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diff --git a/23090-h/23090-h.htm b/23090-h/23090-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1f15277 --- /dev/null +++ b/23090-h/23090-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12711 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Yr Ynys Unyg; or, The Lonely Island, by Julia de Winton + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em;} + + h2 {margin-bottom: 2.5em; + text-align: center; + clear: both;} + + h3 {margin-top: 1.5em; + text-align: center; + clear: both;} + + h1 {text-align: center; + clear: both;} + + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 94%; + font-size: smaller; + font-style: normal; + text-align: right;} + + .rght {text-align: right;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + .trans1 {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: .25em 1em; text-align: justify;} + + .trnhd {text-align: center; font-size: larger; font-weight: bold;} + + img {border: none} + + a:link {text-decoration:none;} + a:visited {text-decoration:none;} + + ul {list-style-type: none; font-size:smaller;} + .cpoem {width: 25em; margin: 0 auto;} + .author {text-align: left; margin-left: 75%;} + .signing {text-align: left; margin-left: 75%; text-indent: -10em;} + + .theend {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 2em;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +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: ISO-8859-1 + +*** 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) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 534px;"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="534" height="312" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<h1><big>YR YNYS UNYG;</big></h1> + +<h1><small><small><small>OR,</small></small></small></h1> + +<h1>THE LONELY ISLAND:</h1> + +<h1 style="margin: 1.5em auto;"><small>A NARRATIVE<br /><br /> +<small>FOR</small><br /><br /></small> +YOUNG PEOPLE.</h1> + + +<div class="cpoem"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Beseech you, be merry: we have cause<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of joy: for our escape<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is much beyond our loss: our hint of woe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is common: every day, some sailor's wife,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The masters of some merchant, and the merchant<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Have just our theme of woe: but for the miracle,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I mean our preservation, few in millions<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our sorrow with our comfort."—<i>Tempest.</i><br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p class="theend">LONDON:<small><br /> +<br />SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT;<br /> +GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND CO., FARRINGDON STREET.<br /> +<br /> +NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE: F. AND W. DODSWORTH.<br /> +<br /></small> +1852.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="trans1"><p class="trnhd">Transcriber's Note</p> + +<p>Archaic and dialect spellings remain as printed. Punctuation has +been normalised. Significant errors have been noted at the end of +the text. A table of contents has been provided below:</p> + +<ul><li><a href="#INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER XL</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">CHAPTER XLI</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">CHAPTER XLII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">CHAPTER XLIII</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">CHAPTER XLIV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XLV">CHAPTER XLV</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVI">CHAPTER XLVI</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_LAST_CHAPTER">THE LAST CHAPTER</a></li></ul> + +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Friend,</span></p> + +<p>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, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span> +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. Zoë 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,</p> + +<p class="author">A FRIEND.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +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 Zoë 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 Zoë'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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +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 <i>unity</i>, +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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p><i>May 4.</i>—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:—</p> + +<p><i>Zoë.</i>—"I really do not think it will be pleasant if +we are to be like this all the time."</p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"Oh, Zoë, I am so snug, I have got a nice +book to read, and there will be no playing on the piano +to-day."</p> + +<p><i>Winny.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Zoë.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +promised we should do no lessons after two. Here is +Jenny. Why, Jenny, what is the matter with you?"</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"How can you be such a goose, Sybil? Why, +you are trembling now."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"Oh dear! I am so ill; going on deck has +quite upset me, and I am worse than I was."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p><i>May 16.</i>—<span class="smcap">Gibraltar.</span>—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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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:—</p> + +<p class="rght">"<i>Gibraltar, May 16, 18—</i></p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dearest Mamma and Sisters</span>,</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +repent her responsibility. Even the quiet Zoë 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,</p> + +<p class="author">"SYBIL."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>My eldest son's letter to his grandpapa was as follows:</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Grandpapa</span>,</p> + +<p>"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,</p> + +<p class="author">"OSCAR."</p> + +<p>Gatty's letter was to her sister:—</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My Dearest Liffy</span>,</p> + +<p>"This is such glorious fun; +but I am so hot. I declare if I stay here much longer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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,</p> + +<p class="author">"GATTY."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Stupid England!"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Stupid England. I did not say stupid +England, did I?"</p> + +<p><i>Sybil</i> (much shocked).—"Yes, Gertrude, you did."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Well! What?"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"What grand words, Gatty. Where did +you pick them up?"</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"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——"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>Therefore, across the Atlantic, accordingly, we pursued +our merry course, previously writing letters to detail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +our plans, to describe our pleasures of all kinds, and to +appoint a place of meeting.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +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 Zoë 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"I hope then it will be hard frost."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Or a storm, Gatty. I want the wind to +blow, and the waves to be mountains high."</p> + +<p><i>Lilly</i> (yawning).—"I wish something would blow, +and I wish I had two little slave girls to fan me as +they do in India."</p> + +<p><i>Zoë.</i>—"I don't think I should; they would be so +hot themselves, poor things, I should be quite sorry all +the time."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"I vote for a hard frost, like Gatty, then +we should have such splendid skating on the sea."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"But, supposing (which I believe is no +supposition, but a fact) that the sea freezes in waves, +we could not then skate."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Oh, don't talk any more of ice and frost, +it makes one hotter still to think of the contrast."</p> + +<p>I proceeded to enquire of the captain what change +he expected.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"But, captain, is it likely to be a bad storm, +or will there be any danger?"</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i> (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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i> (half hesitating).—"That is true, Madam, +but I am such an ass, I cannot hide the impulse of the +moment."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i> (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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Then you would advise my betaking myself +to bed, I suppose, immediately."</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"No, Ma'am, no, for I cannot judge when we +shall have it, not these twenty-four hours yet."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"Why she is a good boat, a very good boat; +I fear nothing as long as we have room."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Room, captain, what sort of room?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"Sea room, begging your pardon, Miss. I +quite forgot you would not understand me."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"I hope some of my little bits will get near +mama's little bits, and then I shall not care."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Mother, may I creep up and ask Smart +what the captain thinks about the land?"</p> + +<p><i>All.</i>—"Yes, do, do, dear boy."</p> + +<p>"Mind you are careful, my darling boy," said the anxious Mother.</p> + +<p>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?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 Zoë 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;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"But she did not lay us so softly, I came +down with such force that I am quite sore now."</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Winny</i> (half angry).—"But she made my nose +bleed with her great bumps."</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 540px;"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="540" height="328" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"What a jolly island this is."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Yes. Should you like to live here?"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"I'll be Robinson Crusoe, and you shall be +my Man Friday."</p> + +<p><i>Winny.</i>—"You must be Mrs. Robinson Crusoe, +Gatty, because you are a woman."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then I suppose we had better go away, +and leave you two here."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"And I know that won't please you at all, +you little Eton dandy, with your smart waistcoat, white +tie, and shining boots."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame</i> (turning quite pale).