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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Yr Ynys Unyg, by Julia de Winton
+
+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: Yr Ynys Unyg
+       The Lonely Island
+
+Author: Julia de Winton
+
+Release Date: October 20, 2007 [EBook #23090]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YR YNYS UNYG ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Emmy, Stephen Blundell and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The University of Florida, The Internet
+Archive/Children's Library)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+                   YR YNYS UNYG;
+
+                        OR,
+
+                 THE LONELY ISLAND:
+
+
+                    A NARRATIVE
+
+                        FOR
+
+                   YOUNG PEOPLE.
+
+
+    "Beseech you, be merry: we have cause
+    Of joy: for our escape
+    Is much beyond our loss: our hint of woe
+    Is common: every day, some sailor's wife,
+    The masters of some merchant, and the merchant
+    Have just our theme of woe: but for the miracle,
+    I mean our preservation, few in millions
+    Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh
+    Our sorrow with our comfort."--_Tempest._
+
+
+
+                      LONDON:
+ SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT;
+    GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND CO., FARRINGDON STREET.
+
+     NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE: F. AND W. DODSWORTH.
+
+                       1852.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+    Archaic and dialect spellings remain as printed. Punctuation has
+    been normalised. Significant errors have been noted at the end of
+    the text.
+
+    The oe ligature has been represented by [oe].
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+DEAR FRIEND,
+
+I enclose you the manuscript of which you have so long desired
+possession. You have permission to do what you like with it, on one
+condition, which is, that you alter all the names, and expunge anything
+like personality therein; for, as you are aware (with two exceptions)
+each character mentioned in the story is now alive, and so few years
+have elapsed since the events recorded took place that it would not be
+at all difficult for a stranger to recognize the heroes and heroines
+therein mentioned. Having settled that business, I now proceed to say,
+that as the narrative begins very abruptly, you will find it necessary
+to have some little personal account of the parties concerned, which I
+will lose no time in giving you. The mother of the party you know so
+well I need say nothing further of her than that she was about 27 when
+these events occurred; what her age is now, I must be excused telling,
+inasmuch as it has nothing to do with the story, and it is her own
+concern, and it will too certainly expose the time of the narrative and
+other things she wished left in obscurity. Mrs. E., the little mother,
+as she is called by every one, was the second in command. A greater
+contrast to her cousin could not exist. Short, and rather stout, she
+trotted by the side of her companion, as the little hippopotamus by the
+side of the giraffe. Both their eyes were dark, but the mother's were
+soft, and the little mother's so brilliant when she fixed her eyes on
+you, you must tell what you thought, as they penetrated into the heart.
+Her broad forehead showed the prevalence of the intellectual powers, and
+the reliance on her own sense and judgment. To be sure some people
+called her very masculine, and it is true that, when equipped in her
+riding gear, and ready to get into her second home (the saddle), she
+certainly slaps her tiny boots with her whip, walks round her horse,
+examines his legs, and questions her groom as to the throwing out of
+curbs, and other mysteries, known as stable lore. The horse has his nose
+twitched that she may get into the saddle before the usual kicking scene
+commences; once there, he may do what he likes, she is part of her
+horse, and enjoys his gambols as much as himself. When in female
+garments, though somewhat brusque in manners and blunt in speech, she is
+a true woman, and as feminine in heart as the fairest and most delicate
+among the sex. Madame, the governess, must occupy our attention the
+next. She was the kindest, best, most loving guardian over her flock,
+and seemed to have but one unhappiness in the world, and that was her
+utter inability to keep in order and understand one rebellious pupil
+among them. But I will not tell tales out of school. Sybil and Serena
+were the mother's young sisters, 13 and 14 years of age, innocent, gay,
+and happy creatures, blessed with beauty and sense above the common lot.
+Gertrude, or Gatty, was the child of an old and valued friend. She was
+about 12, with the wit, the quickness, the sense of 20, and I had almost
+said the size, for so large a proportion of flesh, blood, and bones
+rarely fall to the lot of male or female at that age. She was
+alternately the soul of fun and merriment or the plague and torment of
+every one about her. She had the judgment of mature age and the nonsense
+of the greatest baby in her. The mother alone obtained unlimited
+obedience from her. I am afraid I have discovered the "unruly one," but
+all the characters shall speak for themselves. The mother's own children
+were three in number. Oscar, a fine tall active boy, with a grave quick
+demeanour, but the open brow and frank sweet smile won him the love of
+every one. Lilly, the little girl, was about 6, a little, loving,
+winning thing, with eyes like violets, and long dark rich curls
+floating all round her, from the middle of which was uplifted a little
+rosy face, almost perfect in its childish beauty. Felix, the youngest
+boy and child, was a little, delicate, spoilt fellow, whose face seemed
+made up of naught but eyes and eyelashes. They were all three quick and
+clever children; and it was partly for the improvement of the little
+boy's health the voyage took place, the incidents of which are mentioned
+in this book. Zoe and Winifred were two little nieces. The former a
+grave, little, quiet picture of a sweet Madonna, and the latter a
+little, sparkling, merry pet, with the quick action and grace of a
+fairy. Madame does not know it, or think we guess it, but Winny is
+certainly her pet. Mrs. Hargrave, the lady's maid, and Jenny, the little
+pet nurse, concluded the females; while a fine, tall, handsome, athletic
+gamekeeper formed their only male attendant. Now, having said my say, I
+leave you; but you must be answerable for the faults of this journal if
+you will publish it; nothing could be more irregular and hasty than its
+compilation. With this burden on your shoulders, dear friend, believe
+me, thine in all pity and affection,
+
+                                                        A FRIEND.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+On the 3rd of May, 183--, we embarked on board our pretty yacht, "La
+Luna," the crew of which included all the party mentioned in the
+preceding pages, besides those necessary to work her. These consisted of
+a captain, two mates, a boatswain, fourteen seamen, a cook, a steward,
+and my son's gamekeeper. Captain MacNab was a remarkably nice, active,
+bluff, plain-spoken man. It was easy to be seen that he was not too much
+pleased at commanding a company composed so entirely of women and
+children; neither do I think he would have undertaken the charge had we
+not expected Sir Walter Mayton, my children's guardian, and Mr. B.,
+their tutor, to make part of the live stock. The former was prevented
+accompanying us by domestic matters; the latter from his father's death.
+But we made arrangements for both to join us at Madeira, for it was not
+deemed advisable to wait the month it would take Mr. B. to settle his
+father's affairs and provide a home for his sisters. The weather was so
+beautiful it was thought we could easily spend a month in the
+Mediterranean, previously to extending our voyage across the Atlantic;
+besides I was anxious to see the promised roses restored to my little
+son's face, and, without being foolhardy or presumptuous, I could not
+entertain the least idea of danger. Our first mate, Mr. Skead, was not
+only extremely skilful, but the nicest merriest person on board, being
+quite as ready to be the boys' play-fellow as they could be to have him.
+Mr. Austin was the second mate, a grave religious person, who kindly
+acted chaplain for us. Of the seamen I need say nothing, but that they
+were all picked men. Alas, when I recall that day, and see so vividly
+before me all their rough but honest manly faces, and remember the close
+intimacy that, being sharers in one common home, participators in all
+things alike, engendered, I cannot but mourn over each face as I recall
+it to memory. In the few months we were together each seemed a part of
+the family, and in the sudden severing of our lives and fates mournful
+thoughts will arise as to what can have been the fate of those in whom
+we were so interested. But I must not anticipate, and, moreover, my task
+is a long one, and I have no time to spare lingering over the past. Our
+cook was a black man, called Benjie, which rather disturbed the peace of
+the little girls. They could not think the white rolls were really made
+by his black hands, and only his extreme good nature and willing
+activity caused them to be in any degree reconciled to having a black
+man for a cook. He was a very good one however, and willingly would we,
+many years after, have hailed his black face and white teeth with the
+joy of a dear friend. Smart, the gamekeeper, was a fine, tall, handsome
+man, of Gloucester make and tongue; he was quite a character in his way,
+and the contrast between his fear of the sea, his illness at the least
+gale, his utter ignorance of anything nautical was very great, when we
+thought of his courage, strength, and skill on shore, in his own
+vocation. Under his care he had two large dogs, half blood hounds half
+St. Bernard, their names were Bernard and Cwmro. But I must describe our
+vessel:--La Luna had been built expressly for her present purpose, in
+the river Clyde; she was of nearly 200 tons burden, three-masted,
+beautiful and elegant in her appearance, and nothing could exceed the
+convenience and comfort, combined with strength, with which she was
+fitted up; we had a deck house, surrounded with windows, so that we were
+shaded from sun and sheltered from breeze, and could see in every
+direction each pursuing his or her favourite occupation, and yet losing
+none of the beauties and wonders of the ocean; near the deck house were
+two berths, one for Captain MacNab, the other for Mr. Austin; down
+stairs we had a saloon, the length of which was the width of the vessel,
+and about twelve feet across; on the upper end a smaller saloon, or
+drawing room, the sofas of which made up four berths; the three girls
+used this room, and it opened into the stern cabin, where Jenny and the
+three younger girls slept, and through which the rudder came; at the
+other end was a double cabin, which served for my cousin and me, opening
+into the bath room, beyond that was the boys' cabin, and on the left
+hand side of the stern cabin was Mrs. Tollair's cabin; in the other part
+of the vessel were four other cabins, a steward's or servant's room,
+besides the seamen's berths, here also were two very excellent deck
+cabins for our two gentlemen whenever they joined us. We had fitted up
+the whole of the saloon with bookcases, of which one was devoted to the
+children's school books, drawing materials, and everything of that sort
+they might require. Our travels were at present not only indefinite as
+to time, but equally so as to place. We had a piano and a small hand
+organ, which could be carried on deck.
+
+It would be impossible to convey any idea of the bustle, the noise, the
+confusion, the pleasure, the novelty that possessed everybody and
+everything the few days before we sailed. The leave-takings were the
+most painful, for having the care of so many who left the nearest and
+dearest ties behind them, on a voyage, the singularity of which invested
+it with a certain degree of mysterious danger, the nature of which no
+one could define, and which I now for the first time felt. All this gave
+a degree of sadness to the feelings of the whole party as we watched the
+English coast fading from our sight. I sat on the deck until a late hour
+recalling the happy and cheerful "God speed you" that my mother gave us,
+the more grave and solemn farewell of my father, whose foreboding mind
+looked farther than ours did. And then I recalled the parents of those
+with me; the hearty and oft-expressed wish of Gatty's father, high in
+honours and public esteem, to accompany us, the tearful farewell of her
+mother, dear Winny's merry and light-hearted mother, while her father
+bid her remember, during her long absence, the lessons of goodness and
+high principle he was always so anxious to inculcate in her. My brother
+and sister-in-law had been prevented coming to wish Zoe farewell, on
+account of the illness of one of her brothers. I could not but think
+this as well, for her mother's delicate nerves could never have borne
+the parting from a child so beloved, and Zoe's leave to come would have
+been rescinded at the last moment. Poor child! I know not whether to
+wish it better to have been so or not. Dear uncle P. came to wish his
+daughter, my cousin, good bye, and to promise once more a father's and
+mother's care over her two little children during her absence. I could
+not help being amused at his sometimes expressing a wish to go with us,
+and the next minute scolding us for doing anything so mad. Well, we were
+off! the last adieus were said, the last looks given, the last words
+spoken. We were off! The die is cast, and it seemed strange to me that
+now and only now did fearful doubts, and vain regrets, and sad
+forebodings oppress my heart, and take possession of my mind. With
+striking vividness I recalled how, mainly to please myself and amuse my
+mind, I had projected and finally carried out this expedition; how I had
+covered my own private wishes and thoughts under the plea of the good it
+would do my little boy, the benefit it was to all young people to
+enlarge their minds by travelling and experience, the novelty of the
+adventure, and the sort of certain uncertainty which was to attend our
+steps and ways during the next eight months, thus giving the charm of
+novelty and singularity to the whole scheme. I know not how long I
+should have dwelt on these circumstances, had not the children come to
+wish me their wonted good night. Schillie declared I had moped enough,
+the girls were eager that together we should take our last view of
+England, for the breeze that carried us now so fast through the water
+bid fair to take us soon out of sight of land. The young soon lose the
+painful feelings of parting; besides, they were so delighted at being
+really off, they had been so fearful lest anything should occur to
+prevent one or all going, so as to destroy the _unity_, if I may so call
+it, of the party, that unmitigated pleasure alone pervaded them. This
+buoyancy of their feelings had as yet prevented any symptoms of illness,
+and I don't think there was a pale face amongst the party, save the
+little invalid and Smart, the gamekeeper. He sat silent and amazed
+between his two dogs, and, could we have analyzed his feelings, I have
+no doubt we should have been privy to most curious and contradictory
+ideas. Qualms were coming over him of various kinds, equally foreign to
+his nature. Probably, for the first time, he was experiencing fear and
+sickness at the same moment, and quite unable to understand the symptoms
+of either. The boys had not yet found out what made their dear Smart so
+dull and unlike himself, when they were so joyous and delighted. We all
+rose up, and went together to watch the fading land. Various
+exclamations proved how much our thoughts dwelt on that beloved shore,
+and long after my short sight had deemed it passed from view did my dear
+girls exclaim, "they yet saw it; there were still lights." But Captain
+MacNab wanted his deck to himself, so with cheerful good nights, the
+moon being up, we descended to take our first meal on board, and use
+those narrow couches at which we were so much amused, and which the
+children had been longing to try from the moment they came on board.
+Such a noisy tea never was, interrupted now and then by a lurching of
+the vessel, which was such a new thing to us that all started, some in
+fear, some in fun, and some, I must own, with other feelings not very
+agreeable. The oddity of having nothing steady on our swinging table,
+the laughing at the pale looks that flitted across the faces of others,
+the grave determination with which little Winny declared "that now she
+was really a sailor, she would only eat ship biscuit," caused intense
+merriment. But ere tea was over one or two of our party disappeared, and
+when twelve o'clock arrived Captain MacNab had La Luna all to himself
+and his men, for the feminine crew were deep in slumber, caused by the,
+to them, unusual motion of the sea, and the unwonted excitement of the
+day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+_May 4._--The next morning there were many defaulters, myself amongst
+the number. In lieu of the laughter and joy of the preceding evening,
+there were groans, and moans, and beseechings for tea or a drink of
+water. Sybil, Gatty, and Serena all rose valiantly; Gatty scornfully
+repudiating the possibility of being ill. But it was in vain, "the
+loftiest spirit was lowliest laid." The little girls rather courted the
+notion. Being ill in bed of course precluded the idea of lessons, with
+which a certain portion of every day had been threatened, and as they
+lay in bed thus they discoursed:--
+
+_Zoe._--"I really do not think it will be pleasant if we are to be like
+this all the time."
+
+_Lilly._--"Oh, Zoe, I am so snug, I have got a nice book to read, and
+there will be no playing on the piano to-day."
+
+_Winny._--"Oh! I am very sorry for that. If I did not feel so funny, I
+should like to go and play very much. But I am glad we are to have no
+French. Jenny says Madame is very ill indeed, and I think I heard her
+groan once."
+
+_Zoe._--"Groan, did you? then she must be very bad. I don't wish her to
+groan much, but I don't mind if she is sick always from ten until two.
+You know mother promised we should do no lessons after two. Here is
+Jenny. Why, Jenny, what is the matter with you?"
+
+_Jenny._--"Indeed, Miss, I don't know; but just as I was fastening Miss
+Sybil's dress, I felt so queer, and I was so ashamed, I was obliged to
+sit down before all the young ladies."
+
+All the little girls at once exclaimed, "Ah, Jenny, Jenny, you know you
+are sea-sick." "No, indeed, young ladies," exclaimed Jenny, vehemently,
+"I am sure it is no such thing; but Master Felix would have some cold
+beef with Worcester sauce for his breakfast, and that gave me a turn, it
+has such a strong smell." But ere Jenny had well got the words out of
+her mouth, nature asserted her rights, and after an undeniable fit, she
+reeled off to bed, and was a victim for three days. Hargrave, my maid,
+being of a stolid, determined, sort of stoical character, announced her
+intention of not giving way; and though a victim, or rather martyr, she
+never suffered a sign to appear, or neglected one thing that she was
+asked to do, or showed the smallest feeling on the occasion beyond a
+general sense of dissatisfaction at all things connected with the sea.
+But of all our sufferers none equalled my poor cousin. Not a word was to
+be got out of her, but short pithy anathemas against everybody that came
+near her, everybody that spoke to her, every lurch the ship made, every
+noise overhead; an expression of pity caused an explosion of wrath, a
+hope that she was better a wish that she was dead, and an offer of
+assistance a command to be gone out of her sight. Neither of the boys
+suffered in the least. And now the increased motion of the vessel, the
+noise overhead, and various other signs told us that the lovely smooth
+ocean, on whose bosom we had trusted ourselves, for some cause unknown
+to us was considerably disturbed, internally or externally. It was
+impossible for any land-lubbers to stand; it was equally impossible to
+eat in the form prescribed by the rules of polite society, food being
+snatched at a venture, and not always arriving at the mouth for which it
+was originally intended. One or two were pitched out of their cots, and
+a murmuring of fear that this should be a tempest, and that we were
+going to be wrecked, caused a message to be sent to Captain MacNab to
+know whereabouts we were, for no one liked to be first to acknowledge
+fear or expose our ignorance to the Captain, who had good-humouredly
+rallied some on what they would do and say in case of bad weather.
+Therefore the question of whereabouts are we seemed a very safe one,
+likely to obtain the real news we wanted without exposing our fears to
+the captain. In answer, we received a message to say we were near the
+Bay of Biscay and as there was a very pretty sea, we should do well to
+come up and look at it. "Come up and look at it?" that showed at once
+that no shipwreck was in contemplation. But how to get up? that was the
+question. The message, however, was dispatched round to the different
+berths, with the additional one, "that the mother was going
+immediately," that being my title amongst the young ones, and the little
+mother being the title of my cousin.
+
+On deck we were received by the captain, who welcomed us with much
+pleasure, an undisguised twinkle in his eyes betraying a little inkling
+into the purport of our message. To our amazement, he and the sailors
+seemed quite at their ease, walking as steadily as if the vessel was a
+rock, and as immoveable as the pyramids. But what a sea! I looked up and
+saw high grey mountains on all sides, and ere I could decide whether
+they were moveable or my sight deceptive, they had disappeared, and,
+from a height that seemed awful, we looked down upon a troubled,
+rolling, restless mass of waters, each wave seeming to buffet its
+neighbour with an angry determination to put it down. In the midst of
+all this chaos, one monster wave rose superior to all the rest, and
+rolling forward with giant strength and resistless impetuosity,
+threatened instant destruction to the vessel. A cry, a terrific roll, a
+shudder through the vessel, and again we were in the valley of waters;
+and during the comparative lull the captain roared in my ear, "Is it not
+a pretty sea, Madam?"
+
+We can now laugh at our fears, and the awe-struck faces we all
+presented, but it was many hours ere some of us recovered ourselves, and
+for this show of timidity Gatty scolded Sybil.
+
+_Gatty._--"How can you be such a goose, Sybil? Why, you are trembling
+now."
+
+_Sybil._--"No, I am only a little cold; but you know, Gatty, that was
+such an awful wave, if we had stretched our necks ever so high we could
+not see to the top."
+
+_Gatty._--"Well, and what did that matter? It was a glorious wave, a
+magnificent fellow, I dare say a tenth wave. If we had been walking on
+the sea shore we should have counted and known."
+
+_Sybil._--"But I could not tell how we were ever to get to the top. I
+thought we must certainly go through it, or it would go over us."
+
+_Gatty_ (laughing).--"Serena, do come here, Sybil is talking such
+splendid stuff, and, moreover, she is frightened out of her wits, and I
+do believe wishes herself at home."
+
+_Serena._--"Oh dear! I am so ill; going on deck has quite upset me, and
+I am worse than I was."
+
+_Gatty._--"Now, whatever you do, don't go and be so foolish, Serena. I
+shall have no pleasure at all if Sybil is frightened and you are ill.
+Get up, and eat a lot of roast beef with heaps of mustard and you will
+be quite well."
+
+A little small voice called to Gatty, and also asked for beef and
+mustard. "I am sure, quite sure, Gatty," said the little speaker, Winny,
+"it will do me a great deal of good." "Ah," said Lilly, "I wish I was
+out of this place. Do, mother, ask the captain to stop and put me down
+somewhere." This little idea caused infinite amusement. Time, however,
+went on, and cured us all. We had lovely weather, and began to keep
+regular hours, and have allotted times of the day for different things.
+All attending, whatever might be our occupations, to the captain's
+summons; for when anything new was to be seen, any wonders of the
+ocean, any curious bird resting its weary wings on the only haven in
+sight--our little vessel, any furling of sails, or any change, so did
+the good-natured captain send for us, and we joyfully obeyed the
+summons, listening to all his wondrous tales, watching the rolling of
+the porpoises, and the wondrous colours of the sea. As we approached a
+hotter climate, everything became, in our eyes, objects of new and
+strange interest. In this manner we reached Gibraltar, and landed for
+the first time, having been thirteen days at sea.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+_May 16._--GIBRALTAR.--I, for one, was very glad to land, for somehow on
+board ship one never seemed to be able to finish one's toilette with the
+degree of niceness necessary, a lurch of the ship very often caused an
+utter derangement, a rolling sea made it a matter of great difficulty
+even to wash one's face, and as for tidying the hair that had been given
+up, and those who did not wear caps enclosed their rough curls in nets.
+We therefore migrated to the principal hotel, leaving the two boys, at
+their own request, on board, under the care of Jenny and Smart. The
+three elder girls were to wait on each other, and each take a little
+girl in their charge, while Hargrave waited on the three elderly ladies.
+We were objects of great curiosity, and many people supposed our party
+to consist of a school. They were more surprised at hearing that La Luna
+belonged to the school. The visitors on board of her became innumerable,
+causing the good-natured captain a world of trouble. Every day he came
+and reported himself, as he called it, to his commanding officer,
+meaning myself and brought an account of the boys, or one with him; and
+it was most curious to see this great rough captain take each little
+girl up in his arms and kiss her quite gently, always expressing a hope
+to each that they were not getting too fond of the land, but would soon
+return to their ocean home, as he was quite dull without them. Whatever
+misgivings he might have had on starting, they had all given way to an
+interest and affection for us all, that made it quite a pleasure to us
+to communicate with him.
+
+We took advantage of our first landing to write letters home, which,
+having been preserved with sorrowful care, have now become agreeable
+memorials of our adventures, and may be interesting, as their own
+letters will best explain the individual character of each of those who
+were now on their way towards adventures strange as unexpected. The
+letters of the elder portion of our party contained but a description of
+Gibraltar, which is well known to most people. Sybil's letter was as
+follows:--
+
+
+                                        "_Gibraltar, May 16, 18--_
+
+"MY DEAREST MAMMA AND SISTERS,
+
+"Here we are safe on dry land again, and who would have believed a
+fortnight ago that we should have been so glad to get out of our dear La
+Luna. But we don't make half such good sailors as we expected; and how
+Em would have laughed could she have seen all the queer looks and sad
+faces which possessed the merry party she had so lately seen. But here
+we are really on dry land, and at Gibraltar, at the summit of all our
+present hopes, and charmed enough to make us forget all the horrors of
+the sea, and even think we could undergo them twenty times for such a
+sight. We came into the harbour last night, and landed as soon as we
+could collect our wits, and mother collect us; Madame has been at
+Gibraltar before, and so ought to have had the use of hers, but knowing
+her propensity to lose her way, we made Hargrave look after her, while
+we three elder girls each took a little child. Both the mothers looked
+after our things. The boys and Jenny were left behind. So we landed just
+before gun fire, passing through the long rows of houses, which looked
+so strange to our wondering eyes, piled one above the other, and as we
+were passed and stared at by numbers of odd queer-looking people, we
+quite fancied ourselves in a dream, or realizing the Arabian Nights. At
+last we halted at our hotel. Our sailors deposited our boxes, and seemed
+to wish us good night with sorrow. We had a famous tea, if I may so call
+such an odd mixture of eatables, and went to bed, hardly believing we
+could be in Gibraltar. This morning we were awoke by some little voices
+round our beds--'Oh, auntie, dear auntie, do get up; this is such a
+lovely place, and so odd. There are such rocks, and oh, auntie, such
+queer people. I saw a man in a turban, and there is a black man in the
+house, and----' 'Hush, little nieces, how are aunties to get up, if you
+chatter so? rather help us to dress, that we may see the wonderful
+things too.' We found our two mothers in the pretty drawing room. Three
+large windows looked out upon the busy town and blue sea below. The
+little mother was out in the balcony, in a perfect ecstasy of delight.
+A call to breakfast was obeyed, though we could hardly eat, the chicks
+jumping up every minute to look at something new and strange going on
+below, and the aunties quite wishing that they might commit such a
+breach of decorum. We were startled out of all propriety at last by a
+well-known voice sounding under the windows, and a remonstrance which
+drew us all there. Looking down, we beheld Felix seated on the top of a
+most extraordinary vehicle, the driver of which he had superseded, and
+was trying to persuade the lumbering old horse to get on. Smart was
+behind vainly endeavouring to persuade his young master to come down. A
+glance at the drawing-room windows effected what Smart's entreaties had
+failed to do, and the young pickle was soon at high breakfast, and had
+demolished a pretty considerable quantity ere his steady elder brother
+appeared.
+
+"We have just returned from our first expedition so charmed, even our
+excited imaginations came not up to the beautiful reality. The town is a
+very curious one. A long street composes the principal part. Almost all
+the houses are painted black, with flat roofs. The shops open to the
+street. But the rock itself! My dearest sisters, you cannot imagine
+anything so exquisite as the tiers upon tiers, the masses of granite or
+marble rising one above another until one's eyes ached in counting them.
+I think if our party are always as wild as the fresh air, the beautiful
+scenery, and the new sensations caused to day, our mother will repent
+her responsibility. Even the quiet Zoe was roused, and her exclamations
+were as rapturous as Winny's. Felix's feats of climbing were frightful;
+we were never quite sure where to look for him. If Smart had not kept
+his eye on him, and threatened him with sundry punishments, I don't know
+in what mischief he would not have been. He is much more afraid of Smart
+than he is of his mother. Lilly's head was full of some classic stories
+which she had picked up somewhere, the scene of which she was quite sure
+was in Gibraltar, and each auntie in turn came in for a bit of the
+story, which might have created a sensation at any other time or in any
+other scene but this. So you may imagine us now, all so happy, so weary,
+so enchanted, so sleepy, but wide-awake enough to be able to send the
+dear party at home a bit of our pleasure, and the wish that they were
+all with us to delight also in such scenes. I don't think the mother
+will ever get us all away. We have quite forgotten our pretty La Luna;
+indeed she is at present as little thought of as her great prototype in
+broad daylight. So I will now say good-bye, hoping you will set down all
+deficiencies and incoherences in this long dispatch to the new and
+delightful feelings such a place and such a new pleasure have produced
+in our wondering heads. But in Gibraltar as at home, you must believe me
+ever, dearest mamma, your dutiful and affectionate daughter, and dearest
+sisters, your loving and affectionate sister,
+
+                                                        "SYBIL."
+
+
+My eldest son's letter to his grandpapa was as follows:
+
+
+"DEAR GRANDPAPA,
+
+"I like the sea quite as well as I expected; but I would rather go out
+shooting at home. I hope mamma, however, will allow us to go to the Cape
+or Canada. Smart says he should like to shoot a bear, and I wish to kill
+an elephant. In the Bay of Biscay we had a rolling sea. The captain told
+us the waves were 30 feet high; the wind was very great, and blew from
+the South-West; but the captain did not seem afraid, he laughed and
+liked it, so I thought it better not to be afraid either. But Smart was
+very ill, and said, whenever we spoke to him, 'Oh! I wish I was at home
+with my old woman.' Felix told him he was a coward and afraid; but he
+said, 'I ain't afeard, but I be going to die, I be sure.' The dogs are
+very happy and so is the cow; we feed her every day, and she knows us
+quite well; she has not been sea-sick, or the dogs, or Felix and I, or
+the captain and sailors, but I think everybody else has. Pray give my
+love to grandmamma and my aunts. I am tired of this long letter, and I
+think you will be also. I remain, your dutiful and affectionate
+grandson,
+
+                                                        "OSCAR."
+
+
+Gatty's letter was to her sister:--
+
+
+"MY DEAREST LIFFY,
+
+"This is such glorious fun; but I am so hot. I declare if I stay here
+much longer I shall flow away, and nothing be left of me but a rivulet.
+I eat oranges all day long. We have a basket full put by our bedsides at
+night, and I never leave one by breakfast time if I can help it. It is a
+horrid nuisance being so sick at sea. I really thought in the Bay of
+Biscay that I should make a fool of myself and wish I was at home again.
+I don't like this place much, one is so stewed; there is not a shadow,
+all seems baked hard as pie-crust twice done. I like being on the sea
+better now I have got over being ill; there is a breeze to cool one,
+besides it is so jolly having nothing to do but watch the waves and the
+wind and learn to mind the helm. I have made great friends with all the
+sailors, and they are very nice fellows, all but one crabbed old
+Scotchman, who says, when he sees us on deck, 'ladies should always stay
+down stairs.' I crawled up stairs in the Bay of Biscay, because they
+said it was such a glorious sea, and, at first, I thought we were in a
+vast quarry of bright blue marble, all the broken edges being crested
+with brilliant white spar. Suddenly we seemed to go over all, all my
+quarry disappeared, and I was as near as possible going headlong down
+the companion ladder, and if I had how they would have laughed. The
+captain said the ship was on an angle of twenty degrees, what that means
+I cannot precisely say, but leave you to find out. I can only tell you I
+thought we were topsy-turvy very often, and I hope we shall not
+experience any more angles of that kind again. Sybil was awfully
+frightened, and as white as a sheet. Serena was too ill to care whether
+the ship was in angles or out. Felix is such a jolly boy, and likes the
+winds roaring and the waves foaming, and he struts and blusters about as
+if he was six feet two, and stout in proportion, instead of being a
+shrimp of the smallest dimensions. He is getting a colour though, and
+his mother looks at him quite happy. Winny is such an innocent little
+donkey, so quaint and matter-of-factish.
+
+"I suppose you don't care to hear about Gibraltar, you will get a much
+better account in some Gazetteer than I can give you; I hate
+descriptions. However, I'll look in our Gazetteer, and tell you if it is
+true. All right, very good account. So now I will finish. I hope we
+shall go across the Atlantic. The little mother is as cross as a bear;
+but, as she cannot be so always, we are looking out for a change of
+weather. You know I never can make civil speeches, so please say
+everything proper for me, including my best of loves to papa and mamma.
+Ever, old girl, believe me your most affectionate sister,
+
+                                                        "GATTY."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+I think the three letters I have given you will sufficiently explain the
+feelings of our party. We now retraced our steps, though I should have
+much liked to stop at Lisbon to see the celebrated Cintra.
+
+We, to fulfil the promises made to our gentlemen, were now obliged to
+make the best of our way to Madeira. This we accomplished within two
+days of the time we had promised to meet them. But alas! instead of
+having to welcome them, we received letters, stating that their joining
+our party must be again postponed, from circumstances needless to
+mention, and that we must either cruise about for another month or fix
+some spot where they could meet us at the expiration of that time.
+Having now become a nautical character, I may be excused saying "that I
+was quite taken aback." What to do, where to go, or how to manage, I
+knew not. But to proceed. After a variety of consultations, a vast
+quantity of advice from all sides, we, backed by our captain's wishes,
+and rendered rampant by the stretch we had given our hitherto
+home-clipped wings, decided that we would cross the Atlantic. So great a
+change had taken place in the captain's mind regarding ourselves that I
+am not quite sure he mourned at all for the defalcation of our male
+escort. He had us all to himself now; and, in recommending us the trip
+across the Atlantic, he reminded me that my brother was stationed at Rio
+Janeiro, being captain in H.M.S. C----, and that we might cruise up
+towards North America, and pick up the gentlemen, who, coming from
+England in the fast-sailing packet boats, would not be more than a
+fortnight or three weeks at most on the voyage. Of course all the
+children were wild to go. Remaining in the Mediterranean was voted dull
+and stupid. How charming to go to America, to see things much more
+uncommon, much more curious. Everybody could and did see the
+Mediterranean; it was quite a common yacht excursion. Besides, as I
+overheard Gatty say to her companions, "Just think, Girls, what a bore
+it would have been, if, in a month or two's time, our mother should have
+got tired of the sea, or the little mother continued, every time we have
+a gale, to get sea sick, they would have ordered us homewards, without
+consulting our wishes, and at the end of three months we should have
+been in stupid England again."
+
+_Sybil._--"Stupid England!"
+
+_Gatty._--"Stupid England. I did not say stupid England, did I?"
+
+_Sybil_ (much shocked).--"Yes, Gertrude, you did."
+
+_Gatty._--"Then, Sybil, I am very sorry. England is anything but stupid.
+It's a glorious place. It's a delectable place. It's a place that if any
+one dared to say a word against it, I really think I should feel very
+much inclined to----"
+
+_Sybil._--"Well! What?"
+
+_Gatty_ (softly).--"Why, I should like to knock them down; only don't
+mention my ideas. Madame will bother me, and say it is unladylike; and
+perhaps she will give me Theresa Tidy's maxims to do into French as a
+punishment."
+
+_Serena._--"Then we won't tell on any account; such a fate would be so
+horrible. But I agree with you that it would be dreadfully stupid to go
+home in three months. Now, if once we get to America, we shall have so
+much to see and do that the winter would come on, and mother would never
+trust all us precious people across the Atlantic in bad weather, so we
+shall have to winter in New York perhaps."
+
+_Gatty._--"How jolly! won't I 'guess' and 'reckon' every minute; and
+won't I fire up if I hear anyone abuse our monarchical and loyal
+constitution."
+
+_Sybil._--"What grand words, Gatty. Where did you pick them up?"
+
+_Serena._--"Oh, Gatty is so loyal, that I think she will be quite ready
+to do that which we promised not to mention a little while ago, if----"
+
+_Gatty._--"Hush, hush, Serena, you will get me into a scrape. Don't you
+know everything is heard in this horrid--no, no, not horrid--sweet,
+charming, dear, darling La Luna. You know what I mean, so hold your
+tongue."
+
+Therefore, across the Atlantic, accordingly, we pursued our merry
+course, previously writing letters to detail our plans, to describe our
+pleasures of all kinds, and to appoint a place of meeting.
+
+What can express the delicious pleasure of the sea in a tropical
+climate. The soft trade wind blowing us gently but swiftly through the
+water, fanning every limb, and filling every vein with the very meat,
+drink, and clothing of air; everything around, above, below bathed in
+brightest purest sunshine; the still life, consequent upon the heat,
+which pervaded the vessel, each person enjoying the unwonted luxury of
+enforced idleness in their own way; the very barque herself seeming to
+sleep on her silent course through the parting water; and as I raised
+myself from the couch where I had lain down to read, I could not help
+being struck with the pretty picture the vessel presented. My cousin was
+reclining not far from me; her book had fallen from her listless hand,
+her bright searching eyes, so restless in their intelligent activity
+when open, were closed, her flushed face shewed she slept. Madame was
+quietly pacing up and down, shaded from the sun by a great parasol; to
+her the heat was soothing and agreeable, for she had lived much in
+India, and it agreed with her better than cold winds and chilling
+frosts. The three girls were not far off; the two elder ones making
+pretence to read, but looking more inclined to snooze, while the
+restless Gatty utterly prevented their pursuing either occupation. From
+them came the only sounds in the vessel, and they consisted of peevish
+expostulation, requests to be left alone, now and then a more energetic
+appeal, a threat to complain to the higher powers, promises to be quiet
+and still, and this scene at last resolved itself into a promise from
+Sybil to tell a story, if the restless individual would only be quiet.
+Immediately a reinforcement offered itself to the party in the shape of
+Zoe and Winny. A pretty little group of four eager listeners and one
+inspired narrator soon disposed themselves in the unstudied grace of
+childhood, and the soft voice was heard in regular cadence, now lively,
+now solemn, now pathetic, and again elevated according to the interest
+and pathos of her story. Oscar, in his sailor's dress, with his fair
+bright curls, his animated blue eyes, added to their picture. But in the
+distance lay the prettiest group; tired and heated with the noisy play
+of childhood, the mischievous and excited Felix lay fast asleep with his
+arms round the neck of one of the dogs, as if he was determined the dog
+should not play if he could not; but the watchful eye of Bernard shewed
+that he was merely still for his little master's sake, and that he even
+looked with a distrustful eye at the measured pacing of Madame, fearing
+that her slight movement would disturb the profound repose into which
+his charge had fallen. With her long curls sweeping half over the other
+dog, and half over herself, lay the tired little Lilly, so mixed with
+the other two that Cwmro did not seem to think it necessary to keep
+guard while his companion watched so faithfully, and nothing could
+exceed the depth of repose and stillness into which they seemed plunged;
+and in finishing this picture I will end my chapter, for our days
+glided quietly and deliciously, a time often looked back upon by us as
+the sweetest and calmest we ever passed, and was only too short in its
+duration.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+There fell upon us a dead calm. The heat was insufferable; the sky was
+too blue to be looked at; the sea too dazzling to be gazed on; the sun
+too scorching to be endured. We turned night into day, without mending
+matters much. Gatty ran about, hot and panting, searching for a cool
+hole, while she declared that the ship was a great pie, which the sun
+had undertaken to bake, and that we were all the unfortunate pigeons
+destined to be stewed therein. "Then," said the matter-of-fact little
+Winny, "we must put all our feet together, and stick them up in the
+middle." One day, when we happened to be in that indescribable state--a
+sort of half consciousness of what was passing around--scarcely knowing
+whether we were dreaming or waking, we heard a knock at the door, and
+the hot but smiling face of our captain shewed itself. He was
+immediately assailed with innumerable questions. Was the heat going? Was
+the wind rising? When were we to go on? Why did he not whistle for a
+breeze? Where could we get out of the way of the sun? Was it possible to
+get into a shade? Could he give us anything to cool us? What would
+happen if we all went on being baked in this manner? In fact, the
+purport of his visit to the saloon at such an unusual hour was all but
+lost sight of in the midst of these queries when I asked him if anything
+was the matter. "I only wish to look at your barometer; something has
+happened to mine," was his reply. So amidst an uproar of young voices,
+with pullings, tuggings, and caresses, for he was a prodigious
+favourite, he accomplished his object. I was surprised to see such an
+expression of concern cross his countenance as he gazed at it, and
+questioning him thereon, he answered, "Why, Madam, I find both the
+barometers tell the same tale; therefore, what I imagined was owing to a
+fault in mine, I must now impute to some extraordinary change in the
+weather."
+
+_Gatty._--"I hope then it will be hard frost."
+
+_Felix._--"Or a storm, Gatty. I want the wind to blow, and the waves to
+be mountains high."
+
+_Lilly_ (yawning).--"I wish something would blow, and I wish I had two
+little slave girls to fan me as they do in India."
+
+_Zoe._--"I don't think I should; they would be so hot themselves, poor
+things, I should be quite sorry all the time."
+
+_Oscar._--"I vote for a hard frost, like Gatty, then we should have such
+splendid skating on the sea."
+
+_Serena._--"But, supposing (which I believe is no supposition, but a
+fact) that the sea freezes in waves, we could not then skate."
+
+_Gatty._--"Oh, don't talk any more of ice and frost, it makes one hotter
+still to think of the contrast."
+
+I proceeded to enquire of the captain what change he expected.
+
+_Capt._--"Madam, it must be a storm of some kind; I have been becalmed
+very often, but I never endured such profound stillness and heat as
+there have been now for some days past. Dear little souls, I quite feel
+for the young people, Madam."
+
+_Mother._--"But, captain, is it likely to be a bad storm, or will there
+be any danger?"
+
+_Capt._--"You are all such good sailors that I am not at all afraid of
+telling you the truth. Indeed," looking smilingly on the surrounding
+faces, "I am thinking some of you will be glad to hear we are likely to
+have a hurricane!"
+
+The babble on this announcement was tremendous. Gatty and Felix shook
+hands on the spot, and congratulated each other on the probable
+fulfilment of their secret wishes. Madame turned deadly pale, and sunk
+into a seat. My cousin tossed up her head, and said "anything is better
+than this confounded heat." I trembled; the two little girls clasped
+each other's hands half in fear, half in excitement; Sybil and Serena
+both looked pleased; and Oscar besought me to allow him to be on deck
+the whole time, that he might see the hurricane.
+
+_Capt._ (seeing my alarm).--"You may be sure, Madam, I would not joke if
+I thought there was any danger. I have been in Chinese typhoons,
+hurricanes in the Tropics, and storms in the Atlantic, where one would
+imagine heaven and earth were coming together, and under the blessing of
+God" (here our captain bowed his head) "I apprehend nothing, Madam, but
+what care and skill can overcome."
+
+_Mother._--"But your face expressed great concern when you looked at the
+barometer; and, besides, you mentioned the heat and calm as greater than
+you ever before experienced."
+
+_Capt._ (half hesitating).--"That is true, Madam, but I am such an ass,
+I cannot hide the impulse of the moment."
+
+_Mother._--"But, tell me, is this the impulse of the moment? Do you not
+fear a more than ordinary severe hurricane? Remember, you have praised
+us so much for being such good sailors, and so obedient to orders, that
+you must put us to the proof; and the more you take us into your
+confidence, the more well-behaved you will find us."
+
+A number of voices, "Yes do, dear captain, tell us everything. Are we
+going to have a grand storm? Will there be ice and snow? Shall we have
+thunder and lightning? Will the waves be one hundred feet high? Do you
+think the masts will be blown away? Tell us that it will be a
+magnificent storm, whatever you do," said Gatty, winding up the noise.
+
+_Capt._ (very much perplexed and anxiously).--"Dear little souls. Ma'am,
+it does my heart good to hear them. They ought all to have been born
+sailors, and bred to the sea into the bargain. Yes, my darlings, you
+shall have a grand storm, no doubt you shall have all your wish,
+whatever I can do for you, my little angels," and the good captain
+looked quite benignly at them all, giving great energetic kisses back
+for all the light rosy ones imprinted on his great Scotch face.
+
+My cousin laughed as she turned to me and said, "Good as the captain is,
+I hope he is not really going to spoil those children and conjure up a
+prodigious storm for their amusement. Now brats, get out of the way, and
+let us have a little common sense. You think we shall have a storm,
+captain?"
+
+_Capt._--"I fear so, Madam; that is, I don't fear," apologetically
+turning to the young ones, "but I have no doubt we shall have a storm."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then you would advise my betaking myself to bed, I
+suppose, immediately."
+
+_Capt._--"No, Ma'am, no, for I cannot judge when we shall have it, not
+these twenty-four hours yet."
+
+_Schillie._--"But, pray, have you any advice to give us against the
+storm does come. When a horse kicks, I am well aware that the rider has
+solely to think of sticking on; but, I confess, storms and their
+consequences are quite out of my way."
+
+_Capt._--"Indeed, Madam, I should be greatly obliged if you would
+undertake to keep everybody quiet below, the children especially: if
+they come running up after me, dear little souls. I shall be thinking
+too much of them to mind my ship."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then I will take particular good care they are kept out of
+your way. I have no mind to lose my life for a parcel of spoilt animals.
+But, otherwise, you think there is no danger?"
+
+_Capt._--"Why she is a good boat, a very good boat; I fear nothing as
+long as we have room."
+
+_Gatty._--"Room, captain, what sort of room?"
+
+_Capt._--"Sea room, begging your pardon, Miss. I quite forgot you would
+not understand me."
+
+Gatty now pouted in mortification that her intended laugh at the captain
+should be construed into ignorance on her part of what he meant, and the
+colloquy was broken up by the captain being sent for. We crawled on
+deck, as a matter of duty, panting and exhausted with doing nothing.
+Though we had bright blue sky above us, and the glittering sea around
+us, I never shall forget the brazen, hard, heated look that everything
+appeared to possess. The sky seemed to be gradually turning into brass,
+the ship looking like brass, we feeling like brass. It was horrible; and
+it was with no slight pleasure I heard a moaning wind rise slowly in the
+night, freshening into a gale by morning. Ere twenty-four hours had
+passed, with bare poles we were driven through the water just as a
+child's walnut shell might be tossed on a rough ocean. Here, there, and
+everywhere the sea rose, each wave with a crest to it madly buffeting
+and fighting with the others, yet each apparently bent on attacking the
+vessel, freighted with such precious lives. The wind whistled and roared
+until every other sound was lost. We could hear it gathering in the
+distance, then collecting, as it were, strength, rage, and speed as it
+advanced, it poured all its wrath and fury upon what appeared to us, the
+only victim with which it had to deal. The noble vessel bent, as it
+were, her graceful head in deprecation of such furious rage and turmoil,
+and shivering from bow to stern, would again rise lightly and proudly,
+as if appalled, but yet indignant at the rough usage she was receiving;
+yet far above the rattling wind the pealing thunder rolled with majestic
+sound, while the incessant lightning showed us the mad waves in all
+their forms. From time to time the captain sent us kind messages. We got
+used to the noise, uproar, and shocks; but, nevertheless, we could
+perceive the gale increased instead of abating. We bore it well for
+twelve hours, not a murmur, not a fear was expressed; but, after a
+shock, so tremendous that the vessel trembled to her inmost timber, a
+faint shriek was heard from Madame, this was echoed from the deck, it
+seemed to strike the ship motionless. As our breath returned to us,
+slowly and labouringly did she rise, heavy and waterlogged; how unlike
+the buoyant creature she had been a few moments before. Alas! that fatal
+cry was not without its signification; a sea had struck her, and in
+sweeping off seven men, had filled the ship with water, and carried away
+rudder, deck-house, and everything. Then, indeed, fear took possession
+of our minds. Amidst the roaring of the wind, the earnest and solemn
+prayers of Madame might be heard, as she sat in the gloom of the cabin,
+with ashen face and clasped hands, while the wailing sobs of the little
+girls came mingled with subdued cries from the elder ones. The two boys
+sat with faces uplifted, and their large eyes distended in fear and awe,
+as if their wild wishes had caused this awful tempest. The servants,
+unable to bear their fears alone, were seated in a distant part of the
+saloon, the wringing hands of the one and the deep groans of the other
+testifying the anguish and terror of their minds. Unawed by the
+dreadful turmoil above and the painful scene around her, Schillie alone
+seemed fearless and unmoved; steadying herself by the cabin door, she
+stood erect, and, as she looked at each of us, the calm undaunted
+expression of her countenance seemed to impart to us the courage her
+words would have given could we have heard them.
+
+The heavy rolling of the ship became each moment more apparent; the
+timbers creaked and groaned; as if satisfied with the mischief it had
+done, the wind ceased its wild uproar, and, during the temporary calm
+that succeeded, we learned the loss of the seven men, hurled at once
+into eternity, the wreck of all on deck, and the fatal consequences
+still more likely to ensue from the sea we had shipped. The pumps were
+manned immediately, and a temporary rudder made from one of the spars.
+So little did the captain hide our danger from us that he accepted the
+offer for those that could to help at the pumps; this enabled him to
+spare two men for the rudder and other work he thought necessary.
+
+Madame remained below with the children, beseeching for that aid which
+is equally necessary on sea or shore, and Hargrave, being helpless from
+fear and despair, remained with her. Wrapping ourselves up in warm close
+garments, we took our places, two at one and two at another pump, to
+help the men; and we had the exquisite gratification of finding that our
+labours were successful, for once more La Luna rode lightly on the
+waters, and our captain, in the broadest Scotch, which he always used
+when agitated, expressed his heartfelt happiness, while he let out, in
+broken exclamations of thankfulness, the fear he had entertained that
+her waterlogged condition might have proceeded from the starting of some
+of her timbers; and, indeed, the shocks and buffets she had received
+from the angry waves, with the straining and pitching, made us,
+inexperienced mariners as were, wonder, more than once, that she was not
+riven into a thousand pieces. Many were the fond words and endearing
+epithets bestowed on the brave La Luna by the good captain while he
+apostrophized her, as if endued with life and consciousness, beseeching
+her to hold on yet awhile, by all the good angels in heaven, by the
+mighty powers of the deep, by the love she bore to those within her, by
+the affection they bore to her, by the value of their lives, by the
+preciousness of the little innocent children, by the hopes she had given
+them of her strength and goodness; while he promised her in return every
+good thing on sea or in sky, fair breezes, bright sun, and ever-flowing
+sheet, with the devoted love and affection of all on board.
+
+Towards evening, the moaning wind again rose in furious gusts, and we
+were recalled from the calm into which we had been sunk by the sudden
+and awful death that had befallen so many of our companions (a feeling
+only to be felt at sea) to a repetition of all we had undergone before,
+save in that one instance. In the language of scripture, "we strake
+sail, and so were driven." The sky was as pitch, the waves furious, the
+wind awful. Night and day passed without thought or heed. Working at the
+pumps had done us all good, diverting our minds from the loss we had
+sustained, and preventing us from dwelling on the perils surrounding us.
+But now we had nothing to do, and we experienced, in its full force,
+that heart-sickness consequent upon hope deferred. Hours sped on, yet
+still the ship was driven like a mad thing through the water. Bruised
+and sore, from the various falls and shocks we hourly received, hungry
+and faint from inability to get the food so necessary for our exhausted
+frames, death seemed our inevitable doom.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+At the end of the seventh day, we were startled by the cry "Land ho!
+Land, Land." We exclaimed, "we are saved, we are saved!" and, for a
+moment, there was deep silence, an instructive feeling of gratitude
+prompted in each breast, young and old, a spontaneous prayer of
+thanksgiving to the mighty Being in whose hands we were, who was at once
+our Father and our God. The first powerful impulse obeyed, we had
+leisure to think of each other. I kissed the little ones, but said
+nothing. Madame was loud in her rejoicings and thanksgivings, the
+servants outrageous in their frantic joy, but the dread fear of the past
+days, the fury of the still existing storm, kept the elder girls yet in
+a state of subdued feeling. Dashing the tears from her eyes, and
+assuming an indifferent manner, Schillie said, "Madame, spare your
+rejoicings until we land; and you howlers," turning to the maids, "keep
+your noise for a fitting occasion. I imagine," looking at the rest of
+the party, "our condition is rendered more dangerous by the probability
+of being driven on shore; when, instead of going to the bottom, like
+Christians, with whole skins, we shall be dashed to pieces on the rocks,
+and washed up in little bits."
+
+_Felix._--"I hope some of my little bits will get near mama's little
+bits, and then I shall not care."
+
+_Oscar._--"Mother, may I creep up and ask Smart what the captain thinks
+about the land?"
+
+_All._--"Yes, do, do, dear boy."
+
+"Mind you are careful, my darling boy," said the anxious Mother.
+
+The captain came down himself with the boy, and corroborated Schillie's
+idea, that land was dangerous if the gale continued. "But, thank God,"
+said he, bowing his head, "the gale is breaking; may I see you all down
+before my eyes, if I am deceived in thinking we shall have fine weather
+in a few hours; but," continued he, looking round with concern, "what
+pale faces, what suffering and misery you have undergone. I am a'most
+done myself," the large tears rolling down his pale shrunken cheeks,
+"and, but for the lives under my care, I must have given way long ere
+this. Ye have need to pray yet for succour; we are aye in a mickle mess,
+shortened in our hands, with work for twenty men, it is not to be
+expected as nature 'll stand it out. The men are fairly done, and, but
+for that likely Smart, I ken we should be in a far worse state. I am
+thinking, leddies, a spell at the pump will no harm you, and gie us a
+better chance of our lives, while the men get a bit snack. Another six
+hours will make or mar us; but it's no me as will disguise from any one
+that she's sprung a leak. All the straining and strammashing she has
+gone through would have foundered some score of fine boats, but she is a
+good one, aye, a grand one. So weel ye just come?"
+
+We were awfully startled at the announcement of a leak, but followed him
+as well as we were able. Lashed to the pumps, we again worked hard, but
+not as before to reap a reward of our labours in seeing the pumps become
+dry. At the end of two hours, when we had worked turn and turn about,
+the captain told us that the water did not gain on us, yet the pumps
+must be kept going night and day to keep her afloat. How grieved we were
+to see our kind-hearted merry Smart, who had always looked such a fine
+handsome specimen of an English gamekeeper, worn down to a shadow, his
+fine fresh colour gone, his cheeks shrunk and withered, his bright eyes
+and frank smile vanished, and a care-worn, haggard, gaunt man in his
+stead. The two dogs were near him, looking famished and subdued. But
+throughout the whole time, during our greatest danger, he had never
+forgotten the cow; he remembered how necessary the milk was to the
+health of his little master, and he had fenced and guarded her stall
+with sails and straw-bands to prevent her being knocked about;
+nevertheless, with all his care, she looked pitiable, and was galled and
+bruised in many places.
+
+Gradually the leaden darkness over our heads seemed to be stealing away,
+a low moaning sound succeeded to the hollow blasts and whistling
+hurricane that had been making us their sport. Instead of the violent
+pitching and tossing that had been our fate for so many days, with the
+fearful careening over of the labouring ship, we were now going slowly
+up and down with the swelling rolling waves. Gradually and distinctly
+the land, that had been viewed some hours before, became more visible,
+and we beheld what seemed to us a small irregular island, rising very
+abruptly to the right, and of great height, but shelving off to the
+left; and, as we approached nearer, we could perceive long breakers
+dashing for a great distance over the lower part, leading us to imagine
+that it extended some miles into the sea. Our captain edged off as well
+as he could, with his crippled rudder and the troubled sea with which he
+had to contend, because night was coming on. Though the wind was quite
+subdued, and the sea becoming each hour more calm, the night was an
+anxious one, and weary enough to some of us, for the pumps could not be
+left a moment.
+
+The harassing time the young ones had passed made me anxious that they
+should obtain that rest so long desired, while the age and delicate
+health of Madame rendered her almost as necessary an object of care; but
+the maids with my cousin and myself did our duty with the rest in our
+endeavours to keep the ship afloat.
+
+We were rewarded in the morning by, oh! joyful and beauteous sight, the
+unclouded and glorious rising of the sun. Months seemed to have passed
+since we had seen his beautiful face, and the genial warmth and bright
+beams imparted a glow to every eye and every heart. The cock, so long
+silent and almost dead with salt water, faintly crowed, the dogs barked,
+and the cow lowed. When dumb animals thus endeavoured to express their
+joy and thankfulness, could we be silent? Oh no, words were not wanting
+to add to nature's hymn, happy and joyful sounds were heard on all
+sides, and those who could not help it wept the happiness they found
+themselves unable to express in words.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+In us was exemplified the old adage, "that man is but the creature of
+circumstances." Who could have foretold that in two short weeks we
+should think so differently, and yet in that fortnight of dark anxiety,
+undefined dread and forebodings, more distressing than reality itself,
+we had seemed to live years of misery. The bodily sufferings we had
+endured from the heat and burning fever of the scorching sun seemed as
+nothing in comparison with the horrors we afterwards underwent, and it
+was almost impossible to imagine that we had ever deprecated the bright
+beams or complained of the genial warmth now so grateful to our
+feelings.
+
+What happiness it was to hear the joyous voices of the young ones, as
+each, in their different manner, expressed their delight at the
+beautiful change. The gentle Zoe clasped her hands with excited joy;
+Felix flew into his dear Smart's arms, exclaiming "that the sun was
+shining most stunningly;" Oscar came softly behind me, and with one arm
+round my neck, whispered "Dear mama, surely we are saved now;" Lilly and
+Winny ran from one end of the vessel to the other, singing, in clear
+ringing voices, the morning hymn; while each and all gazed on the
+surrounding scene with happiness and delight, worn out as we were with
+aching arms, blistered hands, and utter weariness, we could not be
+insensible to the beauty of the little island we were now approaching.
+
+It was seemingly so long since we had seen land that even if it had been
+a barren rock, we should have hailed it with delight. Yet, with all our
+love for La Luna, with all our experience of her goodness, beauty,
+strength, and worth, not a heart beat on board of her, I fear, that did
+not pant to be on shore. It seemed as if this little island had risen
+out of the sea for the sole purpose of affording us the rest and peace
+our shattered condition and worn-out frames demanded. And yet it was
+curious and half alarming to see this little spot of earth rising so
+lonely and yet so beautiful in the middle of the sea: like an emerald
+gem on the vast extent of water it lay calm and alone, no other land in
+sight, no other object to divide our attention with it. The nearer we
+approached, the more we became absorbed in our inspection. It grew
+larger, it appeared higher, we distinguished cliffs or rocks, we noticed
+ravines, and beheld small bays. The roaring of the breakers was
+distinctly heard, and the rolling billows, collecting foam as they
+advanced, seemed to spend their force against the reef of rocks, while
+they lightly and gently swept on towards the little island, breaking so
+softly on the sanded shore that they seemed to regard it as a favoured
+child, whose solitary condition demanded protection and indulgence.
