successful. He had many ships on the sea, and much gold +in the bank. He had also a charming little wife, who prayed in secret +that God would deliver her husband from his false god, and he had a dear +little daughter who loved him to distraction in spite of his `business +habits!' Well, one year there came a commercial crisis. Mr Getall +eagerly risked his money and over-speculated. That same year was +disastrous in the way of storms and wrecks. Among the wrecks were +several of Mr Getall's finest ships. A fire reduced one of his +warehouses to ashes, and, worse still, one of his most confidential and +trusted clerks absconded with some thousands of pounds. All that was a +very bad business, wasn't it?" + +"It was," assented Otto; "go on." + +"The upshot was a crash--" + +"What!--of the burning warehouse?" + +"No; of the whole business, and the Getalls were reduced to comparative +beggary. The shock threw the poor little wife, who had always been +rather delicate, into bad health, rendering a warm climate necessary for +her at a time when they could not afford to travel. Moreover, little +Eva's education was entirely stopped at perhaps the most important +period of her life. That was a bad business, wasn't it?" + +"That was a much worse business," asserted Otto. + +"Well, when Mr Getall was at the lowest stage of despair, and had taken +more than one look over the parapet of London Bridge with a view to +suicide, he received a letter from a long-neglected brother, who had for +many years dwelt on the Continent, partly for economy and partly for a +son's health. The brother offered him a home in the south of France for +the winter, as it would do his wife good, he said, and he had room in +his house for them all, and wanted their company very much to keep him +from being dull in that land of warmth and sunshine! Getall was not the +man to refuse such an offer. He went. The brother was an earnest +Christian. His influence at that critical time of sore distress was the +means in the Holy Spirit's hands of rescuing the miser's soul, and +transferring his heart from gold to the Saviour. A joy which he had +never before dreamed of took possession of him, and he began, timidly at +first to commend Jesus to others. Joy, they say, is curative. The +effect of her husband's conversion did so much good to little Mrs +Getall's spirit that her body began steadily to mend, and in time she +was restored to better health than she had enjoyed in England. The +brother-in-law, who was a retired schoolmaster, undertook the education +of Eva, and, being a clever man as well as good, trained her probably +much better than she would have been trained had she remained at home. +At last they returned to England, and Mr Getall, with the assistance of +friends, started afresh in business. He never again became a rich man +in the worldly sense, but he became rich enough to pay off all his +creditors to the last farthing; rich enough to have something to spare +for a friend in distress; rich enough to lay past something for Eva's +dower, and rich enough to contribute liberally to the funds of those +whose business it is to `consider the poor.' All that, you see, being +the result of what you have admitted, my boy, was a bad business." + +"True, but then," objected Otto, who was of an argumentative turn, "if +all that _hadn't_ resulted, it would have been a bad business still." + +"Not necessarily--it might have turned out to be a good business in some +other way, or for somebody else. The mere fact that we can't see how, +is no argument against the theory that _everything_ is constrained to +work for good by Him who rules the universe." + +"What! even sin?" asked Otto, in surprise. + +"Even sin," returned the doctor. "Don't you see that it was Getall's +sin of greed and over-speculation, and the clerk's sin of embezzlement, +which led to all these good results; but, of course, as neither of them +had any desire or intention to achieve the good results which God +brought about, they were none the less guilty, and were entitled to no +credit, but, on the contrary, to condign punishment. What I wish to +prove is that God causes _all things_ to work out His will, yet leaves +the free-will of man untouched. This is a great mystery; at the same +time it is a great fact, and therefore I contend that we have every +reason to trust our loving Father, knowing that whatever happens to us +will be for the best--not, perhaps, for our present pleasure or +gratification, but for our ultimate best." + +"But--but--but," said Otto, while premature wrinkles rippled for a +minute over his smooth brow, "at