—"Oh dear! Do +you think there are any savages likely to be near us. +I have such a dread of them."</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i> (laughing).—"Why, Ma'am, from all I could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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 Zoë. "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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Thank you very much, Madame, for your +very kind interest. Be assured I will do nothing +rashly. What do you say, captain?"</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Yes, to be sure, and a pistol too, and she +can load them also."</p> + +<p><i>Capt.</i> (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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Pooh, pooh, girls. I should like to know +what peace and quiet there would be with you three +magpies after us."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix</i> (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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"I hate the ship, and I won't go on board. +She is a nasty creature, and nearly drowned us all."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +stopping with him to catch the fish that were jumping +about, almost asking to be taken out.</p> + +<p>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 Zoë, "don't have +a monkey, they smell so. Let us have each a parrot." +"Oh yes, yes, a parrot. Bring Zoë a green one and me +a blue one," said Winny, "A blue one, you stupid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>The point we were aiming for was the highest part +of the island; hitherto we had great difficulty in forcing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"Oh! master Felix," whispered Jenny, "for shame, sir,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>With grateful hearts, we slept soundly and rose refreshed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They brought us home quantities of grapes, prickly +pears, yams, bananas, cocoa-nuts, with what would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +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 <i>you</i> +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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>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 <i>al fresco</i>. 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."</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My dear! you ought to have no nonsense in your +head."</p> + +<p>"But there it is, Madame, and you will be very angry +if I break the Sabbath, by making puns and guessing +jokes all Sunday."</p> + +<p>"My dear Gertrude, your spirits carry you quite too +far."</p> + +<p>"Then think, Madame, what they will be on Sundays +if my spirits are corked up all the other six days."</p> + +<p>"I have not the least objection to your making puns +either in French, Italian, or German."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"It is my wish that you all should understand those +languages equally as well as your own."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt, Madame, that you will always be +able to wish us such proficiency."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>There was a letter from Smart to the boys as follows, +the spelling being corrected:—</p> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Honoured Young Gents</span>,</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p class="signing">"Your true sorrowful servant till death,<br /> +"T. SMART."</p> + +<p>Leaving the others still to pore over the letters and +directions, I wandered away to a shady nook, to recover +the shock, only now <i>did</i> 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"Don't speak so roughly, Schillie, I am sad enough +without being upbraided by you."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then pray mention one."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, don't scold me any more, but comfort,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"How cruel you are, Schillie."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I fear so many things; here we are all alone, +without a single efficient person amongst us." "Pray +speak for yourself."</p> + +<p>"Well! then, only you with a spark of courage +amongst us; and we don't know what may be here."</p> + +<p>"Now, that's nonsense, you know that there is +scarcely a fly on the island that will do you harm."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, those sharks!"</p> + +<p>"And, who is going to walk into the mouth of a +shark, I should be glad to know?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody, certainly, but supposing a ship should +come?"</p> + +<p>"Then, we should have company, and a mighty good +thing too. I think the society of women and children +very mawkish for a continuance."</p> + +<p>"But, then, supposing they should not be friends."</p> + +<p>"Then that will be their own faults, we are not likely +to quarrel with them."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +slaves, and, if they are marauders or pirates they may +murder or marry us!!!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Now, it is my turn to say pooh! pooh! Don't you +know that even the larks have to work to get them +food?"</p> + +<p>"Oh certainly, that I allow. I have no objection +to help myself. I can cook a beefsteak and make lobster +salad against any one."</p> + +<p>"First catch your beefsteak and lobster, saith Mrs. +Glass. But here are Madame and the girls."</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes she will, Madame," said Schillie, "so betake +yourselves off girls, wherever you choose, provided you +don't come and bother us."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What's the use of a holiday, unless we may spend +it with our Mothers?" said Sybil.</p> + +<p>"That's all that we want a holiday for," said Serena, +"that we may be with you all day."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Gatty, "this is most jolly, and now you +may have one side of the big Mother, and Sybil shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"How do you like this lark's life?" said I, laughing.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I beg your pardon, little Mother," said +Gatty, reddening all over, "I thought it was mine."</p> + +<p>"And, does that make the matter any better? Can't +you employ your fingers any better than making holes +in your handkerchiefs?"</p> + +<p>"It's a way larks have," said I.</p> + +<p>Schillie rose up in a huff.</p> + +<p>"Come," said I, "let us all go and have a dip in the +sea."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"And we shall not mind that," said Zoë, "for it +would not have cut its teeth."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Oscar and I intend to fish all day," said Felix, +"and you may be very much obliged to us, because it's +very—"</p> + +<p>"Very what, Felix," said his sister, who loved to +tease him, "very tiresome, I suppose you mean."</p> + +<p>"No; not tiresome exactly, but very fatiguing."</p> + +<p>"Oh very fatiguing indeed, I dare say, and you know +you would cry like a baby if any one prevented you +fishing."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The faithful Jenny was at hand to take the part of +each, and please both, while she put an end to the +dispute.</p> + +<p>"But, Mama," said Lilly, "if the boys do nothing but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p>"What a little tongue you have, child. Do you +think Zoë and Winny would like to do nothing but +pick up shells?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure I should not," said Zoë. "I must say I +rather think, but I am not quite sure, that I shall not +like it all day either," said Winny.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I shall be happy to assist Jane, Ma'am, in any way +I can after I have waited on you," said Hargrave.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, Hargrave," said I, "but I must do +without the waiting on, we must wait on each other."</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, all that I understand, but—"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Hargrave was proceeding, in increased agitation and +heat, when Gatty interrupted the business by repeated +peals of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Pray, pray, Gertrude, refrain, how very unladylike; +you laugh like a great cow-boy," said Madame.</p> + +<p>"I like Gatty's laughs, they are so merry," said Oscar, +"but what are you laughing at?"</p> + +<p>"Why at Hargrave to be sure, giving warning here, +on this desert island."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Slightly mollified, she grumbled out "That it was +certainly no use plaiting one's hair in such a place."</p> + +<p>"Now, Schillie, what charge will you take?"</p> + +<p>"Take! You mean do as I bid you."</p> + +<p>"Then, if that's the case, you shall be caterer."</p> + +<p>"No, no, that I protest against. Under no circumstances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much, that will be very kind, and +now you elder girls!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! we'll do as we are bid, except lessons," said +Gatty.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +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 Zoë 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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +an almost inaccessible crag, and Gatty tore her frock +every five minutes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"And also besides, if they did come up from +the sea, and look at Otty and Felix, I don't think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +they would steal them away from us, without a great +battle on our parts."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Well! I shall not do that, for green hair +must be very ugly."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"And you need not bother about it any +more, Lilly, for I hate singing."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"And we must take care of ourselves, because +we are the only two men you have got to take care of +you all."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Ah! indeed that is very true, you must +be very careful, because what should we do without our +protectors."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +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. Zoë 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>"Now then," said I to the little Mother, "what are +you and I to do with ourselves."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Nevertheless, whether you help me or not, +I am going to build a little hut."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Don't distress yourself, you look very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Yes! these are the broad leaves that will +roof our hut!"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Now, Mrs. June, if you bother me any +more about that hut, I won't stir one finger to help you."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Oh, so you will help me, well! that's all +I want, so sit down here while I tell you all about my +hut."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"What does it matter to us about their +names and property, if they will do for us to make our +hut."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I wish I knew what those two trees are."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then we can twist these pliant sort of +reeds in and out."