+Slowly and heavily the laden ship advanced; suddenly we seemed, as it
+were, to pass a corner of the island, and came upon a view so lovely in
+its quiet beauty, so unexpected in its richness and colour, so
+delightful in its homelike appearance, that one cry of admiration burst
+from all. How exquisite! How lovely! What rocks! What trees! Look, look,
+a gushing stream, a lovely waterfall! I see birds, bright birds, and
+beauteous flowers, I am sure! What colours! What a lovely bay! What blue
+water! What golden sands! Was ever such a scene beheld before by mortal
+eyes! Such and many more were the exclamations heard on all sides. There
+hung, in vast variety, gigantic trees, stretching their huge limbs in
+every direction on the face of the cliff, as if clinging for support.
+Every here and there verdant spots appeared, like mossy resting places
+for the weary climber, from whence hung creeping plants, wonderful to us
+for their size and beauty. In the right side of the bay, the cliffs
+seemed suddenly rent asunder, and through the opening gleamed a silvery
+thread, which, advancing to the edge, fell in a rich stream of water
+from rock to rock, dispersing into a thousand sparkling dancing rills,
+sometimes lost, then again bursting forth, now shadowed by a huge old
+tree, then deepening into a quiet smiling pool, until at last tossed,
+tumbled, and thrown from a descent of a hundred feet, it reunited its
+troubled waters on the sand, and flowed in tranquil beauty to the sea.
+The cliffs shelved up higher almost immediately beyond the waterfall,
+and rounding abruptly on either side towards the sea, they formed a bay
+or harbour, scarcely half a mile from point to point, though it must
+have been some miles round it. High on the right hand, which in fact was
+the sort of corner we had passed, rose abruptly from the sea a gigantic
+rock separated from the mainland; it had an archway, apparently hollowed
+by the sea, quite through it, and was curiously picturesque and strange
+to view. On the left, the bay was also sheltered by rocks, filled with
+caves and hollow places, but none separated from the mainland. Our
+captain had been occupied taking soundings ever since we had neared the
+land, and amidst all our exclamations arose regularly the man's deep
+voice, proclaiming the depth of the line, with a melodious cadence
+peculiar to the cry.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+But not even that sound or the nearness of our approach to land prepared
+us for a sudden grating noise, a shock, a succession of bumps that
+finally left nearly everybody on their faces and the ship perfectly
+motionless and fast on a sand bank. Those who soonest recovered
+themselves were greeted by the captain with cheering voice and hearty
+shakes of the hand. Wiping the numerous drops of anxiety from his brow,
+he congratulated us on what seemed the climax of our misfortunes.
+
+"All right, all right," he exclaimed, "capitally done; I hardly hoped we
+should manage it so well. Cheer up, cheer up, my darling," picking up
+poor little Winny, whose bleeding nose shewed how suddenly the shock had
+upset her, "we are all safe now. There is the bonny island ready to
+receive us, and the pratty ship has borne us safe and sound, as far as
+she weel could, and now she is safe on a soft sand bank, and no harm to
+speak on. Another few hours, and we wadna hae had hands to shake or
+mou's to praise God for all his mercies." In answer to my appealing
+look, he continued, "She could not have floated long, Madam, the pumps
+are clogged and useless. Every hour was increasing the weight of water.
+With all my wisdom and knowledge, I could not have saved you had not a
+merciful providence raised up this picture of 'the fair havens,' like as
+is mentioned in the holy scriptures, and I bid ye welcome with my auld
+heart singing for joy. Never mind your bit knock my hinny. Here's a
+pratty home and a lovely garden come up from the ocean depths to shield
+and shelter ye; and ye shall have bonny fruits and flowers to pleasure
+ye, after the strife and turmoil you have been undergoing. But, aye,
+leddies, what a grand boat this is. I'd wager my mither's silver tea-urn
+none could have done so weel; she has borne and sheltered us to the last
+minute, and now she lays us gently and saftly on a nice sand bank, and
+we may step ashore with the ease and pleasure of grand folk. Oh, she's a
+darling."
+
+_Oscar._--"But she did not lay us so softly, I came down with such force
+that I am quite sore now."
+
+_Capt._--"But, my darling, you would not expect a ship to be so gentle
+in her manners as your own lady mother. Na, na, she did as weel as she
+could, and that's better than the best, I'll engage."
+
+_Winny_ (half angry).--"But she made my nose bleed with her great
+bumps."
+
+_Capt._--"And did she not do it on purpose, my precious lamb? How could
+she have settled herself so fast and high without making a bed for
+herself in the sand; she's as knowledgeable as a Christian, and there's
+no denying of it. Most lumbering vessels would have bumped a hole in
+their bottoms, but I'll be bound she has not rasped an inch of her
+keel. Here she lays us, and bids us, while she lies doon to rest, to
+take a snack ashore, and be thankful for a' the mercies showered on our
+unworthy heads. Good Mr. Austin is gone fra us, Madam, but surely there
+remains some amongst us to lift the song of praise and glory."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Every heart responded to the good captain's words, and the crippled
+crew, more alive than we were to the danger we had escaped, flocked from
+each part of the vessel to join us. The startled birds, unused to human
+sounds, rose in clouds as the energetic and outpouring spirit of praise
+rose in the air, fervent in its expression, heartfelt in its depth and
+feeling.
+
+And then our good captain manned the only boat left us, and calling upon
+me to choose any three other companions I liked, bid me come and take
+possession of the fair island in the name of the Queen. Calling
+Schillie, Serena, and Oscar, with the two poor dogs, we got into the
+boat; in a few minutes we approached, we landed, and seeing the showers
+of tears that rushed to our eyes, the captain considerately shoved off,
+and ere we had well dried them, clinging arms and soft voices hung round
+us, and welcomed us to this land of loveliness and beauty. A very short
+time elapsed ere we were all on shore, and would have wandered from tree
+to tree and rock to rock in pleasure too delicious to be described, had
+not the considerate kindness and untiring exertions of our good captain
+made us anxious to assist him as well as we could. Everybody was called
+into requisition, even the volatile Felix and the indolent Lilly were
+chidden into useful activity, and bestirred themselves to the best of
+their little powers, on being promised the reward of sleeping on shore.
+It was nearly noon when we landed, but, in spite of the heat, we worked
+untiringly, having, first of all, fixed on a dry and sheltered corner on
+which to have a tent pitched. Under the captain's judicious management,
+the sailors soon erected a large and commodious apartment, into which we
+put couches and cushions to serve as beds; a smaller tent, a few feet
+below us, was prepared for the captain, the boys, and Smart. A large
+fire was kindled ere night approached to keep off wild beasts, or scare
+any other unknown enemies. On a shelving rock, against which the waves
+gently broke, we had our first meal, one never to be forgotten by me,
+for the many mixed feelings with which it was partaken. All hearts were
+too full to say much. The overwrought mind of the captain showed itself
+in his profound silence, while slowly and at intervals a single large
+tear rolled down his cheeks. Madame swallowed as many tears as tea.
+Schillie gulped down her food in convulsive starts while she spoke only
+in short sentences to the dogs, sharply reproving them for nothing.
+Sybil and Serena both wept quietly, and ever and anon cast fond and
+anxious but furtive glances at their two mothers. Gatty shewed the
+workings of her mind by the innumerable holes she was tearing in her
+poor handkerchief, while she earnestly begged the little girls to eat
+more, and called them stupid little apes when they did not. They, poor
+children, would have been joyful and happy, for the feelings of
+childhood chase each other like clouds on an April day, but the unwonted
+sight of the kind captain's tears, the uncontrollable feelings that
+possessed the elder party, gave an awe to the whole proceeding. Oscar
+and Felix ate and drank to their heart's content, relieving their
+feelings by occasional visits to Smart, who sat at a little distance
+with some of the sailors. Such a state of feeling could not last. Our
+meal ended abruptly, and ere the lingering glory of the sun had wholly
+left the sky, all the worn frames and overtaxed hearts sought the repose
+so necessary for them, and, save two faithful watches by the fire, deep
+sleep fell on all the party.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+I awoke in the morning, hardly at first comprehending where I was. On
+rising, I found myself alone, no sound broke the stillness, no sight met
+my eyes to assist me in restoring my still dreaming thoughts. After
+passing some moments in endeavouring to recollect myself, I opened the
+door of the tent. High and dry on a sanded bank lay La Luna, almost on
+her beam ends, while active figures were busily employed in her. The
+little boat had just left her laden with a heavy cargo. Smart and the
+two maids were apparently waiting to receive what she brought, and
+assist in unloading her. Scattered in numerous and pretty groups along
+the shore were all my loved companions. I slowly and mechanically
+counted them, as if I feared from the unwonted stillness some were
+missing; but they were all there; I thanked God, and sat down to recover
+myself. One of the dogs barked, and I saw my cousin run forward to
+silence him. The little girls were feeding the ducks and chickens, at
+least two were, while the third was wandering close to the waves at some
+distance. The boys were one rubbing the cow down, the other feeding her
+with fresh grass, for which she eagerly pursued him. Schillie walked
+slowly to the water's edge, and began to make ducks and drakes, as it is
+called, with a stone, apparently trying to hit a dark object that was
+moving in the water. The dogs were going in after the stones, when a
+shout from the vessel roused her. Pointing to the black object, of which
+now there appeared many, vehement signs were made to her to forbear. The
+noise reached the ears of all, and they came each from their separate
+occupations to know what was the matter, and I also walked from the tent
+for the same purpose. The moment I was perceived they all uttered joyful
+cries, and ran towards me, expressing their pleasure that I was at last
+awake; and I then learnt that the cause of their great silence was a
+wish to leave my repose as undisturbed as possible. I thanked them all,
+and was greatly relieved; and now there was no end to the gabble, which
+nearly made us forget the cause which had first broken the stillness.
+
+But Smart came, sent by the captain's orders, to tell us not to throw
+more stones, or allow the dogs to go into the water, as the odd black
+things we saw were sharks. Some of the party were aghast, and some
+delighted at the notion of being on such familiar terms with creatures
+of whom we had only before read. We sent a message back to the captain
+to come to breakfast, which had been prepared under a vast plane tree,
+whose huge branches afforded us delightful shelter. He soon arrived, and
+greeted us all, in famous spirits. He shook our hands until they ached,
+he kissed the children a dozen times, and he talked broader Scotch than
+we had ever heard him do yet; also, he drank about fifteen cups of tea.
+We all did ample justice to our breakfast; and I was glad to see poor
+Madame quite merry, roused by the mirth and noise of the children.
+
+_Gatty._--"What a jolly island this is."
+
+_Oscar._--"Yes. Should you like to live here?"
+
+_Gatty._--"I'll be Robinson Crusoe, and you shall be my Man Friday."
+
+_Winny._--"You must be Mrs. Robinson Crusoe, Gatty, because you are a
+woman."
+
+_Mother._--"Then I suppose we had better go away, and leave you two
+here."
+
+_Oscar._--"Oh no! don't do that, but we will go and live at the top of
+that rock, and make believe to be Crusoe and Friday; only, Gatty, if I
+let you be Crusoe, you must let me have a gun, and I must not sit at
+your feet, and have to read, because I can do that already quite well.
+The best thing will be for us both to be Crusoe, and have no Friday at
+all, because I shall have to black myself."
+
+_Sybil._--"And I know that won't please you at all, you little Eton
+dandy, with your smart waistcoat, white tie, and shining boots."
+
+_Oscar._--"Why you know, aunt Sib, we are no longer sailors now. We must
+dress as shore-going folks. Besides, we don't know if there may not be
+company here."
+
+_Madame_ (turning quite pale).--"Oh dear! Do you think there are any
+savages likely to be near us. I have such a dread of them."
+
+_Capt._ (laughing).--"Why, Ma'am, from all I could see of this island,
+there isn't much room for them and us, and there cannot be many of them
+at any rate. If there are, they will show themselves soon."
+
+_Schillie._--"I would advise an exploring excursion, that we may see who
+has possession of this island besides ourselves. It would be as well to
+know if we have foes, either man or beasts. I know one person," with a
+slight glance at me, "who will be as fidgety as she is high if her
+mind's not at rest. She'll see a savage in every bush, a tiger behind
+every stone, and sharks walking on the sand swallowing brats like pills.
+It did not seem very large, captain, though we can hardly tell now,
+walled in as we are by these great cliffs."
+
+_Capt._--"I think your advice very sensible, Madam. It will ease my mind
+too, very much, to know that you are exposed to no danger while I am
+busy overhauling the ship. Here comes Mr. Skead, and we'll take his
+opinion. Ah! good Mr. Austin, you're a sair miss."
+
+This apostrophe to the memory of our kind good mate was heartily
+responded to by all. Amongst others who were lost in that fatal night
+was the old Scotch sailor; but the subject was so painful to us, we
+never recurred to it, if possible. We could not recover the shock of
+such a fatal parting from our late companions.
+
+We gave Mr. Skead some breakfast, and then entered into a discussion of
+plans, in which every one took a part. The captain declared that La Luna
+must be overhauled, that all her cargo must be taken out, and that he
+had work for fifty men, and had but ten to do it, himself and Mr. Skead
+making twelve, Smart and Benjie fourteen. And yet every voice
+pronounced, "we must go and explore." The good captain was sorely
+puzzled, and in his perplexity talked Scotch to an unintelligible
+degree. Every day was of consequence until he had discovered what injury
+the ship had received. We, on our parts, declared it was impossible to
+sleep or rest in peace while we were subjected to any unknown enemy
+rushing out upon us.
+
+_Schillie._--"Good lack! What a noise. Pray be quiet for a moment, and
+listen to common sense. Why should the captain go exploring at all. Let
+him remain with his men and ship, and give us Smart and some guns, and
+we will go and explore."
+
+A dead silence followed this announcement of Schillie's. At last,
+exclaimed Gatty, "It will be capital fun." "So it will," said Sybil.
+"Most delightful," said Serena. "I want so much to climb up those
+cliffs," said Zoe. "I want to gather flowers," said Winny. "I want to
+kill a lion," said Oscar. "I wish to climb up a cocoa-nut tree, and get
+mama some cocoa-nut milk," said Felix. "And I," said Lilly, "want to
+stay here and pick up shells. Oh, mama, such shells, I never, never,
+never saw such lovely----" here I put my hand on her little mouth, while
+Madame exclaimed, "My dearest children, my darling girls, are you mad.
+What, go up those frightful rocks, exposed to the dangers of wild
+beasts, get torn and scratched amongst the forest, scorched and burnt by
+the sun. My dear young ladies, believe me, I cannot permit such
+indecorum." Blank looks followed, while I, taking Madame's hand; said
+in a deprecating tone, "You know, dear Madame, we are in peculiar
+circumstances, and we must all do our duty in the small circle to which
+we are now reduced. As it is so necessary that the captain should
+examine the ship, and as we cannot help in that, I think we may as well
+try our talents in exploring. I think you will have no objection to the
+girls going if the two mothers go also."
+
+_Madame._--"Oh! my dear Madam, think not of it. Remember how precious
+your life is. Think what would become of us should anything occur to
+either of you. I feel quite incapable of filling your place; and a
+thousand unseen dangers are preferable to your leaving us for a moment."
+
+_Mother._--"Thank you very much, Madame, for your very kind interest. Be
+assured I will do nothing rashly. What do you say, captain?"
+
+_Capt._--"Why I must say, Madam, every day I live with you ladies adds
+to my wonderment. You are no ladies, but brave fine warriors, and
+nothing will daunt you. There is not a man in the world has such a soul
+as she has," pointing to Schillie. "I'll wager my mither's silver punch
+bowl that she's afraid of nothing. You can fire a gun, no doubt, Ma'am?"
+
+_Oscar._--"Yes, to be sure, and a pistol too, and she can load them
+also."
+
+_Capt._ (gazing at her with great admiration).--"Well then, she's as
+good as another man. There will be Smart and her, and as you must go
+quietly, they will be quite enough."
+
+The three girls exclaimed, "But we want to go, captain; we don't fear
+anything, and we will be very brave. If you show us how to fire off a
+gun, we will do it."
+
+_Schillie._--"Pooh, pooh, girls. I should like to know what peace and
+quiet there would be with you three magpies after us."
+
+_Mother._--"I don't see the advantage of going quietly; though I hope we
+shall do so peaceably. I think the larger the party the better; and I
+therefore propose that Hargrave and Jenny cook the dinner wanted here,
+and by that means Benjie can be spared, who will be very useful, as he
+is acquainted with the bush and all the things about these places of
+which we are ignorant. Therefore, let Smart and Benjie go first, you
+next, then the three girls and Oscar and I will bring up the rear."
+
+Schillie was about making a remonstrance, when we were interrupted by a
+burst of weeping, most outrageous in its noise; and, between sobs and
+passion, Felix blurted forth his indignation and disappointment at not
+being included in the party. Taking him up from the ground, where he had
+thrown himself in his passion, the good captain tried to console
+him--"Come now, come, my little man, don't fret so. Don't you know we
+want you here. How could the dear little girls and the good old lady do
+without such a grand protector as you."
+
+_Felix_ (blubbering).--"I hate taking care of girls, they do such silly
+work, and I won't take care of Madame; and if lions and tigers come,
+they may kill them themselves, for I won't do it for any of them."
+
+Even the too indulgent Mother could not help laughing at the absurdity
+of such a frit killing tigers and lions, looking not much bigger than an
+impudent monkey. Fresh tears followed the universal laughter. "Well
+then, my man," continued the captain, "you shall come on board with me.
+I want a very clever active hand to help me."
+
+_Felix._--"I hate the ship, and I won't go on board. She is a nasty
+creature, and nearly drowned us all."
+
+This impudence was too much for the captain, so he put him down with an
+ejaculation, "Ech! but you're a fashious bairn;" and how long he might
+have continued to roar we know not, but between his tears his eye
+suddenly caught sight of the cow, who, either intoxicated by all the
+fresh sweet grass she had eaten, or having risen in particularly good
+spirits, was indulging in a series of antics, equally ludicrous and
+unbecoming in such a sober creature. With the tears rolling down his
+cheeks, he clapped his hands and shouted with glee. Smart took advantage
+of the favourable moment, and said, in a commanding voice, "Sir, I'll
+thank you to catch us some fish to-day; they are jumping in
+buckets-full, and we shall want some supper agin we return."
+
+This restored the smiles, and, with rod in hand, away he went in
+happiest spirits; and ere we were ready to depart, such was the change
+in the state of his feelings, that he privately confided to his brother,
+he thought him a great muff to go toiling up the rocks instead of
+stopping with him to catch the fish that were jumping about, almost
+asking to be taken out.
+
+The captain gave us many orders and directions, charged Smart and Benjie
+with innumerable cautions, and finally dismissed us with hearty good
+wishes and fervent hopes for our safe return. Madame was too much
+agitated to speak, and could only wave her adieus. Jenny and Hargrave,
+who were assisting in our preparations, each in their own way expressed
+their feelings. The former declaring she would be glad of a quiet day to
+get through a lot of washing, the latter grumbling that the young ladies
+would spoil their clothes and get them torn, while both had indistinct
+visions of snakes and dragons snapping us up, lions and tigers leaving
+only our bones as sad memorials, savages or monsters running away with
+us! Fortified by these ideas, we emerged from the tent, properly
+equipped, and then had to take leave of the little girls. Their notions
+all tended towards the pleasurable kind, and had we been in a civilized
+place, spectators might have imagined we were starting for a good day's
+shopping in London or elsewhere, provided they had interpreted the young
+ladies' wishes as toys and not real live creatures. "I'll thank you to
+bring me a monkey and some grapes," said Felix. "I also wish for a
+monkey," said Winny. "No, no, Winny," said Zoe, "don't have a monkey,
+they smell so. Let us have each a parrot." "Oh yes, yes, a parrot. Bring
+Zoe a green one and me a blue one," said Winny, "A blue one, you stupid
+girl," said Oscar, "there never was a blue one in all the world." "Then
+I will have a yellow one; red parrots are so common and vulgar," Lilly
+said, "but whatever you do, mind and bring us some cocoa-nuts." We
+promised to do our best, and started, not in the order I proposed, but
+with Benjie in the rear. Hard work it was, and many times did we stop,
+pretending to admire the view, watching the dear ones below, answering
+their signals, but only with an object to gain breath for fresh
+exertions. It took us quite an hour and a half to get to the top, during
+which we frightened innumerable quantities of birds, and disturbed a
+vast number of lizards. The latter alarmed some of us very much, and
+they turned their large serious odd eyes upon us as if in wonderment at
+our appearance, gliding so imperceptibly from our sight, that it seemed
+as if they dissolved in air. Once at the top, we sat down to rest and
+eat, for, by the captain's advice, we determined not to stir during the
+hot part of the day. We of course had the dogs with us, but they were
+kept to heel by Smart, to avoid rousing any enemy. After cooling
+ourselves, and recovering our breath, we had leisure to examine the
+exquisite beauty of everything around us. Anything like the trees with
+the foliage of every shade of green, and creepers with stems as thick as
+the trees in our country could not be imagined. Whatever fears the girls
+might have had, they seemed all to have vanished; and they sat talking
+and laughing with the same glee and unconcern as if they had been in the
+garden at home. During the noise they were making, we had not perceived
+that Benjie had left us. Presently he returned with a vine clinging
+round him, covered with ripe luscious grapes. We were enchanted, and had
+only one drawback, that we could not send any one below. Madame would
+have enjoyed them so much, and it was so hot on the shore, compared to
+the breeze we were enjoying. Benjie, comprehending our words, said, "Hi,
+Benjie, cook that for them, hi, Benjie, first-rate good cook, and send a
+pye-grape down to Miss Winny." Miss Winny was his pet, because when the
+little girls with more openness and candour than civility, expressed
+their horror of a black cook, Winny had endeavoured to soften the matter
+as much as possible, declaring that even if he had a black face he had
+whiter teeth than anybody else, and she was sure that if he could he
+would have washed himself long ago, "Besides," she ended, "he is so kind
+and gentle, that I am sure his mind and soul are white." Benjie
+understood quite enough to make him Winny's slave for life.
+
+He soon returned to us with some enormous gourds. The girls jumped up in
+delight, and Gatty seizing hold of one, attempted to carry it--suddenly
+she uttered a shriek, dropped her gourd, and ran behind us all; a large
+green lizard peeped out of a hole in the gourd, and peering about for a
+few moments, finally crawled out, followed by innumerable little ones,
+who disappeared like magic in the grass. Nothing would induce Gatty to
+touch the gourd again, Benjie soon scooped one out, and, putting green
+leaves inside, filled it with grapes, and, covering the hole with some
+strong shiny green leaves, gathered from a tree close by, he gave a
+shout, using his favourite word "Hi!" Not only did the sky become dark
+with the clouds of birds which arose at that unearthly cry, but various
+noises in the bushes made us huddle together in fear and alarm. However,
+it effected his object, and we could see them eagerly, and apparently in
+alarm, looking up from below. Benjie showed every tooth in his head,
+and, swinging his gourd round and round, he sent it bounding down from
+point to point, until it fell as if on purpose, nearer to little Winny
+than any of the other spectators. Nevertheless, as might be expected,
+Benjie's "pie-grape" was somewhat damaged in its descent. We, however,
+sent them some more, and a note inside one, to say we were all merry and
+well, and greeted them right lovingly.
+
+It was now time to move on, Smart took Oscar up and seated him on his
+shoulders, saying, "Now, Sir, keep watch up there, and if you see
+anything coming just let me know, and, particklarly, a beere, Sir, I
+have a notion I should like to kill a beere ere I die." Oscar promised
+faithfully, and added, "But I shall not tell you of an elephant, as I
+want to shoot that myself." "As you please, Sir," said the willing
+Smart, "but I will keep my gun ready in case you misses him."
+
+The point we were aiming for was the highest part of the island;
+hitherto we had great difficulty in forcing our way, though we all used
+our hatchets without remorse, Gatty bestowing much unnecessary labour in
+the matter. We were beginning to think our adventure rather stupid; not
+a sign of any animal had we seen, great or small, no dragons, no
+griffins, no snakes, no anything. Our dissatisfaction might soon have
+found words, had not Oscar, from his elevated seat, called vehemently on
+Smart to stop. "What is it, Sir, a beere or a helephant?" "Go back,
+Smart, just under that tree. Now then stop, stand steady, while I
+scramble up here. I thought so, look! look! did you ever see anything so
+droll." So saying, he pulled out from the branches of a huge tree two
+quiet, wise-looking parrots, not quite fledged, that were seated side by
+side in a hole in the tree. They did not seem in the least discomposed,
+but gazed on us with great gravity. "They are neither blue nor yellow,
+but dear mother, they will just do for the little girls. Pray let me
+take them home." I was very loathe to give leave, I could not help
+thinking somebody might be only in the next bush, ready to take away my
+nestlings. Everybody added their entreaties, so it was agreed as we must
+return the way we came, if we found them again we would politely request
+their company home with us.
+
+So that matter being settled, Smart resumed his burden, warning his
+young master to be more quiet in his next announcement, if he had
+nothing better to encounter than a nest of parrots. We found grapes in
+every direction. Benjie also showed us the Banana tree, gave us a
+perfect volume of his discovering yams, and danced with glee before a
+small plantation of sugar canes. Yet all this time we saw no living
+thing but birds. We were enchanted with the flowers, their size and
+colour were beyond all description, at last we came to an open glade,
+and through this ran the stream, which fell over the cliffs into the
+sea. The trees were gigantic, and Benjie in his broken English,
+endeavoured to describe them all to us, telling us their Indian names,
+and their qualifications. Here following the stream a little way, we
+peeped over the precipice, and by the help of glasses I saw all our
+belongings at dinner, our feeble shouts were of course unheard, and now
+for the first time, we heard a noise, a rustling in the bushes. I turned
+pale, Sybil, Gatty, and Serena ran to each other. Schillie raised her
+gun and looked at the bushes with a determined eye. We all stood
+breathless. It came nearer and nearer, the bushes absolutely crashed
+with the sound. It could be nothing but an elephant, or rather a dozen
+of them. At the distance of a few hundred yards was a gigantic tree. To
+our amazement this tree, without a breath of wind to stir a leaf, shook
+and trembled in every branch, sometimes it waved with a solemn and slow
+motion, and again it was agitated in the most violent manner. Benjie
+fell flat on his face, apparently in a fit, as we stood transfixed with
+amazement. Smart, whose courage rose with the excitement, signed to the
+dogs to go forward. They nothing loathe, sprang into the bushes, and
+made straight for the tree. It quivered no more; but a dreadful howl
+from one of the dogs, bespoke something horrible. The other fleeing
+before some enemy, for we heard him yelling with fear, and the sound
+gradually died away, as did the crashing and noise, we had heard before.
+We waited some minutes in silence, when Smart asked Oscar in a low voice
+if he could see anything. "Nothing" was the boy's reply. "Get down then,
+Sir, and let me see what ails blacky." For a black man it was strange to
+see how livid Benjie was, and he trembled in every limb. "Come, come,
+Snow-balls," said Smart, "what are you quaking about?" "Me dead wid
+fear, masser Smart." "You need not tell me that, you sneak," muttered
+Smart, "come get up, and let's go to yon tree, and see if the old
+gentleman holds court there." "No, no masser Smart, please ma'am, do
+ma'am, I dead, I dead." "But what is it, Benjie, that frightens you so?"
+said I. "Oh! ma'am, dat no elephant, dat no bear. Good elephant, good
+bear to that. It some horrid thing, great big monkey, or worse and worse
+great big snake." "Well it's gone now, whatever it do be, old hero, so
+get up, and come along, I am going to see what's there." "I'll go too,
+Smart," said Schillie, "leave the boy behind." They went slowly and
+cautiously, but presently called on us to come. We obeyed, and after
+passing thro' the hedge of thick underwood that was before us, we came
+to a beautiful open glade, sloping down in smooth banks or terraces to a
+little lake, from whence flowed the stream so often mentioned. The south
+and west sides of this valley were closed in with precipitate rocks,
+and the most conspicuous object in this lovely spot, was the large tree,
+whose extraordinary motions, had so bewildered us. Smart and Schillie
+were underneath it. "Did you ever see such a glorious fellow," said
+Schillie, pointing to the tree. "H'd cut into a sight of timber," said
+Smart, whose manners were fast acquiring the familiarity and sociability
+consequent upon our being so intimately connected in various ways, since
+our misfortunes. I never saw such a tree, but we all looked at it, with
+awe, expecting it to begin again its mysterious movements. There was a
+disagreeable odour pervading the air, that made us feel sick. Nothing
+however was to be seen, broken branches, and the mark of some large
+creature might be traced all about the place. Smart whistled for his
+dogs, but they either did not hear him, or as he feared, they must have
+been killed. We soon returned to where we had left Benjie, quite amazed
+at the beauty of the place, but bewildered with the strangeness of this
+event, and the total disappearance of both enemy and dogs. Finding him
+still overcome, we decided to prosecute our searches no further, after
+we had made one excursion up to the top of the cliff, when there, we had
+a full and perfect view of the whole island, which appeared about three
+miles across, four long, and about thirteen miles round. It seemed
+bathed in tranquil peaceful beauty, we saw no movement, heard no sound,
+and but for the unseen enemy, we should have supposed that excepting
+birds, we were the only living things on the island. We now began to be
+weary, and foot sore, so we gladly turned our faces homewards, the
+descent being much more speedy than the ascent, as might be supposed. We
+could get nothing out of Benjie, more than groans and bewailings. We
+picked up the two little parrots, loaded ourselves with fruit and
+flowers, and curiosities, and it might have been imagined that we had
+been absent years, from the welcome that was given us on our return.
+Never was such a noisy supper, or so much talking, but the captain was
+quite puzzled at learning that we had seen nothing alive, and he looked
+grave and serious at hearing the adventure about the tree. The children
+had been so occupied tasting all the different fruits and luxuries we
+had brought home, that they had forgotten the blue and yellow parrots.
+Oscar had said nothing about them, but now supper being over, the
+excitement a little quelled, the talking rather subdued, he ran to a
+little hole in the rock, and hiding the birds with his cap, his bright
+eyes and radiant smile showed he had more pleasure in store for them.
+How delighted they were, when they were at last allowed a peep, what
+earnest requests from every one, that they might have them for their
+own. "How can that be," said Oscar, "here you are, three girls, and
+there are only two parrots, and I spied them out, so I ought to have one
+at least." "Then may I have the other," said the three little girls at
+once. "No," said Felix, "I must have it. We are lords of the creation
+and ought to be served before you girls."
+
+"Oh! master Felix," whispered Jenny, "for shame, sir, ladies are always
+served first, real gentlemen always give way to ladies." "Well! but,
+Jenny, how can they all three have it, I'd like to know, besides it
+looks so wise at me, I know it will love me best. Let mama decide," said
+Oscar, "yes, yes, yes," said each little girl, and each came flying with
+an eager petition to where we all sat. "Oh," said Schillie, "humph, so
+you are fighting about the parrots, for my part (peeping into the nest),
+I have always heard that parrots make a capital pie." "Oh, oh, oh,
+little mother, how cruel you are." We laughed at this dismay, and Gatty
+said, "yes, I'll crunch their bones like Grumbo the giant." But the
+captain made amends for our cruelty, and if he had had his own way,
+would have marched up instantly in search of three more parrots; luckily
+the darkness came on so quickly that we were all obliged to make
+preparation for retiring, Felix being fixed on as the fortunate
+possessor of the other parrot, partly because I did not like to single
+out one little girl more than another, and partly because Oscar wished
+it. Besides the captain promised the little girls a perfect flock of
+parrots the first opportunity. So we all bid each other good night,
+Felix as the last thing, giving Jenny a practical proof that her lessons
+were not thrown away, by declaring that she must put the girls to bed
+before him, as ladies were to be served first.
+
+With grateful hearts, we slept soundly and rose refreshed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+It was so hot down on the sands that we agreed to move half way up the
+cliff, where a cool breeze from the sea blew morning and evening. The
+brook fell over a shelf of rock, about ten feet in depth, and then lay
+calm and quiet in a fair round pool. Two or three palms were on one side
+and a large Spanish chestnut on the other, giving us ample shade. We had
+a lovely view of the whole bay, and were, as we thought, quite secure
+from any dangers above, the rock being very precipitate, but the dogs
+never came home, which gave us very great uneasiness. While the others
+were busily employed running up and down to bring our goods and
+chattels, to the new abode, I, and the two little girls arranged them as
+they were brought up. They were merrily singing on one side of the
+brook, clearing a place for the tent to be placed, while I, on the
+other, was arranging seats for a dining place. Suddenly the song ceased
+abruptly. Looking up to see the cause, as well as that of a sudden
+crashing noise, I saw the little girls gazing in speechless amazement at
+the great chestnut tree, and again, without apparent cause, I beheld the
+huge branches shake and quiver like an aspen tree in the storm. I sprang
+across the stream, and stood before the little girls. From between the
+branches there appeared and disappeared a horrible head, with glittering
+eyes and forked tongue, and, as I gazed still more the whole tree seemed
+to me to be enveloped in the folds of an enormous serpent.
+
+The little girls now began to utter shriek upon shriek, which brought
+Serena with the speed of a lapwing to our side. "Take the children
+away," I whispered, "fly, fly, quickly." "Run, little ones, run," she
+said, feeling there was danger, but hardly realizing the full horrors of
+it. They obeyed her, and, as their little forms appeared from behind us,
+fleeing for their lives, the monster looked out still further from the
+groaning tree, his diamond eyes fixed upon their receding frames.
+
+Fold after fold seemed rapidly unwinding from the branches. In the agony
+of the moment Serena flung a hatchet she had in her hand at the head she
+now for the first time saw. A frightful hiss, and a loathsome and deadly
+odour, told us it had taken effect. Again it coiled itself round the
+tree, which rocked and groaned with its furious movements. Faint with
+fear and the horrible smell, I knew not my own voice, as I said to
+Serena, "Fly, child, fly, and send help; and you also." She said, "Nay,
+one must stay, it must have one victim to save the others." "No, no, let
+us both go, I will not go without you, Serena, I command you go, it
+comes nearer and nearer." "No, no, I will die with you." She threw her
+arms round me, burying her face in my neck, to avoid seeing the dreadful
+jaws opening so near us. I flung her off, and thought would it not be
+better for us to be dashed to pieces over the rocks than to be grasped
+in those deadly coils. "We will both fly," I said; we turned and fled. I
+looked behind; he was not more than thirty yards from us. I tried to
+shout and scare him with my voice, but all sound died away in my throat.
+My heart seemed to stop beating; my utterance to be choked. Everything
+seemed to be moving with the same angry springing motion of the snake.
+Nothing stopped our flight; heedless of every impediment we bounded over
+stones, bushes, gulleys, rocks; but each glance showed him advancing. We
+now came to an open smooth platform of turf, from whence I knew there
+was a precipitous fall of twenty feet, unless we hit upon the right spot
+to descend. "We must throw ourselves down," I whispered. "Anywhere with
+you," she answered, "but, oh horrible fate, was that another monster
+just before us or the same?" No, there was but one, he was before us,
+round us, everywhere; and he knew he had us safe, for his eyes grew
+larger and more glowing as he bounded and leaped on every side of us,
+each bound and each leap bringing him nearer. Was there no escape? Yes,
+almost before I saw it myself the monster's quick eye has discerned two
+horns rising with the sloping ground, and with one bound which threw us
+both down, he darted forward. A rushing deadly wind seemed to blow over
+us, and, ere it was past, the crashing bones, and dying bellow of the
+cow gave us warning of the horrible fate from which she had saved us.
+
+We helped each other to rise, and scrambling down the rock, we never
+stopped or spoke until we sunk breathless by the tents, where the little
+girls had only just arrived. But it was many minutes ere we could tell
+the frightful scene going on above. We clung together and all drew
+within the tent, while Smart went to summon the captain. The poisonous
+breath of the monstrous creature made Serena and myself the victims of
+successive fainting fits, we had the greatest difficulty in swallowing
+anything, and only revived under the influence of strong salts, and
+constant fanning. Our features assumed the paleness of death, and a cold
+dew rolled in large drops from our foreheads. The moment we raised our
+heads dreadful sickness overcame us, and when the captain and his men
+arrived, we were totally unable to give any particulars beyond the
+creature being monstrous and the cow destroyed. The captain desired
+every one to keep as quiet as possible, and directed the sides of the
+tent to be raised to give us air and our faces and heads to be sponged
+with cold vinegar and water. He entreated no one to be alarmed as the
+serpent would not leave his prey, and might be a day or two swallowing
+it, during which time we were quite safe. And afterwards in his gorged
+state he would be an easy victim. Towards evening Benjie crept up as
+near the spot as he dared, and came down reporting the snake was still
+occupied in reducing the poor cow to a shapeless mass, and had not even
+begun to swallow his intended meal. Even his dark skin shewed the fear
+and horror he was in, his look being quite pallid, and his eyeballs
+livid, his teeth chattering. He declared the snake to be the most
+monstrous of its kind ever seen, and called it an anaconda. On the
+second evening the captain, Smart, and Benjie all went cautiously up.
+When they returned the good captain seemed unable to express his mixed
+feelings, amazement at its large size, horror at what might have been
+our fate, thankfulness at our merciful escape, all overcame him. He
+could only wring our hands, and loudly and earnestly thank God.
+
+After a while he took the two little girls in his arms, and said, "Oh!
+my darlings, my little precious ones, had you found a horrible grave in
+those dreadful jaws, swallowed as if you had been two little innocent
+lambs, I must have laid my head on the nearest stone, and burst my heart
+with sorrow." Smart openly blubbered like a great school boy as he
+described to Oscar, "that it was the awfullest worm he ever seed, and
+that the poor cow was nothing but a bloody, broken mass enough to break
+the heart of a toad in a stone." It had only swallowed half its meal,
+and the tail was still so active and full of muscular movement that the
+captain did not deem it safe to try to destroy it till the next evening.
+
+He particularly requested Schillie and every body that could, to come up
+and see the creature before the men cut it up, saying, they might live
+one thousand years, and never see such a sight again. So they all set
+off, leaving Serena and I to the care of Hargrave, who declared that if
+St. George and the Dragon were fighting up above, she would not leave
+her mistress to see them. Schillie came back very soon, and folded me in
+her arms, while the tears rained down her cheeks; not a word said she,
+but so unusual a sight told me all she felt.
+
+Bye and bye all came down, poor Madame clasping her hands, invoking
+blessings and showering kisses on her pupil Serena. The little ones were
+in full fuss, especially the two who had first seen the snake, and who
+now detailed all their fears and feelings at full length. "Mama," said
+Felix, "I gave him a good kick with my thick nailed boots for daring to
+think of eating you." Gatty, from a similar feeling, had indulged
+herself with chopping the tail into little bits, and even the gentle and
+sweet Sybil had bestowed some very hard words, let alone blows, on the
+inanimate body. "Well! now then," said I, "captain, I wish to go on
+board as soon as possible." "Why? why? why?" sounded on all sides.
+"Because there may be more of these snakes on the island," said I, with
+a shudder.
+
+"No, Madam, no, you may rest assured, the only enemy you have on this
+island is now dead. I can assure you I have until now been much puzzled
+to account for the lack of living things on this luxuriant and lonely
+island, save birds. The sight of this anaconda has solved the mystery;
+he has depopulated it (if I may so say) of every creeping or four-footed
+thing. Nay, I am also certain it has destroyed its own kind too. By
+what means it became of so monstrous a size I know not; but, having
+become so, it was lord or master of the island; moreover, I am certain
+that of late its food has run extremely short; nothing but extreme
+hunger could have driven it down those sharp rocks, in search of us, the
+prey it saw below it." In many places it was bleeding besides the wound
+given it by the hatchet, and three or four inches of skin had been
+rubbed off in various parts, evidently quite fresh, and done in descent.
+Also, if it had not been weakened for want of food, such an enormous
+creature would not have been so long demolishing the cow.
+
+"But, captain, can you account for its making all those hideous gambols
+at us, and not springing at us directly as it did at poor Daisy." "Yes,
+Madam, it had never seen the likes of you before. Your clothes made it
+fearful; but they never attack people unless angry or frantic from
+hunger, as I am sure he was. But, to set you at rest, Madam, to-morrow,
+spite of all my anxiety about the ship, every man of us will join
+parties, and we will go from one end of the island to another. We'll not
+leave a bush unexplored, or a corner unvisited, and then I know your
+mind will be easy." "I thank you, captain, that it will. Now, give the
+men each some grog, for I see them coming down, and let us all have
+supper and go to bed."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+So we accordingly did, and long ere we were awake in the morning the
+captain and all his men, including Smart and Oscar, had departed to
+execute his plans. We busied ourselves in preparing them a good supper
+against their return; we had also all a dip in the sea, in a little
+natural bath in the rocks, where no sharks could get at us. Finally, not
+without misgivings, we all went up to look once more on the anaconda.
+That evening, if they returned in time, it was to be skinned; the shiny,
+scaly covering being to be preserved as a memorial of the event, and the
+loathsome remains were to be thrown to the sharks. While we were
+standing looking at its huge length, we heard shouts from above, and saw
+the exploring party coming home. They soon joined us, the captain
+delighted at being able to say that a large rat seemed our only wild
+beast while Smart grumbled, and said he "did not think there was a beere
+on the hisland." They had done as they promised, and not left a part of
+the island unvisited.
+
+They brought us home quantities of grapes, prickly pears, yams, bananas,
+cocoa-nuts, with what would have been magnificent flowers but the hot
+tropical climate withered them almost as soon as gathered. Oscar and
+Smart seemed to have some great secrets between them, and, after keeping
+Felix and the little girls in suspense for some time, Smart put his hand
+into his pocket, and brought out a tiny, little, droll-looking monkey.
+Shrieks of delight were heard, Felix exclaiming above all, "Oh give him
+to me, let him be mine; oh the darling fellow." The little creature,
+with its wild sorrowful eyes, looked from one face to the other, and, at
+last, making a spring, it jumped into Felix's arms, and, nestling its
+little head in his pinafore, grinned at everybody, as much as to say,
+"Now, I don't care for you." Felix was by no means backward in returning
+this spontaneous affection, spite of the little girls' civil remark
+"that he was so like a monkey the little thing took him for his father
+and mother."
+
+We went to rest all very happy and contented, and enjoyed a week of the
+merriest gipsy life that could be imagined. Both the parrots and the
+monkey were getting quite familiar, and at home with us, taking to their
+education comfortably.
+
+At the end of that time, after the young ones had gone to bed, the
+captain asked me how we liked this life? There was not a dissentient
+voice. "Then," said he, "I think this a favourable opportunity to
+propose a plan to you; it has been in my mind for some days. I only
+waited until I saw whether it would be as agreeable, as it seems to me
+inevitable." We waited in breathless expectation. He looked round us all
+as he said, "How would you like staying here another six weeks?" "Very
+much indeed! Beyond every thing. It is just what we wanted. It would be
+most jolly." Schillie wound up by saying, "It is extremely stupid, and I
+should not like it at all." "Would _you_ not?" said the captain, with
+kind concern, laying great stress on the you; "Oh but ye must, I'd never
+take ye to sea, and La Luna in such a leaky state." "What, captain, how!
+pray explain yourself." "Well, if I must tell the truth, the more we
+have examined the ship the more fearful are we to trust you all on board
+of her." Heaps of voices now interrupted the captain. "But what are we
+to do? How are we to get away? We don't want to stay here for ever. That
+would be too much of a good thing." "Silence, girls," said I, "do let us
+hear what the captain proposes." "This is my proposal then, Madam.
+Emptied of her cargo, and with as few hands in her as possible, La Luna
+will run nicely to St. Domingo, or some of the parts lying to the
+westward, and belonging to South America; and, even should she fail, we
+men can take to the boat, and, at all events make for some place, where
+we can procure a vessel to come for you." "But La Luna won't sink,
+surely we shall not lose her; we don't want any ship but her. Don't you
+know how you love her yourself, captain?" "So I do! so I do! young
+ladies, and I am fain to allow it's as much for her sake as yours, that
+I want to take her to some port to get properly repaired. She has
+strained so much that her ribs are quite bent, and, lying as she does,
+exposed to this hot sun, her seams are bursting asunder in all
+directions. She is too much damaged for us to repair, so as to make it
+safe for you to go in her. Therefore, Madam, will you let me take her
+empty to St. Domingo, where I will immediately charter a vessel for your
+use, and leave La Luna in dock to be repaired against we come for her."
+"But, supposing anything was to happen; supposing she was to founder and
+all hands be lost, what would become of us?" "I would not have proposed
+such a scheme, Madam, did I not feel sure there would be no danger of
+such a thing happening; and, any way, it is better you should be left on
+this island, for the chance of a ship coming this way, than liable to go
+down to the bottom of the sea, without the power of man to save you." "I
+am not so sure of that, captain, I think I should prefer all sinking or
+swimming together." "At any rate, Madam," added the captain, "having
+unburdened my mind, I'll leave you to sleep over the matter. Tak time to
+consider, and let me know your wull in the morning."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+Not all the taking time to consider, "nor all the morns" that ever came
+reconciled Schillie to the captain's plan. For my part I liked it, and
+am free to own that I entered into all the fun, and oddities the young
+ones proposed to themselves in living for six weeks _al fresco_. Madame
+had great misgivings about the matter. She did not think lessons would
+prosper; the cultivation of ladylike behaviour would be very
+difficult--manners would be at a very low ebb--music would be utterly
+abolished, and she was fast approaching a declaration on Schillie's
+side, when Serena, by a master-stroke of policy, brought her round. "We
+will speak any language you like, Madame," said she, "whatever we are
+doing, we can always speak in the language you order us." "So you can,
+my love," said Madame, most benignantly, "so I desire at once that you
+speak French, Mondays and Thursdays; Italian, Tuesdays and Fridays;
+German, Wednesdays and Saturdays."
+
+"Oh come, come," said Gatty, "that's too bad, how am I ever to get all
+the nonsense, that is in my head, out if I am only to talk English on
+Sundays."
+
+"My dear! you ought to have no nonsense in your head."
+
+"But there it is, Madame, and you will be very angry if I break the
+Sabbath, by making puns and guessing jokes all Sunday."
+
+"My dear Gertrude, your spirits carry you quite too far."
+
+"Then think, Madame, what they will be on Sundays if my spirits are
+corked up all the other six days."
+
+"I have not the least objection to your making puns either in French,
+Italian, or German."
+
+"You're extremely kind, Madame, and I should feel most grateful for such
+kind permission, had I the least perception how I can profit by it."
+
+"It is my wish that you all should understand those languages equally as
+well as your own."
+
+"I have no doubt, Madame, that you will always be able to wish us such
+proficiency."
+
+"No doubt, my dear child, no doubt, and that is the only drawback to my
+pleasure on the voyage, namely the number of interruptions and constant
+holidays you obtain."
+
+"You are a pert young lady, Miss Gatty," said Schillie, "and had better
+leave the Mother to settle with Madame; come with me and let us see what
+fish the boys have got for supper."
+
+I promised Madame that regular school should be held every day, and our
+conversation was put an end to, by the arrival of the captain. He wanted
+the assistance of every body, to get La Luna afloat that evening; with
+infinite trouble this was done, and we were all worn out with heat and
+fatigue by tea-time. But La Luna floated once more, and looked as lovely
+and graceful on the water. We were quite enchanted with her appearance.
+At tea, I proposed to the captain, that when he did leave us, he should
+take Smart and Benjie with him, instead of their remaining with us, for
+I had found out from the maids, and the boys, that the captain was very
+anxious to have them, being doubtful about managing the ship with so few
+men, and it was agreed that they could be of no use to us, as we were
+exposed to no dangers, and they would be of infinite use to the captain,
+and ensure his return much sooner; much therefore to Smart's disgust it
+was decided that he was to be exposed once more to what he called "a
+ship-wrecked life." Schillie grew more reconciled to our being left on
+hearing this idea for she immediately took upon herself the care of us
+all, and the responsibility put her into some spirits on the subject. I
+asked when they meant to leave us. "The sooner the better," said she,
+"for then they will be the sooner back again." The captain said nothing,
+but he lingered over his tea, and told us so many things that we were to
+do, and to guard against, and seemed so low and oppressed, that I
+thought he was ill, or had over-worked himself. But he declared he was
+quite well, though he still repeated the same things, and he kissed and
+wished the little girls good-bye so often that they began to joke with
+him about his absence of mind. We were also all so tired, we longed to
+get to bed, yet he still sipped his tea, having had, as Sybil, the
+tea-maker whispered, eleven cups. "And horrible stuff it is without any
+milk," whispered Gatty back again, "I wonder at his taste." I began to
+be quite affected by his manner, while the others yawned, and yawned,
+until I thought all their jaws would be broken. Suddenly the darkness
+came on, as it always did, at once, and he was roused from his musings
+by eager good nights. His voice sounded rather strange as he returned
+our salutations, while the children declared his face was wet with
+tears. Schillie and I wondered to ourselves what could be the matter
+with him, as we undressed, the children noisily felicitating themselves
+that every body was obliged to go to bed at the same time that they
+were. But we were too weary to think much about it. It was not until
+early morning, when rising and opening the tent door, I looked out again
+to see the lovely scene we had admired so much the evening before. But
+did my eyes deceive me! Was I awake? Where was that object which had
+excited our admiration so much? I uttered a cry. Schillie ran to me; all
+awoke, and started from their beds. Every eye was strained, but what
+tongue could be the first to say that La Luna was gone; far away we
+could see her distant sails against the clear blue sky; we were alone,
+alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+All was explained now that had seemed to us extraordinary in our kind
+captain's conduct the evening before, and as we hurried down to the
+beach half in hopes not to find every one gone, we found at the usual
+dining place, a packet of papers put in a conspicuous situation,
+evidently meant to attract our notice. In this was a note from the
+captain, apologizing for departing in such a secret manner, but
+declaring that unless he had stolen away he could not have left us. That
+it was of such importance he should go and return ere the rainy season
+commenced, he could not even afford a day, and that he knew, however
+cheerful I might talk about the matter, my heart would misgive me, when
+the time came for him to leave, I might not probably grant him
+permission to go, when it was of the most vital importance he should. He
+was right in his last conjecture, the dread that came over me, as I read
+his letter, and looked at our helpless party, made me feel how truly he
+had judged me, tho' I so little knew it myself. The other papers
+consisted of directions, lists of what he had left, and where they were
+put. Also an account, written from Benjie's lips, as to what trees and
+fruits might be poisonous, what we had better avoid, and particular
+orders about the night air, the musquitos; in fact he seems to have left
+nothing for us to think of, and the papers wound up with many sweet
+messages to the children, and the dear young ladies, a characteristic
+speech to Schillie, a hope that the good old lady would not be nervous,
+or keep the children too long at their lessons, which was a bad thing in
+hot climates, and a very urgent appeal to all to be careful of her,
+whose heart was wrapped up in their happiness, to whom the breath of
+life came ebbing and flowing, according to the welfare and goodness of
+her precious charge.
+
+There was a letter from Smart to the boys as follows, the spelling being
+corrected:--
+
+
+"HONOURED YOUNG GENTS,
+
+"I hope this will find you, as it leaves me, in good health, but very
+low in my spirits. I hope you will be good honourable young gentlemen,
+and obey that good lady, your Mama; and also I hope you will learn your
+lessons, as a sight of learning is a good thing, tho' I don't rightly
+know who speaks them lingos as Madame talks. But, chiefly, my dear young
+gents, I write to say, I am very low in my spirits, and I shall have no
+peace until I see my dear young masters again. I have been very
+melancholy ever since that big worm swallowed my two dogs, and I now
+feel it more, as I should not have left you so uneasy in mind had they
+been left with you. They were rale good dogs, and would mind you,
+master Oscar, most as well as me. I am satisfied of one thing, that
+there is no beere in the hisland, and you won't be eat up, and certainly
+there never can be another such viper as that there, as took two dogs,
+swallowing Daisy. But I write, young gents, to beg you to be careful,
+and to mind them sharks; I have heard they swallow all things, and are
+particular fond of bright buttons, and jackets like yours, young
+masters, and also I have heard they have nine rows of teeth, so there
+will be no escape, like Jonah in the whale's belly. Now I charge you to
+be careful, woe's me, that ever I be going to leave you. My heart is
+just broke, but do, master Oscar, be good to your little brother, and
+don't put on him. He has a high spirit, and it is no doubt cantankerous,
+but he must be honourably treated, and there's never a finer temper to
+be seed.
+
+"Well, my hand is weary of this cramping, tho' I have a deal more to
+say. My respectful duty to the mistress and all the ladies, and my love
+to the little ladies and Jane. My compliments to Mrs. Hargrave. May good
+angels guard my dear young masters.
+
+                    "Your true sorrowful servant till death,
+                                                        "T. SMART."
+
+
+Leaving the others still to pore over the letters and directions, I
+wandered away to a shady nook, to recover the shock, only now _did_ it
+weigh upon my mind, what a responsibility rested on my shoulders, and,
+for a time, I was quite overcome with the fears that took possession of
+my heart. How long I sat I know not, but a hand was laid on my arm,
+interrupting my reverie. "For what reasonable purpose are you moping
+here?" said Schillie. "I am very melancholy," I answered. "There is such
+a weight on my heart, I cannot think how I ever suffered the captain to
+leave." "And in the name of all that is ridiculous why did you not stop
+him when you could? Now that it has become impossible, like a spoilt
+child you are crying for them all back again."
+
+"Don't speak so roughly, Schillie, I am sad enough without being
+upbraided by you."
+
+"I don't want to upbraid you, but you were so bent on humouring the
+children it was no use talking common sense to you; otherwise I could
+have suggested plenty of notions better than leaving a pack of women and
+children alone on this wretched little island, dull as ditch water."
+
+"Then pray mention one."
+
+"Why what could be more easy, than for us all to wait together, until
+some vessel came by, and getting them to take us away or take a
+message?"
+
+"You adjured me in the name of all that is ridiculous, pray may I ask in
+the name of all that's sensible why you did not mention this before?"
+
+"Because I saw you so bent on your own plans, and because I don't
+particularly care what happens so long as I am with you, and lastly
+because it has only just come into my head."
+
+"Well, then, don't scold me any more, but comfort, me, Schillie." "With
+all my heart, should anything happen to us, it will be a great comfort
+to think that the captain will come and take away our bones to England,
+and give them decent burial."
+
+"How cruel you are, Schillie."
+
+"But I am quite in the dark as to what you expect will happen; you are
+crying your eyes out for some misfortune, but, unless you tell me what
+you fear, how can I comfort you?"
+
+"I fear so many things; here we are all alone, without a single
+efficient person amongst us." "Pray speak for yourself."
+
+"Well! then, only you with a spark of courage amongst us; and we don't
+know what may be here."
+
+"Now, that's nonsense, you know that there is scarcely a fly on the
+island that will do you harm."
+
+"Well, then, those sharks!"
+
+"And, who is going to walk into the mouth of a shark, I should be glad
+to know?"
+
+"Nobody, certainly, but supposing a ship should come?"
+
+"Then, we should have company, and a mighty good thing too. I think the
+society of women and children very mawkish for a continuance."
+
+"But, then, supposing they should not be friends."
+
+"Then that will be their own faults, we are not likely to quarrel with
+them."
+
+"Stupid you are, Schillie! Don't you understand that they may take
+advantage of such a helpless party, and, if they are slavers may seize
+us, and sell us for slaves, and, if they are marauders or pirates they
+may murder or marry us!!!"
+
+"Well! of those two latter fates one is as bad the other. But, I will
+comfort you by saying, nobody will want to marry you with that red nose.
+Really if you go on fretting in this manner, you'll wear yourself into
+an old hag. I see grey hairs and wrinkles springing up like mushrooms."
+
+"Now, I'll return good for evil, and tell you that I never saw you
+looking so well; your eyes are quite dazzling, and, as for your figure,
+it has become slim and handsome."
+
+"You may amuse yourself as you like about my dumpy figure, so long as
+you smile and are merry; but, come, wash your face in the brook, and let
+us join the rest. If the girls were to see you with that face they would
+screech beyond stopping; and, as for Madame, she would go into such a
+fit we should never be able to bring her round."
+
+So I washed my face, but, in the middle of the business, said Schillie,
+"You never told me what we should do if pirates and slaves come?"
+
+"Do! Why, of course we would do the best we could. Wait till they come,
+and then see if we don't do something. For my part I am not going to be
+sold for a slave, and, as for a pirate's wife, there will be two words
+about that matter. I don't intend to darn any one's stockings, and I
+hate ordering dinner, both of which events occur, I suppose, in the
+establishments of pirates, as well as more homely folk. Come, don't be
+absurd, we have only six weeks to stay here, and we'll enjoy ourselves
+as much as we can."
+
+"Very well, I won't bother you any more, but we will join the others,
+and settle what everybody is to do to pass away the time."
+
+"Pooh! pooh! the time will pass quick enough. Why need ye fuss? But, if
+we have regular habits so much the better for the girls."
+
+"Nonsense, let the poor girls lead the life of larks for a change, they
+will never have such another opportunity. You and I will always be
+together, and you shall talk to me, and Madame may ruralize on that
+green terrace with her book and big parasol; depend upon it we shall be
+happy."
+
+"Now, it is my turn to say pooh! pooh! Don't you know that even the
+larks have to work to get them food?"
+
+"Oh certainly, that I allow. I have no objection to help myself. I can
+cook a beefsteak and make lobster salad against any one."
+
+"First catch your beefsteak and lobster, saith Mrs. Glass. But here are
+Madame and the girls."