that rate, is it fair to blame sinners +when their very sins are made to bring about God's will?" + +"Now, Otto, don't run away with a false idea. For you to sin with a +view to bring about good, is one thing--and a very wicked thing, which +is severely condemned in Scripture--but for God to cause good to result +from your sin, and in spite of _you_, is a totally different thing. +Think of a pirate, my boy, a bloody-handed villain, who has spent his +life of crime in gathering together enormous wealth, with which to +retire into selfish enjoyment at last. But he is captured. His wealth +is taken from him, and with it good men establish almshouses for the +aged poor, hospitals for the sick, free libraries and free baths +everywhere, and many other good and beneficent works. The pirate's +labours have, in God's providence, been turned into this channel. Is +the pirate less guilty, or less deserving of punishment on that +account?" + +Further discussion on this point was interrupted by a sharp order from +Malines to reduce sail, and the consequent bustling about of the +sailors. + +"Going to blow, think you?" asked Dominick, who came on deck at the +moment. + +"Can't tell yet," replied the mate, "but the glass has fallen suddenly, +and one must be prepared, all the more that the ship has been more +severely strained on the reef than I had thought. Would Miss Pauline be +prepared," he added in a lower tone, "to receive the deputation this +afternoon?" + +"Yes, she is quite prepared," returned Dominick, in the same low tone, +"though she is much perplexed, not being able to understand what can be +wanted of her. Is it so profound a secret that I may not know it?" + +"You shall both know it in good time," the mate replied, as he turned to +give fresh directions to the man at the wheel. + +That afternoon the assembly in the cabin could hardly be styled a +deputation, for it consisted of as many of the emigrants as could +squeeze in. It was led by Joe Binney, who stood to the front with a +document in his hand. Pauline, with some trepidation and much surprise +expressed on her pretty face, was seated on the captain's chair, with an +extra cushion placed thereon to give it a more throne-like dignity. She +was supported by Dominick on one side and Otto on the other. + +Joe advanced a few paces, stooping his tall form, partly in reverence +and partly to avoid the deck-beams. Clearing his throat, and with a +slightly awkward air, he read from the document as follows:-- + +"Dear Miss Pauline, may it please yer majesty, for we all regards you +yet as our lawful queen, I've bin appinted, as prime minister of our +community--which ain't yet broke up--to express our wishes, likewise our +sentiments." + +"That's so--go it, Joe," broke in a soft whisper from Teddy Malone. + +"We wishes, first of all," continued the premier, "to say as how we're +very sorry that your majesty's kingdom has bin blowed up an' sunk to the +bottom o' the sea," ("Worse luck!" from Mrs Lynch),--"but we +congratulate you an' ourselves that we, the people, are all +alive,"--("an' kickin'," softly, from Malone--"Hush!" "silence!" from +several others),--"an' as loyal an' devoted as ever we was." ("More +so," and "Hear, hear!"). "Since the time you, Queen Pauline, took up +the reins of guvermint, it has bin plain to us all that you has done +your best to rule in the fear o' God, in justice, truthfulness, an' +lovin' kindness. An' we want to tell you, in partikler, that your +readin's out of the Bible to us an' the child'n--which was no part o' +your royal dooty, so to speak--has done us all a power o' good, an' +there was some of us big uns as needed a lot o' good to be done us, as +well as the child'n--" ("Sure an' that's true, annyhow!" from Teddy). + +"Now, what we've got to say," continued Joe, clearing his throat again, +and taking a long breath, "is this--the land we're agoin' to ain't +thickly popilated, as we knows on, an' we would take it kindly if you'd +consent to stop there with us, an' continue to be our queen, so as we +may all stick together an' be rightly ruled on the lines o' lovin' +kindness,"--("With a taste o' the broomstick now an' then," from Teddy). +"If your majesty agrees to this, we promise you loyal submission an' +sarvice. Moreover, we will be glad that your brother, Mister Dominick, +should be prime minister, an' Mister Otto his scritairy, or wotever else +you please. Also that Dr Marsh should be the chansler o' the checkers, +or anything else you like, as well as sawbones-in-gineral to the +community. An' this our petition," concluded Joe, humbly laying the +document at