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Well! we can twist them in and out between +the stems."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Or perhaps they are a species of gigantic +rush, but that we shall know by the flower."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Twist them in and out like basket work."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I wish you would cease with your twistings +in and out, and help me to guess what these things +are."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"My dear, I have guessed long ago, and +think I am quite right too in my guess."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"And why are you so unkind as not to +tell me? you know how anxious I am."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"You are the greatest——, well! I won't +say what with your fighting cocks. Come, go on about +your blessed old hut."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Then now I won't trouble you any more, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Pooh, pooh, you know who will be the +first to invite them in, however, I only mean it for us +two."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +my remonstrating, muttered, half asleep, "I wish I +knew what these trees were."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Whatever it is I admire its civility," said Schillie.</p> + +<p>"If it is they are quite harmless, though he looks +very horrible," said I.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Which you may have all to yourself, June, for I +think them unwholesome things."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +first, whilst she watched for an hour, then she was to +waken me, and I was to watch in my turn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"Your thoughts melancholy! That's the +first time, then, since I have known you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I was thinking of my poor little children, +and how wrong I was to go and leave them all."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +tiresome, and Madame had been so particular, and it +had been so hot; in fact, all had gone wrong.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>She was interrupted by Gatty's jumping up, and +saying. "Oh yes! yes! such a glorious thing happened, +it was so killing!—"</p> + +<p>"Gertrude, you shock me," said Madame, "to talk +of so grave a misdemeanour, in such terms."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Madame, I cannot help it. I never laughed +so much in my life. Did you, Sib? Did you, Serena?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"The young gentlemen came to their lessons in very +good time," proceeded Madame, "and Master Oscar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Ate it, child!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Yes, Mama, I ate it every bit."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +a wink when I first came to bed for wondering what +they could be. Just like you." So she sulkily went +off to sleep.</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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——"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"But have you no hope, Schillie, speak +quickly ere they come, have you no hope?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"You are cruel, Schillie."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>After a silence, Schillie looked at me and nodded. +I tried to speak, but the words would not come, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +known what to do, and would in all probability have +exerted ourselves to better our condition as best we +could.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>To make the resemblance more perfect, one single<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"I do not conclude so inevitably, but it is +better to come to some decision than to spend our time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then there is the more necessity for our +exerting ourselves. Tell me, Schillie, what do you think?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I think nothing. If we are to be drowned, +it's the same to me whether it is by rain or sea."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Yes, yes, I dare say it was rather heavy; +but it is nothing to what we shall have."</p> + +<p>"Heaven forbid," again exclaimed Madame, while +the little ones seemed equally aghast at the idea.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"I can only think of covering everything +with those great big plantain leaves."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"And you, Gatty."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p><i>Zoë.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Winny.</i>—"I am not certain which plan I think +best; but I will wait and hear what Mother thinks +before I quite decide."</p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"I think digging a deep hole, and burying +them in the sand would be the best."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Just as if the rain would not go through +the sand. You always think of such out-of-the-way +things, Lilly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Madame, it is too hot to get into such a +stew. Do you imagine there is only one cavern in the +island?"</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I think, instead of making all this noise, +we had better go and search for some more caverns."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"But it is Sunday."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Necessity has no law, Madame, besides +the heavens are at work, see!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>—</p> + + +<h3>SYBIL'S SERMON.</h3> + +<p><i>Psalm</i> 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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +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."</p> + + +<h3>SERENA'S SERMON.</h3> + +<p>"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to +another, and the Lord hearkened."—<i>Malachi</i> iii. 16.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +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."</p> + + +<h3>GERTRUDE'S SERMON.</h3> + +<p>"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."—<i>Isaiah</i> xl. 31.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +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."</p> + + +<h3>ZOË'S SERMON.</h3> + +<p>"Oh! what great troubles and adversities hast Thou +showed me, and yet didst Thou turn and refresh me."—<i>Psalm</i> +lxxi. 8.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<h3>WINNY'S SERMON.</h3> + +<p>"But God shall deliver the island of the innocent."—<i>Job</i> +xxii. 30.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<h3>LILLY'S SERMON.</h3> + +<p>"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +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.</p> + + +<h3>END OF THE SERMONS.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty</i> (demurely).—"If you please, little Mother, +we can't."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Cannot! What stops you, I should like +to know? Nothing but your own laziness, keeping +me waiting here all day."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty</i> (still more meekly).—"If you please, little +Mother, you have got the book."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"If you please, little Mother, you stopped +us to talk about those people."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"If you please, little Mother, I don't care +about them at all. They are all dead, and they are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>Such speeches were too +much for Schillie's fortitude, and Gatty's sparkling +eyes showed how successful her manœuvres were in +being dismissed at once, "as too stupid to be borne +with."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Now if you mention one word about +building one of your old huts, you shall be whipt."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Oh no, no! I have had quite enough of +the huts. I have not the smallest intention of building +such another flimsy affair."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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 <i>al fresco</i>, despite Madame's fears, or +what? Come, speak up."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>"Your horror!" said Schillie. "Delightful," exclaimed +all the others. "What splendid fun. How very +charming. Where shall it be? Let us begin immediately."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +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 £200. 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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Come, come, now, about this house. +Where shall we put it up!"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +Winny, "I don't see a cupboard in your plan, Gatty." +"Oh, we will stick one up somewhere, little one," returned +Gatty.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>mêlée</i>, 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Gatty</i> (rising with great alacrity).—"If you please, +little Mother, shall I try to fish it out?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"If you please, little Mother, don't be so +angry, it's only a stone, and I washed it quite clean."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Then take that stone for your dinner, +Miss, and nothing else shall you have."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie</i> (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!"</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"But all houses have names to distinguish +them."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Oh don't, my dear Madam," murmured Madame. +"Hurricanes will come," repeated Schillie. "I would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +oblige you if I could, but in this particular I am not +clerk of the works, and have no control."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Sybil, "we will call it Maescelyn."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +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 "<span class="smcap">Yr Ynys Unyg</span>," 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +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—"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Well, why, because."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>We had been so busy, and had so much on our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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, Zoë, 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +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 <i>us</i> 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?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Sir Walter Mayton, seeing that the +painfulness of the meeting was nearly over, "now let<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"How kind, how good you are," said the listeners.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +the meals, while Schillie and I had to dispose of ourselves +any way we could, so it was out of the way.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"But we shall look so silly if we have +nothing to eat, and it is impossible to get out during +the wet weather."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"That's granted, I cannot abide wet +weather."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then making discoveries is your principal +delight; and you may combine amusement and use +together."