+
+"We are quite lost without our Mothers," said the girls as they sprang
+towards us. "Here's Madame, wanting us to do lessons," said Gatty,
+sending her great thumb right through her handkerchief. "I never heard
+of gipsies saying lessons and we are now no better than gipsies," said
+Serena.
+
+"Or people at a pic-nic," said Sybil. "Madame, the next six weeks must
+be one great pic-nic; do consent, now do; we will sketch if you like,
+and sing songs, and eat and drink for ever."
+
+"Saucy girls," said Madame, smiling most kindly on them, "but I am sure
+your Mama would not allow such thorough waste of time," assuming a
+slight austerity of manner.
+
+"Oh yes she will, Madame," said Schillie, "so betake yourselves off
+girls, wherever you choose, provided you don't come and bother us."
+
+"Leave them alone, Madame," said I, in answer to her beseeching looks at
+me, "let them have their own way for a day or two, and you will find
+them come to you and beg for a dose of the multiplication table."
+
+"Now, that's very comfortable, girls, you have leave to go to the moon
+if you choose, and, Madame, I'll go for your parasol and book, and you
+can amuse yourself on that sunny bank, watching us all," said Schillie.
+
+But Madame was much more easily disposed of than the girls, in spite of
+Schillie's broad hints, and, at last, open remonstrances, that they
+would go about their own business, not one would stir.
+
+"What's the use of a holiday, unless we may spend it with our Mothers?"
+said Sybil.
+
+"That's all that we want a holiday for," said Serena, "that we may be
+with you all day."
+
+"Yes," said Gatty, "this is most jolly, and now you may have one side of
+the big Mother, and Sybil shall have the other; Serena shall sit behind
+her, and I'll sit here," throwing herself down at our feet with such
+force that we both sprang up with pain.
+
+"How do you like this lark's life?" said I, laughing.
+
+"Good lack, girls, do you mean to say that you are going to be such
+geese, as to sit here all day? Have you no curiosity to examine those
+caves, no wish to discover figs and plums, no ambition to get on the top
+of that rock?"
+
+"No," said Sybil, "our curiosity is at a low ebb, our wishes are quite
+fulfilled at being seated here, and we have no ambition but to remain."
+
+"Indeed, Miss Sybil, your tongue runs very glibly, but if you think I am
+going to stand the bore of the company of you girls all day you are
+mistaken, and, good lack, look at my handkerchief, with a hole in it a
+dog could get through."
+
+"Indeed, I beg your pardon, little Mother," said Gatty, reddening all
+over, "I thought it was mine."
+
+"And, does that make the matter any better? Can't you employ your
+fingers any better than making holes in your handkerchiefs?"
+
+"It's a way larks have," said I.
+
+Schillie rose up in a huff.
+
+"Come," said I, "let us all go and have a dip in the sea."
+
+We all agreed to this, and we also agreed we would make an extensive
+bathing place, where we could learn to swim, and yet be out of harm from
+the sharks. In this matter every one helped. We rolled stones down to
+the water, and then, placed them so as to form a wall or pier into the
+sea, at twenty yards distance; from that we made another, and we sloped
+them so as to make their ends nearly meet. "Thus," as Oscar said,
+"leaving only room for a baby shark to get in."
+
+"And we shall not mind that," said Zoe, "for it would not have cut its
+teeth."
+
+It took us two or three days to do this, but that evening at tea, being
+heartily fatigued, we agreed to sit still and talk over all we should
+do.
+
+"Oscar and I intend to fish all day," said Felix, "and you may be very
+much obliged to us, because it's very--"
+
+"Very what, Felix," said his sister, who loved to tease him, "very
+tiresome, I suppose you mean."
+
+"No; not tiresome exactly, but very fatiguing."
+
+"Oh very fatiguing indeed, I dare say, and you know you would cry like a
+baby if any one prevented you fishing."
+
+"Lilly, you are so aggravating, I wish Winny was my sister, that I do,
+for she is so kind, and it's hard the only sister I have should tease me
+in this manner."
+
+The faithful Jenny was at hand to take the part of each, and please
+both, while she put an end to the dispute.
+
+"But, Mama," said Lilly, "if the boys do nothing but fish all day, may
+we little girls pick up shells; ah you cannot think what lovely shells
+there are; I am going to make a collection, and I should like to class
+them all, and, by the time La Luna comes back, I want to have hundreds
+and hundreds, and I will take them to ornament my garden, or they will
+look lovely arranged all round the big hall; or, Mama, dear, we might
+make a grotto, think how lovely it would be! So let us little girls do
+nothing but pick up shells. Do, dear Mama, do let us?"
+
+"What a little tongue you have, child. Do you think Zoe and Winny would
+like to do nothing but pick up shells?"
+
+"I am sure I should not," said Zoe. "I must say I rather think, but I am
+not quite sure, that I shall not like it all day either," said Winny.
+
+"We'll settle that important question soon, but at present I wish to
+propound to the company at large whether you think Hargrave and Jenny
+can wait on us all, without a little help?"
+
+"Oh yes, Ma'am," said the smiling Jenny, "we can do well enough if
+Master Felix does not wet his feet too often, and the little ladies will
+do their own hair."
+
+"I shall be happy to assist Jane, Ma'am, in any way I can after I have
+waited on you," said Hargrave.
+
+"I thank you, Hargrave," said I, "but I must do without the waiting on,
+we must wait on each other."
+
+"I hope not, Ma'am, I have always endeavoured to give you satisfaction,
+and should not like seeing any one wait on you but myself."
+
+"Yes, yes, all that I understand, but--"
+
+"I beg your pardon, Ma'am, but I cannot think of stopping with you,
+Ma'am, if any one else, Ma'am, is to be put above me, or take my place."
+
+Hargrave was proceeding, in increased agitation and heat, when Gatty
+interrupted the business by repeated peals of laughter.
+
+"Pray, pray, Gertrude, refrain, how very unladylike; you laugh like a
+great cow-boy," said Madame.
+
+"I like Gatty's laughs, they are so merry," said Oscar, "but what are
+you laughing at?"
+
+"Why at Hargrave to be sure, giving warning here, on this desert
+island."
+
+"Who will you go to, Hargrave, if you leave your present mistress? The
+Duchess of Puddleduck? Lady Ape? or Baroness Shark? Ha! ha! my dear
+girls, did you ever hear anything so absurd?"
+
+"Indeed, Miss Gertrude, I wonder at your manners to a poor servant like
+me, but I am not going to be put upon any how."
+
+"And who was going to put upon you, my good woman? I meant nothing but
+that we must all help each other, and that there was no occasion for you
+to wait upon me as heretofore, while we are in this island."
+
+Slightly mollified, she grumbled out "That it was certainly no use
+plaiting one's hair in such a place."
+
+"Now, Schillie, what charge will you take?"
+
+"Take! You mean do as I bid you."
+
+"Then, if that's the case, you shall be caterer."
+
+"No, no, that I protest against. Under no circumstances can I undertake
+dinner, though I fancy one has no great variety here. I'll look after
+your pet boys, and see that neither of them drown themselves fishing,
+and I'll take charge of the guns, powder, and shot, and any little odd
+things requiring to be done I am ready to be called on to help."
+
+"Very good. And you, Madame?" I gave her a warning glance not to say
+anything about lessons, so, after a pause, she said, "I will undertake
+to prepare the table for meals, and collect fruit and flowers, with the
+help of my three little ones."
+
+"Thank you very much, that will be very kind, and now you elder girls!"
+
+"Oh! we'll do as we are bid, except lessons," said Gatty.
+
+"Then, Gatty and Serena, you must always bring the water from the brook
+morning and evening, and you, Sybil, must see that the children are tidy
+and that the things all put away in the tent, and you must, all three,
+help Jenny to wash up the things, and put them in their places tidy. And
+now then we will all disperse, until eleven o'clock, when Jenny must
+give us dinner as usual, and then we will all take siesta, and in the
+evening we shall be ready for no end of fun and mischief. Our dinner may
+seem somewhat early, but then we were obliged to be up very early to
+enjoy the cool part of the day." But I will begin my next chapter with a
+description of our doings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+The first person that awoke in the morning generally rose and opened the
+tent letting in the fresh sea breeze. This might be between two and
+three in the morning, and always the most refreshing part of the whole
+day. The first bathing party then went down to the sea, consisting of
+Schillie, the three girls, Madame, and myself. Before we were well out
+of the water, and finishing our toilettes under the tent, the boys used
+to come rushing down with Jenny in attendance, who was always fearing
+her heedless Master Felix would get into danger. Finally the three
+little girls, with both the maids, habited in readiness to dip the
+unwilling ones, finished the morning ablutions.
+
+Afterwards we all proceeded to the great chestnut tree, where we had
+prayers, the morning psalms, and lessons, and sung a hymn, which sounded
+in that lone but lovely spot so soft and beautiful that it used to bring
+tears to my eyes. So many young voices, gave a peculiar flute-like sound
+to the music, and as each cadence rose swelling through the branches of
+the great tree above us, so did the birds rise in clouds above us,
+returning nearer and nearer, as the soft voices died away, at the end
+of each verse. And to look at each young face uplifted with fresh sweet
+feelings of piety and love to me seemed a picture of what we might see
+hereafter in that other and brighter world, "which eye hath not seen,
+neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive." The fair
+blooming face of Sybil contrasted well with the brilliant dark eyes and
+fine countenance of Gertrude, while the slight statue-like form of the
+graceful Serena, with her small head and beautiful throat bent over her
+book, completed their picture. And a smaller group stood beside them
+equally pretty to look at, equally wrapt up in the solemn duty they were
+performing. The taller Zoe in the middle, her black hair drawn from her
+fair and lovely profile, one little hand resting, on the pretty
+sparkling Winifred whose arch look was sobered into childish gravity, a
+pretty demureness hiding the merry blue eyes, and leaving long curling
+dark eyelashes to veil her cheeks; while on the other side, hanging or
+leaning, or both, stood Lilly, her long black curls swept in every
+direction, and falling in rich masses over all three as the wind listed
+to blow them, the prettiest face in the world, peeping from between the
+dishevelled locks, with rosy mouth parted, and violet eyes upraised to
+heaven, as she sang with bird-like clearness above the rest.
+
+The bright sun, the glowing sky, the brilliant flowers, the rich shade
+of the dark chestnut tree, all cast their lights and shadows on these
+two pretty groups as they stood before us, adding beauty to both.
+
+The last verse being sung, all dispersed to their different duties, and
+the birds were now startled by the bursts of merry laughter that came
+from each group. Madame, with Sybil and her three little maidens,
+prepared the breakfast. Gatty and Serena ran for water, the maids put
+the tents to rights, the boys lighted the fire. Schillie and I sat
+looking on, acting company. I with admiring eyes, on the lovely scenery
+and pretty figures, she with inquisitive looks, scanning each unknown
+plant, moss, bird, or stone, and conjecturing their names and qualities.
+A little clamouring below, as to who was to blow a great shell that
+Benjie had taught them how to use, prepared us two idle ones for the
+summons to breakfast, of which we all partook with great hilarity and
+content, the grumblings for want of milk, having ceased partly because
+they were not attended to, and partly because all the grumbling in the
+world obtained none. After breakfast, I settled with Jenny the difficult
+question of dinner, which generally consisted of fish, potatoes, and
+pudding, sometimes a little salt meat, sometimes a little fresh meat,
+out of the tin cases we had brought. But invariably we had a magnificent
+dessert, so that the children could eat nothing for thinking of what was
+coming. That important matter done, I joined the rest. Madame betook
+herself to her green parasol and terrace, with a dignified but
+compassionate air, as if the young ones did not know what they were
+losing, in preferring play to lessons. The three little girls in high
+delight went to collect that indispensable quantity of shells, that was
+deemed necessary to ornament all they wished at home. The two good boys
+prepared with the gravity necessary for so important a business, to fish
+for our dinner, speculating upon what bait the fish would take that
+particular morning, and what they would not. To which we listened in
+solemn propriety, though well aware all the time they jumped at a bit of
+red worsted, as much as any other thing.
+
+But the three elder ones did not care for picking up shells, and could
+not abide fishing. It was too hot to work, too sunny to read. They
+wanted to sit all day long in the pockets of the two Mothers, the elder
+one telling them stories, and the younger one making quaint remarks
+thereon, thereby spoiling many a sentimental speech, and upsetting many
+a romantic idea, but causing plenty of fun and merriment. But that could
+not last all day. Though we dined at eleven, it still wanted two good
+hours thereto. The big Mother was tired of telling tales; the little
+Mother was weary with doing nothing. All this time the green parasol
+meandered up and down, now and then sitting down to rest, and bending
+towards the girls with an unmistakeable look, that seemed to say, "come
+to your lessons, pray come to your lessons." But, the green parasol
+nodded in vain. At last after a fit of yawning, we all went botanizing,
+but that was very provoking work, for we could not tell the names of the
+lovely flowers and trees we found. Sybil suggested giving them our own
+names. Serena nearly broke her neck, climbing an almost inaccessible
+crag, and Gatty tore her frock every five minutes.
+
+By this time the conch-shell sounded for dinner, in doing which Jenny
+blew her cheeks into the colour of a peony, we were all hot and tired
+and not in a very good humour.
+
+The more we shewed this, the more gracious and cheerful Madame became,
+the little girls had been quite happy, the boys had wonders to relate as
+to the strange creatures that came peeping up at them from the deep as
+they were fishing. Lilly hopes they were not mermaids, for she had heard
+they were very cruel, and enticed men down into the dark sea weed
+caverns, from whence they never more appeared.
+
+_Felix._--"They will never catch me doing anything so silly. I like Mama
+better than twenty thousand mermaids, and so I won't be ticed, Lilly."
+
+_Lilly._--"Enticed, my dear boy, you mean, and that signifies that you
+cannot help yourself. They will carry you down into the sea, full of
+great polypuses, with a hundred blood red arms."
+
+_Oscar._--"Lilly, you are talking great stuff, no mermaids shall ever
+catch Felix or me, I shall shoot them first. And besides I won't believe
+there are any mermaids."
+
+_Gatty._--"And also besides, if they did come up from the sea, and look
+at Otty and Felix, I don't think they would steal them away from us,
+without a great battle on our parts."
+
+"But," said Lilly, who always stuck pertinaciously to her text, "I have
+read it in a book, that they comb their long, sea-green hair, and sing
+all the time so beautifully, that men jump into the sea after them."
+
+_Felix._--"Well! I shall not do that, for green hair must be very ugly."
+
+_Oscar._--"And you need not bother about it any more, Lilly, for I hate
+singing."
+
+_Felix._--"And we must take care of ourselves, because we are the only
+two men you have got to take care of you all."
+
+_Sybil._--"Ah! indeed that is very true, you must be very careful,
+because what should we do without our protectors."
+
+_Felix._--"Yes, but, Aunt Sib, don't you think it is very wrong of Lilly
+to frighten us. Pray tell us, do mermaids really steal men away?"
+
+_Schillie._--"What is all this nonsense about mermaids, eh? Felix." She
+was told; then added, "Don't alarm yourselves, if an army of mermaids
+were to come, they would not take either of you for men; so comfort
+yourself, my boys, with that notion."
+
+As most of the party agreed with her the subject dropped. After dinner
+we all took a siesta for two or three hours, a necessary rest during the
+heat of the day. Afterwards the same scene occurred as before dinner the
+"green parasol" meandered up and down, the little ones ran about, being
+now assisted by the boys, the elder ones hung about us two until
+tea-time, when all had some employment again. Afterwards we chatted and
+worked until the sun went down. This sometimes occurred so suddenly that
+we had to run like lapwings, from the great chestnut down to the tents,
+in order to scramble into bed before it was quite dark. So passed the
+first few days, I purposely proposing neither work nor any employment
+that the girls might be thoroughly sickened of idleness. Each day,
+however, the "green parasol" became more elevated, the measured tread
+more majestic. Madame was getting seriously angry, having no idea that
+their love of idleness would last so long. Even to me monosyllables only
+were vouchsafed, and matters assumed a lowering aspect. Schillie's
+temper had been gone two days, and she was at open war with the three
+girls, extremely cross with me that I did not order them away, though
+too proud to acknowledge it. Sybil had taken refuge in books, and was
+always so deeply immersed in her stories and novels, that she could
+think of nothing else. Her wits were anywhere but where they ought to
+have been, and she was of no use to any one. Serena was making a child
+of herself, with the little ones, which pleased them very much, and gave
+her some employment for her useless activity. As for Gatty, having
+nothing else to do, she was in every boy's way. When every handkerchief
+she had was full of holes, she proceeded to destroy other people's
+private property. The "green parasol" having been inadvertently left
+alone for a short time, was used as a mark to throw stones at, and, ere
+its owner appeared to rescue it, had several great holes in it. An offer
+to assist the boys in their fishing tackle caused inextricable confusion
+amongst their work. The necessity of making some use of such restless
+activity occasioned Jenny to be gratuitously assisted in cooking the
+dinner, which ended in there being nothing eatable that day. Cross with
+Serena because she would make a baby of herself with the little ones,
+angry with Sybil because she was buried in silly stories, irate with the
+little Mother because she had called her a great plague, afraid of the
+big Mother because she looked so gravely at her, not on speaking terms
+with any of the little ones for various misdemeanours, the poor Gatty
+wandered up and down on a particular evening (the fourth day) like a
+perturbed young elephant shut up in a cage. She wanted something to do,
+and she glanced around each party to see which she might venture to
+join. The "green parasol" was to be avoided at all rates, the two
+Mothers had forbidden her approach for an hour. Jenny had declined a
+kitchen maid's help with a stammering apology that clearly told why. She
+was too proud to join those who had called her cross. Sybil sat alone;
+her feet almost in the stream, her head buried in her book, so absorbed
+that she saw and heard nothing. Gatty approached her from above, and,
+being obliged to do something, saw at one glance a most beautiful
+opportunity of startling Sybil out of her studies, and became quite
+exhilarated with the work. With a little trouble she moved some stones,
+made a channel in the sand, and in a few minutes a rippling stream ran
+down it, gathering force as it went, and, stopping for neither stick nor
+stone, dashed upon Sybil, as if animated with Gatty's own spirit of
+mischief. Up she jumped, her cry of surprise being in chorus with
+Gatty's shriek of delight. Thoroughly roused, her usual meek spirit gave
+way, she threw down her book, sprang towards the aggressor, her fair
+face blushed with anger, her dark eyes flashing indignantly. So nimble
+was she, that she was almost upon the delighted culprit ere she
+restrained her laughter. In endeavouring to avoid the injured one her
+foot slipped, over she rolled just as Sybil reached her, and down they
+both went into the brook, rolling over and over several times.
+
+Having watched the whole business from our resting place, we were down
+at the spot, ere they had recovered themselves, and risen from the
+water.
+
+The conch-shell sounded for tea, at the same moment, and in a high state
+of excitement, every body talking their loudest we all adjourned. Then
+every body opened their hearts. I confessed I had let them be so idle,
+in order to make them resume their lessons with pleasure and zest.
+Schillie allowed she was very wrong to take them from their books, which
+were much better for them than idling about and bothering her. Madame
+had wondered at my permitting such disorderly doings, as had been going
+on from day to day, but would excuse it as I seemed to have a motive,
+and the young ladies were penitent. Sybil confessed she was tired of
+reading so much, and would much prefer doing something rational. Serena
+said she and the little ones had been privately learning something, just
+to employ themselves. Gatty alone still declared it was a great shame to
+do lessons in this hot climate, but she would not mind music and
+summing. Zoe and Winny joyfully agreed to learn anything, so that they
+might have something to do. Lilly made a stipulation about having time
+to pick up shells, before she finally capitulated; and the boys having
+been very good up to this minute, neither troublesome or quarrelsome,
+but on the contrary very useful, turned round completely, became naughty
+and rude, declaring that lessons were humbug, French a bore, German a
+nuisance, and almost openly declaring a complete rebellion.
+
+This mutiny of course was quelled, we retired to bed in harmony and good
+humour, and rose the next morning determined to do our best, to be
+industrious and useful. Madame was in high spirits. Schillie most
+benign. The boys happy in the privilege of not having to go to their
+studies until an hour after the girls, and to do part of them with the
+Mothers. The girls all in high spirits, so that when the conch-shell
+sounded twice as indicative that school time had commenced, great
+alacrity was shown on all sides, and good humour reigned supreme.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+"Now then," said I to the little Mother, "what are you and I to do with
+ourselves."
+
+_Schillie._--"Oh, I am perfectly comfortable, now that we are not to be
+plagued with those girls. Let us sit down here, and now you shall talk
+to me."
+
+_Mother._--"I don't intend to do anything of the sort; I said, 'What
+shall we do?' merely to know if you had any private business on hand.
+Because if you have not, I have."
+
+_Schillie._--"I have nothing in the world to do, and I have not the
+least inclination to exert myself, and I won't allow you to do anything
+either, in spite of your private business."
+
+_Mother._--"Nevertheless, whether you help me or not, I am going to
+build a little hut."
+
+_Schillie._--"Good lack! if you are not mad to think of such a thing! I
+am gasping with heat, and really melt away so fast, on the slightest
+exertion, and have such indifferent dinners to make amends, that if the
+captain does not arrive precisely to his date, my skin will be a bag
+containing nothing but rattling bones."
+
+_Mother._--"Don't distress yourself, you look very jolly yet, and if
+those cannibals come, of whom Madame is so afraid, you will be the first
+delicate morsel chosen, I am certain. But about this hut."
+
+_Schillie._--"Don't, June, you will kill me outright if you mention such
+hard work again. Let us go and botanize a bit. Did you ever see such a
+fellow as this! He must be a plantain I think."
+
+_Mother._--"Yes! these are the broad leaves that will roof our hut!"
+
+_Schillie._--"You will drive me mad with your hut, who wants a hut? and
+what is the good of putting ourselves into a fever, spoiling our hands,
+and such like, merely for your whims. Let us go round that point, and
+see if any turtle land on this island. I am sure it will be a blessing
+to have something decent to eat."
+
+_Mother._--"I shall be delighted to go, but I think we shall dirty our
+hands much more slaughtering a great turtle than building a nice little
+hut."
+
+_Schillie._--"Now, Mrs. June, if you bother me any more about that hut,
+I won't stir one finger to help you."
+
+_Mother._--"Oh, so you will help me, well! that's all I want, so sit
+down here while I tell you all about my hut."
+
+She made some ineffectual efforts to escape, was very indignant,
+stormed, and spluttered, and wound up by saying, "Well! now, my
+Mistress, what do you wish me to do?" which was exactly the state into
+which I had intended to bully her. "You know how hot we are in the tent
+every night," said I. "Good me! and those horrid girls snoring and
+talking, one worse than another, to say nothing of someone who shall be
+nameless snoring like ten pigs." "That snorer is not me, I flatter
+myself, so make no more remarks, but listen, you see I have brought you
+to a very pretty little spot on the cliffs, and here are six or seven
+nice little trees, that look so pliant and slender we can bend them into
+any shape, but you are not listening."
+
+_Schillie._--"I wonder what trees these are. They all seem to proceed
+from the same mass of roots, and yet they are nearly in the form of a
+square; leaves, shiny, dark, green, pinnated, I cannot make them out."
+
+_Mother._--"What does it matter to us about their names and property, if
+they will do for us to make our hut."
+
+_Schillie._--"And how can you imagine that I can make a hut or live in
+it, until I have found out the name of these trees."
+
+So we were nearly coming to a rupture again, but waiting patiently until
+she had exhausted every idea on the subject we set to work once more.
+"You see these trees are in the form of a square already, and will just
+mark out the size of our hut."
+
+"Yes very well for me, but if our hut has a window you will have to lay
+with your head out of it, or if a door with your feet ditto."
+
+_Mother._--"Come don't be rude about my length of limb. The square is
+quite seven feet this way, and we may make it double that the other way
+by cutting down this one tree."
+
+_Schillie._--"I wish I knew what those two trees are."
+
+_Mother._--"Then we can twist these pliant sort of reeds in and out."
+
+_Schillie._--"Reeds, June! those are not reeds, I wonder what these are?
+They must be all of the same family, only these are young ones.
+Something of the willow sort, I imagine."
+
+_Mother._--"Well! we can twist them in and out between the stems."
+
+_Schillie._--"Or perhaps they are a species of gigantic rush, but that
+we shall know by the flower."
+
+_Mother._--"Twist them in and out like basket work."
+
+_Schillie._--"I wish you would cease with your twistings in and out, and
+help me to guess what these things are."
+
+_Mother._--"My dear, I have guessed long ago, and think I am quite right
+too in my guess."
+
+_Schillie._--"And why are you so unkind as not to tell me? you know how
+anxious I am."
+
+_Mother._--"I am quite surprised that you did not see at once, they are
+only gigantic 'fighting cocks,' as we used to call plantain in our
+youth."
+
+_Schillie._--"You are the greatest----, well! I won't say what with your
+fighting cocks. Come, go on about your blessed old hut."
+
+_Mother._--"But it is not an old hut, inasmuch as it is not built yet,
+or even begun, nor does it seem likely to be begun, as we have
+quarrelled three times over merely of what it is to be made."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then now I won't trouble you any more, I will think of
+nothing but this hut, and will do whatever you bid me. But you must
+promise me, that if I help you, that no one else is to share it with us.
+I won't have any fidgety girls, or sick boys to come and wear one to
+death with their nonsense."
+
+_Mother._--"Pooh, pooh, you know who will be the first to invite them
+in, however, I only mean it for us two."
+
+So to work we set, and in a short time had so changed our relative
+positions, that I was scolded for not working hard enough, and having
+entered thoroughly into the business, she took the command, and I
+willingly obeyed her sage orders. She had a capital head for
+contrivance, and consequently treated some of my suggestions with scorn
+and indifference. In fact, my notion of "twisting in and out" so often
+mentioned, was immediately pronounced as a trap for musquitos,
+scorpions, and such like. We were to have our hut made partly of boughs,
+partly of sods, partly of mud. This was to keep it cool. Over all we
+placed the large smooth plantain leaves and it really did not look
+amiss, but something like the little round mushroom huts of the charcoal
+burners. It took us four days to complete it. We told nobody until it
+was finished; then, of course everybody wanted to sleep in it. The size
+of the hut spoke the best answer. At each end we had nailed a strip of
+sail-cloth, which served for the bed on which to lie, and, wrapped up in
+a sheet, it was very cool and comfortable. Though Schillie was very
+uneasy for the first hour, and, upon my remonstrating, muttered, half
+asleep, "I wish I knew what these trees were."
+
+We satisfied the eager wishers, by promising to help to make huts for
+all who liked it, and, for the next week, as soon as school hours were
+over, every minute was employed in this new business. Madame alone
+preferred the tent, and soon had it to herself. From the sand the little
+colony of huts looked quite picturesque, perched upon little green
+knolls or terraces, and great improvements were made, so that ours
+looked quite a little vulgar affair in comparison to the ornamented
+mansions which soon appeared. The little ones had now good use for their
+shells, and the tasteful Sybil and Serena ornamented theirs with fresh
+flowers every day, and transplanted creepers and other things to train
+all over their abode.
+
+We found amongst our stores a packet of garden seeds, I having desired
+the gardener before we left home to put some up, for I had heard that we
+could grow mustard and cress, endive and parsley, and even lettuces on
+board, and that it would be a very good thing for the children. Not
+having specified what I really wanted, on opening the packet we found
+every species of seed that a kitchen garden would require, and though we
+laughed at the parcels of beans and peas, and other things impossible to
+be grown on board, also carrots and turnips, yet they were most
+opportune in amusing the young ones, for every one must have a garden
+round their abode, and it was quite surprising to see how quickly the
+seeds sprang up. In fact, we had so much to amuse us, that a month
+passed ere we thought one week had gone, and the life we were leading
+seemed to agree with us all, especially the children. Oscar's fine open
+countenance bloomed with health, and he grew so manly and tall that we
+treated him with great respect as the King of the Island, while the
+small little delicate features of Felix were getting embrowned, fast
+losing their delicacy; his beautiful starlike eyes were radiant with
+health, and through the long dark eyelashes, so peculiar to that species
+of deep grey eye, the pretty pink colour seemed to be fixing its
+residence there at last.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+The girls being very much absorbed in their gardens, Schillie and I took
+a scramble one day round the point she had wished to go when we
+commenced building our hut. We privately told the servants if we were
+not at home to dinner, to explain the cause, and not to expect us until
+tea-time.
+
+It was very hard work, but when we had accomplished it, we came to
+another bay, not so pretty as ours, but much more extensive. There were
+scarcely any cliffs, but the great trees came bending down to the
+water's edge in many places. Here Schillie gave full scope to her
+enquiring mind, and we progressed at the rate of twenty yards every half
+hour, while she exhausted herself in vain conjectures without end. Going
+over the rocks, among the caverns and crevices we found a curious
+creeping plant, the stems trailing two or three feet long, the leaves
+were rather oval, of a bright green, and the flowers large beautiful
+white ones, each composed of four petals tinged with red. At last from
+the unopened buds being so like capers, we tasted them, and they were so
+sharp and as acid as we could wish. So we decided they were, or rather
+it was the caper plant, and while Schillie felicitated herself upon
+having settled that matter satisfactorily, she groaned over the notion
+of our having no boiled mutton.
+
+The next thing we discovered was a bright green shrub, apparently an
+evergreen, with bunches of white flowers, which were sweet scented.
+There being no seeds formed, we were sometime in making it out to be the
+coffee tree, but Schillie remembered once seeing a coffee plant at
+Chatsworth. So she was in high spirits until we came to another shrub
+with purple and white flowers. Some of the green leaves were exceedingly
+light, and some nearly black, and they almost seemed to be turning
+colour, as we looked at them.
+
+We wasted a whole hour over this shrub and a tree close by rather small
+with foliage like a birch. It had fruit somewhat like a hop, only very
+much larger.
+
+We now came to an immense Banana tree, out of which flew a cloud of
+blueish pigeons. The leaves of this Banana looked six or seven feet long
+and about one wide; the fruit was hanging in every direction, looking
+like large misshapen cucumbers. Benjie had taught us not to cut it
+crossways, but from end to end, as it tasted better when cut wrong. But
+it was curious when cut wrong what an exact cross was pictured in the
+middle. Twined in the Banana tree was an immense gourd plant. At this
+minute I shuddered with horror. We had been so secure, so careless, so
+utterly unmindful of any danger that I was quite unnerved at seeing a
+huge thing three or four feet long drop from the Banana, close between
+us. "Keep back, keep back," said Schillie, "I have got my hatchet." But
+she never could bear to kill anything, so we looked on the creature, and
+it on us. It was very ugly and formidable to look at, but it had a quiet
+eye, and after a little while it crawled gently away, and commenced
+trying to get up the tree again. "I think it must be an iguana," said I
+at last.
+
+"Whatever it is I admire its civility," said Schillie.
+
+"If it is they are quite harmless, though he looks very horrible," said
+I.
+
+"He does not intend to harm us, it appears, so we will go on," said
+Schillie, "because I begin to feel very hungry, and we had better look
+out for a comfortable spot on which to dine."
+
+"I have been hungry more than an hour, but you were so absorbed in your
+discoveries you would not listen to my hints. I should like to go to
+that little knoll, in which those four cocoa-nut trees stand, we shall
+have a little air then, and can see any danger all round, and, perchance
+find a cocoa-nut."
+
+"Which you may have all to yourself, June, for I think them unwholesome
+things."
+
+After a dinner and a successful nutting, I proposed a siesta, as it was
+impossible to move during the sultry noon, which Schillie agreed to
+provided I went to sleep first, whilst she watched for an hour, then
+she was to waken me, and I was to watch in my turn.
+
+After a profound sleep of some duration I awoke, and found my guard in a
+helpless state of somnambulism, which was so very deep I did not like to
+disturb her; neither could I move, as the better to guard me she was
+lying half over me, I, therefore, though anxious about the time we had
+been sleeping, decided to sit still and wait until she showed some signs
+of waking. She had the watch round her neck, and I could not look at it
+without disturbing her, so I amused myself with watching the curious and
+strange things around me. I noticed some black things in the water,
+which came nearer and nearer, and I gave a start of pleasure when I
+perceived that they must be turtle; at last one landed and crawled in
+the most extraordinary manner some way up the sands. After spending what
+I thought was half an hour in the oddest movements and vagaries for such
+an unwieldy thing as a turtle to indulge in, it returned to the sea, and
+was the only one that landed. The sleeper at last moved, and I roused
+her up. At first she declared she had not been asleep at all, but when
+time and circumstances made that assertion untenable, she fell back upon
+the excuse that it was so dull sitting there with no one to talk to, and
+nothing to do, and, besides, her thoughts were very melancholy.
+
+_June._--"Your thoughts melancholy! That's the first time, then, since I
+have known you."
+
+_Schillie._--"I was thinking of my poor little children, and how wrong I
+was to go and leave them all."
+
+_June._--"But you have not yet been away from them half the time, or,
+indeed, one-third of what was originally intended, when we left
+England."
+
+_Schillie._--"I know that quite well, but, if you will go to sleep, and
+leave me to my own dull thoughts, how can I help thinking of my being so
+ill-behaved as to leave them for such a period."
+
+_June._--"It was you that made me go to sleep first. But, however, I
+must comfort you, and remind you how kind your father is to them, and
+how your mother's sole business in life is to see that they have double
+as much as they ought to have. And how your sister, that best of
+Kittie's, is more than a mother to them; indeed most strangers take her
+for their mother, and you for an unnatural sort of aunt."
+
+_Schillie._--"Well, that may be true, June, but you should not upbraid me
+with it now I am so sad; I don't pretend to be a fond mother, but I hope
+I am a good one."
+
+_June._--"Come! don't be so horribly pathetic; it does not suit you at
+all, but, if you are really very unhappy, the captain will be here in
+ten days or so, and then we will all go home."
+
+_Schillie._--"But, how do I know if we may not all be drowned in going
+home, or have a fire at sea, or something should occur which will
+prevent me ever seeing my little chicks again," and the great tears
+rolled one by one down her round blooming cheeks.
+
+This was getting a most serious business, so I said in an angry manner
+as it were, "You are too absurd! just as if every day when at home you
+don't put your life into imminent danger, riding that frangy beast, who
+every ten yards has either his heels or his toes in the air."
+
+_Schillie._--"Heels and toes! Whoever heard a horse spoken of in such
+terms? And after all the pains I have taken with your equine education,
+to talk in such terms of a little playfulness! I would not give
+two-pence to ride a horse that goes straight along."
+
+_June._--"I should not call that playful riding to come home with one's
+hands all blistered from holding the animal in. For my part, I never saw
+you go down the carriage road, on that beast Staunton, with his tail
+flying and his legs anywhere but on the road, without preparing my
+nerves for seeing your mangled remains brought home on a shutter."
+
+_Schillie._--"Mangled fiddlesticks! Did you ever see such a butterfly?
+Don't catch it; you'll hurt it. There, it is settled now. I wonder what
+his name is?"
+
+So her thoughts being diverted we wandered on, the heat dried the big
+tears, and we made many grand discoveries; amongst others, that the
+rocks were wholly composed of coral.
+
+But, before we left the spot, without telling her that I had seen the
+turtle, we went to the place I had seen it throwing up the sand, and,
+upon examination, found a great quantity of eggs. For some time
+Schillie would not believe that I had seen a turtle, or that these were
+turtle's eggs. However we kept our eyes on the black specks on the
+water, and, turning a corner of the bay, we came upon a whole colony of
+turtles, all on shore. I was afraid at first to run after them and turn
+them, and Schillie could not manage it by herself, so that ere I had
+conquered my reluctance they all got away from her but one, which we
+turned over all right, and nothing was more ridiculous than to see the
+poor hideous creature sprawling and straggling with ineffectual efforts.
+But we could not lift it by any means, and Schillie felt half inclined
+to let it go again, as it would be exposed so many hours to the broiling
+sun, ere we could come back with the others to despatch it. So we
+covered it over with Banana leaves, fastening them safe over the poor
+beast with bits of wood stuck through the leaves into the sand; and
+there we left it, making our way homewards over the rocks. The moment we
+appeared on the top seemed the signal for a general commotion amongst
+our people, and they all came running round the bay to meet us; Gatty
+reached us first, followed closely by Serena. They could not speak, they
+were so completely out of breath; but the first thing Gatty could say
+was a vehement reproach for leaving them all day. They had been so dull,
+and, coming out of school they had rushed immediately to join the two
+Mothers, and had found none; and the dinner was so stupid, and the
+lessons had been so tiresome, and Madame had been so particular, and it
+had been so hot; in fact, all had gone wrong.
+
+But we were soon very merry at tea, all except Madame, who looked a
+little stately; and, after tea, she said she had a complaint to make
+against a certain person, for misconduct during my absence.
+
+She was interrupted by Gatty's jumping up, and saying. "Oh yes! yes!
+such a glorious thing happened, it was so killing!--"
+
+"Gertrude, you shock me," said Madame, "to talk of so grave a
+misdemeanour, in such terms."
+
+"Indeed! Madame, I cannot help it. I never laughed so much in my life.
+Did you, Sib? Did you, Serena?"
+
+Whereupon all the girls, big and little, tittered and laughed according
+to their different natures, and I felt relieved. But I was convinced
+that Felix was the culprit he was so red, and, while his brother rolled
+on the sand with merriment, he said nothing.
+
+But Madame was so very grave, and seemed really so annoyed, that the
+laughing ceased, except when Gatty burst into a fresh fit, though she
+was cramming her handkerchief into her mouth, and that set Oscar off
+too.
+
+"The young gentlemen came to their lessons in very good time," proceeded
+Madame, "and Master Oscar immediately proceeded to learn his Latin
+declensions and to little Felix I gave a short lesson in French, out of
+that small book which, as you know, Madam, contained a page or two of
+first French lessons for young beginners." I nodded as much as to say I
+knew the book. "And then, Madam, as he was so giddy and volatile, I put
+him under the table to learn it, with the cloth all round him, that his
+attention might be distracted by nothing that he saw."
+
+Here the tittering was vehement. "He was I must acknowledge, very quiet
+and good, so much so, that perhaps it was half an hour ere I called him
+to say it." Here Gatty became convulsed. Oscar in a similar state, and
+not all Madame's gravity could restrain the others.
+
+"You may imagine my surprise, Madam, when I found the book gone, he had
+it not. In vain I made him look for it, nay, I acknowledge that I went
+down on my knees under the table to look for it also, thinking he must
+be telling an untruth, in saying it was not there. I could find it
+nowhere, neither can I find it now, and though I have made him confess
+what he did with it, yet, I assure you, Madam, the matter seems so
+extraordinary to me, I beg you will ask him yourself." In spite of the
+laughter, I called Felix, and with a half impudent air, emboldened by
+his companion's merriment, half frightened at what I might say. He said
+in a low clear voice, "Mama, I ate it!"
+
+_Mother._--"Ate it, child!"
+
+_Felix._--"Yes, Mama, I ate it every bit."
+
+Madame sat down in triumph; the young ones made the air sound with their
+laughter; Jenny looked appealingly to me. Schillie said, "What a nasty
+boy." I exclaimed in horror and wonder, "Good heavens! suppose it
+disagrees with him." This frightful notion spread; Jenny took to
+tears--Madame was quite affected--Schillie recommended an
+emetic--Hargrave rushed to put it in force--and Felix was overwhelmed
+with questions as to what he felt; had he a pain?--where was his
+pain?--did he feel odd?--was he sure he felt nothing?--and it was nearly
+an hour ere he was suffered to go to bed, with no other remedy than a
+good fright, and the next day he appeared as pert as ever, recommending
+those that did not like certain lesson books to eat them up, for, after
+all, he added, "books are not so nasty to eat as to learn."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+The time passed, to use Gatty's phrase, "fatally fast," in fact, we
+heard distant murmurs and fears expressed lest our dear old captain
+should return too soon. There was something so novel and unrestrained in
+our present life, and we all seemed to feel we never should again have
+such an opportunity of imitating the gipsies, and we were so happy and
+merry, that, excepting Madame, we were none of us willing to be restored
+too soon to civilized life.
+
+Was our future fate a punishment or not, for thus presuming to decide
+our own destiny? A fortnight passed. On whose heart fell first the dread
+thought that something was pending over us, too horrible to be put into
+words? In the dead of night, I whispered low in Schillie's ear, "Do you
+think anything can have happened to the ship?" "Nonsense, who but you
+would think anything so ridiculous. Do you know I think I have
+discovered what these trees are. I am sure they are a species of
+Banyan." "Yes," said I absently. "Yes," said she, "yes, did you say?
+Then why did you not tell me before. I have never been able to sleep a
+wink when I first came to bed for wondering what they could be. Just
+like you." So she sulkily went off to sleep.
+
+Another fortnight passed. No word yet was spoken, no voice had even
+uttered where was the Captain, Smart, La Luna? But the Mother's face was
+pale. She spent her days on the cliffs, looking out until her eyes
+ached, and bade the little Mother, who sat so silent and quiet beside
+her, to look for her through the telescope. And the merry voices were
+hushed, no laughter was heard, the meals passed in silence, the little
+ones played at a distance speaking in whispers, on every face you could
+trace a hidden fear, a secret dread, a mysterious foreboding, but not a
+word was spoken on the thought of each heart. As evening after evening
+stole by, the Mothers came down from their watch on the cliff, and
+though every eye asked, "Have you seen nothing?" yet no tongue had
+courage to say, "Where was the Captain, Smart, La Luna?"
+
+One day, it was hotter than usual, the sun was going down with a red
+glare, a low moaning wind came every now and then suddenly through the
+trees. As Schillie and I came down the cliffs, our knees knocked
+together with heat and lassitude. We had not spoken for several hours
+until I had said, "Come, let us go." She mutely assented, and,
+supporting each other, we wearily and slowly clambered down. Suddenly
+stopping at a a smooth place on the cliff, on which had been spread by
+Smart the skin of the Anaconda to dry, and which still remained as he
+had left it, she said to me, "Which fate do you prefer, June, would you
+rather now be a corpse within that skin, or yet alive with your present
+feelings and fears." "O, Schillie, Schillie," I exclaimed, "it is not
+for myself I fear, but think of all these young ones, can it really be
+possible or true that we are likely to spend our lives in this place."
+
+_Schillie._--"At present it seems true enough, not that you will have
+long to fret about it, for we shall have to bury you soon, grieving in
+this manner; I shall go as soon as I can after you; Madame is already
+gasping; and then I should like to know what will become of all the
+young ones."
+
+_Mother._--"I do my best, I try to think about it as little as possible.
+But what are your thoughts, Schillie? What do you think about them not
+returning for us? Is it accident, or----"
+
+_Schillie._--"Come, say no more at present, here are the girls coming to
+meet us. To-morrow we must settle something, it is due to them for the
+patience with which they have acted in the last fortnight, to take them
+into our councils. Give us all until to-morrow, before we finally doom
+ourselves to consider this island our living grave."
+
+_Mother._--"But have you no hope, Schillie, speak quickly ere they come,
+have you no hope?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Hope! hope for Aladdin's Lamp, Prince Hassan's Carpet,
+Green's Balloon, a Railway over the Sea. Hope nothing, and you won't be
+disappointed."
+
+_Mother._--"You are cruel, Schillie."
+
+_Schillie._--"Face the worst at once, it will save you much sorrow
+hereafter. Now say no more, but scrape up a smile for those poor girls
+if you can."
+
+Even this uncomfortable conversation proved of so much relief to us two
+that we were more cheerful that evening at tea, and consequently the
+poor children took courage to be also a little more lively. But we were
+hurried to our different shelters by a clap of thunder and flash of
+lightning, unlike anything we had ever seen before, and the rain fell in
+large splashing drops. In the middle of the night, we were awakened by
+repeated peals of thunder crashing over our heads, while the lightning
+played incessantly, beautiful but most awful to behold. The rain at
+first came in gusts, but after a while, such a deluge poured down upon
+us, that in half an hour our little frail huts were beaten down over our
+heads. One minute's exposure to the sheets of water that were descending
+drenched us through. With difficulty we crawled to a little cavern,
+which just held us, and also permitted the servants to change the
+children's dripping clothes, and thus passed the whole night; but the
+sun arose as bright as ever, rendering the scene more brilliant and
+lovely, from the innumerable rain-drops bespangling everything. Not all
+the cold, misery, and discomfort we had undergone, besides losing our
+rest, prevented us exclaiming at the fresh beauty of the verdure and
+trees, and the sweet smell of the thirsty earth as we emerged from our
+cavern.
+
+We had first to light a great fire, and then to spread all the bedding
+on the rocks to dry in the sun. We soon warmed some water, and drank hot
+tea and coffee; but Madame showed symptoms of a violent cold, and little
+Felix and Winny shivered and shook as if in an ague fit. The poor little
+huts were entirely ruined, and what was worse still, all our stores and
+the different things belonging to La Luna, though carefully covered with
+sail cloth and other things, were yet evidently much damaged by the wet;
+in fact, it was not this day only that we had to deplore the effect of
+the night storms catching us so unprepared. We suffered for it, as will
+be seen hereafter, the whole time we were on the island. However, we
+could now only think of making ourselves comfortable again. Of course
+the tents had been beaten down even before the huts; we could not
+shelter under the great chestnut tree, as the stream had swollen so as
+to surround it on all sides, washing away all our seats, a great many
+dinner things, books, and various other matters which we had left there,
+and which of course had been carried down into the sea, so that we never
+recovered them again. Fresh disasters were being discovered every
+minute, and so much were we taken up by them, that it was not until late
+in the evening, when tired and exhausted we sat down to tea, that the
+much greater weight and dread on our minds returned in full force.
+
+After a silence, Schillie looked at me and nodded. I tried to speak, but
+the words would not come, they died away in whispers. All waited in
+anxious expectation, not knowing what was coming; at last, Sybil and
+Serena both rose, and coming to me, clasped their arms round me, and
+said, "Dear Sister, if the ship does not come back for us, we do not
+care so long as you are well and happy. Do not grieve on our account,
+everything will end well, you will see. Do you not always bid us trust
+in God. Let us pray then for his help, but do not grieve, do not weep
+thus."
+
+But their sweet voices, and comforting words were lost amidst the
+wailing and weeping that arose on all sides, now that we had given voice
+to our sad fears. Words fail me when I think of describing this mournful
+and affecting scene, for one and all seemed equally certain that hope
+was gone, we had now been three months here, and the captain told us
+all, not once, but many times, that in six weeks for certain he should
+return. Something therefore must have happened. Either the vessel must
+have foundered, or they had failed in getting another vessel for us, or
+they had met with some accident, or worse than all from the instruments
+being destroyed on deck during the storm Captain MacNab had not been
+able to take any observations so as to settle whereabouts this island
+was, and he was perhaps now sailing about unable to find us. For it was
+a most singular thing which we had several times noticed, that during
+the whole time we had been there we had never seen a vessel on the
+horizon. That was a mournful evening, so sad and painful that I am sure
+none of those who participated in it could forget it as long as life
+lasted. And in the midst of the fears that assailed us regarding our
+future lot, many were the sorrowful thoughts we had as to what could
+have become of the kind good Captain, the faithful and attached Smart,
+and all those worthy companions, so lately forming a part of ourselves.
+Darkness had long wrapped the little island in her dull mantle, but sobs
+were heard in different parts of the little cavern in which we had all
+been obliged to congregate for the night, and gentle whispers of prayer
+to the giver of all good rose now and then in the stillness of the
+night, shewing that some hearts felt too deeply to sleep; the
+overwrought minds sought comfort from the bountiful fountain of love and
+compassion, that increaseth as it is poured forth. And full well can we
+say, our trust hath not been in vain, deeply as we suffered then and
+since. But on looking back to that time, and all the subsequent trials
+that have befallen us, I think this period was the most painful we ever
+endured. Not only were we in miserable uncertainty about ourselves, but
+we lost and bewildered ourselves in painful conjectures as as to what
+could have become of our companions.
+
+To have been told that they were really destroyed, that we should never
+see them more, that we must depend upon ourselves for every thing, and
+upon chance that we might be taken from the island, would I think have
+been less painful to bear than the state in which we found ourselves. At
+any rate then we should have known what to do, and would in all
+probability have exerted ourselves to better our condition as best we
+could.
+
+But at present we were like people suddenly left in the dark, with the
+additional feeling of not knowing when it would be light again, or what
+we could do to free ourselves. Say that we were to sit still, and wait
+with patience, hoping the best, believing it impossible that we could be
+alone and deserted, this could not last, we could not sit still for
+ever. Say that we immediately made up our minds to the worst; that we
+were alone, and to be so for an indefinite, perhaps final period; that
+we must shift for ourselves; that our welfare, peace, comfort, food,
+clothing, solely depended on our own exertions; then, perhaps, after
+making these exertions, after using every effort, and they would be no
+slight ones, but must commence immediately with great toil, and anxious
+thought, they would arrive, we should be saved, and thus have undergone
+unnecessary labour and fatigue for nothing.
+
+Yet we were at present fitted for neither of these fates. The life of
+ease and enjoyment without care or thought, that we had indulged in for
+two months; the indolent habits we had contracted from the, to us,
+unusual hot climate; the strangeness and suddenness of our fate, all
+combined to unnerve us, and for the present overwhelm the energy and
+strength of character necessary for such emergency.
+
+That was a memorable night, calm and serene, as it was after the great
+storm of the preceding one. Troubled and tempest-tost was each heart as
+it awakened scared by its own dreams, through which ran wild visions of
+the beloved faces, perhaps never more to be seen. Yearnings after the
+homes we had so thoughtlessly left, the scenes we might never more
+behold, the voices perchance we should never hear again. Every thing we
+loved and valued and had left! seemed on this memorable night to come
+vividly before us. Was it therefore to be wondered that with subdued and
+chastened feelings we all met the next day, the elder ones steeling
+their hearts, and recovering their minds to enter into a regular
+discussion and investigation of the fate destined for them; the younger
+ones meek and sorrowful but most loving and engaging in their simple
+reliance on our words, and their quiet, but watchful anticipations of
+our looks and wishes, and this day happened to be a Sunday.
+
+We generally performed the church service on an elevated, but small
+platform above the dining place, looking down upon the great chestnut
+tree, and indeed upon all our possessions. Thus endeavouring to realize
+the scenes so often seen in England, where the pretty simple church,
+with its graceful spire, is seen on an elevated place, while the humble
+cottages, and rose-covered houses clustered round its base.
+
+To make the resemblance more perfect, one single large cocoa-nut tree,
+with its tall stem and fan-like head, was the only tree growing near the
+spot, and the children were wont to call this tree when its solitary
+condition caught their eye, the church spire.
+
+The cliff shelved over some feet, making a natural shade and cover, and
+here we placed the proper seats, two only being at the foot of the tree
+whose occupants read and responded to the church service.
+
+Sometimes a sermon was read after the prayers, but more often it was my
+habit to give each of the young ones a text from the Holy Bible, and
+from that they made small sermons, or rather remarks of their own which
+were meant only for the Mother's eye, and sacredly respected by her in
+that particular.
+
+On this Sunday, the prayers being over, the psalm sung, they waited a
+short space for me to give them their texts as usual, but seeing how
+sorrowful and weak I was, and so slow in finding them out, they asked to
+choose their own texts for this time, which I willingly granted.
+
+They separated to perform their own tasks until dinner time, after which
+Schillie and I intended between us to enter into a full discussion of
+our present state, and future lot, assisted by Madame, before them all.
+"In the multitude of councillors there is knowledge," and tho' many of
+our party were so young, yet I have often noticed happy thoughts, and
+very sage ideas rise in little heads, and amongst so many might not some
+brilliant conception arise, some fresh thought be promulgated which had
+escaped the harassed minds, and jaded spirits of the older heads. My
+readers shall judge of this in the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+The meal was finished, everything was cleared away, the two maids were
+bid come and form part of the conclave, we were all equal now, and every
+one was to have a voice in this council.
+
+Madame began by saying that she thought I was unnaturally hasty in
+concluding that we were really left on this island for life. "So many
+things, dear Madam, may have occurred to prevent their coming, of which
+we know nothing. Besides, Captain MacNab knew that we had provisions for
+six months, and he might not like to trust the vessel to the hurricanes
+that often precede the rainy season."
+
+_Mother._--"That is very true, Madame, but I don't think the Captain
+would willingly put us to such anxiety; besides, he knows that we have
+no shelter to screen us from the violent effects of the rain."
+
+_Madame._--"But I think, Madam, we should not so immediately conclude
+that he is not coming at all, and that we are inevitably left alone
+here."
+
+_Mother._--"I do not conclude so inevitably, but it is better to come to
+some decision than to spend our time as we have done the last six
+weeks. Had we not spent our days in hoping instead of doing we should
+not be in such an uncomfortable situation as we are now. Two children
+have certainly got symptoms of ague, and you have a wretched cold and
+cough, half our worldly possessions are more or less damaged by the
+rain, and should it return, where are we to look for shelter, what can
+we do to preserve the goods left us?"
+
+_Madame._--"I have no doubt that the storm of the other night was only
+the precursor of the rainy season, which lasts from fifteen to
+twenty-five days in the climate to which I have been accustomed."
+
+_Mother._--"Then there is the more necessity for our exerting ourselves.
+Tell me, Schillie, what do you think?"
+
+_Schillie._--"I think nothing. If we are to be drowned, it's the same to
+me whether it is by rain or sea."
+
+_Mother._--"Nay, you are unkind. It is at moments like these when clear
+heads and quick wits are most invaluable. You surely don't intend to
+burden me with the sole arrangement of this painful and arduous
+undertaking."
+
+_Schillie._--"I don't see what you have got to bother yourself about.
+You would build a hut spite of all I could say, and the first shower
+drove it down on your ears."
+
+Several voices exclaimed, "Oh, cousin Schillie, a shower! did you call
+that dreadful storm a shower!" while Madame lifted up her hands and
+eyes, and said, "it was a fearful deluge."
+
+_Schillie._--"Yes, yes, I dare say it was rather heavy; but it is
+nothing to what we shall have."
+
+"Heaven forbid," again exclaimed Madame, while the little ones seemed
+equally aghast at the idea.
+
+_Mother._--"I grant that building more huts is out of the question, and,
+besides, we have not time, I suppose, but we must do something to save
+what we have left of our property. Come, girls, what can you suggest?"
+
+_Sybil._--"I can only think of covering everything with those great big
+plantain leaves."
+
+_Serena._--"And we can put stones on them to keep them down; and by
+putting a great many layers, I don't think it is possible the rain can
+get through."
+
+_Mother._--"And you, Gatty."
+
+"Oh," said Gatty, getting very red, and twisting her pocket handkerchief
+into a series of knots, "I don't know much about such things, but,"
+seeing she must speak out, "perhaps stowing them away under a big tree
+would do."
+
+_Zoe._--"I think the same as Gatty, Mother, for it must be impossible
+for the heaviest rain to get through some of the thick trees out there."
+
+_Winny._--"I am not certain which plan I think best; but I will wait and
+hear what Mother thinks before I quite decide."
+
+_Lilly._--"I think digging a deep hole, and burying them in the sand
+would be the best."
+
+_Oscar._--"Just as if the rain would not go through the sand. You always
+think of such out-of-the-way things, Lilly."
+
+_Mother._--"But I do not think hers's such a bad idea, I think it a very
+good one for such a little girl; but what do you think best yourself?"
+
+_Oscar._--"I think we had much better put them all safe in the cavern in
+which we sleep, especially the powder and shot, because if that gets wet
+it is done for, and we can dry ourselves by a fire, and yet not be
+hurt."
+
+_Madame._--"Oh, my dear boy, you do not know how dangerous it is to get
+wet in this climate, and as for sleeping out all night, you would not be
+alive for one week."
+
+_Oscar._--"But it is of very great consequence, Madame, that we should
+preserve the guns, and powder, and shot. Supposing your friends, the
+savages, should come, how are we to kill them if I have no powder and
+shot, I should like to know."
+
+Felix warmly supported Oscar, merely saying, "If Mama's plan is a better
+one, I will choose that, but I suppose you won't mind, Oscar!" Oscar set
+him at rest on this subject.
+
+Hargrave vehemently protested against the powder and shot being placed
+any where near, what she considered her property, namely all our
+clothes, trinkets, bonnets, and caps, and bitterly bewailed the mischief
+the storm had done amongst various silk dresses, and pretty smart caps.
+Nearly all the young ladies' bonnets were more or less hurt, and not
+finding her wits capable of discussing any other subject, we released
+her from the obligation placed on every one else, namely to give their
+opinion on what we should do.
+
+Jenny sided with her dear Miss Lilly, partly because she had been
+snubbed by Oscar, and partly because she had a great opinion of her
+sense and quickness.
+
+Having gone the round of the family, nothing remained but to sum up the
+whole, and make the most of it. That most was so little, we were soon
+all in high discussion again. Madame and Oscar being the principal
+talkers, and carrying on their dispute to some length, she declaring the
+cavern must not be given up, he vociferating that the powder and shot
+must be saved. They at length arrived at a pitch, so as to extract an
+observation from Schillie, which was one reason why I had allowed the
+boy to argue so much.
+
+_Schillie._--"Madame, it is too hot to get into such a stew. Do you
+imagine there is only one cavern in the island?"