Pauline's feet, "has bin signed by every man in the ship-- +except Teddy Malone--" + +"That's a lie!" shouted the amazed Teddy. + +"Who," continued Joe, regardless of the interruption, "not bein' able to +write, has put his cross to it." + +"Hear, hear!" cried the relieved Irishman, while the rest laughed +loudly--but not long, for it was observed that Pauline had put her +handkerchief to her eyes. + +What the ex-queen said in reply, we need not put down in detail. Of +course, she expressed her gratitude for kind expressions, and her +thankfulness for what had been said about her Sabbath-school work. She +also explained that her dear mother in England, as well as their old +father in Java, must be filled with deepest anxiety on account of +herself and her brothers by that time, and that, therefore, she was +obliged, most unwillingly, to decline the honour proposed to her. + +"Och!" exclaimed the disappointed widow Lynch, "cudn't ye sind for yer +mother to come out to yez, an' the ould man in Javy too? They'd be +heartily welcome, an' sure we'd find 'em some sitivation under guvermint +to kape their pot bilin'." + +But these strong inducements failed to change the ex-queen's mind. + +Now, while this was going on in the cabin, a change was taking place in +the sky. The bad weather which Malines had predicted came down both +suddenly and severely, and did the ship so much damage as to render +refitting absolutely necessary. There was no regular port within +hundreds of miles of them, but Malines said he knew of one of the +eastern isles where there was a safe harbour, good anchorage, and plenty +of timber. It would not take long to get there, though, considering the +damaged state of the ship, it might take some months before they could +get her into a fit state to continue the voyage. Accordingly, they +altered their course, with heavy hearts, for the emigrants were +disappointed at having their voyage again interrupted, while the +Rigondas were depressed at the thought of the prolonged anxiety of their +parents. + +"Now this _is_ a bad business, isn't it?" said Otto to the doctor, with +a groan, when the course was decided. + +"Looks like it, my boy; but it isn't," replied the doctor, who +nevertheless, being himself but a frail mortal, was so depressed that he +did not feel inclined to say more. + +In this gloomy state of matters Pina's sweet tones broke upon them like +a voice from the better land--as in truth it was--saying, "I will trust +and not be afraid." + +About this time the cloud which hung over the emigrant ship was darkened +still more by a visit from the Angel of Death. The mother of Brown-eyes +died. At that time Pauline was indeed an angel of mercy to mother and +child. After the remains of the mother were committed to the deep, the +poor orphan clung so piteously to Pauline that it was scarcely possible +to tear her away. It was agreed at last that, as the child had now no +natural protector, except an uncle and aunt, who seemed to think they +had already too many children of their own, Pauline should adopt her. + +When the emigrants reached the island-harbour, without further mishap, +they were surprised to find a large steamer at anchor. The captain of +it soon explained that extensive damage to the machinery had compelled +him to run in there for shelter while the necessary repairs were being +effected. + +"Where are you bound for?" asked Dominick, who with Dr Marsh and Otto +had accompanied Malines on board the steamer. + +"For England." + +"For England?" almost shouted Dominick and Otto in the same breath. + +"Yes. Our repairs are completed, we set off to-morrow." + +"Have you room for two or three passengers?" + +"Yes, plenty of room. We shall have to put several ashore at the Cape, +where I hope to get a doctor, too, for our doctor died soon after we +left port, and we are much in want of one, having a good many sick men +on board." + +"Otto," whispered Dr Marsh, "our having been diverted from our course +has not turned out such a bad business after all, has it?" + +"On the contrary, the very best that could have happened. I'll never +give way to unbelief again!" + +Poor Otto! He did not at that time know how deeply doubt and unbelief +are ingrained in the human heart. He did not know that man has to be +convinced again and again, and over again, before he learns to hope +against hope, and to believe heartily at all times that, "He doeth all +things well." + +It was with very mingled feelings that the Rigondas, Dr Marsh, and +Brown-eyes parted next day from the friends with whom they had +associated so long. It is no exaggeration to