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then sit down here, while I go and perpetrate +this horrid crime!"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"That's more than I can settle, because I +am quite in the dark at present about what we require.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +But, if you must have a decided answer, pray discover +some shoes and boots."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"And what did you say to that?"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"But they are past repair."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Then she might have tried to concoct +new ones."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Perhaps she does not like combining +amusement and business together."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Now, June, you are too bad, and to +punish you I'll not help you a bit with your boots and +shoes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Suppose we take to going without any."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then it seems clear we must have boots +and shoes."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Of course, who doubted it?"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then let us go and discover something +that will somehow do for them."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Are you gone mad; who wants dresses, +have we not enough to last us for a year at least?"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Very much so."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"You seem very learned on the subject, +but are you going to make boots and shoes out of +sago?"</p> + +<p><i>Mother</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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——"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Look, look, what a lovely tree!"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"All this shrubby stuff about here, looking +something like Jerusalem artichoke, is ginger I think."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"You know you will do nothing of the +sort, but, on the contrary, say that Gatty is more +wanted than the others."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I confess I have a weakness for that +child, she is so preposterously mischievous."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Don't come without her, however, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I must say Serena is a tip-top girl, she +makes Miss Gatty look about her; but I must be off."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then don't look as if I was injured. I +have only seen some odd-looking sorts of rats with flat +tails."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Now then, young ones, come round and +see what this is. You see when I cut it what milky +stuff flows from it."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said they, "we see; may we not have some +to put into our own tea? It is so nasty without +milk."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"For goodness sake, brats, don't be so +rash, it's rank poison."</p> + +<p><i>Mother, Madame, and a whole Chorus.</i>—"Then, what +good is it to us?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother</i> (very cross).—"How can you be so absurd, +Schillie, as to bring such a dangerous thing amongst +the children?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +hold one while I hold the other, and twist and squeeze +as if Master Felix's life depended thereon. And now +behold."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +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. Zoë 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +in turn. A quick and pleasant three weeks passed, +for which we daily thanked the Giver of all good.</p> + +<p>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 Zoë 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +gentle Zoë, while indignant sobs and haughty looks +betokened the harassed feelings of the high-spirited +Lilly.</p> + +<p>As may be supposed, we had many conversations +regarding our future fate, and the probability of passing +our days in this island.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Don't call me a husband, cousin Schillie, +for I don't intend to marry."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"I don't mind marrying Gatty, because she +will go out shooting with me."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"And what has set you against matrimony, +you imp of mischief?"</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Why I don't like being called grandfather, +and so I won't marry and have grandchildren."</p> + +<p>This unfortunate announcement drew upon him the +fate he wished to avoid, and, spite of his indignation, +and tears, "grandfather" became his <i>sobriquet</i> until +they were tired of the joke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>She was in a cross mood one day, when she discovered +me writing.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"What can you be doing, June?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mother</i> (hesitating a little).—"I am writing a +journal."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Now, pray, tell me for what purpose."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"I grant it's very difficult, but you are +at liberty to look at it."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +structure of the island, the botanical history, and a +whole account of the birds and beasts."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"That I leave for your abler head and pen."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Then it will never be done. I hate the +place so much, I would not record a single thing about +it."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Well, Madame," began Schillie, in a great, stout, +hearty, anti-invalidish voice, "better, of course, you +are, I see."</p> + +<p><i>Madame</i> (in a faint whisper).—"Ah, my dear +Madam, my dear kind friend, I may say now I am +going to leave you."</p> + +<p><i>The great Voice.</i>—"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——"</p> + +<p><i>Madame</i> (a little hysterical).—"Fever, dear Mrs. +E., all fever; my poor frame cannot support this long."</p> + +<p><i>The Voice.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Dear friend, your robust frame knows +not what it is to suffer. Ah, the agonies I endure, the +insupportable suffering!"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie</i> (a little softer).—"Rheumatism, I dare say;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +I have it sometimes in my knees, and it is very aggravating."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Alas, alas, would that it were; but I +must not lose my precious moments, I must try to speak +while I am able."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Don't hurry, don't hurry, dear Madame. +I have nothing to do at present, I can wait as long as +you like."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Dear Mrs. E., thanks, but it is I, it is +my time that is so short."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"It's all deception. My time has come, +dear friend, and to you I wish to confide my last +wishes."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"But I never can keep a secret. Don't +confide anything to me."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"They are not secrets. I only wish to +confide my beloved little ones to your care after I am +gone."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"But I hate children, Madame. June +will take care of them."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"She is a very good soul in her way, +Madame, but shockingly untidy."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"But her lovely smile, her sweet engaging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +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——"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Dear angel! I must go on. My lovely +Zoë will certainly have a poke if she is not watched."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I'll poke her up always, Madame, I promise +you, for your sake."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Thank you, thank you, and my pretty +Winifred. Have you not observed how she turns in +her right foot?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"No indeed, Madame, I never observed +either right or left foot, but I'll look out, if I remember, +for the future."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Thanks, dear friend, I think that is all +about my darlings, save Lilly's eyes."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"They are very good eyes, Madame, and +neither poke or turn in, which would be a squint I +suppose."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"They are lovely eyes, of heaven's own +blue, but she ruins them by reading no much."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Well, I'll stop her reading. Anything +more Madame?"</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Yes, I should like to be buried under +trees near our church."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Very well, I can safely promise that, as +I suppose I shall help to dig your grave myself."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +stupidly down on the sands, as if waiting for the waves +to cast my sons up at my feet.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"A nasty chicken again, Jenny."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Oh, Sir, I have roasted it to a turn, and +here is egg sauce."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Then give me the egg sauce, and you may +have the chicken. I wish chickens were never invented."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Would you like a duck, Sir?"</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"No, duck is nastier. I want a mutton +chop, Jenny."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"But I have not got one, Sir."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Then a beefsteak."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Indeed, I wish I could get one for you, Sir."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Well, I don't mind, just for once, eating +some boiled leg of mutton."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Oh, my darling, then you must want +mutton very bad, and you know there is not such a +thing on the island."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"I am sure nobody is so unhappy as me; +and as for your chicken, there——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Wash the remains of the chicken off your +face, Jenny, and then I'll tell you my opinion."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + + +<p>What! has a year gone? Are we celebrating the +day of our arrival at <span class="smcap">Yr Ynys Unyg</span>? 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Now, Schillie, this is one of the most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +charming discoveries in the world, for if pirates and +marauders come here, we shall be able to hide for weeks +without their discovering us."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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!"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"My darling! I am vexed for you. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Sybil, "because during the rainy season +we can come here every day and have a shower bath."