+
+_Oscar._--"And so I wanted to tell Madame, but she would not hear me
+out. I did not want your old cavern, Madame, I only wanted to put all
+the things safe in some cavern."
+
+_Schillie._--"I think, instead of making all this noise, we had better
+go and search for some more caverns."
+
+_Madame._--"But it is Sunday."
+
+_Schillie._--"Necessity has no law, Madame, besides the heavens are at
+work, see!"
+
+As she spoke, the lightning played before us, and the heavy thunder
+broke over our heads. We crouched beneath the rock, but the cloud passed
+away, the sun came out again, brilliantly lighting up the rain-drops
+which fell sharply and heavily for ten minutes.
+
+"Now then," said Schillie, "we will all go and search for caverns. You
+had better lie down, as you look done up. We will be absent an hour, or
+you may sound the conch-shell to bring us home in time for evening
+church. And, Hargrave, have something ready to drink when we return. I
+shall be dying of thirst, I know."
+
+Every one followed her, Madame and Hargrave only making short searchings
+near at hand. In the meantime, I lay down and looked at all the texts
+the young ones had brought to me, as was their custom before the Sunday
+dinner, and which on this day they had chosen for themselves. How
+profoundly was I affected at the selection they had made, and the simple
+trustful observations accompanying each, while the wish to comfort
+pervaded them all, mixed with hopeful anticipations that all would end
+well, and earnest protestations that they would be very good, and I had
+only to speak to be obeyed. But I think their own papers will better
+show the comfort and consolation they gave me than all I can say on the
+subject, and I will therefore give them verbatim:--
+
+
+SYBIL'S SERMON.
+
+_Psalm_ 107, verses 4, 5, 6.--"They went astray in the wilderness out of
+the way, and found no city to dwell in. Their soul fainted within them.
+So they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out
+of their distress."
+
+How good is our great Father in giving such consolation to us. We cannot
+believe He will forsake us, when in almost every page of His Holy Book
+we find promises of help and deliverance to those who trust in Him; and
+how happy should we feel in believing that the greater our sorrow and
+desolation the nearer we are to Him who afflicts those whom he loveth.
+Let us think also what comfort he has left us still--that we are not
+solitary in this lonely island--that our Mothers and dear companions are
+with us; and let us show our gratitude for such mercies left us by
+becoming more obedient, loving, and dutiful to those whose sorrow for
+our forlorn state is so deep. May we be a comfort to our Mother, and
+always think that in this small island, as in the great world, our
+thoughts and actions are known, our prayers are listened to by One who
+has promised never to leave or forsake us. How happy it is to think that
+on this Holy day numbers of our fellow creatures are in our own dear
+country praying "for all those in danger, necessity, and tribulation,"
+and whose voices in earnest prayer meet ours, and join with those of the
+choir of angels above. We may hope that He who supports and sends us
+comfort in our despair may console our sorrowing ones at home, and give
+them hopes, as He does us, of meeting them again in this world. For our
+Saviour, Jesus Christ's sake, whose loving words "It is I, be not
+afraid," follow us and comfort us far from home. We will ask him to look
+down and guard our little island, which He brought from the depths of
+the sea, to be our refuge from storms and winds. To Him whose care is
+over us we commit ourselves, and those near and dear to us, and we will
+believe "that those who cry unto the Lord in their trouble He delivereth
+them from their distress."
+
+
+SERENA'S SERMON.
+
+"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord
+hearkened."--_Malachi_ iii. 16.
+
+We beseech Thee, O Lord, to hear us, for we fear Thee and love Thee. We
+are separated from those we love; we cannot speak to them, or they to
+us; we have little prospect before us of ever seeing them again; but we
+have the gracious Lord to speak to, and we have His gracious promise
+that He will hear us. Through our Father in Heaven we can hold
+intercourse with our Father on earth. We pray for him, and we know God
+heareth the prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips. He prays for us,
+and God heareth him, as we see daily, hourly, in the lovely place
+allotted to us, in the fruits that rise before us, in the flowers that
+spring up to our hands, in the love we bear each other, and, oh, more
+than all, in the privilege that we may speak to each other of the
+Lord's mercies and loving kindnesses, and know that he heareth us, for
+Jesus Christ's sake. Then let us remember, should despondency overwhelm
+us, or sorrow cast her gloomy mantle upon us, that this land is not our
+"abiding place," that here we have no "continuing city," but that beyond
+the tomb we have an house prepared, not made with hands, where we shall
+not only meet those from whom we have been torn in this life, but such
+things "as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered
+into the heart of man to conceive."
+
+
+GERTRUDE'S SERMON.
+
+"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall
+mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they
+shall walk and not faint."--_Isaiah_ xl. 31.
+
+It is a very happy thing for us that the great God has mercifully
+promised in such numerous places in the Bible health and strength in our
+hour of need, for, indeed, we require it now more than ever I remember
+before; for, though we have everything we could want in this wretched
+little island, we seem doomed to pass our days here, never more to see
+everything we loved at home. But there is a heaven above, where there is
+to be no sorrow, where "tears shall be wiped away from every eye," and
+to this we must raise our hearts, trusting that God will renew our
+strength and make us strong to fulfil our duties until the time comes
+for us to meet them. We must pray to Him that we be not weary or faint
+in doing the work He has set before us, that we may be worthy of going
+to that place where "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are
+at rest."
+
+
+ZOE'S SERMON.
+
+"Oh! what great troubles and adversities hast Thou showed me, and yet
+didst Thou turn and refresh me."--_Psalm_ lxxi. 8.
+
+Ever since we left our happy home we have been troubled and tossed
+about. Many adversities have fallen upon us that we never thought could
+have happened. But God has willed it so, and for wise purposes. Perhaps
+He thought us too happy; perhaps it was necessary to do us good that we
+should be thus afflicted. Let us then not grieve, but look into our
+hearts to see our faults, and then we shall have so much to do that time
+will pass quickly, and we shall have peace and comfort in our minds
+beyond all other pleasure, the peace that our Heavenly Father gives to
+those who strive to please Him. This will make our little island like a
+paradise, preparing us for the happy and beautiful paradise where we
+shall meet all those we love so much.
+
+
+WINNY'S SERMON.
+
+"But God shall deliver the island of the innocent."--_Job_ xxii. 30.
+
+I think this is an island in which we now live, and I think that we who
+are in it are innocent people; therefore God will love us, and take care
+of us, for He tells us so in His Holy Book. Look at my text, and study
+it; there is a great promise, and nobody in the world, I am sure, wants
+such a promise so much as we poor lonely people do. Let us then be very
+innocent and good, and then we shall be certain that God means that holy
+promise, which I have written down as my text for us, and just as much
+as if He spoke it to us. And, though we are all alone here, we have our
+Bibles to teach us to be innocent people, and that's what no savages or
+heathen people have, and, therefore, we should rejoice and be glad, and
+sing a song of thankfulness. And now I think I have explained my text,
+and have only to say that we must often pray to our Heavenly Father,
+through Jesus Christ, because without His help we cannot be innocent
+people.
+
+
+LILLY'S SERMON.
+
+"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people."
+
+When we look into the Holy Book of God, at every page we read something
+that does us good; that is, if our hearts are rightly turned towards
+God, so that we wish to do His will and not our own. Lo I opened my
+Bible at this place, and found my text, and think it very proper for us,
+for we do comfort each other, and God comforts us, and we have nothing
+to wish for, and nothing to want, except to see our homes once more.
+And, if God wills that we should return home, how happy and grateful
+shall we be, and if He does not, we have much to do here, especially in
+comforting each other, and, if we work cheerfully, without sorrow and
+grief, great shall be our reward in heaven.
+
+
+END OF THE SERMONS.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+While I was thus thinking my dear companions returned from their search
+which had been very successful. I kissed and thanked them all for their
+pretty thoughts and comforting words, and told them how much good they
+had done me, and how, for this once I must show them all to Madame and
+Schillie, that they might derive the same pleasure from them that I did,
+to which Sybil, as spokeswoman for all, gave a smiling blushing consent,
+and, though they did not read them just then, yet I may as well say that
+Madame could not sufficiently express her admiration of these innocent
+Sermons, and got leave from me and them to copy them into a book of her
+own; and, whenever she was ill or out of spirits, we always saw the
+little marble-covered book, containing them, brought out and regularly
+studied.
+
+Schillie, in a more characteristic manner, expressed her approbation,
+saying that they were all good worthy children, and they wrote much
+better Sermons than most she had heard, for, besides being greatly to
+the point, they were extremely short.
+
+And, now to return to the caverns. They had found a perfect series of
+comfortable places, as they called them, some being connected with
+others, so that we could go from one to the other without being exposed
+to the wet.
+
+We had another severe storm that night, but the next day we worked and
+stowed everything away as well as we could. The old original cavern,
+being to Oscar's great delight the receptacle for the gunpowder and
+ammunition, more because it was the furthest from the others than from
+any particular wish to oblige him. Every now and then in the midst of
+our arrangements we had a severe storm, generally accompanied with
+thunder and lightning. To be exposed to one for only a few minutes
+wetted us quite through, therefore not wishing to lose a moment of such
+precious time, it was not until late in the evening that we changed or
+rested. At the end of three days we had done wonders, but had nearly
+done ourselves up also. That morning there was no sun; nothing but
+continual pouring down of rain all day, and so it continued for a
+fortnight. During this time we made ourselves more comfortable in the
+three caverns, which communicated with each other; one of which was very
+dark and close. The lighter ones we used all day, but they smelt damp
+and unwholesome, and the children began to grow pale, and become
+restless. Besides our food was but indifferent; no fruit or vegetables,
+or fish. Eggs we had in abundance from the chickens and ducks we had
+brought with us, and which had scarcely ceased laying since we arrived,
+so much did they thrive in this luxuriant island. The evenings were very
+tedious, and we had to invent all sorts of games which would at once
+amuse them, and yet be exercise also.
+
+Felix and Winny were both attacked with ague, and Madame had so bad a
+cough no lessons could be done. I wondered at first, on hearing Gatty's
+eager enquiries every morning after Madame, until I accidently heard in
+answer by Hargrave that Madame had not slept during the night, "All
+right, girls, the cough is delightfully bad." This put me and Schillie
+upon employing our spare time in teaching them ourselves, which
+announcement was at first received rather coldly; but they derived such
+infinite amusement from our inaptness to the business that they were
+quite impatient if anything prevented us performing this office. With
+the utmost gravity and demureness Gatty would bring me the same lesson
+to repeat every day; and though I must, in justice to myself, allow that
+I thought it must be the easiest book in the world, it seemed all the
+same thing, I was too innocent to imagine she was amusing herself at my
+expense. How long I should have gone on I know not, but her exquisite
+delight at my simplicity was too great to be kept in, she told her own
+secret amidst the laughter of all, her dupe being one of the most
+amused. Sybil and Serena took equal liberties, all more from the love of
+fun than real delinquency, so that during our reign lessons were at a
+premium. Schillie undertook writing and summing, and as she was always
+mending pens and cutting pencils, holding one or other between her lips,
+she was often not in a condition to reprimand by words, consequently a
+tap on the head, a blow on the cheek, a pinch on the arm, generally
+expressed her disapprobation. Moreover, she was very impatient if the
+sums were done wrong, and exclaiming, "Good lack, what young noodles,"
+would do the sums again herself, instead of making the delinquents
+correct them. This plan I pronounced with great dignity as highly
+improper; she, in dudgeon, said I was a noodle too, and we came to high
+words, much to the delight and gratification of our pupils.
+
+But Sybil and Serena delighted in drawing her out while they were all
+three reading aloud to her in turns their English History. Then warmed
+with her subject, delighting in all the political and historical
+details, she would take the book from their hands, and enter into long
+discussions, her strong whig principles startling the two bred and born
+tory girls into sufficient argument and opposition to give piquancy and
+eloquence to her words as they flowed rapidly from her lips. During
+these periods, Gatty, who only cared to get done as quick as possible
+what she was obliged to do, and thought all these digressions a great
+bore, employed her idle fingers in whatever mischief lay within her
+reach. If she had no pocket handkerchief to twist into holes, it took
+her but a few minutes to dog-ear a whole book; or, probably, the
+energetic discussion and the attentive listeners would be interrupted
+by a sudden crash, proclaiming the tearing of something, and each would
+instinctively look round for their handkerchiefs; or she would collect
+little animals, like ants, spiders, or flies, and, having got a handful,
+would empty them over one of the three; in fact, she would do anything
+to put an end to the discussion, that they might finish their allotted
+task and get it over. Then in wrath Schillie would turn round and
+exclaim, "You idle young monkey, why don't you go on with your reading?"
+
+_Gatty_ (demurely).--"If you please, little Mother, we can't."
+
+_Schillie._--"Cannot! What stops you, I should like to know? Nothing but
+your own laziness, keeping me waiting here all day."
+
+_Gatty_ (still more meekly).--"If you please, little Mother, you have
+got the book."
+
+_Schillie._--"Got the book! Who wants to keep your book? I am sure I
+don't; I only wish to have done with you as soon as possible."
+
+_Gatty._--"If you please, little Mother, you stopped us to talk about
+those people."
+
+_Schillie._--"Those people indeed! You who ought to be more interested
+in such characters than the other girls, because your Father's name will
+be handed down to posterity in the same manner. I am quite done up with
+you being such an owlet, Gatty."
+
+_Gatty._--"If you please, little Mother, I don't care about them at all.
+They are all dead, and they are nothing to me, and I only wish they had
+not lived, and then we should not have had such a long History of
+England to read through."
+
+Such speeches were too much for Schillie's fortitude, and Gatty's
+sparkling eyes showed how successful her man[oe]uvres were in being
+dismissed at once, "as too stupid to be borne with."
+
+Sometimes I handed over the little girls to her to say their lessons,
+and they were invariably dismissed before they could have said half of
+them. And when I enquired the reason thereof, "Poor little victims," she
+answered, "what is the use of addling their brains with such a cart load
+of lessons, one more silly than another. As if they could not order a
+much better dinner than is mentioned in this French phrase book, and all
+that trumpery poetry; and their geography book is the stupidest I ever
+saw, as if they did not all know what an island is. It's my opinion they
+will know too well what an island is, without learning it in a book."
+
+With the boys she got on pretty well, except hurting Felix's feelings
+now and then by saying, "Now learn your book, and don't eat it this
+time," which allusion generally caused a tear or two, he having a well
+very near his eyes.
+
+None of the young ones were anxious to give up their new governesses,
+but they, on the contrary, hailed the return of fine weather with great
+joy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+I fancied we all looked quite mouldy, when we emerged from our dusky
+dark caverns. But the weather was so delicious, so cool and refreshing;
+everything was so green and beautiful that we soon revived. I thought it
+necessary to take an inventory of all our possessions, that we might
+husband them as much as possible. We also attended greatly to our
+gardens, and the few remaining potatoes that we had were planted that we
+might not be totally bereft of such a useful vegetable. I never saw
+anything like the growth of the English vegetables we had brought with
+us. They were almost too luxuriant, approaching to rankness.
+
+Day after day passed by and we were still alone. No ardently-desired
+vessel hove in sight, nothing met our longing gaze as we daily scanned
+the horizon. Fearing the inevitable lowness of spirits that such
+constant hoping and longing, followed by as constant disappointment,
+must end in, I, one evening, said that I should not at all like being
+cooped up in those caverns again the next rainy season.
+
+_Schillie._--"Now if you mention one word about building one of your old
+huts, you shall be whipt."
+
+_Mother._--"Oh no, no! I have had quite enough of the huts. I have not
+the smallest intention of building such another flimsy affair."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then if you are going to talk common sense, I am quite
+willing to listen. Those caverns certainly put one rather in mind of
+one's grave, and I cannot get the nasty dead smell of them out of my
+nose. Now then, June, be speedy, and let us hear your intentions. Shall
+we build a boat, and betake ourselves off or shall we live _al fresco_,
+despite Madame's fears, or what? Come, speak up."
+
+_Mother._--"I don't fancy building a boat at all, much less trusting
+myself in it; but, agreeing with you in your horror of huts, I think we
+must now make a good substantial house."
+
+"Your horror!" said Schillie. "Delightful," exclaimed all the others.
+"What splendid fun. How very charming. Where shall it be? Let us begin
+immediately."
+
+Spite of all her opposition, Schillie knew very well we must have a
+house, and the more she grumbled I knew the harder she would work. So
+everybody was ordered to use their best wits, and give their opinions as
+to the kind, size, situation, and other things belonging to the intended
+mansion, and at tea-time the sense of the company was to be taken. In
+the meantime I compared our list of goods, with what the captain had
+made out for us, and found that we had suffered considerably by the
+rain. Out of seven barrels of flour four were nearly spoilt; a cask of
+cheese and ship's biscuit was all that remained of those commodities;
+not a bit of the salted beef and pork could be touched, we had to throw
+it all away, but some bacon and hams were quite good. We had four or
+five cases of preserved meats, but, as Jenny observed, we could eat
+those up in a week, and then what were we to do for meat. I gave her
+clearly to understand that we must do without meat for the future, which
+caused her to drop one of our saucepans in surprise and dismay, while
+she exclaimed, "Whatever, Ma'am, shall we do about Master Felix if he
+has no meat, and he growing so fast?" "Whatever, Jenny, shall we do if
+you knock holes in the saucepans in such a careless way?" said I. Jenny
+apologised as best she could, but it was evident all the saucepans in
+the world might get punched into holes provided her little master had
+meat for his dinner every day; she comforted herself very much, however,
+thinking of the ducks and chickens, though she bewailed over his great
+affection for mutton chops and beef steaks, and now for the future that
+weakness of his would run no chance of being gratified.
+
+The potatoes were nearly all gone, as before mentioned, but that was to
+be only a temporary deprivation. We had stores sufficient to last for
+six months of rice, sago, tapioca, tea, coffee, sugar, raisins, and all
+those kind of things; but the ship's provisions, which had been mostly
+left behind to lighten the vessel (the Captain having only taken what
+was just necessary) were greatly damaged by the rain; they had not been
+in good tin cases like ours, and eventually were of little use. The
+packets of seeds became now our most valuable possessions. We had a
+great quantity of ropes, spars, sails, and other things belonging to the
+vessel, carpenters' tools, nails, screws, &c., all of which became
+invaluable to us, though we afterwards discovered a good substitute for
+nails in the thick sharp thorns of a species of Cactus. We had a great
+deal of furniture, sofas, bedding, hammocks, tables, chairs, bookcases,
+a great deal of pantry furniture, of which we were now most careful,
+knowing we could never replace the china or glass; also, we had a plate
+chest, in which we had silver to the value of L200. Of kitchen utensils
+we were greatly in want, almost everything having been lost in the
+caboose when it was washed away. We had two kettles and a small boiler.
+The men had constructed a sort of fire-place and oven for Jenny before
+they left, but it was so far from the dining place that we had
+everything generally cold. We had about six dozen bottles of various
+sorts of wine, a large cask of rum and another of brandy, which belonged
+to the ship's company, plenty of beer, ale, and porter, which, however,
+being in casks, spoilt long before we could drink it, from the heat of
+the climate. But such details must be tedious, as it can be easily
+imagined what our possessions would be out of a vessel victualled,
+furnished, and prepared for a twelve months' voyage. The result of the
+investigation, however, proved that of civilized food we had but little,
+and that we must soon set about preparing to live upon what the island
+would afford us. And when I looked round on the fertility and richness
+surrounding us, and the vast variety of food we could indulge in, I
+could not help thanking the Giver of all good for so much mercy showered
+upon us in the midst of such extraordinary events.
+
+We had one cock and eleven hens and about seven ducks, all of whom
+seemed to provide themselves with food, without any assistance from us.
+
+Every one knows that in preparing for a sea voyage quantities of linen
+are necessary; we were therefore most fortunate in that particular. I
+had also pieces of muslin, white and coloured, which I brought to make
+frocks for the young ones in the hot climates, knowing how fast they
+would grow. I left the arrangement of the clothes to Hargrave, who
+grumbled and put away, and put away and grumbled to her heart's content.
+She arranged all the best dresses and also the fine things, laces and
+trinkets, in such a manner that she could constantly look at them, as
+she could not have the satisfaction of seeing us wear them, and to each
+person was given out a certain quantity of wearing apparel that was to
+last a given time. But these are such dry details, that I will proceed
+at once to tea, at which such an important subject as building a house
+was to be discussed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+While I and the two maids had been undergoing the dull labour mentioned
+in the preceding chapter, all the others had been attending to their
+gardens, and they all flocked to tea, laden with fruit and decorated
+with flowers, looking so pretty and happy that I could not but think,
+whatever our lot, we should retain our spirits and cheerfulness to the
+end. Schillie came last, dragging with her a heap of unknown lichens,
+creepers, and mosses, on all of which she wanted me to hold a
+consultation as to what they could be.
+
+Having made some highly-satisfactory guesses, and also having discovered
+amongst our books one on Botany, and another on Natural History of all
+kinds, and also the Travels of a Gentleman in the West Indies, that gave
+a very accurate account of all the productions natural to the climate we
+were in, she was in an especial good humour.
+
+Sybil begged earnestly that the house might be in the gothic style,
+which upset Schillie a little, but she pooh, poohed it off, until Serena
+came out with a vehement hope that it might be a Swiss cottage. "Swiss
+fiddlestick," retorted Schillie, "my dear girls, if you think I shall
+break my back and spoil my hands ornamenting a house for you, you will
+find yourselves wonderfully deceived." She had very pretty small white
+hands. Gatty thought it would be delightful to cut down a tree, and
+muttered something about the impossibility of learning lessons and
+building a house at the same time. In this she was unanimously supported
+by several youthful voices, and Madame was already appealing to me by
+looks of a most pathetic kind (she had the most extraordinary horror of
+a holiday that I ever saw), and Schillie, on seeing her look, exclaimed,
+"Well, Madame, you are certainly not of the same species as I am. I
+should be only too willing to give them holidays every day if I were
+their governess." "Yes, Madame," said Sybil, "and she acts up to it; for
+when you were ill, I heard her say to the little girls that she would
+give them a whole holiday that day because they had had only half a one
+the day before." Madame looked horror-stricken, and mournfully shook her
+head at Schillie.
+
+_Mother._--"Come, come, now, about this house. Where shall we put it
+up!"
+
+Many places were suggested, and at last, partly because there were so
+many trees there, partly because we fancied it more sheltered, and
+partly because it was such a lovely spot, we fixed upon the little
+valley or glade which was sheltered by the cliffs on one side and by a
+thick wood on the other. In the centre was the great tree which had
+bewildered us so by its strange movements while under the influence of
+the great Anaconda. Inland, beyond the tree, was the pretty peaceful
+lake, and a sloping terrace took us down to it.
+
+Great impatience was now manifested on all sides to begin; Madame alone
+was in low spirits. It had been decreed by the higher powers that, until
+we could see how we got on in this new and unusual work for feminine
+fingers, it was as well to employ the whole force of the island;
+besides, after being screwed up in the caverns, where lessons and Madame
+were met at every corner, and there was no escape, a little holiday
+would be a great boon. The piano had been sadly damaged by the wet, so
+we begged her to set it right, that it might be ready for the new
+drawing room.
+
+We all drew plans of the house first, and, to the surprise of everybody,
+Schillie's was undoubtedly the best. So the little Mother was well
+bullied for being so disgusted at having to build a house, and yet
+taking the trouble of making such a good plan. She was made clerk of the
+works on the spot. Gatty's plan had consisted of merely one square. "On
+one side we can sleep," she said, "and on the other sit and do all we
+have to do." "But where are we to eat?" said Sybil. "Oh, I think nothing
+so stupid as having regular meals," said Gatty. "When I have a house of
+my own, I never intend to order anything, but I shall go to the cupboard
+and eat when I am hungry." "But," said Winny, "I don't see a cupboard
+in your plan, Gatty." "Oh, we will stick one up somewhere, little one,"
+returned Gatty.
+
+The high spirits with which every one began their allotted tasks rather
+gave way under the fatigue and hard work, so unusual to delicate
+fingers. Gatty had earnestly begged to cut down the tree, with Jenny,
+Oscar, and Schillie to help. Sybil's hands were too slight and small to
+hold the hatchet, so she had to collect grass and moss with the young
+ones. The first tree that was cut down, how often it was anathematized,
+it seemed determined not to come down. Hot and panting we sat down one
+after another to rest, and a sort of vague notion kept running in our
+heads, if one tree is such a trouble, what shall we do having to cut
+down so many. But Schillie was not to be daunted by a tree; taking a
+great glassful of porter, she called on us all to set to work again,
+partly laughing at us, partly praising us, and especially animating us
+by her energetic example; at length down came our first tree with a
+delightful crash. And happy were the boys, sitting astride on the
+branches, and sawing away as if they received wages for all they did.
+The next tree was more civil, and came down in half the time; the fact
+is, we grew more expert, and at last it was but one hour's task among us
+all to fell one. In a week we had cleared a good space, sawn and chopped
+a vast quantity of wood, and then the clerk of the works ordered me to
+get a great feast ready, as the next day she was going to lay, not the
+first stone, but the first tree of our house. So we went in great state
+to the ceremony, and we took a bottle of wine with us to drink success
+to the new house, and the clerk of the works made a very neat and
+appropriate speech, in which, however, she showed herself on rather too
+familiar terms with her workpeople; and I, in return, proposed, "health
+and long life to the clerk of the works," which was received with great
+cheering and applause. Madame became quite merry, and having settled the
+well-being of the piano, actually offered her services to assist in the
+building, and never mentioned lessons the whole day. We had a superb
+feast. A magnificent dish of fish, the last piece of beef in our
+possession, peas, bacon and beans, roasted yams, a glorious
+plum-pudding, with brandy blazing up in the middle, fruit, beautiful to
+behold and delicious to taste. Then, after dinner, we sang songs, and
+Madame told us some stories, and we went to bed extremely happy, but
+nearly as weary of our day's pleasure as we were of our daily work, we
+had laughed and talked so much. It was quite a month before the clerk of
+the works would allow us to consider our house fit to be looked at, and
+I cannot say it was ever quite finished, as we always found something to
+alter and arrange in it. It consisted of one hall in the middle, thirty
+feet long, twenty feet wide, the walls of which were composed of the
+trees we had cut down, a double row of them, the intermediate space
+being filled up with everything we could collect in the shape of grass
+and moss; the inside was plastered with clay, which, after a while, we
+painted, as we had a good store of oils and turpentine and other things,
+which had been designed for the ship. On both sides of the hall, we had
+what we called lean-tos, the roofs of which began where the roof of the
+hall ended, and they sloped down to within four feet of the ground. The
+other side, or point of the hall, was the entrance. The sheds on each
+side opened into the hall, but had no other outlet. There were two on
+each side and one at the end opposite the entrance, which was a kitchen
+and scullery. Of the four little side rooms, Schillie and I occupied the
+one on the right hand of the door, Madame and the three little girls the
+next one, the two maids and two boys opposite us, and the three girls
+opposite Madame. The little girls used our room to dress and wash in, so
+that Madame's was not intruded upon except at night, and she could keep
+it quiet for herself when she wanted to lie down and rest. The bed
+places were put just where the roof was lowest, so that, in fact, when
+lying down, our faces were within two feet of the roof, but, by this
+means, we had more room in which to stand upright and move about. The
+kitchen had an outlet at the side. The reason we made our side roofs
+slope down so much was to allow the rain to fall off quicker, and to let
+hurricanes blow over us, if possible, without finding any resisting
+substance the wind could blow away. Then all round our house we planted
+the prickly pear, which grew like a weed, so that nothing could attack
+our dwelling from the outside, excepting by the door, and that makes me
+remember to remark that we had no door at all, and we often laughed at
+ourselves for taking such care to guard the sides of the house when we
+left open the only place where there was an entrance. However, then we
+were under no alarm regarding thieves and robbers. But we had a
+sail-cloth curtain, which at night we fastened with bars of wood across,
+as much to prevent the wind flapping it to and fro as to hinder anything
+getting in; also, each bed-room had a curtain before its door or
+entrance. We had a great deal of trouble with the roof it must be
+acknowledged, even the clerk of the works stamped her foot, and went so
+far as to say, "Hang the roof," to which Sybil demurely replied, "That's
+just what we want to do."
+
+We took three spars, one for the middle and two each side, these latter
+being placed two feet lower; on these we nailed a strip of sail-cloth
+each side, which we tarred and painted very often, especially the
+inside, which, at the children's request, was painted in blue, to make
+our roof or ceiling look pretty; above the sail-cloth outside we laid a
+smooth layer of leaves, and then across we nailed shingles of wood
+lapped one over the other, which again were seamed by cross pieces very
+strongly fastened. Lucky it was that the walls were so thick, otherwise
+such an elaborate roof could never have been supported. When finished,
+we all had an argument as to whether it really would resist water, and
+Gatty offered, with Serena to help her, to go up and empty buckets of
+water on it to try. This handsome offer was declined, as we thought the
+rain would do that soon enough, and we were at present too much in love
+with our work to bear the shock of finding all our labour was thrown
+away. I am afraid of appearing tedious in describing our many mistakes,
+our frequent mishaps, and the many blundering contrivances we had.
+Certain it is that to the clerk of the works we owed most of our
+neatness, to the quick wits of the girls many of our ideas, and one and
+all worked with a will. Nevertheless, I have no doubt that the commonest
+carpenter in the smallest village would have laughed at the house we
+built, and how we rectified gaps with grass and moss, how things warped
+one way and others shrunk the contrary, how nails stuck out their points
+and their heads were utterly lost, how screws were such a time before
+they would ever screw for us, how, animated by the clerk of the works,
+few thought of chopped fingers and hammered hands, how others ceased to
+shriek at the monstrous spiders, centipedes, lizards and small snakes,
+appearing every minute in the grass and moss; and now one and all
+agreed, that, in spite of every impediment, we should have the
+housewarming dinner and the first usage of our new mansion on the first
+Christmas-day we had ever spent on this unknown but lonely island.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+And so it was quite ready, and with what pride and satisfaction we
+viewed it. We took little private excursions around it; we made
+innumerable drives into it; we gave it affectionate little pattings, as
+if it was a child; we smoothed down little inequalities; we utterly
+denied the existence of a smell of paint, an idea hazarded by Madame.
+Schillie had a doubt it was rather on one side, which doubt was driven
+to the winds. Sybil suggested a wish that it had been made higher, for
+which she was scouted by the older ones, and nearly tickled to death by
+the younger ones. Not even the remembrance of our home put us out of
+conceit of our new, but certainly most clumsy mansion. Oh home! That
+lovely home? Are we to see it again, or is it only to be seen in a dream
+of the past; and our kith and kin, our kind good neighbours, all that we
+loved so much, were we to see them no more? But this was Christmas-day.
+
+The young ones had swept and decorated our church, as well as they could
+in imitation of the churches at home. Certainly nothing could be more
+gorgeous than the long trailing creepers that hung suspended all round,
+some with scarlet flowers, some bright blue, the magnificent hibiscus,
+the beautiful bell-shaped datura, with innumerable others, to which we
+could give no names.
+
+This was to be a complete holiday. We dressed in silks and satins, we
+exchanged gifts, we offered to each other the proper Christmas greeting.
+Can I say that no heart was sad, that no remembrance of past Christmases
+haunted the celebration of this day? It is but too true that sad
+thoughts arose, but they were not for ourselves.
+
+I must, however, proceed with the opening of the new house, which was
+also to have a name given it. After church we all helped to get dinner
+ready. Schillie cooked with Jenny, being determined to have some superb
+turtle soup. I made by her orders some lime punch, Hargrave boiled
+vegetables of all kinds, the girls got fruit and flowers, Madame
+arranged them, and the boys were getting the fish. I went into the
+kitchen to ask Schillie some question relative to the punch, and was
+sent out with a word and a blow almost. Her face was blazing like a
+warming pan, the soup was at its most important crisis. Gatty hearing
+the explosion of wrath, came as was her usual custom to join in the
+_melee_, also got a shower of invectives, but, knowing the soup-pot
+could not be left, she stood her ground, and occupied herself in various
+petty acts of mischief. For instance, the new cook had a perfect series
+of cloths and such like articles pinned to her when she made her
+appearance. Hargrave found all the gourds and pipkins into which she had
+put the vegetables changed, and, not being naturally sweet tempered, she
+declared, "Miss Gertrude was the most aggravatingest creature she ever
+met, and she would not serve her for a pound a day." But all ended well,
+and the dinner was served. We had boiled chickens at the top, and roast
+chickens at the bottom, and we had roast ducks on both sides, and the
+great bowl of turtle soup was in the middle, with two jugs of lime punch
+each side, and we had guava jelly in two places, and a pumpkin pie, and
+roasted yams, and rice and fruit mixed together of all kinds. In fact,
+it was a perfect Lord Mayor's feast. Schillie had insisted on dining
+like Christians, as she called it, with dinner napkins and finger
+glasses. The rest of the dinner table was covered with fruits and
+flowers, such as I am sure no Lord Mayor ever saw at his table. Grace
+was said. Schillie, with the dinner napkin spread out with an air, her
+face still glowing, but bland in the extreme knowing that she had
+achieved a triumph of cookery, proceeded to serve the soup. I being the
+first to taste it pronounced it delicious. Madame thought it the best
+she had ever tasted! when we heard an exclamation from Schillie, "In the
+name of all that's ridiculous what's in the soup?" said she, turning
+wrathfully to Jenny. "Indeed, Madam, you poured it out of the pan
+yourself, and I only brought it in." "What can it be, here is something
+hard at the bottom rolling about, and I declare everything was stewed to
+a sponge when I last stirred it," continued she in rising choler.
+
+_Gatty_ (rising with great alacrity).--"If you please, little Mother,
+shall I try to fish it out?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Fish fiddlesticks out, indeed, Miss Gatty. Ah you may look
+as demure as you like, I'll be bound you are at the bottom of this
+mischief. I remember now, when I was taking off these rags you pinned on
+me, my back was turned. Now, tell me this instant, you young crocodile,
+what have you been putting in the soup?"
+
+_Gatty._--"If you please, little Mother, don't be so angry, it's only a
+stone, and I washed it quite clean."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then take that stone for your dinner, Miss, and nothing
+else shall you have."
+
+This threat of course went for nothing, and Gatty had as much dinner as
+any of us, and, perhaps, rather more, considering that she was nearly
+the biggest of us all, and also never being still, she required more
+nourishment to keep up the demand upon the constitution.
+
+We made Jenny and Hargrave dine with us. Hargrave mincing her words,
+looking dignified, and eating next to nothing, because she thought it
+more ladylike; while Jenny sat between her two dear boys, and made
+nearly as much noise as they did, swallowing all they made her taste out
+of their own plates, though she was helped out of the same dishes they
+were. The chattering on all sides could only equal the eating. I
+proposed the health of the new house with the first glass of lime punch.
+This was drank with great applause, and a discussion ensued as to what
+we should call it.
+
+_Schillie_ (with her mouth full of turtle).--"Pooh, pooh, use your
+brains for some other purpose. It's a house, is it not? Then why not
+call it a house!"
+
+_Sybil._--"But all houses have names to distinguish them."
+
+_Schillie._--"Alack, if you are not a young noodle. Pray, who has got a
+house here besides? A great boon it would be to have some neighbours to
+whom one could talk common sense."
+
+_Serena._--"Oh, we will talk as much common sense as you like, little
+Mother; and the first thing I shall say is, though there is but one
+house in the island, we may just as well make it as like home as we can,
+and call it the same name."
+
+I nodded approvingly to the dear girl for her nice thought. Madame's
+pocket handkerchief was in requisition, while Schillie, who seemed to
+favour Serena's remarks with more attention than any of the others,
+said, "Call it any name you like, my dear child, if it gives you the
+smallest pleasure; only you will see house it is, and house it will be
+called, until a hurricane blows it down."
+
+"Oh don't, my dear Madam," murmured Madame. "Hurricanes will come,"
+repeated Schillie. "I would oblige you if I could, but in this
+particular I am not clerk of the works, and have no control."
+
+"Then," said Sybil, "we will call it Maescelyn."
+
+"No," said Oscar, "I won't have it called that. The real Maescelyn is a
+castle, very large, airy, and handsome to look at, and this is a dingy
+little house, with no windows in it."
+
+What a start we all gave. It was too true. Even the clerk of the works
+looked quite silly. The house that had cost us such infinite labour, on
+which we looked with such pride and affection, had no windows of any
+kind or sort in its principal room. It is true the door was very wide,
+it is true that floods of light poured in through it, but, suppose we
+had to shut the door (that is when we had made one) what could we do
+then? It is true the little bed-rooms had each their little pigeon holes
+for light and ventilation, and that the back kitchen was very airy, but
+our hall, dining-room, drawing-room, school-room (the pride of our
+hearts and delight of our eyes) had no windows whatever. No wonder we
+all felt the remark was true. Felix spoke first, but only in a whisper,
+which whisper passed round among the young ones, and marvellously
+restored their equanimity. "There was no possibility of doing lessons in
+the dark." As Madame became aware of this telegraphic dispatch, and saw
+its effect, she grew quite nervous, which always caused her to lose her
+voice. In vain she attempted an expostulation, and, what between her
+efforts and the rising exultation, I began to apprehend she would have
+a fit, so I comforted her, and said, "Never mind, Madame, we will have a
+window without doubt somewhere, and at present you see we don't want
+one, for the door throws in so much light, that we never found out we
+ought to have windows." I don't think the clerk of the works spoke for
+the next half hour, she was so annoyed; but, what we thought a great
+misfortune proved afterwards a very desirable thing, for it was most
+refreshing in the glaring sunshine and hot baking air to come into the
+dark cool house, the walls of which being so thick, and filled up with
+clay, preventing the heat penetrating into it.
+
+So we carried on the discussion about the name; Madame, Sybil, Serena,
+and Winifred all for calling it Maescelyn. Oscar, Felix, Lilly, and
+Jenny all against it. The little Mother, not having recovered herself
+gave no name, Gatty was waiting for her opinion before she gave any,
+for, though in constant warfare, their similarity of tastes made them in
+reality sworn friends. Hargrave also would give no name, principally
+because she said, "It was a 'orrifying place, and very outrageous," by
+which we suppose she meant outlandish. Though urged by the little ones,
+whom she suspected were laughing at her, to explain, she would not, but
+went off into a discussion upon dress, and, bidding the young ladies to
+look at her Mistress dressed in Christmas robes, with her hair so
+beautifully plaited in a basket plait, and her curls so smooth and
+bright, and her black satin gown sitting and hanging so becomingly and
+well. "And then to think she could like such a 'ole of an hisland, where
+no one could see how she 'ad hattired her Mistress, and to give such a
+'eathen place a name too, was more than she could bear." So the girls
+who loved to tease her, declared her Mistress did not look one bit
+better than the rest of the party, and that Madame's neat plain white
+cap was the prettiest thing at the dinner table, or Jenny's smart blue
+one, with bows and ends all over it. As she was too-matter-of-fact to
+see any joke in this, and as her Mistress's hair was her weak point, she
+waxed wrath, and began a splendid description, misplacing all the h's,
+and making such a sad havoc amongst her parts of speech, that it was
+difficult to make out what she wished us must to admire, whether her
+Mistress, or diamonds, or black velvet, herself or hair. I had the
+casting vote in giving a name to the house, but, previously, I thought
+it as well that we should give a name to our island. "Certainly,
+certainly," was said on all sides, and also most voices decided it
+should be a Welsh name; therefore, in a glass of lime punch, after a
+long discussion, we christened our island "YR YNYS UNYG," the last word,
+Unyg, being pronounced as inig. This in English signified "The Lonely
+Island." Much as I wished all my dear companions to feel happy, and to
+be as much at home in our painful situation as circumstances would
+allow, and, much also as I liked the notion of our calling everything
+about us by home names, I yet shrunk from giving the name of our
+beloved home to the hut in which we now seemed doomed to pass our days.
+Several times I attempted to begin upon the subject, but it was too
+painful and I dared not trust my voice, lest its faltering should show
+my companions that this Christmas-day was not one of unmixed pleasure,
+and I was the more anxious to restrain my feelings as I could easily
+perceive that a little was only wanting to turn our day of feasting into
+one of mourning. It was not, therefore, until repeated entreaties had
+been urged, that, at last, I said somewhat shortly, and with an effort
+of hilarity, "I think we will call our house 'Cartref Pellenig,' or 'The
+Distant Home,' because--because--"
+
+_Schillie._--"Well, why, because."
+
+"Oh hush, hush, cousin Schillie," said Lilly, who was always impetuous,
+and, throwing her arms round me, she continued, "Don't, dear Mama, my
+own Mother, don't cry, I cannot bear it. We shall see home again, we
+shall not always live here, we will be so good, we will do everything to
+please you. Oh Mother, my own darling Mother, don't cry so."
+
+And so all my efforts were in vain, we were all upset, and the little
+house, so late the scene of merriment, now was filled with the voices of
+lamentation and woe. Each in their different way mourned and wept, but,
+as I said before, it was not so much for ourselves as for others.
+
+We had been so busy, and had so much on our minds that we had thought
+of little else than mending our own condition, and doing all we could to
+make ourselves comfortable. To the olden heads it had been a time of
+great anxiety and trouble, while the younger ones had been forced out of
+their proper sphere of dependance, into that of companions, helpers, and
+advisers. We had, therefore, but little time to think of those who, it
+now struck us, on this Christmas-day, for the first time, would be
+suffering under fear and anxiety for our fate.
+
+The same feelings that were so forcibly striking us of the relations,
+friends, and neighbours with whom we had always exchanged the happy
+Christmas greetings, would, we now began to feel, also strike them. In
+our family what gaps would be seen in the heretofore merry Christmas
+party. I looked round, Schillie was separated from her children, Gatty,
+Zoe, Winifred, Madame, even the poor servants, how many mourning
+households would there be? Not because we were missing from the
+Christmas party, as that was expected, but because they must be aware
+that something had occurred. They must now be suffering under that worst
+of all fears, doubt and apprehension. Eight months had passed since we
+had seen them, and six must have gone by since they had heard from us.
+There could be no doubt that, painful as our feelings were, they were
+now most to be pitied. Oh how we longed for the wings of a bird to fly
+over, and set them at rest. How the more we wept and talked about them,
+the more unbearable and painful grew this feeling. All that we had
+undergone; all that we seemed likely to undergo, appeared but as a drop
+on the ocean compared to the mourning and sorrow which we knew were
+filling the hearts of so many households, weeping, as they would be at
+the mysterious and unknown fate of those they loved so much. We were
+safe, we were well, we were comparatively happy, yet we could not tell
+this, and, perhaps at the time, the very time, we were celebrating our
+housewarming and Christmas dinner, they were lamenting us as dead.
+
+Will it be wondered at that our Christmas-day ended in sorrow, and that
+we wept for those weeping for us. We talked over all they might be
+thinking and doing. Every speech, every sentence ending, "Oh if we could
+only tell them, if they could only peep into the rude hut, and see the
+healthy blooming faces contained therein, albeit each face was bedewed
+with tears, each voice was choking with sorrow." This picture would they
+see. The rustic rough house, with its wide open entrance, showing the
+table strewn with the wrecks of our feast, but brilliant with flowers
+and fruit. Lying on a rude grass cushion was the Mother, her hair all
+dishevelled with sorrow, her face lengthened with woe; close by her,
+with her face hidden from sight, was the little Mother; Madame leaning
+far back in her chair, with a handkerchief over her face, was weeping
+bitterly behind it; the six girls, in various groups, about the two
+Mothers, were each, though deeply sorrowful, trying in their own sweet
+ways, to speak of hope and comfort; the two boys, at a little distance,
+were sitting on the ground, Oscar grave and sorrowful, Felix weeping and
+crying while he fed his monkey to keep it quiet; the servants had
+retired. Beyond, through the door, was seen the deep blue quiet sea,
+over which we were so anxious to fly, while the rich dark foliage of the
+trees appeared cool and refreshing against the glowing sky. But this
+sadness could not last long in a party animated by christian hopes,
+sustained by christian faith; ere the hour for evening service arrived
+our sorrow grew lighter, each seemed to feel in the stored words an
+individual comfort, and we retired to rest committing the consolation of
+all near and dear to us to Him who had preserved _us_ through so many
+and great dangers, for the sake of His Son Jesus Christ. Thus we sat for
+hours on this Christmas-day, but what was going on at home?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+In a distant county, in the North of England, there was situated in a
+quiet country parish a rural rectory, surrounded by a garden, and
+adorned with the only good trees in the neighbourhood; it stood
+sheltered at the foot of a hill, the only rising ground to be seen
+amidst a flat and smoke-dried country. Within that rectory lived a
+venerable and venerated father, with a loving and adored mother, who had
+hitherto been surrounded at Christmas by the happy faces and smiling
+countenances of thirteen children, with their numerous offsprings.
+
+A bright blazing fire is sending a gloomy tint all over the pretty
+drawing room, hung with green, and adorned with bright flowers, worked
+by skilful fingers. Various beautiful and rare specimens of Foreign
+workmanship ornament every part of the room, chairs and sofas of ease
+and luxury pervade the apartment, nothing seems wanting to render this
+room the beau ideal of an English home at Christmas time, for the bright
+green holly with its scarlet berries is hung in every direction. It is
+well inhabited too. In the high-backed old-fashioned chair sits a sweet
+and dignified lady, but her face had a painful expression, her eyes were
+fixed on nothing, her delicate white fingers were half clasped together,
+her thoughts seemed far away. On the opposite side of the fire sat a
+girl writing, whose pretty figure bent over the paper until the long
+chestnut curls lay resting on the table, but they quite concealed the
+face. A tall slim figure was busily winding silk, with her back to the
+fire, her dark hair, beautifully plaited in a thick Grecian plait,
+shewing her small head to great advantage. In full front of the fire sat
+another girl, whose pretty sweet face was bedewed with tears, which
+every now and then she wiped away. A step was heard on the stairs, the
+sweet Mother's eyes recovered their animation, the winder stopped from
+her occupation, the writer raised a pale and care-worn face, each
+advanced to the door as it opened to admit the grey-headed Father. He
+bore a packet of letters, but his face was mournful as he said, "No,
+none from them." "Alas, alas," said the sorrowful Mother, sinking back
+into her chair, "what are we to think? I see, I see, all this heap of
+letters, and not one contains the news we pine for. They are only
+repetitions of what we have already had; anxious enquiries from still
+more anxious parents, painful to read, still more painful to answer. I
+cannot read them, I cannot bear them in my sight." As they tried to
+comfort her, rapid wheels and fast-trotting horses' feet were heard, and
+the next minute a carriage with four breathless and smoking horses
+turned into the drive, and stood at the front door. Before they had
+stopped, a gentleman sprung from the carriage and bounded up stairs in a
+minute, his figure being concealed in a travelling cloak. As he raised
+his hat, he shewed the fine bald head and handsome countenance of Sir
+Walter Mayton. The aged father raised one hand, the sorrowful mother
+clasped the other, as they exclaimed, "What news, what news. Have you
+heard of our lost ones?" He could not bring himself to speak the
+negative that his sorrowful shake of the hand indicated, but another
+person was behind him, having come in the same carriage. Who could
+mistake that kind and loving face, the noble features so handsome in
+their regularity, so beneficent, so benign, the snow-white hair, the
+merry kind blue eye, the upright figure. The weeping Mother threw
+herself into his arms. "Don't cry, don't cry, my dear Emily," said he,
+the tears rolling down his rich ruddy cheek, "we shall find them again.
+We will go in search of them. Remember, I too am a sufferer. Have I not
+lost my right hand, the sunbeam of my house, my sweet, little,
+mischievous, pretty, fidgety Gatty," and he raised his eyes reverently
+to heaven, as if to invoke a blessing on his lost child; and this was
+Gatty's Father, who had left his court, and had come down purposely with
+Sir Walter Mayton to consult on the best mode of discovering the lost
+party, and taking the advice of all those nearly and dearly interested
+in them.
+
+"Now," said Sir Walter Mayton, seeing that the painfulness of the
+meeting was nearly over, "now let us proceed to business. First of all,
+will you allow me to ring the bell for some dinner, as I can tell my
+story while it is getting ready, and we must leave immediately after."
+That matter being arranged, he proceeded, "You are aware that I,
+according to directions that I received from our lost party, dated
+Madeira, followed them to Rio Janeiro by the next packet. I had a
+capital voyage, and was so speedy in my movements that I was not
+surprised at finding La Luna not in port when I arrived. I waited
+patiently for a week during which time I hired a house and made
+preparations for their seeing all that was worth seeing in the country.
+At the end of that time your son's ship came into port, and she had not
+reported herself five minutes ere I was on board. He, with me, expressed
+great disappointment at the non-arrival of our party, and, from being
+rather fidgety before, I became doubly so at seeing his anxiety.
+Accordingly, we left orders and persons ready to receive them should
+they arrive by any means unknown to us; and I, at his request,
+accompanied him on his cruise up and down the coast, thinking, in my
+impatience, that I should hear of them sooner; and at all events, it was
+some employment, for, I frankly own, I could not have waited another
+week doing nothing, and suffering such anxiety.
+
+"We were out a fortnight, and all we heard was that there had been a
+tremendous gale, for those vessels that were only in the tail of it
+suffered considerably. But, your son had no fear of La Luna riding it
+out, knowing what a good sea-boat she was; except, indeed, she had by
+some misfortune got into the circle of the storm, by which she would not
+only have the worst of it, but be violently exposed for many more days
+than otherwise. Our anxiety grew with the weeks, so at the end of the
+fortnight we put into Rio again, and consulted the best authorities. We
+all agreed on one subject, namely, that having good sea-room, which we
+calculated she must have had when the storm overtook her, she could not
+have foundered or been lost. We had then to think what else could have
+occurred, and in making up our minds to wait patiently another
+fortnight, we calculated that ladies do sometimes change their minds,
+and that they might have been seduced into landing on some of the
+numerous and lonely islands with which the Atlantic abounds.
+
+"But, it was sorry work this waiting, I determined to make them pay
+dearly for breaking their promise, should it be the case, and for
+putting me into such a painful state."
+
+"I can well believe it, Sir, I can well believe it," said the
+grey-headed Father. "Thank you, thank you for all your kind interest."
+
+"Nay, Sir, thank me not. I own I have neither chick nor child, and so
+may not be expected to feel as much as a parent would do on such an
+occasion; but, Sir, I feel for my wards as tenderly as any Father can, I
+would rather a thousand ills occurred to me than that a hair of their
+heads should be injured." His strong voice faltered, "But, enough, I
+came here to tell my tale, and not to indulge in unavailing sorrow. Let
+it suffice to tell you I left not a port unexplored on the coast of
+America; I left not a stone unturned to learn their fate; I rested not
+day or night; your son had permission from the admiral to devote as much
+time to the same search, as his duties would permit. I mentally resolved
+I would not leave the spot until I heard something of them."
+
+"How kind, how good you are," said the listeners.
+
+"And I should have kept my promise, had it not been for a letter from
+Mr. M., who you know is co-trustee and joint guardian with me of your
+grandchildren. Of course the loss of such a party soon became known, in
+fact our anxiety, and all we did, and the sympathy we met with, and the
+help we obtained, would detain you much too long were I to tell you. But
+you will not be surprised to hear that the next heir to my wards'
+estates has intimated his knowledge that some dire misfortune has
+occurred to the three children on whom the property is entailed, your
+grandchildren. I, therefore, came home at once. I have consulted Mr. M.,
+I have taken the ablest advice, and where could I have better than from
+him who is so interested in the matter, and so high in his profession?"
+Bowing to Gatty's Father. "Also I have seen the once-hasty heir, and
+settled his business, I have put everything into the hands of Mr. M.
+regarding the property, and in such training that nothing can be done
+for a year or two by the next heir, and now I am come down to see you,
+and take your orders and wishes, and to-morrow I sail for America to
+prosecute my search, and not leave it until I find them dead or alive."
+
+"You are too kind, too good, one might expect such devotion in one of
+their relations, but not in one barely connected with them. We know not
+how to thank you."
+
+With such speeches the whole party were proceeding, but Sir Walter
+interrupted them, saying, "Nay, nay, say no more, I am not acting so
+disinterestedly as you think, my conscience would not suffer me to rest
+easy did I not do my duty to the children of one of my oldest and
+dearest friends. At his dying request I undertook the charge, and only
+with life do I mean to relinquish my care over them. Besides, look round
+amongst all who are now mourning the loss of those I am about to seek;
+have they not ties of home, children, professions? I have none. I had
+but to guard the property of my wards, superintend their education, and
+prevent their mother spoiling them, and, by this sad event that business
+is over. It is my duty to seek for them; as a military man and
+acquainted with the world, I am fitted for adventure and all its
+consequences. I go with a cheerful heart and hopeful expectations. I
+have but one sorrow, and that is the mad permission I gave them to go
+without me." Thus saying, he arose and paced the room rapidly. Gatty's
+Father rose also, and, taking his hand, solemnly thanked him for what he
+was about to do as regarded the welfare of his lost child, continuing
+in this strain, "Your language and energy, Sir Walter, make me wish I
+could accompany you, but that you know is impossible, serving her
+Majesty in the capacity I do. But my heart and prayers go with you, and
+remember that as I cannot indulge my wish to join you in your search,
+you must command my purse. Ah my Gatty, my pretty darling, did your
+Father reckon your value by his purse, what worlds could contain the
+treasure I would give for thee? The merciful God preserve my dear child,
+and restore her to my arms." All were too much affected to speak for
+some little time, but the meal being announced as ready, they entered
+once more into conversation as they ate it.
+
+Emily, the active winder, asked if they had escaped the tempest, what
+probable fate could have detained them so long? Sir Walter looked up,
+quickly laid down his knife and fork, and was about to say something,
+when he corrected himself, and said instead, "You shall know all I can
+learn when I get to America."
+
+"But," said Charlotte, looking up from between her long curls, with
+great anxiety, "you do know more only you are afraid to tell us. Pray be
+kind to us, and tell us all you know." "Why should I tell you what would
+add to your sorrow, when there may be nothing but conjecture in the
+idea?" "Oh," said the eager Mother, "tell us all, we are so bewildered
+and lost in conjectures, that nothing you can tell us could add to the
+anxiety we are in. Moreover, I think I know what you mean. I have
+already hinted such a thing to my husband. Are you not afraid they have
+been captured by the pirates, whose depredations my son has been ordered
+to subdue?" "Just so, my dear Madam, it was the common opinion of every
+one, when I left Rio, that they had fallen into the hands of the gang of
+pirates now infesting those seas. This knowledge has added an additional
+spur to your son's exertions, though he did not want it, for the Admiral
+had been laughing at him, and calling his ship a 'Will o' the Wisp,' she
+seemed to be in every port every day. I can assure you, Sir," turning to
+the Father, "you may, amidst all your sorrow, congratulate yourself on
+having for a son one of the most promising officers in Her Majesty's
+service, and it is well known too." The dear beloved parents needed such
+a balm to their harassed minds. "But, can you," said Gatty's Father,
+"form any conjecture as to what would be their fate, say they were in
+the hands of the pirates?" "I took good care, Sir, before I left Rio, to
+offer very tempting ransoms, and to publish them in all quarters, and it
+is well known they are a very needy set, and that so much money will be
+too difficult for them to refuse. So I have every hope, and now I must
+be off."
+
+Amidst the prayers, tears, blessings, and good wishes of the whole party
+he departed, leaving the loving Mother comfortable, the christian Father
+resigned, the sweet anxious sisters hopeful. But the weary months flew
+by; the distant parents came to talk over the fate of the lost ones; the
+letters from America grew brief and desponding; hope died totally away
+in the breasts of some; Sir Walter again visited England, and again
+returned to pursue his search; H.M.S. C---- was on the eve of being
+ordered home; some went into deep mourning, as if their nearest and
+dearest were but just dead; the over-hasty heir was beginning to
+threaten; the letters home ceased, as if it were better not to write at
+all than to write disappointment.
+
+Had years gone by since that pretty drawing room had disclosed the
+affectionate family mourning their lost ones on Christmas-day? Had not
+Christmas come and gone, and yet they were still mourning? Time will
+show. It takes the sick couch, the dying words, the quivering breath,
+the last sigh, the solemn funeral pomp, to make death seem reality, to
+be assured we have lost "the light of our eyes," to be certain that one
+from amongst us has gone, and that we shall see his face no more.
+
+Without all this, was it possible to feel that so large a gap was made
+in the family circle, such a rent was torn from the flourishing tree,
+and yet no sign was given to show how it was done?
+
+Weep on, beloved mourners, weep on, but not for ever. Have we not a
+home, where no such ties can be severed, no such grief felt? This is but
+a passage to a better world; why should we grieve at what occurs to us
+herein, when we have the home of the blessed before us, the rest of the
+faithful awaiting us. In such words spake the pious, humble, consistent
+Father to his family, and they were comforted; and as months flew by,
+they whispered and talked of their lost ones, as if they were already
+denizens of the bright world beyond the tomb, and peace was restored to
+the family.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+
+It fortunately happened that we had so much to do we could not weep all
+day; moreover, Jenny, who was very methodical, thought if we went on
+crying all the evening, how was she to get the tea ready. Accordingly,
+with some hesitation, having shewn her face several times before, she
+ventured to enquire if she might take away the remains of our feast. On
+this we all roused up, and bestirred ourselves; the girls helped to wash
+up; the little ones ran out to amuse themselves; I swept the floor,
+while Schillie put the room tidy; Madame having gone to lay down to cure
+her sad headache. We then all went down to the sea to bathe and enjoy
+the cool breeze, and at night we went to bed sorrowful but thankful for
+the many mercies above, around, about us.
