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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24806-0.txt b/24806-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..764d630 --- /dev/null +++ b/24806-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3930 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of John Frewen, South Sea Whaler, by Louis Becke + +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: John Frewen, South Sea Whaler + 1904 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: March 11, 2008 [EBook #24806] +Last Updated: March 8, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER + + +From “Chinkie's Flat And Other Stories” + +By Louis Becke + + +Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company 1904 + + + + + +BOOK I + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Captain Ethan Keller, of the _Casilda_ of Nantucket, was in a very bad +temper, for in four days he had lost two of the five boats the barque +carried--one had been hopelessly stove by the dreaded “underclip” given +her by a crafty old bull sperm-whale, and the other, which was in charge +of the second mate, had not been seen for seventy hours. When last +sighted she was fast to the same bull which had destroyed the first +mate's boat; it was then nearly dark, and the whale, which was of an +enormous size, although he had three irons in his body and was towing +the whole length of line from the stove-in boat as well as that of the +second mate, was racing through the water as fresh as when he had first +been struck, three hours previously. Then the sun dipped below the +sea-rim, and the blue Pacific was shrouded in darkness. + +“Why in thunder couldn't the dunderhead put a bomb into that fish before +it came on dark?” growled the skipper to his other officers, as they +sat down to a harried sapper in the spacious, old-fashioned cabin of the +whaler. + +No one answered. Frewen, the missing officer, was as good a whaleman +as ever drove an iron or gripped the haft of a steer-oar, and his +half-caste boatsteerer Randall Cheyne was the best on the ship. But +there was bad blood between young Frewen and his captain, and Cheyne was +the cause of it. + +“If they cut and lose that whale,” resumed Keller presently, “I'll haze +the life out of them--by thunder, I will, if I break my back in doing +it! Why, that is the biggest fish we've struck yet. If I had been in +that boat, I'd have had that whale in his flurry two hours ago. Why, it +appears to me that Frewen got too soared to even try to haul up and give +him a bomb, let alone giving him the lance--which was easy enough.” + +Just as he spoke, one of the boatsteerers entered the cabin and reported +that some of the hands thought that they had heard the second mate's +bomb gun. + +“All right,” growled Keller, “tell the cooper to burn a flare.” + +“I guess Frewen won't lose him,” said Lopez, the first mate. “He told +me long ago that he never yet had to out, and I don't think he'll do it +now--unless something has gone wrong. That must have been his gun.” + +“Huh!” sneered Keller, as he viciously speared a piece of salt pork with +his fork, “we'll see all about that when daylight comes. You'll find Mr. +Firwen and that yaller-hided Samoa buck back here for breakfast, but no +whale.” + +None of the men made any reply. They knew that Frewen would be the +last man to lose a fish through any fault of his own, and only after +carefully “drogueing” his line would he part company with it, and that +only if the immense creature emptied the line tubs and “sounded.” Then, +to save the lives of those in the boat, he would have to cut. + +“Guess we'll see that whale to-morrow, anyway, whether Mr. Frewen is +fast to him or not,” said the third mate to the cooper, as they met on +deck; “he's got a mighty lot of line hanging to him, and, just after the +second mate got fast I saw him shaking his flukes and trying to kick out +one of the two irons the mate hove into him.” + +“Well, that is so; I hope we shall get him. The old man is pretty cranky +over it. He hasn't a nice temper even when he's in a good humour, and +there will be blue fire blazing if Mr. Frewen does lose the fish after +all.” + +For four hours the barque made short tacks to the eastward, in which +direction the boat had been taken by the whale. The night was fine but +dark, the sea very smooth, and the flares which were burnt at intervals +on board the barque would render her visible many miles away, and a keen +look-out was kept for the boat, but nothing could be discovered of it. + +Towards midnight the light air from the eastward died away, and was +succeeded by a series of rather sharp rain squalls from the south-west, +and Keller, fearing to miss the boat by running past her, hove-to till +daylight. + +The dawn broke brightly, with a dead calm. Forty pairs of eyes eagerly +scanned the surface of the ocean, and in a few minutes there came a +cheering cry from aloft. + +“Dead whale, oh! Close to on the weather beam.” + +“Can you see the boat?” cried Lopez. + +“No, sir,” was the reply after a few seconds silence. “Can't see her +anywhere.” + +“Look on the other side of the whale, you bat!” growled the skipper. + +“She's not there, sir,” was the reply. + +“Lower away your boats, Mr. Bock and Mr. Lopez,” said Keller in more +gracious tones to the third and first officers; “the second mate can't +be far away, but why in thunder he didn't hang on to the whale last +night I don't know. Take something to eat with you. You will have to tow +that whale alongside--this calm is going to last all day.” + +Five minutes later the two boats pushed off, and then, as they sped over +the glassy surface of the ocean and the huge carcass of the whale was +more clearly revealed, Bock called out to his superior officer that he +could see a whift {*} on it. + + * A wooden pole with a small pennon; used by whalers' boats + as a signal to the ship. + +Lopez nodded, but said nothing. + +They pulled up alongside, and the mate's boatsteerer stepped out on to +the body of Leviathan and pulled out the whift pole, which was firmly +embedded in the blubber. + +“There's a letter tied round the pole, sir,” he said to his officer, as +he got back to the boat again and passed the whift aft. + +The “letter” had been carefully wrapped in a strip of oilskin, and then +tied around the whift pole by a piece of sail twine. It was a sheet of +soiled paper with a few pencilled lines written on it. Lopez read it:-- + + “For the information of Ethan Keller, Haser: This whale was + struck, for the sake of his shipmates' lays, by Randall + Cheyne, the 'yaller-hided Samoan,' who has struck more + whales than old Haser Keller ever saw. If Haser Keller wants + us he will find us at Savage Island, where we shall be ready + for him. + + (Signed) “R. Cheyne, Boatsteerer, “Casilda.” + +“Where is Mr. Frewen, sir?” inquired the boatsteerer anxiously. + +“Gone for a picnic,” replied the mate laconically. “Now, look lively, +my lads. We've got to tow this fish to the ship and 'cut in' before the +sharks save us the trouble.” + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The quarrel between Keller, a rough, blasphemous-mouthed, and +violent-tempered man, and his second officer had arisen over a very +simple matter. + +Frewen, one of the six sons of a struggling New Hampshire farmer, had +received a better education than his brothers, for he was intended for +the navy. But at sixteen years of age he realised the condition of the +family finances, and shipped on a whaler sailing out of New London. From +“'foremast hand with hayseed in his hair,” he became boatsteerer; then +followed rapid promotion from fourth to second officer's berth, and at +the age of five-and-twenty he was as competent a navigator and as good +a seaman and boatheader as ever trod a whaleship's deck. For like many a +country-bred boy he had the sea instinct in his bones, inherited perhaps +from his progenitors, who were of a seafaring stock in old Devonshire, +in that town made for ever famous by Kingsley in “Westward Ho!” + +When Frewen joined the _Casilda_, Keller had taken a great fancy to +the young man, whom he soon discovered was a very able officer, and who +proved his ability as a good whaleman so amply during the first twelve +months of the cruise by never losing a whale once he got fast, that +Keller, who was as mean as he was brutal to his crew, relaxed his +“hazing” propensities considerably. The _Casilda_ was always known as +a “hard” ship and Keller as a “hazer”; but, on the other hand, she was +also a lucky ship, and Lopes, the chief mate, who had sailed in her for +many years, was a sterling good man, though a strict disciplinarian, and +did much for the men to compensate them for Keller's outbursts of savage +fury when anything went wrong. So Lopez, Frewen, and his fellow-officers +“worked” together, and the crew “worked” with them, and the _Casilda_ +became a fairly happy ship, as well as a lucky one, for Keller, after +long years, began to realise that it was bad policy to ill-treat a +willing crew who would give him a “full” ship in another six months +instead of deserting one by one or in batches at every island touched at +in the South Seas. + +And Frewen was a mascotte, and his half-caste boat-steerer was another, +for whenever a pod of whales were sighted the second mate's boat was +invariably the first to get fast, and on one glorious day off Sunday +Island Frewen's boat killed three sperms--a bull and two cows--and the +four other boats each got one or two, so that for over a week, in a calm +sea, and under a cloudless sky of blue by day and night, “cutting in” + and “trying-out” went on merrily, and the cooper and his mates toiled +like Trojans, setting-up fresh barrels; and the smoke and glare of the +try-works from the deck of the _Casilda_ lit up the placid ocean for +many a mile, whilst hordes of blue sharks rived and tore and ripped off +the rich blubber from the whales lying alongside waiting to be +cut-in, and Keller shot or lanced them by the score as he stood on the +cutting-in stage or in one of the boats made fast to the chains on the +free side. + +Fourteen months out, as the _Casilda_ was cruising northward, intending +to touch at one of the Navigator's Islands (Samoa) to refresh, the first +trouble occurred. Cheyne, Frewen's boatsteerer, who was a splendidly +built, handsome young fellow of twenty-four years of age, received a +rather severe injury to his right foot whilst a heavy baulk of timber +was being “fleeted” along the deck. Frewen, who was much attached to +him, dressed his foot as well as the rough appliances on board would +allow, and then reported him to the captain as unfit for duty. + +Keller growled something about all “darned half-breeds” being glad of +any excuse to shirk duty. + +Frewen took him up sharply: “This man is no shirker, sir. He is as good +a man as ever 'stood up' to strike a whale. Did you ever see a better +one?” + +Keller looked at his second officer with fourteen months' repressed +brutality glowering in his savage eyes. + +“I'm the captain of this ship. Just you mind that. I reckon I can't be +taught much by any college buster.” + +Frewen's hands clenched, but he replied quietly, though he was inwardly +raging at Keller's contemptuous manner-- + +“Just so. You are the captain of this ship, and I know my duty, sir. +But I am not the man to be insulted by any one. And I say that my +boatsteerer is not fit for duty.” + +Keller's retort was of so insulting a character that in another moment +the two men--to the intense delight of the crew--were fighting on the +after-deck. Lopes and the cooper, as in duty bound, sprang forward and +seized their fellow-officer, but the captain, with an oath, bade them +stand aside. + +“I'll pound you first,” he cried hoarsely to Frewen, “then I'll kick you +into the foc'sle.” + +The fight lasted for fifteen minutes, and then Lopes and the third mate +forced themselves between and separated them. Both men were terribly +punished. + +“That will do, sir; that will do, Frewen,” said the mate; “do you want +to kill each other?” + +Keller had some good points about him and a certain amount of humour as +well. + +“Haow much air yew hurt, Frewen?” he inquired. “I can't exactly see” + (both his eyes were fast closing). + +“Pretty much like yourself,” replied the officer; then he paused and +held out his hand. “Shake hands, sir. I'm sorry we've had this turn.” + +“Wa'al, it's mighty poor business, that's a fact,” and Keller took the +proffered hand, and then the matter apparently ended. + +Early in the morning on the following day whales were raised. There was +a stiff breeze and a choppy sea. Three boats, of which Frewen's was one, +were lowered. Cheyne, although suffering great pain, insisted on taking +his place, and twenty minutes later his officer called out to him to +“stand up,” for they were close to the whale--a large cow, which was +moving along very slowly, apparently unconscious of the boat's presence. + +Then for the first time during the voyage the half-caste missed striking +his fish. Unable to sustain himself steadily, owing to his injured foot +and the rough sea, he darted his iron a second or two too late. It fell +flat on the back of the monstrous creature, which at once sounded in +alarm, and next reappeared a mile to windward. For an hour Frewen kept +up the chase, and then the ship signalled for all the boats to return, +for the wind and sea were increasing, and it was useless for them +to attempt to overtake the whales, which were now miles to windward. +Neither of the other boats had even come within striking distance of a +fish, and consequently Keller was in a vile temper when they returned, +and the moment he caught sight of the half-caste boatsteerer he assailed +him with a volley of abuse. + +The young man listened with sullen resentment dulling his dark face, +then as he turned to limp for'ard the captain bade him make haste and +get better, and not “try on any soldiering.” + +He turned in an instant, his passion completely overmastering him: “I'm +no 'soldier,' and as good a man as you, you mean old Gape Cod water-rat. +I'll never lift another iron or steer a boat for you as long as I am on +this ship.” + +Five minutes later he was in irons with a promise of being kept on +biscuit and water till he “took back all he had said” in the presence of +the ship's company. + +“I'll lie here and rot first sir,” he said to Lopez; “my father was an +Englishman, and I consider myself as good a boatsteerer and as good a +man as any one on board. But I do not mean any disrespect to you, sir.” + +Lopez was sorry for the man, but could not say so. “Keep a still tongue +between your teeth,” he said roughly, “and I'll talk the old man round +by to-morrow.” + +“Do as you please, sir. But I won't lift an iron again as long as I am +in this ship,” he replied quietly. + +He kept his word. On the following morning he was liberated, and in a +week's time he had recovered the use of his foot. Then, when the barque +was off the Tonga Islands, a large “pod” of whales were sighted. It +was a clear, warm day. The sea was as smooth as a lake, and only the +faintest air was ruffling the surface of the water. Three miles away +were two small, low-lying islands, clad with coco-palms, their white +belting of beach glistening like iridescent pearl-shell under the +glowing tropic sun. + +As the boats were lowered he said to Frewen, “You know what I have said, +sir. I won't lift a harpoon again on this cruise; so don't ask me.” + +Frewen did not believe him. “Don't be a fool, Randall. We'll show the +old man something to-day.” + +“_I_ will, sir, if it costs me my life.” + +Five minutes later he was in his old place on the for'ard thwart, +pulling stolidly, but looking intently at Frewen, whom he loved with a +dog-like affection. + +Frewen singled out a large bull whale which was lying quite apart from +the rest of the “pod” sunning himself, and sometimes rolling lazily +from side to side, oblivious of danger. In another five minutes the boat +would have been within striking distance. + +“Stand up, Randall,” he said. + +The half-caste peaked and socketed his oar, and looked at the officer. + +“I refuse, sir,” he said quietly. + +“Then come aft here,” cried Frewen quickly, with hot anger in his tones. + +“No, sir, I will not. I said I would neither lift iron nor steer a boat +again,” was the dogged reply. + +There was no time to lose. Giving the steer oar to the man pulling the +“after-tub oar,” the officer sprang forward and picked up the harpoon +just in time, Randall jumping aft smartly enough, and taking the tub +man's oar. Ten seconds later Frewen had buried his harpoon up to the +socket in the whale, and the line was humming as the boat tore through +the water. Then, still keeping his place, he let the whole of one tub +of line run out, and then hauled up on it and lanced and killed his fish +quietly. Cheyne apparently took no notice, though his heart sank within +him when Frewen came aft again, and looked at him with mingled anger and +reproach. + +Some one of the boat's crew talked of what had occurred, though Frewen +said nothing; and that night Cheyne was placed in irons by Keller's +orders. At the end of a week he was still manacled and almost starving, +but he steadfastly refused to do boatsteerer's duty. Then the captain +no longer placed any check on himself, and he swore that he would either +make the half-caste yield or else kill him. And he did his best to keep +his word. + +Nearly a month passed, and then, at Frewen's suggestion, all the +officers waited on the captain and begged him to release the unfortunate +man; otherwise there was every prospect of the crew mutinying. + +“Is he willing to turn to again?” he asked. + +“Not as boatsteerer,” replied Frewen. + +“Then he shall stay where he is,” was the savage retort. + +Five or six days later Frewen went to Cheyne, who was now confined in +the 'tween decks, and implored him to give in. + +“Very well, sir. To please you I will give in. But I mean to desert the +first chance.” + +“So do I. I am sick of this condition of things. There are three other +men besides yourself in irons now.” + +“Who are they, sir?” + +“Willis, Hunt, and Freeman.” (The two latter belonged to his own boat, +and had been ironed because they had refused to eat some bad beef. +Frewen himself had told Keller that it was uneatable, and again angry +words passed between them.) + +Cheyne was released and resumed his old place in Frewen's boat, and the +officer then sounded the rest of his men, and found they were eager +to leave the ship. So he made his plans, and he and Cheyne quietly got +together a small supply of provisions and a second breaker of water. + +They waited till the ship was well among the Friendly Group, and Upolu +Island was three hundred miles to the north, and then were given the +needed opportunity--when the mate's boat was destroyed by the big bull +whale, which was then struck by Cheyne. + +“Boys,” shouted Frewen to his crew, as the boat tore through the water, +“I'm not going to kill this whale awhile. He'll give us a long run, and +is taking us dead to windward, away from the ship. But before it gets +dark I'll give him a bomb.” + +He successfully carried out his intention. Just as darkness was coming +on he hauled up on his line and fired a bomb into the mighty creature; +it killed it in a few seconds. Then they lay alongside of the floating +carcase, spelled half an hour, had something to eat, and then Cheyne, +who had a sense of humour, wrote the scrawl to Keller and tied it round +the whift pole. + +“Now, lads,” cried Frewen, “up sail! It is a fine dark night, and we +should be forty or fifty miles away by daylight.” + +And so, whilst the _Casilda_ burnt flare after flare throughout the +night, the adventurers were slipping through the water merrily enough, +oblivious of the cold rain squalls which overtook them at midnight, as +they headed for Samoa. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +When Frewen allowed Cheyne to write the pencilled note to Captain +Keller, he did so with a double purpose, for he and Cheyne had carefully +thought out and decided upon their plans. In the first place, the dead +whale would convince the ship's company that he and his boat's crew had +“done the square thing,” by killing and leaving for their benefit the +best and largest whale that had yet been taken, and that although +they were deserting (and consequently losing their entire share of the +profits of the cruise so far, which would be divided with their former +shipmates) the rich prize they were leaving to the ship would prove of +ten times the value of the boat in which they had escaped. In the second +place he wished to put Keller on a false scent by naming Savage Island +(or Nine, as it is generally known) as their destination; for Keller +knew that the island was a favourite resort of runaway sailors, but that +a suitable reward offered to the avaricious natives would be sure to +effect the capture and return to the ship of any deserters from the +_Casilda_. + +Cheyne's father was an English master mariner, who, tired of a seafaring +life, had settled as a trader in the beautiful island of Manono in +Samoa. He there married a daughter of one of the leading chiefs, and +himself attained to some considerable influence and property, but lost +his life in an encounter with a rebellious clan on the island of Upolu. +He left two children: Randall, a lad of sixteen, and Marie, a girl +two years younger. The boy went to sea in a whaler, and at the age +of twenty-four had an established reputation as one of the smartest +boatsteerers in the Pacific. Only once after four years' absence, had he +returned to his native country, when he found that his sister, who had +just arrived from Australia, where she had been educated, was about +to be married to one of the few Europeans in the country--a well-to-do +planter and merchant, named Raymond, and that his mother had also +married again, and settled in New Zealand. + +Satisfied as to his sister's future happiness, he saw her married, and +again turned his face to the sea, although Raymond earnestly besought +him to stay with and help him in his business. He made his way to +Honolulu, and there joined the _Casilda_, then homeward bound, and, as +has been related, he and the second officer soon became firm friends. + +At the south-east point of the island of Upelu, there is a town named +Lepâ, and for this place the boat was now steering. The principal chief +of the district was a blood relation of Cheyne's mother, and he (Cheyne) +knew that every hospitality would be given to himself and Frewen for as +long a time as they chose to remain at Lepâ. + +“After we have seen Mana'lio” (the chief) “we shall consider what we +shall do,” said the boatsteerer to Frewen. “I expect he will not like +letting us leave him, but will be satisfied when he knows that you and I +want to go to my sister's place. These big Samoan chiefe are very touchy +in some things.” + +On the afternoon of the third day out, the land was sighted, and just as +the evening fires were beginning to gleam from the houses embowered in +the palm-groves of Lepâ, the boat grounded on the white hard beach, and +in a few minutes the village was in a pleasurable uproar, as the white +men were almost carried up to the chief's house by the excited natives, +who at once recognised the stalwart Cheyne. + +Mana'lio made his relative and Frewen most welcome, and treated them +as very honoured guests, whilst the rest of the boat's crew were taken +possession of by the sub-chiefs and the people of the town generally, +carried off to the _fale taupule_ or “town hall,” and invited to a +hurriedly prepared but ample repast. + +On the following morning, Frewen called the whole of his boat's crew +together, and told them it would be best for them to separate. “Each of +you four men say you don't want to go to sea again--not for a long time +at any rate. Well, Mana'lio, the chief here, wants a white man to live +with him. He will treat him well, and give him a house and land. Will +you stay, Hunt?” + +“Yes, sir,” was the instant reply. + +“Right. And you, Freeman, Chase, and Craik, can stay here in Lepâ, +and decide for yourselves which towns you will live in. In less than +forty-eight hours half the chiefe on the island will be coming to +Mana'lio for a white man. Cheyne here will give you some good advice--if +you want the natives to respect you, and to get along and make money and +a honest living, follow his advice.” + +“Ay, ay, sir,” assented the men. + +“Now, here is another matter. Cheyne and I wish to be mates, and we want +the boat.” + +“Well, I guess _we_ have no claim on her, sir,” said Hunt, turning to +the others for confirmation of his remark. + +“Oh, yes you have--she is as much yours as she is mine. Anyway we all +have a good right to her, as we have given the ship a whale worth a +dozen new boats; and, besides that, by deserting we have forfeited our +'lays' and have put money into Captain Keller's pocket as well as +into those of the crew. Now, I have a little money with me--two hundred +dollars. Will you four men take a hundred and divide it, and let Cheyne +and me have the boat?” + +“Ay, ay, to be sure,” they cried out in unison. + +That evening Frewen and Cheyne bade Mana'lio and the seamen goodbye, and +accompanied by four stalwart and well-armed natives, stepped into the +boat, hoisted her blue jean main-sail and jib, and amidst a chorus of +farewells from the friendly people set off on a forty miles trip along +the coast, their destination being the town of Samatau, at the extreme +north-west of the island. + +For here, so Mana'lio had told them, Mrs. Raymond and her husband were +living, the latter having purchased a large tract of land there which he +was preparing for a cotton plantation. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The boat sailed gently along the outer or barrier reef which fringed +the coast of beautiful verdured Upolu, and then, as the sun sank, there +shone out myriad stars upon the bosom of a softly heaving sea, and +only the never-ceasing murmur of the surf as it beat against the coral +barrier, or the cry of some wandering sea-bird, disturbed the warm +silence of the tropic night. + +Leaving the boat to the care of their native friends at eight o'clock, +Frewen and his comrade laid down amidships and were soon fast asleep, +for the day had been a tiring one, and they needed more rest to recover +from the effects of the three days they had spent on the open sea. + +Soon after daylight they were awakened by the steersman, who pointed out +a large, lofty-sparred vessel. She was about five miles away, and being +head on, Frewen was uncertain as to her rig, till an hour later, when he +saw that she was a full-rigged ship. + +“Not the _Casilda_” he said to his comrade, and neither of them gave the +strange vessel any further thought, especially as the wind had now died +away, and, the sail being lowered, the crew bent to the oars under an +already hot and blazing sun. + +Shortly before noon, the boat rounded a low headland and entered +a lovely little bay, embowered in thick groves of coco-palms and +breadfruit trees. The new house which Raymond had built was not +visible from the bay, but there were some thirty or forty native houses +clustered under the shade of the trees, a few yards up from the beach, +on which they noticed a ship's longboat was lying. + +The moment Frewen's boat was seen, a strange clamour arose, and a number +of natives, armed with muskets and long knives, rushed out of their +houses, and took cover behind the rocks and trees, evidently with the +intention of resisting his landing, and Frewen and Cheyne heard loud +cries of “_Lèmonte! Lèmonte!_” + +“Back water!” cried Cheyne in his mother tongue to the crew; then he +turned to Frewen: “There is something wrong on shore. 'Lèmonte' is my +brother-in-law's name, and they are calling for him.” Then he stood up +and shouted out-- + +“Friends, do you not know me? I am Randall. Where is my sister and her +husband?” + +A loud cry of astonishment burst from the natives, many of whom, +throwing down their arms, sprang into the water, and clambering into the +boat greeted the young man most affectionately; and then one of them, +commanding silence, began talking rapidly to him. + +“We must get ashore quickly,” said Cheyne to Randall. “My brother-in-law +has a number of dead and dying people in his house. There has been a +mutiny on board that ship--but come on, he'll tell us all about it.” + +In another minute the boat was on the beach, and as Frewen and Cheyne +jumped ont they were met by a handsome, dark-faced man about forty years +of age, who grasped Cheyne's hands warmly. + +“I never expected to see you, Randall,” he said quietly, “but I thank +God that you _have_ come, and at such a time, too. Where is your ship?” + +“Three hundred miles away. But we will tell you our story another time. +How is Marie?” + +“Well. She already hears the people shouting your name. Come to the +house.” Then he turned to Frewen and held out his hand. “My name is +Raymond, and you are welcome to Samatau.” + +“And mine is Frewen. I hope you will accept any assistance I can give.” + +“Gladly. But I will tell you the whole story presently. I have two men +dying in my house, three others wounded, and two dead.” + +He led the way along a shady, winding path to the house, on the wide +verandah of which were seated a number of natives of both sexes, who +made way for them to pass with low murmurs of “_Talofa, aliia_,” {*} to +the two strangers. Then in another moment Marie Raymond stepped softly +out from the sitting-room, and threw her arms round her brother's neck. + + * “Greeting, gentlemen.” + +“Thank God you are here, Randall,” she said, leading the way into +another room. “Tom will tell you of what has happened. I will return as +soon as I can.” + +“How is Captain Marston?” asked Raymond, as she stood for a moment with +her hand on the handle of the door. + +“Still unconscious. Mrs. Marston is with him.” She paused, and then +turned her dark and beautiful tear-dimmed eyes to Frewen: “Tom, perhaps +this gentleman might be able to do something. Will he come in and see?” + +Raymond drew him aside. “Go in and see the poor fellow. He can't last +long--his skull is fractured.” + +Frewen followed Mrs. Raymond into the large room, and saw lying on her +own bed the figure of a man whose features were of the pallor of death. +His head was bound up, and kneeling by his side, with her eyes bent +upon his closed lids, was a woman, or rather a girl of twenty-two or +twenty-three years of age. As, at the sound of footsteps, she raised her +pale, agonised face, something like a gleam of hope came into it. + +“Are you a doctor?” she asked in a trembling whisper. + +The seaman shook his head respectfully. “No, madam; I would I were.” + +He leant over the bed, and looked at the still, quiet face of the man, +whom he could see was in the prime of life, and whose regular, clear-cut +features showed both refinement and strength of character. + +“He still breathes,” whispered the poor wife. + +“Yes, so I see,” said Frewen, as he rose. Then he asked Mrs. Raymond +a few questions as to the nature of the wound, and learned that in +addition to a fractured skull a pistol bullet had entered at the back of +the neck. + +“There is no hope, you think. I can see that by your face,” said Mrs. +Marston, suppressing a sob. + +“I cannot tell, madam. But I do think that his condition is very, very +serious.” + +She bent her head, and then sank on her knees again beside the bed, but +suddenly she rose again, and placed her hand on Frewen's sleeve. + +“I know that my husband must die, no human aid can save him. But will +you, sir, go and see poor Mr. Villari. Mr. Raymond has hopes for him at +least. And he fought very bravely for my husband.” + +Villari was the first mate of the ship, and was lying in another room, +together with three wounded seamen. He was a small, wiry Italian, and +when Frewen entered with Raymond and Mrs. Raymond, he waved his right +hand politely to them, and a smile lit up his swarthy features. He had +two bullet wounds, one a clean hole through the right shoulder, the +other in the thigh. He had lost a great deal of blood, but none of his +high courage, though Raymond at first thought he could not live. + +“I am not going to die,” he said. “_Per Bacco_, no.” + +Frewen spoke encouragingly to him and then turned his attention to the +seamen, all of whom were Englishmen. None of them were severely wounded, +and all that could be done for them had been done by Raymond and their +own unwounded shipmates, of whom there were four. + +“Now I shall tell you the story,” said Raymond to Frewen and Cheyne, as +he led the way to the verandah, on which a table with refreshments had +been placed. “But, first of all, do you see that ship out there? Well, +that is the _Esmeralda_. She is now in the possession of the mutineers, +and has on board forty-five thousand dollars. You see that she is +becalmed?” + +“And likely to continue so for another three or four days, if I am any +judge of the weather in this part of the Pacific,” said Frewen, “I agree +with you. And now, before I begin to tell you the story of the mutiny, +I want to know if you two will help me to recapture her? You are seamen, +and--” + +Both men sprang to their feet. + +“Yes, we will!” + +“Ah! I thought you would not refuse. Now wait a moment,” and calling to +a young native who was near, he bade him go to the chief of Samatau and +ask him to come to the house as quickly as possible. + +“Malië, the chief of Samatau, will help us,” he said to Frewen; “he has +two hundred of the best fighting men in Samoa, and I shall ask him to +pick out fifty. But we want a nautical leader--some one to take charge +of the ship after we get possession of her.” + +“Now here is the story of the mutiny, told to me by poor Mrs. Marston.” + + + + +CHAPTER V + +“At daylight this morning, my wife and I were aroused by our servants, +who excitedly cried to as to come outside. A boat, they said, was on the +beach with a number of white men in it, some of whom were dead. + +“I went down to the beach at once, and five minutes later had all the +unfortunate wounded and unwounded people assisted to the house, for +they were completely exhausted by what they had undergone, and were also +suffering from thirst. Two of their number had succumbed to their wounds +in the boat a few hours previously, so Villari, the mate, told me. +Marston, who had been shot in the neck, was unconscious, and his wife +who, as you saw, is little more than a girl, was herself wounded in the +arm by a musket ball. + +“We did all that we could do, and after Mrs. Marston had had an hour's +rest, she and Villari told me their story. + +“The _Esmeralda_ is Marston's own ship, and left Valdivia, in Chile, for +Manila about seven weeks ago. She is almost a new ship, only having been +built at Aberdeen last year. Marston, who had just married, brought out +a general cargo from London to Valdivia and other South American ports, +and sold it at a very handsome profit. Whilst on the coast, fever broke +out on board, and he lost his second mate and five A.B.'s, and the third +mate and two others had to go into hospital. In their places he shipped +a new second mate--a man named Juan Almanza--and twelve seamen, ten of +whom were either Chilenos or Peruvians, and the remaining two Greeks. +The former boatswain he promoted to the third mate's birth. Almanza +proved to be a good officer, and the new men gave him satisfaction, +though his agent at Valdivia had urged him not to take the two Greeks, +who, he said, were likely to prove troublesome. Unfortunately he did not +take the agent's advice, and said that he had often had Greeks with him +on previous voyages, and found them very fair sailormen--much better +than Chilenos or Mexicans. + +“He had been paid for his cargo mostly in silver dollars, and the money +was brought on board in as quiet a manner as possible, and he believed +without the new hands knowing anything about it. Poor fellow; he was +fatally mistaken! In all it amounted to thirty-five thousand dollars, +and in addition to this there was a further sum of two thousand pounds +in English gold on board--Marston, I must tell you, is, I imagine, a +fairly wealthy man, for his wife told me that he had the _Esmeralda_ +built at a cost of six thousand pounds. + +“He had been informed at Valdivia that a cargo of Chile flour, which +could be bought very cheaply at Valparaiso, could be sold at a huge +profit in Manila, and he thereupon bought a full cargo--six hundred +tons--and sailed, as I have said, about seven weeks ago. All went well +on board from the very first, although the English seamen did not much +care about their foreign shipmates, who, however, did their duty after +a fashion. Almanza, Mrs. Marston says, was in all respects an able +and smart officer, and both she and her husband took a great liking to +him--the scoundrel! + +“The two Greeks--who, by the way, called themselves and shipped under +the English names of John Foster and James Ryan--the Levantine breed +do that trick very often--were in Almanza's watch, as were six of the +Chilenos; and the mate one night, coming on deck when it was his watch +below, was surprised to find Almanza and the two Greeks engaged in an +earnest conversation. His suspicions were aroused, and he reported the +matter to the captain, who, however, made light of it, and said that +Almanza had told him that Foster and Ryan had been shipmates with him +on a Sydney barque some years before, and that it was only natural that +Almanza would relax discipline a little, and condescend to chat for a +few minutes with men who had sailed with him previously. + +“Ryan, the older of the two, had proved himself an excellent seaman, and +both Marston and Villari felt sure, from the way in which he spoke to +the other seamen, that he had at one time been an officer. In addition +to Spanish he speaks both English and French remarkably well, and his +manners and personal appearance are extremely good, and no one would +take him to be a Greek. He, however, frankly admitted that his name was +not Ryan and that he was a native of the island of Naxos in the Ægean +Sea. + +“At this time, Mr. Frewen, the _Esmeralda_ was near these islands--in +fact, Upolu was in sight; and Marston, knowing that there were some +Europeans settled at the port of Apia, on the north side of the island, +decided to put in there for fresh provisions, of which the ship was in +need. + +“Perhaps his decision made the scoundrelly Almanza imagine that he +suspected him, and was only touching at Apia to rid himself of +his second officer and his Greek and Chileno accomplices, for Mrs. +Marston--who shudders when she mentions Almanza's name--says that +shortly after the ship's course was altered for Apia, he went for'ard on +some excuse, but in reality to talk to the Greeks in the fore-peak. He +was absent about a quarter of an hour, and then went about his duties as +usual. + +“A little before six bells, Captain Marston was on the poop looking +at the land through his glasses, Mrs. Marston was in her cabin sewing, +Villari, with the boatswain and three A.B.'s (all Englishmen), were with +the steward and third mate engaged in the lazzarette overhauling and +re-stowing the provisions. Suddenly the captain was felled by a blow on +the head dealt him from behind, and the mate and those with him were at +the same moment ordered by Almanza to come up out of the lazzarette. He +told them that he was in possession of the ship, and that they would be +shot down if they attempted to resist. Villari and his men came up, and +found the second mate and six of the mutineers in the cabin, all armed +with pistols and cutlasses. Resistance was useless, and Almanza told +Villari not to think of it. He (Villari) was then hustled into his own +cabin and locked in, and the English seamen ordered on deck, where they, +with the other Englishmen on board, were made to hoist out the longboat. +Whilst this was being done Almanza, who had locked Mrs. Marston in her +cabin, opened the door, and told her that she need feel no fear, but +that she must come on deck to attend to her husband, who had been hurt +She found Marston lying where he fell, and quite unconscious, with a +Chileno standing guard over him. As the English members of the crew were +hoisting out the longboat, Almanza told the steward--a negro--to get +some provisions and some bottles of wine from the cabin. Then the two +Greeks--who from the first had seemed bent on murder--interfered, and +one of them suddenly raised his pistol and shot the unfortunate steward +through the heart. The Chileno seamen applauded the act, and only +Almanza's frenzied protests prevented them from slaughtering the unarmed +Englishmen, the Greeks declaring that they (the mutineers) were only +putting ropes round their necks by sparing any one of them--including +Mrs. Marston. + +“For some minutes it seemed as if there was to be a conflict between +Almanza and his followers, but the mutineers appeared to yield to his +appeals, and assisted in getting the longboat out. The captain was then +lowered into the boat, and then Mrs. Marston and all the Englishmen but +two followed; when suddenly Villari, who had succeeded in forcing his +door, sprang up from the cabin with a pistol in each hand, and singling +out Almanza, shot him through the chest, and with the second shot +wounded one of the Chilenos in the face. But in another instant he +himself fell, for the Greeks and several of the gang fired at him +simultaneously, and he was also given a fearful blow on the head with a +belaying-pin, partly stunning him, and then thrown overboard to drown. +The two men remaining on deck saved their lives by jumping overboard at +the same time. + +“Most fortunately for the poor mate he fell near the boat, and was +rescued by one of the seamen, who sprang overboard after him. But not +satisfied with what they had already done, and enraged at the fall of +their leader, the mutineers now began firing into the defenceless people +in the boat at such a short range that it is marvellous that any one +escaped. + +“Before they were able to pull out of range, the captain, third mate, +and one of the seamen were mortally wounded, and two others and +Mrs. Marston also were hit Then the mutineers, evidently bent on the +slaughter of the whole party, began to lower away one of the heavy +quarter-boats, but although she was actually put in the water the +villains changed their minds for some reason, and the longboat was not +pursued.” + +“Ah!” said Frewen, “I expect they were afraid to leave the ship in case +a breeze sprang up.” + +“So Villari says. However, they then began firing round shot at the +longboat from the two nine-pounders on the quarter-deck--the _Esmeralda_ +is armed with six guns--but made such bad practice that after half a +dozen shots had been fired they gave up the attempt. + +“The ship at this time was in the Straits of Manono, and the boat was +headed for the nearest land, which was Samatau--the four unwounded men +keeping to the oars most manfully, only taking short spells every hour. +As darkness came on they saw the lights of Samatau village, and came +on without fear, for they knew that the natives of Samoa, though very +warlike, were hospitable and friendly to Europeans. During the night the +third mate and the badly wounded A.B. died, and poor Marston, who had +never spoken since he had been first struck down, lay as you saw him a +little while ago, without the slightest sign of returning consciousness. +Villari, however, began to improve, and weak as he was, yet contrived +to show one of the men how to dress Mrs. Marston's wound in a more +efficient manner. He _is_ a plucky little fellow. + +“The boat would have reached here much sooner, only that Villari and his +people could not find the passage through the reef, and several times +struck on coral patches. + +“Well, that is the whole of the story--and a very dreadful one it is +too. I do feel so for that poor little woman. Her heart is breaking.” + +“Ay, indeed,” said Frewen, “poor thing! She seems hardly more than a +girl.” + +“However, please God, we shall get her husband's ship back,” and +Raymond's dark eyes sparkled. “Ah! here comes the chief. He will not +fail us. He is one of the most renowned fighters in Samoa, is he not, +Randall?” + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Malie, the supreme chief of the district, was indeed, as Raymond said, +one of the most renowned fighters, not only on Upoln, but in all Samoa, +and Frewen, as he shook hands with him, thought he had never seen so +noble and imposing a figure. He was a man of about sixty years of age, +with closely-cropped white hair and thick moustache, but so youthful was +he in his carriage, and so smooth was the bright copper-red of his skin, +that he seemed more like a man of thirty whose hair and moustache had +become prematurely blanched. The upper portion of his huge but yet +beautifully proportioned and muscular figure was bare to the waist, +around which was wrapped many folds of tappa cloth bleached to a snowy +whiteness, which accentuated the startling contrast of the bright blue +tattooing which reached from his waist to his knees. Depending from his +neck, and falling in a long loop across a broad chest scarred by many +wounds, was a simple yet beautiful ornament consisting of some hundreds +of discs of gleaming pearl-shell, perforated at the sides, and strung +together by a thin cord of human hair. In his right hand he carried a +_fui_, or fly-wisp, made of coco-nut fibre, and Frewen noticed during +the conversation that followed that he used this with the dainty grace +that characterises a Spanish lady with her fan. + +Accompanying the chief was a tall, thin old man, named Talitaua, who +was Malië's _tulafale_ or orator--a position which in Samoa is one +much coveted and highly respected, for the _tulafale_ is in reality a +Minister of War, and on his public utterances much depends. If he is +possessed of any degree of eloquence, he can either avert or bring about +war, just as he chooses to either inflame or subdue the passions of his +audience when, rising and supporting himself on his polished staff of +office, he first scans the expectant faces of the throng seated on the +ground before him ere he opens his lips to speak. On this occasion, +however, Talitaua had merely come with Malië as a personal friend +anxious to learn privately what he would probably have to communicate +to the assembled people as soon as the discussion with Raymond was +concluded. Both he and the chief had already heard full details of the +mutiny from Raymond, and they guessed that the planter had something +further and of importance to say to them concerning it. After the usual +courtesies so rigidly observed on visits of ceremony had passed between +them and Raymond, they patiently awaited him to begin, though very +curious to learn what was the occasion of Frewen's and Cheyne's +unlooked-for appearance. Their natural politeness, however, as well as +the never-to-be-infringed-upon Samoan etiquette, utterly forbade them to +make even the slightest allusion to the matter; they would, they knew, +learn in good time. + +Seating themselves on chairs in European fashion at one side of the +table, whilst Raymond and his two companions occupied those opposite, +they first made inquiry as to the wounded men and Mrs. Marston, and the +planter answered their polite queries. Then after a pause Raymond began +by saying-- + +“This _alii_ {*} is named Mr. Frewen. He is an officer of a _vaa +soia_,{**} and is a friend of my wife's brother, and therefore is a +friend of mine--and thine also, Malië toa o Samatau,{***} and Talitaua.” + + * Chief--gentleman. + + ** A whale-ship. + + *** His full title, “Malië, warrior of Samatau.” The present + King Malietoa of Samoa is a descendant. + +The chief and his orator bent their heads, but said nothing beyond a +simple _Lelei, lelei lava_ (“Good, very good”). + +Then Raymond went to the point as quickly as possible, and asked the +chief if he would assist him, Frewen, and Cheyne in recapturing the ship +from the mutineers. Speaking, of course, in Samoan, he said-- + +“As thou seest, Malië, the wind hath died away, and the ship is +becalmed, so that the murderers on board cannot escape us if we do but +act soon and come upon them suddenly.” + +The chief thought for a few moments, then answered-- + +“I will not refuse thee anything in reason that thou asketh me, Lêmonti. +But yet my people must be told of what is in thy mind.” + +“True. They shall know. But before I unfold to thee my plan to take +this ship by surprise so that but little or no blood may be shed, I will +pledge myself to the people of Samatan and to thee to act generously +to them for the help they will give. The captain is hurt to death +and cannot speak, and the lady his wife is too smitten with grief to +consider aught but her husband, so on her behalf do I speak; for she is +my countrywoman, and it would be a shameful thing for me did I not help +her.” + +Then he went on, and dearly and lucidly detailed his scheme to the +chief, afterwards translating his remarks into English for the benefit +of Frewen, who listened with the keenest interest. Cheyne, of course, +understood Samoan perfectly. + +Raymond's plan was simple enough. + +He proposed to take the _Casilda's_ boat, and with Frewen, Cheyne, and +a few natives go boldly off and board the ship, and representing +himself as a trader anxious to buy European provisions, begin to work +by throwing the mutineers off their guard, by warning them of the danger +the ship was in through being in so close to the land during a calm, for +the currents in the Straits of Manono were very strong and she would +be carried on to the reef unless she was towed out of the danger +limit towards which he would say (and truthfully enough) that she was +drifting. The mutineers, he felt convinced, would feel so alarmed that +they would listen to and accept his suggestion to let him engage the +services of half a dozen native boats, whose united efforts would soon +place the ship out of danger by towing her out of the danger zone. +Then he and those with him would bide their time, and at a given signal +spring upon the mutineers, who would be completely off their guard. + +He entered into the details so minutely that not only Frewen and Cheyne, +but Malië as well, expressed the warmest admiration and approval. Then +he told Malië exactly what to do when he (the chief) saw the whale-boat +leaving the ship to return to the shore, and Malië listened carefully to +his instructions and promised that they should be carried out exactly as +he desired. + +Then the stalwart chief and his orator rose to take their leave, for +they had to call the people together and acquaint them with what was to +be done. + +“Have no fear, Lêmonti, that the calm will break,” he said in reply to a +fear expressed by the planter that a breeze might, after all, spring +up and carry the ship too far off the land for the attempt to be made. +“'Tis a calm that will last for many days. Look at the mountains of +Savai'i”--and he pointed out the cloud-capped summits of the range that +traverses the great island of Savai'i--“when the clouds lie white and +heavy and low down it meaneth no wind for many days, not as much as +would stir a palm-leaf. But there will be rain at night--much rain.” + +“The better for our purpose,” said Raymond, as the chief left the house. +“Now, Randall, we must hurry along. Take half a dozen of my people, and +let them catch a couple of pigs and plenty of fowls; then cut about +a dozen or so large bunches of bananas and get enough other +fruit--pineapples, sugar-cane, guavas, and young coco-nuts as will +make a big show in the boat. Mr. Frewen and I will join you in about a +quarter of an hour, and then you and he can show the natives how to stow +the things, as I have suggested to the chief.” + +Returning to the house he sought out his wife. + +“Marie, we are going to recapture that ship. Don't be alarmed, and don't +say anything to poor Mrs. Marston till you see us returning; but you may +tell the mate.” + +Mrs. Raymond never for one instant thought of trying to dissuade her +husband from a mission which she felt was full of danger. She kissed +him, and said, “Tell me what to get ready, Tom.” + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and the decks of the _Esmeralda_ +gleamed dazzlingly white under the burning rays of the Samoan sun, as +she lay motionless upon a sea as calm as some sheltered mountain lake +or reed-margined swamp hidden away in the quiet depths of the primeval +forest. Twenty miles away to the south and east of the ship, the +purple-grey crests of the mountains of Savai'i rose nearly five thousand +feet in air, and, nearer the long verdant slope of beautiful Upolu +stretched softly and gently upwards from the white beaches of the +western point to the forest-clad sides of Mount Tofoa--ten miles +distant. Still nearer to the ship, and shining like a giant emerald +lying within a circlet of snow, was the island of Manono, the home or +birthplace of all the chiefly families of Samoa for many centuries +back. Almost circular in shape, and in no place more than fifty feet +in height, it was covered with an ever-verdant forest of breadfruit, +pandanus, orange and palm-groves, broken here and there by the +russet-hued villages of the natives, built just where the shining beach +met the green of the land. And the whole seemed to float on the bosom of +the lagoon, which, completely encompassed by the barrier reef, slumbered +peacefully--its waters undisturbed except when they moved responsive to +the gently-flowing current from the blue ocean beyond, or were rippled +by the paddle of a fisherman's canoe. A mile beyond Manono, and midway +between it and the “iron-bound” coast of Savai'i, was the little +volcanic isle of Apolima--once in olden times the fortress that guarded +the passage through the straits, now occupied only by a few families of +fisher-folk dwelling in peace and plenty in the village nestling at the +foot of the long-extinct volcano. Overhead a sky of wondrous spotless +blue. + + * * * * * + +On the quarter-deck of the _Esmeralda_ three of the mutineers were +seated together under the shade of a small temporary awning, engaged +in an earnest conversation. A fourth person--Almanza--who was at that +moment the subject of their conversation, was lying in the captain's +stateroom, immediately beneath them; the rest of the gang were idling +about on the main or fore decks smoking their inevitable cigarettes, and +waiting till the Levantine “Ryan,” whom they now recognised as leader, +called them to hear the result of the discussion. + +The Chileno, who was seated with Ryan and Foster, was named Rivas, and +had recommended himself to them by reason of his ferocious and merciless +disposition. Long before the mutiny occurred he, with the Greeks, had +insisted upon the necessity of murdering not only the captain, first +officer, steward, and all the English seamen, but Mrs. Marston as +well. Almanza, however, protested so strenuously that they reluctantly +consented not to resort to murder, if it could possibly be avoided; but +their lust for slaughter was too great to be controlled when Villari +made his gallant attempt to aid his captain. + +On the top of the skylight was spread a chart, at which Ryan was +looking, trying to find out as near as he could the ship's position. +He could read English, and easily recognised the islands of Apolima and +Manono, both of which were shown on the chart. + +“That is where we are now, or about there,” he said, taking a pencil in +his hand and making a mark on the spot. “But we are drifting towards the +reefs, and must anchor once we get into soundings--or else go ashore.” + +“Do you think he is going to die?” inquired Rivas, with a gesture +towards the cabin. + +“How can I tell, comrade?” replied the Greek with an angry snarl. “Only +that we want him badly to navigate the ship, it would be best for us if +he does die--for two reasons.” + +His fellow-scoundrels nodded assent. The two reasons they knew were, +firstly, that Almanza had proved to be too timorous as regarded the +taking of life, and secondly that his death would give them a greater +share of plunder. + +“Well, what are we to do?” asked Rivas. + +“What can we do?” exclaimed Foster fiercely, as he shook his +black-haired, greasy and ear-ringed head. “We must wait and see if he +gets better--unless we drift ashore in the night and get our throats cut +by los Indios over there,” and he indicated the islands. + +“Bah!” growled his countryman. “Did I not tell you that I heard the +captain say over and over again that these people are not savages? But +what we do want is a breeze, so that we can work off the land--for how +are a few men going to tow a heavy ship like this against a two-knot +current? We could not move her.” Then he called out, with a sneering +inflection in his tones, “Come aft, comrades, and we shall drink to our +_brave_ captain's speedy recovery.” + +The rest of the mutineers but one obeyed with alacrity, just as the man +who remained, and who was standing on the topgallant foc'sle, gave a +loud cry-- + +“A boat is coming from the shore!” + +In an instant confusion ensued; but Ryan, picking up Marston's glass, +angrily bade them be silent. The boat had approached to within a mile of +the ship, and Ryan saw that she was pulling four oars. + +“It is not the captain's boat, _amigos_,” he said, “and there seem to be +only a few people in her. But be ready.” + +The _Esmeralda_, in addition to the six guns she carried, was +plentifully provided with small-arms--enough for a crew of thirty men; +and all of these, as well as the big guns, were kept loaded, for +after the escape of the captain's boat the mutineers had worked most +energetically to put the ship in a state of defence--both Almanza and +Ryan recognising the possibility of the survivors of Marston's party +reaching Apia, and there obtaining assistance to enable them to +recapture the ship. + +The boat came on steadily, the blades of her four oars flashing in the +bright sunlight. Ryan continued to look at her, and felt quite satisfied +when he saw she contained but seven persons, three of whom were +Europeans, and four natives. + +“It is a whale-boat,” he cried; “and there are three white men in her +and four natives. She is very deep in the water, and I can see a lot of +green stuff in the bows.” (These were the bunches of bananas, purposely +stowed in a pile for'ard, so as to indicate the boat's peaceful +mission.) + +The mutineers--with the exception of the two Greeks--who remained on the +quarter-deck, dressed in Mars-ton's and Villari's clothes--stood in the +waist. All were armed with pistols, and a number of loaded muskets were +lying along the waterways close to their hands, if needed. + +When within easy speaking distance of the ship Ryan went to the rail and +hailed the boat. + +“Boat ahoy!” + +The four oars ceased pulling, and Frewen, who was steering, stood up and +answered the hail. + +“Good morning, captain. I've seen you since daylight. You are drifting +too close in, so I've come off to warn you to tow off.” + +“Come on board, please,” replied the Greek, who, as Frewen spoke, saw +that the boat was deeply-laden with fruit; and the cackling of fowls +and sudden squeal of a pig convinced him that everything was right. And +then, in a few minutes, Frewen and Raymond clambered up the side and +walked quickly aft to where Ryan stood on the poop. + +“How do you do, captain?” said Frewen, holding out his hand. “Where are +you from, sir?” + +“Valparaiso to Batavia,” was the glib reply, as the mutineer shook +hands with his visitors. “Are you living on shore there?” and he nodded +towards Samatau. + +“Yes, this is my partner. We have a cotton plantation there. We have +brought you off a boatload of fresh provisions. Perhaps you can spare +us a cask of salt beef in exchange? Pork is the only meat we have on +shore.” + +“Very well, I can easily do that,” was the reply. + +Frewen went to the side and hailed the watchful Cheyne. + +“Pass up all that stuff, Randall,” he said. + +Aided by the Chileno seamen, Cheyne and the four natives soon cleared +the boat of the livestock and fruit, whilst Ryan, who had not yet asked +his visitors below, continued to talk to them on deck, although he +told one of the crew, whom he addressed as “steward,” to bring up +refreshments. + +“Now, captain,” continued Frewen, speaking in the most friendly +manner, “you must set to and tow your ship away from here as quietly +as possible, or you will go ashore if this calm lasts. You can't anchor +anywhere near here, the water is too deep.” + +“Perhaps you will help me? I am short-handed. Twelve of my crew took +the longboat and deserted from me during the voyage, and I am in a tight +place.” + +“Oh, well, captain, we must try and help you out of it to the best +of our ability.” He raised his glass. “I am glad to have met you, +Captain------,” and he paused. + +“Ryan is my name. The ship is the _Esmeralda_.” + +“And a beautiful ship she is, too. You must be proud to command such a +splendid vessel, sir.” + +“She is a fine ship,” was the brief reply. “Now will you please tell me +how you are going to help me?” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Frewen seemed to think for a moment or two ere he replied; then he +looked at Raymond inquiringly. + +“How long would it take to send to Falealili,{*} and ask Tom Morton, the +trader, to come with his two boats and help the captain?” he asked. + + * A large native town on the south side of Upolu. + +“A day at least--too long altogether with such a strong current setting +the ship towards the reef.” + +“Ah, yes, I daresay it would,” he said meditatively; then, as if struck +with a sudden inspiration, he added quickly, “What about Malië? He has +any number of boats--a dozen at least.” + +“Just the man!” replied Raymond. “He will let the captain have all the +boats and men to man them that are wanted--but he'll want to be paid for +it.” + +“Certainly,” interrupted the mutineer, who little imagined how adroitly +he was being meshed. “I'll pay anything reasonable. Who is he?” + +“Oh, he is a big chief living quite near me, and a decent enough fellow. +He has a number of large native-built boats. The natives call them +_taumualua_, which means sharp at both ends.{*} They seat from six to +eight paddlers on each side. Five, or even four such boats, well manned, +would make the ship move along. Three or four hours' towing will put her +into the edge of the counter current setting to the south and eastward +away from the land, and then she'll be out of danger, no matter how long +the calm lasts.” + +In a few minutes it was decided that the boat should return to the +shore, where Raymond was to see the chief and arrange with him to +provide five or six well-manned _taunwalua_, which Frewen said should be +alongside to receive the tow-lines within two or three hours. + +As he (Frewen) was about to go over the side Ryan made a half apology +for the ship's crew carrying arms, at which the young man smiled and +said-- + +“Oh, a good many captains that touch at Samoa for the first time keep +their crews armed, imagining the natives might try to cut them off. But +the Samoans are a different kind of people to the savages of the Western +Pacific; there has only been one ship cut off in this group, and that +must have occurred fifty years ago.” {**} + + * These boats are usually built from the wood of the + breadfruit-tree. Not a single nail is used in their + construction; every plank is joined to its fellow by + lashings of coconut fibre. + + ** A fact. + +Just as he had taken his seat beside Raymond and Cheyne, the Greek said +politely-- + +“If there is no necessity for both of you gentlemen to go on shore +again, won't one of you stay on board and have some supper?” + +This was just the invitation that Frewen was looking for, but he +appeared to hesitate for a moment or two. + +“Thank you, captain, I think I will. There is certainly nothing for me +to do on shore that my partner cannot do as well or better than myself. +And I should like to hear any news from Europe that you may have to +tell.” + +As he clambered up the side again the boat pushed off, and the stalwart +native crew sent her, now she was lightened of her load of provisions, +skimming through the water. + +When the American returned to the quarter-deck, Ryan introduced to +him “Mr. Foster, my second mate,” and added that in addition to the +misfortune of losing twelve of his crew when coming through the Paumotu +Group, his chief officer had accidentally shot himself, and shattered +his collar-bone. + +“Indeed!” said Frewen, with an air of concern, instantly surmising that +the injured man was either Almanza or the Chileno sailor whom Villari +had shot. “Is he getting on all right?” + +“Not at all well--and unfortunately I do not know anything about a +fractured collar-bone.” + +Frewen replied, with perfect truth, that he had seen several broken +collar-bones. Perhaps he might be of assistance. + +“Captain Ryan” thanked him, and said he would at once go down, see how +the injured man was getting on, and would send for him in ten minutes or +so. Meanwhile would Mr. Frewen join Mr. Foster in a glass of wine. + +The young whaling officer sat down near the skylight, and as the +dark-faced, dirty-looking ruffian seated opposite passed him, with an +amiable grin, a decanter of excellent sherry, wondered which of the two +Levantines was the greater cut-throat of the two. Ryan, as he called +himself, was somewhat of a dandy. He did not wear ear-rings; and +Villari's clothes--which fitted him very well--made him look as if he +had been used to dress well all his life. Foster, on the other hand, who +was arrayed in poor Marston's garments, was the typical Greek seaman one +might meet any day in almost any seaport town of importance. He was +a fairly tall man, well and powerfully built, but his hawk-like and +truculent visage inspired the American with a deeper aversion than +that with which he regarded Ryan--who, however, was in reality the more +tigerish-natured of the two. + +As they sat talking, Frewen happened to look along the deck for'ard, and +caught sight of a seaman with the lower part of his face bandaged. +He was standing at the galley door talking to some one inside, but +happening to see the American looking at him, he hurriedly slipped round +the for'ard end of the galley out of sight. + +“Ah,” thought Frewen, “that is the other fellow that Villari put out of +action--the man below is Almansa.” + +His surmise he found was correct, for at the end of a quarter of an +hour, Ryan, who had been giving Almansa all the news in the interval, +appeared and asked him to come below and see the chief officer. He led +the way below, and entering the officer's cabin, said-- + +“Here is the gentleman from the shore, Mr. Almanza. Let him see your +hurt.” + +The leader of the mutineers was evidently in great pain, and feverish as +well, and Frewen in a few seconds found by examination that a splinter +of the fractured bone had been driven into the muscles of the shoulder, +where it seemed to be firmly embedded, although one end of it could +almost be felt by gentle pressure, so close was it under the skin. The +bullet itself had come out at the side of the neck. + +Telling them that, although he was no doctor, he was sure that it was +most important that the splinter of bone should be removed, he offered +to attempt it. The fractured collar-bone, he assured them, would knit of +itself if the patient kept quiet. + +In those days the medicine chests of even fine ships like the +_Esmeralda_ were but poorly equipped, when contrasted with those to +be found on much smaller vessels thirty years later, when antiseptic +surgery and anæsthetics were beginning to be understood. But Almanza, +who was in agony, begged the visitor to do what he could; and without +further hesitation, Frewen took from the medicine chest what he +considered was the most suitable knife, made an incision, and in less +than five minutes had the splintered piece of bone out. Then came the +agonising but effective sailor's styptic--cotton wool soaked in Friar's +Balsam. + +Almanza tried to murmur his thanks, but feinted, and when he came +to again, he found himself much freer from pain, and the poor negro +steward's successor standing beside him with a tumbler of wine and +water. + +“You must keep very quiet,” said Frewen, as he turned to leave the +room, speaking coldly, for although he was very sympathetic with any one +suffering pain, he could not but remember what the man before him had +done. + +Returning on deck, he found Foster and Ryan talking on the poop, whilst +the crew of Chilenos were sitting about on the hatches eating pineapples +and bananas, and drinking coconuts. Even a non-seafaring man would have +thought that there was a lack of discipline displayed, but Frewen, whose +life had been spent on whaleships where the slightest liberty on the +part of foc'sle hands towards the after-guard meets with swift and stern +punishment, felt as if he would have liked to have kicked them all in +turn, and then collectively. + +“Never mind,” he thought to himself, “I trust they are all reserved for +higher things--they all deserve the gallows, and I sincerely trust they +will get it.” + +Both Ryan and Foster, he could see, had not the slightest doubt of +his and Raymond's _bona-fides_, and at supper both men were extremely +affable to him. At the same time he thought he could perceive that they +were anxious as to what had become of the captain's boat, for they asked +him casually if there was any shipping at Apia, or at any of the other +ports in the group. + +“Only the usual local trading vessels,” he replied. “Whenever a stranger +comes in--even if it is only a native craft--I get the news at my place +by runners in an hour or two.” + +And Almanza's mind, too, was at rest, for when he was groaning in agony +in his bank, and he was told that a boat from the shore was coming +alongside, he had started up and reached for his pistols. But Ryan had +satisfied him completely. + +“We could have shot every one of them before the boat came alongside, +had we wanted to, _amigo_,” he said. + +“Had they no arms?” asked the wounded man. + +“None--not so much as a cutlass even. Diego, Rivas, and Garcia, who +helped them to discharge the boat, saw everything taken out of her but +the oars and sails. There was a big man--a half-caste, who was dressed +like a white man--in charge of the four Samoans. I asked him to come on +deck and have a glass of grog; but he said his crew did not want him +to leave the boat. They were frightened, he said, because our men had +pistols in their belts.” + +Almanza gave a sigh of relief. “And you are sure they will return and +tow us?” + +“Sure, _amigo_.” + +And just as supper was over, and Frewen and Ryan returned to the deck, a +sailor called out that the whale boat and five others were in sight. + +“Ah, my partner is not the man to lose time in an important matter like +this, Captain Ryan,” said Frewen; “your tow-line will be tautened out +before the three hours we mentioned.” + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Soon after Raymond and the old chief with his followers had set out for +the ship, and when the swift tropic night had closed in upon the island, +Captain Marston died. He was conscious when his kindly host and Randall +Cheyne had returned, and before he passed away, thanked the planter +sincerely for all that he had done for his wife, his crew, and himself; +for he well knew that his end was near. + +“I fear that nothing will ever be heard of my ship again,” he said, in +a whisper. “They will scuttle or burn her. My poor wife!” and he +pressed her hand. “But thank God, Amy, you will not be quite penniless. +Mercado” (his agent in Valparaiso) “will have about two or three +thousand pounds to pay you for some cargo he bought from me. You must +go there. He is an honourable man, and will not seek to evade his +liabilities. I know him well.” + +Raymond, whose heart was overflowing with pity for the dying man, could +no longer restrain himself. At first he had decided not to say a word +to Marston about the intended recapture of the ship, for fear it would +excite him; but now, when he saw how calmly and collectedly he spoke of +her future to his wife, he changed his mind, and, bending down, said:-- + +“Captain Marston, I must say a few words to you and Mrs. Marston. I did +not intend to do so just now, but I know that they will bring you peace +of mind, and help you to recovery. I have good news for you.” + +Marston looked at him eagerly, and his wife, with her hands clasped, +moved a little nearer to the planter, who was speaking in very low tones +so as not to disturb or excite a man whom he knew was dying bodily, but +whose brain was alive. + +“Is it about my ship?” + +“Yes. She is within six miles of this house, lying becalmed, and, before +midnight, will be recaptured by some good friends of mine, and at anchor +in this bay by daylight.” + +Marston's lips quivered, and the agonising look of inquiry and doubt in +his eyes was so piteous to behold that Raymond went on more rapidly. + +“You may absolutely rely upon what I say. The _Esmeralda_ has been in +sight since early in the forenoon. I boarded her this morning with the +express purpose of seeing if it were possible to recapture her, and +have only just returned. And I assure you on my word of honour that she +_shall_ be recaptured before midnight, without bloodshed, I trust; for +the mutineers are completely off their guard, believing I am returning +with fifty natives in several boats to tow the ship out of danger, +purely out of kindness to their leader.” + +“You are indeed a good friend,” murmured Marston slowly and haltingly. +“My wife has told me your name... I know my time is short. If you +recapture my ship... she is worth six thousand pounds, and the specie on +board amounts to nine thousand. I commend my wife to your care------” + +Raymond pressed his hand, and urged him not to say anything further, but +Marston, whose eyes were now lightened by that ephemeral light so often +seen in the eyes of the dying, went on-- + +“I commend my wife to your care... and Villari--is he dead?” + +“No, Harry,” whispered Mrs. Marston, “he is not dead, but badly +wounded.” + +“Poor Villari... a born sailorman, though an Italian.... Mr. Raymond, +Amy... Let him command.... I should have taken his advice... And give +him five hundred pounds, Amy.... You, Mr. Raymond, will be entitled to a +third of the value of the ship and her cargo... You understand?” + +“I will not take a penny,” said Raymond, as he rose. “Now I must be +going. But have no fear for the _Esmeralda_. She will be at anchor in +this bay to-morrow morning.” + +Marston put his hand gently over towards him, and pressing it softly, +Raymond withdrew. + +His wife met him at the door. Her dark, Spanishlike face showed traces +of tears, but she smiled bravely as he put his arms around her and +kissed her. + +“Tom, dear, you must not be angry. I have not been crying for fear that +something may happen to you if there is a fight with those dreadful men +on board the ship--for I am _sure_ that you will come back to me and our +little one safe and sound--but I do so pity poor Mrs. Marston, Tom, if +Captain Marston dies.” + +“I think that there is no possible hope of his recovery, dear.” + +“Then she must stay with us, Tom, for some time, until she is stronger. +She will need to have a woman's care soon.” + +Raymond kissed his wife again. “As you will, Marie; you always think of +others. And I shall be very glad if she will stay with us.” + +Ten minutes later she walked down to the beach, and watched her husband +and Maliê with his followers depart, and then she slowly returned home +along a winding path bordered by shaddock trees, whose slender branches +were weighted down with the great golden-hued fruit. As she reached the +verandah steps a pretty little girl of four years of age ran up to her, +and held out her arms to be taken up. + +“Where has father gone, Muzzie?” she said in English, and then rapidly +added in Samoan, “_Ua alu ia i moana?_” (“Has he gone upon the sea?”) + +“Yes, Loisé. He has gone upon the sea, but will soon return. Where is +Mâlu?” + +“Here, lady,” replied a woman's voice in the soft Samoan tongue, and a +pleasant-faced, grey-haired woman of fifty came down the steps, and took +the child from her mother's arms, and as she did so, whispered, “The +tide hath turned to the ebb.” {*} + + * Note by the Author.--Nearly all Polynesians and + Micronesians believed most firmly that the dissolution of + soul from body always (excepting in cases of sudden death by + violence or accident) occurred when the tide is on the ebb. + From a long experience of life in the Pacific Islands, the + writer is thoroughly imbued with and endorses that belief. + The idea of the passing away of life with the ebbing of the + tide will doubtless seem absurd to the European and + civilised mind, but it must be remembered that an inborn and + inherited belief, such as this, does, with many so-called + semi-savage races, produce certain physical conditions that + are well understood by pathologists. + +“Ay, good Mâlu. I know it. So keep the child within thy own room, so +that the house may be quiet.” + +Old Mâlu, who had nursed Mrs. Raymond's mother, bent her head in assent, +and went inside, and her mistress sat down in one of the cane-work +lounge chairs on the wide verandah and closed her eyes, for she was +wearied, physically and mentally. Her nerves had been strained greatly +by the events of the day, and now the knowledge that within a few feet +of where she sat, a life was passing away, and a woman's heart was +breaking, saddened her greatly. + +“I must not give way,” she thought. “I must go and see how the wounded +men are doing.” + +But ere she knew it, there came the low but hoarse murmuring cries of +myriad terns and gulls flying homewards to the land, mingled with the +deep evening note of the blue mountain pigeons; and then kindly slumber +came, and rest for the troubled brain and sorrowing heart. + +She had slept for nearly an hour when a young native girl servant, who +had been left to wait upon Mrs. Marston, came quickly but softly along +the verandah and touched her arm. + +“Awake, Marie,{*} and come to the white lady.” + + * It will doubtless strike the reader as being peculiar that + an educated and refined woman such as I have endeavoured to + portray in Mrs. Raymond would allow a servant to address her + by her Christian name. But the explanation is very simple: + In many European families living in Polynesia and in + Micronesia the native servants usually address their masters + and mistresses and their children by their Christian names-- + unless it is a missionary household, when the master would + be addressed as “Misi “(Mr.) and the mistress as “Misi + fafine “(Mrs.). The difference does not in the least imply + that the servant speaks to the lay white man and his wife in + a more familiar manner than he would to his spiritual + teacher. No disrespect nor rude familiarity is intended-- + quite the reverse; it is merely an affectionate manner of + speaking to the employer, not _as_ an employer, but as the + friend of the household generally. It is related of the + martyred missionary John Williams, that a colleague of his + in Tahiti once reproved a native youth for addressing Mr. + Williams as “Viriamu” (Williams) instead of “Misi Yiriamu” + (Mr. Williams), whereupon the pioneer of missionary + enterprise in the South Seas remarked--” It does not matter, + Mr. -----, I infinitely prefer to be called + 'Viriamu' than 'Tione Viriamu Mamae' (the Sacred, or + Reverend, John Williams).” + +She rose and followed the girl to the room where Marston lay. His wife +was kneeling by him with her lips pressed to his. + +Marie Raymond knelt beside her, and passed her arm around her waist. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Closely followed by the five native boats, that in which Raymond was +seated with Maliê, and which was steered by Randall Cheyne, first came +alongside, and the latter called out to Foster, who was standing in the +waist, to pass down the end of the tow line. This was at once done, +and then, as Maliê and Raymond left the boat and ascended to the deck, +Cheyne went ahead with his tow line, and was soon joined by the native +craft, and within a quarter of an hour the _Esmeralda_ was moving +through the water. + +The instructions given to the half-caste by the chief and Frewen were +to tow the ship to the south-east, with the land on the port hand. This +would not only take her out of danger, but would prevent suspicion being +engendered in the minds of the mutineers by their seeing that she was +actually being taken away from, instead of towards the land. Both Frewen +and Maliê had decided that she was not to be re-captured till she was +well into soundings, for events might arise which would necessitate her +being brought to an anchor, especially if continuous heavy rain should +fall during the night. + +As soon as Raymond and the stalwart chief ascended to the poop, the +pseudo-captain received them most affably, complimented them on the +smart manner in which the boats had gone ahead with the line, and then +asked them to take some refreshment The offer was accepted, for neither +had had the inclination to eat anything on shore--they, like their men, +were too eager to get possession of the ship to trouble about food. + +Ryan sat at the table with them as they ate, and repeated his fiction +regarding the accident to his chief officer, at which the planter +politely expressed his concern. Then the mutineer, in a casual sort of +a way, asked Raymond if there had been any English or American war-ships +cruising about Samoa lately. + +“No, not for a long time, but I did hear that the American corvette +_Adams_ was expected here last year, but she must have passed by here, +and gone on to Fiji There is always work for a man-of-war there at any +time--the Fijians are a rough lot, and hardly a month passes without +some European trader or sailor being killed and eaten, or else badly +hurt. Even at the present time all the people living in the eastward +islands of the Fiji Group are rank cannibals. It is a place to be +avoided.” + +“Ah, well, I won't go near there,” said the mutineer, somewhat +meditatively. + +“No, of course not,” said the planter; “I suppose that your course for +Batavia will take you to the northwest after you leave here--Fiji is six +hundred miles to the south-west.” + +“I did think of putting in there when my mate met with his +accident--thought I would find a doctor there; but now, thanks to your +friend, I shall not need one for him--he is much better already.” + +“That is fortunate,” said Raymond: “he might have died before you could +reach the port of Levuka in Fiji. And besides that, I doubt if you would +find a doctor living there. I have never heard of any medical man being +settled in Fiji. On the other hand you could have left him on shore, +where he would at least have met with good nursing from some of the +English ladies there; and you could easily have obtained another mate; +there are dozens of ex-skippers and mates idling about in Fiji.” + +Ryan had learnt all he wanted to know, and he changed the subject. He +was still anxious about Almanza not living--for no one could tell what +might occur to the _Esmeralda_ if he died and the ship was left without +a navigator. He (Ryan) and Foster would have had no objection to ridding +themselves of him, were either one of them able to navigate the ship as +far as the Philippine Islands. They had all three previously agreed with +the rest of the crew as to their future plans, after they had disposed +of Marston and those who were faithful to him. When within sight of +Luzon--and abreast of Manila--the ship was to be scuttled, and the +mutineers with their plunder in two boats were to make for a part of the +coast where there was a village, well-known to Rivas and Garcia. +Here the money was to be divided, and every man was to shift for +himself--some to go to Manila, others taking passage to that den of +thieves, the Portuguese settlement of Maoao, where they meant to enjoy +themselves after their manner. + +When Raymond and the chief returned on deck, they found the ship was +making good progress through the smooth sea, the natives in the boats +singing a melodious chorus as, all in perfect unison, they plunged their +broad-bladed paddles in the water, and the tow line surged and shook off +thousands of phosphorescent drops at every united stroke. The night was +dark, but not quite starless, and presently Frewen, who was talking to +Foster, remarked that some heavy rain would fall in a short time. + +“Our natives won't like that,” said Raymond to “Captain Ryan”; “like all +Kanakas, they hate being wetted with rain, though they will spend half a +day in the rivers bathing and playing games in the water.” + +“A few bottles of grog will keep up their courage,” said Frewen, +“especially some rum. Have you any to spare, captain?” + +“Any amount.” + +“Then I'll tell Cheyne to let the boats come alongside in turn, and +we'll give all the natives a good rousing nip before the rain comes.” + +He walked for'ard and stood on the topgallant foc'sle and gave a loud +hail. + +“Boat ahoy!” + +The singing ceased in an instant, and then Randall's voice answered-- + +“Hallo! what is it?” + +“Come aboard and get a glass of grog. Tell the men in the other boats +they can follow in turn.” + +“Ay, ay, sir,” replied the half-caste in such loud tones that he was +heard distinctly on the after-deck, “they'll be glad enough of it; we'll +get plenty of cold fresh water presently outside, and some rum to put +inside will be just the thing.” + +Both Raymond and the two Greeks laughed, and then a minute or two later +Cheyne and his boat's crew were alongside, and were given a pint of rum +between them. They drank it off “neat,” and after lighting their pipes, +went back to their boat, and let another come alongside. She was manned +by a dozen natives, who were all given a stiff glass of grog. They +remained but a few minutes, and then went off to give place to the third +boat, in which were twenty men. They scrambled over the side, laughing +and talking, and then, just as the first five or six of them had been +served, the rain poured suddenly down and made such a terrific noise +that the shouts of the men in the other boats could not be heard, and +the ship was at once enveloped in a thick steamy mist, which rendered +even objects on deck invisible. + +“It will only last about ten minutes,” shouted Frewen to Ryan as they, +with Raymond and Maliê, took shelter in the companion-way. + +“Where are all those men of yours?” asked the mutineer somewhat +anxiously. + +Frewen's answer reassured him. “All bolted for shelter,” he said with a +laugh, “without even waiting to get their grog. I hope your men will let +them crawl in somewhere.” Then turning to Maliê, he said in English-- + +“Call to them, Malië.” + +Malié stepped out on the deck, and presently Ryan and the others heard +him speaking. In a minute or two I he reappeared with three or four +stalwart natives, all dripping wet, and said something to Raymond, who +translated the remark to Ryan. + +“All the others have bolted like rabbits, some into the galley, and +others into the foc'sle,” he said. + +In less than the ten minutes predicted by Frewen the rain ceased as +if by magic; the natives gathered together again on the main deck, +completed their grog drinking, went into their boat again, and poshed +off to resume their labour. + +In the course of another half an hour every one of the native boats' +crews had had his small tumblerful of neat rum, and then, as their +paddles plunged into the placid water, once more they sang their +chorus-- + +“_Ala, tamaaitii, Alo foe!_” (“Pull, boys, pull!”) + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Six bells struck, and then once more the stars went out, and the sky +changed from blue to dull grey. + +“Very heavy rain will fall again presently,” said Raymond to the leader +of the mutineers, “and as the ship is well now in the counter current +and out of danger, the chief would like to call his men alongside for a +rest. But we'll tow you for another mile or so after the rain ceases--if +you wish it.” + +Ryan was keenly anxious to put as much distance between the land and +the _Esmeralda_ as possible, for he was haunted by the fear that the +captain's boat had been picked up by some ship which might be sighted at +any time. The further away from the land, the safer he would feel. + +“I should like them to tow me along for another hour or two, after the +rain is oyer,” he said. “I will pay liberally.” + +Raymond spoke to the chief in Samoan and told him the captain's request, +and Maliè answered in the same language. + +“As you will, Lèmonti. But why toil any longer? My men are all ready and +anxious. We can take the ship now at any time, once my men are here.” + +“And I, too, am ready, Alalia. But it was in my mind to wait and see if, +when the bell strikes eight, half of the _auva'a_ (ship's crew) would +not go below to sleep, so that we shall have less disturbance.” + +“What matters it?” said Alalia with good-humoured contempt; “there are +less than a score of them, and when the word is spoken they will be as +easily overpowered and bound as a strong man can overpower and bind a +child.” + +“Then let it be as you say,” said Raymond in the same quiet tones; “let +us call the men on board, and, when the bell is struck at midnight, +we shall seize those evil men together--as the bell is struck the last +time.” + +“Good!” said the chief, as he nonchalantly rolled himself a cigarette in +a piece of dried banana leaf which he took from his tappa waist cloth. +“I will tell them how to act.” + +“What does he say?” asked Ryan. + +“He is quite willing, but he says his men are really tired now, and want +a good long spell. They are not used to such work, and he does not +want to give them cause for grumbling. They are very touchy sometimes. +However, after the next downpour clears off, they will tow you another +two or three miles.” (And Raymond meant this literally, for he, Frewen, +and the chief wanted to see the _Esmeralda_ at anchor off Samatau by +daylight.) + +At a call from Raymond the boats came alongside, and as the crews +clambered on deck Maliê told them how to dispose themselves about the +ship so that when the signal was given the mutineers could be seised +without their being afforded any opportunity of resistance. Five or six +of his best men followed him aft, whilst the others mingled with the +crew, most of them going down into the foc'sle. The Chilenos, however, +although satisfied of the friendly intentions of their visitors, were +still a little nervous, for, despite the fact that none of the natives +carried even so much as a knife, the wild appearance they presented was +somewhat disconcerting to men who had never before come in contact with +what they termed “savages.” Fully one half of Malië's followers were +men of such stature that the undersized though wiry Chilenos looked like +dwarfs beside them; then, in addition to this, their immense “mops” of +bright golden hair--dyed that colour by the application of lime--and +their wonderfully tatooed bodies, with the first intricate lines +beginning at the waist and ending at the knees, accentuated the velvety +and rich reddish brown of their skins. Each of the Chileno seamen still +carried a brace of pistols in his belt and a cutlass hung by his side, +but the natives apparently took no notice of such a manifestation of +distrust, and they and the mutineers exchanged cigars and cigarettes as +if they were the best friends in the world. + +Suddenly the rain fell, and all other sounds were deadened by the +downpour; it continued for three-quarters of an hour, and then, as +Frewen remarked, ceased with a “snap.” + +In the main cabin Raymond, with Maliê, was seated at the table talking +to Ryan; on the poop and under the shelter of the temporary awning +were Cheyne, Frewen, Foster, the ruffianly Rivas, and two other of the +Ghileno seamen, with three of the natives who had accompanied Cheyne and +his Mend from Lepâ. + +Five minutes before eight bells Foster turned to Rivas, and, speaking in +Spanish, told him to go for'ard and tell the hands that there would be +no watch below that night, all hands were to stay on deck till daylight. + +Frewen gave Cheyne a glance, and the half-caste sauntered off after +Rivas, whilst the three Samoans moved nearer towards the two Ghilenos. + +“Mr. Foster” went to the skylight and looked down into the cabin at the +clock, which was placed so that it could be seen by any one standing +beside the binnacle. Then he looked at a handsome gold watch, which two +days previously had been in Villari's vest pocket, and, stepping to the +break of the poop, called out-- + +“Eight bells!” + +The big bell under the topgallant foc'sle sent out its deep, sonorous +clang, and as the last note was struck, “Mr. Foster” went over on his +back with a crash, and in another five seconds Frewen had turned him +over on his face and was lashing his hands behind him. The Greek was too +stunned to even try to speak, and when he came to again he found lying +beside him Rivas and the other two Ghileno sailors, with half a dozen +Samoans standing guard over them. + +Down in the cabin Raymond and Malië had been equally as quick, and when +Frewen and Cheyne came below they found “Captain” Ryan, together with +the Chileno who was acting as steward, tied hand and foot and lying +outside Captain Maraton's stateroom door. + +“Everything all right, Mr. Frewen?” inquired Raymond. + +“Everything. All the gentry up for'ard are bussed up comfortably like +fowls for cooking. No one has been hurt; Maliè's men simply picked the +mongrels up by the scruff of their necks and then tied them up. The ship +is ours.” + +“Then you are in command, Mr. Frewen. Please give your orders.” + +“Very well, Mr. Raymond. But first let me see to the distinguished Senor +Almanza.” + +He opened the door of Almanza's stateroom. The Chilian was asleep. +Frewen was about to touch and awaken him but pity for a badly wounded +man predominated, so he let him lie undisturbed. + +“Now, Mr. Raymond, I am at your service. Will you ask Malië to man his +boats, and we will start towing again.” + +“With pleasure. But let us first call our good men together and drink +success to ourselves and the _Esmeralda_. And then, whilst we are being +towed towards Samatau, we can overhaul poor Captain Marston's cabin. All +the specie, so this scoundrel tells me”--and he pointed to the Chileno +steward--“is still in a safe in the captain's cabin, and has not yet +been touched. But it was to be divided to-morrow.” + +And then Randall Cheyne sprang on deck and shouted out in Samoan-- + +“Friends, the ship is ours! Let ten men remain on board to guard these +murderers, and the rest take to the boats and tow the ship to Samatau.” + +The willing natives answered him with a loud “Ave!” and ten minutes +later the _Esmeralda_ was again moving through the water. + +An hour before daylight her cable rattled through her hawse-pipe, and +she swung quietly to her anchor in Samatau Bay. + + +END OF BOOK I + + + + +BOOK II + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Twelve months had come and gone, and Frewen, now “Captain” Frewen, was +seated in the office of Ramon Mercado, the Valparaiso agent of the late +captain and owner of the _Esmeralda_, which had arrived in port the +previous day. + +The worthy merchant--a little stout man with merry, twinkling eyes--was +listening to the detailed story of the capture of the ship by the +mutineers, her subsequent recapture, and of all that had occurred since +she had been brought to an anchor in front of Raymond's house in Samatau +Bay. Mercado himself, four months previously, had received a letter from +Mrs. Marston, acquainting him with what had occurred up to the time of +her husband's death, and telling him that the _Esmeralda_, as soon as a +crew could be obtained, would sail under Frewen's command for Manila, +and from there proceed to Newcastle, in New South Wales, and load a +cargo of coal for Valparaiso. This letter had reached him by an American +whale-ship which had touched at Samoa (a month or two after the +_Esmeralda_ had sailed for Manila), and which, after cruising among the +Galapagos Islands, had, as the master had told Mrs. Marston would be +very likely, called at Valparaiso to refit. + +* * * * * + +A few days after the burial of Captain Marston his wife asked Frewen +to take command of the ship, as Villari would be incapacitated for some +months. + +Villari himself had at first strenuously, and even somewhat bitterly, +protested. + +“Why should Mr. Frewen, much as he has done to help you to recapture +the ship, be given command?” he said excitedly to Raymond. “Does Mrs. +Marston distrust me? Do I not possess her confidence as I did that of +her husband? Beg her to come to me. Surely she will not give the command +of the ship to a stranger! I tell you, Mr. Raymond, that I would give my +life for Mrs. Marston, as I was ready to give it for her husband,” and +his dark eyes blazed. + +“There is no reflection either upon your integrity or ability, Mr. +Villari,” said the planter. “But here is the situation--and I am sure +your own sound sense will make you approve of Mrs. Marston asking Mr. +Frewen to take charge of the _Esmeralda_. And, before I go any further, +I must tell you that Mr. Frewen not only did not seek the position, but +said pointedly to Mrs. Marston--only an hour or two ago--that he would +be quite satisfied to sail with you as mate. He is as honest as the sun. +Pray do not for one moment imagine that he has supplanted you.” + +“Then let him come with me as mate,” urged the Italian. + +Raymond shook his head. “It is quite out of the question your taking +command, Mr. Villari. You will not be able to get about for some months, +and I, as a business man, see the necessity of the ship proceeding on +her voyage as quickly as possible. She has a cargo that will bring a +large sum of money to Mrs. Marston if it is delivered in Manila in +good time. But in this humid climate it would become worthless in a +few months. And it was purely my suggestion to Mrs. Marston to ask Mr. +Frewen to take charge. She is, as you know, almost heartbroken at the +calamity which has overtaken her. And then your remaining here will, +I am sure, be a source of comfort to her, for she has the very highest +opinion of you.” + +Villari's eyes sparkled with pleasure. “What! Is not Mrs. Marston +sailing in the _Esmeralda?_” + +“No; it will be better for her to remain here until the youngster comes. +My wife and I will be only too glad to have her with us. It would be +impossible for her to go to sea now her poor husband is dead. And she +knows no one in Manila. So you must be content to remain here at Samatau +as my welcome guest. Frewen will take the ship to Manila, and then +decide as to his future course. He thinks that after selling the +cargo at Manila he should proceed to Australia for a cargo of coal for +Valparaiso. I think it a very sensible suggestion, especially as he can +then see poor Marston's agent there and settle up with him regarding +some money due to Marston.” + +The Italian's face assumed a placid appearance. “You are quite right, +Mr. Raymond. And I shall be content to remain here. _Per Bacco!_ +Mr. Frewen is a gentleman, and I wish him all good lack with the +_Esmeralda_. But I should like the lady to know that I am prepared to +return to the ship this moment if she so wishes it.” + +“She does know it, Mr. Villari. You have her full esteem and +confidence--as you had that of her poor husband, who just before he died +anxiously inquired about you, and said that he regretted not taking your +advice concerning the two Greeks.” + +“Ah! Mr. Raymond,” and the man raised and clenched his right hand, “I +was a fool! I suspected that mischief was afoot that night when I found +Almanza and the two Greeks talking together; I simply reported the +matter to the captain, who thought nothing of it. Had I done my duty I +should have watched, for no one can trust a Greek.” + +“Do not reproach yourself, Mr. Villari. I may as well tell you that poor +Captain Marston, when he was inquiring about you just before he died, +spoke in the highest terms of you, and asked Mrs. Marston to see that +you were given five hundred pounds.” + +Villari raised himself on his elbow. “I swear to you, Mr. Raymond, that +I do not want any money--compensation--reward--gift--call it what you +will--for doing my duty as a seaman. Captain Marston was not only my +captain, but my friend. And I would give my life for his wife. Tell her +from me that it will hurt me if she even speaks of this money to me.” + +“As you will, Mr. Villari,” said Raymond kindly, who saw that the +Italian was excited. “I will tell her to-morrow. But I trust you will +now understand that Mr. Frewen had no desire to supplant you in any +way.” + +“I understand. Can I see him now, for there is much that I have to tell +him about the ship--things that he would like to know.” + +So Frewen came in, and he and the Italian mate had quite a long talk +about the _Esmeralda_, and when they parted they did so with a feeling +of growing friendship. + +Anxious to obtain a reliable crew as quickly as possible, Frewen, on the +following day, sent Randall Gheyne to Lepi to see if he could persuade +the men who had deserted from the _Casilda_ to come and help man the +_Esmeralda_. But they were all too enamoured of island life to accept +the offer he made them, which was generous enough--two hundred and fifty +dollars each for the voyage to Manila. So Cheyne came back disappointed, +and Frewen then went to Apia in the _Casilda's_ whale-boat, and +succeeded in engaging ten natives of Niué,{*} who, with half a dozen +Samoans, made up a sufficient complement for the ship. + + * Niué, the “Savage Island” of Captain Cook. The natives + are always in great request as seamen. Even to the present + day most of the trading vessels carry a few Niué seamen. + +During this time Almansa and his fellow-mutineers had been confined on +board the ship, guarded by a number of Malië's warriors. Then to the +joy of Raymond and Frewen there came into Apia Harbour a British gunboat +bound from the Phoenix Islands to Sydney, and within forty-eight hours +the planter, accompanied by the unwounded survivors of the English crew +of the _Esmeralda_, were on board, and related the tale of the mutiny to +the captain of the man-of-war. + +“I am letting myself in for a lot of trouble, Mr. Raymond,” said the +captain of the warship, “but I do not see how I can avoid it. I suppose +that as the _Esmeralda_ is a British ship and is now in distress I must +be a sort of fairy godmother and take these beastly mongrels of Chilenos +and Greeks to Sydney to be hanged on the evidence of these men whom you +have brought. By the way, Mrs. Marston can have a passage with me if she +wishes it.” + +Raymond thanked him, and said Mrs. Marston wished to remain at Samatau +with his (Raymond's) wife for an indefinite time. + +“Very well, Mr. Raymond. I should be delighted to give her a passage to +Sydney, and I'm delighted she can't come. You understand me? I cannot +refuse a passage to a lady in such circumstances as Mrs. Marston, but +the _Virago_ is a man-of-war, and--you know.” + +Raymond laughed. “I think I know what you mean, Captain Armitage; a +lady passenger on a man-of-war would be a bit of a trial. But on Mrs. +Marston's behalf I thank you sincerely.” + +“That's all right,” said the bluff commander of the _Virago_; “now you +can get home, and in a day or so I'll come round to Samatau and take +these mutineering scoundrels into custody. Pity you did not get your +Samoan friend Malië to hang or shoot them out of hand. It would have +saved Her Majesty's Government something in food, and me much trouble.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +“I must congratulate you, captain,” said the merchant, when Frewen had +finished his story; “and I trust you will always retain command of the +_Esmeralda_. She is a beautiful ship, and, ever since you took charge, +has proved herself a lucky one.” + +“I certainly have had great luck. We had a beautiful passage to Manila +from Samoa, and from Manila to Newcastle I made the quickest run on +record, and from there to Valparaiso we were only thirty-five days.” + +Some further conversation followed regarding the future movements of the +ship, and it was arranged that she should load Chilian flour for Sydney, +and from there proceed to Samoa for orders from her owner. + +Three weeks later, Frewen bid the hospitable Meroado goodbye, and sailed +for Sydney. The merchant had sold the cargo brought from Newcastle very +satisfactorily, and in addition to the amount given him for this, Frewen +also received from Mercado over two thousand pounds belonging to Captain +Marston's estate. + +The crew of the _Esmeralda_ consisted of twenty men, ten of whom were +either Englishmen, Americans, and Scandinavians, and ten stalwart +natives of Savage Island. The first officer was a Dane named Petersen, +whom Frewen had engaged at Samoa. He was an excellent seaman, and took a +great pride in the ship; the second officer was Randall Cheyne; and the +third, a sturdy old Yorkshireman of sixty, with the frame and voice of a +bull. Frewen was as satisfied with his officers as he was with his crew, +and the exceedingly good fortune which had attended him since he had +taken charge at Samatau had put him in a very pleasant frame of mind, +and he was eagerly looking forward to meeting Mrs. Marston and rendering +an account of his stewardship. When he reached Sydney from Manila he +had placed a considerable sum to her credit, and learned that Captain +Armitage, of the _Virago_, who had conveyed to Sydney the specie which +was on board the _Esmeralda_ when the mutiny had occurred, had safely +deposited it in her name in the leading bank there. He found that +the mutineers had been tried and sentenced; two of them, “Foster” and +“Ryan,” going to the gallows, whilst Almanza and the Chileno seamen all +received long terms of imprisonment. The trial had aroused considerable +excitement, and so, when the _Esmeralda_ arrived, she was visited by +many hundreds of people. In Sydney Harbour in those days might be seen +numbers of the finest sailing vessels in the world; many of them were +noted “crack” passenger ships trading between London and Sydney and +Melbourne, but not one of them surpassed the _Esmeralda_ in her graceful +lines and beautiful appearance. Then, too, the extraordinarily quick +passage she had made from Manila gave her further fame, and nearly +all the ship masters in port called on board, and paid Frewen many +compliments. Through the manager of the bank in which he had deposited +the money for Mrs. Marston, he was introduced to an excellent agent--a +Mr. Beilby--who was a shipowner as well, and had for many years employed +a fleet of small vessels in the South Sea Islands trade. + +The voyage across the Pacific from Valparaiso to Sydney was +disappointing--calms and light, variable winds being met with for nearly +a month; and then between Australia and New Zealand, two weeks of savage +westerly gales tried the ship's weatherly qualities to the utmost. +However, after a passage of nearly seven weeks, she once more dropped +anchor in the deep, blue waters of the most beautiful harbour in the +southern hemisphere. + +The agent at once came on board, and Frewen was glad to receive two +letters from him--one from Raymond, the other from Mrs. Marston. The +latter afforded him great pleasure to read, and was to the effect +that she would be very glad to see him back in Samoa, as she wished to +consult him in regard to a project of Mr. Raymond's. + +“What the project is, he will himself explain to you in writing. I shall +be very pleased if you and he come to an arrangement, especially as I +have made up my mind to remain here at Samatau indefinitely with Mrs. +Raymond, or somewhere near her, and as her husband may be away from her +for many months at a time (this, however, all depends upon yourself) +this will be equally as pleasant for her as for me. I feel that I have +a home here, and in fact I may remain in Samoa altogether. Anyway, Mr. +Raymond is now in treaty with Malië for a piece of land adjoining his +own estate. If he secures it for me, I am having a house built upon it.” + +Raymond's letter was a voluminous one, but Frewen soon became deeply +engrossed in its contents. + +“My dear Frewen (let us now drop the 'Sir' and 'Captain,' for I am sure +we each regard the other as a friend), I am now starting on a very long +letter, and have but little time in which to finish it, for the _Dancing +Wave_, by which I am sending it, leaves Apia to-morrow at daylight, and +it will take a native runner all his time to cross over the mountains +with it to Apia.” + +Then he went on to say that, about six months previously, Maliê had been +approached by a German gentleman (who had just arrived from Hamburg) and +asked if he would sell a large tract of land near Samatau. The chief +at once consulted Raymond, who could not help feeling some natural +curiosity as to the object of the German gentleman making such a large +purchase of land so far away from the principal port of the group +(Apia). Maliê could give him no information on the subject--all he knew +was that he (Maliê) had been offered a very fair price for a tract of +country that he was willing to lease, but not to sell, for on it were +several villages, and the soil was of such fertility that the people +would deeply resent their chief parting with it and making them remove +to less productive lands. + +On the spur of the moment--and feeling that there was some very good +reason for the German making the chief such a substantial offer--Raymond +said to Maliê-- + +“The German has offered you ten thousand dollars for the land, but will +not lease it from you. Now I am not a rich man, and even if you were +willing to sell it to me for five thousand dollars, I could not buy it. +But I will lease it from you for one year. I will not disturb any of +your people, but at the end of the year I will make you another offer. +There is some mischief on foot, Maliê. Let you and I go to Apia and find +out who this man is, and why he is so eager to buy your land.” + +They set out together, and at Apia gained all the information they +desired. The German gentleman was the agent of a rich corporation of +Hamburg merchants who wished to purchase all the available land in Samoa +for the purpose of founding a colony, the principal industry of which +would be cotton-growing. Cotton was bringing fabulous prices in Europe, +and the corporation had already made purchases of land both in Fiji and +Tahiti, and were using every effort to obtain more. + +Raymond quickly made up his mind as to his course of action. He had a +hurried interview with two other English planters, and a partnership of +three was formed in half an hour. They had then made an agreement with +Maliê and another chief to lease all the unoccupied country for many +miles on each side of Samatau Bay. + +“Now,” the letter went on, “here is what we purpose to do. We are going +to found the biggest cotton and coffee plantation in all the South Seas, +and will make a pile of money. But the one all-important thing is +to have plenty of labour, and that we can only obtain from other +islands--New Britain, the Solomon Group, and thereabouts, and also from +the Equatorial Islands. But it is risky work recruiting labour with +small, weakly-manned schooners. What is required is a big lump of a +vessel, well armed, and with two crews--a white crew to work the ship +and a native crew to work the boats. The _Esmeralda_ is just the ship. +She can carry six hundred native passengers, and in two trips we shall +have all the labourers we want, instead of getting them in drafts of +fifty or sixty at a time by small schooners--which would always be +liable to be cut off and all hands killed--especially in the Solomon +Islands. + +“I laid our scheme before Mrs. Marston, and, to be as brief as possible, +she is not only willing to let us charter her ship, but also wishes to +take a share in the venture. But she wants you to keep command of the +_Esmeralda_, as I trust you will.” + +Then followed a long list of stores, trade goods, arms, ammunition, &c, +&c, which Raymond wished Frewen to purchase in Sydney, and the letter +concluded with a request for him to leave for Samatau as quickly as +possible. + +On a separate sheet he made mention of Villari, saying that he had +thoroughly recovered from his wound and was living at Apia. + +“To tell you the truth, we are all glad he has gone away from us, for he +fell madly in love with Mrs. Marston, and proposed to her, and took +her kindly rejection of him very badly. He then left the house, but has +twice since come to see her. At last she began to get alarmed at +his conduct, and finally I had to frankly tell him that he was an +undesirable visitor. It stung him deeply, but he persists in writing her +the most passionate letters, asking her to reconsider her decision. I +am sorry for the fellow, as we all liked him. Frohmann, the new German +doctor at Apia, told me that he believes the poor fellow is not 'all +there' mentally.