</p> + +<p>"And," said Serena, "we can get fresh water every +day without being half-drowned."</p> + +<p>"And," said Gatty, "we can sit here and look out +for ships all day long."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"What, Gatty, are you tired of being +here?"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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).</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Indeed, I think you are badly used, +especially since Madame has found out you really can +be a good girl if you like."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"I could be as mischievous as ever, only +nobody cares for it or scolds me."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"It is quite clean water, little Mother, and +it is but a little stream, and has not been running long +to you."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Yes, I know I did, little Mother, because +you know I would never have done so to her."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty</i> (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."</p> + +<p>Schillie went off muttering horrible imprecations.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Over the wide-spread sea streamed the first light of +morning. As it spread from one end of heaven to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>At last a man is seen. We grasped each other's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"But I agree with Sybil in thinking it +very ungracious, not giving them the option of being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +kind to us, if they like it. They can but leave us +behind if they don't like us."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"If they would promise to leave us behind +in case they don't like us, I am ready to go and meet +them now."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Well! between us we shall weave a +romantic story about them. In the meantime don't +let us be impatient."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"My sweet child, let them think us anything +rather than we should get into their power. Once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"I should like to see two dare to do it."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"Then you must sit, and be patient, meanwhile +let me tell you——"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"But I don't like to think they are enemies +or that they would be so to us."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p> + +<p>We made all these remarks amongst ourselves, and +were greatly amused at our conjectures and interpretations +of all they said.</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As I said before, the waterfall was a most effectual +screen, especially now that there was so much water<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said Gatty, "now is our time."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Otty, "I'll engage to kill them all."</p> + +<p>"With my help," said Master Felix consequentially.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"For heaven's sake don't be mad. The +report of a gun would bring them all on us, and the +smoke betray us."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hargrave.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"You don't say so! Hargrave, then take hold +of this."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Serena</i> (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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +discovering its skin that they ceased to feel any alarm, +and have wandered all about since."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"What owls we were to leave the skin there. +However I think it great fun to dodge them in this +way."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Fun did you say, my dear child? Poor +deceived child."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Not deceived at all, Madame, and, besides, +we all think it fun."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Yes, Madame, I think it very amusing to +feel so safe and secure, and yet to be able to watch them +so well."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"And you know, Madame, it gives us such +advantage; we know all about them, and they know +nothing about us."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Zoë.</i>—"And you know, Madame, we cannot have +any lessons while we are so busy watching."</p> + +<p><i>Winny.</i>—"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?'"</p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"And to see them all running about here +and there looking for us, and all too in the wrong +places."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"And what fun it will be to shoot them."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Yes! right and left shots."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Oh, Master Felix, how pleased I should be +to see you do that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Hargrave.</i>—"Nobody more so than hi, I make bold to +say."</p> + +<p>Madame turned from one to another in sad dismay, +and then looked at me.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I should like just to kill a few before they leave," +said Gatty.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"For what possible reason, my dear +child?"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Because, because, it will be then a real +good downright adventure, and we shall be able——"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +could advise nothing. "Glorious," said Gatty, "now +we have something to do. Would that night was +come."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Odious beasts."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Is that all you have to say about them?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Wretches."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"But, Serena, what do you say?"</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"They are shocking people."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Well, I must try Jenny, for you did only +tell us what we guessed before."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Oh, Ma'am, they are such a wicked lot!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Brutes!"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"And then you could have made arrangements +to come for us."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Villains!"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Now do be rational, why don't you listen +to what I say, instead of vituperating in this manner?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"It is you that want reason. I tell you +what, June, I had rather stay here all the days of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Indeed, Ma'am, it is quite true. Look +at our old saucepans. Past mending, even if there was +a tinker next door."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Very sensible brat! I did not think +she had such <i>nous</i> in her."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Really I think we ought to give you a +vote of thanks, Gatty."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Hargrave</i> (bursting into the conversation <i>nolens volens</i>).—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>The rainy season came and went. God blessed us in +our house and field, and in the hearts content that filled +every mind.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But we understood their manœuvres 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +Sometimes Gatty managed so to arrange it, that, during +four or five long pages of dialogue, all she had to say +was, "<i>Et Tartuffe</i>" "<i>Le Pauvre-homme</i>" two or three +times, and then she received the good jeton necessary +for such a long lesson.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"You will be hanged some day, Miss +Gatty, if you go on in this deceptious manner."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"How severe you are upon them, little +Mother, I hate the sight of them, but I don't think I +could see them starve."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Indeed I should not care what became of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +them, or what fate happened to them so that they were +all dead."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Now, Gatty, how can you?"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"You said you did not care what became of +them; perhaps flayed alive will suit you better."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Horrid girl, how you make me shudder."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"I feel perfectly correct in saying, Gertrude, +that you are merely giving voice to your own +ideas, and not to my gentle Sybil's."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"My child, my dear child, since when +have you adopted these notions, so foreign to your mild +nature?"</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"I don't know, indeed, Madame; but I am +ready to fire off a gun if it is necessary to drive them +away."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"You see, Madam, what an effect it has +had upon our household already, the visit of these +pirates."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Perhaps, aunt Sib, you won't mind learning +to fire a gun now."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Not at all, dear boy, but (adding quickly) +you know we must not shoot at present for fear of discovering +ourselves."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Oh, she's a coward yet, she most certainly +is."</p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"She was no coward when she went to the +ship that dark night, boy" (indignantly).</p> + +<p><i>Zoë.</i>—"I am sure she is as brave as any of us when +occasion requires" (more indignantly).</p> + +<p><i>Winny.</i>—"Yes, indeed, all her stories are full of +brave people, and they are such pretty stories."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +make good soldiers, and obey the word of command, +I'll tell you the story of the little jack-daws."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Well! Schillie, what must we do?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I shall not touch the beast!"</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"The sight is frightful, I really must +retire."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> + +<p>The three girls hung aloof, the little ones had hidden +themselves out of sight. Though I said nothing, I +looked at Hargrave and Jenny.</p> + +<p><i>Hargrave</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny</i> (very pale and <i>resolute</i>).—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"No, Jenny, we must cut him in pieces, and +carry him out bit by bit into the sea."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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!"</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Oh, Master Felix, I did not think you +had the heart to be so cruel."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Oh! Sir, you really must excuse me, I +cannot do it, even to please you."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"Shall we follow Otty's advice," said I to the others, +"it seems the only thing we can do, but it is horrible."