+
+On the morrow, lessons were to begin seriously, and some seemed to think
+it almost a hanging matter, so doleful did they look. They were to have
+that part of the room nearest the door, as being lighter and more airy.
+The maids had the rest of the room for laying the meals, while Schillie
+and I had to dispose of ourselves any way we could, so it was out of the
+way.
+
+We had a long conversation on this particular morning, which I began by
+saying, "We must now begin to think of making discoveries, and storing
+food against the rainy weather."
+
+_Schillie._--"Good woman, how fidgety you are. I do think you might
+allow me a little rest after building that horrid house and labouring so
+hard."
+
+_Mother._--"But we shall look so silly if we have nothing to eat, and it
+is impossible to get out during the wet weather."
+
+_Schillie._--"That's granted, I cannot abide wet weather."
+
+_Mother._--"Then making discoveries is your principal delight; and you
+may combine amusement and use together."
+
+_Schillie._--"A thing I abominate. I hate joining two things, and I
+cannot be amused when all the time I am thinking I am so useful."
+
+_Mother._--"Then sit down here, while I go and perpetrate this horrid
+crime!"
+
+_Schillie._--"Now, June, you are going too far, as if I would suffer you
+to stir a yard without me; you will be tumbling over some precipice, get
+eaten up by a huge turtle, or light on another great snake. Now, come
+along, what's the first discovery we are to make?"
+
+_Mother._--"That's more than I can settle, because I am quite in the
+dark at present about what we require. But, if you must have a decided
+answer, pray discover some shoes and boots."
+
+_Schillie._--"Now you must talk common sense if you mean me to help you.
+I heard that little demure Jenny, who thinks of nothing but the
+children, coming to you this morning with a complaint about the number
+of holes in her darling's only pair of shoes."
+
+_Mother._--"Oh but she brought in her apron the whole establishment of
+young boots and shoes, that I might see the dilapidated condition in
+which they were."
+
+_Schillie._--"And what did you say to that?"
+
+_Mother._--"I looked at her gravely and said, 'Then Jenny, order the
+carriage, and tell Goode I shall go to H---- this evening to buy boots
+and shoes for the young ones.' I was sorry after I had indulged in this
+joke, for first of all she looked perplexed, then she looked sorrowful,
+and finally she bundled up her miserable cargo, and fled in a burst of
+tears."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then she is a greater goose than I imagined. She would
+have been more sensible had she devised some means of repairing them,
+without bothering you."
+
+_Mother._--"But they are past repair."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then she might have tried to concoct new ones."
+
+_Mother._--"Perhaps she does not like combining amusement and business
+together."
+
+_Schillie._--"Now, June, you are too bad, and to punish you I'll not
+help you a bit with your boots and shoes."
+
+_Mother._--"Suppose we take to going without any."
+
+_Schillie._--"Yes, and get bitten to death with these horrid scorpions,
+or, look here, see how pleasant to put one's naked foot on these black
+ants."
+
+_Mother._--"Then it seems clear we must have boots and shoes."
+
+_Schillie._--"Of course, who doubted it?"
+
+_Mother._--"Then let us go and discover something that will somehow do
+for them."
+
+_Schillie._--"You always come round me in such a manner, that I begin to
+think if you told me to do so I should be creeping out of my skin some
+day."
+
+_Mother._--"Pray don't disturb yourself with that idea, as I rather want
+to clothe you than disrobe you. For our next discovery must be something
+of which to make dresses."
+
+_Schillie._--"Are you gone mad; who wants dresses, have we not enough to
+last us for a year at least?"
+
+_Mother._--"Yes, that I know, but I want to make the discovery, and get
+expert in the business before our own clothes are quite gone. It will be
+so awkward to have no clothes at all."
+
+_Schillie._--"Very much so."
+
+_Mother._--"Now do you know I have already had a great idea that this is
+the palm tree, out of which they make sago. Here you see are the young
+ones, small prickly shrubs, and here they are growing up into trees, and
+this one that I first pointed out is covered with a whitish dust, which
+I have read is an indication that the sago is ready to be taken."
+
+_Schillie._--"You seem very learned on the subject, but are you going to
+make boots and shoes out of sago?"
+
+_Mother_ (laughing).--"No, no, I don't want to confine my discoveries
+only to boots and shoes, I am for discovering everything, and I meant to
+have told you of this discovery before, for I conjectured it when you
+used to make me lie down to rest in this spot while you did my work."
+
+_Schillie._--"And very lucky it is that you have some one with an ounce
+of sense near you to make you rest. You don't work race horses like
+carters, but a Suffolk Punch is made for use, and all the better for
+it."
+
+_Mother._--"You don't compliment yourself, Mrs. Suffolk Punch, though I
+agree you do the work of the animal you liken yourself to. But I beg you
+won't compare me to anything so useless as a racer, who is only required
+for a few days hard labour, and then may die, having fulfilled the
+purpose of filling the owner's pockets."
+
+_Schillie._--"You know nothing about the matter. You don't suppose that
+horses are bred so highly merely for running races. It is to improve the
+breed of horses, and you may go to the moon and never----"
+
+_Mother._--"Look, look, what a lovely tree!"
+
+_Schillie._--"So it is. Let us sit down, while I fish out my book, and
+discover what it is. Now then for characteristics. Why here is a picture
+of it. What a nice book this is. It's a nutmeg tree. Then it may go to
+the dogs, for I hate nutmegs."
+
+_Mother._--"I don't like them either, but I have heard they are very
+good preserved, and, besides, some of the others may like them, so let
+us see if any are ripe. No! none at all, so it's lucky we are
+indifferent about nutmegs at present."
+
+_Schillie._--"All this shrubby stuff about here, looking something like
+Jerusalem artichoke, is ginger I think."
+
+_Mother._--"Yes, it is, so we will take some home, as it is very good
+for Madame. What nice large roots it has, but I don't call it a shrub.
+Shrubs are bushy things."
+
+_Schillie._--"Call it what you like, so we may have some preserved. I
+could eat it for breakfast, dinner, and tea. Now, here are your boots
+and shoes growing on this Ita palm. Look, my knowing little book says
+the leaves are enclosed in cases, which serve for shoes, and this is the
+exact description of these tall fellows. Now, June, if we can only take
+some home to Jenny she will be as pleased as Punch, and so shall I, for
+I did not think your fidgetiness would end in such a fine encouraging
+manner."
+
+_Mother._--"But, good lack, as you say, how are we ever to get at them;
+this tree must be at least a hundred feet high, and all the others seem
+bigger, and all the leaves are at the top; almost sky-high they look."
+
+_Schillie._--"We must cut one down, there is no help for it. I will run
+home for a couple of hatchets, and mind you don't stir from hence until
+I return, and don't get eaten up, for your life, by anything."
+
+_Mother._--"Suppose you bring the girls with you; we shall never cut it
+down ourselves without aching all over, and they will be so glad to get
+out of school."
+
+_Schillie._--"I'll be bound they will. But first I shall say only those
+are to come out who have been good, for the pleasure of seeing Miss
+Gatty screw up her countenance into ineffable disgust, for I know she
+will have been naughty."
+
+_Mother._--"You know you will do nothing of the sort, but, on the
+contrary, say that Gatty is more wanted than the others."
+
+_Schillie._--"I confess I have a weakness for that child, she is so
+preposterously mischievous."
+
+_Mother._--"Now I have a weakness for her, because she is like the
+knights of old, 'the soul of honour.' Now she fires up, and now she
+ruins her pocket handkerchiefs if anything is said derogatory to her own
+country or to her Queen. Did you hear or rather see her this morning
+while they were reading their history, when Madame praised Napoleon
+Buonaparte at the expense of the Duke of Wellington?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Yes. I misdoubt me that I shall find her in sad disgrace.
+She will have endeavoured to soothe her wounded feelings by putting
+spiders on Sybil, changing Serena's book, mislaying Madame's alderman,
+which is neither more nor less than the name Gatty has given that great
+fat pencil with which Madame marks their books, and rat-ta-ta-tals them
+up when they are looking dull and stupid."
+
+_Mother._--"Don't come without her, however, for she is the strongest.
+It's a pity Sybil is so good as never to be in disgrace, for her little
+delicate fingers are of no use in such a case."
+
+_Schillie._--"Indeed Sybil and Serena are too stupid for anything. They
+learn all their books, they like all their lessons, they agree to all
+Madame's crinkums crankums, and they are so horridly good, it quite puts
+me out."
+
+_Mother._--"Pooh, nonsense. If we had three Gattys here we should find
+the island too hot to hold us. Be content at having two of the best
+girls in the world to deal with."
+
+_Schillie._--"I must say Serena is a tip-top girl, she makes Miss Gatty
+look about her; but I must be off."
+
+During her absence, I sat down upon an old stump of a tree, and by and
+by I heard a little rustling in the bushes, out of which came a sort of
+animal like a large rat, but it had a flat tail, and each side of this
+tail was adorned with hair like fringe. It looked at me steadily, and,
+except its tail, was not an ugly creature. I did not choose to be
+frightened; but still as another and another came, and all stood
+steadily gazing at me, I had a sort of qualm that some rats fly at one's
+throat, and, though not really injured, I might perhaps get severely
+bitten if they attacked me. I was therefore glad to hear the merry
+voices in the distance coming nearer and nearer; and, as the rats heard
+the unusual sounds, they slunk away as if by magic, for I could hardly
+perceive the movement by which they disappeared.
+
+_Schillie_ (quite breathless).--"Well, here you are quite safe. I am
+always so afraid when I leave you that you get into some mischief. But
+you have seen something, I know by your face."
+
+_Mother._--"Then don't look as if I was injured. I have only seen some
+odd-looking sorts of rats with flat tails."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then Otty must come with his gun and shoot them, for I
+dare say now that snake is dead the animals of all kinds will increase
+very much. I only wish there was a snake among the gnat tribe. Anything
+like the way in which I am teased by things biting me is not to be
+described."
+
+The girls were delighted with the business set before them, and even
+Madame appeared with a hatchet in her delicate fingers, but without
+being able to make even an apology of a stroke.
+
+When the tree was down, we proceeded to shoe ourselves, intent upon
+delighting and surprising Jenny. But we never regarded a gummy substance
+exuding from all parts of the tree, which plagued us for some time
+afterwards, destroying the stockings, and very, very difficult to get
+off, also blistering the skin a little, but these sheathes for the
+leaves of the Ita palm really made capital shoes. We had only to dry
+them a little in the sun. They did not however last very long, and it
+was no uncommon thing for the boys to want a new pair every day.
+Notwithstanding there being such an abundance of these naturally-growing
+ready-made shoes, we were not sorry at the ingenious invention of Sybil
+and Serena, who, after repeated efforts, contrived to plait most
+excellent shoes out of grass.
+
+One day, penetrating a little farther than usual, we came to a rich
+little glen, running down to the sea. Here, digging up some plants, as
+was our usual custom, to make fresh discoveries, we found the mould of a
+beautiful bright red colour; this shaded off into deep chocolate or
+bright yellow. We could not discover any metallic substance in it, or
+that it tasted of anything, but it painted our fingers whenever we
+touched it, and when first turned up was glossy and shining. Near this
+place grew some sugar canes, curiously striped, and a tree or shrub,
+seven or eight feet high, with an oblong hairy pod; something like a
+chestnut, hanging to it; inside were about thirty or forty seeds, buried
+in a pulp of bright red colour, smelling rather fragrant. We found out
+afterwards that these seeds were good for fevers, and the pulp made very
+good red paint.
+
+The tobacco plant we all knew very well. It grew in the most rank manner
+here. But one of the most lovely trees we had yet discovered was one
+twenty feet high, with a grey, smooth, shining trunk, apparently
+destitute of bark. It had beautiful dark green leaves, with an
+astonishing profusion of white flowers, so deliciously fragrant, that we
+sat to the wind side of it with the greatest delight. It had berries on
+it, out of which squeezed a sweet oil smelling of cloves.
+
+We did not like the situation of our house nearly so much as on the
+cliffs; we had so little air, and were so much tormented by insects of
+all kinds. Some of the ant hills were at least three feet high; and upon
+merely walking near them, the angry little inhabitants came swarming out
+in multitudes to resent the supposed injury.
+
+On the cactuses, which grew very large, and in a most luxuriant manner,
+we discovered what we supposed were the insects for making cochineal,
+but we did not think that a grand discovery, but, on the contrary,
+thought the cotton plant a much greater gift.
+
+I had been used to spin when in Scotland, having taken a fancy to the
+thing. But, not all the wishes in the world could produce a spinning
+wheel, so I kept my desires secret until I saw some hope of
+accomplishment. Every day each person had to bring in their quota of
+discoveries and additions to our larder and stores, for, though we knew
+nothing about the climate we imagined ourselves looking remarkably
+silly, should bad weather come on, and find us unprovided.
+
+Taking one day as a specimen for all the rest, after three hours
+exploring, in different parties, we produced our treasures, as
+follows:--Madame had gathered a number of small reeds or rushes, out of
+which she had concocted two very pretty and useful baskets, one of which
+had been immediately appropriated by a hen. For, while she was busy
+with the other, this hen thought she had never beheld so cosy a nest,
+and, therefore, laid an egg in it. This was of course given to Madame,
+for her supper, as a reward for her ingenuity. Schillie came dragging
+with her, besides innumerable other plants and curiosities, an enormous
+root, as thick as her waist.
+
+_Schillie._--"Now then, young ones, come round and see what this is. You
+see when I cut it what milky stuff flows from it."
+
+"Yes," said they, "we see; may we not have some to put into our own tea?
+It is so nasty without milk."
+
+_Schillie._--"For goodness sake, brats, don't be so rash, it's rank
+poison."
+
+_Mother, Madame, and a whole Chorus._--"Then, what good is it to us?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Well! don't make such a row, and you shall see. Here,
+Jenny, you and some of the young ladies help me to rasp or scrape it up,
+but, for your life don't let it touch the skin, or you may die, but, at
+all events, you may get blisters on your hands."
+
+_Mother_ (very cross).--"How can you be so absurd, Schillie, as to bring
+such a dangerous thing amongst the children?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Now, pray, keep yourself quiet until I have hurt one of
+them. You told me to make discoveries, and this is a superb one. Now, we
+have got a good heap. Fetch a cloth, Jenny, pop it in; now hold one
+while I hold the other, and twist and squeeze as if Master Felix's life
+depended thereon. And now behold."
+
+So opening the cloth we discovered some nice white flowery-looking
+stuff, which she declared was tapioca, and which we discovered made most
+excellent bread. We really voted this discovery of the cassada root
+quite a grand discovery, though I was always very fidgety about the
+poisonous milk in it. But the loaves made from the flower were
+delicious. She, of course, had many more things to show us, but I will
+only take one from each of us. Sybil had been indefatigable in her
+search for hemp, and had found a species of grass, which she had beaten
+between two stones in the water, and it had spread into innumerable fine
+threads, so that hers was a most valuable discovery. Serena had found a
+perfect horde of turtle's eggs, besides eggs innumerable of all kinds of
+birds. Gatty, we all knew, could not have discovered much, for she had
+been running from one Mother to another, flying off again to the girls,
+helping the little ones in innumerable difficulties, and doing anything
+but minding her own duties. However, nothing undaunted, she opened an
+apology for a handkerchief, and out waddled a large odd crab, for which
+Schillie greatly applauded her, and said she would have him boiled for
+supper. "But I have discovered something else," said Gatty, with a
+mischievous twinkling of her eyes, and opening a paper box, out sprang a
+horrible spider, three inches round I am sure, black and hairy, faintly
+spotted. Madame and Sybil fled, the little ones shrieked, Schillie
+scolded, and in the midst of the uproar the spider bolted, and peace was
+restored. Zoe had discovered a beautiful species of jessamine tree, most
+fragrant in smell, and on which, for a wonder, there were no insects
+whatever, and she therefore supposed it must be something good.
+
+We found out that no ants would touch the wood, so it proved very useful
+to us. Winny bent and quivered under the weight of an enormous
+curiously-shaped gourd, and triumphantly declared her discovery was
+nearly as big as the little Mother's. "But it is no discovery, little
+one," said Serena, "for we have had gourds before." "But it is a
+discovery," persisted the little one, "for it is such a big fellow, and
+it has a growing in and a growing out, quite unlike the others." So we
+thanked her warmly, and Jenny said she was and had been undone to
+possess a gourd of that very particular shape. Lilly had discovered so
+many wonderful things (upon supposition) that we contented ourselves
+with thanking her for some large and useful shells which would serve for
+many purposes. The boys had been so intent on manufacturing fishing
+lines that they had spent their time wandering vaguely about, hoping
+fishing lines would fall from the skies for them, but as no such thing
+happened, they had pulled long hairy lines from the cactuses, and they
+had also brought in their pockets a fruit like an apple outside, but it
+was full of an insipid kind of custard. Jenny had got some sand for
+scouring her floors and kettles, also she said she had got a plant that
+looked like one in an old book she had, from which they made soap. This
+we found correct, and it proved a most valuable discovery; it was called
+the soap-wort. Hargrave had contented herself with gathering the most
+beautiful flowers she could see, at the same time bewailing over their
+rapid destruction, only wishing that they were artificial ones that she
+might ornament the young ladies' dresses. It was on this day that my
+discovery consisted of the cinnamon tree. But all this will appear
+tedious, so I will go on to the time when we were roused from our
+discoveries, pretty walks, out-door amusements, and healthy exercise, by
+a terrific thunder storm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+
+We had become somewhat accustomed to the storms, and, though this one
+was terrific, and also followed by no interval of sunshine to break us
+in for the wet weather, yet our condition was so greatly ameliorated, we
+thought but little of it. Our house was waterproof even when the rain
+came down like the sea itself pouring over us. The wind was furious, but
+the nook we had selected was most sheltered, and, but for the uproar it
+made among the trees, we should have hardly known the real extent of the
+hurricane. Sometimes the thunder cracking over our heads awoke us in the
+night, and we congregated together for companionship and comfort. In the
+day-time we were very busy; I was inventing a spinning wheel; Schillie
+and the girls concocting chessmen; the boys knocking up shelves, seats,
+and boxes; the maids labouring through a perfect haycock of rent
+clothes and damaged stockings; somebody always singing, and sometimes
+that somebody was everybody. In the evening, Madame played, and
+everybody danced for an hour by the light of one candle; when breathless
+and tired, stories were told, each taking it in turn. A quick and
+pleasant three weeks passed, for which we daily thanked the Giver of all
+good.
+
+When the sun shone once more our occupations were innumerable, leaving
+us no leisure from early morn, until the darkness came. What with
+gardening, lessons, manufacturing food and clothes, we had our hands
+full. It was astonishing to see how active the young ones were in
+turning everything to use; how quick and clever they became in all sorts
+of ways that belonged more to older heads. It is true there were some
+symptoms of fine ladyism that grumbled at washing clothes, grinding
+sand, and cleaning up dirty dishes; the latter was carried to so great a
+height that Zoe and Lilly came to me with a flat refusal to wash the
+breakfast plates. "Why?" said I. "Because they are so dirty," said they.
+"Very well," said I, "you need not do it." But they never objected again
+to any work, for their dirty plates were put before them, without any
+remark, each day, until they washed them of their own accord; and the
+elder girls let slip no opportunity of commenting upon fine ladies, who
+expressed great anxiety to help others, but must have the plates cleaned
+before they could wash or wipe them, and supposed they must have people
+to sweep the way before them, others to hand their food to their mouths.
+In fact, the irony ran so high, and was felt so sorely, that a private
+petition was sent in to have it stopped. This I was most glad to do, for
+our meals had been rendered a little unpleasant by mortified tears
+bedewing the face of the gentle Zoe, while indignant sobs and haughty
+looks betokened the harassed feelings of the high-spirited Lilly.
+
+As may be supposed, we had many conversations regarding our future fate,
+and the probability of passing our days in this island.
+
+_Mother._--"It is the idea which always makes me so anxious, Schillie,
+to retain every possible memorial of our civilized life. Should our
+children and their descendants remain on this island, they will live to
+thank the Mother who worries you so with all the spinning, weaving, and
+other inventions that tease you."
+
+_Schillie._--"So you expect the children to marry, do you? Well, there
+will be plenty of old maids left to keep up the civilized art of
+scandal, seeing there are but two husbands for these six girls."
+
+_Felix._--"Don't call me a husband, cousin Schillie, for I don't intend
+to marry."
+
+_Oscar._--"I don't mind marrying Gatty, because she will go out shooting
+with me."
+
+_Schillie._--"And what has set you against matrimony, you imp of
+mischief?"
+
+_Felix._--"Why I don't like being called grandfather, and so I won't
+marry and have grandchildren."
+
+This unfortunate announcement drew upon him the fate he wished to avoid,
+and, spite of his indignation, and tears, "grandfather" became his
+_sobriquet_ until they were tired of the joke.
+
+But we renewed our conversation, and, though I used my best arguments,
+and had Madame on my side, and though the battle waxed hot and loud, and
+was oft renewed between us, I never could get Schillie to allow that it
+was of the slightest use our thus exerting ourselves. This surprised me
+a good deal, for she had so much plain good sense, and was so naturally
+clever, and gifted with such brains for invention and concoction, that I
+expected to find her the champion of my plans, instead of the damper she
+proved. The hot and relaxing climate might have had some effect on her
+constitution, or the good hope she always carried about with her that we
+were not to remain here for ever, might make her reluctant to take
+trouble for nothing.
+
+But it proved always in the end, the more busy and interested we were in
+our occupations the quicker time went, and less of it was spent in those
+vain regrets and idle wishes that left wounds on the heart which nothing
+could heal.
+
+In justice, I must say, when fairly roused, none worked so hard or so
+well and the little workpeople had to look sharply about them when she
+was in superintendence.
+
+She was in a cross mood one day, when she discovered me writing.
+
+_Schillie._--"What can you be doing, June?"
+
+_Mother_ (hesitating a little).--"I am writing a journal."
+
+_Schillie._--"Now, pray, tell me for what purpose."
+
+_Mother._--"It will be interesting to us to recur to some day; or it
+will serve to enlighten our own descendants, should we never leave this
+place."
+
+_Schillie._--"Well, I could not think you would be so absurd. Who wants
+to recall this horrible time; or what possible interest can you put into
+the details of such a life as ours."
+
+_Mother._--"I grant it's very difficult, but you are at liberty to look
+at it."
+
+_Schillie_ (reading).--"Ha! a thunderstorm (very interesting). Another
+(truly pathetic). Felix ill (the dear pet, how sorry his grandchildren
+will be to hear it). Gatty in mischief (when is she ever out of it?)
+Schillie worked the most of all (and what has she got to do besides?)
+Very merry tea (what a fib, when we have had no tea this month). Sybil
+so amiable (yes, quite mawkishly so). Our dear captain (good me! what a
+monody). The good Smart (perfect epitaphs over them all, pity they are
+not in rhyme). Well, June, of all the nonsense I ever read your journal
+seems the crown thereof."
+
+_Mother._--"I don't pretend to write anything amusing, for how can I
+with so few incidents; only I wished to keep a sort of journal."
+
+_Schillie._--"It seems to me nothing but about the children, how they
+were naughty and how they got good again. Why don't you write the
+geological structure of the island, the botanical history, and a whole
+account of the birds and beasts."
+
+_Mother._--"That I leave for your abler head and pen."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then it will never be done. I hate the place so much, I
+would not record a single thing about it."
+
+_Mother._--"If that is the case, leave my poor journal alone. I grant it
+is everything you say, dull, stupid, and monotonous, nevertheless, I
+have a fancy to keep it."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then, pray, indulge your fancy, and, in addition to
+keeping your journal, keep it locked up, for it is quite enough to
+endure all the children's twaddle, without writing it down."
+
+My spinning-wheel answered remarkably well; but all my spinning was of
+little avail, as we had no idea of weaving. Schillie promised if she was
+not bothered by having to build more houses, she would try her hand at
+inventing a weaving machine the next rainy season. Luckily my yarn or
+thread was as coarse as needs be, and answered very well for crocheting
+and knitting. In both these arts we became wonderfully skilful; sewed
+crochet boots and shoes, while others knitted petticoats and jackets, so
+that we were in no particular fear that when our present clothes failed
+we should become a tribe of white savages. The children grew like the
+vegetation, and Gatty stalked over the ground like a young Patagonian.
+We had no lack of food, though we had neither beef or mutton, but
+poultry, birds, fish, eggs, and turtle, with innumerable vegetables and
+fruits, were surely enough for our simple party. In the midst of our
+many avocations, sighs and tears would arise for those we loved; neither
+could the the affection we bore each other, and the peaceful, useful,
+and happy lives we led, obliterate from our minds all we had lost. It
+was no uncommon thing, especially on Sunday, for us to collect round a
+favourite tree, and talk of and picture to ourselves what was passing at
+each home. In remembering the simple stedfast faith of my Father, the
+hopeful, sweet, loving nature of my Mother, I could not but think that
+through their virtues we might hope for a restoration to home. As the
+sins of the parents are visited on the children, so are their virtues
+means of showering blessings to the third and fourth generation. Was it
+possible that we were to be finally severed from the world for ever? all
+the comforts of civilized life fresh in our minds and thoughts. And here
+I sometimes paused, thinking to myself should we be restored in a few
+years, in what sort of state and condition should I deliver up each of
+my precious charges to their parents. I could not disguise from myself
+that their present mode of life was not suited for the highly-bred and
+polished youth of the nineteenth century. Madame, I must say, whatever
+employment they were about, from cutting down a tree to washing and
+peeling potatoes, never failed to inculcate a ladylike way of doing
+either employment, and spared no pains to make them as accomplished and
+graceful as our limited means afforded her.
+
+Sybil was naturally so feminine and elegant that no rough work could
+spoil her. Serena had a bounding springing freedom of action that
+befitted a graceful young savage, and was too healthful and pretty to
+make any act one not suiting to her; while that dear young leviathan,
+Gatty, could have been graceful nowhere, though beaming with health and
+strength; how she did grow, and how she found out she was stronger than
+the little Mother, and how she teased her in consequence, enticing her
+upon little shelves of rock, under pretence of having discovered a new
+plant, and then keeping her there, though I might be calling for my lost
+companion until I was hoarse. Mischievous Gatty, and yet good and loving
+as she was mischievous. Serena managed her admirably, and could make her
+do whatever she liked; and it was pretty to see the sylph-like girl
+holding the great strong powerful Gatty in awe, lecturing her in a
+gentle, grave, simple way, with a sweet low voice, that murmured like a
+stream. Sybil might talk of duty, and "you ought" and "you ought not,"
+until her fair face was flushed with talking, but she either found
+herself showered over with insects, or laid gently on the greensward, or
+swung up into a branch of a tree, from which she feared to jump down. No
+mercy had Gatty upon the gentle soft Sybil. The only one among the
+children who did not seem happy was Oscar. He had no boy of his own age
+to associate with in boyish pastimes; he was brought prematurely
+forward, from being the eldest male of our company; he had been
+passionately attached to his home, and he could bear no allusion to it,
+or the probability of not seeing it again, without being seriously
+unhappy for the day. Fond as they were of each other, his brother was
+too young to enter into the feelings that were unnaturally old, because
+forced on him.
+
+If Schillie and Gatty devoted themselves to him for a day, he seemed
+more happy, but he loved to mope about by himself with his gun; and
+while he grew tall and strong, his face was pale, and his brow
+thoughtful beyond his years. Many were my anxious thoughts about him,
+and I lamented a thousand times having suffered Smart to leave, for he
+would at all events have been some sort of companion to him. Of all our
+party, he certainly was the only one who invariably remained grave and
+quiet, whatever might be the pleasantries in which we indulged.
+
+Madame talked for an hour upon the dreadful fact of having no new music
+for the girls, and used the same phrases and words concerning there
+being no shop to buy a new cap as she did to the anxieties we had
+endured and the fears that others must be enduring for us.
+
+Her horror at having no chemist near to make up her tonic mixture
+equalled the horror she felt at what had become of our companions, or
+seeing the girls do anything inconsistent to her notions as befitting
+young ladies caused her as dreadful a shock as the thunder. She was
+afflicted with fits of dying perpetually, which we remedied the best way
+we could, generally finding out that a long confidential talk about her
+sorrows, making her will, and confiding her last wishes to us, restored
+her as soon as any other recipe. But she was so good, and so fond of the
+children, that Madame had but to speak to have us all her messengers;
+even Schillie succumbed to her when the dying fit came on, matter of
+fact as she was, and scolding me as she did for giving in to it. I had
+exhausted all my efforts at consolation in one fit, and sent in Schillie
+to take my place.
+
+"Well, Madame," began Schillie, in a great, stout, hearty,
+anti-invalidish voice, "better, of course, you are, I see."
+
+_Madame_ (in a faint whisper).--"Ah, my dear Madam, my dear kind friend,
+I may say now I am going to leave you."
+
+_The great Voice._--"I am proud to be your friend always, Madame, but
+it's all nonsense talking of leaving us. Why you look as well and
+rosy----"
+
+_Madame_ (a little hysterical).--"Fever, dear Mrs. E., all fever; my
+poor frame cannot support this long."
+
+_The Voice._--"Fever, is it? Let me count your pulse. Very good pulse,
+rather weak I should say. Take a glass of port wine and you will be all
+right."
+
+_Madame._--"Dear friend, your robust frame knows not what it is to
+suffer. Ah, the agonies I endure, the insupportable suffering!"
+
+_Schillie_ (a little softer).--"Rheumatism, I dare say; I have it
+sometimes in my knees, and it is very aggravating."
+
+_Madame._--"Alas, alas, would that it were; but I must not lose my
+precious moments, I must try to speak while I am able."
+
+_Schillie._--"Don't hurry, don't hurry, dear Madame. I have nothing to
+do at present, I can wait as long as you like."
+
+_Madame._--"Dear Mrs. E., thanks, but it is I, it is my time that is so
+short."
+
+_Schillie._--"Oh, come, come, that's all nonsense. I see no symptoms of
+dying about you. Indeed you look better than I have seen you for ages."
+
+_Madame._--"It's all deception. My time has come, dear friend, and to
+you I wish to confide my last wishes."
+
+_Schillie._--"But I never can keep a secret. Don't confide anything to
+me."
+
+_Madame._--"They are not secrets. I only wish to confide my beloved
+little ones to your care after I am gone."
+
+_Schillie._--"But I hate children, Madame. June will take care of them."
+
+_Madame._--"Ah, I know she will; but she is so fond, so tender a Mother,
+she sees no faults in them. There is my darling Sybil, she is certainly,
+if a human being can be, faultless."
+
+_Schillie._--"She is a very good soul in her way, Madame, but shockingly
+untidy."
+
+_Madame._--"But her lovely smile, her sweet engaging manners. My Serena
+is something like her, but, being so much with Gertrude, she is a little
+less ladylike in manners than I could wish. Could you, dear Mrs. E.,
+just hint to her when I am gone----"
+
+_Schillie._--"Oh, good lack! no, Madame, I can hint nothing. I'll tell
+her you thought her unladylike if you wish; but I think both she and
+Gatty are first-rate Girls. They are afraid of nothing, and your
+pattern, Sybil, jumps at a spider."
+
+_Madame._--"Dear angel! I must go on. My lovely Zoe will certainly have
+a poke if she is not watched."
+
+_Schillie._--"I'll poke her up always, Madame, I promise you, for your
+sake."
+
+_Madame._--"Thank you, thank you, and my pretty Winifred. Have you not
+observed how she turns in her right foot?"
+
+_Schillie._--"No indeed, Madame, I never observed either right or left
+foot, but I'll look out, if I remember, for the future."
+
+_Madame._--"Thanks, dear friend, I think that is all about my darlings,
+save Lilly's eyes."
+
+_Schillie._--"They are very good eyes, Madame, and neither poke or turn
+in, which would be a squint I suppose."
+
+_Madame._--"They are lovely eyes, of heaven's own blue, but she ruins
+them by reading no much."
+
+_Schillie._--"Well, I'll stop her reading. Anything more Madame?"
+
+_Madame._--"Yes, I should like to be buried under trees near our
+church."
+
+_Schillie._--"Very well, I can safely promise that, as I suppose I shall
+help to dig your grave myself."
+
+Madame then wound up in such a pathetic manner that Schillie was obliged
+to have recourse to her pocket handkerchief, and came blubbering out of
+the room, muttering that though she believed she was only an old humbug
+she would be very sorry if the old lady really died.
+
+She was only just recovering this fit one very sultry day when we
+carried her to the edge of the cliff to catch a breath of air if she
+could. It was so extremely hot we could do nothing, and therefore lay
+beside her, instead of leaving a little girl in attendance as usual. We
+fancied something must be about to occur, for every breath seemed as if
+drawing in hot air. I, with what Schillie called my usual fidgetiness,
+was imagining horror upon horrors, when, suddenly looking at the sea, we
+beheld it rise and fall as if one tremendous wave passed over it. Almost
+immediately the whole island seemed to tremble under our feet, a
+rumbling and at the same time crashing sound quite surrounded us. "An
+earthquake," cried some, while all sprang to their feet. A breathless
+silence ensued, but all nature seemed as if nothing had occurred. "The
+house," said Schillie. "The boys!" I exclaimed. We flew down headlong
+towards the rocks from which they usually fished. Not a trace of them or
+the rocks, the sea was boiling beyond what we had never seen covered
+before. I sat stupidly down on the sands, as if waiting for the waves
+to cast my sons up at my feet.
+
+"They may not have been fishing," said Schillie. I did not heed her
+until the sharp cry of a child in pain struck on my ear. We rushed
+towards the place, and found Oscar supporting his brother, who was
+screaming violently. They were alive; all other things seemed to me as
+nothing. As I took him in my arms, Oscar told me that, finding the fish
+would not bite, and feeling excessively tired, they had agreed to go to
+a shady ledge on the rocks, and sleep for an hour. He was awakened by a
+strange noise, as well as being thrown rather violently from the place
+where he lay; opening his eyes, he beheld Felix some feet below him,
+lying apparently dead. He ran and picked him up, and throwing some water
+on his face from the brook near which they had lain down, in the course
+of some minutes he opened his eyes and knew his brother, but on moving
+he shrieked with pain. Oscar wrung his hands, and cried as he said, "Oh,
+Mother, Mother, what is the matter, will he die? Who has hurt him? What
+has happened? Oh my brother, my brother, I should die for my Felix." The
+sight of Oscar's distress caused a cessation in Felix's screams. He put
+out one little hand, and said, "Don't cry, Otty, I'll bear it, only
+don't cry so." "Bear what, my darling," said I, "where are you hurt?" "I
+am hurted all about, Mama; but is it a snake that has eaten me, or who
+killed me? I'll be a man, dear Otty. I'll not scream any more, if you
+will only not cry so, because I shall cry, I know I shall, I must cry
+just a little, but it is not the pain." As he tried thus to comfort his
+brother, the colour fled from his cheeks, his eyes closed, the rosy lips
+paled, he fell back in my arms motionless. I thought he was dead, but he
+was in my arms, the wild waves had him not for their prey; could it be
+possible that I felt comforted as I clasped him closer? Wine was
+brought, water poured on his face; and, as we laid him on the sward, his
+right arm fell in an unnatural position. It was broken. Stripping off
+his clothes, and carefully examining, we found him bruised in various
+places, but no other bones injured save the collar bone. Schillie set
+both arm and collar bone. We bandaged them as well as we could, and then
+carefully carrying him to the old tent place, we did our best to restore
+him to consciousness. In this we succeeded; and, though for many days he
+lay in a dangerous fever, once that was subdued he grew well
+astonishingly fast. The arm reunited perfectly, but the collar bone
+retains a lump on it to this day.
+
+The first symptom he gave us of returning health and strength was in a
+conversation he had with his beloved Jenny, who was so occupied in
+nursing him her attentions to us were of the most scanty kind. Imagine a
+little figure, clothed in a little white gown, his arm and shoulder
+bandaged up, lying on a lot of cushions. The smallest little white face
+peeped out from a mass of hair, and a little brown monkey, with a face
+about the same size, watches the different clouds of restlessness or
+pleasure that passed over the little white face with a curious mixture
+of wonder and curiosity. Jenny appears with a dish and exposes it to
+view. The little invalid, with a lordly air, surveys his dinner.
+
+_Felix._--"A nasty chicken again, Jenny."
+
+_Jenny._--"Oh, Sir, I have roasted it to a turn, and here is egg sauce."
+
+_Felix._--"Then give me the egg sauce, and you may have the chicken. I
+wish chickens were never invented."
+
+_Jenny._--"Would you like a duck, Sir?"
+
+_Felix._--"No, duck is nastier. I want a mutton chop, Jenny."
+
+_Jenny._--"But I have not got one, Sir."
+
+_Felix._--"Then a beefsteak."
+
+_Jenny._--"Indeed, I wish I could get one for you, Sir."
+
+_Felix._--"Well, I don't mind, just for once, eating some boiled leg of
+mutton."
+
+_Jenny._--"Oh, my darling, then you must want mutton very bad, and you
+know there is not such a thing on the island."
+
+_Felix._--"Then it's a bad place, and I wish we were away, having
+nothing but chickens and chickens, ducks and ducks, until we shall all
+crow and quack."
+
+_Jenny._--"Oh, don't, Sir, don't go for to move, and get in such a
+passion, you'll displace the bones, and make your Mama so unhappy."
+
+_Felix._--"I am sure nobody is so unhappy as me; and as for your
+chicken, there----"
+
+And with a kick of the little impudent foot away went the chicken out of
+its dish into Jenny's face, who forgave her darling on the spot; nay,
+even came to us for congratulations on his recovery. "For," says she,
+"he is as impudent as ever he was when well, and is that not a good
+sign, Ma'am."
+
+_Schillie._--"Wash the remains of the chicken off your face, Jenny, and
+then I'll tell you my opinion."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+
+The fact that our beloved island was subject to earthquakes disturbed us
+considerably. Storms we began to think quite common, hurricanes nothing,
+rain but another mode for enjoyment; but to be swallowed up by the
+earth, by the very land that had proved a haven to us when storm-beset
+and wave-tossed, seemed an infliction not to be got over.
+
+For some time we imagined every noise a rumbling earthquake, the swift
+running feet of the children as if the house was coming down, the noisy
+thumping of the washing stones as indicative of the rocks falling over
+us. This induced us to think, much to Schillie's horror, of seeking a
+new abode during the very hot weather on a smooth plain where no rocks
+could cover us, nor trees fall on us, though we could not prevent the
+earth opening her mouth and swallowing us up.
+
+In one of our exploring parties for this purpose we came upon the site
+and signs of an old habitation, evidently having been a substantial and
+large dwelling, with remains of garden and palisade. We know not how it
+escaped the observation of our kind captain, unless from the fact that
+it lay on the open plain, and just before it was a plantation of trees,
+so that, unless you walked across the plain, and went behind the trees,
+you would see nothing of it; and they being able to see all across,
+doubtless thought it labour lost to investigate what seemed open before
+them.
+
+Here we fancied had been the lair of the great serpent, from the close
+smell and other circumstances about the place; but it was with feelings
+rather akin to awe that we investigated a place built by other hands
+than our own. Feeling so assured, as we did, that no mortal was on the
+island, or apparently had been, but ourselves, we had begun to think
+really that it was our own, risen out of the sea for us alone, so that
+Schillie was for a time the only one who took a matter-of-fact view of
+this appearance to us "Robinson Crusoes" of "Friday's foot." She
+declared it had been deserted twenty years and more, and that the roof
+was a very bad one at the very beginning of it, and not on such a good
+plan as ours; that certainly she descried a new lichen on the walls,
+which she went to fetch, and proved herself correct; finally, that there
+might be some lock-up place within, giving us a clue to the former
+inhabitants. We accordingly searched, and found various articles of
+clothing and furniture, evidently of foreign manufacture. Everything was
+covered some inches thick with a fine sand, which caused insufferable
+choking and sneezing to those who were heedless. It seemed very apparent
+that the house had been quitted suddenly, or that something had caused
+great disorder and confusion. After wasting a great deal of time,
+talking, thinking, and conjecturing, we at last came to the conclusion
+that, with some trouble, we might make it a very tidy house, and that we
+would proceed systematically to clean it, and make it fit for the use of
+such august people as we were; and, being governed by the soul of
+honour, every article looking like private property was carefully put
+away, in case the real owners should arrive, though there was many a
+thing that would have been rather useful to us. Some books in the
+Spanish language we kept, as the girls and I thought to amuse ourselves
+during the next rainy season in teaching ourselves Spanish. "Mighty
+silly," says Schillie, "taking such unnecessary trouble, as who knows
+but that there may be nobody to talk to ere long even in English." This
+old house was very low, and full of rents and holes; also, we discovered
+that, though on a plain, it was so contrived nobody could perceive it
+was a habitation unless close to it. From two sides it was quite hidden
+by trees, though not close to them, from the third side it looked like
+part of the plantation, and from the fourth side it seemed to be part
+and parcel of a mound and clump of rocks close by. It had five rooms in
+it, two not much bigger than closets. Altogether we agreed our new abode
+had not the open, frank, handsome air of our own home, with its
+wide-spread doorless entrance, but looked rather like the covered den of
+people wishing to keep themselves concealed and out of sight. However,
+we used it in all openness and fairness, and whatever might have been
+the character of its last inhabitants, we kept open house, never closing
+the great iron-plated door or the barred shutters; also, we misdoubted
+they could have been good people, as there was nothing feminine to be
+found about the place. Nevertheless, we lived in great comfort, and
+every evening somebody told a new romance as to what had been the fate
+of the lost and gone, until we wove a history about them, equal to any
+fairy story ever told, winding up with one from Felix, who, after giving
+various touching descriptions as to their numerous qualities and
+perfections, declared that they died one by one. "How?" said the little
+girls, looking aghast at such an abrupt conclusion. "They disappeared,"
+said Felix, "one every night." "But that's no story, how did they
+disappear?" "Oh, you must guess, my story is a riddle." So they guessed
+and guessed, but, becoming no wiser, they clamourously called on him to
+tell. "But if you don't guess," said Felix, "how can I tell, for not one
+of them was left alive." "You are a stupid boy," said Lilly, "and tell a
+very bad story." "Yours was a much badderer, and you are a stupid girl
+not to guess that the big snake eat them all up." "Well done, well
+done," said everybody, "a very good idea. I dare say it did happen." So
+then we fell upon conjecturing what we should have done to save
+ourselves under similar circumstances, which gave rise to so many
+bloody-minded schemes and horrible intentions of torture, that no
+respectable snake would have ventured near us.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+
+What! has a year gone? Are we celebrating the day of our arrival at YR
+YNYS UNYG? More, much more, days flee away, weeks speed on, months glide
+by us. Has hope gone? Are the cheerful strong hearts weary and low? The
+elastic young spirits, the energetic wills, the high courage and strong
+energies, could not always last on the full stretch. But why detail the
+fits of despondency, the listless hopeless state into which we sometimes
+fell? Suffice it that nature sometimes asserted her rights, while
+religion kept us from open despair. Many events occurred, wearisome to
+the reader, though interesting to ourselves. Sometimes we divided, and
+half lived in one house and half in the other. We then paid each other
+visits of ceremony, expending much labour, even if no cost, on the
+feasts we prepared for our company. Also we established a post, in which
+we wrote imaginary news from England. The girls became very expert in
+drawing. We spoke all kinds of languages. We invented stories and told
+them, many of the children's I have preserved, being very clever and
+amusing. Also we had another earthquake, which led to a great discovery.
+No less than that the cliffs behind our house, and reaching down to the
+beach, were one continuous range of caverns, all apparently formed of
+old coral. Serena was the fortunate discoverer, for, excited by
+curiosity one day, she insinuated her slender figure in a fissure which
+had been rent in the rock by the last earthquake. Her exclamations of
+delight and pleasure caused all those who could follow her to do so;
+but, alas for the stout Schillie, and the gigantic Gatty, they were
+compelled to hear the shouts of joy and yet could bear no part; a
+discovery was made and no Schillie to give her opinion thereon; a new
+adventure and no Gatty to lend a helping hand. They chafed like lions in
+a cage, until Madame happily came to their rescue, by suggesting an
+enlargement of the fissure. But this was not the work of a moment, more
+especially as every two minutes they were interrupted by the little ones
+rushing out with fresh wonders to detail, while the big ones shouted
+more and more.
+
+Gatty squeezed herself through with the loss of half her garments, fully
+prepared to prove the new discovery nothing, while Schillie, Madame, and
+I worked for another half hour, and went through like ladies to see a
+sight which enchanted us. A most magnificent cavern, cool and dark,
+though some light penetrated in from above somewhere, the ground was
+covered with fine dry sand, the numerous grotesque shapes and oddities
+all around the cavern seemed almost made on purpose for little private
+habitations and snug corners. It was so large in size that it had
+nothing of the musty feeling of the little caverns below, but was airy,
+and even bright with sunshine during part of the day. Every body seemed
+to find a nook or place in it so suited to their minds, that we called
+it the "Cavern of Content." We nearly deserted our houses during the hot
+weather, and lived almost entirely in the cavern, everybody choosing
+their own private apartment, and fitting up according to their own
+fashion. Schillie grumbled a good deal at the perversity of the cavern
+in not having suffered itself to be discovered before, and saved her the
+trouble of building a house. "I declare," said she, "my hands have never
+been fit to look at since." These hands were her weak point, as I said
+before, but, as they were just as white and pretty as ever, I would not
+nibble at her fish for a compliment, and she held them up without a
+remark from any of us until Gatty pinched them.
+
+The only thing I did not like about the cavern was that it had
+innumerable passages and windings about, and odd places, with dark
+holes, and ghostly-looking corners. I was not satisfied until I had
+explored them all, blocking up narrow little slits, and doing all I
+could to rout out anything that might be harbouring there. There was one
+passage very long and steep, the entrance to it out of the cavern was so
+narrow we did not notice it at first; but, when once through, we had
+every here and there light, and it led in one or two instances to other
+caverns, though none so large as ours, but it always led downwards. At
+last we came to a place utterly dark, and, as we stopped for a moment,
+we heard the rushing of water. Of course I thought we should all be
+drowned, and commanded every one to return, but, somehow, we could not
+rest without finding out what dangers we might be exposing ourselves to.
+So, after a couple of day's doubt, we took candles and torches, and the
+whole family set out, not being willing to leave one survivor to tell
+the tale of what might befall us. At the dark place we lighted our
+torches and proceeded towards a glimmering light. The rushing of water
+sounded nearer and nearer, our steps became slower and more slow, the
+light brighter and better, at last what should we see but the sea
+shining through a fall of waters that hung like a gauze curtain between
+us and the open air. We were able to creep out with but a slight
+sprinkling, and then found ourselves not far from the great chestnut
+tree, at the place before mentioned, where the rocks had a precipitate
+fall of twenty feet, over which the stream fell; in fact, the entrance
+into the cavern was immediately under the fall, and, with very little
+trouble, we could make egress and ingress without getting wet.
+
+It is impossible to do justice to the beauty of the scene looking at it
+through the sparkling veil of waters, or to describe our pleasure at
+this singular discovery. Not only did the outside of the island belong
+to us, but now we had the secrets of the interior exposed to us, and the
+right of making what we liked of them.
+
+_Mother._--"Now, Schillie, this is one of the most charming discoveries
+in the world, for if pirates and marauders come here, we shall be able
+to hide for weeks without their discovering us."
+
+_Schillie._--"I had hoped your head was cleared of those piratical
+notions. For my part, I wish someone would come. The King of the Pirates
+would be welcome so that we could have a little variety."
+
+_Mother._--"I think you are ungrateful. We have been eighteen months
+here now, and can you say that we have had one privation or serious
+trouble?"
+
+_Schillie._--"June, you have your children near you, you see nothing
+else and care for nothing else. I own the sight of my Willie, and the
+long sunny curls of my Puss, would, were it but for one moment, ease my
+heart, and make me bear hunger, thirst, privations of every kind,
+without a murmur. We have everything here we can possibly want, and that
+without having to slave for it. We have food growing up to our mouths,
+the trees shed clothes for us, the sea, the sky, the air, the island,
+more lovely than angels' dreams; the young ones grow and thrive; Madame
+has become a new creature; you are regaining your youth and spirits. So
+what have I to do, but eat, drink, and sleep, and think of what I have
+left behind, and what I may never see again. I tell you, June, I am
+moped to death. I welcome the thunder storms as a variety, I look upon
+the earthquakes as a desirable change in something, I watch the
+hurricanes with a sort of insane desire that they would blow us all
+away!"
+
+_Mother._--"My darling! I am vexed for you. I trust that God will look
+upon your present state with compassion and mercy, restoring you once
+more to your children. But remember yours are with the best and kindest
+friends, in the midst of civilisation and religious advantages. Look at
+mine. Though I have them with me, and they are healthy and strong, yet
+is this the sort of education I intended for them? Is this the life I
+had hoped to see them lead? Should they not soon be restored to their
+homes and country will they not be rendered unfit for mixing with
+civilised society? or too old to change; or, even if we remain here,
+will not that be worse for them?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Well, I grant our troubles are equal, but I wish, I wish,
+oh how I wish to see my children once more. But here are the girls, and
+they must not see me thus. Upon my word Gatty is too stupid. She has
+grown almost as good as Sybil and Serena. I don't think she has been in
+a bit of mischief these three months."
+
+_Mother._--"Don't make yourself unhappy about that, lest you find reason
+to eat your words, and have to sit in repentance once for some act
+against you. Now girls, don't you think this one of your best
+discoveries?"
+
+"Yes," said Sybil, "because during the rainy season we can come here
+every day and have a shower bath."
+
+"And," said Serena, "we can get fresh water every day without being
+half-drowned."
+
+"And," said Gatty, "we can sit here and look out for ships all day
+long."
+
+_Mother._--"What, Gatty, are you tired of being here?"
+
+_Gatty._--"Tired, tired does not express what I think about this place.
+There is nothing to do. Nothing frightens Sybil now, and Serena is so
+busy learning Spanish, she won't listen to a word I say in English.
+Oscar makes me talk of home and Wales until I am ready to cry my eyes
+out at my own descriptions. And the three little girls are all so wise
+and womanly that they seem to reprove me if I do anything the least like
+play or fun. I have not had a bit of fun since Felix tried to teach his
+monkey to fish, that he might lazily read himself. I am quite done up
+with dullness" (heaving a sort of groan).
+
+_Mother._--"Indeed, I think you are badly used, especially since Madame
+has found out you really can be a good girl if you like."
+
+_Gatty._--"I could be as mischievous as ever, only nobody cares for it
+or scolds me."
+
+_Schillie._--"Mischievous! I should think so, you sphinx of plagues, I
+declare I am dripping, and you know I have a horror of being over damp."
+
+_Gatty._--"It is quite clean water, little Mother, and it is but a
+little stream, and has not been running long to you."
+
+_Schillie._--"But you know if it had not been for your great clumsy
+fingers making a channel, that stream would never have come to where I
+am sitting; and you did it on purpose you know, so that it should just
+dribble to my seat and not June's."
+
+_Gatty._--"Yes, I know I did, little Mother, because you know I would
+never have done so to her."
+
+_Schillie._--"Did any one ever hear such impudence. Now, I insist on it
+that you go back, and bring me some dry things. But it's no use, I must
+go myself. I am wet through and through. Well, you shall never catch me
+complaining again of Miss Gatty being stupidly good; and she knows so
+well I hate anything like damp."
+
+_Gatty_ (with her demure face).--"Yes, little Mother, I know that so
+well, that I sent sufficient water to wet you thoroughly instead of
+damping you."
+
+Schillie went off muttering horrible imprecations.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+
+We employed the next rainy season in making the passage through the
+cavern wider and better, so that we could run up and down without
+torches or fears. The rainy season had commenced with what Felix called
+a very savage storm, and it seemed likely to end with one equally
+fierce. The thunder pealed so loud that many large pieces of rock were
+shaken down in the cavern by the concussion, and it became dangerous to
+live in it. Schillie turned us all out, therefore, one day, and taking
+Oscar and Gatty, she placed them in different safe corners with guns,
+and they all three fired their guns in the cavern for half an hour,
+thereby bringing down any loose rocks or dangerous parts of the cavern.
+When we were re-admitted, we were nearly all choked with the smell of
+the gunpowder, which did not go off for a good while. The cavern was so
+dry, healthy, and large, and being able to run down to the brook was so
+delicious, that we scarcely thought of the danger we incurred in living
+in it. But this storm was tremendous. We ran to the narrow part, close
+by the waterfall, to flee out at a minute's warning. As we sat huddled
+together, all silent and awe-struck, what was that we saw in the flash
+of lightning? Some uttered a hurried exclamation, all started, but none
+said a word. The thunder crashed louder; we longed for the lightning. It
+came, one long, bright flash, and every mouth uttered "a ship! a ship!"
+
+How unaccountable were our feelings. Fear for the ship predominated.
+Then the wild conjectures, the hopes, the fears. Suppose it was the
+beloved La Luna, or some stranger. We heeded not the storm for ourselves
+now. We longed for the flashes of lightning to reveal to us the strange,
+the welcome, the bewildering sight. She was apparently riding at anchor,
+endeavouring to weather the storm under the shelter of the great rock,
+for each flash showed her in the same place, but each flash also took
+away from the most sanguine the hope that it was La Luna; yet still we
+clung to the idea that it might be the dear captain come in another
+vessel. To leave the spot was impossible; the maids brought cloaks and
+wrappers for the children, who slept at our feet, but the older watchers
+remained with their eyes fixed on the one spot, waiting for the coming
+dawn. The wind lulled, the rain ceased, the thunder was silent, and the
+impenetrable darkness remained unrelieved by the lightning. Thus we sat
+through that dark night, waiting for the coming hour so important to our
+fate.
+
+Over the wide-spread sea streamed the first light of morning. As it
+spread from one end of heaven to the other our hearts beat, our eyes
+ached to penetrate still quicker the fast-receding gloom. It was then
+that Madame spoke, beseeching me earnestly to suffer no signs of our
+being on the island to show themselves until we had carefully scanned
+and examined the strangers. To this I silently agreed. Schillie and
+Gatty, with the three girls, were so absorbed in their watch that Madame
+went to each and gave them the caution she had given me. In a few
+minutes the world was in a blaze of light, and conspicuous on the
+troubled but brilliant sea was the long, low, black hull of a
+schooner-rigged vessel. There seemed no signs of life on board, which
+sent a chill to our hearts. If our dear captain had been there, would he
+not have been watching for the daylight as we had been? Would he not
+have been landing at this moment, and we rushing down to meet him? Many
+sobbed aloud, half overcome at the sight of human beings again, half
+overwhelmed at the fatal fear that they came not for us. Madame alone
+seemed to have her senses about her. Silently beckoning the maids to
+follow, she left us, but what to do we neither asked or cared to know.
+The little ones still slumbered, we still watched, no life, no signs of
+humanity to be seen on board the object of our fond wishes, our deep
+anxiety. An hour passed, and, as the little sleepers each awoke, Madame
+had them carried off. Presently the maids brought us each some coffee,
+but we hardly cared to drink it.
+
+At last a man is seen. We grasped each other's hands and withdrew,
+clinging closer together, though the veil of waters effectually screened
+us, well as we could see through it. Another half hour, and the vessel
+was alive with human beings. Finally, about a dozen, all armed, got into
+a boat and came to land. They, one and all, anxiously gazed on the
+cliffs and rocks, while some used their telescopes. When landed, they
+examined with wonder and curiosity the remains of our tent; we had left
+but few signs there, as nothing could remain out in the wet weather
+without being damaged. But still there was enough to show them that
+human beings had been there, and that within a month or so. They sat
+down, and talked vehemently, always looking with great earnestness on
+the island. We supposed them to be alarmed, for they did not venture one
+hundred yards from their boat. How little did they think what a helpless
+party was watching them, and that, too, with greater fear than interest.
+Not that I was not already feeling the wisdom of Madame's advice, for,
+as far as we could judge, they seemed a black strange wild-looking set
+of men. But our suspense was soon ended. We heard one shouting, the
+others all ran, and he pointed to something on the cliffs we could not
+see. I trembled as I looked round for the children, but Gatty, whose
+curiosity and excitement took her beyond the bounds of prudence,
+exclaimed, it is the snake's skin, they are wondering at it. She was
+quite right. Two got into the boat and rowed back to the ship, the rest
+ran without apparent fear to the rock on which our captain had nailed
+the great skin, and which we had never removed, and which neither time
+or storms had apparently injured. The boat brought back another load,
+who also ran to the place, and all seemed in a great state of
+excitement.
+
+"June," said Schillie to me, "they are not alarmed about us, you see.