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Frewen showed his letters to the agent Beilby, who corroborated +Raymond's statement in every particular regarding the money that could +be made by growing cotton on an organised system with native labour, +and with proper machinery to clean and pack it; and he also bore out the +planter's remarks about the danger that attended small vessels employed +in the black labour trade. + +“You have seen a good deal of the natives of the South Sea Islands, +Captain Frewen, and know what desperate cut-throats are those of the +Western Pacific Groups. Two small trading vessels of my own have been +cut off within the last five years, and every soul massacred, and the +vessels looted and then burnt. It is a most difficult matter to keep +a swarm of natives off the decks of a vessel with a low freeboard, all +they have to do is to step out of their canoes over the rail, and if +they are bent on mischief they can simply overpower a small vessel's +company by mere weight of numbers. You will be surprised to hear +that, even now, some of the Sydney trading craft use the old-fashioned +boarding nettings, and their skippers only allow a certain number +of natives on board at a time. But with a large vessel like the +_Esmeralda_, this very great source of danger--the low freeboard--is +absent; and besides that, you can carry a crew large enough to squelch +any attempt at a rising, if, after you get them on board, your gentle +passengers took it into their heads to attempt to possess themselves of +the ship.” + +“Just so. And I have heard of several instances where Honolulu and +Tahiti labour vessels have been captured, even though they carried large +crews and were well armed.” + +“Exactly! Just carelessness. You never know, when you have a hundred or +so of these savages on board, what they may do. They all know that they +are going to a foreign country to work on sugar or cotton plantations +for three years, at the end of which they will be paid for their labour +in guns, powder, beads, calicoes, &c, &c. Well, they come on board +perfectly content, and all goes well for a week or two, until some of +them begin to notice that the crew are not keeping such a good watch +over them as they did when they first came on board. These fellows begin +the mischief. 'Why should we not kill the white men on board?' (they +will argue) 'and help ourselves to _everything_--guns, pistols, powder, +and bullets, cutlasses, grog and tobacco, and all the other riches in +the ship? It is much better than working for three years for one gun and +one keg of powder and bag of bullets, a knife or two, and a few other +things, and then bringing them back to our own country to be despoiled +of them by our relations.' Do you understand, Captain Frewen?” + +“Quite.” + +“Well, they lie low and wait, and when the opportunity comes the beggars +set to work with a vengeance-Only three years ago one of the Hawaiian +Islands labour vessels recruited ninety Gilbert Islands natives to work +on the new sugar plantations near Honolulu. They behaved themselves +splendidly--for they were well treated--for about a fortnight, and the +skipper of the vessel (an old hand in the island trade) allowed them to +lie on deck at night, feeling sure that they would give no trouble. More +than this, he even told his officers and crew to discontinue carrying +their Colts' pistols. The result was that one night, when the watch were +taking in sail during a squall, the natives took possession of the brig, +killed the mate and all the men of the watch who were on deck, and would +certainly have slaughtered every one of the ship's company had it not +been for the captain himself; who, hearing the noise, rushed up from +below armed with a whale-ship bomb gun, loaded with slugs. He fired +right into the mob of natives on the main deck, killed three or four, +and wounded twice as many. Then the second mate and the rest of the +watch below came tumbling up, headed by a big Nova Scotian A.B. He was a +tremendously powerful fellow, and had armed himself with the carpenter's +broad axe, and in a few minutes he cut down five of the natives, one of +whom was the ringleader. Then the steward and supercargo turned up with +nine-bore double-barrelled shot-guns, loaded with No. 1 shot, and they +and the bluenose{*} practically saved the ship, or with their four shots +they laid out nearly a dozen more natives, and the others bolted down +to the hold and asked for quarter. Ah, Captain Frewen, there is nothing +like buckshot or slogs to squash a mutiny. You most get some nine-bore +guns made here to take away with you.” + + * A “bluenose” is a sailor's term for a Canadian or Nova + Scotian. + +“Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Beilby. But whalers' bomb guns--which +can be easily procured in Sydney--are better still. You can load them +with a small charge of powder and crushed rock salt, which won't kill a +man, but which will prevent him from doing any mischief for a long time. +When I was a boatsteerer some years ago on a New Bedford whaler--the +_Aaron Burr_--we had serious trouble with about thirty Portuguese +negroes we picked up off the coast of Brazil. They were in two boats, +and were deserters from a Brazilian man-of-war, which had gone ashore +off Santos. Many of our men were down with fever of some sort, and +these black gentry (who were all armed with knives), thinking that +the after-guard was not able to cope with them, came aft and told our +skipper that if he did not give them all the liquor they wanted they +would throw him overboard, set fire to the ship, and go ashore again. He +seemed to be very much frightened--he was an undersized, quiet man--and +begged them to go on deck and remain there whilst he and the steward and +such of the officers who were not ill with fever would get up a keg of +rum from the lazzarette. Then--he spoke Spanish pretty well--he asked +them not to be too hard on him. He would treat them as gentlemen, &c., +and, with apparently trembling hands, he gave them boxes of cigars, and +addressed them as if they were caballeros of the highest rank whom he +was delighted to honour. Some of them cursed him for an Americano, but +the majority were too hugely elated at the prospect of a keg of ram to +say more to him than to hurry up with it. + +“He did hurry up with a vengeance, for in five minutes he and the mate +had each loaded a bomb gun with a heavy charge of sheet-lead slugs. They +rushed on deck together, and with a warning cry to our men to get out +of the way, they fired into the negroes, who were squatted about on the +main hatch smoking their cigars and waiting for the rum. The effect was +something terrifying, for although none of them were killed, fully +half of them were wounded, and their groans and yells were something +horrible. We did not give them much time to rally, for all of us who +were well enough made a rush, and with belaying-pins and anything else +which came to our hands drove them over the side into their boats.” + +“Then get some of those bomb-guns, captain, by all means. I think I have +seen one--a thing like a bloated blunderbuss without the bell mouth.” + +“That's it,” said Frewen with a laugh; “it is not a handsome weapon, but +we whalemen do not go in for 'objects of bigotry and virtue.' A bomb-gun +is made for a practical purpose--the stock is almost solid metal, and +altogether it is no light weight.” + +During the following two weeks both Frewen and the agent were very busy. +The former, with a gang of shore carpenters, was engaged in preparing +the 'tween decks of the ship for the reception of the native passengers, +and constructing two movable gratings to go across the upper deck--one +for'ard and the other aft--which, whilst they would practically allow +the natives the free run of the deck, would yet prevent them from making +any sudden onslaught on the crew. + +Beilby, whose long experience of the South Sea Islands trade especially +fitted him for the task, devoted himself to the work of fulfilling +Raymond's orders as to the trade goods required, and in three weeks the +_Esmeralda_ was again ready for sea. + +And when, under full sail, she passed down the harbour towards Sydney +Heads bound for beautiful Samoa, her captain's heart swelled with pride +as the crews of a score of other ships cheered, “Bravo, _Esmeralda!_” + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Under a shady wild orange-tree which grew just above high-water mark +on the white beach of Samatau Bay, Marie Raymond and Mrs. Marston were +seated together on a cane lounge imagining they were sewing, but in +reality only talking on subjects dear to every woman's heart. + +Quite near them, and seated on mats, were the old nurse Mâlu, who held +Mrs. Marston's baby-girl, and Raymond's own little daughter Loisé, who +was playing with a young native girl--Olivee--grey-haired old Main's +assistant. + +It was early in the morning--an hour after breakfast--and the two ladies +had come down to the beach to watch Raymond and his partners and some +hundreds of natives working at a jetty being constructed from slabs of +coral stone, and which was to be carried out into deep water. + +The day was delightfully bright, and the soft cool breath of the brave +south-east trade wind, which rippled the blue of the ocean before them, +stirred and swayed and made rhythmic music among the plumed crests of +the graceful coco-palms above. And, as they talked, they heard, every +now and then, Raymond's cheery voice giving orders, and the workmen's +response, which was generally sung, some one among them improvising a +chant--for the Samoans, like many other Polynesian peoples, love to work +to the accompaniment of song. + +“Marie,” said Mrs. Marston, as she let the piece of sewing which she +held in her hand fall unheeded to the ground and looked dreamily out +upon the blue ocean before them, “you must be a happy woman.” + +“I am a very, very happy woman, Amy. And I shall be happier still if you +decide to remain and live near us. Oh, Amy, if you only knew how I try +not to think of the possibility of your going away from us--to think +that when you do go, it means that I may never see you again.” + +“I do not want to go away, Marie. I have told you the story of my life, +and how very unhappy I was in my girlhood--an orphan without a friend in +the world except my aunt, who resented my orphanage, and treated me as +'a thorn in the flesh,' but I did not tell you that until I met you I +never had a girl or woman friend in all my life. And now I feel that as +I have found one, I cannot sever myself from her, now that my husband is +dead and I and the babe are alone in the world.” + +Marie Raymond passed her arms around her friend's waist. “Amy, dear, +_do_ stay in Samoa. I, too, have no woman friend except some of my +mother's people--who would give their lives for me. But I am not a white +woman. My mother's blood--of which I _am_ proud--is in my veins, and +when I was at school in Australia, it used to cut me to the heart to +have to submit to insults from girls who took a delight in torturing and +harassing me because of it. One day I lost control of myself; I heard +them whispering something about 'the wild girl from the woods,' and I +told them that my mother could trace her descent back for five hundred +years in an unbroken line, whilst I was quite certain none of them would +like to say who their grandfathers were. My words told, for there were +really five or six girls in the school who had the convict taint. I was +called before the principal, and asked to apologise. I refused, and said +that I had only said openly and under the greatest provocation what more +than a dozen other girls had told me!” + +“How did it end?” + +“In mutual apologies, and peace was restored. But I was never happy +there--I loathe the memory of my school days, and was glad to come back +to Samoa.” + +“Neither were my English school days happy, but I even liked being at +school in preference to staying with my aunt. I hated the thought of +going to her for the holidays. She was a narrow-minded, selfish woman--a +clergyman's widow, and seemed to take a delight in mortifying me by +continually reminding me that all the money left by my father was +£500, which would just pay for my education and no more. 'When you are +eighteen,' she would say, 'you must not expect a home with me. Other +girls go out as companions; you must do the same. Therefore try and fit +yourself for the position.' Everything I did was wrong--according +to her, I was rebellious, irreligious, too fond of dress, and lazy +physically and mentally. The fact was, I was simply a half-starved, +dowdy school-girl---often hungry for food and always hungry for love. +If I had had a dog to talk to I should have been happier. My mother died +when I was three years old, and my father two years later. Then, as I +told you, I went out as governess to the Warrens when I was nineteen, +and felt that I was a human being, for they were kind to me. +Colonel Warren, a rough, outspoken old soldier with a red face and +fierce-looking blue eyes under enormous white bushy eyebrows, was +very kind to me, and so was his wife. I was not treated as so many +governesses are treated in English families--as something between a +scullery-maid and a housekeeper, for whom anything is good enough to +eat, and any horrid, mean little room good enough to sleep in. When +she came to say good-night to the children after hearing them say their +prayers she would always ask me to come to her own room for an hour or +two. I was very happy there. I was only a little over a year with them +when I met and married Captain Marston.” “Some day, Amy, you will +marry again,” “I don't know, Marie,” said Mrs. Marston frankly. “I was +thinking the other day that such a thing may be possible. I have no +knowledge of the world, and am not competent to manage my business +affairs. But there will be plenty of years to think of such a thing. I +want to watch my baby grow up--I want her girlhood to be as bright and +as full of love as mine was dull and loveless.” + +Presently a native boy came along the path carrying two letters. He +advanced, and handed one to Mrs. Marston, whose cheeks first paled, +and then flushed with anger as she took it, for she recognised the +handwriting. + +“There is another letter for thy husband, lady,” he said to Mrs. +Raymond, “which also cometh from the _papalagi_{*} Villari.” + + * Papalagi = foreigner. + +Mrs. Raymond directed him where to find her husband, and then was about +to return to the house, but her friend, who had not yet opened the +letter in her hand, asked her to stay. + +“Don't go, Marie. I shall not open this letter. It is too bad of Mr. +Villari to again write to me. Shall I send it back, or take no notice of +it?” + +“I hardly know what to say, Amy. He is very rude to annoy you in this +way. Wait and hear what Tom thinks.” + +A quarter of an hour later, the planter came up from the beach, and sat +down beside the ladies. + +“I have a letter from Villari, Marie,” he said, “and have brought it up +to see what you and Mrs. Marston think of it.” + +“Amy has also received one, Tom, but would not open it nor send it +back till she had your advice. I think it is altogether wrong of him to +persecute her in this way.” + +“Oh, well, you'll be glad to know that he is sorry for what has +occurred. Here is his letter to me, Mrs. Marston--please read it.” + +The letter was a courteously worded and apparently sincere expression +of regret for having forced his attentions upon Mrs. Marston, and asking +Raymond and his wife to intercede for him with her. “It will give me +the greatest joy if she will overlook my conduct, and accept my sincere +apologies, if she does not, I shall carry the remembrance of her just +anger to the end of my life. But when I think of her past friendliness +to me, I am excited with the hope that her ever-kind heart will perhaps +make her forget my unwarrantable presumption, which I look back upon +with a feeling of wonder at my being guilty of such temerity.” Then he +went on to say that Raymond would be interested to learn that he had +bought a small schooner of 100 tons called the _Lupetea_, on easy terms +of payment, and that he hoped to make a great deal of money by running +her in the inter-island trade. “I was only enabled to do this through +Mrs. Marston's generosity,” he concluded--“the £500 she gave me enabled +me to make a good 'deal.' I leave Apia to-morrow for a cruise round +Upolu, and as I find that I have some cargo for you, I trust that +you, your wife, and Mrs. Marston will at least let me set foot on your +threshold once more.” + +“Well, the poor devil seems very sorry for having offended you so much +by his persistence, Mrs. Marston,” said the planter with a laugh, “and +he writes such a pretty letter that I'm sure you won't withhold your +forgiveness.” + +“I don't think I can. But I must see what he has written to me,” and she +opened the letter. It contained but a very few lines in the same tenour +as that to Raymond, deploring his folly and begging her forgiveness. + +“I'm very glad, Tom, that Amy sent him the £500, and that he had the +sense not to again refuse it. It would always be embarrassing to you, +Amy, whenever you met him.” + +“It would indeed. But I doubt if he would have accepted it if it had +not been for Mr. Raymond's strongly worded letter on the subject,” + (The planter had sent the money to him in Apia with a note saying +that whatever her feelings were towards him, Mrs. Marston would be +additionally aggrieved if he refused to accept a bequest from her late +husband; it would, he said, have the result of making the lady feel that +his rejection of the gift was uncalled-for and discourteous.) + +“So that's all right,” said Raymond, as he rose to return to the beach. +“I always liked the man, as you have often heard me say. And you really +must not be too angry with him, Mrs. Marston. These Italians--like all +Latins--are a fearfully idiotic people in some things--especially where +women are concerned. Now almost any decent Anglo-Saxon would have taken +his gruelling quietly if a woman told him three times that she didn't +want him. Frohmann thinks that that crack on the head has touched his +brain a bit; and at the same time, you must remember, Mrs. Marston, +that whether you like it or not, you won't be able to prevent men from +falling in love with you--look at me, for instance!” + +Marie Raymond threw a reel of cotton at him-- + +“Be off to your work!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A few days later the _Lupetea_ (White Pigeon) ran into the bay and +Raymond boarded her. He greeted Villari in a friendly manner, and tried +to put him at his ease by at once remarking that the ladies would be +very glad to see him again when he had time to come up to the house. +The schooner was loaded with a general cargo for the various traders and +planters on the south side of the island, and that for Raymond consisted +principally of about forty tons of yams for the use of the numerous +local labourers already employed on the plantations. + +The _Lupetea_ was a rather handsome little vessel, well-fitted for the +island trade, and carried besides Villari and the mate six hands, all of +whom were Europeans, and Raymond at once recognised several of them +as old _habituée_ of Apia beach--men whose reputation as loafers and +boozers of the first water was pretty well known in Samoa. The mate, +too, was one of the same sort. He was an old man named Hutton, and was +such an incorrigible drunkard that for two years past he had found it +increasingly difficult to get employment. He had in his time been mate +of some large ships, but his intemperate habits had caused him to come +down to taking a berth as mate or second mate on small coastal schooners +whenever he could get the position. + +Before he returned to the shore the planter told Villari that he would +be glad if he would come to dinner at seven o'clock. + +“We are a large party now, Mr. Villari. Besides Mrs. Marston and my wife +and myself there are my two partners, Budd and Meredith, and two white +overseers. The latter don't sleep in the house, but they have their +meals with us.” + +Villari accepted the invitation, and at six o'clock landed in his boat +and met Raymond and his partners, who had just finished the day's work +and were on their way to the house. On the verandah they were received +by the ladies, and Mrs. Marston was glad to observe that the Italian +took her outstretched hand without any trace of embarrassment, asked if +her baby was thriving, and then greeted Mrs. Raymond, who said she was +glad to see him looking so well, and wished him prosperity with the +_Lupetea_. + +The dinner passed off very well. Villari made inquiries as to the +whereabouts of the _Esmeralda_, and Mrs. Marston told him all that she +knew, and added that if the ship had arrived in Sydney from Valparaiso +about eight weeks before, as Frewen had indicated was likely in the +last letter received from him, it was quite possible that he would be at +Samatau within another ten or fourteen days, and then, as there was no +necessity for concealment, she said it was very probable that the ship's +next voyage would be to the Western Pacific to procure labourers for the +new plantation. + +“You have no intention, I trust, of making the voyage in her, Mrs. +Marston?” queried the Italian; “the natives, I hear, are a very +treacherous lot.” + +“No, indeed, Mr. Villari. I am staying here with Mrs. Raymond for quite +a long time yet, I hope. It is quite likely, though, that before a year +has gone she and I will be going to Sydney and our babies will make the +trip with us. I have never been to Australia, and am sure I should enjoy +being there if Mrs. Raymond were with me. I have two years' shopping to +do.” + +Rudd--one of Raymond's partners--laughed. “Ah, Mrs. Raymond, why go to +Sydney when all of the few other white ladies here are satisfied with +Dennis Murphy's 'Imporium' at Apia, where, as he says, 'Yez can get +annything ye do be wantin' from a nadle to an anchor, from babies' long +clothes to pickled cabbage and gunpowder.'” + +“Indeed, we are going there this day week,” broke in Mrs. Raymond. +“There are a lot of things Mrs. Marston and I want, and we mean to turn +the 'Emporium' upside down. But we are not entirely selfish, Tom; we are +buying new mosquito netting for you, Mr. Rudd, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Young, +and Mr. Lorimer.” (The two last-named were the overseers.) + +“How are you going, Marie?” asked Raymond with a smile; “we can't spare +the cutter, and you don't want to be drowned in a _taumualua_.' + +“Ah! we are not the poor, weak women you think we are. We are quite +independent--we are going to cross overland; and, more than that, we +shall be away eight days.” + +“Clever woman!” retorted Raymond. “It is all very well for you, +Marie--you have crossed over on many occasions; but Mrs. Marston does +not understand our mountain paths.” + +“My dear Tom, don't trouble that wise head of yours. _I_ have azranged +everything. Furthermore, the babies are coming with us! Serena, Olivee, +and one of Malië's girls--and I don't know how many others are to be +baby carriers. We go ten miles the first day along the coast, sleep at +Falelatai that night; then cross the range to the little bush village at +the foot of Tofua Mountain, sleep there, and then go on to Malua in the +morning. At Malua we get Harry Bevere's boat, and _he_ takes us to Apia. +Tom, it is a cut-and-dried affair, but now that I've told you of it, I +may as well tell you that Maliê has aided and abetted us--the dear old +fellow. We shall be treated like princesses at every village all along +the route, and I doubt very much if we shall do much walking at all--we +shall be carried on _fata_” (cane-work litters). + +“All very well, my dear; but you and Malië have been counting your +chickens too soon. Harry Revere is now in our employ, and I yesterday +sent a runner to him to go off to Savai'i and buy us a hundred tons of +yams; and he has left by now.” + +“Oh, Tom!” and Mrs. Raymond looked so blankly disappointed that all her +guests laughed. “Is there no other way of getting to Apia by water?” + +“No, except by _toumualua_--and a pretty nice time you and Sirs. Marston +and the suffering infants would have in a native boat! On the other hand +you can walk--you are bent on walking--and by going along the coast you +can reach Apia in about four days. Give the idea up, Marie, for a month +or so, when Malië and some of his people can take you and Mrs. Marston +to Apia in comfort in the cutter.” + +Villari turned his dark eyes to Mrs. Raymond-- + +“Will you do me the honour of allowing me to take you and Mrs. Marston +to Apia in the _Lupetea?_ I shall be delighted.” + +“It is very kind of you, Captain Villari,” said the planter's wife with +a smile, as she emphasised the word “captain,” “but when will you be +sailing?” + +The Italian considered a moment. + +“I have some cargo for Manono, and some for the German trader at +Paulaelae. I shall leave here at daylight to-morrow; be at Manono before +noon; run across the straits to Paulaelae the same day, land a few cases +of goods for the German, and be back here, if the breeze holds good, the +day after to-morrow.” + +“It is very kind of you, Mr. Villari,” said Raymond. + +“Not at all, Mr. Raymond. It will be far easier for me to come back this +way than to beat up to Apia against the trade wind and strong current on +the north side.” + +“True. I did not think of that. So there you are, Marie--'fixed up,' as +Frewen would say. The schooner, I believe, is pretty smart, isn't she, +Mr. Villari?” + +“Very fair, Mr. Raymond--especially on a wind. We should get to Apia in +less than twenty-four hours if there is any kind of a breeze at all. And +for such a small vessel her accommodation is really very good, so the +ladies and children will be very comfortable, I hope.” + +“Yes,” said Meredith, “the _Lupetea_ is the best schooner in the group. +I've made two or three trips in her to Fiji. She was built by Brander, +of Tahiti, for a yacht, and he used to carry his family with him on +quite long voyages. Took them to Sydney once.” + +“Well, Captain Villari,” said Mrs. Raymond, “we shall be ready for you +the day after to-morrow. Be prepared for an infliction,” and holding +up her left hand, she began counting on her fingers: “Item, two babies; +item, mothers of babies aforesaid; item, Serena, nurse girl; item, +Olivee, nurse girl; item, one native boy named Lilo, who is a relative +of Malië's, is Mrs. Marston's especial protégé and wants to see the +great City of Apia; item, baskets and baskets _and_ baskets of roasted +fowls, mangoes, pineapples and other things which are for the use of the +captain, officers, crew and passengers of the _Lupetea_.” + +Villari laughed. “There will be plenty of room, Mrs. Raymond.” + +An hour or so later he bade them all good-night, and went on board. + +The old mate was pacing to and fro on the main deck smoking his pipe, +and Villari asked him to come below. + +He turned up the lamp and told Hutton to sit down. + +“Will you have a drink, Hutton?” + +“_Will_ I? You ought to know me by now.” + +Villari went to his cabin and brought out a bottle of brandy. His +dark eyes were flashing with excitement, as he placed it on the table +together with two glasses. + +“Drink as much as you like to-night,” he said; “but remember we lift +anchor at daylight. We must be back here the day after to-morrow. There +are passengers coming on board. You remember your promise to me?” + +Hutton half-filled his tumbler with brandy, and swallowed it eagerly +before answering. + +“I do, skipper; I'll do any blessed thing in the world except cuttin' +throats. I don't know what your game is, but I'm ready for anythink. +If it's a scuttlin' job, you needn't try to show me nothin'. I'm an old +hand at the game.” + +Villari took a little brandy and sipped it slowly. + +“It is not anything like that; I am only taking away a woman whom I want +to marry. She may give trouble at first. Will you stand by me?” + +The man laughed. “Is that all, skipper? Why, I thought it was somethink +serious. You can depend on me,” and he poured out some more liquor. + +“Here's luck to you, Captain. I consider as that fifty pound is in my +pocket already.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Two days later the schooner came sweeping round the western point of +Samatau Bay and then hove-to abreast of the house. Villari at once went +on shore, found his passengers ready to embark, and in half an hour +they were all on board and the _Lupetea_ was spinning along the southern +shore of Upolu at a great rate, for the wind was fresh and the sea very +smooth. At midnight she was nearly abreast of a beautiful little harbour +called Lotofanga, and Villari, who was on deck, told the mate to haul +the head sheets to windward and ta lower the boat. This was done so +quietly that the only one of the passengers who knew what had been done +was the Samoan, Lilo--a bright, intelligent youth of about fifteen years +of age. He was lying on the after-deck, and saw the mate and four hands +go over the side into the boat, and then a trunk of clothing which +belonged to Mrs. Raymond, and which, as the weather was fine, had been +left on deck, was passed down. Wondering at this, he rose, and walking +to the side, was looking at the boat, when a sailor roughly seized him +by the shoulder and ordered him to go for'ard and stay there till he was +called. Very unwillingly he obeyed, and then a second man told him to +go below into the foc'sle, and made such a threatening gesture with +a belaying-pin, that the boy, now beginning to feel alarmed, at once +descended, and immediately the fore scuttle was closed and bolted from +the deck. The place was in darkness except for one small slush lamp, and +Lilo, taking his seat on a sailor's chest, looked round at the bunks. +They were all unoccupied, and this fact increased his fears. He, +however, was a courageous lad, and his first thought was to provide +himself with some sort of weapon, and by the aid of the lamp he began +searching the bunks. In a few minutes he found a sheath knife and belt, +which he at once secured, and then again sat down to wait events. + +Meanwhile Villari was speaking to the mate. + +“You are quite sure you know the landing-place?” he asked. + +“Course I do. Didn't I tell you I've been at Loto-fanga half a dozen +times? It's right abreast of the passage, and no one couldn't miss it +on a clear night like this. But it's dead low tide. Why can't I put the +woman and girl on the reef, and let 'em walk to the village? Then we +don't run no risks of any natives a-seein' us and coming down to the +boat.” + +“Ha! that's a good idea. But is it quite safe? I don't want them to meet +with any accident.” + +“There ain't no danger. The reef is quite flat, with no pools in it, and +they needn't even wet their feet. I've walked over it myself.” + +“Very well then. Now stand by, for I'm going below. As soon as they are +in the boat, push off and hurry all you can and get back. We must be out +of sight of land by daylight.” + +The cabin, which was lighted by a swinging lamp, was very quiet as +Villari, first removing his boots, descended softly and bent oyer the +sleeping figures of Olivee and Serena, who were lying on mats spread +upon the floor outside the two cabins occupied by their mistresses. He +touched Olivee on the shoulder, and awakened her. + +“Ask Mrs. Raymond to please dress and come on deck for a few minutes,” + he said quietly to the girl in English, which she understood. She at +once rose, and tapped at her mistress's door, and the Italian returned +on deck. + +Wondering what could be the reason for such a request, Mrs. Raymond +dressed herself as quickly as possible, and was soon on deck followed by +the girl Olivee. + +“What is the matter, Mr. Villari?” she inquired, and then, as she looked +at the man's face, something like fear possessed her. His eyes had the +same strange expression that she had often noticed when he was looking +at Mrs. Marston, and she remembered what the German doctor had said. + +“You must not be alarmed, Mrs. Raymond,” he said, “but I am sorry to +say that the schooner has begun to leak in an alarming and extraordinary +manner, and the pumps are choked. For your own safety I am sending you +and Mrs. Marston and your servants on shore. We are now just abreast of +Lotofanga, and I am going to try and work the schooner in there and run +her ashore on the beach.” + +Mrs. Raymond, now quite reassured, was at once practical. “We can be +ready in a minute, Mr. Villari. I will get little Loisé, and----” + +“Do--as quickly as you can--and I will tell Mrs. Marston. I preferred +letting you know first. She is very nervous, and it will allay her alarm +when she finds that you are so cool. The boat is already alongside. Have +you any valuables in your cabin? If so, get them together.” + +“Nothing but a little money. All my other things are on deck in a +trunk.” + +“That is already in the boat; the mate told me it was yours.” + +“Hurry up, please, ladies,” and the mate's head appeared above the rail. + +“Just another minute, Hutton,” said Villari, as he, Mrs. Raymond, and +the Samoan girl all returned to the cabin together. The latter at once +picked up the sleeping Loisé, and her mother, as she wrapped her in a +shawl, heard Villari rouse the girl Serena and tell her to awaken her +mistress, and presently she heard his voice speaking to Mrs. Marston +telling her not to be alarmed, but he feared the schooner might founder +at any moment, and that he was sending her and Mrs. Raymond on shore. + +“Very well, Mr. Villari,” she heard her friend say. “Have you told Mrs. +Raymond?” + +“Yes,” he replied. “She is getting ready now--in fact, she _is_ ready.” + Then he returned to Mrs. Raymond's door, and met her just as she was +leaving the cabin with the nurse and child. + +“Can I help you, Amy?” asked the planter's wife as she looked into Mrs. +Marston's cabin. + +“No, dear. I did not quite undress, and I'll be ready in a minute. Baby +is fast asleep. Is Loisé awake?” + +“No, I'm glad to say. Olivee has her.” + +“Please come on, Mrs. Raymond,” said Villari, somewhat impatiently; “go +on, Olivee, with the little girl.” + +He let them precede him, and almost before she knew it, Mrs. Raymond +found herself with the nurse and child in the boat, which was at once +pushed off and headed for the shore. + +“Stop, stop!” cried the poor lady, clutching the mate by the arm. “Mrs. +Marston is coming.” + +“Can't wait,” was the gruff rejoinder, and then, to her horror and +indignation, she saw that the boat's crew were pulling as if their lives +depended on their exertions. + +“Shame, shame!” she cried wildly. “Are you men, to desert them! Oh, if +you have any feelings of humanity, turn back,” and, rising to her feet, +she shouted out at the top of her voice, “Captain Villari, Captain +Villari, for God's sake call the boat back!” + +But no notice was taken, and a feeling of terror seized her when the +brutal Hutton bade her “sit down and take it easy.” + +As Villari stood watching the disappearing boat Mrs. Marston, followed +by the girl Serena carrying her baby, came on deck. + +“What is wrong?” she asked anxiously. “Why has the boat gone? What does +it mean?” and Yillari saw that she was trembling. + +“Return to your cabin, Mrs. Marston. No harm shall come to you. +To-morrow morning I shall tell you why I have done this.” + +A glimmering of the truth came to her, and she tried to speak, but no +words came to her lips, as in a dazed manner she took the infant from +Serena, and pressing it tightly to her bosom stepped back from him with +horror, contempt, and blazing anger shining from her beautiful eyes. + +“Go below, I beg you,” said Villari huskily. “Here, girl, take this, +and give it to your mistress when you go below,” and he placed a loaded +Colt's pistol in the girl's hand. “No one shall enter the cabin till +to-morrow morning. You can shoot the first man who puts his foot on the +companion stairs.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A hot, blazing, and windless day, so hot that the branches of the +coco-palms, which at early morn had swished and merrily swayed to the +trade wind, now hung limp and motionless, as if they had suffered from +a long tropical drought instead of merely a few hours' cessation of the +brave, cool breeze, which for nine months out of twelve for ever made +symphony in their plumed crests. + +On the shady verandah of a small but well-built native house Amy Marston +was seated talking to an old, snowy-haired white man, whose bright but +wrinkled face was tanned to the colour of dark leather by fifty years of +constant exposure to a South Sea sun. + +“Don't you worry, ma'am. A ship is bound to come along here some time or +another, an' you mustn't repine, but trust to God's will.” + +“Indeed I try hard not to repine, Mr. Manning. When I think of all that +has happened since that night, seven months ago, I have much for which +to thank God. I am alive and well, my child has been spared to me, and +in you, on this lonely island, I have found a good, kind friend, to whom +I shall be ever grateful.” + +“That's the right way to look at it, ma'am. Until you came here I had +not seen a white woman for nigh on twenty years, and when I did first +see you I was all a-trembling--fearing to speak--for you looked to me as +if you were an angel, instead of----” + +“Instead of being just what I was--a wretched, half-mad creature, whom +your kindness and care brought back to life and reason.” + +The old man, who even as he sat leant upon a stick, pointed towards the +setting sun, whose rays were shedding a golden light upon the sleeping +sea. + +“Whenever I see a thing like that, Mrs. Marston, I feel in my heart, +deep, deep down, that God is with us, and that I, Jim Manning, the old +broken-down, poverty-stricken trader of Anouda, has as much share in +His goodness and blessed love as the Pope o' Borne or the Archbishop o' +Canterbury. See how He has preserved you, and directed that schooner to +drift here to Anouda, instead of her going ashore on one of the Solomon +Islands, where you and all with you would have been killed by savage +cannibals and never been heard of again.” + +Amy Marston left her seat, came over to the old man, and kneeling beside +him, placed her hands on his. + +“Mr. Manning, whenever a ship does come, will you and your sons come +away with me to Samoa, and live with me and the kind friends of whom I +have told you. Ah, you have been so good to me and my baby that I would +feel very unhappy if, when a ship comes and I leave Anouda, you were to +stay behind. I am what is considered a fairly rich woman----” + +“God bless you, my child--for you are only a child, although you are a +widow and have a baby--but you must not tempt me. I shall never leave +Anouda. I have lived here for five-and-thirty years, and shall die here. +I am now past seventy-six years of age, and every evening when the sun +is setting, as it is setting now, I sit in front of my little house and +watch it as I smoke my pipe, and feel more and more content and nearer +to God. Now, Mrs. Marston, I must be going home. Where is Lilo?'' + +“Out on the reef somewhere, fishing. Serena and the baby are in the +breadfruit grove behind the village. I sent them there, as it is cooler +than the house. I shall walk over there for them before it becomes too +dark. Ah, here comes the breeze at last.” + +“Lilo is a good boy, a good boy,” said the old man as he rose and held +out his hand; “he is very proud of calling himself your _tausea_,{*} and +that he 'sailed' the _Lupetea_ so many hundreds of miles.” + + * Protector. + +“He is indeed a good boy. I do not think we should ever have reached +land had it not been for him.” + +As the bent figure of the old trader disappeared along the path that +led to his own house, which was half a mile away, Mrs. Marston reseated +herself, and with her sunbrowned hands folded in her lap, gazed dreamily +out upon the glassy ocean, and gave herself up to reverie. + + * * * * * + +When, in an agony of fear, she had obeyed Villari's request to go below, +she had locked herself in her own cabin, and after putting her infant +to sleep, had sat up with the girl Serena, waiting for the morning. The +pistol which the Italian had given her she laid upon the little table, +and Serena, who knew of Villari's infatuation for her mistress, sat +beside her with a knife in her hand. + +“I cannot shoot with the little gun which hath six shots, lady,” said +the girl, “but I can drive this knife into his heart.” + +Half an hour passed without their being disturbed, and then they heard +Villari call out to let draw the head sheets, and in a few minutes the +schooner was running before a sharp rain squall from the northward. As +they sat listening to the spattering of the rain on the deck above, one +of the skylight flaps was lifted, and, to their joy, their names were +called by the boy Lilo. + +“Serena, Ami! 'Tis I, Lilo. Do not shoot at me,” he cried, and at the +same moment Villari came to the skylight and said-- + +“The boy wants to stay below with you, Mrs. Marston. I did not know he +was on board till a little while ago.” Then the flap was lowered, and +they saw no more of him till the morning. + +The delight of Lilo at finding Mrs. Marston and Serena together was +unbounded, and for some minutes the boy was so overjoyed at seeing them +again, that even Mrs. Marston, terrified and agitated as she was at +Villari's conduct, had to smile when he took her feet in his hands and +pressed them to his cheek. As soon as his excitement subsided, he told +them of what had occurred after he had been put down into the foc'sle. + +About a quarter of an hour after the boat had gone, the scuttle was +opened, and one of the sailors who were left on board told him to come +up on deck. Villari was at the wheel, and was in a very bad temper, for +he angrily demanded of the two seamen what they meant by keeping him on +board, instead of sending him on shore in the boat. One of the men, who +was called “Bucky” and who had evidently been drinking, made Villari +a saucy answer, and said that he had kept the boy below with a view to +making him useful. The mate, he said, “knew all about it,” and Villari +had better “keep quiet.” In another moment Villari knocked him senseless +with a belaying pin, and then, ordering the other man to let draw the +head sheets, put the helm hard up, and the schooner stood away from the +land, just as a rain squall came away from the northward. As soon as +Bucky became conscious, Villari spoke to him and the other seaman, +cautioned them against disobedience, and said that if they did their +duty, he would divide a hundred pounds between them when the schooner +reached Noumea in New Caledonia. The men then asked him whether he meant +to leave the mate and the other four hands behind? + +“Yes, I do,” he replied, “that is why I am giving you fifty pounds each. +But if you try on any nonsense with me, I'll shoot you both. Now go +for'ard and stand by to hoist the squaresail as soon as the squall dies +away--this boy will lend a hand.” + +As soon as the squaresail was set, Villari told Lilo to call down the +skylight to Mrs. Marston. + +“He told me,” concluded the boy, “that although I shall have to cook for +every one on board, I was to be your servant, and that I was to always +sleep in the cabin. And he himself is going to sleep in the deck house +behind the galley, for I saw that he has a lamp in there, and all his +things, and he asked me to bring him some writing paper, and ink, and +pens. Where shall I get them?” + +Mrs. Marston found the articles for him, and Lilo at once took them to +Villari, who was at the wheel. + +“Put them in the deck-house,” he said, “and tell one of the men to come +aft, and take the wheel. Then go below again and remain there. If any +one puts foot in the cabin, you can shoot him with the pistol I gave to +Serena.” + +“Ami,” said the boy anxiously, when he retained, “he is _vale_ (mad), +for his eyes are the eyes of one who is mad. The land is now far astern, +and the ship is speeding fast away from it. What doth this mean?” + +“I cannot tell thee, Lilo,” she replied, speaking in Samoan, “but as +thou sayest, he is mad. Let us trust in God to protect us.” + +She rose and went into the main cabin, and looked at the tell-tale +compass, which swung over the table, and saw that the schooner was +heading south-west, which would be the course for New Caledonia. + +All that night the _Lupetea_ swept steadily and swiftly along over a +smooth sea, and then at daylight, Mrs. Marston, who had fallen asleep, +was aroused by a loud cry of alarm from Lilo. + +She sprang from her berth, and saw that the boy was kneeling beside +Villari, who was lying dead at the foot of the companion, with a pistol +in his hand. + +“He hath killed himself, Ami,” said the boy. “As I sat here watching, +I heard two shots on deck, and then the ship came to the wind, and as I +was about to go on deck, Villari came down, and standing there, put the +pistol to his head and killed himself.” + +“Come on deck,” she cried, “and see what has become of the men.” + +Her fears that Villari had killed the two seamen were verified--they +were both lying dead, one beside the wheel, and the other on the main +deck. In the deckhouse was a wildly-incoherent and unfinished letter, to +her containing expressions of the most passionate devotion, and begging +her to pray for his soul. + +The first thing to be done was to consider how to dispose of the bodies +of poor Villari and the unfortunate seamen. The land was now fifty miles +distant, and Lilo, pointing to the eastern horizon, assured Mrs. Marston +that bad weather was coming on, and that sail should be taken in as +quickly as possible. + +“Let Serena and I cast the dead men overboard,” he said; “'tis better +than that we should keep them on board, for we know not how long it may +be ere we get to land again.” + +Mrs. Marston shuddered. + +“As you will, Lilo. When it is done, I will come on deck again and help +with the sails.” + +An hour later the schooner was racing under close-reefed canvas before a +half-gale from the eastward. + +“Let us steer to the westward,” Lilo had said to his mistress. “We +cannot beat back to Samoa against such a wind as this, which may last +many days. And straight to the west lieth Uea, on which live some white +men who will succour us.” + +There was no general chart on board, but Mrs. Marston knew that Uea +(Wallis Island) was due west from Samoa, and distant about two or three +hundred miles. + +For twelve hours the _Lupetea_ ran swiftly before a rapidly increasing +sea, and by night time Lilo was so exhausted in trying to keep her from +broaching to, that Serena came to his assistance. Neither he nor Mrs. +Marston knew how to heave-to the vessel; but, fearful of running past +Wallis Island in the night, they did the very thing they should not +have done--lowered and made fast both mainsail and foresail, and let the +vessel drive under bare poles. + +Worn out with his exertions, Lilo still stuck manfully to his steering, +when, looking behind him, he saw a black, towering sea sweeping down +upon the schooner. Uttering a cry of alarm, he let go the wheel, and +darted into the cabin after Mrs. Marston, who had just left the deck. + +Then came a tremendous crash, and the _Lupetea_ shook and quivered in +every timber, as the mighty avalanche of water fell upon and buried +her; smashing the wheel to splinters, snapping off the rudder head, and +sweeping the deck clean of everything movable. + +A month later the vessel drifted ashore on Anouda Island, just as Mrs. +Marston was beginning to despair. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Darkness had fallen upon the little island, as with the girl Serena and +her infant charge, Mrs. Man-ton was walking back to the house. Lilo had +not yet returned, but as they emerged from the breadfruit grove, they +heard the sound of many voices, and then came a cry that made their +hearts thrill-- + +“_Te vaka nui, Te vaka nui!_” (“A ship! a ship!”) and almost at the same +moment Lilo and a score of natives came rushing along the path in search +of the white lady. + +“A ship! aship!” shouted Lilo, who was almost frantic with excitement, +“your ship--your own ship! The ship that came to Samatau!” + +“How know you, Lilo?” cried Mrs. Marston tremblingly. “How can you tell +it is my ship? And where is it?” + +As soon as the boy was able to make himself heard through the clamour +of his companions, he told Mrs. Marston that whilst he was engaged in +fishing along the shore of an unfrequented little bay on the north end +of the island, he was startled by the sudden appearance of a large ship, +which he instantly recognised as the _Esmeralda_. She came around a +headland with a number of her hands aloft taking in sail, and dropped +anchor about half a mile from the land. Lilo waited some time to see if +a boat would come on shore, and also ran out to the edge of the reef, +and tried to attract the attention of the people on board, but no notice +was taken of him. Then, as darkness was coming on, he set off for the +village at a run to tell his mistress. + +“We must hasten on board, Lilo,” said Mrs. Marston, as she walked +hurriedly along beside him to the house. “Run quickly to the old white +man, and ask him to send his boat here for me.” + +But Manning had already heard the news, and his boat had not only been +launched, but, manned by half a dozen stalwart Anoudans, was at that +moment coming down inside the reef. The old trader's half-caste son Joe +was steering, and the moment the boat touched the beach, he sprang out +and ran up to the house. + +“Father sent me for you, Mrs. Marston. The old man is nearly off his +head with excitement. He has sent a native out on the reef to burn a +blue light so that it can be seen by the people on board the ship, who +will then know that there are white people here.” + +“Thank you, Joe,” she said, as, kissing her little Marie, and bidding +Serena take her to Manning's house, and there await her return from the +ship, she ran swiftly to the boat, which at once pushed off, accompanied +by twenty or thirty canoes--all crowded with natives. + +“Look!” cried Joe Manning, “there is the blue light!” + +Half a mile away, on a projecting horn of the reef, the blue flame was +shedding its brilliant light, and clearly revealing the all but nude +figure of the man who held it. + +“Father said, Mrs. Marston, when he took those three blue lights ashore +from the wreck of the _Lupetea_, that they might come in useful some +night----” and then he uttered a yell of delight as a great rocket +shot high up in air and burst; the ship had seen the blue light and was +answering it! + +“Hurrah! she sees the blue light!” he cried, and then with voice and +gesture he urged his crew to greater exertions. They responded with +a will, and then, as a second rocket shot upward, a deep “_Aue!_” of +admiration was chorused forth by the occupants of the canoes, which were +trying hard to keep pace with the swift whale-boat. + +“We'll see her as soon as we get round the north end, ma'am,” said the +half-caste, as he swung the boat's head towards a passage through the +surrounding reef. Mrs. Marston made no reply; she was too excited to +speak, as with parted lips and eager eyes she sat gazing straight ahead. + +Ten minutes passed, and only the _swish, swish_ of the canoe paddles +and the boat's oars broke the silence; then the high north point of the +island was rounded, and the _Esmeralda_ lay before them, so close, that +even though it was dark, figures could be seen moving about her decks, +which were well lit up. + +Bidding his men cease pulling, and the natives in the canoes to keep +silent for a moment, the burly half-caste hailed. + +“Ship ahoy!” + +“Hallo, there!” cried Prewen's well-remembered voice, “we see you. Come +round on the port side.” + +“Ay, ay, sir,” shouted Manning, and then, unable to restrain himself, he +expanded his mighty chest and bawled out-- + +“MRS. MARSTON IS HERE!” + +In a moment or two there came an outburst of cheering from the ship, and +then amidst the shouts and yells of the Anouda natives the boat dashed +alongside, and Mrs. Marston ascended the ladder. A crowd of men were +at the gangway, and almost ere her foot had touched the deck Frewen had +grasped her hand. + +“Thank God, we have found you at last, Mrs. Marston!” + +She tried to speak, and then would have fallen, had not Randall Cheyne +sprung forward and caught her. + +“Carry her to the cabin, Randall,” said Frewen, “the poor little woman +has fainted.” + +Half an hour later, the chief officer ran up on the poop-deck and called +out-- + +“All hands aft!” + +As the crew--who had been eagerly listening to Joe Manning's account +of how Mrs. Marston had come to the island--crowded aft, the mate cried +out-- + +“Boys, I want volunteers to man the starboard quarter-boat to bring Mrs. +Marston's baby on board.” + +Such a wild rush was made for the boat falls that the good-natured +officer had to interfere and pick out eight men, and with Lilo as pilot +and himself in charge, the boat left the ship amid further cheering. + +In the cabin Mrs. Marston, now looking bright and happy, was telling her +story to Frewen and Cheyne. + +“And now,” she said, as she concluded, “I am the very happiest woman +in all the world, and oh! Captain Frewen, when I think I shall see Mrs. +Raymond within a few days, I feel almost hysterical. I'm sure I won't +want to go to sleep for a week.” + +Frewen laughed as he looked at the flashed, beautiful face. “Well, I +don't think you'll get too much sleep to-night, for the men are as much +excited as any one aft, and I sent word that they can have a bit of fun +and make as much noise as they like until eight bells, and drink your +and your baby's health seven times.” + +“Ah! my poor little baby. How cruel of me to forget her! Oh, please let +me go for her.” + +“You are too late,” said Frewen with a smile, “the mate has just gone, +and he'll bring her to you before another hour has passed. He has taken +your boy Lilo with him as pilot.” + +Mrs. Marston sighed contentedly, and then looked round at the familiar +cabin. + +“Oh, how I shall love to see Samatau again, Captain Frewen, and oh! how +wonderful it is that the _Esmeralda_ of all ships should be the one to +find me. If only Mrs. Raymond could know I was safe and on board talking +to you of her!” + +“She will indeed be yery happy; and yet, do you know, Mrs. Marston, +that she always said you were not dead, although when month after month +passed by, and a most careful search had been made of all the islands +within a radius of six hundred miles, and no trace of the _Lupetea_ was +found, Mr. Raymond himself lost all hope.” + +“How long was it before Mr. Raymond knew of what had occurred on board +that night off Lotofanga?” she asked. + +“Mrs. Raymond herself told him on the following afternoon, when, to his +astonishment, she arrived at Samatau in a native beat. It seems that +after Hutton landed them--she, little Loisé, and Olivee--on the reef, +they were met by a party of natives who were returning from a fishing +excursion. These people at once took them to the village, where, of +course, they were very kindly treated. + +“Mrs. Raymond, who was half mad with anxiety for you, asked the chief +to provide her with a boat to return to Samatau and tell her husband of +what had happened. They left after an hour's rest and almost foundered +in the same squall which overtook the _Lupetea_. However, they reached +Samatau a little before sunset. Raymond at once sent Meredith and Rudd +to Apia to charter two or even three local schooners to sail in search +of the _Lupetea_, and for over a month whilst I was there a most +unremitting search was kept up, and letters were sent all over the +Pacific asking the traders at the various islands to keep a good +look-out either for the schooner or any wreckage which might come +ashore. + +“I arrived at Samatau in the _Esmeralda_ about a fortnight after Villari +left there, and found Mrs. Raymond alone and distracted with fear for +your safety. During the following week, one of the schooners which +were out searching for you returned. Raymond was on board. He had been +searching through the windward islands of the Fiji Group, but without of +course finding a trace of the missing vessel. On the way back, though, +they spoke a Tahitian barque, whose captain told them that the bodies of +Hutton and the four men who were with him had been found on the reef at +Savai'i a few days after the scoundrels had put Mrs. Raymond ashore at +Lotofanga. The boat had evidently been driven ashore during the stormy +weather which prevailed for three or four days afterwards. + +“After remaining ashore for a day only, Raymond again sailed--this time +to make a search among the Friendly Islands; and I, with Mr. Rudd and +Overseer Lorimer to assist me, sailed for the Solomon Group. We decided, +instead of proceeding direct to the Solomons for our cargo of black +humanity, to first cruise through the New Hebrides Group, in the hope we +might learn something of the _Lupetea_.” + +“It makes me feel as if I were a real missing princess, Captain Frewen.” + +“So you were--until to-night. Well, from the New Hebrides we went north +to the Solomons, where we were singularly fortunate in getting five +hundred natives in a few weeks without any trouble. I landed them at +Samatau without losing a single man, and they are now working on the new +plantation as happy as sand-boys. + +“Raymond was at home when I returned, but there was still one vessel +away looking for you--the cutter _Alrema and Niya_--and in fact we long +since decided not to entirely abandon the search for a full year. + +“I left on a second trip for the Solomons just nine days ago, and we +sighted this island early this morning. I did not think that we should +hear anything of the _Lupetea_ so far to the westward--over a thousand +miles from Samoa--but as three of our coloured crew are down with fever, +I decided to anchor, leave them here in care of the natives, and also +find out if any wreckage had been seen. We could not see any signs of +houses on this side of the island, but did see a man making gestures to +the ship from the reef; however, as I did not intend to go ashore until +the morning, we did not lower a boat. You can imagine our surprise when +the glare of a blue light was seen.” + +“Mate's boat is alongside, sir,” announced the bos'un. + +And in a few minutes the smiling Serena entered the cabin and placed +little Marie in her mother's arms. + + * * * * * + +Shortly after dawn the merry click of the windlass pawls told Mrs. +Marston that the _Esmeralda_ was getting underweigh again for Samoa--for +the projected voyage to the Solomon Islands was of course abandoned. +Old Manning and his stalwart sons came off to say goodbye, and at Mrs. +Marston's earnest request the trader consented to accept from her some +hundreds of pounds' worth of trade goods from the well-filled storeroom +of the _Esmeralda_. + +“Goodbye, Mrs. Marston, and God bless you and the little one, and give +you all a safe passage to Samoa,” he cried, as he descended the side +into his boat. + +For many hours she remained on deck watching the green little island as +it sunk astern, and thinking of the kindly-hearted old trader who had +so cheered her by his simple piety and unobtrusive goodness. Then her +thoughts turned joyfully to home--for the Raymonds' house was home to +her--and she sighed contentedly as the gallant _Esmeralda_, with every +stitch of canvas that could be set, slipped gracefully over the blue +Pacific on an east-south-east course, for it was the month of November, +and light westerly winds had set in. + +Two weeks on such a happy ship soon passed away, and then early one +morning the grey dome of Mount Tofua stood out from the mantle of mist +which hid its verdant sides; and ere the sun had dried the heavy night +dews on the gaily-coloured crotons and waving pampas grass which grew +just above the beach, the brave ship dropped anchor once more in Samatau +Bay amidst a scene of the wildest confusion. For Raymond, as he had +stood on the verandah with his wife, watching her sailing in, and +wondering what had brought back Frewen so soon, saw this signal flying +from her spanker gaff. + + O + W + S + V + + B + R + C + +“What does it mean, Tom?” “Found. All well!” he shouted, and pitching +his telescope clean over the tops of the wild orange-tree in front of +the house, he rushed down to the beach, crying out the news as he ran. + +Boats, canoes, and _taumualuas_ by the score, all crowded with natives, +who were shouting themselves hoarse, paddled furiously off to the ship; +and ere her cable rattled through the hawse-pipe and the heavy anchor +plunged down to its coral bed, her decks were filled with people, and +Raymond, followed by the old chief Malie, was shaking hands warmly with +“the missing princess” and her rescuer. + +***** + +It is night at Samatau, and the two ladies are sitting on the verandah. +The house is very quiet. + +“Amy?” + +“Yes, Marie, dear.” + +“Tom was asking me this morning if you have yet made up your mind to go +on building that house.” + +“Oh, dear, Marie. I have hardly given it a thought since I came +back--and I've only been back a week!” + +“Amy?” + +“Marie?” + +“I suppose, dear, that Captain Frewen won't give up the _Esmeralda_ +altogether when he goes to America to see his people. He will come back, +will he not?” + +Mrs. Marston blushed. “I--I think so, dear. Come inside, and I'll tell +you.” + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's John Frewen, South Sea Whaler, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + +***** This file should be named 24806-0.txt or 24806-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/0/24806/ + +Produced by David Widger + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/24806-0.zip b/24806-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..49745e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/24806-0.zip diff --git a/24806-8.txt b/24806-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf7600a --- /dev/null +++ b/24806-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3929 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of John Frewen, South Sea Whaler, by Louis Becke + +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: John Frewen, South Sea Whaler + 1904 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: March 11, 2008 [EBook #24806] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER + + +From "Chinkie's Flat And Other Stories" + +By Louis Becke + + +Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company 1904 + + + + + +BOOK I + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Captain Ethan Keller, of the _Casilda_ of Nantucket, was in a very bad +temper, for in four days he had lost two of the five boats the barque +carried--one had been hopelessly stove by the dreaded "underclip" given +her by a crafty old bull sperm-whale, and the other, which was in charge +of the second mate, had not been seen for seventy hours. When last +sighted she was fast to the same bull which had destroyed the first +mate's boat; it was then nearly dark, and the whale, which was of an +enormous size, although he had three irons in his body and was towing +the whole length of line from the stove-in boat as well as that of the +second mate, was racing through the water as fresh as when he had first +been struck, three hours previously. Then the sun dipped below the +sea-rim, and the blue Pacific was shrouded in darkness. + +"Why in thunder couldn't the dunderhead put a bomb into that fish before +it came on dark?" growled the skipper to his other officers, as they +sat down to a harried sapper in the spacious, old-fashioned cabin of the +whaler. + +No one answered. Frewen, the missing officer, was as good a whaleman +as ever drove an iron or gripped the haft of a steer-oar, and his +half-caste boatsteerer Randall Cheyne was the best on the ship. But +there was bad blood between young Frewen and his captain, and Cheyne was +the cause of it. + +"If they cut and lose that whale," resumed Keller presently, "I'll haze +the life out of them--by thunder, I will, if I break my back in doing +it! Why, that is the biggest fish we've struck yet. If I had been in +that boat, I'd have had that whale in his flurry two hours ago. Why, it +appears to me that Frewen got too soared to even try to haul up and give +him a bomb, let alone giving him the lance--which was easy enough." + +Just as he spoke, one of the boatsteerers entered the cabin and reported +that some of the hands thought that they had heard the second mate's +bomb gun. + +"All right," growled Keller, "tell the cooper to burn a flare." + +"I guess Frewen won't lose him," said Lopez, the first mate. "He told +me long ago that he never yet had to out, and I don't think he'll do it +now--unless something has gone wrong. That must have been his gun." + +"Huh!" sneered Keller, as he viciously speared a piece of salt pork with +his fork, "we'll see all about that when daylight comes. You'll find Mr. +Firwen and that yaller-hided Samoa buck back here for breakfast, but no +whale." + +None of the men made any reply. They knew that Frewen would be the +last man to lose a fish through any fault of his own, and only after +carefully "drogueing" his line would he part company with it, and that +only if the immense creature emptied the line tubs and "sounded." Then, +to save the lives of those in the boat, he would have to cut. + +"Guess we'll see that whale to-morrow, anyway, whether Mr. Frewen is +fast to him or not," said the third mate to the cooper, as they met on +deck; "he's got a mighty lot of line hanging to him, and, just after the +second mate got fast I saw him shaking his flukes and trying to kick out +one of the two irons the mate hove into him." + +"Well, that is so; I hope we shall get him. The old man is pretty cranky +over it. He hasn't a nice temper even when he's in a good humour, and +there will be blue fire blazing if Mr. Frewen does lose the fish after +all." + +For four hours the barque made short tacks to the eastward, in which +direction the boat had been taken by the whale. The night was fine but +dark, the sea very smooth, and the flares which were burnt at intervals +on board the barque would render her visible many miles away, and a keen +look-out was kept for the boat, but nothing could be discovered of it. + +Towards midnight the light air from the eastward died away, and was +succeeded by a series of rather sharp rain squalls from the south-west, +and Keller, fearing to miss the boat by running past her, hove-to till +daylight. + +The dawn broke brightly, with a dead calm. Forty pairs of eyes eagerly +scanned the surface of the ocean, and in a few minutes there came a +cheering cry from aloft. + +"Dead whale, oh! Close to on the weather beam." + +"Can you see the boat?" cried Lopez. + +"No, sir," was the reply after a few seconds silence. "Can't see her +anywhere." + +"Look on the other side of the whale, you bat!" growled the skipper. + +"She's not there, sir," was the reply. + +"Lower away your boats, Mr. Bock and Mr. Lopez," said Keller in more +gracious tones to the third and first officers; "the second mate can't +be far away, but why in thunder he didn't hang on to the whale last +night I don't know. Take something to eat with you. You will have to tow +that whale alongside--this calm is going to last all day." + +Five minutes later the two boats pushed off, and then, as they sped over +the glassy surface of the ocean and the huge carcass of the whale was +more clearly revealed, Bock called out to his superior officer that he +could see a whift {*} on it. + + * A wooden pole with a small pennon; used by whalers' boats + as a signal to the ship. + +Lopez nodded, but said nothing. + +They pulled up alongside, and the mate's boatsteerer stepped out on to +the body of Leviathan and pulled out the whift pole, which was firmly +embedded in the blubber. + +"There's a letter tied round the pole, sir," he said to his officer, as +he got back to the boat again and passed the whift aft. + +The "letter" had been carefully wrapped in a strip of oilskin, and then +tied around the whift pole by a piece of sail twine. It was a sheet of +soiled paper with a few pencilled lines written on it. Lopez read it:-- + + "For the information of Ethan Keller, Haser: This whale was + struck, for the sake of his shipmates' lays, by Randall + Cheyne, the 'yaller-hided Samoan,' who has struck more + whales than old Haser Keller ever saw. If Haser Keller wants + us he will find us at Savage Island, where we shall be ready + for him. + + (Signed) "R. Cheyne, Boatsteerer, "Casilda." + +"Where is Mr. Frewen, sir?" inquired the boatsteerer anxiously. + +"Gone for a picnic," replied the mate laconically. "Now, look lively, +my lads. We've got to tow this fish to the ship and 'cut in' before the +sharks save us the trouble." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The quarrel between Keller, a rough, blasphemous-mouthed, and +violent-tempered man, and his second officer had arisen over a very +simple matter. + +Frewen, one of the six sons of a struggling New Hampshire farmer, had +received a better education than his brothers, for he was intended for +the navy. But at sixteen years of age he realised the condition of the +family finances, and shipped on a whaler sailing out of New London. From +"'foremast hand with hayseed in his hair," he became boatsteerer; then +followed rapid promotion from fourth to second officer's berth, and at +the age of five-and-twenty he was as competent a navigator and as good +a seaman and boatheader as ever trod a whaleship's deck. For like many a +country-bred boy he had the sea instinct in his bones, inherited perhaps +from his progenitors, who were of a seafaring stock in old Devonshire, +in that town made for ever famous by Kingsley in "Westward Ho!" + +When Frewen joined the _Casilda_, Keller had taken a great fancy to +the young man, whom he soon discovered was a very able officer, and who +proved his ability as a good whaleman so amply during the first twelve +months of the cruise by never losing a whale once he got fast, that +Keller, who was as mean as he was brutal to his crew, relaxed his +"hazing" propensities considerably. The _Casilda_ was always known as +a "hard" ship and Keller as a "hazer"; but, on the other hand, she was +also a lucky ship, and Lopes, the chief mate, who had sailed in her for +many years, was a sterling good man, though a strict disciplinarian, and +did much for the men to compensate them for Keller's outbursts of savage +fury when anything went wrong. So Lopez, Frewen, and his fellow-officers +"worked" together, and the crew "worked" with them, and the _Casilda_ +became a fairly happy ship, as well as a lucky one, for Keller, after +long years, began to realise that it was bad policy to ill-treat a +willing crew who would give him a "full" ship in another six months +instead of deserting one by one or in batches at every island touched at +in the South Seas. + +And Frewen was a mascotte, and his half-caste boat-steerer was another, +for whenever a pod of whales were sighted the second mate's boat was +invariably the first to get fast, and on one glorious day off Sunday +Island Frewen's boat killed three sperms--a bull and two cows--and the +four other boats each got one or two, so that for over a week, in a calm +sea, and under a cloudless sky of blue by day and night, "cutting in" +and "trying-out" went on merrily, and the cooper and his mates toiled +like Trojans, setting-up fresh barrels; and the smoke and glare of the +try-works from the deck of the _Casilda_ lit up the placid ocean for +many a mile, whilst hordes of blue sharks rived and tore and ripped off +the rich blubber from the whales lying alongside waiting to be +cut-in, and Keller shot or lanced them by the score as he stood on the +cutting-in stage or in one of the boats made fast to the chains on the +free side. + +Fourteen months out, as the _Casilda_ was cruising northward, intending +to touch at one of the Navigator's Islands (Samoa) to refresh, the first +trouble occurred. Cheyne, Frewen's boatsteerer, who was a splendidly +built, handsome young fellow of twenty-four years of age, received a +rather severe injury to his right foot whilst a heavy baulk of timber +was being "fleeted" along the deck. Frewen, who was much attached to +him, dressed his foot as well as the rough appliances on board would +allow, and then reported him to the captain as unfit for duty. + +Keller growled something about all "darned half-breeds" being glad of +any excuse to shirk duty. + +Frewen took him up sharply: "This man is no shirker, sir. He is as good +a man as ever 'stood up' to strike a whale. Did you ever see a better +one?" + +Keller looked at his second officer with fourteen months' repressed +brutality glowering in his savage eyes. + +"I'm the captain of this ship. Just you mind that. I reckon I can't be +taught much by any college buster." + +Frewen's hands clenched, but he replied quietly, though he was inwardly +raging at Keller's contemptuous manner-- + +"Just so. You are the captain of this ship, and I know my duty, sir. +But I am not the man to be insulted by any one. And I say that my +boatsteerer is not fit for duty." + +Keller's retort was of so insulting a character that in another moment +the two men--to the intense delight of the crew--were fighting on the +after-deck. Lopes and the cooper, as in duty bound, sprang forward and +seized their fellow-officer, but the captain, with an oath, bade them +stand aside. + +"I'll pound you first," he cried hoarsely to Frewen, "then I'll kick you +into the foc'sle." + +The fight lasted for fifteen minutes, and then Lopes and the third mate +forced themselves between and separated them. Both men were terribly +punished. + +"That will do, sir; that will do, Frewen," said the mate; "do you want +to kill each other?" + +Keller had some good points about him and a certain amount of humour as +well. + +"Haow much air yew hurt, Frewen?" he inquired. "I can't exactly see" +(both his eyes were fast closing). + +"Pretty much like yourself," replied the officer; then he paused and +held out his hand. "Shake hands, sir. I'm sorry we've had this turn." + +"Wa'al, it's mighty poor business, that's a fact," and Keller took the +proffered hand, and then the matter apparently ended. + +Early in the morning on the following day whales were raised. There was +a stiff breeze and a choppy sea. Three boats, of which Frewen's was one, +were lowered. Cheyne, although suffering great pain, insisted on taking +his place, and twenty minutes later his officer called out to him to +"stand up," for they were close to the whale--a large cow, which was +moving along very slowly, apparently unconscious of the boat's presence. + +Then for the first time during the voyage the half-caste missed striking +his fish. Unable to sustain himself steadily, owing to his injured foot +and the rough sea, he darted his iron a second or two too late. It fell +flat on the back of the monstrous creature, which at once sounded in +alarm, and next reappeared a mile to windward. For an hour Frewen kept +up the chase, and then the ship signalled for all the boats to return, +for the wind and sea were increasing, and it was useless for them +to attempt to overtake the whales, which were now miles to windward. +Neither of the other boats had even come within striking distance of a +fish, and consequently Keller was in a vile temper when they returned, +and the moment he caught sight of the half-caste boatsteerer he assailed +him with a volley of abuse. + +The young man listened with sullen resentment dulling his dark face, +then as he turned to limp for'ard the captain bade him make haste and +get better, and not "try on any soldiering." + +He turned in an instant, his passion completely overmastering him: "I'm +no 'soldier,' and as good a man as you, you mean old Gape Cod water-rat. +I'll never lift another iron or steer a boat for you as long as I am on +this ship." + +Five minutes later he was in irons with a promise of being kept on +biscuit and water till he "took back all he had said" in the presence of +the ship's company. + +"I'll lie here and rot first sir," he said to Lopez; "my father was an +Englishman, and I consider myself as good a boatsteerer and as good a +man as any one on board. But I do not mean any disrespect to you, sir." + +Lopez was sorry for the man, but could not say so. "Keep a still tongue +between your teeth," he said roughly, "and I'll talk the old man round +by to-morrow." + +"Do as you please, sir. But I won't lift an iron again as long as I am +in this ship," he replied quietly. + +He kept his word. On the following morning he was liberated, and in a +week's time he had recovered the use of his foot. Then, when the barque +was off the Tonga Islands, a large "pod" of whales were sighted. It +was a clear, warm day. The sea was as smooth as a lake, and only the +faintest air was ruffling the surface of the water. Three miles away +were two small, low-lying islands, clad with coco-palms, their white +belting of beach glistening like iridescent pearl-shell under the +glowing tropic sun. + +As the boats were lowered he said to Frewen, "You know what I have said, +sir. I won't lift a harpoon again on this cruise; so don't ask me." + +Frewen did not believe him. "Don't be a fool, Randall. We'll show the +old man something to-day." + +"_I_ will, sir, if it costs me my life." + +Five minutes later he was in his old place on the for'ard thwart, +pulling stolidly, but looking intently at Frewen, whom he loved with a +dog-like affection. + +Frewen singled out a large bull whale which was lying quite apart from +the rest of the "pod" sunning himself, and sometimes rolling lazily +from side to side, oblivious of danger. In another five minutes the boat +would have been within striking distance. + +"Stand up, Randall," he said. + +The half-caste peaked and socketed his oar, and looked at the officer. + +"I refuse, sir," he said quietly. + +"Then come aft here," cried Frewen quickly, with hot anger in his tones. + +"No, sir, I will not. I said I would neither lift iron nor steer a boat +again," was the dogged reply. + +There was no time to lose. Giving the steer oar to the man pulling the +"after-tub oar," the officer sprang forward and picked up the harpoon +just in time, Randall jumping aft smartly enough, and taking the tub +man's oar. Ten seconds later Frewen had buried his harpoon up to the +socket in the whale, and the line was humming as the boat tore through +the water. Then, still keeping his place, he let the whole of one tub +of line run out, and then hauled up on it and lanced and killed his fish +quietly. Cheyne apparently took no notice, though his heart sank within +him when Frewen came aft again, and looked at him with mingled anger and +reproach. + +Some one of the boat's crew talked of what had occurred, though Frewen +said nothing; and that night Cheyne was placed in irons by Keller's +orders. At the end of a week he was still manacled and almost starving, +but he steadfastly refused to do boatsteerer's duty. Then the captain +no longer placed any check on himself, and he swore that he would either +make the half-caste yield or else kill him. And he did his best to keep +his word. + +Nearly a month passed, and then, at Frewen's suggestion, all the +officers waited on the captain and begged him to release the unfortunate +man; otherwise there was every prospect of the crew mutinying. + +"Is he willing to turn to again?" he asked. + +"Not as boatsteerer," replied Frewen. + +"Then he shall stay where he is," was the savage retort. + +Five or six days later Frewen went to Cheyne, who was now confined in +the 'tween decks, and implored him to give in. + +"Very well, sir. To please you I will give in. But I mean to desert the +first chance." + +"So do I. I am sick of this condition of things. There are three other +men besides yourself in irons now." + +"Who are they, sir?" + +"Willis, Hunt, and Freeman." (The two latter belonged to his own boat, +and had been ironed because they had refused to eat some bad beef. +Frewen himself had told Keller that it was uneatable, and again angry +words passed between them.) + +Cheyne was released and resumed his old place in Frewen's boat, and the +officer then sounded the rest of his men, and found they were eager +to leave the ship. So he made his plans, and he and Cheyne quietly got +together a small supply of provisions and a second breaker of water. + +They waited till the ship was well among the Friendly Group, and Upolu +Island was three hundred miles to the north, and then were given the +needed opportunity--when the mate's boat was destroyed by the big bull +whale, which was then struck by Cheyne. + +"Boys," shouted Frewen to his crew, as the boat tore through the water, +"I'm not going to kill this whale awhile. He'll give us a long run, and +is taking us dead to windward, away from the ship. But before it gets +dark I'll give him a bomb." + +He successfully carried out his intention. Just as darkness was coming +on he hauled up on his line and fired a bomb into the mighty creature; +it killed it in a few seconds. Then they lay alongside of the floating +carcase, spelled half an hour, had something to eat, and then Cheyne, +who had a sense of humour, wrote the scrawl to Keller and tied it round +the whift pole. + +"Now, lads," cried Frewen, "up sail! It is a fine dark night, and we +should be forty or fifty miles away by daylight." + +And so, whilst the _Casilda_ burnt flare after flare throughout the +night, the adventurers were slipping through the water merrily enough, +oblivious of the cold rain squalls which overtook them at midnight, as +they headed for Samoa. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +When Frewen allowed Cheyne to write the pencilled note to Captain +Keller, he did so with a double purpose, for he and Cheyne had carefully +thought out and decided upon their plans. In the first place, the dead +whale would convince the ship's company that he and his boat's crew had +"done the square thing," by killing and leaving for their benefit the +best and largest whale that had yet been taken, and that although +they were deserting (and consequently losing their entire share of the +profits of the cruise so far, which would be divided with their former +shipmates) the rich prize they were leaving to the ship would prove of +ten times the value of the boat in which they had escaped. In the second +place he wished to put Keller on a false scent by naming Savage Island +(or Nine, as it is generally known) as their destination; for Keller +knew that the island was a favourite resort of runaway sailors, but that +a suitable reward offered to the avaricious natives would be sure to +effect the capture and return to the ship of any deserters from the +_Casilda_. + +Cheyne's father was an English master mariner, who, tired of a seafaring +life, had settled as a trader in the beautiful island of Manono in +Samoa. He there married a daughter of one of the leading chiefs, and +himself attained to some considerable influence and property, but lost +his life in an encounter with a rebellious clan on the island of Upolu. +He left two children: Randall, a lad of sixteen, and Marie, a girl +two years younger. The boy went to sea in a whaler, and at the age +of twenty-four had an established reputation as one of the smartest +boatsteerers in the Pacific. Only once after four years' absence, had he +returned to his native country, when he found that his sister, who had +just arrived from Australia, where she had been educated, was about +to be married to one of the few Europeans in the country--a well-to-do +planter and merchant, named Raymond, and that his mother had also +married again, and settled in New Zealand. + +Satisfied as to his sister's future happiness, he saw her married, and +again turned his face to the sea, although Raymond earnestly besought +him to stay with and help him in his business. He made his way to +Honolulu, and there joined the _Casilda_, then homeward bound, and, as +has been related, he and the second officer soon became firm friends. + +At the south-east point of the island of Upelu, there is a town named +Lep, and for this place the boat was now steering. The principal chief +of the district was a blood relation of Cheyne's mother, and he (Cheyne) +knew that every hospitality would be given to himself and Frewen for as +long a time as they chose to remain at Lep. + +"After we have seen Mana'lio" (the chief) "we shall consider what we +shall do," said the boatsteerer to Frewen. "I expect he will not like +letting us leave him, but will be satisfied when he knows that you and I +want to go to my sister's place. These big Samoan chiefe are very touchy +in some things." + +On the afternoon of the third day out, the land was sighted, and just as +the evening fires were beginning to gleam from the houses embowered in +the palm-groves of Lep, the boat grounded on the white hard beach, and +in a few minutes the village was in a pleasurable uproar, as the white +men were almost carried up to the chief's house by the excited natives, +who at once recognised the stalwart Cheyne. + +Mana'lio made his relative and Frewen most welcome, and treated them +as very honoured guests, whilst the rest of the boat's crew were taken +possession of by the sub-chiefs and the people of the town generally, +carried off to the _fale taupule_ or "town hall," and invited to a +hurriedly prepared but ample repast. + +On the following morning, Frewen called the whole of his boat's crew +together, and told them it would be best for them to separate. "Each of +you four men say you don't want to go to sea again--not for a long time +at any rate. Well, Mana'lio, the chief here, wants a white man to live +with him. He will treat him well, and give him a house and land. Will +you stay, Hunt?" + +"Yes, sir," was the instant reply. + +"Right. And you, Freeman, Chase, and Craik, can stay here in Lep, +and decide for yourselves which towns you will live in. In less than +forty-eight hours half the chiefe on the island will be coming to +Mana'lio for a white man. Cheyne here will give you some good advice--if +you want the natives to respect you, and to get along and make money and +a honest living, follow his advice." + +"Ay, ay, sir," assented the men. + +"Now, here is another matter. Cheyne and I wish to be mates, and we want +the boat." + +"Well, I guess _we_ have no claim on her, sir," said Hunt, turning to +the others for confirmation of his remark. + +"Oh, yes you have--she is as much yours as she is mine. Anyway we all +have a good right to her, as we have given the ship a whale worth a +dozen new boats; and, besides that, by deserting we have forfeited our +'lays' and have put money into Captain Keller's pocket as well as +into those of the crew. Now, I have a little money with me--two hundred +dollars. Will you four men take a hundred and divide it, and let Cheyne +and me have the boat?" + +"Ay, ay, to be sure," they cried out in unison. + +That evening Frewen and Cheyne bade Mana'lio and the seamen goodbye, and +accompanied by four stalwart and well-armed natives, stepped into the +boat, hoisted her blue jean main-sail and jib, and amidst a chorus of +farewells from the friendly people set off on a forty miles trip along +the coast, their destination being the town of Samatau, at the extreme +north-west of the island. + +For here, so Mana'lio had told them, Mrs. Raymond and her husband were +living, the latter having purchased a large tract of land there which he +was preparing for a cotton plantation. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The boat sailed gently along the outer or barrier reef which fringed +the coast of beautiful verdured Upolu, and then, as the sun sank, there +shone out myriad stars upon the bosom of a softly heaving sea, and +only the never-ceasing murmur of the surf as it beat against the coral +barrier, or the cry of some wandering sea-bird, disturbed the warm +silence of the tropic night. + +Leaving the boat to the care of their native friends at eight o'clock, +Frewen and his comrade laid down amidships and were soon fast asleep, +for the day had been a tiring one, and they needed more rest to recover +from the effects of the three days they had spent on the open sea. + +Soon after daylight they were awakened by the steersman, who pointed out +a large, lofty-sparred vessel. She was about five miles away, and being +head on, Frewen was uncertain as to her rig, till an hour later, when he +saw that she was a full-rigged ship. + +"Not the _Casilda_" he said to his comrade, and neither of them gave the +strange vessel any further thought, especially as the wind had now died +away, and, the sail being lowered, the crew bent to the oars under an +already hot and blazing sun. + +Shortly before noon, the boat rounded a low headland and entered +a lovely little bay, embowered in thick groves of coco-palms and +breadfruit trees. The new house which Raymond had built was not +visible from the bay, but there were some thirty or forty native houses +clustered under the shade of the trees, a few yards up from the beach, +on which they noticed a ship's longboat was lying. + +The moment Frewen's boat was seen, a strange clamour arose, and a number +of natives, armed with muskets and long knives, rushed out of their +houses, and took cover behind the rocks and trees, evidently with the +intention of resisting his landing, and Frewen and Cheyne heard loud +cries of "_Lmonte! Lmonte!_" + +"Back water!" cried Cheyne in his mother tongue to the crew; then he +turned to Frewen: "There is something wrong on shore. 'Lmonte' is my +brother-in-law's name, and they are calling for him." Then he stood up +and shouted out-- + +"Friends, do you not know me? I am Randall. Where is my sister and her +husband?" + +A loud cry of astonishment burst from the natives, many of whom, +throwing down their arms, sprang into the water, and clambering into the +boat greeted the young man most affectionately; and then one of them, +commanding silence, began talking rapidly to him. + +"We must get ashore quickly," said Cheyne to Randall. "My brother-in-law +has a number of dead and dying people in his house. There has been a +mutiny on board that ship--but come on, he'll tell us all about it." + +In another minute the boat was on the beach, and as Frewen and Cheyne +jumped ont they were met by a handsome, dark-faced man about forty years +of age, who grasped Cheyne's hands warmly. + +"I never expected to see you, Randall," he said quietly, "but I thank +God that you _have_ come, and at such a time, too. Where is your ship?" + +"Three hundred miles away. But we will tell you our story another time. +How is Marie?" + +"Well. She already hears the people shouting your name. Come to the +house." Then he turned to Frewen and held out his hand. "My name is +Raymond, and you are welcome to Samatau." + +"And mine is Frewen. I hope you will accept any assistance I can give." + +"Gladly. But I will tell you the whole story presently. I have two men +dying in my house, three others wounded, and two dead." + +He led the way along a shady, winding path to the house, on the wide +verandah of which were seated a number of natives of both sexes, who +made way for them to pass with low murmurs of "_Talofa, aliia_," {*} to +the two strangers. Then in another moment Marie Raymond stepped softly +out from the sitting-room, and threw her arms round her brother's neck. + + * "Greeting, gentlemen." + +"Thank God you are here, Randall," she said, leading the way into +another room. "Tom will tell you of what has happened. I will return as +soon as I can." + +"How is Captain Marston?" asked Raymond, as she stood for a moment with +her hand on the handle of the door. + +"Still unconscious. Mrs. Marston is with him." She paused, and then +turned her dark and beautiful tear-dimmed eyes to Frewen: "Tom, perhaps +this gentleman might be able to do something. Will he come in and see?" + +Raymond drew him aside. "Go in and see the poor fellow. He can't last +long--his skull is fractured." + +Frewen followed Mrs. Raymond into the large room, and saw lying on her +own bed the figure of a man whose features were of the pallor of death. +His head was bound up, and kneeling by his side, with her eyes bent +upon his closed lids, was a woman, or rather a girl of twenty-two or +twenty-three years of age. As, at the sound of footsteps, she raised her +pale, agonised face, something like a gleam of hope came into it. + +"Are you a doctor?" she asked in a trembling whisper. + +The seaman shook his head respectfully. "No, madam; I would I were." + +He leant over the bed, and looked at the still, quiet face of the man, +whom he could see was in the prime of life, and whose regular, clear-cut +features showed both refinement and strength of character. + +"He still breathes," whispered the poor wife. + +"Yes, so I see," said Frewen, as he rose. Then he asked Mrs. Raymond +a few questions as to the nature of the wound, and learned that in +addition to a fractured skull a pistol bullet had entered at the back of +the neck. + +"There is no hope, you think. I can see that by your face," said Mrs. +Marston, suppressing a sob. + +"I cannot tell, madam. But I do think that his condition is very, very +serious." + +She bent her head, and then sank on her knees again beside the bed, but +suddenly she rose again, and placed her hand on Frewen's sleeve. + +"I know that my husband must die, no human aid can save him. But will +you, sir, go and see poor Mr. Villari. Mr. Raymond has hopes for him at +least. And he fought very bravely for my husband." + +Villari was the first mate of the ship, and was lying in another room, +together with three wounded seamen. He was a small, wiry Italian, and +when Frewen entered with Raymond and Mrs. Raymond, he waved his right +hand politely to them, and a smile lit up his swarthy features. He had +two bullet wounds, one a clean hole through the right shoulder, the +other in the thigh. He had lost a great deal of blood, but none of his +high courage, though Raymond at first thought he could not live. + +"I am not going to die," he said. "_Per Bacco_, no." + +Frewen spoke encouragingly to him and then turned his attention to the +seamen, all of whom were Englishmen. None of them were severely wounded, +and all that could be done for them had been done by Raymond and their +own unwounded shipmates, of whom there were four. + +"Now I shall tell you the story," said Raymond to Frewen and Cheyne, as +he led the way to the verandah, on which a table with refreshments had +been placed. "But, first of all, do you see that ship out there? Well, +that is the _Esmeralda_. She is now in the possession of the mutineers, +and has on board forty-five thousand dollars. You see that she is +becalmed?" + +"And likely to continue so for another three or four days, if I am any +judge of the weather in this part of the Pacific," said Frewen, "I agree +with you. And now, before I begin to tell you the story of the mutiny, +I want to know if you two will help me to recapture her? You are seamen, +and--" + +Both men sprang to their feet. + +"Yes, we will!" + +"Ah! I thought you would not refuse. Now wait a moment," and calling to +a young native who was near, he bade him go to the chief of Samatau and +ask him to come to the house as quickly as possible. + +"Mali, the chief of Samatau, will help us," he said to Frewen; "he has +two hundred of the best fighting men in Samoa, and I shall ask him to +pick out fifty. But we want a nautical leader--some one to take charge +of the ship after we get possession of her." + +"Now here is the story of the mutiny, told to me by poor Mrs. Marston." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"At daylight this morning, my wife and I were aroused by our servants, +who excitedly cried to as to come outside. A boat, they said, was on the +beach with a number of white men in it, some of whom were dead. + +"I went down to the beach at once, and five minutes later had all the +unfortunate wounded and unwounded people assisted to the house, for +they were completely exhausted by what they had undergone, and were also +suffering from thirst. Two of their number had succumbed to their wounds +in the boat a few hours previously, so Villari, the mate, told me. +Marston, who had been shot in the neck, was unconscious, and his wife +who, as you saw, is little more than a girl, was herself wounded in the +arm by a musket ball. + +"We did all that we could do, and after Mrs. Marston had had an hour's +rest, she and Villari told me their story. + +"The _Esmeralda_ is Marston's own ship, and left Valdivia, in Chile, for +Manila about seven weeks ago. She is almost a new ship, only having been +built at Aberdeen last year. Marston, who had just married, brought out +a general cargo from London to Valdivia and other South American ports, +and sold it at a very handsome profit. Whilst on the coast, fever broke +out on board, and he lost his second mate and five A.B.'s, and the third +mate and two others had to go into hospital. In their places he shipped +a new second mate--a man named Juan Almanza--and twelve seamen, ten of +whom were either Chilenos or Peruvians, and the remaining two Greeks. +The former boatswain he promoted to the third mate's birth. Almanza +proved to be a good officer, and the new men gave him satisfaction, +though his agent at Valdivia had urged him not to take the two Greeks, +who, he said, were likely to prove troublesome. Unfortunately he did not +take the agent's advice, and said that he had often had Greeks with him +on previous voyages, and found them very fair sailormen--much better +than Chilenos or Mexicans. + +"He had been paid for his cargo mostly in silver dollars, and the money +was brought on board in as quiet a manner as possible, and he believed +without the new hands knowing anything about it. Poor fellow; he was +fatally mistaken! In all it amounted to thirty-five thousand dollars, +and in addition to this there was a further sum of two thousand pounds +in English gold on board--Marston, I must tell you, is, I imagine, a +fairly wealthy man, for his wife told me that he had the _Esmeralda_ +built at a cost of six thousand pounds. + +"He had been informed at Valdivia that a cargo of Chile flour, which +could be bought very cheaply at Valparaiso, could be sold at a huge +profit in Manila, and he thereupon bought a full cargo--six hundred +tons--and sailed, as I have said, about seven weeks ago. All went well +on board from the very first, although the English seamen did not much +care about their foreign shipmates, who, however, did their duty after +a fashion. Almanza, Mrs. Marston says, was in all respects an able +and smart officer, and both she and her husband took a great liking to +him--the scoundrel! + +"The two Greeks--who, by the way, called themselves and shipped under +the English names of John Foster and James Ryan--the Levantine breed +do that trick very often--were in Almanza's watch, as were six of the +Chilenos; and the mate one night, coming on deck when it was his watch +below, was surprised to find Almanza and the two Greeks engaged in an +earnest conversation. His suspicions were aroused, and he reported the +matter to the captain, who, however, made light of it, and said that +Almanza had told him that Foster and Ryan had been shipmates with him +on a Sydney barque some years before, and that it was only natural that +Almanza would relax discipline a little, and condescend to chat for a +few minutes with men who had sailed with him previously. + +"Ryan, the older of the two, had proved himself an excellent seaman, and +both Marston and Villari felt sure, from the way in which he spoke to +the other seamen, that he had at one time been an officer. In addition +to Spanish he speaks both English and French remarkably well, and his +manners and personal appearance are extremely good, and no one would +take him to be a Greek. He, however, frankly admitted that his name was +not Ryan and that he was a native of the island of Naxos in the gean +Sea. + +"At this time, Mr. Frewen, the _Esmeralda_ was near these islands--in +fact, Upolu was in sight; and Marston, knowing that there were some +Europeans settled at the port of Apia, on the north side of the island, +decided to put in there for fresh provisions, of which the ship was in +need. + +"Perhaps his decision made the scoundrelly Almanza imagine that he +suspected him, and was only touching at Apia to rid himself of +his second officer and his Greek and Chileno accomplices, for Mrs. +Marston--who shudders when she mentions Almanza's name--says that +shortly after the ship's course was altered for Apia, he went for'ard on +some excuse, but in reality to talk to the Greeks in the fore-peak. He +was absent about a quarter of an hour, and then went about his duties as +usual. + +"A little before six bells, Captain Marston was on the poop looking +at the land through his glasses, Mrs. Marston was in her cabin sewing, +Villari, with the boatswain and three A.B.'s (all Englishmen), were with +the steward and third mate engaged in the lazzarette overhauling and +re-stowing the provisions. Suddenly the captain was felled by a blow on +the head dealt him from behind, and the mate and those with him were at +the same moment ordered by Almanza to come up out of the lazzarette. He +told them that he was in possession of the ship, and that they would be +shot down if they attempted to resist. Villari and his men came up, and +found the second mate and six of the mutineers in the cabin, all armed +with pistols and cutlasses. Resistance was useless, and Almanza told +Villari not to think of it. He (Villari) was then hustled into his own +cabin and locked in, and the English seamen ordered on deck, where they, +with the other Englishmen on board, were made to hoist out the longboat. +Whilst this was being done Almanza, who had locked Mrs. Marston in her +cabin, opened the door, and told her that she need feel no fear, but +that she must come on deck to attend to her husband, who had been hurt +She found Marston lying where he fell, and quite unconscious, with a +Chileno standing guard over him. As the English members of the crew were +hoisting out the longboat, Almanza told the steward--a negro--to get +some provisions and some bottles of wine from the cabin. Then the two +Greeks--who from the first had seemed bent on murder--interfered, and +one of them suddenly raised his pistol and shot the unfortunate steward +through the heart. The Chileno seamen applauded the act, and only +Almanza's frenzied protests prevented them from slaughtering the unarmed +Englishmen, the Greeks declaring that they (the mutineers) were only +putting ropes round their necks by sparing any one of them--including +Mrs. Marston. + +"For some minutes it seemed as if there was to be a conflict between +Almanza and his followers, but the mutineers appeared to yield to his +appeals, and assisted in getting the longboat out. The captain was then +lowered into the boat, and then Mrs. Marston and all the Englishmen but +two followed; when suddenly Villari, who had succeeded in forcing his +door, sprang up from the cabin with a pistol in each hand, and singling +out Almanza, shot him through the chest, and with the second shot +wounded one of the Chilenos in the face. But in another instant he +himself fell, for the Greeks and several of the gang fired at him +simultaneously, and he was also given a fearful blow on the head with a +belaying-pin, partly stunning him, and then thrown overboard to drown. +The two men remaining on deck saved their lives by jumping overboard at +the same time. + +"Most fortunately for the poor mate he fell near the boat, and was +rescued by one of the seamen, who sprang overboard after him. But not +satisfied with what they had already done, and enraged at the fall of +their leader, the mutineers now began firing into the defenceless people +in the boat at such a short range that it is marvellous that any one +escaped. + +"Before they were able to pull out of range, the captain, third mate, +and one of the seamen were mortally wounded, and two others and +Mrs. Marston also were hit Then the mutineers, evidently bent on the +slaughter of the whole party, began to lower away one of the heavy +quarter-boats, but although she was actually put in the water the +villains changed their minds for some reason, and the longboat was not +pursued." + +"Ah!" said Frewen, "I expect they were afraid to leave the ship in case +a breeze sprang up." + +"So Villari says. However, they then began firing round shot at the +longboat from the two nine-pounders on the quarter-deck--the _Esmeralda_ +is armed with six guns--but made such bad practice that after half a +dozen shots had been fired they gave up the attempt. + +"The ship at this time was in the Straits of Manono, and the boat was +headed for the nearest land, which was Samatau--the four unwounded men +keeping to the oars most manfully, only taking short spells every hour. +As darkness came on they saw the lights of Samatau village, and came +on without fear, for they knew that the natives of Samoa, though very +warlike, were hospitable and friendly to Europeans. During the night the +third mate and the badly wounded A.B. died, and poor Marston, who had +never spoken since he had been first struck down, lay as you saw him a +little while ago, without the slightest sign of returning consciousness. +Villari, however, began to improve, and weak as he was, yet contrived +to show one of the men how to dress Mrs. Marston's wound in a more +efficient manner. He _is_ a plucky little fellow. + +"The boat would have reached here much sooner, only that Villari and his +people could not find the passage through the reef, and several times +struck on coral patches. + +"Well, that is the whole of the story--and a very dreadful one it is +too. I do feel so for that poor little woman. Her heart is breaking." + +"Ay, indeed," said Frewen, "poor thing! She seems hardly more than a +girl." + +"However, please God, we shall get her husband's ship back," and +Raymond's dark eyes sparkled. "Ah! here comes the chief. He will not +fail us. He is one of the most renowned fighters in Samoa, is he not, +Randall?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Malie, the supreme chief of the district, was indeed, as Raymond said, +one of the most renowned fighters, not only on Upoln, but in all Samoa, +and Frewen, as he shook hands with him, thought he had never seen so +noble and imposing a figure. He was a man of about sixty years of age, +with closely-cropped white hair and thick moustache, but so youthful was +he in his carriage, and so smooth was the bright copper-red of his skin, +that he seemed more like a man of thirty whose hair and moustache had +become prematurely blanched. The upper portion of his huge but yet +beautifully proportioned and muscular figure was bare to the waist, +around which was wrapped many folds of tappa cloth bleached to a snowy +whiteness, which accentuated the startling contrast of the bright blue +tattooing which reached from his waist to his knees. Depending from his +neck, and falling in a long loop across a broad chest scarred by many +wounds, was a simple yet beautiful ornament consisting of some hundreds +of discs of gleaming pearl-shell, perforated at the sides, and strung +together by a thin cord of human hair. In his right hand he carried a +_fui_, or fly-wisp, made of coco-nut fibre, and Frewen noticed during +the conversation that followed that he used this with the dainty grace +that characterises a Spanish lady with her fan. + +Accompanying the chief was a tall, thin old man, named Talitaua, who +was Mali's _tulafale_ or orator--a position which in Samoa is one +much coveted and highly respected, for the _tulafale_ is in reality a +Minister of War, and on his public utterances much depends. If he is +possessed of any degree of eloquence, he can either avert or bring about +war, just as he chooses to either inflame or subdue the passions of his +audience when, rising and supporting himself on his polished staff of +office, he first scans the expectant faces of the throng seated on the +ground before him ere he opens his lips to speak. On this occasion, +however, Talitaua had merely come with Mali as a personal friend +anxious to learn privately what he would probably have to communicate +to the assembled people as soon as the discussion with Raymond was +concluded. Both he and the chief had already heard full details of the +mutiny from Raymond, and they guessed that the planter had something +further and of importance to say to them concerning it. After the usual +courtesies so rigidly observed on visits of ceremony had passed between +them and Raymond, they patiently awaited him to begin, though very +curious to learn what was the occasion of Frewen's and Cheyne's +unlooked-for appearance. Their natural politeness, however, as well as +the never-to-be-infringed-upon Samoan etiquette, utterly forbade them to +make even the slightest allusion to the matter; they would, they knew, +learn in good time. + +Seating themselves on chairs in European fashion at one side of the +table, whilst Raymond and his two companions occupied those opposite, +they first made inquiry as to the wounded men and Mrs. Marston, and the +planter answered their polite queries. Then after a pause Raymond began +by saying-- + +"This _alii_ {*} is named Mr. Frewen. He is an officer of a _vaa +soia_,{**} and is a friend of my wife's brother, and therefore is a +friend of mine--and thine also, Mali toa o Samatau,{***} and Talitaua." + + * Chief--gentleman. + + ** A whale-ship. + + *** His full title, "Mali, warrior of Samatau." The present + King Malietoa of Samoa is a descendant. + +The chief and his orator bent their heads, but said nothing beyond a +simple _Lelei, lelei lava_ ("Good, very good"). + +Then Raymond went to the point as quickly as possible, and asked the +chief if he would assist him, Frewen, and Cheyne in recapturing the ship +from the mutineers. Speaking, of course, in Samoan, he said-- + +"As thou seest, Mali, the wind hath died away, and the ship is +becalmed, so that the murderers on board cannot escape us if we do but +act soon and come upon them suddenly." + +The chief thought for a few moments, then answered-- + +"I will not refuse thee anything in reason that thou asketh me, Lmonti. +But yet my people must be told of what is in thy mind." + +"True. They shall know. But before I unfold to thee my plan to take +this ship by surprise so that but little or no blood may be shed, I will +pledge myself to the people of Samatan and to thee to act generously +to them for the help they will give. The captain is hurt to death +and cannot speak, and the lady his wife is too smitten with grief to +consider aught but her husband, so on her behalf do I speak; for she is +my countrywoman, and it would be a shameful thing for me did I not help +her." + +Then he went on, and dearly and lucidly detailed his scheme to the +chief, afterwards translating his remarks into English for the benefit +of Frewen, who listened with the keenest interest. Cheyne, of course, +understood Samoan perfectly. + +Raymond's plan was simple enough. + +He proposed to take the _Casilda's_ boat, and with Frewen, Cheyne, and +a few natives go boldly off and board the ship, and representing +himself as a trader anxious to buy European provisions, begin to work +by throwing the mutineers off their guard, by warning them of the danger +the ship was in through being in so close to the land during a calm, for +the currents in the Straits of Manono were very strong and she would +be carried on to the reef unless she was towed out of the danger +limit towards which he would say (and truthfully enough) that she was +drifting. The mutineers, he felt convinced, would feel so alarmed that +they would listen to and accept his suggestion to let him engage the +services of half a dozen native boats, whose united efforts would soon +place the ship out of danger by towing her out of the danger zone. +Then he and those with him would bide their time, and at a given signal +spring upon the mutineers, who would be completely off their guard. + +He entered into the details so minutely that not only Frewen and Cheyne, +but Mali as well, expressed the warmest admiration and approval. Then +he told Mali exactly what to do when he (the chief) saw the whale-boat +leaving the ship to return to the shore, and Mali listened carefully to +his instructions and promised that they should be carried out exactly as +he desired. + +Then the stalwart chief and his orator rose to take their leave, for +they had to call the people together and acquaint them with what was to +be done. + +"Have no fear, Lmonti, that the calm will break," he said in reply to a +fear expressed by the planter that a breeze might, after all, spring +up and carry the ship too far off the land for the attempt to be made. +"'Tis a calm that will last for many days. Look at the mountains of +Savai'i"--and he pointed out the cloud-capped summits of the range that +traverses the great island of Savai'i--"when the clouds lie white and +heavy and low down it meaneth no wind for many days, not as much as +would stir a palm-leaf. But there will be rain at night--much rain." + +"The better for our purpose," said Raymond, as the chief left the house. +"Now, Randall, we must hurry along. Take half a dozen of my people, and +let them catch a couple of pigs and plenty of fowls; then cut about +a dozen or so large bunches of bananas and get enough other +fruit--pineapples, sugar-cane, guavas, and young coco-nuts as will +make a big show in the boat. Mr. Frewen and I will join you in about a +quarter of an hour, and then you and he can show the natives how to stow +the things, as I have suggested to the chief." + +Returning to the house he sought out his wife. + +"Marie, we are going to recapture that ship. Don't be alarmed, and don't +say anything to poor Mrs. Marston till you see us returning; but you may +tell the mate." + +Mrs. Raymond never for one instant thought of trying to dissuade her +husband from a mission which she felt was full of danger. She kissed +him, and said, "Tell me what to get ready, Tom." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and the decks of the _Esmeralda_ +gleamed dazzlingly white under the burning rays of the Samoan sun, as +she lay motionless upon a sea as calm as some sheltered mountain lake +or reed-margined swamp hidden away in the quiet depths of the primeval +forest. Twenty miles away to the south and east of the ship, the +purple-grey crests of the mountains of Savai'i rose nearly five thousand +feet in air, and, nearer the long verdant slope of beautiful Upolu +stretched softly and gently upwards from the white beaches of the +western point to the forest-clad sides of Mount Tofoa--ten miles +distant. Still nearer to the ship, and shining like a giant emerald +lying within a circlet of snow, was the island of Manono, the home or +birthplace of all the chiefly families of Samoa for many centuries +back. Almost circular in shape, and in no place more than fifty feet +in height, it was covered with an ever-verdant forest of breadfruit, +pandanus, orange and palm-groves, broken here and there by the +russet-hued villages of the natives, built just where the shining beach +met the green of the land. And the whole seemed to float on the bosom of +the lagoon, which, completely encompassed by the barrier reef, slumbered +peacefully--its waters undisturbed except when they moved responsive to +the gently-flowing current from the blue ocean beyond, or were rippled +by the paddle of a fisherman's canoe. A mile beyond Manono, and midway +between it and the "iron-bound" coast of Savai'i, was the little +volcanic isle of Apolima--once in olden times the fortress that guarded +the passage through the straits, now occupied only by a few families of +fisher-folk dwelling in peace and plenty in the village nestling at the +foot of the long-extinct volcano. Overhead a sky of wondrous spotless +blue. + + * * * * * + +On the quarter-deck of the _Esmeralda_ three of the mutineers were +seated together under the shade of a small temporary awning, engaged +in an earnest conversation. A fourth person--Almanza--who was at that +moment the subject of their conversation, was lying in the captain's +stateroom, immediately beneath them; the rest of the gang were idling +about on the main or fore decks smoking their inevitable cigarettes, and +waiting till the Levantine "Ryan," whom they now recognised as leader, +called them to hear the result of the discussion. + +The Chileno, who was seated with Ryan and Foster, was named Rivas, and +had recommended himself to them by reason of his ferocious and merciless +disposition. Long before the mutiny occurred he, with the Greeks, had +insisted upon the necessity of murdering not only the captain, first +officer, steward, and all the English seamen, but Mrs. Marston as +well. Almanza, however, protested so strenuously that they reluctantly +consented not to resort to murder, if it could possibly be avoided; but +their lust for slaughter was too great to be controlled when Villari +made his gallant attempt to aid his captain. + +On the top of the skylight was spread a chart, at which Ryan was +looking, trying to find out as near as he could the ship's position. +He could read English, and easily recognised the islands of Apolima and +Manono, both of which were shown on the chart. + +"That is where we are now, or about there," he said, taking a pencil in +his hand and making a mark on the spot. "But we are drifting towards the +reefs, and must anchor once we get into soundings--or else go ashore." + +"Do you think he is going to die?" inquired Rivas, with a gesture +towards the cabin. + +"How can I tell, comrade?" replied the Greek with an angry snarl. "Only +that we want him badly to navigate the ship, it would be best for us if +he does die--for two reasons." + +His fellow-scoundrels nodded assent. The two reasons they knew were, +firstly, that Almanza had proved to be too timorous as regarded the +taking of life, and secondly that his death would give them a greater +share of plunder. + +"Well, what are we to do?" asked Rivas. + +"What can we do?" exclaimed Foster fiercely, as he shook his +black-haired, greasy and ear-ringed head. "We must wait and see if he +gets better--unless we drift ashore in the night and get our throats cut +by los Indios over there," and he indicated the islands. + +"Bah!" growled his countryman. "Did I not tell you that I heard the +captain say over and over again that these people are not savages? But +what we do want is a breeze, so that we can work off the land--for how +are a few men going to tow a heavy ship like this against a two-knot +current? We could not move her." Then he called out, with a sneering +inflection in his tones, "Come aft, comrades, and we shall drink to our +_brave_ captain's speedy recovery." + +The rest of the mutineers but one obeyed with alacrity, just as the man +who remained, and who was standing on the topgallant foc'sle, gave a +loud cry-- + +"A boat is coming from the shore!" + +In an instant confusion ensued; but Ryan, picking up Marston's glass, +angrily bade them be silent. The boat had approached to within a mile of +the ship, and Ryan saw that she was pulling four oars. + +"It is not the captain's boat, _amigos_," he said, "and there seem to be +only a few people in her. But be ready." + +The _Esmeralda_, in addition to the six guns she carried, was +plentifully provided with small-arms--enough for a crew of thirty men; +and all of these, as well as the big guns, were kept loaded, for +after the escape of the captain's boat the mutineers had worked most +energetically to put the ship in a state of defence--both Almanza and +Ryan recognising the possibility of the survivors of Marston's party +reaching Apia, and there obtaining assistance to enable them to +recapture the ship. + +The boat came on steadily, the blades of her four oars flashing in the +bright sunlight. Ryan continued to look at her, and felt quite satisfied +when he saw she contained but seven persons, three of whom were +Europeans, and four natives. + +"It is a whale-boat," he cried; "and there are three white men in her +and four natives. She is very deep in the water, and I can see a lot of +green stuff in the bows." (These were the bunches of bananas, purposely +stowed in a pile for'ard, so as to indicate the boat's peaceful +mission.) + +The mutineers--with the exception of the two Greeks--who remained on the +quarter-deck, dressed in Mars-ton's and Villari's clothes--stood in the +waist. All were armed with pistols, and a number of loaded muskets were +lying along the waterways close to their hands, if needed. + +When within easy speaking distance of the ship Ryan went to the rail and +hailed the boat. + +"Boat ahoy!" + +The four oars ceased pulling, and Frewen, who was steering, stood up and +answered the hail. + +"Good morning, captain. I've seen you since daylight. You are drifting +too close in, so I've come off to warn you to tow off." + +"Come on board, please," replied the Greek, who, as Frewen spoke, saw +that the boat was deeply-laden with fruit; and the cackling of fowls +and sudden squeal of a pig convinced him that everything was right. And +then, in a few minutes, Frewen and Raymond clambered up the side and +walked quickly aft to where Ryan stood on the poop. + +"How do you do, captain?" said Frewen, holding out his hand. "Where are +you from, sir?" + +"Valparaiso to Batavia," was the glib reply, as the mutineer shook +hands with his visitors. "Are you living on shore there?" and he nodded +towards Samatau. + +"Yes, this is my partner. We have a cotton plantation there. We have +brought you off a boatload of fresh provisions. Perhaps you can spare +us a cask of salt beef in exchange? Pork is the only meat we have on +shore." + +"Very well, I can easily do that," was the reply. + +Frewen went to the side and hailed the watchful Cheyne. + +"Pass up all that stuff, Randall," he said. + +Aided by the Chileno seamen, Cheyne and the four natives soon cleared +the boat of the livestock and fruit, whilst Ryan, who had not yet asked +his visitors below, continued to talk to them on deck, although he +told one of the crew, whom he addressed as "steward," to bring up +refreshments. + +"Now, captain," continued Frewen, speaking in the most friendly +manner, "you must set to and tow your ship away from here as quietly +as possible, or you will go ashore if this calm lasts. You can't anchor +anywhere near here, the water is too deep." + +"Perhaps you will help me? I am short-handed. Twelve of my crew took +the longboat and deserted from me during the voyage, and I am in a tight +place." + +"Oh, well, captain, we must try and help you out of it to the best +of our ability." He raised his glass. "I am glad to have met you, +Captain------," and he paused. + +"Ryan is my name. The ship is the _Esmeralda_." + +"And a beautiful ship she is, too. You must be proud to command such a +splendid vessel, sir." + +"She is a fine ship," was the brief reply. "Now will you please tell me +how you are going to help me?" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Frewen seemed to think for a moment or two ere he replied; then he +looked at Raymond inquiringly. + +"How long would it take to send to Falealili,{*} and ask Tom Morton, the +trader, to come with his two boats and help the captain?" he asked. + + * A large native town on the south side of Upolu. + +"A day at least--too long altogether with such a strong current setting +the ship towards the reef." + +"Ah, yes, I daresay it would," he said meditatively; then, as if struck +with a sudden inspiration, he added quickly, "What about Mali? He has +any number of boats--a dozen at least." + +"Just the man!" replied Raymond. "He will let the captain have all the +boats and men to man them that are wanted--but he'll want to be paid for +it." + +"Certainly," interrupted the mutineer, who little imagined how adroitly +he was being meshed. "I'll pay anything reasonable. Who is he?" + +"Oh, he is a big chief living quite near me, and a decent enough fellow. +He has a number of large native-built boats. The natives call them +_taumualua_, which means sharp at both ends.{*} They seat from six to +eight paddlers on each side. Five, or even four such boats, well manned, +would make the ship move along. Three or four hours' towing will put her +into the edge of the counter current setting to the south and eastward +away from the land, and then she'll be out of danger, no matter how long +the calm lasts." + +In a few minutes it was decided that the boat should return to the +shore, where Raymond was to see the chief and arrange with him to +provide five or six well-manned _taunwalua_, which Frewen said should be +alongside to receive the tow-lines within two or three hours. + +As he (Frewen) was about to go over the side Ryan made a half apology +for the ship's crew carrying arms, at which the young man smiled and +said-- + +"Oh, a good many captains that touch at Samoa for the first time keep +their crews armed, imagining the natives might try to cut them off. But +the Samoans are a different kind of people to the savages of the Western +Pacific; there has only been one ship cut off in this group, and that +must have occurred fifty years ago."{**} + + * These boats are usually built from the wood of the + breadfruit-tree. Not a single nail is used in their + construction; every plank is joined to its fellow by + lashings of coconut fibre. + + ** A fact. + +Just as he had taken his seat beside Raymond and Cheyne, the Greek said +politely-- + +"If there is no necessity for both of you gentlemen to go on shore +again, won't one of you stay on board and have some supper?" + +This was just the invitation that Frewen was looking for, but he +appeared to hesitate for a moment or two. + +"Thank you, captain, I think I will. There is certainly nothing for me +to do on shore that my partner cannot do as well or better than myself. +And I should like to hear any news from Europe that you may have to +tell." + +As he clambered up the side again the boat pushed off, and the stalwart +native crew sent her, now she was lightened of her load of provisions, +skimming through the water. + +When the American returned to the quarter-deck, Ryan introduced to +him "Mr. Foster, my second mate," and added that in addition to the +misfortune of losing twelve of his crew when coming through the Paumotu +Group, his chief officer had accidentally shot himself, and shattered +his collar-bone. + +"Indeed!" said Frewen, with an air of concern, instantly surmising that +the injured man was either Almanza or the Chileno sailor whom Villari +had shot. "Is he getting on all right?" + +"Not at all well--and unfortunately I do not know anything about a +fractured collar-bone." + +Frewen replied, with perfect truth, that he had seen several broken +collar-bones. Perhaps he might be of assistance. + +"Captain Ryan" thanked him, and said he would at once go down, see how +the injured man was getting on, and would send for him in ten minutes or +so. Meanwhile would Mr. Frewen join Mr. Foster in a glass of wine. + +The young whaling officer sat down near the skylight, and as the +dark-faced, dirty-looking ruffian seated opposite passed him, with an +amiable grin, a decanter of excellent sherry, wondered which of the two +Levantines was the greater cut-throat of the two. Ryan, as he called +himself, was somewhat of a dandy. He did not wear ear-rings; and +Villari's clothes--which fitted him very well--made him look as if he +had been used to dress well all his life. Foster, on the other hand, who +was arrayed in poor Marston's garments, was the typical Greek seaman one +might meet any day in almost any seaport town of importance. He was +a fairly tall man, well and powerfully built, but his hawk-like and +truculent visage inspired the American with a deeper aversion than +that with which he regarded Ryan--who, however, was in reality the more +tigerish-natured of the two. + +As they sat talking, Frewen happened to look along the deck for'ard, and +caught sight of a seaman with the lower part of his face bandaged. +He was standing at the galley door talking to some one inside, but +happening to see the American looking at him, he hurriedly slipped round +the for'ard end of the galley out of sight. + +"Ah," thought Frewen, "that is the other fellow that Villari put out of +action--the man below is Almansa." + +His surmise he found was correct, for at the end of a quarter of an +hour, Ryan, who had been giving Almansa all the news in the interval, +appeared and asked him to come below and see the chief officer. He led +the way below, and entering the officer's cabin, said-- + +"Here is the gentleman from the shore, Mr. Almanza. Let him see your +hurt." + +The leader of the mutineers was evidently in great pain, and feverish as +well, and Frewen in a few seconds found by examination that a splinter +of the fractured bone had been driven into the muscles of the shoulder, +where it seemed to be firmly embedded, although one end of it could +almost be felt by gentle pressure, so close was it under the skin. The +bullet itself had come out at the side of the neck. + +Telling them that, although he was no doctor, he was sure that it was +most important that the splinter of bone should be removed, he offered +to attempt it. The fractured collar-bone, he assured them, would knit of +itself if the patient kept quiet. + +In those days the medicine chests of even fine ships like the +_Esmeralda_ were but poorly equipped, when contrasted with those to +be found on much smaller vessels thirty years later, when antiseptic +surgery and ansthetics were beginning to be understood. But Almanza, +who was in agony, begged the visitor to do what he could; and without +further hesitation, Frewen took from the medicine chest what he +considered was the most suitable knife, made an incision, and in less +than five minutes had the splintered piece of bone out. Then came the +agonising but effective sailor's styptic--cotton wool soaked in Friar's +Balsam. + +Almanza tried to murmur his thanks, but feinted, and when he came +to again, he found himself much freer from pain, and the poor negro +steward's successor standing beside him with a tumbler of wine and +water. + +"You must keep very quiet," said Frewen, as he turned to leave the +room, speaking coldly, for although he was very sympathetic with any one +suffering pain, he could not but remember what the man before him had +done. + +Returning on deck, he found Foster and Ryan talking on the poop, whilst +the crew of Chilenos were sitting about on the hatches eating pineapples +and bananas, and drinking coconuts. Even a non-seafaring man would have +thought that there was a lack of discipline displayed, but Frewen, whose +life had been spent on whaleships where the slightest liberty on the +part of foc'sle hands towards the after-guard meets with swift and stern +punishment, felt as if he would have liked to have kicked them all in +turn, and then collectively. + +"Never mind," he thought to himself, "I trust they are all reserved for +higher things--they all deserve the gallows, and I sincerely trust they +will get it." + +Both Ryan and Foster, he could see, had not the slightest doubt of +his and Raymond's _bona-fides_, and at supper both men were extremely +affable to him. At the same time he thought he could perceive that they +were anxious as to what had become of the captain's boat, for they asked +him casually if there was any shipping at Apia, or at any of the other +ports in the group. + +"Only the usual local trading vessels," he replied. "Whenever a stranger +comes in--even if it is only a native craft--I get the news at my place +by runners in an hour or two." + +And Almanza's mind, too, was at rest, for when he was groaning in agony +in his bank, and he was told that a boat from the shore was coming +alongside, he had started up and reached for his pistols. But Ryan had +satisfied him completely. + +"We could have shot every one of them before the boat came alongside, +had we wanted to, _amigo_," he said. + +"Had they no arms?" asked the wounded man. + +"None--not so much as a cutlass even. Diego, Rivas, and Garcia, who +helped them to discharge the boat, saw everything taken out of her but +the oars and sails. There was a big man--a half-caste, who was dressed +like a white man--in charge of the four Samoans. I asked him to come on +deck and have a glass of grog; but he said his crew did not want him +to leave the boat. They were frightened, he said, because our men had +pistols in their belts." + +Almanza gave a sigh of relief. "And you are sure they will return and +tow us?" + +"Sure, _amigo_." + +And just as supper was over, and Frewen and Ryan returned to the deck, a +sailor called out that the whale boat and five others were in sight. + +"Ah, my partner is not the man to lose time in an important matter like +this, Captain Ryan," said Frewen; "your tow-line will be tautened out +before the three hours we mentioned." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Soon after Raymond and the old chief with his followers had set out for +the ship, and when the swift tropic night had closed in upon the island, +Captain Marston died. He was conscious when his kindly host and Randall +Cheyne had returned, and before he passed away, thanked the planter +sincerely for all that he had done for his wife, his crew, and himself; +for he well knew that his end was near. + +"I fear that nothing will ever be heard of my ship again," he said, in +a whisper. "They will scuttle or burn her. My poor wife!" and he +pressed her hand. "But thank God, Amy, you will not be quite penniless. +Mercado" (his agent in Valparaiso) "will have about two or three +thousand pounds to pay you for some cargo he bought from me. You must +go there. He is an honourable man, and will not seek to evade his +liabilities. I know him well." + +Raymond, whose heart was overflowing with pity for the dying man, could +no longer restrain himself. At first he had decided not to say a word +to Marston about the intended recapture of the ship, for fear it would +excite him; but now, when he saw how calmly and collectedly he spoke of +her future to his wife, he changed his mind, and, bending down, said:-- + +"Captain Marston, I must say a few words to you and Mrs. Marston. I did +not intend to do so just now, but I know that they will bring you peace +of mind, and help you to recovery. I have good news for you." + +Marston looked at him eagerly, and his wife, with her hands clasped, +moved a little nearer to the planter, who was speaking in very low tones +so as not to disturb or excite a man whom he knew was dying bodily, but +whose brain was alive. + +"Is it about my ship?" + +"Yes. She is within six miles of this house, lying becalmed, and, before +midnight, will be recaptured by some good friends of mine, and at anchor +in this bay by daylight." + +Marston's lips quivered, and the agonising look of inquiry and doubt in +his eyes was so piteous to behold that Raymond went on more rapidly. + +"You may absolutely rely upon what I say. The _Esmeralda_ has been in +sight since early in the forenoon. I boarded her this morning with the +express purpose of seeing if it were possible to recapture her, and +have only just returned. And I assure you on my word of honour that she +_shall_ be recaptured before midnight, without bloodshed, I trust; for +the mutineers are completely off their guard, believing I am returning +with fifty natives in several boats to tow the ship out of danger, +purely out of kindness to their leader." + +"You are indeed a good friend," murmured Marston slowly and haltingly. +"My wife has told me your name... I know my time is short. If you +recapture my ship... she is worth six thousand pounds, and the specie on +board amounts to nine thousand. I commend my wife to your care------" + +Raymond pressed his hand, and urged him not to say anything further, but +Marston, whose eyes were now lightened by that ephemeral light so often +seen in the eyes of the dying, went on-- + +"I commend my wife to your care... and Villari--is he dead?" + +"No, Harry," whispered Mrs. Marston, "he is not dead, but badly +wounded." + +"Poor Villari... a born sailorman, though an Italian.... Mr. Raymond, +Amy... Let him command.... I should have taken his advice... And give +him five hundred pounds, Amy.... You, Mr. Raymond, will be entitled to a +third of the value of the ship and her cargo... You understand?" + +"I will not take a penny," said Raymond, as he rose. "Now I must be +going. But have no fear for the _Esmeralda_. She will be at anchor in +this bay to-morrow morning." + +Marston put his hand gently over towards him, and pressing it softly, +Raymond withdrew. + +His wife met him at the door. Her dark, Spanishlike face showed traces +of tears, but she smiled bravely as he put his arms around her and +kissed her. + +"Tom, dear, you must not be angry. I have not been crying for fear that +something may happen to you if there is a fight with those dreadful men +on board the ship--for I am _sure_ that you will come back to me and our +little one safe and sound--but I do so pity poor Mrs. Marston, Tom, if +Captain Marston dies." + +"I think that there is no possible hope of his recovery, dear." + +"Then she must stay with us, Tom, for some time, until she is stronger. +She will need to have a woman's care soon." + +Raymond kissed his wife again. "As you will, Marie; you always think of +others. And I shall be very glad if she will stay with us." + +Ten minutes later she walked down to the beach, and watched her husband +and Mali with his followers depart, and then she slowly returned home +along a winding path bordered by shaddock trees, whose slender branches +were weighted down with the great golden-hued fruit. As she reached the +verandah steps a pretty little girl of four years of age ran up to her, +and held out her arms to be taken up. + +"Where has father gone, Muzzie?" she said in English, and then rapidly +added in Samoan, "_Ua alu ia i moana?_" ("Has he gone upon the sea?") + +"Yes, Lois. He has gone upon the sea, but will soon return. Where is +Mlu?" + +"Here, lady," replied a woman's voice in the soft Samoan tongue, and a +pleasant-faced, grey-haired woman of fifty came down the steps, and took +the child from her mother's arms, and as she did so, whispered, "The +tide hath turned to the ebb."{*} + + * Note by the Author.--Nearly all Polynesians and + Micronesians believed most firmly that the dissolution of + soul from body always (excepting in cases of sudden death by + violence or accident) occurred when the tide is on the ebb. + From a long experience of life in the Pacific Islands, the + writer is thoroughly imbued with and endorses that belief. + The idea of the passing away of life with the ebbing of the + tide will doubtless seem absurd to the European and + civilised mind, but it must be remembered that an inborn and + inherited belief, such as this, does, with many so-called + semi-savage races, produce certain physical conditions that + are well understood by pathologists. + +"Ay, good Mlu. I know it. So keep the child within thy own room, so +that the house may be quiet." + +Old Mlu, who had nursed Mrs. Raymond's mother, bent her head in assent, +and went inside, and her mistress sat down in one of the cane-work +lounge chairs on the wide verandah and closed her eyes, for she was +wearied, physically and mentally. Her nerves had been strained greatly +by the events of the day, and now the knowledge that within a few feet +of where she sat, a life was passing away, and a woman's heart was +breaking, saddened her greatly. + +"I must not give way," she thought. "I must go and see how the wounded +men are doing." + +But ere she knew it, there came the low but hoarse murmuring cries of +myriad terns and gulls flying homewards to the land, mingled with the +deep evening note of the blue mountain pigeons; and then kindly slumber +came, and rest for the troubled brain and sorrowing heart. + +She had slept for nearly an hour when a young native girl servant, who +had been left to wait upon Mrs. Marston, came quickly but softly along +the verandah and touched her arm. + +"Awake, Marie,{*} and come to the white lady." + + * It will doubtless strike the reader as being peculiar that + an educated and refined woman such as I have endeavoured to + portray in Mrs. Raymond would allow a servant to address her + by her Christian name. But the explanation is very simple: + In many European families living in Polynesia and in + Micronesia the native servants usually address their masters + and mistresses and their children by their Christian names-- + unless it is a missionary household, when the master would + be addressed as "Misi "(Mr.) and the mistress as "Misi + fafine "(Mrs.). The difference does not in the least imply + that the servant speaks to the lay white man and his wife in + a more familiar manner than he would to his spiritual + teacher. No disrespect nor rude familiarity is intended-- + quite the reverse; it is merely an affectionate manner of + speaking to the employer, not _as_ an employer, but as the + friend of the household generally. It is related of the + martyred missionary John Williams, that a colleague of his + in Tahiti once reproved a native youth for addressing Mr. + Williams as "Viriamu" (Williams) instead of "Misi Yiriamu" + (Mr. Williams), whereupon the pioneer of missionary + enterprise in the South Seas remarked--" It does not matter, + Mr. -----, I infinitely prefer to be called + 'Viriamu' than 'Tione Viriamu Mamae' (the Sacred, or + Reverend, John Williams)." + +She rose and followed the girl to the room where Marston lay. His wife +was kneeling by him with her lips pressed to his. + +Marie Raymond knelt beside her, and passed her arm around her waist. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Closely followed by the five native boats, that in which Raymond was +seated with Mali, and which was steered by Randall Cheyne, first came +alongside, and the latter called out to Foster, who was standing in the +waist, to pass down the end of the tow line. This was at once done, +and then, as Mali and Raymond left the boat and ascended to the deck, +Cheyne went ahead with his tow line, and was soon joined by the native +craft, and within a quarter of an hour the _Esmeralda_ was moving +through the water. + +The instructions given to the half-caste by the chief and Frewen were +to tow the ship to the south-east, with the land on the port hand. This +would not only take her out of danger, but would prevent suspicion being +engendered in the minds of the mutineers by their seeing that she was +actually being taken away from, instead of towards the land. Both Frewen +and Mali had decided that she was not to be re-captured till she was +well into soundings, for events might arise which would necessitate her +being brought to an anchor, especially if continuous heavy rain should +fall during the night. + +As soon as Raymond and the stalwart chief ascended to the poop, the +pseudo-captain received them most affably, complimented them on the +smart manner in which the boats had gone ahead with the line, and then +asked them to take some refreshment The offer was accepted, for neither +had had the inclination to eat anything on shore--they, like their men, +were too eager to get possession of the ship to trouble about food. + +Ryan sat at the table with them as they ate, and repeated his fiction +regarding the accident to his chief officer, at which the planter +politely expressed his concern. Then the mutineer, in a casual sort of +a way, asked Raymond if there had been any English or American war-ships +cruising about Samoa lately. + +"No, not for a long time, but I did hear that the American corvette +_Adams_ was expected here last year, but she must have passed by here, +and gone on to Fiji There is always work for a man-of-war there at any +time--the Fijians are a rough lot, and hardly a month passes without +some European trader or sailor being killed and eaten, or else badly +hurt. Even at the present time all the people living in the eastward +islands of the Fiji Group are rank cannibals. It is a place to be +avoided." + +"Ah, well, I won't go near there," said the mutineer, somewhat +meditatively. + +"No, of course not," said the planter; "I suppose that your course for +Batavia will take you to the northwest after you leave here--Fiji is six +hundred miles to the south-west." + +"I did think of putting in there when my mate met with his +accident--thought I would find a doctor there; but now, thanks to your +friend, I shall not need one for him--he is much better already." + +"That is fortunate," said Raymond: "he might have died before you could +reach the port of Levuka in Fiji. And besides that, I doubt if you would +find a doctor living there. I have never heard of any medical man being +settled in Fiji. On the other hand you could have left him on shore, +where he would at least have met with good nursing from some of the +English ladies there; and you could easily have obtained another mate; +there are dozens of ex-skippers and mates idling about in Fiji." + +Ryan had learnt all he wanted to know, and he changed the subject. He +was still anxious about Almanza not living--for no one could tell what +might occur to the _Esmeralda_ if he died and the ship was left without +a navigator. He (Ryan) and Foster would have had no objection to ridding +themselves of him, were either one of them able to navigate the ship as +far as the Philippine Islands. They had all three previously agreed with +the rest of the crew as to their future plans, after they had disposed +of Marston and those who were faithful to him. When within sight of +Luzon--and abreast of Manila--the ship was to be scuttled, and the +mutineers with their plunder in two boats were to make for a part of the +coast where there was a village, well-known to Rivas and Garcia. +Here the money was to be divided, and every man was to shift for +himself--some to go to Manila, others taking passage to that den of +thieves, the Portuguese settlement of Maoao, where they meant to enjoy +themselves after their manner. + +When Raymond and the chief returned on deck, they found the ship was +making good progress through the smooth sea, the natives in the boats +singing a melodious chorus as, all in perfect unison, they plunged their +broad-bladed paddles in the water, and the tow line surged and shook off +thousands of phosphorescent drops at every united stroke. The night was +dark, but not quite starless, and presently Frewen, who was talking to +Foster, remarked that some heavy rain would fall in a short time. + +"Our natives won't like that," said Raymond to "Captain Ryan"; "like all +Kanakas, they hate being wetted with rain, though they will spend half a +day in the rivers bathing and playing games in the water." + +"A few bottles of grog will keep up their courage," said Frewen, +"especially some rum. Have you any to spare, captain?" + +"Any amount." + +"Then I'll tell Cheyne to let the boats come alongside in turn, and +we'll give all the natives a good rousing nip before the rain comes." + +He walked for'ard and stood on the topgallant foc'sle and gave a loud +hail. + +"Boat ahoy!" + +The singing ceased in an instant, and then Randall's voice answered-- + +"Hallo! what is it?" + +"Come aboard and get a glass of grog. Tell the men in the other boats +they can follow in turn." + +"Ay, ay, sir," replied the half-caste in such loud tones that he was +heard distinctly on the after-deck, "they'll be glad enough of it; we'll +get plenty of cold fresh water presently outside, and some rum to put +inside will be just the thing." + +Both Raymond and the two Greeks laughed, and then a minute or two later +Cheyne and his boat's crew were alongside, and were given a pint of rum +between them. They drank it off "neat," and after lighting their pipes, +went back to their boat, and let another come alongside. She was manned +by a dozen natives, who were all given a stiff glass of grog. They +remained but a few minutes, and then went off to give place to the third +boat, in which were twenty men. They scrambled over the side, laughing +and talking, and then, just as the first five or six of them had been +served, the rain poured suddenly down and made such a terrific noise +that the shouts of the men in the other boats could not be heard, and +the ship was at once enveloped in a thick steamy mist, which rendered +even objects on deck invisible. + +"It will only last about ten minutes," shouted Frewen to Ryan as they, +with Raymond and Mali, took shelter in the companion-way. + +"Where are all those men of yours?" asked the mutineer somewhat +anxiously. + +Frewen's answer reassured him. "All bolted for shelter," he said with a +laugh, "without even waiting to get their grog. I hope your men will let +them crawl in somewhere." Then turning to Mali, he said in English-- + +"Call to them, Mali." + +Mali stepped out on the deck, and presently Ryan and the others heard +him speaking. In a minute or two I he reappeared with three or four +stalwart natives, all dripping wet, and said something to Raymond, who +translated the remark to Ryan. + +"All the others have bolted like rabbits, some into the galley, and +others into the foc'sle," he said. + +In less than the ten minutes predicted by Frewen the rain ceased as +if by magic; the natives gathered together again on the main deck, +completed their grog drinking, went into their boat again, and poshed +off to resume their labour. + +In the course of another half an hour every one of the native boats' +crews had had his small tumblerful of neat rum, and then, as their +paddles plunged into the placid water, once more they sang their +chorus-- + +"_Ala, tamaaitii, Alo foe!_" ("Pull, boys, pull!") + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Six bells struck, and then once more the stars went out, and the sky +changed from blue to dull grey. + +"Very heavy rain will fall again presently," said Raymond to the leader +of the mutineers, "and as the ship is well now in the counter current +and out of danger, the chief would like to call his men alongside for a +rest. But we'll tow you for another mile or so after the rain ceases--if +you wish it." + +Ryan was keenly anxious to put as much distance between the land and +the _Esmeralda_ as possible, for he was haunted by the fear that the +captain's boat had been picked up by some ship which might be sighted at +any time. The further away from the land, the safer he would feel. + +"I should like them to tow me along for another hour or two, after the +rain is oyer," he said. "I will pay liberally." + +Raymond spoke to the chief in Samoan and told him the captain's request, +and Mali answered in the same language. + +"As you will, Lmonti. But why toil any longer? My men are all ready and +anxious. We can take the ship now at any time, once my men are here." + +"And I, too, am ready, Alalia. But it was in my mind to wait and see if, +when the bell strikes eight, half of the _auva'a_ (ship's crew) would +not go below to sleep, so that we shall have less disturbance." + +"What matters it?" said Alalia with good-humoured contempt; "there are +less than a score of them, and when the word is spoken they will be as +easily overpowered and bound as a strong man can overpower and bind a +child." + +"Then let it be as you say," said Raymond in the same quiet tones; "let +us call the men on board, and, when the bell is struck at midnight, +we shall seize those evil men together--as the bell is struck the last +time." + +"Good!" said the chief, as he nonchalantly rolled himself a cigarette in +a piece of dried banana leaf which he took from his tappa waist cloth. +"I will tell them how to act." + +"What does he say?" asked Ryan. + +"He is quite willing, but he says his men are really tired now, and want +a good long spell. They are not used to such work, and he does not +want to give them cause for grumbling. They are very touchy sometimes. +However, after the next downpour clears off, they will tow you another +two or three miles." (And Raymond meant this literally, for he, Frewen, +and the chief wanted to see the _Esmeralda_ at anchor off Samatau by +daylight.) + +At a call from Raymond the boats came alongside, and as the crews +clambered on deck Mali told them how to dispose themselves about the +ship so that when the signal was given the mutineers could be seised +without their being afforded any opportunity of resistance. Five or six +of his best men followed him aft, whilst the others mingled with the +crew, most of them going down into the foc'sle. The Chilenos, however, +although satisfied of the friendly intentions of their visitors, were +still a little nervous, for, despite the fact that none of the natives +carried even so much as a knife, the wild appearance they presented was +somewhat disconcerting to men who had never before come in contact with +what they termed "savages." Fully one half of Mali's followers were +men of such stature that the undersized though wiry Chilenos looked like +dwarfs beside them; then, in addition to this, their immense "mops" of +bright golden hair--dyed that colour by the application of lime--and +their wonderfully tatooed bodies, with the first intricate lines +beginning at the waist and ending at the knees, accentuated the velvety +and rich reddish brown of their skins. Each of the Chileno seamen still +carried a brace of pistols in his belt and a cutlass hung by his side, +but the natives apparently took no notice of such a manifestation of +distrust, and they and the mutineers exchanged cigars and cigarettes as +if they were the best friends in the world. + +Suddenly the rain fell, and all other sounds were deadened by the +downpour; it continued for three-quarters of an hour, and then, as +Frewen remarked, ceased with a "snap." + +In the main cabin Raymond, with Mali, was seated at the table talking +to Ryan; on the poop and under the shelter of the temporary awning +were Cheyne, Frewen, Foster, the ruffianly Rivas, and two other of the +Ghileno seamen, with three of the natives who had accompanied Cheyne and +his Mend from Lep. + +Five minutes before eight bells Foster turned to Rivas, and, speaking in +Spanish, told him to go for'ard and tell the hands that there would be +no watch below that night, all hands were to stay on deck till daylight. + +Frewen gave Cheyne a glance, and the half-caste sauntered off after +Rivas, whilst the three Samoans moved nearer towards the two Ghilenos. + +"Mr. Foster" went to the skylight and looked down into the cabin at the +clock, which was placed so that it could be seen by any one standing +beside the binnacle. Then he looked at a handsome gold watch, which two +days previously had been in Villari's vest pocket, and, stepping to the +break of the poop, called out-- + +"Eight bells!" + +The big bell under the topgallant foc'sle sent out its deep, sonorous +clang, and as the last note was struck, "Mr. Foster" went over on his +back with a crash, and in another five seconds Frewen had turned him +over on his face and was lashing his hands behind him. The Greek was too +stunned to even try to speak, and when he came to again he found lying +beside him Rivas and the other two Ghileno sailors, with half a dozen +Samoans standing guard over them. + +Down in the cabin Raymond and Mali had been equally as quick, and when +Frewen and Cheyne came below they found "Captain" Ryan, together with +the Chileno who was acting as steward, tied hand and foot and lying +outside Captain Maraton's stateroom door. + +"Everything all right, Mr. Frewen?" inquired Raymond. + +"Everything. All the gentry up for'ard are bussed up comfortably like +fowls for cooking. No one has been hurt; Mali's men simply picked the +mongrels up by the scruff of their necks and then tied them up. The ship +is ours." + +"Then you are in command, Mr. Frewen. Please give your orders." + +"Very well, Mr. Raymond. But first let me see to the distinguished Senor +Almanza." + +He opened the door of Almanza's stateroom. The Chilian was asleep. +Frewen was about to touch and awaken him but pity for a badly wounded +man predominated, so he let him lie undisturbed. + +"Now, Mr. Raymond, I am at your service. Will you ask Mali to man his +boats, and we will start towing again." + +"With pleasure. But let us first call our good men together and drink +success to ourselves and the _Esmeralda_. And then, whilst we are being +towed towards Samatau, we can overhaul poor Captain Marston's cabin. All +the specie, so this scoundrel tells me"--and he pointed to the Chileno +steward--"is still in a safe in the captain's cabin, and has not yet +been touched. But it was to be divided to-morrow." + +And then Randall Cheyne sprang on deck and shouted out in Samoan-- + +"Friends, the ship is ours! Let ten men remain on board to guard these +murderers, and the rest take to the boats and tow the ship to Samatau." + +The willing natives answered him with a loud "Ave!" and ten minutes +later the _Esmeralda_ was again moving through the water. + +An hour before daylight her cable rattled through her hawse-pipe, and +she swung quietly to her anchor in Samatau Bay. + + +END OF BOOK I + + + + +BOOK II + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Twelve months had come and gone, and Frewen, now "Captain" Frewen, was +seated in the office of Ramon Mercado, the Valparaiso agent of the late +captain and owner of the _Esmeralda_, which had arrived in port the +previous day. + +The worthy merchant--a little stout man with merry, twinkling eyes--was +listening to the detailed story of the capture of the ship by the +mutineers, her subsequent recapture, and of all that had occurred since +she had been brought to an anchor in front of Raymond's house in Samatau +Bay. Mercado himself, four months previously, had received a letter from +Mrs. Marston, acquainting him with what had occurred up to the time of +her husband's death, and telling him that the _Esmeralda_, as soon as a +crew could be obtained, would sail under Frewen's command for Manila, +and from there proceed to Newcastle, in New South Wales, and load a +cargo of coal for Valparaiso. This letter had reached him by an American +whale-ship which had touched at Samoa (a month or two after the +_Esmeralda_ had sailed for Manila), and which, after cruising among the +Galapagos Islands, had, as the master had told Mrs. Marston would be +very likely, called at Valparaiso to refit. + +* * * * * + +A few days after the burial of Captain Marston his wife asked Frewen +to take command of the ship, as Villari would be incapacitated for some +months. + +Villari himself had at first strenuously, and even somewhat bitterly, +protested. + +"Why should Mr. Frewen, much as he has done to help you to recapture +the ship, be given command?" he said excitedly to Raymond. "Does Mrs. +Marston distrust me? Do I not possess her confidence as I did that of +her husband? Beg her to come to me. Surely she will not give the command +of the ship to a stranger! I tell you, Mr. Raymond, that I would give my +life for Mrs. Marston, as I was ready to give it for her husband," and +his dark eyes blazed. + +"There is no reflection either upon your integrity or ability, Mr. +Villari," said the planter. "But here is the situation--and I am sure +your own sound sense will make you approve of Mrs. Marston asking Mr. +Frewen to take charge of the _Esmeralda_. And, before I go any further, +I must tell you that Mr. Frewen not only did not seek the position, but +said pointedly to Mrs. Marston--only an hour or two ago--that he would +be quite satisfied to sail with you as mate. He is as honest as the sun. +Pray do not for one moment imagine that he has supplanted you." + +"Then let him come with me as mate," urged the Italian. + +Raymond shook his head. "It is quite out of the question your taking +command, Mr. Villari. You will not be able to get about for some months, +and I, as a business man, see the necessity of the ship proceeding on +her voyage as quickly as possible. She has a cargo that will bring a +large sum of money to Mrs. Marston if it is delivered in Manila in +good time. But in this humid climate it would become worthless in a +few months. And it was purely my suggestion to Mrs. Marston to ask Mr. +Frewen to take charge. She is, as you know, almost heartbroken at the +calamity which has overtaken her. And then your remaining here will, +I am sure, be a source of comfort to her, for she has the very highest +opinion of you." + +Villari's eyes sparkled with pleasure. "What! Is not Mrs. Marston +sailing in the _Esmeralda?_" + +"No; it will be better for her to remain here until the youngster comes. +My wife and I will be only too glad to have her with us. It would be +impossible for her to go to sea now her poor husband is dead. And she +knows no one in Manila. So you must be content to remain here at Samatau +as my welcome guest. Frewen will take the ship to Manila, and then +decide as to his future course. He thinks that after selling the +cargo at Manila he should proceed to Australia for a cargo of coal for +Valparaiso. I think it a very sensible suggestion, especially as he can +then see poor Marston's agent there and settle up with him regarding +some money due to Marston." + +The Italian's face assumed a placid appearance. "You are quite right, +Mr. Raymond. And I shall be content to remain here. _Per Bacco!_ +Mr. Frewen is a gentleman, and I wish him all good lack with the +_Esmeralda_. But I should like the lady to know that I am prepared to +return to the ship this moment if she so wishes it." + +"She does know it, Mr. Villari. You have her full esteem and +confidence--as you had that of her poor husband, who just before he died +anxiously inquired about you, and said that he regretted not taking your +advice concerning the two Greeks." + +"Ah! Mr. Raymond," and the man raised and clenched his right hand, "I +was a fool! I suspected that mischief was afoot that night when I found +Almanza and the two Greeks talking together; I simply reported the +matter to the captain, who thought nothing of it. Had I done my duty I +should have watched, for no one can trust a Greek." + +"Do not reproach yourself, Mr. Villari. I may as well tell you that poor +Captain Marston, when he was inquiring about you just before he died, +spoke in the highest terms of you, and asked Mrs. Marston to see that +you were given five hundred pounds." + +Villari raised himself on his elbow. "I swear to you, Mr. Raymond, that +I do not want any money--compensation--reward--gift--call it what you +will--for doing my duty as a seaman. Captain Marston was not only my +captain, but my friend. And I would give my life for his wife. Tell her +from me that it will hurt me if she even speaks of this money to me." + +"As you will, Mr. Villari," said Raymond kindly, who saw that the +Italian was excited. "I will tell her to-morrow. But I trust you will +now understand that Mr. Frewen had no desire to supplant you in any +way." + +"I understand. Can I see him now, for there is much that I have to tell +him about the ship--things that he would like to know." + +So Frewen came in, and he and the Italian mate had quite a long talk +about the _Esmeralda_, and when they parted they did so with a feeling +of growing friendship. + +Anxious to obtain a reliable crew as quickly as possible, Frewen, on the +following day, sent Randall Gheyne to Lepi to see if he could persuade +the men who had deserted from the _Casilda_ to come and help man the +_Esmeralda_. But they were all too enamoured of island life to accept +the offer he made them, which was generous enough--two hundred and fifty +dollars each for the voyage to Manila. So Cheyne came back disappointed, +and Frewen then went to Apia in the _Casilda's_ whale-boat, and +succeeded in engaging ten natives of Niu,{*} who, with half a dozen +Samoans, made up a sufficient complement for the ship. + + * Niu, the "Savage Island" of Captain Cook. The natives + are always in great request as seamen. Even to the present + day most of the trading vessels carry a few Niu seamen. + +During this time Almansa and his fellow-mutineers had been confined on +board the ship, guarded by a number of Mali's warriors. Then to the +joy of Raymond and Frewen there came into Apia Harbour a British gunboat +bound from the Phoenix Islands to Sydney, and within forty-eight hours +the planter, accompanied by the unwounded survivors of the English crew +of the _Esmeralda_, were on board, and related the tale of the mutiny to +the captain of the man-of-war. + +"I am letting myself in for a lot of trouble, Mr. Raymond," said the +captain of the warship, "but I do not see how I can avoid it. I suppose +that as the _Esmeralda_ is a British ship and is now in distress I must +be a sort of fairy godmother and take these beastly mongrels of Chilenos +and Greeks to Sydney to be hanged on the evidence of these men whom you +have brought. By the way, Mrs. Marston can have a passage with me if she +wishes it." + +Raymond thanked him, and said Mrs. Marston wished to remain at Samatau +with his (Raymond's) wife for an indefinite time. + +"Very well, Mr. Raymond. I should be delighted to give her a passage to +Sydney, and I'm delighted she can't come. You understand me? I cannot +refuse a passage to a lady in such circumstances as Mrs. Marston, but +the _Virago_ is a man-of-war, and--you know." + +Raymond laughed. "I think I know what you mean, Captain Armitage; a +lady passenger on a man-of-war would be a bit of a trial. But on Mrs. +Marston's behalf I thank you sincerely." + +"That's all right," said the bluff commander of the _Virago_; "now you +can get home, and in a day or so I'll come round to Samatau and take +these mutineering scoundrels into custody. Pity you did not get your +Samoan friend Mali to hang or shoot them out of hand. It would have +saved Her Majesty's Government something in food, and me much trouble." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"I must congratulate you, captain," said the merchant, when Frewen had +finished his story; "and I trust you will always retain command of the +_Esmeralda_. She is a beautiful ship, and, ever since you took charge, +has proved herself a lucky one." + +"I certainly have had great luck. We had a beautiful passage to Manila +from Samoa, and from Manila to Newcastle I made the quickest run on +record, and from there to Valparaiso we were only thirty-five days." + +Some further conversation followed regarding the future movements of the +ship, and it was arranged that she should load Chilian flour for Sydney, +and from there proceed to Samoa for orders from her owner. + +Three weeks later, Frewen bid the hospitable Meroado goodbye, and sailed +for Sydney. The merchant had sold the cargo brought from Newcastle very +satisfactorily, and in addition to the amount given him for this, Frewen +also received from Mercado over two thousand pounds belonging to Captain +Marston's estate. + +The crew of the _Esmeralda_ consisted of twenty men, ten of whom were +either Englishmen, Americans, and Scandinavians, and ten stalwart +natives of Savage Island. The first officer was a Dane named Petersen, +whom Frewen had engaged at Samoa. He was an excellent seaman, and took a +great pride in the ship; the second officer was Randall Cheyne; and the +third, a sturdy old Yorkshireman of sixty, with the frame and voice of a +bull. Frewen was as satisfied with his officers as he was with his crew, +and the exceedingly good fortune which had attended him since he had +taken charge at Samatau had put him in a very pleasant frame of mind, +and he was eagerly looking forward to meeting Mrs. Marston and rendering +an account of his stewardship. When he reached Sydney from Manila he +had placed a considerable sum to her credit, and learned that Captain +Armitage, of the _Virago_, who had conveyed to Sydney the specie which +was on board the _Esmeralda_ when the mutiny had occurred, had safely +deposited it in her name in the leading bank there. He found that +the mutineers had been tried and sentenced; two of them, "Foster" and +"Ryan," going to the gallows, whilst Almanza and the Chileno seamen all +received long terms of imprisonment. The trial had aroused considerable +excitement, and so, when the _Esmeralda_ arrived, she was visited by +many hundreds of people. In Sydney Harbour in those days might be seen +numbers of the finest sailing vessels in the world; many of them were +noted "crack" passenger ships trading between London and Sydney and +Melbourne, but not one of them surpassed the _Esmeralda_ in her graceful +lines and beautiful appearance. Then, too, the extraordinarily quick +passage she had made from Manila gave her further fame, and nearly +all the ship masters in port called on board, and paid Frewen many +compliments. Through the manager of the bank in which he had deposited +the money for Mrs. Marston, he was introduced to an excellent agent--a +Mr. Beilby--who was a shipowner as well, and had for many years employed +a fleet of small vessels in the South Sea Islands trade. + +The voyage across the Pacific from Valparaiso to Sydney was +disappointing--calms and light, variable winds being met with for nearly +a month; and then between Australia and New Zealand, two weeks of savage +westerly gales tried the ship's weatherly qualities to the utmost. +However, after a passage of nearly seven weeks, she once more dropped +anchor in the deep, blue waters of the most beautiful harbour in the +southern hemisphere. + +The agent at once came on board, and Frewen was glad to receive two +letters from him--one from Raymond, the other from Mrs. Marston. The +latter afforded him great pleasure to read, and was to the effect +that she would be very glad to see him back in Samoa, as she wished to +consult him in regard to a project of Mr. Raymond's. + +"What the project is, he will himself explain to you in writing. I shall +be very pleased if you and he come to an arrangement, especially as I +have made up my mind to remain here at Samatau indefinitely with Mrs. +Raymond, or somewhere near her, and as her husband may be away from her +for many months at a time (this, however, all depends upon yourself) +this will be equally as pleasant for her as for me. I feel that I have +a home here, and in fact I may remain in Samoa altogether. Anyway, Mr. +Raymond is now in treaty with Mali for a piece of land adjoining his +own estate. If he secures it for me, I am having a house built upon it." + +Raymond's letter was a voluminous one, but Frewen soon became deeply +engrossed in its contents. + +"My dear Frewen (let us now drop the 'Sir' and 'Captain,' for I am sure +we each regard the other as a friend), I am now starting on a very long +letter, and have but little time in which to finish it, for the _Dancing +Wave_, by which I am sending it, leaves Apia to-morrow at daylight, and +it will take a native runner all his time to cross over the mountains +with it to Apia." + +Then he went on to say that, about six months previously, Mali had been +approached by a German gentleman (who had just arrived from Hamburg) and +asked if he would sell a large tract of land near Samatau. The chief +at once consulted Raymond, who could not help feeling some natural +curiosity as to the object of the German gentleman making such a large +purchase of land so far away from the principal port of the group +(Apia). Mali could give him no information on the subject--all he knew +was that he (Mali) had been offered a very fair price for a tract of +country that he was willing to lease, but not to sell, for on it were +several villages, and the soil was of such fertility that the people +would deeply resent their chief parting with it and making them remove +to less productive lands. + +On the spur of the moment--and feeling that there was some very good +reason for the German making the chief such a substantial offer--Raymond +said to Mali-- + +"The German has offered you ten thousand dollars for the land, but will +not lease it from you. Now I am not a rich man, and even if you were +willing to sell it to me for five thousand dollars, I could not buy it. +But I will lease it from you for one year. I will not disturb any of +your people, but at the end of the year I will make you another offer. +There is some mischief on foot, Mali. Let you and I go to Apia and find +out who this man is, and why he is so eager to buy your land." + +They set out together, and at Apia gained all the information they +desired. The German gentleman was the agent of a rich corporation of +Hamburg merchants who wished to purchase all the available land in Samoa +for the purpose of founding a colony, the principal industry of which +would be cotton-growing. Cotton was bringing fabulous prices in Europe, +and the corporation had already made purchases of land both in Fiji and +Tahiti, and were using every effort to obtain more. + +Raymond quickly made up his mind as to his course of action. He had a +hurried interview with two other English planters, and a partnership of +three was formed in half an hour. They had then made an agreement with +Mali and another chief to lease all the unoccupied country for many +miles on each side of Samatau Bay. + +"Now," the letter went on, "here is what we purpose to do. We are going +to found the biggest cotton and coffee plantation in all the South Seas, +and will make a pile of money. But the one all-important thing is +to have plenty of labour, and that we can only obtain from other +islands--New Britain, the Solomon Group, and thereabouts, and also from +the Equatorial Islands. But it is risky work recruiting labour with +small, weakly-manned schooners. What is required is a big lump of a +vessel, well armed, and with two crews--a white crew to work the ship +and a native crew to work the boats. The _Esmeralda_ is just the ship. +She can carry six hundred native passengers, and in two trips we shall +have all the labourers we want, instead of getting them in drafts of +fifty or sixty at a time by small schooners--which would always be +liable to be cut off and all hands killed--especially in the Solomon +Islands. + +"I laid our scheme before Mrs. Marston, and, to be as brief as possible, +she is not only willing to let us charter her ship, but also wishes to +take a share in the venture. But she wants you to keep command of the +_Esmeralda_, as I trust you will." + +Then followed a long list of stores, trade goods, arms, ammunition, &c, +&c, which Raymond wished Frewen to purchase in Sydney, and the letter +concluded with a request for him to leave for Samatau as quickly as +possible. + +On a separate sheet he made mention of Villari, saying that he had +thoroughly recovered from his wound and was living at Apia. + +"To tell you the truth, we are all glad he has gone away from us, for he +fell madly in love with Mrs. Marston, and proposed to her, and took +her kindly rejection of him very badly. He then left the house, but has +twice since come to see her. At last she began to get alarmed at +his conduct, and finally I had to frankly tell him that he was an +undesirable visitor. It stung him deeply, but he persists in writing her +the most passionate letters, asking her to reconsider her decision. I +am sorry for the fellow, as we all liked him. Frohmann, the new German +doctor at Apia, told me that he believes the poor fellow is not 'all +there' mentally." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Frewen showed his letters to the agent Beilby, who corroborated +Raymond's statement in every particular regarding the money that could +be made by growing cotton on an organised system with native labour, +and with proper machinery to clean and pack it; and he also bore out the +planter's remarks about the danger that attended small vessels employed +in the black labour trade. + +"You have seen a good deal of the natives of the South Sea Islands, +Captain Frewen, and know what desperate cut-throats are those of the +Western Pacific Groups. Two small trading vessels of my own have been +cut off within the last five years, and every soul massacred, and the +vessels looted and then burnt. It is a most difficult matter to keep +a swarm of natives off the decks of a vessel with a low freeboard, all +they have to do is to step out of their canoes over the rail, and if +they are bent on mischief they can simply overpower a small vessel's +company by mere weight of numbers. You will be surprised to hear +that, even now, some of the Sydney trading craft use the old-fashioned +boarding nettings, and their skippers only allow a certain number +of natives on board at a time. But with a large vessel like the +_Esmeralda_, this very great source of danger--the low freeboard--is +absent; and besides that, you can carry a crew large enough to squelch +any attempt at a rising, if, after you get them on board, your gentle +passengers took it into their heads to attempt to possess themselves of +the ship." + +"Just so. And I have heard of several instances where Honolulu and +Tahiti labour vessels have been captured, even though they carried large +crews and were well armed." + +"Exactly! Just carelessness. You never know, when you have a hundred or +so of these savages on board, what they may do. They all know that they +are going to a foreign country to work on sugar or cotton plantations +for three years, at the end of which they will be paid for their labour +in guns, powder, beads, calicoes, &c, &c. Well, they come on board +perfectly content, and all goes well for a week or two, until some of +them begin to notice that the crew are not keeping such a good watch +over them as they did when they first came on board. These fellows begin +the mischief. 'Why should we not kill the white men on board?' (they +will argue) 'and help ourselves to _everything_--guns, pistols, powder, +and bullets, cutlasses, grog and tobacco, and all the other riches in +the ship? It is much better than working for three years for one gun and +one keg of powder and bag of bullets, a knife or two, and a few other +things, and then bringing them back to our own country to be despoiled +of them by our relations.' Do you understand, Captain Frewen?" + +"Quite." + +"Well, they lie low and wait, and when the opportunity comes the beggars +set to work with a vengeance-Only three years ago one of the Hawaiian +Islands labour vessels recruited ninety Gilbert Islands natives to work +on the new sugar plantations near Honolulu. They behaved themselves +splendidly--for they were well treated--for about a fortnight, and the +skipper of the vessel (an old hand in the island trade) allowed them to +lie on deck at night, feeling sure that they would give no trouble. More +than this, he even told his officers and crew to discontinue carrying +their Colts' pistols. The result was that one night, when the watch were +taking in sail during a squall, the natives took possession of the brig, +killed the mate and all the men of the watch who were on deck, and would +certainly have slaughtered every one of the ship's company had it not +been for the captain himself; who, hearing the noise, rushed up from +below armed with a whale-ship bomb gun, loaded with slugs. He fired +right into the mob of natives on the main deck, killed three or four, +and wounded twice as many. Then the second mate and the rest of the +watch below came tumbling up, headed by a big Nova Scotian A.B. He was a +tremendously powerful fellow, and had armed himself with the carpenter's +broad axe, and in a few minutes he cut down five of the natives, one of +whom was the ringleader. Then the steward and supercargo turned up with +nine-bore double-barrelled shot-guns, loaded with No. 1 shot, and they +and the bluenose{*} practically saved the ship, or with their four shots +they laid out nearly a dozen more natives, and the others bolted down +to the hold and asked for quarter. Ah, Captain Frewen, there is nothing +like buckshot or slogs to squash a mutiny. You most get some nine-bore +guns made here to take away with you." + + * A "bluenose" is a sailor's term for a Canadian or Nova + Scotian. + +"Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Beilby. But whalers' bomb guns--which +can be easily procured in Sydney--are better still. You can load them +with a small charge of powder and crushed rock salt, which won't kill a +man, but which will prevent him from doing any mischief for a long time. +When I was a boatsteerer some years ago on a New Bedford whaler--the +_Aaron Burr_--we had serious trouble with about thirty Portuguese +negroes we picked up off the coast of Brazil. They were in two boats, +and were deserters from a Brazilian man-of-war, which had gone ashore +off Santos. Many of our men were down with fever of some sort, and +these black gentry (who were all armed with knives), thinking that +the after-guard was not able to cope with them, came aft and told our +skipper that if he did not give them all the liquor they wanted they +would throw him overboard, set fire to the ship, and go ashore again. He +seemed to be very much frightened--he was an undersized, quiet man--and +begged them to go on deck and remain there whilst he and the steward and +such of the officers who were not ill with fever would get up a keg of +rum from the lazzarette. Then--he spoke Spanish pretty well--he asked +them not to be too hard on him. He would treat them as gentlemen, &c., +and, with apparently trembling hands, he gave them boxes of cigars, and +addressed them as if they were caballeros of the highest rank whom he +was delighted to honour. Some of them cursed him for an Americano, but +the majority were too hugely elated at the prospect of a keg of ram to +say more to him than to hurry up with it. + +"He did hurry up with a vengeance, for in five minutes he and the mate +had each loaded a bomb gun with a heavy charge of sheet-lead slugs. They +rushed on deck together, and with a warning cry to our men to get out +of the way, they fired into the negroes, who were squatted about on the +main hatch smoking their cigars and waiting for the rum. The effect was +something terrifying, for although none of them were killed, fully +half of them were wounded, and their groans and yells were something +horrible. We did not give them much time to rally, for all of us who +were well enough made a rush, and with belaying-pins and anything else +which came to our hands drove them over the side into their boats." + +"Then get some of those bomb-guns, captain, by all means. I think I have +seen one--a thing like a bloated blunderbuss without the bell mouth." + +"That's it," said Frewen with a laugh; "it is not a handsome weapon, but +we whalemen do not go in for 'objects of bigotry and virtue.' A bomb-gun +is made for a practical purpose--the stock is almost solid metal, and +altogether it is no light weight." + +During the following two weeks both Frewen and the agent were very busy. +The former, with a gang of shore carpenters, was engaged in preparing +the 'tween decks of the ship for the reception of the native passengers, +and constructing two movable gratings to go across the upper deck--one +for'ard and the other aft--which, whilst they would practically allow +the natives the free run of the deck, would yet prevent them from making +any sudden onslaught on the crew. + +Beilby, whose long experience of the South Sea Islands trade especially +fitted him for the task, devoted himself to the work of fulfilling +Raymond's orders as to the trade goods required, and in three weeks the +_Esmeralda_ was again ready for sea. + +And when, under full sail, she passed down the harbour towards Sydney +Heads bound for beautiful Samoa, her captain's heart swelled with pride +as the crews of a score of other ships cheered, "Bravo, _Esmeralda!_" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Under a shady wild orange-tree which grew just above high-water mark +on the white beach of Samatau Bay, Marie Raymond and Mrs. Marston were +seated together on a cane lounge imagining they were sewing, but in +reality only talking on subjects dear to every woman's heart. + +Quite near them, and seated on mats, were the old nurse Mlu, who held +Mrs. Marston's baby-girl, and Raymond's own little daughter Lois, who +was playing with a young native girl--Olivee--grey-haired old Main's +assistant. + +It was early in the morning--an hour after breakfast--and the two ladies +had come down to the beach to watch Raymond and his partners and some +hundreds of natives working at a jetty being constructed from slabs of +coral stone, and which was to be carried out into deep water. + +The day was delightfully bright, and the soft cool breath of the brave +south-east trade wind, which rippled the blue of the ocean before them, +stirred and swayed and made rhythmic music among the plumed crests of +the graceful coco-palms above. And, as they talked, they heard, every +now and then, Raymond's cheery voice giving orders, and the workmen's +response, which was generally sung, some one among them improvising a +chant--for the Samoans, like many other Polynesian peoples, love to work +to the accompaniment of song. + +"Marie," said Mrs. Marston, as she let the piece of sewing which she +held in her hand fall unheeded to the ground and looked dreamily out +upon the blue ocean before them, "you must be a happy woman." + +"I am a very, very happy woman, Amy. And I shall be happier still if you +decide to remain and live near us. Oh, Amy, if you only knew how I try +not to think of the possibility of your going away from us--to think +that when you do go, it means that I may never see you again." + +"I do not want to go away, Marie. I have told you the story of my life, +and how very unhappy I was in my girlhood--an orphan without a friend in +the world except my aunt, who resented my orphanage, and treated me as +'a thorn in the flesh,' but I did not tell you that until I met you I +never had a girl or woman friend in all my life. And now I feel that as +I have found one, I cannot sever myself from her, now that my husband is +dead and I and the babe are alone in the world." + +Marie Raymond passed her arms around her friend's waist. "Amy, dear, +_do_ stay in Samoa. I, too, have no woman friend except some of my +mother's people--who would give their lives for me. But I am not a white +woman. My mother's blood--of which I _am_ proud--is in my veins, and +when I was at school in Australia, it used to cut me to the heart to +have to submit to insults from girls who took a delight in torturing and +harassing me because of it. One day I lost control of myself; I heard +them whispering something about 'the wild girl from the woods,' and I +told them that my mother could trace her descent back for five hundred +years in an unbroken line, whilst I was quite certain none of them would +like to say who their grandfathers were. My words told, for there were +really five or six girls in the school who had the convict taint. I was +called before the principal, and asked to apologise. I refused, and said +that I had only said openly and under the greatest provocation what more +than a dozen other girls had told me!" + +"How did it end?" + +"In mutual apologies, and peace was restored. But I was never happy +there--I loathe the memory of my school days, and was glad to come back +to Samoa." + +"Neither were my English school days happy, but I even liked being at +school in preference to staying with my aunt. I hated the thought of +going to her for the holidays. She was a narrow-minded, selfish woman--a +clergyman's widow, and seemed to take a delight in mortifying me by +continually reminding me that all the money left by my father was +500, which would just pay for my education and no more. 'When you are +eighteen,' she would say, 'you must not expect a home with me. Other +girls go out as companions; you must do the same. Therefore try and fit +yourself for the position.' Everything I did was wrong--according +to her, I was rebellious, irreligious, too fond of dress, and lazy +physically and mentally. The fact was, I was simply a half-starved, +dowdy school-girl---often hungry for food and always hungry for love. +If I had had a dog to talk to I should have been happier. My mother died +when I was three years old, and my father two years later. Then, as I +told you, I went out as governess to the Warrens when I was nineteen, +and felt that I was a human being, for they were kind to me. +Colonel Warren, a rough, outspoken old soldier with a red face and +fierce-looking blue eyes under enormous white bushy eyebrows, was +very kind to me, and so was his wife. I was not treated as so many +governesses are treated in English families--as something between a +scullery-maid and a housekeeper, for whom anything is good enough to +eat, and any horrid, mean little room good enough to sleep in. When +she came to say good-night to the children after hearing them say their +prayers she would always ask me to come to her own room for an hour or +two. I was very happy there. I was only a little over a year with them +when I met and married Captain Marston." "Some day, Amy, you will +marry again," "I don't know, Marie," said Mrs. Marston frankly. "I was +thinking the other day that such a thing may be possible. I have no +knowledge of the world, and am not competent to manage my business +affairs. But there will be plenty of years to think of such a thing. I +want to watch my baby grow up--I want her girlhood to be as bright and +as full of love as mine was dull and loveless." + +Presently a native boy came along the path carrying two letters. He +advanced, and handed one to Mrs. Marston, whose cheeks first paled, +and then flushed with anger as she took it, for she recognised the +handwriting. + +"There is another letter for thy husband, lady," he said to Mrs. +Raymond, "which also cometh from the _papalagi_{*} Villari." + + * Papalagi = foreigner. + +Mrs. Raymond directed him where to find her husband, and then was about +to return to the house, but her friend, who had not yet opened the +letter in her hand, asked her to stay. + +"Don't go, Marie. I shall not open this letter. It is too bad of Mr. +Villari to again write to me. Shall I send it back, or take no notice of +it?" + +"I hardly know what to say, Amy. He is very rude to annoy you in this +way. Wait and hear what Tom thinks." + +A quarter of an hour later, the planter came up from the beach, and sat +down beside the ladies. + +"I have a letter from Villari, Marie," he said, "and have brought it up +to see what you and Mrs. Marston think of it." + +"Amy has also received one, Tom, but would not open it nor send it +back till she had your advice. I think it is altogether wrong of him to +persecute her in this way." + +"Oh, well, you'll be glad to know that he is sorry for what has +occurred. Here is his letter to me, Mrs. Marston--please read it." + +The letter was a courteously worded and apparently sincere expression +of regret for having forced his attentions upon Mrs. Marston, and asking +Raymond and his wife to intercede for him with her. "It will give me +the greatest joy if she will overlook my conduct, and accept my sincere +apologies, if she does not, I shall carry the remembrance of her just +anger to the end of my life. But when I think of her past friendliness +to me, I am excited with the hope that her ever-kind heart will perhaps +make her forget my unwarrantable presumption, which I look back upon +with a feeling of wonder at my being guilty of such temerity." Then he +went on to say that Raymond would be interested to learn that he had +bought a small schooner of 100 tons called the _Lupetea_, on easy terms +of payment, and that he hoped to make a great deal of money by running +her in the inter-island trade. "I was only enabled to do this through +Mrs. Marston's generosity," he concluded--"the 500 she gave me enabled +me to make a good 'deal.' I leave Apia to-morrow for a cruise round +Upolu, and as I find that I have some cargo for you, I trust that +you, your wife, and Mrs. Marston will at least let me set foot on your +threshold once more." + +"Well, the poor devil seems very sorry for having offended you so much +by his persistence, Mrs. Marston," said the planter with a laugh, "and +he writes such a pretty letter that I'm sure you won't withhold your +forgiveness." + +"I don't think I can. But I must see what he has written to me," and she +opened the letter. It contained but a very few lines in the same tenour +as that to Raymond, deploring his folly and begging her forgiveness. + +"I'm very glad, Tom, that Amy sent him the 500, and that he had the +sense not to again refuse it. It would always be embarrassing to you, +Amy, whenever you met him." + +"It would indeed. But I doubt if he would have accepted it if it had +not been for Mr. Raymond's strongly worded letter on the subject," +(The planter had sent the money to him in Apia with a note saying +that whatever her feelings were towards him, Mrs. Marston would be +additionally aggrieved if he refused to accept a bequest from her late +husband; it would, he said, have the result of making the lady feel that +his rejection of the gift was uncalled-for and discourteous.) + +"So that's all right," said Raymond, as he rose to return to the beach. +"I always liked the man, as you have often heard me say. And you really +must not be too angry with him, Mrs. Marston. These Italians--like all +Latins--are a fearfully idiotic people in some things--especially where +women are concerned. Now almost any decent Anglo-Saxon would have taken +his gruelling quietly if a woman told him three times that she didn't +want him. Frohmann thinks that that crack on the head has touched his +brain a bit; and at the same time, you must remember, Mrs. Marston, +that whether you like it or not, you won't be able to prevent men from +falling in love with you--look at me, for instance!" + +Marie Raymond threw a reel of cotton at him-- + +"Be off to your work!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A few days later the _Lupetea_ (White Pigeon) ran into the bay and +Raymond boarded her. He greeted Villari in a friendly manner, and tried +to put him at his ease by at once remarking that the ladies would be +very glad to see him again when he had time to come up to the house. +The schooner was loaded with a general cargo for the various traders and +planters on the south side of the island, and that for Raymond consisted +principally of about forty tons of yams for the use of the numerous +local labourers already employed on the plantations. + +The _Lupetea_ was a rather handsome little vessel, well-fitted for the +island trade, and carried besides Villari and the mate six hands, all of +whom were Europeans, and Raymond at once recognised several of them +as old _habitue_ of Apia beach--men whose reputation as loafers and +boozers of the first water was pretty well known in Samoa. The mate, +too, was one of the same sort. He was an old man named Hutton, and was +such an incorrigible drunkard that for two years past he had found it +increasingly difficult to get employment. He had in his time been mate +of some large ships, but his intemperate habits had caused him to come +down to taking a berth as mate or second mate on small coastal schooners +whenever he could get the position. + +Before he returned to the shore the planter told Villari that he would +be glad if he would come to dinner at seven o'clock. + +"We are a large party now, Mr. Villari. Besides Mrs. Marston and my wife +and myself there are my two partners, Budd and Meredith, and two white +overseers. The latter don't sleep in the house, but they have their +meals with us." + +Villari accepted the invitation, and at six o'clock landed in his boat +and met Raymond and his partners, who had just finished the day's work +and were on their way to the house. On the verandah they were received +by the ladies, and Mrs. Marston was glad to observe that the Italian +took her outstretched hand without any trace of embarrassment, asked if +her baby was thriving, and then greeted Mrs. Raymond, who said she was +glad to see him looking so well, and wished him prosperity with the +_Lupetea_. + +The dinner passed off very well. Villari made inquiries as to the +whereabouts of the _Esmeralda_, and Mrs. Marston told him all that she +knew, and added that if the ship had arrived in Sydney from Valparaiso +about eight weeks before, as Frewen had indicated was likely in the +last letter received from him, it was quite possible that he would be at +Samatau within another ten or fourteen days, and then, as there was no +necessity for concealment, she said it was very probable that the ship's +next voyage would be to the Western Pacific to procure labourers for the +new plantation. + +"You have no intention, I trust, of making the voyage in her, Mrs. +Marston?" queried the Italian; "the natives, I hear, are a very +treacherous lot." + +"No, indeed, Mr. Villari. I am staying here with Mrs. Raymond for quite +a long time yet, I hope. It is quite likely, though, that before a year +has gone she and I will be going to Sydney and our babies will make the +trip with us. I have never been to Australia, and am sure I should enjoy +being there if Mrs. Raymond were with me. I have two years' shopping to +do." + +Rudd--one of Raymond's partners--laughed. "Ah, Mrs. Raymond, why go to +Sydney when all of the few other white ladies here are satisfied with +Dennis Murphy's 'Imporium' at Apia, where, as he says, 'Yez can get +annything ye do be wantin' from a nadle to an anchor, from babies' long +clothes to pickled cabbage and gunpowder.'" + +"Indeed, we are going there this day week," broke in Mrs. Raymond. +"There are a lot of things Mrs. Marston and I want, and we mean to turn +the 'Emporium' upside down. But we are not entirely selfish, Tom; we are +buying new mosquito netting for you, Mr. Rudd, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Young, +and Mr. Lorimer." (The two last-named were the overseers.) + +"How are you going, Marie?" asked Raymond with a smile; "we can't spare +the cutter, and you don't want to be drowned in a _taumualua_.' + +"Ah! we are not the poor, weak women you think we are. We are quite +independent--we are going to cross overland; and, more than that, we +shall be away eight days." + +"Clever woman!" retorted Raymond. "It is all very well for you, +Marie--you have crossed over on many occasions; but Mrs. Marston does +not understand our mountain paths." + +"My dear Tom, don't trouble that wise head of yours. _I_ have azranged +everything. Furthermore, the babies are coming with us! Serena, Olivee, +and one of Mali's girls--and I don't know how many others are to be +baby carriers. We go ten miles the first day along the coast, sleep at +Falelatai that night; then cross the range to the little bush village at +the foot of Tofua Mountain, sleep there, and then go on to Malua in the +morning. At Malua we get Harry Bevere's boat, and _he_ takes us to Apia. +Tom, it is a cut-and-dried affair, but now that I've told you of it, I +may as well tell you that Mali has aided and abetted us--the dear old +fellow. We shall be treated like princesses at every village all along +the route, and I doubt very much if we shall do much walking at all--we +shall be carried on _fata_" (cane-work litters). + +"All very well, my dear; but you and Mali have been counting your +chickens too soon. Harry Revere is now in our employ, and I yesterday +sent a runner to him to go off to Savai'i and buy us a hundred tons of +yams; and he has left by now." + +"Oh, Tom!" and Mrs. Raymond looked so blankly disappointed that all her +guests laughed. "Is there no other way of getting to Apia by water?" + +"No, except by _toumualua_--and a pretty nice time you and Sirs. Marston +and the suffering infants would have in a native boat! On the other hand +you can walk--you are bent on walking--and by going along the coast you +can reach Apia in about four days. Give the idea up, Marie, for a month +or so, when Mali and some of his people can take you and Mrs. Marston +to Apia in comfort in the cutter." + +Villari turned his dark eyes to Mrs. Raymond-- + +"Will you do me the honour of allowing me to take you and Mrs. Marston +to Apia in the _Lupetea?_ I shall be delighted." + +"It is very kind of you, Captain Villari," said the planter's wife with +a smile, as she emphasised the word "captain," "but when will you be +sailing?" + +The Italian considered a moment. + +"I have some cargo for Manono, and some for the German trader at +Paulaelae. I shall leave here at daylight to-morrow; be at Manono before +noon; run across the straits to Paulaelae the same day, land a few cases +of goods for the German, and be back here, if the breeze holds good, the +day after to-morrow." + +"It is very kind of you, Mr. Villari," said Raymond. + +"Not at all, Mr. Raymond. It will be far easier for me to come back this +way than to beat up to Apia against the trade wind and strong current on +the north side." + +"True. I did not think of that. So there you are, Marie--'fixed up,' as +Frewen would say. The schooner, I believe, is pretty smart, isn't she, +Mr. Villari?" + +"Very fair, Mr. Raymond--especially on a wind. We should get to Apia in +less than twenty-four hours if there is any kind of a breeze at all. And +for such a small vessel her accommodation is really very good, so the +ladies and children will be very comfortable, I hope." + +"Yes," said Meredith, "the _Lupetea_ is the best schooner in the group. +I've made two or three trips in her to Fiji. She was built by Brander, +of Tahiti, for a yacht, and he used to carry his family with him on +quite long voyages. Took them to Sydney once." + +"Well, Captain Villari," said Mrs. Raymond, "we shall be ready for you +the day after to-morrow. Be prepared for an infliction," and holding +up her left hand, she began counting on her fingers: "Item, two babies; +item, mothers of babies aforesaid; item, Serena, nurse girl; item, +Olivee, nurse girl; item, one native boy named Lilo, who is a relative +of Mali's, is Mrs. Marston's especial protg and wants to see the +great City of Apia; item, baskets and baskets _and_ baskets of roasted +fowls, mangoes, pineapples and other things which are for the use of the +captain, officers, crew and passengers of the _Lupetea_." + +Villari laughed. "There will be plenty of room, Mrs. Raymond." + +An hour or so later he bade them all good-night, and went on board. + +The old mate was pacing to and fro on the main deck smoking his pipe, +and Villari asked him to come below. + +He turned up the lamp and told Hutton to sit down. + +"Will you have a drink, Hutton?" + +"_Will_ I? You ought to know me by now." + +Villari went to his cabin and brought out a bottle of brandy. His +dark eyes were flashing with excitement, as he placed it on the table +together with two glasses. + +"Drink as much as you like to-night," he said; "but remember we lift +anchor at daylight. We must be back here the day after to-morrow. There +are passengers coming on board. You remember your promise to me?" + +Hutton half-filled his tumbler with brandy, and swallowed it eagerly +before answering. + +"I do, skipper; I'll do any blessed thing in the world except cuttin' +throats. I don't know what your game is, but I'm ready for anythink. +If it's a scuttlin' job, you needn't try to show me nothin'. I'm an old +hand at the game." + +Villari took a little brandy and sipped it slowly. + +"It is not anything like that; I am only taking away a woman whom I want +to marry. She may give trouble at first. Will you stand by me?" + +The man laughed. "Is that all, skipper? Why, I thought it was somethink +serious. You can depend on me," and he poured out some more liquor. + +"Here's luck to you, Captain. I consider as that fifty pound is in my +pocket already." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Two days later the schooner came sweeping round the western point of +Samatau Bay and then hove-to abreast of the house. Villari at once went +on shore, found his passengers ready to embark, and in half an hour +they were all on board and the _Lupetea_ was spinning along the southern +shore of Upolu at a great rate, for the wind was fresh and the sea very +smooth. At midnight she was nearly abreast of a beautiful little harbour +called Lotofanga, and Villari, who was on deck, told the mate to haul +the head sheets to windward and ta lower the boat. This was done so +quietly that the only one of the passengers who knew what had been done +was the Samoan, Lilo--a bright, intelligent youth of about fifteen years +of age. He was lying on the after-deck, and saw the mate and four hands +go over the side into the boat, and then a trunk of clothing which +belonged to Mrs. Raymond, and which, as the weather was fine, had been +left on deck, was passed down. Wondering at this, he rose, and walking +to the side, was looking at the boat, when a sailor roughly seized him +by the shoulder and ordered him to go for'ard and stay there till he was +called. Very unwillingly he obeyed, and then a second man told him to +go below into the foc'sle, and made such a threatening gesture with +a belaying-pin, that the boy, now beginning to feel alarmed, at once +descended, and immediately the fore scuttle was closed and bolted from +the deck. The place was in darkness except for one small slush lamp, and +Lilo, taking his seat on a sailor's chest, looked round at the bunks. +They were all unoccupied, and this fact increased his fears. He, +however, was a courageous lad, and his first thought was to provide +himself with some sort of weapon, and by the aid of the lamp he began +searching the bunks. In a few minutes he found a sheath knife and belt, +which he at once secured, and then again sat down to wait events. + +Meanwhile Villari was speaking to the mate. + +"You are quite sure you know the landing-place?" he asked. + +"Course I do. Didn't I tell you I've been at Loto-fanga half a dozen +times? It's right abreast of the passage, and no one couldn't miss it +on a clear night like this. But it's dead low tide. Why can't I put the +woman and girl on the reef, and let 'em walk to the village? Then we +don't run no risks of any natives a-seein' us and coming down to the +boat." + +"Ha! that's a good idea. But is it quite safe? I don't want them to meet +with any accident." + +"There ain't no danger. The reef is quite flat, with no pools in it, and +they needn't even wet their feet. I've walked over it myself." + +"Very well then. Now stand by, for I'm going below. As soon as they are +in the boat, push off and hurry all you can and get back. We must be out +of sight of land by daylight." + +The cabin, which was lighted by a swinging lamp, was very quiet as +Villari, first removing his boots, descended softly and bent oyer the +sleeping figures of Olivee and Serena, who were lying on mats spread +upon the floor outside the two cabins occupied by their mistresses. He +touched Olivee on the shoulder, and awakened her. + +"Ask Mrs. Raymond to please dress and come on deck for a few minutes," +he said quietly to the girl in English, which she understood. She at +once rose, and tapped at her mistress's door, and the Italian returned +on deck. + +Wondering what could be the reason for such a request, Mrs. Raymond +dressed herself as quickly as possible, and was soon on deck followed by +the girl Olivee. + +"What is the matter, Mr. Villari?" she inquired, and then, as she looked +at the man's face, something like fear possessed her. His eyes had the +same strange expression that she had often noticed when he was looking +at Mrs. Marston, and she remembered what the German doctor had said. + +"You must not be alarmed, Mrs. Raymond," he said, "but I am sorry to +say that the schooner has begun to leak in an alarming and extraordinary +manner, and the pumps are choked. For your own safety I am sending you +and Mrs. Marston and your servants on shore. We are now just abreast of +Lotofanga, and I am going to try and work the schooner in there and run +her ashore on the beach." + +Mrs. Raymond, now quite reassured, was at once practical. "We can be +ready in a minute, Mr. Villari. I will get little Lois, and----" + +"Do--as quickly as you can--and I will tell Mrs. Marston. I preferred +letting you know first. She is very nervous, and it will allay her alarm +when she finds that you are so cool. The boat is already alongside. Have +you any valuables in your cabin? If so, get them together." + +"Nothing but a little money. All my other things are on deck in a +trunk." + +"That is already in the boat; the mate told me it was yours." + +"Hurry up, please, ladies," and the mate's head appeared above the rail. + +"Just another minute, Hutton," said Villari, as he, Mrs. Raymond, and +the Samoan girl all returned to the cabin together. The latter at once +picked up the sleeping Lois, and her mother, as she wrapped her in a +shawl, heard Villari rouse the girl Serena and tell her to awaken her +mistress, and presently she heard his voice speaking to Mrs. Marston +telling her not to be alarmed, but he feared the schooner might founder +at any moment, and that he was sending her and Mrs. Raymond on shore. + +"Very well, Mr. Villari," she heard her friend say. "Have you told Mrs. +Raymond?" + +"Yes," he replied. "She is getting ready now--in fact, she _is_ ready." +Then he returned to Mrs. Raymond's door, and met her just as she was +leaving the cabin with the nurse and child. + +"Can I help you, Amy?" asked the planter's wife as she looked into Mrs. +Marston's cabin. + +"No, dear. I did not quite undress, and I'll be ready in a minute. Baby +is fast asleep. Is Lois awake?" + +"No, I'm glad to say. Olivee has her." + +"Please come on, Mrs. Raymond," said Villari, somewhat impatiently; "go +on, Olivee, with the little girl." + +He let them precede him, and almost before she knew it, Mrs. Raymond +found herself with the nurse and child in the boat, which was at once +pushed off and headed for the shore. + +"Stop, stop!" cried the poor lady, clutching the mate by the arm. "Mrs. +Marston is coming." + +"Can't wait," was the gruff rejoinder, and then, to her horror and +indignation, she saw that the boat's crew were pulling as if their lives +depended on their exertions. + +"Shame, shame!" she cried wildly. "Are you men, to desert them! Oh, if +you have any feelings of humanity, turn back," and, rising to her feet, +she shouted out at the top of her voice, "Captain Villari, Captain +Villari, for God's sake call the boat back!" + +But no notice was taken, and a feeling of terror seized her when the +brutal Hutton bade her "sit down and take it easy." + +As Villari stood watching the disappearing boat Mrs. Marston, followed +by the girl Serena carrying her baby, came on deck. + +"What is wrong?" she asked anxiously. "Why has the boat gone? What does +it mean?" and Yillari saw that she was trembling. + +"Return to your cabin, Mrs. Marston. No harm shall come to you. +To-morrow morning I shall tell you why I have done this." + +A glimmering of the truth came to her, and she tried to speak, but no +words came to her lips, as in a dazed manner she took the infant from +Serena, and pressing it tightly to her bosom stepped back from him with +horror, contempt, and blazing anger shining from her beautiful eyes. + +"Go below, I beg you," said Villari huskily. "Here, girl, take this, +and give it to your mistress when you go below," and he placed a loaded +Colt's pistol in the girl's hand. "No one shall enter the cabin till +to-morrow morning. You can shoot the first man who puts his foot on the +companion stairs." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A hot, blazing, and windless day, so hot that the branches of the +coco-palms, which at early morn had swished and merrily swayed to the +trade wind, now hung limp and motionless, as if they had suffered from +a long tropical drought instead of merely a few hours' cessation of the +brave, cool breeze, which for nine months out of twelve for ever made +symphony in their plumed crests. + +On the shady verandah of a small but well-built native house Amy Marston +was seated talking to an old, snowy-haired white man, whose bright but +wrinkled face was tanned to the colour of dark leather by fifty years of +constant exposure to a South Sea sun. + +"Don't you worry, ma'am. A ship is bound to come along here some time or +another, an' you mustn't repine, but trust to God's will." + +"Indeed I try hard not to repine, Mr. Manning. When I think of all that +has happened since that night, seven months ago, I have much for which +to thank God. I am alive and well, my child has been spared to me, and +in you, on this lonely island, I have found a good, kind friend, to whom +I shall be ever grateful." + +"That's the right way to look at it, ma'am. Until you came here I had +not seen a white woman for nigh on twenty years, and when I did first +see you I was all a-trembling--fearing to speak--for you looked to me as +if you were an angel, instead of----" + +"Instead of being just what I was--a wretched, half-mad creature, whom +your kindness and care brought back to life and reason." + +The old man, who even as he sat leant upon a stick, pointed towards the +setting sun, whose rays were shedding a golden light upon the sleeping +sea. + +"Whenever I see a thing like that, Mrs. Marston, I feel in my heart, +deep, deep down, that God is with us, and that I, Jim Manning, the old +broken-down, poverty-stricken trader of Anouda, has as much share in +His goodness and blessed love as the Pope o' Borne or the Archbishop o' +Canterbury. See how He has preserved you, and directed that schooner to +drift here to Anouda, instead of her going ashore on one of the Solomon +Islands, where you and all with you would have been killed by savage +cannibals and never been heard of again." + +Amy Marston left her seat, came over to the old man, and kneeling beside +him, placed her hands on his. + +"Mr. Manning, whenever a ship does come, will you and your sons come +away with me to Samoa, and live with me and the kind friends of whom I +have told you. Ah, you have been so good to me and my baby that I would +feel very unhappy if, when a ship comes and I leave Anouda, you were to +stay behind. I am what is considered a fairly rich woman----" + +"God bless you, my child--for you are only a child, although you are a +widow and have a baby--but you must not tempt me. I shall never leave +Anouda. I have lived here for five-and-thirty years, and shall die here. +I am now past seventy-six years of age, and every evening when the sun +is setting, as it is setting now, I sit in front of my little house and +watch it as I smoke my pipe, and feel more and more content and nearer +to God. Now, Mrs. Marston, I must be going home. Where is Lilo?'' + +"Out on the reef somewhere, fishing. Serena and the baby are in the +breadfruit grove behind the village. I sent them there, as it is cooler +than the house. I shall walk over there for them before it becomes too +dark. Ah, here comes the breeze at last." + +"Lilo is a good boy, a good boy," said the old man as he rose and held +out his hand; "he is very proud of calling himself your _tausea_,{*} and +that he 'sailed' the _Lupetea_ so many hundreds of miles." + + * Protector. + +"He is indeed a good boy. I do not think we should ever have reached +land had it not been for him." + +As the bent figure of the old trader disappeared along the path that +led to his own house, which was half a mile away, Mrs. Marston reseated +herself, and with her sunbrowned hands folded in her lap, gazed dreamily +out upon the glassy ocean, and gave herself up to reverie. + + * * * * * + +When, in an agony of fear, she had obeyed Villari's request to go below, +she had locked herself in her own cabin, and after putting her infant +to sleep, had sat up with the girl Serena, waiting for the morning. The +pistol which the Italian had given her she laid upon the little table, +and Serena, who knew of Villari's infatuation for her mistress, sat +beside her with a knife in her hand. + +"I cannot shoot with the little gun which hath six shots, lady," said +the girl, "but I can drive this knife into his heart." + +Half an hour passed without their being disturbed, and then they heard +Villari call out to let draw the head sheets, and in a few minutes the +schooner was running before a sharp rain squall from the northward. As +they sat listening to the spattering of the rain on the deck above, one +of the skylight flaps was lifted, and, to their joy, their names were +called by the boy Lilo. + +"Serena, Ami! 'Tis I, Lilo. Do not shoot at me," he cried, and at the +same moment Villari came to the skylight and said-- + +"The boy wants to stay below with you, Mrs. Marston. I did not know he +was on board till a little while ago." Then the flap was lowered, and +they saw no more of him till the morning. + +The delight of Lilo at finding Mrs. Marston and Serena together was +unbounded, and for some minutes the boy was so overjoyed at seeing them +again, that even Mrs. Marston, terrified and agitated as she was at +Villari's conduct, had to smile when he took her feet in his hands and +pressed them to his cheek. As soon as his excitement subsided, he told +them of what had occurred after he had been put down into the foc'sle. + +About a quarter of an hour after the boat had gone, the scuttle was +opened, and one of the sailors who were left on board told him to come +up on deck. Villari was at the wheel, and was in a very bad temper, for +he angrily demanded of the two seamen what they meant by keeping him on +board, instead of sending him on shore in the boat. One of the men, who +was called "Bucky" and who had evidently been drinking, made Villari +a saucy answer, and said that he had kept the boy below with a view to +making him useful. The mate, he said, "knew all about it," and Villari +had better "keep quiet." In another moment Villari knocked him senseless +with a belaying pin, and then, ordering the other man to let draw the +head sheets, put the helm hard up, and the schooner stood away from the +land, just as a rain squall came away from the northward. As soon as +Bucky became conscious, Villari spoke to him and the other seaman, +cautioned them against disobedience, and said that if they did their +duty, he would divide a hundred pounds between them when the schooner +reached Noumea in New Caledonia. The men then asked him whether he meant +to leave the mate and the other four hands behind? + +"Yes, I do," he replied, "that is why I am giving you fifty pounds each. +But if you try on any nonsense with me, I'll shoot you both. Now go +for'ard and stand by to hoist the squaresail as soon as the squall dies +away--this boy will lend a hand." + +As soon as the squaresail was set, Villari told Lilo to call down the +skylight to Mrs. Marston. + +"He told me," concluded the boy, "that although I shall have to cook for +every one on board, I was to be your servant, and that I was to always +sleep in the cabin. And he himself is going to sleep in the deck house +behind the galley, for I saw that he has a lamp in there, and all his +things, and he asked me to bring him some writing paper, and ink, and +pens. Where shall I get them?" + +Mrs. Marston found the articles for him, and Lilo at once took them to +Villari, who was at the wheel. + +"Put them in the deck-house," he said, "and tell one of the men to come +aft, and take the wheel. Then go below again and remain there. If any +one puts foot in the cabin, you can shoot him with the pistol I gave to +Serena." + +"Ami," said the boy anxiously, when he retained, "he is _vale_ (mad), +for his eyes are the eyes of one who is mad. The land is now far astern, +and the ship is speeding fast away from it. What doth this mean?" + +"I cannot tell thee, Lilo," she replied, speaking in Samoan, "but as +thou sayest, he is mad. Let us trust in God to protect us." + +She rose and went into the main cabin, and looked at the tell-tale +compass, which swung over the table, and saw that the schooner was +heading south-west, which would be the course for New Caledonia. + +All that night the _Lupetea_ swept steadily and swiftly along over a +smooth sea, and then at daylight, Mrs. Marston, who had fallen asleep, +was aroused by a loud cry of alarm from Lilo. + +She sprang from her berth, and saw that the boy was kneeling beside +Villari, who was lying dead at the foot of the companion, with a pistol +in his hand. + +"He hath killed himself, Ami," said the boy. "As I sat here watching, +I heard two shots on deck, and then the ship came to the wind, and as I +was about to go on deck, Villari came down, and standing there, put the +pistol to his head and killed himself." + +"Come on deck," she cried, "and see what has become of the men." + +Her fears that Villari had killed the two seamen were verified--they +were both lying dead, one beside the wheel, and the other on the main +deck. In the deckhouse was a wildly-incoherent and unfinished letter, to +her containing expressions of the most passionate devotion, and begging +her to pray for his soul. + +The first thing to be done was to consider how to dispose of the bodies +of poor Villari and the unfortunate seamen. The land was now fifty miles +distant, and Lilo, pointing to the eastern horizon, assured Mrs. Marston +that bad weather was coming on, and that sail should be taken in as +quickly as possible. + +"Let Serena and I cast the dead men overboard," he said; "'tis better +than that we should keep them on board, for we know not how long it may +be ere we get to land again." + +Mrs. Marston shuddered. + +"As you will, Lilo. When it is done, I will come on deck again and help +with the sails." + +An hour later the schooner was racing under close-reefed canvas before a +half-gale from the eastward. + +"Let us steer to the westward," Lilo had said to his mistress. "We +cannot beat back to Samoa against such a wind as this, which may last +many days. And straight to the west lieth Uea, on which live some white +men who will succour us." + +There was no general chart on board, but Mrs. Marston knew that Uea +(Wallis Island) was due west from Samoa, and distant about two or three +hundred miles. + +For twelve hours the _Lupetea_ ran swiftly before a rapidly increasing +sea, and by night time Lilo was so exhausted in trying to keep her from +broaching to, that Serena came to his assistance. Neither he nor Mrs. +Marston knew how to heave-to the vessel; but, fearful of running past +Wallis Island in the night, they did the very thing they should not +have done--lowered and made fast both mainsail and foresail, and let the +vessel drive under bare poles. + +Worn out with his exertions, Lilo still stuck manfully to his steering, +when, looking behind him, he saw a black, towering sea sweeping down +upon the schooner. Uttering a cry of alarm, he let go the wheel, and +darted into the cabin after Mrs. Marston, who had just left the deck. + +Then came a tremendous crash, and the _Lupetea_ shook and quivered in +every timber, as the mighty avalanche of water fell upon and buried +her; smashing the wheel to splinters, snapping off the rudder head, and +sweeping the deck clean of everything movable. + +A month later the vessel drifted ashore on Anouda Island, just as Mrs. +Marston was beginning to despair. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Darkness had fallen upon the little island, as with the girl Serena and +her infant charge, Mrs. Man-ton was walking back to the house. Lilo had +not yet returned, but as they emerged from the breadfruit grove, they +heard the sound of many voices, and then came a cry that made their +hearts thrill-- + +"_Te vaka nui, Te vaka nui!_" ("A ship! a ship!") and almost at the same +moment Lilo and a score of natives came rushing along the path in search +of the white lady. + +"A ship! aship!" shouted Lilo, who was almost frantic with excitement, +"your ship--your own ship! The ship that came to Samatau!" + +"How know you, Lilo?" cried Mrs. Marston tremblingly. "How can you tell +it is my ship? And where is it?" + +As soon as the boy was able to make himself heard through the clamour +of his companions, he told Mrs. Marston that whilst he was engaged in +fishing along the shore of an unfrequented little bay on the north end +of the island, he was startled by the sudden appearance of a large ship, +which he instantly recognised as the _Esmeralda_. She came around a +headland with a number of her hands aloft taking in sail, and dropped +anchor about half a mile from the land. Lilo waited some time to see if +a boat would come on shore, and also ran out to the edge of the reef, +and tried to attract the attention of the people on board, but no notice +was taken of him. Then, as darkness was coming on, he set off for the +village at a run to tell his mistress. + +"We must hasten on board, Lilo," said Mrs. Marston, as she walked +hurriedly along beside him to the house. "Run quickly to the old white +man, and ask him to send his boat here for me." + +But Manning had already heard the news, and his boat had not only been +launched, but, manned by half a dozen stalwart Anoudans, was at that +moment coming down inside the reef. The old trader's half-caste son Joe +was steering, and the moment the boat touched the beach, he sprang out +and ran up to the house. + +"Father sent me for you, Mrs. Marston. The old man is nearly off his +head with excitement. He has sent a native out on the reef to burn a +blue light so that it can be seen by the people on board the ship, who +will then know that there are white people here." + +"Thank you, Joe," she said, as, kissing her little Marie, and bidding +Serena take her to Manning's house, and there await her return from the +ship, she ran swiftly to the boat, which at once pushed off, accompanied +by twenty or thirty canoes--all crowded with natives. + +"Look!" cried Joe Manning, "there is the blue light!" + +Half a mile away, on a projecting horn of the reef, the blue flame was +shedding its brilliant light, and clearly revealing the all but nude +figure of the man who held it. + +"Father said, Mrs. Marston, when he took those three blue lights ashore +from the wreck of the _Lupetea_, that they might come in useful some +night----" and then he uttered a yell of delight as a great rocket +shot high up in air and burst; the ship had seen the blue light and was +answering it! + +"Hurrah! she sees the blue light!" he cried, and then with voice and +gesture he urged his crew to greater exertions. They responded with +a will, and then, as a second rocket shot upward, a deep "_Aue!