</p> + +<p>"Cover up those unsightly remains, and let us +begone," said Schillie, "the place is getting horrible even +now."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mother," said Oscar, "let us stone him well +as he comes down, and that will frighten him." "And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Then keep the guns ready, cousin, and you +and I will have a shot at him if necessary."</p> + +<p>"Agreed," said she. "Now make haste, every one +hide in different corners; he is coming down."</p> + +<p>Most of this conversation was, of course, in whispers. +Gatty was to give the signal for the stoning operations +by her most accomplished hiss.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As Madame observed, a most unladylike proceeding!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Nothing surprises me so much as the +change in your character. Formerly you scolded me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny</i> (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."</p> + +<p>We all laughed heartily at this, and congratulated +Schillie on her conquest, while I added that I could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +easily perceive now why she was irritated against the +pirates.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Oh Mother, they are unloading the ship, +and they have got some prisoners."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"And, oh Mother, one poor prisoner is so +wounded he is lame."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"And, Mother, we saw them bound, carried +out of the boat."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"And, oh Mother, they beat their poor prisoners, +and one is lame."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"And, Mother, they are driving them up to +Pirate Hall, and, Mother, we must——"</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Oh Mother, we must——"</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Yes, yes, we must——"</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Oh Mother, say yes, say yes."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Release them! of course, glorious boys, we +will. Have I not often released you two when playing +at 'Prisoners base.'"</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Poor, poor fellows, we must try to help +them."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"This is news indeed! and I quite agree +with all your feelings. But, children, you must let us +think. Imagine what dangers you run."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"But, Mother, the poor prisoners!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"And, oh Mother, perhaps they will eat them, +as Friday was going to be eaten."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Pray, pray, do let us try to release them."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Once they were safe in here we could soon +make them well."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"And then, being men, they will help us +to fight against the pirates, and kill them all."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"And one quite lame!"</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"And perhaps they will eat them up."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +these people, and the inconvenience of having strangers +and men attached to our party, living in the strange +way we do."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>Such a clapping of hands, and shouts of approbation +arose on this speech that I was in mortal fear lest we +should be heard.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:—</p> + +<p>"If the prisoners would like to hear of something +to their advantage, let them burn a light some night<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>We wrote in English, because we knew that the +pirates understood French.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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, Zoë, 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 "<i>Sauve qui pent</i>." 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 manœuvre, +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 +manœuvre 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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Madame brought us a torch, and with acknowledged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Two of us watched by the captain, and the others,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Ah, Tommy, dear Tommy, how could you +run away and leave us in that bad manner?"</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Yes, Smart, I don't think we have ever +been happy since, until to-day."</p> + +<p><i>Smart</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>The three little girls</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"You, a mischief! No, no, Smart, you were +always a very good boy. It's only me was a mischief."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"But, Smart, that's the end of your story, +begin at the beginning."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"Where's that, Ma'am? I know neither<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +beginning or end of anything since that unlucky morn +we slipped away."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Where did you go to then?"</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>The boys</i> (together).—"Twelve pirates! Did you really +kill twelve?"</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"Now, dear Smart, go on."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"But go on, dear Smart."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>All the little girls and boys.</i>—"But, dear Smart, go +on. What did the pirates do to you?"</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>The boys.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"And I was going to have a right and left +shot, Tommy."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"Well, I do suppose, Sir, that does not +prevent your behaving in a civil like way to the little +ladies."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"Oh, my heart alive, take one of these pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +curls to make fishing lines? Indeed, Master Felix, I +always thought you were very oudacious, Sir, begging +your pardon."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"But she had such a many of them, Smart."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Indeed, Sir, you was very aggravating. +See how shocked Smart is that ever you should have +wanted or taken Miss Lilly's curls."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Big and little girls.</i>—"Now, Smart, go on."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Sailors and all, Benjie and Mr. ——"</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"He, poor fellow, was done for at the first, +and a good many of the sailors were likewise done up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>The Quixotic little girls and boys</i> all exclaim, "Then +we must go and save them, especially Benjie."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +turn to stone, he became a moving body without soul +or sense, save an eager looking for traces of us.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And now a fortnight had passed, and we found the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span></p> + +<p>Smart, who always had had a secret admiration for +Schillie's <i>sang froid</i> 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.</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Three fine, tall, becoming girls, each above the middle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Take my place then."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Good lack, spinning is such dull work. +Let me finish my pistols first."</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>However dinner is over, and we all adjourned to the +lowest cavern while the servants eat theirs. Then we +sing songs and tell stories.</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Cousin Schillie, you promised to tell us the +story of the jack-daws if we behaved well and obeyed +our general."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Pooh! pooh! you have heard it a hundred +times, boy."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"But the captain has not."</p> + +<p>"I should like to hear it very much," said he.</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE JACK-DAWS.</h3> + +<p>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!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +('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.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"Now, captain, if you had seen that big boy, +would you not have walloped him?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>This gave Smart an opportunity of getting to the +ship and bringing off a boat, which we concealed by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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, Zoë, and both +the maids.</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>They were, as before, questioned all about themselves,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +and Jenny, as before, stoutly maintained all were dead. +They pointed to the child, and smiled in scorn, but +Zoë, 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.</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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 Zoë would +ha' got clear off, had it not been for her skriking and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +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 Zoë 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 Zoë 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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Ah, how like that good Jenny."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"She certainly is a little trump, and never +thinks of herself."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"If I fold my darling Zoë in my arms +once more, I shall never be able sufficiently to show +my gratitude to Jane."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"She shall never want for bite nor sup, +once we get her free, as long as I live."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> +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 Zoë 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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"That rock is but changing one desperate +hope for another. However we must trust in God.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> +I'll try and believe that poor woman will not utterly +forget herself and us."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Why! my good captain, this island is +like a rabbit warren, they can never unearth us if we +choose to be moderately careful."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"In that case I imagine they won't harm +us."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"And that will be very unpleasant as far +as I can judge."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"I should think we could make some hiding +places amongst the caverns, captain."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Give me any orders you like, captain, and +they shall be done if possible."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Like any wild bull she will of course +rush to these caverns and expose our hiding places."