say that there was +scarcely a dry eye in the two vessels; for, while the settlers wept for +sorrow, the crews and passengers wept more or less from sympathy. Even +the dead-eyes of the ship, according to Malone, shed tears! As for poor +Brown-eyes, who was a prime favourite with many of her old friends, male +and female, before she got away she had been almost crushed out of +existence by strong arms, and her eyes might have been pea-green or pink +for anything you could tell, so lost were they in the swollen lids. +Long after the vessels had separated the settlers continued to shout +words of good-will and blessing, "We'll never forgit ye, Miss Pauline," +came rolling after them in the strong tones of Joe Binney. "God bless +you, Miss," came not less heartily from Hugh Morris. "We loves ye, +darlint," followed clear and shrill from the vigorous throat of the +widow Lynch, and a wild "Hooray!" from Teddy endorsed the sentiment. +Nobbs, the blacksmith, and little Buxley, ran up the rigging to make the +waving of their caps more conspicuous, and when faces could no longer be +distinguished and voices no longer be heard, the waving of kerchiefs +continued until the rounding of a cape suddenly shut them all out from +view for ever. + +"Thank God," said Dr Marsh, with a voice deepened and tremulous from +emotion, "that though they have lost their queen, they shall never lose +the sweet influences she has left behind her." + +The great ocean steamer had now cleared the land; her mighty engines +seemed to throb with joy at being permitted once more to, "Go ahead, +full speed," and soon she was cleaving her way grandly through the +broad-backed billows of the Southern sea--homeward bound! + +Let us leap on in advance of her. + +The little old lady with the gold spectacles and neat black cap, and +smooth, braided hair, is seated in her old arm-chair, with the old sock, +apparently--though it must have been the latest born of many hundreds of +socks--on the needles, and the unfailing cat at her elbow. The aspect +of the pair gives the impression that if a French Revolution or a Chili +earthquake were to visit England they would click-and-gaze on with +imperturbable serenity through it all. + +But the little old lady is not alone now. Old Mr Rigonda sits at the +table opposite to her, with his forehead in his hands, as though he +sought to squeeze ideas into his head from a book which lies open before +him on the table. Vain hope, for the book is upside down. Profound +silence reigns, with the exception of the clicking needles and the +purring cat. + +"My dear," at length exclaimed the bald old gentleman, looking up with a +weary sigh. + +"Yes, John?" (Such is his romantic Christian name!) + +"I can't stand it, Maggie." (Such is _her_ ditto!) + +"It is, indeed, hard to bear, John. If we only knew for certain that +they are--are gone, it seems as if we could bow to His will; but this +terrible and wearing uncertainty is awful. Did you make inquiry at +Lloyd's to-day?" + +"Lloyd's? You seem to think Lloyd's can tell everything about all that +happens on the sea. No, it's of no use inquiring anywhere, or doing +anything. We can only sit still and groan." + +In pursuance of this remaining consolation, the poor old gentleman +groaned heavily and squeezed his forehead tighter, and gazed at the +reversed book more sternly, while the old lady heaved several deep +sighs. Even the cat introduced a feeble mew, as of sympathy, into the +midst of its purr--the hypocrite! + +"It was the earthquake that did it," cried Mr Rigonda, starting up, and +pacing the room wildly, "I'm convinced of that." + +"How can that be, John, dear, when you were in Java at the time, and our +darlings were far away upon the sea?" + +"How can _I_ tell how it could be, Maggie? Do you take me for a +geological philosopher, who can give reasons for every earthly thing he +asserts? All I know is that these abominable earthquakes go half +through the world sometimes. Pity they don't go through the other half, +split the world in two, and get rid of the subterranean fires +altogether." + +"John, my dear!" + +"Well, Maggie, don't be hard on me for gettin' irascible now and then. +If you only knew what I suffer when--but forgive me. You _do_ know what +I suffer--there!" + +He stooped and kissed the old lady's forehead. The cat, uncertain, +apparently, whether an assault was meant, arched its back and tall, and +glared slightly. Seeing however that nothing more was done, it +subsided. + +Just then the wheels of a cab were heard rattling towards the front +door, as if in haste. The vehicle stopped suddenly. Then there was +impatient thundering at the knocker, and wild ringing of the bell. + +"Fire!" gasped the half-petrified Mrs Rigonda. + +"No smell!" said her half-paralysed spouse. + +Loud voices in the passage; stumbling feet on the stairs; suppressed +female shrieks; bass masculine exclamations; room door burst open; old +couple, in alarm, on their feet; cat, in horror, on the top of the +bookcase! + +"Mother! mother! O father!"