_" of +admiration was chorused forth by the occupants of the canoes, which were +trying hard to keep pace with the swift whale-boat. + +"We'll see her as soon as we get round the north end, ma'am," said the +half-caste, as he swung the boat's head towards a passage through the +surrounding reef. Mrs. Marston made no reply; she was too excited to +speak, as with parted lips and eager eyes she sat gazing straight ahead. + +Ten minutes passed, and only the _swish, swish_ of the canoe paddles +and the boat's oars broke the silence; then the high north point of the +island was rounded, and the _Esmeralda_ lay before them, so close, that +even though it was dark, figures could be seen moving about her decks, +which were well lit up. + +Bidding his men cease pulling, and the natives in the canoes to keep +silent for a moment, the burly half-caste hailed. + +"Ship ahoy!" + +"Hallo, there!" cried Prewen's well-remembered voice, "we see you. Come +round on the port side." + +"Ay, ay, sir," shouted Manning, and then, unable to restrain himself, he +expanded his mighty chest and bawled out-- + +"MRS. MARSTON IS HERE!" + +In a moment or two there came an outburst of cheering from the ship, and +then amidst the shouts and yells of the Anouda natives the boat dashed +alongside, and Mrs. Marston ascended the ladder. A crowd of men were +at the gangway, and almost ere her foot had touched the deck Frewen had +grasped her hand. + +"Thank God, we have found you at last, Mrs. Marston!" + +She tried to speak, and then would have fallen, had not Randall Cheyne +sprung forward and caught her. + +"Carry her to the cabin, Randall," said Frewen, "the poor little woman +has fainted." + +Half an hour later, the chief officer ran up on the poop-deck and called +out-- + +"All hands aft!" + +As the crew--who had been eagerly listening to Joe Manning's account +of how Mrs. Marston had come to the island--crowded aft, the mate cried +out-- + +"Boys, I want volunteers to man the starboard quarter-boat to bring Mrs. +Marston's baby on board." + +Such a wild rush was made for the boat falls that the good-natured +officer had to interfere and pick out eight men, and with Lilo as pilot +and himself in charge, the boat left the ship amid further cheering. + +In the cabin Mrs. Marston, now looking bright and happy, was telling her +story to Frewen and Cheyne. + +"And now," she said, as she concluded, "I am the very happiest woman +in all the world, and oh! Captain Frewen, when I think I shall see Mrs. +Raymond within a few days, I feel almost hysterical. I'm sure I won't +want to go to sleep for a week." + +Frewen laughed as he looked at the flashed, beautiful face. "Well, I +don't think you'll get too much sleep to-night, for the men are as much +excited as any one aft, and I sent word that they can have a bit of fun +and make as much noise as they like until eight bells, and drink your +and your baby's health seven times." + +"Ah! my poor little baby. How cruel of me to forget her! Oh, please let +me go for her." + +"You are too late," said Frewen with a smile, "the mate has just gone, +and he'll bring her to you before another hour has passed. He has taken +your boy Lilo with him as pilot." + +Mrs. Marston sighed contentedly, and then looked round at the familiar +cabin. + +"Oh, how I shall love to see Samatau again, Captain Frewen, and oh! how +wonderful it is that the _Esmeralda_ of all ships should be the one to +find me. If only Mrs. Raymond could know I was safe and on board talking +to you of her!" + +"She will indeed be yery happy; and yet, do you know, Mrs. Marston, +that she always said you were not dead, although when month after month +passed by, and a most careful search had been made of all the islands +within a radius of six hundred miles, and no trace of the _Lupetea_ was +found, Mr. Raymond himself lost all hope." + +"How long was it before Mr. Raymond knew of what had occurred on board +that night off Lotofanga?" she asked. + +"Mrs. Raymond herself told him on the following afternoon, when, to his +astonishment, she arrived at Samatau in a native beat. It seems that +after Hutton landed them--she, little Lois, and Olivee--on the reef, +they were met by a party of natives who were returning from a fishing +excursion. These people at once took them to the village, where, of +course, they were very kindly treated. + +"Mrs. Raymond, who was half mad with anxiety for you, asked the chief +to provide her with a boat to return to Samatau and tell her husband of +what had happened. They left after an hour's rest and almost foundered +in the same squall which overtook the _Lupetea_. However, they reached +Samatau a little before sunset. Raymond at once sent Meredith and Rudd +to Apia to charter two or even three local schooners to sail in search +of the _Lupetea_, and for over a month whilst I was there a most +unremitting search was kept up, and letters were sent all over the +Pacific asking the traders at the various islands to keep a good +look-out either for the schooner or any wreckage which might come +ashore. + +"I arrived at Samatau in the _Esmeralda_ about a fortnight after Villari +left there, and found Mrs. Raymond alone and distracted with fear for +your safety. During the following week, one of the schooners which +were out searching for you returned. Raymond was on board. He had been +searching through the windward islands of the Fiji Group, but without of +course finding a trace of the missing vessel. On the way back, though, +they spoke a Tahitian barque, whose captain told them that the bodies of +Hutton and the four men who were with him had been found on the reef at +Savai'i a few days after the scoundrels had put Mrs. Raymond ashore at +Lotofanga. The boat had evidently been driven ashore during the stormy +weather which prevailed for three or four days afterwards. + +"After remaining ashore for a day only, Raymond again sailed--this time +to make a search among the Friendly Islands; and I, with Mr. Rudd and +Overseer Lorimer to assist me, sailed for the Solomon Group. We decided, +instead of proceeding direct to the Solomons for our cargo of black +humanity, to first cruise through the New Hebrides Group, in the hope we +might learn something of the _Lupetea_." + +"It makes me feel as if I were a real missing princess, Captain Frewen." + +"So you were--until to-night. Well, from the New Hebrides we went north +to the Solomons, where we were singularly fortunate in getting five +hundred natives in a few weeks without any trouble. I landed them at +Samatau without losing a single man, and they are now working on the new +plantation as happy as sand-boys. + +"Raymond was at home when I returned, but there was still one vessel +away looking for you--the cutter _Alrema and Niya_--and in fact we long +since decided not to entirely abandon the search for a full year. + +"I left on a second trip for the Solomons just nine days ago, and we +sighted this island early this morning. I did not think that we should +hear anything of the _Lupetea_ so far to the westward--over a thousand +miles from Samoa--but as three of our coloured crew are down with fever, +I decided to anchor, leave them here in care of the natives, and also +find out if any wreckage had been seen. We could not see any signs of +houses on this side of the island, but did see a man making gestures to +the ship from the reef; however, as I did not intend to go ashore until +the morning, we did not lower a boat. You can imagine our surprise when +the glare of a blue light was seen." + +"Mate's boat is alongside, sir," announced the bos'un. + +And in a few minutes the smiling Serena entered the cabin and placed +little Marie in her mother's arms. + + * * * * * + +Shortly after dawn the merry click of the windlass pawls told Mrs. +Marston that the _Esmeralda_ was getting underweigh again for Samoa--for +the projected voyage to the Solomon Islands was of course abandoned. +Old Manning and his stalwart sons came off to say goodbye, and at Mrs. +Marston's earnest request the trader consented to accept from her some +hundreds of pounds' worth of trade goods from the well-filled storeroom +of the _Esmeralda_. + +"Goodbye, Mrs. Marston, and God bless you and the little one, and give +you all a safe passage to Samoa," he cried, as he descended the side +into his boat. + +For many hours she remained on deck watching the green little island as +it sunk astern, and thinking of the kindly-hearted old trader who had +so cheered her by his simple piety and unobtrusive goodness. Then her +thoughts turned joyfully to home--for the Raymonds' house was home to +her--and she sighed contentedly as the gallant _Esmeralda_, with every +stitch of canvas that could be set, slipped gracefully over the blue +Pacific on an east-south-east course, for it was the month of November, +and light westerly winds had set in. + +Two weeks on such a happy ship soon passed away, and then early one +morning the grey dome of Mount Tofua stood out from the mantle of mist +which hid its verdant sides; and ere the sun had dried the heavy night +dews on the gaily-coloured crotons and waving pampas grass which grew +just above the beach, the brave ship dropped anchor once more in Samatau +Bay amidst a scene of the wildest confusion. For Raymond, as he had +stood on the verandah with his wife, watching her sailing in, and +wondering what had brought back Frewen so soon, saw this signal flying +from her spanker gaff. + + O + W + S + V + + B + R + C + +"What does it mean, Tom?" "Found. All well!" he shouted, and pitching +his telescope clean over the tops of the wild orange-tree in front of +the house, he rushed down to the beach, crying out the news as he ran. + +Boats, canoes, and _taumualuas_ by the score, all crowded with natives, +who were shouting themselves hoarse, paddled furiously off to the ship; +and ere her cable rattled through the hawse-pipe and the heavy anchor +plunged down to its coral bed, her decks were filled with people, and +Raymond, followed by the old chief Malie, was shaking hands warmly with +"the missing princess" and her rescuer. + +***** + +It is night at Samatau, and the two ladies are sitting on the verandah. +The house is very quiet. + +"Amy?" + +"Yes, Marie, dear." + +"Tom was asking me this morning if you have yet made up your mind to go +on building that house." + +"Oh, dear, Marie. I have hardly given it a thought since I came +back--and I've only been back a week!" + +"Amy?" + +"Marie?" + +"I suppose, dear, that Captain Frewen won't give up the _Esmeralda_ +altogether when he goes to America to see his people. He will come back, +will he not?" + +Mrs. Marston blushed. "I--I think so, dear. Come inside, and I'll tell +you." + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's John Frewen, South Sea Whaler, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + +***** This file should be named 24806-8.txt or 24806-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/0/24806/ + +Produced by David Widger + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: John Frewen, South Sea Whaler + 1904 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: March 11, 2008 [EBook #24806] +Last Updated: March 8, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + JOHN FREWEN, <br /> SOUTH SEA WHALER + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + From “Chinkie's Flat And Other Stories” + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Louis Becke + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h4> + Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company 1904 + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>BOOK I</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> <big><b>BOOK II</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + BOOK I + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <p> + Captain Ethan Keller, of the <i>Casilda</i> of Nantucket, was in a very + bad temper, for in four days he had lost two of the five boats the barque + carried—one had been hopelessly stove by the dreaded “underclip” + given her by a crafty old bull sperm-whale, and the other, which was in + charge of the second mate, had not been seen for seventy hours. When last + sighted she was fast to the same bull which had destroyed the first mate's + boat; it was then nearly dark, and the whale, which was of an enormous + size, although he had three irons in his body and was towing the whole + length of line from the stove-in boat as well as that of the second mate, + was racing through the water as fresh as when he had first been struck, + three hours previously. Then the sun dipped below the sea-rim, and the + blue Pacific was shrouded in darkness. + </p> + <p> + “Why in thunder couldn't the dunderhead put a bomb into that fish before + it came on dark?” growled the skipper to his other officers, as they sat + down to a harried sapper in the spacious, old-fashioned cabin of the + whaler. + </p> + <p> + No one answered. Frewen, the missing officer, was as good a whaleman as + ever drove an iron or gripped the haft of a steer-oar, and his half-caste + boatsteerer Randall Cheyne was the best on the ship. But there was bad + blood between young Frewen and his captain, and Cheyne was the cause of + it. + </p> + <p> + “If they cut and lose that whale,” resumed Keller presently, “I'll haze + the life out of them—by thunder, I will, if I break my back in doing + it! Why, that is the biggest fish we've struck yet. If I had been in that + boat, I'd have had that whale in his flurry two hours ago. Why, it appears + to me that Frewen got too soared to even try to haul up and give him a + bomb, let alone giving him the lance—which was easy enough.” + </p> + <p> + Just as he spoke, one of the boatsteerers entered the cabin and reported + that some of the hands thought that they had heard the second mate's bomb + gun. + </p> + <p> + “All right,” growled Keller, “tell the cooper to burn a flare.” + </p> + <p> + “I guess Frewen won't lose him,” said Lopez, the first mate. “He told me + long ago that he never yet had to out, and I don't think he'll do it now—unless + something has gone wrong. That must have been his gun.” + </p> + <p> + “Huh!” sneered Keller, as he viciously speared a piece of salt pork with + his fork, “we'll see all about that when daylight comes. You'll find Mr. + Firwen and that yaller-hided Samoa buck back here for breakfast, but no + whale.” + </p> + <p> + None of the men made any reply. They knew that Frewen would be the last + man to lose a fish through any fault of his own, and only after carefully + “drogueing” his line would he part company with it, and that only if the + immense creature emptied the line tubs and “sounded.” Then, to save the + lives of those in the boat, he would have to cut. + </p> + <p> + “Guess we'll see that whale to-morrow, anyway, whether Mr. Frewen is fast + to him or not,” said the third mate to the cooper, as they met on deck; + “he's got a mighty lot of line hanging to him, and, just after the second + mate got fast I saw him shaking his flukes and trying to kick out one of + the two irons the mate hove into him.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, that is so; I hope we shall get him. The old man is pretty cranky + over it. He hasn't a nice temper even when he's in a good humour, and + there will be blue fire blazing if Mr. Frewen does lose the fish after + all.” + </p> + <p> + For four hours the barque made short tacks to the eastward, in which + direction the boat had been taken by the whale. The night was fine but + dark, the sea very smooth, and the flares which were burnt at intervals on + board the barque would render her visible many miles away, and a keen + look-out was kept for the boat, but nothing could be discovered of it. + </p> + <p> + Towards midnight the light air from the eastward died away, and was + succeeded by a series of rather sharp rain squalls from the south-west, + and Keller, fearing to miss the boat by running past her, hove-to till + daylight. + </p> + <p> + The dawn broke brightly, with a dead calm. Forty pairs of eyes eagerly + scanned the surface of the ocean, and in a few minutes there came a + cheering cry from aloft. + </p> + <p> + “Dead whale, oh! Close to on the weather beam.” + </p> + <p> + “Can you see the boat?” cried Lopez. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” was the reply after a few seconds silence. “Can't see her + anywhere.” + </p> + <p> + “Look on the other side of the whale, you bat!” growled the skipper. + </p> + <p> + “She's not there, sir,” was the reply. + </p> + <p> + “Lower away your boats, Mr. Bock and Mr. Lopez,” said Keller in more + gracious tones to the third and first officers; “the second mate can't be + far away, but why in thunder he didn't hang on to the whale last night I + don't know. Take something to eat with you. You will have to tow that + whale alongside—this calm is going to last all day.” + </p> + <p> + Five minutes later the two boats pushed off, and then, as they sped over + the glassy surface of the ocean and the huge carcass of the whale was more + clearly revealed, Bock called out to his superior officer that he could + see a whift {*} on it. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A wooden pole with a small pennon; used by whalers' boats + as a signal to the ship. +</pre> + <p> + Lopez nodded, but said nothing. + </p> + <p> + They pulled up alongside, and the mate's boatsteerer stepped out on to the + body of Leviathan and pulled out the whift pole, which was firmly embedded + in the blubber. + </p> + <p> + “There's a letter tied round the pole, sir,” he said to his officer, as he + got back to the boat again and passed the whift aft. + </p> + <p> + The “letter” had been carefully wrapped in a strip of oilskin, and then + tied around the whift pole by a piece of sail twine. It was a sheet of + soiled paper with a few pencilled lines written on it. Lopez read it:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “For the information of Ethan Keller, Haser: This whale was + struck, for the sake of his shipmates' lays, by Randall + Cheyne, the 'yaller-hided Samoan,' who has struck more + whales than old Haser Keller ever saw. If Haser Keller wants + us he will find us at Savage Island, where we shall be ready + for him. + + (Signed) “R. Cheyne, Boatsteerer, “Casilda.” + </pre> + <p> + “Where is Mr. Frewen, sir?” inquired the boatsteerer anxiously. + </p> + <p> + “Gone for a picnic,” replied the mate laconically. “Now, look lively, my + lads. We've got to tow this fish to the ship and 'cut in' before the + sharks save us the trouble.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> + <p> + The quarrel between Keller, a rough, blasphemous-mouthed, and + violent-tempered man, and his second officer had arisen over a very simple + matter. + </p> + <p> + Frewen, one of the six sons of a struggling New Hampshire farmer, had + received a better education than his brothers, for he was intended for the + navy. But at sixteen years of age he realised the condition of the family + finances, and shipped on a whaler sailing out of New London. From + “'foremast hand with hayseed in his hair,” he became boatsteerer; then + followed rapid promotion from fourth to second officer's berth, and at the + age of five-and-twenty he was as competent a navigator and as good a + seaman and boatheader as ever trod a whaleship's deck. For like many a + country-bred boy he had the sea instinct in his bones, inherited perhaps + from his progenitors, who were of a seafaring stock in old Devonshire, in + that town made for ever famous by Kingsley in “Westward Ho!” + </p> + <p> + When Frewen joined the <i>Casilda</i>, Keller had taken a great fancy to + the young man, whom he soon discovered was a very able officer, and who + proved his ability as a good whaleman so amply during the first twelve + months of the cruise by never losing a whale once he got fast, that + Keller, who was as mean as he was brutal to his crew, relaxed his “hazing” + propensities considerably. The <i>Casilda</i> was always known as a “hard” + ship and Keller as a “hazer”; but, on the other hand, she was also a lucky + ship, and Lopes, the chief mate, who had sailed in her for many years, was + a sterling good man, though a strict disciplinarian, and did much for the + men to compensate them for Keller's outbursts of savage fury when anything + went wrong. So Lopez, Frewen, and his fellow-officers “worked” together, + and the crew “worked” with them, and the <i>Casilda</i> became a fairly + happy ship, as well as a lucky one, for Keller, after long years, began to + realise that it was bad policy to ill-treat a willing crew who would give + him a “full” ship in another six months instead of deserting one by one or + in batches at every island touched at in the South Seas. + </p> + <p> + And Frewen was a mascotte, and his half-caste boat-steerer was another, + for whenever a pod of whales were sighted the second mate's boat was + invariably the first to get fast, and on one glorious day off Sunday + Island Frewen's boat killed three sperms—a bull and two cows—and + the four other boats each got one or two, so that for over a week, in a + calm sea, and under a cloudless sky of blue by day and night, “cutting in” + and “trying-out” went on merrily, and the cooper and his mates toiled like + Trojans, setting-up fresh barrels; and the smoke and glare of the + try-works from the deck of the <i>Casilda</i> lit up the placid ocean for + many a mile, whilst hordes of blue sharks rived and tore and ripped off + the rich blubber from the whales lying alongside waiting to be cut-in, and + Keller shot or lanced them by the score as he stood on the cutting-in + stage or in one of the boats made fast to the chains on the free side. + </p> + <p> + Fourteen months out, as the <i>Casilda</i> was cruising northward, + intending to touch at one of the Navigator's Islands (Samoa) to refresh, + the first trouble occurred. Cheyne, Frewen's boatsteerer, who was a + splendidly built, handsome young fellow of twenty-four years of age, + received a rather severe injury to his right foot whilst a heavy baulk of + timber was being “fleeted” along the deck. Frewen, who was much attached + to him, dressed his foot as well as the rough appliances on board would + allow, and then reported him to the captain as unfit for duty. + </p> + <p> + Keller growled something about all “darned half-breeds” being glad of any + excuse to shirk duty. + </p> + <p> + Frewen took him up sharply: “This man is no shirker, sir. He is as good a + man as ever 'stood up' to strike a whale. Did you ever see a better one?” + </p> + <p> + Keller looked at his second officer with fourteen months' repressed + brutality glowering in his savage eyes. + </p> + <p> + “I'm the captain of this ship. Just you mind that. I reckon I can't be + taught much by any college buster.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen's hands clenched, but he replied quietly, though he was inwardly + raging at Keller's contemptuous manner— + </p> + <p> + “Just so. You are the captain of this ship, and I know my duty, sir. But I + am not the man to be insulted by any one. And I say that my boatsteerer is + not fit for duty.” + </p> + <p> + Keller's retort was of so insulting a character that in another moment the + two men—to the intense delight of the crew—were fighting on + the after-deck. Lopes and the cooper, as in duty bound, sprang forward and + seized their fellow-officer, but the captain, with an oath, bade them + stand aside. + </p> + <p> + “I'll pound you first,” he cried hoarsely to Frewen, “then I'll kick you + into the foc'sle.” + </p> + <p> + The fight lasted for fifteen minutes, and then Lopes and the third mate + forced themselves between and separated them. Both men were terribly + punished. + </p> + <p> + “That will do, sir; that will do, Frewen,” said the mate; “do you want to + kill each other?” + </p> + <p> + Keller had some good points about him and a certain amount of humour as + well. + </p> + <p> + “Haow much air yew hurt, Frewen?” he inquired. “I can't exactly see” (both + his eyes were fast closing). + </p> + <p> + “Pretty much like yourself,” replied the officer; then he paused and held + out his hand. “Shake hands, sir. I'm sorry we've had this turn.” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, it's mighty poor business, that's a fact,” and Keller took the + proffered hand, and then the matter apparently ended. + </p> + <p> + Early in the morning on the following day whales were raised. There was a + stiff breeze and a choppy sea. Three boats, of which Frewen's was one, + were lowered. Cheyne, although suffering great pain, insisted on taking + his place, and twenty minutes later his officer called out to him to + “stand up,” for they were close to the whale—a large cow, which was + moving along very slowly, apparently unconscious of the boat's presence. + </p> + <p> + Then for the first time during the voyage the half-caste missed striking + his fish. Unable to sustain himself steadily, owing to his injured foot + and the rough sea, he darted his iron a second or two too late. It fell + flat on the back of the monstrous creature, which at once sounded in + alarm, and next reappeared a mile to windward. For an hour Frewen kept up + the chase, and then the ship signalled for all the boats to return, for + the wind and sea were increasing, and it was useless for them to attempt + to overtake the whales, which were now miles to windward. Neither of the + other boats had even come within striking distance of a fish, and + consequently Keller was in a vile temper when they returned, and the + moment he caught sight of the half-caste boatsteerer he assailed him with + a volley of abuse. + </p> + <p> + The young man listened with sullen resentment dulling his dark face, then + as he turned to limp for'ard the captain bade him make haste and get + better, and not “try on any soldiering.” + </p> + <p> + He turned in an instant, his passion completely overmastering him: “I'm no + 'soldier,' and as good a man as you, you mean old Gape Cod water-rat. I'll + never lift another iron or steer a boat for you as long as I am on this + ship.” + </p> + <p> + Five minutes later he was in irons with a promise of being kept on biscuit + and water till he “took back all he had said” in the presence of the + ship's company. + </p> + <p> + “I'll lie here and rot first sir,” he said to Lopez; “my father was an + Englishman, and I consider myself as good a boatsteerer and as good a man + as any one on board. But I do not mean any disrespect to you, sir.” + </p> + <p> + Lopez was sorry for the man, but could not say so. “Keep a still tongue + between your teeth,” he said roughly, “and I'll talk the old man round by + to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Do as you please, sir. But I won't lift an iron again as long as I am in + this ship,” he replied quietly. + </p> + <p> + He kept his word. On the following morning he was liberated, and in a + week's time he had recovered the use of his foot. Then, when the barque + was off the Tonga Islands, a large “pod” of whales were sighted. It was a + clear, warm day. The sea was as smooth as a lake, and only the faintest + air was ruffling the surface of the water. Three miles away were two + small, low-lying islands, clad with coco-palms, their white belting of + beach glistening like iridescent pearl-shell under the glowing tropic sun. + </p> + <p> + As the boats were lowered he said to Frewen, “You know what I have said, + sir. I won't lift a harpoon again on this cruise; so don't ask me.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen did not believe him. “Don't be a fool, Randall. We'll show the old + man something to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “<i>I</i> will, sir, if it costs me my life.” + </p> + <p> + Five minutes later he was in his old place on the for'ard thwart, pulling + stolidly, but looking intently at Frewen, whom he loved with a dog-like + affection. + </p> + <p> + Frewen singled out a large bull whale which was lying quite apart from the + rest of the “pod” sunning himself, and sometimes rolling lazily from side + to side, oblivious of danger. In another five minutes the boat would have + been within striking distance. + </p> + <p> + “Stand up, Randall,” he said. + </p> + <p> + The half-caste peaked and socketed his oar, and looked at the officer. + </p> + <p> + “I refuse, sir,” he said quietly. + </p> + <p> + “Then come aft here,” cried Frewen quickly, with hot anger in his tones. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I will not. I said I would neither lift iron nor steer a boat + again,” was the dogged reply. + </p> + <p> + There was no time to lose. Giving the steer oar to the man pulling the + “after-tub oar,” the officer sprang forward and picked up the harpoon just + in time, Randall jumping aft smartly enough, and taking the tub man's oar. + Ten seconds later Frewen had buried his harpoon up to the socket in the + whale, and the line was humming as the boat tore through the water. Then, + still keeping his place, he let the whole of one tub of line run out, and + then hauled up on it and lanced and killed his fish quietly. Cheyne + apparently took no notice, though his heart sank within him when Frewen + came aft again, and looked at him with mingled anger and reproach. + </p> + <p> + Some one of the boat's crew talked of what had occurred, though Frewen + said nothing; and that night Cheyne was placed in irons by Keller's + orders. At the end of a week he was still manacled and almost starving, + but he steadfastly refused to do boatsteerer's duty. Then the captain no + longer placed any check on himself, and he swore that he would either make + the half-caste yield or else kill him. And he did his best to keep his + word. + </p> + <p> + Nearly a month passed, and then, at Frewen's suggestion, all the officers + waited on the captain and begged him to release the unfortunate man; + otherwise there was every prospect of the crew mutinying. + </p> + <p> + “Is he willing to turn to again?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Not as boatsteerer,” replied Frewen. + </p> + <p> + “Then he shall stay where he is,” was the savage retort. + </p> + <p> + Five or six days later Frewen went to Cheyne, who was now confined in the + 'tween decks, and implored him to give in. + </p> + <p> + “Very well, sir. To please you I will give in. But I mean to desert the + first chance.” + </p> + <p> + “So do I. I am sick of this condition of things. There are three other men + besides yourself in irons now.” + </p> + <p> + “Who are they, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Willis, Hunt, and Freeman.” (The two latter belonged to his own boat, and + had been ironed because they had refused to eat some bad beef. Frewen + himself had told Keller that it was uneatable, and again angry words + passed between them.) + </p> + <p> + Cheyne was released and resumed his old place in Frewen's boat, and the + officer then sounded the rest of his men, and found they were eager to + leave the ship. So he made his plans, and he and Cheyne quietly got + together a small supply of provisions and a second breaker of water. + </p> + <p> + They waited till the ship was well among the Friendly Group, and Upolu + Island was three hundred miles to the north, and then were given the + needed opportunity—when the mate's boat was destroyed by the big + bull whale, which was then struck by Cheyne. + </p> + <p> + “Boys,” shouted Frewen to his crew, as the boat tore through the water, + “I'm not going to kill this whale awhile. He'll give us a long run, and is + taking us dead to windward, away from the ship. But before it gets dark + I'll give him a bomb.” + </p> + <p> + He successfully carried out his intention. Just as darkness was coming on + he hauled up on his line and fired a bomb into the mighty creature; it + killed it in a few seconds. Then they lay alongside of the floating + carcase, spelled half an hour, had something to eat, and then Cheyne, who + had a sense of humour, wrote the scrawl to Keller and tied it round the + whift pole. + </p> + <p> + “Now, lads,” cried Frewen, “up sail! It is a fine dark night, and we + should be forty or fifty miles away by daylight.” + </p> + <p> + And so, whilst the <i>Casilda</i> burnt flare after flare throughout the + night, the adventurers were slipping through the water merrily enough, + oblivious of the cold rain squalls which overtook them at midnight, as + they headed for Samoa. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + When Frewen allowed Cheyne to write the pencilled note to Captain Keller, + he did so with a double purpose, for he and Cheyne had carefully thought + out and decided upon their plans. In the first place, the dead whale would + convince the ship's company that he and his boat's crew had “done the + square thing,” by killing and leaving for their benefit the best and + largest whale that had yet been taken, and that although they were + deserting (and consequently losing their entire share of the profits of + the cruise so far, which would be divided with their former shipmates) the + rich prize they were leaving to the ship would prove of ten times the + value of the boat in which they had escaped. In the second place he wished + to put Keller on a false scent by naming Savage Island (or Nine, as it is + generally known) as their destination; for Keller knew that the island was + a favourite resort of runaway sailors, but that a suitable reward offered + to the avaricious natives would be sure to effect the capture and return + to the ship of any deserters from the <i>Casilda</i>. + </p> + <p> + Cheyne's father was an English master mariner, who, tired of a seafaring + life, had settled as a trader in the beautiful island of Manono in Samoa. + He there married a daughter of one of the leading chiefs, and himself + attained to some considerable influence and property, but lost his life in + an encounter with a rebellious clan on the island of Upolu. He left two + children: Randall, a lad of sixteen, and Marie, a girl two years younger. + The boy went to sea in a whaler, and at the age of twenty-four had an + established reputation as one of the smartest boatsteerers in the Pacific. + Only once after four years' absence, had he returned to his native + country, when he found that his sister, who had just arrived from + Australia, where she had been educated, was about to be married to one of + the few Europeans in the country—a well-to-do planter and merchant, + named Raymond, and that his mother had also married again, and settled in + New Zealand. + </p> + <p> + Satisfied as to his sister's future happiness, he saw her married, and + again turned his face to the sea, although Raymond earnestly besought him + to stay with and help him in his business. He made his way to Honolulu, + and there joined the <i>Casilda</i>, then homeward bound, and, as has been + related, he and the second officer soon became firm friends. + </p> + <p> + At the south-east point of the island of Upelu, there is a town named + Lepâ, and for this place the boat was now steering. The principal chief of + the district was a blood relation of Cheyne's mother, and he (Cheyne) knew + that every hospitality would be given to himself and Frewen for as long a + time as they chose to remain at Lepâ. + </p> + <p> + “After we have seen Mana'lio” (the chief) “we shall consider what we shall + do,” said the boatsteerer to Frewen. “I expect he will not like letting us + leave him, but will be satisfied when he knows that you and I want to go + to my sister's place. These big Samoan chiefe are very touchy in some + things.” + </p> + <p> + On the afternoon of the third day out, the land was sighted, and just as + the evening fires were beginning to gleam from the houses embowered in the + palm-groves of Lepâ, the boat grounded on the white hard beach, and in a + few minutes the village was in a pleasurable uproar, as the white men were + almost carried up to the chief's house by the excited natives, who at once + recognised the stalwart Cheyne. + </p> + <p> + Mana'lio made his relative and Frewen most welcome, and treated them as + very honoured guests, whilst the rest of the boat's crew were taken + possession of by the sub-chiefs and the people of the town generally, + carried off to the <i>fale taupule</i> or “town hall,” and invited to a + hurriedly prepared but ample repast. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning, Frewen called the whole of his boat's crew + together, and told them it would be best for them to separate. “Each of + you four men say you don't want to go to sea again—not for a long + time at any rate. Well, Mana'lio, the chief here, wants a white man to + live with him. He will treat him well, and give him a house and land. Will + you stay, Hunt?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” was the instant reply. + </p> + <p> + “Right. And you, Freeman, Chase, and Craik, can stay here in Lepâ, and + decide for yourselves which towns you will live in. In less than + forty-eight hours half the chiefe on the island will be coming to Mana'lio + for a white man. Cheyne here will give you some good advice—if you + want the natives to respect you, and to get along and make money and a + honest living, follow his advice.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” assented the men. + </p> + <p> + “Now, here is another matter. Cheyne and I wish to be mates, and we want + the boat.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I guess <i>we</i> have no claim on her, sir,” said Hunt, turning to + the others for confirmation of his remark. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes you have—she is as much yours as she is mine. Anyway we all + have a good right to her, as we have given the ship a whale worth a dozen + new boats; and, besides that, by deserting we have forfeited our 'lays' + and have put money into Captain Keller's pocket as well as into those of + the crew. Now, I have a little money with me—two hundred dollars. + Will you four men take a hundred and divide it, and let Cheyne and me have + the boat?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, to be sure,” they cried out in unison. + </p> + <p> + That evening Frewen and Cheyne bade Mana'lio and the seamen goodbye, and + accompanied by four stalwart and well-armed natives, stepped into the + boat, hoisted her blue jean main-sail and jib, and amidst a chorus of + farewells from the friendly people set off on a forty miles trip along the + coast, their destination being the town of Samatau, at the extreme + north-west of the island. + </p> + <p> + For here, so Mana'lio had told them, Mrs. Raymond and her husband were + living, the latter having purchased a large tract of land there which he + was preparing for a cotton plantation. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> + <p> + The boat sailed gently along the outer or barrier reef which fringed the + coast of beautiful verdured Upolu, and then, as the sun sank, there shone + out myriad stars upon the bosom of a softly heaving sea, and only the + never-ceasing murmur of the surf as it beat against the coral barrier, or + the cry of some wandering sea-bird, disturbed the warm silence of the + tropic night. + </p> + <p> + Leaving the boat to the care of their native friends at eight o'clock, + Frewen and his comrade laid down amidships and were soon fast asleep, for + the day had been a tiring one, and they needed more rest to recover from + the effects of the three days they had spent on the open sea. + </p> + <p> + Soon after daylight they were awakened by the steersman, who pointed out a + large, lofty-sparred vessel. She was about five miles away, and being head + on, Frewen was uncertain as to her rig, till an hour later, when he saw + that she was a full-rigged ship. + </p> + <p> + “Not the <i>Casilda</i>” he said to his comrade, and neither of them gave + the strange vessel any further thought, especially as the wind had now + died away, and, the sail being lowered, the crew bent to the oars under an + already hot and blazing sun. + </p> + <p> + Shortly before noon, the boat rounded a low headland and entered a lovely + little bay, embowered in thick groves of coco-palms and breadfruit trees. + The new house which Raymond had built was not visible from the bay, but + there were some thirty or forty native houses clustered under the shade of + the trees, a few yards up from the beach, on which they noticed a ship's + longboat was lying. + </p> + <p> + The moment Frewen's boat was seen, a strange clamour arose, and a number + of natives, armed with muskets and long knives, rushed out of their + houses, and took cover behind the rocks and trees, evidently with the + intention of resisting his landing, and Frewen and Cheyne heard loud cries + of “<i>Lèmonte! Lèmonte!</i>” + </p> + <p> + “Back water!” cried Cheyne in his mother tongue to the crew; then he + turned to Frewen: “There is something wrong on shore. 'Lèmonte' is my + brother-in-law's name, and they are calling for him.” Then he stood up and + shouted out— + </p> + <p> + “Friends, do you not know me? I am Randall. Where is my sister and her + husband?” + </p> + <p> + A loud cry of astonishment burst from the natives, many of whom, throwing + down their arms, sprang into the water, and clambering into the boat + greeted the young man most affectionately; and then one of them, + commanding silence, began talking rapidly to him. + </p> + <p> + “We must get ashore quickly,” said Cheyne to Randall. “My brother-in-law + has a number of dead and dying people in his house. There has been a + mutiny on board that ship—but come on, he'll tell us all about it.” + </p> + <p> + In another minute the boat was on the beach, and as Frewen and Cheyne + jumped ont they were met by a handsome, dark-faced man about forty years + of age, who grasped Cheyne's hands warmly. + </p> + <p> + “I never expected to see you, Randall,” he said quietly, “but I thank God + that you <i>have</i> come, and at such a time, too. Where is your ship?” + </p> + <p> + “Three hundred miles away. But we will tell you our story another time. + How is Marie?” + </p> + <p> + “Well. She already hears the people shouting your name. Come to the + house.” Then he turned to Frewen and held out his hand. “My name is + Raymond, and you are welcome to Samatau.” + </p> + <p> + “And mine is Frewen. I hope you will accept any assistance I can give.” + </p> + <p> + “Gladly. But I will tell you the whole story presently. I have two men + dying in my house, three others wounded, and two dead.” + </p> + <p> + He led the way along a shady, winding path to the house, on the wide + verandah of which were seated a number of natives of both sexes, who made + way for them to pass with low murmurs of “<i>Talofa, aliia</i>,” {*} to + the two strangers. Then in another moment Marie Raymond stepped softly out + from the sitting-room, and threw her arms round her brother's neck. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * “Greeting, gentlemen.” + </pre> + <p> + “Thank God you are here, Randall,” she said, leading the way into another + room. “Tom will tell you of what has happened. I will return as soon as I + can.” + </p> + <p> + “How is Captain Marston?” asked Raymond, as she stood for a moment with + her hand on the handle of the door. + </p> + <p> + “Still unconscious. Mrs. Marston is with him.” She paused, and then turned + her dark and beautiful tear-dimmed eyes to Frewen: “Tom, perhaps this + gentleman might be able to do something. Will he come in and see?” + </p> + <p> + Raymond drew him aside. “Go in and see the poor fellow. He can't last long—his + skull is fractured.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen followed Mrs. Raymond into the large room, and saw lying on her own + bed the figure of a man whose features were of the pallor of death. His + head was bound up, and kneeling by his side, with her eyes bent upon his + closed lids, was a woman, or rather a girl of twenty-two or twenty-three + years of age. As, at the sound of footsteps, she raised her pale, agonised + face, something like a gleam of hope came into it. + </p> + <p> + “Are you a doctor?” she asked in a trembling whisper. + </p> + <p> + The seaman shook his head respectfully. “No, madam; I would I were.” + </p> + <p> + He leant over the bed, and looked at the still, quiet face of the man, + whom he could see was in the prime of life, and whose regular, clear-cut + features showed both refinement and strength of character. + </p> + <p> + “He still breathes,” whispered the poor wife. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, so I see,” said Frewen, as he rose. Then he asked Mrs. Raymond a few + questions as to the nature of the wound, and learned that in addition to a + fractured skull a pistol bullet had entered at the back of the neck. + </p> + <p> + “There is no hope, you think. I can see that by your face,” said Mrs. + Marston, suppressing a sob. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot tell, madam. But I do think that his condition is very, very + serious.” + </p> + <p> + She bent her head, and then sank on her knees again beside the bed, but + suddenly she rose again, and placed her hand on Frewen's sleeve. + </p> + <p> + “I know that my husband must die, no human aid can save him. But will you, + sir, go and see poor Mr. Villari. Mr. Raymond has hopes for him at least. + And he fought very bravely for my husband.” + </p> + <p> + Villari was the first mate of the ship, and was lying in another room, + together with three wounded seamen. He was a small, wiry Italian, and when + Frewen entered with Raymond and Mrs. Raymond, he waved his right hand + politely to them, and a smile lit up his swarthy features. He had two + bullet wounds, one a clean hole through the right shoulder, the other in + the thigh. He had lost a great deal of blood, but none of his high + courage, though Raymond at first thought he could not live. + </p> + <p> + “I am not going to die,” he said. “<i>Per Bacco</i>, no.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen spoke encouragingly to him and then turned his attention to the + seamen, all of whom were Englishmen. None of them were severely wounded, + and all that could be done for them had been done by Raymond and their own + unwounded shipmates, of whom there were four. + </p> + <p> + “Now I shall tell you the story,” said Raymond to Frewen and Cheyne, as he + led the way to the verandah, on which a table with refreshments had been + placed. “But, first of all, do you see that ship out there? Well, that is + the <i>Esmeralda</i>. She is now in the possession of the mutineers, and + has on board forty-five thousand dollars. You see that she is becalmed?” + </p> + <p> + “And likely to continue so for another three or four days, if I am any + judge of the weather in this part of the Pacific,” said Frewen, “I agree + with you. And now, before I begin to tell you the story of the mutiny, I + want to know if you two will help me to recapture her? You are seamen, and—” + </p> + <p> + Both men sprang to their feet. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, we will!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I thought you would not refuse. Now wait a moment,” and calling to a + young native who was near, he bade him go to the chief of Samatau and ask + him to come to the house as quickly as possible. + </p> + <p> + “Malië, the chief of Samatau, will help us,” he said to Frewen; “he has + two hundred of the best fighting men in Samoa, and I shall ask him to pick + out fifty. But we want a nautical leader—some one to take charge of + the ship after we get possession of her.” + </p> + <p> + “Now here is the story of the mutiny, told to me by poor Mrs. Marston.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> + <p> + “At daylight this morning, my wife and I were aroused by our servants, who + excitedly cried to as to come outside. A boat, they said, was on the beach + with a number of white men in it, some of whom were dead. + </p> + <p> + “I went down to the beach at once, and five minutes later had all the + unfortunate wounded and unwounded people assisted to the house, for they + were completely exhausted by what they had undergone, and were also + suffering from thirst. Two of their number had succumbed to their wounds + in the boat a few hours previously, so Villari, the mate, told me. + Marston, who had been shot in the neck, was unconscious, and his wife who, + as you saw, is little more than a girl, was herself wounded in the arm by + a musket ball. + </p> + <p> + “We did all that we could do, and after Mrs. Marston had had an hour's + rest, she and Villari told me their story. + </p> + <p> + “The <i>Esmeralda</i> is Marston's own ship, and left Valdivia, in Chile, + for Manila about seven weeks ago. She is almost a new ship, only having + been built at Aberdeen last year. Marston, who had just married, brought + out a general cargo from London to Valdivia and other South American + ports, and sold it at a very handsome profit. Whilst on the coast, fever + broke out on board, and he lost his second mate and five A.B.'s, and the + third mate and two others had to go into hospital. In their places he + shipped a new second mate—a man named Juan Almanza—and twelve + seamen, ten of whom were either Chilenos or Peruvians, and the remaining + two Greeks. The former boatswain he promoted to the third mate's birth. + Almanza proved to be a good officer, and the new men gave him + satisfaction, though his agent at Valdivia had urged him not to take the + two Greeks, who, he said, were likely to prove troublesome. Unfortunately + he did not take the agent's advice, and said that he had often had Greeks + with him on previous voyages, and found them very fair sailormen—much + better than Chilenos or Mexicans. + </p> + <p> + “He had been paid for his cargo mostly in silver dollars, and the money + was brought on board in as quiet a manner as possible, and he believed + without the new hands knowing anything about it. Poor fellow; he was + fatally mistaken! In all it amounted to thirty-five thousand dollars, and + in addition to this there was a further sum of two thousand pounds in + English gold on board—Marston, I must tell you, is, I imagine, a + fairly wealthy man, for his wife told me that he had the <i>Esmeralda</i> + built at a cost of six thousand pounds. + </p> + <p> + “He had been informed at Valdivia that a cargo of Chile flour, which could + be bought very cheaply at Valparaiso, could be sold at a huge profit in + Manila, and he thereupon bought a full cargo—six hundred tons—and + sailed, as I have said, about seven weeks ago. All went well on board from + the very first, although the English seamen did not much care about their + foreign shipmates, who, however, did their duty after a fashion. Almanza, + Mrs. Marston says, was in all respects an able and smart officer, and both + she and her husband took a great liking to him—the scoundrel! + </p> + <p> + “The two Greeks—who, by the way, called themselves and shipped under + the English names of John Foster and James Ryan—the Levantine breed + do that trick very often—were in Almanza's watch, as were six of the + Chilenos; and the mate one night, coming on deck when it was his watch + below, was surprised to find Almanza and the two Greeks engaged in an + earnest conversation. His suspicions were aroused, and he reported the + matter to the captain, who, however, made light of it, and said that + Almanza had told him that Foster and Ryan had been shipmates with him on a + Sydney barque some years before, and that it was only natural that Almanza + would relax discipline a little, and condescend to chat for a few minutes + with men who had sailed with him previously. + </p> + <p> + “Ryan, the older of the two, had proved himself an excellent seaman, and + both Marston and Villari felt sure, from the way in which he spoke to the + other seamen, that he had at one time been an officer. In addition to + Spanish he speaks both English and French remarkably well, and his manners + and personal appearance are extremely good, and no one would take him to + be a Greek. He, however, frankly admitted that his name was not Ryan and + that he was a native of the island of Naxos in the Ægean Sea. + </p> + <p> + “At this time, Mr. Frewen, the <i>Esmeralda</i> was near these islands—in + fact, Upolu was in sight; and Marston, knowing that there were some + Europeans settled at the port of Apia, on the north side of the island, + decided to put in there for fresh provisions, of which the ship was in + need. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps his decision made the scoundrelly Almanza imagine that he + suspected him, and was only touching at Apia to rid himself of his second + officer and his Greek and Chileno accomplices, for Mrs. Marston—who + shudders when she mentions Almanza's name—says that shortly after + the ship's course was altered for Apia, he went for'ard on some excuse, + but in reality to talk to the Greeks in the fore-peak. He was absent about + a quarter of an hour, and then went about his duties as usual. + </p> + <p> + “A little before six bells, Captain Marston was on the poop looking at the + land through his glasses, Mrs. Marston was in her cabin sewing, Villari, + with the boatswain and three A.B.'s (all Englishmen), were with the + steward and third mate engaged in the lazzarette overhauling and + re-stowing the provisions. Suddenly the captain was felled by a blow on + the head dealt him from behind, and the mate and those with him were at + the same moment ordered by Almanza to come up out of the lazzarette. He + told them that he was in possession of the ship, and that they would be + shot down if they attempted to resist. Villari and his men came up, and + found the second mate and six of the mutineers in the cabin, all armed + with pistols and cutlasses. Resistance was useless, and Almanza told + Villari not to think of it. He (Villari) was then hustled into his own + cabin and locked in, and the English seamen ordered on deck, where they, + with the other Englishmen on board, were made to hoist out the longboat. + Whilst this was being done Almanza, who had locked Mrs. Marston in her + cabin, opened the door, and told her that she need feel no fear, but that + she must come on deck to attend to her husband, who had been hurt She + found Marston lying where he fell, and quite unconscious, with a Chileno + standing guard over him. As the English members of the crew were hoisting + out the longboat, Almanza told the steward—a negro—to get some + provisions and some bottles of wine from the cabin. Then the two Greeks—who + from the first had seemed bent on murder—interfered, and one of them + suddenly raised his pistol and shot the unfortunate steward through the + heart. The Chileno seamen applauded the act, and only Almanza's frenzied + protests prevented them from slaughtering the unarmed Englishmen, the + Greeks declaring that they (the mutineers) were only putting ropes round + their necks by sparing any one of them—including Mrs. Marston. + </p> + <p> + “For some minutes it seemed as if there was to be a conflict between + Almanza and his followers, but the mutineers appeared to yield to his + appeals, and assisted in getting the longboat out. The captain was then + lowered into the boat, and then Mrs. Marston and all the Englishmen but + two followed; when suddenly Villari, who had succeeded in forcing his + door, sprang up from the cabin with a pistol in each hand, and singling + out Almanza, shot him through the chest, and with the second shot wounded + one of the Chilenos in the face. But in another instant he himself fell, + for the Greeks and several of the gang fired at him simultaneously, and he + was also given a fearful blow on the head with a belaying-pin, partly + stunning him, and then thrown overboard to drown. The two men remaining on + deck saved their lives by jumping overboard at the same time. + </p> + <p> + “Most fortunately for the poor mate he fell near the boat, and was rescued + by one of the seamen, who sprang overboard after him. But not satisfied + with what they had already done, and enraged at the fall of their leader, + the mutineers now began firing into the defenceless people in the boat at + such a short range that it is marvellous that any one escaped. + </p> + <p> + “Before they were able to pull out of range, the captain, third mate, and + one of the seamen were mortally wounded, and two others and Mrs. Marston + also were hit Then the mutineers, evidently bent on the slaughter of the + whole party, began to lower away one of the heavy quarter-boats, but + although she was actually put in the water the villains changed their + minds for some reason, and the longboat was not pursued.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said Frewen, “I expect they were afraid to leave the ship in case a + breeze sprang up.” + </p> + <p> + “So Villari says. However, they then began firing round shot at the + longboat from the two nine-pounders on the quarter-deck—the <i>Esmeralda</i> + is armed with six guns—but made such bad practice that after half a + dozen shots had been fired they gave up the attempt. + </p> + <p> + “The ship at this time was in the Straits of Manono, and the boat was + headed for the nearest land, which was Samatau—the four unwounded + men keeping to the oars most manfully, only taking short spells every + hour. As darkness came on they saw the lights of Samatau village, and came + on without fear, for they knew that the natives of Samoa, though very + warlike, were hospitable and friendly to Europeans. During the night the + third mate and the badly wounded A.B. died, and poor Marston, who had + never spoken since he had been first struck down, lay as you saw him a + little while ago, without the slightest sign of returning consciousness. + Villari, however, began to improve, and weak as he was, yet contrived to + show one of the men how to dress Mrs. Marston's wound in a more efficient + manner. He <i>is</i> a plucky little fellow. + </p> + <p> + “The boat would have reached here much sooner, only that Villari and his + people could not find the passage through the reef, and several times + struck on coral patches. + </p> + <p> + “Well, that is the whole of the story—and a very dreadful one it is + too. I do feel so for that poor little woman. Her heart is breaking.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, indeed,” said Frewen, “poor thing! She seems hardly more than a + girl.” + </p> + <p> + “However, please God, we shall get her husband's ship back,” and Raymond's + dark eyes sparkled. “Ah! here comes the chief. He will not fail us. He is + one of the most renowned fighters in Samoa, is he not, Randall?” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> + <p> + Malie, the supreme chief of the district, was indeed, as Raymond said, one + of the most renowned fighters, not only on Upoln, but in all Samoa, and + Frewen, as he shook hands with him, thought he had never seen so noble and + imposing a figure. He was a man of about sixty years of age, with + closely-cropped white hair and thick moustache, but so youthful was he in + his carriage, and so smooth was the bright copper-red of his skin, that he + seemed more like a man of thirty whose hair and moustache had become + prematurely blanched. The upper portion of his huge but yet beautifully + proportioned and muscular figure was bare to the waist, around which was + wrapped many folds of tappa cloth bleached to a snowy whiteness, which + accentuated the startling contrast of the bright blue tattooing which + reached from his waist to his knees. Depending from his neck, and falling + in a long loop across a broad chest scarred by many wounds, was a simple + yet beautiful ornament consisting of some hundreds of discs of gleaming + pearl-shell, perforated at the sides, and strung together by a thin cord + of human hair. In his right hand he carried a <i>fui</i>, or fly-wisp, + made of coco-nut fibre, and Frewen noticed during the conversation that + followed that he used this with the dainty grace that characterises a + Spanish lady with her fan. + </p> + <p> + Accompanying the chief was a tall, thin old man, named Talitaua, who was + Malië's <i>tulafale</i> or orator—a position which in Samoa is one + much coveted and highly respected, for the <i>tulafale</i> is in reality a + Minister of War, and on his public utterances much depends. If he is + possessed of any degree of eloquence, he can either avert or bring about + war, just as he chooses to either inflame or subdue the passions of his + audience when, rising and supporting himself on his polished staff of + office, he first scans the expectant faces of the throng seated on the + ground before him ere he opens his lips to speak. On this occasion, + however, Talitaua had merely come with Malië as a personal friend anxious + to learn privately what he would probably have to communicate to the + assembled people as soon as the discussion with Raymond was concluded. + Both he and the chief had already heard full details of the mutiny from + Raymond, and they guessed that the planter had something further and of + importance to say to them concerning it. After the usual courtesies so + rigidly observed on visits of ceremony had passed between them and + Raymond, they patiently awaited him to begin, though very curious to learn + what was the occasion of Frewen's and Cheyne's unlooked-for appearance. + Their natural politeness, however, as well as the + never-to-be-infringed-upon Samoan etiquette, utterly forbade them to make + even the slightest allusion to the matter; they would, they knew, learn in + good time. + </p> + <p> + Seating themselves on chairs in European fashion at one side of the table, + whilst Raymond and his two companions occupied those opposite, they first + made inquiry as to the wounded men and Mrs. Marston, and the planter + answered their polite queries. Then after a pause Raymond began by saying— + </p> + <p> + “This <i>alii</i> {*} is named Mr. Frewen. He is an officer of a <i>vaa + soia</i>,{**} and is a friend of my wife's brother, and therefore is a + friend of mine—and thine also, Malië toa o Samatau,{***} and + Talitaua.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Chief—gentleman. + + ** A whale-ship. + + *** His full title, “Malië, warrior of Samatau.” The present + King Malietoa of Samoa is a descendant. +</pre> + <p> + The chief and his orator bent their heads, but said nothing beyond a + simple <i>Lelei, lelei lava</i> (“Good, very good”). + </p> + <p> + Then Raymond went to the point as quickly as possible, and asked the chief + if he would assist him, Frewen, and Cheyne in recapturing the ship from + the mutineers. Speaking, of course, in Samoan, he said— + </p> + <p> + “As thou seest, Malië, the wind hath died away, and the ship is becalmed, + so that the murderers on board cannot escape us if we do but act soon and + come upon them suddenly.” + </p> + <p> + The chief thought for a few moments, then answered— + </p> + <p> + “I will not refuse thee anything in reason that thou asketh me, Lêmonti. + But yet my people must be told of what is in thy mind.” + </p> + <p> + “True. They shall know. But before I unfold to thee my plan to take this + ship by surprise so that but little or no blood may be shed, I will pledge + myself to the people of Samatan and to thee to act generously to them for + the help they will give. The captain is hurt to death and cannot speak, + and the lady his wife is too smitten with grief to consider aught but her + husband, so on her behalf do I speak; for she is my countrywoman, and it + would be a shameful thing for me did I not help her.” + </p> + <p> + Then he went on, and dearly and lucidly detailed his scheme to the chief, + afterwards translating his remarks into English for the benefit of Frewen, + who listened with the keenest interest. Cheyne, of course, understood + Samoan perfectly. + </p> + <p> + Raymond's plan was simple enough. + </p> + <p> + He proposed to take the <i>Casilda's</i> boat, and with Frewen, Cheyne, + and a few natives go boldly off and board the ship, and representing + himself as a trader anxious to buy European provisions, begin to work by + throwing the mutineers off their guard, by warning them of the danger the + ship was in through being in so close to the land during a calm, for the + currents in the Straits of Manono were very strong and she would be + carried on to the reef unless she was towed out of the danger limit + towards which he would say (and truthfully enough) that she was drifting. + The mutineers, he felt convinced, would feel so alarmed that they would + listen to and accept his suggestion to let him engage the services of half + a dozen native boats, whose united efforts would soon place the ship out + of danger by towing her out of the danger zone. Then he and those with him + would bide their time, and at a given signal spring upon the mutineers, + who would be completely off their guard. + </p> + <p> + He entered into the details so minutely that not only Frewen and Cheyne, + but Malië as well, expressed the warmest admiration and approval. Then he + told Malië exactly what to do when he (the chief) saw the whale-boat + leaving the ship to return to the shore, and Malië listened carefully to + his instructions and promised that they should be carried out exactly as + he desired. + </p> + <p> + Then the stalwart chief and his orator rose to take their leave, for they + had to call the people together and acquaint them with what was to be + done. + </p> + <p> + “Have no fear, Lêmonti, that the calm will break,” he said in reply to a + fear expressed by the planter that a breeze might, after all, spring up + and carry the ship too far off the land for the attempt to be made. “'Tis + a calm that will last for many days. Look at the mountains of Savai'i”—and + he pointed out the cloud-capped summits of the range that traverses the + great island of Savai'i—“when the clouds lie white and heavy and low + down it meaneth no wind for many days, not as much as would stir a + palm-leaf. But there will be rain at night—much rain.” + </p> + <p> + “The better for our purpose,” said Raymond, as the chief left the house. + “Now, Randall, we must hurry along. Take half a dozen of my people, and + let them catch a couple of pigs and plenty of fowls; then cut about a + dozen or so large bunches of bananas and get enough other fruit—pineapples, + sugar-cane, guavas, and young coco-nuts as will make a big show in the + boat. Mr. Frewen and I will join you in about a quarter of an hour, and + then you and he can show the natives how to stow the things, as I have + suggested to the chief.” + </p> + <p> + Returning to the house he sought out his wife. + </p> + <p> + “Marie, we are going to recapture that ship. Don't be alarmed, and don't + say anything to poor Mrs. Marston till you see us returning; but you may + tell the mate.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Raymond never for one instant thought of trying to dissuade her + husband from a mission which she felt was full of danger. She kissed him, + and said, “Tell me what to get ready, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII + </h2> + <p> + It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and the decks of the <i>Esmeralda</i> + gleamed dazzlingly white under the burning rays of the Samoan sun, as she + lay motionless upon a sea as calm as some sheltered mountain lake or + reed-margined swamp hidden away in the quiet depths of the primeval + forest. Twenty miles away to the south and east of the ship, the + purple-grey crests of the mountains of Savai'i rose nearly five thousand + feet in air, and, nearer the long verdant slope of beautiful Upolu + stretched softly and gently upwards from the white beaches of the western + point to the forest-clad sides of Mount Tofoa—ten miles distant. + Still nearer to the ship, and shining like a giant emerald lying within a + circlet of snow, was the island of Manono, the home or birthplace of all + the chiefly families of Samoa for many centuries back. Almost circular in + shape, and in no place more than fifty feet in height, it was covered with + an ever-verdant forest of breadfruit, pandanus, orange and palm-groves, + broken here and there by the russet-hued villages of the natives, built + just where the shining beach met the green of the land. And the whole + seemed to float on the bosom of the lagoon, which, completely encompassed + by the barrier reef, slumbered peacefully—its waters undisturbed + except when they moved responsive to the gently-flowing current from the + blue ocean beyond, or were rippled by the paddle of a fisherman's canoe. A + mile beyond Manono, and midway between it and the “iron-bound” coast of + Savai'i, was the little volcanic isle of Apolima—once in olden times + the fortress that guarded the passage through the straits, now occupied + only by a few families of fisher-folk dwelling in peace and plenty in the + village nestling at the foot of the long-extinct volcano. Overhead a sky + of wondrous spotless blue. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + On the quarter-deck of the <i>Esmeralda</i> three of the mutineers were + seated together under the shade of a small temporary awning, engaged in an + earnest conversation. A fourth person—Almanza—who was at that + moment the subject of their conversation, was lying in the captain's + stateroom, immediately beneath them; the rest of the gang were idling + about on the main or fore decks smoking their inevitable cigarettes, and + waiting till the Levantine “Ryan,” whom they now recognised as leader, + called them to hear the result of the discussion. + </p> + <p> + The Chileno, who was seated with Ryan and Foster, was named Rivas, and had + recommended himself to them by reason of his ferocious and merciless + disposition. Long before the mutiny occurred he, with the Greeks, had + insisted upon the necessity of murdering not only the captain, first + officer, steward, and all the English seamen, but Mrs. Marston as well. + Almanza, however, protested so strenuously that they reluctantly consented + not to resort to murder, if it could possibly be avoided; but their lust + for slaughter was too great to be controlled when Villari made his gallant + attempt to aid his captain. + </p> + <p> + On the top of the skylight was spread a chart, at which Ryan was looking, + trying to find out as near as he could the ship's position. He could read + English, and easily recognised the islands of Apolima and Manono, both of + which were shown on the chart. + </p> + <p> + “That is where we are now, or about there,” he said, taking a pencil in + his hand and making a mark on the spot. “But we are drifting towards the + reefs, and must anchor once we get into soundings—or else go + ashore.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think he is going to die?” inquired Rivas, with a gesture towards + the cabin. + </p> + <p> + “How can I tell, comrade?” replied the Greek with an angry snarl. “Only + that we want him badly to navigate the ship, it would be best for us if he + does die—for two reasons.” + </p> + <p> + His fellow-scoundrels nodded assent. The two reasons they knew were, + firstly, that Almanza had proved to be too timorous as regarded the taking + of life, and secondly that his death would give them a greater share of + plunder. + </p> + <p> + “Well, what are we to do?” asked Rivas. + </p> + <p> + “What can we do?” exclaimed Foster fiercely, as he shook his black-haired, + greasy and ear-ringed head. “We must wait and see if he gets better—unless + we drift ashore in the night and get our throats cut by los Indios over + there,” and he indicated the islands. + </p> + <p> + “Bah!” growled his countryman. “Did I not tell you that I heard the + captain say over and over again that these people are not savages? But + what we do want is a breeze, so that we can work off the land—for + how are a few men going to tow a heavy ship like this against a two-knot + current? We could not move her.” Then he called out, with a sneering + inflection in his tones, “Come aft, comrades, and we shall drink to our <i>brave</i> + captain's speedy recovery.” + </p> + <p> + The rest of the mutineers but one obeyed with alacrity, just as the man + who remained, and who was standing on the topgallant foc'sle, gave a loud + cry— + </p> + <p> + “A boat is coming from the shore!” + </p> + <p> + In an instant confusion ensued; but Ryan, picking up Marston's glass, + angrily bade them be silent. The boat had approached to within a mile of + the ship, and Ryan saw that she was pulling four oars. + </p> + <p> + “It is not the captain's boat, <i>amigos</i>,” he said, “and there seem to + be only a few people in her. But be ready.” + </p> + <p> + The <i>Esmeralda</i>, in addition to the six guns she carried, was + plentifully provided with small-arms—enough for a crew of thirty + men; and all of these, as well as the big guns, were kept loaded, for + after the escape of the captain's boat the mutineers had worked most + energetically to put the ship in a state of defence—both Almanza and + Ryan recognising the possibility of the survivors of Marston's party + reaching Apia, and there obtaining assistance to enable them to recapture + the ship. + </p> + <p> + The boat came on steadily, the blades of her four oars flashing in the + bright sunlight. Ryan continued to look at her, and felt quite satisfied + when he saw she contained but seven persons, three of whom were Europeans, + and four natives. + </p> + <p> + “It is a whale-boat,” he cried; “and there are three white men in her and + four natives. She is very deep in the water, and I can see a lot of green + stuff in the bows.” (These were the bunches of bananas, purposely stowed + in a pile for'ard, so as to indicate the boat's peaceful mission.) + </p> + <p> + The mutineers—with the exception of the two Greeks—who + remained on the quarter-deck, dressed in Mars-ton's and Villari's clothes—stood + in the waist. All were armed with pistols, and a number of loaded muskets + were lying along the waterways close to their hands, if needed. + </p> + <p> + When within easy speaking distance of the ship Ryan went to the rail and + hailed the boat. + </p> + <p> + “Boat ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + The four oars ceased pulling, and Frewen, who was steering, stood up and + answered the hail. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, captain. I've seen you since daylight. You are drifting too + close in, so I've come off to warn you to tow off.” + </p> + <p> + “Come on board, please,” replied the Greek, who, as Frewen spoke, saw that + the boat was deeply-laden with fruit; and the cackling of fowls and sudden + squeal of a pig convinced him that everything was right. And then, in a + few minutes, Frewen and Raymond clambered up the side and walked quickly + aft to where Ryan stood on the poop. + </p> + <p> + “How do you do, captain?” said Frewen, holding out his hand. “Where are + you from, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Valparaiso to Batavia,” was the glib reply, as the mutineer shook hands + with his visitors. “Are you living on shore there?” and he nodded towards + Samatau. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, this is my partner. We have a cotton plantation there. We have + brought you off a boatload of fresh provisions. Perhaps you can spare us a + cask of salt beef in exchange? Pork is the only meat we have on shore.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, I can easily do that,” was the reply. + </p> + <p> + Frewen went to the side and hailed the watchful Cheyne. + </p> + <p> + “Pass up all that stuff, Randall,” he said. + </p> + <p> + Aided by the Chileno seamen, Cheyne and the four natives soon cleared the + boat of the livestock and fruit, whilst Ryan, who had not yet asked his + visitors below, continued to talk to them on deck, although he told one of + the crew, whom he addressed as “steward,” to bring up refreshments. + </p> + <p> + “Now, captain,” continued Frewen, speaking in the most friendly manner, + “you must set to and tow your ship away from here as quietly as possible, + or you will go ashore if this calm lasts. You can't anchor anywhere near + here, the water is too deep.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps you will help me? I am short-handed. Twelve of my crew took the + longboat and deserted from me during the voyage, and I am in a tight + place.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, well, captain, we must try and help you out of it to the best of our + ability.” He raised his glass. “I am glad to have met you, Captain———,” + and he paused. + </p> + <p> + “Ryan is my name. The ship is the <i>Esmeralda</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “And a beautiful ship she is, too. You must be proud to command such a + splendid vessel, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “She is a fine ship,” was the brief reply. “Now will you please tell me + how you are going to help me?” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII + </h2> + <p> + Frewen seemed to think for a moment or two ere he replied; then he looked + at Raymond inquiringly. + </p> + <p> + “How long would it take to send to Falealili,{*} and ask Tom Morton, the + trader, to come with his two boats and help the captain?” he asked. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A large native town on the south side of Upolu. +</pre> + <p> + “A day at least—too long altogether with such a strong current + setting the ship towards the reef.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes, I daresay it would,” he said meditatively; then, as if struck + with a sudden inspiration, he added quickly, “What about Malië? He has any + number of boats—a dozen at least.” + </p> + <p> + “Just the man!” replied Raymond. “He will let the captain have all the + boats and men to man them that are wanted—but he'll want to be paid + for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” interrupted the mutineer, who little imagined how adroitly he + was being meshed. “I'll pay anything reasonable. Who is he?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he is a big chief living quite near me, and a decent enough fellow. + He has a number of large native-built boats. The natives call them <i>taumualua</i>, + which means sharp at both ends.{*} They seat from six to eight paddlers on + each side. Five, or even four such boats, well manned, would make the ship + move along. Three or four hours' towing will put her into the edge of the + counter current setting to the south and eastward away from the land, and + then she'll be out of danger, no matter how long the calm lasts.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes it was decided that the boat should return to the shore, + where Raymond was to see the chief and arrange with him to provide five or + six well-manned <i>taunwalua</i>, which Frewen said should be alongside to + receive the tow-lines within two or three hours. + </p> + <p> + As he (Frewen) was about to go over the side Ryan made a half apology for + the ship's crew carrying arms, at which the young man smiled and said— + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a good many captains that touch at Samoa for the first time keep + their crews armed, imagining the natives might try to cut them off. But + the Samoans are a different kind of people to the savages of the Western + Pacific; there has only been one ship cut off in this group, and that must + have occurred fifty years ago. ”{**} + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * These boats are usually built from the wood of the + breadfruit-tree. Not a single nail is used in their + construction; every plank is joined to its fellow by + lashings of coconut fibre. + + ** A fact. +</pre> + <p> + Just as he had taken his seat beside Raymond and Cheyne, the Greek said + politely— + </p> + <p> + “If there is no necessity for both of you gentlemen to go on shore again, + won't one of you stay on board and have some supper?” + </p> + <p> + This was just the invitation that Frewen was looking for, but he appeared + to hesitate for a moment or two. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, captain, I think I will. There is certainly nothing for me to + do on shore that my partner cannot do as well or better than myself. And I + should like to hear any news from Europe that you may have to tell.” + </p> + <p> + As he clambered up the side again the boat pushed off, and the stalwart + native crew sent her, now she was lightened of her load of provisions, + skimming through the water. + </p> + <p> + When the American returned to the quarter-deck, Ryan introduced to him + “Mr. Foster, my second mate,” and added that in addition to the misfortune + of losing twelve of his crew when coming through the Paumotu Group, his + chief officer had accidentally shot himself, and shattered his + collar-bone. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed!” said Frewen, with an air of concern, instantly surmising that + the injured man was either Almanza or the Chileno sailor whom Villari had + shot. “Is he getting on all right?” + </p> + <p> + “Not at all well—and unfortunately I do not know anything about a + fractured collar-bone.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen replied, with perfect truth, that he had seen several broken + collar-bones. Perhaps he might be of assistance. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Ryan” thanked him, and said he would at once go down, see how the + injured man was getting on, and would send for him in ten minutes or so. + Meanwhile would Mr. Frewen join Mr. Foster in a glass of wine. + </p> + <p> + The young whaling officer sat down near the skylight, and as the + dark-faced, dirty-looking ruffian seated opposite passed him, with an + amiable grin, a decanter of excellent sherry, wondered which of the two + Levantines was the greater cut-throat of the two. Ryan, as he called + himself, was somewhat of a dandy. He did not wear ear-rings; and Villari's + clothes—which fitted him very well—made him look as if he had + been used to dress well all his life. Foster, on the other hand, who was + arrayed in poor Marston's garments, was the typical Greek seaman one might + meet any day in almost any seaport town of importance. He was a fairly + tall man, well and powerfully built, but his hawk-like and truculent + visage inspired the American with a deeper aversion than that with which + he regarded Ryan—who, however, was in reality the more + tigerish-natured of the two. + </p> + <p> + As they sat talking, Frewen happened to look along the deck for'ard, and + caught sight of a seaman with the lower part of his face bandaged. He was + standing at the galley door talking to some one inside, but happening to + see the American looking at him, he hurriedly slipped round the for'ard + end of the galley out of sight. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” thought Frewen, “that is the other fellow that Villari put out of + action—the man below is Almansa.” + </p> + <p> + His surmise he found was correct, for at the end of a quarter of an hour, + Ryan, who had been giving Almansa all the news in the interval, appeared + and asked him to come below and see the chief officer. He led the way + below, and entering the officer's cabin, said— + </p> + <p> + “Here is the gentleman from the shore, Mr. Almanza. Let him see your + hurt.” + </p> + <p> + The leader of the mutineers was evidently in great pain, and feverish as + well, and Frewen in a few seconds found by examination that a splinter of + the fractured bone had been driven into the muscles of the shoulder, where + it seemed to be firmly embedded, although one end of it could almost be + felt by gentle pressure, so close was it under the skin. The bullet itself + had come out at the side of the neck. + </p> + <p> + Telling them that, although he was no doctor, he was sure that it was most + important that the splinter of bone should be removed, he offered to + attempt it. The fractured collar-bone, he assured them, would knit of + itself if the patient kept quiet. + </p> + <p> + In those days the medicine chests of even fine ships like the <i>Esmeralda</i> + were but poorly equipped, when contrasted with those to be found on much + smaller vessels thirty years later, when antiseptic surgery and + anæsthetics were beginning to be understood. But Almanza, who was in + agony, begged the visitor to do what he could; and without further + hesitation, Frewen took from the medicine chest what he considered was the + most suitable knife, made an incision, and in less than five minutes had + the splintered piece of bone out. Then came the agonising but effective + sailor's styptic—cotton wool soaked in Friar's Balsam. + </p> + <p> + Almanza tried to murmur his thanks, but feinted, and when he came to + again, he found himself much freer from pain, and the poor negro steward's + successor standing beside him with a tumbler of wine and water. + </p> + <p> + “You must keep very quiet,” said Frewen, as he turned to leave the room, + speaking coldly, for although he was very sympathetic with any one + suffering pain, he could not but remember what the man before him had + done. + </p> + <p> + Returning on deck, he found Foster and Ryan talking on the poop, whilst + the crew of Chilenos were sitting about on the hatches eating pineapples + and bananas, and drinking coconuts. Even a non-seafaring man would have + thought that there was a lack of discipline displayed, but Frewen, whose + life had been spent on whaleships where the slightest liberty on the part + of foc'sle hands towards the after-guard meets with swift and stern + punishment, felt as if he would have liked to have kicked them all in + turn, and then collectively. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind,” he thought to himself, “I trust they are all reserved for + higher things—they all deserve the gallows, and I sincerely trust + they will get it.” + </p> + <p> + Both Ryan and Foster, he could see, had not the slightest doubt of his and + Raymond's <i>bona-fides</i>, and at supper both men were extremely affable + to him. At the same time he thought he could perceive that they were + anxious as to what had become of the captain's boat, for they asked him + casually if there was any shipping at Apia, or at any of the other ports + in the group. + </p> + <p> + “Only the usual local trading vessels,” he replied. “Whenever a stranger + comes in—even if it is only a native craft—I get the news at + my place by runners in an hour or two.” + </p> + <p> + And Almanza's mind, too, was at rest, for when he was groaning in agony in + his bank, and he was told that a boat from the shore was coming alongside, + he had started up and reached for his pistols. But Ryan had satisfied him + completely. + </p> + <p> + “We could have shot every one of them before the boat came alongside, had + we wanted to, <i>amigo</i>,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Had they no arms?” asked the wounded man. + </p> + <p> + “None—not so much as a cutlass even. Diego, Rivas, and Garcia, who + helped them to discharge the boat, saw everything taken out of her but the + oars and sails. There was a big man—a half-caste, who was dressed + like a white man—in charge of the four Samoans. I asked him to come + on deck and have a glass of grog; but he said his crew did not want him to + leave the boat. They were frightened, he said, because our men had pistols + in their belts.” + </p> + <p> + Almanza gave a sigh of relief. “And you are sure they will return and tow + us?” + </p> + <p> + “Sure, <i>amigo</i>.” + </p> + <p> + And just as supper was over, and Frewen and Ryan returned to the deck, a + sailor called out that the whale boat and five others were in sight. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my partner is not the man to lose time in an important matter like + this, Captain Ryan,” said Frewen; “your tow-line will be tautened out + before the three hours we mentioned.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX + </h2> + <p> + Soon after Raymond and the old chief with his followers had set out for + the ship, and when the swift tropic night had closed in upon the island, + Captain Marston died. He was conscious when his kindly host and Randall + Cheyne had returned, and before he passed away, thanked the planter + sincerely for all that he had done for his wife, his crew, and himself; + for he well knew that his end was near. + </p> + <p> + “I fear that nothing will ever be heard of my ship again,” he said, in a + whisper. “They will scuttle or burn her. My poor wife!” and he pressed her + hand. “But thank God, Amy, you will not be quite penniless. Mercado” (his + agent in Valparaiso) “will have about two or three thousand pounds to pay + you for some cargo he bought from me. You must go there. He is an + honourable man, and will not seek to evade his liabilities. I know him + well.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond, whose heart was overflowing with pity for the dying man, could no + longer restrain himself. At first he had decided not to say a word to + Marston about the intended recapture of the ship, for fear it would excite + him; but now, when he saw how calmly and collectedly he spoke of her + future to his wife, he changed his mind, and, bending down, said:— + </p> + <p> + “Captain Marston, I must say a few words to you and Mrs. Marston. I did + not intend to do so just now, but I know that they will bring you peace of + mind, and help you to recovery. I have good news for you.” + </p> + <p> + Marston looked at him eagerly, and his wife, with her hands clasped, moved + a little nearer to the planter, who was speaking in very low tones so as + not to disturb or excite a man whom he knew was dying bodily, but whose + brain was alive. + </p> + <p> + “Is it about my ship?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. She is within six miles of this house, lying becalmed, and, before + midnight, will be recaptured by some good friends of mine, and at anchor + in this bay by daylight.” + </p> + <p> + Marston's lips quivered, and the agonising look of inquiry and doubt in + his eyes was so piteous to behold that Raymond went on more rapidly. + </p> + <p> + “You may absolutely rely upon what I say. The <i>Esmeralda</i> has been in + sight since early in the forenoon. I boarded her this morning with the + express purpose of seeing if it were possible to recapture her, and have + only just returned. And I assure you on my word of honour that she <i>shall</i> + be recaptured before midnight, without bloodshed, I trust; for the + mutineers are completely off their guard, believing I am returning with + fifty natives in several boats to tow the ship out of danger, purely out + of kindness to their leader.” + </p> + <p> + “You are indeed a good friend,” murmured Marston slowly and haltingly. “My + wife has told me your name... I know my time is short. If you recapture my + ship... she is worth six thousand pounds, and the specie on board amounts + to nine thousand. I commend my wife to your care———” + </p> + <p> + Raymond pressed his hand, and urged him not to say anything further, but + Marston, whose eyes were now lightened by that ephemeral light so often + seen in the eyes of the dying, went on— + </p> + <p> + “I commend my wife to your care... and Villari—is he dead?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Harry,” whispered Mrs. Marston, “he is not dead, but badly wounded.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Villari... a born sailorman, though an Italian.... Mr. Raymond, + Amy... Let him command.... I should have taken his advice... And give him + five hundred pounds, Amy.... You, Mr. Raymond, will be entitled to a third + of the value of the ship and her cargo... You understand?” + </p> + <p> + “I will not take a penny,” said Raymond, as he rose. “Now I must be going. + But have no fear for the <i>Esmeralda</i>. She will be at anchor in this + bay to-morrow morning.” + </p> + <p> + Marston put his hand gently over towards him, and pressing it softly, + Raymond withdrew. + </p> + <p> + His wife met him at the door. Her dark, Spanishlike face showed traces of + tears, but she smiled bravely as he put his arms around her and kissed + her. + </p> + <p> + “Tom, dear, you must not be angry. I have not been crying for fear that + something may happen to you if there is a fight with those dreadful men on + board the ship—for I am <i>sure</i> that you will come back to me + and our little one safe and sound—but I do so pity poor Mrs. + Marston, Tom, if Captain Marston dies.” + </p> + <p> + “I think that there is no possible hope of his recovery, dear.” + </p> + <p> + “Then she must stay with us, Tom, for some time, until she is stronger. + She will need to have a woman's care soon.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond kissed his wife again. “As you will, Marie; you always think of + others. And I shall be very glad if she will stay with us.” + </p> + <p> + Ten minutes later she walked down to the beach, and watched her husband + and Maliê with his followers depart, and then she slowly returned home + along a winding path bordered by shaddock trees, whose slender branches + were weighted down with the great golden-hued fruit. As she reached the + verandah steps a pretty little girl of four years of age ran up to her, + and held out her arms to be taken up. + </p> + <p> + “Where has father gone, Muzzie?” she said in English, and then rapidly + added in Samoan, “<i>Ua alu ia i moana?</i>” (“Has he gone upon the sea?”) + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Loisé. He has gone upon the sea, but will soon return. Where is + Mâlu?” + </p> + <p> + “Here, lady,” replied a woman's voice in the soft Samoan tongue, and a + pleasant-faced, grey-haired woman of fifty came down the steps, and took + the child from her mother's arms, and as she did so, whispered, “The tide + hath turned to the ebb. ”{*} + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Note by the Author.—Nearly all Polynesians and + Micronesians believed most firmly that the dissolution of + soul from body always (excepting in cases of sudden death by + violence or accident) occurred when the tide is on the ebb. + From a long experience of life in the Pacific Islands, the + writer is thoroughly imbued with and endorses that belief. + The idea of the passing away of life with the ebbing of the + tide will doubtless seem absurd to the European and + civilised mind, but it must be remembered that an inborn and + inherited belief, such as this, does, with many so-called + semi-savage races, produce certain physical conditions that + are well understood by pathologists. +</pre> + <p> + “Ay, good Mâlu. I know it. So keep the child within thy own room, so that + the house may be quiet.” + </p> + <p> + Old Mâlu, who had nursed Mrs. Raymond's mother, bent her head in assent, + and went inside, and her mistress sat down in one of the cane-work lounge + chairs on the wide verandah and closed her eyes, for she was wearied, + physically and mentally. Her nerves had been strained greatly by the + events of the day, and now the knowledge that within a few feet of where + she sat, a life was passing away, and a woman's heart was breaking, + saddened her greatly. + </p> + <p> + “I must not give way,” she thought. “I must go and see how the wounded men + are doing.” + </p> + <p> + But ere she knew it, there came the low but hoarse murmuring cries of + myriad terns and gulls flying homewards to the land, mingled with the deep + evening note of the blue mountain pigeons; and then kindly slumber came, + and rest for the troubled brain and sorrowing heart. + </p> + <p> + She had slept for nearly an hour when a young native girl servant, who had + been left to wait upon Mrs. Marston, came quickly but softly along the + verandah and touched her arm. + </p> + <p> + “Awake, Marie,{*} and come to the white lady.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * It will doubtless strike the reader as being peculiar that + an educated and refined woman such as I have endeavoured to + portray in Mrs. Raymond would allow a servant to address her + by her Christian name. But the explanation is very simple: + In many European families living in Polynesia and in + Micronesia the native servants usually address their masters + and mistresses and their children by their Christian names— + unless it is a missionary household, when the master would + be addressed as “Misi “(Mr.) and the mistress as “Misi + fafine “(Mrs.). The difference does not in the least imply + that the servant speaks to the lay white man and his wife in + a more familiar manner than he would to his spiritual + teacher. No disrespect nor rude familiarity is intended— + quite the reverse; it is merely an affectionate manner of + speaking to the employer, not <i>as</i> an employer, but as the + friend of the household generally. It is related of the + martyred missionary John Williams, that a colleague of his + in Tahiti once reproved a native youth for addressing Mr. + Williams as “Viriamu” (Williams) instead of “Misi Yiriamu” + (Mr. Williams), whereupon the pioneer of missionary + enterprise in the South Seas remarked—” It does not matter, + Mr. ——-, I infinitely prefer to be called + 'Viriamu' than 'Tione Viriamu Mamae' (the Sacred, or + Reverend, John Williams).” + </pre> + <p> + She rose and followed the girl to the room where Marston lay. His wife was + kneeling by him with her lips pressed to his. + </p> + <p> + Marie Raymond knelt beside her, and passed her arm around her waist. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X + </h2> + <p> + Closely followed by the five native boats, that in which Raymond was + seated with Maliê, and which was steered by Randall Cheyne, first came + alongside, and the latter called out to Foster, who was standing in the + waist, to pass down the end of the tow line. This was at once done, and + then, as Maliê and Raymond left the boat and ascended to the deck, Cheyne + went ahead with his tow line, and was soon joined by the native craft, and + within a quarter of an hour the <i>Esmeralda</i> was moving through the + water. + </p> + <p> + The instructions given to the half-caste by the chief and Frewen were to + tow the ship to the south-east, with the land on the port hand. This would + not only take her out of danger, but would prevent suspicion being + engendered in the minds of the mutineers by their seeing that she was + actually being taken away from, instead of towards the land. Both Frewen + and Maliê had decided that she was not to be re-captured till she was well + into soundings, for events might arise which would necessitate her being + brought to an anchor, especially if continuous heavy rain should fall + during the night. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Raymond and the stalwart chief ascended to the poop, the + pseudo-captain received them most affably, complimented them on the smart + manner in which the boats had gone ahead with the line, and then asked + them to take some refreshment The offer was accepted, for neither had had + the inclination to eat anything on shore—they, like their men, were + too eager to get possession of the ship to trouble about food. + </p> + <p> + Ryan sat at the table with them as they ate, and repeated his fiction + regarding the accident to his chief officer, at which the planter politely + expressed his concern. Then the mutineer, in a casual sort of a way, asked + Raymond if there had been any English or American war-ships cruising about + Samoa lately. + </p> + <p> + “No, not for a long time, but I did hear that the American corvette <i>Adams</i> + was expected here last year, but she must have passed by here, and gone on + to Fiji There is always work for a man-of-war there at any time—the + Fijians are a rough lot, and hardly a month passes without some European + trader or sailor being killed and eaten, or else badly hurt. Even at the + present time all the people living in the eastward islands of the Fiji + Group are rank cannibals. It is a place to be avoided.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, well, I won't go near there,” said the mutineer, somewhat + meditatively. + </p> + <p> + “No, of course not,” said the planter; “I suppose that your course for + Batavia will take you to the northwest after you leave here—Fiji is + six hundred miles to the south-west.” + </p> + <p> + “I did think of putting in there when my mate met with his accident—thought + I would find a doctor there; but now, thanks to your friend, I shall not + need one for him—he is much better already.” + </p> + <p> + “That is fortunate,” said Raymond: “he might have died before you could + reach the port of Levuka in Fiji. And besides that, I doubt if you would + find a doctor living there. I have never heard of any medical man being + settled in Fiji. On the other hand you could have left him on shore, where + he would at least have met with good nursing from some of the English + ladies there; and you could easily have obtained another mate; there are + dozens of ex-skippers and mates idling about in Fiji.” + </p> + <p> + Ryan had learnt all he wanted to know, and he changed the subject. He was + still anxious about Almanza not living—for no one could tell what + might occur to the <i>Esmeralda</i> if he died and the ship was left + without a navigator. He (Ryan) and Foster would have had no objection to + ridding themselves of him, were either one of them able to navigate the + ship as far as the Philippine Islands. They had all three previously + agreed with the rest of the crew as to their future plans, after they had + disposed of Marston and those who were faithful to him. When within sight + of Luzon—and abreast of Manila—the ship was to be scuttled, + and the mutineers with their plunder in two boats were to make for a part + of the coast where there was a village, well-known to Rivas and Garcia. + Here the money was to be divided, and every man was to shift for himself—some + to go to Manila, others taking passage to that den of thieves, the + Portuguese settlement of Maoao, where they meant to enjoy themselves after + their manner. + </p> + <p> + When Raymond and the chief returned on deck, they found the ship was + making good progress through the smooth sea, the natives in the boats + singing a melodious chorus as, all in perfect unison, they plunged their + broad-bladed paddles in the water, and the tow line surged and shook off + thousands of phosphorescent drops at every united stroke. The night was + dark, but not quite starless, and presently Frewen, who was talking to + Foster, remarked that some heavy rain would fall in a short time. + </p> + <p> + “Our natives won't like that,” said Raymond to “Captain Ryan”; “like all + Kanakas, they hate being wetted with rain, though they will spend half a + day in the rivers bathing and playing games in the water.” + </p> + <p> + “A few bottles of grog will keep up their courage,” said Frewen, + “especially some rum. Have you any to spare, captain?” + </p> + <p> + “Any amount.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I'll tell Cheyne to let the boats come alongside in turn, and we'll + give all the natives a good rousing nip before the rain comes.” + </p> + <p> + He walked for'ard and stood on the topgallant foc'sle and gave a loud + hail. + </p> + <p> + “Boat ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + The singing ceased in an instant, and then Randall's voice answered— + </p> + <p> + “Hallo! what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Come aboard and get a glass of grog. Tell the men in the other boats they + can follow in turn.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” replied the half-caste in such loud tones that he was heard + distinctly on the after-deck, “they'll be glad enough of it; we'll get + plenty of cold fresh water presently outside, and some rum to put inside + will be just the thing.” + </p> + <p> + Both Raymond and the two Greeks laughed, and then a minute or two later + Cheyne and his boat's crew were alongside, and were given a pint of rum + between them. They drank it off “neat,” and after lighting their pipes, + went back to their boat, and let another come alongside. She was manned by + a dozen natives, who were all given a stiff glass of grog. They remained + but a few minutes, and then went off to give place to the third boat, in + which were twenty men. They scrambled over the side, laughing and talking, + and then, just as the first five or six of them had been served, the rain + poured suddenly down and made such a terrific noise that the shouts of the + men in the other boats could not be heard, and the ship was at once + enveloped in a thick steamy mist, which rendered even objects on deck + invisible. + </p> + <p> + “It will only last about ten minutes,” shouted Frewen to Ryan as they, + with Raymond and Maliê, took shelter in the companion-way. + </p> + <p> + “Where are all those men of yours?” asked the mutineer somewhat anxiously. + </p> + <p> + Frewen's answer reassured him. “All bolted for shelter,” he said with a + laugh, “without even waiting to get their grog. I hope your men will let + them crawl in somewhere.” Then turning to Maliê, he said in English— + </p> + <p> + “Call to them, Malië.” + </p> + <p> + Malié stepped out on the deck, and presently Ryan and the others heard him + speaking. In a minute or two I he reappeared with three or four stalwart + natives, all dripping wet, and said something to Raymond, who translated + the remark to Ryan. + </p> + <p> + “All the others have bolted like rabbits, some into the galley, and others + into the foc'sle,” he said. + </p> + <p> + In less than the ten minutes predicted by Frewen the rain ceased as if by + magic; the natives gathered together again on the main deck, completed + their grog drinking, went into their boat again, and poshed off to resume + their labour. + </p> + <p> + In the course of another half an hour every one of the native boats' crews + had had his small tumblerful of neat rum, and then, as their paddles + plunged into the placid water, once more they sang their chorus— + </p> + <p> + “<i>Ala, tamaaitii, Alo foe!</i>” (“Pull, boys, pull!”) + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI + </h2> + <p> + Six bells struck, and then once more the stars went out, and the sky + changed from blue to dull grey. + </p> + <p> + “Very heavy rain will fall again presently,” said Raymond to the leader of + the mutineers, “and as the ship is well now in the counter current and out + of danger, the chief would like to call his men alongside for a rest. But + we'll tow you for another mile or so after the rain ceases—if you + wish it.” + </p> + <p> + Ryan was keenly anxious to put as much distance between the land and the + <i>Esmeralda</i> as possible, for he was haunted by the fear that the + captain's boat had been picked up by some ship which might be sighted at + any time. The further away from the land, the safer he would feel. + </p> + <p> + “I should like them to tow me along for another hour or two, after the + rain is oyer,” he said. “I will pay liberally.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond spoke to the chief in Samoan and told him the captain's request, + and Maliè answered in the same language. + </p> + <p> + “As you will, Lèmonti. But why toil any longer? My men are all ready and + anxious. We can take the ship now at any time, once my men are here.” + </p> + <p> + “And I, too, am ready, Alalia. But it was in my mind to wait and see if, + when the bell strikes eight, half of the <i>auva'a</i> (ship's crew) would + not go below to sleep, so that we shall have less disturbance.” + </p> + <p> + “What matters it?” said Alalia with good-humoured contempt; “there are + less than a score of them, and when the word is spoken they will be as + easily overpowered and bound as a strong man can overpower and bind a + child.” + </p> + <p> + “Then let it be as you say,” said Raymond in the same quiet tones; “let us + call the men on board, and, when the bell is struck at midnight, we shall + seize those evil men together—as the bell is struck the last time.” + </p> + <p> + “Good!” said the chief, as he nonchalantly rolled himself a cigarette in a + piece of dried banana leaf which he took from his tappa waist cloth. “I + will tell them how to act.” + </p> + <p> + “What does he say?” asked Ryan. + </p> + <p> + “He is quite willing, but he says his men are really tired now, and want a + good long spell. They are not used to such work, and he does not want to + give them cause for grumbling. They are very touchy sometimes. However, + after the next downpour clears off, they will tow you another two or three + miles.” (And Raymond meant this literally, for he, Frewen, and the chief + wanted to see the <i>Esmeralda</i> at anchor off Samatau by daylight.) + </p> + <p> + At a call from Raymond the boats came alongside, and as the crews + clambered on deck Maliê told them how to dispose themselves about the ship + so that when the signal was given the mutineers could be seised without + their being afforded any opportunity of resistance. Five or six of his + best men followed him aft, whilst the others mingled with the crew, most + of them going down into the foc'sle. The Chilenos, however, although + satisfied of the friendly intentions of their visitors, were still a + little nervous, for, despite the fact that none of the natives carried + even so much as a knife, the wild appearance they presented was somewhat + disconcerting to men who had never before come in contact with what they + termed “savages.” Fully one half of Malië's followers were men of such + stature that the undersized though wiry Chilenos looked like dwarfs beside + them; then, in addition to this, their immense “mops” of bright golden + hair—dyed that colour by the application of lime—and their + wonderfully tatooed bodies, with the first intricate lines beginning at + the waist and ending at the knees, accentuated the velvety and rich + reddish brown of their skins. Each of the Chileno seamen still carried a + brace of pistols in his belt and a cutlass hung by his side, but the + natives apparently took no notice of such a manifestation of distrust, and + they and the mutineers exchanged cigars and cigarettes as if they were the + best friends in the world. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the rain fell, and all other sounds were deadened by the + downpour; it continued for three-quarters of an hour, and then, as Frewen + remarked, ceased with a “snap.” + </p> + <p> + In the main cabin Raymond, with Maliê, was seated at the table talking to + Ryan; on the poop and under the shelter of the temporary awning were + Cheyne, Frewen, Foster, the ruffianly Rivas, and two other of the Ghileno + seamen, with three of the natives who had accompanied Cheyne and his Mend + from Lepâ. + </p> + <p> + Five minutes before eight bells Foster turned to Rivas, and, speaking in + Spanish, told him to go for'ard and tell the hands that there would be no + watch below that night, all hands were to stay on deck till daylight. + </p> + <p> + Frewen gave Cheyne a glance, and the half-caste sauntered off after Rivas, + whilst the three Samoans moved nearer towards the two Ghilenos. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Foster” went to the skylight and looked down into the cabin at the + clock, which was placed so that it could be seen by any one standing + beside the binnacle. Then he looked at a handsome gold watch, which two + days previously had been in Villari's vest pocket, and, stepping to the + break of the poop, called out— + </p> + <p> + “Eight bells!” + </p> + <p> + The big bell under the topgallant foc'sle sent out its deep, sonorous + clang, and as the last note was struck, “Mr. Foster” went over on his back + with a crash, and in another five seconds Frewen had turned him over on + his face and was lashing his hands behind him. The Greek was too stunned + to even try to speak, and when he came to again he found lying beside him + Rivas and the other two Ghileno sailors, with half a dozen Samoans + standing guard over them. + </p> + <p> + Down in the cabin Raymond and Malië had been equally as quick, and when + Frewen and Cheyne came below they found “Captain” Ryan, together with the + Chileno who was acting as steward, tied hand and foot and lying outside + Captain Maraton's stateroom door. + </p> + <p> + “Everything all right, Mr. Frewen?” inquired Raymond. + </p> + <p> + “Everything. All the gentry up for'ard are bussed up comfortably like + fowls for cooking. No one has been hurt; Maliè's men simply picked the + mongrels up by the scruff of their necks and then tied them up. The ship + is ours.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you are in command, Mr. Frewen. Please give your orders.