+They must have known of this island, and the great snake, and been
+afraid of it; now they see its skin you'll see they'll be all over the
+island. I misdoubt me, that big fellow is the King of the Pirates, whom
+fate has wafted hither in compliance with my mad wishes; and that house
+we found on the plain is his castle, and now he'll go and take
+possession, and find out that somebody has been beforehand. I don't like
+their looks, June, we must keep close at present. But what infatuated
+geese we are to sit here, when we must run to Tir-y-hir, and do away
+with as much of our whereabouts as we can."
+
+Leaving the children to watch, with Sybil in charge of them, we ran for
+our lives. Here we found the wise and thoughtful Madame beforehand with
+us, she and the maids had been moving everything, and it required but
+willing hands and quick work to pile up stones, and remove all vestiges
+of the cavern. Of course our house would speak for itself. Luckily we
+had been living in the cavern for a month, so that no very recent traces
+of us could be discovered. Gatty grumbled a little, indeed I don't think
+she would have worked had she not anticipated some amusement in watching
+the new arrivals, whilst they must be utterly ignorant of our
+existence. Schillie worked with a will; from the first I think she had a
+foreboding that all was not right about these people. We now went back,
+and found the watchers full of news, and also full of squabbles amongst
+themselves. More people had come from the ship; fires had been lighted.
+Every one had gone to look at the big snake's skin. Working was going
+on; symptoms of a tent had been commenced. The squabbles amongst the
+little ones arose because of their different opinions of the new comers.
+Oscar voted them pirates, and declared he would shoot the first one that
+came near us. The little girls declared they must be friends, and would
+be sure to take them home if they gave them money. Felix was most
+anxious to be amongst them and get on board, and go home, and every
+other variety of scheme, but the promise from Oscar that he should have
+the first chance of shooting the first pirate completely turned him, and
+he became perfectly convinced that they were horrible robbers, perhaps
+slave-stealers, and did he not shoot them he and his Mother would be
+stolen and sold for slaves to different masters. A climax of fate that
+seemed to him would settle the period of his life.
+
+We took little food that day, and the strangers never imagined that
+throughout the whole time at least four pairs of eyes were constantly
+watching them; nay, even when night arrived two of us kept watch, though
+we had most of us fits of impatience, not to say remorse, at thus
+welcoming strangers so long desired. In fact, if it had not been for
+Schillie and Madame we should certainly have rushed upon our fate in our
+anxiety to find out whether they were friends or foes. Gatty chafed like
+a young lion, every handkerchief that came near her was soon in tatters.
+Sybil glowed with animation as she said, "They never could harm us, they
+will be only too glad to help us, they will pity us so much for our sad
+fate; we have only to tell them our story and they would take us all
+away; oh I am sure, quite sure they would. It seems so unkind and
+ungracious to be thus suspicious of the first human beings we have seen
+so long."
+
+_Schillie._--"Pooh, pooh, child, it is better to leave them in ignorance
+of our unkindness, for fear you should find out when too late that they
+will be equally unkind in chopping you up into beefsteaks, at least you
+had better make up your mind which of the two acts will be the most
+unkind."
+
+_Sybil._--"But, surely they are not cannibals; I don't think there is a
+sailor in the world who could be a cannibal, they are all such good
+fellows."
+
+_Schillie._--"Humph! Think as you like my dear. I honour your innocence
+and applaud your approbation of sailors. But you are such a noodle, and,
+being the stoutest of the party, ought to have more compassion on
+yourself."
+
+_Serena._--"But I agree with Sybil in thinking it very ungracious, not
+giving them the option of being kind to us, if they like it. They can
+but leave us behind if they don't like us."
+
+_Schillie._--"If they would promise to leave us behind in case they
+don't like us, I am ready to go and meet them now."
+
+_Gatty._--"Then do come, for I do think this most horrid work, peeping
+and watching, and imagining every evil thing against them. Besides,
+supposing they do turn out uncivil, what is to prevent us when they are
+all asleep rising and taking possession of their vessel, and sailing off
+with it, leaving them a note to say we will pay them for it as soon as
+ever we arrive in England."
+
+_Schillie._--"And I trust you are prepared to act captain to the vessel,
+as well as mate and crew. I promise you that I am not going to sea
+without some experienced hands to guide the ship."
+
+_Sybil._--"Perhaps we can bribe some of them to come with us. For if
+they are wicked people there are sure to be some unfortunate good ones
+among them, who will be glad to get away."
+
+_Mother._--"Well! between us we shall weave a romantic story about them.
+In the meantime don't let us be impatient."
+
+_Serena._--"But, dear sister, won't they think it unkind of us hiding
+ourselves from them in this suspicious way, supposing they turn out to
+be good friendly people."
+
+_Madame._--"My sweet child, let them think us anything rather than we
+should get into their power. Once in their hands we should never get
+out again so helpless as we are. Indeed they look so ferocious that two
+of them would be quite enough to kill us all."
+
+_Oscar._--"I should like to see two dare to do it."
+
+_Felix._--"And so would I, we would soon settle their business, would we
+not Otty? You should take the left fellow, and I would knock down the
+right one."
+
+_Gatty._--"Yes! indeed; two! Why I could settle two myself! But this is
+such sorry work; peeping like brats. We might be even now making
+preparations to go away, they having promised to take us by this time. I
+can't stand waiting another day, I know I cannot."
+
+_Serena._--"Then you must sit, and be patient, meanwhile let me tell
+you----"
+
+_Schillie._--"I think you are very childish. Think if these people turn
+out to be enemies what an advantage we have in being able to see and
+watch all they do, and yet they not being able to find out anything
+about us."
+
+_Sybil._--"But I don't like to think they are enemies or that they would
+be so to us."
+
+_Gatty._--"Of course not, Syb. For once I agree with you, and I think it
+a great shame to behave like this to them; so like Madame fearing an
+elephant behind a straw."
+
+This last sentence was muttered between her teeth, but Schillie caught
+it, and turning round said, "I'll tell you what Miss Gatty, if you say
+another word on the subject, or favour us with any more of your
+remarkably silly ideas, I'll have you locked up."
+
+"Where, little Mother?" said Gatty, winding her great arms round
+Schillie, who struggled in vain to release herself from the potent
+grasp. "June, June, con---- no, I don't mean that, hang---- no nor that,
+you horrid---- Well! I am in a vice, June, I say June, make her release
+me. What arms the wretch has, will you let me out you good-for-nothing,
+I'll give it you well, Miss; come release me, June, I'll never speak to
+you again, if you don't let me free instead of laughing in that absurd
+manner."
+
+Truly it was very ridiculous; Gatty so cool and quiet, but holding her
+fast; Schillie in a red hot rage, and utterly unable to release herself.
+But we were getting too noisy, so peace was proclaimed, and harmony
+restored.
+
+The next morning we found it a true prophecy that the strangers would be
+all over the island. First of all they examined all our remains and
+marks of habitation on the cliffs, especially the church, where our
+foot-marks would be more recent than anywhere else. But we trusted to
+the great rains that had fallen to obliterate them as much as possible.
+In examining the cliffs they came so near us that we could distinguish
+their voices, and even found that they spoke a sort of Spanish. The
+nearer they came the less prepossessing they appeared, and even Gatty
+retreated with a shudder as two wild fierce-looking hairy faces showed
+themselves just above a ledge of rocks within fifty yards of our hiding
+place.
+
+Some of us remained under the waterfall, the noise of which prevented us
+hearing anything distinctly, while the remainder ran up and watched at
+the other entrance. There, through chinks and crevices we could watch
+them, as they gradually came in different parties towards the little
+valley in which our house was built. It was quite inevitable their
+discovering it, so we made up our minds to that matter; and it was not
+long ere the shouts of those who did so drew all the others to the
+place.
+
+How rejoiced we were on a nearer view of them that Madame had been so
+provident in advising us to keep close until we could learn something of
+them. Even Sybil was obliged to allow that she did not recognise a
+single good face amongst them. So wild and fierce a set I never saw, and
+their looks made me shudder. From our small knowledge of Spanish we
+could make out that they were greatly surprised, and evidently guessed
+some one was on the island. Also they said a great deal about the snake,
+and their rejoicings it was dead, making evident allusions to the island
+as if they knew it quite well. After satisfying their curiosity some sat
+down to smoke, as if intending to wait patiently for the arrival of the
+inhabitants, others pursued their researches and we had no doubt went to
+the other house, while all examined their arms and primed their guns, as
+if preparing for an engagement with the warlike people who had
+slaughtered so great a monster as the snake.
+
+We made all these remarks amongst ourselves, and were greatly amused at
+our conjectures and interpretations of all they said.
+
+But we could not thus calmly give up all our fond hopes and wishes. We
+had still some struggles, frightened as we were at the sight of our new
+companions. It was necessary, however, that we should come to some
+regular arrangement of our time and work, as we were in danger of
+starving to death in our eagerness to watch these people. Unluckily a
+great part of our store of food was in the house they were now so busily
+smoking in. We had enough with us for a few days, but we generally kept
+our stores there, as they seemed to do better there than in the cavern.
+Also it was useless the whole set of us watching; accordingly we took it
+turn about, two at each entrance for two hours at each time, a little
+one and a big one always together. The remainder went about their usual
+occupations, all except lessons, about which Madame seemed to have
+tasted the waters of Lethe. We suffered rather in point of meals, as we
+dared not light a fire for fear of the smoke discovering us. Besides our
+kitchen apparatus was all in the house, so that altogether, what with
+fatigue, worry, and discomfort, we were getting unanimous in abusing our
+new neighbours. We came to one agreement, namely, that the next day
+being Sunday we should observe how they spent it. If, in anything like a
+christian manner we would open negotiations with them by some means yet
+to be discussed, but, if in a heathen manner, then we should consider
+them as savages, cannibals, and no one knows what; and, hiding close, we
+should quietly endure our privations as best we could, until the
+ill-omened, disappointing black vessel should leave us once more to our
+fate.
+
+In the security of darkness and secrecy we slept that night, Madame and
+Jenny moving their mattresses to the waterfall side, Schillie and I to
+the side where Tir-y-hir was, that, at all events we might have the
+first intimation of any discovery they might make. Before we went to
+sleep, however, we assured ourselves that they had been to the other
+house, and, if anything could have completed our disgust it was the fact
+that they returned dragging with them all our summer clothes, with which
+they covered themselves. The pretty white hats belonging to the girls,
+which they had learned to plait themselves, were thrust on the great,
+dirty, greasy heads of these horrid men. All the pretty silk Sunday
+frocks, the shawls, the scarfs, the caps, the bonnets, the carefully
+hoarded remains of our civilized attire, alas! alas! did they not also
+tell these wretches what a helpless party were on the island? Everything
+was recklessly thrown about, torn, and trodden under foot. Hargrave flew
+from the sight, and hid her tears and stifled her sobs in the darkest
+corner of the cavern. From that hour they were doomed in her estimation
+as the acme of wickedness and vice.
+
+Many times during the night were we awakened by their noise and drunken
+revelry, and alas for the hopes we had formed of the Sabbath-day none
+ever were less fulfilled.
+
+The scenes of riot, quarrelling, drinking, and imprecation were so
+dreadful we could not keep watch any more, but hurried as far we were
+able from the sight and sounds of life so abhorrent to our nature, so
+horrid to witness. With pale faces and tearful eyes, and ears yet filled
+with oaths and bitter words, we proceeded to gain courage and implore
+help from the throne of grace, feeling how we stood in need of such aid.
+For not even when about to be a prey to the stormy elements, or the
+desolate feeling when left alone in a solitary island, or the sudden
+death which appeared inevitable in the jaws of the horrid snake, not
+even in all these did we feel our helplessness as we did now. And it was
+our own species we feared, for whose coming we had so often prayed. It
+was man, once created in the image of God, that sent this pang of horror
+through us.
+
+But, enough of this; suffice it to say we were a set of miserable,
+trembling, quaking women, but God in his mercy calmed and comforted us,
+so that after the morning prayers we proceeded to make our hiding place
+still more secure.
+
+As I said before, the waterfall was a most effectual screen, especially
+now that there was so much water in the brook. The more water that fell
+of course the more liable we were to get wet as we passed in and out,
+but, owing to the height from which it fell, the water cleared the rock
+by some feet, and thus gave us a passage underneath. The tall ones had
+always to stoop, but the little ones ran out and in like rabbits in a
+burrow. At the other entrance it was almost as well concealed. Now we
+got in and out, for the rock projected some ten feet out, and then just
+round the corner appeared a sort of recess. This seemed exactly smooth
+with the rock, but, by edging round and squeezing a little, you came to
+a sort of slit or cleft in the rock and that led to the cavern. But even
+when there we had innumerable holes and hiding places, and it would have
+been a good week's work to ferret us all out from thence. In case,
+however, of discovery, we organised a plan and arranged our places of
+retreat, and we practised ourselves in quick hiding, and, to get our
+lesson perfect, in every now and then calling out "The pirates are
+coming." Whereupon, as a matter of course, every one ran for their lives
+to their appointed place. Each place had a communication with another,
+so that we could telegraph all round. The place from whence we made our
+observations was on a ledge up in the cavern, from whence some of the
+light came in; it might be about twenty feet from the ground, and we
+looked down on them. Dreadful wretches.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+
+We were up, had had our shower bath after careful examination, had
+breakfasted, and yet there lay our enemies in stupid and heavy sleep
+still.
+
+"Now then," said Gatty, "now is our time."
+
+"Yes," said Otty, "I'll engage to kill them all."
+
+"With my help," said Master Felix consequentially.
+
+"No, no, children, don't be so absurd," said I, "drunken people are not
+so helpless as you imagine, and, besides, they may not be all so. Some
+may be watching elsewhere, some others may still be in the ship; they
+will soon be tired of looking for us, and leave us in peaceable
+possession of our dear little island."
+
+_Schillie._--"I am not quite sure if it would not be a good plan to pick
+them off one by one, when we can find them at an advantage."
+
+_Mother._--"For heaven's sake don't be mad. The report of a gun would
+bring them all on us, and the smoke betray us."
+
+_Sybil._--"Besides, little Mother, they may after all be good people,
+and we have no right to kill them until they have tried to hurt us."
+
+_Hargrave._--"Oh Miss Sybil, whatever can you go for to say they 'ave
+not 'armed hus. I never, no never saw such wickedness! My mistress's
+best lace dress! I shall never forget it to my dying day, no nor never
+forgive it. The 'eathens, the monsters, I am willing to 'old any
+hinstrument for my young master while he shoots the dreadful
+scrummagers."
+
+_Gatty._--"You don't say so! Hargrave, then take hold of this."
+
+Hargrave shuddered as she grasped the gun, but she resolutely held it at
+arms length. Gatty having put her to the proof, applauded her, and we
+went on with our conversation.
+
+_Mother._--"I can never feel sufficiently grateful to you, Madame, for
+your forethoughts and wisdom. We are now at all events our own
+mistresses and masters, but no one knows what would have become of us,
+had we gone open-armed to meet these people."
+
+_Madame._--"They look capable of any wickedness, Madam, and I really
+begin to think from all I can make out that they are pirates, and then
+they would have had no scruples in carrying us all off, and selling us
+for slaves."
+
+_Schillie._--"Or worse, they might have turned us into wives, a thing I
+could by no means consent to, even to be Queen of the Pirates."
+
+_Serena_ (our best Spanish Scholar).--"I heard them talking a great deal
+about the snake, and it seemed they were afraid to land at first for
+fear of it, but wanted water very much. And it was only on discovering
+its skin that they ceased to feel any alarm, and have wandered all about
+since."
+
+_Gatty._--"What owls we were to leave the skin there. However I think it
+great fun to dodge them in this way."
+
+_Madame._--"Fun did you say, my dear child? Poor deceived child."
+
+_Gatty._--"Not deceived at all, Madame, and, besides, we all think it
+fun."
+
+_Sybil._--"Yes, Madame, I think it very amusing to feel so safe and
+secure, and yet to be able to watch them so well."
+
+_Serena._--"And you know, Madame, it gives us such advantage; we know
+all about them, and they know nothing about us."
+
+_Schillie._--"Also, Madame, we have now something to do, and June cannot
+thrust any more of her inventions upon us for want of some other
+amusement."
+
+_Zoe._--"And you know, Madame, we cannot have any lessons while we are
+so busy watching."
+
+_Winny._--"Yes, Madame, and it is so nice to feel so useful, and have
+you all running up to ask us, 'Well! what do we see now? What's going on
+at present?'"
+
+_Lilly._--"And to see them all running about here and there looking for
+us, and all too in the wrong places."
+
+_Oscar._--"And what fun it will be to shoot them."
+
+_Felix._--"Yes! right and left shots."
+
+_Jenny._--"Oh, Master Felix, how pleased I should be to see you do that."
+
+_Hargrave._--"Nobody more so than hi, I make bold to say."
+
+Madame turned from one to another in sad dismay, and then looked at me.
+
+"Well! Madame, it is better they should all think thus than be as
+wretched as we were yesterday," returned I. "So let us make the best of
+it, hope the best, and ardently pray for it."
+
+"I should like just to kill a few before they leave," said Gatty.
+
+_Mother._--"For what possible reason, my dear child?"
+
+_Gatty._--"Because, because, it will be then a real good downright
+adventure, and we shall be able----"
+
+Here we were interrupted by a great noise. Every heart jumped into every
+mouth, at least mine did, so I suppose every other person's did. We flew
+to our hiding places. By and by there was a great smell of smoke. I
+telegraphed Schillie, and we crept from our corners, and went to the spy
+place. Oh sight of horror, what did we see but our beloved house, that
+matchless building, all in flames! Not being able to speak, Schillie
+shook her fists at them, until I thought she would shake them off. The
+dear little house, our pride and delight, built with such labour,
+inhabited with such pleasure, was fast consuming under the hands of
+these robbers. It seems that having guessed all our stores were there,
+and having made every effort to find us, and not succeeding, they had
+resorted to this method in the hope of forcing us to appear. But, such
+a base act only made us think much more badly of them, and we could
+hardly tell the news as we went sorrowfully back to the others.
+
+In the meantime they shouted and called to us in every part of the
+island, offered us every inducement they could think of to make us
+appear. But, not even the bribe of a promise to take us away from the
+island moved us one bit. We kept closer and more quiet the more furious
+they became. This lasted two days. We had not much more food left, and
+it was absolutely necessary we should get to the gardens to obtain
+something, or to the other house. This was a dreadful idea. At one time
+I half thought it would be better to starve altogether. But, could I
+bear to see the little ones die before my face?
+
+It makes me shiver when I think of that hour, and the settling who was
+to go. It must be Schillie or I, one to go, one to stay for fear of
+accidents. The lot fell on her. I would not let her have her way, but
+would draw lots. I did not know which was the worst fate of two, to go
+or stay. Jenny offered to go, Otty would go, and the lot fell on Serena
+of the three girls. Gatty groaned aloud in disappointment. The hour
+fixed on was just before night, when they would all be carousing. Well!
+we let them out. Ah! how horrible it was to see them withdrawn from the
+shelter of the secret cavern. I sprang to recall them my feelings were
+so dreadful. But they disappeared like lapwings. On our knees we waited
+for them, Sybil laying her head in the dust for sorrow, her Serena in
+such danger, Gatty tearing at the rocks and stones until her hands bled.
+And we could not see them if they were in danger. The suspense was too
+dreadful to be borne. With a few hasty words to Madame we seized as much
+rope and cordage as we could carry, and, slipping out expeditiously, we
+made our way, with the dexterity of long practice, up the side of the
+cliffs, among the brushwood, to the top of the cavern. Here we could see
+half over the island. But first we tied two stout ropes strongly to two
+trees, and let them down into the cavern through one of the apertures
+which lighted it. This told them inside that we had safely arrived at
+the top, and the ropes were strong enough to let us down in case we
+could not safely get back. Sybil, Gatty, and I were these three
+impatient ones. Having done that, we looked out for our beloved ones.
+They would be under cover all but the plain. We saw them! They were just
+going to cross it. How they ran! How we wept and prayed for them. How
+endless appeared the time when we once more lost them in the plantation
+by the house. It is beginning to grow dark. They are coming! yes, all
+four of them, heavily laden evidently. Now they are across the plain!
+Now the friendly trees receive them! In ten minutes more they will be
+here! How we shall welcome them, though I cannot think how I am ever to
+touch the food they have gained at such a risk. Now we must go down to
+meet them, and help the dear beloved creatures in with their precious
+loads. The trees crack, "let us make haste," the brushwood opens. Ah!
+the dreadful sight! Six great pirates appear just as our dear ones burst
+through the trees, hurrying all the more from being so near home,
+half-blinded with the weights they carried. It is over! They are
+surrounded, the pirates shout, they scream, and I fall to the ground
+with those sounds ringing in my ears.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+
+But not a minute did I stay there. We must be up and doing. Despair made
+us calm and cool. Everything seemed to depend on our judgment and
+caution. How my heart was wrung with those cries. Poor Sybil, the dear
+child seemed frantic, almost beside herself; she became resolute, almost
+fierce; she seemed ready to dare the whole band. But they are carrying
+them off. Can we resist flying after them? Yes, we must, we must. They
+are going to take them down the cliffs. But where is Oscar? He is not
+among them. They go. Now then, now is our time; we must get quickly
+down, and run to the waterfall to see what is done to our heart's
+treasures. We got down safely. As we emerge, one by one, we hear a
+slight sound, and, looking round, perceive Otty hiding in the brushwood.
+Being a quick sharp boy, he had seen the pirates in a minute, and,
+falling down among the bushes, had escaped notice.
+
+I clasped him in my arms, Gatty seized his bundle. We rushed into the
+cavern, and told our tale; not that Sybil stopped or stayed, she made
+her way to the waterfall at once, and arrived long before she could see
+them coming down the cliffs. But the ever-provident Gatty, calling on
+the little girls, ran out, and collected the dearly-bought food; and,
+taking the little girls, she went boldly to the gardens, and between
+them they brought in a plentiful supply of everything. She knew she
+could not help them, neither could we watchers. Night came on, and left
+us in despair and darkness.
+
+Poor Sybil! the morning sun showed her in despair. We could not
+recognise the soft smiling girl in the wild, excited, agitated being
+before us. What were we to do? What could we do? We were ready to do
+anything. We came to one agreement, that separated we would not be. If
+we could not rescue them, we should join them in their captivity. Now
+all the men collect together; we see nothing of their prisoners, but
+imagine that they are on board the ship. We count twenty-two, the number
+of all we had seen. They talk earnestly. Eight go on board, and, after
+some bustle, return with the boat laden with empty casks. These are
+rolled by the rest to the stream. Now all day the whole party fill the
+casks, roll them back, and take them on board; they don't rest one hour.
+We must do something. "Then," said Madame, "let me go out boldly among
+them. I will find out what they mean to do. They may take me prisoner;
+but, old and grey-headed, it is more likely they may not think it worth
+while. I will write what I find out, and put it under a stone near the
+old tent, if they don't allow me to return." So Madame goes, taking
+care to appear from quite a different side to our entrance. They
+surround her, she is bound to a tree, and they proceed with their
+watering. At last it seems done, and they all appear tired and
+exhausted, having worked hard, without food or rest, for eight hours. A
+consultation is held about Madame, and finally she is left loose and
+unbound, while they all run eagerly to the place where the meal is now
+being prepared for them. She watches her opportunity, and gradually
+steals up the cliff; when near the top, she is overtaken, and brought
+back. Dear old lady, what incredible exertions had she made; we had
+watched her scrambling up spots we knew she almost fainted to look at.
+But that was nothing to her dauntless courage and energy. When they were
+all safe at their meal, Gatty ran from the upper opening to the top of
+the cliff, from whence they had taken her back, and, sure enough, under
+a stone, close by which she had dropped her handkerchief, we found a
+note.
+
+This told us that the pirates intended sailing the next morning, that
+they were delighted at having made these prisoners, that they had done
+them no harm at present, but, being on board the ship, they certainly
+intended carrying them off, that all the men intended sleeping on shore
+but two, that Madame, if kept a prisoner, would stay near the boat, and
+bear a light to direct us to it in case we thought we could rescue them.
+(Of course we could and would rescue them, who doubted it?) The rest she
+would leave to us, she could advise nothing. "Glorious," said Gatty,
+"now we have something to do. Would that night was come."
+
+_Mother._--"Now here is something to amuse us until night comes on.
+Suppose we write as many letters as we can, and when we go on board for
+the dear prisoners, let us leave them there. If these people are real
+pirates, their vessel may be captured, and our letters found and
+forwarded by the vessel that takes them. And even if no such event
+happens, and they are not pirates, compassion may make them forward them
+to their proper destination by some ship or opportunity."
+
+A capital notion, and we proceeded to put it into execution, and
+altogether accomplished about a dozen letters, each directed to
+different members of our beloved family. All being ready, the darkness
+impenetrable, we looked out and saw two lights burning. One we supposed
+to be the ship light, the other Madame's, which she was to light when
+all were asleep. With the utmost expedition, but the greatest caution
+and silence, we slid down the rocks in a different direction from the
+lights, that no rolling stone or slipping feet might be heard. Once on
+the sand, our noiseless feet flew, as well as they could consistent with
+the caution necessary in such darkness, and the way in which a bright
+light, under such circumstances, deceives you. We kept by the moving
+waves in part to guide us. We came to the bathing place. Now we must
+creep on our hands and knees, we are so near. We touch Madame--happiness
+inexpressible. Silently, Gatty, Oscar, and I creep into the boat; we tie
+handkerchiefs and towels round the two oars; nevertheless, what a noise
+we make, but we are very nearly reckless. Madame wraps her arms round
+Sybil, lest her impatience should make her throw herself into the water,
+in her wish to get to her second self. Now we touch the ship. Gatty and
+I are on deck like cats. We have taken off our shoes that our footsteps
+may not be heard. Otty keeps to the boat. We creep to the lamp and get a
+light, and then go down stairs. We try a door, but it is locked. Gatty
+goes back to Otty, and tells him to move under the cabin windows, to see
+if he can find them out there. I try to push some of my long hair
+through the key-hole to attract their attention, but the key is in. I
+then thrust some letters under the door. I hear their voices, but am
+just frantic at not being able to make them hear, but Oscar has. It is
+all right; they know him, and speak to him. I hear Schillie say, "Where
+is June?" How can we be so rash, and make such a noise. I can only
+account for their not hearing us by the fact that they were completely
+knocked up with the heat and work of the day, and had no idea there were
+any more people on the island; and, as the boat was on shore, their
+prisoners could not escape by themselves; so that in all security they
+sleep profoundly. Now then, at last, the door opens, and we see them,
+but not a word is spoken, and, merely squeezing our fingers, they pass
+out. I hide the letters in different parts of the cabin, and, finding
+them all ready in the boat, we push off, and in a few minutes, guided by
+the friendly light, Serena is in Sybil's arms. They hurry off the same
+way we came, only treading in the waves that their footsteps may not be
+traced. I remain behind but to fasten up the boat in the same way we
+found it; and then, after some difficulty, many falls, and constant
+losing our way, owing to the darkness, we hear the welcome sounds of the
+waterfall. Heedless of a wetting, we rush in, we are safe, we are in the
+cavern, and then what a scene takes place. But no pen can describe it.
+Mine cannot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+
+Exhausted by our many emotions, and the agony of the last twenty-four
+hours, we slept until very late. But our first words on awaking were,
+"Is the ship gone?"
+
+Yes! she was gone from her mooring; nevertheless she was lying to, and
+the boat came off to shore with about ten men in it. They lost no time,
+but hurried about in every direction to find what we were certainly not
+going to lose sight of again. We heard them wrangling and grumbling as
+they searched all about Cartref Pellenig. A gun recalled them to the
+ship after they had spent many fruitless hours in the search. Ere sunset
+arrived, the low black hull of the evil ship was hardly to be traced on
+the horizon. Then we questioned the three heroines as to their
+adventures.
+
+_Schillie._--"Odious beasts."
+
+_Mother._--"Is that all you have to say about them?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Wretches."
+
+_Mother._--"But, Serena, what do you say?"
+
+_Serena._--"They are shocking people."
+
+_Mother._--"Well, I must try Jenny, for you did only tell us what we
+guessed before."
+
+_Jenny._--"Oh, Ma'am, they are such a wicked lot!"
+
+Finding we could not get any news out of them, we waited until they had
+sufficiently relieved their feelings by abusing them, and then gleaned
+the following information by fits and starts. To use Schillie's words
+they were audibly and horribly elated at having captured such notable
+prisoners. Also they were questioned very much about themselves, and
+Schillie's friend, the King of the Pirates, asked if they belonged to a
+party of ladies and children supposed to be lost in a yacht about two
+years ago. To this she replied in the affirmative, hoping to hear news
+from home. Then they told her that many people were employed in the
+search after them, and that very large rewards were offered to any one
+who could give information. "Then," said Schillie, "if you take us all
+home you shall receive rewards beyond your greatest wishes."
+
+This conversation was held in French. He went and retailed it to his
+companions in Spanish, not deeming that Serena understood them. They
+then had a dispute amongst themselves as to whether they would retain
+possession of the prisoners or claim the promised reward. The dispute
+ran so high that they all agreed to defer it till they got to sea,
+having too much to do to waste the time at present. When Serena
+interpreted this to Schillie she was wrath beyond expression, and vowed
+she would jump overboard and be swallowed by a shark ere she went to sea
+and leave it undecided as to what their future fate must be. Then the
+captain asked her where all the others were? And in a fit of disgust
+and horror she said to him he should not take her from the island unless
+it was to restore them to their friends. Giving her a ferocious look he
+said her fate should be decided according as she behaved, and they were
+in no particular want of money at present, having been very successful
+in their late excursion. He also told her that they had been on the look
+out for us a long time, and wanted to know if we had not great riches,
+plate, and diamonds with us; he, in fact, asked so many questions, we
+could not but perceive they knew a great deal about us. Finding Schillie
+grew more and more reserved and angry, he separated the three, and
+proceeded to question them. Jenny declared point blank, as well as she
+could by signs, that all the rest of us were dead! and only those three
+left. Serena pretended not to understand, and fell into such hysterical
+tears at being separated from Schillie, that after awhile they restored
+them together.
+
+"Well, Schillie," said I, "I don't think I should have objected to go
+with them so much, for they are generally such needy people these
+pirates that money would surely have tempted them to give you up."
+
+_Schillie._--"Brutes!"
+
+_Mother._--"And then you could have made arrangements to come for us."
+
+_Schillie._--"Villains!"
+
+_Mother._--"Now do be rational, why don't you listen to what I say,
+instead of vituperating in this manner?"
+
+_Schillie._--"It is you that want reason. I tell you what, June, I had
+rather stay here all the days of my life, and live to be the last
+person on it, burying you every one, than be a week at sea with such a
+set of rascally, vile, audacious, drunken robbers as they were. Now if
+you love me let me hear their names no more. Let me enjoy the fact that
+I am with you all again. Let me do anything to drive away the horrors
+that beset me when in their power. I don't mean to say they were
+uncivil, or rude, or that they treated us unnecessarily roughly. I had a
+knife ready if they had done so to either of us."
+
+So the subject was dropped, and, though we might have had some
+misgivings that we had not acted with great courage, and that we had
+lost an opportunity of being restored to the world which we might not
+have again, yet we were not worse off than we had been ten days ago.
+Moreover, we had escaped a great and serious misfortune, namely, being
+separated. Also we knew the extent of what we had suffered, and we could
+not tell what we might have had to endure. Also we had the heartfelt
+satisfaction of knowing that we were not given up as lost, that kind
+hearts and active energies were being employed in our behalf. Were we
+wrong to be so hopeful that these exertions would meet with a due
+reward?
+
+These thoughts gave us food for many a conversation, though we made very
+few allusions to the pirates themselves. Once, indeed, on remarking a
+few cooking utensils, and a great big bottle that were now in use among
+us, and which I had never seen before, "Oh," said Gatty composedly,
+"they had no business to burn down our house, so Otty and I cleared
+their caboose while you were down in the cabin, and Jenny helped us, and
+she allows we have now a tidy set of cooking things, and Goodness knows
+they have arrived just in the nick of time as ours were done up."
+
+_Jenny._--"Indeed, Ma'am, it is quite true. Look at our old saucepans.
+Past mending, even if there was a tinker next door."
+
+_Schillie._--"Very sensible brat! I did not think she had such _nous_ in
+her."
+
+_Mother._--"Really I think we ought to give you a vote of thanks,
+Gatty."
+
+_Madame._--"But surely, my dear Madam, the want of principle Gertrude
+has shewn ought to be reproved. It was (pray do not think me unkind) but
+I am afraid I can call it nothing but a theft on her part."
+
+_Hargrave_ (bursting into the conversation _nolens volens_).--"I beg
+pardon, ladies, but I must say Miss Gertrude has hacted in a manner
+surprisingly delightful. Them 'orrifying hannimals 'as destroyed 'eaps
+of our best dresses and millineries; and hif Miss could but 'ave tossed
+their best suits hoverboard my mind would be hat rest, and my 'eart
+heased."
+
+So Gatty got applauded on all sides, for Madame was reminded if it had
+not been for her thieving propensities she would never have had the nice
+quantities of warm water we could now heat for her bath. Therefore she
+pocketed her principles at the shrine of her baths, at least to a
+certain extent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+
+Quiet prevailed, lessons predominated, we were all getting very stupid
+again. Schillie was very much subdued after her sojourn with the
+pirates, and took to following me everywhere, as the faithful dog
+follows his master. Also, she was very amenable to all my wishes and
+worked like a horse in the gardens and potatoe grounds, because I
+thought we had better lay in great stores of food, for fear the pirates
+should come again. Besides this work, we plaited grass into ropes, and
+made a ladder or two, with which we practised running up and down into
+the cavern from the opening at the top. It was something to do, and
+might be useful. The children were like cats at last, and used to
+frighten me out of my wits by their feats of agility.
+
+So many of our clothes had been destroyed that it became necessary to do
+something towards replacing them; and, after various attempts, Schillie
+and I constructed two rude weaving machines, in which, with hard work,
+we made a coarse kind of cloth. This was dyed any colour we fancied, and
+then made into a long loose dress, with hanging sleeves, capable of
+being tucked up, and a broad belt to confine them round the waist. We
+found them very convenient and cool, only it was incessant work,
+spinning, weaving, and making them. We certainly did not eat the bread
+of idleness, and many a day's holiday was asked from Madame, only to
+work the poor girls harder at spinning, weaving, or gardening. But they
+enjoyed it, and grew like palm trees, looking so pretty and lively, that
+it was quite a sight to look at them: Sybil fair as a lily, and bright
+as a rose; Gatty glowing like the bright hibiscus; the pale and graceful
+Serena, faultless in form and action; while the little ones seemed to be
+growing up into what the elder girls had been when we first landed on
+the island.
+
+The rainy season came and went. God blessed us in our house and field,
+and in the hearts content that filled every mind.
+
+Intuitively we all seemed to feel that a good time was coming for us,
+and we prepared for the fine weather with fresh energies and renewed
+hopes, not unmixed with the notion that we should have dangers and
+difficulties to encounter, ere we should be finally restored to all we
+loved.
+
+We encouraged each other in every way. We relied on some of our letters
+reaching their proper destination, we assured each other that another
+six months would not pass without our friends coming to look for us.
+
+We made every preparation, stores of food for a full year were stowed
+away in the cavern. We concocted a kitchen, from whence the smoke could
+never betray us, and we sat down in patient expectation, and full trust
+in our Almighty Father, that should the pirates come again we were quite
+prepared; therefore, without fear, though with a little palpitation of
+heart, we received the news one brilliant morning that a sail was to be
+seen on the horizon.
+
+It came nearer and nearer and yet kept off the island. We might have
+thought, for a time, that perchance it was our friends, but one after
+another allowed the mournful fact to escape from our lips, that it was
+indeed the pirates' vessel.
+
+Supposing us to be inexperienced in vessels, and not likely to know one
+again, after seeing it once, we imagined they kept dodging on and off
+the island to deceive us, and that they would do this until dark, and
+then landing as best they might, they would thus take us by surprise.
+They little knew how sharp was the watch we kept, as much prompted by
+affection as fear.
+
+But we understood their man[oe]uvres very well, and were quite prepared.
+We had long ceased to need the Cartref Pellenig entrance, letting
+everything down by the aperture above, where the rock and brushwood
+would tell no tales of our footsteps. We had made some more places of
+observation, and we went to rest that night feeling prepared for
+everything. It happened as we expected. The whole island seemed alive
+with pirates as the sun arose. We had taken care to leave their works of
+destruction as much like what they had left them as possible. They spent
+a whole week in diligently searching the island, yet were no restraint
+upon us whatever. We had our shower baths, and even our exercise up and
+down the rope ladders, peeping out upon them from the top, for we had
+smoothed the sides of the cliff so well, there was not a place for a cat
+to get up, and besides it seeming only to be bare rock and brushwood,
+they thought they saw all over it without deeming that anything could be
+hidden down in it.
+
+We got rather rash, they got very vexed, we were delighted, they were
+disappointed. At last at the end of ten days, they began to unload the
+vessel. Now! thought we, "what is going to happen, surely they are not
+going to stay here." Our ill-timed hilarity received a sudden check, for
+our fears were confirmed, they unloaded the vessel completely, and after
+ballasting her with sand and shingle, they set sail, and departed. But
+alas! for us they left ten of their people behind them, who commenced to
+our horror and disgust building a house very near Cartref Pellenig, but
+so placed that they could look down the cliffs and over the sea. By this
+arrangement we had certainly one-half of the island entirely to
+ourselves, and as they were extremely busy, evidently trying to get
+their house completed ere the second rains came on, and as what time
+they had to spare they spent entirely in carousing and sleeping, we ran
+little danger of being discovered, though out for hours together. One
+precaution we took which was always to have a watcher on their
+movements, and never to leave the cavern, without settling where we were
+to be found in case of warning. Also they seemed quite to have made up
+their own minds that they were the sole inhabitants of the island.
+Little dreaming what a home she gave in her friendly bosom to the weak
+and helpless, and how many eyes watched their every movement.
+
+We gathered the fruits of roots, enjoyed the turtle, collected eggs, and
+accustomed our hens to lay in the cavern, giving them a remote egress,
+through which nothing but fowls could get. We were not therefore in
+danger of starving, supposing they did take up their abode on the island
+with us. So we sat down on the carpet of contentment.
+
+During the ensuing wet weather we saw nothing of our visitors, and we
+beguiled the time with writing stories and romances, and reciting them
+in the evening while we knitted, spun, and weaved. Part of the girls'
+lessons consisted in learning French Plays by heart, and Schillie and I
+as spectators saw more than poor Madame, who innocently left them to
+select their own lessons. Sometimes they would repeat the same lessons
+three days running, making grimaces at us to say nothing. Sometimes
+Gatty managed so to arrange it, that, during four or five long pages of
+dialogue, all she had to say was, "_Et Tartuffe_" "_Le Pauvre-homme_"
+two or three times, and then she received the good jeton necessary for
+such a long lesson.
+
+_Schillie._--"You will be hanged some day, Miss Gatty, if you go on in
+this deceptious manner."
+
+_Gatty._--"Oh, Sib likes the fun, and Serena is so fond of languages,
+she does not care how much she says, provided it is not in her mother
+tongue, and I love them both so much, I always like to oblige them."
+
+_Schillie._--"I dare say you do, you young sinner. Now see if I don't
+expose you to Madame, and then in addition to the crime of stealing, you
+will have fibbing added."
+
+_Gatty._--"I am quite ready to go and restore the kettle and other
+things, if you like it, little Mother. Perhaps you would not mind coming
+with me to do this act of justice."
+
+_Schillie._--"Mention such a thing again, and see how I will punch you,
+Miss, just as if I would walk one yard nearer those wretches, than the
+horrid narrow limits of this island oblige me. No, if they were dying by
+inches for want of their kettle I would not stir one step to give it
+them."
+
+_Serena._--"How severe you are upon them, little Mother, I hate the sight
+of them, but I don't think I could see them starve."
+
+_Sybil._--"Indeed I should not care what became of them, or what fate
+happened to them so that they were all dead."
+
+_Gatty._--"There, Madame, there, hear what your pattern of gentleness
+and goodness says. Don't talk to me any more about being more like a boy
+than a girl. Here Syb declares she would like to see the pirates roasted
+alive."
+
+_Sybil._--"Now, Gatty, how can you?"
+
+_Gatty._--"You said you did not care what became of them; perhaps flayed
+alive will suit you better."
+
+_Sybil._--"Horrid girl, how you make me shudder."
+
+_Madame._--"I feel perfectly correct in saying, Gertrude, that you are
+merely giving voice to your own ideas, and not to my gentle Sybil's."
+
+_Sybil._--"Then, dear Madame, I must undeceive you, for, when I look at
+Serena, I don't think I should care whether they were roasted or not."
+
+_Madame._--"My child, my dear child, since when have you adopted these
+notions, so foreign to your mild nature?"
+
+_Sybil._--"I don't know, indeed, Madame; but I am ready to fire off a
+gun if it is necessary to drive them away."
+
+_Madame._--"You see, Madam, what an effect it has had upon our household
+already, the visit of these pirates."
+
+_Mother._--"Then, Madame, we must hope no worse effects will ensue. At
+present I admire Sybil's spirit and energy, and think she wanted but
+that to make her almost what you think her, perfection."
+
+_Gatty._--"I don't like the change at all. Nothing I can do to her now
+frightens her. I found the most frightful old bloated toad yesterday,
+and put it on her fat white arm, saying 'there's a pirate for you, Syb,'
+and, would you believe it, she neither shrieked or screamed, but said
+quite savagely, 'I only wish it was, and that I could make away with him
+as quickly as I could this poor toad.' It is quite provoking, all my fun
+is gone."
+
+_Oscar._--"Perhaps, aunt Sib, you won't mind learning to fire a gun
+now."
+
+_Sybil._--"Not at all, dear boy, but (adding quickly) you know we must
+not shoot at present for fear of discovering ourselves."
+
+_Felix._--"Oh, she's a coward yet, she most certainly is."
+
+_Lilly._--"She was no coward when she went to the ship that dark night,
+boy" (indignantly).
+
+_Zoe._--"I am sure she is as brave as any of us when occasion requires"
+(more indignantly).
+
+_Winny._--"Yes, indeed, all her stories are full of brave people, and
+they are such pretty stories."
+
+_Schillie._--"Well, children, don't let us have any more of this mawkish
+dispute. Aunt Sib is agreed to be nearly perfection by you all, and when
+I see her looking steadily at a spider without a wink I'll think her so
+too. It is lucky she has turned out so brave, as we may want her
+services, and I trust you will all follow her worthy example. I intend
+organizing an army, and making myself field-marshal thereof; and if you
+make good soldiers, and obey the word of command, I'll tell you the
+story of the little jack-daws."
+
+The house the men built, which we called Pirate Hall, was magnificent
+compared to our poor dear Cartref Pellenig, and was made with such
+rapidity, speed, and neatness, our clerk of the works fell into fits of
+envy and jealousy. We had visited it very often without being
+discovered; but the children, from sheer mischief, used to carry off
+things of all kinds back to our cavern, and we were unable to prevent
+them, as they almost considered it an act of duty to do so. I would not
+let them go; besides, we might have been discovered, as, through the
+loss of different things in such a strange manner, they must suspect
+some other people were on the island. Schillie, Madame, and I had many
+private conversations regarding these pirates and their settling on the
+island; for we were not so hopeful as to think if they settled here
+permanently we could always escape notice. Some inadvertence on our
+part, some chance on theirs, an earthquake, any of these things might
+discover us.
+
+Schillie imagined, from the peculiar way in which Pirate Hall was built,
+they meant to use it as a storehouse, and that probably the vessel would
+return, take off the ten men, now our neighbours, and only visit the
+island when they had to store away their ill-gotten gains, or from bad
+weather. I agreed with her, and further added, that probably the old
+house had been built for the same purpose, but that their rendezvous
+had been disturbed by the extraordinary snake which had been so nearly
+fatal to us. Now that it was dead they were again making use of the
+island, and we must be prepared for this and any other disagreeable
+occurrence that their proximity to us would cause.
+
+Madame hoped that if they really took permanent possession of the
+island, we might in some manner contrive to quit it, either through
+their ships and boats, or from my brother's ship, which we knew had been
+stationed on the South American Coast, for the purpose of exterminating
+the pirates, and discovering their hordes. And if he ever pursued one,
+in endeavouring to reach this island, he might be led on after them, and
+so discover us.
+
+I doubted their permitting so safe and convenient a spot being
+discovered. However time would show, and without any event occurring,
+that could be interesting to others than ourselves, time brought the
+pirate's vessel back again. Henceforward its visits were at all times
+and all hours, never staying above a day when it did come, then all
+hands worked hard to unload and refit again. Sometimes everybody went in
+it. Sometimes two or three remained behind. And it was on one of these
+occasions we had a most dreadful fright. Hearing a noise amongst the
+brushwood at the top of the cavern, we found out in a minute, one or all
+of the pirates were up there. Almost before the thought rushed through
+us, there was a crash, a whizzing through the air, and the large heavy
+body of one of the men fell into the midst of us, and lay there a
+shapeless bloody mass. Voices were immediately heard, calling to the
+man, and cautioning each other to beware. We heard the axe cutting away
+the brushwood, which fell in the cavern amongst us, and fancied faces
+were peeping down upon us, to see what had occurred to their companion.
+We stood and sat motionless. They called to him, and speculated on his
+fate, and wondered that they heard nothing from him. What should we do,
+if they discovered our ladders. It seemed however that they were too
+much alarmed at the unknown fate of their companion, to hazard their
+lives in search of him, but left the place, saying something about ropes
+and a further search.
+
+And now what were we do? Here we were with the great body of a pirate in
+the midst of us, who, though dead, inspired us with almost as much
+horror and terror, as if alive. What could we do with the crushed and
+horrid remains. This seemed to oppress us the most, and in thinking who
+was to touch and move it, we lost sight of the danger we incurred from
+the other pirates coming back to look for the body.
+
+_Mother._--"Well! Schillie, what must we do?"
+
+_Schillie._--"I shall not touch the beast!"
+
+_Madame._--"The sight is frightful, I really must retire."
+
+The three girls hung aloof, the little ones had hidden themselves out of
+sight. Though I said nothing, I looked at Hargrave and Jenny.
+
+_Hargrave_ (very mysteriously).--"I hassure you, Ma'am, I am not
+haccustomed, that is, Ma'am, it is no business of mine. I ham not in the
+'abits of touching corpses and hexcuse me, Ma'am, this is so very--oh
+dear me whathever 'as come hover me. I shall faint, I know."
+
+_Jenny_ (very pale and _resolute_).--"I think, Ma'am, if I rolled it up
+in a sheet, we might drag it between us to some distant cavern, and bury
+it in the sand."
+
+_Oscar._--"No, Jenny, we must cut him in pieces, and carry him out bit by
+bit into the sea."
+
+_Felix._--"Yes, here is his own saw, that I took away the last time we
+were at his house. He is only a pirate, Jenny, and quite dead; so, saw
+away!"
+
+_Jenny._--"Oh, Master Felix, I did not think you had the heart to be so
+cruel."
+
+_Oscar._--"Cruel! don't be absurd, Jenny. You don't care a bit for
+cutting off the heads of the chickens so why should you mind cutting up
+this great brute."
+
+_Jenny._--"Oh! Sir, you really must excuse me, I cannot do it, even to
+please you."
+
+Our dilemma was really growing most painful. "Can one bury him here, as
+he is, without touching him?" said I. "Oh no, Mother," said Oscar. "We
+could never endure the place knowing this body was buried in it.
+Besides, see where he has fallen just where we dine. At all events, if
+you will none of you touch him, and he must be buried here, let us seek
+another cavern to live in, one nearer the waterfall."
+
+"Shall we follow Otty's advice," said I to the others, "it seems the
+only thing we can do, but it is horrible."
+
+"Cover up those unsightly remains, and let us begone," said Schillie,
+"the place is getting horrible even now."
+
+We ran for every sort of thing we could find to shovel the sand over
+him, and though very soon out of sight, we worked harder and harder, as
+if the more sand we put over him, the more we drove from us the horrible
+sight. We then recollected the ladders, and Gatty and Serena ran up, and
+let them down, and then swung themselves down by a rope, which we
+fastened at the side of the cavern, in such a manner as to be hardly
+apparent, and certainly of no use.
+
+For a full hour after we had done, the children were throwing more sand
+on the great Tumulus now before us, while we moved as many of our things
+as we could to another cavern, smaller, less convenient, and darker. We
+were so busy, that we forgot the pirates might come back, and were
+therefore electrified at the sound of their voices above. They called
+once or twice to the dead man, now buried many feet in sand, and of
+course receiving no answer, we found they were preparing to let a man
+down.
+
+"Oh! Mother," said Oscar, "let us stone him well as he comes down, and
+that will frighten him." "And let us hiss like snakes," said Felix,
+"and he'll think he has got into a nest of big snakes." "Capital," said
+Gatty, "it will be glorious fun." "No, we must shoot him," said
+Schillie. "No, no, little Mother, do let us stone him, and hiss him
+out," said all the little ones, and they ran to collect stones.
+
+"Indeed, Schillie, I think the children's idea a very good one. If he is
+well stoned he won't come down, and if we hiss they will certainly think
+us snakes and, being already fearful about them, who knows but the fear
+of their being in the caverns of the island may drive them all away."
+
+_Schillie._--"Did ever any one hear of anything so silly. As if a man
+with an ounce of brains would be taken in by such a child's trick as
+this."
+
+_Oscar._--"Then keep the guns ready, cousin, and you and I will have a
+shot at him if necessary."
+
+"Agreed," said she. "Now make haste, every one hide in different
+corners; he is coming down."
+
+Most of this conversation was, of course, in whispers. Gatty was to give
+the signal for the stoning operations by her most accomplished hiss.
+
+A sudden burst of daylight; he was cutting the brushwood away to
+investigate as far as he could before descending. We were all like
+silent mice. Three hairy faces peered down. We shivered, and picked up
+the biggest stones. Now then he is coming, they say all right in
+Spanish, and he requests they will let him down very slowly. Now we see
+his legs, now his body, now the whole of him. Why does not Gatty give
+the signal? Lower and lower, I must hiss in a minute if she does not; at
+last he is fairly half way down. A great hiss, a perfect hurricane of
+hisses ensues, and a shower of stones aimed with such right goodwill
+that the man roared again. In their start and alarm above they had let
+him slip down suddenly a few feet, but his violent cries and entreaties
+to be drawn up were quickly attended to, and, amidst incessant hitting,
+and such a volley of stones that I do not think one inch of his body
+escaped a bruise, he disappeared from our sight.
+
+We heard him groaning and moaning above, while the others questioned
+him. He was too much stunned however to say anything as far as we could
+make it out, and presently we found they were lowering him down from the
+cliffs near Cartref Pellenig, as the easiest way of getting him home.
+
+From our peep-holes we had the satisfaction of seeing our enemy in a
+deplorable state, and apparently insensible, which Gatty averred was her
+performance, as she aimed particularly at his head.
+
+As Madame observed, a most unladylike proceeding!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+
+We were some time in learning what effect our stratagem had had upon the
+pirates. On our parts we were delighted at the scheme succeeding so
+wonderfully, and dubbed the hero of it "The Knight of the Descending
+Ladder." They kept very close, and we saw but little of them until the
+ship returned. Then, indeed, there was a great row, and we saw the
+unfortunate "Knight" brought out on a sort of board, apparently to tell
+his tale, which must have been very wonderful to judge by their
+amazement. He seemed very ill indeed, and while some of us expressed a
+little sorrow for him, there were a few who wondered how he dare be
+still alive after their incredible exertions to kill him.
+
+Schillie declared she had a great contempt now for the pirates, since
+they had been deceived and frightened by such children's play, and began
+to speculate upon getting rid of them all by degrees through working on
+their fears, and a sparing use of the gun.
+
+_Mother._--"Nothing surprises me so much as the change in your
+character. Formerly you scolded me for even killing a wasp (that
+allowed enemy to man and fruit), and yet now you coolly talk of shooting
+pirates as if it was a common morning's amusement."
+
+_Schillie._--"I shall not be happy as long as these wretches remain,
+especially as it only requires an earthquake to expose us to view. And
+now that they have got some notion (fools as they are) that the island
+is not without its dangers, we may as well follow it up, and, whoever
+they leave behind this time we must take care they never see again."
+
+_Mother._--"What! you mean to kill and bury them before the others
+return. I think it a very good plan, and it will effectually frighten
+them away if they come back two or three times, and on each return find
+those they have left here gone, without a trace of their disappearance.
+But I can never persuade myself that there is one amongst our party who
+can deliberately go and shoot a man in cold blood who has never done
+them any harm."
+
+_Schillie._--"Pooh! pooh! just put yourself into their power for a day,
+and I'll be bound you come back quite ready to do anything to get rid of
+them. Such a set of wretches I never saw."
+
+_Jenny_ (smiling and smirking to me).--"And yet, Ma'am, they thought so
+much of Mrs. E. that time we were with them. The captain could not take
+his eyes off her."
+
+We all laughed heartily at this, and congratulated Schillie on her
+conquest, while I added that I could easily perceive now why she was
+irritated against the pirates.
+
+This put her into a great fit of the sulks, and I do not know with whom
+she would not have quarrelled if our conversation had not been put an
+end to by Oscar and Felix.
+
+_Oscar._--"Oh Mother, they are unloading the ship, and they have got
+some prisoners."
+
+_Felix._--"And, oh Mother, one poor prisoner is so wounded he is lame."
+
+_Oscar._--"And, Mother, we saw them bound, carried out of the boat."
+
+_Felix._--"And, oh Mother, they beat their poor prisoners, and one is
+lame."
+
+_Oscar._--"And, Mother, they are driving them up to Pirate Hall, and,
+Mother, we must----"
+
+_Felix._--"Oh Mother, we must----"
+
+_Oscar._--"Yes, yes, we must----"
+
+_Felix._--"Oh Mother, say yes, say yes."
+
+_Gatty._--"Release them! of course, glorious boys, we will. Have I not
+often released you two when playing at 'Prisoners base.'"
+
+_Sybil._--"Poor, poor fellows, we must try to help them."
+
+_Mother._--"This is news indeed! and I quite agree with all your
+feelings. But, children, you must let us think. Imagine what dangers you
+run."
+
+_Oscar._--"But, Mother, the poor prisoners!"
+
+_Felix._--"And, oh Mother, perhaps they will eat them, as Friday was
+going to be eaten."
+
+_Gatty._--"Pray, pray, do let us try to release them."
+
+_Sybil._--"Once they were safe in here we could soon make them well."
+
+_Serena._--"And then, being men, they will help us to fight against the
+pirates, and kill them all."
+
+_Mother._--"That will be very nice indeed. Schillie, these prisoners
+seem just sent in the nick of time to do the work I doubted our
+accomplishing."
+
+_Schillie._--"I think you and the children all a little cracked
+together, and have no doubt you will instantly march out in a body, give
+battle, and return victorious, carrying the prisoners in triumph, and
+decorated with the bloody heads of your enemies."
+
+_Gatty._--"You don't mean to say, little Mother, you would not help to
+get those two poor prisoners out of the murderous hands of these
+pirates?"
+
+_Felix._--"And one quite lame!"
+
+_Oscar._--"And perhaps they will eat them up."
+
+_Schillie._--"Pooh! pooh! brats, don't set up such a howling. Who said I
+was not ready to go to the rescue? Am I not your commander-in-chief? and
+are you not bound to obey your general? I only beg simply for the same
+grace your Mother asked for, namely, a little thought to settle our
+plans."
+
+_Madame._--"Oh, my dear Mrs. E., I had hoped from your knowledge of the
+world, and general good sense, that you would have calmed the young
+people's excited minds. Consider what risks we should run in releasing
+these people, and the inconvenience of having strangers and men attached
+to our party, living in the strange way we do."
+
+_Schillie._--"Madame, I consider but one thing; these two poor men are
+in the hands of the pirates and, rescued from their jaws they shall be,
+if I can do it."
+
+Such a clapping of hands, and shouts of approbation arose on this speech
+that I was in mortal fear lest we should be heard.
+
+Leaving the girls and children to argue the point with Madame, who had
+only Hargrave on her side, Schillie and I retired to talk over the
+matter, for it was really too grave a subject to be discussed with the
+same publicity that every other thing underwent in our community.
+
+And it did require great deliberation, for, after all, it was a mad
+thing, a parcel of weak women and children thinking they could out-do
+thirty-two ruffian pirates. To be sure we had some great advantages,
+but, after all, what we should lose in the event of this act of
+philanthropy failing was everything, and for two strangers! who might
+turn out to be what Schillie called very uncomfortable people. And,
+besides, we had every prospect before us of out-witting the pirates, and
+finally getting rid of them. I own I began to be dubious, but my
+companion was firm, and wound-up by saying, "Mind I expect a solemn
+promise if we fail that you put a pistol to my head rather than let me
+fall into the hands of that fellow." I smiled maliciously, saying, "What
+the King of the Pirates?" "King of Horrors," said she, "don't forget
+now." "Then Jenny's story was true about his admiration of you,"
+returned I. "Jenny's a goose, and you are another. If you mention him
+again I'll leave you, and go and settle in another part of the island."
+
+In settling our plans for the release of the prisoners we were very much
+fettered by not being able to let them know what schemes we were making
+for their benefit. Also of what language and nation they were.