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Mother</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"I can understand your feelings well, +Madam, and——"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Schillie, I shall really begin to think you +quite heartless."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Pray do. I only wish it was the case, +for I doubt our hearts will be sadly torn to bits the +next few days."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"When up there, too, we can look down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> +upon our enemies, and take good aim. I shall not fire +at random, but pick out my man."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Don't be so bloody-minded. Hark! +there is a scream!"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then you think we had better go at once +to the rock."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I begin to think you have some <i>nous</i> +in your head, June, thinking of that rock. It's so near +the ship we may, perhaps, get off in the night."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Heaven grant it. How that woman +screams."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> +will have to bring it back again in the teeth of the +enemy."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"If you please, little Mother, may I stop +behind for one minute, just to speak my mind to +Hargrave."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Madame.</i>—"Gracious heaven, preserve us all. What +dangers have we not to endure from the frightful weakness +of one woman."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"It's no use moralizing, Madame, pick up +something useful, and be off."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Here is the green parasol, Madame."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"And here is your warm shawl."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"And here is my arm to help you along."</p> + +<p><i>Madame</i> (murmuring).—"May God help us, may +the Almighty look down upon us in our hour of need, +and preserve my beloved ones."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was some brushwood at the top, and two or +three old weather-beaten palm trees, these afforded us +most welcome shelter.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Schillie and the boys prepared the guns and pistols,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"It's jolly fun being perched up here seeing +all the country round. But what is the reason we have +come up?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie</i> (shortly).—"You were ordered to, that's +enough."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty</i> (half whispering to the girls).—"The bear +is out to-day. If I don't mind I shall get a scratch +from its claws."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie</i> (overhearing).—"Bear or not, Miss Gatty, +you will be so good as to keep a silent tongue in your +head."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"If you please, little Mother, why?"</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Who deems a mole like you worth a +reason."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Oh, little Mother, Gatty has a capital head +when she is trusted."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Filled with your notions, I suppose, Miss +Sybil."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"If you please, little Mother, cannot we get +off to the ship to-night; it's quite close, and no sharks +to speak of."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"When your advice is asked, then you +may give us your sage opinions."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Come, Schillie, don't be so cross to the +poor girls. You know Gatty has given your own +advice in almost your own words."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Why don't you and those two magpies +follow the example of that good child Serena, and hold +your tongues, as she does."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"We shall not be disturbed yet awhile. +But what makes you so cross?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Indeed it is very hazardous. I almost +think we had better not trust ourselves to the sea, but +run our chance with the pirates."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no," said all the girls and boys.</p> + +<p>"Now if you make such a noise again, children, +down you shall all go into the mouths of those sharks," +said Schillie.</p> + +<p>"Then promise not to give up," said they in return.</p> + +<p>"I promise nothing," said she.</p> + +<p>"Then the king of the pirates will come and take +you away, cousin," said Felix.</p> + +<p>Schillie uttered something between a sigh and a +groan, and then said, "You are an impudent boy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Cannot we somehow contrive to kill all +the pirates, and get rid of them altogether."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Yes, we could shoot them from here, taking +good aim."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Ha! ha! just listen to Sybil. Could any +one ever have thought she would have been so bloody-minded."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"I wish Zoë and Jenny were safely with +us, then we should be quite happy, having only the +captain and Smart to wait for."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"I dare say that is the reason Smart left us +in such a hurry."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Poor thing, but what will they do with +her?"</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Eat her, I dare say, and very tough——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"Oh, Mother, look there! Oh, look! look! +Here is Zoë coming, and Smart, and Jenny."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Smart heard them first, and catching up Zoë 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> +nimbly up it and we receive her with rapture in safety, +when he wiped his streaming brow, and plunged into +the sea again.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span></p> + +<p>All this time, while these thoughts were rapidly +running through our heads, the whole colony of pirates +were staring in undisguised amazement at us.</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"What a frightful set of wretches."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Horrid. We will never capitulate to +them."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"The women look as fierce as the men. +How they do stare, just as if they never saw human +beings before."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"I could pick off a fellow or two from this +distance, Mother, if you like."</p> + +<p><i>Smart</i> (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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar and Felix</i> (together).—"Then do make haste, +Smart, and get your breath. If the captain was but +here, we could easily fight those wretches."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"How is that, Tommy?"</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"But my blood is up, Tom."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"Then let it cool a bit, Sir; any way the +tide is rising, and them rascals is sufficiently knowledgeable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Don't bring Hargrave back if you can help +it, Smart."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"I ben't much inclined that way myself, +Miss, but I have heerd we are bound to be merciful."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"She has not been merciful to us, I am +sure."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Oh yes, Smart, you must try your best."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"To be sure, Ma'am, if so be you wishes it. +But I be thinking there is a power of mischief in her +yet."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"No, Madam, I went straight away for +Miss Zoë 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."</p> + +<p>Here Smart showed symptoms of a pathetic nature,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Is it not like the waterfall at Cil Hepste +in Glamorganshire."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"What, do you think we shall find caverns +and pirates in it, like this one, Tommy?"</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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 Zoë 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.</p> + +<p>And then Jenny told us how good and brave Miss +Zoë 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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie</i> (with gravity).—"I will make over to her +my interest with the King."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"Perhaps they never did, Gatty."</p> + +<p><i>Serena.</i>—"Jenny, did you know that we were discovered +in the caverns through Hargrave? They made +her a trap to catch us."</p> + +<p><i>Jenny.</i>—"Miss Zoë 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 Zoë, which they were trying to do all the while. +And, oh, Miss Zoë was so brave, and, whenever I said +you were all dead she said so too."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"How could you tell such fibs, Zoë? Madame +will give you that odious Theresa Tidy's Nineteen +Maxims of Neatness and Order, to do into German, +for being so naughty."</p> + +<p>"Angel child, never, never could I punish her after +her agonizing sufferings," murmured the good kind +Madame.</p> + +<p>The strict watch kept over us began to be so wearisome +we were glad when night veiled us in her dark +mantle.</p> + +<p>It was astonishing with what composure we laid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span> +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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Moreover," says Felix, "I brought my two hens, +because they lay eggs, and Tommy is so fond of eggs."</p> + +<p><i>Lilly.</i>—"I do think you love Smart more than any +of us, more than your Mother."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span></p> + +<p>I shuddered as she pointed down to the blue waters, +through whose depths we could see endless caverns of +fantastically shaped coral.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>"Nor I, nor I," sounded on all sides.</p> + +<p>But there was no need for us to offer, for the amiable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span> +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 manœuvre 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.</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span> +again, some wounded, but none dead. We took up +the second relay of guns, Schillie carrying off the others +to reload.</p> + +<p>"In the name of all that's horrible," we heard her +say, in a loud angry voice, "what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p><i>Hargrave.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty</i> (demurely).—"I don't think the king will +sell you, little Mother."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"If you please, little Mother, you are and +have been so cross to me since we came up here."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Come, don't let us quarrel, night is coming +on. Go to bed, children. You and I must watch, +Schillie."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"And I, feeling like a dead dog, wanting +a week's sleep at least."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Then Hargrave shall help me."