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Mr. Raymond. But first let me see to the distinguished Senor + Almanza.” + </p> + <p> + He opened the door of Almanza's stateroom. The Chilian was asleep. Frewen + was about to touch and awaken him but pity for a badly wounded man + predominated, so he let him lie undisturbed. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mr. Raymond, I am at your service. Will you ask Malië to man his + boats, and we will start towing again.” + </p> + <p> + “With pleasure. But let us first call our good men together and drink + success to ourselves and the <i>Esmeralda</i>. And then, whilst we are + being towed towards Samatau, we can overhaul poor Captain Marston's cabin. + All the specie, so this scoundrel tells me”—and he pointed to the + Chileno steward—“is still in a safe in the captain's cabin, and has + not yet been touched. But it was to be divided to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + And then Randall Cheyne sprang on deck and shouted out in Samoan— + </p> + <p> + “Friends, the ship is ours! Let ten men remain on board to guard these + murderers, and the rest take to the boats and tow the ship to Samatau.” + </p> + <p> + The willing natives answered him with a loud “Ave!” and ten minutes later + the <i>Esmeralda</i> was again moving through the water. + </p> + <p> + An hour before daylight her cable rattled through her hawse-pipe, and she + swung quietly to her anchor in Samatau Bay. + </p> + <p> + END OF BOOK I <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + BOOK II + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII + </h2> + <p> + Twelve months had come and gone, and Frewen, now “Captain” Frewen, was + seated in the office of Ramon Mercado, the Valparaiso agent of the late + captain and owner of the <i>Esmeralda</i>, which had arrived in port the + previous day. + </p> + <p> + The worthy merchant—a little stout man with merry, twinkling eyes—was + listening to the detailed story of the capture of the ship by the + mutineers, her subsequent recapture, and of all that had occurred since + she had been brought to an anchor in front of Raymond's house in Samatau + Bay. Mercado himself, four months previously, had received a letter from + Mrs. Marston, acquainting him with what had occurred up to the time of her + husband's death, and telling him that the <i>Esmeralda</i>, as soon as a + crew could be obtained, would sail under Frewen's command for Manila, and + from there proceed to Newcastle, in New South Wales, and load a cargo of + coal for Valparaiso. This letter had reached him by an American whale-ship + which had touched at Samoa (a month or two after the <i>Esmeralda</i> had + sailed for Manila), and which, after cruising among the Galapagos Islands, + had, as the master had told Mrs. Marston would be very likely, called at + Valparaiso to refit. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + A few days after the burial of Captain Marston his wife asked Frewen to + take command of the ship, as Villari would be incapacitated for some + months. + </p> + <p> + Villari himself had at first strenuously, and even somewhat bitterly, + protested. + </p> + <p> + “Why should Mr. Frewen, much as he has done to help you to recapture the + ship, be given command?” he said excitedly to Raymond. “Does Mrs. Marston + distrust me? Do I not possess her confidence as I did that of her husband? + Beg her to come to me. Surely she will not give the command of the ship to + a stranger! I tell you, Mr. Raymond, that I would give my life for Mrs. + Marston, as I was ready to give it for her husband,” and his dark eyes + blazed. + </p> + <p> + “There is no reflection either upon your integrity or ability, Mr. + Villari,” said the planter. “But here is the situation—and I am sure + your own sound sense will make you approve of Mrs. Marston asking Mr. + Frewen to take charge of the <i>Esmeralda</i>. And, before I go any + further, I must tell you that Mr. Frewen not only did not seek the + position, but said pointedly to Mrs. Marston—only an hour or two ago—that + he would be quite satisfied to sail with you as mate. He is as honest as + the sun. Pray do not for one moment imagine that he has supplanted you.” + </p> + <p> + “Then let him come with me as mate,” urged the Italian. + </p> + <p> + Raymond shook his head. “It is quite out of the question your taking + command, Mr. Villari. You will not be able to get about for some months, + and I, as a business man, see the necessity of the ship proceeding on her + voyage as quickly as possible. She has a cargo that will bring a large sum + of money to Mrs. Marston if it is delivered in Manila in good time. But in + this humid climate it would become worthless in a few months. And it was + purely my suggestion to Mrs. Marston to ask Mr. Frewen to take charge. She + is, as you know, almost heartbroken at the calamity which has overtaken + her. And then your remaining here will, I am sure, be a source of comfort + to her, for she has the very highest opinion of you.” + </p> + <p> + Villari's eyes sparkled with pleasure. “What! Is not Mrs. Marston sailing + in the <i>Esmeralda?</i>” + </p> + <p> + “No; it will be better for her to remain here until the youngster comes. + My wife and I will be only too glad to have her with us. It would be + impossible for her to go to sea now her poor husband is dead. And she + knows no one in Manila. So you must be content to remain here at Samatau + as my welcome guest. Frewen will take the ship to Manila, and then decide + as to his future course. He thinks that after selling the cargo at Manila + he should proceed to Australia for a cargo of coal for Valparaiso. I think + it a very sensible suggestion, especially as he can then see poor + Marston's agent there and settle up with him regarding some money due to + Marston.” + </p> + <p> + The Italian's face assumed a placid appearance. “You are quite right, Mr. + Raymond. And I shall be content to remain here. <i>Per Bacco!</i> Mr. + Frewen is a gentleman, and I wish him all good lack with the <i>Esmeralda</i>. + But I should like the lady to know that I am prepared to return to the + ship this moment if she so wishes it.” + </p> + <p> + “She does know it, Mr. Villari. You have her full esteem and confidence—as + you had that of her poor husband, who just before he died anxiously + inquired about you, and said that he regretted not taking your advice + concerning the two Greeks.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Mr. Raymond,” and the man raised and clenched his right hand, “I was + a fool! I suspected that mischief was afoot that night when I found + Almanza and the two Greeks talking together; I simply reported the matter + to the captain, who thought nothing of it. Had I done my duty I should + have watched, for no one can trust a Greek.” + </p> + <p> + “Do not reproach yourself, Mr. Villari. I may as well tell you that poor + Captain Marston, when he was inquiring about you just before he died, + spoke in the highest terms of you, and asked Mrs. Marston to see that you + were given five hundred pounds.” + </p> + <p> + Villari raised himself on his elbow. “I swear to you, Mr. Raymond, that I + do not want any money—compensation—reward—gift—call + it what you will—for doing my duty as a seaman. Captain Marston was + not only my captain, but my friend. And I would give my life for his wife. + Tell her from me that it will hurt me if she even speaks of this money to + me.” + </p> + <p> + “As you will, Mr. Villari,” said Raymond kindly, who saw that the Italian + was excited. “I will tell her to-morrow. But I trust you will now + understand that Mr. Frewen had no desire to supplant you in any way.” + </p> + <p> + “I understand. Can I see him now, for there is much that I have to tell + him about the ship—things that he would like to know.” + </p> + <p> + So Frewen came in, and he and the Italian mate had quite a long talk about + the <i>Esmeralda</i>, and when they parted they did so with a feeling of + growing friendship. + </p> + <p> + Anxious to obtain a reliable crew as quickly as possible, Frewen, on the + following day, sent Randall Gheyne to Lepi to see if he could persuade the + men who had deserted from the <i>Casilda</i> to come and help man the <i>Esmeralda</i>. + But they were all too enamoured of island life to accept the offer he made + them, which was generous enough—two hundred and fifty dollars each + for the voyage to Manila. So Cheyne came back disappointed, and Frewen + then went to Apia in the <i>Casilda's</i> whale-boat, and succeeded in + engaging ten natives of Niué,{*} who, with half a dozen Samoans, made up a + sufficient complement for the ship. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Niué, the “Savage Island” of Captain Cook. The natives + are always in great request as seamen. Even to the present + day most of the trading vessels carry a few Niué seamen. +</pre> + <p> + During this time Almansa and his fellow-mutineers had been confined on + board the ship, guarded by a number of Malië's warriors. Then to the joy + of Raymond and Frewen there came into Apia Harbour a British gunboat bound + from the Phoenix Islands to Sydney, and within forty-eight hours the + planter, accompanied by the unwounded survivors of the English crew of the + <i>Esmeralda</i>, were on board, and related the tale of the mutiny to the + captain of the man-of-war. + </p> + <p> + “I am letting myself in for a lot of trouble, Mr. Raymond,” said the + captain of the warship, “but I do not see how I can avoid it. I suppose + that as the <i>Esmeralda</i> is a British ship and is now in distress I + must be a sort of fairy godmother and take these beastly mongrels of + Chilenos and Greeks to Sydney to be hanged on the evidence of these men + whom you have brought. By the way, Mrs. Marston can have a passage with me + if she wishes it.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond thanked him, and said Mrs. Marston wished to remain at Samatau + with his (Raymond's) wife for an indefinite time. + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Mr. Raymond. I should be delighted to give her a passage to + Sydney, and I'm delighted she can't come. You understand me? I cannot + refuse a passage to a lady in such circumstances as Mrs. Marston, but the + <i>Virago</i> is a man-of-war, and—you know.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond laughed. “I think I know what you mean, Captain Armitage; a lady + passenger on a man-of-war would be a bit of a trial. But on Mrs. Marston's + behalf I thank you sincerely.” + </p> + <p> + “That's all right,” said the bluff commander of the <i>Virago</i>; “now + you can get home, and in a day or so I'll come round to Samatau and take + these mutineering scoundrels into custody. Pity you did not get your + Samoan friend Malië to hang or shoot them out of hand. It would have saved + Her Majesty's Government something in food, and me much trouble.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII + </h2> + <p> + “I must congratulate you, captain,” said the merchant, when Frewen had + finished his story; “and I trust you will always retain command of the <i>Esmeralda</i>. + She is a beautiful ship, and, ever since you took charge, has proved + herself a lucky one.” + </p> + <p> + “I certainly have had great luck. We had a beautiful passage to Manila + from Samoa, and from Manila to Newcastle I made the quickest run on + record, and from there to Valparaiso we were only thirty-five days.” + </p> + <p> + Some further conversation followed regarding the future movements of the + ship, and it was arranged that she should load Chilian flour for Sydney, + and from there proceed to Samoa for orders from her owner. + </p> + <p> + Three weeks later, Frewen bid the hospitable Meroado goodbye, and sailed + for Sydney. The merchant had sold the cargo brought from Newcastle very + satisfactorily, and in addition to the amount given him for this, Frewen + also received from Mercado over two thousand pounds belonging to Captain + Marston's estate. + </p> + <p> + The crew of the <i>Esmeralda</i> consisted of twenty men, ten of whom were + either Englishmen, Americans, and Scandinavians, and ten stalwart natives + of Savage Island. The first officer was a Dane named Petersen, whom Frewen + had engaged at Samoa. He was an excellent seaman, and took a great pride + in the ship; the second officer was Randall Cheyne; and the third, a + sturdy old Yorkshireman of sixty, with the frame and voice of a bull. + Frewen was as satisfied with his officers as he was with his crew, and the + exceedingly good fortune which had attended him since he had taken charge + at Samatau had put him in a very pleasant frame of mind, and he was + eagerly looking forward to meeting Mrs. Marston and rendering an account + of his stewardship. When he reached Sydney from Manila he had placed a + considerable sum to her credit, and learned that Captain Armitage, of the + <i>Virago</i>, who had conveyed to Sydney the specie which was on board + the <i>Esmeralda</i> when the mutiny had occurred, had safely deposited it + in her name in the leading bank there. He found that the mutineers had + been tried and sentenced; two of them, “Foster” and “Ryan,” going to the + gallows, whilst Almanza and the Chileno seamen all received long terms of + imprisonment. The trial had aroused considerable excitement, and so, when + the <i>Esmeralda</i> arrived, she was visited by many hundreds of people. + In Sydney Harbour in those days might be seen numbers of the finest + sailing vessels in the world; many of them were noted “crack” passenger + ships trading between London and Sydney and Melbourne, but not one of them + surpassed the <i>Esmeralda</i> in her graceful lines and beautiful + appearance. Then, too, the extraordinarily quick passage she had made from + Manila gave her further fame, and nearly all the ship masters in port + called on board, and paid Frewen many compliments. Through the manager of + the bank in which he had deposited the money for Mrs. Marston, he was + introduced to an excellent agent—a Mr. Beilby—who was a + shipowner as well, and had for many years employed a fleet of small + vessels in the South Sea Islands trade. + </p> + <p> + The voyage across the Pacific from Valparaiso to Sydney was disappointing—calms + and light, variable winds being met with for nearly a month; and then + between Australia and New Zealand, two weeks of savage westerly gales + tried the ship's weatherly qualities to the utmost. However, after a + passage of nearly seven weeks, she once more dropped anchor in the deep, + blue waters of the most beautiful harbour in the southern hemisphere. + </p> + <p> + The agent at once came on board, and Frewen was glad to receive two + letters from him—one from Raymond, the other from Mrs. Marston. The + latter afforded him great pleasure to read, and was to the effect that she + would be very glad to see him back in Samoa, as she wished to consult him + in regard to a project of Mr. Raymond's. + </p> + <p> + “What the project is, he will himself explain to you in writing. I shall + be very pleased if you and he come to an arrangement, especially as I have + made up my mind to remain here at Samatau indefinitely with Mrs. Raymond, + or somewhere near her, and as her husband may be away from her for many + months at a time (this, however, all depends upon yourself) this will be + equally as pleasant for her as for me. I feel that I have a home here, and + in fact I may remain in Samoa altogether. Anyway, Mr. Raymond is now in + treaty with Malië for a piece of land adjoining his own estate. If he + secures it for me, I am having a house built upon it.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond's letter was a voluminous one, but Frewen soon became deeply + engrossed in its contents. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Frewen (let us now drop the 'Sir' and 'Captain,' for I am sure we + each regard the other as a friend), I am now starting on a very long + letter, and have but little time in which to finish it, for the <i>Dancing + Wave</i>, by which I am sending it, leaves Apia to-morrow at daylight, and + it will take a native runner all his time to cross over the mountains with + it to Apia.” + </p> + <p> + Then he went on to say that, about six months previously, Maliê had been + approached by a German gentleman (who had just arrived from Hamburg) and + asked if he would sell a large tract of land near Samatau. The chief at + once consulted Raymond, who could not help feeling some natural curiosity + as to the object of the German gentleman making such a large purchase of + land so far away from the principal port of the group (Apia). Maliê could + give him no information on the subject—all he knew was that he + (Maliê) had been offered a very fair price for a tract of country that he + was willing to lease, but not to sell, for on it were several villages, + and the soil was of such fertility that the people would deeply resent + their chief parting with it and making them remove to less productive + lands. + </p> + <p> + On the spur of the moment—and feeling that there was some very good + reason for the German making the chief such a substantial offer—Raymond + said to Maliê— + </p> + <p> + “The German has offered you ten thousand dollars for the land, but will + not lease it from you. Now I am not a rich man, and even if you were + willing to sell it to me for five thousand dollars, I could not buy it. + But I will lease it from you for one year. I will not disturb any of your + people, but at the end of the year I will make you another offer. There is + some mischief on foot, Maliê. Let you and I go to Apia and find out who + this man is, and why he is so eager to buy your land.” + </p> + <p> + They set out together, and at Apia gained all the information they + desired. The German gentleman was the agent of a rich corporation of + Hamburg merchants who wished to purchase all the available land in Samoa + for the purpose of founding a colony, the principal industry of which + would be cotton-growing. Cotton was bringing fabulous prices in Europe, + and the corporation had already made purchases of land both in Fiji and + Tahiti, and were using every effort to obtain more. + </p> + <p> + Raymond quickly made up his mind as to his course of action. He had a + hurried interview with two other English planters, and a partnership of + three was formed in half an hour. They had then made an agreement with + Maliê and another chief to lease all the unoccupied country for many miles + on each side of Samatau Bay. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” the letter went on, “here is what we purpose to do. We are going to + found the biggest cotton and coffee plantation in all the South Seas, and + will make a pile of money. But the one all-important thing is to have + plenty of labour, and that we can only obtain from other islands—New + Britain, the Solomon Group, and thereabouts, and also from the Equatorial + Islands. But it is risky work recruiting labour with small, weakly-manned + schooners. What is required is a big lump of a vessel, well armed, and + with two crews—a white crew to work the ship and a native crew to + work the boats. The <i>Esmeralda</i> is just the ship. She can carry six + hundred native passengers, and in two trips we shall have all the + labourers we want, instead of getting them in drafts of fifty or sixty at + a time by small schooners—which would always be liable to be cut off + and all hands killed—especially in the Solomon Islands. + </p> + <p> + “I laid our scheme before Mrs. Marston, and, to be as brief as possible, + she is not only willing to let us charter her ship, but also wishes to + take a share in the venture. But she wants you to keep command of the <i>Esmeralda</i>, + as I trust you will.” + </p> + <p> + Then followed a long list of stores, trade goods, arms, ammunition, &c, + &c, which Raymond wished Frewen to purchase in Sydney, and the letter + concluded with a request for him to leave for Samatau as quickly as + possible. + </p> + <p> + On a separate sheet he made mention of Villari, saying that he had + thoroughly recovered from his wound and was living at Apia. + </p> + <p> + “To tell you the truth, we are all glad he has gone away from us, for he + fell madly in love with Mrs. Marston, and proposed to her, and took her + kindly rejection of him very badly. He then left the house, but has twice + since come to see her. At last she began to get alarmed at his conduct, + and finally I had to frankly tell him that he was an undesirable visitor. + It stung him deeply, but he persists in writing her the most passionate + letters, asking her to reconsider her decision. I am sorry for the fellow, + as we all liked him. Frohmann, the new German doctor at Apia, told me that + he believes the poor fellow is not 'all there' mentally.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV + </h2> + <p> + Frewen showed his letters to the agent Beilby, who corroborated Raymond's + statement in every particular regarding the money that could be made by + growing cotton on an organised system with native labour, and with proper + machinery to clean and pack it; and he also bore out the planter's remarks + about the danger that attended small vessels employed in the black labour + trade. + </p> + <p> + “You have seen a good deal of the natives of the South Sea Islands, + Captain Frewen, and know what desperate cut-throats are those of the + Western Pacific Groups. Two small trading vessels of my own have been cut + off within the last five years, and every soul massacred, and the vessels + looted and then burnt. It is a most difficult matter to keep a swarm of + natives off the decks of a vessel with a low freeboard, all they have to + do is to step out of their canoes over the rail, and if they are bent on + mischief they can simply overpower a small vessel's company by mere weight + of numbers. You will be surprised to hear that, even now, some of the + Sydney trading craft use the old-fashioned boarding nettings, and their + skippers only allow a certain number of natives on board at a time. But + with a large vessel like the <i>Esmeralda</i>, this very great source of + danger—the low freeboard—is absent; and besides that, you can + carry a crew large enough to squelch any attempt at a rising, if, after + you get them on board, your gentle passengers took it into their heads to + attempt to possess themselves of the ship.” + </p> + <p> + “Just so. And I have heard of several instances where Honolulu and Tahiti + labour vessels have been captured, even though they carried large crews + and were well armed.” + </p> + <p> + “Exactly! Just carelessness. You never know, when you have a hundred or so + of these savages on board, what they may do. They all know that they are + going to a foreign country to work on sugar or cotton plantations for + three years, at the end of which they will be paid for their labour in + guns, powder, beads, calicoes, &c, &c. Well, they come on board + perfectly content, and all goes well for a week or two, until some of them + begin to notice that the crew are not keeping such a good watch over them + as they did when they first came on board. These fellows begin the + mischief. 'Why should we not kill the white men on board?' (they will + argue) 'and help ourselves to <i>everything</i>—guns, pistols, + powder, and bullets, cutlasses, grog and tobacco, and all the other riches + in the ship? It is much better than working for three years for one gun + and one keg of powder and bag of bullets, a knife or two, and a few other + things, and then bringing them back to our own country to be despoiled of + them by our relations.' Do you understand, Captain Frewen?” + </p> + <p> + “Quite.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, they lie low and wait, and when the opportunity comes the beggars + set to work with a vengeance-Only three years ago one of the Hawaiian + Islands labour vessels recruited ninety Gilbert Islands natives to work on + the new sugar plantations near Honolulu. They behaved themselves + splendidly—for they were well treated—for about a fortnight, + and the skipper of the vessel (an old hand in the island trade) allowed + them to lie on deck at night, feeling sure that they would give no + trouble. More than this, he even told his officers and crew to discontinue + carrying their Colts' pistols. The result was that one night, when the + watch were taking in sail during a squall, the natives took possession of + the brig, killed the mate and all the men of the watch who were on deck, + and would certainly have slaughtered every one of the ship's company had + it not been for the captain himself; who, hearing the noise, rushed up + from below armed with a whale-ship bomb gun, loaded with slugs. He fired + right into the mob of natives on the main deck, killed three or four, and + wounded twice as many. Then the second mate and the rest of the watch + below came tumbling up, headed by a big Nova Scotian A.B. He was a + tremendously powerful fellow, and had armed himself with the carpenter's + broad axe, and in a few minutes he cut down five of the natives, one of + whom was the ringleader. Then the steward and supercargo turned up with + nine-bore double-barrelled shot-guns, loaded with No. 1 shot, and they and + the bluenose{*} practically saved the ship, or with their four shots they + laid out nearly a dozen more natives, and the others bolted down to the + hold and asked for quarter. Ah, Captain Frewen, there is nothing like + buckshot or slogs to squash a mutiny. You most get some nine-bore guns + made here to take away with you.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A “bluenose” is a sailor's term for a Canadian or Nova + Scotian. +</pre> + <p> + “Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Beilby. But whalers' bomb guns—which + can be easily procured in Sydney—are better still. You can load them + with a small charge of powder and crushed rock salt, which won't kill a + man, but which will prevent him from doing any mischief for a long time. + When I was a boatsteerer some years ago on a New Bedford whaler—the + <i>Aaron Burr</i>—we had serious trouble with about thirty + Portuguese negroes we picked up off the coast of Brazil. They were in two + boats, and were deserters from a Brazilian man-of-war, which had gone + ashore off Santos. Many of our men were down with fever of some sort, and + these black gentry (who were all armed with knives), thinking that the + after-guard was not able to cope with them, came aft and told our skipper + that if he did not give them all the liquor they wanted they would throw + him overboard, set fire to the ship, and go ashore again. He seemed to be + very much frightened—he was an undersized, quiet man—and + begged them to go on deck and remain there whilst he and the steward and + such of the officers who were not ill with fever would get up a keg of rum + from the lazzarette. Then—he spoke Spanish pretty well—he + asked them not to be too hard on him. He would treat them as gentlemen, + &c., and, with apparently trembling hands, he gave them boxes of + cigars, and addressed them as if they were caballeros of the highest rank + whom he was delighted to honour. Some of them cursed him for an Americano, + but the majority were too hugely elated at the prospect of a keg of ram to + say more to him than to hurry up with it. + </p> + <p> + “He did hurry up with a vengeance, for in five minutes he and the mate had + each loaded a bomb gun with a heavy charge of sheet-lead slugs. They + rushed on deck together, and with a warning cry to our men to get out of + the way, they fired into the negroes, who were squatted about on the main + hatch smoking their cigars and waiting for the rum. The effect was + something terrifying, for although none of them were killed, fully half of + them were wounded, and their groans and yells were something horrible. We + did not give them much time to rally, for all of us who were well enough + made a rush, and with belaying-pins and anything else which came to our + hands drove them over the side into their boats.” + </p> + <p> + “Then get some of those bomb-guns, captain, by all means. I think I have + seen one—a thing like a bloated blunderbuss without the bell mouth.” + </p> + <p> + “That's it,” said Frewen with a laugh; “it is not a handsome weapon, but + we whalemen do not go in for 'objects of bigotry and virtue.' A bomb-gun + is made for a practical purpose—the stock is almost solid metal, and + altogether it is no light weight.” + </p> + <p> + During the following two weeks both Frewen and the agent were very busy. + The former, with a gang of shore carpenters, was engaged in preparing the + 'tween decks of the ship for the reception of the native passengers, and + constructing two movable gratings to go across the upper deck—one + for'ard and the other aft—which, whilst they would practically allow + the natives the free run of the deck, would yet prevent them from making + any sudden onslaught on the crew. + </p> + <p> + Beilby, whose long experience of the South Sea Islands trade especially + fitted him for the task, devoted himself to the work of fulfilling + Raymond's orders as to the trade goods required, and in three weeks the <i>Esmeralda</i> + was again ready for sea. + </p> + <p> + And when, under full sail, she passed down the harbour towards Sydney + Heads bound for beautiful Samoa, her captain's heart swelled with pride as + the crews of a score of other ships cheered, “Bravo, <i>Esmeralda!</i>” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV + </h2> + <p> + Under a shady wild orange-tree which grew just above high-water mark on + the white beach of Samatau Bay, Marie Raymond and Mrs. Marston were seated + together on a cane lounge imagining they were sewing, but in reality only + talking on subjects dear to every woman's heart. + </p> + <p> + Quite near them, and seated on mats, were the old nurse Mâlu, who held + Mrs. Marston's baby-girl, and Raymond's own little daughter Loisé, who was + playing with a young native girl—Olivee—grey-haired old Main's + assistant. + </p> + <p> + It was early in the morning—an hour after breakfast—and the + two ladies had come down to the beach to watch Raymond and his partners + and some hundreds of natives working at a jetty being constructed from + slabs of coral stone, and which was to be carried out into deep water. + </p> + <p> + The day was delightfully bright, and the soft cool breath of the brave + south-east trade wind, which rippled the blue of the ocean before them, + stirred and swayed and made rhythmic music among the plumed crests of the + graceful coco-palms above. And, as they talked, they heard, every now and + then, Raymond's cheery voice giving orders, and the workmen's response, + which was generally sung, some one among them improvising a chant—for + the Samoans, like many other Polynesian peoples, love to work to the + accompaniment of song. + </p> + <p> + “Marie,” said Mrs. Marston, as she let the piece of sewing which she held + in her hand fall unheeded to the ground and looked dreamily out upon the + blue ocean before them, “you must be a happy woman.” + </p> + <p> + “I am a very, very happy woman, Amy. And I shall be happier still if you + decide to remain and live near us. Oh, Amy, if you only knew how I try not + to think of the possibility of your going away from us—to think that + when you do go, it means that I may never see you again.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not want to go away, Marie. I have told you the story of my life, + and how very unhappy I was in my girlhood—an orphan without a friend + in the world except my aunt, who resented my orphanage, and treated me as + 'a thorn in the flesh,' but I did not tell you that until I met you I + never had a girl or woman friend in all my life. And now I feel that as I + have found one, I cannot sever myself from her, now that my husband is + dead and I and the babe are alone in the world.” + </p> + <p> + Marie Raymond passed her arms around her friend's waist. “Amy, dear, <i>do</i> + stay in Samoa. I, too, have no woman friend except some of my mother's + people—who would give their lives for me. But I am not a white + woman. My mother's blood—of which I <i>am</i> proud—is in my + veins, and when I was at school in Australia, it used to cut me to the + heart to have to submit to insults from girls who took a delight in + torturing and harassing me because of it. One day I lost control of + myself; I heard them whispering something about 'the wild girl from the + woods,' and I told them that my mother could trace her descent back for + five hundred years in an unbroken line, whilst I was quite certain none of + them would like to say who their grandfathers were. My words told, for + there were really five or six girls in the school who had the convict + taint. I was called before the principal, and asked to apologise. I + refused, and said that I had only said openly and under the greatest + provocation what more than a dozen other girls had told me!” + </p> + <p> + “How did it end?” + </p> + <p> + “In mutual apologies, and peace was restored. But I was never happy there—I + loathe the memory of my school days, and was glad to come back to Samoa.” + </p> + <p> + “Neither were my English school days happy, but I even liked being at + school in preference to staying with my aunt. I hated the thought of going + to her for the holidays. She was a narrow-minded, selfish woman—a + clergyman's widow, and seemed to take a delight in mortifying me by + continually reminding me that all the money left by my father was £500, + which would just pay for my education and no more. 'When you are + eighteen,' she would say, 'you must not expect a home with me. Other girls + go out as companions; you must do the same. Therefore try and fit yourself + for the position.' Everything I did was wrong—according to her, I + was rebellious, irreligious, too fond of dress, and lazy physically and + mentally. The fact was, I was simply a half-starved, dowdy school-girl—-often + hungry for food and always hungry for love. If I had had a dog to talk to + I should have been happier. My mother died when I was three years old, and + my father two years later. Then, as I told you, I went out as governess to + the Warrens when I was nineteen, and felt that I was a human being, for + they were kind to me. Colonel Warren, a rough, outspoken old soldier with + a red face and fierce-looking blue eyes under enormous white bushy + eyebrows, was very kind to me, and so was his wife. I was not treated as + so many governesses are treated in English families—as something + between a scullery-maid and a housekeeper, for whom anything is good + enough to eat, and any horrid, mean little room good enough to sleep in. + When she came to say good-night to the children after hearing them say + their prayers she would always ask me to come to her own room for an hour + or two. I was very happy there. I was only a little over a year with them + when I met and married Captain Marston.” “Some day, Amy, you will marry + again,” “I don't know, Marie,” said Mrs. Marston frankly. “I was thinking + the other day that such a thing may be possible. I have no knowledge of + the world, and am not competent to manage my business affairs. But there + will be plenty of years to think of such a thing. I want to watch my baby + grow up—I want her girlhood to be as bright and as full of love as + mine was dull and loveless.” + </p> + <p> + Presently a native boy came along the path carrying two letters. He + advanced, and handed one to Mrs. Marston, whose cheeks first paled, and + then flushed with anger as she took it, for she recognised the + handwriting. + </p> + <p> + “There is another letter for thy husband, lady,” he said to Mrs. Raymond, + “which also cometh from the <i>papalagi</i>{*} Villari.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Papalagi = foreigner. +</pre> + <p> + Mrs. Raymond directed him where to find her husband, and then was about to + return to the house, but her friend, who had not yet opened the letter in + her hand, asked her to stay. + </p> + <p> + “Don't go, Marie. I shall not open this letter. It is too bad of Mr. + Villari to again write to me. Shall I send it back, or take no notice of + it?” + </p> + <p> + “I hardly know what to say, Amy. He is very rude to annoy you in this way. + Wait and hear what Tom thinks.” + </p> + <p> + A quarter of an hour later, the planter came up from the beach, and sat + down beside the ladies. + </p> + <p> + “I have a letter from Villari, Marie,” he said, “and have brought it up to + see what you and Mrs. Marston think of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Amy has also received one, Tom, but would not open it nor send it back + till she had your advice. I think it is altogether wrong of him to + persecute her in this way.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, well, you'll be glad to know that he is sorry for what has occurred. + Here is his letter to me, Mrs. Marston—please read it.” + </p> + <p> + The letter was a courteously worded and apparently sincere expression of + regret for having forced his attentions upon Mrs. Marston, and asking + Raymond and his wife to intercede for him with her. “It will give me the + greatest joy if she will overlook my conduct, and accept my sincere + apologies, if she does not, I shall carry the remembrance of her just + anger to the end of my life. But when I think of her past friendliness to + me, I am excited with the hope that her ever-kind heart will perhaps make + her forget my unwarrantable presumption, which I look back upon with a + feeling of wonder at my being guilty of such temerity.” Then he went on to + say that Raymond would be interested to learn that he had bought a small + schooner of 100 tons called the <i>Lupetea</i>, on easy terms of payment, + and that he hoped to make a great deal of money by running her in the + inter-island trade. “I was only enabled to do this through Mrs. Marston's + generosity,” he concluded—“the £500 she gave me enabled me to make a + good 'deal.' I leave Apia to-morrow for a cruise round Upolu, and as I + find that I have some cargo for you, I trust that you, your wife, and Mrs. + Marston will at least let me set foot on your threshold once more.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, the poor devil seems very sorry for having offended you so much by + his persistence, Mrs. Marston,” said the planter with a laugh, “and he + writes such a pretty letter that I'm sure you won't withhold your + forgiveness.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think I can. But I must see what he has written to me,” and she + opened the letter. It contained but a very few lines in the same tenour as + that to Raymond, deploring his folly and begging her forgiveness. + </p> + <p> + “I'm very glad, Tom, that Amy sent him the £500, and that he had the sense + not to again refuse it. It would always be embarrassing to you, Amy, + whenever you met him.” + </p> + <p> + “It would indeed. But I doubt if he would have accepted it if it had not + been for Mr. Raymond's strongly worded letter on the subject,” (The + planter had sent the money to him in Apia with a note saying that whatever + her feelings were towards him, Mrs. Marston would be additionally + aggrieved if he refused to accept a bequest from her late husband; it + would, he said, have the result of making the lady feel that his rejection + of the gift was uncalled-for and discourteous.) + </p> + <p> + “So that's all right,” said Raymond, as he rose to return to the beach. “I + always liked the man, as you have often heard me say. And you really must + not be too angry with him, Mrs. Marston. These Italians—like all + Latins—are a fearfully idiotic people in some things—especially + where women are concerned. Now almost any decent Anglo-Saxon would have + taken his gruelling quietly if a woman told him three times that she + didn't want him. Frohmann thinks that that crack on the head has touched + his brain a bit; and at the same time, you must remember, Mrs. Marston, + that whether you like it or not, you won't be able to prevent men from + falling in love with you—look at me, for instance!” + </p> + <p> + Marie Raymond threw a reel of cotton at him— + </p> + <p> + “Be off to your work!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI + </h2> + <p> + A few days later the <i>Lupetea</i> (White Pigeon) ran into the bay and + Raymond boarded her. He greeted Villari in a friendly manner, and tried to + put him at his ease by at once remarking that the ladies would be very + glad to see him again when he had time to come up to the house. The + schooner was loaded with a general cargo for the various traders and + planters on the south side of the island, and that for Raymond consisted + principally of about forty tons of yams for the use of the numerous local + labourers already employed on the plantations. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Lupetea</i> was a rather handsome little vessel, well-fitted for + the island trade, and carried besides Villari and the mate six hands, all + of whom were Europeans, and Raymond at once recognised several of them as + old <i>habituée</i> of Apia beach—men whose reputation as loafers + and boozers of the first water was pretty well known in Samoa. The mate, + too, was one of the same sort. He was an old man named Hutton, and was + such an incorrigible drunkard that for two years past he had found it + increasingly difficult to get employment. He had in his time been mate of + some large ships, but his intemperate habits had caused him to come down + to taking a berth as mate or second mate on small coastal schooners + whenever he could get the position. + </p> + <p> + Before he returned to the shore the planter told Villari that he would be + glad if he would come to dinner at seven o'clock. + </p> + <p> + “We are a large party now, Mr. Villari. Besides Mrs. Marston and my wife + and myself there are my two partners, Budd and Meredith, and two white + overseers. The latter don't sleep in the house, but they have their meals + with us.” + </p> + <p> + Villari accepted the invitation, and at six o'clock landed in his boat and + met Raymond and his partners, who had just finished the day's work and + were on their way to the house. On the verandah they were received by the + ladies, and Mrs. Marston was glad to observe that the Italian took her + outstretched hand without any trace of embarrassment, asked if her baby + was thriving, and then greeted Mrs. Raymond, who said she was glad to see + him looking so well, and wished him prosperity with the <i>Lupetea</i>. + </p> + <p> + The dinner passed off very well. Villari made inquiries as to the + whereabouts of the <i>Esmeralda</i>, and Mrs. Marston told him all that + she knew, and added that if the ship had arrived in Sydney from Valparaiso + about eight weeks before, as Frewen had indicated was likely in the last + letter received from him, it was quite possible that he would be at + Samatau within another ten or fourteen days, and then, as there was no + necessity for concealment, she said it was very probable that the ship's + next voyage would be to the Western Pacific to procure labourers for the + new plantation. + </p> + <p> + “You have no intention, I trust, of making the voyage in her, Mrs. + Marston?” queried the Italian; “the natives, I hear, are a very + treacherous lot.” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed, Mr. Villari. I am staying here with Mrs. Raymond for quite a + long time yet, I hope. It is quite likely, though, that before a year has + gone she and I will be going to Sydney and our babies will make the trip + with us. I have never been to Australia, and am sure I should enjoy being + there if Mrs. Raymond were with me. I have two years' shopping to do.” + </p> + <p> + Rudd—one of Raymond's partners—laughed. “Ah, Mrs. Raymond, why + go to Sydney when all of the few other white ladies here are satisfied + with Dennis Murphy's 'Imporium' at Apia, where, as he says, 'Yez can get + annything ye do be wantin' from a nadle to an anchor, from babies' long + clothes to pickled cabbage and gunpowder.'” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, we are going there this day week,” broke in Mrs. Raymond. “There + are a lot of things Mrs. Marston and I want, and we mean to turn the + 'Emporium' upside down. But we are not entirely selfish, Tom; we are + buying new mosquito netting for you, Mr. Rudd, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Young, + and Mr. Lorimer.” (The two last-named were the overseers.) + </p> + <p> + “How are you going, Marie?” asked Raymond with a smile; “we can't spare + the cutter, and you don't want to be drowned in a <i>taumualua</i>.' + </p> + <p> + “Ah! we are not the poor, weak women you think we are. We are quite + independent—we are going to cross overland; and, more than that, we + shall be away eight days.” + </p> + <p> + “Clever woman!” retorted Raymond. “It is all very well for you, Marie—you + have crossed over on many occasions; but Mrs. Marston does not understand + our mountain paths.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear Tom, don't trouble that wise head of yours. <i>I</i> have + azranged everything. Furthermore, the babies are coming with us! Serena, + Olivee, and one of Malië's girls—and I don't know how many others + are to be baby carriers. We go ten miles the first day along the coast, + sleep at Falelatai that night; then cross the range to the little bush + village at the foot of Tofua Mountain, sleep there, and then go on to + Malua in the morning. At Malua we get Harry Bevere's boat, and <i>he</i> + takes us to Apia. Tom, it is a cut-and-dried affair, but now that I've + told you of it, I may as well tell you that Maliê has aided and abetted us—the + dear old fellow. We shall be treated like princesses at every village all + along the route, and I doubt very much if we shall do much walking at all—we + shall be carried on <i>fata</i>” (cane-work litters). + </p> + <p> + “All very well, my dear; but you and Malië have been counting your + chickens too soon. Harry Revere is now in our employ, and I yesterday sent + a runner to him to go off to Savai'i and buy us a hundred tons of yams; + and he has left by now.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Tom!” and Mrs. Raymond looked so blankly disappointed that all her + guests laughed. “Is there no other way of getting to Apia by water?” + </p> + <p> + “No, except by <i>toumualua</i>—and a pretty nice time you and Sirs. + Marston and the suffering infants would have in a native boat! On the + other hand you can walk—you are bent on walking—and by going + along the coast you can reach Apia in about four days. Give the idea up, + Marie, for a month or so, when Malië and some of his people can take you + and Mrs. Marston to Apia in comfort in the cutter.” + </p> + <p> + Villari turned his dark eyes to Mrs. Raymond— + </p> + <p> + “Will you do me the honour of allowing me to take you and Mrs. Marston to + Apia in the <i>Lupetea?</i> I shall be delighted.” + </p> + <p> + “It is very kind of you, Captain Villari,” said the planter's wife with a + smile, as she emphasised the word “captain,” “but when will you be + sailing?” + </p> + <p> + The Italian considered a moment. + </p> + <p> + “I have some cargo for Manono, and some for the German trader at + Paulaelae. I shall leave here at daylight to-morrow; be at Manono before + noon; run across the straits to Paulaelae the same day, land a few cases + of goods for the German, and be back here, if the breeze holds good, the + day after to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “It is very kind of you, Mr. Villari,” said Raymond. + </p> + <p> + “Not at all, Mr. Raymond. It will be far easier for me to come back this + way than to beat up to Apia against the trade wind and strong current on + the north side.” + </p> + <p> + “True. I did not think of that. So there you are, Marie—'fixed up,' + as Frewen would say. The schooner, I believe, is pretty smart, isn't she, + Mr. Villari?” + </p> + <p> + “Very fair, Mr. Raymond—especially on a wind. We should get to Apia + in less than twenty-four hours if there is any kind of a breeze at all. + And for such a small vessel her accommodation is really very good, so the + ladies and children will be very comfortable, I hope.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Meredith, “the <i>Lupetea</i> is the best schooner in the + group. I've made two or three trips in her to Fiji. She was built by + Brander, of Tahiti, for a yacht, and he used to carry his family with him + on quite long voyages. Took them to Sydney once.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Captain Villari,” said Mrs. Raymond, “we shall be ready for you the + day after to-morrow. Be prepared for an infliction,” and holding up her + left hand, she began counting on her fingers: “Item, two babies; item, + mothers of babies aforesaid; item, Serena, nurse girl; item, Olivee, nurse + girl; item, one native boy named Lilo, who is a relative of Malië's, is + Mrs. Marston's especial protégé and wants to see the great City of Apia; + item, baskets and baskets <i>and</i> baskets of roasted fowls, mangoes, + pineapples and other things which are for the use of the captain, + officers, crew and passengers of the <i>Lupetea</i>.” + </p> + <p> + Villari laughed. “There will be plenty of room, Mrs. Raymond.” + </p> + <p> + An hour or so later he bade them all good-night, and went on board. + </p> + <p> + The old mate was pacing to and fro on the main deck smoking his pipe, and + Villari asked him to come below. + </p> + <p> + He turned up the lamp and told Hutton to sit down. + </p> + <p> + “Will you have a drink, Hutton?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Will</i> I? You ought to know me by now.” + </p> + <p> + Villari went to his cabin and brought out a bottle of brandy. His dark + eyes were flashing with excitement, as he placed it on the table together + with two glasses. + </p> + <p> + “Drink as much as you like to-night,” he said; “but remember we lift + anchor at daylight. We must be back here the day after to-morrow. There + are passengers coming on board. You remember your promise to me?” + </p> + <p> + Hutton half-filled his tumbler with brandy, and swallowed it eagerly + before answering. + </p> + <p> + “I do, skipper; I'll do any blessed thing in the world except cuttin' + throats. I don't know what your game is, but I'm ready for anythink. If + it's a scuttlin' job, you needn't try to show me nothin'. I'm an old hand + at the game.” + </p> + <p> + Villari took a little brandy and sipped it slowly. + </p> + <p> + “It is not anything like that; I am only taking away a woman whom I want + to marry. She may give trouble at first. Will you stand by me?” + </p> + <p> + The man laughed. “Is that all, skipper? Why, I thought it was somethink + serious. You can depend on me,” and he poured out some more liquor. + </p> + <p> + “Here's luck to you, Captain. I consider as that fifty pound is in my + pocket already.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII + </h2> + <p> + Two days later the schooner came sweeping round the western point of + Samatau Bay and then hove-to abreast of the house. Villari at once went on + shore, found his passengers ready to embark, and in half an hour they were + all on board and the <i>Lupetea</i> was spinning along the southern shore + of Upolu at a great rate, for the wind was fresh and the sea very smooth. + At midnight she was nearly abreast of a beautiful little harbour called + Lotofanga, and Villari, who was on deck, told the mate to haul the head + sheets to windward and ta lower the boat. This was done so quietly that + the only one of the passengers who knew what had been done was the Samoan, + Lilo—a bright, intelligent youth of about fifteen years of age. He + was lying on the after-deck, and saw the mate and four hands go over the + side into the boat, and then a trunk of clothing which belonged to Mrs. + Raymond, and which, as the weather was fine, had been left on deck, was + passed down. Wondering at this, he rose, and walking to the side, was + looking at the boat, when a sailor roughly seized him by the shoulder and + ordered him to go for'ard and stay there till he was called. Very + unwillingly he obeyed, and then a second man told him to go below into the + foc'sle, and made such a threatening gesture with a belaying-pin, that the + boy, now beginning to feel alarmed, at once descended, and immediately the + fore scuttle was closed and bolted from the deck. The place was in + darkness except for one small slush lamp, and Lilo, taking his seat on a + sailor's chest, looked round at the bunks. They were all unoccupied, and + this fact increased his fears. He, however, was a courageous lad, and his + first thought was to provide himself with some sort of weapon, and by the + aid of the lamp he began searching the bunks. In a few minutes he found a + sheath knife and belt, which he at once secured, and then again sat down + to wait events. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Villari was speaking to the mate. + </p> + <p> + “You are quite sure you know the landing-place?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Course I do. Didn't I tell you I've been at Loto-fanga half a dozen + times? It's right abreast of the passage, and no one couldn't miss it on a + clear night like this. But it's dead low tide. Why can't I put the woman + and girl on the reef, and let 'em walk to the village? Then we don't run + no risks of any natives a-seein' us and coming down to the boat.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha! that's a good idea. But is it quite safe? I don't want them to meet + with any accident.” + </p> + <p> + “There ain't no danger. The reef is quite flat, with no pools in it, and + they needn't even wet their feet. I've walked over it myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well then. Now stand by, for I'm going below. As soon as they are in + the boat, push off and hurry all you can and get back. We must be out of + sight of land by daylight.” + </p> + <p> + The cabin, which was lighted by a swinging lamp, was very quiet as + Villari, first removing his boots, descended softly and bent oyer the + sleeping figures of Olivee and Serena, who were lying on mats spread upon + the floor outside the two cabins occupied by their mistresses. He touched + Olivee on the shoulder, and awakened her. + </p> + <p> + “Ask Mrs. Raymond to please dress and come on deck for a few minutes,” he + said quietly to the girl in English, which she understood. She at once + rose, and tapped at her mistress's door, and the Italian returned on deck. + </p> + <p> + Wondering what could be the reason for such a request, Mrs. Raymond + dressed herself as quickly as possible, and was soon on deck followed by + the girl Olivee. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter, Mr. Villari?” she inquired, and then, as she looked + at the man's face, something like fear possessed her. His eyes had the + same strange expression that she had often noticed when he was looking at + Mrs. Marston, and she remembered what the German doctor had said. + </p> + <p> + “You must not be alarmed, Mrs. Raymond,” he said, “but I am sorry to say + that the schooner has begun to leak in an alarming and extraordinary + manner, and the pumps are choked. For your own safety I am sending you and + Mrs. Marston and your servants on shore. We are now just abreast of + Lotofanga, and I am going to try and work the schooner in there and run + her ashore on the beach.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Raymond, now quite reassured, was at once practical. “We can be ready + in a minute, Mr. Villari. I will get little Loisé, and——” + </p> + <p> + “Do—as quickly as you can—and I will tell Mrs. Marston. I + preferred letting you know first. She is very nervous, and it will allay + her alarm when she finds that you are so cool. The boat is already + alongside. Have you any valuables in your cabin? If so, get them + together.” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing but a little money. All my other things are on deck in a trunk.” + </p> + <p> + “That is already in the boat; the mate told me it was yours.” + </p> + <p> + “Hurry up, please, ladies,” and the mate's head appeared above the rail. + </p> + <p> + “Just another minute, Hutton,” said Villari, as he, Mrs. Raymond, and the + Samoan girl all returned to the cabin together. The latter at once picked + up the sleeping Loisé, and her mother, as she wrapped her in a shawl, + heard Villari rouse the girl Serena and tell her to awaken her mistress, + and presently she heard his voice speaking to Mrs. Marston telling her not + to be alarmed, but he feared the schooner might founder at any moment, and + that he was sending her and Mrs. Raymond on shore. + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Mr. Villari,” she heard her friend say. “Have you told Mrs. + Raymond?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he replied. “She is getting ready now—in fact, she <i>is</i> + ready.” Then he returned to Mrs. Raymond's door, and met her just as she + was leaving the cabin with the nurse and child. + </p> + <p> + “Can I help you, Amy?” asked the planter's wife as she looked into Mrs. + Marston's cabin. + </p> + <p> + “No, dear. I did not quite undress, and I'll be ready in a minute. Baby is + fast asleep. Is Loisé awake?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I'm glad to say. Olivee has her.” + </p> + <p> + “Please come on, Mrs. Raymond,” said Villari, somewhat impatiently; “go + on, Olivee, with the little girl.” + </p> + <p> + He let them precede him, and almost before she knew it, Mrs. Raymond found + herself with the nurse and child in the boat, which was at once pushed off + and headed for the shore. + </p> + <p> + “Stop, stop!” cried the poor lady, clutching the mate by the arm. “Mrs. + Marston is coming.” + </p> + <p> + “Can't wait,” was the gruff rejoinder, and then, to her horror and + indignation, she saw that the boat's crew were pulling as if their lives + depended on their exertions. + </p> + <p> + “Shame, shame!” she cried wildly. “Are you men, to desert them! Oh, if you + have any feelings of humanity, turn back,” and, rising to her feet, she + shouted out at the top of her voice, “Captain Villari, Captain Villari, + for God's sake call the boat back!” + </p> + <p> + But no notice was taken, and a feeling of terror seized her when the + brutal Hutton bade her “sit down and take it easy.” + </p> + <p> + As Villari stood watching the disappearing boat Mrs. Marston, followed by + the girl Serena carrying her baby, came on deck. + </p> + <p> + “What is wrong?” she asked anxiously. “Why has the boat gone? What does it + mean?” and Yillari saw that she was trembling. + </p> + <p> + “Return to your cabin, Mrs. Marston. No harm shall come to you. To-morrow + morning I shall tell you why I have done this.” + </p> + <p> + A glimmering of the truth came to her, and she tried to speak, but no + words came to her lips, as in a dazed manner she took the infant from + Serena, and pressing it tightly to her bosom stepped back from him with + horror, contempt, and blazing anger shining from her beautiful eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Go below, I beg you,” said Villari huskily. “Here, girl, take this, and + give it to your mistress when you go below,” and he placed a loaded Colt's + pistol in the girl's hand. “No one shall enter the cabin till to-morrow + morning. You can shoot the first man who puts his foot on the companion + stairs.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII + </h2> + <p> + A hot, blazing, and windless day, so hot that the branches of the + coco-palms, which at early morn had swished and merrily swayed to the + trade wind, now hung limp and motionless, as if they had suffered from a + long tropical drought instead of merely a few hours' cessation of the + brave, cool breeze, which for nine months out of twelve for ever made + symphony in their plumed crests. + </p> + <p> + On the shady verandah of a small but well-built native house Amy Marston + was seated talking to an old, snowy-haired white man, whose bright but + wrinkled face was tanned to the colour of dark leather by fifty years of + constant exposure to a South Sea sun. + </p> + <p> + “Don't you worry, ma'am. A ship is bound to come along here some time or + another, an' you mustn't repine, but trust to God's will.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I try hard not to repine, Mr. Manning. When I think of all that + has happened since that night, seven months ago, I have much for which to + thank God. I am alive and well, my child has been spared to me, and in + you, on this lonely island, I have found a good, kind friend, to whom I + shall be ever grateful.” + </p> + <p> + “That's the right way to look at it, ma'am. Until you came here I had not + seen a white woman for nigh on twenty years, and when I did first see you + I was all a-trembling—fearing to speak—for you looked to me as + if you were an angel, instead of——” + </p> + <p> + “Instead of being just what I was—a wretched, half-mad creature, + whom your kindness and care brought back to life and reason.” + </p> + <p> + The old man, who even as he sat leant upon a stick, pointed towards the + setting sun, whose rays were shedding a golden light upon the sleeping + sea. + </p> + <p> + “Whenever I see a thing like that, Mrs. Marston, I feel in my heart, deep, + deep down, that God is with us, and that I, Jim Manning, the old + broken-down, poverty-stricken trader of Anouda, has as much share in His + goodness and blessed love as the Pope o' Borne or the Archbishop o' + Canterbury. See how He has preserved you, and directed that schooner to + drift here to Anouda, instead of her going ashore on one of the Solomon + Islands, where you and all with you would have been killed by savage + cannibals and never been heard of again.” + </p> + <p> + Amy Marston left her seat, came over to the old man, and kneeling beside + him, placed her hands on his. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Manning, whenever a ship does come, will you and your sons come away + with me to Samoa, and live with me and the kind friends of whom I have + told you. Ah, you have been so good to me and my baby that I would feel + very unhappy if, when a ship comes and I leave Anouda, you were to stay + behind. I am what is considered a fairly rich woman——” + </p> + <p> + “God bless you, my child—for you are only a child, although you are + a widow and have a baby—but you must not tempt me. I shall never + leave Anouda. I have lived here for five-and-thirty years, and shall die + here. I am now past seventy-six years of age, and every evening when the + sun is setting, as it is setting now, I sit in front of my little house + and watch it as I smoke my pipe, and feel more and more content and nearer + to God. Now, Mrs. Marston, I must be going home. Where is Lilo?'' + </p> + <p> + “Out on the reef somewhere, fishing. Serena and the baby are in the + breadfruit grove behind the village. I sent them there, as it is cooler + than the house. I shall walk over there for them before it becomes too + dark. Ah, here comes the breeze at last.” + </p> + <p> + “Lilo is a good boy, a good boy,” said the old man as he rose and held out + his hand; “he is very proud of calling himself your <i>tausea</i>,{*} and + that he 'sailed' the <i>Lupetea</i> so many hundreds of miles.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Protector. +</pre> + <p> + “He is indeed a good boy. I do not think we should ever have reached land + had it not been for him.” + </p> + <p> + As the bent figure of the old trader disappeared along the path that led + to his own house, which was half a mile away, Mrs. Marston reseated + herself, and with her sunbrowned hands folded in her lap, gazed dreamily + out upon the glassy ocean, and gave herself up to reverie. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + When, in an agony of fear, she had obeyed Villari's request to go below, + she had locked herself in her own cabin, and after putting her infant to + sleep, had sat up with the girl Serena, waiting for the morning. The + pistol which the Italian had given her she laid upon the little table, and + Serena, who knew of Villari's infatuation for her mistress, sat beside her + with a knife in her hand. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot shoot with the little gun which hath six shots, lady,” said the + girl, “but I can drive this knife into his heart.” + </p> + <p> + Half an hour passed without their being disturbed, and then they heard + Villari call out to let draw the head sheets, and in a few minutes the + schooner was running before a sharp rain squall from the northward. As + they sat listening to the spattering of the rain on the deck above, one of + the skylight flaps was lifted, and, to their joy, their names were called + by the boy Lilo. + </p> + <p> + “Serena, Ami! 'Tis I, Lilo. Do not shoot at me,” he cried, and at the same + moment Villari came to the skylight and said— + </p> + <p> + “The boy wants to stay below with you, Mrs. Marston. I did not know he was + on board till a little while ago.” Then the flap was lowered, and they saw + no more of him till the morning. + </p> + <p> + The delight of Lilo at finding Mrs. Marston and Serena together was + unbounded, and for some minutes the boy was so overjoyed at seeing them + again, that even Mrs. Marston, terrified and agitated as she was at + Villari's conduct, had to smile when he took her feet in his hands and + pressed them to his cheek. As soon as his excitement subsided, he told + them of what had occurred after he had been put down into the foc'sle. + </p> + <p> + About a quarter of an hour after the boat had gone, the scuttle was + opened, and one of the sailors who were left on board told him to come up + on deck. Villari was at the wheel, and was in a very bad temper, for he + angrily demanded of the two seamen what they meant by keeping him on + board, instead of sending him on shore in the boat. One of the men, who + was called “Bucky” and who had evidently been drinking, made Villari a + saucy answer, and said that he had kept the boy below with a view to + making him useful. The mate, he said, “knew all about it,” and Villari had + better “keep quiet.” In another moment Villari knocked him senseless with + a belaying pin, and then, ordering the other man to let draw the head + sheets, put the helm hard up, and the schooner stood away from the land, + just as a rain squall came away from the northward. As soon as Bucky + became conscious, Villari spoke to him and the other seaman, cautioned + them against disobedience, and said that if they did their duty, he would + divide a hundred pounds between them when the schooner reached Noumea in + New Caledonia. The men then asked him whether he meant to leave the mate + and the other four hands behind? + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I do,” he replied, “that is why I am giving you fifty pounds each. + But if you try on any nonsense with me, I'll shoot you both. Now go + for'ard and stand by to hoist the squaresail as soon as the squall dies + away—this boy will lend a hand.” + </p> + <p> + As soon as the squaresail was set, Villari told Lilo to call down the + skylight to Mrs. Marston. + </p> + <p> + “He told me,” concluded the boy, “that although I shall have to cook for + every one on board, I was to be your servant, and that I was to always + sleep in the cabin. And he himself is going to sleep in the deck house + behind the galley, for I saw that he has a lamp in there, and all his + things, and he asked me to bring him some writing paper, and ink, and + pens. Where shall I get them?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Marston found the articles for him, and Lilo at once took them to + Villari, who was at the wheel. + </p> + <p> + “Put them in the deck-house,” he said, “and tell one of the men to come + aft, and take the wheel. Then go below again and remain there. If any one + puts foot in the cabin, you can shoot him with the pistol I gave to + Serena.” + </p> + <p> + “Ami,” said the boy anxiously, when he retained, “he is <i>vale</i> (mad), + for his eyes are the eyes of one who is mad. The land is now far astern, + and the ship is speeding fast away from it. What doth this mean?” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot tell thee, Lilo,” she replied, speaking in Samoan, “but as thou + sayest, he is mad. Let us trust in God to protect us.” + </p> + <p> + She rose and went into the main cabin, and looked at the tell-tale + compass, which swung over the table, and saw that the schooner was heading + south-west, which would be the course for New Caledonia. + </p> + <p> + All that night the <i>Lupetea</i> swept steadily and swiftly along over a + smooth sea, and then at daylight, Mrs. Marston, who had fallen asleep, was + aroused by a loud cry of alarm from Lilo. + </p> + <p> + She sprang from her berth, and saw that the boy was kneeling beside + Villari, who was lying dead at the foot of the companion, with a pistol in + his hand. + </p> + <p> + “He hath killed himself, Ami,” said the boy. “As I sat here watching, I + heard two shots on deck, and then the ship came to the wind, and as I was + about to go on deck, Villari came down, and standing there, put the pistol + to his head and killed himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Come on deck,” she cried, “and see what has become of the men.” + </p> + <p> + Her fears that Villari had killed the two seamen were verified—they + were both lying dead, one beside the wheel, and the other on the main + deck. In the deckhouse was a wildly-incoherent and unfinished letter, to + her containing expressions of the most passionate devotion, and begging + her to pray for his soul. + </p> + <p> + The first thing to be done was to consider how to dispose of the bodies of + poor Villari and the unfortunate seamen. The land was now fifty miles + distant, and Lilo, pointing to the eastern horizon, assured Mrs. Marston + that bad weather was coming on, and that sail should be taken in as + quickly as possible. + </p> + <p> + “Let Serena and I cast the dead men overboard,” he said; “'tis better than + that we should keep them on board, for we know not how long it may be ere + we get to land again.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Marston shuddered. + </p> + <p> + “As you will, Lilo. When it is done, I will come on deck again and help + with the sails.” + </p> + <p> + An hour later the schooner was racing under close-reefed canvas before a + half-gale from the eastward. + </p> + <p> + “Let us steer to the westward,” Lilo had said to his mistress. “We cannot + beat back to Samoa against such a wind as this, which may last many days. + And straight to the west lieth Uea, on which live some white men who will + succour us.” + </p> + <p> + There was no general chart on board, but Mrs. Marston knew that Uea + (Wallis Island) was due west from Samoa, and distant about two or three + hundred miles. + </p> + <p> + For twelve hours the <i>Lupetea</i> ran swiftly before a rapidly + increasing sea, and by night time Lilo was so exhausted in trying to keep + her from broaching to, that Serena came to his assistance. Neither he nor + Mrs. Marston knew how to heave-to the vessel; but, fearful of running past + Wallis Island in the night, they did the very thing they should not have + done—lowered and made fast both mainsail and foresail, and let the + vessel drive under bare poles. + </p> + <p> + Worn out with his exertions, Lilo still stuck manfully to his steering, + when, looking behind him, he saw a black, towering sea sweeping down upon + the schooner. Uttering a cry of alarm, he let go the wheel, and darted + into the cabin after Mrs. Marston, who had just left the deck. + </p> + <p> + Then came a tremendous crash, and the <i>Lupetea</i> shook and quivered in + every timber, as the mighty avalanche of water fell upon and buried her; + smashing the wheel to splinters, snapping off the rudder head, and + sweeping the deck clean of everything movable. + </p> + <p> + A month later the vessel drifted ashore on Anouda Island, just as Mrs. + Marston was beginning to despair. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX + </h2> + <p> + Darkness had fallen upon the little island, as with the girl Serena and + her infant charge, Mrs. Man-ton was walking back to the house. Lilo had + not yet returned, but as they emerged from the breadfruit grove, they + heard the sound of many voices, and then came a cry that made their hearts + thrill— + </p> + <p> + “<i>Te vaka nui, Te vaka nui!</i>” (“A ship! a ship!”) and almost at the + same moment Lilo and a score of natives came rushing along the path in + search of the white lady. + </p> + <p> + “A ship! aship!” shouted Lilo, who was almost frantic with excitement, + “your ship—your own ship! The ship that came to Samatau!” + </p> + <p> + “How know you, Lilo?” cried Mrs. Marston tremblingly. “How can you tell it + is my ship? And where is it?” + </p> + <p> + As soon as the boy was able to make himself heard through the clamour of + his companions, he told Mrs. Marston that whilst he was engaged in fishing + along the shore of an unfrequented little bay on the north end of the + island, he was startled by the sudden appearance of a large ship, which he + instantly recognised as the <i>Esmeralda</i>. She came around a headland + with a number of her hands aloft taking in sail, and dropped anchor about + half a mile from the land. Lilo waited some time to see if a boat would + come on shore, and also ran out to the edge of the reef, and tried to + attract the attention of the people on board, but no notice was taken of + him. Then, as darkness was coming on, he set off for the village at a run + to tell his mistress. + </p> + <p> + “We must hasten on board, Lilo,” said Mrs. Marston, as she walked + hurriedly along beside him to the house. “Run quickly to the old white + man, and ask him to send his boat here for me.” + </p> + <p> + But Manning had already heard the news, and his boat had not only been + launched, but, manned by half a dozen stalwart Anoudans, was at that + moment coming down inside the reef. The old trader's half-caste son Joe + was steering, and the moment the boat touched the beach, he sprang out and + ran up to the house. + </p> + <p> + “Father sent me for you, Mrs. Marston. The old man is nearly off his head + with excitement. He has sent a native out on the reef to burn a blue light + so that it can be seen by the people on board the ship, who will then know + that there are white people here.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Joe,” she said, as, kissing her little Marie, and bidding + Serena take her to Manning's house, and there await her return from the + ship, she ran swiftly to the boat, which at once pushed off, accompanied + by twenty or thirty canoes—all crowded with natives. + </p> + <p> + “Look!” cried Joe Manning, “there is the blue light!” + </p> + <p> + Half a mile away, on a projecting horn of the reef, the blue flame was + shedding its brilliant light, and clearly revealing the all but nude + figure of the man who held it. + </p> + <p> + “Father said, Mrs. Marston, when he took those three blue lights ashore + from the wreck of the <i>Lupetea</i>, that they might come in useful some + night——” and then he uttered a yell of delight as a great + rocket shot high up in air and burst; the ship had seen the blue light and + was answering it! + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah! she sees the blue light!” he cried, and then with voice and + gesture he urged his crew to greater exertions. They responded with a + will, and then, as a second rocket shot upward, a deep “<i>Aue!</i>” of + admiration was chorused forth by the occupants of the canoes, which were + trying hard to keep pace with the swift whale-boat. + </p> + <p> + “We'll see her as soon as we get round the north end, ma'am,” said the + half-caste, as he swung the boat's head towards a passage through the + surrounding reef. Mrs. Marston made no reply; she was too excited to + speak, as with parted lips and eager eyes she sat gazing straight ahead. + </p> + <p> + Ten minutes passed, and only the <i>swish, swish</i> of the canoe paddles + and the boat's oars broke the silence; then the high north point of the + island was rounded, and the <i>Esmeralda</i> lay before them, so close, + that even though it was dark, figures could be seen moving about her + decks, which were well lit up. + </p> + <p> + Bidding his men cease pulling, and the natives in the canoes to keep + silent for a moment, the burly half-caste hailed. + </p> + <p> + “Ship ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + “Hallo, there!” cried Prewen's well-remembered voice, “we see you. Come + round on the port side.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” shouted Manning, and then, unable to restrain himself, he + expanded his mighty chest and bawled out— + </p> + <p> + “MRS. MARSTON IS HERE!” + </p> + <p> + In a moment or two there came an outburst of cheering from the ship, and + then amidst the shouts and yells of the Anouda natives the boat dashed + alongside, and Mrs. Marston ascended the ladder. A crowd of men were at + the gangway, and almost ere her foot had touched the deck Frewen had + grasped her hand. + </p> + <p> + “Thank God, we have found you at last, Mrs. Marston!” + </p> + <p> + She tried to speak, and then would have fallen, had not Randall Cheyne + sprung forward and caught her. + </p> + <p> + “Carry her to the cabin, Randall,” said Frewen, “the poor little woman has + fainted.” + </p> + <p> + Half an hour later, the chief officer ran up on the poop-deck and called + out— + </p> + <p> + “All hands aft!” + </p> + <p> + As the crew—who had been eagerly listening to Joe Manning's account + of how Mrs. Marston had come to the island—crowded aft, the mate + cried out— + </p> + <p> + “Boys, I want volunteers to man the starboard quarter-boat to bring Mrs. + Marston's baby on board.” + </p> + <p> + Such a wild rush was made for the boat falls that the good-natured officer + had to interfere and pick out eight men, and with Lilo as pilot and + himself in charge, the boat left the ship amid further cheering. + </p> + <p> + In the cabin Mrs. Marston, now looking bright and happy, was telling her + story to Frewen and Cheyne. + </p> + <p> + “And now,” she said, as she concluded, “I am the very happiest woman in + all the world, and oh! Captain Frewen, when I think I shall see Mrs. + Raymond within a few days, I feel almost hysterical. I'm sure I won't want + to go to sleep for a week.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen laughed as he looked at the flashed, beautiful face. “Well, I don't + think you'll get too much sleep to-night, for the men are as much excited + as any one aft, and I sent word that they can have a bit of fun and make + as much noise as they like until eight bells, and drink your and your + baby's health seven times.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! my poor little baby. How cruel of me to forget her! Oh, please let me + go for her.” + </p> + <p> + “You are too late,” said Frewen with a smile, “the mate has just gone, and + he'll bring her to you before another hour has passed. He has taken your + boy Lilo with him as pilot.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Marston sighed contentedly, and then looked round at the familiar + cabin. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how I shall love to see Samatau again, Captain Frewen, and oh! how + wonderful it is that the <i>Esmeralda</i> of all ships should be the one + to find me. If only Mrs. Raymond could know I was safe and on board + talking to you of her!” + </p> + <p> + “She will indeed be yery happy; and yet, do you know, Mrs. Marston, that + she always said you were not dead, although when month after month passed + by, and a most careful search had been made of all the islands within a + radius of six hundred miles, and no trace of the <i>Lupetea</i> was found, + Mr. Raymond himself lost all hope.” + </p> + <p> + “How long was it before Mr. Raymond knew of what had occurred on board + that night off Lotofanga?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Raymond herself told him on the following afternoon, when, to his + astonishment, she arrived at Samatau in a native beat. It seems that after + Hutton landed them—she, little Loisé, and Olivee—on the reef, + they were met by a party of natives who were returning from a fishing + excursion. These people at once took them to the village, where, of + course, they were very kindly treated. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Raymond, who was half mad with anxiety for you, asked the chief to + provide her with a boat to return to Samatau and tell her husband of what + had happened. They left after an hour's rest and almost foundered in the + same squall which overtook the <i>Lupetea</i>. However, they reached + Samatau a little before sunset. Raymond at once sent Meredith and Rudd to + Apia to charter two or even three local schooners to sail in search of the + <i>Lupetea</i>, and for over a month whilst I was there a most unremitting + search was kept up, and letters were sent all over the Pacific asking the + traders at the various islands to keep a good look-out either for the + schooner or any wreckage which might come ashore. + </p> + <p> + “I arrived at Samatau in the <i>Esmeralda</i> about a fortnight after + Villari left there, and found Mrs. Raymond alone and distracted with fear + for your safety. During the following week, one of the schooners which + were out searching for you returned. Raymond was on board. He had been + searching through the windward islands of the Fiji Group, but without of + course finding a trace of the missing vessel. On the way back, though, + they spoke a Tahitian barque, whose captain told them that the bodies of + Hutton and the four men who were with him had been found on the reef at + Savai'i a few days after the scoundrels had put Mrs. Raymond ashore at + Lotofanga. The boat had evidently been driven ashore during the stormy + weather which prevailed for three or four days afterwards. + </p> + <p> + “After remaining ashore for a day only, Raymond again sailed—this + time to make a search among the Friendly Islands; and I, with Mr. Rudd and + Overseer Lorimer to assist me, sailed for the Solomon Group. We decided, + instead of proceeding direct to the Solomons for our cargo of black + humanity, to first cruise through the New Hebrides Group, in the hope we + might learn something of the <i>Lupetea</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “It makes me feel as if I were a real missing princess, Captain Frewen.” + </p> + <p> + “So you were—until to-night. Well, from the New Hebrides we went + north to the Solomons, where we were singularly fortunate in getting five + hundred natives in a few weeks without any trouble. I landed them at + Samatau without losing a single man, and they are now working on the new + plantation as happy as sand-boys. + </p> + <p> + “Raymond was at home when I returned, but there was still one vessel away + looking for you—the cutter <i>Alrema and Niya</i>—and in fact + we long since decided not to entirely abandon the search for a full year. + </p> + <p> + “I left on a second trip for the Solomons just nine days ago, and we + sighted this island early this morning. I did not think that we should + hear anything of the <i>Lupetea</i> so far to the westward—over a + thousand miles from Samoa—but as three of our coloured crew are down + with fever, I decided to anchor, leave them here in care of the natives, + and also find out if any wreckage had been seen. We could not see any + signs of houses on this side of the island, but did see a man making + gestures to the ship from the reef; however, as I did not intend to go + ashore until the morning, we did not lower a boat. You can imagine our + surprise when the glare of a blue light was seen.” + </p> + <p> + “Mate's boat is alongside, sir,” announced the bos'un. + </p> + <p> + And in a few minutes the smiling Serena entered the cabin and placed + little Marie in her mother's arms. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Shortly after dawn the merry click of the windlass pawls told Mrs. Marston + that the <i>Esmeralda</i> was getting underweigh again for Samoa—for + the projected voyage to the Solomon Islands was of course abandoned. Old + Manning and his stalwart sons came off to say goodbye, and at Mrs. + Marston's earnest request the trader consented to accept from her some + hundreds of pounds' worth of trade goods from the well-filled storeroom of + the <i>Esmeralda</i>. + </p> + <p> + “Goodbye, Mrs. Marston, and God bless you and the little one, and give you + all a safe passage to Samoa,” he cried, as he descended the side into his + boat. + </p> + <p> + For many hours she remained on deck watching the green little island as it + sunk astern, and thinking of the kindly-hearted old trader who had so + cheered her by his simple piety and unobtrusive goodness. Then her + thoughts turned joyfully to home—for the Raymonds' house was home to + her—and she sighed contentedly as the gallant <i>Esmeralda</i>, with + every stitch of canvas that could be set, slipped gracefully over the blue + Pacific on an east-south-east course, for it was the month of November, + and light westerly winds had set in. + </p> + <p> + Two weeks on such a happy ship soon passed away, and then early one + morning the grey dome of Mount Tofua stood out from the mantle of mist + which hid its verdant sides; and ere the sun had dried the heavy night + dews on the gaily-coloured crotons and waving pampas grass which grew just + above the beach, the brave ship dropped anchor once more in Samatau Bay + amidst a scene of the wildest confusion. For Raymond, as he had stood on + the verandah with his wife, watching her sailing in, and wondering what + had brought back Frewen so soon, saw this signal flying from her spanker + gaff. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + O + W + S + V + + B + R + C +</pre> + <p> + “What does it mean, Tom?” “Found. All well!” he shouted, and pitching his + telescope clean over the tops of the wild orange-tree in front of the + house, he rushed down to the beach, crying out the news as he ran. + </p> + <p> + Boats, canoes, and <i>taumualuas</i> by the score, all crowded with + natives, who were shouting themselves hoarse, paddled furiously off to the + ship; and ere her cable rattled through the hawse-pipe and the heavy + anchor plunged down to its coral bed, her decks were filled with people, + and Raymond, followed by the old chief Malie, was shaking hands warmly + with “the missing princess” and her rescuer. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + It is night at Samatau, and the two ladies are sitting on the verandah. + The house is very quiet. + </p> + <p> + “Amy?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Marie, dear.” + </p> + <p> + “Tom was asking me this morning if you have yet made up your mind to go on + building that house.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dear, Marie. I have hardly given it a thought since I came back—and + I've only been back a week!” + </p> + <p> + “Amy?” + </p> + <p> + “Marie?” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose, dear, that Captain Frewen won't give up the <i>Esmeralda</i> + altogether when he goes to America to see his people. He will come back, + will he not?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Marston blushed. “I—I think so, dear. Come inside, and I'll + tell you.” + </p> + <p> + THE END <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's John Frewen, South Sea Whaler, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + +***** This file should be named 24806-h.htm or 24806-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/0/24806/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: John Frewen, South Sea Whaler + 1904 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: March 11, 2008 [EBook #24806] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER + + +From "Chinkie's Flat And Other Stories" + +By Louis Becke + + +Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company 1904 + + + + + +BOOK I + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Captain Ethan Keller, of the _Casilda_ of Nantucket, was in a very bad +temper, for in four days he had lost two of the five boats the barque +carried--one had been hopelessly stove by the dreaded "underclip" given +her by a crafty old bull sperm-whale, and the other, which was in charge +of the second mate, had not been seen for seventy hours. When last +sighted she was fast to the same bull which had destroyed the first +mate's boat; it was then nearly dark, and the whale, which was of an +enormous size, although he had three irons in his body and was towing +the whole length of line from the stove-in boat as well as that of the +second mate, was racing through the water as fresh as when he had first +been struck, three hours previously. Then the sun dipped below the +sea-rim, and the blue Pacific was shrouded in darkness. + +"Why in thunder couldn't the dunderhead put a bomb into that fish before +it came on dark?" growled the skipper to his other officers, as they +sat down to a harried sapper in the spacious, old-fashioned cabin of the +whaler. + +No one answered. Frewen, the missing officer, was as good a whaleman +as ever drove an iron or gripped the haft of a steer-oar, and his +half-caste boatsteerer Randall Cheyne was the best on the ship. But +there was bad blood between young Frewen and his captain, and Cheyne was +the cause of it. + +"If they cut and lose that whale," resumed Keller presently, "I'll haze +the life out of them--by thunder, I will, if I break my back in doing +it! Why, that is the biggest fish we've struck yet. If I had been in +that boat, I'd have had that whale in his flurry two hours ago. Why, it +appears to me that Frewen got too soared to even try to haul up and give +him a bomb, let alone giving him the lance--which was easy enough." + +Just as he spoke, one of the boatsteerers entered the cabin and reported +that some of the hands thought that they had heard the second mate's +bomb gun. + +"All right," growled Keller, "tell the cooper to burn a flare." + +"I guess Frewen won't lose him," said Lopez, the first mate. "He told +me long ago that he never yet had to out, and I don't think he'll do it +now--unless something has gone wrong. That must have been his gun." + +"Huh!" sneered Keller, as he viciously speared a piece of salt pork with +his fork, "we'll see all about that when daylight comes. You'll find Mr. +Firwen and that yaller-hided Samoa buck back here for breakfast, but no +whale." + +None of the men made any reply. They knew that Frewen would be the +last man to lose a fish through any fault of his own, and only after +carefully "drogueing" his line would he part company with it, and that +only if the immense creature emptied the line tubs and "sounded." Then, +to save the lives of those in the boat, he would have to cut. + +"Guess we'll see that whale to-morrow, anyway, whether Mr. Frewen is +fast to him or not," said the third mate to the cooper, as they met on +deck; "he's got a mighty lot of line hanging to him, and, just after the +second mate got fast I saw him shaking his flukes and trying to kick out +one of the two irons the mate hove into him." + +"Well, that is so; I hope we shall get him. The old man is pretty cranky +over it. He hasn't a nice temper even when he's in a good humour, and +there will be blue fire blazing if Mr. Frewen does lose the fish after +all." + +For four hours the barque made short tacks to the eastward, in which +direction the boat had been taken by the whale. The night was fine but +dark, the sea very smooth, and the flares which were burnt at intervals +on board the barque would render her visible many miles away, and a keen +look-out was kept for the boat, but nothing could be discovered of it. + +Towards midnight the light air from the eastward died away, and was +succeeded by a series of rather sharp rain squalls from the south-west, +and Keller, fearing to miss the boat by running past her, hove-to till +daylight. + +The dawn broke brightly, with a dead calm. Forty pairs of eyes eagerly +scanned the surface of the ocean, and in a few minutes there came a +cheering cry from aloft. + +"Dead whale, oh! Close to on the weather beam." + +"Can you see the boat?" cried Lopez. + +"No, sir," was the reply after a few seconds silence. "Can't see her +anywhere." + +"Look on the other side of the whale, you bat!" growled the skipper. + +"She's not there, sir," was the reply. + +"Lower away your boats, Mr. Bock and Mr. Lopez," said Keller in more +gracious tones to the third and first officers; "the second mate can't +be far away, but why in thunder he didn't hang on to the whale last +night I don't know. Take something to eat with you. You will have to tow +that whale alongside--this calm is going to last all day." + +Five minutes later the two boats pushed off, and then, as they sped over +the glassy surface of the ocean and the huge carcass of the whale was +more clearly revealed, Bock called out to his superior officer that he +could see a whift {*} on it. + + * A wooden pole with a small pennon; used by whalers' boats + as a signal to the ship. + +Lopez nodded, but said nothing. + +They pulled up alongside, and the mate's boatsteerer stepped out on to +the body of Leviathan and pulled out the whift pole, which was firmly +embedded in the blubber. + +"There's a letter tied round the pole, sir," he said to his officer, as +he got back to the boat again and passed the whift aft. + +The "letter" had been carefully wrapped in a strip of oilskin, and then +tied around the whift pole by a piece of sail twine. It was a sheet of +soiled paper with a few pencilled lines written on it. Lopez read it:-- + + "For the information of Ethan Keller, Haser: This whale was + struck, for the sake of his shipmates' lays, by Randall + Cheyne, the 'yaller-hided Samoan,' who has struck more + whales than old Haser Keller ever saw. If Haser Keller wants + us he will find us at Savage Island, where we shall be ready + for him. + + (Signed) "R. Cheyne, Boatsteerer, "Casilda." + +"Where is Mr. Frewen, sir?" inquired the boatsteerer anxiously. + +"Gone for a picnic," replied the mate laconically. "Now, look lively, +my lads. We've got to tow this fish to the ship and 'cut in' before the +sharks save us the trouble." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The quarrel between Keller, a rough, blasphemous-mouthed, and +violent-tempered man, and his second officer had arisen over a very +simple matter. + +Frewen, one of the six sons of a struggling New Hampshire farmer, had +received a better education than his brothers, for he was intended for +the navy. But at sixteen years of age he realised the condition of the +family finances, and shipped on a whaler sailing out of New London. From +"'foremast hand with hayseed in his hair," he became boatsteerer; then +followed rapid promotion from fourth to second officer's berth, and at +the age of five-and-twenty he was as competent a navigator and as good +a seaman and boatheader as ever trod a whaleship's deck. For like many a +country-bred boy he had the sea instinct in his bones, inherited perhaps +from his progenitors, who were of a seafaring stock in old Devonshire, +in that town made for ever famous by Kingsley in "Westward Ho!" + +When Frewen joined the _Casilda_, Keller had taken a great fancy to +the young man, whom he soon discovered was a very able officer, and who +proved his ability as a good whaleman so amply during the first twelve +months of the cruise by never losing a whale once he got fast, that +Keller, who was as mean as he was brutal to his crew, relaxed his +"hazing" propensities considerably. The _Casilda_ was always known as +a "hard" ship and Keller as a "hazer"; but, on the other hand, she was +also a lucky ship, and Lopes, the chief mate, who had sailed in her for +many years, was a sterling good man, though a strict disciplinarian, and +did much for the men to compensate them for Keller's outbursts of savage +fury when anything went wrong. So Lopez, Frewen, and his fellow-officers +"worked" together, and the crew "worked" with them, and the _Casilda_ +became a fairly happy ship, as well as a lucky one, for Keller, after +long years, began to realise that it was bad policy to ill-treat a +willing crew who would give him a "full" ship in another six months +instead of deserting one by one or in batches at every island touched at +in the South Seas. + +And Frewen was a mascotte, and his half-caste boat-steerer was another, +for whenever a pod of whales were sighted the second mate's boat was +invariably the first to get fast, and on one glorious day off Sunday +Island Frewen's boat killed three sperms--a bull and two cows--and the +four other boats each got one or two, so that for over a week, in a calm +sea, and under a cloudless sky of blue by day and night, "cutting in" +and "trying-out" went on merrily, and the cooper and his mates toiled +like Trojans, setting-up fresh barrels; and the smoke and glare of the +try-works from the deck of the _Casilda_ lit up the placid ocean for +many a mile, whilst hordes of blue sharks rived and tore and ripped off +the rich blubber from the whales lying alongside waiting to be +cut-in, and Keller shot or lanced them by the score as he stood on the +cutting-in stage or in one of the boats made fast to the chains on the +free side. + +Fourteen months out, as the _Casilda_ was cruising northward, intending +to touch at one of the Navigator's Islands (Samoa) to refresh, the first +trouble occurred. Cheyne, Frewen's boatsteerer, who was a splendidly +built, handsome young fellow of twenty-four years of age, received a +rather severe injury to his right foot whilst a heavy baulk of timber +was being "fleeted" along the deck. Frewen, who was much attached to +him, dressed his foot as well as the rough appliances on board would +allow, and then reported him to the captain as unfit for duty. + +Keller growled something about all "darned half-breeds" being glad of +any excuse to shirk duty. + +Frewen took him up sharply: "This man is no shirker, sir. He is as good +a man as ever 'stood up' to strike a whale. Did you ever see a better +one?" + +Keller looked at his second officer with fourteen months' repressed +brutality glowering in his savage eyes. + +"I'm the captain of this ship. Just you mind that. I reckon I can't be +taught much by any college buster." + +Frewen's hands clenched, but he replied quietly, though he was inwardly +raging at Keller's contemptuous manner-- + +"Just so. You are the captain of this ship, and I know my duty, sir. +But I am not the man to be insulted by any one. And I say that my +boatsteerer is not fit for duty." + +Keller's retort was of so insulting a character that in another moment +the two men--to the intense delight of the crew--were fighting on the +after-deck. Lopes and the cooper, as in duty bound, sprang forward and +seized their fellow-officer, but the captain, with an oath, bade them +stand aside. + +"I'll pound you first," he cried hoarsely to Frewen, "then I'll kick you +into the foc'sle." + +The fight lasted for fifteen minutes, and then Lopes and the third mate +forced themselves between and separated them. Both men were terribly +punished. + +"That will do, sir; that will do, Frewen," said the mate; "do you want +to kill each other?" + +Keller had some good points about him and a certain amount of humour as +well. + +"Haow much air yew hurt, Frewen?" he inquired. "I can't exactly see" +(both his eyes were fast closing). + +"Pretty much like yourself," replied the officer; then he paused and +held out his hand. "Shake hands, sir. I'm sorry we've had this turn." + +"Wa'al, it's mighty poor business, that's a fact," and Keller took the +proffered hand, and then the matter apparently ended. + +Early in the morning on the following day whales were raised. There was +a stiff breeze and a choppy sea. Three boats, of which Frewen's was one, +were lowered. Cheyne, although suffering great pain, insisted on taking +his place, and twenty minutes later his officer called out to him to +"stand up," for they were close to the whale--a large cow, which was +moving along very slowly, apparently unconscious of the boat's presence. + +Then for the first time during the voyage the half-caste missed striking +his fish. Unable to sustain himself steadily, owing to his injured foot +and the rough sea, he darted his iron a second or two too late. It fell +flat on the back of the monstrous creature, which at once sounded in +alarm, and next reappeared a mile to windward. For an hour Frewen kept +up the chase, and then the ship signalled for all the boats to return, +for the wind and sea were increasing, and it was useless for them +to attempt to overtake the whales, which were now miles to windward. +Neither of the other boats had even come within striking distance of a +fish, and consequently Keller was in a vile temper when they returned, +and the moment he caught sight of the half-caste boatsteerer he assailed +him with a volley of abuse. + +The young man listened with sullen resentment dulling his dark face, +then as he turned to limp for'ard the captain bade him make haste and +get better, and not "try on any soldiering." + +He turned in an instant, his passion completely overmastering him: "I'm +no 'soldier,' and as good a man as you, you mean old Gape Cod water-rat. +I'll never lift another iron or steer a boat for you as long as I am on +this ship." + +Five minutes later he was in irons with a promise of being kept on +biscuit and water till he "took back all he had said" in the presence of +the ship's company. + +"I'll lie here and rot first sir," he said to Lopez; "my father was an +Englishman, and I consider myself as good a boatsteerer and as good a +man as any one on board. But I do not mean any disrespect to you, sir." + +Lopez was sorry for the man, but could not say so. "Keep a still tongue +between your teeth," he said roughly, "and I'll talk the old man round +by to-morrow." + +"Do as you please, sir. But I won't lift an iron again as long as I am +in this ship," he replied quietly. + +He kept his word. On the following morning he was liberated, and in a +week's time he had recovered the use of his foot. Then, when the barque +was off the Tonga Islands, a large "pod" of whales were sighted. It +was a clear, warm day. The sea was as smooth as a lake, and only the +faintest air was ruffling the surface of the water. Three miles away +were two small, low-lying islands, clad with coco-palms, their white +belting of beach glistening like iridescent pearl-shell under the +glowing tropic sun. + +As the boats were lowered he said to Frewen, "You know what I have said, +sir. I won't lift a harpoon again on this cruise; so don't ask me." + +Frewen did not believe him. "Don't be a fool, Randall. We'll show the +old man something to-day." + +"_I_ will, sir, if it costs me my life." + +Five minutes later he was in his old place on the for'ard thwart, +pulling stolidly, but looking intently at Frewen, whom he loved with a +dog-like affection. + +Frewen singled out a large bull whale which was lying quite apart from +the rest of the "pod" sunning himself, and sometimes rolling lazily +from side to side, oblivious of danger. In another five minutes the boat +would have been within striking distance. + +"Stand up, Randall," he said. + +The half-caste peaked and socketed his oar, and looked at the officer. + +"I refuse, sir," he said quietly. + +"Then come aft here," cried Frewen quickly, with hot anger in his tones. + +"No, sir, I will not. I said I would neither lift iron nor steer a boat +again," was the dogged reply. + +There was no time to lose. Giving the steer oar to the man pulling the +"after-tub oar," the officer sprang forward and picked up the harpoon +just in time, Randall jumping aft smartly enough, and taking the tub +man's oar. Ten seconds later Frewen had buried his harpoon up to the +socket in the whale, and the line was humming as the boat tore through +the water. Then, still keeping his place, he let the whole of one tub +of line run out, and then hauled up on it and lanced and killed his fish +quietly. Cheyne apparently took no notice, though his heart sank within +him when Frewen came aft again, and looked at him with mingled anger and +reproach. + +Some one of the boat's crew talked of what had occurred, though Frewen +said nothing; and that night Cheyne was placed in irons by Keller's +orders. At the end of a week he was still manacled and almost starving, +but he steadfastly refused to do boatsteerer's duty. Then the captain +no longer placed any check on himself, and he swore that he would either +make the half-caste yield or else kill him. And he did his best to keep +his word. + +Nearly a month passed, and then, at Frewen's suggestion, all the +officers waited on the captain and begged him to release the unfortunate +man; otherwise there was every prospect of the crew mutinying. + +"Is he willing to turn to again?" he asked. + +"Not as boatsteerer," replied Frewen. + +"Then he shall stay where he is," was the savage retort. + +Five or six days later Frewen went to Cheyne, who was now confined in +the 'tween decks, and implored him to give in. + +"Very well, sir. To please you I will give in. But I mean to desert the +first chance." + +"So do I. I am sick of this condition of things. There are three other +men besides yourself in irons now." + +"Who are they, sir?" + +"Willis, Hunt, and Freeman." (The two latter belonged to his own boat, +and had been ironed because they had refused to eat some bad beef. +Frewen himself had told Keller that it was uneatable, and again angry +words passed between them.) + +Cheyne was released and resumed his old place in Frewen's boat, and the +officer then sounded the rest of his men, and found they were eager +to leave the ship. So he made his plans, and he and Cheyne quietly got +together a small supply of provisions and a second breaker of water. + +They waited till the ship was well among the Friendly Group, and Upolu +Island was three hundred miles to the north, and then were given the +needed opportunity--when the mate's boat was destroyed by the big bull +whale, which was then struck by Cheyne. + +"Boys," shouted Frewen to his crew, as the boat tore through the water, +"I'm not going to kill this whale awhile. He'll give us a long run, and +is taking us dead to windward, away from the ship. But before it gets +dark I'll give him a bomb." + +He successfully carried out his intention. Just as darkness was coming +on he hauled up on his line and fired a bomb into the mighty creature; +it killed it in a few seconds. Then they lay alongside of the floating +carcase, spelled half an hour, had something to eat, and then Cheyne, +who had a sense of humour, wrote the scrawl to Keller and tied it round +the whift pole. + +"Now, lads," cried Frewen, "up sail! It is a fine dark night, and we +should be forty or fifty miles away by daylight." + +And so, whilst the _Casilda_ burnt flare after flare throughout the +night, the adventurers were slipping through the water merrily enough, +oblivious of the cold rain squalls which overtook them at midnight, as +they headed for Samoa. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +When Frewen allowed Cheyne to write the pencilled note to Captain +Keller, he did so with a double purpose, for he and Cheyne had carefully +thought out and decided upon their plans. In the first place, the dead +whale would convince the ship's company that he and his boat's crew had +"done the square thing," by killing and leaving for their benefit the +best and largest whale that had yet been taken, and that although +they were deserting (and consequently losing their entire share of the +profits of the cruise so far, which would be divided with their former +shipmates) the rich prize they were leaving to the ship would prove of +ten times the value of the boat in which they had escaped. In the second +place he wished to put Keller on a false scent by naming Savage Island +(or Nine, as it is generally known) as their destination; for Keller +knew that the island was a favourite resort of runaway sailors, but that +a suitable reward offered to the avaricious natives would be sure to +effect the capture and return to the ship of any deserters from the +_Casilda_. + +Cheyne's father was an English master mariner, who, tired of a seafaring +life, had settled as a trader in the beautiful island of Manono in +Samoa. He there married a daughter of one of the leading chiefs, and +himself attained to some considerable influence and property, but lost +his life in an encounter with a rebellious clan on the island of Upolu. +He left two children: Randall, a lad of sixteen, and Marie, a girl +two years younger. The boy went to sea in a whaler, and at the age +of twenty-four had an established reputation as one of the smartest +boatsteerers in the Pacific. Only once after four years' absence, had he +returned to his native country, when he found that his sister, who had +just arrived from Australia, where she had been educated, was about +to be married to one of the few Europeans in the country--a well-to-do +planter and merchant, named Raymond, and that his mother had also +married again, and settled in New Zealand. + +Satisfied as to his sister's future happiness, he saw her married, and +again turned his face to the sea, although Raymond earnestly besought +him to stay with and help him in his business. He made his way to +Honolulu, and there joined the _Casilda_, then homeward bound, and, as +has been related, he and the second officer soon became firm friends. + +At the south-east point of the island of Upelu, there is a town named +Lepa, and for this place the boat was now steering. The principal chief +of the district was a blood relation of Cheyne's mother, and he (Cheyne) +knew that every hospitality would be given to himself and Frewen for as +long a time as they chose to remain at Lepa. + +"After we have seen Mana'lio" (the chief) "we shall consider what we +shall do," said the boatsteerer to Frewen. "I expect he will not like +letting us leave him, but will be satisfied when he knows that you and I +want to go to my sister's place. These big Samoan chiefe are very touchy +in some things." + +On the afternoon of the third day out, the land was sighted, and just as +the evening fires were beginning to gleam from the houses embowered in +the palm-groves of Lepa, the boat grounded on the white hard beach, and +in a few minutes the village was in a pleasurable uproar, as the white +men were almost carried up to the chief's house by the excited natives, +who at once recognised the stalwart Cheyne. + +Mana'lio made his relative and Frewen most welcome, and treated them +as very honoured guests, whilst the rest of the boat's crew were taken +possession of by the sub-chiefs and the people of the town generally, +carried off to the _fale taupule_ or "town hall," and invited to a +hurriedly prepared but ample repast. + +On the following morning, Frewen called the whole of his boat's crew +together, and told them it would be best for them to separate. "Each of +you four men say you don't want to go to sea again--not for a long time +at any rate. Well, Mana'lio, the chief here, wants a white man to live +with him. He will treat him well, and give him a house and land. Will +you stay, Hunt?" + +"Yes, sir," was the instant reply. + +"Right. And you, Freeman, Chase, and Craik, can stay here in Lepa, +and decide for yourselves which towns you will live in. In less than +forty-eight hours half the chiefe on the island will be coming to +Mana'lio for a white man. Cheyne here will give you some good advice--if +you want the natives to respect you, and to get along and make money and +a honest living, follow his advice." + +"Ay, ay, sir," assented the men. + +"Now, here is another matter. Cheyne and I wish to be mates, and we want +the boat." + +"Well, I guess _we_ have no claim on her, sir," said Hunt, turning to +the others for confirmation of his remark. + +"Oh, yes you have--she is as much yours as she is mine. Anyway we all +have a good right to her, as we have given the ship a whale worth a +dozen new boats; and, besides that, by deserting we have forfeited our +'lays' and have put money into Captain Keller's pocket as well as +into those of the crew. Now, I have a little money with me--two hundred +dollars. Will you four men take a hundred and divide it, and let Cheyne +and me have the boat?" + +"Ay, ay, to be sure," they cried out in unison. + +That evening Frewen and Cheyne bade Mana'lio and the seamen goodbye, and +accompanied by four stalwart and well-armed natives, stepped into the +boat, hoisted her blue jean main-sail and jib, and amidst a chorus of +farewells from the friendly people set off on a forty miles trip along +the coast, their destination being the town of Samatau, at the extreme +north-west of the island. + +For here, so Mana'lio had told them, Mrs. Raymond and her husband were +living, the latter having purchased a large tract of land there which he +was preparing for a cotton plantation. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The boat sailed gently along the outer or barrier reef which fringed +the coast of beautiful verdured Upolu, and then, as the sun sank, there +shone out myriad stars upon the bosom of a softly heaving sea, and +only the never-ceasing murmur of the surf as it beat against the coral +barrier, or the cry of some wandering sea-bird, disturbed the warm +silence of the tropic night. + +Leaving the boat to the care of their native friends at eight o'clock, +Frewen and his comrade laid down amidships and were soon fast asleep, +for the day had been a tiring one, and they needed more rest to recover +from the effects of the three days they had spent on the open sea. + +Soon after daylight they were awakened by the steersman, who pointed out +a large, lofty-sparred vessel. She was about five miles away, and being +head on, Frewen was uncertain as to her rig, till an hour later, when he +saw that she was a full-rigged ship. + +"Not the _Casilda_" he said to his comrade, and neither of them gave the +strange vessel any further thought, especially as the wind had now died +away, and, the sail being lowered, the crew bent to the oars under an +already hot and blazing sun. + +Shortly before noon, the boat rounded a low headland and entered +a lovely little bay, embowered in thick groves of coco-palms and +breadfruit trees. The new house which Raymond had built was not +visible from the bay, but there were some thirty or forty native houses +clustered under the shade of the trees, a few yards up from the beach, +on which they noticed a ship's longboat was lying. + +The moment Frewen's boat was seen, a strange clamour arose, and a number +of natives, armed with muskets and long knives, rushed out of their +houses, and took cover behind the rocks and trees, evidently with the +intention of resisting his landing, and Frewen and Cheyne heard loud +cries of "_Lemonte! Lemonte!_" + +"Back water!" cried Cheyne in his mother tongue to the crew; then he +turned to Frewen: "There is something wrong on shore. 'Lemonte' is my +brother-in-law's name, and they are calling for him." Then he stood up +and shouted out-- + +"Friends, do you not know me? I am Randall. Where is my sister and her +husband?" + +A loud cry of astonishment burst from the natives, many of whom, +throwing down their arms, sprang into the water, and clambering into the +boat greeted the young man most affectionately; and then one of them, +commanding silence, began talking rapidly to him. + +"We must get ashore quickly," said Cheyne to Randall. "My brother-in-law +has a number of dead and dying people in his house. There has been a +mutiny on board that ship--but come on, he'll tell us all about it." + +In another minute the boat was on the beach, and as Frewen and Cheyne +jumped ont they were met by a handsome, dark-faced man about forty years +of age, who grasped Cheyne's hands warmly. + +"I never expected to see you, Randall," he said quietly, "but I thank +God that you _have_ come, and at such a time, too. Where is your ship?" + +"Three hundred miles away. But we will tell you our story another time. +How is Marie?" + +"Well. She already hears the people shouting your name. Come to the +house." Then he turned to Frewen and held out his hand. "My name is +Raymond, and you are welcome to Samatau." + +"And mine is Frewen. I hope you will accept any assistance I can give." + +"Gladly. But I will tell you the whole story presently. I have two men +dying in my house, three others wounded, and two dead." + +He led the way along a shady, winding path to the house, on the wide +verandah of which were seated a number of natives of both sexes, who +made way for them to pass with low murmurs of "_Talofa, aliia_," {*} to +the two strangers. Then in another moment Marie Raymond stepped softly +out from the sitting-room, and threw her arms round her brother's neck. + + * "Greeting, gentlemen." + +"Thank God you are here, Randall," she said, leading the way into +another room. "Tom will tell you of what has happened. I will return as +soon as I can." + +"How is Captain Marston?" asked Raymond, as she stood for a moment with +her hand on the handle of the door. + +"Still unconscious. Mrs. Marston is with him." She paused, and then +turned her dark and beautiful tear-dimmed eyes to Frewen: "Tom, perhaps +this gentleman might be able to do something. Will he come in and see?" + +Raymond drew him aside. "Go in and see the poor fellow. He can't last +long--his skull is fractured." + +Frewen followed Mrs. Raymond into the large room, and saw lying on her +own bed the figure of a man whose features were of the pallor of death. +His head was bound up, and kneeling by his side, with her eyes bent +upon his closed lids, was a woman, or rather a girl of twenty-two or +twenty-three years of age. As, at the sound of footsteps, she raised her +pale, agonised face, something like a gleam of hope came into it. + +"Are you a doctor?" she asked in a trembling whisper. + +The seaman shook his head respectfully. "No, madam; I would I were." + +He leant over the bed, and looked at the still, quiet face of the man, +whom he could see was in the prime of life, and whose regular, clear-cut +features showed both refinement and strength of character. + +"He still breathes," whispered the poor wife. + +"Yes, so I see," said Frewen, as he rose. Then he asked Mrs. Raymond +a few questions as to the nature of the wound, and learned that in +addition to a fractured skull a pistol bullet had entered at the back of +the neck. + +"There is no hope, you think. I can see that by your face," said Mrs. +Marston, suppressing a sob. + +"I cannot tell, madam. But I do think that his condition is very, very +serious." + +She bent her head, and then sank on her knees again beside the bed, but +suddenly she rose again, and placed her hand on Frewen's sleeve. + +"I know that my husband must die, no human aid can save him. But will +you, sir, go and see poor Mr. Villari. Mr. Raymond has hopes for him at +least. And he fought very bravely for my husband." + +Villari was the first mate of the ship, and was lying in another room, +together with three wounded seamen. He was a small, wiry Italian, and +when Frewen entered with Raymond and Mrs. Raymond, he waved his right +hand politely to them, and a smile lit up his swarthy features. He had +two bullet wounds, one a clean hole through the right shoulder, the +other in the thigh. He had lost a great deal of blood, but none of his +high courage, though Raymond at first thought he could not live. + +"I am not going to die," he said. "_Per Bacco_, no." + +Frewen spoke encouragingly to him and then turned his attention to the +seamen, all of whom were Englishmen. None of them were severely wounded, +and all that could be done for them had been done by Raymond and their +own unwounded shipmates, of whom there were four. + +"Now I shall tell you the story," said Raymond to Frewen and Cheyne, as +he led the way to the verandah, on which a table with refreshments had +been placed. "But, first of all, do you see that ship out there? Well, +that is the _Esmeralda_. She is now in the possession of the mutineers, +and has on board forty-five thousand dollars. You see that she is +becalmed?" + +"And likely to continue so for another three or four days, if I am any +judge of the weather in this part of the Pacific," said Frewen, "I agree +with you. And now, before I begin to tell you the story of the mutiny, +I want to know if you two will help me to recapture her? You are seamen, +and--" + +Both men sprang to their feet. + +"Yes, we will!" + +"Ah! I thought you would not refuse. Now wait a moment," and calling to +a young native who was near, he bade him go to the chief of Samatau and +ask him to come to the house as quickly as possible. + +"Malie, the chief of Samatau, will help us," he said to Frewen; "he has +two hundred of the best fighting men in Samoa, and I shall ask him to +pick out fifty. But we want a nautical leader--some one to take charge +of the ship after we get possession of her." + +"Now here is the story of the mutiny, told to me by poor Mrs. Marston." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"At daylight this morning, my wife and I were aroused by our servants, +who excitedly cried to as to come outside. A boat, they said, was on the +beach with a number of white men in it, some of whom were dead. + +"I went down to the beach at once, and five minutes later had all the +unfortunate wounded and unwounded people assisted to the house, for +they were completely exhausted by what they had undergone, and were also +suffering from thirst. Two of their number had succumbed to their wounds +in the boat a few hours previously, so Villari, the mate, told me. +Marston, who had been shot in the neck, was unconscious, and his wife +who, as you saw, is little more than a girl, was herself wounded in the +arm by a musket ball. + +"We did all that we could do, and after Mrs. Marston had had an hour's +rest, she and Villari told me their story. + +"The _Esmeralda_ is Marston's own ship, and left Valdivia, in Chile, for +Manila about seven weeks ago. She is almost a new ship, only having been +built at Aberdeen last year. Marston, who had just married, brought out +a general cargo from London to Valdivia and other South American ports, +and sold it at a very handsome profit. Whilst on the coast, fever broke +out on board, and he lost his second mate and five A.B.'s, and the third +mate and two others had to go into hospital. In their places he shipped +a new second mate--a man named Juan Almanza--and twelve seamen, ten of +whom were either Chilenos or Peruvians, and the remaining two Greeks. +The former boatswain he promoted to the third mate's birth. Almanza +proved to be a good officer, and the new men gave him satisfaction, +though his agent at Valdivia had urged him not to take the two Greeks, +who, he said, were likely to prove troublesome. Unfortunately he did not +take the agent's advice, and said that he had often had Greeks with him +on previous voyages, and found them very fair sailormen--much better +than Chilenos or Mexicans. + +"He had been paid for his cargo mostly in silver dollars, and the money +was brought on board in as quiet a manner as possible, and he believed +without the new hands knowing anything about it. Poor fellow; he was +fatally mistaken! In all it amounted to thirty-five thousand dollars, +and in addition to this there was a further sum of two thousand pounds +in English gold on board--Marston, I must tell you, is, I imagine, a +fairly wealthy man, for his wife told me that he had the _Esmeralda_ +built at a cost of six thousand pounds. + +"He had been informed at Valdivia that a cargo of Chile flour, which +could be bought very cheaply at Valparaiso, could be sold at a huge +profit in Manila, and he thereupon bought a full cargo--six hundred +tons--and sailed, as I have said, about seven weeks ago. All went well +on board from the very first, although the English seamen did not much +care about their foreign shipmates, who, however, did their duty after +a fashion. Almanza, Mrs. Marston says, was in all respects an able +and smart officer, and both she and her husband took a great liking to +him--the scoundrel! + +"The two Greeks--who, by the way, called themselves and shipped under +the English names of John Foster and James Ryan--the Levantine breed +do that trick very often--were in Almanza's watch, as were six of the +Chilenos; and the mate one night, coming on deck when it was his watch +below, was surprised to find Almanza and the two Greeks engaged in an +earnest conversation. His suspicions were aroused, and he reported the +matter to the captain, who, however, made light of it, and said that +Almanza had told him that Foster and Ryan had been shipmates with him +on a Sydney barque some years before, and that it was only natural that +Almanza would relax discipline a little, and condescend to chat for a +few minutes with men who had sailed with him previously. + +"Ryan, the older of the two, had proved himself an excellent seaman, and +both Marston and Villari felt sure, from the way in which he spoke to +the other seamen, that he had at one time been an officer. In addition +to Spanish he speaks both English and French remarkably well, and his +manners and personal appearance are extremely good, and no one would +take him to be a Greek. He, however, frankly admitted that his name was +not Ryan and that he was a native of the island of Naxos in the AEgean +Sea. + +"At this time, Mr. Frewen, the _Esmeralda_ was near these islands--in +fact, Upolu was in sight; and Marston, knowing that there were some +Europeans settled at the port of Apia, on the north side of the island, +decided to put in there for fresh provisions, of which the ship was in +need. + +"Perhaps his decision made the scoundrelly Almanza imagine that he +suspected him, and was only touching at Apia to rid himself of +his second officer and his Greek and Chileno accomplices, for Mrs. +Marston--who shudders when she mentions Almanza's name--says that +shortly after the ship's course was altered for Apia, he went for'ard on +some excuse, but in reality to talk to the Greeks in the fore-peak. He +was absent about a quarter of an hour, and then went about his duties as +usual. + +"A little before six bells, Captain Marston was on the poop looking +at the land through his glasses, Mrs. Marston was in her cabin sewing, +Villari, with the boatswain and three A.B.'s (all Englishmen), were with +the steward and third mate engaged in the lazzarette overhauling and +re-stowing the provisions. Suddenly the captain was felled by a blow on +the head dealt him from behind, and the mate and those with him were at +the same moment ordered by Almanza to come up out of the lazzarette. He +told them that he was in possession of the ship, and that they would be +shot down if they attempted to resist. Villari and his men came up, and +found the second mate and six of the mutineers in the cabin, all armed +with pistols and cutlasses. Resistance was useless, and Almanza told +Villari not to think of it. He (Villari) was then hustled into his own +cabin and locked in, and the English seamen ordered on deck, where they, +with the other Englishmen on board, were made to hoist out the longboat. +Whilst this was being done Almanza, who had locked Mrs. Marston in her +cabin, opened the door, and told her that she need feel no fear, but +that she must come on deck to attend to her husband, who had been hurt +She found Marston lying where he fell, and quite unconscious, with a +Chileno standing guard over him. As the English members of the crew were +hoisting out the longboat, Almanza told the steward--a negro--to get +some provisions and some bottles of wine from the cabin. Then the two +Greeks--who from the first had seemed bent on murder--interfered, and +one of them suddenly raised his pistol and shot the unfortunate steward +through the heart. The Chileno seamen applauded the act, and only +Almanza's frenzied protests prevented them from slaughtering the unarmed +Englishmen, the Greeks declaring that they (the mutineers) were only +putting ropes round their necks by sparing any one of them--including +Mrs. Marston. + +"For some minutes it seemed as if there was to be a conflict between +Almanza and his followers, but the mutineers appeared to yield to his +appeals, and assisted in getting the longboat out. The captain was then +lowered into the boat, and then Mrs. Marston and all the Englishmen but +two followed; when suddenly Villari, who had succeeded in forcing his +door, sprang up from the cabin with a pistol in each hand, and singling +out Almanza, shot him through the chest, and with the second shot +wounded one of the Chilenos in the face. But in another instant he +himself fell, for the Greeks and several of the gang fired at him +simultaneously, and he was also given a fearful blow on the head with a +belaying-pin, partly stunning him, and then thrown overboard to drown. +The two men remaining on deck saved their lives by jumping overboard at +the same time. + +"Most fortunately for the poor mate he fell near the boat, and was +rescued by one of the seamen, who sprang overboard after him. But not +satisfied with what they had already done, and enraged at the fall of +their leader, the mutineers now began firing into the defenceless people +in the boat at such a short range that it is marvellous that any one +escaped. + +"Before they were able to pull out of range, the captain, third mate, +and one of the seamen were mortally wounded, and two others and +Mrs. Marston also were hit Then the mutineers, evidently bent on the +slaughter of the whole party, began to lower away one of the heavy +quarter-boats, but although she was actually put in the water the +villains changed their minds for some reason, and the longboat was not +pursued." + +"Ah!" said Frewen, "I expect they were afraid to leave the ship in case +a breeze sprang up." + +"So Villari says. However, they then began firing round shot at the +longboat from the two nine-pounders on the quarter-deck--the _Esmeralda_ +is armed with six guns--but made such bad practice that after half a +dozen shots had been fired they gave up the attempt. + +"The ship at this time was in the Straits of Manono, and the boat was +headed for the nearest land, which was Samatau--the four unwounded men +keeping to the oars most manfully, only taking short spells every hour. +As darkness came on they saw the lights of Samatau village, and came +on without fear, for they knew that the natives of Samoa, though very +warlike, were hospitable and friendly to Europeans. During the night the +third mate and the badly wounded A.B. died, and poor Marston, who had +never spoken since he had been first struck down, lay as you saw him a +little while ago, without the slightest sign of returning consciousness. +Villari, however, began to improve, and weak as he was, yet contrived +to show one of the men how to dress Mrs. Marston's wound in a more +efficient manner. He _is_ a plucky little fellow. + +"The boat would have reached here much sooner, only that Villari and his +people could not find the passage through the reef, and several times +struck on coral patches. + +"Well, that is the whole of the story--and a very dreadful one it is +too. I do feel so for that poor little woman. Her heart is breaking." + +"Ay, indeed," said Frewen, "poor thing! She seems hardly more than a +girl." + +"However, please God, we shall get her husband's ship back," and +Raymond's dark eyes sparkled. "Ah! here comes the chief. He will not +fail us. He is one of the most renowned fighters in Samoa, is he not, +Randall?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Malie, the supreme chief of the district, was indeed, as Raymond said, +one of the most renowned fighters, not only on Upoln, but in all Samoa, +and Frewen, as he shook hands with him, thought he had never seen so +noble and imposing a figure. He was a man of about sixty years of age, +with closely-cropped white hair and thick moustache, but so youthful was +he in his carriage, and so smooth was the bright copper-red of his skin, +that he seemed more like a man of thirty whose hair and moustache had +become prematurely blanched. The upper portion of his huge but yet +beautifully proportioned and muscular figure was bare to the waist, +around which was wrapped many folds of tappa cloth bleached to a snowy +whiteness, which accentuated the startling contrast of the bright blue +tattooing which reached from his waist to his knees. Depending from his +neck, and falling in a long loop across a broad chest scarred by many +wounds, was a simple yet beautiful ornament consisting of some hundreds +of discs of gleaming pearl-shell, perforated at the sides, and strung +together by a thin cord of human hair. In his right hand he carried a +_fui_, or fly-wisp, made of coco-nut fibre, and Frewen noticed during +the conversation that followed that he used this with the dainty grace +that characterises a Spanish lady with her fan. + +Accompanying the chief was a tall, thin old man, named Talitaua, who +was Malie's _tulafale_ or orator--a position which in Samoa is one +much coveted and highly respected, for the _tulafale_ is in reality a +Minister of War, and on his public utterances much depends. If he is +possessed of any degree of eloquence, he can either avert or bring about +war, just as he chooses to either inflame or subdue the passions of his +audience when, rising and supporting himself on his polished staff of +office, he first scans the expectant faces of the throng seated on the +ground before him ere he opens his lips to speak. On this occasion, +however, Talitaua had merely come with Malie as a personal friend +anxious to learn privately what he would probably have to communicate +to the assembled people as soon as the discussion with Raymond was +concluded. Both he and the chief had already heard full details of the +mutiny from Raymond, and they guessed that the planter had something +further and of importance to say to them concerning it. After the usual +courtesies so rigidly observed on visits of ceremony had passed between +them and Raymond, they patiently awaited him to begin, though very +curious to learn what was the occasion of Frewen's and Cheyne's +unlooked-for appearance. Their natural politeness, however, as well as +the never-to-be-infringed-upon Samoan etiquette, utterly forbade them to +make even the slightest allusion to the matter; they would, they knew, +learn in good time. + +Seating themselves on chairs in European fashion at one side of the +table, whilst Raymond and his two companions occupied those opposite, +they first made inquiry as to the wounded men and Mrs. Marston, and the +planter answered their polite queries. Then after a pause Raymond began +by saying-- + +"This _alii_ {*} is named Mr. Frewen. He is an officer of a _vaa +soia_,{**} and is a friend of my wife's brother, and therefore is a +friend of mine--and thine also, Malie toa o Samatau,{***} and Talitaua." + + * Chief--gentleman. + + ** A whale-ship. + + *** His full title, "Malie, warrior of Samatau." The present + King Malietoa of Samoa is a descendant. + +The chief and his orator bent their heads, but said nothing beyond a +simple _Lelei, lelei lava_ ("Good, very good"). + +Then Raymond went to the point as quickly as possible, and asked the +chief if he would assist him, Frewen, and Cheyne in recapturing the ship +from the mutineers. Speaking, of course, in Samoan, he said-- + +"As thou seest, Malie, the wind hath died away, and the ship is +becalmed, so that the murderers on board cannot escape us if we do but +act soon and come upon them suddenly." + +The chief thought for a few moments, then answered-- + +"I will not refuse thee anything in reason that thou asketh me, Lemonti. +But yet my people must be told of what is in thy mind." + +"True. They shall know. But before I unfold to thee my plan to take +this ship by surprise so that but little or no blood may be shed, I will +pledge myself to the people of Samatan and to thee to act generously +to them for the help they will give. The captain is hurt to death +and cannot speak, and the lady his wife is too smitten with grief to +consider aught but her husband, so on her behalf do I speak; for she is +my countrywoman, and it would be a shameful thing for me did I not help +her." + +Then he went on, and dearly and lucidly detailed his scheme to the +chief, afterwards translating his remarks into English for the benefit +of Frewen, who listened with the keenest interest. Cheyne, of course, +understood Samoan perfectly. + +Raymond's plan was simple enough. + +He proposed to take the _Casilda's_ boat, and with Frewen, Cheyne, and +a few natives go boldly off and board the ship, and representing +himself as a trader anxious to buy European provisions, begin to work +by throwing the mutineers off their guard, by warning them of the danger +the ship was in through being in so close to the land during a calm, for +the currents in the Straits of Manono were very strong and she would +be carried on to the reef unless she was towed out of the danger +limit towards which he would say (and truthfully enough) that she was +drifting. The mutineers, he felt convinced, would feel so alarmed that +they would listen to and accept his suggestion to let him engage the +services of half a dozen native boats, whose united efforts would soon +place the ship out of danger by towing her out of the danger zone. +Then he and those with him would bide their time, and at a given signal +spring upon the mutineers, who would be completely off their guard. + +He entered into the details so minutely that not only Frewen and Cheyne, +but Malie as well, expressed the warmest admiration and approval. Then +he told Malie exactly what to do when he (the chief) saw the whale-boat +leaving the ship to return to the shore, and Malie listened carefully to +his instructions and promised that they should be carried out exactly as +he desired. + +Then the stalwart chief and his orator rose to take their leave, for +they had to call the people together and acquaint them with what was to +be done. + +"Have no fear, Lemonti, that the calm will break," he said in reply to a +fear expressed by the planter that a breeze might, after all, spring +up and carry the ship too far off the land for the attempt to be made. +"'Tis a calm that will last for many days. Look at the mountains of +Savai'i"--and he pointed out the cloud-capped summits of the range that +traverses the great island of Savai'i--"when the clouds lie white and +heavy and low down it meaneth no wind for many days, not as much as +would stir a palm-leaf. But there will be rain at night--much rain." + +"The better for our purpose," said Raymond, as the chief left the house. +"Now, Randall, we must hurry along. Take half a dozen of my people, and +let them catch a couple of pigs and plenty of fowls; then cut about +a dozen or so large bunches of bananas and get enough other +fruit--pineapples, sugar-cane, guavas, and young coco-nuts as will +make a big show in the boat. Mr. Frewen and I will join you in about a +quarter of an hour, and then you and he can show the natives how to stow +the things, as I have suggested to the chief." + +Returning to the house he sought out his wife. + +"Marie, we are going to recapture that ship. Don't be alarmed, and don't +say anything to poor Mrs. Marston till you see us returning; but you may +tell the mate." + +Mrs. Raymond never for one instant thought of trying to dissuade her +husband from a mission which she felt was full of danger. She kissed +him, and said, "Tell me what to get ready, Tom." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and the decks of the _Esmeralda_ +gleamed dazzlingly white under the burning rays of the Samoan sun, as +she lay motionless upon a sea as calm as some sheltered mountain lake +or reed-margined swamp hidden away in the quiet depths of the primeval +forest. Twenty miles away to the south and east of the ship, the +purple-grey crests of the mountains of Savai'i rose nearly five thousand +feet in air, and, nearer the long verdant slope of beautiful Upolu +stretched softly and gently upwards from the white beaches of the +western point to the forest-clad sides of Mount Tofoa--ten miles +distant. Still nearer to the ship, and shining like a giant emerald +lying within a circlet of snow, was the island of Manono, the home or +birthplace of all the chiefly families of Samoa for many centuries +back. Almost circular in shape, and in no place more than fifty feet +in height, it was covered with an ever-verdant forest of breadfruit, +pandanus, orange and palm-groves, broken here and there by the +russet-hued villages of the natives, built just where the shining beach +met the green of the land. And the whole seemed to float on the bosom of +the lagoon, which, completely encompassed by the barrier reef, slumbered +peacefully--its waters undisturbed except when they moved responsive to +the gently-flowing current from the blue ocean beyond, or were rippled +by the paddle of a fisherman's canoe. A mile beyond Manono, and midway +between it and the "iron-bound" coast of Savai'i, was the little +volcanic isle of Apolima--once in olden times the fortress that guarded +the passage through the straits, now occupied only by a few families of +fisher-folk dwelling in peace and plenty in the village nestling at the +foot of the long-extinct volcano. Overhead a sky of wondrous spotless +blue. + + * * * * * + +On the quarter-deck of the _Esmeralda_ three of the mutineers were +seated together under the shade of a small temporary awning, engaged +in an earnest conversation. A fourth person--Almanza--who was at that +moment the subject of their conversation, was lying in the captain's +stateroom, immediately beneath them; the rest of the gang were idling +about on the main or fore decks smoking their inevitable cigarettes, and +waiting till the Levantine "Ryan," whom they now recognised as leader, +called them to hear the result of the discussion. + +The Chileno, who was seated with Ryan and Foster, was named Rivas, and +had recommended himself to them by reason of his ferocious and merciless +disposition. Long before the mutiny occurred he, with the Greeks, had +insisted upon the necessity of murdering not only the captain, first +officer, steward, and all the English seamen, but Mrs. Marston as +well. Almanza, however, protested so strenuously that they reluctantly +consented not to resort to murder, if it could possibly be avoided; but +their lust for slaughter was too great to be controlled when Villari +made his gallant attempt to aid his captain. + +On the top of the skylight was spread a chart, at which Ryan was +looking, trying to find out as near as he could the ship's position. +He could read English, and easily recognised the islands of Apolima and +Manono, both of which were shown on the chart. + +"That is where we are now, or about there," he said, taking a pencil in +his hand and making a mark on the spot. "But we are drifting towards the +reefs, and must anchor once we get into soundings--or else go ashore." + +"Do you think he is going to die?" inquired Rivas, with a gesture +towards the cabin. + +"How can I tell, comrade?" replied the Greek with an angry snarl. "Only +that we want him badly to navigate the ship, it would be best for us if +he does die--for two reasons." + +His fellow-scoundrels nodded assent. The two reasons they knew were, +firstly, that Almanza had proved to be too timorous as regarded the +taking of life, and secondly that his death would give them a greater +share of plunder. + +"Well, what are we to do?" asked Rivas. + +"What can we do?" exclaimed Foster fiercely, as he shook his +black-haired, greasy and ear-ringed head. "We must wait and see if he +gets better--unless we drift ashore in the night and get our throats cut +by los Indios over there," and he indicated the islands. + +"Bah!" growled his countryman. "Did I not tell you that I heard the +captain say over and over again that these people are not savages? But +what we do want is a breeze, so that we can work off the land--for how +are a few men going to tow a heavy ship like this against a two-knot +current? We could not move her." Then he called out, with a sneering +inflection in his tones, "Come aft, comrades, and we shall drink to our +_brave_ captain's speedy recovery." + +The rest of the mutineers but one obeyed with alacrity, just as the man +who remained, and who was standing on the topgallant foc'sle, gave a +loud cry-- + +"A boat is coming from the shore!" + +In an instant confusion ensued; but Ryan, picking up Marston's glass, +angrily bade them be silent. The boat had approached to within a mile of +the ship, and Ryan saw that she was pulling four oars. + +"It is not the captain's boat, _amigos_," he said, "and there seem to be +only a few people in her. But be ready." + +The _Esmeralda_, in addition to the six guns she carried, was +plentifully provided with small-arms--enough for a crew of thirty men; +and all of these, as well as the big guns, were kept loaded, for +after the escape of the captain's boat the mutineers had worked most +energetically to put the ship in a state of defence--both Almanza and +Ryan recognising the possibility of the survivors of Marston's party +reaching Apia, and there obtaining assistance to enable them to +recapture the ship. + +The boat came on steadily, the blades of her four oars flashing in the +bright sunlight. Ryan continued to look at her, and felt quite satisfied +when he saw she contained but seven persons, three of whom were +Europeans, and four natives. + +"It is a whale-boat," he cried; "and there are three white men in her +and four natives. She is very deep in the water, and I can see a lot of +green stuff in the bows." (These were the bunches of bananas, purposely +stowed in a pile for'ard, so as to indicate the boat's peaceful +mission.) + +The mutineers--with the exception of the two Greeks--who remained on the +quarter-deck, dressed in Mars-ton's and Villari's clothes--stood in the +waist. All were armed with pistols, and a number of loaded muskets were +lying along the waterways close to their hands, if needed. + +When within easy speaking distance of the ship Ryan went to the rail and +hailed the boat. + +"Boat ahoy!" + +The four oars ceased pulling, and Frewen, who was steering, stood up and +answered the hail. + +"Good morning, captain. I've seen you since daylight. You are drifting +too close in, so I've come off to warn you to tow off." + +"Come on board, please," replied the Greek, who, as Frewen spoke, saw +that the boat was deeply-laden with fruit; and the cackling of fowls +and sudden squeal of a pig convinced him that everything was right. And +then, in a few minutes, Frewen and Raymond clambered up the side and +walked quickly aft to where Ryan stood on the poop. + +"How do you do, captain?" said Frewen, holding out his hand. "Where are +you from, sir?" + +"Valparaiso to Batavia," was the glib reply, as the mutineer shook +hands with his visitors. "Are you living on shore there?" and he nodded +towards Samatau. + +"Yes, this is my partner. We have a cotton plantation there. We have +brought you off a boatload of fresh provisions. Perhaps you can spare +us a cask of salt beef in exchange? Pork is the only meat we have on +shore." + +"Very well, I can easily do that," was the reply. + +Frewen went to the side and hailed the watchful Cheyne. + +"Pass up all that stuff, Randall," he said. + +Aided by the Chileno seamen, Cheyne and the four natives soon cleared +the boat of the livestock and fruit, whilst Ryan, who had not yet asked +his visitors below, continued to talk to them on deck, although he +told one of the crew, whom he addressed as "steward," to bring up +refreshments. + +"Now, captain," continued Frewen, speaking in the most friendly +manner, "you must set to and tow your ship away from here as quietly +as possible, or you will go ashore if this calm lasts. You can't anchor +anywhere near here, the water is too deep." + +"Perhaps you will help me? I am short-handed. Twelve of my crew took +the longboat and deserted from me during the voyage, and I am in a tight +place." + +"Oh, well, captain, we must try and help you out of it to the best +of our ability." He raised his glass. "I am glad to have met you, +Captain------," and he paused. + +"Ryan is my name. The ship is the _Esmeralda_." + +"And a beautiful ship she is, too. You must be proud to command such a +splendid vessel, sir." + +"She is a fine ship," was the brief reply. "Now will you please tell me +how you are going to help me?" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Frewen seemed to think for a moment or two ere he replied; then he +looked at Raymond inquiringly. + +"How long would it take to send to Falealili,{*} and ask Tom Morton, the +trader, to come with his two boats and help the captain?" he asked. + + * A large native town on the south side of Upolu. + +"A day at least--too long altogether with such a strong current setting +the ship towards the reef." + +"Ah, yes, I daresay it would," he said meditatively; then, as if struck +with a sudden inspiration, he added quickly, "What about Malie? He has +any number of boats--a dozen at least." + +"Just the man!" replied Raymond. "He will let the captain have all the +boats and men to man them that are wanted--but he'll want to be paid for +it." + +"Certainly," interrupted the mutineer, who little imagined how adroitly +he was being meshed. "I'll pay anything reasonable. Who is he?" + +"Oh, he is a big chief living quite near me, and a decent enough fellow. +He has a number of large native-built boats. The natives call them +_taumualua_, which means sharp at both ends.{*} They seat from six to +eight paddlers on each side. Five, or even four such boats, well manned, +would make the ship move along. Three or four hours' towing will put her +into the edge of the counter current setting to the south and eastward +away from the land, and then she'll be out of danger, no matter how long +the calm lasts." + +In a few minutes it was decided that the boat should return to the +shore, where Raymond was to see the chief and arrange with him to +provide five or six well-manned _taunwalua_, which Frewen said should be +alongside to receive the tow-lines within two or three hours. + +As he (Frewen) was about to go over the side Ryan made a half apology +for the ship's crew carrying arms, at which the young man smiled and +said-- + +"Oh, a good many captains that touch at Samoa for the first time keep +their crews armed, imagining the natives might try to cut them off. But +the Samoans are a different kind of people to the savages of the Western +Pacific; there has only been one ship cut off in this group, and that +must have occurred fifty years ago."{**} + + * These boats are usually built from the wood of the + breadfruit-tree. Not a single nail is used in their + construction; every plank is joined to its fellow by + lashings of coconut fibre. + + ** A fact. + +Just as he had taken his seat beside Raymond and Cheyne, the Greek said +politely-- + +"If there is no necessity for both of you gentlemen to go on shore +again, won't one of you stay on board and have some supper?" + +This was just the invitation that Frewen was looking for, but he +appeared to hesitate for a moment or two. + +"Thank you, captain, I think I will. There is certainly nothing for me +to do on shore that my partner cannot do as well or better than myself. +And I should like to hear any news from Europe that you may have to +tell." + +As he clambered up the side again the boat pushed off, and the stalwart +native crew sent her, now she was lightened of her load of provisions, +skimming through the water. + +When the American returned to the quarter-deck, Ryan introduced to +him "Mr. Foster, my second mate," and added that in addition to the +misfortune of losing twelve of his crew when coming through the Paumotu +Group, his chief officer had accidentally shot himself, and shattered +his collar-bone. + +"Indeed!" said Frewen, with an air of concern, instantly surmising that +the injured man was either Almanza or the Chileno sailor whom Villari +had shot. "Is he getting on all right?" + +"Not at all well--and unfortunately I do not know anything about a +fractured collar-bone." + +Frewen replied, with perfect truth, that he had seen several broken +collar-bones. Perhaps he might be of assistance. + +"Captain Ryan" thanked him, and said he would at once go down, see how +the injured man was getting on, and would send for him in ten minutes or +so. Meanwhile would Mr. Frewen join Mr. Foster in a glass of wine. + +The young whaling officer sat down near the skylight, and as the +dark-faced, dirty-looking ruffian seated opposite passed him, with an +amiable grin, a decanter of excellent sherry, wondered which of the two +Levantines was the greater cut-throat of the two. Ryan, as he called +himself, was somewhat of a dandy. He did not wear ear-rings; and +Villari's clothes--which fitted him very well--made him look as if he +had been used to dress well all his life. Foster, on the other hand, who +was arrayed in poor Marston's garments, was the typical Greek seaman one +might meet any day in almost any seaport town of importance. He was +a fairly tall man, well and powerfully built, but his hawk-like and +truculent visage inspired the American with a deeper aversion than +that with which he regarded Ryan--who, however, was in reality the more +tigerish-natured of the two. + +As they sat talking, Frewen happened to look along the deck for'ard, and +caught sight of a seaman with the lower part of his face bandaged. +He was standing at the galley door talking to some one inside, but +happening to see the American looking at him, he hurriedly slipped round +the for'ard end of the galley out of sight. + +"Ah," thought Frewen, "that is the other fellow that Villari put out of +action--the man below is Almansa." + +His surmise he found was correct, for at the end of a quarter of an +hour, Ryan, who had been giving Almansa all the news in the interval, +appeared and asked him to come below and see the chief officer. He led +the way below, and entering the officer's cabin, said-- + +"Here is the gentleman from the shore, Mr. Almanza. Let him see your +hurt." + +The leader of the mutineers was evidently in great pain, and feverish as +well, and Frewen in a few seconds found by examination that a splinter +of the fractured bone had been driven into the muscles of the shoulder, +where it seemed to be firmly embedded, although one end of it could +almost be felt by gentle pressure, so close was it under the skin. The +bullet itself had come out at the side of the neck. + +Telling them that, although he was no doctor, he was sure that it was +most important that the splinter of bone should be removed, he offered +to attempt it. The fractured collar-bone, he assured them, would knit of +itself if the patient kept quiet. + +In those days the medicine chests of even fine ships like the +_Esmeralda_ were but poorly equipped, when contrasted with those to +be found on much smaller vessels thirty years later, when antiseptic +surgery and anaesthetics were beginning to be understood. But Almanza, +who was in agony, begged the visitor to do what he could; and without +further hesitation, Frewen took from the medicine chest what he +considered was the most suitable knife, made an incision, and in less +than five minutes had the splintered piece of bone out. Then came the +agonising but effective sailor's styptic--cotton wool soaked in Friar's +Balsam. + +Almanza tried to murmur his thanks, but feinted, and when he came +to again, he found himself much freer from pain, and the poor negro +steward's successor standing beside him with a tumbler of wine and +water. + +"You must keep very quiet," said Frewen, as he turned to leave the +room, speaking coldly, for although he was very sympathetic with any one +suffering pain, he could not but remember what the man before him had +done. + +Returning on deck, he found Foster and Ryan talking on the poop, whilst +the crew of Chilenos were sitting about on the hatches eating pineapples +and bananas, and drinking coconuts. Even a non-seafaring man would have +thought that there was a lack of discipline displayed, but Frewen, whose +life had been spent on whaleships where the slightest liberty on the +part of foc'sle hands towards the after-guard meets with swift and stern +punishment, felt as if he would have liked to have kicked them all in +turn, and then collectively. + +"Never mind," he thought to himself, "I trust they are all reserved for +higher things--they all deserve the gallows, and I sincerely trust they +will get it." + +Both Ryan and Foster, he could see, had not the slightest doubt of +his and Raymond's _bona-fides_, and at supper both men were extremely +affable to him. At the same time he thought he could perceive that they +were anxious as to what had become of the captain's boat, for they asked +him casually if there was any shipping at Apia, or at any of the other +ports in the group. + +"Only the usual local trading vessels," he replied. "Whenever a stranger +comes in--even if it is only a native craft--I get the news at my place +by runners in an hour or two." + +And Almanza's mind, too, was at rest, for when he was groaning in agony +in his bank, and he was told that a boat from the shore was coming +alongside, he had started up and reached for his pistols. But Ryan had +satisfied him completely. + +"We could have shot every one of them before the boat came alongside, +had we wanted to, _amigo_," he said. + +"Had they no arms?" asked the wounded man. + +"None--not so much as a cutlass even. Diego, Rivas, and Garcia, who +helped them to discharge the boat, saw everything taken out of her but +the oars and sails. There was a big man--a half-caste, who was dressed +like a white man--in charge of the four Samoans. I asked him to come on +deck and have a glass of grog; but he said his crew did not want him +to leave the boat. They were frightened, he said, because our men had +pistols in their belts." + +Almanza gave a sigh of relief. "And you are sure they will return and +tow us?" + +"Sure, _amigo_." + +And just as supper was over, and Frewen and Ryan returned to the deck, a +sailor called out that the whale boat and five others were in sight. + +"Ah, my partner is not the man to lose time in an important matter like +this, Captain Ryan," said Frewen; "your tow-line will be tautened out +before the three hours we mentioned." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Soon after Raymond and the old chief with his followers had set out for +the ship, and when the swift tropic night had closed in upon the island, +Captain Marston died. He was conscious when his kindly host and Randall +Cheyne had returned, and before he passed away, thanked the planter +sincerely for all that he had done for his wife, his crew, and himself; +for he well knew that his end was near. + +"I fear that nothing will ever be heard of my ship again," he said, in +a whisper. "They will scuttle or burn her. My poor wife!" and he +pressed her hand. "But thank God, Amy, you will not be quite penniless. +Mercado" (his agent in Valparaiso) "will have about two or three +thousand pounds to pay you for some cargo he bought from me. You must +go there. He is an honourable man, and will not seek to evade his +liabilities. I know him well." + +Raymond, whose heart was overflowing with pity for the dying man, could +no longer restrain himself. At first he had decided not to say a word +to Marston about the intended recapture of the ship, for fear it would +excite him; but now, when he saw how calmly and collectedly he spoke of +her future to his wife, he changed his mind, and, bending down, said:-- + +"Captain Marston, I must say a few words to you and Mrs. Marston. I did +not intend to do so just now, but I know that they will bring you peace +of mind, and help you to recovery. I have good news for you." + +Marston looked at him eagerly, and his wife, with her hands clasped, +moved a little nearer to the planter, who was speaking in very low tones +so as not to disturb or excite a man whom he knew was dying bodily, but +whose brain was alive. + +"Is it about my ship?" + +"Yes. She is within six miles of this house, lying becalmed, and, before +midnight, will be recaptured by some good friends of mine, and at anchor +in this bay by daylight." + +Marston's lips quivered, and the agonising look of inquiry and doubt in +his eyes was so piteous to behold that Raymond went on more rapidly. + +"You may absolutely rely upon what I say. The _Esmeralda_ has been in +sight since early in the forenoon. I boarded her this morning with the +express purpose of seeing if it were possible to recapture her, and +have only just returned. And I assure you on my word of honour that she +_shall_ be recaptured before midnight, without bloodshed, I trust; for +the mutineers are completely off their guard, believing I am returning +with fifty natives in several boats to tow the ship out of danger, +purely out of kindness to their leader." + +"You are indeed a good friend," murmured Marston slowly and haltingly. +"My wife has told me your name... I know my time is short. If you +recapture my ship... she is worth six thousand pounds, and the specie on +board amounts to nine thousand. I commend my wife to your care------" + +Raymond pressed his hand, and urged him not to say anything further, but +Marston, whose eyes were now lightened by that ephemeral light so often +seen in the eyes of the dying, went on-- + +"I commend my wife to your care... and Villari--is he dead?" + +"No, Harry," whispered Mrs. Marston, "he is not dead, but badly +wounded." + +"Poor Villari... a born sailorman, though an Italian.... Mr. Raymond, +Amy... Let him command.... I should have taken his advice... And give +him five hundred pounds, Amy.... You, Mr. Raymond, will be entitled to a +third of the value of the ship and her cargo... You understand?" + +"I will not take a penny," said Raymond, as he rose. "Now I must be +going. But have no fear for the _Esmeralda_. She will be at anchor in +this bay to-morrow morning." + +Marston put his hand gently over towards him, and pressing it softly, +Raymond withdrew. + +His wife met him at the door. Her dark, Spanishlike face showed traces +of tears, but she smiled bravely as he put his arms around her and +kissed her. + +"Tom, dear, you must not be angry. I have not been crying for fear that +something may happen to you if there is a fight with those dreadful men +on board the ship--for I am _sure_ that you will come back to me and our +little one safe and sound--but I do so pity poor Mrs. Marston, Tom, if +Captain Marston dies." + +"I think that there is no possible hope of his recovery, dear." + +"Then she must stay with us, Tom, for some time, until she is stronger. +She will need to have a woman's care soon." + +Raymond kissed his wife again. "As you will, Marie; you always think of +others. And I shall be very glad if she will stay with us." + +Ten minutes later she walked down to the beach, and watched her husband +and Malie with his followers depart, and then she slowly returned home +along a winding path bordered by shaddock trees, whose slender branches +were weighted down with the great golden-hued fruit. As she reached the +verandah steps a pretty little girl of four years of age ran up to her, +and held out her arms to be taken up. + +"Where has father gone, Muzzie?" she said in English, and then rapidly +added in Samoan, "_Ua alu ia i moana?_" ("Has he gone upon the sea?") + +"Yes, Loise. He has gone upon the sea, but will soon return. Where is +Malu?" + +"Here, lady," replied a woman's voice in the soft Samoan tongue, and a +pleasant-faced, grey-haired woman of fifty came down the steps, and took +the child from her mother's arms, and as she did so, whispered, "The +tide hath turned to the ebb."{*} + + * Note by the Author.--Nearly all Polynesians and + Micronesians believed most firmly that the dissolution of + soul from body always (excepting in cases of sudden death by + violence or accident) occurred when the tide is on the ebb. + From a long experience of life in the Pacific Islands, the + writer is thoroughly imbued with and endorses that belief. + The idea of the passing away of life with the ebbing of the + tide will doubtless seem absurd to the European and + civilised mind, but it must be remembered that an inborn and + inherited belief, such as this, does, with many so-called + semi-savage races, produce certain physical conditions that + are well understood by pathologists. + +"Ay, good Malu. I know it. So keep the child within thy own room, so +that the house may be quiet." + +Old Malu, who had nursed Mrs. Raymond's mother, bent her head in assent, +and went inside, and her mistress sat down in one of the cane-work +lounge chairs on the wide verandah and closed her eyes, for she was +wearied, physically and mentally. Her nerves had been strained greatly +by the events of the day, and now the knowledge that within a few feet +of where she sat, a life was passing away, and a woman's heart was +breaking, saddened her greatly. + +"I must not give way," she thought. "I must go and see how the wounded +men are doing." + +But ere she knew it, there came the low but hoarse murmuring cries of +myriad terns and gulls flying homewards to the land, mingled with the +deep evening note of the blue mountain pigeons; and then kindly slumber +came, and rest for the troubled brain and sorrowing heart. + +She had slept for nearly an hour when a young native girl servant, who +had been left to wait upon Mrs. Marston, came quickly but softly along +the verandah and touched her arm. + +"Awake, Marie,{*} and come to the white lady." + + * It will doubtless strike the reader as being peculiar that + an educated and refined woman such as I have endeavoured to + portray in Mrs. Raymond would allow a servant to address her + by her Christian name. But the explanation is very simple: + In many European families living in Polynesia and in + Micronesia the native servants usually address their masters + and mistresses and their children by their Christian names-- + unless it is a missionary household, when the master would + be addressed as "Misi "(Mr.) and the mistress as "Misi + fafine "(Mrs.). The difference does not in the least imply + that the servant speaks to the lay white man and his wife in + a more familiar manner than he would to his spiritual + teacher. No disrespect nor rude familiarity is intended-- + quite the reverse; it is merely an affectionate manner of + speaking to the employer, not _as_ an employer, but as the + friend of the household generally. It is related of the + martyred missionary John Williams, that a colleague of his + in Tahiti once reproved a native youth for addressing Mr. + Williams as "Viriamu" (Williams) instead of "Misi Yiriamu" + (Mr. Williams), whereupon the pioneer of missionary + enterprise in the South Seas remarked--" It does not matter, + Mr. -----, I infinitely prefer to be called + 'Viriamu' than 'Tione Viriamu Mamae' (the Sacred, or + Reverend, John Williams)." + +She rose and followed the girl to the room where Marston lay. His wife +was kneeling by him with her lips pressed to his. + +Marie Raymond knelt beside her, and passed her arm around her waist. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Closely followed by the five native boats, that in which Raymond was +seated with Malie, and which was steered by Randall Cheyne, first came +alongside, and the latter called out to Foster, who was standing in the +waist, to pass down the end of the tow line. This was at once done, +and then, as Malie and Raymond left the boat and ascended to the deck, +Cheyne went ahead with his tow line, and was soon joined by the native +craft, and within a quarter of an hour the _Esmeralda_ was moving +through the water. + +The instructions given to the half-caste by the chief and Frewen were +to tow the ship to the south-east, with the land on the port hand. This +would not only take her out of danger, but would prevent suspicion being +engendered in the minds of the mutineers by their seeing that she was +actually being taken away from, instead of towards the land. Both Frewen +and Malie had decided that she was not to be re-captured till she was +well into soundings, for events might arise which would necessitate her +being brought to an anchor, especially if continuous heavy rain should +fall during the night. + +As soon as Raymond and the stalwart chief ascended to the poop, the +pseudo-captain received them most affably, complimented them on the +smart manner in which the boats had gone ahead with the line, and then +asked them to take some refreshment The offer was accepted, for neither +had had the inclination to eat anything on shore--they, like their men, +were too eager to get possession of the ship to trouble about food. + +Ryan sat at the table with them as they ate, and repeated his fiction +regarding the accident to his chief officer, at which the planter +politely expressed his concern. Then the mutineer, in a casual sort of +a way, asked Raymond if there had been any English or American war-ships +cruising about Samoa lately. + +"No, not for a long time, but I did hear that the American corvette +_Adams_ was expected here last year, but she must have passed by here, +and gone on to Fiji There is always work for a man-of-war there at any +time--the Fijians are a rough lot, and hardly a month passes without +some European trader or sailor being killed and eaten, or else badly +hurt. Even at the present time all the people living in the eastward +islands of the Fiji Group are rank cannibals. It is a place to be +avoided." + +"Ah, well, I won't go near there," said the mutineer, somewhat +meditatively. + +"No, of course not," said the planter; "I suppose that your course for +Batavia will take you to the northwest after you leave here--Fiji is six +hundred miles to the south-west." + +"I did think of putting in there when my mate met with his +accident--thought I would find a doctor there; but now, thanks to your +friend, I shall not need one for him--he is much better already." + +"That is fortunate," said Raymond: "he might have died before you could +reach the port of Levuka in Fiji. And besides that, I doubt if you would +find a doctor living there. I have never heard of any medical man being +settled in Fiji. On the other hand you could have left him on shore, +where he would at least have met with good nursing from some of the +English ladies there; and you could easily have obtained another mate; +there are dozens of ex-skippers and mates idling about in Fiji." + +Ryan had learnt all he wanted to know, and he changed the subject. He +was still anxious about Almanza not living--for no one could tell what +might occur to the _Esmeralda_ if he died and the ship was left without +a navigator. He (Ryan) and Foster would have had no objection to ridding +themselves of him, were either one of them able to navigate the ship as +far as the Philippine Islands. They had all three previously agreed with +the rest of the crew as to their future plans, after they had disposed +of Marston and those who were faithful to him. When within sight of +Luzon--and abreast of Manila--the ship was to be scuttled, and the +mutineers with their plunder in two boats were to make for a part of the +coast where there was a village, well-known to Rivas and Garcia. +Here the money was to be divided, and every man was to shift for +himself--some to go to Manila, others taking passage to that den of +thieves, the Portuguese settlement of Maoao, where they meant to enjoy +themselves after their manner. + +When Raymond and the chief returned on deck, they found the ship was +making good progress through the smooth sea, the natives in the boats +singing a melodious chorus as, all in perfect unison, they plunged their +broad-bladed paddles in the water, and the tow line surged and shook off +thousands of phosphorescent drops at every united stroke. The night was +dark, but not quite starless, and presently Frewen, who was talking to +Foster, remarked that some heavy rain would fall in a short time. + +"Our natives won't like that," said Raymond to "Captain Ryan"; "like all +Kanakas, they hate being wetted with rain, though they will spend half a +day in the rivers bathing and playing games in the water." + +"A few bottles of grog will keep up their courage," said Frewen, +"especially some rum. Have you any to spare, captain?" + +"Any amount." + +"Then I'll tell Cheyne to let the boats come alongside in turn, and +we'll give all the natives a good rousing nip before the rain comes." + +He walked for'ard and stood on the topgallant foc'sle and gave a loud +hail. + +"Boat ahoy!" + +The singing ceased in an instant, and then Randall's voice answered-- + +"Hallo! what is it?" + +"Come aboard and get a glass of grog. Tell the men in the other boats +they can follow in turn." + +"Ay, ay, sir," replied the half-caste in such loud tones that he was +heard distinctly on the after-deck, "they'll be glad enough of it; we'll +get plenty of cold fresh water presently outside, and some rum to put +inside will be just the thing." + +Both Raymond and the two Greeks laughed, and then a minute or two later +Cheyne and his boat's crew were alongside, and were given a pint of rum +between them. They drank it off "neat," and after lighting their pipes, +went back to their boat, and let another come alongside. She was manned +by a dozen natives, who were all given a stiff glass of grog. They +remained but a few minutes, and then went off to give place to the third +boat, in which were twenty men. They scrambled over the side, laughing +and talking, and then, just as the first five or six of them had been +served, the rain poured suddenly down and made such a terrific noise +that the shouts of the men in the other boats could not be heard, and +the ship was at once enveloped in a thick steamy mist, which rendered +even objects on deck invisible. + +"It will only last about ten minutes," shouted Frewen to Ryan as they, +with Raymond and Malie, took shelter in the companion-way. + +"Where are all those men of yours?" asked the mutineer somewhat +anxiously. + +Frewen's answer reassured him. "All bolted for shelter," he said with a +laugh, "without even waiting to get their grog. I hope your men will let +them crawl in somewhere." Then turning to Malie, he said in English-- + +"Call to them, Malie." + +Malie stepped out on the deck, and presently Ryan and the others heard +him speaking. In a minute or two I he reappeared with three or four +stalwart natives, all dripping wet, and said something to Raymond, who +translated the remark to Ryan. + +"All the others have bolted like rabbits, some into the galley, and +others into the foc'sle," he said. + +In less than the ten minutes predicted by Frewen the rain ceased as +if by magic; the natives gathered together again on the main deck, +completed their grog drinking, went into their boat again, and poshed +off to resume their labour. + +In the course of another half an hour every one of the native boats' +crews had had his small tumblerful of neat rum, and then, as their +paddles plunged into the placid water, once more they sang their +chorus-- + +"_Ala, tamaaitii, Alo foe!_" ("Pull, boys, pull!") + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Six bells struck, and then once more the stars went out, and the sky +changed from blue to dull grey. + +"Very heavy rain will fall again presently," said Raymond to the leader +of the mutineers, "and as the ship is well now in the counter current +and out of danger, the chief would like to call his men alongside for a +rest. But we'll tow you for another mile or so after the rain ceases--if +you wish it." + +Ryan was keenly anxious to put as much distance between the land and +the _Esmeralda_ as possible, for he was haunted by the fear that the +captain's boat had been picked up by some ship which might be sighted at +any time. The further away from the land, the safer he would feel. + +"I should like them to tow me along for another hour or two, after the +rain is oyer," he said. "I will pay liberally." + +Raymond spoke to the chief in Samoan and told him the captain's request, +and Malie answered in the same language. + +"As you will, Lemonti. But why toil any longer? My men are all ready and +anxious. We can take the ship now at any time, once my men are here." + +"And I, too, am ready, Alalia. But it was in my mind to wait and see if, +when the bell strikes eight, half of the _auva'a_ (ship's crew) would +not go below to sleep, so that we shall have less disturbance." + +"What matters it?" said Alalia with good-humoured contempt; "there are +less than a score of them, and when the word is spoken they will be as +easily overpowered and bound as a strong man can overpower and bind a +child." + +"Then let it be as you say," said Raymond in the same quiet tones; "let +us call the men on board, and, when the bell is struck at midnight, +we shall seize those evil men together--as the bell is struck the last +time." + +"Good!" said the chief, as he nonchalantly rolled himself a cigarette in +a piece of dried banana leaf which he took from his tappa waist cloth. +"I will tell them how to act." + +"What does he say?" asked Ryan. + +"He is quite willing, but he says his men are really tired now, and want +a good long spell. They are not used to such work, and he does not +want to give them cause for grumbling. They are very touchy sometimes. +However, after the next downpour clears off, they will tow you another +two or three miles." (And Raymond meant this literally, for he, Frewen, +and the chief wanted to see the _Esmeralda_ at anchor off Samatau by +daylight.) + +At a call from Raymond the boats came alongside, and as the crews +clambered on deck Malie told them how to dispose themselves about the +ship so that when the signal was given the mutineers could be seised +without their being afforded any opportunity of resistance. Five or six +of his best men followed him aft, whilst the others mingled with the +crew, most of them going down into the foc'sle. The Chilenos, however, +although satisfied of the friendly intentions of their visitors, were +still a little nervous, for, despite the fact that none of the natives +carried even so much as a knife, the wild appearance they presented was +somewhat disconcerting to men who had never before come in contact with +what they termed "savages." Fully one half of Malie's followers were +men of such stature that the undersized though wiry Chilenos looked like +dwarfs beside them; then, in addition to this, their immense "mops" of +bright golden hair--dyed that colour by the application of lime--and +their wonderfully tatooed bodies, with the first intricate lines +beginning at the waist and ending at the knees, accentuated the velvety +and rich reddish brown of their skins. Each of the Chileno seamen still +carried a brace of pistols in his belt and a cutlass hung by his side, +but the natives apparently took no notice of such a manifestation of +distrust, and they and the mutineers exchanged cigars and cigarettes as +if they were the best friends in the world. + +Suddenly the rain fell, and all other sounds were deadened by the +downpour; it continued for three-quarters of an hour, and then, as +Frewen remarked, ceased with a "snap." + +In the main cabin Raymond, with Malie, was seated at the table talking +to Ryan; on the poop and under the shelter of the temporary awning +were Cheyne, Frewen, Foster, the ruffianly Rivas, and two other of the +Ghileno seamen, with three of the natives who had accompanied Cheyne and +his Mend from Lepa. + +Five minutes before eight bells Foster turned to Rivas, and, speaking in +Spanish, told him to go for'ard and tell the hands that there would be +no watch below that night, all hands were to stay on deck till daylight. + +Frewen gave Cheyne a glance, and the half-caste sauntered off after +Rivas, whilst the three Samoans moved nearer towards the two Ghilenos. + +"Mr. Foster" went to the skylight and looked down into the cabin at the +clock, which was placed so that it could be seen by any one standing +beside the binnacle. Then he looked at a handsome gold watch, which two +days previously had been in Villari's vest pocket, and, stepping to the +break of the poop, called out-- + +"Eight bells!" + +The big bell under the topgallant foc'sle sent out its deep, sonorous +clang, and as the last note was struck, "Mr. Foster" went over on his +back with a crash, and in another five seconds Frewen had turned him +over on his face and was lashing his hands behind him. The Greek was too +stunned to even try to speak, and when he came to again he found lying +beside him Rivas and the other two Ghileno sailors, with half a dozen +Samoans standing guard over them. + +Down in the cabin Raymond and Malie had been equally as quick, and when +Frewen and Cheyne came below they found "Captain" Ryan, together with +the Chileno who was acting as steward, tied hand and foot and lying +outside Captain Maraton's stateroom door. + +"Everything all right, Mr. Frewen?" inquired Raymond. + +"Everything. All the gentry up for'ard are bussed up comfortably like +fowls for cooking. No one has been hurt; Malie's men simply picked the +mongrels up by the scruff of their necks and then tied them up. The ship +is ours." + +"Then you are in command, Mr. Frewen. Please give your orders." + +"Very well, Mr. Raymond. But first let me see to the distinguished Senor +Almanza." + +He opened the door of Almanza's stateroom. The Chilian was asleep. +Frewen was about to touch and awaken him but pity for a badly wounded +man predominated, so he let him lie undisturbed. + +"Now, Mr. Raymond, I am at your service. Will you ask Malie to man his +boats, and we will start towing again." + +"With pleasure. But let us first call our good men together and drink +success to ourselves and the _Esmeralda_. And then, whilst we are being +towed towards Samatau, we can overhaul poor Captain Marston's cabin. All +the specie, so this scoundrel tells me"--and he pointed to the Chileno +steward--"is still in a safe in the captain's cabin, and has not yet +been touched. But it was to be divided to-morrow." + +And then Randall Cheyne sprang on deck and shouted out in Samoan-- + +"Friends, the ship is ours! Let ten men remain on board to guard these +murderers, and the rest take to the boats and tow the ship to Samatau." + +The willing natives answered him with a loud "Ave!" and ten minutes +later the _Esmeralda_ was again moving through the water. + +An hour before daylight her cable rattled through her hawse-pipe, and +she swung quietly to her anchor in Samatau Bay. + + +END OF BOOK I + + + + +BOOK II + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Twelve months had come and gone, and Frewen, now "Captain" Frewen, was +seated in the office of Ramon Mercado, the Valparaiso agent of the late +captain and owner of the _Esmeralda_, which had arrived in port the +previous day. + +The worthy merchant--a little stout man with merry, twinkling eyes--was +listening to the detailed story of the capture of the ship by the +mutineers, her subsequent recapture, and of all that had occurred since +she had been brought to an anchor in front of Raymond's house in Samatau +Bay. Mercado himself, four months previously, had received a letter from +Mrs. Marston, acquainting him with what had occurred up to the time of +her husband's death, and telling him that the _Esmeralda_, as soon as a +crew could be obtained, would sail under Frewen's command for Manila, +and from there proceed to Newcastle, in New South Wales, and load a +cargo of coal for Valparaiso. This letter had reached him by an American +whale-ship which had touched at Samoa (a month or two after the +_Esmeralda_ had sailed for Manila), and which, after cruising among the +Galapagos Islands, had, as the master had told Mrs. Marston would be +very likely, called at Valparaiso to refit. + +* * * * * + +A few days after the burial of Captain Marston his wife asked Frewen +to take command of the ship, as Villari would be incapacitated for some +months. + +Villari himself had at first strenuously, and even somewhat bitterly, +protested. + +"Why should Mr. Frewen, much as he has done to help you to recapture +the ship, be given command?" he said excitedly to Raymond. "Does Mrs. +Marston distrust me? Do I not possess her confidence as I did that of +her husband? Beg her to come to me. Surely she will not give the command +of the ship to a stranger! I tell you, Mr. Raymond, that I would give my +life for Mrs. Marston, as I was ready to give it for her husband," and +his dark eyes blazed. + +"There is no reflection either upon your integrity or ability, Mr. +Villari," said the planter. "But here is the situation--and I am sure +your own sound sense will make you approve of Mrs. Marston asking Mr. +Frewen to take charge of the _Esmeralda_. And, before I go any further, +I must tell you that Mr. Frewen not only did not seek the position, but +said pointedly to Mrs. Marston--only an hour or two ago--that he would +be quite satisfied to sail with you as mate. He is as honest as the sun. +Pray do not for one moment imagine that he has supplanted you." + +"Then let him come with me as mate," urged the Italian. + +Raymond shook his head. "It is quite out of the question your taking +command, Mr. Villari. You will not be able to get about for some months, +and I, as a business man, see the necessity of the ship proceeding on +her voyage as quickly as possible. She has a cargo that will bring a +large sum of money to Mrs. Marston if it is delivered in Manila in +good time. But in this humid climate it would become worthless in a +few months. And it was purely my suggestion to Mrs. Marston to ask Mr. +Frewen to take charge. She is, as you know, almost heartbroken at the +calamity which has overtaken her. And then your remaining here will, +I am sure, be a source of comfort to her, for she has the very highest +opinion of you." + +Villari's eyes sparkled with pleasure. "What! Is not Mrs. Marston +sailing in the _Esmeralda?_" + +"No; it will be better for her to remain here until the youngster comes. +My wife and I will be only too glad to have her with us. It would be +impossible for her to go to sea now her poor husband is dead. And she +knows no one in Manila. So you must be content to remain here at Samatau +as my welcome guest. Frewen will take the ship to Manila, and then +decide as to his future course. He thinks that after selling the +cargo at Manila he should proceed to Australia for a cargo of coal for +Valparaiso. I think it a very sensible suggestion, especially as he can +then see poor Marston's agent there and settle up with him regarding +some money due to Marston." + +The Italian's face assumed a placid appearance. "You are quite right, +Mr. Raymond. And I shall be content to remain here. _Per Bacco!_ +Mr. Frewen is a gentleman, and I wish him all good lack with the +_Esmeralda_. But I should like the lady to know that I am prepared to +return to the ship this moment if she so wishes it." + +"She does know it, Mr. Villari. You have her full esteem and +confidence--as you had that of her poor husband, who just before he died +anxiously inquired about you, and said that he regretted not taking your +advice concerning the two Greeks." + +"Ah! Mr. Raymond," and the man raised and clenched his right hand, "I +was a fool! I suspected that mischief was afoot that night when I found +Almanza and the two Greeks talking together; I simply reported the +matter to the captain, who thought nothing of it. Had I done my duty I +should have watched, for no one can trust a Greek." + +"Do not reproach yourself, Mr. Villari. I may as well tell you that poor +Captain Marston, when he was inquiring about you just before he died, +spoke in the highest terms of you, and asked Mrs. Marston to see that +you were given five hundred pounds." + +Villari raised himself on his elbow. "I swear to you, Mr. Raymond, that +I do not want any money--compensation--reward--gift--call it what you +will--for doing my duty as a seaman. Captain Marston was not only my +captain, but my friend. And I would give my life for his wife. Tell her +from me that it will hurt me if she even speaks of this money to me." + +"As you will, Mr. Villari," said Raymond kindly, who saw that the +Italian was excited. "I will tell her to-morrow. But I trust you will +now understand that Mr. Frewen had no desire to supplant you in any +way." + +"I understand. Can I see him now, for there is much that I have to tell +him about the ship--things that he would like to know." + +So Frewen came in, and he and the Italian mate had quite a long talk +about the _Esmeralda_, and when they parted they did so with a feeling +of growing friendship. + +Anxious to obtain a reliable crew as quickly as possible, Frewen, on the +following day, sent Randall Gheyne to Lepi to see if he could persuade +the men who had deserted from the _Casilda_ to come and help man the +_Esmeralda_. But they were all too enamoured of island life to accept +the offer he made them, which was generous enough--two hundred and fifty +dollars each for the voyage to Manila. So Cheyne came back disappointed, +and Frewen then went to Apia in the _Casilda's_ whale-boat, and +succeeded in engaging ten natives of Niue,{*} who, with half a dozen +Samoans, made up a sufficient complement for the ship. + + * Niue, the "Savage Island" of Captain Cook. The natives + are always in great request as seamen. Even to the present + day most of the trading vessels carry a few Niue seamen. + +During this time Almansa and his fellow-mutineers had been confined on +board the ship, guarded by a number of Malie's warriors. Then to the +joy of Raymond and Frewen there came into Apia Harbour a British gunboat +bound from the Phoenix Islands to Sydney, and within forty-eight hours +the planter, accompanied by the unwounded survivors of the English crew +of the _Esmeralda_, were on board, and related the tale of the mutiny to +the captain of the man-of-war. + +"I am letting myself in for a lot of trouble, Mr. Raymond," said the +captain of the warship, "but I do not see how I can avoid it. I suppose +that as the _Esmeralda_ is a British ship and is now in distress I must +be a sort of fairy godmother and take these beastly mongrels of Chilenos +and Greeks to Sydney to be hanged on the evidence of these men whom you +have brought. By the way, Mrs. Marston can have a passage with me if she +wishes it." + +Raymond thanked him, and said Mrs. Marston wished to remain at Samatau +with his (Raymond's) wife for an indefinite time. + +"Very well, Mr. Raymond. I should be delighted to give her a passage to +Sydney, and I'm delighted she can't come. You understand me? I cannot +refuse a passage to a lady in such circumstances as Mrs. Marston, but +the _Virago_ is a man-of-war, and--you know." + +Raymond laughed. "I think I know what you mean, Captain Armitage; a +lady passenger on a man-of-war would be a bit of a trial. But on Mrs. +Marston's behalf I thank you sincerely." + +"That's all right," said the bluff commander of the _Virago_; "now you +can get home, and in a day or so I'll come round to Samatau and take +these mutineering scoundrels into custody. Pity you did not get your +Samoan friend Malie to hang or shoot them out of hand. It would have +saved Her Majesty's Government something in food, and me much trouble." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"I must congratulate you, captain," said the merchant, when Frewen had +finished his story; "and I trust you will always retain command of the +_Esmeralda_. She is a beautiful ship, and, ever since you took charge, +has proved herself a lucky one." + +"I certainly have had great luck. We had a beautiful passage to Manila +from Samoa, and from Manila to Newcastle I made the quickest run on +record, and from there to Valparaiso we were only thirty-five days." + +Some further conversation followed regarding the future movements of the +ship, and it was arranged that she should load Chilian flour for Sydney, +and from there proceed to Samoa for orders from her owner. + +Three weeks later, Frewen bid the hospitable Meroado goodbye, and sailed +for Sydney. The merchant had sold the cargo brought from Newcastle very +satisfactorily, and in addition to the amount given him for this, Frewen +also received from Mercado over two thousand pounds belonging to Captain +Marston's estate. + +The crew of the _Esmeralda_ consisted of twenty men, ten of whom were +either Englishmen, Americans, and Scandinavians, and ten stalwart +natives of Savage Island. The first officer was a Dane named Petersen, +whom Frewen had engaged at Samoa. He was an excellent seaman, and took a +great pride in the ship; the second officer was Randall Cheyne; and the +third, a sturdy old Yorkshireman of sixty, with the frame and voice of a +bull. Frewen was as satisfied with his officers as he was with his crew, +and the exceedingly good fortune which had attended him since he had +taken charge at Samatau had put him in a very pleasant frame of mind, +and he was eagerly looking forward to meeting Mrs. Marston and rendering +an account of his stewardship. When he reached Sydney from Manila he +had placed a considerable sum to her credit, and learned that Captain +Armitage, of the _Virago_, who had conveyed to Sydney the specie which +was on board the _Esmeralda_ when the mutiny had occurred, had safely +deposited it in her name in the leading bank there. He found that +the mutineers had been tried and sentenced; two of them, "Foster" and +"Ryan," going to the gallows, whilst Almanza and the Chileno seamen all +received long terms of imprisonment. The trial had aroused considerable +excitement, and so, when the _Esmeralda_ arrived, she was visited by +many hundreds of people. In Sydney Harbour in those days might be seen +numbers of the finest sailing vessels in the world; many of them were +noted "crack" passenger ships trading between London and Sydney and +Melbourne, but not one of them surpassed the _Esmeralda_ in her graceful +lines and beautiful appearance. Then, too, the extraordinarily quick +passage she had made from Manila gave her further fame, and nearly +all the ship masters in port called on board, and paid Frewen many +compliments. Through the manager of the bank in which he had deposited +the money for Mrs. Marston, he was introduced to an excellent agent--a +Mr. Beilby--who was a shipowner as well, and had for many years employed +a fleet of small vessels in the South Sea Islands trade. + +The voyage across the Pacific from Valparaiso to Sydney was +disappointing--calms and light, variable winds being met with for nearly +a month; and then between Australia and New Zealand, two weeks of savage +westerly gales tried the ship's weatherly qualities to the utmost. +However, after a passage of nearly seven weeks, she once more dropped +anchor in the deep, blue waters of the most beautiful harbour in the +southern hemisphere. + +The agent at once came on board, and Frewen was glad to receive two +letters from him--one from Raymond, the other from Mrs. Marston. The +latter afforded him great pleasure to read, and was to the effect +that she would be very glad to see him back in Samoa, as she wished to +consult him in regard to a project of Mr. Raymond's. + +"What the project is, he will himself explain to you in writing. I shall +be very pleased if you and he come to an arrangement, especially as I +have made up my mind to remain here at Samatau indefinitely with Mrs. +Raymond, or somewhere near her, and as her husband may be away from her +for many months at a time (this, however, all depends upon yourself) +this will be equally as pleasant for her as for me. I feel that I have +a home here, and in fact I may remain in Samoa altogether. Anyway, Mr. +Raymond is now in treaty with Malie for a piece of land adjoining his +own estate. If he secures it for me, I am having a house built upon it." + +Raymond's letter was a voluminous one, but Frewen soon became deeply +engrossed in its contents. + +"My dear Frewen (let us now drop the 'Sir' and 'Captain,' for I am sure +we each regard the other as a friend), I am now starting on a very long +letter, and have but little time in which to finish it, for the _Dancing +Wave_, by which I am sending it, leaves Apia to-morrow at daylight, and +it will take a native runner all his time to cross over the mountains +with it to Apia." + +Then he went on to say that, about six months previously, Malie had been +approached by a German gentleman (who had just arrived from Hamburg) and +asked if he would sell a large tract of land near Samatau. The chief +at once consulted Raymond, who could not help feeling some natural +curiosity as to the object of the German gentleman making such a large +purchase of land so far away from the principal port of the group +(Apia). Malie could give him no information on the subject--all he knew +was that he (Malie) had been offered a very fair price for a tract of +country that he was willing to lease, but not to sell, for on it were +several villages, and the soil was of such fertility that the people +would deeply resent their chief parting with it and making them remove +to less productive lands. + +On the spur of the moment--and feeling that there was some very good +reason for the German making the chief such a substantial offer--Raymond +said to Malie-- + +"The German has offered you ten thousand dollars for the land, but will +not lease it from you. Now I am not a rich man, and even if you were +willing to sell it to me for five thousand dollars, I could not buy it. +But I will lease it from you for one year. I will not disturb any of +your people, but at the end of the year I will make you another offer. +There is some mischief on foot, Malie. Let you and I go to Apia and find +out who this man is, and why he is so eager to buy your land." + +They set out together, and at Apia gained all the information they +desired. The German gentleman was the agent of a rich corporation of +Hamburg merchants who wished to purchase all the available land in Samoa +for the purpose of founding a colony, the principal industry of which +would be cotton-growing. Cotton was bringing fabulous prices in Europe, +and the corporation had already made purchases of land both in Fiji and +Tahiti, and were using every effort to obtain more. + +Raymond quickly made up his mind as to his course of action. He had a +hurried interview with two other English planters, and a partnership of +three was formed in half an hour. They had then made an agreement with +Malie and another chief to lease all the unoccupied country for many +miles on each side of Samatau Bay. + +"Now," the letter went on, "here is what we purpose to do. We are going +to found the biggest cotton and coffee plantation in all the South Seas, +and will make a pile of money. But the one all-important thing is +to have plenty of labour, and that we can only obtain from other +islands--New Britain, the Solomon Group, and thereabouts, and also from +the Equatorial Islands. But it is risky work recruiting labour with +small, weakly-manned schooners. What is required is a big lump of a +vessel, well armed, and with two crews--a white crew to work the ship +and a native crew to work the boats. The _Esmeralda_ is just the ship. +She can carry six hundred native passengers, and in two trips we shall +have all the labourers we want, instead of getting them in drafts of +fifty or sixty at a time by small schooners--which would always be +liable to be cut off and all hands killed--especially in the Solomon +Islands. + +"I laid our scheme before Mrs. Marston, and, to be as brief as possible, +she is not only willing to let us charter her ship, but also wishes to +take a share in the venture. But she wants you to keep command of the +_Esmeralda_, as I trust you will." + +Then followed a long list of stores, trade goods, arms, ammunition, &c, +&c, which Raymond wished Frewen to purchase in Sydney, and the letter +concluded with a request for him to leave for Samatau as quickly as +possible. + +On a separate sheet he made mention of Villari, saying that he had +thoroughly recovered from his wound and was living at Apia. + +"To tell you the truth, we are all glad he has gone away from us, for he +fell madly in love with Mrs. Marston, and proposed to her, and took +her kindly rejection of him very badly. He then left the house, but has +twice since come to see her. At last she began to get alarmed at +his conduct, and finally I had to frankly tell him that he was an +undesirable visitor. It stung him deeply, but he persists in writing her +the most passionate letters, asking her to reconsider her decision. I +am sorry for the fellow, as we all liked him. Frohmann, the new German +doctor at Apia, told me that he believes the poor fellow is not 'all +there' mentally." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Frewen showed his letters to the agent Beilby, who corroborated +Raymond's statement in every particular regarding the money that could +be made by growing cotton on an organised system with native labour, +and with proper machinery to clean and pack it; and he also bore out the +planter's remarks about the danger that attended small vessels employed +in the black labour trade. + +"You have seen a good deal of the natives of the South Sea Islands, +Captain Frewen, and know what desperate cut-throats are those of the +Western Pacific Groups. Two small trading vessels of my own have been +cut off within the last five years, and every soul massacred, and the +vessels looted and then burnt. It is a most difficult matter to keep +a swarm of natives off the decks of a vessel with a low freeboard, all +they have to do is to step out of their canoes over the rail, and if +they are bent on mischief they can simply overpower a small vessel's +company by mere weight of numbers. You will be surprised to hear +that, even now, some of the Sydney trading craft use the old-fashioned +boarding nettings, and their skippers only allow a certain number +of natives on board at a time. But with a large vessel like the +_Esmeralda_, this very great source of danger--the low freeboard--is +absent; and besides that, you can carry a crew large enough to squelch +any attempt at a rising, if, after you get them on board, your gentle +passengers took it into their heads to attempt to possess themselves of +the ship." + +"Just so. And I have heard of several instances where Honolulu and +Tahiti labour vessels have been captured, even though they carried large +crews and were well armed." + +"Exactly! Just carelessness. You never know, when you have a hundred or +so of these savages on board, what they may do. They all know that they +are going to a foreign country to work on sugar or cotton plantations +for three years, at the end of which they will be paid for their labour +in guns, powder, beads, calicoes, &c, &c. Well, they come on board +perfectly content, and all goes well for a week or two, until some of +them begin to notice that the crew are not keeping such a good watch +over them as they did when they first came on board. These fellows begin +the mischief. 'Why should we not kill the white men on board?' (they +will argue) 'and help ourselves to _everything_--guns, pistols, powder, +and bullets, cutlasses, grog and tobacco, and all the other riches in +the ship? It is much better than working for three years for one gun and +one keg of powder and bag of bullets, a knife or two, and a few other +things, and then bringing them back to our own country to be despoiled +of them by our relations.' Do you understand, Captain Frewen?" + +"Quite." + +"Well, they lie low and wait, and when the opportunity comes the beggars +set to work with a vengeance-Only three years ago one of the Hawaiian +Islands labour vessels recruited ninety Gilbert Islands natives to work +on the new sugar plantations near Honolulu. They behaved themselves +splendidly--for they were well treated--for about a fortnight, and the +skipper of the vessel (an old hand in the island trade) allowed them to +lie on deck at night, feeling sure that they would give no trouble. More +than this, he even told his officers and crew to discontinue carrying +their Colts' pistols. The result was that one night, when the watch were +taking in sail during a squall, the natives took possession of the brig, +killed the mate and all the men of the watch who were on deck, and would +certainly have slaughtered every one of the ship's company had it not +been for the captain himself; who, hearing the noise, rushed up from +below armed with a whale-ship bomb gun, loaded with slugs. He fired +right into the mob of natives on the main deck, killed three or four, +and wounded twice as many. Then the second mate and the rest of the +watch below came tumbling up, headed by a big Nova Scotian A.B. He was a +tremendously powerful fellow, and had armed himself with the carpenter's +broad axe, and in a few minutes he cut down five of the natives, one of +whom was the ringleader. Then the steward and supercargo turned up with +nine-bore double-barrelled shot-guns, loaded with No. 1 shot, and they +and the bluenose{*} practically saved the ship, or with their four shots +they laid out nearly a dozen more natives, and the others bolted down +to the hold and asked for quarter. Ah, Captain Frewen, there is nothing +like buckshot or slogs to squash a mutiny. You most get some nine-bore +guns made here to take away with you." + + * A "bluenose" is a sailor's term for a Canadian or Nova + Scotian. + +"Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Beilby. But whalers' bomb guns--which +can be easily procured in Sydney--are better still. You can load them +with a small charge of powder and crushed rock salt, which won't kill a +man, but which will prevent him from doing any mischief for a long time. +When I was a boatsteerer some years ago on a New Bedford whaler--the +_Aaron Burr_--we had serious trouble with about thirty Portuguese +negroes we picked up off the coast of Brazil. They were in two boats, +and were deserters from a Brazilian man-of-war, which had gone ashore +off Santos. Many of our men were down with fever of some sort, and +these black gentry (who were all armed with knives), thinking that +the after-guard was not able to cope with them, came aft and told our +skipper that if he did not give them all the liquor they wanted they +would throw him overboard, set fire to the ship, and go ashore again. He +seemed to be very much frightened--he was an undersized, quiet man--and +begged them to go on deck and remain there whilst he and the steward and +such of the officers who were not ill with fever would get up a keg of +rum from the lazzarette. Then--he spoke Spanish pretty well--he asked +them not to be too hard on him. He would treat them as gentlemen, &c., +and, with apparently trembling hands, he gave them boxes of cigars, and +addressed them as if they were caballeros of the highest rank whom he +was delighted to honour. Some of them cursed him for an Americano, but +the majority were too hugely elated at the prospect of a keg of ram to +say more to him than to hurry up with it. + +"He did hurry up with a vengeance, for in five minutes he and the mate +had each loaded a bomb gun with a heavy charge of sheet-lead slugs. They +rushed on deck together, and with a warning cry to our men to get out +of the way, they fired into the negroes, who were squatted about on the +main hatch smoking their cigars and waiting for the rum. The effect was +something terrifying, for although none of them were killed, fully +half of them were wounded, and their groans and yells were something +horrible. We did not give them much time to rally, for all of us who +were well enough made a rush, and with belaying-pins and anything else +which came to our hands drove them over the side into their boats." + +"Then get some of those bomb-guns, captain, by all means. I think I have +seen one--a thing like a bloated blunderbuss without the bell mouth." + +"That's it," said Frewen with a laugh; "it is not a handsome weapon, but +we whalemen do not go in for 'objects of bigotry and virtue.' A bomb-gun +is made for a practical purpose--the stock is almost solid metal, and +altogether it is no light weight." + +During the following two weeks both Frewen and the agent were very busy. +The former, with a gang of shore carpenters, was engaged in preparing +the 'tween decks of the ship for the reception of the native passengers, +and constructing two movable gratings to go across the upper deck--one +for'ard and the other aft--which, whilst they would practically allow +the natives the free run of the deck, would yet prevent them from making +any sudden onslaught on the crew. + +Beilby, whose long experience of the South Sea Islands trade especially +fitted him for the task, devoted himself to the work of fulfilling +Raymond's orders as to the trade goods required, and in three weeks the +_Esmeralda_ was again ready for sea. + +And when, under full sail, she passed down the harbour towards Sydney +Heads bound for beautiful Samoa, her captain's heart swelled with pride +as the crews of a score of other ships cheered, "Bravo, _Esmeralda!_" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Under a shady wild orange-tree which grew just above high-water mark +on the white beach of Samatau Bay, Marie Raymond and Mrs. Marston were +seated together on a cane lounge imagining they were sewing, but in +reality only talking on subjects dear to every woman's heart. + +Quite near them, and seated on mats, were the old nurse Malu, who held +Mrs. Marston's baby-girl, and Raymond's own little daughter Loise, who +was playing with a young native girl--Olivee--grey-haired old Main's +assistant. + +It was early in the morning--an hour after breakfast--and the two ladies +had come down to the beach to watch Raymond and his partners and some +hundreds of natives working at a jetty being constructed from slabs of +coral stone, and which was to be carried out into deep water. + +The day was delightfully bright, and the soft cool breath of the brave +south-east trade wind, which rippled the blue of the ocean before them, +stirred and swayed and made rhythmic music among the plumed crests of +the graceful coco-palms above. And, as they talked, they heard, every +now and then, Raymond's cheery voice giving orders, and the workmen's +response, which was generally sung, some one among them improvising a +chant--for the Samoans, like many other Polynesian peoples, love to work +to the accompaniment of song. + +"Marie," said Mrs. Marston, as she let the piece of sewing which she +held in her hand fall unheeded to the ground and looked dreamily out +upon the blue ocean before them, "you must be a happy woman." + +"I am a very, very happy woman, Amy. And I shall be happier still if you +decide to remain and live near us. Oh, Amy, if you only knew how I try +not to think of the possibility of your going away from us--to think +that when you do go, it means that I may never see you again." + +"I do not want to go away, Marie. I have told you the story of my life, +and how very unhappy I was in my girlhood--an orphan without a friend in +the world except my aunt, who resented my orphanage, and treated me as +'a thorn in the flesh,' but I did not tell you that until I met you I +never had a girl or woman friend in all my life. And now I feel that as +I have found one, I cannot sever myself from her, now that my husband is +dead and I and the babe are alone in the world." + +Marie Raymond passed her arms around her friend's waist. "Amy, dear, +_do_ stay in Samoa. I, too, have no woman friend except some of my +mother's people--who would give their lives for me. But I am not a white +woman. My mother's blood--of which I _am_ proud--is in my veins, and +when I was at school in Australia, it used to cut me to the heart to +have to submit to insults from girls who took a delight in torturing and +harassing me because of it. One day I lost control of myself; I heard +them whispering something about 'the wild girl from the woods,' and I +told them that my mother could trace her descent back for five hundred +years in an unbroken line, whilst I was quite certain none of them would +like to say who their grandfathers were. My words told, for there were +really five or six girls in the school who had the convict taint. I was +called before the principal, and asked to apologise. I refused, and said +that I had only said openly and under the greatest provocation what more +than a dozen other girls had told me!" + +"How did it end?" + +"In mutual apologies, and peace was restored. But I was never happy +there--I loathe the memory of my school days, and was glad to come back +to Samoa." + +"Neither were my English school days happy, but I even liked being at +school in preference to staying with my aunt. I hated the thought of +going to her for the holidays. She was a narrow-minded, selfish woman--a +clergyman's widow, and seemed to take a delight in mortifying me by +continually reminding me that all the money left by my father was +L500, which would just pay for my education and no more. 'When you are +eighteen,' she would say, 'you must not expect a home with me. Other +girls go out as companions; you must do the same. Therefore try and fit +yourself for the position.' Everything I did was wrong--according +to her, I was rebellious, irreligious, too fond of dress, and lazy +physically and mentally. The fact was, I was simply a half-starved, +dowdy school-girl---often hungry for food and always hungry for love. +If I had had a dog to talk to I should have been happier. My mother died +when I was three years old, and my father two years later. Then, as I +told you, I went out as governess to the Warrens when I was nineteen, +and felt that I was a human being, for they were kind to me. +Colonel Warren, a rough, outspoken old soldier with a red face and +fierce-looking blue eyes under enormous white bushy eyebrows, was +very kind to me, and so was his wife. I was not treated as so many +governesses are treated in English families--as something between a +scullery-maid and a housekeeper, for whom anything is good enough to +eat, and any horrid, mean little room good enough to sleep in. When +she came to say good-night to the children after hearing them say their +prayers she would always ask me to come to her own room for an hour or +two. I was very happy there. I was only a little over a year with them +when I met and married Captain Marston." "Some day, Amy, you will +marry again," "I don't know, Marie," said Mrs. Marston frankly. "I was +thinking the other day that such a thing may be possible. I have no +knowledge of the world, and am not competent to manage my business +affairs. But there will be plenty of years to think of such a thing. I +want to watch my baby grow up--I want her girlhood to be as bright and +as full of love as mine was dull and loveless." + +Presently a native boy came along the path carrying two letters. He +advanced, and handed one to Mrs. Marston, whose cheeks first paled, +and then flushed with anger as she took it, for she recognised the +handwriting. + +"There is another letter for thy husband, lady," he said to Mrs. +Raymond, "which also cometh from the _papalagi_{*} Villari." + + * Papalagi = foreigner. + +Mrs. Raymond directed him where to find her husband, and then was about +to return to the house, but her friend, who had not yet opened the +letter in her hand, asked her to stay. + +"Don't go, Marie. I shall not open this letter. It is too bad of Mr. +Villari to again write to me. Shall I send it back, or take no notice of +it?" + +"I hardly know what to say, Amy. He is very rude to annoy you in this +way. Wait and hear what Tom thinks." + +A quarter of an hour later, the planter came up from the beach, and sat +down beside the ladies. + +"I have a letter from Villari, Marie," he said, "and have brought it up +to see what you and Mrs. Marston think of it." + +"Amy has also received one, Tom, but would not open it nor send it +back till she had your advice. I think it is altogether wrong of him to +persecute her in this way." + +"Oh, well, you'll be glad to know that he is sorry for what has +occurred. Here is his letter to me, Mrs. Marston--please read it." + +The letter was a courteously worded and apparently sincere expression +of regret for having forced his attentions upon Mrs. Marston, and asking +Raymond and his wife to intercede for him with her. "It will give me +the greatest joy if she will overlook my conduct, and accept my sincere +apologies, if she does not, I shall carry the remembrance of her just +anger to the end of my life. But when I think of her past friendliness +to me, I am excited with the hope that her ever-kind heart will perhaps +make her forget my unwarrantable presumption, which I look back upon +with a feeling of wonder at my being guilty of such temerity." Then he +went on to say that Raymond would be interested to learn that he had +bought a small schooner of 100 tons called the _Lupetea_, on easy terms +of payment, and that he hoped to make a great deal of money by running +her in the inter-island trade. "I was only enabled to do this through +Mrs. Marston's generosity," he concluded--"the L500 she gave me enabled +me to make a good 'deal.' I leave Apia to-morrow for a cruise round +Upolu, and as I find that I have some cargo for you, I trust that +you, your wife, and Mrs. Marston will at least let me set foot on your +threshold once more." + +"Well, the poor devil seems very sorry for having offended you so much +by his persistence, Mrs. Marston," said the planter with a laugh, "and +he writes such a pretty letter that I'm sure you won't withhold your +forgiveness." + +"I don't think I can. But I must see what he has written to me," and she +opened the letter. It contained but a very few lines in the same tenour +as that to Raymond, deploring his folly and begging her forgiveness. + +"I'm very glad, Tom, that Amy sent him the L500, and that he had the +sense not to again refuse it. It would always be embarrassing to you, +Amy, whenever you met him." + +"It would indeed. But I doubt if he would have accepted it if it had +not been for Mr. Raymond's strongly worded letter on the subject," +(The planter had sent the money to him in Apia with a note saying +that whatever her feelings were towards him, Mrs. Marston would be +additionally aggrieved if he refused to accept a bequest from her late +husband; it would, he said, have the result of making the lady feel that +his rejection of the gift was uncalled-for and discourteous.) + +"So that's all right," said Raymond, as he rose to return to the beach. +"I always liked the man, as you have often heard me say. And you really +must not be too angry with him, Mrs. Marston. These Italians--like all +Latins--are a fearfully idiotic people in some things--especially where +women are concerned. Now almost any decent Anglo-Saxon would have taken +his gruelling quietly if a woman told him three times that she didn't +want him. Frohmann thinks that that crack on the head has touched his +brain a bit; and at the same time, you must remember, Mrs. Marston, +that whether you like it or not, you won't be able to prevent men from +falling in love with you--look at me, for instance!" + +Marie Raymond threw a reel of cotton at him-- + +"Be off to your work!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A few days later the _Lupetea_ (White Pigeon) ran into the bay and +Raymond boarded her. He greeted Villari in a friendly manner, and tried +to put him at his ease by at once remarking that the ladies would be +very glad to see him again when he had time to come up to the house. +The schooner was loaded with a general cargo for the various traders and +planters on the south side of the island, and that for Raymond consisted +principally of about forty tons of yams for the use of the numerous +local labourers already employed on the plantations. + +The _Lupetea_ was a rather handsome little vessel, well-fitted for the +island trade, and carried besides Villari and the mate six hands, all of +whom were Europeans, and Raymond at once recognised several of them +as old _habituee_ of Apia beach--men whose reputation as loafers and +boozers of the first water was pretty well known in Samoa. The mate, +too, was one of the same sort. He was an old man named Hutton, and was +such an incorrigible drunkard that for two years past he had found it +increasingly difficult to get employment. He had in his time been mate +of some large ships, but his intemperate habits had caused him to come +down to taking a berth as mate or second mate on small coastal schooners +whenever he could get the position. + +Before he returned to the shore the planter told Villari that he would +be glad if he would come to dinner at seven o'clock. + +"We are a large party now, Mr. Villari. Besides Mrs. Marston and my wife +and myself there are my two partners, Budd and Meredith, and two white +overseers. The latter don't sleep in the house, but they have their +meals with us." + +Villari accepted the invitation, and at six o'clock landed in his boat +and met Raymond and his partners, who had just finished the day's work +and were on their way to the house. On the verandah they were received +by the ladies, and Mrs. Marston was glad to observe that the Italian +took her outstretched hand without any trace of embarrassment, asked if +her baby was thriving, and then greeted Mrs. Raymond, who said she was +glad to see him looking so well, and wished him prosperity with the +_Lupetea_. + +The dinner passed off very well. Villari made inquiries as to the +whereabouts of the _Esmeralda_, and Mrs. Marston told him all that she +knew, and added that if the ship had arrived in Sydney from Valparaiso +about eight weeks before, as Frewen had indicated was likely in the +last letter received from him, it was quite possible that he would be at +Samatau within another ten or fourteen days, and then, as there was no +necessity for concealment, she said it was very probable that the ship's +next voyage would be to the Western Pacific to procure labourers for the +new plantation. + +"You have no intention, I trust, of making the voyage in her, Mrs. +Marston?" queried the Italian; "the natives, I hear, are a very +treacherous lot." + +"No, indeed, Mr. Villari. I am staying here with Mrs. Raymond for quite +a long time yet, I hope. It is quite likely, though, that before a year +has gone she and I will be going to Sydney and our babies will make the +trip with us. I have never been to Australia, and am sure I should enjoy +being there if Mrs. Raymond were with me. I have two years' shopping to +do." + +Rudd--one of Raymond's partners--laughed. "Ah, Mrs. Raymond, why go to +Sydney when all of the few other white ladies here are satisfied with +Dennis Murphy's 'Imporium' at Apia, where, as he says, 'Yez can get +annything ye do be wantin' from a nadle to an anchor, from babies' long +clothes to pickled cabbage and gunpowder.'" + +"Indeed, we are going there this day week," broke in Mrs. Raymond. +"There are a lot of things Mrs. Marston and I want, and we mean to turn +the 'Emporium' upside down. But we are not entirely selfish, Tom; we are +buying new mosquito netting for you, Mr. Rudd, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Young, +and Mr. Lorimer." (The two last-named were the overseers.) + +"How are you going, Marie?" asked Raymond with a smile; "we can't spare +the cutter, and you don't want to be drowned in a _taumualua_.' + +"Ah! we are not the poor, weak women you think we are. We are quite +independent--we are going to cross overland; and, more than that, we +shall be away eight days." + +"Clever woman!" retorted Raymond. "It is all very well for you, +Marie--you have crossed over on many occasions; but Mrs. Marston does +not understand our mountain paths." + +"My dear Tom, don't trouble that wise head of yours. _I_ have azranged +everything. Furthermore, the babies are coming with us! Serena, Olivee, +and one of Malie's girls--and I don't know how many others are to be +baby carriers. We go ten miles the first day along the coast, sleep at +Falelatai that night; then cross the range to the little bush village at +the foot of Tofua Mountain, sleep there, and then go on to Malua in the +morning. At Malua we get Harry Bevere's boat, and _he_ takes us to Apia. +Tom, it is a cut-and-dried affair, but now that I've told you of it, I +may as well tell you that Malie has aided and abetted us--the dear old +fellow. We shall be treated like princesses at every village all along +the route, and I doubt very much if we shall do much walking at all--we +shall be carried on _fata_" (cane-work litters). + +"All very well, my dear; but you and Malie have been counting your +chickens too soon. Harry Revere is now in our employ, and I yesterday +sent a runner to him to go off to Savai'i and buy us a hundred tons of +yams; and he has left by now." + +"Oh, Tom!" and Mrs. Raymond looked so blankly disappointed that all her +guests laughed. "Is there no other way of getting to Apia by water?" + +"No, except by _toumualua_--and a pretty nice time you and Sirs. Marston +and the suffering infants would have in a native boat! On the other hand +you can walk--you are bent on walking--and by going along the coast you +can reach Apia in about four days. Give the idea up, Marie, for a month +or so, when Malie and some of his people can take you and Mrs. Marston +to Apia in comfort in the cutter." + +Villari turned his dark eyes to Mrs. Raymond-- + +"Will you do me the honour of allowing me to take you and Mrs. Marston +to Apia in the _Lupetea?