+
+So it was agreed, greatly to the little boys' disgust, that we must try
+some experiments to make them know they had friends on the island. They
+declared that if we lost so much time they might both be eaten up before
+they could rescue them, and that it ought to be tried to-night. Not
+being so alarmed as the boys about the eating part of the business, the
+commander-in-chief merely ordered out a couple of scouts, who, from
+their practical knowledge of the country, knew the best places to drop
+little bits of paper, on which was written in English the following
+Notice:--
+
+"If the prisoners would like to hear of something to their advantage,
+let them burn a light some night when communication can be
+uninterrupted and convenient, and to shew that they and only they have
+got this notice, let them tie something white round each arm."
+
+We wrote in English, because we knew that the pirates understood French.
+
+Gatty and Jenny were the two scouts, and we were very uneasy until they
+returned, which they did after two hours absence in the night. We
+diligently watched all that day, but saw no signs of the white mark on
+the prisoners' arms, though one was kept working hard in the very course
+where some of the billet doux were placed. The other we supposed was
+ill, as he did not appear until evening, when supported by the one we
+had seen all day. They retired together to a ledge of rocks by
+themselves, and seemed to hold earnest communion. One wrung his hands
+and seemed in the greatest grief, which made the children half-wild to
+get at them, to whisper comfort and release. Three days passed and no
+white sign, though every day they sat in the evening by themselves in
+this spot, and always secured in the utmost sorrow. We agreed we must
+put a billet doux there, if another day passed without the sign, though
+it was dangerously near Pirate Hall. In the meantime they were
+villainously used and ill-treated by the pirates, besides very hardly
+worked, so that they sometimes staggered and fell down from the weights
+they had to carry. Our indignation was great, and, like an impatient
+army as we were, we implored the commander in chief to give the word of
+march. We longed to hear him say "Up, guards, and at them." But that
+very evening surely we saw the white sign. It was true, indeed; how
+pleased we were. And then the delightful hope that they must be English
+was nearly confirmed, and showed how all our secret hopes and wishes had
+been in unison. This added to our zest in a wonderful manner. But now
+such a row, everybody wanted to go to the rescue, and it became a matter
+of difficulty to quell the military ardour of the army.
+
+It was arranged that Schillie was to go first, with a rope in her hand,
+I was to follow holding the end of hers and the beginning of another,
+Oscar ditto, Jenny ditto, Gatty, Serena, Felix, Sybil, Zoe, Madame,
+Winny, Lilly, Hargrave the last. So that we were all linked together,
+and had a regular chain of communication. Any danger in front was
+indicated by pull of the ropes. And then it was to be "_Sauve qui
+pent_." Thus the whole army was employed, and we were not likely to lose
+our way home, as the line extended so far that Hargrave would be close
+at home. The only risk we ran was, that, to enable us to perform this
+man[oe]uvre, we had to go out at the Cartref Pellenig entrance, which we
+had in consequence to pull down and open for the first time in four
+months. However, we trusted to our good cause, and the fact that the
+entrance was at all times difficult to find, and would not take half an
+hour to put to rights again. But this notable plan was to depend in a
+great measure whereabouts the signal light would be placed.
+
+When it was quite dark, we looked out with beating hearts. No light. We
+watched and waited half an hour; suddenly a light shone for a minute or
+so, and then darkness again. "That must certainly be a signal," said we,
+"however, we will wait another half hour." In less than half an hour,
+again a light shone for only a few minutes, and, as far as we could
+judge, just in the usual spot where they went every evening to talk by
+themselves. In fact, the spot where the before-mentioned man[oe]uvre of
+our great army was to be executed. So we rushed up the caverns in a most
+disorderly manner, and were all ready to obey the word of command in
+less than ten minutes at the Cartref Pellenig entrance. To our honour be
+it spoken, as an army composed of so many females, not a word was
+spoken, and we emerged from the entrance as noiselessly as bats out of
+an old chimney.
+
+Cautiously we proceeded, keeping close to the rock, so as to feel our
+way, but had to pass dangerously near Pirate Hall. We could hear them
+snoring in sleep; but there were watchers also, for they were talking
+noisily in one of the rooms. Now we must pause a moment, in hopes the
+light will again shine, and also to still our hearts, if possible, they
+are beating so loud. Five minutes passed, Schillie was then going slowly
+on, when her rope jumped with a start, so did mine, so I suppose did
+all the others, and I was sure I recognised the faintest little scream
+from Madame. The light shone out all of a sudden, not ten yards from us;
+it was that which made us start so. We noted the two men distinctly,
+and, waiting until the light was out again, we then advanced, and
+Schillie touching one and I the other, we took hold of some hard horny
+hands, and made the signal by shaking the ropes to return.
+
+Back we went, in rather a hurry-scurry I must allow. As everybody got
+into the cavern, the others came rushing in quicker and quicker;
+Schillie and I alone kept a stately march, holding the hard horny hands,
+not a word passing between the delivered and the deliverers; but if
+gratitude could be expressed by a grasp, it was done by the hand I held
+in mine. I had the lame prisoner, and while the hand trembled in mine
+like the hand of a timid woman, I felt his hairy mouth touching it, and
+the other hand trying in a gentle but earnest manner to feel the arm and
+as much of me as he could. He seemed to shake like an aspen leaf, and
+almost choked with suppressed emotion. But we are nearer, Gatty is in,
+Jenny, Oscar, the General slipped by me, and unhandsomely got in first.
+Now we were all safe. Jenny, Hargrave, and the girls flew for the
+torches to do up the entrance again. We silently led the rescued
+prisoners to a little cavern, which was somewhat remote from the others.
+
+Madame brought us a torch, and with acknowledged curiosity we proceeded
+to examine what were now our prisoners. Two great hairy men. Why did we
+start? A deep groan, and an English "God be thanked" burst from the lips
+of one as he fell senseless to the ground. The other rushed to the boys
+with vehement gesture, and catching both in his arms, uttered a shout
+that made the cavern ring again. "Oh, Smart, Smart," said they, "our
+dear, dear Tom Smart, is it really you? are you come back for us? are
+you alive?"
+
+Could this be real? It was indeed too true. The prisoners about whom we
+had been so anxious, the poor fellows we had so intuitively been
+interested in, and determined to risk our lives to save, were no other
+than our dear lamented captain and equally beloved Smart. Surely we
+could now tell why, from the first, we had been so anxious about them.
+There yet remained a trace in their sadly-altered appearance of
+something we had loved and lost. But the news spread like lightning, the
+entrance was left to its fate, every one flocked with their own eyes to
+behold that it was really true. The little ones flew into Smart's arms,
+and kissed his great face, and welcomed him as a father. The dear
+captain still remains insensible on the ground. We poured water over
+him, we chafed his hands, we called him by every tender name, but his
+insensibility remained deep and profound. It was necessary that
+something should check our joy, otherwise we should have been too elated
+for safety and prudence.
+
+Two of us watched by the captain, and the others, accompanied by the
+not-to-be-lost-sight-of Smart, went to fill up the entrance. It was now
+daylight, and in this little instance we saw what it was to have our
+dear Smart back again. In ten minutes he secured the entrance far more
+safely than we could do in an hour; and all being now right, we
+adjourned to our breakfasts, though it was only to ask questions and
+give answers, for nobody could eat; but his important communications
+must be kept for another chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+
+With a little girl on each knee, Felix hanging with arms round his neck,
+Oscar sitting into his pocket, and we all ranged in a circle before him,
+we forgot the pirates, we forgot everything but the present moment. We
+almost fancied ourselves once more at home; and thus we sat for hours,
+heedless of meals and dangers, listening to and retailing again all that
+had occurred since our sad and fatal parting.
+
+The only interruptions were our occasional visits to the dear captain,
+whose insensibility had given place to an attack of fever and delirium,
+through which Madame had engaged to bring him, if we left her in peace
+and quiet to fulfil her own prescriptions. We could not avoid, however,
+spite our deep interest in all Smart said, running to enquire every ten
+minutes if he was better. And painful was it to hear his broken
+exclamations, his cries after us, the mournful repetition of each little
+pet name, his agonies for their fancied danger, his remorse and sorrow
+choking the prayers and petitions he mixed with all he said. Dear kind
+captain, if all you said in your delirium had been running through your
+brain once you had parted from us, no wonder that it had at last given
+way, and that you now lay before us a wreck of what you once were, a
+broken-down, miserable-looking, white-headed man. But now for Smart's
+story, which I think it best to give in his own words, as well as how we
+questioned it all out of him.
+
+_Felix._--"Ah, Tommy, dear Tommy, how could you run away and leave us in
+that bad manner?"
+
+_Oscar._--"Yes, Smart, I don't think we have ever been happy since,
+until to-day."
+
+_Smart_ (blowing his nose and wiping his eyes).--"My dear young 'squire,
+my darling Mr. Felix, was it not the mistress's orders? But I will never
+leave you again, no, not if I am pounded to death by those scums of the
+earth, and live to see them rewarded for their trouble."
+
+_The three little girls_ (all in piteous voices).--"And could they hurt
+you, dear Smart, so good and kind as you are, and our darling captain?
+Oh, make haste, make haste, and tell us all about it."
+
+_Smart._--"I will make every haste, dear young ladies, but I don't
+rightly know where to begin. The sight of all your beautiful faces and
+my young gentlemen grown into men, and looking so proud and handsome,
+makes me in a manner beside myself; and me and the old captain was but
+a-saying last night no longer could we bear the trouble, but must do
+ourselves a mischief."
+
+_Felix._--"You, a mischief! No, no, Smart, you were always a very good
+boy. It's only me was a mischief."
+
+_Smart._--"You are a very fine young gentleman, and be growed; dear me,
+Sir, how you be growed. I would not a known you but for them eyes, and
+that bit of mischief they have in them. Give me leave, Ma'am, just to
+take one good look of you all. My heart, how the young ladies have
+sprung up, like lilies on a stalk. Miss Gatty no doubt as free as ever,
+only quite a woman; and you, Ma'am, be a sight stouter. Oh, what a sight
+this is. Little did we think, ould captain and I, when we seed this
+onlucky island agin, little did we think as you was still here. When
+they brought us up out of the hold, I knowed the spot in a minute. Says
+I to the cap'in, 'Not content with murdering us they mean to cut our
+hearts in two. Here's the very blessed place as I saw them all last time
+as ever I laid eyes on them.' With that he gave a great shout and has
+never rightly been himself since. And, truly, with my own heart nigh
+bursting, his'n was a mighty heavy one to bear up. Spite of all our hard
+work, we did our best to examine every spot to find traces of you, and
+we came to the notion, as you were all gone, through good whiles,
+maybees safe, unknowst of our fate, maybees dead; any way, we thought
+you had escaped our sad hap."
+
+_Schillie._--"But, Smart, that's the end of your story, begin at the
+beginning."
+
+_Smart._--"Where's that, Ma'am? I know neither beginning or end of
+anything since that unlucky morn we slipped away."
+
+_Schillie._--"Where did you go to then?"
+
+_Smart._--"Why we sailed away some few days; the vessel was but a cockle
+on the water, she was so light, so that we were noways comfortable in
+the matter of steadiness and good walking ground. Anyways, however, we
+had plenty to do spelling at the pumps, and so we went on, I won't say
+with hearts as light as the vessel, until a shot struck the big stick as
+stands in the middle of the ship. Well, we looked about, and saw an
+evil-disposed, black-looking, hang-dog of a vessel, that sent shot upon
+shot into us. Well, the smell of powder did me good, and we gave it them
+back right well with them two brass guns, Master. I beg your pardon,
+Sir, you being so growed, Mr. Oscar. And so we should ha' gone on
+peppering them to this minute, until they were all dead or gave in, had
+it not been for them same guns getting so hot, they were next to no use
+at all. Howsumdever, when they came aboord, we gave it them in a manner
+as some will carry to their dying day. And though that never mended the
+matter, it's a poor heart that does not rejoice over something, and that
+something was the settling of a round dozen of them rascally pirates by
+my own hand."
+
+_The boys_ (together).--"Twelve pirates! Did you really kill twelve?"
+
+_Smart._--"Kill or drown 'em, you may reckon on that, Sirs, and many
+more would I have served out in like manner, but four great brutes came
+behind me, and cracked my skull to that degree as neither sight to my
+eyes or sense to my tongue came for a length of weeks. And, maybe, but
+for the good old captain, it's in heaven only (if God in his goodness
+will grant me to go there) that I ever thought to see your sweet faces
+again."
+
+_Lilly._--"Now, dear Smart, go on."
+
+_Smart._--"Yes, Miss Lilly, but what a head o' hair you have, my pretty
+young lady; why here are curls enough to hang a score of pirates, but
+never a hair shall go near them, mark my words. They shall hew me into
+mince-meat ere they look on the sight that makes me strong as lions."
+
+_Lilly._--"But go on, dear Smart."
+
+_Smart._--"The breadth and length of them shall pass over my body ere
+they touch even Mrs. Hargrave. My heart sings with joy. I feel as a
+giant refreshed, now I know thee to be all safe and well, and growed so
+beautiful. I wants nothing, I cares for nothing. It's enough that I see
+you once more."
+
+_All the little girls and boys._--"But, dear Smart, go on. What did the
+pirates do to you?"
+
+_Smart._--"They did that to me as I never thought living man would do.
+They marked my back with stripes, but I never felt them, for the wound
+in my heart. They worked me worse than any horse; yet I was glad to be
+druv from my thoughts. And when I would fall from weakness, want, and
+hard treatment, I would sink with pleasure, trusting my time was come,
+and that they would have nothing but senseless clay to kick.
+Howsumdever, God has been good to me. May I never forget this hour. All
+things will prosper now. The good time is coming, and the worst is over.
+Could we but build a bridge now to bonnie ould England, I would desire
+nothing else in this world, save one good fight with those d----. I
+humbly beg pardon, ladies, but excuse poor Smart, he has almost forgot
+his manners in the bad company he has been keeping."
+
+_The boys._--"Never mind, Smart, we will help you to kill them. Mother
+and cousin Schillie were going to set about it as soon as ever the
+pirate vessel was gone, and we were to help."
+
+_Felix._--"And I was going to have a right and left shot, Tommy."
+
+_Smart._--"And you would ha' settled 'em, I'll be bound, Sir. What a
+stout fine fellow you be growed, Sir, and I hope as good too, and very
+sensible too; and I dare say, Sir, quite the gentleman to the little
+ladies."
+
+_Felix_ (looking down).--"Yes, yes, I dare say, perhaps, Smart, but we
+are not able to be ladies and gentlemen here you know. We are obliged to
+be servants and everything, and Otty and I are the gamekeepers."
+
+_Smart._--"Well, I do suppose, Sir, that does not prevent your behaving
+in a civil like way to the little ladies."
+
+_Felix._--"Oh yes, we are very civil to them when they are kind to us.
+But once we could not have any fish, because Lilly would not give us one
+of her curls to make lines."
+
+_Smart._--"Oh, my heart alive, take one of these pretty curls to make
+fishing lines? Indeed, Master Felix, I always thought you were very
+oudacious, Sir, begging your pardon."
+
+_Felix._--"But she had such a many of them, Smart."
+
+_Mother._--"There you need say no more on that sore subject. You know
+Lilly repented afterwards, and you ought to be ashamed of mentioning the
+matter."
+
+_Felix._--"But I must just tell Smart she did give us two at last, her
+two longest and best; and, my stars, how angry Jenny was, I really
+thought she would whip me."
+
+_Jenny._--"Indeed, Sir, you was very aggravating. See how shocked Smart
+is that ever you should have wanted or taken Miss Lilly's curls."
+
+_Felix._--"Well, Smart, don't be angry, we will never do it any more,
+only they did make such good lines, and Mama was nearly as vexed as
+Jenny."
+
+_Big and little girls._--"Now, Smart, go on."
+
+_Smart._--"I ha' a'most done, ladies; them times is too shocking to
+remember; but it's true gospel, as we all remained servants and slaves
+to them----scums. They took the ship, and painted and fitted her out
+until her own sister would not ha' known her. And they came and went
+just as suited 'em, always a-leaving us with sum on 'em, and their
+wives, and houses, and children, in a outlandish place, hot as the place
+I trust they'll all go to."
+
+_Oscar._--"Sailors and all, Benjie and Mr. ----"
+
+_Smart._--"He, poor fellow, was done for at the first, and a good many
+of the sailors were likewise done up and made away with, so that,
+maybees, there was not six left on us. The cap'in and I have stuck to
+each other through fair and foul, though it's precious little of the
+former as has blessed our heads, and there be sum few yet remaining at
+that place I was telling you was so hot."
+
+_The Quixotic little girls and boys_ all exclaim, "Then we must go and
+save them, especially Benjie."
+
+_Smart._--"Hi, Benjie, he was doing very well, but, being a good decent
+sort of chap, it's my wonder he never poisoned them----ramscallions
+when cooking for them."
+
+Smart always, when mentioning the pirates, seemed half choked in
+preventing himself saying some word that he did not deem proper for our
+ears. Sometimes it half slipped out, when he made an apologetical bow;
+sometimes he swallowed it whole; but he always paused, as if to give
+himself time to say it privately as a relief to his feelings.
+
+But this conversation will be wearisome, so I will say no more than that
+Smart imagines they were brought to this island to help to look after
+the stores and gardens, and to be servants, the pirates not knowing the
+important interest they had in the island, or that they had ever seen it
+before. Also, that they intended to make it their regular colony, and by
+degrees bring their whole establishment there; for the island was very
+well known, and always shunned by vessels on account of the great
+snake, whom it seemed impossible to destroy. This accounted for our
+never seeing any vessels all this time; and the pirates would not have
+ventured there had it not been for the storm we had thought so unlucky,
+and which now seemed to be the crowning providence of our eventful
+lives.
+
+In the meantime, Smart was never tired in listening to the children's
+tales, and whatever he was doing, he had the whole five clinging about
+him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+
+Madame fulfilled her promise, and in a few days we had the inexpressible
+satisfaction of sitting by the rude couch of the captain, and hearing
+his broken exclamations of happiness and delight. It seemed sufficient
+pleasure to him to watch us as we went about our various duties, and
+smiles mixed with tears often covered his poor thin face as the little
+ones vied with each other in nursing him. But he was too weak yet to
+enter into much conversation, and his nurse was very careful not to let
+him over-exert himself, for fear of a relapse. In fact, nature seemed to
+speak for him, as in reply to our anxious queries whether we could do
+anything for him, he would reply, "Nothing, nothing, but let me look at
+you, God be praised."
+
+In these few days of exquisite happiness we forgot all about the
+pirates. Nobody watched them, nobody thought of them, though we have
+reason to suppose that they made a diligent search for their prisoners,
+and even persevered in it to the top of the large cavern. This we had
+deserted for some time on account of the dead body, and we now lived in
+the smaller ones lower down, one of which was so near the waterfall we
+had nearly as much light as above, and also heard the murmuring sound of
+the water in a very pleasing and cooling manner. Here, close by the
+waterfall, the little ones led their dear captain, that he might inhale
+as much of the fresh sea air as we could get, and from thence we, of
+course, watched our enemies. They seemed very busy indeed, and it was no
+small satisfaction to the children to watch them working so hard, and
+pointing them out to Smart, saying, "See, dear Smart, you would have
+been doing that if our great army had not come and saved you."
+
+By degrees the captain told us a more coherent story than Smart had been
+able to give us, and said within a fortnight of their leaving us they
+were made prisoners by the pirates; that they dragged out lengthened
+days of misery, want, and ill-usage, only held up by the knowledge that
+our future deliverance depended upon their escape. And when time went
+on, and he thought it was almost impossible such a helpless party of
+women and children could survive and bear up under such an unhappy fate,
+he was almost reduced to despair, and they were both determined to do
+something desperate when they were put on board the pirates' vessel and
+brought here. And when brought up on deck, and Smart's exclamation awoke
+his mind to the fact that he was looking upon the lovely bay in which he
+had left us with hopes of a speedy and happy return, his brain turned
+with inward emotion, his heart seemed to turn to stone, he became a
+moving body without soul or sense, save an eager looking for traces of
+us.
+
+These could, as we knew, be only so very faint they could leave no clue
+to our destiny. The first ray of hope that shot through him was finding
+one of our little notes, though, for some time, they thought it was but
+the writing of ancient days, and not meant for them now. But when they
+found another, and when the pirates picked more up, and turned them
+round and round to make out their meaning, a conviction shot through
+them they had some kind person interested in their fate on the island.
+But they had some difficulty in managing about the light, as burning it
+steady would have been forbidden by the pirates. A wild hope had now and
+then crossed their minds, but had each time been driven away as
+impossible, and it was not until they felt the soft smooth female hands
+in that dark but happy night that they gave up their minds to hopeful
+anticipations, mixed with some fears. How their fondest wishes were
+realized almost in the first flash of the torch had been already
+detailed, and while the weakened frame and overwrought mind of the
+captain sunk under the weight of so much happiness the buoyant Smart
+recovered his own character at once, and became all and everything he
+had ever been to us, with a double portion of strength, energy, and
+sense to assist and help us.
+
+And now a fortnight had passed, and we found the pirates making great
+preparations to sail. This they soon did, and, counting their members as
+they went on board, we had the inexpressible happiness of finding that
+not one was left behind. Once more we had our dear little island to
+ourselves, and thoroughly did we enjoy the open air and brilliant
+sunshine, for, with all thankfulness for their kind shelter, it must be
+acknowledged the caverns were a little gloomy and musty. We wandered
+over every well-known place, shewed our dear house, now such a ruin, and
+expatiated upon all its beauties and conveniences, until the captain
+declared it must have been the most perfect house in the world, while
+Smart vowed he would settle a score of pirates for daring to burn it
+down.
+
+And now we found out what the pirates had been so busy about during the
+last fortnight, namely, building a perfect village of huts at the old
+house by the plantation. The captain shook his head as he mournfully
+said, "the whole colony are coming to settle here," while Smart coolly
+declared, "he was mighty glad thereat, as he would not die happy unless
+he could settle 'em all, big and little." And forthwith persuaded
+everybody but Madame and Hargrave to take to ball practice as he called
+it, that the army might be ready in case of any emergency. We thought it
+no harm to practice with our neighbours' goods, though we meant to turn
+them against themselves. But Smart knew where their magazine was, and in
+a most unprincipled manner we abstracted whatever we could that would
+not be immediately discovered.
+
+Smart, who always had had a secret admiration for Schillie's _sang
+froid_ and man-like propensities, treated her as his favourite pupil;
+and after she had hit the mark seventeen times running, held her up to
+us as worthy of imitation.
+
+_Smart._--"I used to always be a-telling our cap'in they'll do well if
+they mind Mrs. E, she has the soul of a man and the wits of a king; and
+it's my belief even if they hadna gotten us back, she'd a outwitted them
+ere----rascallion divildims."
+
+Nothing delighted the boys so much as to put Smart into a rage, talking
+about the pirates. The dooms they were all to meet with, if once he got
+them into his power, would have done for Foxe's book of Martyrs. But
+much as we enjoyed this time we were not idle; we were making constant
+preparations for the great struggle that must, we knew, inevitably take
+place between us and the pirates. And, calculating that they would
+arrive with their colony a short time before the wet weather, to get
+settled in their houses before it commenced, we should have that time to
+mature our plans, besides settling what had best be done.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+
+The sight of two sail in the horizon one evening prepared us for seeing
+them in harbour the next day. But conceive our indignation when the
+captain told us that the other dirty, dingy, ill-looking, black vessel
+was no other than our darling La Luna. To be sure she had not lost her
+elegant shape, but in every other respect she was so altered not one of
+us knew her. The little girls sat down and cried like fishes (if they do
+cry), and Madame helped to swell the stream by a copious flow of tears;
+while the indignation of the elder girls vented itself in anathemas and
+threats against the pirates, that showed they had profited pretty
+considerably by Smart's conversation and opinions. We were now obliged
+to take to our burrows, and watched, with immense wrath and disgust, the
+debarkation of the female pirates from the pretty cabins and berths of
+our La Luna.
+
+In appearance and manners they matched the men, but we agreed amongst
+ourselves, tall and fierce as they looked, we were not afraid of them,
+and had no objection to "settle them," as Smart called it. There were
+fifteen women and about eleven children, while the pirates themselves
+now amounted to forty-five. Fearful odds against us. Nevertheless, the
+courage and determination of the army rose higher and higher. They had
+only just time to get themselves into their houses and huts, and the
+ships into winter quarters; ere the bad weather commenced. How they
+spent their time on the island we never enquired. It was enough that we
+were very happy within her friendly bosom, indulging in all sorts of
+merriment and fun, knowing they were a good way off, close prisoners
+like ourselves. And while in the pretty, elegant, and spacious
+drawing-room once before mentioned, so replete with luxury, beauty, and
+every comfort, mourners still sat and thought of and wept for the
+long-lost, the mysteriously-doomed members of that once happy family;
+each kind face bearing the traces of the anxious fear and thoughts
+months but added to and time could not heal: how looked the little party
+in the coral caverns of the Pacific? We will look at them once more, ere
+we take our leave of them for good. Lying on a rude grass couch is an
+elderly lady, her hair snow-white, and covered with a cambric
+handkerchief to serve as a cap; she is reading. Not far from her are two
+servants, in long blue rough dresses; they seem preparing a meal. On the
+other side of them is seated, on a rude bench, a weather-beaten
+white-haired man; a pretty graceful girl of twelve is watching him
+concocting a pair of shoes, and as they are for herself, she diligently
+assists. A little sparkling bright face peeps behind, and mischievously
+adorns the captain's head with Hargrave's sad remains of a cap, which she
+always carefully puts aside when doing anything likely to hurt it. Not
+far from them is the fine, tall, athletic frame of the keeper, both boys
+intently watching him making fishing lines, they dressed in loose white
+shirts, open in front, and full white trousers; the elder boy imitating
+the art of making lines, the little one exciting his parrot to abstract
+Smart's apparatus, as fast as he puts one thing down after another,
+which leads to sundry threats on Smart's part that he will "settle" both
+young Master and parrot if they are not quiet. As this "settling" never
+takes place, of course the delinquents go on, even to abstracting all
+the treasures out of Smart's pockets. But you can see by Smart's eye a
+day of reckoning is coming for those two. There are no less than nine
+parrots making more or less noise in the cavern, who have each a
+different owner, and whose voices they distinguish with wonderful
+sagacity, and hop, crawl, and climb in their quaint manner whenever they
+are called.
+
+Two little, quiet, serious-looking monkeys are busily watching the
+preparations for dinner, appropriating what they can to themselves in so
+secret and sly a manner that Hargrave is totally ignorant of the real
+thieves, and accuses Jenny wrathfully of misplacing her things. Jenny
+laughs and shows her pretty white teeth, enjoying the joke as much as we
+do.
+
+Three fine, tall, becoming girls, each above the middle size, one fair
+and bright-looking as the sun, another graceful as the fawn with eyes
+and mouth the perfection of sweet gentle beauty, and the last a sort of
+female Smart, strong as a young elephant, with mouth like rosebuds,
+teeth like almonds, and eyes so bright in their dark beauty you could
+hardly gaze into them; such were the dear girls, a sight, as the captain
+said, such as he only thought to see in heaven. They are grouped
+together over two weaving machines, and while one is employed removing
+the broken threads that invariably occur in our clumsy machines, the
+other two throw the shuttle to and fro. Not with much diligence though
+for that ever-mischievous Gatty throws one impediment after another in
+their way, so that I foresee the two sisters will suddenly set upon her,
+and there will be a regular scuffle.
+
+And who is that lying her full length on the ground, the flushed cheek
+resting on one hand, the violet eyes closed, and the knitted stocking
+that requires finishing that day has fallen from the little listless
+hand? Oh Lilly, Lilly, idle Lilly, here are you soundly sleeping, and
+there is your parrot conceitedly thinking he can do the work of his lazy
+little mistress, and in another minute it will be all destroyed. Wake
+up, little sleeper, wake up, and collect those long curls floating like
+a raven curtain about you. Think what Madame will say if she catches but
+a glimpse of you. A little apart from all stands one tall figure, taller
+than all the rest, her dark hair folded back from her forehead, her
+dark eyes watching each beloved group, while she spins unceasingly.
+Close at her feet sits her shadow, clothed in the same sort of long
+white dress, with the open sleeves disclosing the prettiest ivory arms
+in the world. Short curling hair of a rich dark colour hangs round the
+white neck and broad forehead of the sitter, and what are those little
+pink and white fingers doing? Must I tell? A faithful historian must
+recite plain facts, and, therefore, provided the secret goes no further,
+I will allow she was cleaning pistols! And, according to Smart's
+opinion, "she did 'em a sight better than many a man he had had under
+him."
+
+Now and then those clear dark eyes look up, and she says, "Now, June,
+stop that everlasting wheel or I shall have you fainting with fatigue."
+
+_Mother._--"Take my place then."
+
+_Schillie._--"Good lack, spinning is such dull work. Let me finish my
+pistols first."
+
+And of course dinner is announced ere the pistols are pronounced
+complete. A solemn grace said by the dear captain, whose "God be
+thanked" comes slowly from the lips as if the heart was with it. Then a
+merry dinner, Smart, and the maidens waiting on us, for nothing will
+persuade Smart to sit down with us, and Jenny keeps him company, and
+Hargrave, with a little hauteur condescends to do the same. All sorts of
+pranks go on between Smart and the boys during dinner. Felix trying to
+upset his solemn gravity, while Oscar sends him with preserved ginger
+to Schillie's duck, roasted potatoes to Madame's tapioca pudding,
+whereby he gets very shamefaced, as Schillie, with blunt sincerity,
+points out his mistake. Then behind us he shakes his fist at the boys,
+while they invent fresh nonsense to tease him. In the meantime the
+dispute runs hot and high between the little girls as to who is to sit
+next to their beloved captain, Gatty and Serena making believe that they
+will assert their rights as Signori Priori, and take the coveted seats.
+
+However dinner is over, and we all adjourned to the lowest cavern while
+the servants eat theirs. Then we sing songs and tell stories.
+
+_Felix._--"Cousin Schillie, you promised to tell us the story of the
+jack-daws if we behaved well and obeyed our general."
+
+_Schillie._--"Pooh! pooh! you have heard it a hundred times, boy."
+
+_Felix._--"But the captain has not."
+
+"I should like to hear it very much," said he.
+
+_Mother._--"Then, Schillie, you will have to tell it again for the
+hundred and first time, and you, captain, must not think that you are to
+hear a very wonderful story, but, as it is the only one she was ever
+known to tell, we are obliged to make her repeat it again and again. If
+she would kindly tell us a fresh one we should be obliged, but, as she
+won't, we will prepare ourselves to listen once more to the tale of
+
+
+THE JACK-DAWS.
+
+Once upon a time (this is too bad of you June) there stood an old church
+in the middle of a village (making me tell this old story), and this
+church had a very fine old tower (I wish you up in it now), and in this
+tower lived a fine pair of jack-daws (fine company for you). Well! you
+must know these jack-daws had a large family of greedy young children
+(just like you). Now there lived in the village, (besides many other
+brats) two boys, a big boy and a little boy. The big boy was a great big
+stout hulking fellow, with a snubby nose and green eyes; and the little
+fellow was a nice active chap, about the size of Tom Thumb, quick and
+sharp as a needle. So one day these two boys sat in the church-yard, and
+watched the jack-daws as they flew hither and thither and everywhere.
+Says the little fellow, 'Them jack-daws must have a nest up there.' Says
+the big chap, 'No doubt, and I would like to have the young ones,' (mind
+children it's a wicked thing taking birds from their nests; look at all
+of you away from your nests; go on, cousin, go on, the captain is quite
+impatient). Well! so they agreed they would climb up the old church
+tower, and get the young ones, which accordingly they did. Now you must
+know the old jack-daws, being very knowing, had built their nest so that
+it was outside the tower, just out of their reach, and there they could
+see almost within grasp seven little jack-daws, all with their mouths
+wide open, waiting for their father to pop in a delicious fat worm!
+('Oh, cousin, how nasty,' says Winny). So the two boys were much
+puzzled, but at last the big one takes hold of a plank, and, putting it
+out of the little window, 'Now,' says he, 'go you and sit at that end
+and I will push the plank out of the window, and you will just be able
+to reach the nest.' 'Very well,' says the little fellow, 'but mind you
+sit at the other end, lest the plank tilts up with me, and I go down.'
+'All right,' says the big fellow, and away goes the little boy. 'I have
+got them all seven,' says he, 'and very fine ones they are.' 'Very
+well', says the big boy, 'mind four are mine, and three are yours.' 'No
+such thing,' says the little one, 'I underwent the danger, so I'll have
+the four, and you shall have the three.' 'No you shall not,' says big
+bully. 'Yes I will,' says the little sturdy fellow. 'I will let you down
+if you don't give me the four,' says the big rascal. 'Let away,' says
+the small boy, 'I won't give them up.' So the young villain let go the
+plank, and away went the little fellow, holding stoutly on by his little
+birds. Well the seven jack-daws spread their wings and fluttered, and
+the wind being high, it filled a great stout pinafore that he had on, so
+that between the two, he was borne safely to the ground, when, looking
+up at the window, out of which the big bully was watching his flight, he
+shouted out, 'Now you shall have none of them.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+
+_Felix._--"Now, captain, if you had seen that big boy, would you not have
+walloped him?"
+
+"Most certainly," said the captain, "but now we must be thinking of more
+important matters." And as the hot weather set in with more than
+ordinary vigour, it was very clear that we should not be safe in our
+caverns, subjected to the earthquakes that generally accompany the heat.
+
+Besides we were getting restless and impatient. If all alone by
+ourselves, we had meditated getting the better of the pirates--think
+what wild schemes we now had, with Smart and the captain to help us.
+
+But we must wait until some of them went away in the ships after their
+usual avocations, as even the bravest amongst us did not hope to conquer
+them all. They seemed however bent upon making their homes more
+comfortable before they went, and it was somewhat late in the season
+when they started in their own vessel, leaving La Luna and half their
+men behind. These latter were employed in sowing seeds and preparing the
+ground for fruits and vegetables. We saw but little of the women, as
+they hardly ever left their side of the island. We now discussed the
+possibility of dispatching those parties who were left behind, thinking
+though there were many more than we expected, yet we might get rid of
+them, and taking possession of La Luna, get off the island at once. A
+mad scheme it certainly was and nothing but the ardent longing we had to
+escape made us think of it so confidently.
+
+In the meantime, Smart gained the captain's permission, to "settle" any
+of the men he might catch in a convenient position, so as to shoot them,
+without exposing himself or us to risk of discovery. So highly did he
+appreciate this permission, that he never ceased day or night dodging
+about and watching these people, and three times he came in with
+ill-concealed triumph, though he respected our feelings too much to do
+more than insinuate he had "settled" some one or more. We, in the
+meanwhile, occupied ourselves in making sacks and putting food into
+them, ready to start at a moment's warning should a favourable time
+arrive.
+
+The pirates, we suppose, now began to suspect, from the extraordinary
+death of three of their men, that the two prisoners were concealed
+somewhere in the island, and not being able to discover them, or to
+account for deaths taking place in such different parts of the island,
+they kept altogether, close to the plantation side, and left the bay
+entirely to us.
+
+This gave Smart an opportunity of getting to the ship and bringing off a
+boat, which we concealed by day in a cleft of the rock, but nightly we
+employed ourselves in running down to the shore with everything we had
+collected, which Smart and the captain stowed in the ship. We had been
+at this work about a week, in full confidence and in the highest
+spirits, our hopes were great, the dangers of the voyage appeared as
+nothing, all our plans seemed succeeding, when one night, just as we
+were all creeping up, tired and worn out with our night's work, we heard
+shriek upon shriek from one of our party.
+
+The strong sonorous voice of the captain shouted to us to get to cover.
+Smart followed, huddling us all in like sheep, but, dark as it was, we
+could not see who was missing, and I could not trust my voice to ask. We
+ran to the inner cavern, and there, by the light of the torch, we missed
+the darling child, Zoe, and both the maids.
+
+_Smart._--"Don't fret, Ma'am, don't fret, no harm is done. We'll have
+'em back by the morn. The cap'in and I will just take a step out and
+look about us, and you, Madam, will be ready to help us, no doubt,"
+turning to Schillie.
+
+_Schillie._--"Yes, yes, Smart, I am quite willing. As for you, June,
+mind what Smart says, and don't fret. If we could rescue those two from
+all of them, think how much more likely we are to succeed now. I am only
+afraid that fool Hargrave will do us a mischief. I wish it had been any
+other person than her in the scrape."
+
+_Captain._--"Now then, Madam, send them all to rest, and don't fear
+anything. Smart and I are not likely to sit still while our brave
+deliverers are in danger. And as for my pretty flower, I'll cut through
+a wall of pirates to get at her."
+
+_Mother._--"Then, Madame, take them all away. I assure you I cannot
+sleep. I am ready to help with Schillie. Let us settle at once what is
+best to be done."
+
+They all went off most unwillingly, while we arranged that getting up
+through the big cavern by the rope still concealed there, Smart should
+go to the pirates' village, in as secret a manner as he could, and find
+out what was best to be done, and where the prisoners were placed. No
+time was to be lost. He was guided immediately to the place, not only by
+the glare of the torches, but by the screams of Hargrave, and following
+them cautiously, he concealed himself close by one of the windows where
+they were put, and heard all that took place.
+
+Jenny was recognised immediately, and the innocent child was frightened
+almost into a fainting fit by the rough and horrid manners of these
+dreadful people. But, according to Smart's account, Mrs. Hargrave was in
+a mort of tantrums. He got back in safety, though with much difficulty,
+and then detailed to us the following facts:
+
+They were, as before, questioned all about themselves, and Jenny, as
+before, stoutly maintained all were dead. They pointed to the child, and
+smiled in scorn, but Zoe, like a brave little girl, positively refused
+to say more than Jenny did, making the tears run down Smart's face as he
+described the little white lips, so firm and decided; and each time, by
+way of puzzling her, they put the question in a different manner, each
+time she pointed to the three as if they were all.
+
+_Smart._--"I beant one bit afeard of them two, but I am of that Mrs.
+Hargrave; and it crossed my mind, when I heerd her shrieking and
+squalling for you all, if I had not better put a bullet in her head just
+to silence her, only I did not for ould acquaintance sake, and I seed,
+by the sniggling of them oudacious monsters, as they meant to get
+some'at out of her. I gave Jenny to understand as I was near at hand,
+and the brave little thing, I could see by her eye, knowed the sound,
+but never a sign gave she."
+
+_Captain._--"I am afraid, Smart, it is of no use trying to deceive them
+any longer, as they must be now aware that there is some place of
+concealment on the island unknown to them; and, from my knowledge of
+their character, I know their cunning and devilry is so great they will
+leave no stone unturned to find it out."
+
+_Smart._--"Cap'n, you and I agree, and it's through that weak fool Mrs.
+Hargrave as they'll sarcumvent us. I never thought she had much brains,
+and now I reckon she has worse nor none. Jenny and Miss Zoe would ha'
+got clear off, had it not been for her skriking and pulling at 'hem,
+for I heerd Jenny a giving it her handsome, saying she must ha' had the
+heart of a savage to keep such hold of Miss Zoe when the pirates took
+her, instead of letting the little innocent lady escape as she could;
+and, though she did not say so, I am partly sure Jenny might ha' got off
+well, only she was a-trying to get Miss Zoe free from that weak woman,
+a-holding on like grim death, and, finding she wasn't capable, she bided
+with the child to be a help and comfort to her."
+
+_Mother._--"Ah, how like that good Jenny."
+
+_Schillie._--"She certainly is a little trump, and never thinks of
+herself."
+
+_Madame._--"If I fold my darling Zoe in my arms once more, I shall never
+be able sufficiently to show my gratitude to Jane."
+
+_Captain._--"She shall never want for bite nor sup, once we get her
+free, as long as I live."
+
+_Felix._--"She is not your Jenny, captain, she is mine, she is always to
+live with me, and, when I am married, she is to be my children's nurse."
+
+Sybil and Serena and Gatty all expressed their admiration, while Gatty
+added, "I wish Smart had sent his bullet where he said, for if there is
+an owl in the world it is that Hargrave."
+
+The captain proceeded to state that there seemed no likelihood of the
+prisoners being harmed at present. I had visions before my eyes of the
+old stories where innocent children are brought forward with bloody
+swords held over their heads, ready to be sacrificed if they did not
+confess and capitulate, and while all agreed they would sacrifice
+themselves for Zoe and Jenny, Smart and the captain declared we were not
+allowed the choice, for our lives were in their keeping, and all must
+not be sacrificed for two. We none of us seemed to have the least pity
+or care for poor Hargrave.
+
+"It was mighty lucky," said Smart, "she could speak nothing but her
+mother tongue, and that but badly clipping and mincing it, for she was
+letting out everything in such a way I could ha' shook her well; and
+I'll be bound to do it when I next see her. I hopes as they did not
+understand, but I ha' my doubts."
+
+The captain now set them all to work watching at different posts, with
+orders to run and tell him all that occurred every half hour. Turning to
+Schillie and me he said, "Ladies I would advise you to prepare for the
+worst. They will work on the fears of that silly woman I doubt. We must
+be prepared, and while I can defend the entrance for a good hour, you
+must make your retreat, and where that is to be the Lord only knows."
+
+_Mother._--"If we could get to the top of that big rock standing out
+this side the bay, we can keep them off for some time there."
+
+_Captain._--"That rock is but changing one desperate hope for another.
+However we must trust in God. I'll try and believe that poor woman will
+not utterly forget herself and us."
+
+_Schillie._--"Why! my good captain, this island is like a rabbit warren,
+they can never unearth us if we choose to be moderately careful."
+
+_Captain._--"I have no doubt we could hide here for some time, but, with
+such a lot of young ones all the care in the world on our parts may be
+upset in a moment by thoughtlessness on theirs. Besides, they won't
+leave a corner unvisited I feel sure, partly out of revenge, for they
+are a most spiteful race, and partly from feeling persuaded you are the
+people so long lost, and for whose recovery such large rewards are
+offered."
+
+_Schillie._--"In that case I imagine they won't harm us."
+
+_Captain._--"They might not perhaps have done so at first, but 'they
+will cut off their nose to spite their face' I am certain; by which I
+mean they will be so savage at losing their men, and so angered at
+having been deceived all this time by such a helpless party, that they
+might murder us all in cold blood on the spur of the moment."
+
+_Schillie._--"And that will be very unpleasant as far as I can judge."
+
+_Mother._--"I should think we could make some hiding places amongst the
+caverns, captain."
+
+_Captain._--"So we could, Madam, had we time, and if I live but an hour,
+or for one hundred years, my regret at not having taken the precaution
+will be the same."
+
+_Schillie._--"Give me any orders you like, captain, and they shall be
+done if possible."
+
+_Captain._--"I know they will, I know for certain they will, so now I
+will tell you all I think, and you shall decide for yourselves. In the
+first place, have you any doubt but that if the pirates let Mrs.
+Hargrave go as to where she will come?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Like any wild bull she will of course rush to these
+caverns and expose our hiding places."
+
+_Captain._--"Then we agree, Madam, and without doubt the pirates will
+watch her and discover all. Now are we to run the chance of finding safe
+hiding places in these numerous caverns, or show ourselves at once and
+give fair fight?"
+
+_Mother_ (shaking and shivering).--"That I hold to be impossible, for
+there must be twelve pirates left, besides all the women and children,
+and look at us."
+
+_Captain._--"We have but a poor chance indeed, Ma'am, but remember,
+Madam, Smart and I have the hearts of a dozen strong men in our bosoms,
+ready to sacrifice all for those we love so much, and who risked their
+lives to save us. I feel, yes, I feel as if a wall of pirates must fall
+before such a spirit as is within me fails."
+
+_Mother._--"But in the fight, supposing any of the children should get
+hurt, supposing one of the party were killed, I think, I really think I
+would rather all went at one blow than that we should have to mourn the
+loss of one."
+
+_Captain._--"I can understand your feelings well, Madam, and----"
+
+_Schillie._--"Come, captain, don't let her talk any more nonsense,
+crying her eyes out, let you and I go and take as quick a view of the
+caverns as we can, and leave her to watch, there is no danger for an
+hour or so. And here is a pencil and a bit of paper for you to keep you
+quiet until we come back. Write a page for that beautiful journal, for
+you have got something rather more interesting to detail than
+heretofore."
+
+_Mother._--"Schillie, I shall really begin to think you quite
+heartless."
+
+_Schillie._--"Pray do. I only wish it was the case, for I doubt our
+hearts will be sadly torn to bits the next few days."
+
+They returned in less than an hour with rather less hope than they had
+before of our being able to hide in the caverns. One thing was certain
+we could not hide altogether, and the notion of being in different
+places, and not knowing whether one set might not be discovered and the
+others looking on, not daring to help for fear of discovering more,
+quite upset me. I began to think any fate was better than playing
+bo-peep in the caverns, and so I said, "We will take our chance on the
+rock, for we have many things ready by the waterfall which were meant
+for the ship, and we need but snatch up a bundle a-piece."
+
+_Schillie._--"When up there, too, we can look down upon our enemies,
+and take good aim. I shall not fire at random, but pick out my man."
+
+_Mother._--"Don't be so bloody-minded. Hark! there is a scream!"
+
+The captain looked out, applying an epithet to Mrs. Hargrave that only
+the exigency of the case could excuse. He said, "Here she comes, and I
+make no doubt the whole body of them after her. You'll find lots of
+bottles and kegs on the right hand side within the waterfall. Whatever
+you do think of water. Hang that woman she is coming straight away. I
+see those rascals close behind her, she'll be here in five minutes.
+Come, gang, oh gang yer ways, oh aye here she is, sailing like a mad
+woman."
+
+_Mother._--"Then you think we had better go at once to the rock."
+
+_Captain._--"Yes, yes, without a doubt. Ye'll get up without a soul
+seeing ye, and ye can kick in the brushwood weel. Now gang, gang yer
+ways, and when aince up, keep close as mice."
+
+_Schillie._--"I begin to think you have some _nous_ in your head, June,
+thinking of that rock. It's so near the ship we may, perhaps, get off in
+the night."
+
+_Mother._--"Heaven grant it. How that woman screams."
+
+_Schillie._--"I should like to give her something to scream about, but
+you are loading yourself like a pack horse. Well done, Sybil; now,
+girls, scuttle about, take what's useful; whoever carries up anything
+not wanted will have to bring it back again in the teeth of the enemy."
+
+_Gatty._--"If you please, little Mother, may I stop behind for one
+minute, just to speak my mind to Hargrave."
+
+_Schillie._--"She won't be let in this hour, you ape. Now is our only
+time for getting up to the top of that rock; where we shall have a full
+view of the enemy all round."
+
+_Madame._--"Gracious heaven, preserve us all. What dangers have we not
+to endure from the frightful weakness of one woman."
+
+_Schillie._--"It's no use moralizing, Madame, pick up something useful,
+and be off."
+
+_Gatty._--"Here is the green parasol, Madame."
+
+_Serena._--"And here is your warm shawl."
+
+_Sybil._--"And here is my arm to help you along."
+
+_Madame_ (murmuring).--"May God help us, may the Almighty look down upon
+us in our hour of need, and preserve my beloved ones."
+
+_Sybil._--"Come, Madame, come, see how active the little ones are. Think
+how charming to be safe up there, think how lucky we are to have Smart
+and the dear captain to help us. Look at Otty with all the guns running
+like a hare, and all the little girls flying like lapwings. Come,
+Madame, come quickly."
+
+So we ran about in every direction, and, collecting everything that was
+useful, we left our friendly shelter and took refuge on the isolated
+rock before-mentioned.
+
+There was some brushwood at the top, and two or three old weather-beaten
+palm trees, these afforded us most welcome shelter.
+
+It was weary work getting to the top, but when once there we hauled up
+many of our things by ropes, and some of us had time to return to the
+cavern and bring away a rope ladder, with several other valuable
+acquisitions that, had we been hurried, we should not have recollected
+them, also quantities of water.
+
+To our surprise, we saw nothing of Smart after Hargrave's first scream;
+he disappeared, and we were all upon the rock but Madame when we missed
+him, requiring his strong arm to help her up.
+
+Not all the assistance we could give her seemed likely to get her to the
+top, she was in so nervous a state. In vain she implored us to leave her
+to her fate. Nothing but seeing us all begin to scramble down again to
+share it with her made her at last, in a fit of desperation, reach the
+top. When there, she sunk on the ground helpless, and we laid her at the
+foot of one of the palm trees, where she declared she would breathe her
+last sigh. The three elder girls now collected all the precious drops of
+water, putting them under bushes, covering them with sand, to prevent
+the powerful sun from evaporating the smallest quantity of such precious
+liquid.
+
+Schillie and the boys prepared the guns and pistols, putting everything
+"handy," as they called it, for a siege. We snatched a hasty meal, not
+knowing when we might have another opportunity; then laying ourselves
+down, we hid snugly in the brushwood, seeing everything, yet utterly
+unseen ourselves.
+
+_Gatty._--"It's jolly fun being perched up here seeing all the country
+round. But what is the reason we have come up?"
+
+_Schillie_ (shortly).--"You were ordered to, that's enough."
+
+_Gatty_ (half whispering to the girls).--"The bear is out to-day. If I
+don't mind I shall get a scratch from its claws."
+
+_Schillie_ (overhearing).--"Bear or not, Miss Gatty, you will be so good
+as to keep a silent tongue in your head."
+
+_Gatty._--"If you please, little Mother, why?"
+
+_Mother._--"Why, Gatty, don't you perceive that if we continue to hide
+ourselves as we do now the enemy will never guess where we are. But if
+you chatter like any magpie, of course they will find us out."
+
+_Gatty._--"Well, I am ready to do anything reasonable and now that I
+have had a good reason given me, I'll be as mute as any mole."
+
+_Schillie._--"Who deems a mole like you worth a reason."
+
+_Sybil._--"Oh, little Mother, Gatty has a capital head when she is
+trusted."
+
+_Schillie._--"Filled with your notions, I suppose, Miss Sybil."
+
+_Gatty._--"If you please, little Mother, cannot we get off to the ship
+to-night; it's quite close, and no sharks to speak of."
+
+_Schillie._--"When your advice is asked, then you may give us your sage
+opinions."
+
+_Mother._--"Come, Schillie, don't be so cross to the poor girls. You
+know Gatty has given your own advice in almost your own words."
+
+_Schillie._--"Why don't you and those two magpies follow the example of
+that good child Serena, and hold your tongues, as she does."
+
+_Mother._--"We shall not be disturbed yet awhile. But what makes you so
+cross?"
+
+_Schillie._--"I wonder you don't see what a predicament we are in; and
+it is no very pleasant prospect being sea-sick for the next month, let
+alone going to sea in this mad way, with only the captain for crew."
+
+_Mother._--"Indeed it is very hazardous. I almost think we had better
+not trust ourselves to the sea, but run our chance with the pirates."
+
+"Oh, no, no," said all the girls and boys.
+
+"Now if you make such a noise again, children, down you shall all go
+into the mouths of those sharks," said Schillie.
+
+"Then promise not to give up," said they in return.
+
+"I promise nothing," said she.
+
+"Then the king of the pirates will come and take you away, cousin," said
+Felix.
+
+Schillie uttered something between a sigh and a groan, and then said,
+"You are an impudent boy, Master Felix, and I always tell your Mother
+you'll come to no good. But whether she will live to see you hanged or
+not I cannot say, for our fate is horrible every way. Just too as we
+were getting so comfortable, and having everything so nice and snug
+about us. I do not think there is a plant on the island of which I have
+not discovered the name and property, and everything grows so
+beautifully, and such bathing, besides, such delicious fish, and I am so
+fond of fish, really it is too bad. I am just beginning to think the
+island a very nice sort of little place, and here we are sent to the
+right about in this horrid fashion."
+
+_Gatty._--"Cannot we somehow contrive to kill all the pirates, and get
+rid of them altogether."
+
+_Sybil._--"Yes, we could shoot them from here, taking good aim."
+
+_Gatty._--"Ha! ha! just listen to Sybil. Could any one ever have thought
+she would have been so bloody-minded."
+
+_Serena._--"I wish Zoe and Jenny were safely with us, then we should be
+quite happy, having only the captain and Smart to wait for."
+
+_Sybil._--"I dare say that is the reason Smart left us in such a hurry."
+
+_Gatty._--"I hope it is as you say, old Syb, and I hope still more that
+they will join us soon, and I hope most of all that they will leave
+Hargrave behind."
+
+_Sybil._--"Poor thing, but what will they do with her?"
+
+_Gatty._--"Eat her, I dare say, and very tough----"
+
+_Lilly._--"Oh, Mother, look there! Oh, look! look! Here is Zoe coming,
+and Smart, and Jenny."
+
+Up we all jumped, and saw the three stealing round the rocks, not two
+hundred yards from the shore. Run, we all shouted, waving everything we
+could lay our hands on. They saw us in a moment, and quitting the
+shelter of the rocks, ran down towards us.
+
+At this moment a noise of yelling and screaming was heard, and the whole
+body of pirates, men, women, and children, came rushing out from
+underneath the waterfall.
+
+Smart heard them first, and catching up Zoe in his arms, giving Jenny
+some directions, he plunged into the sea, while Jenny kept running to
+that point of the rock where was the only accessible point for
+scrambling up. The tide was half flow, which favoured Smart but would
+impede Jenny, unless she dashed through the waves without regarding a
+wetting. By the care that Smart took of his little charge, and by
+Jenny's deliberate proceedings, we saw the servants both meant to
+sacrifice themselves for the sake of the child.
+
+We, on our parts, were bewildered for a moment with the coming strife,
+but the thoughtful boys, rolling stones down to startle away the sharks
+before their dear Smart's way, recalled us to our senses. We let down
+the rope ladder, and the ready Smart swam to it. Placing his precious
+charge on it, he watched her run nimbly up it and we receive her with
+rapture in safety, when he wiped his streaming brow, and plunged into
+the sea again.
+
+Leaving the little ones all to kiss and embrace the lost and found, we
+ran to the other side to watch Jenny, and help her if we could. She is
+flying now, and dashes through the water, heedless of the coming waves.
+She does not intend to be taken prisoner again without a struggle. But
+there is one horrid pirate outstripping all the others. "Oh, Jenny,
+Jenny, run, he is gaining on you." What shall we do to help her? How
+shall we bear to see her taken before our eyes? She touches the rock. "A
+few more steps, Jenny, and you can seize the rope we have let down to
+assist you. Oh, horrid fellow, did ever any one run so fast. Ah, it is
+of no use, dear, dear Jenny; one more effort." "Mother, Mother," said
+Oscar, "cannot I shoot him?" "No, dear boy," said Schillie, "you cannot
+without hurting Jenny." "But let me try, do let me try. Oh dear, oh
+dear, it is too late, he has hold of her." Throwing away his gun, the
+boy swung down by the rope before we could prevent him. In vain Jenny
+called on him not to come, he was down in a moment, and attacked the
+pirate, who had both arms round Jenny, with his cutlass. She struggled,
+and turning round aided his efforts by buffeting the pirate in the face
+with her hands and nails. At this moment Smart appeared, emerging from
+the sea, having swam round the rock. One blow from his powerful fist
+settled the matter. The pirate fell down stunned upon the rocks. Oscar
+gave him a parting kick, and then all three assisting each other,
+scrambled up the rock in no time, where we most joyfully received them,
+and where they did not arrive a minute too soon, for the whole body of
+pirates were close at hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+
+And now how silly we looked, all exposed to the wondering gaze of the
+pirates. I heard Schillie muttering, "What a pack of fools we have
+been," while Oscar said, "Cousin, we have gone and done it now. We shall
+have to fight for it, and we shall have a good rowing from the captain.
+I had better go and see after the guns." This he did, shaking them one
+by one at the pirates as he examined them, while he and Felix kept
+appearing and disappearing from behind the trees, sometimes with hats
+and sometimes without, as if to make believe there were half a dozen
+boys. Smart lay his full length on the ground, endeavouring to recover
+his breath, after his late exertions.
+
+It was of no use disguising the fact, we had discovered ourselves and
+our hiding place, and though no one certainly could get to us without
+leave, our helplessness would be fully apparent, and our identity with
+the lost party well known. All the advantages we had gained from our
+concealment were now over. We had nothing to do but wait in patience for
+what fate had yet in store for us.
+
+All this time, while these thoughts were rapidly running through our
+heads, the whole colony of pirates were staring in undisguised amazement
+at us.
+
+_Sybil._--"What a frightful set of wretches."
+
+_Gatty._--"Horrid. We will never capitulate to them."
+
+_Serena._--"The women look as fierce as the men. How they do stare, just
+as if they never saw human beings before."
+
+_Oscar._--"I could pick off a fellow or two from this distance, Mother,
+if you like."
+
+_Smart_ (from his lair in the bushes).--"Ha' done, if you please, Sir,
+with any such notion. Let me get a breath or two afore we come to a
+fight; and anyways let them strike the first blow."
+
+_Oscar and Felix_ (together).--"Then do make haste, Smart, and get your
+breath. If the captain was but here, we could easily fight those
+wretches."