--yelled, rather than spoken. + +Another moment, and the bald, little old man was wrestling in the +ex-queen's arms; the little old lady was engulfed by Dominick and Otto; +Dr John Marsh and Brown-eyes stood transfixed and smiling with idiotic +joy at the door; while the cat--twice its size, with every hair erect-- +glared, and evolved miniature volcanoes in its stomach. + +It was an impressive sight. Much too much so to dwell on! + +Passing it over, let us look in on that happy home when toned down to a +condition of reasonable felicity. + +"It's a dream--all a wild, unbelievable dream!" sighed the old +gentleman, as, with flushed face and dishevelled hair, he spread himself +out in an easy chair, with Queen Pina on his knee and Brown-eyes at his +feet. "Hush! all of you--wait a bit." + +There was dead silence, and some surprise for a few seconds, while Mr +Rigonda shut his eyes tight and remained perfectly still, during which +brief lull the volcanic action in the cat ceased, and its fur slowly +collapsed. + +"Dreams shift and change so!" murmured the sceptical man, gradually +opening his eyes again--"What! you're there yet, Pina?" + +"Of course I am, darling daddy." + +"Here, pinch me on the arm, Dominick--the tender part, else I'll not +waken up sufficiently to dispel it." + +A fresh outburst of hilarity, which started the stomachic volcanoes and +hair afresh, while Pauline flung her arms round her father's neck for +the fiftieth time, and smothered him. When he was released, and +partially recovered, Otto demanded to know if he really wanted the dream +dispelled. + +"Certainly not, my boy, certainly not, if it's real; but it would be so +dreadfully dismal to awake and find you all gone, that I'd prefer to +dream it out, and turn to something else, if possible, before waking. +I--I--" + +Here the old gentleman suddenly seized his handkerchief, with a view to +wipe his eyes, but, changing his mind, blew his nose instead. + +Just then the door opened, and a small domestic entered with that +eminently sociable meal, tea. With a final explosion, worthy of Hecla +or Vesuvius, the cat shot through the doorway, as if from a catapult, +and found refuge in the darkest recesses of the familiar coal-hole. + +"But who," said Mr Rigonda, casting his eyes suddenly downward, "who is +this charming little brown-eyed maid that you have brought with you from +the isles of the southern seas? A native--a little Fiji princess--eh?" + +"Hush! father," whispered Pauline in his ear, "she's a dear little +orphan who has adopted me as her mother, and would not be persuaded to +leave me. So, you see, I've brought her home." + +"Quite right, quite right," returned the old man, stooping to kiss the +little one. "I've often thought you'd be the better of a sister, Pina, +so, perhaps, a daughter will do as well." + +"Now, then, tea is ready; draw in your chairs, darlings," said Mrs +Rigonda, with a quavering voice. The truth is that all the voices +quavered that night, more or less, and it was a matter of uncertainty +several times whether the quavering would culminate in laughter or in +tears. + +"Why do you so often call Pina a queen, dear boy?" asked Mrs Rigonda of +her volatile son, Otto. + +"Why?" replied the youth, whose excitement did not by any means injure +his appetite--to judge from the manner in which he disposed of muffins +and toast, sandwiched now and then with wedges of cake--"Why? because +she _is_ a queen--at least she _was_ not long ago." + +An incredulous smile playing on the good lady's little mouth, Pauline +was obliged to corroborate Otto's statement. + +"And what were you queen of?" asked her father, who was plainly under +the impression that his children were jesting. + +"Of Refuge Islands, daddy," said Pina; "pass the toast, Otto, I think I +never _was_ so hungry. Coming home obviously improves one's appetite." + +"You forget the open boat, Pina." + +"Ah, true," returned Pauline, "I did for a moment forget that. Yes, we +were fearfully hungry _that_ time." + +Of course this led to further inquiry, and to Dominick clearing his +throat at last, and saying--"Come, I'll give you a short outline of our +adventures since we left home. It must only be a mere sketch, of +course, because it would take days and weeks to give you all the +details." + +"Don't be prosy, Dom," said Otto, helping himself to a fifth, if not a +tenth, muffin. "Prosiness is one of your weak points when left to your +own promptings." + +"But before you begin, Dom," said old Mr Rigonda, "tell us where Refuge +Islands are." + +"In the Southern Pacific, father." + +"Yes," observed Otto; "at the bottom of the Southern Pacific." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the old gentleman, whose incredulity was fast taking +the form of sarcasm. "Not far, I suppose, from that celebrated island +which was the last home and refuge of our famous ancestor, the Spanish +pirate, who was distantly related, through a first cousin of his mother, +to Don Quixote." + +"You doubt us, daddy, I see," said Pauline, laughing; "but I do assure +you we are telling you the simple truth. I appeal to Dr Marsh." + +Dr Marsh, who had chiefly acted the part of observant listener up to +that moment, now assured Mr Rigonda with so much sincerity that what +had been told him was true, that he felt bound to believe him. + +"Yes, indeed," said Dr Marsh, "your daughter was in truth a queen, and +I was one of her subjects. Indeed, I may say that, in one sense, she is +a queen still, but she has been dethroned by fire and water, as you +shall presently hear, though she still reigns in the affections of her +people, and can _never_ be dethroned again!" + +This speech was greeted with some merriment, for the doctor said it with +much enthusiasm. Then Dominick began to give an account of their +adventures, interrupted and corrected, not infrequently, by his pert +brother Otto, who, being still afflicted with his South-Sea-island +appetite, remained unsatisfied until the last slice of toast, and the +last muffin, and the last wedge of cake had disappeared from the table. + +Dominick's intentions were undoubtedly good; and when he asserted that +it was his purpose to give his father and mother merely an outline of +their adventures, he was unquestionably sincere; but the outline became +so extended, and assumed such a variety of complex convolutions, that +there seemed to be no end to the story--as there certainly seemed to be +no end to the patience of the listeners. So Dominick went, "on and on +and on," as story-books put it, until the fire in the grate began to +burn low; until Otto had consumed the contents of the teapot, and the +cream-jug, and the sugar-basin, and had even gathered up, economically, +the crumbs of the cake; until the still eager audience had begun to yawn +considerately with shut mouths; until the household cat, lost in +amazement at prolonged neglect, had ventured to creep from the +coal-hole, and take up a modest position on the floor, in the shadow of +its little old mistress. + +There is no saying how long this state of things would have gone on, if +it had not been for the exuberant spirits of Otto, who, under an impulse +of maternal affection, sprang to his mother's side with intent to +embrace her, and unwittingly planted his foot on the cat's tail. + +Then, indeed, the convoluted outline came to an abrupt end; for, with a +volcanic explosion, suggestive of thunder and lightning, inlaid with +dynamite, the hapless creature sprang from the room, followed by a +shriek from its mistress, and a roar of laughter from all the rest. + +It is not certainly known where that cat spent the following fortnight. +The only thing about it that remains on record is the fact that, at the +end of that space of time, it returned to its old haunts, deeply +humbled, and much reduced; that it gradually became accustomed to the +new state of things, and even mounted the table, and sat blinking in its +old position, and grew visibly fatter, while the old lady revived old +times by stroking it, as she had been wont to, and communicating to it +some of her thoughts and fancies. + +"Ay, pussy," she said, on one of these occasions when they chanced to be +alone together, "little did you and I think, when we used to be sitting +so comfortably here, that our darlings were being tossed about and +starved in open boats on the stormy sea! Ah! pussy, pussy, we little +knew--but `it's all well that ends well,' as a great writer that you +know nothing about has said, and you and I can never, never be thankful +enough for getting back, safe and sound, our dear old man, and our +darling boys, and our--our little Pauline, the Island Queen." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Island Queen, by R.M. 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