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Help the pirates you mean; but who +has looked after that female lately?"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span> +on our parts would only be regarded as an unpleasant +dream of the night.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Fie, Schillie, you forget what you are +saying."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span> +had landed at the foot of the rock. We instinctively +each grasped a stone.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>That the captain and Smart had joined us soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span> +became known among the pirates, and if they had been +so severely repulsed before by two boys, it was madness +attempting another assault.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"A little cooling lime juice, Ma'am, I would venture +to advise," said Hargrave.</p> + +<p>"And who has put a stop to our having that?" was +uttered on various sides, in various indignant tones.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"How? who?" we exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I only meant to frighten him, I would not hurt +anybody. Oh, what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"Not happy again, Sib, I only wish I had +done it."</p> + +<p><i>Sybil.</i>—"But, sister, do you think he is really dead? +Can we not go down and save him, or take that great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span> +stone off him? Oh dear, oh dear, how could I do such +a cruel thing."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think, captain," said Schillie, "we may +get off to the ship to-night?"</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"We must try, Madam. If they should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty and Oscar.</i>—"Oh, captain, send me for the +boat. I can swim like a duck, and it's not a hundred +yards from here."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"My dear children, the sharks."</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"I don't mind them, Mother."</p> + +<p><i>Gatty.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Man proposes, and God disposes."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + + +<p>We sat down on the carpet of desperation and the +stools of despair.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In bad French the pirate captain offered us terms +for capitulation. He pointed out how useless it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>With subdued oaths and imprecations he left us,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>We sat quiet, knowing that night was drawing on, +when our last effort for escape must be made.</p> + +<p><i>Oscar.</i>—"Captain, you never told us what happened +to you in the caverns, and how Smart found you."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"Had you so, Sir. Well, I hopes you both +killed your birds."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"No, for unluckily we both shot at the +same fellow, but we knocked him over clean. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span> +frightened them in an awful way, but cousin Schillie +would not shoot."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"How cumed that about I wonder. I +reckoned her a prime one."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"She was frightened, Smart."</p> + +<p><i>Smart.</i>—"Oh no, Sir, I'll never believe that."</p> + +<p><i>Felix.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Good lack, captain, what is going to +happen now?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"Captain, what do you think, what shall +we do, he speaks fair?"</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Mother.</i>—"And you, Schillie, tell me what do you +advise?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"June, do you believe that the spirits of +the departed know what occurs on earth, and with unseen +forms can visit those they love?"</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"I hold some such doctrine, my Schillie, but +whether there is truth in it or not, the departed alone +can tell."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"I'll put faith in your doctrine, my mistress, +and think that in an hour I may behold my +children, though unseen by them."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"And is it this feeling that makes you gaze +so boldly into the jaws that are so shortly to breathe +forth death to us?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>I gazed in her face, flushed with ardour, refulgent +with her inspired feelings, and thought her half way to +heaven already.</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"My Schillie, ere you go, take my thanks +take my heartfelt gratitude with you for all you have +been to me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"I shrink from them. Oh, my Schillie, do +me a last act of kindness, and keep them from my sight."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Nay, rouse yourself, and remember you +take all you love with you."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"But such a death! and they so young, so +beloved, so lovely and gifted, to die in so horrible a +manner."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>June.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"Call them, and give each their choice."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span> +"For the love of God move not," said the captain; but +every ear listened.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span> +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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>Schillie.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>Captain.</i>—"What I advise is, as there is no time to +lose, hold out a flag of truce, and capitulate."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, captain," said many of us.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 562px;"> +<img src="images/003.png" width="562" height="337" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>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 <i>mêlée</i>, cutlass in hand.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They made for "<span class="smcap">Yr Ynys Unyg</span>" 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In Turtle harbour, not a mile from our memorable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span> +H., which had superseded my brother's ship on the +piratical coast.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 "<span class="smcap">Yr Ynys Unyg</span>." 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[385]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[386]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Boys, I bid you tell me, who you are," and his voice +husky, while we could see he trembled.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"But your Mother, my children, are you all safe? +have I none to answer for?" "All safe, quite safe," +said I, appearing immediately.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[387]</a></span> +but that Jem had become a young gamekeeper, and +they had wanted for nothing during his absence.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>We sailed in company, and it was hard to say which +ship contained the merriest party, La Luna or the +Esperanza.</p> + +<p>We touched at St. Helena, and there picked up +another brother to our great delight and pleasure.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[388]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_LAST_CHAPTER" id="THE_LAST_CHAPTER"></a>THE LAST CHAPTER.</h2> + + +<p>Once more we will return to that pretty drawing-room, +and visit the kind sisters, the grey-headed father, +the loving mother.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"My dear," says he, "what can this mean? Here +is the Esperanza mentioned on her way home to England +with her consort."</p> + +<p><i>The Mother.</i>—"Oh no, that must be a mistake. She +has no consort; besides we do not expect our Esperanza +home for six months at least."</p> + +<p><i>The Father.</i>—"But you see it is in the ships' news.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span> +'The brig Esperanza, Capt. C., touched at St. Helena +with her consort, and brings home Capt. C. of the Royal +Engineers.'"</p> + +<p><i>The Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>The Father.</i>—"Very likely; but still I think we +should have seen some account of the exploit in the +papers if he had done so."</p> + +<p><i>Emily.</i>—"Especially the Esperanza being a private +vessel. I really think, Mama, it must be a mistake."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><i>The Aunt.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>The Mother.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>The dear Aunt.</i>—"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>So they all went down to look at the beloved horse, +and Robert the groom heard him praised to his heart's +content.</p> + +<p><i>The dear Aunt.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p><i>The Mother.</i>—"We shall be charmed to see you, dear +sister, so, until then, farewell."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the middle of the week came Gatty's beloved +parents. Zoë'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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p><i>Thomas.</i>—"To be sure, Anne, they look Furrineers, +and they never is so neat and trim as our people."</p> + +<p><i>Anne.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>My brother ran to her. "Don't disturb those people, +Anne, they are very good people," said he.</p> + +<p><i>Anne.</i>—"But so unmannerly, Mr. Bertrand, coming +in at such a particklar time."</p> + +<p><i>Mr. Bertrand.</i>—"Never mind, Anne, they are friends +of mine."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Anne.</i>—"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?"</p> + +<p><i>Mr. Bertrand.</i>—"Yes, Anne, I have, and that tall +woman in the hat is to be my wife."</p> + +<p><i>Anne.</i>—"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——"</p> + +<p><i>Mr. Bertrand.</i>—"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span> +through the irrepressible tears and not feel a thrill of +happiness shoot through them?</p> + +<p>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, Zoë 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—</p> + +<p>"Now, Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart this +life in peace."</p> + + +<p class="theend">FINIS.</p> + + +<div class="trans1"><p class="trnhd">Transcriber's Endnotes</p> + +<p>The original publication contained many typographical errors. Minor +misprints have been corrected without note, however the following +amendments deserve further note:</p> + +<p style="text-indent: -2em; padding-left: 2em;"><i>Chapter Titles</i><br /> +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.</p> + +<p style="text-indent: -2em; padding-left: 2em;"><i>Hargrave/Havord</i><br /> +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.</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Yr Ynys Unyg, by Julia de Winton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YR YNYS UNYG *** + +***** This file should be named 23090-h.htm or 23090-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/0/9/23090/ + +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) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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