+
+_Smart._--"Breath or no breath, I ben't agoing to fight them devildoms
+with no better helps than you two, young masters. Bide quiet like brave
+boys, and do as the Duke of Wellington does."
+
+_Felix._--"How is that, Tommy?"
+
+_Smart._--"Why he waits until the enemy gives him a reason to get his
+blood up, and when that's done it's all up with them."
+
+_Felix._--"But my blood is up, Tom."
+
+_Smart._--"Then let it cool a bit, Sir; any way the tide is rising, and
+them rascals is sufficiently knowledgeable to see that the sharks is a
+guarding of us now. When it gets dark it will be ebbing and I'll be off
+to see after cap'n, and you'll have enew to do, Sir, to keep watch until
+we get back."
+
+_Gatty._--"Don't bring Hargrave back if you can help it, Smart."
+
+_Smart._--"I ben't much inclined that way myself, Miss, but I have heerd
+we are bound to be merciful."
+
+_Gatty._--"She has not been merciful to us, I am sure."
+
+_Smart._--"I do partly think as she ben't quite answerable for her ways.
+Any how I shanna put myself out of the way to look after her."
+
+_Mother._--"Oh yes, Smart, you must try your best."
+
+_Smart._--"To be sure, Ma'am, if so be you wishes it. But I be thinking
+there is a power of mischief in her yet."
+
+_Mother._--"I think it must all have been frightened out of her by this
+time. Did you see anything of her when you went in search of the
+others?"
+
+_Smart._--"No, Madam, I went straight away for Miss Zoe and Jenny, the
+cap'n having given me my orders so to do, let alone me ordering myself
+that way also. I had to knock over a couple of women-kind, which went
+agin my conscience: not knowing how people might act towards my poor
+dear woman, and my two pretty boys, all these years that I have been
+from them."
+
+Here Smart showed symptoms of a pathetic nature, for which Felix tried
+to comfort him saying, "I am sure they are doing very well, for Mrs.
+Smart will have taken in some washing, and Jem is I dare say a
+gamekeeper by now, and perhaps little Tom too."
+
+From Jenny we further learnt that they had come round the way they did
+to avoid the pirates. As they passed the upper caverns they heard what
+Jenny called a great "scremmage," but saw nothing of Hargrave or the
+captain. Had they been ten minutes sooner round the rock they might have
+reached us in safety, and without discovery.
+
+The pirates having given full scope to their curiosity regarding us, now
+separated, and, while some remained as watchers, the others went off to
+examine the waterfall and caverns, and look, as we supposed, for our two
+companions.
+
+"Ha, ha," said Smart, as he saw them emerging in and out from beneath
+the waterfall, "if it had not been for that demented woman you would
+never have speered that place, I'll go bail. Mighty pretty it is too as
+well as uncommon convanient."
+
+_Oscar._--"Is it not like the waterfall at Cil Hepste in
+Glamorganshire."
+
+_Smart._--"Just such another, Sir, and if I have the luck to see that
+ere waterfall again, it's a pity if I don't look o' the inside of it."
+
+_Felix._--"What, do you think we shall find caverns and pirates in it,
+like this one, Tommy?"
+
+_Smart._--"No, Sir, I'se warrant there is neer a pirate there, but it's
+an uncommon curious place, and like this 'un as one pea to another. The
+ould lady seems but baddish I consate."
+
+This was but too true. Whether from the fright or the heat, or the
+unusual exertions, Madame was anything but well, and fell from one fit
+of hysterics to another. We could do but little to mend her, for even
+supposing we had had smelling salts on the island we should not have
+deemed it one of the necessaries to bring upon the rock. We put Zoe
+beside her with orders to talk to her, and tell her as many of her
+adventures as she could to amuse and divert her mind.
+
+And then Jenny told us how good and brave Miss Zoe had been, and how
+neither of them would have been taken prisoners had it not been for that
+"squawking" Hargrave. Upon which Gatty and the boys declared they wished
+her no worse fate than to be married to one of the pirates.
+
+_Schillie_ (with gravity).--"I will make over to her my interest with
+the King."
+
+_Gatty._--"We might actually have been on board sailing away at this
+moment instead of frying up here, with these frightful pirates blinking
+and grinning at us, as if they never saw Christians before."
+
+_Sybil._--"Perhaps they never did, Gatty."
+
+_Serena._--"Jenny, did you know that we were discovered in the caverns
+through Hargrave? They made her a trap to catch us."
+
+_Jenny._--"Miss Zoe told me, Miss, she was afraid from what she could
+make out that they were going to make something out of Mrs. Hargrave.
+But I could not understand them at all. Nevertheless we both cautioned
+her as much as possible, though she was in such a sad way I doubt if she
+heard us. After awhile she was taken away from us, and, though I told
+her the last thing to be sure to be careful, and do her duty by her
+mistress, she screamed so I don't think she minded me one bit. The women
+were pretty civil, but very wild and bad looking, and I would not bear
+them to touch Miss Zoe, which they were trying to do all the while. And,
+oh, Miss Zoe was so brave, and, whenever I said you were all dead she
+said so too."
+
+_Gatty._--"How could you tell such fibs, Zoe? Madame will give you that
+odious Theresa Tidy's Nineteen Maxims of Neatness and Order, to do into
+German, for being so naughty."
+
+"Angel child, never, never could I punish her after her agonizing
+sufferings," murmured the good kind Madame.
+
+The strict watch kept over us began to be so wearisome we were glad when
+night veiled us in her dark mantle.
+
+It was astonishing with what composure we laid down to rest, secure in
+the sharks' guard for some few hours yet, while the morrow, with all its
+probable horrors, seemed not to present itself to any mind. "We trusted
+in God that he would deliver us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+
+The morning's light brought us no change either for worse or better,
+excepting that under cover of the night Smart had gone to search for our
+other companions. He gave us orders what to do, in case of an attack,
+and departed with these comforting words "Let a score on 'em attack ye,
+and I'll be bound the young gentlemen, if they be but steady, can keep
+'em off. Any ways Mrs. E. can, and if we hear shots cap'in and I will
+just come in the rear in nick o' time."
+
+We sat composedly down to such breakfast as we had, which led to an
+examination as to what had been brought up. We had plenty of water,
+bread, yams, and potatoes. No little girl had forgotten her parrot, or
+the boys their monkeys; in fact Felix declared his had been very useful,
+as he made him carry two great potatoes. "But," said Lilly, "you had to
+carry him, so it made no great difference."
+
+"Moreover," says Felix, "I brought my two hens, because they lay eggs,
+and Tommy is so fond of eggs."
+
+_Lilly._--"I do think you love Smart more than any of us, more than your
+Mother."
+
+_Felix._--"Oh! any body may have the other egg, but I must keep one for
+my Tommy. He has never been quite well since he was with those brutes.
+And I am his doctor he says, so I order him eggs. And if I bid him do
+it, I know he would eat twenty, one after another."
+
+_Mother._--"How odd it seems to Schillie, our laughing at all this
+nonsense of the children, when we certainly are in a very uncomfortable
+position. We seem to think we are in no danger, now we have got the
+captain and Smart to help us, and I doubt if we were ever in a worse
+predicament than now."
+
+_Schillie._--"Predicament or not, it's extremely nasty not being allowed
+any water to wash with, and I shall owe Hargrave a grudge all my life.
+Here we have been accustomed to bathe two or three times a-day, now
+stewed to death we are only allowed sufficient water to send bread down
+our throats, that would otherwise stick there."
+
+_Mother._--"I wish that may be our greatest inconvenience; it's all very
+well for Smart to say that we are in no danger, but if these people keep
+staring at us and watching us all day as they did yesterday what are we
+to do? They'll stare us out, let alone the chance of our being broiled
+to death. I feel quite sure Madame will have a brain fever if we don't
+take care."
+
+_Schillie._--"Well don't fuss. We can last out a week of this work,
+perhaps, and then we shall at all events be less fat for the fishes. I
+intend to try the depths of those caverns before I put myself in the
+power of that pirate captain."
+
+I shuddered as she pointed down to the blue waters, through whose depths
+we could see endless caverns of fantastically shaped coral.
+
+"Oh! Ma'am, Ma'am," cried Jenny, "they are coming up." We ran for our
+weapons, concealing them as well as we could, and then stood on the
+defensive, Schillie on one side of the path and I on the other, the rest
+all ready to hand us the guns. "Shoot, Schillie, shoot," I said, "hit
+the foremost man, and he'll tumble over the others."
+
+"I am trying, I am indeed, but don't you know I cannot even kill a wasp!
+Hang me if I can do it," said Schillie, turning white as a sheet, and
+letting her gun drop. Steadily Otty raises his gun, fires, and the
+foremost man falls, knocking over two others, and causing great
+confusion. Felix, by way of calming it, fires his gun right into the
+middle of them.
+
+Their imprecations were loud and deep, and their rage seemed boundless
+as they looked up at their two little antagonists. One man dead, two
+hurt. "Very good boys," say we. But the pirates were not to be driven
+back in this manner. It was too humiliating to be repulsed by two boys.
+They seemed speculating as to what had become of Smart, he was evidently
+not with us. So once more they essayed the ascent, sheltering themselves
+as well as they could from the guns, by creeping under cover of the
+ledges of rock. "Now let's all be firm this time," we whispered, "for
+shoot them we must." Schillie took a great gulp of water, seized her
+gun, and once more we all stood ready. "Let them come quite close," said
+Oscar.
+
+But a fresh person appeared on the scene of action, whose shrill screams
+told her name better than anything. Not that anybody seemed hurting or
+molesting her, but attracted, I suppose, by the sound of the guns, she
+had ventured forth from her hiding place, and discovered us all roosting
+at the top of the rock. Not being able to entertain more than one idea
+at a time, and that idea being since her separation from us solely how
+she could rejoin, it was not a matter of wonder, that to see us, was to
+make her rush down towards us. It never entered her limited capacity to
+think that the pirates might object to the re-union. However they showed
+themselves most civil and polite towards Mrs. Hargrave, though we on the
+rock did not give them credit for acting entirely from disinterested
+motives.
+
+_Schillie._--"Upon my life! if they are not going to let that mad woman
+come up here. You may be sure, June, they have some motive for this
+gratuitous kindness. I dare say they think such an ass of a woman will
+be more likely to do us harm than good by her presence. Well! any body
+may help her up that likes, I won't."
+
+"Nor I, nor I," sounded on all sides.
+
+But there was no need for us to offer, for the amiable pirates were
+kindly assisting her up themselves. Little did Mrs. Hargrave dream that
+they were making a convenient shield of her most precious self and that
+if we hoped to execute our former man[oe]uvre we should have to send our
+bullets through her first. She thought of nothing but being again
+amongst us, and scrambled and struggled towards us, screaming the whole
+time.
+
+_Oscar._--"Mother, I must shoot her, there is no help for it. If one of
+those fellows gets footing on here, we may as well give ourselves up.
+You see he is close behind her."
+
+_Mother._--"We will just make one effort. Wait till she is so near that
+I can grasp hold of her, and then shoot; she must take her chance."
+
+With the greatest coolness the brave boy did as he was bid; and I had no
+sooner grasped the woman than he fired. With a squall that no one could
+think proceeded out of human lips, she lost her footing and held on by
+me, and if Schillie had not had firm hold of me, Serena and Sybil of
+her, I must have gone over with Hargrave and the pirate. As it was, he
+fell dead, and we dragged her up, and, pulling her to some distance, we
+never stayed to enquire if she was wounded or not, but ran back to our
+posts. They were swarming up, just under a ledge, ready to make a bolt
+out upon us if we looked off one moment. "Get stones, little ones,"
+whispered Serena, "they will help us, perhaps." Now they bolt. We all
+fire simultaneously. They retreat again, some wounded, but none dead.
+We took up the second relay of guns, Schillie carrying off the others to
+reload.
+
+"In the name of all that's horrible," we heard her say, in a loud angry
+voice, "what are you doing here?"
+
+_Hargrave._--"I am not going to be shot at and killed by those dreadful
+guns any more, and, besides, the pirates gave me to understand down
+there as the sun would soon set the powder in a blaze, and we should all
+be blown up. Look at me, bleeding like a pig, and half my ear and one of
+my best ear-rings gone. No, no, though I was dead, as I thought, I was
+determined to throw the powder and shot over the rock, that you might be
+safe, if I died the next minute."
+
+"Bring me that rope, Lilly," said Schillie, in a voice of concentrated
+rage. Gatty sprung to help her, and in two minutes the foolish woman was
+tied, with her hands behind her back, to one of the palm trees, and they
+returned to help us, as best we could be helped. We trusted that Smart
+would hear the firing, and come to our assistance before all hope was
+gone. But the pirates themselves ceased their warfare against us,
+finding the stones quite as destructive as the guns; besides, they
+seemed to be in a great state of uncertainty and trouble among
+themselves, and had so many consultations, and talked at such a rate,
+that we lost ourselves in conjectures as to what it could be all about.
+"They are in a mighty rage against us, I think, for killing the two
+men," said Oscar. "They don't want to hurt us, apparently," said
+Serena, "as they never fixed their guns at us." "Why, my dear child,
+don't you see that is against their interests to hurt any of us," said
+Schillie, "they want to sell us, or some such blessed thing."
+
+_Gatty_ (demurely).--"I don't think the king will sell you, little
+Mother."
+
+_Schillie._--"None of your nonsense. Miss. I'll marry you to him if you
+don't mind, and a regular dun duckity mud-coloured spouse you will
+have."
+
+_Gatty._--"If you please, little Mother, you are and have been so cross
+to me since we came up here."
+
+_Schillie._--"And no wonder, you young noodle, talking such nonsense,
+and behaving like a young ape when we are in such danger; and June is
+just as bad, encouraging you in all this stuff."
+
+_Mother._--"Come, don't let us quarrel, night is coming on. Go to bed,
+children. You and I must watch, Schillie."
+
+_Schillie._--"And I, feeling like a dead dog, wanting a week's sleep at
+least."
+
+_Mother._--"Then Hargrave shall help me."
+
+_Schillie._--"Help the pirates you mean; but who has looked after that
+female lately?"
+
+We went to see her, and luckily she was unable to have her feelings
+wounded by any remark that might have been bottling up against her, for
+through her nose she gave audible demonstrations that she considered her
+troubles and sorrows over, and that any remonstrances on our parts
+would only be regarded as an unpleasant dream of the night.
+
+"What a dirty draggle-tailed thing she looks," said Schillie, "in all
+that worn-out old finery. Why cannot she dress like us and Jenny in
+these serviceable dresses?"
+
+"Oh, she made a particular request to me," I answered, "not to dress in
+our island costume, and asked leave to use all our old things to make
+herself, what she called, respectable. But are you really so tired you
+cannot watch?"
+
+_Schillie._--"To be sure not; you don't think I am going to let you
+watch without me, only I am regularly done up, and think it would be
+rather a good plan to get shot that I might have some rest."
+
+_Mother._--"Fie, Schillie, you forget what you are saying."
+
+_Schillie._--"I dare say I am very wicked, but don't bother me now; keep
+your scolding until we get out of this mess, if we ever do."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+
+Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat. Either the
+pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were
+attempting to join us. Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope
+ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway
+on the other.
+
+The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by
+water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us. It
+was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in
+the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so
+unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a
+night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well,
+and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
+
+The sounds advanced on one side, though still so faint and designedly
+smothered we could distinguish nothing to lead us to know whether
+friends or foes were coming. Now, whoever they were, they certainly had
+landed at the foot of the rock. We instinctively each grasped a stone.
+
+"The Lord be thankit, captain; I do consate as we have found the
+pathway," in Smart's tones, rose up to our delighted ears, and we
+grasped their hands with heartfelt pleasure as they severally reached
+the top. We had, however, a drawback to our pleasure, for Smart had been
+wounded looking for Mrs. Hargrave. The necessity of binding his wound
+and restoring his exhausted strength, prevented us from thinking of
+getting off to the ship then; besides, we had little more than an hour's
+darkness left us, and it would have taken that time to move Madame
+alone. So, after making Smart as comfortable as we could, Schillie and I
+ran off to take some rest, in the full assurance that half our cares
+were over, now that we had got our two able-bodied defenders among us
+again. Besides, no further responsibility rested on our shoulders, and
+that was so great a relief we were asleep almost before we laid down.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+
+The imperturbable Hargrave presented herself the next morning as
+perfectly rested, and ready to dress her mistress, and put her hair (now
+for so long neglected) into proper order. A piece of coolness and
+effrontery that so surprised me I remained quite dumb.
+
+Not so the young ones; but I am ashamed to repeat all that was said,
+for, though they had right on their side, the unfortunate woman was set
+upon by all, and if tongues could sting, she would not have been alive
+now. At last she sat down in a remote corner of the rock, to weep and
+bewail herself, thinking, I dare say, that she had escaped from one set
+of savages into another. And, though she derived some consolation part
+of the time in what she called "tidying herself," she shed many a tear
+over her torn garments and battered appearance, declaring that she had
+had her clothes ruined by the rough way in which the captain and Smart
+had dragged her about. "Say that again," said Felix, "and I must spit at
+you to show my contempt."
+
+That the captain and Smart had joined us soon became known among the
+pirates, and if they had been so severely repulsed before by two boys,
+it was madness attempting another assault.
+
+So they set about means of devising how they could dislodge us, without
+endangering their own lives. Madame's increasing illness became our
+great care now, she was becoming delirious, and there was no possibility
+of subduing the fever upon this baking rock.
+
+"A little cooling lime juice, Ma'am, I would venture to advise," said
+Hargrave.
+
+"And who has put a stop to our having that?" was uttered on various
+sides, in various indignant tones.
+
+Hargrave shrunk back into her corner again, while the captain said, "I
+will draw up some sea water, with which you must bathe her head. Smart's
+wound will fester I doubt; we have nothing here to ease that, I am
+grieved to say."
+
+Middle day came, when the heat was greatest. We lay gasping, half dead
+with fatigue, heat, and fears as to what would be our fate. Suddenly we
+were roused by Smart's voice, who could not rest for the pain of his
+wound. "Be sharp, be sharp," he cried, "they are throwing lighted brands
+up here, we shall be on fire in a minute, and roast meat in ten." We
+flew in every direction, and threw them off as fast as they could throw
+them on. It was hotter work for them than us and, seeing us so active,
+they ceased for awhile. The captain then cut away great square plots of
+brushwood as best he could, to prevent much harm accruing in case they
+tried their brands again.
+
+While thus occupied, Sybil came running to me, all in tears, and
+wringing her hands. "Oh, I have killed him, I am afraid he is dead," she
+cried.
+
+"How? who?" we exclaimed.
+
+"I only meant to frighten him, I would not hurt anybody. Oh, what shall
+I do?"
+
+We ran with her to the extreme end of the rock, and, looking down, we
+saw on a ledge below, a large stone with a man beneath it.
+
+"I was running here," continued the weeping Sybil, "to see if any brands
+were thrown in this direction, and, peeping down, I saw a man scrambling
+up, very near the top. He did not see me, but I had no time to lose, so
+I just pushed that great stone with all my might. You know we had
+remarked this stone before as being just in the position to roll down,
+if it was only on the other side. I do not know how I managed, but over
+it went, and fell directly on him; and, oh, I am afraid it has killed
+him. What shall I do, I shall never be happy again."
+
+_Gatty._--"Not happy again, Sib, I only wish I had done it."
+
+_Sybil._--"But, sister, do you think he is really dead? Can we not go
+down and save him, or take that great stone off him? Oh dear, oh dear,
+how could I do such a cruel thing."
+
+_Gatty._--"Oh, Sib, Sib, what a goose you are. You have done a glorious
+thing. I only wish it had been me. Think, Serena, of Sib having killed a
+pirate all by herself and we have not even cut off the little finger of
+one. It is too provoking."
+
+We were obliged to take the poor tender-hearted girl away from the spot,
+and she shook and shivered with remorse all the rest of the day. We
+comforted her as well as we could by saying he must have died
+immediately (for dead he was without any doubt), and he had fallen on a
+spot where the sea would carry away all remains of him before morning.
+
+The little ones looked at poor trembling aunt Sib with the greatest
+admiration, Gatty with envy and jealousy, while Serena, like a true
+tender-hearted little sister, comforted and kissed her, telling her how
+gentle, good, and kind she was to everybody, and what a good thing she
+had done for us, and how, perhaps, this was the identical pirate who had
+stolen her, and that she was not to be unhappy at what perhaps we might
+all have to do ere long. And this set us talking upon our plans.
+
+"Don't you think, captain," said Schillie, "we may get off to the ship
+to-night?"
+
+_Captain._--"We must try, Madam. If they should chance to go on board,
+they will find out how busy we have been there, and they will then take
+measures to prevent us executing any such plan. But I have lost my right
+hand in Smart."
+
+_Gatty and Oscar._--"Oh, captain, send me for the boat. I can swim like
+a duck, and it's not a hundred yards from here."
+
+_Mother._--"My dear children, the sharks."
+
+_Oscar._--"I don't mind them, Mother."
+
+_Gatty._--"They will have a good mouthful if they swallow me; and if I
+am as troublesome inside a shark as you, little Mother, say I sometimes
+am here, I shall not agree with him at all."
+
+_Schillie._--"Now, Gatty, I won't have you running into any danger. I
+don't mean to say you are not extremely troublesome, but still I have
+got used to you, and I won't have you expose yourself to any danger."
+
+_Captain._--"I think I can manage to make them both of use, and yet
+without much danger, I trust. I would not have a hair of their precious
+heads lost."
+
+Gatty flushed up like the setting sun with pleasure; Oscar nodded in
+approbation, while I said, "Then it is decided, at all events, we get
+off to-night, if we can."
+
+"Man proposes, and God disposes."
+
+"Sister, look," said Serena, in a low sorrowful voice. Ah me, did I see
+rightly? With every sail set, that ominous, black, hateful vessel, the
+pirate ship, hove in sight, and ere we could collect our senses, or
+believe our eyes, she was anchoring in the bay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+
+We sat down on the carpet of desperation and the stools of despair.
+
+The pirates on shore seemed as bewildered as we were. The pirates on
+board seemed in a great state of confusion and uproar. A general
+running, hurrying, and scurrying took place among them all.
+
+While those of the ship pointed vehemently to the sea, they of the land
+gesticulated violently towards the caverns, and both were equally
+eccentric in their observations regarding us. At last regular parties
+were organized, who began systematically, at the same time with the
+utmost rapidity, to unload their vessel; while the pirate king, hoisting
+a white flag, and attended by a few ferocious-looking followers,
+advanced towards our rock. By the captain's advice we hoisted a white
+rag of some sort, as a token of friendship, and in silence waited the
+result.
+
+In bad French the pirate captain offered us terms for capitulation. He
+pointed out how useless it was for us now to think of repelling such
+numbers. That if we would come down quietly, we should be received with
+open arms ("and cut throats," murmured some one behind me); that they
+would engage their most sacred word of honour they would do us no harm
+("much honour in a pirate," murmured the same voice); that there was
+plenty of room on the island for us all, and that we might choose which
+side we pleased, and they would take the other. All they wanted was
+peace and our friendship.
+
+Our dear captain shook his head at all this civility, and fairly laughed
+at the offer of friendship. But he turned, as in duty bound, being
+spokesman, to take our opinion.
+
+Simultaneously we all rose together, and letting the pirates have a full
+and perfect view of our whole party (save the two invalids) for the
+first time, with one voice we all exclaimed, "No! no!" Though evidently
+surprised at seeing what a helpless party we were, it yet seemed to give
+him but greater zest to persuade us to come down.
+
+His offers became more generous, his civilities greater, his promises
+most profuse and tempting, but, invariably and simultaneously, without
+waiting for our captain's appeal, rose the decided "No! no!"
+
+With subdued oaths and imprecations he left us, having been several
+times interrupted by urgent entreaties from his companions. Leaving some
+young boys to watch us, he repaired to his companions, and they now
+seemed wholly occupied in emptying the ship and stowing everything away
+in the caverns. The bay was one scene of activity and bustle.
+
+We sat quiet, knowing that night was drawing on, when our last effort
+for escape must be made.
+
+_Oscar._--"Captain, you never told us what happened to you in the
+caverns, and how Smart found you."
+
+_Captain._--"I found him, Sir, instead of his finding me. I kept the
+entrance blocked up as long as I could, but I could not get a good shot
+at any of the enemy on account of that demented woman, who was always in
+the way. It was enough that as fast as they took out one stone I piled
+up another, until, finding that they were getting too many for me, and
+knowing that you had had ample time to place yourselves in safety, I
+swung myself up by the rope to the top of the cavern, and, drawing it
+up, I lay there concealed, watching their movements. Such a pandemonium
+scene I never beheld. Luckily their eagerness, curiosity, and excitement
+made them forget Mrs. Hargrave, who sat down and howled like a hungry
+cat, not, however, before she had discovered to them every secret
+corner, by running madly to look for you. I suppose, for her sake, we
+must allow, poor woman, she is a little touched in the brain, for I
+found her, after everything was quiet, and the pirates had gone down to
+look for you, looking over some musty old caps and bonnets, and fitting
+up for herself a bundle of clothes. I suggested a little food and water
+would be more useful, but she stopped my mouth by saying it was her duty
+to appear decent and tidy for her mistress's sake. And such trouble I
+had with her besides. I am persuaded that woman would never be guided by
+mortal tongue. Many times I thought to leave her to her fate and to go
+and see after you, but she was so unfit to be left, I had not the heart
+to do so. Nevertheless, after getting her out of the caverns up on the
+top, in a well-concealed place, where we could see nicely all round, she
+escaped me, for what reason neither she or any one else could tell I
+think, and I lay quiet until night, when, venturing down to see if I
+could join you all, after a while I heard a noise just nigh me, and,
+hiding behind a tree, I looked out, and presently spied a great big
+fellow, standing six feet two, before me. I knew Smart in a moment, dark
+as it was, but, having a mind to startle him, I took hold of his leg.
+Laws me, Sirs, you should have seen how he jumped. I am sure the good
+old lady could not have been more alarmed. The rest you know."
+
+_Felix._--"Poor Smart, I dare say you took hold of that very leg that's
+now wounded. Do you know, Smart, Otty and I had our right and left
+shots."
+
+_Smart._--"Had you so, Sir. Well, I hopes you both killed your birds."
+
+_Felix._--"No, for unluckily we both shot at the same fellow, but we
+knocked him over clean. We frightened them in an awful way, but cousin
+Schillie would not shoot."
+
+_Smart._--"How cumed that about I wonder. I reckoned her a prime one."
+
+_Felix._--"She was frightened, Smart."
+
+_Smart._--"Oh no, Sir, I'll never believe that."
+
+_Felix._--"Oh, but she was. I saw her shut her eyes when we all had to
+shoot together, and she did not open them for a good minute after."
+
+_Schillie._--"Good lack, captain, what is going to happen now?"
+
+Boats were approaching La Luna. The pirates boarded her, and, after half
+an hour's work, her anchors were taken up, and she was towed to the
+other side of the bay, and there made secure.
+
+Night set not in more darkly than the gloom that fell upon our hearts.
+We could but leave our fates in the hand of a good and merciful
+Providence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+
+The whole night long the pirates worked hard, doing what we could not
+see, neither could our captain at all understand their conduct. "If it
+was not too good to be true, they have been chased," said he, "and have
+come into harbour to hide. Did anyone look over the sea?" he continued.
+No, we had all been too much engaged.
+
+_Captain._--"Then the first thing I shall do on the dawn will be to scan
+the sea. Something unusual must have occurred to put the pirates to all
+this pother."
+
+With the first streak of day came the pirate captain with his flag of
+truce, and again made his offers of peace, friendship, and civility, and
+again met with a vehement negative, though most forlorn were now our
+hopes and fortunes. To our surprise we now only saw La Luna. There was
+not a vestige of the pirate ship.
+
+The pirate king had now recourse to threats, which we heard in
+disdainful silence. After spending half an hour in oaths and threats, he
+waved his hand, and, stamping with anger, pointed to La Luna. "I give
+you one hour," he cried, "if by that time you do not come down
+voluntarily, I intend sweeping the top of your rock with those two
+guns." We looked towards the vessel; she had been brought within gun
+shot, and her brass cannons were placed directly before us. "I know,"
+continued the pirate, "who you all are, and I have no wish to harm you,
+but rather to gain the rewards offered for your recovery. Be persuaded
+and be reasonable."
+
+_Mother._--"Captain, what do you think, what shall we do, he speaks
+fair?"
+
+_Captain._--"Madam, we must not trust him. I feel sure they have some
+reason for this bustle and activity all night, and I feel persuaded they
+have scuttled their ship and sunk her. Look round, and you will see that
+when they retire into the caverns, there is not a trace of human beings
+about save our own vessel, and that looks weather-beaten and old enough
+to have been riding at anchor there for ages. No doubt they have
+concealed all traces of themselves in her. If they get us down they will
+use us as hostages for their own safety, or they may murder us at once,
+and thus leave no one to tell the tale of the caverns. As long as we are
+alive that secret cannot be kept, and, having made a settlement here, I
+think there is every probability that they will commit any crime sooner
+than suffer such a convenient and suitable stronghold for them to be
+discovered. I trust them not, let us trust in God."
+
+_Mother._--"And you, Schillie, tell me what do you advise?"
+
+Schillie rose up, and drawing me to the highest part of the rock, turned
+her broad white forehead to the ship, while her clear eyes, darkened in
+their beauty by the emotions of the hour, looked steadily down into the
+mouths of the guns.
+
+_Schillie._--"June, do you believe that the spirits of the departed know
+what occurs on earth, and with unseen forms can visit those they love?"
+
+_June._--"I hold some such doctrine, my Schillie, but whether there is
+truth in it or not, the departed alone can tell."
+
+_Schillie._--"I'll put faith in your doctrine, my mistress, and think
+that in an hour I may behold my children, though unseen by them."
+
+_June._--"And is it this feeling that makes you gaze so boldly into the
+jaws that are so shortly to breathe forth death to us?"
+
+_Schillie._--"It may be so, or it may be the strength given from on high
+for such emergencies as these. In this awful hour I feel no fear; a
+sacred calm is filling my heart. My God, I feel Thou art near; Thou
+knowest this is not presumption that I bow me in humility before Thy
+throne, that I approach it under the shadow of my Saviour's wing."
+
+I gazed in her face, flushed with ardour, refulgent with her inspired
+feelings, and thought her half way to heaven already.
+
+_June._--"My Schillie, ere you go, take my thanks take my heartfelt
+gratitude with you for all you have been to me."
+
+_Schillie._--"We go together, June, we shall not be separated in the
+happy pasture fields of our immortal shepherd. You will come with me to
+gaze on my children, and whisper holy dreams of goodness and truth into
+their childish ears to prepare them for the burdens of life, such as we
+have gone through. Our fates in life were thrown together, and the last
+act of mercy received from our gracious Father is this, that we die
+together."
+
+_June._--"But with my mortal lips and mortal heart receive my thanks,
+for, without you, what should I have done? Without your brave heart and
+good spirit to help me I must have given way. Without your hopeful,
+strong, and Godly mind I, guilty of ungrateful murmurs, should have
+forfeited the right of comfort from on high. Ah! my Schillie, take my
+thanks, for next to my Father, Saviour, God in heaven, what do I not owe
+to you?"
+
+_Schillie._--"Enough, enough, we give and take in this world. Our
+obligations to each other are mutual. We have an eternity before us to
+settle the debt between us. Our time on earth draws to a close. It is
+fit we prepare the young and weak for the fate they seem hardly to
+realize."
+
+_June._--"I shrink from them. Oh, my Schillie, do me a last act of
+kindness, and keep them from my sight."
+
+_Schillie._--"Nay, rouse yourself, and remember you take all you love
+with you."
+
+_June._--"But such a death! and they so young, so beloved, so lovely and
+gifted, to die in so horrible a manner."
+
+_Schillie._--"Then think of the fate you would have them live for. But
+one hour of mental agony, and they are safe in their Saviour's arms."
+
+_June._--"And, oh, Schillie, one more horrible fear I have. Suppose
+those dreadful guns do not fully complete their dreadful work. Think if
+some are left, wounded and maimed, yet more wounded in heart at the
+death of those they loved."
+
+_Schillie._--"Call them, and give each their choice."
+
+They came, but it was only to group themselves in one close embrace
+about us. They replied not to the words we uttered, but looking as
+fearlessly as Schillie did down on the brazen mouths of death, they
+turned their loving eyes in unutterable affection towards us. The
+beaming light of Schillie's countenance seemed reflected on each young
+face, until we thought an halo of glory already surrounded them.
+
+The two men tenderly lifted up Madame, and laid her moaning and
+unconscious at our feet, and then placed themselves on each side of the
+group.
+
+"See," said Schillie, half smiling and waving her hand, "your last fear
+is groundless, it will take but one of those cannon to deliver us all at
+the same moment from this mortal coil. Let us lift up our hearts to
+God."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+
+The minutes fled. Ever and anon a group of pirates would advance, and,
+as they gazed, pity, remorse, and even admiration seemed to blend in
+their swarthy countenances, as they looked at the motionless helpless
+group. Evidently reluctant to give the fatal signal for death, the
+pirate captain restlessly paced to and fro, only taking his eyes from us
+to look hurriedly on the sea. The hour was gone. The boat shot from the
+shore, bearing the fatal messengers of death. The pirate captain
+clenched his hands, and hurried up and down, like one in despair.
+Sometimes he looked as if he would speak to us, then turned more quickly
+away.
+
+Our hearts beat audibly to each other. "May God take us into His safe
+keeping this hour," murmured the low earnest voice of our dear captain.
+"Amen," was fervently uttered by all that could speak.
+
+Still the pirate captain wavered and hesitated; but what made our
+captain start? A body of pirates came forward, and drawing their chief
+away, began expostulating with him, and we heard a sound behind us.
+"For the love of God move not," said the captain; but every ear
+listened.
+
+As the sun gilds one cloud after another in rapid succession, rising
+higher and higher, so did one face after another illumine with hope and
+deliverance as the sound became more audible. We had heard it before,
+but, oh, so long ago, could it have been in our dreams? It seemed so
+familiar, yet we had never heard it on the island. It sounded so
+homelike, though our own home was far inland. But to British ears and
+British hearts could such a sound be unknown? The long, measured, steady
+stroke of the oars of a man-of-war's boat broke upon our happy senses;
+and yet we were silent, as if turned to stone. The conviction of our
+safety and deliverance sent the once-burthened hearts in silent
+thankfulness to the foot of God.
+
+"Avast there! keep under the shelter of this rock," said a man's deep
+voice, in a subdued tone, "it won't do to run right into the mouths of
+these blackguards without a little reconnoitering." Our captain crept
+silently to the side from whence the voice proceeded and hailed them.
+"Hollo! here's a fellow up here, we had better settle him at once, lest
+he gives the alarm," said the deep voice.
+
+This made us all move quickly to the same place, and, as we caught sight
+of the gallant sailors, who, though strangers to us, seemed each to
+possess the features of dear and long-lost friends, our feelings could
+scarcely be restrained. An intuitive feeling that we might, by some rash
+movement, lose the heavenly chance just opening to our view, kept us in
+iron bounds. As it was, a sort of hub-bub did ensue, they not
+understanding who we were, and we caring for nothing on this near
+approach of delivery. But our captain swung himself down by the rope
+ladder into the boat, while we eagerly drank in every word of the
+precious voices and language we had thought never to hear again, while
+he explained our situation. "What, the missing family so long sought
+for, so deeply mourned? Now God be praised. Up there four days, battling
+it out. Well done! Those blackguards shall have it double-fold. What an
+innocent boy with his big hat; who is the pretty child? Is that all her
+own hair? I say, which is the Mother? She is tall enough for a
+grenadier. Poor things, poor souls; what sufferings, what privations.
+All by themselves. Hah! indeed, joined only the last year. Well, we are
+heart and soul at their service. Are they all ladies, or some servants?
+What rum dresses. They look very picturesque up there, and you,
+boatswain, must make a sketch of them for us to take home when we have
+settled these pirates. Is that a boy or a girl? she's a whopper if she
+is a female. That short one looks cool enough to face any danger. But
+don't let us waste more time, we are burning to be at them. How shall we
+manage? Blown to pieces in five minutes; I'm blowed if you shall. D----n
+those (ah, ladies, I beg pardon). No, no, we will attack them at once.
+Too few, not a bit; as if a dozen English sailors could not knock over
+two score of pirates, and eat them too. Well, just as you like, only be
+quick; as for restraining my men, I shall not be able to do that long,
+especially as I know I can't hold in much longer myself."
+
+Such was the disjointed conversation that reached our ears, and which we
+drank in with such delight. Our captain swung himself up again, and said
+that another boat's crew were expected in a few minutes; and though the
+sailors in this boat scouted the notion of not being able to settle the
+pirates' business themselves, yet it would be as well to make assurance
+doubly sure, on account of the savage nature of the pirates. They might
+be driven to desperation when they saw what succour we had received.
+
+_Schillie._--"Captain, you must make haste, they are on board the vessel
+and loading the guns; in a few minutes we shall be scattered into a
+thousand pieces."
+
+_Captain._--"What I advise is, as there is no time to lose, hold out a
+flag of truce, and capitulate."
+
+"Oh no, captain," said many of us.
+
+"You must, indeed you must; make haste. Come, begin to go down at once.
+Those devildoms are only too rejoiced they have got their captain's
+consent, and are going to lose no time. Come, don't lose your courage at
+the last hour, you will be in their power but a few minutes. That's a
+sweet brave girl, now she is down you will all go."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+This latter remark was addressed to Serena, whom I tried to grasp as she
+lightly sprang down. We all followed, save Schillie and the two
+invalids. The pirates shouted with great deafening shouts, and ran
+towards us, rudely grasping hold of us as we each descended. We
+shuddered and shrieked with horror. The pirate king ran and brought
+Schillie down in spite of her struggles. The captain was instantly
+seized, and would have been roughly treated, but the sailors, unable to
+hear our cries and not help us, shot round the corner like a flash of
+lightning, and, ere the pirates were aware of their presence, mixed in
+the _melee_, cutlass in hand.
+
+Though at first the sailors gained an instantaneous advantage, the
+numbers against them were so great and the pirates so desperate, that
+much blood must have been shed and a fierce battle fought, but another
+boat appeared round the rock, most vigorously propelled, another, and
+again another. Now we were saved, God be praised! No more doubts, no
+more fears. We withdrew to a sheltered place on the cliffs, thankful,
+oh, how thankful God alone can tell. The pirates fled in every
+direction, but not before our captain, raising his gun, sent a shot
+after the pirate king that put an end to his reign and his love for
+ever.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+
+An officer was sent to take our wishes, while the other sailors, with
+their captain and lieutenants, proceeded to pursue and exterminate the
+pirates. The fresh boats' crews being so eager in the chase that they
+knew nothing more about us than that some prisoners had been found. The
+captain, therefore, politely sent an officer to attend to us, with a
+message to say he was too busy to do so himself. We learnt from this
+officer that our captain's conjecture was quite true about the pirate
+vessel having been chased; and they knew well enough that, once seeing
+them, Capt. Bute would scour the sea in search of them.
+
+They made for "YR YNYS UNYG" as a last chance, knowing that few but
+themselves were aware that the great Anaconda was dead, and they trusted
+that the fear of it would prevent any one from landing on the island.
+
+Their intentions were all frustrated by finding us all perched upon the
+rock, and it became a matter of policy to get rid of us somehow. They
+were unwilling to harm us at first, wishing to reap a golden harvest by
+claiming the rewards for our recovery; but our obstinacy in refusing to
+come down drove the pirate captain much beyond his own wishes. Had Capt.
+Bute's boats been half an hour later there would have been but little of
+our sad remains left. To his eagerness and skill in following the pirate
+vessel, and anchoring the Turtle side of the island under cover of the
+night, we, humanly speaking, owed our lives. May God be praised for all
+his mercies.
+
+Madame and Smart were first to be considered. It was agreed they must
+both be taken on board the man-of-war for medical advice. I was to go
+with them, and Felix was to accompany me to attend on Smart. The rest
+were to be employed in making preparations for our final departure,
+besides getting La Luna ready for our once more taking possession of
+her.
+
+But we had never been separated before for more than a few hours, and
+the leave taking was quite a business. So I promised to return in the
+evening, after seeing Madame and Smart comfortable and well cared for.
+We must talk over our joys as well as sorrows, and, hearing that there
+were some ladies and servants on board, I the more readily agreed to
+return. Madame was let down from the rock with great difficulty, utterly
+unconscious of anything but her own delicious thoughts.
+
+In Turtle harbour, not a mile from our memorable bay, we found the
+ship, and it was with indescribable emotion that I climbed on to her
+deck. With the tenderness of women the kind sailors lifted up the
+invalids, while I was shewn down into the cabin to beseech the good
+offices of the ladies in it. There were two of them; one reclining on a
+sofa, hearing a little girl read, whose golden hair hung round her fair
+face, as the glory surrounds the cherubim; the other and oldest of the
+two was sketching from the cabin window. The lovely fair face of the
+recumbent one was raised as I entered.
+
+Why did I start? Have I seen that face before, those calm clear blue
+eyes, the delicately-formed nose, the beautiful expression? Be calm, my
+heart, beat not so wildly. "Poor woman, she is ill, what is the matter
+with her?" said the lady at the window. I knew her too, so well, so
+perfectly, I wondered she could speak so calmly to me. I forgot my
+strange appearance, my island dress, my grizzled hair, and brow burnt by
+the ardent sun.
+
+The younger lady gazed at me, but said nothing. "Pray be seated," said
+the sweet soft voice of the sketcher, "you look so ill, I will bring you
+some water." The other lady still gazed, was still silent, but she half
+rose from her sofa. I could not withdraw my eyes from the well-known
+face, but I grasped the kind hand that placed the chair for me, while my
+breath laboured under the convulsive swellings of my heart. "She must
+be one of the pirate women, and some of her people have been killed,"
+said the elder lady. "Pray, Meta speak to her, and don't gaze at her so
+fixedly."
+
+I tried to speak, it was impossible. I clung to the one sister, and held
+out my hand imploringly to the other. She sprang up, and rushed towards
+me. She pushed my hair from my forehead; her colour came and went like
+the evening clouds. "Oh, June, June, my sister, my beloved one, it must
+be you. I cannot be mistaken. I should know that face through every
+change. Speak to me, speak but one word, call me by my name, if only to
+ease my heart. My long-lost, my own sister, relieve me, relieve my
+bursting heart."
+
+Faintly breathing the word "Meta," I remember no more. I sunk upon the
+ground, but I felt loved arms round me, and the bliss of heaven seemed
+to take possession of my senses. I awoke to the blessed reality my
+loving sisters were near me, they soothed me with sweet words, kissed me
+with sisters' kisses, asked nothing, said nothing but endearing
+sentences, and suffered my overburdened heart to relieve itself to the
+full.
+
+The anxieties and cares of the past years, the fear and anguish of the
+last few days, rolled away like a dark cloud from my troubled brain,
+while peace, happiness, and rest flooded my heart to overflowing. The
+transition from utter misery to perfect bliss seemed too much for me at
+first; I had not felt until then the forlorn and hopeless state to which
+we had been reduced, and how death in its most dreadful form had nearly
+severed all I lived for from the earth they were so formed to enjoy and
+ornament. But, it is idle thus to write, joy does not often kill, so
+having seen our invalids well cared for, and introduced my lovely little
+savage boy to his aunts, my beloved sisters accompanied me back to my
+companions. We found the whole of the pirate gang secured, and going on
+board La Luna, ah! what joy. The surprise, the ecstasy, the happy
+welcome, the boundless joy, the innumerable questions. It is impossible
+to describe it.
+
+We found we owed the meeting with our beloved relatives to the following
+circumstance:--After my brother's leave was up, and his ship's
+commission expired, instead of spending his time at home, he, with Sir
+Walter Mayton, chartered a vessel and determined between them to spend
+all the time his services were not required by his Queen in searching
+for us. My two sisters had begged to accompany them, one with her
+husband and children, and my eldest sister to be her companion. The
+Esperanza, their vessel, was something similar to La Luna, only larger
+and carrying six guns. They had been out six months, when, owing to the
+Esperanza requiring some little repairs, the party, consisting of my two
+sisters, Mr. J., and the children, accepted Capt. Bute's invitation to
+take a little cruise with him. He was in command of her Majesty's S.
+H., which had superseded my brother's ship on the piratical coast.
+
+Accidentally coming across the pirates' vessel, Capt. Bute had given
+chase, and pursued her so sharply, that, under cover of the night, he
+had got the H. into safe anchorage on the lea side of the island without
+the pirates' knowledge. The rest of the tale has been told.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+
+And now we were all on board La Luna, Capt. Bute spared us a crew; he
+remains behind to settle everything about the island, and to go
+afterwards to the other rendezvous of the pirates, there to rescue the
+remainder of our crew should they yet survive. Our captain gave him all
+particulars where to find it.
+
+But we were not to be separated from our newly found relatives. Oh no!
+they came with us. We collected everything we wished to take from the
+island; the children's endless parrots, monkeys, shells, and pet things.
+Schillie took nothing, but her last act was to stoop down, and take a
+lengthened draught from the lovely stream. Florence, my eldest sister,
+made sketches of every place interesting to us, and, finally, we bade
+adieu to "YR YNYS UNYG." Seated on the deck we saw the lovely island
+fade from our sight, with mixed feelings certainly but no regret. We had
+none for it, because we could only think of the happiness opening before
+us. The lost were found, the deeply-mourned restored, the mother given
+back to her little ones, the fondly-loved children to their sorrowing
+parents. There was rapture in these thoughts. No wonder that our little
+home, our little haven of so many conflicting emotions, faded from our
+sight for ever without a tear from any eye.
+
+We were to shape our course so as to fall in with the Esperanza, which
+we did in about ten days. During those days fancy alone can paint the
+innumerable questions asked, the pang and half fear ere they were
+answered. We lived a life time, it seemed, in those ten days.
+
+We had had no opportunity of restoring our pretty La Luna to her
+original beauty, therefore we did not wonder (my brother being on board,
+and we looking so practical) that the Esperanza bore down upon us in a
+menacing and warlike manner.
+
+We submissively struck our colours, and ere long were boarded by my
+brother and Sir Walter Mayton. At the request of my sisters we all
+remained below, that they might have a little amusement. But it was
+hardly possible for us to wait. However, my brother quickly put an end
+to the suspense himself; for, in his quick decisive manner, down he came
+into the cabin, requesting to see the ship's papers. And, what papers
+did he see? The whole party in the cabin! He gave but one look, he
+comprehended it all, and, ere I thought it could be him, he had wrapt me
+in his arms; he wept with joy and thankfulness, and he could not cease
+to gaze at us all with unutterable emotions of pleasure. We forgot Sir
+Walter Mayton until we heard his well-known firm tread stamping above,
+as if impatient at the Captain's delay. We determined to have a little
+amusement with him, and yet not keep him long in suspense. We sent the
+two boys up, and watched the effect. He started, and looked keenly at
+them, he threw his cigar away, and then we heard his loud cheery voice
+say, "Whose boys are you?" They said nothing, but each took hold of a
+kind hand, and smiled up in his face.
+
+"Boys, I bid you tell me, who you are," and his voice husky, while we
+could see he trembled.
+
+"It is us uncle, dear uncle, here we are all safe," and throwing their
+arms round his neck, they half smothered him with kisses, Lilly joining
+her brothers.
+
+"But your Mother, my children, are you all safe? have I none to answer
+for?" "All safe, quite safe," said I, appearing immediately.
+
+"Ready to thank you for all you have done for us, the weary years we
+have been away. For your kind thoughts, your indefatigable exertions, we
+are here to thank you, and prove our gratitude by acts as well as
+thanks." "Thank God, Thank God," he said. "This hour repays me for all
+my care."
+
+And now what happiness, nothing to mar it, but a few gales of wind,
+which only blew us nearer to the homes our hearts longed for. Madame was
+nearly well, Smart only limped a little, and was in high spirits at
+hearing that not only was Mrs. Smart alive and well, but that Jem had
+become a young gamekeeper, and they had wanted for nothing during his
+absence.
+
+"So you were right Master Felix, about the washing, she has done well at
+that," said Smart, "and a mighty good washer she be, sending me out with
+shirts as white as any Lord's."
+
+We sailed in company, and it was hard to say which ship contained the
+merriest party, La Luna or the Esperanza.
+
+We touched at St. Helena, and there picked up another brother to our
+great delight and pleasure.
+
+The ships were gazetted there as the Esperanza and her consort, that the
+news of it getting to England before we did might prepare the beloved
+family in some degree for what was in store.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAST CHAPTER.
+
+
+Once more we will return to that pretty drawing-room, and visit the kind
+sisters, the grey-headed father, the loving mother.
+
+Her sweet calm face had lost its painful expression; years have gone by;
+time has come with its healing wings; she is nearer the hour when a
+meeting with the lost ones may be promised her in heaven. One sister is
+married and gone. The dark-haired sister is as usual employed in making
+brilliant flowers grow beneath her skilful fingers, like the magic work
+of the fairies. The pretty face of the other beams with content and
+sweetness. The door opens, and the grey-headed Father appears with the
+newspapers.
+
+"My dear," says he, "what can this mean? Here is the Esperanza mentioned
+on her way home to England with her consort."
+
+_The Mother._--"Oh no, that must be a mistake. She has no consort;
+besides we do not expect our Esperanza home for six months at least."
+
+_The Father._--"But you see it is in the ships' news. 'The brig
+Esperanza, Capt. C., touched at St. Helena with her consort, and brings
+home Capt. C. of the Royal Engineers.'"
+
+_The Mother._--"There really seems no mistake indeed, especially
+Bertrand's having joined his brother. I suppose Richard must have
+captured some pirate or slaver's vessel. You know he took out a license
+to do so."
+
+_The Father._--"Very likely; but still I think we should have seen some
+account of the exploit in the papers if he had done so."
+
+_Emily._--"Especially the Esperanza being a private vessel. I really
+think, Mama, it must be a mistake."
+
+The door opens, and the best and kindest aunt in the world appears, who,
+having no children of her own, opens her large heart, and takes in those
+of her only sister's.
+
+_The Aunt._--"Don't be surprised to see me, but my husband has seen in
+to-day's paper that the Esperanza is coming home. I thought, sister,
+they were to have been absent a year?"
+
+_The Mother._--"So I expected, and we are quite puzzled about it, having
+seen the news as well as yourself. I am almost inclined to agree with
+Emily that it is a mistake."
+
+_The dear Aunt._--"Then I am miserably disappointed. When I heard it I
+was in the greatest hope you would have some news to tell me, so I
+ordered Osman and the brougham, and came here so fast that I am quite
+in fear for the dear fellow. Cecy, pray let me ask you for a little
+bread to give him, and do come down and look at him, he is in such
+beauty that Robert is quite proud of him."
+
+So they all went down to look at the beloved horse, and Robert the groom
+heard him praised to his heart's content.
+
+_The dear Aunt._--"Well, now then, sister, I will say farewell, but we
+will do what you so kindly wish us, and come to-morrow for the whole
+week; by this means we shall be on the spot to hear the earliest news if
+you get any, for I must own I cannot bear suspense, and my Florence
+being in the Esperanza doubles my anxieties."
+
+_The Mother._--"We shall be charmed to see you, dear sister, so, until
+then, farewell."
+
+On the morrow, the kind aunt and uncle were not the only visitors.
+Little Winny's father and mother, uncle Parry, the "next heir," all came
+pouring in, as well as innumerable letters from kind and anxious
+friends; but still no news by the post.
+
+They had all seen the report of the Esperanza, and all had flocked to
+B----, as head quarters, to learn what had brought her home so much
+sooner than was expected. However, they were invited to remain the week
+out at that ever open most hospitable mansion.
+
+In the middle of the week came Gatty's beloved parents. Zoe's father and
+mother lived so near that they could have daily intercourse; so daily
+everybody met, daily everybody talked, and daily everybody agreed that
+it was all a mistake, and that this Esperanza was not their Esperanza.
+
+The summer is coming on rapidly. It is the 2nd of June, the golden
+laburnums hang their rich pendant clusters over the fragrant lilacs, all
+nature seemed rejoicing, and every tree had its living chorus, for no
+noisy gun or treacherous snare was ever heard or seen in that pretty
+garden.
+
+"I don't mean to stay in the house this lovely evening," said Gatty's
+father. "Come Emily, come Julie, let us sit out on the lawn, and smell
+the fresh wholesome scent of the earth, and hear this delightful evening
+hymn of the birds. But do you expect company? Here is a carriage, and
+surely another behind it. No! it stops. But do my eyes deceive me? Who
+is in this first carriage? The dear crew of the Esperanza! Welcome,
+welcome. Bertrand too. My dear girls how well you look. Ah, Sir Walter,
+welcome, welcome home."
+
+They are clasped in the arms of everybody, and welcomed home, as those
+who go to B---- are generally welcomed. The new brother also, after six
+years' absence in New Zealand. Everybody seems overwhelmed with delight
+and pleasure. Whatever curiosity, whatever wonder, whatever fear might
+have run through the heart of each at seeing the beloved crew of the
+Esperanza so much sooner than was expected, all was now swallowed up in
+the joy of seeing them.
+
+The old and valued servants crowded to meet them, and congratulate them
+on their safe return. "My goodness me," said Anne, the housekeeper,
+after she had made her courtesies and said her say, "if the great gates
+are not open and the beggars coming in. Oh, Thomas, (turning to the dear
+aunt's servant) whatever must we do, what a queer set. Be off, good
+people. I must see for some men to turn them out. I don't think really
+that they can be anything respectable. None of our people would peep and
+look in like that. I cannot make them out at all, Thomas. They have a
+look about them anyways but respectable."
+
+_Thomas._--"To be sure, Anne, they look Furrineers, and they never is so
+neat and trim as our people."
+
+_Anne._--"Furrineers, then, Thomas, help me to turn them out, we wants
+nothing but English here. Be off, good people, be off, we harbours no
+vermin here. Eh, but they're a strange set."
+
+My brother ran to her. "Don't disturb those people, Anne, they are very
+good people," said he.
+
+_Anne._--"But so unmannerly, Mr. Bertrand, coming in at such a
+particklar time."
+
+_Mr. Bertrand._--"Never mind, Anne, they are friends of mine."
+
+_Anne._--"Friends of yours, oh, indeed, Sir; well we did not know that,
+Thomas, did we? and how could we guess, so queer as they look. Surely
+now Mr. Bernard, you have never been and gone and brought home some New
+Zealand savages?"
+
+_Mr. Bertrand._--"Yes, Anne, I have, and that tall woman in the hat is
+to be my wife."
+
+_Anne._--"Oh my goodness me, Mr. Bertrand, none of your jokes to me if
+you please, Sir. I don't believe a word you say, Sir, and the more I
+look at them people the more I am sure they are no friends of yours,
+Sir. Such outlandish folk, in them big hats and those long bed-gownish
+things, they are not respectable. I must----"
+
+_Mr. Bertrand._--"Hush, hush, Anne, they are dear friends of mine; wait,
+wait just a few minutes; hearken now to what my brother says to your
+master."
+
+With trembling voice the dear brother was making the aged Father
+understand; Meta threw herself sobbing with delight into the arms of the
+long-mourning Mother, trying to tell her of the joy that yet remained to
+be told; Florence, with sweet touching voice, was preparing the dear
+enthusiastic aunt. Everybody was beginning to feel and know that there
+was something still to tell, some event yet to occur, something much
+beyond what they had yet felt or experienced. But who could look in the
+agitated faces of the travellers and not see that it was joy which so
+overcame them? Who could see the radiant smiles shining through the
+irrepressible tears and not feel a thrill of happiness shoot through
+them?
+
+And the poor beggars at the great gate, why were they in tears? why so
+agitated? Oh, make haste, they cannot wait much longer, their impatience
+is boundless. Think how many years they have been deprived of the sight
+of those sweet faces, the hearing those dear voices, the feeling those
+soft kisses. Gatty, Gatty, startle not your Father so, restrain your
+impatience; he wonders now. Who calls, that wild and passionate "Papa,
+Papa." Just a few short moments to wait. See, see, my Mother's eyes; she
+must know now, she is prepared. Almost before the signal is given,
+before the arms are open, Zoe rushes to her Mother. Winny, Schillie,
+Gatty (the first of all, with a bound like an antelope) all fly to their
+own people, and we three, Sybil, Serena, and I, into whose arms we fell
+I know not; I remember nothing, I can tell nothing but that I heard my
+grey-headed Father, in a low, distinct, and solemn manner, say--
+
+"Now, Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart this life in peace."
+
+
+FINIS.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Endnotes:
+
+    The original publication contained many typographical errors. Minor
+    misprints have been corrected without note, however the following
+    amendments deserve further note:
+
+    Chapter Titles
+
+        The original sequence skipped the numbers 10, 26, 31, 37, 38
+        whilst using 39 twice. With no discrepancy in the page numbers,
+        the chapters have been renumbered to avoid confusion.
+
+    Hargrave/Havord
+
+        The character initially introduced as Hargrave is referred to
+        as Havord from Chapter XXIX to part-way through Chapter XXXVI.
+        In light of the poor typography throughout the book, all
+        instances of Havord have been changed to Hargrave.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Yr Ynys Unyg, by Julia de Winton
+
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