_ I shall be delighted." + +"It is very kind of you, Captain Villari," said the planter's wife with +a smile, as she emphasised the word "captain," "but when will you be +sailing?" + +The Italian considered a moment. + +"I have some cargo for Manono, and some for the German trader at +Paulaelae. I shall leave here at daylight to-morrow; be at Manono before +noon; run across the straits to Paulaelae the same day, land a few cases +of goods for the German, and be back here, if the breeze holds good, the +day after to-morrow." + +"It is very kind of you, Mr. Villari," said Raymond. + +"Not at all, Mr. Raymond. It will be far easier for me to come back this +way than to beat up to Apia against the trade wind and strong current on +the north side." + +"True. I did not think of that. So there you are, Marie--'fixed up,' as +Frewen would say. The schooner, I believe, is pretty smart, isn't she, +Mr. Villari?" + +"Very fair, Mr. Raymond--especially on a wind. We should get to Apia in +less than twenty-four hours if there is any kind of a breeze at all. And +for such a small vessel her accommodation is really very good, so the +ladies and children will be very comfortable, I hope." + +"Yes," said Meredith, "the _Lupetea_ is the best schooner in the group. +I've made two or three trips in her to Fiji. She was built by Brander, +of Tahiti, for a yacht, and he used to carry his family with him on +quite long voyages. Took them to Sydney once." + +"Well, Captain Villari," said Mrs. Raymond, "we shall be ready for you +the day after to-morrow. Be prepared for an infliction," and holding +up her left hand, she began counting on her fingers: "Item, two babies; +item, mothers of babies aforesaid; item, Serena, nurse girl; item, +Olivee, nurse girl; item, one native boy named Lilo, who is a relative +of Malie's, is Mrs. Marston's especial protege and wants to see the +great City of Apia; item, baskets and baskets _and_ baskets of roasted +fowls, mangoes, pineapples and other things which are for the use of the +captain, officers, crew and passengers of the _Lupetea_." + +Villari laughed. "There will be plenty of room, Mrs. Raymond." + +An hour or so later he bade them all good-night, and went on board. + +The old mate was pacing to and fro on the main deck smoking his pipe, +and Villari asked him to come below. + +He turned up the lamp and told Hutton to sit down. + +"Will you have a drink, Hutton?" + +"_Will_ I? You ought to know me by now." + +Villari went to his cabin and brought out a bottle of brandy. His +dark eyes were flashing with excitement, as he placed it on the table +together with two glasses. + +"Drink as much as you like to-night," he said; "but remember we lift +anchor at daylight. We must be back here the day after to-morrow. There +are passengers coming on board. You remember your promise to me?" + +Hutton half-filled his tumbler with brandy, and swallowed it eagerly +before answering. + +"I do, skipper; I'll do any blessed thing in the world except cuttin' +throats. I don't know what your game is, but I'm ready for anythink. +If it's a scuttlin' job, you needn't try to show me nothin'. I'm an old +hand at the game." + +Villari took a little brandy and sipped it slowly. + +"It is not anything like that; I am only taking away a woman whom I want +to marry. She may give trouble at first. Will you stand by me?" + +The man laughed. "Is that all, skipper? Why, I thought it was somethink +serious. You can depend on me," and he poured out some more liquor. + +"Here's luck to you, Captain. I consider as that fifty pound is in my +pocket already." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Two days later the schooner came sweeping round the western point of +Samatau Bay and then hove-to abreast of the house. Villari at once went +on shore, found his passengers ready to embark, and in half an hour +they were all on board and the _Lupetea_ was spinning along the southern +shore of Upolu at a great rate, for the wind was fresh and the sea very +smooth. At midnight she was nearly abreast of a beautiful little harbour +called Lotofanga, and Villari, who was on deck, told the mate to haul +the head sheets to windward and ta lower the boat. This was done so +quietly that the only one of the passengers who knew what had been done +was the Samoan, Lilo--a bright, intelligent youth of about fifteen years +of age. He was lying on the after-deck, and saw the mate and four hands +go over the side into the boat, and then a trunk of clothing which +belonged to Mrs. Raymond, and which, as the weather was fine, had been +left on deck, was passed down. Wondering at this, he rose, and walking +to the side, was looking at the boat, when a sailor roughly seized him +by the shoulder and ordered him to go for'ard and stay there till he was +called. Very unwillingly he obeyed, and then a second man told him to +go below into the foc'sle, and made such a threatening gesture with +a belaying-pin, that the boy, now beginning to feel alarmed, at once +descended, and immediately the fore scuttle was closed and bolted from +the deck. The place was in darkness except for one small slush lamp, and +Lilo, taking his seat on a sailor's chest, looked round at the bunks. +They were all unoccupied, and this fact increased his fears. He, +however, was a courageous lad, and his first thought was to provide +himself with some sort of weapon, and by the aid of the lamp he began +searching the bunks. In a few minutes he found a sheath knife and belt, +which he at once secured, and then again sat down to wait events. + +Meanwhile Villari was speaking to the mate. + +"You are quite sure you know the landing-place?" he asked. + +"Course I do. Didn't I tell you I've been at Loto-fanga half a dozen +times? It's right abreast of the passage, and no one couldn't miss it +on a clear night like this. But it's dead low tide. Why can't I put the +woman and girl on the reef, and let 'em walk to the village? Then we +don't run no risks of any natives a-seein' us and coming down to the +boat." + +"Ha! that's a good idea. But is it quite safe? I don't want them to meet +with any accident." + +"There ain't no danger. The reef is quite flat, with no pools in it, and +they needn't even wet their feet. I've walked over it myself." + +"Very well then. Now stand by, for I'm going below. As soon as they are +in the boat, push off and hurry all you can and get back. We must be out +of sight of land by daylight." + +The cabin, which was lighted by a swinging lamp, was very quiet as +Villari, first removing his boots, descended softly and bent oyer the +sleeping figures of Olivee and Serena, who were lying on mats spread +upon the floor outside the two cabins occupied by their mistresses. He +touched Olivee on the shoulder, and awakened her. + +"Ask Mrs. Raymond to please dress and come on deck for a few minutes," +he said quietly to the girl in English, which she understood. She at +once rose, and tapped at her mistress's door, and the Italian returned +on deck. + +Wondering what could be the reason for such a request, Mrs. Raymond +dressed herself as quickly as possible, and was soon on deck followed by +the girl Olivee. + +"What is the matter, Mr. Villari?" she inquired, and then, as she looked +at the man's face, something like fear possessed her. His eyes had the +same strange expression that she had often noticed when he was looking +at Mrs. Marston, and she remembered what the German doctor had said. + +"You must not be alarmed, Mrs. Raymond," he said, "but I am sorry to +say that the schooner has begun to leak in an alarming and extraordinary +manner, and the pumps are choked. For your own safety I am sending you +and Mrs. Marston and your servants on shore. We are now just abreast of +Lotofanga, and I am going to try and work the schooner in there and run +her ashore on the beach." + +Mrs. Raymond, now quite reassured, was at once practical. "We can be +ready in a minute, Mr. Villari. I will get little Loise, and----" + +"Do--as quickly as you can--and I will tell Mrs. Marston. I preferred +letting you know first. She is very nervous, and it will allay her alarm +when she finds that you are so cool. The boat is already alongside. Have +you any valuables in your cabin? If so, get them together." + +"Nothing but a little money. All my other things are on deck in a +trunk." + +"That is already in the boat; the mate told me it was yours." + +"Hurry up, please, ladies," and the mate's head appeared above the rail. + +"Just another minute, Hutton," said Villari, as he, Mrs. Raymond, and +the Samoan girl all returned to the cabin together. The latter at once +picked up the sleeping Loise, and her mother, as she wrapped her in a +shawl, heard Villari rouse the girl Serena and tell her to awaken her +mistress, and presently she heard his voice speaking to Mrs. Marston +telling her not to be alarmed, but he feared the schooner might founder +at any moment, and that he was sending her and Mrs. Raymond on shore. + +"Very well, Mr. Villari," she heard her friend say. "Have you told Mrs. +Raymond?" + +"Yes," he replied. "She is getting ready now--in fact, she _is_ ready." +Then he returned to Mrs. Raymond's door, and met her just as she was +leaving the cabin with the nurse and child. + +"Can I help you, Amy?" asked the planter's wife as she looked into Mrs. +Marston's cabin. + +"No, dear. I did not quite undress, and I'll be ready in a minute. Baby +is fast asleep. Is Loise awake?" + +"No, I'm glad to say. Olivee has her." + +"Please come on, Mrs. Raymond," said Villari, somewhat impatiently; "go +on, Olivee, with the little girl." + +He let them precede him, and almost before she knew it, Mrs. Raymond +found herself with the nurse and child in the boat, which was at once +pushed off and headed for the shore. + +"Stop, stop!" cried the poor lady, clutching the mate by the arm. "Mrs. +Marston is coming." + +"Can't wait," was the gruff rejoinder, and then, to her horror and +indignation, she saw that the boat's crew were pulling as if their lives +depended on their exertions. + +"Shame, shame!" she cried wildly. "Are you men, to desert them! Oh, if +you have any feelings of humanity, turn back," and, rising to her feet, +she shouted out at the top of her voice, "Captain Villari, Captain +Villari, for God's sake call the boat back!" + +But no notice was taken, and a feeling of terror seized her when the +brutal Hutton bade her "sit down and take it easy." + +As Villari stood watching the disappearing boat Mrs. Marston, followed +by the girl Serena carrying her baby, came on deck. + +"What is wrong?" she asked anxiously. "Why has the boat gone? What does +it mean?" and Yillari saw that she was trembling. + +"Return to your cabin, Mrs. Marston. No harm shall come to you. +To-morrow morning I shall tell you why I have done this." + +A glimmering of the truth came to her, and she tried to speak, but no +words came to her lips, as in a dazed manner she took the infant from +Serena, and pressing it tightly to her bosom stepped back from him with +horror, contempt, and blazing anger shining from her beautiful eyes. + +"Go below, I beg you," said Villari huskily. "Here, girl, take this, +and give it to your mistress when you go below," and he placed a loaded +Colt's pistol in the girl's hand. "No one shall enter the cabin till +to-morrow morning. You can shoot the first man who puts his foot on the +companion stairs." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A hot, blazing, and windless day, so hot that the branches of the +coco-palms, which at early morn had swished and merrily swayed to the +trade wind, now hung limp and motionless, as if they had suffered from +a long tropical drought instead of merely a few hours' cessation of the +brave, cool breeze, which for nine months out of twelve for ever made +symphony in their plumed crests. + +On the shady verandah of a small but well-built native house Amy Marston +was seated talking to an old, snowy-haired white man, whose bright but +wrinkled face was tanned to the colour of dark leather by fifty years of +constant exposure to a South Sea sun. + +"Don't you worry, ma'am. A ship is bound to come along here some time or +another, an' you mustn't repine, but trust to God's will." + +"Indeed I try hard not to repine, Mr. Manning. When I think of all that +has happened since that night, seven months ago, I have much for which +to thank God. I am alive and well, my child has been spared to me, and +in you, on this lonely island, I have found a good, kind friend, to whom +I shall be ever grateful." + +"That's the right way to look at it, ma'am. Until you came here I had +not seen a white woman for nigh on twenty years, and when I did first +see you I was all a-trembling--fearing to speak--for you looked to me as +if you were an angel, instead of----" + +"Instead of being just what I was--a wretched, half-mad creature, whom +your kindness and care brought back to life and reason." + +The old man, who even as he sat leant upon a stick, pointed towards the +setting sun, whose rays were shedding a golden light upon the sleeping +sea. + +"Whenever I see a thing like that, Mrs. Marston, I feel in my heart, +deep, deep down, that God is with us, and that I, Jim Manning, the old +broken-down, poverty-stricken trader of Anouda, has as much share in +His goodness and blessed love as the Pope o' Borne or the Archbishop o' +Canterbury. See how He has preserved you, and directed that schooner to +drift here to Anouda, instead of her going ashore on one of the Solomon +Islands, where you and all with you would have been killed by savage +cannibals and never been heard of again." + +Amy Marston left her seat, came over to the old man, and kneeling beside +him, placed her hands on his. + +"Mr. Manning, whenever a ship does come, will you and your sons come +away with me to Samoa, and live with me and the kind friends of whom I +have told you. Ah, you have been so good to me and my baby that I would +feel very unhappy if, when a ship comes and I leave Anouda, you were to +stay behind. I am what is considered a fairly rich woman----" + +"God bless you, my child--for you are only a child, although you are a +widow and have a baby--but you must not tempt me. I shall never leave +Anouda. I have lived here for five-and-thirty years, and shall die here. +I am now past seventy-six years of age, and every evening when the sun +is setting, as it is setting now, I sit in front of my little house and +watch it as I smoke my pipe, and feel more and more content and nearer +to God. Now, Mrs. Marston, I must be going home. Where is Lilo?'' + +"Out on the reef somewhere, fishing. Serena and the baby are in the +breadfruit grove behind the village. I sent them there, as it is cooler +than the house. I shall walk over there for them before it becomes too +dark. Ah, here comes the breeze at last." + +"Lilo is a good boy, a good boy," said the old man as he rose and held +out his hand; "he is very proud of calling himself your _tausea_,{*} and +that he 'sailed' the _Lupetea_ so many hundreds of miles." + + * Protector. + +"He is indeed a good boy. I do not think we should ever have reached +land had it not been for him." + +As the bent figure of the old trader disappeared along the path that +led to his own house, which was half a mile away, Mrs. Marston reseated +herself, and with her sunbrowned hands folded in her lap, gazed dreamily +out upon the glassy ocean, and gave herself up to reverie. + + * * * * * + +When, in an agony of fear, she had obeyed Villari's request to go below, +she had locked herself in her own cabin, and after putting her infant +to sleep, had sat up with the girl Serena, waiting for the morning. The +pistol which the Italian had given her she laid upon the little table, +and Serena, who knew of Villari's infatuation for her mistress, sat +beside her with a knife in her hand. + +"I cannot shoot with the little gun which hath six shots, lady," said +the girl, "but I can drive this knife into his heart." + +Half an hour passed without their being disturbed, and then they heard +Villari call out to let draw the head sheets, and in a few minutes the +schooner was running before a sharp rain squall from the northward. As +they sat listening to the spattering of the rain on the deck above, one +of the skylight flaps was lifted, and, to their joy, their names were +called by the boy Lilo. + +"Serena, Ami! 'Tis I, Lilo. Do not shoot at me," he cried, and at the +same moment Villari came to the skylight and said-- + +"The boy wants to stay below with you, Mrs. Marston. I did not know he +was on board till a little while ago." Then the flap was lowered, and +they saw no more of him till the morning. + +The delight of Lilo at finding Mrs. Marston and Serena together was +unbounded, and for some minutes the boy was so overjoyed at seeing them +again, that even Mrs. Marston, terrified and agitated as she was at +Villari's conduct, had to smile when he took her feet in his hands and +pressed them to his cheek. As soon as his excitement subsided, he told +them of what had occurred after he had been put down into the foc'sle. + +About a quarter of an hour after the boat had gone, the scuttle was +opened, and one of the sailors who were left on board told him to come +up on deck. Villari was at the wheel, and was in a very bad temper, for +he angrily demanded of the two seamen what they meant by keeping him on +board, instead of sending him on shore in the boat. One of the men, who +was called "Bucky" and who had evidently been drinking, made Villari +a saucy answer, and said that he had kept the boy below with a view to +making him useful. The mate, he said, "knew all about it," and Villari +had better "keep quiet." In another moment Villari knocked him senseless +with a belaying pin, and then, ordering the other man to let draw the +head sheets, put the helm hard up, and the schooner stood away from the +land, just as a rain squall came away from the northward. As soon as +Bucky became conscious, Villari spoke to him and the other seaman, +cautioned them against disobedience, and said that if they did their +duty, he would divide a hundred pounds between them when the schooner +reached Noumea in New Caledonia. The men then asked him whether he meant +to leave the mate and the other four hands behind? + +"Yes, I do," he replied, "that is why I am giving you fifty pounds each. +But if you try on any nonsense with me, I'll shoot you both. Now go +for'ard and stand by to hoist the squaresail as soon as the squall dies +away--this boy will lend a hand." + +As soon as the squaresail was set, Villari told Lilo to call down the +skylight to Mrs. Marston. + +"He told me," concluded the boy, "that although I shall have to cook for +every one on board, I was to be your servant, and that I was to always +sleep in the cabin. And he himself is going to sleep in the deck house +behind the galley, for I saw that he has a lamp in there, and all his +things, and he asked me to bring him some writing paper, and ink, and +pens. Where shall I get them?" + +Mrs. Marston found the articles for him, and Lilo at once took them to +Villari, who was at the wheel. + +"Put them in the deck-house," he said, "and tell one of the men to come +aft, and take the wheel. Then go below again and remain there. If any +one puts foot in the cabin, you can shoot him with the pistol I gave to +Serena." + +"Ami," said the boy anxiously, when he retained, "he is _vale_ (mad), +for his eyes are the eyes of one who is mad. The land is now far astern, +and the ship is speeding fast away from it. What doth this mean?" + +"I cannot tell thee, Lilo," she replied, speaking in Samoan, "but as +thou sayest, he is mad. Let us trust in God to protect us." + +She rose and went into the main cabin, and looked at the tell-tale +compass, which swung over the table, and saw that the schooner was +heading south-west, which would be the course for New Caledonia. + +All that night the _Lupetea_ swept steadily and swiftly along over a +smooth sea, and then at daylight, Mrs. Marston, who had fallen asleep, +was aroused by a loud cry of alarm from Lilo. + +She sprang from her berth, and saw that the boy was kneeling beside +Villari, who was lying dead at the foot of the companion, with a pistol +in his hand. + +"He hath killed himself, Ami," said the boy. "As I sat here watching, +I heard two shots on deck, and then the ship came to the wind, and as I +was about to go on deck, Villari came down, and standing there, put the +pistol to his head and killed himself." + +"Come on deck," she cried, "and see what has become of the men." + +Her fears that Villari had killed the two seamen were verified--they +were both lying dead, one beside the wheel, and the other on the main +deck. In the deckhouse was a wildly-incoherent and unfinished letter, to +her containing expressions of the most passionate devotion, and begging +her to pray for his soul. + +The first thing to be done was to consider how to dispose of the bodies +of poor Villari and the unfortunate seamen. The land was now fifty miles +distant, and Lilo, pointing to the eastern horizon, assured Mrs. Marston +that bad weather was coming on, and that sail should be taken in as +quickly as possible. + +"Let Serena and I cast the dead men overboard," he said; "'tis better +than that we should keep them on board, for we know not how long it may +be ere we get to land again." + +Mrs. Marston shuddered. + +"As you will, Lilo. When it is done, I will come on deck again and help +with the sails." + +An hour later the schooner was racing under close-reefed canvas before a +half-gale from the eastward. + +"Let us steer to the westward," Lilo had said to his mistress. "We +cannot beat back to Samoa against such a wind as this, which may last +many days. And straight to the west lieth Uea, on which live some white +men who will succour us." + +There was no general chart on board, but Mrs. Marston knew that Uea +(Wallis Island) was due west from Samoa, and distant about two or three +hundred miles. + +For twelve hours the _Lupetea_ ran swiftly before a rapidly increasing +sea, and by night time Lilo was so exhausted in trying to keep her from +broaching to, that Serena came to his assistance. Neither he nor Mrs. +Marston knew how to heave-to the vessel; but, fearful of running past +Wallis Island in the night, they did the very thing they should not +have done--lowered and made fast both mainsail and foresail, and let the +vessel drive under bare poles. + +Worn out with his exertions, Lilo still stuck manfully to his steering, +when, looking behind him, he saw a black, towering sea sweeping down +upon the schooner. Uttering a cry of alarm, he let go the wheel, and +darted into the cabin after Mrs. Marston, who had just left the deck. + +Then came a tremendous crash, and the _Lupetea_ shook and quivered in +every timber, as the mighty avalanche of water fell upon and buried +her; smashing the wheel to splinters, snapping off the rudder head, and +sweeping the deck clean of everything movable. + +A month later the vessel drifted ashore on Anouda Island, just as Mrs. +Marston was beginning to despair. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Darkness had fallen upon the little island, as with the girl Serena and +her infant charge, Mrs. Man-ton was walking back to the house. Lilo had +not yet returned, but as they emerged from the breadfruit grove, they +heard the sound of many voices, and then came a cry that made their +hearts thrill-- + +"_Te vaka nui, Te vaka nui!_" ("A ship! a ship!") and almost at the same +moment Lilo and a score of natives came rushing along the path in search +of the white lady. + +"A ship! aship!" shouted Lilo, who was almost frantic with excitement, +"your ship--your own ship! The ship that came to Samatau!" + +"How know you, Lilo?" cried Mrs. Marston tremblingly. "How can you tell +it is my ship? And where is it?" + +As soon as the boy was able to make himself heard through the clamour +of his companions, he told Mrs. Marston that whilst he was engaged in +fishing along the shore of an unfrequented little bay on the north end +of the island, he was startled by the sudden appearance of a large ship, +which he instantly recognised as the _Esmeralda_. She came around a +headland with a number of her hands aloft taking in sail, and dropped +anchor about half a mile from the land. Lilo waited some time to see if +a boat would come on shore, and also ran out to the edge of the reef, +and tried to attract the attention of the people on board, but no notice +was taken of him. Then, as darkness was coming on, he set off for the +village at a run to tell his mistress. + +"We must hasten on board, Lilo," said Mrs. Marston, as she walked +hurriedly along beside him to the house. "Run quickly to the old white +man, and ask him to send his boat here for me." + +But Manning had already heard the news, and his boat had not only been +launched, but, manned by half a dozen stalwart Anoudans, was at that +moment coming down inside the reef. The old trader's half-caste son Joe +was steering, and the moment the boat touched the beach, he sprang out +and ran up to the house. + +"Father sent me for you, Mrs. Marston. The old man is nearly off his +head with excitement. He has sent a native out on the reef to burn a +blue light so that it can be seen by the people on board the ship, who +will then know that there are white people here." + +"Thank you, Joe," she said, as, kissing her little Marie, and bidding +Serena take her to Manning's house, and there await her return from the +ship, she ran swiftly to the boat, which at once pushed off, accompanied +by twenty or thirty canoes--all crowded with natives. + +"Look!" cried Joe Manning, "there is the blue light!" + +Half a mile away, on a projecting horn of the reef, the blue flame was +shedding its brilliant light, and clearly revealing the all but nude +figure of the man who held it. + +"Father said, Mrs. Marston, when he took those three blue lights ashore +from the wreck of the _Lupetea_, that they might come in useful some +night----" and then he uttered a yell of delight as a great rocket +shot high up in air and burst; the ship had seen the blue light and was +answering it! + +"Hurrah! she sees the blue light!" he cried, and then with voice and +gesture he urged his crew to greater exertions. They responded with +a will, and then, as a second rocket shot upward, a deep "_Aue!_" of +admiration was chorused forth by the occupants of the canoes, which were +trying hard to keep pace with the swift whale-boat. + +"We'll see her as soon as we get round the north end, ma'am," said the +half-caste, as he swung the boat's head towards a passage through the +surrounding reef. Mrs. Marston made no reply; she was too excited to +speak, as with parted lips and eager eyes she sat gazing straight ahead. + +Ten minutes passed, and only the _swish, swish_ of the canoe paddles +and the boat's oars broke the silence; then the high north point of the +island was rounded, and the _Esmeralda_ lay before them, so close, that +even though it was dark, figures could be seen moving about her decks, +which were well lit up. + +Bidding his men cease pulling, and the natives in the canoes to keep +silent for a moment, the burly half-caste hailed. + +"Ship ahoy!" + +"Hallo, there!" cried Prewen's well-remembered voice, "we see you. Come +round on the port side." + +"Ay, ay, sir," shouted Manning, and then, unable to restrain himself, he +expanded his mighty chest and bawled out-- + +"MRS. MARSTON IS HERE!" + +In a moment or two there came an outburst of cheering from the ship, and +then amidst the shouts and yells of the Anouda natives the boat dashed +alongside, and Mrs. Marston ascended the ladder. A crowd of men were +at the gangway, and almost ere her foot had touched the deck Frewen had +grasped her hand. + +"Thank God, we have found you at last, Mrs. Marston!" + +She tried to speak, and then would have fallen, had not Randall Cheyne +sprung forward and caught her. + +"Carry her to the cabin, Randall," said Frewen, "the poor little woman +has fainted." + +Half an hour later, the chief officer ran up on the poop-deck and called +out-- + +"All hands aft!" + +As the crew--who had been eagerly listening to Joe Manning's account +of how Mrs. Marston had come to the island--crowded aft, the mate cried +out-- + +"Boys, I want volunteers to man the starboard quarter-boat to bring Mrs. +Marston's baby on board." + +Such a wild rush was made for the boat falls that the good-natured +officer had to interfere and pick out eight men, and with Lilo as pilot +and himself in charge, the boat left the ship amid further cheering. + +In the cabin Mrs. Marston, now looking bright and happy, was telling her +story to Frewen and Cheyne. + +"And now," she said, as she concluded, "I am the very happiest woman +in all the world, and oh! Captain Frewen, when I think I shall see Mrs. +Raymond within a few days, I feel almost hysterical. I'm sure I won't +want to go to sleep for a week." + +Frewen laughed as he looked at the flashed, beautiful face. "Well, I +don't think you'll get too much sleep to-night, for the men are as much +excited as any one aft, and I sent word that they can have a bit of fun +and make as much noise as they like until eight bells, and drink your +and your baby's health seven times." + +"Ah! my poor little baby. How cruel of me to forget her! Oh, please let +me go for her." + +"You are too late," said Frewen with a smile, "the mate has just gone, +and he'll bring her to you before another hour has passed. He has taken +your boy Lilo with him as pilot." + +Mrs. Marston sighed contentedly, and then looked round at the familiar +cabin. + +"Oh, how I shall love to see Samatau again, Captain Frewen, and oh! how +wonderful it is that the _Esmeralda_ of all ships should be the one to +find me. If only Mrs. Raymond could know I was safe and on board talking +to you of her!" + +"She will indeed be yery happy; and yet, do you know, Mrs. Marston, +that she always said you were not dead, although when month after month +passed by, and a most careful search had been made of all the islands +within a radius of six hundred miles, and no trace of the _Lupetea_ was +found, Mr. Raymond himself lost all hope." + +"How long was it before Mr. Raymond knew of what had occurred on board +that night off Lotofanga?" she asked. + +"Mrs. Raymond herself told him on the following afternoon, when, to his +astonishment, she arrived at Samatau in a native beat. It seems that +after Hutton landed them--she, little Loise, and Olivee--on the reef, +they were met by a party of natives who were returning from a fishing +excursion. These people at once took them to the village, where, of +course, they were very kindly treated. + +"Mrs. Raymond, who was half mad with anxiety for you, asked the chief +to provide her with a boat to return to Samatau and tell her husband of +what had happened. They left after an hour's rest and almost foundered +in the same squall which overtook the _Lupetea_. However, they reached +Samatau a little before sunset. Raymond at once sent Meredith and Rudd +to Apia to charter two or even three local schooners to sail in search +of the _Lupetea_, and for over a month whilst I was there a most +unremitting search was kept up, and letters were sent all over the +Pacific asking the traders at the various islands to keep a good +look-out either for the schooner or any wreckage which might come +ashore. + +"I arrived at Samatau in the _Esmeralda_ about a fortnight after Villari +left there, and found Mrs. Raymond alone and distracted with fear for +your safety. During the following week, one of the schooners which +were out searching for you returned. Raymond was on board. He had been +searching through the windward islands of the Fiji Group, but without of +course finding a trace of the missing vessel. On the way back, though, +they spoke a Tahitian barque, whose captain told them that the bodies of +Hutton and the four men who were with him had been found on the reef at +Savai'i a few days after the scoundrels had put Mrs. Raymond ashore at +Lotofanga. The boat had evidently been driven ashore during the stormy +weather which prevailed for three or four days afterwards. + +"After remaining ashore for a day only, Raymond again sailed--this time +to make a search among the Friendly Islands; and I, with Mr. Rudd and +Overseer Lorimer to assist me, sailed for the Solomon Group. We decided, +instead of proceeding direct to the Solomons for our cargo of black +humanity, to first cruise through the New Hebrides Group, in the hope we +might learn something of the _Lupetea_." + +"It makes me feel as if I were a real missing princess, Captain Frewen." + +"So you were--until to-night. Well, from the New Hebrides we went north +to the Solomons, where we were singularly fortunate in getting five +hundred natives in a few weeks without any trouble. I landed them at +Samatau without losing a single man, and they are now working on the new +plantation as happy as sand-boys. + +"Raymond was at home when I returned, but there was still one vessel +away looking for you--the cutter _Alrema and Niya_--and in fact we long +since decided not to entirely abandon the search for a full year. + +"I left on a second trip for the Solomons just nine days ago, and we +sighted this island early this morning. I did not think that we should +hear anything of the _Lupetea_ so far to the westward--over a thousand +miles from Samoa--but as three of our coloured crew are down with fever, +I decided to anchor, leave them here in care of the natives, and also +find out if any wreckage had been seen. We could not see any signs of +houses on this side of the island, but did see a man making gestures to +the ship from the reef; however, as I did not intend to go ashore until +the morning, we did not lower a boat. You can imagine our surprise when +the glare of a blue light was seen." + +"Mate's boat is alongside, sir," announced the bos'un. + +And in a few minutes the smiling Serena entered the cabin and placed +little Marie in her mother's arms. + + * * * * * + +Shortly after dawn the merry click of the windlass pawls told Mrs. +Marston that the _Esmeralda_ was getting underweigh again for Samoa--for +the projected voyage to the Solomon Islands was of course abandoned. +Old Manning and his stalwart sons came off to say goodbye, and at Mrs. +Marston's earnest request the trader consented to accept from her some +hundreds of pounds' worth of trade goods from the well-filled storeroom +of the _Esmeralda_. + +"Goodbye, Mrs. Marston, and God bless you and the little one, and give +you all a safe passage to Samoa," he cried, as he descended the side +into his boat. + +For many hours she remained on deck watching the green little island as +it sunk astern, and thinking of the kindly-hearted old trader who had +so cheered her by his simple piety and unobtrusive goodness. Then her +thoughts turned joyfully to home--for the Raymonds' house was home to +her--and she sighed contentedly as the gallant _Esmeralda_, with every +stitch of canvas that could be set, slipped gracefully over the blue +Pacific on an east-south-east course, for it was the month of November, +and light westerly winds had set in. + +Two weeks on such a happy ship soon passed away, and then early one +morning the grey dome of Mount Tofua stood out from the mantle of mist +which hid its verdant sides; and ere the sun had dried the heavy night +dews on the gaily-coloured crotons and waving pampas grass which grew +just above the beach, the brave ship dropped anchor once more in Samatau +Bay amidst a scene of the wildest confusion. For Raymond, as he had +stood on the verandah with his wife, watching her sailing in, and +wondering what had brought back Frewen so soon, saw this signal flying +from her spanker gaff. + + O + W + S + V + + B + R + C + +"What does it mean, Tom?" "Found. All well!" he shouted, and pitching +his telescope clean over the tops of the wild orange-tree in front of +the house, he rushed down to the beach, crying out the news as he ran. + +Boats, canoes, and _taumualuas_ by the score, all crowded with natives, +who were shouting themselves hoarse, paddled furiously off to the ship; +and ere her cable rattled through the hawse-pipe and the heavy anchor +plunged down to its coral bed, her decks were filled with people, and +Raymond, followed by the old chief Malie, was shaking hands warmly with +"the missing princess" and her rescuer. + +***** + +It is night at Samatau, and the two ladies are sitting on the verandah. +The house is very quiet. + +"Amy?" + +"Yes, Marie, dear." + +"Tom was asking me this morning if you have yet made up your mind to go +on building that house." + +"Oh, dear, Marie. I have hardly given it a thought since I came +back--and I've only been back a week!" + +"Amy?" + +"Marie?" + +"I suppose, dear, that Captain Frewen won't give up the _Esmeralda_ +altogether when he goes to America to see his people. He will come back, +will he not?" + +Mrs. Marston blushed. "I--I think so, dear. Come inside, and I'll tell +you." + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's John Frewen, South Sea Whaler, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + +***** This file should be named 24806.txt or 24806.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/0/24806/ + +Produced by David Widger + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: John Frewen, South Sea Whaler + 1904 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: March 11, 2008 [EBook #24806] +Last Updated: March 8, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + JOHN FREWEN, <br /> SOUTH SEA WHALER + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + From “Chinkie's Flat And Other Stories” + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Louis Becke + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h4> + Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company 1904 + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>BOOK I</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> <big><b>BOOK II</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + BOOK I + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <p> + Captain Ethan Keller, of the <i>Casilda</i> of Nantucket, was in a very + bad temper, for in four days he had lost two of the five boats the barque + carried—one had been hopelessly stove by the dreaded “underclip” + given her by a crafty old bull sperm-whale, and the other, which was in + charge of the second mate, had not been seen for seventy hours. When last + sighted she was fast to the same bull which had destroyed the first mate's + boat; it was then nearly dark, and the whale, which was of an enormous + size, although he had three irons in his body and was towing the whole + length of line from the stove-in boat as well as that of the second mate, + was racing through the water as fresh as when he had first been struck, + three hours previously. Then the sun dipped below the sea-rim, and the + blue Pacific was shrouded in darkness. + </p> + <p> + “Why in thunder couldn't the dunderhead put a bomb into that fish before + it came on dark?” growled the skipper to his other officers, as they sat + down to a harried sapper in the spacious, old-fashioned cabin of the + whaler. + </p> + <p> + No one answered. Frewen, the missing officer, was as good a whaleman as + ever drove an iron or gripped the haft of a steer-oar, and his half-caste + boatsteerer Randall Cheyne was the best on the ship. But there was bad + blood between young Frewen and his captain, and Cheyne was the cause of + it. + </p> + <p> + “If they cut and lose that whale,” resumed Keller presently, “I'll haze + the life out of them—by thunder, I will, if I break my back in doing + it! Why, that is the biggest fish we've struck yet. If I had been in that + boat, I'd have had that whale in his flurry two hours ago. Why, it appears + to me that Frewen got too soared to even try to haul up and give him a + bomb, let alone giving him the lance—which was easy enough.” + </p> + <p> + Just as he spoke, one of the boatsteerers entered the cabin and reported + that some of the hands thought that they had heard the second mate's bomb + gun. + </p> + <p> + “All right,” growled Keller, “tell the cooper to burn a flare.” + </p> + <p> + “I guess Frewen won't lose him,” said Lopez, the first mate. “He told me + long ago that he never yet had to out, and I don't think he'll do it now—unless + something has gone wrong. That must have been his gun.” + </p> + <p> + “Huh!” sneered Keller, as he viciously speared a piece of salt pork with + his fork, “we'll see all about that when daylight comes. You'll find Mr. + Firwen and that yaller-hided Samoa buck back here for breakfast, but no + whale.” + </p> + <p> + None of the men made any reply. They knew that Frewen would be the last + man to lose a fish through any fault of his own, and only after carefully + “drogueing” his line would he part company with it, and that only if the + immense creature emptied the line tubs and “sounded.” Then, to save the + lives of those in the boat, he would have to cut. + </p> + <p> + “Guess we'll see that whale to-morrow, anyway, whether Mr. Frewen is fast + to him or not,” said the third mate to the cooper, as they met on deck; + “he's got a mighty lot of line hanging to him, and, just after the second + mate got fast I saw him shaking his flukes and trying to kick out one of + the two irons the mate hove into him.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, that is so; I hope we shall get him. The old man is pretty cranky + over it. He hasn't a nice temper even when he's in a good humour, and + there will be blue fire blazing if Mr. Frewen does lose the fish after + all.” + </p> + <p> + For four hours the barque made short tacks to the eastward, in which + direction the boat had been taken by the whale. The night was fine but + dark, the sea very smooth, and the flares which were burnt at intervals on + board the barque would render her visible many miles away, and a keen + look-out was kept for the boat, but nothing could be discovered of it. + </p> + <p> + Towards midnight the light air from the eastward died away, and was + succeeded by a series of rather sharp rain squalls from the south-west, + and Keller, fearing to miss the boat by running past her, hove-to till + daylight. + </p> + <p> + The dawn broke brightly, with a dead calm. Forty pairs of eyes eagerly + scanned the surface of the ocean, and in a few minutes there came a + cheering cry from aloft. + </p> + <p> + “Dead whale, oh! Close to on the weather beam.” + </p> + <p> + “Can you see the boat?” cried Lopez. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” was the reply after a few seconds silence. “Can't see her + anywhere.” + </p> + <p> + “Look on the other side of the whale, you bat!” growled the skipper. + </p> + <p> + “She's not there, sir,” was the reply. + </p> + <p> + “Lower away your boats, Mr. Bock and Mr. Lopez,” said Keller in more + gracious tones to the third and first officers; “the second mate can't be + far away, but why in thunder he didn't hang on to the whale last night I + don't know. Take something to eat with you. You will have to tow that + whale alongside—this calm is going to last all day.” + </p> + <p> + Five minutes later the two boats pushed off, and then, as they sped over + the glassy surface of the ocean and the huge carcass of the whale was more + clearly revealed, Bock called out to his superior officer that he could + see a whift {*} on it. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A wooden pole with a small pennon; used by whalers' boats + as a signal to the ship. +</pre> + <p> + Lopez nodded, but said nothing. + </p> + <p> + They pulled up alongside, and the mate's boatsteerer stepped out on to the + body of Leviathan and pulled out the whift pole, which was firmly embedded + in the blubber. + </p> + <p> + “There's a letter tied round the pole, sir,” he said to his officer, as he + got back to the boat again and passed the whift aft. + </p> + <p> + The “letter” had been carefully wrapped in a strip of oilskin, and then + tied around the whift pole by a piece of sail twine. It was a sheet of + soiled paper with a few pencilled lines written on it. Lopez read it:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “For the information of Ethan Keller, Haser: This whale was + struck, for the sake of his shipmates' lays, by Randall + Cheyne, the 'yaller-hided Samoan,' who has struck more + whales than old Haser Keller ever saw. If Haser Keller wants + us he will find us at Savage Island, where we shall be ready + for him. + + (Signed) “R. Cheyne, Boatsteerer, “Casilda.” + </pre> + <p> + “Where is Mr. Frewen, sir?” inquired the boatsteerer anxiously. + </p> + <p> + “Gone for a picnic,” replied the mate laconically. “Now, look lively, my + lads. We've got to tow this fish to the ship and 'cut in' before the + sharks save us the trouble.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> + <p> + The quarrel between Keller, a rough, blasphemous-mouthed, and + violent-tempered man, and his second officer had arisen over a very simple + matter. + </p> + <p> + Frewen, one of the six sons of a struggling New Hampshire farmer, had + received a better education than his brothers, for he was intended for the + navy. But at sixteen years of age he realised the condition of the family + finances, and shipped on a whaler sailing out of New London. From + “'foremast hand with hayseed in his hair,” he became boatsteerer; then + followed rapid promotion from fourth to second officer's berth, and at the + age of five-and-twenty he was as competent a navigator and as good a + seaman and boatheader as ever trod a whaleship's deck. For like many a + country-bred boy he had the sea instinct in his bones, inherited perhaps + from his progenitors, who were of a seafaring stock in old Devonshire, in + that town made for ever famous by Kingsley in “Westward Ho!” + </p> + <p> + When Frewen joined the <i>Casilda</i>, Keller had taken a great fancy to + the young man, whom he soon discovered was a very able officer, and who + proved his ability as a good whaleman so amply during the first twelve + months of the cruise by never losing a whale once he got fast, that + Keller, who was as mean as he was brutal to his crew, relaxed his “hazing” + propensities considerably. The <i>Casilda</i> was always known as a “hard” + ship and Keller as a “hazer”; but, on the other hand, she was also a lucky + ship, and Lopes, the chief mate, who had sailed in her for many years, was + a sterling good man, though a strict disciplinarian, and did much for the + men to compensate them for Keller's outbursts of savage fury when anything + went wrong. So Lopez, Frewen, and his fellow-officers “worked” together, + and the crew “worked” with them, and the <i>Casilda</i> became a fairly + happy ship, as well as a lucky one, for Keller, after long years, began to + realise that it was bad policy to ill-treat a willing crew who would give + him a “full” ship in another six months instead of deserting one by one or + in batches at every island touched at in the South Seas. + </p> + <p> + And Frewen was a mascotte, and his half-caste boat-steerer was another, + for whenever a pod of whales were sighted the second mate's boat was + invariably the first to get fast, and on one glorious day off Sunday + Island Frewen's boat killed three sperms—a bull and two cows—and + the four other boats each got one or two, so that for over a week, in a + calm sea, and under a cloudless sky of blue by day and night, “cutting in” + and “trying-out” went on merrily, and the cooper and his mates toiled like + Trojans, setting-up fresh barrels; and the smoke and glare of the + try-works from the deck of the <i>Casilda</i> lit up the placid ocean for + many a mile, whilst hordes of blue sharks rived and tore and ripped off + the rich blubber from the whales lying alongside waiting to be cut-in, and + Keller shot or lanced them by the score as he stood on the cutting-in + stage or in one of the boats made fast to the chains on the free side. + </p> + <p> + Fourteen months out, as the <i>Casilda</i> was cruising northward, + intending to touch at one of the Navigator's Islands (Samoa) to refresh, + the first trouble occurred. Cheyne, Frewen's boatsteerer, who was a + splendidly built, handsome young fellow of twenty-four years of age, + received a rather severe injury to his right foot whilst a heavy baulk of + timber was being “fleeted” along the deck. Frewen, who was much attached + to him, dressed his foot as well as the rough appliances on board would + allow, and then reported him to the captain as unfit for duty. + </p> + <p> + Keller growled something about all “darned half-breeds” being glad of any + excuse to shirk duty. + </p> + <p> + Frewen took him up sharply: “This man is no shirker, sir. He is as good a + man as ever 'stood up' to strike a whale. Did you ever see a better one?” + </p> + <p> + Keller looked at his second officer with fourteen months' repressed + brutality glowering in his savage eyes. + </p> + <p> + “I'm the captain of this ship. Just you mind that. I reckon I can't be + taught much by any college buster.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen's hands clenched, but he replied quietly, though he was inwardly + raging at Keller's contemptuous manner— + </p> + <p> + “Just so. You are the captain of this ship, and I know my duty, sir. But I + am not the man to be insulted by any one. And I say that my boatsteerer is + not fit for duty.” + </p> + <p> + Keller's retort was of so insulting a character that in another moment the + two men—to the intense delight of the crew—were fighting on + the after-deck. Lopes and the cooper, as in duty bound, sprang forward and + seized their fellow-officer, but the captain, with an oath, bade them + stand aside. + </p> + <p> + “I'll pound you first,” he cried hoarsely to Frewen, “then I'll kick you + into the foc'sle.” + </p> + <p> + The fight lasted for fifteen minutes, and then Lopes and the third mate + forced themselves between and separated them. Both men were terribly + punished. + </p> + <p> + “That will do, sir; that will do, Frewen,” said the mate; “do you want to + kill each other?” + </p> + <p> + Keller had some good points about him and a certain amount of humour as + well. + </p> + <p> + “Haow much air yew hurt, Frewen?” he inquired. “I can't exactly see” (both + his eyes were fast closing). + </p> + <p> + “Pretty much like yourself,” replied the officer; then he paused and held + out his hand. “Shake hands, sir. I'm sorry we've had this turn.” + </p> + <p> + “Wa'al, it's mighty poor business, that's a fact,” and Keller took the + proffered hand, and then the matter apparently ended. + </p> + <p> + Early in the morning on the following day whales were raised. There was a + stiff breeze and a choppy sea. Three boats, of which Frewen's was one, + were lowered. Cheyne, although suffering great pain, insisted on taking + his place, and twenty minutes later his officer called out to him to + “stand up,” for they were close to the whale—a large cow, which was + moving along very slowly, apparently unconscious of the boat's presence. + </p> + <p> + Then for the first time during the voyage the half-caste missed striking + his fish. Unable to sustain himself steadily, owing to his injured foot + and the rough sea, he darted his iron a second or two too late. It fell + flat on the back of the monstrous creature, which at once sounded in + alarm, and next reappeared a mile to windward. For an hour Frewen kept up + the chase, and then the ship signalled for all the boats to return, for + the wind and sea were increasing, and it was useless for them to attempt + to overtake the whales, which were now miles to windward. Neither of the + other boats had even come within striking distance of a fish, and + consequently Keller was in a vile temper when they returned, and the + moment he caught sight of the half-caste boatsteerer he assailed him with + a volley of abuse. + </p> + <p> + The young man listened with sullen resentment dulling his dark face, then + as he turned to limp for'ard the captain bade him make haste and get + better, and not “try on any soldiering.” + </p> + <p> + He turned in an instant, his passion completely overmastering him: “I'm no + 'soldier,' and as good a man as you, you mean old Gape Cod water-rat. I'll + never lift another iron or steer a boat for you as long as I am on this + ship.” + </p> + <p> + Five minutes later he was in irons with a promise of being kept on biscuit + and water till he “took back all he had said” in the presence of the + ship's company. + </p> + <p> + “I'll lie here and rot first sir,” he said to Lopez; “my father was an + Englishman, and I consider myself as good a boatsteerer and as good a man + as any one on board. But I do not mean any disrespect to you, sir.” + </p> + <p> + Lopez was sorry for the man, but could not say so. “Keep a still tongue + between your teeth,” he said roughly, “and I'll talk the old man round by + to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Do as you please, sir. But I won't lift an iron again as long as I am in + this ship,” he replied quietly. + </p> + <p> + He kept his word. On the following morning he was liberated, and in a + week's time he had recovered the use of his foot. Then, when the barque + was off the Tonga Islands, a large “pod” of whales were sighted. It was a + clear, warm day. The sea was as smooth as a lake, and only the faintest + air was ruffling the surface of the water. Three miles away were two + small, low-lying islands, clad with coco-palms, their white belting of + beach glistening like iridescent pearl-shell under the glowing tropic sun. + </p> + <p> + As the boats were lowered he said to Frewen, “You know what I have said, + sir. I won't lift a harpoon again on this cruise; so don't ask me.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen did not believe him. “Don't be a fool, Randall. We'll show the old + man something to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “<i>I</i> will, sir, if it costs me my life.” + </p> + <p> + Five minutes later he was in his old place on the for'ard thwart, pulling + stolidly, but looking intently at Frewen, whom he loved with a dog-like + affection. + </p> + <p> + Frewen singled out a large bull whale which was lying quite apart from the + rest of the “pod” sunning himself, and sometimes rolling lazily from side + to side, oblivious of danger. In another five minutes the boat would have + been within striking distance. + </p> + <p> + “Stand up, Randall,” he said. + </p> + <p> + The half-caste peaked and socketed his oar, and looked at the officer. + </p> + <p> + “I refuse, sir,” he said quietly. + </p> + <p> + “Then come aft here,” cried Frewen quickly, with hot anger in his tones. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I will not. I said I would neither lift iron nor steer a boat + again,” was the dogged reply. + </p> + <p> + There was no time to lose. Giving the steer oar to the man pulling the + “after-tub oar,” the officer sprang forward and picked up the harpoon just + in time, Randall jumping aft smartly enough, and taking the tub man's oar. + Ten seconds later Frewen had buried his harpoon up to the socket in the + whale, and the line was humming as the boat tore through the water. Then, + still keeping his place, he let the whole of one tub of line run out, and + then hauled up on it and lanced and killed his fish quietly. Cheyne + apparently took no notice, though his heart sank within him when Frewen + came aft again, and looked at him with mingled anger and reproach. + </p> + <p> + Some one of the boat's crew talked of what had occurred, though Frewen + said nothing; and that night Cheyne was placed in irons by Keller's + orders. At the end of a week he was still manacled and almost starving, + but he steadfastly refused to do boatsteerer's duty. Then the captain no + longer placed any check on himself, and he swore that he would either make + the half-caste yield or else kill him. And he did his best to keep his + word. + </p> + <p> + Nearly a month passed, and then, at Frewen's suggestion, all the officers + waited on the captain and begged him to release the unfortunate man; + otherwise there was every prospect of the crew mutinying. + </p> + <p> + “Is he willing to turn to again?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Not as boatsteerer,” replied Frewen. + </p> + <p> + “Then he shall stay where he is,” was the savage retort. + </p> + <p> + Five or six days later Frewen went to Cheyne, who was now confined in the + 'tween decks, and implored him to give in. + </p> + <p> + “Very well, sir. To please you I will give in. But I mean to desert the + first chance.” + </p> + <p> + “So do I. I am sick of this condition of things. There are three other men + besides yourself in irons now.” + </p> + <p> + “Who are they, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Willis, Hunt, and Freeman.” (The two latter belonged to his own boat, and + had been ironed because they had refused to eat some bad beef. Frewen + himself had told Keller that it was uneatable, and again angry words + passed between them.) + </p> + <p> + Cheyne was released and resumed his old place in Frewen's boat, and the + officer then sounded the rest of his men, and found they were eager to + leave the ship. So he made his plans, and he and Cheyne quietly got + together a small supply of provisions and a second breaker of water. + </p> + <p> + They waited till the ship was well among the Friendly Group, and Upolu + Island was three hundred miles to the north, and then were given the + needed opportunity—when the mate's boat was destroyed by the big + bull whale, which was then struck by Cheyne. + </p> + <p> + “Boys,” shouted Frewen to his crew, as the boat tore through the water, + “I'm not going to kill this whale awhile. He'll give us a long run, and is + taking us dead to windward, away from the ship. But before it gets dark + I'll give him a bomb.” + </p> + <p> + He successfully carried out his intention. Just as darkness was coming on + he hauled up on his line and fired a bomb into the mighty creature; it + killed it in a few seconds. Then they lay alongside of the floating + carcase, spelled half an hour, had something to eat, and then Cheyne, who + had a sense of humour, wrote the scrawl to Keller and tied it round the + whift pole. + </p> + <p> + “Now, lads,” cried Frewen, “up sail! It is a fine dark night, and we + should be forty or fifty miles away by daylight.” + </p> + <p> + And so, whilst the <i>Casilda</i> burnt flare after flare throughout the + night, the adventurers were slipping through the water merrily enough, + oblivious of the cold rain squalls which overtook them at midnight, as + they headed for Samoa. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + When Frewen allowed Cheyne to write the pencilled note to Captain Keller, + he did so with a double purpose, for he and Cheyne had carefully thought + out and decided upon their plans. In the first place, the dead whale would + convince the ship's company that he and his boat's crew had “done the + square thing,” by killing and leaving for their benefit the best and + largest whale that had yet been taken, and that although they were + deserting (and consequently losing their entire share of the profits of + the cruise so far, which would be divided with their former shipmates) the + rich prize they were leaving to the ship would prove of ten times the + value of the boat in which they had escaped. In the second place he wished + to put Keller on a false scent by naming Savage Island (or Nine, as it is + generally known) as their destination; for Keller knew that the island was + a favourite resort of runaway sailors, but that a suitable reward offered + to the avaricious natives would be sure to effect the capture and return + to the ship of any deserters from the <i>Casilda</i>. + </p> + <p> + Cheyne's father was an English master mariner, who, tired of a seafaring + life, had settled as a trader in the beautiful island of Manono in Samoa. + He there married a daughter of one of the leading chiefs, and himself + attained to some considerable influence and property, but lost his life in + an encounter with a rebellious clan on the island of Upolu. He left two + children: Randall, a lad of sixteen, and Marie, a girl two years younger. + The boy went to sea in a whaler, and at the age of twenty-four had an + established reputation as one of the smartest boatsteerers in the Pacific. + Only once after four years' absence, had he returned to his native + country, when he found that his sister, who had just arrived from + Australia, where she had been educated, was about to be married to one of + the few Europeans in the country—a well-to-do planter and merchant, + named Raymond, and that his mother had also married again, and settled in + New Zealand. + </p> + <p> + Satisfied as to his sister's future happiness, he saw her married, and + again turned his face to the sea, although Raymond earnestly besought him + to stay with and help him in his business. He made his way to Honolulu, + and there joined the <i>Casilda</i>, then homeward bound, and, as has been + related, he and the second officer soon became firm friends. + </p> + <p> + At the south-east point of the island of Upelu, there is a town named + Lepâ, and for this place the boat was now steering. The principal chief of + the district was a blood relation of Cheyne's mother, and he (Cheyne) knew + that every hospitality would be given to himself and Frewen for as long a + time as they chose to remain at Lepâ. + </p> + <p> + “After we have seen Mana'lio” (the chief) “we shall consider what we shall + do,” said the boatsteerer to Frewen. “I expect he will not like letting us + leave him, but will be satisfied when he knows that you and I want to go + to my sister's place. These big Samoan chiefe are very touchy in some + things.” + </p> + <p> + On the afternoon of the third day out, the land was sighted, and just as + the evening fires were beginning to gleam from the houses embowered in the + palm-groves of Lepâ, the boat grounded on the white hard beach, and in a + few minutes the village was in a pleasurable uproar, as the white men were + almost carried up to the chief's house by the excited natives, who at once + recognised the stalwart Cheyne. + </p> + <p> + Mana'lio made his relative and Frewen most welcome, and treated them as + very honoured guests, whilst the rest of the boat's crew were taken + possession of by the sub-chiefs and the people of the town generally, + carried off to the <i>fale taupule</i> or “town hall,” and invited to a + hurriedly prepared but ample repast. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning, Frewen called the whole of his boat's crew + together, and told them it would be best for them to separate. “Each of + you four men say you don't want to go to sea again—not for a long + time at any rate. Well, Mana'lio, the chief here, wants a white man to + live with him. He will treat him well, and give him a house and land. Will + you stay, Hunt?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” was the instant reply. + </p> + <p> + “Right. And you, Freeman, Chase, and Craik, can stay here in Lepâ, and + decide for yourselves which towns you will live in. In less than + forty-eight hours half the chiefe on the island will be coming to Mana'lio + for a white man. Cheyne here will give you some good advice—if you + want the natives to respect you, and to get along and make money and a + honest living, follow his advice.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” assented the men. + </p> + <p> + “Now, here is another matter. Cheyne and I wish to be mates, and we want + the boat.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I guess <i>we</i> have no claim on her, sir,” said Hunt, turning to + the others for confirmation of his remark. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes you have—she is as much yours as she is mine. Anyway we all + have a good right to her, as we have given the ship a whale worth a dozen + new boats; and, besides that, by deserting we have forfeited our 'lays' + and have put money into Captain Keller's pocket as well as into those of + the crew. Now, I have a little money with me—two hundred dollars. + Will you four men take a hundred and divide it, and let Cheyne and me have + the boat?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, to be sure,” they cried out in unison. + </p> + <p> + That evening Frewen and Cheyne bade Mana'lio and the seamen goodbye, and + accompanied by four stalwart and well-armed natives, stepped into the + boat, hoisted her blue jean main-sail and jib, and amidst a chorus of + farewells from the friendly people set off on a forty miles trip along the + coast, their destination being the town of Samatau, at the extreme + north-west of the island. + </p> + <p> + For here, so Mana'lio had told them, Mrs. Raymond and her husband were + living, the latter having purchased a large tract of land there which he + was preparing for a cotton plantation. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> + <p> + The boat sailed gently along the outer or barrier reef which fringed the + coast of beautiful verdured Upolu, and then, as the sun sank, there shone + out myriad stars upon the bosom of a softly heaving sea, and only the + never-ceasing murmur of the surf as it beat against the coral barrier, or + the cry of some wandering sea-bird, disturbed the warm silence of the + tropic night. + </p> + <p> + Leaving the boat to the care of their native friends at eight o'clock, + Frewen and his comrade laid down amidships and were soon fast asleep, for + the day had been a tiring one, and they needed more rest to recover from + the effects of the three days they had spent on the open sea. + </p> + <p> + Soon after daylight they were awakened by the steersman, who pointed out a + large, lofty-sparred vessel. She was about five miles away, and being head + on, Frewen was uncertain as to her rig, till an hour later, when he saw + that she was a full-rigged ship. + </p> + <p> + “Not the <i>Casilda</i>” he said to his comrade, and neither of them gave + the strange vessel any further thought, especially as the wind had now + died away, and, the sail being lowered, the crew bent to the oars under an + already hot and blazing sun. + </p> + <p> + Shortly before noon, the boat rounded a low headland and entered a lovely + little bay, embowered in thick groves of coco-palms and breadfruit trees. + The new house which Raymond had built was not visible from the bay, but + there were some thirty or forty native houses clustered under the shade of + the trees, a few yards up from the beach, on which they noticed a ship's + longboat was lying. + </p> + <p> + The moment Frewen's boat was seen, a strange clamour arose, and a number + of natives, armed with muskets and long knives, rushed out of their + houses, and took cover behind the rocks and trees, evidently with the + intention of resisting his landing, and Frewen and Cheyne heard loud cries + of “<i>Lèmonte! Lèmonte!</i>” + </p> + <p> + “Back water!” cried Cheyne in his mother tongue to the crew; then he + turned to Frewen: “There is something wrong on shore. 'Lèmonte' is my + brother-in-law's name, and they are calling for him.” Then he stood up and + shouted out— + </p> + <p> + “Friends, do you not know me? I am Randall. Where is my sister and her + husband?” + </p> + <p> + A loud cry of astonishment burst from the natives, many of whom, throwing + down their arms, sprang into the water, and clambering into the boat + greeted the young man most affectionately; and then one of them, + commanding silence, began talking rapidly to him. + </p> + <p> + “We must get ashore quickly,” said Cheyne to Randall. “My brother-in-law + has a number of dead and dying people in his house. There has been a + mutiny on board that ship—but come on, he'll tell us all about it.” + </p> + <p> + In another minute the boat was on the beach, and as Frewen and Cheyne + jumped ont they were met by a handsome, dark-faced man about forty years + of age, who grasped Cheyne's hands warmly. + </p> + <p> + “I never expected to see you, Randall,” he said quietly, “but I thank God + that you <i>have</i> come, and at such a time, too. Where is your ship?” + </p> + <p> + “Three hundred miles away. But we will tell you our story another time. + How is Marie?” + </p> + <p> + “Well. She already hears the people shouting your name. Come to the + house.” Then he turned to Frewen and held out his hand. “My name is + Raymond, and you are welcome to Samatau.” + </p> + <p> + “And mine is Frewen. I hope you will accept any assistance I can give.” + </p> + <p> + “Gladly. But I will tell you the whole story presently. I have two men + dying in my house, three others wounded, and two dead.” + </p> + <p> + He led the way along a shady, winding path to the house, on the wide + verandah of which were seated a number of natives of both sexes, who made + way for them to pass with low murmurs of “<i>Talofa, aliia</i>,” {*} to + the two strangers. Then in another moment Marie Raymond stepped softly out + from the sitting-room, and threw her arms round her brother's neck. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * “Greeting, gentlemen.” + </pre> + <p> + “Thank God you are here, Randall,” she said, leading the way into another + room. “Tom will tell you of what has happened. I will return as soon as I + can.” + </p> + <p> + “How is Captain Marston?” asked Raymond, as she stood for a moment with + her hand on the handle of the door. + </p> + <p> + “Still unconscious. Mrs. Marston is with him.” She paused, and then turned + her dark and beautiful tear-dimmed eyes to Frewen: “Tom, perhaps this + gentleman might be able to do something. Will he come in and see?” + </p> + <p> + Raymond drew him aside. “Go in and see the poor fellow. He can't last long—his + skull is fractured.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen followed Mrs. Raymond into the large room, and saw lying on her own + bed the figure of a man whose features were of the pallor of death. His + head was bound up, and kneeling by his side, with her eyes bent upon his + closed lids, was a woman, or rather a girl of twenty-two or twenty-three + years of age. As, at the sound of footsteps, she raised her pale, agonised + face, something like a gleam of hope came into it. + </p> + <p> + “Are you a doctor?” she asked in a trembling whisper. + </p> + <p> + The seaman shook his head respectfully. “No, madam; I would I were.” + </p> + <p> + He leant over the bed, and looked at the still, quiet face of the man, + whom he could see was in the prime of life, and whose regular, clear-cut + features showed both refinement and strength of character. + </p> + <p> + “He still breathes,” whispered the poor wife. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, so I see,” said Frewen, as he rose. Then he asked Mrs. Raymond a few + questions as to the nature of the wound, and learned that in addition to a + fractured skull a pistol bullet had entered at the back of the neck. + </p> + <p> + “There is no hope, you think. I can see that by your face,” said Mrs. + Marston, suppressing a sob. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot tell, madam. But I do think that his condition is very, very + serious.” + </p> + <p> + She bent her head, and then sank on her knees again beside the bed, but + suddenly she rose again, and placed her hand on Frewen's sleeve. + </p> + <p> + “I know that my husband must die, no human aid can save him. But will you, + sir, go and see poor Mr. Villari. Mr. Raymond has hopes for him at least. + And he fought very bravely for my husband.” + </p> + <p> + Villari was the first mate of the ship, and was lying in another room, + together with three wounded seamen. He was a small, wiry Italian, and when + Frewen entered with Raymond and Mrs. Raymond, he waved his right hand + politely to them, and a smile lit up his swarthy features. He had two + bullet wounds, one a clean hole through the right shoulder, the other in + the thigh. He had lost a great deal of blood, but none of his high + courage, though Raymond at first thought he could not live. + </p> + <p> + “I am not going to die,” he said. “<i>Per Bacco</i>, no.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen spoke encouragingly to him and then turned his attention to the + seamen, all of whom were Englishmen. None of them were severely wounded, + and all that could be done for them had been done by Raymond and their own + unwounded shipmates, of whom there were four. + </p> + <p> + “Now I shall tell you the story,” said Raymond to Frewen and Cheyne, as he + led the way to the verandah, on which a table with refreshments had been + placed. “But, first of all, do you see that ship out there? Well, that is + the <i>Esmeralda</i>. She is now in the possession of the mutineers, and + has on board forty-five thousand dollars. You see that she is becalmed?” + </p> + <p> + “And likely to continue so for another three or four days, if I am any + judge of the weather in this part of the Pacific,” said Frewen, “I agree + with you. And now, before I begin to tell you the story of the mutiny, I + want to know if you two will help me to recapture her? You are seamen, and—” + </p> + <p> + Both men sprang to their feet. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, we will!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I thought you would not refuse. Now wait a moment,” and calling to a + young native who was near, he bade him go to the chief of Samatau and ask + him to come to the house as quickly as possible. + </p> + <p> + “Malië, the chief of Samatau, will help us,” he said to Frewen; “he has + two hundred of the best fighting men in Samoa, and I shall ask him to pick + out fifty. But we want a nautical leader—some one to take charge of + the ship after we get possession of her.” + </p> + <p> + “Now here is the story of the mutiny, told to me by poor Mrs. Marston.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> + <p> + “At daylight this morning, my wife and I were aroused by our servants, who + excitedly cried to as to come outside. A boat, they said, was on the beach + with a number of white men in it, some of whom were dead. + </p> + <p> + “I went down to the beach at once, and five minutes later had all the + unfortunate wounded and unwounded people assisted to the house, for they + were completely exhausted by what they had undergone, and were also + suffering from thirst. Two of their number had succumbed to their wounds + in the boat a few hours previously, so Villari, the mate, told me. + Marston, who had been shot in the neck, was unconscious, and his wife who, + as you saw, is little more than a girl, was herself wounded in the arm by + a musket ball. + </p> + <p> + “We did all that we could do, and after Mrs. Marston had had an hour's + rest, she and Villari told me their story. + </p> + <p> + “The <i>Esmeralda</i> is Marston's own ship, and left Valdivia, in Chile, + for Manila about seven weeks ago. She is almost a new ship, only having + been built at Aberdeen last year. Marston, who had just married, brought + out a general cargo from London to Valdivia and other South American + ports, and sold it at a very handsome profit. Whilst on the coast, fever + broke out on board, and he lost his second mate and five A.B.'s, and the + third mate and two others had to go into hospital. In their places he + shipped a new second mate—a man named Juan Almanza—and twelve + seamen, ten of whom were either Chilenos or Peruvians, and the remaining + two Greeks. The former boatswain he promoted to the third mate's birth. + Almanza proved to be a good officer, and the new men gave him + satisfaction, though his agent at Valdivia had urged him not to take the + two Greeks, who, he said, were likely to prove troublesome. Unfortunately + he did not take the agent's advice, and said that he had often had Greeks + with him on previous voyages, and found them very fair sailormen—much + better than Chilenos or Mexicans. + </p> + <p> + “He had been paid for his cargo mostly in silver dollars, and the money + was brought on board in as quiet a manner as possible, and he believed + without the new hands knowing anything about it. Poor fellow; he was + fatally mistaken! In all it amounted to thirty-five thousand dollars, and + in addition to this there was a further sum of two thousand pounds in + English gold on board—Marston, I must tell you, is, I imagine, a + fairly wealthy man, for his wife told me that he had the <i>Esmeralda</i> + built at a cost of six thousand pounds. + </p> + <p> + “He had been informed at Valdivia that a cargo of Chile flour, which could + be bought very cheaply at Valparaiso, could be sold at a huge profit in + Manila, and he thereupon bought a full cargo—six hundred tons—and + sailed, as I have said, about seven weeks ago. All went well on board from + the very first, although the English seamen did not much care about their + foreign shipmates, who, however, did their duty after a fashion. Almanza, + Mrs. Marston says, was in all respects an able and smart officer, and both + she and her husband took a great liking to him—the scoundrel! + </p> + <p> + “The two Greeks—who, by the way, called themselves and shipped under + the English names of John Foster and James Ryan—the Levantine breed + do that trick very often—were in Almanza's watch, as were six of the + Chilenos; and the mate one night, coming on deck when it was his watch + below, was surprised to find Almanza and the two Greeks engaged in an + earnest conversation. His suspicions were aroused, and he reported the + matter to the captain, who, however, made light of it, and said that + Almanza had told him that Foster and Ryan had been shipmates with him on a + Sydney barque some years before, and that it was only natural that Almanza + would relax discipline a little, and condescend to chat for a few minutes + with men who had sailed with him previously. + </p> + <p> + “Ryan, the older of the two, had proved himself an excellent seaman, and + both Marston and Villari felt sure, from the way in which he spoke to the + other seamen, that he had at one time been an officer. In addition to + Spanish he speaks both English and French remarkably well, and his manners + and personal appearance are extremely good, and no one would take him to + be a Greek. He, however, frankly admitted that his name was not Ryan and + that he was a native of the island of Naxos in the Ægean Sea. + </p> + <p> + “At this time, Mr. Frewen, the <i>Esmeralda</i> was near these islands—in + fact, Upolu was in sight; and Marston, knowing that there were some + Europeans settled at the port of Apia, on the north side of the island, + decided to put in there for fresh provisions, of which the ship was in + need. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps his decision made the scoundrelly Almanza imagine that he + suspected him, and was only touching at Apia to rid himself of his second + officer and his Greek and Chileno accomplices, for Mrs. Marston—who + shudders when she mentions Almanza's name—says that shortly after + the ship's course was altered for Apia, he went for'ard on some excuse, + but in reality to talk to the Greeks in the fore-peak. He was absent about + a quarter of an hour, and then went about his duties as usual. + </p> + <p> + “A little before six bells, Captain Marston was on the poop looking at the + land through his glasses, Mrs. Marston was in her cabin sewing, Villari, + with the boatswain and three A.B.'s (all Englishmen), were with the + steward and third mate engaged in the lazzarette overhauling and + re-stowing the provisions. Suddenly the captain was felled by a blow on + the head dealt him from behind, and the mate and those with him were at + the same moment ordered by Almanza to come up out of the lazzarette. He + told them that he was in possession of the ship, and that they would be + shot down if they attempted to resist. Villari and his men came up, and + found the second mate and six of the mutineers in the cabin, all armed + with pistols and cutlasses. Resistance was useless, and Almanza told + Villari not to think of it. He (Villari) was then hustled into his own + cabin and locked in, and the English seamen ordered on deck, where they, + with the other Englishmen on board, were made to hoist out the longboat. + Whilst this was being done Almanza, who had locked Mrs. Marston in her + cabin, opened the door, and told her that she need feel no fear, but that + she must come on deck to attend to her husband, who had been hurt She + found Marston lying where he fell, and quite unconscious, with a Chileno + standing guard over him. As the English members of the crew were hoisting + out the longboat, Almanza told the steward—a negro—to get some + provisions and some bottles of wine from the cabin. Then the two Greeks—who + from the first had seemed bent on murder—interfered, and one of them + suddenly raised his pistol and shot the unfortunate steward through the + heart. The Chileno seamen applauded the act, and only Almanza's frenzied + protests prevented them from slaughtering the unarmed Englishmen, the + Greeks declaring that they (the mutineers) were only putting ropes round + their necks by sparing any one of them—including Mrs. Marston. + </p> + <p> + “For some minutes it seemed as if there was to be a conflict between + Almanza and his followers, but the mutineers appeared to yield to his + appeals, and assisted in getting the longboat out. The captain was then + lowered into the boat, and then Mrs. Marston and all the Englishmen but + two followed; when suddenly Villari, who had succeeded in forcing his + door, sprang up from the cabin with a pistol in each hand, and singling + out Almanza, shot him through the chest, and with the second shot wounded + one of the Chilenos in the face. But in another instant he himself fell, + for the Greeks and several of the gang fired at him simultaneously, and he + was also given a fearful blow on the head with a belaying-pin, partly + stunning him, and then thrown overboard to drown. The two men remaining on + deck saved their lives by jumping overboard at the same time. + </p> + <p> + “Most fortunately for the poor mate he fell near the boat, and was rescued + by one of the seamen, who sprang overboard after him. But not satisfied + with what they had already done, and enraged at the fall of their leader, + the mutineers now began firing into the defenceless people in the boat at + such a short range that it is marvellous that any one escaped. + </p> + <p> + “Before they were able to pull out of range, the captain, third mate, and + one of the seamen were mortally wounded, and two others and Mrs. Marston + also were hit Then the mutineers, evidently bent on the slaughter of the + whole party, began to lower away one of the heavy quarter-boats, but + although she was actually put in the water the villains changed their + minds for some reason, and the longboat was not pursued.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said Frewen, “I expect they were afraid to leave the ship in case a + breeze sprang up.” + </p> + <p> + “So Villari says. However, they then began firing round shot at the + longboat from the two nine-pounders on the quarter-deck—the <i>Esmeralda</i> + is armed with six guns—but made such bad practice that after half a + dozen shots had been fired they gave up the attempt. + </p> + <p> + “The ship at this time was in the Straits of Manono, and the boat was + headed for the nearest land, which was Samatau—the four unwounded + men keeping to the oars most manfully, only taking short spells every + hour. As darkness came on they saw the lights of Samatau village, and came + on without fear, for they knew that the natives of Samoa, though very + warlike, were hospitable and friendly to Europeans. During the night the + third mate and the badly wounded A.B. died, and poor Marston, who had + never spoken since he had been first struck down, lay as you saw him a + little while ago, without the slightest sign of returning consciousness. + Villari, however, began to improve, and weak as he was, yet contrived to + show one of the men how to dress Mrs. Marston's wound in a more efficient + manner. He <i>is</i> a plucky little fellow. + </p> + <p> + “The boat would have reached here much sooner, only that Villari and his + people could not find the passage through the reef, and several times + struck on coral patches. + </p> + <p> + “Well, that is the whole of the story—and a very dreadful one it is + too. I do feel so for that poor little woman. Her heart is breaking.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, indeed,” said Frewen, “poor thing! She seems hardly more than a + girl.” + </p> + <p> + “However, please God, we shall get her husband's ship back,” and Raymond's + dark eyes sparkled. “Ah! here comes the chief. He will not fail us. He is + one of the most renowned fighters in Samoa, is he not, Randall?” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> + <p> + Malie, the supreme chief of the district, was indeed, as Raymond said, one + of the most renowned fighters, not only on Upoln, but in all Samoa, and + Frewen, as he shook hands with him, thought he had never seen so noble and + imposing a figure. He was a man of about sixty years of age, with + closely-cropped white hair and thick moustache, but so youthful was he in + his carriage, and so smooth was the bright copper-red of his skin, that he + seemed more like a man of thirty whose hair and moustache had become + prematurely blanched. The upper portion of his huge but yet beautifully + proportioned and muscular figure was bare to the waist, around which was + wrapped many folds of tappa cloth bleached to a snowy whiteness, which + accentuated the startling contrast of the bright blue tattooing which + reached from his waist to his knees. Depending from his neck, and falling + in a long loop across a broad chest scarred by many wounds, was a simple + yet beautiful ornament consisting of some hundreds of discs of gleaming + pearl-shell, perforated at the sides, and strung together by a thin cord + of human hair. In his right hand he carried a <i>fui</i>, or fly-wisp, + made of coco-nut fibre, and Frewen noticed during the conversation that + followed that he used this with the dainty grace that characterises a + Spanish lady with her fan. + </p> + <p> + Accompanying the chief was a tall, thin old man, named Talitaua, who was + Malië's <i>tulafale</i> or orator—a position which in Samoa is one + much coveted and highly respected, for the <i>tulafale</i> is in reality a + Minister of War, and on his public utterances much depends. If he is + possessed of any degree of eloquence, he can either avert or bring about + war, just as he chooses to either inflame or subdue the passions of his + audience when, rising and supporting himself on his polished staff of + office, he first scans the expectant faces of the throng seated on the + ground before him ere he opens his lips to speak. On this occasion, + however, Talitaua had merely come with Malië as a personal friend anxious + to learn privately what he would probably have to communicate to the + assembled people as soon as the discussion with Raymond was concluded. + Both he and the chief had already heard full details of the mutiny from + Raymond, and they guessed that the planter had something further and of + importance to say to them concerning it. After the usual courtesies so + rigidly observed on visits of ceremony had passed between them and + Raymond, they patiently awaited him to begin, though very curious to learn + what was the occasion of Frewen's and Cheyne's unlooked-for appearance. + Their natural politeness, however, as well as the + never-to-be-infringed-upon Samoan etiquette, utterly forbade them to make + even the slightest allusion to the matter; they would, they knew, learn in + good time. + </p> + <p> + Seating themselves on chairs in European fashion at one side of the table, + whilst Raymond and his two companions occupied those opposite, they first + made inquiry as to the wounded men and Mrs. Marston, and the planter + answered their polite queries. Then after a pause Raymond began by saying— + </p> + <p> + “This <i>alii</i> {*} is named Mr. Frewen. He is an officer of a <i>vaa + soia</i>,{**} and is a friend of my wife's brother, and therefore is a + friend of mine—and thine also, Malië toa o Samatau,{***} and + Talitaua.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Chief—gentleman. + + ** A whale-ship. + + *** His full title, “Malië, warrior of Samatau.” The present + King Malietoa of Samoa is a descendant. +</pre> + <p> + The chief and his orator bent their heads, but said nothing beyond a + simple <i>Lelei, lelei lava</i> (“Good, very good”). + </p> + <p> + Then Raymond went to the point as quickly as possible, and asked the chief + if he would assist him, Frewen, and Cheyne in recapturing the ship from + the mutineers. Speaking, of course, in Samoan, he said— + </p> + <p> + “As thou seest, Malië, the wind hath died away, and the ship is becalmed, + so that the murderers on board cannot escape us if we do but act soon and + come upon them suddenly.” + </p> + <p> + The chief thought for a few moments, then answered— + </p> + <p> + “I will not refuse thee anything in reason that thou asketh me, Lêmonti. + But yet my people must be told of what is in thy mind.” + </p> + <p> + “True. They shall know. But before I unfold to thee my plan to take this + ship by surprise so that but little or no blood may be shed, I will pledge + myself to the people of Samatan and to thee to act generously to them for + the help they will give. The captain is hurt to death and cannot speak, + and the lady his wife is too smitten with grief to consider aught but her + husband, so on her behalf do I speak; for she is my countrywoman, and it + would be a shameful thing for me did I not help her.” + </p> + <p> + Then he went on, and dearly and lucidly detailed his scheme to the chief, + afterwards translating his remarks into English for the benefit of Frewen, + who listened with the keenest interest. Cheyne, of course, understood + Samoan perfectly. + </p> + <p> + Raymond's plan was simple enough. + </p> + <p> + He proposed to take the <i>Casilda's</i> boat, and with Frewen, Cheyne, + and a few natives go boldly off and board the ship, and representing + himself as a trader anxious to buy European provisions, begin to work by + throwing the mutineers off their guard, by warning them of the danger the + ship was in through being in so close to the land during a calm, for the + currents in the Straits of Manono were very strong and she would be + carried on to the reef unless she was towed out of the danger limit + towards which he would say (and truthfully enough) that she was drifting. + The mutineers, he felt convinced, would feel so alarmed that they would + listen to and accept his suggestion to let him engage the services of half + a dozen native boats, whose united efforts would soon place the ship out + of danger by towing her out of the danger zone. Then he and those with him + would bide their time, and at a given signal spring upon the mutineers, + who would be completely off their guard. + </p> + <p> + He entered into the details so minutely that not only Frewen and Cheyne, + but Malië as well, expressed the warmest admiration and approval. Then he + told Malië exactly what to do when he (the chief) saw the whale-boat + leaving the ship to return to the shore, and Malië listened carefully to + his instructions and promised that they should be carried out exactly as + he desired. + </p> + <p> + Then the stalwart chief and his orator rose to take their leave, for they + had to call the people together and acquaint them with what was to be + done. + </p> + <p> + “Have no fear, Lêmonti, that the calm will break,” he said in reply to a + fear expressed by the planter that a breeze might, after all, spring up + and carry the ship too far off the land for the attempt to be made. “'Tis + a calm that will last for many days. Look at the mountains of Savai'i”—and + he pointed out the cloud-capped summits of the range that traverses the + great island of Savai'i—“when the clouds lie white and heavy and low + down it meaneth no wind for many days, not as much as would stir a + palm-leaf. But there will be rain at night—much rain.” + </p> + <p> + “The better for our purpose,” said Raymond, as the chief left the house. + “Now, Randall, we must hurry along. Take half a dozen of my people, and + let them catch a couple of pigs and plenty of fowls; then cut about a + dozen or so large bunches of bananas and get enough other fruit—pineapples, + sugar-cane, guavas, and young coco-nuts as will make a big show in the + boat. Mr. Frewen and I will join you in about a quarter of an hour, and + then you and he can show the natives how to stow the things, as I have + suggested to the chief.” + </p> + <p> + Returning to the house he sought out his wife. + </p> + <p> + “Marie, we are going to recapture that ship. Don't be alarmed, and don't + say anything to poor Mrs. Marston till you see us returning; but you may + tell the mate.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Raymond never for one instant thought of trying to dissuade her + husband from a mission which she felt was full of danger. She kissed him, + and said, “Tell me what to get ready, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII + </h2> + <p> + It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and the decks of the <i>Esmeralda</i> + gleamed dazzlingly white under the burning rays of the Samoan sun, as she + lay motionless upon a sea as calm as some sheltered mountain lake or + reed-margined swamp hidden away in the quiet depths of the primeval + forest. Twenty miles away to the south and east of the ship, the + purple-grey crests of the mountains of Savai'i rose nearly five thousand + feet in air, and, nearer the long verdant slope of beautiful Upolu + stretched softly and gently upwards from the white beaches of the western + point to the forest-clad sides of Mount Tofoa—ten miles distant. + Still nearer to the ship, and shining like a giant emerald lying within a + circlet of snow, was the island of Manono, the home or birthplace of all + the chiefly families of Samoa for many centuries back. Almost circular in + shape, and in no place more than fifty feet in height, it was covered with + an ever-verdant forest of breadfruit, pandanus, orange and palm-groves, + broken here and there by the russet-hued villages of the natives, built + just where the shining beach met the green of the land. And the whole + seemed to float on the bosom of the lagoon, which, completely encompassed + by the barrier reef, slumbered peacefully—its waters undisturbed + except when they moved responsive to the gently-flowing current from the + blue ocean beyond, or were rippled by the paddle of a fisherman's canoe. A + mile beyond Manono, and midway between it and the “iron-bound” coast of + Savai'i, was the little volcanic isle of Apolima—once in olden times + the fortress that guarded the passage through the straits, now occupied + only by a few families of fisher-folk dwelling in peace and plenty in the + village nestling at the foot of the long-extinct volcano. Overhead a sky + of wondrous spotless blue. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + On the quarter-deck of the <i>Esmeralda</i> three of the mutineers were + seated together under the shade of a small temporary awning, engaged in an + earnest conversation. A fourth person—Almanza—who was at that + moment the subject of their conversation, was lying in the captain's + stateroom, immediately beneath them; the rest of the gang were idling + about on the main or fore decks smoking their inevitable cigarettes, and + waiting till the Levantine “Ryan,” whom they now recognised as leader, + called them to hear the result of the discussion. + </p> + <p> + The Chileno, who was seated with Ryan and Foster, was named Rivas, and had + recommended himself to them by reason of his ferocious and merciless + disposition. Long before the mutiny occurred he, with the Greeks, had + insisted upon the necessity of murdering not only the captain, first + officer, steward, and all the English seamen, but Mrs. Marston as well. + Almanza, however, protested so strenuously that they reluctantly consented + not to resort to murder, if it could possibly be avoided; but their lust + for slaughter was too great to be controlled when Villari made his gallant + attempt to aid his captain. + </p> + <p> + On the top of the skylight was spread a chart, at which Ryan was looking, + trying to find out as near as he could the ship's position. He could read + English, and easily recognised the islands of Apolima and Manono, both of + which were shown on the chart. + </p> + <p> + “That is where we are now, or about there,” he said, taking a pencil in + his hand and making a mark on the spot. “But we are drifting towards the + reefs, and must anchor once we get into soundings—or else go + ashore.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think he is going to die?” inquired Rivas, with a gesture towards + the cabin. + </p> + <p> + “How can I tell, comrade?” replied the Greek with an angry snarl. “Only + that we want him badly to navigate the ship, it would be best for us if he + does die—for two reasons.” + </p> + <p> + His fellow-scoundrels nodded assent. The two reasons they knew were, + firstly, that Almanza had proved to be too timorous as regarded the taking + of life, and secondly that his death would give them a greater share of + plunder. + </p> + <p> + “Well, what are we to do?” asked Rivas. + </p> + <p> + “What can we do?” exclaimed Foster fiercely, as he shook his black-haired, + greasy and ear-ringed head. “We must wait and see if he gets better—unless + we drift ashore in the night and get our throats cut by los Indios over + there,” and he indicated the islands. + </p> + <p> + “Bah!” growled his countryman. “Did I not tell you that I heard the + captain say over and over again that these people are not savages? But + what we do want is a breeze, so that we can work off the land—for + how are a few men going to tow a heavy ship like this against a two-knot + current? We could not move her.” Then he called out, with a sneering + inflection in his tones, “Come aft, comrades, and we shall drink to our <i>brave</i> + captain's speedy recovery.” + </p> + <p> + The rest of the mutineers but one obeyed with alacrity, just as the man + who remained, and who was standing on the topgallant foc'sle, gave a loud + cry— + </p> + <p> + “A boat is coming from the shore!” + </p> + <p> + In an instant confusion ensued; but Ryan, picking up Marston's glass, + angrily bade them be silent. The boat had approached to within a mile of + the ship, and Ryan saw that she was pulling four oars. + </p> + <p> + “It is not the captain's boat, <i>amigos</i>,” he said, “and there seem to + be only a few people in her. But be ready.” + </p> + <p> + The <i>Esmeralda</i>, in addition to the six guns she carried, was + plentifully provided with small-arms—enough for a crew of thirty + men; and all of these, as well as the big guns, were kept loaded, for + after the escape of the captain's boat the mutineers had worked most + energetically to put the ship in a state of defence—both Almanza and + Ryan recognising the possibility of the survivors of Marston's party + reaching Apia, and there obtaining assistance to enable them to recapture + the ship. + </p> + <p> + The boat came on steadily, the blades of her four oars flashing in the + bright sunlight. Ryan continued to look at her, and felt quite satisfied + when he saw she contained but seven persons, three of whom were Europeans, + and four natives. + </p> + <p> + “It is a whale-boat,” he cried; “and there are three white men in her and + four natives. She is very deep in the water, and I can see a lot of green + stuff in the bows.” (These were the bunches of bananas, purposely stowed + in a pile for'ard, so as to indicate the boat's peaceful mission.) + </p> + <p> + The mutineers—with the exception of the two Greeks—who + remained on the quarter-deck, dressed in Mars-ton's and Villari's clothes—stood + in the waist. All were armed with pistols, and a number of loaded muskets + were lying along the waterways close to their hands, if needed. + </p> + <p> + When within easy speaking distance of the ship Ryan went to the rail and + hailed the boat. + </p> + <p> + “Boat ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + The four oars ceased pulling, and Frewen, who was steering, stood up and + answered the hail. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, captain. I've seen you since daylight. You are drifting too + close in, so I've come off to warn you to tow off.” + </p> + <p> + “Come on board, please,” replied the Greek, who, as Frewen spoke, saw that + the boat was deeply-laden with fruit; and the cackling of fowls and sudden + squeal of a pig convinced him that everything was right. And then, in a + few minutes, Frewen and Raymond clambered up the side and walked quickly + aft to where Ryan stood on the poop. + </p> + <p> + “How do you do, captain?” said Frewen, holding out his hand. “Where are + you from, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Valparaiso to Batavia,” was the glib reply, as the mutineer shook hands + with his visitors. “Are you living on shore there?” and he nodded towards + Samatau. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, this is my partner. We have a cotton plantation there. We have + brought you off a boatload of fresh provisions. Perhaps you can spare us a + cask of salt beef in exchange? Pork is the only meat we have on shore.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, I can easily do that,” was the reply. + </p> + <p> + Frewen went to the side and hailed the watchful Cheyne. + </p> + <p> + “Pass up all that stuff, Randall,” he said. + </p> + <p> + Aided by the Chileno seamen, Cheyne and the four natives soon cleared the + boat of the livestock and fruit, whilst Ryan, who had not yet asked his + visitors below, continued to talk to them on deck, although he told one of + the crew, whom he addressed as “steward,” to bring up refreshments. + </p> + <p> + “Now, captain,” continued Frewen, speaking in the most friendly manner, + “you must set to and tow your ship away from here as quietly as possible, + or you will go ashore if this calm lasts. You can't anchor anywhere near + here, the water is too deep.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps you will help me? I am short-handed. Twelve of my crew took the + longboat and deserted from me during the voyage, and I am in a tight + place.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, well, captain, we must try and help you out of it to the best of our + ability.” He raised his glass. “I am glad to have met you, Captain———,” + and he paused. + </p> + <p> + “Ryan is my name. The ship is the <i>Esmeralda</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “And a beautiful ship she is, too. You must be proud to command such a + splendid vessel, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “She is a fine ship,” was the brief reply. “Now will you please tell me + how you are going to help me?” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII + </h2> + <p> + Frewen seemed to think for a moment or two ere he replied; then he looked + at Raymond inquiringly. + </p> + <p> + “How long would it take to send to Falealili,{*} and ask Tom Morton, the + trader, to come with his two boats and help the captain?” he asked. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A large native town on the south side of Upolu. +</pre> + <p> + “A day at least—too long altogether with such a strong current + setting the ship towards the reef.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes, I daresay it would,” he said meditatively; then, as if struck + with a sudden inspiration, he added quickly, “What about Malië? He has any + number of boats—a dozen at least.” + </p> + <p> + “Just the man!” replied Raymond. “He will let the captain have all the + boats and men to man them that are wanted—but he'll want to be paid + for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” interrupted the mutineer, who little imagined how adroitly he + was being meshed. “I'll pay anything reasonable. Who is he?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he is a big chief living quite near me, and a decent enough fellow. + He has a number of large native-built boats. The natives call them <i>taumualua</i>, + which means sharp at both ends.{*} They seat from six to eight paddlers on + each side. Five, or even four such boats, well manned, would make the ship + move along. Three or four hours' towing will put her into the edge of the + counter current setting to the south and eastward away from the land, and + then she'll be out of danger, no matter how long the calm lasts.” + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes it was decided that the boat should return to the shore, + where Raymond was to see the chief and arrange with him to provide five or + six well-manned <i>taunwalua</i>, which Frewen said should be alongside to + receive the tow-lines within two or three hours. + </p> + <p> + As he (Frewen) was about to go over the side Ryan made a half apology for + the ship's crew carrying arms, at which the young man smiled and said— + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a good many captains that touch at Samoa for the first time keep + their crews armed, imagining the natives might try to cut them off. But + the Samoans are a different kind of people to the savages of the Western + Pacific; there has only been one ship cut off in this group, and that must + have occurred fifty years ago. ”{**} + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * These boats are usually built from the wood of the + breadfruit-tree. Not a single nail is used in their + construction; every plank is joined to its fellow by + lashings of coconut fibre. + + ** A fact. +</pre> + <p> + Just as he had taken his seat beside Raymond and Cheyne, the Greek said + politely— + </p> + <p> + “If there is no necessity for both of you gentlemen to go on shore again, + won't one of you stay on board and have some supper?” + </p> + <p> + This was just the invitation that Frewen was looking for, but he appeared + to hesitate for a moment or two. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, captain, I think I will. There is certainly nothing for me to + do on shore that my partner cannot do as well or better than myself. And I + should like to hear any news from Europe that you may have to tell.” + </p> + <p> + As he clambered up the side again the boat pushed off, and the stalwart + native crew sent her, now she was lightened of her load of provisions, + skimming through the water. + </p> + <p> + When the American returned to the quarter-deck, Ryan introduced to him + “Mr. Foster, my second mate,” and added that in addition to the misfortune + of losing twelve of his crew when coming through the Paumotu Group, his + chief officer had accidentally shot himself, and shattered his + collar-bone. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed!” said Frewen, with an air of concern, instantly surmising that + the injured man was either Almanza or the Chileno sailor whom Villari had + shot. “Is he getting on all right?” + </p> + <p> + “Not at all well—and unfortunately I do not know anything about a + fractured collar-bone.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen replied, with perfect truth, that he had seen several broken + collar-bones. Perhaps he might be of assistance. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Ryan” thanked him, and said he would at once go down, see how the + injured man was getting on, and would send for him in ten minutes or so. + Meanwhile would Mr. Frewen join Mr. Foster in a glass of wine. + </p> + <p> + The young whaling officer sat down near the skylight, and as the + dark-faced, dirty-looking ruffian seated opposite passed him, with an + amiable grin, a decanter of excellent sherry, wondered which of the two + Levantines was the greater cut-throat of the two. Ryan, as he called + himself, was somewhat of a dandy. He did not wear ear-rings; and Villari's + clothes—which fitted him very well—made him look as if he had + been used to dress well all his life. Foster, on the other hand, who was + arrayed in poor Marston's garments, was the typical Greek seaman one might + meet any day in almost any seaport town of importance. He was a fairly + tall man, well and powerfully built, but his hawk-like and truculent + visage inspired the American with a deeper aversion than that with which + he regarded Ryan—who, however, was in reality the more + tigerish-natured of the two. + </p> + <p> + As they sat talking, Frewen happened to look along the deck for'ard, and + caught sight of a seaman with the lower part of his face bandaged. He was + standing at the galley door talking to some one inside, but happening to + see the American looking at him, he hurriedly slipped round the for'ard + end of the galley out of sight. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” thought Frewen, “that is the other fellow that Villari put out of + action—the man below is Almansa.” + </p> + <p> + His surmise he found was correct, for at the end of a quarter of an hour, + Ryan, who had been giving Almansa all the news in the interval, appeared + and asked him to come below and see the chief officer. He led the way + below, and entering the officer's cabin, said— + </p> + <p> + “Here is the gentleman from the shore, Mr. Almanza. Let him see your + hurt.” + </p> + <p> + The leader of the mutineers was evidently in great pain, and feverish as + well, and Frewen in a few seconds found by examination that a splinter of + the fractured bone had been driven into the muscles of the shoulder, where + it seemed to be firmly embedded, although one end of it could almost be + felt by gentle pressure, so close was it under the skin. The bullet itself + had come out at the side of the neck. + </p> + <p> + Telling them that, although he was no doctor, he was sure that it was most + important that the splinter of bone should be removed, he offered to + attempt it. The fractured collar-bone, he assured them, would knit of + itself if the patient kept quiet. + </p> + <p> + In those days the medicine chests of even fine ships like the <i>Esmeralda</i> + were but poorly equipped, when contrasted with those to be found on much + smaller vessels thirty years later, when antiseptic surgery and + anæsthetics were beginning to be understood. But Almanza, who was in + agony, begged the visitor to do what he could; and without further + hesitation, Frewen took from the medicine chest what he considered was the + most suitable knife, made an incision, and in less than five minutes had + the splintered piece of bone out. Then came the agonising but effective + sailor's styptic—cotton wool soaked in Friar's Balsam. + </p> + <p> + Almanza tried to murmur his thanks, but feinted, and when he came to + again, he found himself much freer from pain, and the poor negro steward's + successor standing beside him with a tumbler of wine and water. + </p> + <p> + “You must keep very quiet,” said Frewen, as he turned to leave the room, + speaking coldly, for although he was very sympathetic with any one + suffering pain, he could not but remember what the man before him had + done. + </p> + <p> + Returning on deck, he found Foster and Ryan talking on the poop, whilst + the crew of Chilenos were sitting about on the hatches eating pineapples + and bananas, and drinking coconuts. Even a non-seafaring man would have + thought that there was a lack of discipline displayed, but Frewen, whose + life had been spent on whaleships where the slightest liberty on the part + of foc'sle hands towards the after-guard meets with swift and stern + punishment, felt as if he would have liked to have kicked them all in + turn, and then collectively. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind,” he thought to himself, “I trust they are all reserved for + higher things—they all deserve the gallows, and I sincerely trust + they will get it.” + </p> + <p> + Both Ryan and Foster, he could see, had not the slightest doubt of his and + Raymond's <i>bona-fides</i>, and at supper both men were extremely affable + to him. At the same time he thought he could perceive that they were + anxious as to what had become of the captain's boat, for they asked him + casually if there was any shipping at Apia, or at any of the other ports + in the group. + </p> + <p> + “Only the usual local trading vessels,” he replied. “Whenever a stranger + comes in—even if it is only a native craft—I get the news at + my place by runners in an hour or two.” + </p> + <p> + And Almanza's mind, too, was at rest, for when he was groaning in agony in + his bank, and he was told that a boat from the shore was coming alongside, + he had started up and reached for his pistols. But Ryan had satisfied him + completely. + </p> + <p> + “We could have shot every one of them before the boat came alongside, had + we wanted to, <i>amigo</i>,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Had they no arms?” asked the wounded man. + </p> + <p> + “None—not so much as a cutlass even. Diego, Rivas, and Garcia, who + helped them to discharge the boat, saw everything taken out of her but the + oars and sails. There was a big man—a half-caste, who was dressed + like a white man—in charge of the four Samoans. I asked him to come + on deck and have a glass of grog; but he said his crew did not want him to + leave the boat. They were frightened, he said, because our men had pistols + in their belts.” + </p> + <p> + Almanza gave a sigh of relief. “And you are sure they will return and tow + us?” + </p> + <p> + “Sure, <i>amigo</i>.” + </p> + <p> + And just as supper was over, and Frewen and Ryan returned to the deck, a + sailor called out that the whale boat and five others were in sight. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my partner is not the man to lose time in an important matter like + this, Captain Ryan,” said Frewen; “your tow-line will be tautened out + before the three hours we mentioned.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX + </h2> + <p> + Soon after Raymond and the old chief with his followers had set out for + the ship, and when the swift tropic night had closed in upon the island, + Captain Marston died. He was conscious when his kindly host and Randall + Cheyne had returned, and before he passed away, thanked the planter + sincerely for all that he had done for his wife, his crew, and himself; + for he well knew that his end was near. + </p> + <p> + “I fear that nothing will ever be heard of my ship again,” he said, in a + whisper. “They will scuttle or burn her. My poor wife!” and he pressed her + hand. “But thank God, Amy, you will not be quite penniless. Mercado” (his + agent in Valparaiso) “will have about two or three thousand pounds to pay + you for some cargo he bought from me. You must go there. He is an + honourable man, and will not seek to evade his liabilities. I know him + well.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond, whose heart was overflowing with pity for the dying man, could no + longer restrain himself. At first he had decided not to say a word to + Marston about the intended recapture of the ship, for fear it would excite + him; but now, when he saw how calmly and collectedly he spoke of her + future to his wife, he changed his mind, and, bending down, said:— + </p> + <p> + “Captain Marston, I must say a few words to you and Mrs. Marston. I did + not intend to do so just now, but I know that they will bring you peace of + mind, and help you to recovery. I have good news for you.” + </p> + <p> + Marston looked at him eagerly, and his wife, with her hands clasped, moved + a little nearer to the planter, who was speaking in very low tones so as + not to disturb or excite a man whom he knew was dying bodily, but whose + brain was alive. + </p> + <p> + “Is it about my ship?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. She is within six miles of this house, lying becalmed, and, before + midnight, will be recaptured by some good friends of mine, and at anchor + in this bay by daylight.” + </p> + <p> + Marston's lips quivered, and the agonising look of inquiry and doubt in + his eyes was so piteous to behold that Raymond went on more rapidly. + </p> + <p> + “You may absolutely rely upon what I say. The <i>Esmeralda</i> has been in + sight since early in the forenoon. I boarded her this morning with the + express purpose of seeing if it were possible to recapture her, and have + only just returned. And I assure you on my word of honour that she <i>shall</i> + be recaptured before midnight, without bloodshed, I trust; for the + mutineers are completely off their guard, believing I am returning with + fifty natives in several boats to tow the ship out of danger, purely out + of kindness to their leader.” + </p> + <p> + “You are indeed a good friend,” murmured Marston slowly and haltingly. “My + wife has told me your name... I know my time is short. If you recapture my + ship... she is worth six thousand pounds, and the specie on board amounts + to nine thousand. I commend my wife to your care———” + </p> + <p> + Raymond pressed his hand, and urged him not to say anything further, but + Marston, whose eyes were now lightened by that ephemeral light so often + seen in the eyes of the dying, went on— + </p> + <p> + “I commend my wife to your care... and Villari—is he dead?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Harry,” whispered Mrs. Marston, “he is not dead, but badly wounded.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Villari... a born sailorman, though an Italian.... Mr. Raymond, + Amy... Let him command.... I should have taken his advice... And give him + five hundred pounds, Amy.... You, Mr. Raymond, will be entitled to a third + of the value of the ship and her cargo... You understand?” + </p> + <p> + “I will not take a penny,” said Raymond, as he rose. “Now I must be going. + But have no fear for the <i>Esmeralda</i>. She will be at anchor in this + bay to-morrow morning.” + </p> + <p> + Marston put his hand gently over towards him, and pressing it softly, + Raymond withdrew. + </p> + <p> + His wife met him at the door. Her dark, Spanishlike face showed traces of + tears, but she smiled bravely as he put his arms around her and kissed + her. + </p> + <p> + “Tom, dear, you must not be angry. I have not been crying for fear that + something may happen to you if there is a fight with those dreadful men on + board the ship—for I am <i>sure</i> that you will come back to me + and our little one safe and sound—but I do so pity poor Mrs. + Marston, Tom, if Captain Marston dies.” + </p> + <p> + “I think that there is no possible hope of his recovery, dear.” + </p> + <p> + “Then she must stay with us, Tom, for some time, until she is stronger. + She will need to have a woman's care soon.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond kissed his wife again. “As you will, Marie; you always think of + others. And I shall be very glad if she will stay with us.” + </p> + <p> + Ten minutes later she walked down to the beach, and watched her husband + and Maliê with his followers depart, and then she slowly returned home + along a winding path bordered by shaddock trees, whose slender branches + were weighted down with the great golden-hued fruit. As she reached the + verandah steps a pretty little girl of four years of age ran up to her, + and held out her arms to be taken up. + </p> + <p> + “Where has father gone, Muzzie?” she said in English, and then rapidly + added in Samoan, “<i>Ua alu ia i moana?</i>” (“Has he gone upon the sea?”) + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Loisé. He has gone upon the sea, but will soon return. Where is + Mâlu?” + </p> + <p> + “Here, lady,” replied a woman's voice in the soft Samoan tongue, and a + pleasant-faced, grey-haired woman of fifty came down the steps, and took + the child from her mother's arms, and as she did so, whispered, “The tide + hath turned to the ebb. ”{*} + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Note by the Author.—Nearly all Polynesians and + Micronesians believed most firmly that the dissolution of + soul from body always (excepting in cases of sudden death by + violence or accident) occurred when the tide is on the ebb. + From a long experience of life in the Pacific Islands, the + writer is thoroughly imbued with and endorses that belief. + The idea of the passing away of life with the ebbing of the + tide will doubtless seem absurd to the European and + civilised mind, but it must be remembered that an inborn and + inherited belief, such as this, does, with many so-called + semi-savage races, produce certain physical conditions that + are well understood by pathologists. +</pre> + <p> + “Ay, good Mâlu. I know it. So keep the child within thy own room, so that + the house may be quiet.” + </p> + <p> + Old Mâlu, who had nursed Mrs. Raymond's mother, bent her head in assent, + and went inside, and her mistress sat down in one of the cane-work lounge + chairs on the wide verandah and closed her eyes, for she was wearied, + physically and mentally. Her nerves had been strained greatly by the + events of the day, and now the knowledge that within a few feet of where + she sat, a life was passing away, and a woman's heart was breaking, + saddened her greatly. + </p> + <p> + “I must not give way,” she thought. “I must go and see how the wounded men + are doing.” + </p> + <p> + But ere she knew it, there came the low but hoarse murmuring cries of + myriad terns and gulls flying homewards to the land, mingled with the deep + evening note of the blue mountain pigeons; and then kindly slumber came, + and rest for the troubled brain and sorrowing heart. + </p> + <p> + She had slept for nearly an hour when a young native girl servant, who had + been left to wait upon Mrs. Marston, came quickly but softly along the + verandah and touched her arm. + </p> + <p> + “Awake, Marie,{*} and come to the white lady.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * It will doubtless strike the reader as being peculiar that + an educated and refined woman such as I have endeavoured to + portray in Mrs. Raymond would allow a servant to address her + by her Christian name. But the explanation is very simple: + In many European families living in Polynesia and in + Micronesia the native servants usually address their masters + and mistresses and their children by their Christian names— + unless it is a missionary household, when the master would + be addressed as “Misi “(Mr.) and the mistress as “Misi + fafine “(Mrs.). The difference does not in the least imply + that the servant speaks to the lay white man and his wife in + a more familiar manner than he would to his spiritual + teacher. No disrespect nor rude familiarity is intended— + quite the reverse; it is merely an affectionate manner of + speaking to the employer, not <i>as</i> an employer, but as the + friend of the household generally. It is related of the + martyred missionary John Williams, that a colleague of his + in Tahiti once reproved a native youth for addressing Mr. + Williams as “Viriamu” (Williams) instead of “Misi Yiriamu” + (Mr. Williams), whereupon the pioneer of missionary + enterprise in the South Seas remarked—” It does not matter, + Mr. ——-, I infinitely prefer to be called + 'Viriamu' than 'Tione Viriamu Mamae' (the Sacred, or + Reverend, John Williams).” + </pre> + <p> + She rose and followed the girl to the room where Marston lay. His wife was + kneeling by him with her lips pressed to his. + </p> + <p> + Marie Raymond knelt beside her, and passed her arm around her waist. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X + </h2> + <p> + Closely followed by the five native boats, that in which Raymond was + seated with Maliê, and which was steered by Randall Cheyne, first came + alongside, and the latter called out to Foster, who was standing in the + waist, to pass down the end of the tow line. This was at once done, and + then, as Maliê and Raymond left the boat and ascended to the deck, Cheyne + went ahead with his tow line, and was soon joined by the native craft, and + within a quarter of an hour the <i>Esmeralda</i> was moving through the + water. + </p> + <p> + The instructions given to the half-caste by the chief and Frewen were to + tow the ship to the south-east, with the land on the port hand. This would + not only take her out of danger, but would prevent suspicion being + engendered in the minds of the mutineers by their seeing that she was + actually being taken away from, instead of towards the land. Both Frewen + and Maliê had decided that she was not to be re-captured till she was well + into soundings, for events might arise which would necessitate her being + brought to an anchor, especially if continuous heavy rain should fall + during the night. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Raymond and the stalwart chief ascended to the poop, the + pseudo-captain received them most affably, complimented them on the smart + manner in which the boats had gone ahead with the line, and then asked + them to take some refreshment The offer was accepted, for neither had had + the inclination to eat anything on shore—they, like their men, were + too eager to get possession of the ship to trouble about food. + </p> + <p> + Ryan sat at the table with them as they ate, and repeated his fiction + regarding the accident to his chief officer, at which the planter politely + expressed his concern. Then the mutineer, in a casual sort of a way, asked + Raymond if there had been any English or American war-ships cruising about + Samoa lately. + </p> + <p> + “No, not for a long time, but I did hear that the American corvette <i>Adams</i> + was expected here last year, but she must have passed by here, and gone on + to Fiji There is always work for a man-of-war there at any time—the + Fijians are a rough lot, and hardly a month passes without some European + trader or sailor being killed and eaten, or else badly hurt. Even at the + present time all the people living in the eastward islands of the Fiji + Group are rank cannibals. It is a place to be avoided.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, well, I won't go near there,” said the mutineer, somewhat + meditatively. + </p> + <p> + “No, of course not,” said the planter; “I suppose that your course for + Batavia will take you to the northwest after you leave here—Fiji is + six hundred miles to the south-west.” + </p> + <p> + “I did think of putting in there when my mate met with his accident—thought + I would find a doctor there; but now, thanks to your friend, I shall not + need one for him—he is much better already.” + </p> + <p> + “That is fortunate,” said Raymond: “he might have died before you could + reach the port of Levuka in Fiji. And besides that, I doubt if you would + find a doctor living there. I have never heard of any medical man being + settled in Fiji. On the other hand you could have left him on shore, where + he would at least have met with good nursing from some of the English + ladies there; and you could easily have obtained another mate; there are + dozens of ex-skippers and mates idling about in Fiji.” + </p> + <p> + Ryan had learnt all he wanted to know, and he changed the subject. He was + still anxious about Almanza not living—for no one could tell what + might occur to the <i>Esmeralda</i> if he died and the ship was left + without a navigator. He (Ryan) and Foster would have had no objection to + ridding themselves of him, were either one of them able to navigate the + ship as far as the Philippine Islands. They had all three previously + agreed with the rest of the crew as to their future plans, after they had + disposed of Marston and those who were faithful to him. When within sight + of Luzon—and abreast of Manila—the ship was to be scuttled, + and the mutineers with their plunder in two boats were to make for a part + of the coast where there was a village, well-known to Rivas and Garcia. + Here the money was to be divided, and every man was to shift for himself—some + to go to Manila, others taking passage to that den of thieves, the + Portuguese settlement of Maoao, where they meant to enjoy themselves after + their manner. + </p> + <p> + When Raymond and the chief returned on deck, they found the ship was + making good progress through the smooth sea, the natives in the boats + singing a melodious chorus as, all in perfect unison, they plunged their + broad-bladed paddles in the water, and the tow line surged and shook off + thousands of phosphorescent drops at every united stroke. The night was + dark, but not quite starless, and presently Frewen, who was talking to + Foster, remarked that some heavy rain would fall in a short time. + </p> + <p> + “Our natives won't like that,” said Raymond to “Captain Ryan”; “like all + Kanakas, they hate being wetted with rain, though they will spend half a + day in the rivers bathing and playing games in the water.” + </p> + <p> + “A few bottles of grog will keep up their courage,” said Frewen, + “especially some rum. Have you any to spare, captain?” + </p> + <p> + “Any amount.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I'll tell Cheyne to let the boats come alongside in turn, and we'll + give all the natives a good rousing nip before the rain comes.” + </p> + <p> + He walked for'ard and stood on the topgallant foc'sle and gave a loud + hail. + </p> + <p> + “Boat ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + The singing ceased in an instant, and then Randall's voice answered— + </p> + <p> + “Hallo! what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Come aboard and get a glass of grog. Tell the men in the other boats they + can follow in turn.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” replied the half-caste in such loud tones that he was heard + distinctly on the after-deck, “they'll be glad enough of it; we'll get + plenty of cold fresh water presently outside, and some rum to put inside + will be just the thing.” + </p> + <p> + Both Raymond and the two Greeks laughed, and then a minute or two later + Cheyne and his boat's crew were alongside, and were given a pint of rum + between them. They drank it off “neat,” and after lighting their pipes, + went back to their boat, and let another come alongside. She was manned by + a dozen natives, who were all given a stiff glass of grog. They remained + but a few minutes, and then went off to give place to the third boat, in + which were twenty men. They scrambled over the side, laughing and talking, + and then, just as the first five or six of them had been served, the rain + poured suddenly down and made such a terrific noise that the shouts of the + men in the other boats could not be heard, and the ship was at once + enveloped in a thick steamy mist, which rendered even objects on deck + invisible. + </p> + <p> + “It will only last about ten minutes,” shouted Frewen to Ryan as they, + with Raymond and Maliê, took shelter in the companion-way. + </p> + <p> + “Where are all those men of yours?” asked the mutineer somewhat anxiously. + </p> + <p> + Frewen's answer reassured him. “All bolted for shelter,” he said with a + laugh, “without even waiting to get their grog. I hope your men will let + them crawl in somewhere.” Then turning to Maliê, he said in English— + </p> + <p> + “Call to them, Malië.” + </p> + <p> + Malié stepped out on the deck, and presently Ryan and the others heard him + speaking. In a minute or two I he reappeared with three or four stalwart + natives, all dripping wet, and said something to Raymond, who translated + the remark to Ryan. + </p> + <p> + “All the others have bolted like rabbits, some into the galley, and others + into the foc'sle,” he said. + </p> + <p> + In less than the ten minutes predicted by Frewen the rain ceased as if by + magic; the natives gathered together again on the main deck, completed + their grog drinking, went into their boat again, and poshed off to resume + their labour. + </p> + <p> + In the course of another half an hour every one of the native boats' crews + had had his small tumblerful of neat rum, and then, as their paddles + plunged into the placid water, once more they sang their chorus— + </p> + <p> + “<i>Ala, tamaaitii, Alo foe!</i>” (“Pull, boys, pull!”) + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI + </h2> + <p> + Six bells struck, and then once more the stars went out, and the sky + changed from blue to dull grey. + </p> + <p> + “Very heavy rain will fall again presently,” said Raymond to the leader of + the mutineers, “and as the ship is well now in the counter current and out + of danger, the chief would like to call his men alongside for a rest. But + we'll tow you for another mile or so after the rain ceases—if you + wish it.” + </p> + <p> + Ryan was keenly anxious to put as much distance between the land and the + <i>Esmeralda</i> as possible, for he was haunted by the fear that the + captain's boat had been picked up by some ship which might be sighted at + any time. The further away from the land, the safer he would feel. + </p> + <p> + “I should like them to tow me along for another hour or two, after the + rain is oyer,” he said. “I will pay liberally.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond spoke to the chief in Samoan and told him the captain's request, + and Maliè answered in the same language. + </p> + <p> + “As you will, Lèmonti. But why toil any longer? My men are all ready and + anxious. We can take the ship now at any time, once my men are here.” + </p> + <p> + “And I, too, am ready, Alalia. But it was in my mind to wait and see if, + when the bell strikes eight, half of the <i>auva'a</i> (ship's crew) would + not go below to sleep, so that we shall have less disturbance.” + </p> + <p> + “What matters it?” said Alalia with good-humoured contempt; “there are + less than a score of them, and when the word is spoken they will be as + easily overpowered and bound as a strong man can overpower and bind a + child.” + </p> + <p> + “Then let it be as you say,” said Raymond in the same quiet tones; “let us + call the men on board, and, when the bell is struck at midnight, we shall + seize those evil men together—as the bell is struck the last time.” + </p> + <p> + “Good!” said the chief, as he nonchalantly rolled himself a cigarette in a + piece of dried banana leaf which he took from his tappa waist cloth. “I + will tell them how to act.” + </p> + <p> + “What does he say?” asked Ryan. + </p> + <p> + “He is quite willing, but he says his men are really tired now, and want a + good long spell. They are not used to such work, and he does not want to + give them cause for grumbling. They are very touchy sometimes. However, + after the next downpour clears off, they will tow you another two or three + miles.” (And Raymond meant this literally, for he, Frewen, and the chief + wanted to see the <i>Esmeralda</i> at anchor off Samatau by daylight.) + </p> + <p> + At a call from Raymond the boats came alongside, and as the crews + clambered on deck Maliê told them how to dispose themselves about the ship + so that when the signal was given the mutineers could be seised without + their being afforded any opportunity of resistance. Five or six of his + best men followed him aft, whilst the others mingled with the crew, most + of them going down into the foc'sle. The Chilenos, however, although + satisfied of the friendly intentions of their visitors, were still a + little nervous, for, despite the fact that none of the natives carried + even so much as a knife, the wild appearance they presented was somewhat + disconcerting to men who had never before come in contact with what they + termed “savages.” Fully one half of Malië's followers were men of such + stature that the undersized though wiry Chilenos looked like dwarfs beside + them; then, in addition to this, their immense “mops” of bright golden + hair—dyed that colour by the application of lime—and their + wonderfully tatooed bodies, with the first intricate lines beginning at + the waist and ending at the knees, accentuated the velvety and rich + reddish brown of their skins. Each of the Chileno seamen still carried a + brace of pistols in his belt and a cutlass hung by his side, but the + natives apparently took no notice of such a manifestation of distrust, and + they and the mutineers exchanged cigars and cigarettes as if they were the + best friends in the world. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the rain fell, and all other sounds were deadened by the + downpour; it continued for three-quarters of an hour, and then, as Frewen + remarked, ceased with a “snap.” + </p> + <p> + In the main cabin Raymond, with Maliê, was seated at the table talking to + Ryan; on the poop and under the shelter of the temporary awning were + Cheyne, Frewen, Foster, the ruffianly Rivas, and two other of the Ghileno + seamen, with three of the natives who had accompanied Cheyne and his Mend + from Lepâ. + </p> + <p> + Five minutes before eight bells Foster turned to Rivas, and, speaking in + Spanish, told him to go for'ard and tell the hands that there would be no + watch below that night, all hands were to stay on deck till daylight. + </p> + <p> + Frewen gave Cheyne a glance, and the half-caste sauntered off after Rivas, + whilst the three Samoans moved nearer towards the two Ghilenos. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Foster” went to the skylight and looked down into the cabin at the + clock, which was placed so that it could be seen by any one standing + beside the binnacle. Then he looked at a handsome gold watch, which two + days previously had been in Villari's vest pocket, and, stepping to the + break of the poop, called out— + </p> + <p> + “Eight bells!” + </p> + <p> + The big bell under the topgallant foc'sle sent out its deep, sonorous + clang, and as the last note was struck, “Mr. Foster” went over on his back + with a crash, and in another five seconds Frewen had turned him over on + his face and was lashing his hands behind him. The Greek was too stunned + to even try to speak, and when he came to again he found lying beside him + Rivas and the other two Ghileno sailors, with half a dozen Samoans + standing guard over them. + </p> + <p> + Down in the cabin Raymond and Malië had been equally as quick, and when + Frewen and Cheyne came below they found “Captain” Ryan, together with the + Chileno who was acting as steward, tied hand and foot and lying outside + Captain Maraton's stateroom door. + </p> + <p> + “Everything all right, Mr. Frewen?” inquired Raymond. + </p> + <p> + “Everything. All the gentry up for'ard are bussed up comfortably like + fowls for cooking. No one has been hurt; Maliè's men simply picked the + mongrels up by the scruff of their necks and then tied them up. The ship + is ours.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you are in command, Mr. Frewen. Please give your orders.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Mr. Raymond. But first let me see to the distinguished Senor + Almanza.” + </p> + <p> + He opened the door of Almanza's stateroom. The Chilian was asleep. Frewen + was about to touch and awaken him but pity for a badly wounded man + predominated, so he let him lie undisturbed. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mr. Raymond, I am at your service. Will you ask Malië to man his + boats, and we will start towing again.” + </p> + <p> + “With pleasure. But let us first call our good men together and drink + success to ourselves and the <i>Esmeralda</i>. And then, whilst we are + being towed towards Samatau, we can overhaul poor Captain Marston's cabin. + All the specie, so this scoundrel tells me”—and he pointed to the + Chileno steward—“is still in a safe in the captain's cabin, and has + not yet been touched. But it was to be divided to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + And then Randall Cheyne sprang on deck and shouted out in Samoan— + </p> + <p> + “Friends, the ship is ours! Let ten men remain on board to guard these + murderers, and the rest take to the boats and tow the ship to Samatau.” + </p> + <p> + The willing natives answered him with a loud “Ave!” and ten minutes later + the <i>Esmeralda</i> was again moving through the water. + </p> + <p> + An hour before daylight her cable rattled through her hawse-pipe, and she + swung quietly to her anchor in Samatau Bay. + </p> + <p> + END OF BOOK I <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + BOOK II + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII + </h2> + <p> + Twelve months had come and gone, and Frewen, now “Captain” Frewen, was + seated in the office of Ramon Mercado, the Valparaiso agent of the late + captain and owner of the <i>Esmeralda</i>, which had arrived in port the + previous day. + </p> + <p> + The worthy merchant—a little stout man with merry, twinkling eyes—was + listening to the detailed story of the capture of the ship by the + mutineers, her subsequent recapture, and of all that had occurred since + she had been brought to an anchor in front of Raymond's house in Samatau + Bay. Mercado himself, four months previously, had received a letter from + Mrs. Marston, acquainting him with what had occurred up to the time of her + husband's death, and telling him that the <i>Esmeralda</i>, as soon as a + crew could be obtained, would sail under Frewen's command for Manila, and + from there proceed to Newcastle, in New South Wales, and load a cargo of + coal for Valparaiso. This letter had reached him by an American whale-ship + which had touched at Samoa (a month or two after the <i>Esmeralda</i> had + sailed for Manila), and which, after cruising among the Galapagos Islands, + had, as the master had told Mrs. Marston would be very likely, called at + Valparaiso to refit. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + A few days after the burial of Captain Marston his wife asked Frewen to + take command of the ship, as Villari would be incapacitated for some + months. + </p> + <p> + Villari himself had at first strenuously, and even somewhat bitterly, + protested. + </p> + <p> + “Why should Mr. Frewen, much as he has done to help you to recapture the + ship, be given command?” he said excitedly to Raymond. “Does Mrs. Marston + distrust me? Do I not possess her confidence as I did that of her husband? + Beg her to come to me. Surely she will not give the command of the ship to + a stranger! I tell you, Mr. Raymond, that I would give my life for Mrs. + Marston, as I was ready to give it for her husband,” and his dark eyes + blazed. + </p> + <p> + “There is no reflection either upon your integrity or ability, Mr. + Villari,” said the planter. “But here is the situation—and I am sure + your own sound sense will make you approve of Mrs. Marston asking Mr. + Frewen to take charge of the <i>Esmeralda</i>. And, before I go any + further, I must tell you that Mr. Frewen not only did not seek the + position, but said pointedly to Mrs. Marston—only an hour or two ago—that + he would be quite satisfied to sail with you as mate. He is as honest as + the sun. Pray do not for one moment imagine that he has supplanted you.” + </p> + <p> + “Then let him come with me as mate,” urged the Italian. + </p> + <p> + Raymond shook his head. “It is quite out of the question your taking + command, Mr. Villari. You will not be able to get about for some months, + and I, as a business man, see the necessity of the ship proceeding on her + voyage as quickly as possible. She has a cargo that will bring a large sum + of money to Mrs. Marston if it is delivered in Manila in good time. But in + this humid climate it would become worthless in a few months. And it was + purely my suggestion to Mrs. Marston to ask Mr. Frewen to take charge. She + is, as you know, almost heartbroken at the calamity which has overtaken + her. And then your remaining here will, I am sure, be a source of comfort + to her, for she has the very highest opinion of you.” + </p> + <p> + Villari's eyes sparkled with pleasure. “What! Is not Mrs. Marston sailing + in the <i>Esmeralda?</i>” + </p> + <p> + “No; it will be better for her to remain here until the youngster comes. + My wife and I will be only too glad to have her with us. It would be + impossible for her to go to sea now her poor husband is dead. And she + knows no one in Manila. So you must be content to remain here at Samatau + as my welcome guest. Frewen will take the ship to Manila, and then decide + as to his future course. He thinks that after selling the cargo at Manila + he should proceed to Australia for a cargo of coal for Valparaiso. I think + it a very sensible suggestion, especially as he can then see poor + Marston's agent there and settle up with him regarding some money due to + Marston.” + </p> + <p> + The Italian's face assumed a placid appearance. “You are quite right, Mr. + Raymond. And I shall be content to remain here. <i>Per Bacco!</i> Mr. + Frewen is a gentleman, and I wish him all good lack with the <i>Esmeralda</i>. + But I should like the lady to know that I am prepared to return to the + ship this moment if she so wishes it.” + </p> + <p> + “She does know it, Mr. Villari. You have her full esteem and confidence—as + you had that of her poor husband, who just before he died anxiously + inquired about you, and said that he regretted not taking your advice + concerning the two Greeks.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Mr. Raymond,” and the man raised and clenched his right hand, “I was + a fool! I suspected that mischief was afoot that night when I found + Almanza and the two Greeks talking together; I simply reported the matter + to the captain, who thought nothing of it. Had I done my duty I should + have watched, for no one can trust a Greek.” + </p> + <p> + “Do not reproach yourself, Mr. Villari. I may as well tell you that poor + Captain Marston, when he was inquiring about you just before he died, + spoke in the highest terms of you, and asked Mrs. Marston to see that you + were given five hundred pounds.” + </p> + <p> + Villari raised himself on his elbow. “I swear to you, Mr. Raymond, that I + do not want any money—compensation—reward—gift—call + it what you will—for doing my duty as a seaman. Captain Marston was + not only my captain, but my friend. And I would give my life for his wife. + Tell her from me that it will hurt me if she even speaks of this money to + me.” + </p> + <p> + “As you will, Mr. Villari,” said Raymond kindly, who saw that the Italian + was excited. “I will tell her to-morrow. But I trust you will now + understand that Mr. Frewen had no desire to supplant you in any way.” + </p> + <p> + “I understand. Can I see him now, for there is much that I have to tell + him about the ship—things that he would like to know.” + </p> + <p> + So Frewen came in, and he and the Italian mate had quite a long talk about + the <i>Esmeralda</i>, and when they parted they did so with a feeling of + growing friendship. + </p> + <p> + Anxious to obtain a reliable crew as quickly as possible, Frewen, on the + following day, sent Randall Gheyne to Lepi to see if he could persuade the + men who had deserted from the <i>Casilda</i> to come and help man the <i>Esmeralda</i>. + But they were all too enamoured of island life to accept the offer he made + them, which was generous enough—two hundred and fifty dollars each + for the voyage to Manila. So Cheyne came back disappointed, and Frewen + then went to Apia in the <i>Casilda's</i> whale-boat, and succeeded in + engaging ten natives of Niué,{*} who, with half a dozen Samoans, made up a + sufficient complement for the ship. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Niué, the “Savage Island” of Captain Cook. The natives + are always in great request as seamen. Even to the present + day most of the trading vessels carry a few Niué seamen. +</pre> + <p> + During this time Almansa and his fellow-mutineers had been confined on + board the ship, guarded by a number of Malië's warriors. Then to the joy + of Raymond and Frewen there came into Apia Harbour a British gunboat bound + from the Phoenix Islands to Sydney, and within forty-eight hours the + planter, accompanied by the unwounded survivors of the English crew of the + <i>Esmeralda</i>, were on board, and related the tale of the mutiny to the + captain of the man-of-war. + </p> + <p> + “I am letting myself in for a lot of trouble, Mr. Raymond,” said the + captain of the warship, “but I do not see how I can avoid it. I suppose + that as the <i>Esmeralda</i> is a British ship and is now in distress I + must be a sort of fairy godmother and take these beastly mongrels of + Chilenos and Greeks to Sydney to be hanged on the evidence of these men + whom you have brought. By the way, Mrs. Marston can have a passage with me + if she wishes it.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond thanked him, and said Mrs. Marston wished to remain at Samatau + with his (Raymond's) wife for an indefinite time. + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Mr. Raymond. I should be delighted to give her a passage to + Sydney, and I'm delighted she can't come. You understand me? I cannot + refuse a passage to a lady in such circumstances as Mrs. Marston, but the + <i>Virago</i> is a man-of-war, and—you know.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond laughed. “I think I know what you mean, Captain Armitage; a lady + passenger on a man-of-war would be a bit of a trial. But on Mrs. Marston's + behalf I thank you sincerely.” + </p> + <p> + “That's all right,” said the bluff commander of the <i>Virago</i>; “now + you can get home, and in a day or so I'll come round to Samatau and take + these mutineering scoundrels into custody. Pity you did not get your + Samoan friend Malië to hang or shoot them out of hand. It would have saved + Her Majesty's Government something in food, and me much trouble.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII + </h2> + <p> + “I must congratulate you, captain,” said the merchant, when Frewen had + finished his story; “and I trust you will always retain command of the <i>Esmeralda</i>. + She is a beautiful ship, and, ever since you took charge, has proved + herself a lucky one.” + </p> + <p> + “I certainly have had great luck. We had a beautiful passage to Manila + from Samoa, and from Manila to Newcastle I made the quickest run on + record, and from there to Valparaiso we were only thirty-five days.” + </p> + <p> + Some further conversation followed regarding the future movements of the + ship, and it was arranged that she should load Chilian flour for Sydney, + and from there proceed to Samoa for orders from her owner. + </p> + <p> + Three weeks later, Frewen bid the hospitable Meroado goodbye, and sailed + for Sydney. The merchant had sold the cargo brought from Newcastle very + satisfactorily, and in addition to the amount given him for this, Frewen + also received from Mercado over two thousand pounds belonging to Captain + Marston's estate. + </p> + <p> + The crew of the <i>Esmeralda</i> consisted of twenty men, ten of whom were + either Englishmen, Americans, and Scandinavians, and ten stalwart natives + of Savage Island. The first officer was a Dane named Petersen, whom Frewen + had engaged at Samoa. He was an excellent seaman, and took a great pride + in the ship; the second officer was Randall Cheyne; and the third, a + sturdy old Yorkshireman of sixty, with the frame and voice of a bull. + Frewen was as satisfied with his officers as he was with his crew, and the + exceedingly good fortune which had attended him since he had taken charge + at Samatau had put him in a very pleasant frame of mind, and he was + eagerly looking forward to meeting Mrs. Marston and rendering an account + of his stewardship. When he reached Sydney from Manila he had placed a + considerable sum to her credit, and learned that Captain Armitage, of the + <i>Virago</i>, who had conveyed to Sydney the specie which was on board + the <i>Esmeralda</i> when the mutiny had occurred, had safely deposited it + in her name in the leading bank there. He found that the mutineers had + been tried and sentenced; two of them, “Foster” and “Ryan,” going to the + gallows, whilst Almanza and the Chileno seamen all received long terms of + imprisonment. The trial had aroused considerable excitement, and so, when + the <i>Esmeralda</i> arrived, she was visited by many hundreds of people. + In Sydney Harbour in those days might be seen numbers of the finest + sailing vessels in the world; many of them were noted “crack” passenger + ships trading between London and Sydney and Melbourne, but not one of them + surpassed the <i>Esmeralda</i> in her graceful lines and beautiful + appearance. Then, too, the extraordinarily quick passage she had made from + Manila gave her further fame, and nearly all the ship masters in port + called on board, and paid Frewen many compliments. Through the manager of + the bank in which he had deposited the money for Mrs. Marston, he was + introduced to an excellent agent—a Mr. Beilby—who was a + shipowner as well, and had for many years employed a fleet of small + vessels in the South Sea Islands trade. + </p> + <p> + The voyage across the Pacific from Valparaiso to Sydney was disappointing—calms + and light, variable winds being met with for nearly a month; and then + between Australia and New Zealand, two weeks of savage westerly gales + tried the ship's weatherly qualities to the utmost. However, after a + passage of nearly seven weeks, she once more dropped anchor in the deep, + blue waters of the most beautiful harbour in the southern hemisphere. + </p> + <p> + The agent at once came on board, and Frewen was glad to receive two + letters from him—one from Raymond, the other from Mrs. Marston. The + latter afforded him great pleasure to read, and was to the effect that she + would be very glad to see him back in Samoa, as she wished to consult him + in regard to a project of Mr. Raymond's. + </p> + <p> + “What the project is, he will himself explain to you in writing. I shall + be very pleased if you and he come to an arrangement, especially as I have + made up my mind to remain here at Samatau indefinitely with Mrs. Raymond, + or somewhere near her, and as her husband may be away from her for many + months at a time (this, however, all depends upon yourself) this will be + equally as pleasant for her as for me. I feel that I have a home here, and + in fact I may remain in Samoa altogether. Anyway, Mr. Raymond is now in + treaty with Malië for a piece of land adjoining his own estate. If he + secures it for me, I am having a house built upon it.” + </p> + <p> + Raymond's letter was a voluminous one, but Frewen soon became deeply + engrossed in its contents. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Frewen (let us now drop the 'Sir' and 'Captain,' for I am sure we + each regard the other as a friend), I am now starting on a very long + letter, and have but little time in which to finish it, for the <i>Dancing + Wave</i>, by which I am sending it, leaves Apia to-morrow at daylight, and + it will take a native runner all his time to cross over the mountains with + it to Apia.” + </p> + <p> + Then he went on to say that, about six months previously, Maliê had been + approached by a German gentleman (who had just arrived from Hamburg) and + asked if he would sell a large tract of land near Samatau. The chief at + once consulted Raymond, who could not help feeling some natural curiosity + as to the object of the German gentleman making such a large purchase of + land so far away from the principal port of the group (Apia). Maliê could + give him no information on the subject—all he knew was that he + (Maliê) had been offered a very fair price for a tract of country that he + was willing to lease, but not to sell, for on it were several villages, + and the soil was of such fertility that the people would deeply resent + their chief parting with it and making them remove to less productive + lands. + </p> + <p> + On the spur of the moment—and feeling that there was some very good + reason for the German making the chief such a substantial offer—Raymond + said to Maliê— + </p> + <p> + “The German has offered you ten thousand dollars for the land, but will + not lease it from you. Now I am not a rich man, and even if you were + willing to sell it to me for five thousand dollars, I could not buy it. + But I will lease it from you for one year. I will not disturb any of your + people, but at the end of the year I will make you another offer. There is + some mischief on foot, Maliê. Let you and I go to Apia and find out who + this man is, and why he is so eager to buy your land.” + </p> + <p> + They set out together, and at Apia gained all the information they + desired. The German gentleman was the agent of a rich corporation of + Hamburg merchants who wished to purchase all the available land in Samoa + for the purpose of founding a colony, the principal industry of which + would be cotton-growing. Cotton was bringing fabulous prices in Europe, + and the corporation had already made purchases of land both in Fiji and + Tahiti, and were using every effort to obtain more. + </p> + <p> + Raymond quickly made up his mind as to his course of action. He had a + hurried interview with two other English planters, and a partnership of + three was formed in half an hour. They had then made an agreement with + Maliê and another chief to lease all the unoccupied country for many miles + on each side of Samatau Bay. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” the letter went on, “here is what we purpose to do. We are going to + found the biggest cotton and coffee plantation in all the South Seas, and + will make a pile of money. But the one all-important thing is to have + plenty of labour, and that we can only obtain from other islands—New + Britain, the Solomon Group, and thereabouts, and also from the Equatorial + Islands. But it is risky work recruiting labour with small, weakly-manned + schooners. What is required is a big lump of a vessel, well armed, and + with two crews—a white crew to work the ship and a native crew to + work the boats. The <i>Esmeralda</i> is just the ship. She can carry six + hundred native passengers, and in two trips we shall have all the + labourers we want, instead of getting them in drafts of fifty or sixty at + a time by small schooners—which would always be liable to be cut off + and all hands killed—especially in the Solomon Islands. + </p> + <p> + “I laid our scheme before Mrs. Marston, and, to be as brief as possible, + she is not only willing to let us charter her ship, but also wishes to + take a share in the venture. But she wants you to keep command of the <i>Esmeralda</i>, + as I trust you will.” + </p> + <p> + Then followed a long list of stores, trade goods, arms, ammunition, &c, + &c, which Raymond wished Frewen to purchase in Sydney, and the letter + concluded with a request for him to leave for Samatau as quickly as + possible. + </p> + <p> + On a separate sheet he made mention of Villari, saying that he had + thoroughly recovered from his wound and was living at Apia. + </p> + <p> + “To tell you the truth, we are all glad he has gone away from us, for he + fell madly in love with Mrs. Marston, and proposed to her, and took her + kindly rejection of him very badly. He then left the house, but has twice + since come to see her. At last she began to get alarmed at his conduct, + and finally I had to frankly tell him that he was an undesirable visitor. + It stung him deeply, but he persists in writing her the most passionate + letters, asking her to reconsider her decision. I am sorry for the fellow, + as we all liked him. Frohmann, the new German doctor at Apia, told me that + he believes the poor fellow is not 'all there' mentally.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV + </h2> + <p> + Frewen showed his letters to the agent Beilby, who corroborated Raymond's + statement in every particular regarding the money that could be made by + growing cotton on an organised system with native labour, and with proper + machinery to clean and pack it; and he also bore out the planter's remarks + about the danger that attended small vessels employed in the black labour + trade. + </p> + <p> + “You have seen a good deal of the natives of the South Sea Islands, + Captain Frewen, and know what desperate cut-throats are those of the + Western Pacific Groups. Two small trading vessels of my own have been cut + off within the last five years, and every soul massacred, and the vessels + looted and then burnt. It is a most difficult matter to keep a swarm of + natives off the decks of a vessel with a low freeboard, all they have to + do is to step out of their canoes over the rail, and if they are bent on + mischief they can simply overpower a small vessel's company by mere weight + of numbers. You will be surprised to hear that, even now, some of the + Sydney trading craft use the old-fashioned boarding nettings, and their + skippers only allow a certain number of natives on board at a time. But + with a large vessel like the <i>Esmeralda</i>, this very great source of + danger—the low freeboard—is absent; and besides that, you can + carry a crew large enough to squelch any attempt at a rising, if, after + you get them on board, your gentle passengers took it into their heads to + attempt to possess themselves of the ship.” + </p> + <p> + “Just so. And I have heard of several instances where Honolulu and Tahiti + labour vessels have been captured, even though they carried large crews + and were well armed.” + </p> + <p> + “Exactly! Just carelessness. You never know, when you have a hundred or so + of these savages on board, what they may do. They all know that they are + going to a foreign country to work on sugar or cotton plantations for + three years, at the end of which they will be paid for their labour in + guns, powder, beads, calicoes, &c, &c. Well, they come on board + perfectly content, and all goes well for a week or two, until some of them + begin to notice that the crew are not keeping such a good watch over them + as they did when they first came on board. These fellows begin the + mischief. 'Why should we not kill the white men on board?' (they will + argue) 'and help ourselves to <i>everything</i>—guns, pistols, + powder, and bullets, cutlasses, grog and tobacco, and all the other riches + in the ship? It is much better than working for three years for one gun + and one keg of powder and bag of bullets, a knife or two, and a few other + things, and then bringing them back to our own country to be despoiled of + them by our relations.' Do you understand, Captain Frewen?” + </p> + <p> + “Quite.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, they lie low and wait, and when the opportunity comes the beggars + set to work with a vengeance-Only three years ago one of the Hawaiian + Islands labour vessels recruited ninety Gilbert Islands natives to work on + the new sugar plantations near Honolulu. They behaved themselves + splendidly—for they were well treated—for about a fortnight, + and the skipper of the vessel (an old hand in the island trade) allowed + them to lie on deck at night, feeling sure that they would give no + trouble. More than this, he even told his officers and crew to discontinue + carrying their Colts' pistols. The result was that one night, when the + watch were taking in sail during a squall, the natives took possession of + the brig, killed the mate and all the men of the watch who were on deck, + and would certainly have slaughtered every one of the ship's company had + it not been for the captain himself; who, hearing the noise, rushed up + from below armed with a whale-ship bomb gun, loaded with slugs. He fired + right into the mob of natives on the main deck, killed three or four, and + wounded twice as many. Then the second mate and the rest of the watch + below came tumbling up, headed by a big Nova Scotian A.B. He was a + tremendously powerful fellow, and had armed himself with the carpenter's + broad axe, and in a few minutes he cut down five of the natives, one of + whom was the ringleader. Then the steward and supercargo turned up with + nine-bore double-barrelled shot-guns, loaded with No. 1 shot, and they and + the bluenose{*} practically saved the ship, or with their four shots they + laid out nearly a dozen more natives, and the others bolted down to the + hold and asked for quarter. Ah, Captain Frewen, there is nothing like + buckshot or slogs to squash a mutiny. You most get some nine-bore guns + made here to take away with you.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A “bluenose” is a sailor's term for a Canadian or Nova + Scotian. +</pre> + <p> + “Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Beilby. But whalers' bomb guns—which + can be easily procured in Sydney—are better still. You can load them + with a small charge of powder and crushed rock salt, which won't kill a + man, but which will prevent him from doing any mischief for a long time. + When I was a boatsteerer some years ago on a New Bedford whaler—the + <i>Aaron Burr</i>—we had serious trouble with about thirty + Portuguese negroes we picked up off the coast of Brazil. They were in two + boats, and were deserters from a Brazilian man-of-war, which had gone + ashore off Santos. Many of our men were down with fever of some sort, and + these black gentry (who were all armed with knives), thinking that the + after-guard was not able to cope with them, came aft and told our skipper + that if he did not give them all the liquor they wanted they would throw + him overboard, set fire to the ship, and go ashore again. He seemed to be + very much frightened—he was an undersized, quiet man—and + begged them to go on deck and remain there whilst he and the steward and + such of the officers who were not ill with fever would get up a keg of rum + from the lazzarette. Then—he spoke Spanish pretty well—he + asked them not to be too hard on him. He would treat them as gentlemen, + &c., and, with apparently trembling hands, he gave them boxes of + cigars, and addressed them as if they were caballeros of the highest rank + whom he was delighted to honour. Some of them cursed him for an Americano, + but the majority were too hugely elated at the prospect of a keg of ram to + say more to him than to hurry up with it. + </p> + <p> + “He did hurry up with a vengeance, for in five minutes he and the mate had + each loaded a bomb gun with a heavy charge of sheet-lead slugs. They + rushed on deck together, and with a warning cry to our men to get out of + the way, they fired into the negroes, who were squatted about on the main + hatch smoking their cigars and waiting for the rum. The effect was + something terrifying, for although none of them were killed, fully half of + them were wounded, and their groans and yells were something horrible. We + did not give them much time to rally, for all of us who were well enough + made a rush, and with belaying-pins and anything else which came to our + hands drove them over the side into their boats.” + </p> + <p> + “Then get some of those bomb-guns, captain, by all means. I think I have + seen one—a thing like a bloated blunderbuss without the bell mouth.” + </p> + <p> + “That's it,” said Frewen with a laugh; “it is not a handsome weapon, but + we whalemen do not go in for 'objects of bigotry and virtue.' A bomb-gun + is made for a practical purpose—the stock is almost solid metal, and + altogether it is no light weight.” + </p> + <p> + During the following two weeks both Frewen and the agent were very busy. + The former, with a gang of shore carpenters, was engaged in preparing the + 'tween decks of the ship for the reception of the native passengers, and + constructing two movable gratings to go across the upper deck—one + for'ard and the other aft—which, whilst they would practically allow + the natives the free run of the deck, would yet prevent them from making + any sudden onslaught on the crew. + </p> + <p> + Beilby, whose long experience of the South Sea Islands trade especially + fitted him for the task, devoted himself to the work of fulfilling + Raymond's orders as to the trade goods required, and in three weeks the <i>Esmeralda</i> + was again ready for sea. + </p> + <p> + And when, under full sail, she passed down the harbour towards Sydney + Heads bound for beautiful Samoa, her captain's heart swelled with pride as + the crews of a score of other ships cheered, “Bravo, <i>Esmeralda!</i>” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV + </h2> + <p> + Under a shady wild orange-tree which grew just above high-water mark on + the white beach of Samatau Bay, Marie Raymond and Mrs. Marston were seated + together on a cane lounge imagining they were sewing, but in reality only + talking on subjects dear to every woman's heart. + </p> + <p> + Quite near them, and seated on mats, were the old nurse Mâlu, who held + Mrs. Marston's baby-girl, and Raymond's own little daughter Loisé, who was + playing with a young native girl—Olivee—grey-haired old Main's + assistant. + </p> + <p> + It was early in the morning—an hour after breakfast—and the + two ladies had come down to the beach to watch Raymond and his partners + and some hundreds of natives working at a jetty being constructed from + slabs of coral stone, and which was to be carried out into deep water. + </p> + <p> + The day was delightfully bright, and the soft cool breath of the brave + south-east trade wind, which rippled the blue of the ocean before them, + stirred and swayed and made rhythmic music among the plumed crests of the + graceful coco-palms above. And, as they talked, they heard, every now and + then, Raymond's cheery voice giving orders, and the workmen's response, + which was generally sung, some one among them improvising a chant—for + the Samoans, like many other Polynesian peoples, love to work to the + accompaniment of song. + </p> + <p> + “Marie,” said Mrs. Marston, as she let the piece of sewing which she held + in her hand fall unheeded to the ground and looked dreamily out upon the + blue ocean before them, “you must be a happy woman.” + </p> + <p> + “I am a very, very happy woman, Amy. And I shall be happier still if you + decide to remain and live near us. Oh, Amy, if you only knew how I try not + to think of the possibility of your going away from us—to think that + when you do go, it means that I may never see you again.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not want to go away, Marie. I have told you the story of my life, + and how very unhappy I was in my girlhood—an orphan without a friend + in the world except my aunt, who resented my orphanage, and treated me as + 'a thorn in the flesh,' but I did not tell you that until I met you I + never had a girl or woman friend in all my life. And now I feel that as I + have found one, I cannot sever myself from her, now that my husband is + dead and I and the babe are alone in the world.” + </p> + <p> + Marie Raymond passed her arms around her friend's waist. “Amy, dear, <i>do</i> + stay in Samoa. I, too, have no woman friend except some of my mother's + people—who would give their lives for me. But I am not a white + woman. My mother's blood—of which I <i>am</i> proud—is in my + veins, and when I was at school in Australia, it used to cut me to the + heart to have to submit to insults from girls who took a delight in + torturing and harassing me because of it. One day I lost control of + myself; I heard them whispering something about 'the wild girl from the + woods,' and I told them that my mother could trace her descent back for + five hundred years in an unbroken line, whilst I was quite certain none of + them would like to say who their grandfathers were. My words told, for + there were really five or six girls in the school who had the convict + taint. I was called before the principal, and asked to apologise. I + refused, and said that I had only said openly and under the greatest + provocation what more than a dozen other girls had told me!” + </p> + <p> + “How did it end?” + </p> + <p> + “In mutual apologies, and peace was restored. But I was never happy there—I + loathe the memory of my school days, and was glad to come back to Samoa.” + </p> + <p> + “Neither were my English school days happy, but I even liked being at + school in preference to staying with my aunt. I hated the thought of going + to her for the holidays. She was a narrow-minded, selfish woman—a + clergyman's widow, and seemed to take a delight in mortifying me by + continually reminding me that all the money left by my father was £500, + which would just pay for my education and no more. 'When you are + eighteen,' she would say, 'you must not expect a home with me. Other girls + go out as companions; you must do the same. Therefore try and fit yourself + for the position.' Everything I did was wrong—according to her, I + was rebellious, irreligious, too fond of dress, and lazy physically and + mentally. The fact was, I was simply a half-starved, dowdy school-girl—-often + hungry for food and always hungry for love. If I had had a dog to talk to + I should have been happier. My mother died when I was three years old, and + my father two years later. Then, as I told you, I went out as governess to + the Warrens when I was nineteen, and felt that I was a human being, for + they were kind to me. Colonel Warren, a rough, outspoken old soldier with + a red face and fierce-looking blue eyes under enormous white bushy + eyebrows, was very kind to me, and so was his wife. I was not treated as + so many governesses are treated in English families—as something + between a scullery-maid and a housekeeper, for whom anything is good + enough to eat, and any horrid, mean little room good enough to sleep in. + When she came to say good-night to the children after hearing them say + their prayers she would always ask me to come to her own room for an hour + or two. I was very happy there. I was only a little over a year with them + when I met and married Captain Marston.” “Some day, Amy, you will marry + again,” “I don't know, Marie,” said Mrs. Marston frankly. “I was thinking + the other day that such a thing may be possible. I have no knowledge of + the world, and am not competent to manage my business affairs. But there + will be plenty of years to think of such a thing. I want to watch my baby + grow up—I want her girlhood to be as bright and as full of love as + mine was dull and loveless.” + </p> + <p> + Presently a native boy came along the path carrying two letters. He + advanced, and handed one to Mrs. Marston, whose cheeks first paled, and + then flushed with anger as she took it, for she recognised the + handwriting. + </p> + <p> + “There is another letter for thy husband, lady,” he said to Mrs. Raymond, + “which also cometh from the <i>papalagi</i>{*} Villari.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Papalagi = foreigner. +</pre> + <p> + Mrs. Raymond directed him where to find her husband, and then was about to + return to the house, but her friend, who had not yet opened the letter in + her hand, asked her to stay. + </p> + <p> + “Don't go, Marie. I shall not open this letter. It is too bad of Mr. + Villari to again write to me. Shall I send it back, or take no notice of + it?” + </p> + <p> + “I hardly know what to say, Amy. He is very rude to annoy you in this way. + Wait and hear what Tom thinks.” + </p> + <p> + A quarter of an hour later, the planter came up from the beach, and sat + down beside the ladies. + </p> + <p> + “I have a letter from Villari, Marie,” he said, “and have brought it up to + see what you and Mrs. Marston think of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Amy has also received one, Tom, but would not open it nor send it back + till she had your advice. I think it is altogether wrong of him to + persecute her in this way.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, well, you'll be glad to know that he is sorry for what has occurred. + Here is his letter to me, Mrs. Marston—please read it.” + </p> + <p> + The letter was a courteously worded and apparently sincere expression of + regret for having forced his attentions upon Mrs. Marston, and asking + Raymond and his wife to intercede for him with her. “It will give me the + greatest joy if she will overlook my conduct, and accept my sincere + apologies, if she does not, I shall carry the remembrance of her just + anger to the end of my life. But when I think of her past friendliness to + me, I am excited with the hope that her ever-kind heart will perhaps make + her forget my unwarrantable presumption, which I look back upon with a + feeling of wonder at my being guilty of such temerity.” Then he went on to + say that Raymond would be interested to learn that he had bought a small + schooner of 100 tons called the <i>Lupetea</i>, on easy terms of payment, + and that he hoped to make a great deal of money by running her in the + inter-island trade. “I was only enabled to do this through Mrs. Marston's + generosity,” he concluded—“the £500 she gave me enabled me to make a + good 'deal.' I leave Apia to-morrow for a cruise round Upolu, and as I + find that I have some cargo for you, I trust that you, your wife, and Mrs. + Marston will at least let me set foot on your threshold once more.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, the poor devil seems very sorry for having offended you so much by + his persistence, Mrs. Marston,” said the planter with a laugh, “and he + writes such a pretty letter that I'm sure you won't withhold your + forgiveness.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think I can. But I must see what he has written to me,” and she + opened the letter. It contained but a very few lines in the same tenour as + that to Raymond, deploring his folly and begging her forgiveness. + </p> + <p> + “I'm very glad, Tom, that Amy sent him the £500, and that he had the sense + not to again refuse it. It would always be embarrassing to you, Amy, + whenever you met him.” + </p> + <p> + “It would indeed. But I doubt if he would have accepted it if it had not + been for Mr. Raymond's strongly worded letter on the subject,” (The + planter had sent the money to him in Apia with a note saying that whatever + her feelings were towards him, Mrs. Marston would be additionally + aggrieved if he refused to accept a bequest from her late husband; it + would, he said, have the result of making the lady feel that his rejection + of the gift was uncalled-for and discourteous.) + </p> + <p> + “So that's all right,” said Raymond, as he rose to return to the beach. “I + always liked the man, as you have often heard me say. And you really must + not be too angry with him, Mrs. Marston. These Italians—like all + Latins—are a fearfully idiotic people in some things—especially + where women are concerned. Now almost any decent Anglo-Saxon would have + taken his gruelling quietly if a woman told him three times that she + didn't want him. Frohmann thinks that that crack on the head has touched + his brain a bit; and at the same time, you must remember, Mrs. Marston, + that whether you like it or not, you won't be able to prevent men from + falling in love with you—look at me, for instance!” + </p> + <p> + Marie Raymond threw a reel of cotton at him— + </p> + <p> + “Be off to your work!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI + </h2> + <p> + A few days later the <i>Lupetea</i> (White Pigeon) ran into the bay and + Raymond boarded her. He greeted Villari in a friendly manner, and tried to + put him at his ease by at once remarking that the ladies would be very + glad to see him again when he had time to come up to the house. The + schooner was loaded with a general cargo for the various traders and + planters on the south side of the island, and that for Raymond consisted + principally of about forty tons of yams for the use of the numerous local + labourers already employed on the plantations. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Lupetea</i> was a rather handsome little vessel, well-fitted for + the island trade, and carried besides Villari and the mate six hands, all + of whom were Europeans, and Raymond at once recognised several of them as + old <i>habituée</i> of Apia beach—men whose reputation as loafers + and boozers of the first water was pretty well known in Samoa. The mate, + too, was one of the same sort. He was an old man named Hutton, and was + such an incorrigible drunkard that for two years past he had found it + increasingly difficult to get employment. He had in his time been mate of + some large ships, but his intemperate habits had caused him to come down + to taking a berth as mate or second mate on small coastal schooners + whenever he could get the position. + </p> + <p> + Before he returned to the shore the planter told Villari that he would be + glad if he would come to dinner at seven o'clock. + </p> + <p> + “We are a large party now, Mr. Villari. Besides Mrs. Marston and my wife + and myself there are my two partners, Budd and Meredith, and two white + overseers. The latter don't sleep in the house, but they have their meals + with us.” + </p> + <p> + Villari accepted the invitation, and at six o'clock landed in his boat and + met Raymond and his partners, who had just finished the day's work and + were on their way to the house. On the verandah they were received by the + ladies, and Mrs. Marston was glad to observe that the Italian took her + outstretched hand without any trace of embarrassment, asked if her baby + was thriving, and then greeted Mrs. Raymond, who said she was glad to see + him looking so well, and wished him prosperity with the <i>Lupetea</i>. + </p> + <p> + The dinner passed off very well. Villari made inquiries as to the + whereabouts of the <i>Esmeralda</i>, and Mrs. Marston told him all that + she knew, and added that if the ship had arrived in Sydney from Valparaiso + about eight weeks before, as Frewen had indicated was likely in the last + letter received from him, it was quite possible that he would be at + Samatau within another ten or fourteen days, and then, as there was no + necessity for concealment, she said it was very probable that the ship's + next voyage would be to the Western Pacific to procure labourers for the + new plantation. + </p> + <p> + “You have no intention, I trust, of making the voyage in her, Mrs. + Marston?” queried the Italian; “the natives, I hear, are a very + treacherous lot.” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed, Mr. Villari. I am staying here with Mrs. Raymond for quite a + long time yet, I hope. It is quite likely, though, that before a year has + gone she and I will be going to Sydney and our babies will make the trip + with us. I have never been to Australia, and am sure I should enjoy being + there if Mrs. Raymond were with me. I have two years' shopping to do.” + </p> + <p> + Rudd—one of Raymond's partners—laughed. “Ah, Mrs. Raymond, why + go to Sydney when all of the few other white ladies here are satisfied + with Dennis Murphy's 'Imporium' at Apia, where, as he says, 'Yez can get + annything ye do be wantin' from a nadle to an anchor, from babies' long + clothes to pickled cabbage and gunpowder.'” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, we are going there this day week,” broke in Mrs. Raymond. “There + are a lot of things Mrs. Marston and I want, and we mean to turn the + 'Emporium' upside down. But we are not entirely selfish, Tom; we are + buying new mosquito netting for you, Mr. Rudd, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Young, + and Mr. Lorimer.” (The two last-named were the overseers.) + </p> + <p> + “How are you going, Marie?” asked Raymond with a smile; “we can't spare + the cutter, and you don't want to be drowned in a <i>taumualua</i>.' + </p> + <p> + “Ah! we are not the poor, weak women you think we are. We are quite + independent—we are going to cross overland; and, more than that, we + shall be away eight days.” + </p> + <p> + “Clever woman!” retorted Raymond. “It is all very well for you, Marie—you + have crossed over on many occasions; but Mrs. Marston does not understand + our mountain paths.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear Tom, don't trouble that wise head of yours. <i>I</i> have + azranged everything. Furthermore, the babies are coming with us! Serena, + Olivee, and one of Malië's girls—and I don't know how many others + are to be baby carriers. We go ten miles the first day along the coast, + sleep at Falelatai that night; then cross the range to the little bush + village at the foot of Tofua Mountain, sleep there, and then go on to + Malua in the morning. At Malua we get Harry Bevere's boat, and <i>he</i> + takes us to Apia. Tom, it is a cut-and-dried affair, but now that I've + told you of it, I may as well tell you that Maliê has aided and abetted us—the + dear old fellow. We shall be treated like princesses at every village all + along the route, and I doubt very much if we shall do much walking at all—we + shall be carried on <i>fata</i>” (cane-work litters). + </p> + <p> + “All very well, my dear; but you and Malië have been counting your + chickens too soon. Harry Revere is now in our employ, and I yesterday sent + a runner to him to go off to Savai'i and buy us a hundred tons of yams; + and he has left by now.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Tom!” and Mrs. Raymond looked so blankly disappointed that all her + guests laughed. “Is there no other way of getting to Apia by water?” + </p> + <p> + “No, except by <i>toumualua</i>—and a pretty nice time you and Sirs. + Marston and the suffering infants would have in a native boat! On the + other hand you can walk—you are bent on walking—and by going + along the coast you can reach Apia in about four days. Give the idea up, + Marie, for a month or so, when Malië and some of his people can take you + and Mrs. Marston to Apia in comfort in the cutter.” + </p> + <p> + Villari turned his dark eyes to Mrs. Raymond— + </p> + <p> + “Will you do me the honour of allowing me to take you and Mrs. Marston to + Apia in the <i>Lupetea?</i> I shall be delighted.” + </p> + <p> + “It is very kind of you, Captain Villari,” said the planter's wife with a + smile, as she emphasised the word “captain,” “but when will you be + sailing?” + </p> + <p> + The Italian considered a moment. + </p> + <p> + “I have some cargo for Manono, and some for the German trader at + Paulaelae. I shall leave here at daylight to-morrow; be at Manono before + noon; run across the straits to Paulaelae the same day, land a few cases + of goods for the German, and be back here, if the breeze holds good, the + day after to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “It is very kind of you, Mr. Villari,” said Raymond. + </p> + <p> + “Not at all, Mr. Raymond. It will be far easier for me to come back this + way than to beat up to Apia against the trade wind and strong current on + the north side.” + </p> + <p> + “True. I did not think of that. So there you are, Marie—'fixed up,' + as Frewen would say. The schooner, I believe, is pretty smart, isn't she, + Mr. Villari?” + </p> + <p> + “Very fair, Mr. Raymond—especially on a wind. We should get to Apia + in less than twenty-four hours if there is any kind of a breeze at all. + And for such a small vessel her accommodation is really very good, so the + ladies and children will be very comfortable, I hope.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Meredith, “the <i>Lupetea</i> is the best schooner in the + group. I've made two or three trips in her to Fiji. She was built by + Brander, of Tahiti, for a yacht, and he used to carry his family with him + on quite long voyages. Took them to Sydney once.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Captain Villari,” said Mrs. Raymond, “we shall be ready for you the + day after to-morrow. Be prepared for an infliction,” and holding up her + left hand, she began counting on her fingers: “Item, two babies; item, + mothers of babies aforesaid; item, Serena, nurse girl; item, Olivee, nurse + girl; item, one native boy named Lilo, who is a relative of Malië's, is + Mrs. Marston's especial protégé and wants to see the great City of Apia; + item, baskets and baskets <i>and</i> baskets of roasted fowls, mangoes, + pineapples and other things which are for the use of the captain, + officers, crew and passengers of the <i>Lupetea</i>.” + </p> + <p> + Villari laughed. “There will be plenty of room, Mrs. Raymond.” + </p> + <p> + An hour or so later he bade them all good-night, and went on board. + </p> + <p> + The old mate was pacing to and fro on the main deck smoking his pipe, and + Villari asked him to come below. + </p> + <p> + He turned up the lamp and told Hutton to sit down. + </p> + <p> + “Will you have a drink, Hutton?” + </p> + <p> + “<i>Will</i> I? You ought to know me by now.” + </p> + <p> + Villari went to his cabin and brought out a bottle of brandy. His dark + eyes were flashing with excitement, as he placed it on the table together + with two glasses. + </p> + <p> + “Drink as much as you like to-night,” he said; “but remember we lift + anchor at daylight. We must be back here the day after to-morrow. There + are passengers coming on board. You remember your promise to me?” + </p> + <p> + Hutton half-filled his tumbler with brandy, and swallowed it eagerly + before answering. + </p> + <p> + “I do, skipper; I'll do any blessed thing in the world except cuttin' + throats. I don't know what your game is, but I'm ready for anythink. If + it's a scuttlin' job, you needn't try to show me nothin'. I'm an old hand + at the game.” + </p> + <p> + Villari took a little brandy and sipped it slowly. + </p> + <p> + “It is not anything like that; I am only taking away a woman whom I want + to marry. She may give trouble at first. Will you stand by me?” + </p> + <p> + The man laughed. “Is that all, skipper? Why, I thought it was somethink + serious. You can depend on me,” and he poured out some more liquor. + </p> + <p> + “Here's luck to you, Captain. I consider as that fifty pound is in my + pocket already.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII + </h2> + <p> + Two days later the schooner came sweeping round the western point of + Samatau Bay and then hove-to abreast of the house. Villari at once went on + shore, found his passengers ready to embark, and in half an hour they were + all on board and the <i>Lupetea</i> was spinning along the southern shore + of Upolu at a great rate, for the wind was fresh and the sea very smooth. + At midnight she was nearly abreast of a beautiful little harbour called + Lotofanga, and Villari, who was on deck, told the mate to haul the head + sheets to windward and ta lower the boat. This was done so quietly that + the only one of the passengers who knew what had been done was the Samoan, + Lilo—a bright, intelligent youth of about fifteen years of age. He + was lying on the after-deck, and saw the mate and four hands go over the + side into the boat, and then a trunk of clothing which belonged to Mrs. + Raymond, and which, as the weather was fine, had been left on deck, was + passed down. Wondering at this, he rose, and walking to the side, was + looking at the boat, when a sailor roughly seized him by the shoulder and + ordered him to go for'ard and stay there till he was called. Very + unwillingly he obeyed, and then a second man told him to go below into the + foc'sle, and made such a threatening gesture with a belaying-pin, that the + boy, now beginning to feel alarmed, at once descended, and immediately the + fore scuttle was closed and bolted from the deck. The place was in + darkness except for one small slush lamp, and Lilo, taking his seat on a + sailor's chest, looked round at the bunks. They were all unoccupied, and + this fact increased his fears. He, however, was a courageous lad, and his + first thought was to provide himself with some sort of weapon, and by the + aid of the lamp he began searching the bunks. In a few minutes he found a + sheath knife and belt, which he at once secured, and then again sat down + to wait events. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Villari was speaking to the mate. + </p> + <p> + “You are quite sure you know the landing-place?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Course I do. Didn't I tell you I've been at Loto-fanga half a dozen + times? It's right abreast of the passage, and no one couldn't miss it on a + clear night like this. But it's dead low tide. Why can't I put the woman + and girl on the reef, and let 'em walk to the village? Then we don't run + no risks of any natives a-seein' us and coming down to the boat.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha! that's a good idea. But is it quite safe? I don't want them to meet + with any accident.” + </p> + <p> + “There ain't no danger. The reef is quite flat, with no pools in it, and + they needn't even wet their feet. I've walked over it myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well then. Now stand by, for I'm going below. As soon as they are in + the boat, push off and hurry all you can and get back. We must be out of + sight of land by daylight.” + </p> + <p> + The cabin, which was lighted by a swinging lamp, was very quiet as + Villari, first removing his boots, descended softly and bent oyer the + sleeping figures of Olivee and Serena, who were lying on mats spread upon + the floor outside the two cabins occupied by their mistresses. He touched + Olivee on the shoulder, and awakened her. + </p> + <p> + “Ask Mrs. Raymond to please dress and come on deck for a few minutes,” he + said quietly to the girl in English, which she understood. She at once + rose, and tapped at her mistress's door, and the Italian returned on deck. + </p> + <p> + Wondering what could be the reason for such a request, Mrs. Raymond + dressed herself as quickly as possible, and was soon on deck followed by + the girl Olivee. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter, Mr. Villari?” she inquired, and then, as she looked + at the man's face, something like fear possessed her. His eyes had the + same strange expression that she had often noticed when he was looking at + Mrs. Marston, and she remembered what the German doctor had said. + </p> + <p> + “You must not be alarmed, Mrs. Raymond,” he said, “but I am sorry to say + that the schooner has begun to leak in an alarming and extraordinary + manner, and the pumps are choked. For your own safety I am sending you and + Mrs. Marston and your servants on shore. We are now just abreast of + Lotofanga, and I am going to try and work the schooner in there and run + her ashore on the beach.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Raymond, now quite reassured, was at once practical. “We can be ready + in a minute, Mr. Villari. I will get little Loisé, and——” + </p> + <p> + “Do—as quickly as you can—and I will tell Mrs. Marston. I + preferred letting you know first. She is very nervous, and it will allay + her alarm when she finds that you are so cool. The boat is already + alongside. Have you any valuables in your cabin? If so, get them + together.” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing but a little money. All my other things are on deck in a trunk.” + </p> + <p> + “That is already in the boat; the mate told me it was yours.” + </p> + <p> + “Hurry up, please, ladies,” and the mate's head appeared above the rail. + </p> + <p> + “Just another minute, Hutton,” said Villari, as he, Mrs. Raymond, and the + Samoan girl all returned to the cabin together. The latter at once picked + up the sleeping Loisé, and her mother, as she wrapped her in a shawl, + heard Villari rouse the girl Serena and tell her to awaken her mistress, + and presently she heard his voice speaking to Mrs. Marston telling her not + to be alarmed, but he feared the schooner might founder at any moment, and + that he was sending her and Mrs. Raymond on shore. + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Mr. Villari,” she heard her friend say. “Have you told Mrs. + Raymond?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he replied. “She is getting ready now—in fact, she <i>is</i> + ready.” Then he returned to Mrs. Raymond's door, and met her just as she + was leaving the cabin with the nurse and child. + </p> + <p> + “Can I help you, Amy?” asked the planter's wife as she looked into Mrs. + Marston's cabin. + </p> + <p> + “No, dear. I did not quite undress, and I'll be ready in a minute. Baby is + fast asleep. Is Loisé awake?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I'm glad to say. Olivee has her.” + </p> + <p> + “Please come on, Mrs. Raymond,” said Villari, somewhat impatiently; “go + on, Olivee, with the little girl.” + </p> + <p> + He let them precede him, and almost before she knew it, Mrs. Raymond found + herself with the nurse and child in the boat, which was at once pushed off + and headed for the shore. + </p> + <p> + “Stop, stop!” cried the poor lady, clutching the mate by the arm. “Mrs. + Marston is coming.” + </p> + <p> + “Can't wait,” was the gruff rejoinder, and then, to her horror and + indignation, she saw that the boat's crew were pulling as if their lives + depended on their exertions. + </p> + <p> + “Shame, shame!” she cried wildly. “Are you men, to desert them! Oh, if you + have any feelings of humanity, turn back,” and, rising to her feet, she + shouted out at the top of her voice, “Captain Villari, Captain Villari, + for God's sake call the boat back!” + </p> + <p> + But no notice was taken, and a feeling of terror seized her when the + brutal Hutton bade her “sit down and take it easy.” + </p> + <p> + As Villari stood watching the disappearing boat Mrs. Marston, followed by + the girl Serena carrying her baby, came on deck. + </p> + <p> + “What is wrong?” she asked anxiously. “Why has the boat gone? What does it + mean?” and Yillari saw that she was trembling. + </p> + <p> + “Return to your cabin, Mrs. Marston. No harm shall come to you. To-morrow + morning I shall tell you why I have done this.” + </p> + <p> + A glimmering of the truth came to her, and she tried to speak, but no + words came to her lips, as in a dazed manner she took the infant from + Serena, and pressing it tightly to her bosom stepped back from him with + horror, contempt, and blazing anger shining from her beautiful eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Go below, I beg you,” said Villari huskily. “Here, girl, take this, and + give it to your mistress when you go below,” and he placed a loaded Colt's + pistol in the girl's hand. “No one shall enter the cabin till to-morrow + morning. You can shoot the first man who puts his foot on the companion + stairs.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII + </h2> + <p> + A hot, blazing, and windless day, so hot that the branches of the + coco-palms, which at early morn had swished and merrily swayed to the + trade wind, now hung limp and motionless, as if they had suffered from a + long tropical drought instead of merely a few hours' cessation of the + brave, cool breeze, which for nine months out of twelve for ever made + symphony in their plumed crests. + </p> + <p> + On the shady verandah of a small but well-built native house Amy Marston + was seated talking to an old, snowy-haired white man, whose bright but + wrinkled face was tanned to the colour of dark leather by fifty years of + constant exposure to a South Sea sun. + </p> + <p> + “Don't you worry, ma'am. A ship is bound to come along here some time or + another, an' you mustn't repine, but trust to God's will.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I try hard not to repine, Mr. Manning. When I think of all that + has happened since that night, seven months ago, I have much for which to + thank God. I am alive and well, my child has been spared to me, and in + you, on this lonely island, I have found a good, kind friend, to whom I + shall be ever grateful.” + </p> + <p> + “That's the right way to look at it, ma'am. Until you came here I had not + seen a white woman for nigh on twenty years, and when I did first see you + I was all a-trembling—fearing to speak—for you looked to me as + if you were an angel, instead of——” + </p> + <p> + “Instead of being just what I was—a wretched, half-mad creature, + whom your kindness and care brought back to life and reason.” + </p> + <p> + The old man, who even as he sat leant upon a stick, pointed towards the + setting sun, whose rays were shedding a golden light upon the sleeping + sea. + </p> + <p> + “Whenever I see a thing like that, Mrs. Marston, I feel in my heart, deep, + deep down, that God is with us, and that I, Jim Manning, the old + broken-down, poverty-stricken trader of Anouda, has as much share in His + goodness and blessed love as the Pope o' Borne or the Archbishop o' + Canterbury. See how He has preserved you, and directed that schooner to + drift here to Anouda, instead of her going ashore on one of the Solomon + Islands, where you and all with you would have been killed by savage + cannibals and never been heard of again.” + </p> + <p> + Amy Marston left her seat, came over to the old man, and kneeling beside + him, placed her hands on his. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Manning, whenever a ship does come, will you and your sons come away + with me to Samoa, and live with me and the kind friends of whom I have + told you. Ah, you have been so good to me and my baby that I would feel + very unhappy if, when a ship comes and I leave Anouda, you were to stay + behind. I am what is considered a fairly rich woman——” + </p> + <p> + “God bless you, my child—for you are only a child, although you are + a widow and have a baby—but you must not tempt me. I shall never + leave Anouda. I have lived here for five-and-thirty years, and shall die + here. I am now past seventy-six years of age, and every evening when the + sun is setting, as it is setting now, I sit in front of my little house + and watch it as I smoke my pipe, and feel more and more content and nearer + to God. Now, Mrs. Marston, I must be going home. Where is Lilo?'' + </p> + <p> + “Out on the reef somewhere, fishing. Serena and the baby are in the + breadfruit grove behind the village. I sent them there, as it is cooler + than the house. I shall walk over there for them before it becomes too + dark. Ah, here comes the breeze at last.” + </p> + <p> + “Lilo is a good boy, a good boy,” said the old man as he rose and held out + his hand; “he is very proud of calling himself your <i>tausea</i>,{*} and + that he 'sailed' the <i>Lupetea</i> so many hundreds of miles.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Protector. +</pre> + <p> + “He is indeed a good boy. I do not think we should ever have reached land + had it not been for him.” + </p> + <p> + As the bent figure of the old trader disappeared along the path that led + to his own house, which was half a mile away, Mrs. Marston reseated + herself, and with her sunbrowned hands folded in her lap, gazed dreamily + out upon the glassy ocean, and gave herself up to reverie. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + When, in an agony of fear, she had obeyed Villari's request to go below, + she had locked herself in her own cabin, and after putting her infant to + sleep, had sat up with the girl Serena, waiting for the morning. The + pistol which the Italian had given her she laid upon the little table, and + Serena, who knew of Villari's infatuation for her mistress, sat beside her + with a knife in her hand. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot shoot with the little gun which hath six shots, lady,” said the + girl, “but I can drive this knife into his heart.” + </p> + <p> + Half an hour passed without their being disturbed, and then they heard + Villari call out to let draw the head sheets, and in a few minutes the + schooner was running before a sharp rain squall from the northward. As + they sat listening to the spattering of the rain on the deck above, one of + the skylight flaps was lifted, and, to their joy, their names were called + by the boy Lilo. + </p> + <p> + “Serena, Ami! 'Tis I, Lilo. Do not shoot at me,” he cried, and at the same + moment Villari came to the skylight and said— + </p> + <p> + “The boy wants to stay below with you, Mrs. Marston. I did not know he was + on board till a little while ago.” Then the flap was lowered, and they saw + no more of him till the morning. + </p> + <p> + The delight of Lilo at finding Mrs. Marston and Serena together was + unbounded, and for some minutes the boy was so overjoyed at seeing them + again, that even Mrs. Marston, terrified and agitated as she was at + Villari's conduct, had to smile when he took her feet in his hands and + pressed them to his cheek. As soon as his excitement subsided, he told + them of what had occurred after he had been put down into the foc'sle. + </p> + <p> + About a quarter of an hour after the boat had gone, the scuttle was + opened, and one of the sailors who were left on board told him to come up + on deck. Villari was at the wheel, and was in a very bad temper, for he + angrily demanded of the two seamen what they meant by keeping him on + board, instead of sending him on shore in the boat. One of the men, who + was called “Bucky” and who had evidently been drinking, made Villari a + saucy answer, and said that he had kept the boy below with a view to + making him useful. The mate, he said, “knew all about it,” and Villari had + better “keep quiet.” In another moment Villari knocked him senseless with + a belaying pin, and then, ordering the other man to let draw the head + sheets, put the helm hard up, and the schooner stood away from the land, + just as a rain squall came away from the northward. As soon as Bucky + became conscious, Villari spoke to him and the other seaman, cautioned + them against disobedience, and said that if they did their duty, he would + divide a hundred pounds between them when the schooner reached Noumea in + New Caledonia. The men then asked him whether he meant to leave the mate + and the other four hands behind? + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I do,” he replied, “that is why I am giving you fifty pounds each. + But if you try on any nonsense with me, I'll shoot you both. Now go + for'ard and stand by to hoist the squaresail as soon as the squall dies + away—this boy will lend a hand.” + </p> + <p> + As soon as the squaresail was set, Villari told Lilo to call down the + skylight to Mrs. Marston. + </p> + <p> + “He told me,” concluded the boy, “that although I shall have to cook for + every one on board, I was to be your servant, and that I was to always + sleep in the cabin. And he himself is going to sleep in the deck house + behind the galley, for I saw that he has a lamp in there, and all his + things, and he asked me to bring him some writing paper, and ink, and + pens. Where shall I get them?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Marston found the articles for him, and Lilo at once took them to + Villari, who was at the wheel. + </p> + <p> + “Put them in the deck-house,” he said, “and tell one of the men to come + aft, and take the wheel. Then go below again and remain there. If any one + puts foot in the cabin, you can shoot him with the pistol I gave to + Serena.” + </p> + <p> + “Ami,” said the boy anxiously, when he retained, “he is <i>vale</i> (mad), + for his eyes are the eyes of one who is mad. The land is now far astern, + and the ship is speeding fast away from it. What doth this mean?” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot tell thee, Lilo,” she replied, speaking in Samoan, “but as thou + sayest, he is mad. Let us trust in God to protect us.” + </p> + <p> + She rose and went into the main cabin, and looked at the tell-tale + compass, which swung over the table, and saw that the schooner was heading + south-west, which would be the course for New Caledonia. + </p> + <p> + All that night the <i>Lupetea</i> swept steadily and swiftly along over a + smooth sea, and then at daylight, Mrs. Marston, who had fallen asleep, was + aroused by a loud cry of alarm from Lilo. + </p> + <p> + She sprang from her berth, and saw that the boy was kneeling beside + Villari, who was lying dead at the foot of the companion, with a pistol in + his hand. + </p> + <p> + “He hath killed himself, Ami,” said the boy. “As I sat here watching, I + heard two shots on deck, and then the ship came to the wind, and as I was + about to go on deck, Villari came down, and standing there, put the pistol + to his head and killed himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Come on deck,” she cried, “and see what has become of the men.” + </p> + <p> + Her fears that Villari had killed the two seamen were verified—they + were both lying dead, one beside the wheel, and the other on the main + deck. In the deckhouse was a wildly-incoherent and unfinished letter, to + her containing expressions of the most passionate devotion, and begging + her to pray for his soul. + </p> + <p> + The first thing to be done was to consider how to dispose of the bodies of + poor Villari and the unfortunate seamen. The land was now fifty miles + distant, and Lilo, pointing to the eastern horizon, assured Mrs. Marston + that bad weather was coming on, and that sail should be taken in as + quickly as possible. + </p> + <p> + “Let Serena and I cast the dead men overboard,” he said; “'tis better than + that we should keep them on board, for we know not how long it may be ere + we get to land again.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Marston shuddered. + </p> + <p> + “As you will, Lilo. When it is done, I will come on deck again and help + with the sails.” + </p> + <p> + An hour later the schooner was racing under close-reefed canvas before a + half-gale from the eastward. + </p> + <p> + “Let us steer to the westward,” Lilo had said to his mistress. “We cannot + beat back to Samoa against such a wind as this, which may last many days. + And straight to the west lieth Uea, on which live some white men who will + succour us.” + </p> + <p> + There was no general chart on board, but Mrs. Marston knew that Uea + (Wallis Island) was due west from Samoa, and distant about two or three + hundred miles. + </p> + <p> + For twelve hours the <i>Lupetea</i> ran swiftly before a rapidly + increasing sea, and by night time Lilo was so exhausted in trying to keep + her from broaching to, that Serena came to his assistance. Neither he nor + Mrs. Marston knew how to heave-to the vessel; but, fearful of running past + Wallis Island in the night, they did the very thing they should not have + done—lowered and made fast both mainsail and foresail, and let the + vessel drive under bare poles. + </p> + <p> + Worn out with his exertions, Lilo still stuck manfully to his steering, + when, looking behind him, he saw a black, towering sea sweeping down upon + the schooner. Uttering a cry of alarm, he let go the wheel, and darted + into the cabin after Mrs. Marston, who had just left the deck. + </p> + <p> + Then came a tremendous crash, and the <i>Lupetea</i> shook and quivered in + every timber, as the mighty avalanche of water fell upon and buried her; + smashing the wheel to splinters, snapping off the rudder head, and + sweeping the deck clean of everything movable. + </p> + <p> + A month later the vessel drifted ashore on Anouda Island, just as Mrs. + Marston was beginning to despair. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX + </h2> + <p> + Darkness had fallen upon the little island, as with the girl Serena and + her infant charge, Mrs. Man-ton was walking back to the house. Lilo had + not yet returned, but as they emerged from the breadfruit grove, they + heard the sound of many voices, and then came a cry that made their hearts + thrill— + </p> + <p> + “<i>Te vaka nui, Te vaka nui!</i>” (“A ship! a ship!”) and almost at the + same moment Lilo and a score of natives came rushing along the path in + search of the white lady. + </p> + <p> + “A ship! aship!” shouted Lilo, who was almost frantic with excitement, + “your ship—your own ship! The ship that came to Samatau!” + </p> + <p> + “How know you, Lilo?” cried Mrs. Marston tremblingly. “How can you tell it + is my ship? And where is it?” + </p> + <p> + As soon as the boy was able to make himself heard through the clamour of + his companions, he told Mrs. Marston that whilst he was engaged in fishing + along the shore of an unfrequented little bay on the north end of the + island, he was startled by the sudden appearance of a large ship, which he + instantly recognised as the <i>Esmeralda</i>. She came around a headland + with a number of her hands aloft taking in sail, and dropped anchor about + half a mile from the land. Lilo waited some time to see if a boat would + come on shore, and also ran out to the edge of the reef, and tried to + attract the attention of the people on board, but no notice was taken of + him. Then, as darkness was coming on, he set off for the village at a run + to tell his mistress. + </p> + <p> + “We must hasten on board, Lilo,” said Mrs. Marston, as she walked + hurriedly along beside him to the house. “Run quickly to the old white + man, and ask him to send his boat here for me.” + </p> + <p> + But Manning had already heard the news, and his boat had not only been + launched, but, manned by half a dozen stalwart Anoudans, was at that + moment coming down inside the reef. The old trader's half-caste son Joe + was steering, and the moment the boat touched the beach, he sprang out and + ran up to the house. + </p> + <p> + “Father sent me for you, Mrs. Marston. The old man is nearly off his head + with excitement. He has sent a native out on the reef to burn a blue light + so that it can be seen by the people on board the ship, who will then know + that there are white people here.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Joe,” she said, as, kissing her little Marie, and bidding + Serena take her to Manning's house, and there await her return from the + ship, she ran swiftly to the boat, which at once pushed off, accompanied + by twenty or thirty canoes—all crowded with natives. + </p> + <p> + “Look!” cried Joe Manning, “there is the blue light!” + </p> + <p> + Half a mile away, on a projecting horn of the reef, the blue flame was + shedding its brilliant light, and clearly revealing the all but nude + figure of the man who held it. + </p> + <p> + “Father said, Mrs. Marston, when he took those three blue lights ashore + from the wreck of the <i>Lupetea</i>, that they might come in useful some + night——” and then he uttered a yell of delight as a great + rocket shot high up in air and burst; the ship had seen the blue light and + was answering it! + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah! she sees the blue light!” he cried, and then with voice and + gesture he urged his crew to greater exertions. They responded with a + will, and then, as a second rocket shot upward, a deep “<i>Aue!</i>” of + admiration was chorused forth by the occupants of the canoes, which were + trying hard to keep pace with the swift whale-boat. + </p> + <p> + “We'll see her as soon as we get round the north end, ma'am,” said the + half-caste, as he swung the boat's head towards a passage through the + surrounding reef. Mrs. Marston made no reply; she was too excited to + speak, as with parted lips and eager eyes she sat gazing straight ahead. + </p> + <p> + Ten minutes passed, and only the <i>swish, swish</i> of the canoe paddles + and the boat's oars broke the silence; then the high north point of the + island was rounded, and the <i>Esmeralda</i> lay before them, so close, + that even though it was dark, figures could be seen moving about her + decks, which were well lit up. + </p> + <p> + Bidding his men cease pulling, and the natives in the canoes to keep + silent for a moment, the burly half-caste hailed. + </p> + <p> + “Ship ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + “Hallo, there!” cried Prewen's well-remembered voice, “we see you. Come + round on the port side.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” shouted Manning, and then, unable to restrain himself, he + expanded his mighty chest and bawled out— + </p> + <p> + “MRS. MARSTON IS HERE!” + </p> + <p> + In a moment or two there came an outburst of cheering from the ship, and + then amidst the shouts and yells of the Anouda natives the boat dashed + alongside, and Mrs. Marston ascended the ladder. A crowd of men were at + the gangway, and almost ere her foot had touched the deck Frewen had + grasped her hand. + </p> + <p> + “Thank God, we have found you at last, Mrs. Marston!” + </p> + <p> + She tried to speak, and then would have fallen, had not Randall Cheyne + sprung forward and caught her. + </p> + <p> + “Carry her to the cabin, Randall,” said Frewen, “the poor little woman has + fainted.” + </p> + <p> + Half an hour later, the chief officer ran up on the poop-deck and called + out— + </p> + <p> + “All hands aft!” + </p> + <p> + As the crew—who had been eagerly listening to Joe Manning's account + of how Mrs. Marston had come to the island—crowded aft, the mate + cried out— + </p> + <p> + “Boys, I want volunteers to man the starboard quarter-boat to bring Mrs. + Marston's baby on board.” + </p> + <p> + Such a wild rush was made for the boat falls that the good-natured officer + had to interfere and pick out eight men, and with Lilo as pilot and + himself in charge, the boat left the ship amid further cheering. + </p> + <p> + In the cabin Mrs. Marston, now looking bright and happy, was telling her + story to Frewen and Cheyne. + </p> + <p> + “And now,” she said, as she concluded, “I am the very happiest woman in + all the world, and oh! Captain Frewen, when I think I shall see Mrs. + Raymond within a few days, I feel almost hysterical. I'm sure I won't want + to go to sleep for a week.” + </p> + <p> + Frewen laughed as he looked at the flashed, beautiful face. “Well, I don't + think you'll get too much sleep to-night, for the men are as much excited + as any one aft, and I sent word that they can have a bit of fun and make + as much noise as they like until eight bells, and drink your and your + baby's health seven times.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! my poor little baby. How cruel of me to forget her! Oh, please let me + go for her.” + </p> + <p> + “You are too late,” said Frewen with a smile, “the mate has just gone, and + he'll bring her to you before another hour has passed. He has taken your + boy Lilo with him as pilot.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Marston sighed contentedly, and then looked round at the familiar + cabin. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how I shall love to see Samatau again, Captain Frewen, and oh! how + wonderful it is that the <i>Esmeralda</i> of all ships should be the one + to find me. If only Mrs. Raymond could know I was safe and on board + talking to you of her!” + </p> + <p> + “She will indeed be yery happy; and yet, do you know, Mrs. Marston, that + she always said you were not dead, although when month after month passed + by, and a most careful search had been made of all the islands within a + radius of six hundred miles, and no trace of the <i>Lupetea</i> was found, + Mr. Raymond himself lost all hope.” + </p> + <p> + “How long was it before Mr. Raymond knew of what had occurred on board + that night off Lotofanga?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Raymond herself told him on the following afternoon, when, to his + astonishment, she arrived at Samatau in a native beat. It seems that after + Hutton landed them—she, little Loisé, and Olivee—on the reef, + they were met by a party of natives who were returning from a fishing + excursion. These people at once took them to the village, where, of + course, they were very kindly treated. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Raymond, who was half mad with anxiety for you, asked the chief to + provide her with a boat to return to Samatau and tell her husband of what + had happened. They left after an hour's rest and almost foundered in the + same squall which overtook the <i>Lupetea</i>. However, they reached + Samatau a little before sunset. Raymond at once sent Meredith and Rudd to + Apia to charter two or even three local schooners to sail in search of the + <i>Lupetea</i>, and for over a month whilst I was there a most unremitting + search was kept up, and letters were sent all over the Pacific asking the + traders at the various islands to keep a good look-out either for the + schooner or any wreckage which might come ashore. + </p> + <p> + “I arrived at Samatau in the <i>Esmeralda</i> about a fortnight after + Villari left there, and found Mrs. Raymond alone and distracted with fear + for your safety. During the following week, one of the schooners which + were out searching for you returned. Raymond was on board. He had been + searching through the windward islands of the Fiji Group, but without of + course finding a trace of the missing vessel. On the way back, though, + they spoke a Tahitian barque, whose captain told them that the bodies of + Hutton and the four men who were with him had been found on the reef at + Savai'i a few days after the scoundrels had put Mrs. Raymond ashore at + Lotofanga. The boat had evidently been driven ashore during the stormy + weather which prevailed for three or four days afterwards. + </p> + <p> + “After remaining ashore for a day only, Raymond again sailed—this + time to make a search among the Friendly Islands; and I, with Mr. Rudd and + Overseer Lorimer to assist me, sailed for the Solomon Group. We decided, + instead of proceeding direct to the Solomons for our cargo of black + humanity, to first cruise through the New Hebrides Group, in the hope we + might learn something of the <i>Lupetea</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “It makes me feel as if I were a real missing princess, Captain Frewen.” + </p> + <p> + “So you were—until to-night. Well, from the New Hebrides we went + north to the Solomons, where we were singularly fortunate in getting five + hundred natives in a few weeks without any trouble. I landed them at + Samatau without losing a single man, and they are now working on the new + plantation as happy as sand-boys. + </p> + <p> + “Raymond was at home when I returned, but there was still one vessel away + looking for you—the cutter <i>Alrema and Niya</i>—and in fact + we long since decided not to entirely abandon the search for a full year. + </p> + <p> + “I left on a second trip for the Solomons just nine days ago, and we + sighted this island early this morning. I did not think that we should + hear anything of the <i>Lupetea</i> so far to the westward—over a + thousand miles from Samoa—but as three of our coloured crew are down + with fever, I decided to anchor, leave them here in care of the natives, + and also find out if any wreckage had been seen. We could not see any + signs of houses on this side of the island, but did see a man making + gestures to the ship from the reef; however, as I did not intend to go + ashore until the morning, we did not lower a boat. You can imagine our + surprise when the glare of a blue light was seen.” + </p> + <p> + “Mate's boat is alongside, sir,” announced the bos'un. + </p> + <p> + And in a few minutes the smiling Serena entered the cabin and placed + little Marie in her mother's arms. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Shortly after dawn the merry click of the windlass pawls told Mrs. Marston + that the <i>Esmeralda</i> was getting underweigh again for Samoa—for + the projected voyage to the Solomon Islands was of course abandoned. Old + Manning and his stalwart sons came off to say goodbye, and at Mrs. + Marston's earnest request the trader consented to accept from her some + hundreds of pounds' worth of trade goods from the well-filled storeroom of + the <i>Esmeralda</i>. + </p> + <p> + “Goodbye, Mrs. Marston, and God bless you and the little one, and give you + all a safe passage to Samoa,” he cried, as he descended the side into his + boat. + </p> + <p> + For many hours she remained on deck watching the green little island as it + sunk astern, and thinking of the kindly-hearted old trader who had so + cheered her by his simple piety and unobtrusive goodness. Then her + thoughts turned joyfully to home—for the Raymonds' house was home to + her—and she sighed contentedly as the gallant <i>Esmeralda</i>, with + every stitch of canvas that could be set, slipped gracefully over the blue + Pacific on an east-south-east course, for it was the month of November, + and light westerly winds had set in. + </p> + <p> + Two weeks on such a happy ship soon passed away, and then early one + morning the grey dome of Mount Tofua stood out from the mantle of mist + which hid its verdant sides; and ere the sun had dried the heavy night + dews on the gaily-coloured crotons and waving pampas grass which grew just + above the beach, the brave ship dropped anchor once more in Samatau Bay + amidst a scene of the wildest confusion. For Raymond, as he had stood on + the verandah with his wife, watching her sailing in, and wondering what + had brought back Frewen so soon, saw this signal flying from her spanker + gaff. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + O + W + S + V + + B + R + C +</pre> + <p> + “What does it mean, Tom?” “Found. All well!” he shouted, and pitching his + telescope clean over the tops of the wild orange-tree in front of the + house, he rushed down to the beach, crying out the news as he ran. + </p> + <p> + Boats, canoes, and <i>taumualuas</i> by the score, all crowded with + natives, who were shouting themselves hoarse, paddled furiously off to the + ship; and ere her cable rattled through the hawse-pipe and the heavy + anchor plunged down to its coral bed, her decks were filled with people, + and Raymond, followed by the old chief Malie, was shaking hands warmly + with “the missing princess” and her rescuer. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + It is night at Samatau, and the two ladies are sitting on the verandah. + The house is very quiet. + </p> + <p> + “Amy?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Marie, dear.” + </p> + <p> + “Tom was asking me this morning if you have yet made up your mind to go on + building that house.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dear, Marie. I have hardly given it a thought since I came back—and + I've only been back a week!” + </p> + <p> + “Amy?” + </p> + <p> + “Marie?” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose, dear, that Captain Frewen won't give up the <i>Esmeralda</i> + altogether when he goes to America to see his people. He will come back, + will he not?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Marston blushed. “I—I think so, dear. Come inside, and I'll + tell you.” + </p> + <p> + THE END <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's John Frewen, South Sea Whaler, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN FREWEN, SOUTH SEA WHALER *** + +***** This file should be named 24806-h.htm or 24806-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/0/24806/ + +Produced by David Widger + +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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